News/Politics 4-13-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

The media continues to sandbag the Gosnell story. Here’s a rather pathetic attempt to explain why.

From Patheos

“Then I decided, since tmatt has me reading the Washington Post every day, to look at how the paper’s health policy reporter was covering Gosnell. I have critiqued many of her stories on the Susan G. Komen Foundation (she wrote quite a bit about that) and the Sandra Fluke controversy (she wrote quite a bit about that) and the Todd Akin controversy (you know where this is going). In fact, a site search for that reporter — who is named Sarah Kliff — and stories Akin and Fluke and Komen — yields more than 80 hits. Guess how many stories she’s done on this abortionist’s mass murder trial.

Did you guess zero? You’d be right. So I asked her about it. Here’s her response:

Hi Molly – I cover policy for the Washington Post, not local crime, hence why I wrote about all the policy issues you mention.”

“But gosh darn it, can you think of any policy implications to this, uh, “local crime” story? And that’s all it is. Just like a bunch of other local stories the Washington Post also refuses to cover — local crimes such as the killing of Trayvon Martin and the killing of Matthew Shepard and the killing of students at an elementary school in Connecticut. Did the Washington Post even think of covering those local crime stories? No! Oh wait, they did? Like, all the time? Hmm. That’s weird. But did they cover them in terms of policy implications? Asking politicians for their views and such? Oh they did that, too? Hmm. So weird. Oh, and Sarah Kliff herself wrote one of those stories? Well, gosh, I’m so confused.”

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Meanwhile MSNBC continues to ignore the story as well. But they did take the time to investigate if the GOP is too pro-life.

From Mediaite

“As examples of self-parody go, you can’t do much better than this. As the story of Philadelphia “house of horrors” abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell explodes on the internet and makes its way gradually onto the radars of the nation’s newsroom editors, questions have arisen about why this sensational story never received the wall-to-wall treatment it appears to merit. From conservatives and liberals alike, the universal horror that the Gosnell story has inspired is palpable. But some have suggested that the story is politically inconvenient for absolutist pro-choice activists. It simply does not fit the narrative, some say, which the media has come accustomed to reporting. A rather textbook example of this narrative stewarding came today via MSNBC. The network has not yet reported on Gosnell’s infanticide factory, but they took some time out of their busy programming day today to ask a panel of political professionals if the Republican Party’s base voters are simply too culturally conservative – and too pro-life – for the party’s leadership and the general electorate.”

UPDATE: Lest you think that this was simply an oversight by Todd’s program, MSNBC’s straight news anchor Thomas Roberts and panel guests dug into a new NBC poll which shows that more people feel that restrictions on abortion rights are appropriate. One would think that the Gosnell case would dovetail well with this segment. One would think…”

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But as was noted in the story above, it is getting out. Not at NBC, CBS, CNN, ABC, WaPo, NYTimes, LATimes, Politico and others, but from less biased sources. And even on the floor of the House.

From TheWashingtonTimes

“Reflecting mounting frustration over the lack of press coverage of inner-city Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell’s murder trial, a group of pro-life House members took to the floor to denounce what they call a “national media cover-up” of the sensational case.

“Again, I ask my colleagues and I ask the news media, ‘Why the blackout?’” said Rep. Christopher H. Smith, New Jersey Republican. “Will America ever be told of the brutality of abortion?”

The congressional outcry is the latest effort to draw attention to the gruesome courtroom drama unfolding in Philadelphia, where Dr.  Gosnell stands accused of committing eight murders  including seven live  babies born after botched abortions  at the Women’s  Medical Society.

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And I must say, Rep. Smith pulled no punches. See for yourself.

“If Dr. Gosnell had walked into a nursery and shot seven infants with an AR-15, it would be national news and the subject of presidential hand-wringing.”

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Meanwhile the President continues to exploit the Newtown tragedy, and use the families as props to push his agenda. Here’s the latest display.

From Reuters

“President Barack Obama has asked a mother whose 6-year-old son was killed in the Newtown, Connecticut massacre to deliver his weekly radio address, an unusual move expected to turn up the pressure on Congress to pass tougher gun control laws.”

