News/Politics

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News/Politics 4-19-13

In other news today………

Reid has had to pull the gun bill from consideration.

From TheWashingtonPost

“Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) announced Thursday that the Senate will “take a pause” and return to consideration of gun legislation at a later date.”

“Reid’s decision came the day after President Obama’s comprehensive gun control effort suffered defeat in the Senate, with all the major proposals he backed failing to gain enough votes.”

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How Obama misread the politics of gun control. From NationalJournal

“Watching President Obama’s fury after Congress failed to pass any gun-control legislation was a sign of his political helplessness. Despite aggressively pushing for expanded background checks, despite enlisting the victims of recent gun violence to lobby their representatives, despite getting one of the more conservative senators to support a watered-down background-check measure, he fell five votes short of getting anything passed in the Senate, including losing four members from his own party.

If this doesn’t demonstrate the limitations of the president’s political muscle and the influence of his newly minted Organizing for Action lobbying group, I don’t know what does. Yet, despite the embarrassing setback, Obama nonetheless argued that he still held the upper hand, politically: “If this Congress refuses to listen to the American people and pass commonsense gun legislation, then the real impact is going to have to come from the voters.”  That couldn’t misread the political environment heading into 2014 anymore. That’s the audacity of mope.

Put simply, the 2014 Senate elections will be fought predominantly on the very turf that is most inhospitable to gun control–Southern and Mountain West conservative states. It’s no coincidence that three of the four Democrats who opposed the Toomey-Manchin bill are facing difficult reelections in 2014 and presumably are attuned to the sentiments of their constituents. Blame the National Rifle Association for the bill’s failure, but the lobby is feeding into already deeply held opposition to gun regulations and a broader sense of anxiety about the president’s and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s intentions–particularly given the president’s past publicized remark about “bitter” rural voters who “cling to their guns and religion.”  It doesn’t take much for the gun-rights crowd, significant in these states, to jump to inaccurate conclusions given that history.”

Inaccurate conclusions? I think he’s describing Obama, not the “bitter clingers.”

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We’ve all seen the President and Senate Dems pitching fits over the whole thing in front of the cameras. But the fits the media are throwing over their failure to persuade the commoners is just as bad. From Politico

“Even by the standards of today’s partisan media environment, the response has  been noteworthy. Television hosts, editorial boards, and even some reporters  have aggressively criticized and shamed the 46 Senators who opposed the plan,  while some have even taken to actively soliciting the public to contact them  directly.

The decision by some members of the media to come down so  firmly on one side of a policy debate has only served to reinforce  conservatives’ longstanding suspicions that the mainstream media has a  deep-seated liberal bias.

“I guess the liberal media get annoyed when Senators listen to their  constituents and think for themselves, rather than doing the media’s bidding,” Bill Kristol, the editor-in-chief of the Weekly Standard, told POLITICO.”

Bias? What bias? 🙄

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So the President plans on doing the only think he can. Make like a third world dictator and do it by decree. From TheWeeklyStandard

“Joe Biden says the president of the United States is preparing to take “executive actions” to deal with guns.

BuzzFeed reports:

Vice President Biden told White House allies in the gun control fight Thursday that President Obama will be announcing new executive actions on gun violence in the days after the Senate voted down a gun violence bill.”

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Meanwhile the Senate has a bi-partisan amendment to prevent the media from releasing gun owner info, with strong support.

From TheWashingtonExaminer

“Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., in an attempt to prevent local newspapers from publishing lists of gun owners in a given area, convinced 66 of his colleagues to support an amendment that cuts funding for state and local governments if they release the information.

“If a state or local government releases private information on gun owners — which we know has happened — then that state or local government will lose part of its funding that comes from the Federal Government,” Barrasso said while arguing for the amendment.  “This includes private information on individuals who have licenses to purchase, possess, or carry firearms.”

Wow. Look at that. Some common sense for a change.

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ObamaCare is causing rate increases? 😯

Say it ain’t so! 🙄 

But Dems like Franken would like you to believe it’s not true, just an insurance industry plot or something. From KaiserHealthNews

“Few aspects of the Affordable Care Act are more critical to its success than affordability, but in recent weeks experts have predicted costs for some health plans could soar next year.

Now health law supporters are pushing back, noting close ties between the actuaries making the forecasts and an insurance industry that has been complaining about taxes and other factors it says will lead to rate shock for consumers.

“Most actuaries in this country — what percentage are employed by insurance companies?” Sen. Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, asked an actuary last week at a hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.”

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And for the last one today, another abortion related story the national media will ignore. From LifeNews

“The former director of a leading abortion advocacy group who was caught in a child sex sting pleaded guilty to his crimes.

Scott Richard Swirling, who was the director of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA), was arrested for attempting to arrange for a sexual encounter with a twelve-year-old girl. He was charged with traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct, a crime which carries a penalty of up to 30 years.”

“Sexual predators who impregnate underage girls rely on cooperative abortion clinics to cover up their crimes.  As Live Action, Life Dynamics, and others have documented, Planned Parenthood abortion clinics frequently fail to comply with mandatory reporting laws,” it said.

“The National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association strongly supports taxpayer funding for abortion clinics.  Many Planned Parenthood affiliates are NFPRHA members,” it added. “There is no mention of Mr. Swirling on the NFPRHA website.”

That’s not surprising.

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by

News/Politics 4-18-13

What’s interesting in the news today.

As always, Open Thread.

There was a devastating explosion at a Waco, Texas fertilizer plant late Wednesday. Video from the scene shows a fire which set off a huge explosion. Authorities say 5 to 15 dead, and 160 wounded. Homes and businesses around the plant were leveled in the explosion.

From NBCNews

“At least five to 15 people were killed and more than 160 wounded when a large fertilizer plant explosion rocked a small Texas town late Wednesday, destroying dozens of homes under a cloud of toxic smoke, police said.

Firefighters, including local volunteers, were battling a blaze at the time of the blast, which caused a ground tremor equivalent to a magnitude-2.1 earthquake, the USGS said.”

“”It was a huge explosion,” Swanton said. “It reached blocks, if not miles, in its devastating effect. … My guess is going to be that … we will see the casualty rate rise and the injury rate rise.”

“We know fire was there, we know law enforcement was there assisting with traffic, and I believe there were EMS …,” Swanton said, adding some of those first responders were among the missing.”

Hat Tip to Donna J

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Police have made an arrest in the Ricin letter case. President Obama was a target, as were a group of elected officials. The person responsible didn’t seem to care about the intended victim’s political party.

From NBCNews

“Federal agents on Wednesday arrested a suspect in the mailing of letters to President Barack Obama and a U.S. senator that initially tested positive for the poison ricin.

The suspect was identified as Paul Kevin Curtis of Tupelo, Miss., federal officials told NBC News. They said he may appear in court as early as Wednesday night.

Both letters carried an identical closing statement, according to an FBI bulletin obtained by NBC News on Wednesday.”

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Police believe they have some suspects in the Boston bombing.

From TheAP

” In what could be major break in the Boston Marathon case, investigators are on the hunt for a man seen in a department store surveillance video dropping off a bag at the site of the bombings, a local politician said Wednesday.

Separately, a law enforcement official confirmed that authorities have found an image of a potential suspect but don’t know his name.

The development – less than 48 hours after the attack, which left three people dead and more than 170 wounded – marked a possible turning point in a case that has investigators analyzing photos and videos frame by frame for clues to who carried out the twin bombings and why.”

For some reason they haven’t released photos for the public yet. But at least one website claims to have photos of possible suspects.

