News/Politics 5-31-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

There’s plenty to choose from today.

First up, the continuing, and growing, IRS scandal.

“While the developing scandal over the targeting of conservatives by the tax agency has largely focused to date on its scrutiny of groups with words such as “tea party” or “patriot” in their names, these examples suggest the government was looking at a broader array of conservative groups and perhaps individuals. Their collective experiences at a minimum could spread skepticism about the fairness of a powerful agency that should be above reproach and at worst could point to a secret political vendetta within the government against conservatives.” From McClatchy.com

Is anyone really surprised?

Next up, who wants a Special Prosecutor? Pretty much everyone.

“A Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday shows 76 percent want a special counsel to 17 percent opposing. The idea has strong support across all parties, with 88 percent of Republicans, 63 percent of Democrats and 78 percent of independents calling for a special prosecutor.” From TheHill

We’re supposed to believe the President when he says those responsible will be held accountable. And yet….

“Through 2012, then-Exempt Organization Specialist Stephen Seok signed many of the intimidating letters sent to conservative nonprofits. For example, this January 2012 letter sent to the Richmond Tea Party demanded the date, time and location of all group events, as well as copies of all handouts provided at the events, and the names and credentials of all organizers. Seok also demanded the names of all speakers and the contents of the speeches they made. According to WXIX-TV/Fox 19 in Cincinnati, Seok is no longer an exempt organization specialist. He has since been promoted to “supervisor IRS agent.” From TheWashingtonExaminer

Now to Lois Lerner. We know a lot of what she’s done in this scandal. We also know she did the same type of political hit jobs while at the FEC. It’s obvious intimidation is her preferred tactic, and the reason she’s the administration preferred tool for just such dirty business.

We also know Durbin was one of the Senators writing and asking the IRS and Lerner to investigate and harass conservatives. And now we find out that Lerner has done similar dirty work at Durbin’s request before. And where else but Chicago? Here’s more.

“The IRS scandal may have its roots in Illinois politics. Specifically, the 1996 U.S. Senate race between Democrat Congressman Dick Durbin and conservative Republican State Rep. Al Salvi.

More than a decade before his 2010 letter to IRS officials urging the agency to target conservative organizations, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s political career crossed paths with Ms. Lerner when she was head of the Enforcement Division of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and directly involved in the 1996 Illinois U.S. Senate race.

Soon after the IRS story broke, Al Salvi told Illinois Review that it was IRS official Lois Lerner who represented the FEC in the 1996 Democrat complaint against him. According to Salvi, Lerner was, without question, politically motivated, and went so far as to make him an offer: “Promise me you will never run for office again, and we’ll drop this case.” From TheIllinoisReview

It’s a good read.

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It looks like California has taken a page from Chicago and Lois Lerner. Intimidation and threatening/revoking tax exempt status. It’s obviously directed at the Boy Scouts. They’re saying this is for all “youth groups” though, and that troubles me. How long before Christian groups have their tax exempt status threatened for daring to hold to biblical standards too?

And this should disabuse some of the idea that you can compromise with these people and stop their constant attacks against anyone who disagrees with their ideology and agenda.

“Even as the Boy Scouts of America moves to allow gay youths to join its troops, the California Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would revoke the organization’s nonprofit status because it does not permit the participation of openly gay adults.

“They are out of line with the values of California and should be ineligible for a tax benefit paid for by all Californians,” Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, said as he introduced his bill. “SB 323 brings our laws into line with our values.”

The measure calls for revoking the tax-exempt status of youth groups that discriminate against participants on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identification.”

“The bill passed the state Senate 27-9, receiving the bare minimum of votes required. It needed two-thirds support because it changes California’s tax code. Three senators did not vote: Democrat Rod Wright and Republicans Anthony Cannella and Bill Emmerson. The bill now advances to the Assembly.” From TheSacramentoBee

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In other news from Cali…..

“The Los Angeles Unified School District is taking part in a program to educate middle and high school students about how to share their HIV and STD statuses with their cell phones.”

“Described by district officials as a sex education prevention resource accessed by secondary health teachers, Qpid.me allows users to obtain, store and privately share their health records and HIV/STD statuses.”

“State law allows for children 12 or older to consent to medical care involving the prevention of sexually transmitted disease without parental consent.” From LosAngelesCBSLocal

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We’ve all been shocked by the British terror attack against a British soldier by 2 muslim extremists. More details are coming, little of it good. Like the Boston bombers, authorities in the UK missed/ignored the obvious.

“Woolwich terror suspect Michael Adebolajo was filmed encouraging 1,500 followers to turn against Britain in a hate-filled rant on the anniversary of 9/11.

Video footage unearthed by the Daily Mail shows the alleged killer addressing a crowd of young Muslims outside a mosque in north London.”

“Film of the extremist rant follows the revelation – the day after the slaughter of Drummer Lee Rigby last week – of photos of Adebolajo standing behind hate preacher Anjem Choudary outside Paddington Green police station six years ago.”

“It prompted MPs to call for an inquiry into what MI5 knew about Adebolajo and the other terror suspect Michael Adebowale.” From TheDailyMail

This guy should have set alarms off all over the place. And yet just like the Boston bombers, he was aided by the govt. after another govt. had pointed out his radical ties.

“British diplomats recommended that a British man detained in Kenya 2 1/2 years ago on suspicion of attempting to join Islamic fighters in Somalia be freed, the lawyer who represented him said Thursday. The man was let go and last week allegedly helped butcher a British soldier on the streets of London.

Michael Adebolajo’s lawyer, Wycliffe Makasembo, said a letter from the British High Commission in Nairobi recommended that the man be released because there was no tangible evidence to link him to the crime.” From TheCalgaryHerald

Sound familiar?

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This one isn’t really shocking.

“Gallup: 77% say influence of religion declining in US”

“Over three-quarters of Americans (77%) say religion is losing its influence on American life, while 20% say religion’s influence is increasing. These represent Americans’ most negative evaluations of the impact of religion since 1970, although similar to the views measured in recent years.” From HotAir

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It looks like prosecutors in the Martin/Zimmerman case have some explaining to do.

“A court employee who retrieved photos and deleted text messages from Trayvon Martin’s cellphone has been placed on administrative leave after an attorney testified that prosecutors didn’t properly turn over the evidence to the defense, an attorney said Wednesday.

Former prosecutor Wesley White said he was ethically obligated to reveal that Fourth Judicial Circuit Information Technology Director Ben Kruidbos retrieved the data that weren’t turned over.

Kruidbos was placed on leave shortly after White testified during a hearing in George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder case on Tuesday. White said Kruidbos was interviewed by state attorney investigators twice before the action was taken.