BrentAllen

Well, not if they cook at Summer Camp, which is another good reason to do that instead of eating at the Dining Hall.

"I believe that is why we have the stricture in the Uniform Guide that adults shall not wear articles designate for youth (which patrol patches are...)." Where did you find that? The only language similar to what you mention is in regards to rank awards. I do find it interesting that the Insignia Guide includes room for a patrol emblem on the Universal and Nonunit Insignia page, right sleeve position 2. What else would go there? In some troops, the adult patrol does wear patrol patches, in others they don't. We do this in WB and in SM training, so why not in a unit? Aren't the goals the same? Bring the individual members together to form a team?

So, Beavah, did you not follow the link I provided? Did you not read page 5 of the document, the one titled "Sample First Year Program" that starts in March and runs through December, detailing skills instruction for each meeting and outing? What is missing?

I thought this was outlined in the organizational charts. Am I missing a finer point to the question?

"Why is a specific plan needed to help Scouts develop basic skills? Isn't that what the ranks of Tenderfoot through 1st Class do? If the advancement method is properly administered during these ranks, a Scout should be able to earn 1st Class in one year." FC Emphasis is just that - an emphasis to make sure the program includes the elements so the new Scout has the opportunity to reach FC. I think some are reading way too much into the program. Turn to page 123 in your SM HB and read what it actually is. The "advancement method" does not contain the FC Emphasis - read it on page 8. A troop could be focused on a certain type of camping or activities, where their annual program did not include opportunities for a new Scout to learn all the skills and earn FC in a year. A troop could develop a program plan that would allow a new Scout to reach FC in 2 years, and still be employing the advancement method. FC Emphasis just says try to make sure your program includes the opportunities for them to earn it in a year, because he will have a better than average chance of earning Eagle. I think it will help keep them in Scouting longer, as well. If a Troop is running a program that allows new Scouts the opportunities to earn FC in a year, that Troop IS following FC Emphasis - maybe they just didn't know it.(This message has been edited by BrentAllen)

LH, We hold a special AOL/Cross-over ceremony that is separate from the B & G. At B & G, the Webelos IIs graduate from the Pack, on March 1 this year. Our cross-over is on March 4. At the AOL/Cross-over, there are 2 separate ceremonies, but the average Joe wouldn't really notice it. The OA conducts the whole shootin' match. AOL is first, and the boys who earned it go through; those who didn't sit off to the side, without being obvious. There is a slight break at the end of the AOL ceremony, and the boys crossing over are mixed in for the Cross-over ceremony. So, a boy can still be part of the overall show even if he didn't earn AOL. As for a boy not eligible to cross over at that time due to age, I would let him go ahead with the ceremony with his den mates. As SM, I would just hold is application until he is eligible, and allow him to visit the Troop as if he were a Web II visiting. There isn't any rule that states how many times a Web II can visit. That's how I would handle it. As for registering Kindergarteners, we conduct a Spring Tiger drive, involving a presentation to all K's at school and an open house that evening for the parents. This is in early May. We hold the paperwork until June 1 because we have been told that is when they can officially register. We have a summer program, so we want them to go ahead and join and participate. Makes fall registration just a little bit easier.

"You asked for it, you got it, Toyota!" http://arrowheaddistrict.hoagys.org/pdf/FirstClassFirstYear.pdf Kudos to Longhaul for updating our District's document.

"While it might be OK for a CO to mandate training, I do have issues with this idea of an adult patrol??" Eamonn, what are your issues? The adults camp together, cook together, work a duty roster, hang out together - sounds like a patrol to me. In my troop growing up, the adults were in the "Over The Hill" patrol. They modeled patrol behaviour. They didn't complete with the Scout patrols, but developed camaraderie that held them together for years after their sons aged out. Just curious about your issues.

"While I think there are times that a skills class may be required in the troop, I think it should also be seen as a red flag that program needs some help." Maybe I am not understanding your definition of a "skills class" but according to my training, and the Troop Program Features, nearly every Troop meeting should include a time for "Skills Instruction." To me, the activities you mention would happen in the interpatrol activity, using the skills learned in the Skills Instruction. My guess on FCFY or FC Emphasis is a lot of new Scouts were getting lost in the shuffle in a lot of Troops. To me FCFY is just a program outline to help SMs or ASMs/NSP (or the PLC, more appropriatly) organize their program to give the new Scouts the opportunities to reach the rank. If the Troop uses NSPs, it is easier to keep up with. But if a Troop is using integrated Patrols, it's not as easy to make sure that new Scout gets to select the patrol site or serve as the patrol's cook. FCFY isn't a race, it is a goal. Is teaching the new young Scout to set a goal a bad thing? The first thing he should recognize is that he is going to need to attend nearly every campout and meeting that first year to reach the goal. That is exactly what I want out of my new Scouts - very good attendance. To me, the positives of the program/emphasis far outweigh the negatives.