And just like the victims of Hurricane Sandy, they’ll be cast aside and ignored once the photo ops are over and they’re no longer useful.

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They’re just going completely over the top with this nonsense. Now you have law enforcement and an Obama supporting prosecutor targeting soldiers outside Ft. Hood.

From TheDailyCaller

“The conflict between law enforcement and armed military personnel in the community around Fort Hood, one of America’s largest military bases, has recently and repeatedly involved the issue of gun control — and the tension has been exacerbated in part by an Obama-supporting prosecutor described as a “bandleader” of anti-gun efforts in the heavily conservative community.”

The conflict reached a fever pitch last month, when Texas police arrested an  active-duty Army sergeant for “rudely displaying” a hunting rifle. The sergeant,  C.J. Grisham, established an online legal defense fund after he was, in  his words, “illegally arrested and disarmed” for carrying the firearm.”

“Video of the incident obtained by The Daily Caller shows officers defending their behavior to Grisham while restraining him.

“In this day and age, [people] are alarmed when they see someone with what you have,” one of the officers tells Grisham in the video. “They don’t care what the law is.””

But you as a police officer should.

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While the police are busy harassing law-abiding citizens/soldiers, the illegals continue to break actual laws. But these actual laws aren’t enforced like the non-existent law above.

From WOAIRadio

“Officials say the number of people entering  the U.S. illegally is way up and, tragically, the number of undocumented  immigrants who have been found dead in the unforgiving Texas Brush Country is  way up, and is on path this year to beat last year’s record for the number of  people found dead in the ranch country.

Linda Vickers, who owns a ranch in  Brooks County, which is Ground Zero for the immigration debate, pins the blame  directly on talk of ‘amnesty’ and a ‘path to citizenship’ for people who entered  the U.S. illegally.”

“”The Border Patrol agent was loading one man up, and he told the officer in Spanish, ‘Obama’s gonna let me go’.” Border Patrol agents report that immigrants are crossing the border, and in some  cases surrendering while asking, “Where do I go for my amnesty?””

“She says the current increase in illegal  immigrant entries began last summer, at almost exactly the same time as President Obama unilaterally announced plans to no longer deport young people  who came to the U.S. as children with their illegal immigrant parents.”

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Our Daily Thread 4-12-13

Good Morning!

It’s Friday! 🙂

On this day in 1204 the Fourth Crusade sacked Constantinople.

In 1606 England adopted the original Union Jack as its flag.

In 1811 the first colonists arrived at Cape Disappointment, Washington.

In 1861 Fort Sumter was shelled by the Confederacy, the first battle of America’s Civil War.

In 1945 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt died in Warm Spring, GA.

And in 1981 the space shuttle Columbia blasted off from Cape Canaveral, FL, on its first test flight.

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Quote of the Day

“Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.”

Beverly  Cleary

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Well today is David Cassidy’s birthday. So I’m contractually obligated to play some Partridge Family.

OK, not really. But I want too. 🙂

First my favorite….

And then the one that’s probably their most popular…..

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Anyone have a QoD?

Prayer Requests 4-12-13

Who can we pray for today?

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.

2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

7 Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

News/Politics 4-12-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

There’s a lot to choose from, that’s for sure.

We have some scary stuff, from TheCSMonitor

“That was the bombshell out of a House Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday.

It came when Rep. Doug Lamborn (R) of Colorado began quoting from what he said was an unclassified version of the DIA report, which has not yet been made public.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, the nation’s top military officer, appeared caught off-guard. The Pentagon has in recent days sought to strike a balance between words of warning to the North and attempts to calm the situation. General Dempsey’s reaction suggested that he was not pleased to have the DIA assessment made public, as it could further stoke anxieties over what is already a enormously tense international standoff.”

Greaaaaaat….. 🙄

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We have Dems pretending to be European Socialists by behaving badly….. from Heritage

“One would naturally think it impossible that anyone would hesitate – even for an instant – to honor the woman who tackled communism head on as prime minister of Great Britain. Lady Margaret Thatcher was a principled politician who helped to foster the special relationship between Great Britain and the United States that we all benefit from today.

A Senate resolution to honor Lady Thatcher was supposed to pass last night.  However, per well placed sources on the Hill, Democrats have a hold on the resolution.”

