Month: May 2013

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Prayer Requests 5-28-13

Who can we pray for today?

Psalm 70

1 Make haste, o God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.

2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.

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News/Politics 5-28-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

President Obama took bi-partisan heat this Memorial Day for the backlog on veterans disability and benefits claims. Jon Stewart and Fox are hitting him from all sides. Even Bob Beckel is calling for the resignation of the head of the VA. A little bit of CONTENT WARNING! for the Stewart material for some bleeped cussing. Be sure to watch the video at this link. From Mediaite

“Typically, when the hosts of Fox News’ The Five play a clip of Jon Stewart, it’s used to demonstrate everything that’s wrong with the liberal, mainstream media. But for Memorial Day, the show decided to open with a segment from The Daily Show they could all get behind.

The clip in question came from the most recent installment of Stewart’s consistent attacks against the Department of Veteran Affairs’ benefits claims backlog.

Eric Bolling, who has had his disagreements with Stewart in the past, gave him credit for “very outspoken on this issue.” He reserved his criticism for President Obama, who “literally said we have to fix this” but “then he doesn’t do anything.”

The bipartisan nature of the issue extended to Bob Beckel, who was even more furious than Bolling over the VA’s apparent inability to process its benefit requests. Calling the situation “disgraceful” and “unacceptable,” he advocated for department head Eric Shinseki‘s resignation

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On this one, I have to agree with Michelle Malkin. This is a really bad idea. From TownHall

“Gird your loins, America. President Obama intends to empty out Guantanamo Bay and send scores of suspected Muslim terror operatives back to their jihadist-coddling native countries. Goaded by anti-war activists and soft-on-terror attorneys (including those from Attorney General Eric Holder’s former private law firm), Obama announced Thursday that he’ll lift a ban on sending up to 90 Yemeni detainees home and will initiate other stalled transfers out of the compound.

This radical appeasement of Obama’s left flank is a surefire recipe for more Benghazis, more U.S.S. Coles and more innocent lives at risk.

A little more than three years ago, the White House assured Americans that it would not release Yemeni detainees back to their al-Qaida-infested land. In January 2010, international press outlets reported that at least a dozen former Guantanamo Bay prisoners had rejoined al-Qaida to fight in Yemen. Yemen was also the terror training ground of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the jihadist who attempted to bomb Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day in 2009.”

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The White House’s least favorite journalist. Well, other than everybody at Fox. 🙂  From Politico

“The Obama administration won’t answer the CBS News correspondent’s questions  because her investigations — into Benghazi, Fast and Furious, Solyndra — often  reflect negatively on it. Some colleagues at CBS News, where she has worked for  two decades and earned multiple Emmy awards, dismiss her work because they  perceive a political agenda. And now, she says, someone may have hacked into her  computers.

Attkisson’s one piece of solace may come from finally gaining some like-minded  colleagues in the media. For years, Attkisson has been one of the few mainstream  reporters pursuing critical stories about the Obama administration. Today, as “scandal season” takes hold in Washington, she has seen her longstanding  skepticism of the White House and the Justice Department become the conventional  attitude among a formerly deferential Beltway press corps.

Attkisson is a dogged reporter, driven by a strong skepticism of government.  Producers at CBS News once nicknamed her “Pit Bull,” a source said, because she  gets on a story and won’t let go. But that is seen as both a strength and a  weakness. Her drive can produce great journalism, but it can also cause her to  push stories to the point that colleagues — especially those of a more  progressive bent — suspect a political agenda.”

Sure they do, because it doesn’t match their political agenda. 🙄

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Senator Durbin is finally fessing up to encouraging the IRS to target conservative groups. Of course along with a lame attempt to justify it. Funny, Obama for America didn’t concern him though. From RealClearPolitics

“SEN. DICK DURBIN: I can just tell you flat-out why I did it. Because that Crossroads organization was boasting about how much money they were raising as a 501(c)(4). Let’s get back to the basics. Citizens United really unleashed hundreds if not thousands of organizations seeking tax-exempt status to play in political campaigns. The law we wrote as Congress said that they had to exclusively be engaged in social welfare and not politics and campaigning. And, so, here is the IRS trying to decide whether or not these organizations really comply with the law. Crossroads was exhibit A. They were boastful about how much money they were going to raise and beat Democrats with.”

And……? OfA was bragging about breaking records for money raised. Yet you didn’t seem concerned with that.

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They targeted the  NY Times too? From YahooNews

“The New York Times reports the Department of Justice investigated national security leaks given to Times reporter David Sanger over his story last year about the Stuxnet virus by pulling all the email and phone records of government officials who communicated with the reporter. Last summer, Sanger reported the U.S. helped develop the Stuxnet virus and used it to attack Iran, becoming the first country to carry out a sustained cyber attack with the intent of destroying another country’s infrastructure. The was some hoopla and a hullaballoo about leaks and DOJ investigations, the Associated Press case, and now a year later we’re finding out just how far things went.”