From TheNYPost

“In the photos being distributed by law-enforcement officials among themselves, one of the men is carrying a blue duffel bag. The other is wearing a black backpack in the first photo, taken at 10:53 a.m., but it is not visible in the second, taken at 12:30 p.m.

“The attached photos are being circulated in an attempt to identify the individuals highlighted therein,” said an e-mail obtained by The Post. “Feel free to pass this around to any of your fellow agents elsewhere.”

“Meanwhile, officials have identified two potential suspects who were captured on surveillance videos taken shortly before the deadly blasts, law-enforcement sources told The Post yesterday.

Authorities know the names of the two men, but do not have enough evidence to make an arrest for Monday’s attack, which killed three and wounded 176, the sources said.”

UPDATE II  Or not?

From HotAir

“The FBI is (finally!) going to release the footage that everyone’s been clamoring for later today. If you’ve read the New York Post this morning, you probably think you know who the guys in the video will be. You’re probably wrong. I watched an interview on Erin Burnett’s show last night with Fran Townsend (I think it was her), who’d seen photos of the suspects circulated by cops; CNN refused to air the pics but it was abundantly clear from her description that it’s the same two guys in the Post’s story today. If you followed Reddit’s marathon photo sleuthing yesterday, you knew instantly watching that interview who she meant. There were at least five or six different shots of them near the finish line being scrutinized on Reddit — one of them wore a white cap and bulging black backpack, the other a blue track suit with a sagging duffel bag. I went to bed last night thinking that’s who’d be in the video released today.

But apparently I’m wrong. The administrator of the Reddit sleuthing thread posted an alert this morning urging people to back off.”

“We are not waiting for them to be officially cleared, one of the men has contacted the police to try and clear his name. Please understand that the FBI now knows who they are, so our posts now have no purpose. If the situation changes then people can make new posts. It’s not our job to keep their information out there, people are innocent until proven guilty – not the other way around.”

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Some in the left-wing media are pretty upset about the “dark-skinned” references some news sources used. Others on the left are hoping it’s a white male that’s responsible. But only because they fear it could hurt Obama’s agenda or some such nonsense. And believe it or not, it supposedly has something to do with “white privilege.”

From Salon

“As we now move into the official Political Aftermath period of the Boston bombing — the period that will determine the long-term legislative fallout of the atrocity — the dynamics of privilege will undoubtedly influence the nation’s collective reaction to the attacks. That’s because privilege tends to determine: 1) which groups are — and are not — collectively denigrated or targeted for the unlawful actions of individuals; and 2) how big and politically game-changing the overall reaction ends up being.

This has been most obvious in the context of recent mass shootings. In those awful episodes, a religious or ethnic minority group lacking such privilege would likely be collectively slandered and/or targeted with surveillance or profiling (or worse) if some of its individuals comprised most of the mass shooters. However, white male privilege means white men are not collectively denigrated/targeted for those shootings — even though most come at the hands of white dudes.

Likewise, in the context of terrorist attacks, such privilege means white non-Islamic terrorists are typically portrayed not as representative of whole groups or ideologies, but as “lone wolf” threats to be dealt with as isolated law enforcement matters. Meanwhile, non-white or developing-world terrorism suspects are often reflexively portrayed as representative of larger conspiracies, ideologies and religions that must be dealt with as systemic threats — the kind potentially requiring everything from law enforcement action to military operations to civil liberties legislation to foreign policy shifts.

“White privilege is knowing that even if the bomber turns out to be white, no one will call for your group to be profiled as terrorists as a result, subjected to special screening or threatened with deportation,” writes author Tim Wise. “White privilege is knowing that if this bomber turns out to be white, the United States government will not bomb whatever corn field or mountain town or stale suburb from which said bomber came, just to ensure that others like him or her don’t get any ideas. And if he turns out to be a member of the Irish Republican Army we won’t bomb Dublin. And if he’s an Italian-American Catholic we won’t bomb the Vatican.””

🙄

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The Senate has defeated the Obama admin backed gun bill. They couldn’t get the 60 votes needed. The President is not happy.

From TheHill

“The Senate delivered a devastating blow to President Obama’s agenda to regulate guns Wednesday by defeating a bipartisan proposal to expand background  checks.

It failed by a vote of 54 to 46, with five Democrats voting against it. Only four Republicans supported it.”

But they certainly aren’t giving up.

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Meanwhile Benghazi is back in the news, thanks to new, and talkative, whistleblowers.

From CBSNews

“CBS News has learned that multiple new whistleblowers are privately speaking to investigators with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attacks on the U.S. compounds in Benghazi, Libya.

The nature of the communications with the whistleblowers and their identities are not being made public at this time. But in response, the Oversight Committee yesterday sent letters to the three federal agencies involved: the CIA, the Defense Department and the State Department.

The letters make the case for the whistleblowers to be able to share sensitive or classified information with their own attorneys, and ask for each agency’s official description of the legal steps that process must follow. The letters also state that additional witnesses may be “compelled by subpoena to give testimony.””

And a Hat Tip to CBS, who has been on this story from the get go.

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by

News/Politics 4-17-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

UPDATE

An arrest has/will/might, or may not be happening now. Confused? Me too.

From WeaselZippers

“BREAKING: ARREST IN BOSTON BOMBING IMMINENT OR ALREADY TAKING PLACE – UPDATE: SUSPECT ARRESTED – UPDATE: NBC SAYS NO ARREST – UPDATE: FOX NEWS CONFIRMS ARREST MADE – UPDATE: AP CONFIRMS – UPDATE: CELL PHONE RECORDS LED TO ARREST…”

The press conference which should hopefully provide some answers has been pushed back to 5:00PM EST

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Police say the Saudi man considered a “person of interest” in the Boston bombing is not a suspect.

From TheCable

“Director of National Intelligence James Clapper briefed members of the Senate Intelligence Committee behind closed doors in a pre-scheduled hearing that was supposed to focus on the budget, but Clapper began with an update of the bombings. Ranking Republican Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) emerged from the briefing and said he was told the 22-year old Saudi student who was injured during the bombings and remains in the care of a local hospital was no longer a focus of investigators.

“He was never categorized as a suspect; he was a person of interest. My understanding is that he totally cooperated and that he is no longer a person of interest,” Chambliss said.

Asked if there were any other persons of interest at this time, Chambliss said, “Not that I know of.””

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And we have more examples of people rising to the occasion, and helping where they could.

From TheTelegraphUK

“Out of the horror of the Boston marathon bombings, there emerged uplifting examples of human kindness as the city’s residents did all they could to help those caught up in the attack.”

“So many of the runners continued to run across the finishing line and onwards to the Massachusetts General Hospital, in a rush to give blood, that they had to be turned away.”

“A retired American Football star, Joe Andruzzi, who won the Superbowl three times with the New England Patriots, carried victims away from the carnage. All three of his brothers were firemen in New York who responded to the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers.”

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Congress has responded to the Boston bombing. And of course some Dems go with the same old play book. Don’t let a crisis go to waste. And blame the Sequester.

From Politico

“With the Boston Marathon bombings less than 24 hours old, some on Capitol Hill  are beginning to say the attack shows why Congress should’ve stopped automatic  spending cuts from taking hold in March.”

“Hoyer added: “I think there are multiple reasons for ensuring that we invest in  our security both domestic and international security. That we invest in the  education of our children, that we invest in growing jobs in America and don’t  pursue any irrational policy of cutting the highest priorities and the lowest  priorities by essentially the same percentage.””

“Rep. Xavier Becerra of California, the chairman of the House Democratic  Caucus, said that the first responders working Monday aren’t sheltered from cuts.

“We have to send you less money to help your first responders,” Becerra  said.”

