by

News/Politics 7-2-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, so feel free to contribute. I’ve had a rough go of it the last day and a half, so I’m a little behind. I’ve been unable to sit for long so it’s been a bit hard to keep up, but I do have a few that caught my eye…..

First up, the propaganda machine kicks into high gear.

From NationalReview

“The American Library Association announced on Sunday that public libraries across the country will be partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services to help millions of uninsured Americans sign up for Obamacare.

With the emphasis on web-based enrollment under the Affordable Care Act, Americans without computers are at a disadvantage to register for the “reasonable health insurance” that will soon be available to them. And “that is where public libraries come in,” explained American Libraries magazine. In addition to providing computer and Internet access to patrons, librarians will receive training to help people navigate through the various healthcare plans and choose the plan that suits their needs. It has also been suggested that libraries host healthcare-awareness events and hand out information to foster “health care literacy” in the coming months.

The Washington Times reports that up to 17,000 U.S. libraries will be a part of the effort, and that “libraries will be particularly important in conservative states that are not making much effort to promote the health law’s opportunities.” (That’s quite an understatement.)”

Gee, maybe when they’re done with this job, they can help with this one, since the Obama admin also seems incapable of handling this on their own too.

Also from NationalReview

“The backlog of disability claims at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has catapulted the agency into an unwanted spotlight. Unlike other scandals besetting the Obama administration, there is nothing to indicate that the VA is targeting conservative vets with systematic delays or passing their telephone records along to the Justice Department. Simply put, the VA backlog has grown because of the technical burdens veterans face in navigating a complex process in a vast bureaucracy.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki promises to do his best to reduce the backlog. So far, his most visible step is a dictate that VA employees who review claims work mandatory overtime to tackle the problem, which is staggering. As of June 22, VA reported that 833,130 vets had pending compensation and pension (C&P) claims. That’s more people than reside in San Francisco. If these claimants represented a single city, it would be the 14th largest in America. Backlogged claims, defined as those pending more than 125 days, represent nearly two-thirds of that total.”

Most of the discussion of the claims backlog misses the mark. Secretary Shinseki and others at VA repeatedly tell us that the key to reducing the backlog is computerization. VA’s goal is to move from paper records to digital ones. It’s a good talking point, but it won’t get the job done any time soon.”

“navigating a complex process in a vast bureaucracy” Just like ObamaCare will be. That’s guaranteed, since the govt does nothing well, except grow ever larger and more controlling.

____________________________________________________

Ruh-roh…..  Quick, somebody get John “Did you know he was in Vietnam?” Kerry on the phone. It’s time for some of that Obama/leftist “smart diplomacy”.

From WeaselZippers

“Breaking: Military In Egypt Announces Will Stage Coup D’Etat In 48 Hours If People’s Demands Not Met…

Update: Statement From Military”

““The Armed Forces repeat its call for the people’s demands to be met and give everyone 48 hours as a last chance to shoulder the burden of a historic moment for a nation that will not forgive or tolerate any party that is lax in shouldering its responsibility,” it said.”

____________________________________________________

This next one demonstrates nicely what happens when affirmative action is carried to it’s logical conclusion in a college environment. Is this the exception, or the rule? I fear it’s the latter.

From CampusReform

“School administrators at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) are systematically raising the final grades of African-American students, three ex-faculty members told Campus Reform last month.

Former Director of Academic Technology Shira Hedgepeth, along with two former professors who spoke to Campus Reform on the condition of anonymity, alleged administrators at the historically black college routinely increase the final grades of African-American students in order to raise the school’s standing.

“Some students had their final grades changed based on their race,” Hedgepeth told Campus Reform on June 6. “That was a common complaint of many of the faculty that I worked with.””

“According to Hedgepeth, and the two former professors who were granted anonymity because they feared speaking out may jeopardize their retirement, instructors would submit final grades to the school only to have them later revised upwards by administrators as a way to “take care of their African American students.””

____________________________________________________

Next up, a not surprising, but still pathetic, new tactic for women to get men to support abortion. Sexual blackmail. With a CONTENT WARNING!!! for adult subject matter.

From HuffPo

“We’ve all been there, attracted to that man who does not mean well for us.  We sure would not want our daughters dating or married to these kinds of guys who think they should decide what is best for women.  How perfectly patriarchal, these Texas men trying to not hear what women want have shown themselves to be, but how incredibly out of touch with today’s reality.  Women of Texas, it’s going to be a long hot summer — make sure the men who do not deeply respect and support women feel it.

