Month: November 2014

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Our Daily Thread 11-26-14

Good Morning!

On this day in 1789 President Washington set aside this day to observe the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. 

In 1917 the National Hockey League (NHL) was officially formed in Montreal, Canada. 

In 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.

And in 1943 the HMS Rohna became the first ship to be sunk by a guided missile. The German missile attack led to the death of 1,015 U.S. troops. 

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Quote of the Day

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

Charles M. Schulz

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 Today is Michael Omartian’s birthday.

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 11-26-14

It’s Wednesday, so don’t forget to pray for the Gambia, and of course, Joanne.

Anyone else have something to share?

Psalm 142

¹I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

5 I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

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News/Politics 11-26-14

What’s interesting in the news today?

I’m starting my weekend early, so Open Thread. 🙂

Here’s a couple to start things off.

1. Since the grand jury refused to indict Officer Wilson many are calling on the feds to step in and charge him with federal violations. Only one problem with that. They can’t really make a case against him, although I doubt that stops them if the DoJ and Obama decide to push on anyway.

From TheWashingtonPost a little over a month ago–  “Justice Department investigators have all but concluded they do not have a strong enough case to bring civil rights charges against Darren Wilson, the white police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Mo., law enforcement officials said.

When racial tension boiled over in Ferguson after the Aug. 9 shooting, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. traveled to the St. Louis suburb to meet with city leaders and protest organizers in an effort to bring calm. He assured them that the federal government would open a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. But that investigation now seems unlikely to result in any charges.

“The evidence at this point does not support civil rights charges against Officer Wilson,” said one person briefed on the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

Justice Department officials are loath to acknowledge publicly that their case cannot now meet the high legal threshold for a successful civil rights prosecution. The timing is sensitive: Tensions are high in greater St. Louis as people await the results of a grand jury’s review of the case.”

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2. I told you about this guy last week. What was unknown at the time was just how close a relationship he had with the Obama White House.

From TheWashingtonTimes  “A prominent gay rights activist charged last week with sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy is a strong supporter of President Obama who has visited the White House more than a half-dozen times in the past two years, visitor logs show.

Terrence P. Bean, 66, who raised more than a half-million dollars for Mr. Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012, last visited the White House on May 30 when he met with the president, first lady Michelle Obama and political adviser David Simas.”

“White House visitor logs show that Mr. Bean, co-founder of the Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights group, also has visited the White House on at least six other occasions since June 2012. On one visit in 2013, Mr. Bean brought along Kiah Lawson, described in news reports as his ex-boyfriend, who is also charged with sexually assaulting the juvenile.

The White House had no comment on whether the president still considers Mr. Bean an ally. Some observers have credited Mr. Bean for helping to sway Mr. Obama into supporting same-sex marriage two years ago.

“He has the president’s ear,” former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts once said of Mr. Bean.”

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Our Daily Thread 11-25-14

Good Morning!

Today’s header photo is from Cheryl.

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On this day in 1715 Sybilla Thomas Masters became the first American to be granted an English patent for cleaning and curing Indian corn.  

In 1783 the British evacuated New York. New York was their last military position in the U.S.

In 1850 Texas relinquished one-third of its territory in exchange for $10 million from the U.S. to pay its public debts and settle border disputes. 

In 1957 President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a stroke. 

And in 1986 President Reagan and Attorney Gen. Edwin Meese revealed that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to rebels in Nicaragua. National Security Advisor John Poindexter resigned and Oliver North was fired. 

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Quote of the Day

“We are not supposed to be all equal. Let’s just forget that. We are supposed to have equal rights under law. If we do that, we have done enough.”

Ben Stein

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Today is Arthur Schwartz’s birthday.

 Today is also Amy Grant’s birthday.

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 11-25-14

Does anyone have something they’d like to share?

Psalm 141

¹Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

7 Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

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News/Politics 11-25-14

What’s interesting in the news today?

1. Well the grand jury in Ferguson has delivered a decision to not charge Officer Wilson. The reaction to it is as many feared.

From TheWashingtonPost  “A grand jury on Monday declined to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager, resolving a secretive, months-long legal saga and reigniting powerful frustrations about America’s policing of African Americans.

The decision means that Wilson, 28, will face no state charges for the Aug. 9 shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown. It also set off a show of fury on streets near where Brown was shot, a reflection of emotions that register in this riven city as either out of control or justifiable.

