June 13, 2013 by the real Aj

New/Politics 6-13-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread, as always.

This one doesn’t surprise me at all. From Breitbart

“Breitbart News reported last week that Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) passed an amendment in the House Armed Services Committee protecting religious speech of service members in the military. President Barack Obama has now threatened to veto the bill if it passes the full House and Senate.

The White House released a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) on H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014. Among other items, the SAP includes as an objection to the bill:

Expansion and Implementation of Protection of Rights of Conscience of Members of the Armed Forces and Chaplains of Such Members: The Administration strongly objects to section 530, which would require the Armed Forces to accommodate, except in cases of military necessity, “actions and speech” reflecting the “conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the member.” By limiting the discretion of commanders to address potentially problematic speech and actions within their units, this provision would have a significant adverse effect on good order, discipline, morale, and mission accomplishment.

The SAP includes a veto threat: “…if the bill is presented to the President for approval in its current form, the President’s senior advisers would recommend that the President veto the bill.””

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This next one also isn’t. But the playing of the race card is really getting old. The post-racial President and his buddy Holder are up to more nonsense. From TheWallStJournal

“Federal regulators Tuesday accused two large employers of improperly using criminal-background checks in hiring, the latest salvo in a contentious debate over whether such screening amounts to discrimination against black applicants.

In complaints filed in federal courts in Illinois and South Carolina, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said two companies discount retailer Dollar General Corp. and a U.S. unit of German auto maker BMW AG generally barred potential employees based on the criminal checks, when they should have reviewed each applicant. The commission said the policies had the effect of discriminating against black applicants.

The suits underscore increasing government scrutiny of criminal and credit checks, which are widely used to screen job applicants. Some 92% of employers use criminal-background checks for some or all job openings, according to a 2010 survey by the Society of Human Resource Management.”

So they’ve basically taken the Jesse Jackson extortion of corporations racket and put the full force of govt. behind it. They’ve already done it to Pepsi and others as well.

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Next up….. They’re baaaack……. From NBCNews

“The Obama administration will try to revive its push for tighter restrictions on firearms, almost two months after legislation seen as the best hope for gun control went down to defeat in the Senate.

The effort got an extra boost on Wednesday as families of children and educators killed at Newtown returned to Capitol Hill ahead of the six-month anniversary of the shootings to plead with lawmakers not to forget their loved ones.”

“The administration’s renewed effort will be fought on several fronts: at the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in key states and congressional districts throughout the country.

The families also met today with House GOP leaders, whose discretion will be key in determining whether any gun proposal even comes up for a vote in the House, should a bill make it out of the Senate.”

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We also have an attempt by a Trayvon Martin advocate to get on the jury and try to influence it. From TheNYDailyNews

“A member of a pro-Travyon Martin group was unmasked Wednesday as he tried to get on the Florida jury in George Zimmerman’s trial for shooting the unarmed teen.

A white male potential juror identified on his Facebook page as Jerry Counelis gave long, rambling answers about his impartiality when asked basic questions by attorneys.”

“According to its Facebook page, the Coffee Party Progressives is a group “dedicated to seeking justice for Trayvon Martin.””

“There were several other incendiary remarks about Zimmerman and police in Sanford, Fla., where Martin was shot.”

What a weasel.

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The Southern Baptist Convention is calling for the removal of some of the leadership of the BSA for it’s recent decision on homosexuals. And a little FYI, if you aren’t a fan of hate, stay away from the comment section. Liberals are acting as you would guess they would. From NBCNews

“The Southern Baptist Convention on Wednesday called for the removal of some of the Boy Scouts’ leadership after the organization voted to allow gay youth to join, but did not ask its affiliated churches to pull their sponsorship of Scouting.”

“The convention approved the call in a resolution crafted by a committee at the group’s annual meeting in Houston. It comes three weeks after the Boy Scouts of America voted in an historic ballot to allow gay youth to join after the issue of LGBT membership had roiled the youth organization for years.

“Bapists didn’t put this on the agenda. The Boy Scouts of America put this on the agenda. This was something to which we had to respond,” said Russell Moore, president of the convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee.

“The purpose of this resolution is not to call down fire from heaven on the leadership of the Boy Scouts of America,” he added. “It’s to seek to persuade, to seek to engage in a conversation.””

No, but it did call down the hate from those who disagree with you Mr. Moore.

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This one has little chance of passing, and would be vetoed if it was. But I will enjoy seeing Democrats and pro-abortion Repubs try to defend voting against it. From TheDailyCaller

“The House Judiciary Committee approved legislation Wednesday that would ban abortions in the United States after 20 weeks.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, was approved in a vote of 20-12.

“The taking of innocent life is a practice all too common in this nation,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte said in a statement. “The recent Gosnell trial reminds us that when newborn babies are cut with scissors, they whimper and cry, and flinch from pain. And unborn babies when harmed also whimper and cry, and flinch from pain. Delivered or not, babies are babies, and it has been shown that they can feel pain at least by 20 weeks.””

