What’s interesting out there today?
Open Thread
The obvious choice of course is the attack in Boston yesterday.
From TheBostonHerald
“Two huge explosions rocked the Boston Marathon finish line at Copley Square just before 3 p.m. today, killing three and injuring 144 at last count, including several traumatic amputations on streets crowded with runners, spectators and post-race partiers.
Many of those injured are children — including an 8-year-old killed in the blast, the Herald has learned. Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said tonight there is “no suspect” and the death toll is now at three.
“We will get to the bottom of this. We will find out who did this and we will find out why,” said President Obama this evening. “They will feel the full weight of justice.”
We also know that at least 2 other unexploded bombs were found.
I think we can all agree with the President on this, regardless of who is responsible.
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One thing that always stands out to me when things like this happen is how people respond. As with 9-11, in the midst of tragedy, the best of America shines through. I watched quite a bit of coverage. I saw many people helping. I saw Police and first responders who rushed into to lend aid to the injured, unconcerned with their own safety. I watched runners and spectators doing what they could to help.
From NBCNews
“As runners and their loved ones fled bomb blasts that tore apart the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday, many were taken in by locals who offered them shelter, food and a comforting hand.
Ali Hatfield, who traveled from Kansas City with two friends to run in the race, said she was touched when a mother brought her daughter out to offer help as the trio and their families wandered the streets of Boston’s Back Bay, unable to return to their hotel.
“I’m bringing my daughter her out here because I want her to see that there (is) good in people and I don’t want her to be scared,” she recalled the woman as saying.”
“Some Good Samaritans offered their homes, couches, cots and sleeping bags, while others, such as a local restaurant, offered free food, access to phones and a place to get together with other stunned racegoers.”
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There are many conflicting reports about a suspect, but until that’s confirmed, why speculate? We also have reports that CCTV may have recorded the bomber placing backpacks in a trash can at the scene. I’ll post more as it becomes confirmed by authorities. Unlike certain liberal news organizations, I won’t speculate on who did this. As expected they rushed to try and link this to “right-wing” extremists. I won’t dignify such idiocy by linking to their trash. It’s irresponsible. Let’s wait and see what the facts show before rushing to judgment.
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Police have confirmed that they searched a home in Revere, Mass. that was related to the bombing.
From FoxNewsBoston
“Police were seen carrying several large bags from a suburban Boston apartment that authorities say was searched in connection to the Boston Marathon bombing.
The bags were removed from the apartment on Ocean Avenue in Revere just north of Boston at about 2 a.m. Tuesday.”
“Massachusetts State Police confirmed that a search warrant was served Monday night but provided no further details.”
The FBI also participated. From TheAP
“The FBI took charge of the investigation into the bombings, serving a warrant late Monday on a home in suburban Boston and appealing for any video, audio and still images taken by marathon spectators.”
“WBZ-TV reported late Monday that law enforcement officers were searching an apartment in the Boston suburb of Revere. Massachusetts State Police confirmed that a search warrant related to the investigation into the explosions was served Monday night in Revere, but provided no further details.”
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The NYPost is reporting that a possible suspect is in custody, and that it was his home that was searched.
“Police took a 20-year-old Saudi national into custody near the scene of yesterday’s horrific Boston Marathon bomb attack, law-enforcement sources told The Post.
The potential suspect was questioned by the FBI and local police yesterday at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he was under heavy guard while being treated for shrapnel injuries to his leg sustained in the blast.
In late afternoon, a large group of federal and state law enforcement agents raided an apartment in a building in the Saudi man’s hometown of Revere, Mass.”
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Wandering Views 
I was reading an e-mail from Wes Pruden about how people in England, and elsewhere, are still trying to diss Lady Thatcher even in her death.
I was thinking that when the history is written, it will be observed that she was opposed by some unheralded and now forgotten people.
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“Is it really that hard simply to say, ‘The President supports protecting the lives of all live-born babies’?”
Apparently so. Go figure.
http://www.dennyburk.com/president-obama-takes-no-position-on-protecting-the-lives-of-live-born-children/
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Oliver North in The Washington Times
“The unwillingness to deal forcefully with the North Korean regime in 1968 set a precedent from which neither the West in general nor the United States in particular ever has recovered. North Korean leaders, emboldened by the West’s flaccid response, stepped up their campaign of terror.”
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/8/korean-saber-rattling/#ixzz2Qdb3Kgwj
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
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Donna, that has been Obama’s position since he was in the Illinois Senate.
He is pro abortion, pro killing of newborn.
No other way to describe it.