Barney Frank, and numerous hacks pretending to be journalists have joined in on this meme as well. But don’t be fooled by the drama. There is plenty of money for needed things like this. However Homeland Security would rather waste it, many times on things that have nothing to do with their mission. Just as a reminder, they waste it on things like this.

Millions squandered at Homeland over the past decade.

DHS Counterterror Centers Produce ‘a Bunch of Crap,’ Senate Finds

Zombie Apocalypse Training

$98,000 for an underwater robot in Columbus, Ohio, where there are no major  rivers and few lakes nearby.

1.6 billion rounds of ammo.

50 million for new uniforms

And 2,700 new armored vehicles for patrolling American cities

They don’t have a revenue problem, they have a wasteful spending problem. They’ve wasted tons of money. But if Dems want to complain about Homeland budget cuts…..

Then I guess this should be pointed out since those in Congress and the press pushing this meme won’t mention it, since it doesn’t fit in the story they wanna tell.

From TheDailyMail

“Obama administration has SLASHED budget for domestic bombing prevention by 45 per cent, says former Homeland Security Assistant Secretary

  • $20 million  budget under Bush became $11 million under Obama
  • Both  administrations neglected domestic bombing prevention, devoting a tiny fraction  of the $1 billion earmarked for IED prevention overseas
  • Obama  issued a lengthy ‘National Policy for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices’  in February but a spokesman won’t say if it failed.”

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More horrible details from the Gosnell case.

So a CONTENT WARNING!!! for this one.

From CNSNews

“Gosnell did these very late-term abortions at his clinic in West  Philadelphia assisted only by his wife, Pearl Gosnell, on the one day  the clinic was closed, Sunday. Other clinic workers were not allowed to  assist in these abortions and it is believed that many of the medical  records of these procedures may have been destroyed, according to the  grand jury report.

The grand jury report was released in January 2011. As it states,  “This report documents multiple murders of viable babies. The evidence  makes a compelling case that many others were also murdered. … It was  Gosnell’s standard business practice to slay viable babies.”

“Gosnell made little effort to hide his illegal abortion practice,” reads the report.   “But there were some, ‘the really big ones,’ that even he was afraid to  perform in front of others. These abortions were scheduled for Sundays, a  day when the clinic was closed and none of the regular employees were  present. Only one person was allowed to assist with these special cases –  Gosnell’s wife.””

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“Why Evangelicals Back Obama on Immigration (and Why They Should Agree on Guns and Climate Change, Too)”

From NationalJournal

“The most important milestone on immigration reform this weekend was not “The Full Marco” – Sen. Marco Rubio’s seven-show Sunday blitz. It was a story in The New York Times documenting a shift by evangelical Christians toward easing immigration laws.

Julia Preston reported:

“The shift among evangelical Christians could have a powerful effect on the fight in Washington, as Republican lawmakers, including many who have opposed any amnesty for illegal immigrants, look to see how much they can support measures to bring those immigrants into the legal system without alienating conservative voters.”

“Evangelical leaders, seeing the opportunity to expand their influence on a social issue beyond abortion and same-sex marriage, have broadly united this year behind a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally. They are conducting an ambitious push to sway Congress, including ad campaigns on Christian radio stations in five states, meetings with lawmakers, and a challenge to churchgoers to pray every day for 40 days using Bible passages that speak of welcoming the stranger.” ”

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And remember, vote fraud is a myth.

From Cincinnati.com

“Marguerite Kloos walked into court Tuesday as a nun who devoted her life to her religion. When she walked out, she was a convicted felon who escaped a prison term.

Kloos, 54, of Delhi Township, pleaded guilty to illegal voting, admitting to filling out and filing an absentee ballot for Sister Rose Marie Hewitt, Kloos’ friend who died before last November’s election.”

“Hers was one of three cases Hamilton County decided – so far – to prosecute from last fall’s elections.”

Nothin’ to see here folks. Move along.

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by

News/Politics 4-16-13

What’s interesting out there today?

Open Thread

The obvious choice of course is the attack in Boston yesterday.

From TheBostonHerald

“Two huge explosions rocked the Boston Marathon finish line at Copley Square just before 3 p.m. today, killing three and injuring 144 at last count, including several traumatic amputations on streets crowded with runners, spectators and post-race partiers.

Many of those injured are children — including an 8-year-old killed in the blast, the Herald has learned. Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said tonight there is “no suspect” and the death toll is now at three.

“We will get to the bottom of this. We will find out who did this and we will find out why,” said President Obama this evening. “They will feel the full weight of justice.”

We also know that at least 2 other unexploded bombs were found.

I think we can all agree with the President on this, regardless of who is responsible.

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One thing that always stands out to me when things like this happen is how people respond. As with 9-11, in the midst of tragedy, the best of America shines through. I watched quite a bit of coverage. I saw many people helping. I saw Police and first responders who rushed into to lend aid to the injured, unconcerned with their own safety. I watched runners and spectators doing what they could to help.

From NBCNews

“As runners and their loved ones fled bomb blasts that tore apart the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday, many were taken in by locals who offered them shelter, food and a comforting hand.

Ali Hatfield, who traveled from Kansas City with two friends to run in the race, said she was touched when a  mother brought her daughter out to offer help as the trio and their families wandered the streets of Boston’s Back Bay, unable to return to their hotel.

“I’m bringing my daughter her out here because I want her to see that there (is) good in people and I don’t want her to be scared,” she recalled the woman as saying.”

“Some Good Samaritans offered their homes, couches, cots and sleeping bags, while others, such as a local restaurant, offered free food, access to phones and a place to get together with other stunned racegoers.”

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There are many conflicting reports about a suspect, but until that’s confirmed, why speculate? We also have reports that CCTV may have recorded the bomber placing backpacks in a trash can at the scene. I’ll post more as it becomes confirmed by authorities. Unlike certain liberal news organizations, I won’t speculate on who did this. As expected they rushed to try and link this to “right-wing” extremists. I won’t dignify such idiocy by linking to their trash. It’s irresponsible. Let’s wait and see what the facts show before rushing to judgment.

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Police have confirmed that they searched a home in Revere, Mass. that was related to the bombing.

From FoxNewsBoston

“Police were seen carrying several large bags from a suburban Boston apartment  that authorities say was searched in connection to the Boston Marathon bombing.

The bags were removed from the apartment on Ocean Avenue in Revere just north  of Boston at about 2 a.m. Tuesday.”

“Massachusetts State Police confirmed that a search warrant was served Monday night but provided no further details.”

The FBI also participated. From TheAP

“The FBI took charge of the investigation into the bombings, serving a warrant late Monday on a home in suburban Boston and appealing for any video, audio and still images taken by marathon spectators.”

“WBZ-TV reported late Monday that law enforcement officers were searching an apartment in the Boston suburb of Revere. Massachusetts State Police confirmed that a search warrant related to the investigation into the explosions was served Monday night in Revere, but provided no further details.”

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The NYPost is reporting that a possible suspect is in custody, and that it was his home that was searched.

“Police took a 20-year-old Saudi national into custody near the scene of yesterday’s horrific Boston Marathon bomb attack, law-enforcement sources told The Post.

The potential suspect was questioned by the FBI and local police yesterday at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he was under heavy guard while being treated for shrapnel injuries to his leg sustained in the blast.

In late afternoon, a large group of federal and state law enforcement agents raided an apartment in a building in the Saudi man’s hometown of Revere, Mass.”

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by

News/Politics 4-15-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

We’ll start with some good news this morning.

First, President Obama on Thursday recognized the Rev. Emil Kapaun with the Medal of Honor. It’s quite a story.

From the NYPost

“America traditionally bestows the Medal of Honor on those who display uncommon valor on the battlefield. But sometimes heroism doesn’t use a weapon.”

