Ekstrom Family

This post requires a quick disclaimer. Here it is. **I am not a politician. I am not a political activist. I can’t even say that I like politics. But, I am greatly concerned with the direction our government is headed, and the last straw has been dropped. I can’t do much, but I absolutely can’t do nothing. **

Yesterday in the shadow of the Healthcare debate, the Senate voted for the confirmation of Cass Sunstein to lead the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA); this position is being called “The Regulatory Czar.” Mr. Sunstein was confirmed by a vote of 57 to 40. Included in the 57 “yeas” were both of the Utah REPUBLICAN Senators, Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett. I know this may sound like a little thing, but as “The Regulatory Czar,” he will have the ability to tweak regulations, making things harder than necessary. Again, this may not sound like a very big deal, but let me introduce you to some of his beliefs. In his own words, Cass Sunstein has said. . . .

"We ought to ban hunting" - Cass Sunstein, in a 2007 speech at Harvard University

"[A]lmost all gun control legislation is constitutionally fine. And if the Court is right, then fundamentalism does not justify the view that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms.“ - Cass Sunstein, writing in his book, "Radicals in Robes"

"Animals should be permitted to bring suit, with human beings as their representatives …" - 2004 book Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions

"[T]here should be extensive regulation of the use of animals in entertainment, in scientific experiments, and in agriculture." - Cass Sunstein, “The Rights of Animals: A Very Short Primer,” August 2002.

"A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest of citizenship and self-government." -Cass Sunstein, arguing for a Fairness Doctrine for the Internet in his book, Republic.com 2.0 (page 137).

"In what sense in the money in our pockets and bank accounts fully ‘ours’? Did we earn it by our own autonomous efforts? Could we have inherited it without the assistance of probate courts? Do we save it without the support of bank regulators? Could we spend it if there were no public officials to coordinate the efforts and pool the resources of the community in which we live? . . . Without taxes there would be no liberty. Without taxes there would be no property. Without taxes, few of us would have any assets worth defending. [It is] a dim fiction that some people enjoy and exercise their rights without placing any burden whatsoever on the public fisc. . . . There is no liberty without dependency. That is why we should celebrate tax day . . .” -Cass Sunstein, “Why We Should Celebrate Paying Taxes,” The Chicago Tribune, April 14, 1999

I don’t know about you, but these beliefs don’t generally fall in line with Conservative Republican beliefs, and they do not represent my beliefs. Now, given the new found ability to tweak regulations, Mr. Sunstein has the opportunity to make small changes without oversight, that will affect these issues (gun control, animal rights, free speech, taxes) and so many more.

So now the question is what can I do? I admit, it is too late to stop the confirmation, and I was lulled into a false sense of security. Both of my Senators have been voting as I would have them on other issues, so I didn’t think I needed to contact them on this issue. However, it is obvious that I was wrong. I am now going to contact both Senator Bennett and Senator Hatch, and let them know that I disagree with their vote, that I’m concerned with this man’s opinions and his ability to influence my freedoms, and that I will now be voting against them in the next election. I will also be encouraging all of my friends, family members, and neighbors to do the same. These men have been in Washington for too long and are blinded by the wishes of the people they are suppose to represent. If you agree with me, I would encourage you to write them as well. You can find Senator Bennett’s contact information on his website, http://bennett.senate.gov, and Senator Hatch’s information on his site, http://hatch.senate.gov. If you are not one of my Utah readers, and you would like to know how your Senators voted on this confirmation, you can find out at http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00274. If you agree with me, I would hope that you would contact your Senator’s too. I think it is a good indication of what kind of a person President Obama is by the people he surrounds himself by, and so far, I am scared. He is friendly with too many socialists, communists, terrorists, and radicals, and they are all making their way into our government. Please be mindful of what is happening, and don’t do nothing. Even if it’s not much, make a stand and do something.

Today Bradley was playing, no, "working" with his tools. As he would pick up one of his tools, he would tell me what he was working with. Let me introduce you to his tools.

First, we have the hammer. Yes, you and I would agree this is a hammer.

Next is the screwdriver.

Or is this the screwdriver?

According to Bradley, they both are.

Then, there is the apple"saw"ce, of course.

And, last, is the bubbles.

Yes, that's right, it's called bubbles, because this end looks like a bubbles wand.

Don't ask me how he puts some of these things together, but it's awfully cute. And, here is one more cute thing. My two boys sitting together on the rocking chair. Bradley is only slightly offended by having his brother within touching distance.