Month: May 2014
News/Politics 5-6-14
What’s interesting in the news today?
1. You’d think this would be bigger news, what with it being a terrorist attack and all, and with 750 potential gay hate crime victims.
From TheInvestigativeProject “A Muslim man formerly from Bellevue, Wash., who told a friend he thought “that homosexuals should be exterminated” pleaded guilty Friday to charges he firebombed a gay nightclub in the city on New Year’s Day.
Search warrant documents filed in King County Superior Court say the friend, who also is a Muslim, went straight to the FBI because he thought he might be “be planning some terrorist activity.”
Musab Mohammed Masmari, brought a one gallon tank of gas hidden inside a shopping bag into a Seattle gay nightclub around 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 while approximately 750 people celebrated inside.
Masmari poured the gasoline on a carpeted staircase in the club just after midnight while hiding the container holding the rest of the gasoline behind a planter. He then lit the gas and ran away from the club, prosecutors said. No one was injured in the firebombing. Two U.S. military personnel who were at the club put out the fire and the club’s sprinkler system activated.”
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2. In other news that the press doesn’t seem to be reporting on……
More community organizer style shakedowns from the DoJ. Granted some of these types of businesses deserve a little scrutiny. But if it’s legal, why the shakedown? And many are legitimate ventures.
From NewsBusters “So the details of how the government was monitoring the operation of the world’s financial system to obtain clues to help catch terrorists apparently deserved full exposure. If that’s fine, why has the press been barely interested in a far more troubling development, namely Eric Holder’s U.S. Department of Justice using pressure on the financial system to conduct “a massive government overreach into private businesses that are operating within the law,” which has been going on for at least a year? Welcome to “Operation Choke Point.”
“DOJ is essentially employing a variant of the tactics former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer used against mutual fund companies last decade: threatening to smear them in the business community and otherwise make their lives miserable unless they settle.
Even despite the tactics, some readers may be reacting to all of this as a good idea. After all, payday lenders don’t have the cleanest of hands, and some — but far from all — may be operating illegally. There are two problems with this position.
The first is that DOJ doesn’t have the constitutional authority to go after businesses whose illegality has not been established by threatening their bank and financial services providers with legal sanctions and regulatory harassment if they don’t participate in the persecution. There are these things called laws which must be passed to declare certain financial practices and contracts illegal. That hasn’t happened. Short of that, there at least need to be court rulings having the same effect. There is apparently no evidence that DOJ has involved the courts at all.”
And what does the DoJ do with these “settlements”? They dole it out to ACORN type community organizers/agitators who will use it to “educate” the public on the matter.
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3. Nope, nothin’ to hide here….
Yet they’re hiding things.
From FoxNews “Documents reviewed by Fox News show there are differences between Benghazi emails released through the federal courts to the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch and emails released to the House oversight committee as part of its investigation into the attacks.
The discrepancies are fueling allegations the administration is holding back documents to Congress.
“The key question is whether Congress now has all the documents,” Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, a member of the oversight committee, said. As for differences between the two sets of documents, Chaffetz alleged: “They are playing games. The classification and redactions are different. Why should Judicial Watch get more than Congress after issuing a subpoena?”
Good question. Now let’s get the select committee rolling and get some answers.
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4. And though Democrats claim they’ve nothing to hide….
They’re debating going into hiding.
From TheWashPost “The House GOP leadership just announced that Rep. Trey Gowdy will head the newly announced special committee to probe what happened in Benghazi. Gowdy, as it happens, has already informed America that he knows that the administration is guilty of a serious cover-up, claiming he has “evidence” of a “systematic, intentional decision” to withhold untold numbers of Benghazi documents from Congress.
The question now is whether House Dems will boycott the proceedings. Over the weekend, Dem Rep. Adam Schiff suggested they should, on the grounds that this will be a “colossal waste of time” that doesn’t deserve to be treated with any “credibility,” given how much has already gone into investigating Benghazi. This provoked outrage from Republicans.”