“Kapaun’s is a story of self-sacrifice so noble that surviving vets still speak of him with awe — and the Vatican is considering making him a saint.

At the moment of capture, as one soldier lay helpless with a broken ankle at the point of a gun, Father Kapaun pushed the rifle aside and lifted the wounded American up, carrying him 80 miles through what became known as the Tiger Death March.”

“In captivity, he gave away his own rations and stole grain to feed others, picked lice off men too weak to do so themselves, traded his watch for a blanket — which he cut up to make socks for those whose feet were freezing — and defied his Communist captors by saying Mass on Easter. Even before capture, he’d been awarded a Bronze Star for running through enemy fire to drag wounded soldiers to safety. He succumbed to the effects of starvation and neglect in 1951 at age 35.”

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I can’t help but think the media fears giving the Gosnell case the coverage it deserves. They know what it will do to public opinion on the matter. That’s important given the number of states advancing abortion restrictions. But it’s getting harder to ignore thankfully.

And it’s nice to see a “mainstream” show finally get it, but it’s on Twitter, not on the Nightline show.

From HotAir

“Gosnell might be the worst serial killer in history, says … “Nightline” anchor”

“Before you ask, searching ABCNews.com’s archives reveals multiple pieces on the Gosnell trial over the past month — all from the Associated Press wire. There’s no original content from ABC News itself unless I missed something. There is original content that mentions Gosnell dated from late January. It’s a story about … threats to late-term abortionists and how they’re not all monsters like that terrible man in Pennsylvania. So yes, they’ll mention him, as long as they can somehow spin what he did in service to The Cause. Of course.

And yes, they know about the case. And they’ll acknowledge it in lower-profile formats:”

Like Twitter.

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Some of the Newtown parents have lobbyists, complete with handlers? Now who do you suppose set all this up?

From Politico

“When a lobbyist for families of Newtown shooting victims called the office of  Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) to set up a meeting, the first response was a  standard D.C. offer. They could get a meeting with her staff, and Collins would  stop by, they were told.

The families’ answer: not good enough. According to their lobbyists, the  families have a rule against staff-only meetings: They won’t do them. They  insist on sitting down with the senators themselves. The families wound up  getting more than 15 minutes with Collins.

That rule is just one of the ways that the Newtown families, political novices  just a few months ago, are proving to be savvy, effective advocates as they  promote the gun legislation that has finally begun to move through the Senate.  The families are well-educated, and many are well-off. They have been polished  and sharp on TV. They’re mostly non-political, but quite accomplished in their  own fields. With access to money and media, they’re using persistence,  visibility — and, most all, their unique moral authority — to help prod Senate  action. They also have their own lobbyists — several of them, in fact.”

Grassroots activism from the parents, or orchestrated and scripted astroturf from the White House?

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Business interests are not happy about the details leaked about the Immigration/Amnesty Bill. Funny, they didn’t seem concerned about reforms, or supporting them, while contributing to the problem by employing people at sub-standard wages and encouraging illegal immigration. They’ve discovered this will cost them money.

From Politico

“The business community has long supported the idea of immigration reform — particularly the high-tech sector and the construction industry, which badly  need the workers.

What they don’t support are some of the specifics leaking out on a new  immigration reform proposal expected Tuesday from the Gang of Eight.

Now, companies and trade groups — that have been pressuring the key Senate  negotiators — are preparing to unleash their lobbying forces broadly on Capitol  Hill in hopes of securing changes to the package.

And that could spell trouble for the bill since any significant change to even a  single element could scuttle the delicately reached bargain, leaving final  passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill in serious jeopardy.”

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How 1960s Radicals Ended Up Teaching Your Kids.

From TheDailyBeast

“Last week, Rutgers University fired its mercurial basketball coach after he was videotaped “shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players in practice and using gay slurs,” according to ESPN. Under pressure from school administrators, Rutgers’ athletic director, who had previously defended the coach’s behavior, resigned. It was an appropriate response: violent oafs should be fired from their university jobs for violent, oafish behavior.

On the same day ESPN broadcast the Rutgers tape, The New York Post reported that Kathy Boudin, a professor at Columbia University, was named the 2013 Sheinberg Scholar-in-Residence at NYU Law School. In 1984, Boudin, a member of the Weather Underground, a violent, oafish association of upper-class “revolutionaries,” pled guilty to second-degree murder in association with the infamous 1981 Brinks armored car robbery in Nyack, New York. Babbling in the language of anti-racism and anti-imperialism, Boudin assisted in ending the life of three people, including Waverly Brown, the first black police officer on the Nyack police force, and left nine children fatherless. She was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. In 2003, Boudin was released; by 2008 she had landed a coveted teaching position at an Ivy League university.

Indeed, Boudin’s Columbia University biography doesn’t mention her violent past, describing her simply as “an educator and counselor with experience in program development since 1964, working within communities with limited resources to solve social problems.” Neither does an official NYU press release announcing her new gig, instead explaining that Boudin “has been dedicated to community involvement in social change since the 1960’s.” Well, that’s one way of putting it. (Boudin didn’t respond to an interview request.)

Kick a student on the basketball court and you’ll lose your university job. Spend two decades in prison on radical chic murder rap and you’ll get one.”

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And last, some questionable tactics in Nevada being used on the mentally ill.

From TheSacramentoBee

“Since July 2008, Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas has transported more than 1,500 patients to other cities via Greyhound bus, sending at least one person to every state in the continental United States, according to a Bee review of bus receipts kept by Nevada’s mental health division.”

“Nevada’s approach to dispatching mentally ill patients has come under scrutiny since one of its clients turned up suicidal and confused at a Sacramento homeless services complex. James Flavy Coy Brown, who is 48 and suffers from a variety of mood disorders including schizophrenia, was discharged in February from Rawson-Neal to a Greyhound bus for Sacramento, a place he had never visited and where he knew no one.

The hospital sent him on the 15-hour bus ride without making arrangements for his treatment or housing in California; he arrived in Sacramento out of medication and without identification or access to his Social Security payments. He wound up in the UC Davis Medical Center’s emergency room, where he lingered for three days until social workers were able to find him temporary housing.

Nevada mental health officials have acknowledged making mistakes in Brown’s case, but have made no apologies for their policy of busing patients out of state. Las Vegas is an international destination and patients who become ill while in the city have a right to return home if they desire, the state’s health officer, Dr. Tracey Green, told Nevada lawmakers during a hearing last month.”

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News/Politics 4-13-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

The media continues to sandbag the Gosnell story. Here’s a rather pathetic attempt to explain why.

From Patheos

“Then I decided, since tmatt has me reading the Washington Post every day, to look at how the paper’s health policy reporter was covering Gosnell. I have critiqued many of her stories on the Susan G. Komen Foundation (she wrote quite a bit about that) and the Sandra Fluke controversy (she wrote quite a bit about that) and the Todd Akin controversy (you know where this is going). In fact, a site search for that reporter — who is named Sarah Kliff — and stories Akin and Fluke and Komen — yields more than 80 hits. Guess how many stories she’s done on this abortionist’s mass murder trial.

Did you guess zero? You’d be right. So I asked her about it. Here’s her response:

Hi Molly – I cover policy for the Washington Post, not local crime, hence why I wrote about all the policy issues you mention.”