"If training is to be mandated then let the unit make it mandatory since the unit volunteer belongs to the charter organization." This is our philosophy. If you want to be an ASM in our Troop, you must attend SM/ASM training and ITOLS (along with YP), as a beginning. Candidates must also pass most of the T-FC requirements, get CPR/AED trained along with Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat. This is not a short process, and it gives us plenty of time to observe the Scouter to see if he fits in with our program. If he does, upon completion of all the required training, he/she is welcomed into the adult patrol, with much fanfare.

JB, I think Powderhorn and WFA are 2 moves in the right direction. Philmont is now requiring at least one person in a crew hold a current WFA card. I am also a WFA Instructor, and I love teaching the course! This past fall, I had a Scouter with over 25 years of service and multiple HA trips take the course, and he said it was the best course he had ever taken. It made him completely change the way he would prepare for first aid on trips, and how they would train and conduct shake-downs. Anyone who thinks it is just a long version of the Merit Badge has no idea what they are talking about. Our Council conducts 3 or 4 WFA courses a year. We are now having Scouters come in from all over Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. I have been told we are training more people in WFA than any other group, but don't know that to be true. I have heard the Transylvania County Chapter is working on updating the Student Guide, trying to produce a book that could be used by itself, instead of having to use Mountaineering First Aid as well. That is one of the consistent complaints we receive - too many books, it is hard to remember which text contained which material, and on a rare occasion, the two books will conflict with each other. $65 is a bargain for the course! We charge $85, which includes meals and the manuals. SOLO also conducts a course in our Council, and they charge $140. One other thing our Council is doing is offering Scout CPR Saturdays, where we have the capability of certifying up to 750 people in Red Cross CPR/AED training. The Council invested in 100 Aktars, so we are putting them to good use. We charge $20 and set up 4 stages, with classes starting every 45 minutes. We have 75 Aktars in the second stage so, with a class limit of 75, we have one-on-one training for the actual skill session. The other 25 are in the third stage, where they learn AED at a 3-1 ratio. It makes for a long day for the instructors, but it is also very rewarding.

I'm trying to be pro-active on the peer pressure issue. I find as many positive Scout role models as I can, and introduce them to the boys. Our local paper featured an article about one of the local Scouts earning his Eagle. I'll read the article to the boys and talk about all his accomplishments, both in and out of Scouting. Who wouldn't want their son's resume' to look similar to this one? Well, one point that he needs some help on - he is considering attending the University of Georgia, and not Georgia Tech. I guess nobody is perfect! :-) http://www.thecrier.net/articles/2008/01/08/news/harrisoneagle.txt "Boy Scout Troop 266, sponsored by Dunwoody United Methodist Church, recently awarded Bradley Harrison the rank of Eagle Scout, Scoutings highest honor, at a Court of Honor on November 18. To earn the Eagle Scout rank, the Scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, outdoor skills, and community service, including a service project. Harrisons Eagle Project was to plan, design, fund, and construct four benches around the tennis courts at Wesleyan, where he is a senior. Harrison, with the help of other scouts and friends, designed and built the benches, dug postholes and sunk them in concrete, and landscaped the surrounding areas, a task that required 222 total hours. During his Scouting career, Harrison served Troop 266 as Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Chaplains Aide, Bugler, Northern Tier Crew Leader, and Patrol Leader. He has completed three high adventure treks, two to Northern Tier and one to Philmont, and is a member of the Order of the Arrow, Scoutings National Honor Society. At Wesleyan, Harrison is active in a variety of activities including Honor Council vice-president, marching band senior captain, track and field, swimming, literary magazine editor, National Honor Society vice president, Science National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, and the Senior Boys Bible Study. Harrison is also a member of the Dunwoody United Methodist Church youth program. He has participated in DUMC mission trips to Brazil, south Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and the Gulf Coast. Harrison is a National Merit Semifinalist, an AP Scholar with Honor, and writes weekly Wesleyan sports articles for The Crier, covering a variety of different sports each season. The son of Don and Cathy Harrison of Dunwoody, Harrison plans to attend the University of North Carolina, Vanderbilt, the University of Virginia or the University of Georgia next year." Bradley would be considered "uncool" on many fronts - Scouting, marching band, all the honor societies, church groups. I think we all know where a lot of those "cool" kids will end up, compared to Bradley. Point being, if a boy drops out of Scouts because it is uncool, how many other groups or activities is he going to miss for the same reason? Hopefully we can convince our sons and Scouts that they need to follow their own path and to remember that "cool" is a moving target, with no real definition or set of rules. Being cool and 50 cents might get you a cup of coffee. The experience of Scouting will prepare you for the rest of your life.