As a native Texan, and someone who has survived 100-plus-degree temperatures for many summers, I can tell you, this summer in Texas is surely going to be hotter than usual.  Sultry, sweaty summers can be made much nicer when good old-fashioned sex is part of the picture.  But women, take heed: Don’t give in if your man, boyfriend, husband, toyboy is not voting for your best interests, your reproductive health — do not sleep with that man!  I don’t care how cute or charming he is!  I don’t care if he is your husband of many years.  Resist! Go swimming!  Meditate!

Do not make him dinner, do not go fetch him a cold beer from the fridge, do not iron that shirt, hell, do not change that diaper… do not make his life a little nicer this summer if he does not “get it” and learn to respect women!  Instead, volunteer some time for senators like Wendy Davis, go with a group of women to Austin and make your voices heard.  Get on the computer and the social networks and organize.”

Sad.

____________________________________________________

And so is this one. I know they think this is a great new ad campaign to push their product, but is ticking off half of your potential customers the way to increase sales? I’d think not. But I do know one thing, this pandering has cost them at least one customer already….. Me.

Also from HuffPo

“From all of the marriage equality celebrations to Facebook’s new Pride emoticon, everyone’s seeing the colors of the rainbow these past few days and now, to continue celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pride, you don’t have to look any further than your cereal bowl.

General Mills has come out in support of the gay community for Pride, and what better way to show their love than with the Lucky Charms marshmallow rainbow?

The “magically delicious” cereal is serving as the face of the new #LuckyToBe campaign which encourages people with Pride to tweet and post online their reasons for why they’re prideful using the hashtag #LuckyToBe.

“We’re celebrating Pride month with whimsical delight, magical charms, and two new rainbow marshmallows… If you’re lucky enough to be different, we’re celebrating you,” the #LuckyToBe campaign stated in a press release sent to GLAAD.

🙄 And someone remind me again, what comes before a fall?

Yeah, exactly.

____________________________________________________

34 thoughts on “News/Politics 7-2-13”

  1. All of this reminds me of a cartoon I say. I don’t know if it will show up on Friday.
    A guy was telling his wife, “I’m trying to keep a balance betweek keeping up with world events and my sanity.”

    Like

    Reply

  2. From an e-mail from Wes Pruden

    No gallantry for Hillary
    BY WESLEY PRUDEN
    |
    JULY 2, 2013
    Gallantry, like common sense, dignity, good manners and truth-telling, long ago disappeared from public life in America, so Hillary Clinton is asking for a rough ride if she runs for president in 2016. She doesn’t have to look beyond the other side of her bed to see who did more than anyone else to push those homely virtues aside.

    Hillary embraced militant feminism a long time ago, and the militant feminists scorned gallantry a long time ago, along with dignity, good manners and even consistent truth-telling, as remnants of a culture organized by men.
    Still, if forced to choose between feminist rhetoric and feminine privilege, she might choose the perks. Most women would. No woman wants to see herself described as “a little long in the tooth”, or read a media analysis of her wrinkles, or study the photographs and video of her face for clues to an emergency reclamation project………

    Wes Pruden is editor emeritus of The Washington Times

    Like

    Reply

  3. Random excerpts from an article in The Washington Times About U.S. prestige WRT Snowden and other effects:

    “For nearly five years now, we have sent a signal to the world that we’re leading from behind, that we are impotent, that we don’t act when we say we’re going to” Mr. McCain said Tuesday on CNBC.
    ………

    Mr. Aron said the US has bigger problems with Russia, such as its support for Syria and Iran, and that the Snowden case isn’t likely to cause lasting harm compared to these international hot spots.
    He also said the Obama administration doesn’t want to jeopardize the president’s goal of nuclear arms reduction, which he outlined in a speech in Germany last week.

    “It appears that the administration’s almost sole focus with regard to Russia is the next nuclear arms reduction agreement? Mr. Aron said. “This is a paramount, overriding objective of this administration and it would overlook a great deal to get to that point.”

    My assessment: This arms reduction, coupled with the Washington Times article about a reduction of 80,000 in our army means that in two years, the US will have the same status in the world as we did in 1940. Likely with the same outcome.

    Like

    Reply

  6. HRW posted a link yesterday about the ridiculous cost of giving birth in the US. I read the article in my paper and kept shaking my head. How can you take a “natural” process that has been going on since Adam and Eve and turn it into a financial disaster? $30K for a normal delivery?

    Is there no end to the fleecing of our young people?

    One more depressing link:

    http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2013/07/02/is-america-in-a-pre-revolutionary-state/?singlepage=true

    Like

    Reply

  7. I haven’t read michelle’s link above yet (on whether we’re in a pre-revolutionary state), but as the old 1960s song put it, something’s happening here …

    Like

    Reply

  8. Michelle,

    It disturbs me a great deal that this admin is arming the same people who are committing these attacks against Christians. It disgusts me that they have remained silent on these atrocities. Our govt is aiding and abetting it.