“But gosh darn it, can you think of any policy implications to this, uh, “local crime” story? And that’s all it is. Just like a bunch of other local stories the Washington Post also refuses to cover — local crimes such as the killing of Trayvon Martin and the killing of Matthew Shepard and the killing of students at an elementary school in Connecticut. Did the Washington Post even think of covering those local crime stories? No! Oh wait, they did? Like, all the time? Hmm. That’s weird. But did they cover them in terms of policy implications? Asking politicians for their views and such? Oh they did that, too? Hmm. So weird. Oh, and Sarah Kliff herself wrote one of those stories? Well, gosh, I’m so confused.”

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Meanwhile MSNBC continues to ignore the story as well. But they did take the time to investigate if the GOP is too pro-life.

From Mediaite

“As examples of self-parody go, you can’t do much better than this. As the story of Philadelphia “house of horrors” abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell explodes on the internet and makes its way gradually onto the radars of the nation’s newsroom editors, questions have arisen about why this sensational story never received the wall-to-wall treatment it appears to merit. From conservatives and liberals alike, the universal horror that the Gosnell story has inspired is palpable. But some have suggested that the story is politically inconvenient for absolutist pro-choice activists. It simply does not fit the narrative, some say, which the media has come accustomed to reporting. A rather textbook example of this narrative stewarding came today via MSNBC. The network has not yet reported on Gosnell’s infanticide factory, but they took some time out of their busy programming day today to ask a panel of political professionals if the Republican Party’s base voters are simply too culturally conservative – and too pro-life – for the party’s leadership and the general electorate.”

“UPDATE: Lest you think that this was simply an oversight by Todd’s program, MSNBC’s straight news anchor Thomas Roberts and panel guests dug into a new NBC poll which shows that more people feel that restrictions on abortion rights are appropriate. One would think that the Gosnell case would dovetail well with this segment. One would think…”

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But as was noted in the story above, it is getting out. Not at NBC, CBS, CNN, ABC, WaPo, NYTimes, LATimes, Politico and others, but from less biased sources. And even on the floor of the House.

From TheWashingtonTimes

“Reflecting mounting frustration over the lack of press coverage of inner-city Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell’s murder trial, a group of pro-life House members took to the floor to denounce what they call a “national media cover-up” of the sensational case.

“Again, I ask my colleagues and I ask the news media, ‘Why the blackout?’” said Rep. Christopher H. Smith, New Jersey Republican. “Will America ever be told of the brutality of abortion?”

The congressional outcry is the latest effort to draw attention to the gruesome courtroom drama unfolding in Philadelphia, where Dr.  Gosnell stands accused of committing eight murders  including seven live  babies born after botched abortions  at the Women’s  Medical Society.

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And I must say, Rep. Smith pulled no punches. See for yourself.

“If Dr. Gosnell had walked into a nursery and shot seven infants with an AR-15, it would be national news and the subject of presidential hand-wringing.”

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Meanwhile the President continues to exploit the Newtown tragedy, and use the families as props to push his agenda. Here’s the latest display.

From Reuters

“President Barack Obama has asked a mother whose 6-year-old son was killed in the Newtown, Connecticut massacre to deliver his weekly radio address, an unusual move expected to turn up the pressure on Congress to pass tougher gun control laws.”

And just like the victims of Hurricane Sandy, they’ll be cast aside and ignored once the photo ops are over and they’re no longer useful.

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They’re just going completely over the top with this nonsense. Now you have law enforcement and an Obama supporting prosecutor targeting soldiers outside Ft. Hood.

From TheDailyCaller

“The conflict between law enforcement and armed military personnel in the community around Fort Hood, one of America’s largest military bases, has recently and repeatedly involved the issue of gun control — and the tension has been exacerbated in part by an Obama-supporting prosecutor described as a “bandleader” of anti-gun efforts in the heavily conservative community.”

The conflict reached a fever pitch last month, when Texas police arrested an  active-duty Army sergeant for “rudely displaying” a hunting rifle. The sergeant,  C.J. Grisham, established an online legal defense fund after he was, in  his words, “illegally arrested and disarmed” for carrying the firearm.”

“Video of the incident obtained by The Daily Caller shows officers defending their behavior to Grisham while restraining him.

“In this day and age, [people] are alarmed when they see someone with what you have,” one of the officers tells Grisham in the video. “They don’t care what the law is.””

But you as a police officer should.

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While the police are busy harassing law-abiding citizens/soldiers, the illegals continue to break actual laws. But these actual laws aren’t enforced like the non-existent law above.

From WOAIRadio

“Officials say the number of people entering  the U.S. illegally is way up and, tragically, the number of undocumented  immigrants who have been found dead in the unforgiving Texas Brush Country is  way up, and is on path this year to beat last year’s record for the number of  people found dead in the ranch country.

Linda Vickers, who owns a ranch in  Brooks County, which is Ground Zero for the immigration debate, pins the blame  directly on talk of ‘amnesty’ and a ‘path to citizenship’ for people who entered  the U.S. illegally.”

“”The Border Patrol agent was loading one man up, and he told the officer in Spanish, ‘Obama’s gonna let me go’.” Border Patrol agents report that immigrants are crossing the border, and in some  cases surrendering while asking, “Where do I go for my amnesty?””

“She says the current increase in illegal  immigrant entries began last summer, at almost exactly the same time as President Obama unilaterally announced plans to no longer deport young people  who came to the U.S. as children with their illegal immigrant parents.”

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News/Politics 4-12-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

There’s a lot to choose from, that’s for sure.

We have some scary stuff, from TheCSMonitor

“That was the bombshell out of a House Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday.

It came when Rep. Doug Lamborn (R) of Colorado began quoting from what he said was an unclassified version of the DIA report, which has not yet been made public.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, the nation’s top military officer, appeared caught off-guard. The Pentagon has in recent days sought to strike a balance between words of warning to the North and attempts to calm the situation. General Dempsey’s reaction suggested that he was not pleased to have the DIA assessment made public, as it could further stoke anxieties over what is already a enormously tense international standoff.”

Greaaaaaat….. 🙄

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We have Dems pretending to be European Socialists by behaving badly….. from Heritage

“One would naturally think it impossible that anyone would hesitate – even for an instant – to honor the woman who tackled communism head on as prime minister of Great Britain. Lady Margaret Thatcher was a principled politician who helped to foster the special relationship between Great Britain and the United States that we all benefit from today.

A Senate resolution to honor Lady Thatcher was supposed to pass last night.  However, per well placed sources on the Hill, Democrats have a hold on the resolution.”

I’m not shocked at all. And they’re not pretending either I suspect.

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The President’s Priorities, from TheWallStJournal

“President Obama is pitching his new budget proposal as a fiscal peace offering to Republicans, but the details suggest everyone should expect more conflict. The fiscal 2014 plan he released Wednesday is a very slightly modified version of his previous budgets that reduces the deficit by raising taxes and trading defense cuts for more domestic spending.

The real news is that his budget ratifies much of the spending increase of the first term and tries to lock it in. He wants the feds to spend $3.78 trillion next year ($11,944 per American), which would still be 22.2% of national output nearly four years into an economic recovery. Before the financial panic in 2008, the government was spending about $1 trillion less, or closer to $2.7 trillion a year and an average of 20% of GDP—and President Bush was no slouch as a spender himself.”

“On the other hand, debt held by the public as a share of the economy will continue to climb—to what the White House predicts will be a peak of 78.2% of GDP in 2014. As recently as 2008, U.S. debt was 40.5% of the economy. Mr. Obama has nearly doubled it. (See the nearby chart.) With a modicum of spending restraint and faster growth, the debt burden will start to decline. The danger is that there’s no room to avoid Southern European debt levels if we have another recession or an interest-rate spike.”

Good thing we don’t have a spending problem huh? 🙄

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So how exactly did that bi-partisan gun deal come about? Why in typical DC fashion of course. From TheWashingtonTimes

“Sen. Mark Kirk says the real driving force  behind the gun deal that was hatched by bipartisan work was booze and boat  retreats.