I’m not shocked at all. And they’re not pretending either I suspect.

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The President’s Priorities, from TheWallStJournal

“President Obama is pitching his new budget proposal as a fiscal peace offering to Republicans, but the details suggest everyone should expect more conflict. The fiscal 2014 plan he released Wednesday is a very slightly modified version of his previous budgets that reduces the deficit by raising taxes and trading defense cuts for more domestic spending.

The real news is that his budget ratifies much of the spending increase of the first term and tries to lock it in. He wants the feds to spend $3.78 trillion next year ($11,944 per American), which would still be 22.2% of national output nearly four years into an economic recovery. Before the financial panic in 2008, the government was spending about $1 trillion less, or closer to $2.7 trillion a year and an average of 20% of GDP—and President Bush was no slouch as a spender himself.”

“On the other hand, debt held by the public as a share of the economy will continue to climb—to what the White House predicts will be a peak of 78.2% of GDP in 2014. As recently as 2008, U.S. debt was 40.5% of the economy. Mr. Obama has nearly doubled it. (See the nearby chart.) With a modicum of spending restraint and faster growth, the debt burden will start to decline. The danger is that there’s no room to avoid Southern European debt levels if we have another recession or an interest-rate spike.”

Good thing we don’t have a spending problem huh? 🙄

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So how exactly did that bi-partisan gun deal come about? Why in typical DC fashion of course. From TheWashingtonTimes

“Sen. Mark Kirk says the real driving force  behind the gun deal that was hatched by bipartisan work was booze and boat  retreats.

The Illinois Republican said to reporters that visits to the Black Tie, a  yacht owned by Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin,  played a large role in the Democratic-Republican come-together over background  checks and other legislation related to gun control, Roll Call reported.”

“You guys really ought to go out to National  Harbor and see the Black Tie, which has been much of the reason for much of  the bipartisan cooperation around here,” he said, as quoted in Roll Call.”

You can look, but don’t touch it. They don’t like the commoners touchin’ their stuff.

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Next we have a serious case of judicial, and I suspect liberal, stupidity. From FoxNewsBoston

“The illegal immigrant who was drunk driving when he hit and dragged a Milford man to his death has been ruled incompetent to stand trial.

Judge  Janet Kinton-Walker says Nicolas Guaman’s “unique cultural background” and language barrier means that he doesn’t understand the court process. The court  also said that he lacks the ability to consult with his attorney properly.”

“FOX 25’s Melissa Mahan asked Maloney whether she believes Guaman does not understand the court process in the United States because of his language  barrier.

“No, I don’t believe it,” said Maloney. “In the past, he’s had other run-ins with the law. He’s been in court multiple times on other charges prior to all this in August 2011 and a Spanish interpreter or no interpreter was used for those hearings and he’s always managed just fine.”

Sure. And does he keep breaking the law because he doesn’t understand it too? Oh well. Let’s face it, the DoJ and INS would probably just release him anyway, what with Sequester cuts and all. 🙄

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These last 3 are all education/indoctrination related. We have some doozies today.

First, from the hallowed halls of higher learning we have the Clown Prince of Professors, from FoxNewsRadio

“For two years the University of Southern California student had listened to the classroom ranting of liberal professors. So it wasn’t much of a surprise when Darry Sragow, his political science professor, launched into an anti-Republican tirade on the first day of class.”

“The 20-year-old political science major bought a hidden camera disguised as a shirt button. And that’s how he was able to secretly videotape every single lecture delivered by Professor Sragow.”

““On the first day of class he talked about how Republicans prevent blacks from voting,” Talgo said. “He also said that he used to work for Democratic candidates and it was his job to kill Republicans.”

““They’re really stupid and racist,” Sragow said at one point. “The Republican party is increasingly the last refuge of old, angry white people who don’t like what’s going on in this country.””

And yes, there’s video at the link. But with a  CONTENT WARNING!!!  for some cussing.

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Next we have the further indoctrination of public school kids, disguised as education of course. Gotta get ’em young. From NationalReview

“One doesn’t need to be a global-warming skeptic to be appalled by a new set of national K–12 science standards. Those standards, developed by educrats and science administrators, and likely to be adopted initially by up to two dozen states, put the study of global warming and other ways that humans are destroying life as we know it at the very core of science education. This is a political choice, not a scientific one. But the standards are equally troubling in their embrace of the nostrums of progressive pedagogy.