    Here’s more.

    http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/Syrian-Christians-Why-Is-America-at-War-with-Us/

    “Syrian Christians are asking why the United States supports extremists who want to turn Syria into an Islamic state.

    That testimony came during a congressional hearing on Syria’s religious minorities Tuesday.”

    “Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, testified that Islamic insurgents are targeting Christians for “ethno-religious cleansing.”

    Christian Solidarity International CEO Dr. John Eibner, who also testified at the hearing, said displaced Christians are asking him, “Why is the U.S. at war against us?””

    Meanwhile the other jihadists we’re backing are amassing a sharia army who have now opened fire on demonstrators. The Army coup can’t come fast enough. Sadly Syria lacks a military capable of restoring order.

    http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/brotherhood-demonstrators-shoot-morsy-opponents?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

    Like

    Reply

  9. The sobering thing, as we’ve been observing in California, is no matter what or how you vote, a politician who doesn’t like your position just ignores it and does what he wants. What happened to representative government?

    And when you have a whole generation of kids who slept through their civics class and who don’t understand how the process works (not to mention all the aliens who didn’t take the citizenship classes required to become bona fide citizens), you have a whole bunch of people who don’t even know how their Constitutional rights are being violated.

    And/or don’t seem to care.

    Back to the fleecing–the interest rate on student loans doubled last night. If they were turning students into serfs before, I guess this will make them slaves. Travesty.

    I keep apologizing to my children. One just said, “don’t worry, we’ll get back at you when you’re old and we’ll steal all your money.”

    Sorry. My generation has already spent their money and their children’s and grandchildren’s. Travesty 2.

    Like

    Reply

  10. From Michelle’s link…

    “In fact, everywhere we look on this July Fourth sees a great civilization in decline. And much of that decline can be laid at the foot of the incumbent. Especially his own people, African Americans, have suffered. Their unemployment numbers are catastrophic, their real needs ignored while hustlers like Sharpton, Jackson, and, sadly, even the president fan the flames of non-existent racism.

    Tahrir Square anyone?

    Ironically, if our society enters a revolutionary phase, liberals will find themselves in the role of the Islamists, defending a shopworn and reactionary ideology on religious grounds, because it is only their faith that holds their ideas together at this point.”

    Bingo. Nailed it.

    Like

    Reply

  12. And since you mentioned civics class…….

    Libs sure don’t like competition in the education field, especially if it’s a Constitution class given by people who might be Christians. (gasp, the horror) 🙄 That’s a double whammy to their lib sensibilities, the Constitution and Christians.

    http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/01/parents-angry-because-religion-may-get-mentioned-in-optional-summer-constitution-class-video/#ixzz2Xo00vuYZ

    “In an affluent Ohio suburb between Dayton and Cincinnati, a group of parents is upset that the school district is offering a voluntary 12-week course on the U.S. Constitution this summer.

    The course at Springboro High School will cost each student $35 and registration fees will cover the costs of the course, reports local NBC affiliate WLWT. Instructors will not be paid to teach the class.

    Those details notwithstanding, angry parents charge that the course, called Institution of the Constitution, is unconstitutional in a public school setting — ironically enough — because its designers and teachers are overtly religious.”

    More here.

    http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/news-warren-county/parents-springboro-constitution-course-unconstitutional/-/13602148/20765826/-/jc88w2/-/index.html

    Like

    Reply

  15. Michelle,
    The NSA situation bothers the left as well as the right. You just need to read Michael Moore’s screeds. The left, however, will consistently mention this is nothing new only the technology and the NSA/FBI/CIA has been harassing leftist groups for decades. None of my leftist friends were surprised …. I think my only surprise was the extent of data storage.

    The doubling of interest rates for students occurred because Republicans allowed it to happen. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts tried to change the rules so that students paid the same rate as major banks ie 0.75%, but was unsuccessful.

    Its clear for-profit medicine only encourages excessive use of medical technology and knowledge without clear benefit. Its interesting in the NYT article I linked that were recommended ultra sounds for which there was no clear benefit.

    Like

    Reply

  16. It appears the Egyptian military is ready to serve the same function the Turkish military once served. Maintain secularism at the cost of democracy; it worked for Turkey lets see if it works in Egypt. Turkey’s current problems/demonstration are happening precisely because the military is finally under political control and is unable or not willing to counterbalance a gov’t which governs only for those that vote for them rather than the health of the country.