Here’s a related story. Like Holder’s supposed recusal letter, it disappeared. From Reuters

“News Corp said on Monday it is still reviewing whether it has any record of a notification from the United States government involving a subpoena for a Fox News reporter’s phone records.

The media conglomerate was responding to the Justice Department, which said it told News Corp about the seizure of phone records for James Rosen, a reporter with Fox News, in August 2010.

“While we don’t take issue with the DOJ’s account that they sent a notice to News Corp, we do not have a record of ever having received it,” said News Corp spokesman Nathaniel Brown, who added the company is looking into the matter.

Fox News, which is owned by News Corp, has said it never received a notification from the government.”

Maybe he’s using invisible ink. 🙂

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A horrible story of abuse is finally coming to light in NY. The elite Horace Mann Prep School has released a statement admitting to years of sexual abuse by teachers and staff. There are at least 31 kids involved, many now grown. From TheNYPost.

With a CONTENT WARNING! for adult subject matter.

“The elite Horace Mann prep school today apologized for decades of sexual abuse suffered at the hands of teachers and administrators and pledged reforms to improve student safety, in its first public comments addressing the sex scandal.”

“The elite Bronx prep school has been accused of turning a blind eye to sex assaults on at least 31 children between 1962 and 1996. In today’s statement, the school admitted that “former teachers and administrators in fact did abuse, in various degrees,students.””

“Other survivors are pressuring lawmakers in Albany to approve a bill that would allow molested students to sue schools well after the statute of limitations has expired. Currently, the statue prevents adults who were sexually abused as kids from filing claims after they turn 23.”

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Our Daily Thread 5-27-13

Good Morning!

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And a Happy Memorial Day to you all. 🙂

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This day was originally called Decoration Day, and was established after the Civil War by Union Veterans in 1868.

Since 1971 when the day was established as an official holiday, Americans have set aside the last Monday in May to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. It is a well deserved honor.

While there is some question as to the most accurate total of those who have died, it is well over 1.1 million soldiers and sailors from all branches. Over 300,000 are buried in Arlington.

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The 3rd US Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, has been honoring the fallen by preparing Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day Services for more than 60 years. 900 soldiers, 400 flags each.

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Quote of the Day

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”

George S. Patton

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QoD’s

Do you plan to attend a memorial service today?

Or do you have someone among your family or friends that you’re thinking of today?

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Our Daily Thread 5-25-13

Good Morning!

Happy Saturday! 🙂

On this day in 585 BC the first known prediction of a solar eclipse was made in Greece.

In 1787 the Constitutional convention opened in Philadelphia with George Washington presiding.

In 1925 John Scopes was indicted for teaching the Darwinian theory in school.

In 1935 Babe Ruth hit his final home run, his 714th, a record that would stand for 39 years.

In 1977 “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” opened and became the largest grossing film to date.

In 1979 an American Airlines DC-10 crashed during takeoff at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport killing 275 people.

In 1983 “The Return of the Jedi” opened nationwide. It set a new record in opening day box office sales.

Just a side note here since Star Wars has already been a hit on this day. Today is also the birthday of Frank Oz, the actor, puppeteer, and voice of many of the Muppets, as well as the voice of Yoda. That has to be “The Force” at work. 🙂 I’m just sayin’……

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Quote of the Day

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Since it’s the weekend……. and it’s front man Klaus Meine’s birthday…….

This next one? Well blame Peter L. He’s the one who got it stuck in my head. 🙂 So I thought I’d do the same for you.

You’re welcome. 🙂

And it’s also this lady’s birthday. Which is yet another Muppet/birthday/Oz/Yoda/Star Wars movie connection on the same day coincidence. I’m tellin’ ya… it’s “The Force” at work. 🙂

And Frank Oz may have been in that video too, I don’t know for sure. But from the looks of Wikipedia it’s possible.

Oz is known for his work as a puppeteer, performing with Jim Henson‘s Muppets. His characters have included Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, and Sam the Eagle on The Muppet Show, and Grover, Cookie Monster and Bert on Sesame Street, among many others.

See how it all ties in…..?   😯

🙂

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Who has a QoD for us today?

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Prayer Requests 5-25-13

Who has a praise or request to share today?

Psalm 68:32-35

32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

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News/Politics 5-25-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First, a couple of quick IRS stories. More consequences and repercussions for Lerner. 

“True The Vote” Files Lawsuit Against Lois Lerner Personally, Serves Her At Her House, from WeaselZippers

With over 500 groups effected, expect many more to come. And discovery should be interesting, as will depositions.

Next up… Scandal? What scandal?