Students educated under the Next Generation Science Standards will begin their lifelong attention to climate change as soon as they enter school. Kindergartners will be expected to “use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area” (perhaps this is what used to be known as “building a fort”) and “develop understanding of patterns and variations in local weather and the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to, severe weather.” Things get even scarier by the third grade, when students should be asking such questions as: “How can the impact of weather-related hazards be reduced?” The standards don’t mention protesting the Keystone pipeline as a possible “real-world” answer to the question of how to reduce “weather-related hazards,” but rest assured that the graduates of America’s left-wing education schools will not hesitate to include such hands-on learning experiences in their global-warming-politics — oops, make that “science” — classes. By high school, students are squarely in the world of environmental policy-making, expected to “evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.””

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And the last of the bunch is also from a public school, again, get the kids. From EAGNews

“Eighth-graders in Wisconsin’s Union Grove school district were assigned to fill out a “Liberalism vs. Conservatism” crossword puzzle, and they learned some new and very questionable “facts.”

Students learned conservatism is “the political belief of preserving traditional moral values by restricting personal freedoms … ”

Conversely, they learned liberalism is “the political belief of equality and personal freedom for everyone, often changing the current system to increase government protection of civil liberties.”

“On the back side of the crossword puzzle was a political survey students were required to fill out to identify their beliefs, something Varebrook believes is equally troubling.”

That’s how they figure out who the free-thinking trouble makers are. Can’t have ’em influencing the collective with their conservative values. You know how radical 8th graders are. Best to identify ’em early.

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Our Daily Thread 4-11-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1783, after receiving a copy of the provisional treaty on March 13, the U.S. Congress proclaimed a formal end to hostilities with Great Britain.

In 1898 U.S. President William McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war with Spain.

In 1899 the treaty ending the Spanish-American War was declared in effect.

In 1940 Andrew Ponzi set a world’s record in a New York pocket billiards tournament when he ran 127 balls straight. That’s impressive.

In 1945 American soldiers liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald in Germany.

In 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first black player in major-league history. He played in an exhibition game for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

In 1968 U.S. President Johnson signed the 1968 Civil Rights Act.

And in 1981 U.S. President Ronald Reagan returned to the White House from the hospital after recovering from an assassination attempt on March 30.

Lot’s of stuff happened on this date.

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Quote of the Day

“The way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.”

Jackie  Robinson

And at the end of the year baseball will retire his #42 when Mariano Rivera, the last player still wearing the number retires. That’s fitting in my opinion, since they’re 2 players who made a lasting impact on the game, and both will go to the Hall of Fame wearing it. One changed baseball for the better, and to some extent the nation’s opinions. The other is the standard by which all present and future closers will be compared. It’s a well deserved honor.

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Now when I say “Louie Louie” you think the Kingsmen. I do.

Or The Kinks. 🙂

But no, Richard Berry and the Pharaohs did it first in 1955. I did not know that. Today’s his birthday, so here ya’ go….

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Who has a QoD for us today?

Prayer Requests 4-11-13

Who has a request, praise, or update for us today?

Psalm 127

1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Life Matters 4-11-13

The Arkansas Senate has voted to defund Planned Parenthood in that state. Other abortion providers face the same restrictions.

From TheChristianPost

“Members of the Arkansas Senate voted Tuesday to defund Planned  Parenthood and other abortion providers that receive federal and state grants to  fund sex education programs.

Senate Bill 818 was introduced by Rep. Gary  Stubblefield (R-Branch), who aims to end the subsidization of Planned Parenthood  and other abortion providers that receive federal and state tax dollars to fund  their sex education programs, because it violates the state’s constitution.

Amendment 68 of the Arkansas constitution states that: “No public funds will  be used to pay for any abortion, except to save the mother’s life.””

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That’s probably a wise choice considering the allegations of fraud coming out about Planned Parenthood and other groups.