If the Troop is entirely Christian, "Facing the Giants" is a good one. The acting isn't great, but the movie is. I'm just a little biased, since it was filmed here in Georgia. Sort of a "Remember the Titans" meets "The Purpose Driven Life."

Master and Commander is pretty good, with boy officers ordering the adult crew around. There are a few pretty tough scenes - one where a boy has his arm amputated, and another where the doctor uses a coin to fix a fractured skull of one of the older sailors. Otherwise, it is a pretty good movie with leadership, team work and chain of command demonstrated. The John Wayne classic, The Cowboys, shows how the boys come together after JW bites the dust. Today's youth don't get as excited about cowboy movies as us older folks used to, but you'll never know with your boys until you give it a try.

"And what part did the SPL and SM play in that?" Beyond First Class, rank advancement requires the earning of Merit Badges and PORs. Hopefully the boys aren't signing off on MB requirements, so adults play a large part in advancement after FC. For PORs, the SM or ASMs should be conducting Troop-level Leader training. For each rank, a SM Conference and BOR is required, involving the SM and other adults. Service Projects for advancement require SM approval. So, nearly every requirement for advancement from Star through Eagle requires adult involvement. The Patrol Method is one of 8 methods. Advancement, Adult Association, Personal Growth, Leadership Development all require adult leadership and involvement. Many ways to skin a cat, as they say. The unanimous opinion of my mentors is COHs are ceremonies for the boys, conducted by the adults, as described by the BSA. If a troop has the boys run their COHs and everyone is happy, I don't see that as a problem. Saying the SM and other adults don't play a role in the success and advancement of a Scout is a bit much, however.

I respectfully disagree with the previous posts. The SM Handbook is pretty clear about who chairs the COH - either the Troop CC or Advancement Chair. SM Handbook, pg. 126. IMHO, the COH should be FOR the boys, conducted BY the adults - with help from the boys. We have both the CC and Adv. Chair plan and MC the ceremony. The boys conduct the opening ceremony and the candle lighting for the Oath and Law. The CC and SM award rank awards, and the Merit Badge counselors award MBs, when possible. The counselor can talk about what the boy(s) did to earn the badge and maybe share something special about the process. This may inspire other boys to try to earn that badge. For rank awards, the SM can talk about how the Scout has grown, share some memorable moments about the Scout from campouts or other events, and he challenges the Scout to earn the next rank. I believe Kudu recommends this as well, as can be seen at http://www.inquiry.net/advancement/ceremonies/candlelight.htm I very much believe in a boy-run Scout Troop, but there are some things that should be done by the adults. This is one of them. Again, I feel these should be events FOR the boys - it is a time for the adults to recognize and honor them. Can someone point to a source (BS Handbook, SPL Handbook, PL Handbook) where the Scouts are given instruction on how to run a COH? Where they are instructed that COHs are their responsibility? If so, please share.