The Illinois Republican said to reporters that visits to the Black Tie, a  yacht owned by Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin,  played a large role in the Democratic-Republican come-together over background  checks and other legislation related to gun control, Roll Call reported.”

“You guys really ought to go out to National  Harbor and see the Black Tie, which has been much of the reason for much of  the bipartisan cooperation around here,” he said, as quoted in Roll Call.”

You can look, but don’t touch it. They don’t like the commoners touchin’ their stuff.

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Next we have a serious case of judicial, and I suspect liberal, stupidity. From FoxNewsBoston

“The illegal immigrant who was drunk driving when he hit and dragged a Milford man to his death has been ruled incompetent to stand trial.

Judge  Janet Kinton-Walker says Nicolas Guaman’s “unique cultural background” and language barrier means that he doesn’t understand the court process. The court  also said that he lacks the ability to consult with his attorney properly.”

“FOX 25’s Melissa Mahan asked Maloney whether she believes Guaman does not understand the court process in the United States because of his language  barrier.

“No, I don’t believe it,” said Maloney. “In the past, he’s had other run-ins with the law. He’s been in court multiple times on other charges prior to all this in August 2011 and a Spanish interpreter or no interpreter was used for those hearings and he’s always managed just fine.”

Sure. And does he keep breaking the law because he doesn’t understand it too? Oh well. Let’s face it, the DoJ and INS would probably just release him anyway, what with Sequester cuts and all. 🙄

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These last 3 are all education/indoctrination related. We have some doozies today.

First, from the hallowed halls of higher learning we have the Clown Prince of Professors, from FoxNewsRadio

“For two years the University of Southern California student had listened to the classroom ranting of liberal professors. So it wasn’t much of a surprise when Darry Sragow, his political science professor, launched into an anti-Republican tirade on the first day of class.”

“The 20-year-old political science major bought a hidden camera disguised as a shirt button. And that’s how he was able to secretly videotape every single lecture delivered by Professor Sragow.”

““On the first day of class he talked about how Republicans prevent blacks from voting,” Talgo said. “He also said that he used to work for Democratic candidates and it was his job to kill Republicans.”

““They’re really stupid and racist,” Sragow said at one point. “The Republican party is increasingly the last refuge of old, angry white people who don’t like what’s going on in this country.””

And yes, there’s video at the link. But with a  CONTENT WARNING!!!  for some cussing.

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Next we have the further indoctrination of public school kids, disguised as education of course. Gotta get ’em young. From NationalReview

“One doesn’t need to be a global-warming skeptic to be appalled by a new set of national K–12 science standards. Those standards, developed by educrats and science administrators, and likely to be adopted initially by up to two dozen states, put the study of global warming and other ways that humans are destroying life as we know it at the very core of science education. This is a political choice, not a scientific one. But the standards are equally troubling in their embrace of the nostrums of progressive pedagogy.

Students educated under the Next Generation Science Standards will begin their lifelong attention to climate change as soon as they enter school. Kindergartners will be expected to “use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area” (perhaps this is what used to be known as “building a fort”) and “develop understanding of patterns and variations in local weather and the purpose of weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to, severe weather.” Things get even scarier by the third grade, when students should be asking such questions as: “How can the impact of weather-related hazards be reduced?” The standards don’t mention protesting the Keystone pipeline as a possible “real-world” answer to the question of how to reduce “weather-related hazards,” but rest assured that the graduates of America’s left-wing education schools will not hesitate to include such hands-on learning experiences in their global-warming-politics — oops, make that “science” — classes. By high school, students are squarely in the world of environmental policy-making, expected to “evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.””

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And the last of the bunch is also from a public school, again, get the kids. From EAGNews

“Eighth-graders in Wisconsin’s Union Grove school district were assigned to fill out a “Liberalism vs. Conservatism” crossword puzzle, and they learned some new and very questionable “facts.”

Students learned conservatism is “the political belief of preserving traditional moral values by restricting personal freedoms … ”

Conversely, they learned liberalism is “the political belief of equality and personal freedom for everyone, often changing the current system to increase government protection of civil liberties.”

“On the back side of the crossword puzzle was a political survey students were required to fill out to identify their beliefs, something Varebrook believes is equally troubling.”

That’s how they figure out who the free-thinking trouble makers are. Can’t have ’em influencing the collective with their conservative values. You know how radical 8th graders are. Best to identify ’em early.

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News/Politics 4-11-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

This morning we go fast and furious. We won’t be running guns, but we will talk about them. Since there’s so many, I’ll try to be brief. 🙂

First the expanded background checks. Seems mostly reasonable, but any attempts to limit rights make me nervous. I just don’t trust ’em to leave it at this. From TheHill

“The proposal would expand background checks to cover all sales at gun shows and  over the Internet. Those background checks would have to be accompanied by  records proving to law enforcement officials they took place.

It would exempt gun sales and transfers between friends and acquaintances  without the help of an online intermediary.”

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Meanwhile more than half of Colorado’s Sheriffs have signed on to a lawsuit against that state’s new gun grab laws. From FoxNews

“The Denver Post reports that 37 of the state’s 62 sheriffs will sue to  overturn laws passed in March that set limits on ammunition magazines and expand  background checks for firearms.

Weld County Sheriff John Cooke told the paper that the proposed lawsuit would  argue the laws violate Second Amendment rights. He said the lawsuit would likely  be filed within the next few weeks.”

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Now on to the President’s idea of a budget. Or as I like to call it, DOA. From TheDailyMail

“Early analysis: Obama’s 2014 budget numbers are based on bad math, phantom  revenues, imagined spending cuts and a middle-class tax hike”

“White House promises $1.8 trillion in  deficit reduction, although similar previous claims have been  debunked

New method of measuring cost-of-living  increases will lower benefit payouts and push middle-class earners into higher  tax brackets

Speaker Boehner’s spokesperson: ‘Any deficit  reduction will come exclusively from tax hikes’

Administration’s formula depends on cost  savings from Obamacare, which may be more costly to implement than previously thought”

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ObamaCare savings? I think not. From Bloomberg

“The $1.3 trillion U.S. health-care system overhaul is getting more expensive and will initially accomplish less than intended.

Costs for a network of health-insurance exchanges, a core part of the Affordable Care Act, have swelled to $4.4 billion for fiscal 2012 and 2013, and will reach $5.7 billion in 2014, according to President Barack Obama’s budget sent to Congress today. Spending would be more than double the projections, even though less than half the 50 U.S. states are participating.”

So if all states participate, it’s even worse. Savings? Please. It’s working out just as we said it would. And just think, all this, with no benefits yet. Just imagine how far off they’ll be once they actually have to start paying out benefits.

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Even some Dems are catching on to the fact that they created a monster. From TheWashingtonExaminer

“Decrying the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as way too complex, he warned the acting Medicare director that Obamacare is “so complicated and if it isn’t done right the first time, it will just simply get worse.”

“”I believe that the Affordable Care Act is probably the most complex piece of legislation ever passed by the United States Congress. Tax reform obviously has been huge too, but up to this point it is just beyond comprehension,” said Rockefeller.”

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Looks like they’d like to use the same rush tactic on immigration that they used for ObamaCare. From TheWashingtonExaminer

“Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, faulted Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., for limiting the committee review of the gang of eight’s immigration proposal to just one hearing, scheduled for next week.

“A single hearing scheduled so quickly to discuss legislative language that is not yet even available is completely inadequate for Senators or the American people to get answers to the many questions a bill of this magnitude will inevitably raise,” Lee said in a statement. “We could not possibly have a meaningful hearing with a substantive discussion of what will surely be over 1,000 pages of provisions we haven’t even yet seen.””

