Cross-posted at Smart Girl Nation

Rafraf Barrak is just like any other twenty-something woman trying to figure out what to do with her life.  What to apply her studies to?  What is she good at?  Can she make a living with the skills she has obtained?  Does she enjoy those skills enough that that living will be worthwhile?

Just like any other twenty-something.  Except that Rafraf never would have had those options if she had remained in the country of her birth.  You see, Rafraf might be living legally in America now, but she was born in Iraq.  She was born into a life where the government decided her education for her, her contact with others was decided by her culture, and eventually, her elders probably would have decided her marriage for her.  It’s a way of life that not many Americans can fathom.

Rafraf came to America with the help of a news correspondent.  Having been born and raised in Iraq, she had had no intention of ever leaving there.  In fact, she had never even been outside of Baghdad until she accepted a job as a translator for a news station during the tumultuous time after 9/11.   While working as a translator for NBC, she eventually landed in the care of Don Teague.

Rafraf and Don formed a friendship, and after insurgents in Iraq threatened her life, he helped her flee to the United States.  Having been raised to believe that America was the root of all evil in the world, she was understandably scared and nervous.  She hesitantly stepped off the plane and into the welcoming arms of the Teague family and a new life.

Life in America was a far cry from her life in Iraq.  She could make her own decisions.  She could go where she wanted, speak to whom she chose to, ask questions and get answers.  Men didn’t treat her as an inferior being; they looked in her eyes when they spoke to her, rater than averting their gaze as Islamic men did.  She didn’t even have to wear a headscarf.

Saved By Her Enemy is co-authored by Don Teague and Rafraf Barrak, and it is the tale of their unlikely relationship and Rafraf’s transition from second-class Iraqi citizen to liberated woman in America.  It is an eye opening must read book, detailing a way of life that will make any Smart Girl glad to be living in the land of the free.

I was able to chat with Rafraf about her experiences as a child and young woman in Iraq, and her new American life.  Listen to The Smart Girl Report podcast to hear Rafraf talk about everything from her experiences as an Iraqi living in a city being bombed by night to her dating life in America to her conversion from Islam to Christianity.

Listen to The Smart Girl Report here.

Order Saved By Her Enemy here.

I’m having difficulty reconciling these two Megs.  The first Meg Whitman says she’s a fiscal conservative, intent on getting California back on track as Governor:

The second Meg Whitman says that she supported the bank bailouts, which is resoundly non-fiscally conservative:

Update:

·         Endorsed Barbara Boxer in 2004  –MORE: “Darned good” Republican Whitman endorsed U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer in 2003”

·         Endorsed Al Gore in 2000 – MORE: “The Politics of Technology”

·         Supports Public Funding of Abortion –MORE: Interview With Meg Whitman, Part III – “Extreme On Abortion”

·         Against Across The Board Tax Cuts – VIDEO: “Meg Whitman Supports Higher Taxes”

·         Supports the Government Stimulus – VIDEO: “Meg Whitman Praises Obama Stimulus”

·         Supports the $700 Billion Wall Street Bailout – VIDEO: “Meg Whitman Supports The Bank Bailout”

Just something to make you think.  I’ll be voting for Steve Poizner.

I had quite a time getting set up for blogging CPAC this morning.  There will probably be a post about my adventures since my airplane post soon.  Trust me, it was definitely an adventure.  A humorous one.  Because, well, sometimes you have to choose whether to laugh or cry, and I always choose to laugh.

Because I was so behind in getting setting up, I missed the opening speaker.  Marco Rubio.  I saw the last 20 seconds of his speech, just enough time to snap one ridiculously tiny & fuzzy picture on my blackberry.  I was bummed.  I almost cried.  Then I decided to laugh instead.  I’m like that.

Then I was walking from one place to another and ran into Leon & Jillian Wolf, two very awesome people that I’m happy to call my friends.  Oh yeah, and Erickson was there too.  ”You want to meet Marco Rubio?” He asks me.  Do I?  Um… YES.  ”He’s right in there with a small press group.”  I just stared at him.  Nerves, yah know.  ”Go on in,” he said, giving me a little push into the room.  ”Everyone thinks you’re my wife anyway!”  (Ask me about that story sometime, it’s really funny.)

So that’s how a found myself standing ten feet from Marco Rubio, taking questions from a dozen or so journalists, both real and citizen, although the distinction is getting very blurred very quickly these days.  In fact, citizen journalism and social media was the topic de jour.

He said that he wouldn’t have a campaign if it weren’t for the bloggers.  The ability to communicate online has made it possible for anyone to become a candidate, or a journalist.  There’s a whole new set of rules in today’s political world.  Because of the wide access to information, Americans no longer have to choose between two candidates that are sort of the same, picking the one that we like better.

People understand what’s at stake, and candidates are being more widely vetted than ever before.  We don’t need to rely on the traditional media to tell us what to think about a candidate, we get the information ourselves and get it out there.  Some really consequential things are happening in Washington, and will continue to happen if we don’t stop it by sending sensible people to congress.