To be more specific, why do restricted threads, or those in a restricted forum, show up in the column on the right side of the page? It is a little irritating to click on a thread showing in that column, only to be directed to a page that says you can't enter. Recent titles that meet this description include "Bob White resurfacing" and "Ignore This Subject" or something similar. If you don't want us viewing them, why advertise them??? I tried posting this in the Scouter Announcements folder, but was informed I'm not allowed to even do that - what is up with this forum????

sharley, I respectfully disagree that boy-run Scouting has been taken out of the program. The participants function as patrols, with PLs and APLs. The staff model how a troop should operate, with the CD being the SM. The SPL runs the program, with the SM guiding and mentoring. The PLs report to the SPL, not the SM. The SPL is in charge of Program, not the SM. The SPL runs the PLC meetings, with the SM setting in the back. The Troop Guides are under the guidance of one of the ASMs, but are directed by the SPL. Saying the course teaches SMs to be SPLs back in their troops is simply incorrect. To me, this is one of the real benefits of WB - teaching how a troop should operate. I read lots of posts here about a lot of troops that have gotten off the reservation and operate as Webelos III dens. I've had several participants come up to me and say "this isn't how we run things in our troop" and they are glad they got to see how a boy-run troop should function.

This whole WMD issue is so tired. For those who think GWB knew there weren't any WMD's and just invaded Iraq for oil, please answer just one question: If he lied about the WMDs, why didn't he just plant them once we were in Iraq? If he and Cheney were going to so much trouble to misrepresent the intelligence, why wouldn't they take the next logical step and have a team ready to plant evidence of WMDs? According to the Bush-haters, he KNEW there weren't any WMDs and he invaded, knowing his lie would be uncovered, and he didn't do anything to cover it up. That just makes no sense at all.

Boy Scout Grabs Attacker's Knife, Saves Maldives President From Assassination http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,320964,00.html COLOMBO, Sri Lanka The president of the Maldives was saved from assassination Tuesday when a boy scout grabbed the knife of an attacker who had jumped out of a crowd greeting the leader, an official said. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was not hurt, but his shirt was ripped when the attacker tried to stab him before the boy and security guards intervened during the event on the small island of Horafushi, said government spokesman Mohammad Shareef. "This fellow in the crowd with a knife in his hand attempted to stab the president in his stomach," Shareef said by telephone from Male, the capital. "But a 15-year-old boy came in the way, and grabbed the knife. One brave boy saved the president's life." The scout was identified as Mohamed Jaisham Ibrahim, who had lined up to welcome Gayoom, according to the president's Web site. The boy was injured in the hand by the knife. "His wound was stitched but later he complained that he could not move some of his fingers, so he was flown by a sea plane to Male," Shareef said. "There was blood on the president's shirt, but it was not his but the boy's. Still we got a physician to examine him," Shareef said. A photograph of the boy on the Web site of the Haveeru daily showed him wearing a blue scouting uniform with a blue kerchief around his neck waiting in line to greet the president. Boy scouts in the Maldives are similar to their U.S. counterparts, receiving training in first aid and participating in activities such as camping. Like in the U.S., their motto is "Be prepared." The attacker had wrapped the knife in a Maldives national flag as he stood among a crowd waiting for Gayoom, 70. A police Web site identified the attacker as Mohamed Murshid, 20. No motive was given, and other details were not disclosed. Shareef, speaking by telephone from Male, said the assassination attempt may have had a "political motive," but it was too early to say if Islamic militants were involved. Opposition to Gayoom's three-decade rule has grown in recent years and there have also been concerns about increased Islamic militancy in the Muslim nation. After the attack, Gayoom addressed the nation by radio, thanking the teenager and calling for calm, according to the Web site of the Minivan newspaper. "We should not resort to violence even if we have differences between the parties," Gayoom was quoted as saying. Gayoom has ruled this Indian Ocean atoll of 1,190 coral islands since 1978 and helped turn it into a major destination for tourists seeking a quiet vacation on virgin beaches surrounded by crystal blue waters. However, the country of 350,000 people has also had its share of turmoil in recent months. On Sept. 29, a homemade bomb blamed on Islamic militants exploded in a Male park, wounding 12 tourists. A week later, police and soldiers raided an island that was a reputed insurgent stronghold, sparking a battle with masked men armed with clubs and fishing spears that wounded more than 30 security officers. Some high school graduates in the Maldives have studied religion at extremist institutions in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and spread their radical beliefs across the islands, according to Rohan Gunaratna, a Singapore-based terrorism expert. While many of the fundamentalists were not violent, a Maldivian was caught trying to join the Taliban in Afghanistan, another was arrested in India seeking to buy sniper rifles, and a third was jailed by U.S. authorities in Guantanamo Bay. Gayoom has also faced opposition protests to his previously unchallenged rule in recent years. Under the pressure, he legalized opposition parties and agreed to hold the nation's first truly democratic election later this year. Meanwhile, New Maldives Movement, a new opposition coalition formed to challenge Gayoom's three decades of rule in upcoming elections, condemned the attempted assassination. "The NMM calls for an independent and speedy investigation into the attack and stresses the importance of making the results of the investigation public," the group said.