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Just one more reason to dislike the IRS. From TheHill

“The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has claimed that agents do not need warrants to read people’s emails, text messages and other private electronic  communications, according to internal agency documents.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which obtained  the documents through a Freedom of Information Act request, released the information on Wednesday.”

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And since we’re on the subject of unconstitutional power grabs and abuse of power, we’ll stay with it. From TheWashingtonExaminer

“A bill aimed at pressuring the Boy Scouts of America to lift its ban on gay members by making the organization ineligible for nonprofit tax breaks cleared its first vote on Wednesday in the California Legislature.”

“The Youth Equality Act, sponsored by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach, would deny tax-exempt status to youth groups that discriminate on the basis of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or religious affiliation.”

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Another example? Really? I see a pattern here. From FoxNews

“The Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged Tuesday that it released  personal information on potentially thousands of farmers and ranchers to  environmental groups, following concerns from congressional Republicans and  agriculture groups that the release could endanger their safety.

According to a document obtained by FoxNews.com, the EPA said “some of the  personal information that could have been protected … was released.” Though the  EPA has already sent out the documents, the agency now says it has since  redacted sensitive details and asked the environmental groups to “return the  information.””

Sure, after the horse has left the barn.

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And to finish, some words from Clarence Thomas on the decline of black communities. From TheObserver-Reporter

“Thomas spoke to an appreciative audience at Duquesne Law School in Pittsburgh. The crowd of about 1,200 people responded with both applause and laughter as he discussed politics, the makeup of the Supreme Court, race, and his own struggles to find his path in life.”

“If I was going to have hard feelings, it’d be mostly on race issues,” Thomas said. “My heart is broken because I worked in the inner cities.”

He said he’s seen terrible decline in some black communities over the years and today “virtually every crime is drug related.” Many young people have no families and no education and numerous anti-poverty programs have failed to make a difference, he said.

“We should at least fess up and say something is wrong,” Thomas said.”

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News/Politics 4-10-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First, the self-imposed media blackout of the Kermit Gosnell trial continues. From TheWashingtonTimes

“The trial details are nothing short of sensational: A doctor accused of  killing seven newborns and a young woman at a filthy Philadelphia clinic strewn  with body parts and described as a “slaughterhouse.”

It’s big news in Philadelphia, but nationally, not so much. The lack of  coverage is a problem for a growing chorus of conservative and media critics,  who allege that the scant national media attention can be attributed not to the  courtroom drama but the politics of abortion.”

“MRC also reports that there has been no network coverage on ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, NPR or PBS, and just one brief mention on CNN.”

“Forbes columnist Mike Ozanian said that the  controversy surrounding Rutgers  University basketball coach Mike Rice, who  was shown on video abusing players and using vulgar language during practice,  had received far more national attention than the Gosnell  trial.”

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Next, a question. Educating or indoctrinating? From FoxNewsRadio

“Boibeaux’s son is an eighth grader at Northeast Middle School. On Monday his social studies teacher gave students a worksheet titled, ‘The Second Amendment Today.’

“The courts have consistently determined that the Second Amendment does not ensure each individual the right to bear arms,” the worksheet states. “The courts have never found a law regulating the private ownership of weapons unconstitutional.

The worksheet, published by Instructional Fair, goes on to say that the Second Amendment is not incorporated against the states.

“This means that the rights of this amendment are not extended to the individual citizens of the states,” the worksheet reads. “So a person has no right to complain about a Second Amendment violation by state laws.”

According to the document, the Second Amendment “only provides the right of a state to keep an armed National Guard.”

Wow. Lies and misinformation sold as education.

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And we have another as well. This one’s not just for indoctrinating, it’s also got personal benefit for the “educator”. From CampusReform

“A professor at a public university in Texas is under investigation from school administrators for allegedly forcing students in her graphic design class to create anti-gun posters for a personal anti-gun campaign she had launched.

Midwestern State University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Betty Stewart confirmed to Campus Reform Friday the school has launched an investigation into professor Jennifer Yucus’ conduct after a student filed an official complaint on Thursday.

According to the complaint, obtained by Campus Reform, the professor compelled students in her graphic design class to create artwork opposing firearms on campus and opposing pro-gun legislation currently pending before the Texas state legislature.

The professor then used the artwork students created online to publicize an anti-gun petition entitled “MSU is anti-Concealed Carry on Campus” and on a now deleted Facebook page opposing firearms, says the complaint.

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Meanwhile, 15,000 people whose opinion should matter in the gun debate have responded to the proposed gun legislation. From DirectorBlue

“A March 2013 survey of 15,000 police officers covering proposed gun control legislation and attitudes about concealed carry laws had some surprising results:

The survey, which was conducted in early March 2013, received 15,000 responses from law enforcement professionals. It found that the overall attitude of law enforcement is strongly anti-gun legislation and pro-gun rights, with the belief that an armed citizenry is effective in stopping crime. Response percentages varied only slightly when analyzed by rank and department size. Among the results:

• 86 percent feel the currently proposed legislation would have no effect or a negative effect on improving officer safety

• Similarly, 92 percent feel that banning semi-automatic firearms, or “assault weapons,” would have no effect or a negative effect on reducing violent crime.

And 91% support concealed carry among non-felons. Now you know why Obama only uses the police for props, and doesn’t ask them to speak at his anti-gun events.

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The First Lady, who has no clue on such matters, takes her husband’s gun control show to the murder capital of the US. Yes, Chicago, the town her husband helped make what it is today with his failed democrat policies. From TheWashingtonTimes

“First Lady Michelle Obama will take the White House’s legislative  push for  gun control to her  hometown of Chicago Wednesday where she  will address a  luncheon on youth violence.

Mrs. Obama’s remarks will focus on urging Chicago business leaders to  invest  in opportunities for youth across Chicago’s neighborhoods.”

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Our govt continues it’s not so thrifty, actually mostly wasteful spending.

From HotAir

“Those $85 billion in sequester cuts over which the Obama administration has been trying their darndest to whip everyone into a national freakout, insisting that employees will need to be furloughed, air traffic control towers are going to be shut down, and the White House can’t afford historical tours? Practically peanuts compared to the amount of money the federal government drops on redundant and wasteful spending according to the third annual installment of a Government Accountability Office report, says Sen. Tom Coburn:

These are among the findings in a new Government Accountability Office report that found 162 areas where services are duplicated or money is being wasted in the federal government. The annual cost of duplicative or wasteful programs is estimated at roughly $250 billion, according to fiscal hawk Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. …

“That’s 250 billion dollars a year, that’s three times what the sequester was,” Coburn said. “Just in waste, in duplication, in stupidity, and lack of efficiency and effectiveness by the federal government. (It) makes you want to pull your hair out.” …

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Since we’re on the subject of how taxpayer money is spent/wasted……..

Sequester? Sure. The Blue Angels are the next symbolic victim. From USAToday

“The Navy announced Tuesday that it was canceling the remaining Blue Angels 2013 performances, citing “budget realities.”

Blue Angels canceled. But don’t worry, the pretty people still get their 10th party on your dime. And it least us commoners get to watch this one. From WhiteHouseDossier

“Tonight’s special White House “celebration” of Memphis soul music marks the tenth time President and Mrs. Obama have been treated to an exclusive East Room “command performance” of American music featuring major stars, past and present.

While the performances are televised and celebrate the nation’s culture, some may wonder whether during an era of soaring deficits it is wise to stage what are also in effect private parties for the first couple.

And with this evening’s event, the performances are officially part of the “sequester-free zone” at the White House. As is well known, the daily White House tours did not make the cut.”