At least two police cars and a half-dozen buildings were set aflame. Not far from Christmas lights in downtown Ferguson that read “Seasons Greetings,” police fired tear-gas canisters to contain the crowds. People looted liquor and convenience stores, a response that ran counter to the peace that Missouri authorities, President Obama and Brown’s family had requested.”

Fox had on the President’s speech following the decision. As he called for calm, the split screen showed protesters trying to overturn a police car while fires burned in the background and tear gas clouds floated over the protesters. They obviously chose to ignore the President.

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2. Just in time for the holiday. They hope we’re not paying attention.

From TheDailyCaller  “While Americans are focused on what delicious foods they’re going to eat for Thanksgiving, the White House is focused on releasing its massive regulatory agenda — marking the fifth time the Obama administration has released its regulatory road map on the eve of a major holiday.

The federal Unified Agenda is the Obama administration’s regulatory road map, and it lays out thousands of regulations being finalized in the coming months. Under President Barack Obama, there has been a tradition of releasing the agenda late on Friday — and right before a major holiday.

“It’s become an unfortunate tradition of this administration and others to drop these regulatory agendas late on a Friday and right before a holiday,” Matt Shudtz, executive director of the Center for Progressive Reform, told The Hill newspaper.

The White House’s regulatory agenda for spring 2014 was released on the eve of the Memorial Day weekend, when millions of people set out on weekend getaways or family vacations.”

3,415 new regulations to be exact.

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3. About that new Benghazi report….

Security team members on the ground that night disagree forcefully. Basically the report says no one is at fault and nobody did anything wrong and there was no cover-up.

More here from PJMedia  

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4. How Obama is still making things worse.

From TheNYPost  “The short bios in The Post and other places featuring immigrants who are in the United State illegally were fascinating. I was struck by their courage to leave their homelands, their pluck at navigating a new culture and their patience in waiting for America’s official welcome mat.

Something else struck me, too. Not a single one expressed remorse for jumping the fence or overstaying visas. The law was simply a nuisance, an unfair barrier to their right to live in America, and they felt no qualms about violating it.

Some of these immigrants, including one woman who sneaked in from Mexico 18 years ago, even complained that presidential ­amnesty doesn’t include free health care. “It isn’t fair,” Graciela Flores whined.

What luck — she and the other 5 million who benefit have found their soul mate in Barack Obama. He’s not into obeying laws, either. And he is endlessly entitled to whatever he wants, whenever he wants it.

Oh, sure, he has twice taken an oath to “faithfully execute” the ­nation’s laws, and to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” But he’s not serious about oaths, either. As America has learned, his word is not his bond.”

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Our Daily Thread 11-24-14

Good Morning!

On this day in 1859 Charles Darwin published “On the Origin of Species.”

In 1871 the National Rifle Association was incorporated in the U.S. 

In 1940 Nazis closed off the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, Poland. Over the next three years the population dropped from 350,000 to 70,000 due to starvation, disease and deportations to concentration camps.  

In 1947 the “Hollywood 10,” were cited for contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions about alleged Communist influence in their industry.  

And in 1963 Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald live on national television. 

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Quote of the Day

“Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.”

William F. Buckley, Jr.

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 Today is Rebecca Barlow’s birthday. Maybe it’s too early but…

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Anyone have a QoD?

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Prayer Requests 11-24-14

Anyone have a request or a praise to share?

Psalm 140

¹Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;

2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

6 I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

7 O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

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News/Politics 11-24-14

What’s interesting in the news today?

UPDATE!

Looks like we’ll have the answer this afternoon.

From MSN/WaPo  “A grand jury has reached a decision on whether to indict Darren Wilson, the white Ferguson, Mo. police officer whose fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager sparked days of turbulent protests, sources close to the process said.

Sources said that press conferences are being prepared by the county prosecutors’ office and the Missouri governor. Those press conferences will likely come later today.

The announcement gave no indication of whether Wilson, 28, will face state charges in the August shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown, which triggered a frank conversation about race and police interaction with African-Americans.”

UPDATE 2 – NO CHARGES

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1. Fact checked and found lacking. What they say, and what they are really doing, rarely match up.

From TheAP  “President Barack Obama made some notable omissions Thursday night in his remarks about the unilateral actions he’s taking on immigration. A look at his statements and how they compare with the facts:

OBAMA: “It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive – only Congress can do that. All we’re saying is we’re not going to deport you.”