    Raising grades or other such tactics to show educational success is not unique to affirmative action. Grade 3 and 6 teachers in Ontario swear the standardized tests become easier one year prior to an election — as the gov’t wants to show improvement.

    Interesting tactic for Texas women. An other tactic practiced by female politicians is to propose laws regulating Viagara and vasectomies to the same extent contraception, the morning after pill and abortion are regulated.

    http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2012/03/13/nina_turner_s_ohio_viagra_bill_s_b_307_would_regulate_men_s_access_to_viagra.html

    read to the end see other proposals in Virginia and Missouri.

    Like

    Reply

  22. kbells — thats the argument; ie Viagra and abortions aren’t equivalents but when they start regulating contraception, then equivalency should be apparent. I think the pro-choice response would be to generalize all gov’t intervention, male and female, under the heading reproductive health. The simple fact that Viagra is covered by most drug plans including the Congress’s own plan should give Reps pause to think before they debate contraception.

    And yes the literacy test hasn’t been around for decades and its a good thing because I don’t think anyone could pass that test.

    Like

    Reply

  26. I think its a reference to contraception and public insurance. Viagra was added to public plans with no outcry nor demands for limitations. There is a discrepancy as to how the two are treated.

    Rickey …. as test is constructed its almost impossible to pass as many of the instructions are ambiguous or plain nonsensical.

    Btw, its difficult to explain but the hoes before fetus sign actually makes sense from those girls’ perspectives. For most people under 30 raised by Colbert etc., they react with sarcasm and cynicism to news and how its disseminated. In this case, the so-called “slut shaming” employed by talk radio. Basically they are saying, Limbaugh may call us sluts but we don’t care, our rights still come first. Its a sarcastic way of dismissing the talk radio-type argument. Of course, most people on the pro-life side of the fence would never viewed that sign in such a way. For them, its just plain vulgar.

    Like

    Reply

  27. HRW, I believe the young woman was advocating that she thought aid to farm workers should be a higher priority than pre-natal care. However, you misquoted her sign. You took away her rhyme.

    Like

    Reply

  28. HRW, I read the test. I do not consider the instructions to be ambiguous or nonsensical. The requirement of a perfect score is a little harsh. I note they only gave the test to folks who hadn’t finished the fifth grade. One of my grandfathers had to quit school in the fourth grade after his father died. I am pretty sure he could have scored a 90 on the test.

    Like

    Reply

  29. HRW, For conservatives, the girl’s sign is more than vulgar. It is actually an honest statement of the pro-abortion position. The hilarious thing is that no conservative could get away with saying it, not even Limbaugh.

    Like

    Reply

  30. Senator Warren is a piker. Here’s what we should really do with student loans. The federal government should give all students zero interest “loans” that never have to be repaid. Then colleges could charge at least $500,000 a year tuition and liberal professors could all be paid more than NBA stars, allowing them to contribute to Democrats like they were all Hollywood big shots.

    Like

    Reply

  33. What a silly test. What’s the point? Your ability to follow directions? How does that demonstrate your ability as a voter? Or were the voting instructions just as ridiculous?

    I don’t like the indentured servitude that has resulted from student loans, particularly when so many students don’t end up graduating from college. I also have seen how the more they raise the debt ceiling on the loans, the higher college tuition goes. (Remember, I’ve had two children in college every year since 2001).

    I also don’t like how kids are straight jacketed by these loans–they can only refinance to a lower interest rate once, and they can’t roll the loans over into a lower interest rate in another institution. In addition, student loans are not covered by bankruptcy. You have to pay them back or else.

    One young man we know lost his security clearance and thus his job when a delinquent payment turned up on his credit report. A delinquent payment caused by losing a job. There should be some alternative to destroying a former student because of a loan often taken without adequate information or thought.

    I think the vulgarity in those signs tips the scale on how women are really viewed by the women holding the sign. Total disrespect, no matter what your “choice” is.

    A 20 week fetus is only three weeks shy of viability. I don’t have a problem at all with drawing a line there and neither should anyone else who cares about women. The abortion is far more complicated, expensive and does a lot more potential damage to a woman having the procedure.

    Not to mention, of course, what it does to the fetus. 😦

    Like

    Reply

  34. Sorry, HRW. You were right about how most people on the pro-life side would react to the sign. Michelle is in the mainstream of Christian pro-lifers. I am an eccentric to say the least.

    AJ, Thanks for the warning. You were right. Based on my one student loan post, I am now being recruited to run for Congress as a Democrat. I should be able to squash that movement with my views on literacy tests.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to kBells Cancel reply