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Sorry, off-topic again (from yesterday’s attacks) but here’s Kirsten Power’s column from today on the Gosnell coverage:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/16/yes-there-is-a-gosnell-trial-coverup-by-the-big-news-organizations.html
“Mollie Hemingway did yeoman’s work chronicling how faithfully The Washington Post’s health reporter, who covered Todd Aiken, the Susan G. Komen controversy, and the murder of abortion doctor George Tiller, didn’t write a single story on the Gosnell trial. No abortion regulation is too small for the mainstream media to cover; no stupid comment about abortion by any Republican goes unnoticed. So her disinterest in this trial is inexplicable. … ”
Beating a dead horse, of course, but how obvious is it that some “stories” are covered much more than others?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve discussed this with colleagues who completely dismiss the notion that there’s any kind of a socially liberal “tilt” to how the news (generally) is covered. It’s like talking to a brick wall.
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Chas, but you’d think that’s exactly why reporters now should aggressively pursue (and some are) some further explanation of that position. Is it defensible in the president’s mind after some of the graphic testimony we’ve heard at the Gosnell trial? How — really — does he defend his position (assuming he hasn’t abandoned it).
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I have two thoughts on Boston. One, the rest of the world deals with bombs in public places all the time–55 people were blown up by a car bomb in Iraq yesterday according to my paper. Israel has lost countless people to Palestinian terrorists, er freedom fighters. 😦
You can’t find a trash can on London streets because the IRA used to plant bombs in them, so the city just took them away.
It doesn’t make it right, but to me, what a relief only three people died.
The second is, this demand to find out “why?’
I don’t have to find out why, I know why–pure evil. Yes, we need to bring the terrorists to justice but beyond that, I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING ELSE.
I don’t care what their names are, what their stories are, why they thought killing people was worthy of their cause. IF WE TAKE AWAY THEIR PUBLICITY, we might avoid more of the same.
Yes, I’m shouting.
But it’s not personal to you, 🙂
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Donna,
Takes no position? Hardly. He just knows it’s bad optics to speak the truth, so the spokesliar does what spokesliars do….. lie to protect the flow of the blood money they rake in for campaigns.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/common-sense/2012/oct/15/planned-parenthood-president-obamas-obsession-abor/
“Consider his record. Back in 2003, Obama made it very clear that he supported late-term abortions—a euphemism that includes intact dilation and extraction, or “partial birth abortion.” He justified this position by saying women “know better than anybody the tragedy of a difficult pregnancy.” In fact, he touted that he voted specifically to protect partial birth abortion in Illinois.
In 2008, when Obama was running for president, a Washington Post article defended his pro-abortion record as an Illinois senator. According to a lobbyist for Illinois NOW, Susan Bramlet Lavin, the Planned Parenthood strategy in Illinois was for its politicians to vote “present” because it provided political cover, yet acted as a “no” vote. Obama twice voted present (no) on Partial Birth Abortion Ban Acts. He also voted present twice against Parental Notification of Abortion Acts, twice against laws to protect live-born children of abortions, and he even voted against a bill defining “born-alive infant” to include infants “born alive at any stage of development.”
Obama liked this strategy, and the Illinois branch of Planned Parenthood gave him a “100 percent” pro-choice voting rating for good reason.”
His record speaks for itself, even when he and his admin are too cowardly to state the obvious.
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My thoughts on the Boston Bombing. Years ago I was watching the news in the the break where I worked. I don’t remember the story but some idiot had done something stupid or evil or both. but as we watched a black co-worker mentioned that whenever a story like that came on his grandmother would pray, “Please, don’t let them be black.” I laughed and told him that I do something similar and with “Please don’t let them be from the South.” It was funny at the time, but as we wait for news on the Boston Bombing people over the country are doing the same thing; praying silently and out loud “please don’t let them be black, white, Latino, Asian, middle-eastern, from the South, from the West, Muslim, Catholic, Evangelical, Christian, Jewish, conservative, liberal, tea partier, occupier, pro-life, pro-abortion, democrat, republican, libertarian, anti-tax. anti-gun, anti-gun control, Please don’t let them have anything in common with me whatsoever. Why are we doing this? Because we don’t’ want to spend the next few months being told how this is all our fault.
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Some dark humor. I just saw this posted on Twitter: Benny Hinn to Preach to Muslims in Middle East Before He Dies
Why do I think those might wind up being simultaneous events?
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AJ — left or right, news media like to speculate …. if they are right they will claim brilliance and hard work, if they are wrong they will put a correction on the bottom of p. 23 with their sincere apologies. The Post report I believe is speculation since I haven’t heard it elsewhere.
michelle — several years back, I was in London for a few days of holidays on the way to see in-laws in Poland. I kept trying to find a garbage container until I recalled the City had taken them away to prevent their use by the IRA. The locals just threw litter onto the curb. Late at night I discovered why ….. after midnight, cleaning crews come out and cleaned up the garbage off the streets. They are as efficient as Montreal snow removal i.e. incredible. Proof the gov’t can do an amazing job.
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