THE FACTS: He’s saying, and doing, more than that. The changes also will make those covered eligible for work permits, allowing them to be employed in the country legally and compete with citizens and legal residents for better-paying jobs.”

“OBAMA: “Although this summer, there was a brief spike in unaccompanied children being apprehended at our border, the number of such children is now actually lower than it’s been in nearly two years.”

THE FACTS: The numbers certainly surged this year, but it was more than a “brief spike.” The number of unaccompanied children apprehended at the border has been on the rise since the 2011 budget year. That year about 16,000 children were found crossing the border alone. In 2012, the Border Patrol reported more than 24,000 children, followed by more than 38,800 in 2013. In the last budget year, more than 68,361 children were apprehended.”

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2. Judge Janine (an actual legal scholar, doesn’t just play one on TV like Obama) skewers Obama’s plan.

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3. If you missed it, SNL had an updated version of schoolhouse rock. Funny, but true.

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4. Surprisingly (not really) the IRS has no comment on the newly found Lois Lerner emails.

From Forbes  “If you are an American taxpayer, the idea that your political (or other?) views could impact your taxes is pretty frightening. When you consider the power to tax—which includes the power to destroy—the mere suggestion of targeting is abhorrent. It’s one reason all the denials–including President Obama’s ‘no smidgen of corruption’ remark to Fox News in February–inflame rather than quell debate.

First, there was no targeting by the IRS. Then there was, but only by those rogue IRS employees down in Cincinnati. Then, there was a spontaneous uprising from a youtube video (oops sorry, wrong lie scandal). There was confusion about how to apply the tax law, but not political, and not from above. Then, top IRS Official Lois Lerner refused to testify.

IRS Commissioner Miller seemed defiant too and was sacked. Then, there was a year-long Congressional investigation before the IRS finally admitted the 2009-2011 Lois Lerner’s emails ‘disappeared.’ Then, the backups  didn’t work were recycled. Then, the new IRS Commissioner said the IRS needs a bigger tech budget.

Now, not the IRS but the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration has found the 30,000 missing lost destroyed emails. They aren’t sorted yet, and who knows what they will reveal. Numerous IRS officials testified that the backup tapes were recycled and the emails were gone. Turns out they were misinformed mislead  mistaken. It isn’t only Congress that was asked over and over to buy the IRS “we have nothing” mantra. The IRS has said it in court too.”

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5. The prison to Islam pipeline?

From TheDailyCaller  “Back in 2006, then FBI director Robert Mueller prophetically described the radical Islamist conversion machine operating throughout U.S. prisons, to a Senate committee. He said that prisons were a “fertile ground” for Islamic extremists, and that they targeted inmates for introduction to the militant Wahhabi and Salafist strains of Islam.” “The statistics are staggering, and woefully out of date. One out of three African-American inmates in U.S. prisons convert to Islam while incarcerated.”

“This statistic is no longer limited to African-Americans in prison. The Huffington Post reported an estimated 35,000 – 40,000 inmates convert to Islam each year, and that 15 percent of the total U.S. prison population or 350,000 inmates are Muslim.

This is more than 18 times the national representation of Muslims in America, reported to be 0.8 percent. Prisons are churning out converts to Islam who are taught they are righteously entitled to control the religion, speech, and dress of family, co-workers and strangers.

The key to conversion success is clear. Our government has been contracting and paying Muslim Brotherhood front groups, such as GSISS (The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences) and ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) to screen and assign Muslim prison chaplains for at least 8 years.

While Egypt and Saudi Arabia have banned the Muslim Brotherhood, classifying it as a terror group, the White House, U.S. prisons, and the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security continue to work with Muslim Brotherhood groups.”

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Our Daily Thread 11-22-14

Good Morning!

Welcome to the weekend! 🙂

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On this day in 1718 English pirate Edward Teach (a.k.a. “Blackbeard”) was killed during a battle off the coast of North Carolina. 

In 1910 Arthur F. Knight patented a steel shaft to replace wood shafts in golf clubs. 

In 1942, during World War II, the Battle of Stalingrad began. 

And in 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, TX. Texas Governor John B. Connally was also seriously wounded.

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Quote of the Day

“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

John F. Kennedy

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 Today is Wilhelm Friedemann Bach’s birthday.

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Anyone have a QoD?