Only CBS Notes IRS Official’s Leave, Yet ABC and NBC Have Time to Show Obama’s Prom Photo with ‘Foxy’ Friend, from the MediaResearchCenter

Maybe they’re afraid they’ll be audited and have their phones tapped too.

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Next, is the Gang of Eight Immigration Bill falling apart? Let’s hope so.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said Friday that the “Gang of Eight” immigration  bill doesn’t have enough votes to pass the Senate. From TheHill

Lawmakers heading the Republican push for immigration reform blasted President Barack Obama on Thursday for failing to meet with federal law enforcement officials even as his administration meets with illegal immigrants. From TheFreeBeacon

Here’s more on that, from TownHall

Meanwhile, the federal govt. is contracting with another questionable illegal immigration advocacy/community organizer group.

The National Council of La Raza (translation: The Race) has partnered with the Office of Personnel Management to encourage Hispanic activists and members to burrow into the federal government. From PJMedia

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This one is just unbelievable. The terror, murder, and mayhem that terrorist group Boko Haram has spread across regions of Africa is well documented. They’ve been responsible for the murders of hundreds of Christians and others, many burned alive or shot while worshiping peacefully in their churches. Not to mention the dismemberments, rapes, and slavery. It’s bad enough that our govt. rarely stands up to them or calls them what they are. But it’s even worse when our govt. finally gets up their nerve, it’s to condemn the African govt. that’s cracking down on Boko Haram. From PJMedia

“Talk of “poverty,” “inequality,” “grievance,” and the rest of the canards used by Western leaders to overlook Islamic violence blatantly ignores all the facts. Boko Haram began its jihad in earnest because a Christian won what was described as Nigeria’s freest and fairest elections. And Islamic law forbids non-Muslims from ruling over Muslims — not because they’re bad for the economy, but because they’re infidels.

The full name of Boko Haram is “Sunnis for [Islamic] Propagation and Jihad” — which doesn’t reflect any economic grievances. Their repeatedly stated goal is the establishment of a pure Sharia state in Nigeria. In other words, they are motivated by the same Islamic supremacism that is prompting jihadis all around the Islamic world to attack, kill, and displace infidels, leading to, among other travesties, a mass exodus of Christians.

Once again, then, reality is easily ascertained — at root, Boko Haram’s terror campaign is entirely motivated by Islamic teachings — even as the Obama administration refuses to designate the group as a terrorist organization, wastes millions of U.S. tax dollars on superfluous initiatives (or diversions), and pressures the Nigerian president to make concessions to the jihadis — including building more mosques, the very breeding grounds for Islamic “radicalization.””

“And now, when the Nigerian government goes on the offensive to neutralize the terrorists responsible for countless inhuman atrocities, the Obama administration offers “a strongly worded statement” to defend their “human rights.” Meanwhile, when such jihadis daily persecute and murder non-Muslims around the world — Christians at the top of the list — the only sound coming out of the White House is of crickets chirping.

Postscript: Following Kerry’s call to protect the “human rights” of Nigeria’s jihadi terrorists, Obama himself has just urged Myanmar to “halt violence against Muslims” and “move ahead with economic and political reforms” — all while omitting the fact that the government’s offensive is in response to violent, separatist Muslims, whose jihad has nothing to do with “economic and political reforms,” only the subjugation of infidels.”

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So how do we prevent another Kermit Gosnell? Do we regulate, inspect, and oversee clinics to ensure standards are met? Not if you’re a Democrat. From CNSNews

“The way to prevent abortionists like convicted  murderer Kermit Gosnell from occurring again is to build more Planned  Parenthood clinics, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said at a House  Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on Thursday about legislation that would  prevent abortion after 20 weeks nationwide.”

““We should be working to make sure that high quality health care is  provided to the uninsured to make sure the full range of health care  services, including family planning services that are available to  people with money are available to the poor and uninsured as well,”  Nadler said.

“If that means funding a Planned Parenthood clinic in every  neighborhood to put guys like Gosnell out of business, so be it,” Nadler  said.

Nadler called the hearing a “farce” and “just another battle of the Republican war on women.””

Says the guy taking thousands from the abortion mills who abort females by the millions. If there’s a War on Women, how come his side is the only one inflicting casualties?

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And one last piece….  Reason #6,486 to not send your kid to public schools. The school insists it’s all in good fun, and that the student council chose it. Yet the originally chosen name and subject makes that seem questionable to me. From EAGNews

“Deidri Hernandez’s seven-year-old son won’t be in school today, after officials at Tippecanoe School for the Arts and Humanities confirmed they’re still holding “Switch It Up Day” – a time for students to come dressed as members of the opposite sex.”

“Hernandez tells EAGnews the day was originally billed as “Gender Bender Day,” but Tippecanoe officials made the name change after she called Principal Jeffrey Krupar to complain.”

“She wonders if it is being done to promote the acceptance of homosexuality to students in school, which runs from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Hernandez thinks it’s inappropriate to expose young children to these issues, even in a light-hearted manner.