“House Democratic leaders announced today that they are urging rank and file Dems to vote against the creation of the new committee. But that’s separate from the question of whether they will participate, if and when the committee is set up. On that front Dem leaders are currently taking the temperature inside the Dem caucus as they determine how to proceed.”
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5. Meanwhile, across the world……
From YahooNews “Pro-Russian rebels shot down a Ukrainian helicopter in fierce fighting near the eastern town of Slaviansk on Monday, and Kiev drafted police special forces to the southwestern port city of Odessa to halt a feared westward spread of rebellion.
Ukraine said the Odessa force, based on “civil activists”, would replace local police who had failed to tackle rebel actions at the weekend. Its dispatch was a clear signal from Kiev that, while tackling rebellion in the east, it would vigorously resist any sign of a slide to a broader civil war.
Odessa, with its ethnic mix from Russians to Ukrainians, Georgians to Tatars a cultural contrast to the pro-Russian east, was quiet on Monday. Ukrainian flags flew at half-staff for funerals of some of the dozens killed in clashes on Friday.
But in the east, fighting intensified around the pro-Russian stronghold of Slaviansk, a city of 118,000, where rebel fighters ambushed Ukrainian forces early in the day.”
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Our Daily Thread 5-5-14
Good Morning!
Today’s header photo is from Janice.
On this day in 1798 U.S. Secretary of War William McHenry ordered that the USS Constitution be made ready for sea.
In 1809 Mary Kies was awarded the first patent to go to a woman. It was for technique for weaving straw with silk and thread.
In 1862 the Battle of Puebla took place. It is celebrated as Cinco de Mayo Day.
In 1865 the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, abolishing slavery in the U.S.
And in 1987 the U.S. Congress opened the Iran-Contra hearings.
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Quote of the Day
“Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
C. S. Lewis
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Today is Spence Smith’s birthday, so it’s Big Tent Revival.
And it’s composer Stanislaw Moniuszko’s too.
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Anyone have a QoD?
Prayer Requests 5-5-14
Anyone have a request or praise they’d like to share today?
Psalm 97
¹The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
News/Politics 5-5-14
What’s interesting in the news today?
1. First up today, the problems at the VA are spreading. And in typical Obama fashion, they’re trying to cover it up.
From TheFreeBeacon “The Department of Veterans Affairs purged more than 1.5 million medical orders without ensuring patients received medical care, the Washington Examiner reports:
Since May 2013, veterans’ medical centers nationwide have been under pressure to clear out 2 million backlogged orders for patient care or services.”
“What happened to other 1.5 million appointments is something that no one, including top officials at the veterans’ agency, can answer.”
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The cover-up.
Also from TheFreeBeacon “Whistleblowers say officials have been destroying evidence at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs hospital where at least 40 patients died from delays, despite requests from Congress to preserve records.
Dr. Katherine Mitchell came forward to the Arizona Republic with records that show the hospital was using a secret list to hide the long wait times veterans faced. According to the Republic, Mitchell sent the documents to the paper after receiving a call from a coworker that evidence was being destroyed.
“I had no doubts they were capable of destroying evidence, or altering evidence,” she told the Republic. “So there I am, a 47-year-old doctor with two degrees, trying to figure out where to hide stuff.”
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And now we know the problems are more widespread than just one rogue office, so that excuse is out.
From USAToday “A VA investigation of one of its outpatient clinics in Colorado reveals how ingrained delays in medical care may be for an agency struggling to rapidly treat nearly 9 million veterans a year amid allegations that dozens have died because of delays.
Clerks at the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Fort Collins were instructed last year how to falsify appointment records so it appeared the small staff of doctors was seeing patients within the agency’s goal of 14 days, according to the investigation.
A copy of the findings by the VA’s Office of Medical Inspector was provided to USA TODAY.
Many of the 6,300 veterans treated at the outpatient clinic waited months to be seen. If the clerical staff allowed records to reflect that veterans waited longer than 14 days, they were punished by being placed on a “bad boy list,” the report shows.”
This is system wide.
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2. And since I mentioned cover-ups……
They picked a good one to lead the select committee. That happened after this interview.