His hope for the 2010 elections, of course, is to win a senate seat in Florida, but also to be one of a crop of newly elected Senators and Congressmen determined to restore our country to it’s greatness, not fundamentally transform it into something not recognizable in our Constitution.  Which is why he spoke at CPAC: to reach a broader audience.  He hopes that the attendees from across the country go home and seek out reliable candidates to support and vote for.

When asked about Scott Brown, he commented that if the Obama agenda is not safe in Massachusetts, it’s not safe anywhere.  And then his handler said he had to go, so he politely said it was nice to talk to us, walked right past me, smiled directly at me, and said (and I quote), “Hi.”

Awesomeness.

Our VP can always be counted on to say the most insane things at the most bizarre times.  He did not dissapoint last night on Larry King.  Let me share with you some of the gems he dropped.

Regarding airplane attacks by Muslim extremists:

“I think what you’re seeing morphing here – and it’s a concern to us – is you’ll see the concern relates to somebody like a shoe bomber or the underpants bomber, the Christmas attack or someone just strapping a backpack on them with weapons that are indigenous and blowing up, you know, walking into in airport…I think there are going to be attempts.”  Biden also insisted that the Obama administration, which ordered a review of security and terrorism procedures after the Christmas Day incident, is prepared to deal with such attempts. “I’ve been really impressed with the success we’ve had, building on the last administration, in dealing with these.”

Hmm… I feel safe now.  Especially since the head of Homeland Security thinks the system works, but just in case it doesn’t, let’s steal pillows from toddlers during the last 90 minutes of all flights.

Regarding that three-letter word JOBS:

“I think now the jobs bill, I think, will be probably less than is needed initially, but it will be very helpful…by the spring, I think people are going to begin to have more confidence in the policies we’ve put in place.”

Is this the same Jobs Bill that extends unemployment benefits?  Why don’t they just go ahead and call it a “don’t bother looking for work because we’re going to pay you even longer to sit at home heckling the *rich* people providing for your existence”?  Too long?  Bummer.

Regarding Iraq:

“I am very optimistic about Iraq. I mean, this could be one of the great achievements of this administration…You’re going to see 90,000 American troops come marching home by the end of the summer.”

So he’s optimistic about having the troops home, not about Iraq or our own national security.  When the US leaves, the fledgling democracy in Iraq will most likely crumble to the extremists, and we’ll see all sorts of lovely new terrorist cells plotting the destruction of the US.  Perfect.

Regarding Sarah Palin (this by far is my favorite):

“I like her…She’s an engaging person. She has a great personality. I don’t agree with what she says and I think some of the things she says are not – well…Well, you know, it’s sort of like – some of the comments made are just so far out there, I just don’t know where they come from.”

Seriously Joe? Maybe you could explain some of your comments before you go ripping into Sarah Palin for her far-out comments.

Organizing for America, which can be found at www.BarackObama.com, is “the successor organization to Obama for America, is building on the movement that elected President Obama by empowering communities across the country to bring about our agenda of change.”

On the surface, it looks good.  What’s wrong with encouraging people, especially young people, to become more involved with the political process, to donate their time and talent to serve the community?  Nothing, of course.  Unless it’s just a tool to spread progressive propaganda like “the government knows better than you do” and “rich people are stealing from you.”  On a side note, I’ll never understand why people get upset about CEOs making millions but not Kobe Bryant.

Those crazy kooks over at OFA are busy recruiting high school students in government schools to become part of the team that will transform America.  To help spread the word that health care is a right, not a service, that fetus’s aren’t babies, and that bankrupting energy companies is a good idea.  You know, to really be a part of sumpin’ special.

Remember, this is a partisan organization to promote liberal/socialist ideals, and they’re recruiting teenagers in their high school government classes.  Not at lunch in the quad, not after school in the office, but right in the classroom.  If that isn’t unsettling enough for you, wait until you check out the recommended reading list. On it is Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, a book dedicated to Satan and containing such gems as:

“The third rule of ethics of means and ends is that in war the end justifies almost any means….”

and:

And so the guided questioning goes on without anyone losing face or being left out of the decision-making. Every weakness of every proposed tactic is probed by questions…. Is this manipulation? Certainly….”

and:

“An organizer working in and for an open society is in an ideological dilemma to begin with, he does not have a fixed truth-truth to him is relative and changing; everything to him is relative and changing…. To the extent that he is free from the shackles of dogma, he can respond to the realities of the widely different situations….”

and:

“A Marxist begins with his prime truth that all evils are caused by the exploitation of the proletariat by the capitalists. From this he logically proceeds to the revolution to end capitalism, then into the third stage of reorganization into a new social order of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and finally the last stage — the political paradise of communism.”

Unbelievable.