“They might as well call it ‘Transgender Day,’” she says.”

Is she over-sensitive? It’s not like some public schools don’t already have a reputation for indoctrinating kids with stuff like this already. Either way, it doesn’t seem appropriate for Pre-K to 8th graders.

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Our Daily Thread 5-24-13

Good Morning!

It’s finally Friday! 🙂

And on this day in 1738 the Methodist Church was established.

In 1830 the first passenger railroad service in the U.S. began service.

In 1844 Samuel F.B. Morse formally opened America’s first telegraph line. The first message was sent from Washington, DC, to Baltimore, MD., and the message was “What hath God wrought?”

In 1883 after 14 years of construction the Brooklyn Bridge was opened to traffic.

In 1935 the Cincinnati Reds played the Philadelphia Phillies in the first major league baseball game at night. The switch for the floodlights was thrown by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.

And in 1994 four men convicted of bombing the World Trade Center were each sentenced to 240 years in prison.

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Quote of the Day

“Freedom of expression is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every other form of freedom.”

Benjamin Cardozo

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It’s this lady’s birthday today.

This guy too.

And on this day in 1970 Weird Al Yankovic recorded this and 4 other songs for the movie UHF.

🙂 🙂 🙂

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Anyone have a QoD for us today?

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Prayer Requests 5-14-13

Who can we pray for today?

Psalm 67

1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.

5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.

7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

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News/Politics 5-24-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

I’ll put a bunch up to start, then you tell us what interests you.

First up, more IRS scandal news.

When Bopp learned years later that Lerner had been promoted to an IRS  position, he became concerned. “She was in effect being promoted for what she had done at the Federal  Election Commission and now was going to be expected … to replicate that at  the IRS and now we know that’s exactly what happened,” he said. From FoxNews

Her reputation for bias is what got her the IRS gig.

Lois Lerner Directly Involved in IRS Targeting, Letters Show, from NationalReview

She’s finally getting some consequences and repercussions for her actions. But with pay of course. 🙄

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member of the tax writing Finance Committee, said in a statement Thursday that Lerner was placed on administrative leave after she refused a request from Danny Werfel, the newly installed acting IRS commissioner, to resign. From Politico

UPDATE!

Here’s a video showing Schumer and Franken dodging questions on their involvement in requesting the behavior the IRS is in trouble for.

With a Hat Tip to DrivesGuy

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Next up, Benghazi…

Looks like the Lerner situation, rewarding bad behavior, and silence.

President Obama on Thursday nominated Victoria Nuland, a State Department official involved in the editing of the administration’s talking points on Benghazi, to be the next assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. From Politico

Meanwhile, a subpoena for another witness.

Pickering, Issa reach agreement on testimony, from HotAir

That one should be fun. He’s the former ambassador who helped the Obama admin investigate themselves.

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And then the AP/Fox record scandal. Holder insisted repeatedly that he knew nothing and had recused himself. That appears to be false.

Eric Holder Signed Off On Search Warrant For James Rosen Emails: NBC News, from TheHuffingtonPost

But don’t worry, Obama is having Holder investigate himself and his dept. in order to get to the bottom of things. 🙄

President Obama is a little uneasy with the way journalists have been dragged into the Justice Department’s aggressive pursuit of national security leak investigations. In fact, he has ordered Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct a 45-day review of the department’s guidelines on the issue. From ABCNews

Even HuffPo thinks he should be fired. But someone should hose him down first and extinguish his pants.

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Here’s more funny business from Obama’s HHS and Sec. Sebelius.

Current and former administration officials have taken on leadership and  fundraising roles for Enroll America, a nonprofit aiming to make sure people  sign up for new coverage options. As the ties grow deeper, the organization has  come to feel like “just an arm of the administration,” said one official who  works closely with insurers. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has already come  under fire from congressional Republicans because she has raised money for the  organization. From TheHill

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Here’s an update on the Trayvon Martin/ George Zimmerman case.

Martin’s cell phone contains photos of a gun, drugs, and texts about delinquent behavior. From WFTV.com

His school records, as well as school police video, hold more potential evidence. None of it good. And the defense wants to include discussion on his marijuana use. They claim he was likely under the influence at the time of his death. Needless to say prosecutors would like all these matters suppressed. It won’t help them and they know it.

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The Boy Scouts have caved. Not good, but not surprising given the pressure brought down on them by the media. It was only a matter of time.

The Boy Scouts of America threw open its ranks Thursday to gay Scouts but not gay Scout leaders – a fiercely contested compromise that some warned could fracture the organization and lead to mass defections of members and donors. Of the roughly 1,400 voting members of the BSA’s National Council who cast ballots, 61 percent supported the proposal drafted by the governing Executive Committee. The policy change takes effect Jan. 1. From TheAP

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