From LifeNews

“Alliance Defending Freedom made public its latest report to Congress Wednesday identifying waste, abuse, and potential fraud by Planned Parenthood, state family planning programs, and other organizations. The report updates the original Alliance Defending Freedom report submitted in October 2011 and urges Congress to continue its investigation into the misuse of taxpayer dollars.”

“The report details the 12 known audits or other reviews of Planned Parenthood affiliates’ financial data and practices as well as 45 audits of state family planning programs and one audit of a family planning organization. The audits found a total of more than $108 million in waste, abuse, and potential fraud.

The report also identifies 12 types of potential fraud being committed by Planned Parenthood affiliates nationwide. The potential fraud includes billing and being reimbursed by Title XIX agencies for medications and/or services provided in connection with an abortion, which is illegal under federal law.”

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A Planned Parenthood in Delaware is being accused operating with unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

From ABCPhiladelphia

“A series of emergency calls made from the Planned Parenthood of Delaware this year are raising concerns about what’s happening behind the closed doors.

Two former nurses who both quit are speaking exclusively with Action News about what they saw inside.”

“Another former employee, Joyce Vasikonis told Action News, “They were using instruments on patients that were not sterile.”

The former nurses claim that a rush to get patients in and out left operating tables soiled and unclean.”

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I told you last week about the Planned Parenthood lobbyist who defended infanticide. It turns out she has other clients who might, or should, see a conflict with employing this woman’s company. It seems she hides her Planned Parenthood lobbying work on her website. It’s not difficult to see why. Turns out she also served on the  board of Catholic Charities of NW Florida until January, and her partner worked for Jeb Bush. Talk about playing both sides against the middle.

From LifeSiteNews

“Alisa LaPolt Snow, the Planned Parenthood lobbyist, has an unusual client roster for someone who has publicly defended infanticide. Many of her clients are health care providers who care for suffering infants with lingering illnesses.

According to National Institute on Money in State Politics, her firm, Snow Strategies, has represented a host of clients who try to save babies’ lives.”

“The website records that LaPolt Snow’s services have been retained by the Alliance for Pediatric Therapies, Brightstart Pediatrics, Pediatria: Health Care for Kids, Caring Hearts, and Cradling Hands PPEC Care, among others.”

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The Kermit Gosnell murder trial continues. The details are really bad.  I cannot stress this enough, if you are easily upset by things like this then skip the link please.

CONTENT WARNING!!!!

And of course the media blackout of the trial continues as well, despite complaints from conservative leaders

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News/Politics 4-11-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

This morning we go fast and furious. We won’t be running guns, but we will talk about them. Since there’s so many, I’ll try to be brief. 🙂

First the expanded background checks. Seems mostly reasonable, but any attempts to limit rights make me nervous. I just don’t trust ’em to leave it at this. From TheHill

“The proposal would expand background checks to cover all sales at gun shows and  over the Internet. Those background checks would have to be accompanied by  records proving to law enforcement officials they took place.

It would exempt gun sales and transfers between friends and acquaintances  without the help of an online intermediary.”

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Meanwhile more than half of Colorado’s Sheriffs have signed on to a lawsuit against that state’s new gun grab laws. From FoxNews

“The Denver Post reports that 37 of the state’s 62 sheriffs will sue to  overturn laws passed in March that set limits on ammunition magazines and expand  background checks for firearms.

Weld County Sheriff John Cooke told the paper that the proposed lawsuit would  argue the laws violate Second Amendment rights. He said the lawsuit would likely  be filed within the next few weeks.”

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Now on to the President’s idea of a budget. Or as I like to call it, DOA. From TheDailyMail

“Early analysis: Obama’s 2014 budget numbers are based on bad math, phantom  revenues, imagined spending cuts and a middle-class tax hike”

“White House promises $1.8 trillion in  deficit reduction, although similar previous claims have been  debunked

New method of measuring cost-of-living  increases will lower benefit payouts and push middle-class earners into higher  tax brackets

Speaker Boehner’s spokesperson: ‘Any deficit  reduction will come exclusively from tax hikes’

Administration’s formula depends on cost  savings from Obamacare, which may be more costly to implement than previously thought”

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ObamaCare savings? I think not. From Bloomberg

“The $1.3 trillion U.S. health-care system overhaul is getting more expensive and will initially accomplish less than intended.