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More here, from TheWashingtonTimes “House Republicans accused the Obama administration Thursday of “perhaps criminal” behavior for having withheld for months key email that sheds light on how the administration framed its post-Benghazi talking points, potentially violating a congressional subpoena.
House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, said Secretary of State John F. Kerry will have to come before Congress to explain why his department refused to release the email until forced to do so by a judge.”
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And now that Kerry has been subpoenaed, Hillary is probably getting a little nervous, as she should.
From TheNYPost “Because the Obama administration ignored legal requirements and a pursued a possibly criminal cover-up, they’ve just ensured Congress is going to talk about nothing but. House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Friday he’ll be forming a select committee to investigate Benghazi.”
“The Rhodes memo is just the beginning. It and other e-mails were obviously selected from a much larger set of internal administration communications on the Benghazi cover-up that remains hidden from the public and from Congress. The person who should worry most is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
For example, until now we have seen zero documentation to explain how Clinton out of the blue concocted the statement she issued on the evening of the attacks, which first raised the notion that the attacks came “as a response to inflammatory material posted on the Internet.”
In all the material released by the administration to date, there are no notes, e-mails or drafts of Clinton’s Sept. 11, 2012 statement similar to the back-and forth e-mail chain released last year showing how the CIA talking points evolved during three days of inter-agency discussion.”
Now why do you suppose that is? 🙄
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I won’t get my hopes up, but maybe it’s time to mention the I word.
All of this to cover up an Iran Contra style gun running operation to Syria by the CIA, at the order of the White House.
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3. Funny, this seems to have been left out of most coverage.
From Fox5Vegas “An emotional crowd gathered for a town hall meeting on Thursday evening in Bunkerville.”
“Residents and council members praised militia members gathered there in support of embattled rancher Cliven Bundy, but had nothing but vitriol for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie and the local and national media.
“The day the militia [came] was the day I felt safe again in Nevada,” one meeting attendee said.
The meeting was standing-room only. City council members had harsh criticism for the media’s take on the standoff between Bundy and the BLM.
“I heard things said down there. And then when it came out on the air it was a completely different animal,” Bunkerville Councilman Duane Magoon said. “Tell the whole truth. Don’t spin things to get your ratings,” another council member added.”
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Our Daily Thread 5-3-14
Good Morning!
On this day in 1888 Thomas Edison organized the Edison Phonograph Works.
In 1933 the U.S. Mint was under the direction of a woman for the first time when Nellie Ross took the position.
In 1952 the first airplane landed at the geographic North Pole.
And in 1992 five days of rioting and looting ended in Los Angeles, CA. The riots killed 53 people.
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Quote of the Day
“Old age is like a plane flying through a storm. Once you’re aboard, there’s nothing you can do.”
Golda Meir
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Today is Chris Tomlin’s birthday.
And it’s Bruce Hall’s too. So 3 songs from REO on Midnight Special, from 77, 78, 80.
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Anyone have a QoD?
Prayer Requests 5-3-14
Anyone have a request or praise they’d like to share?
Psalm 96
¹O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
8 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
13 Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
Rants! and Raves! 5-3-14
It’s Saturday, so have at it…..
Rants! 😦
and
Raves! 🙂
News/Politics 5-3-14
What’s interesting in the news this weekend.
Open thread, you decide what we talk about.
Our Daily Thread 5-2-14
Good Morning!
Today’s header photo is from Donna.
On this day in 1776 France and Spain agreed to donate arms to American rebels fighting the British.
In 1863 Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was wounded by his own men in the battle of Chancellorsville, VA. He died 8 days later.
In 1885 the magazine “Good Housekeeping” was first published.
In 1933 Hitler banned trade unions in Germany.
And in 1974 the filming of “Jaws” began in Martha’s Vineyard, MA.
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Quote of the Day
“The English had hit upon a splendid joke. They intended to catch me or to bring me down.”
Manfred von Richthofen
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Bing says today is his birthday, but a search of his real name says tomorrow. We’ll take the man’s word for it, he was there after all. 🙂
And it’s Larry Gatlin’s too, so here he is with Johnny’s D-I-L.
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Wandering Views 