If Media giants slant news, there is a cure, for people when they find out the truth to boycott the purveyor of the trash. Yah, now how exactly are the people going to find out about it, eh? Well, when they really blow it, they do get caught. Anyone remember Dan Rather and the fake letter? How about the NY Times reporter making up interviews? Or the false CNN report about soldiers using gas in Vietnam? Luckily, our local weekly paper will run stories about Scouting. The last 3 paragraphs are about one of the local Troops' camping trips. http://www.thecrier.net/articles/2008/01/02/front/teasers/02tease.txt

GWB do better? He ran against Kerry and Gore, so he just had to be better than them, right? All we can do is guess about that. I think Hillary is about to give the GOP all the dirt they could want on Obama. We are about to see the Clinton Personal Destruction Team go into full combat mode. Lock up the kids!

We hold a religious service on our campouts. We have a basic program that can be modified, which is pretty non-denominational. The boys split up the different parts and are in charge of the service. Either I or one of the other adults will deliver a message at the appropriate time in the service. It is not a sermon that is preached, but more of a homily related to Scouting. This is the structure of our services: Call To Worship Be praised, O God, by all that fills the temple of Your world; By the colors written on the hymnal of the sky; By grains and fruit filled trees that bow their heads to You; Be the steeples of trees lifted to heaven; By the vespers of lakes, silent in meditation; Be praised, O God, by all that fills the temple of Your world. Hymn - America O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountains' majesty, Above the fruited plain. America, America, God shed His grace on thee, And crown they good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea. Invocation Dear Heavenly Father, Helps us to keep our honor bright and teach us that the integrity of our character is a priceless possession. Grant that we may do our best today, and strive to do even better tomorrow. Teach us that duty is a friend and not an enemy. Help us face the most disagreeable task cheerfully. Give us the faith to understand our purpose and life. Open our minds to the truth and fill our hearts with love. We are thankful for all the blessings that You have bestowed upon our country. Help us do our duty to our country and to know that a good nation is made of good men and women. May we never tire of the joy of helping other people, or never look the other way when someone is in need. You have given us the gift of our bodies. Make us wise enough to keep them healthy. You are the source of all wisdom. Help us have alert minds. Help us know the difference between right and wrong and lead us on a straight path toward a worthy goal. Amen. Responsive Reading Leader: A true and worthy person recognizes his obligations and does them without being watched or compelled. People: A Scout is Trustworthy Leader: We owe so much to so many: to home, school, community, nation and to God. People: A Scout is Loyal Leader: The Good Samaritan showed the spirit of doing a good turn. People: A Scout is Helpful Leader: A true friend is a person who gives assistance to his or her brethren. People: A Scout is Friendly Leader: Courtesy is a mark of all faiths. It is shown in thoughtful acts and respect for all. People: A Scout is Courteous Leader: Kindliness is the way people show consideration for others. People: A Scout is Kind Leader: Life is filled with things that we must do whether we like them or not. A mark of maturity is the ability to accept responsibilities willingly and do them gladly. People: A Scout is Obedient Leader: Our moods make our days. If we are grouchy, our days are gloomy. If we are happy, we share our joy with others. People: A Scout is Cheerful Leader: The world offers many gifts. A wise person uses them with care. People: A Scout is Thrifty Leader: At times, each of us faces danger, difficulty, and temptation. Let each of us have the courage to do the right thing. People: A Scout is Brave Leader: Cleanliness is next to Godliness. It is healthy to have a clean body, a clean mind and a clean conscience. People: A Scout is Clean Leader: Our character is determined partly by the things we worship. If we respect ourselves and our brothers and sisters, and see them as gifts of the goodness of our God, we worship our Creator. People: A Scout is Reverent All: Give us clean words and thoughts. Teach us to work hard and play fairly. Forgive us when we are unkind. Help us to help others. Send us strength to do a good turn each day and so live by thy will. Message delivered by SM or other leader. Hymn - God Bless America God bless America, Land that I love, Stand beside her and guide her, Through the night with the light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home God bless America, my home sweet home. Benediction May the trail rise to meet you, May the wind always be at your back, May the rain fall softly on your face, May the Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand, And grant you peace. Amen