Costs for a network of health-insurance exchanges, a core part of the Affordable Care Act, have swelled to $4.4 billion for fiscal 2012 and 2013, and will reach $5.7 billion in 2014, according to President Barack Obama’s budget sent to Congress today. Spending would be more than double the projections, even though less than half the 50 U.S. states are participating.”

So if all states participate, it’s even worse. Savings? Please. It’s working out just as we said it would. And just think, all this, with no benefits yet. Just imagine how far off they’ll be once they actually have to start paying out benefits.

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Even some Dems are catching on to the fact that they created a monster. From TheWashingtonExaminer

“Decrying the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as way too complex, he warned the acting Medicare director that Obamacare is “so complicated and if it isn’t done right the first time, it will just simply get worse.”

“”I believe that the Affordable Care Act is probably the most complex piece of legislation ever passed by the United States Congress. Tax reform obviously has been huge too, but up to this point it is just beyond comprehension,” said Rockefeller.”

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Looks like they’d like to use the same rush tactic on immigration that they used for ObamaCare. From TheWashingtonExaminer

“Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, faulted Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., for limiting the committee review of the gang of eight’s immigration proposal to just one hearing, scheduled for next week.

“A single hearing scheduled so quickly to discuss legislative language that is not yet even available is completely inadequate for Senators or the American people to get answers to the many questions a bill of this magnitude will inevitably raise,” Lee said in a statement. “We could not possibly have a meaningful hearing with a substantive discussion of what will surely be over 1,000 pages of provisions we haven’t even yet seen.””

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Just one more reason to dislike the IRS. From TheHill

“The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has claimed that agents do not need warrants to read people’s emails, text messages and other private electronic  communications, according to internal agency documents.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which obtained  the documents through a Freedom of Information Act request, released the information on Wednesday.”

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And since we’re on the subject of unconstitutional power grabs and abuse of power, we’ll stay with it. From TheWashingtonExaminer

“A bill aimed at pressuring the Boy Scouts of America to lift its ban on gay members by making the organization ineligible for nonprofit tax breaks cleared its first vote on Wednesday in the California Legislature.”

“The Youth Equality Act, sponsored by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach, would deny tax-exempt status to youth groups that discriminate on the basis of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or religious affiliation.”

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Another example? Really? I see a pattern here. From FoxNews

“The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged Tuesday that it released  personal information on potentially thousands of farmers and ranchers to  environmental groups, following concerns from congressional Republicans and  agriculture groups that the release could endanger their safety.

According to a document obtained by FoxNews.com, the EPA said “some of the  personal information that could have been protected … was released.” Though the  EPA has already sent out the documents, the agency now says it has since  redacted sensitive details and asked the environmental groups to “return the  information.””

Sure, after the horse has left the barn.

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And to finish, some words from Clarence Thomas on the decline of black communities. From TheObserver-Reporter

“Thomas spoke to an appreciative audience at Duquesne Law School in Pittsburgh. The crowd of about 1,200 people responded with both applause and laughter as he discussed politics, the makeup of the Supreme Court, race, and his own struggles to find his path in life.”

“If I was going to have hard feelings, it’d be mostly on race issues,” Thomas said. “My heart is broken because I worked in the inner cities.”

He said he’s seen terrible decline in some black communities over the years and today “virtually every crime is drug related.” Many young people have no families and no education and numerous anti-poverty programs have failed to make a difference, he said.

“We should at least fess up and say something is wrong,” Thomas said.”

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Our Daily Thread 4-10-13

Good Morning!

On this day in 1790 the U.S. patent system was established.

In 1865 during the American Civil War, at Appomattox, General Robert E. Lee issued his last order.

In 1866 the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was incorporated.

In 1912 the Titanic set sail from Southampton, England.

In 1930 the first synthetic rubber was produced.

And in 1960 the U.S. Senate passed the Civil Rights Bill.

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Quote of the Day

“Don’t worry about the horse being blind, just load the wagon.”

John  Madden

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He always did love the huge guitars. 🙂

That one was for Brian’s birthday, plus he sure can play. This one with the rest of the band is just ‘cuz I like it. 🙂

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Who has a QoD for us?