Like I keep saying, priorities.

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This one will make you go Hmmmm…… From TheWeeklyStandard

“The top Republican in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, is asking the feds to investigate whether a closed campaign meeting was illegally wiretapped by his political opponents. The issue arises after the liberal outlet Mother Jones published “A recording of a private meeting between the Senate GOP leader and campaign aides.”

In a statement to the press, McConnell’s campaign manager, Jesse Benton, says the feds are getting involved. “Senator McConnell’s campaign is working with the FBI and has notified the local U.S. Attorney in Louisville, per FBI request, about these recordings,” says Benton. “Obviously a recording device of some kind was placed in Senator McConnell’s campaign office without consent. By whom and how that was accomplished will presumably be the subject of a criminal investigation.”

The federal wiretapping law thought to have been violated reads, “It shall not be unlawful under this chapter for a person acting under color of law to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication, where such person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to such interception.”

And surreptitious recording also violates Kentucky law, where this meeting took place:” 

More from Politico

““Senator McConnell’s campaign is working with the FBI and has notified the local  U.S. Attorney in Louisville, per FBI request, about these recordings,” McConnell  campaign manager Jesse Benton said in a statement. “Obviously a recording device  of some kind was placed in Senator McConnell’s campaign office without consent.  By whom and how that was accomplished presumably will be the subject of a  criminal investigation.””

“On Tuesday morning, Mother Jones, a liberal magazine, published an audio recording of McConnell staffers discussing  opposition research they could use against actress Ashley Judd, who was  considering running against veteran senator in the 2014 Senate race. Judd  announced last week that she would not make the race.”

“Someone on the tape is heard saying:

“She’s clearly, this sounds extreme, but she is emotionally unbalanced. I  mean it’s been documented. Jesse can go in chapter and verse from her  autobiography about, you know, she’s suffered some suicidal tendencies. She was  hospitalized for 42 days when she had a mental breakdown in the ’90s.””

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News/Politics 4-9-13

What’s interesting out there today?

Open Thread, as always.

I guess we start with the sorry treatment from the left at the news of Margaret Thatcher’s death. Respected by conservatives, vilified by the left. Just a horrible display by the intolerant left.

How bad does it have to get for this to happen? Pretty bad I imagine.

From WeaselZippers

“UK’s Daily Telegraph Shuts Down Comments On Every Margaret Thatcher Story After Libs Flood Comments Section With Abuse…”

Even the online tributes. Disgusting.

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More on these horrible displays here, from TheGuardianUK

“Several hundred people gathered in south London on Monday evening to celebrate Margaret Thatcher’s death with cans of beer, pints of milk and an impromptu street disco playing the soundtrack to her years in power.

Young and old descended on Brixton, a suburb which weathered two outbreaks of rioting during the Thatcher years. Many expressed jubilation that the leader they loved to hate was no more; others spoke of frustration that her legacy lived on.

To cheers of “Maggie Maggie Maggie, dead dead dead,” posters of Thatcher were held aloft as reggae basslines pounded.

Clive Barger, a 62-year-old adult education tutor, said he had turned out to mark the passing of “one of the vilest abominations of social and economic history”.”

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If you have the stomach for it, more here from Twitchy

But CONTENT WARNING!!!  big time.

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For how the AP treated news of her death compared to Hugo Chavez, it’s back to WeaselZippers

“Compare And Contrast: AP Equivocates On Margaret Thatcher, Lionizes Huge Chavez…

Yes, liberal media bias is a myth.”

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Now here’s a look at how the left has ensured another Thatcher never gets a chance again. Boy, this is starting to sound familiar too. From NationalReview

“Margaret Thatcher couldn’t be elected today. It’s not just that she was a great woman and such people don’t come along every day. Rather, the British Left made sure of it by altering the electorate through mass immigration.

This isn’t conspiracy mongering. Andrew Neather, a former Labour-party speechwriter, admitted in 2009 that the immigration boom engineered after 2000 was specifically intended to import a new people:

The huge increases in migrants over the last decade were partly due to a politically motivated attempt by ministers to radically change the country and “rub the Right’s nose in diversity”, according to Andrew Neather, a former adviser to Tony Blair, Jack Straw and David Blunkett.

He said Labour’s relaxation of controls was a deliberate plan to “open up the UK to mass migration” but that ministers were nervous and reluctant to discuss such a move publicly for fear it would alienate its “core working class vote”.”

Hmmm……. Now where else did I see this being attempted?

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This one you’ll love. It appears we have millions for university studies on snail and duck sex, but not for less important matters like this. Priorities people, as always. From Bloomberg

“A Manhattan federal judge said it was “extremely troublesome” that the terrorism trial of Osama Bin Laden’s son-in-law could be delayed by across-the-board federal budget cuts.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan made the comment during a hearing today in the case of Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, Bin Laden’s former chief spokesman. Abu Ghayth is charged with conspiring to kill Americans before and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He pleaded not guilty last month.

Lawyers for both sides suggested trial be delayed until 2014, in part because federal public defenders said they don’t have the ability to properly defend their client in such an international case given budget cuts and mandatory furloughs under so-called sequestration.”

The judge found it “stunning”. I don’t. They’re intentionally making decisions like this. Just like the decision to release criminal illegals.

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This one I find amusing. In fact, if PETA is successful, I may take up hunting again. 🙂

From USNews

“People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is actively shopping for a drone that would “stalk hunters,” the organization said Monday.”

“The group says it will “soon have some impressive new weapons at its disposal to combat those who gun down deer and doves” and that it is “shopping for one or more drone aircraft with which to monitor those who are out in the woods with death on their minds.”

The group says it will not weaponize the drones, but will use them to film potentially illegal hunting activity and turn it over to law enforcement.”

Hey Bob, did you get a buck this morning?

Nope. But I did get me 2 PETA drones, so it wasn’t a total wash. 🙂

You know I’m right.

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Speaking of shooting aerial targets……..

The Navy has introduced it’s newest high-tech weapon system. No, not the Rail gun, but a close relative. No projectile in this one. Interesting too considering Israel says it will only be weeks before Iran faces consequences for it’s nuke program. But the Pentagon insists it won’t be operational until next year. Things that make you say Hmmmmm…. indeed! From TheNYTimes

“The Navy is going to sea for the first time with a laser attack weapon that has been shown in tests to disable patrol boats and blind or destroy surveillance drones.

A prototype shipboard laser will be deployed on a converted amphibious transport and docking ship in the Persian Gulf, where Iranian fast-attack boats have harassed American warships and where the government in Tehran is building remotely piloted aircraft carrying surveillance pods and, someday potentially, rockets.

The laser will not be operational until next year, but the announcement on Monday by Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the chief of naval operations, seemed meant as a warning to Iran not to step up activity in the gulf in the next few months if tensions increase because of sanctions and the impasse in negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program. The Navy released video and still images of the laser weapon burning through a drone during a test firing.”

And here is that video.

All for the price of a pack of gum. More here from USNews

“The Navy’s top officer unveiled new technology Monday that allows ships to shoot down drones or other vehicles for about the cost of a pack of gum.”

“The USS Dewey tested an onboard laser weapons system in July 2012, in which it successfully shot down a test drone. Navy Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the chief of Naval Operations, screened video of the event while speaking at the Sea-Air-Space expo.

The Laser Weapon System or LaWS only costs roughly $1 per shot and could be employed against fast attack ships or even be used in the future for missile defense.”

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And the Louisville Cardinals are your NCAA Tournament winners, defeating the Michigan Wolverines 82-76.

A good night for Coach Pitino and his team. From FoxSports

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