Another Christmas Scout story, if a little late. THE CHRISTMAS SCOUT by Sam Bogan In spite of the fun and laughter, 13-year old Frank Wilson was not happy. It was true he had received all the presents he wanted. And he enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve reunions with relatives for the purpose of exchanging gifts and good wishes. But, Frank was not happy because this was his first Christmas without his brother, Steve, who during the year, had been killed by a reckless driver. Frank missed his brother and the close companionship they had together. Frank said good-bye to his relatives and explained to his parents that he was leaving a little early to see a friend; and from there he could walk home. Since it was cold outside, Frank put on his new plaid jacket. It was his FAVORITE gift. He placed the other presents on his new sled. Then Frank headed out, hoping to find the patrol leader of his Boy Scout troup. Frank always felt understood by him. Though rich in wisdom, he lived in the Flats, the section of town where most of the poor lived, and his patrol leader did odd jobs to help support his family. To Frank's disappointment, his friend was not at home. As Frank hiked down the street toward home, he caught glimpses of trees and decorations in many of the small houses. Then, through one front window, he glimpsed a shabby room with limp stockings hanging over an empty fireplace. A woman was seated nearby ... weeping. The stockings reminded him of the way he and his brother had always hung theirs side by side. The next morning, they would be bursting with presents. A sudden thought struck Frank -- he had not done his "good deed" for the day. Before the impulse passed, he knocked on the door. "Yes?" the sad voice of the woman asked. "May I come in?" asked Frank. "You are very welcome," she said, seeing his sled full of gifts, and assuming he was making a collection, "but I have no food or gifts for you. I have nothing for my own children." "That's not why I am here," Frank replied. "Please choose whatever presents you would like for your children from the sled." "Why, God Bless You!" the amazed woman answered gratefully. She selected some candies, a game, the toy airplane and a puzzle. When she took the Scout flashlight, Frank almost cried out. Finally, the stockings were full. "Won't you tell me your name?" she asked, as Frank was leaving. "Just call me the Christmas Scout," he replied. The visit left Frank touched, and with an unexpected flicker of joy in his heart. He understood that his sorrow was not the only sorrow in the world. Before he left the Flats, he had given away the remainder of his gifts. The plaid jacket had gone to a shivering boy. Now Frank trudged homeward, cold and uneasy. How could he explain to his parents that he had given his presents away? "Where are your presents, son?" asked his father as Frank entered the house. Frank answered, "I gave them away." "The airplaine from Aunt Susan? Your coat from Grandma? Your flashlight? We thought you were happy with your gifts." "I was ---- very happy," the boy answered quietly. "But Frank, how could you be so impulsive?" his mother asked. "How will we explain to the relatives who spent so much time and gave so much love shopping for you?" His father was firm. "You made your choice, Frank. We cannot afford any more presents." With his brother gone, and his family disappointed in him, Frank suddenly felt dreadfully alone. He had not expected a reward for his generosity, for he knew that a good deed always should be its own reward. It would be tarnished otherwise. So he did not want his gifts back; however he wondered if he would ever again truly recapture joy in his life. He thought he had this evening, but it had been fleeting. Frank thought of his brother, and sobbed himself to sleep. The next morning, he came downstairs to find his parents listening to Christmas music on the radio. Then the announcer spoke: "Merry Christmas, everybody! The nicest Christmas story we have this morning comes from the Flats. A crippled boy down there has a new sled this morning, another youngster has a fine plaid jacket, and several families report that their children were made happy last night by gifts from a teenage boy who simply called himself the Christmas Scout. No one could identify him, but the children of the Flats claim that the Christmas Scout was a personal representative of old Santa Claus himself." Frank felt his father's arms go around his shoulders, and he saw his mother smiling through her tears. "Why didn't you tell us? We didn't understand. We are so proud of you, son." The carols came over the air again filling the room with music --- "...Praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on Earth."

Yes, Huckabee is a novice as well. He has one term as Lt. Gov. (3 years) and 2 terms (plus a partial) as Gov. (9 years). His experience is comparable to Clinton's when he first ran. Compare that to 7 years in a state Senate and 2 years as a US Senator for Obama. I doubt any of that really matters to most voters. What might matter is one has been a CEO, the other a member of group. Hence, governors beat senators in presidential elections.