What’s news today?
My media blackout ends today.
I will be back to my regular news posting tomorrow.
You’ve been warned!
😯
But we’ll continue the open thread part as well, since I kinda like that too.
🙂
Wandering Views
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Wandering Views 
Of note for many of you, the Senate did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The vote was 61 – 38.
Meanwhile Bob Woodward reports that Fox news chief Roger Ailes made an attempt to recruit David Petreaus to run against Obama. Ailes denies it. Full story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/fox-news-chiefs-failed-attempt-to-enlist-petraeus-as-presidential-candidate/2012/12/03/15fdcea8-3d77-11e2-a2d9-822f58ac9fd5_story_1.html
Lastly, as the Hill and the White House continue to negotiate cuts and tax deductions/rates, what if any deductions would you all get rid of?
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I would get rid of all of them and implement a flat-tax system.
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CB, I would go back to Reagan’s 1986 tax bill adjusted for inflation. That system raised 20% of GDP while we now raise 15%. Taxes would go up on dividends and capital gains as they would be taxed as ordinary income. I would also eliminate all spending programs instituted after Reagan left office.
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From OneNewsNow
A retired Army chaplain and expert on the Middle East says it is a mistake for Israel to continually agree to cease-fires whenever Palestinian terrorists launch rocket attacks against innocent Israelis.
Brigadier General Dr. James Hutchens (USA-Ret.) is a former chaplain who now serves as president of The JerUSAlem Connection. He says the same sad movie continues to play time and time again: Israel is attacked by Arab terrorists, they respond, and when they get the upper hand, they agree to a cease-fire demanded by the U.S., the U.N. and the E.U.
But Hutchens believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should “give war a chance.”
“There are those who have been advocating all along that there is a diplomatic solution to this, and I just don’t believe it,” Hutchens offers. “I don’t think you can deter Jihadists. I don’t think you can negotiate with them. They have to be defeated. There has to be a military solution — Then you can talk about any diplomacy afterwards.”
He asserts that peace will only come from the Prince of Peace.
“We’re praying for the coming of the Messiah, for the return of Jesus,” the former chaplain states. “He’s the only one that can bring peace. When He comes, there’s all kinds of havoc that’s raised, and those who oppose Him cease to oppose.”
Hutchens adds that the Bible is clear: a colossal clash between Israel and the surrounding peoples is coming.
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Rick
That’s a good start. I’d probably cut a little deeper, beginning with the Department of Education.
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Chas
Honsetly I wish people would keep their eschatology out of their politics and foreign policy ruminations. I find it appalling that a chaplain is rooting for war. But he has much in common with Shiite imams who hold a similar end of days belief.
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CB, it doesn’t sound like he is rooting for as much as he thinks it may be the only answer. I don’t see where he is bringing in eschatology other than as a prediction.
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Speaking of “end of days”…I have been watching a lot of a new channel on TV History 2 I think it is. They are running a lot of shows on the Mayan Calendar and December 21st and Doomsday Preppers. One show is “Decoded” and they look at some historical mysteries.
I figure I will either wake up December 21st or I won’t. Not much I can do about it either way.
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With all that’s going on in the Middle East right now I can see why some would take the Mayan prediction seriously. 🙂 If the Pope dies and is replaced by Peter II it’s all over.
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Flat tax has always sounded good to me, even if it will be the ruin of the CPA profession and Turbo Tax.
But then again, maybe not. 🙂
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Since this was on the News, I thought I would post it: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/04/woman-world-oldest/1747175/
Just think about the life of this woman. She lived through WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, 911, Afghanistan, Iraq. She lived to see a man walk on the moon, the birth of the computer, the internet, and social media. She saw more technological advances in her lifetime than throughout most of human history.
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CB, You have my proxy to cut as deeply as you see fit, and I agree with you about the Dept. of Education.
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CB, I quite agree that mixing eschatology with politics is a dubious idea, though I agree with Gen. Hutchens view that radical Islamist outfits including Hamas are incapable of diplomacy and need to be fought. Sooner or later Israel will need to militarily defeat Hamas and probably Iran.
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December 21 is my birthday.
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Israel should go to the UN an make it clear, since this body wants a Palestine State so bad. Here is the land they can have for their State the West Bank and Gaza that is it. Jerusalem will not be part of a Palestine State, period, this world has try a divide city it was called Berlin and it failed. No Nation, no body is going to force Jerusalem to be divide, we will defend East Jerusalem with our lives.
That as of January first, Israel will stop the navel blockage any transportation into Israel from the West Bank and Gaza must have a Jewish Pass port. Our Finical Obligation to the Palestine State ends as of the 1st of January, any Palestine that wishes to leave the Nation of Israel is free to move to the Palestine State, must understand they will not be permitted to come back Israel with out a Jewish Pass port.
Any attacks from any part of the Palestine State, will be an act of war and Israel will declare war against the Palestine State. End of discussion, on this issue. The Palestine State issue is now settled.
Then walk out of the UN. When Mr. Obama, and the terrorist group and the failed UN Gets up set. Israel looks at the end of the media the discussion on this issue is over, the Palestine State issue is done.
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that comment is from Pastor Roy
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sorry this should have read
Then walk out of the UN. When Mr. Obama, and the terrorist group and the failed UN Gets up set. Israel should looks at the media and delare this is end of the discussion on this issue, it is over, the Palestine State issue is done.
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While Statehood, may on the surface feel good for the PA, it a double edged sword and can cut both ways. Since Hamas is part of the PA, should Hamas start its missile assault on Israel, the government of Israel could consider their actions sanctioned by the PA and a state of war would exist between Israel and the PA. At which point Israel could launch a major air, sea and land battle against the PA and clean out the rats nest once and for all.
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Can you image Mr. Obama and the Fail UN reaction if Israel did declare that the P.S. is only the West Bank and Gaza, that is it. We will no longer debate this issue.
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Pastor Roy, should that occur, the PA better build up their infra structure and utility grid. Right now the PA gets all their electric power and water from Israel. If the PA were to become its own government, Israel could say, ok guys, you are on your own now. Hope you can make without electric power and clean water.
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drivesguy, to me Israel should make such annoucement, since they are being force into a corn and yes, they should declare that PA will not be using their electric power and water from Israel
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I believe if Israel would do that Mr. Obama would show his true colors and hate for Israel as would the failed UN.
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One of the reasond Gen Hutchns said what he did is because the Palistinians think Jerusalem is their capital city. Romney recognized Jerusalem as the capital city of Isreae. Obama doesn’t .
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Mr. Obama refuse to see Jerusalem as the Capital because he does not want to upset the PA and the Muslim Nations.
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I thought Tel Aviv was the capital?
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Michelle, deends on who you ask. Ask an Israli and you will get Jerusalem. Ask Hillary and you get Tal Aviv. Jeruaalem is toxic to them. Note the ruckus that Romney caused when he declared Jerusalem the capital.
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The reason it is view as toxic to them is the both sides are claim to the temple mount. If Mr. Obama views Jerusalem as the Capital, then how can he demand isreal to surrender east jerusalem to the PA
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