A few days ago, President Obama spoke with about 30 sixth graders to talk about his new Race to the Top program.  Basically, it’s a race to spend as much tax-payer money as possible on education for the children.   Barack Obama is so fantastically competent at managing schools, I’m sure he knows exactly what he’s doing.  I mean, look at what he and Bill Ayers accomplished in Chicago!  Wait, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge was an abysmal failure?  Huh…

Anyway, I got sidetracked for a moment there.  My reason for mentioning the President speaking to sixth graders was not to talk about education, but to point out that President I-can’t-speak-without-my-bff-teleprompter-present brought his bff the teleprompter to address the 12 year olds.  Seriously.

As if trying to prove that he really has no clue what he’s talking about unless he’s reading off a screen, President Obama brought along his bff this morning to address a dozen or so people boardroom style.

I wonder if he uses Tele when he whispers sweet nothings to Michelle…

Update:

According to this article, Obama did not use the telepromter to address sixth graders.  He used it to address news photographers that were sitting in the child-sized chairs.  ”You guys look really cute in those chairs,” the President quipped.  Personally, I think it says something about his overuse of the thing that no one was really shocked by news that he had used it to speak to 12 year olds.

Today the Supreme Court knocked out significant campaign finance laws, all of which had been unconstitutionally enacted in the name of “fairness.”  The 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold) attempted to restrict electioneering by wealthy corporations and labor unions by barring them from using general treasury funds to pay for advertisements or other broadcasts that mention a political candidate.  Just a little bit of unconstitutional censorship, that’s all.

In a 5-4 vote, the Court lifted those restrictions.  Which means that companies will be able to run ads for candidates they like.  You know what kinds of candidates companies like?  The ones that make it easier for them to actually run their businesses, instead of trying to bankrupt them with mandated health care requirements and cap and trade.  If they can successful run a company, they can expand operations… and create jobs!  Remember, it’s better to have a job and no health care than no job and no health care.

From the White House, President Obama called the ruling a “major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.”

This from Mr. Closed Door himself. Obama doesn’t care about everyday Americans.  We’re all just serfs to him, here only to fund his playground of policies and bailouts.  Well we’re done Mr. President.  We’re picking up our toys, packing up our trucks, and going home to the Constitution. Don’t let the sand hit you in the teeth.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been watching in awe as Scott Brown has exploded onto the national scene.  To think it was just over a month ago that I first learned his name, scoffing at the irrelevance of it.  Why even have a special election for the Senate seat left vacant by Ted Kennedy’s death?  Seriously people, it’s Massachusetts.  Just give the thing to Democrat Martha Coakley.  But niceties (not to mention policies) must be observed, and if Scott Brown thought he had a shot at winning the thing, well more power to him.

The man hit the ground running.  He campaigned all over the state in his pick-up truck, winning over the electorate with his common sense approach to government and politics.  He took advantage of new media, establishing an online presence through sites like Facebook and Twitter.  He raised funds from all over the country using the slogan 41st Vote (He would break the Democrat 60-seat super majority in the Senate if elected).

Meanwhile, Coakley went on vacation.  And members of her staff pushed reporters down instead of answering questions.  And we’ve been learning all sorts of crazy things about her record as an Attorny in Massachusetts (which she can’t even spell, by the way). Things like releasing a man without bail after he raped his 22 month old toddler with a curling iron.  Or plea bargaining with a pedophile priest, allowing him to molest again.  You know, silly stuff like that.

Even with her soft spot for disgusting vile men who like to violate and irreparably harm children, there’s still a shot that she’ll get elected for her position on the health care bill currently making its rounds in Congress.  She says she’ll vote for it.  Scott Brown says he won’t vote for it.

Ms. Coakley failed to realize that her advantage might just be her downfall.  Massachusetts already has government health care.  And it’s not working.  And the voters know it.

So go forth, Massachusetts!  Go forth and vote for the man that will kill the health care bill that will do nothing but hurt our country’s prosperity!  We’re counting on you.

The Smart Girl Report

Do you watch Fox News? It’s on quite a bit over here.  My six year old even said the other day, “Why is Glenn Beck always crying?” At that point, I flipped it off and laughed for ten minutes straight.

I choose Fox over MSNBC or CNN because I think it does a better job of reporting the news.  The anchors don’t call other Americans rude and vulgar names, talk about tingles up their leg, or fail to report on major world news like a stolen election in Iran.

Plus, we have Megyn Kelly and they have Rachel Maddow.  Do a quick Google image search if you don’t know what I’m talking about.

Maybe because we’re not filled with the bitterness of fighting a non-existent war with The Man (we already know we’re equals, and screw you if you don’t agree), but conservative women just seem to be prettier.  Happy.  Glowy.  Smiley.  I don’t think there’s one unfortunate looking babe female professional news anchor or contributor on Fox News. Well, except for Shep Smith, of course.

And today the news broke that one more intelligent and beautiful woman is joining the ranks: Sarah Palin.  Time will tell if this is a good move on her part, but I know one thing for sure.  This is going to make for some great TV.