““It is time to welcome young children who can feel pain into the human family,” he added. “And this bill, at last, will do just that.””

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And Wisconsin is about to require an ultrasound prior to an abortion. And again, the comments are exactly as you think they would be. It’s disturbing how vile they can be in their defense of homosexuality and abortion. From TwinCities.com

“Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday he will sign a measure that’s quickly working its way through the Republican-controlled Legislature that would require women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound.

The Senate debated the measure Tuesday, a week after it was introduced, but Democrats used a procedural move to delay a vote until Wednesday morning. The Assembly hoped to take it up Thursday.

While Democrats were able to temporarily hold up the bill, they don’t have the votes to kill it.”

“Another bill slated be voted on by the Assembly on Thursday would keep certain religious organizations and employers from having to provide health insurance coverage for contraceptives and would prohibit the use of public money to pay for abortion coverage in public employees’ health insurance plans. Yet another would ban abortion for gender selection.”

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May 31, 2013 by the real Aj

News/Politics 5-31-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

There’s plenty to choose from today.

First up, the continuing, and growing, IRS scandal.

“While the developing scandal over the targeting of conservatives by the tax agency has largely focused to date on its scrutiny of groups with words such as “tea party” or “patriot” in their names, these examples suggest the government was looking at a broader array of conservative groups and perhaps individuals. Their collective experiences at a minimum could spread skepticism about the fairness of a powerful agency that should be above reproach and at worst could point to a secret political vendetta within the government against conservatives.” From McClatchy.com

Is anyone really surprised?

Next up, who wants a Special Prosecutor? Pretty much everyone.

“A Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday shows 76 percent want a special counsel to 17 percent opposing. The idea has strong support across all parties, with 88 percent of Republicans, 63 percent of Democrats and 78 percent of independents calling for a special prosecutor.” From TheHill

We’re supposed to believe the President when he says those responsible will be held accountable. And yet….

“Through 2012, then-Exempt Organization Specialist Stephen Seok signed many of the intimidating letters sent to conservative nonprofits. For example, this January 2012 letter sent to the Richmond Tea Party demanded the date, time and location of all group events, as well as copies of all handouts provided at the events, and the names and credentials of all organizers. Seok also demanded the names of all speakers and the contents of the speeches they made. According to WXIX-TV/Fox 19 in Cincinnati, Seok is no longer an exempt organization specialist. He has since been promoted to “supervisor IRS agent.” From TheWashingtonExaminer

Now to Lois Lerner. We know a lot of what she’s done in this scandal. We also know she did the same type of political hit jobs while at the FEC. It’s obvious intimidation is her preferred tactic, and the reason she’s the administration preferred tool for just such dirty business.

We also know Durbin was one of the Senators writing and asking the IRS and Lerner to investigate and harass conservatives. And now we find out that Lerner has done similar dirty work at Durbin’s request before. And where else but Chicago? Here’s more.

“The IRS scandal may have its roots in Illinois politics. Specifically, the 1996 U.S. Senate race between Democrat Congressman Dick Durbin and conservative Republican State Rep. Al Salvi.

More than a decade before his 2010 letter to IRS officials urging the agency to target conservative organizations, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s political career crossed paths with Ms. Lerner when she was head of the Enforcement Division of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and directly involved in the 1996 Illinois U.S. Senate race.

Soon after the IRS story broke, Al Salvi told Illinois Review that it was IRS official Lois Lerner who represented the FEC in the 1996 Democrat complaint against him. According to Salvi, Lerner was, without question, politically motivated, and went so far as to make him an offer: “Promise me you will never run for office again, and we’ll drop this case.” From TheIllinoisReview

It’s a good read.

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It looks like California has taken a page from Chicago and Lois Lerner. Intimidation and threatening/revoking tax exempt status. It’s obviously directed at the Boy Scouts. They’re saying this is for all “youth groups” though, and that troubles me. How long before Christian groups have their tax exempt status threatened for daring to hold to biblical standards too?

And this should disabuse some of the idea that you can compromise with these people and stop their constant attacks against anyone who disagrees with their ideology and agenda.

“Even as the Boy Scouts of America moves to allow gay youths to join its troops, the California Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would revoke the organization’s nonprofit status because it does not permit the participation of openly gay adults.

“They are out of line with the values of California and should be ineligible for a tax benefit paid for by all Californians,” Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, said as he introduced his bill. “SB 323 brings our laws into line with our values.”

The measure calls for revoking the tax-exempt status of youth groups that discriminate against participants on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identification.”

“The bill passed the state Senate 27-9, receiving the bare minimum of votes required. It needed two-thirds support because it changes California’s tax code. Three senators did not vote: Democrat Rod Wright and Republicans Anthony Cannella and Bill Emmerson. The bill now advances to the Assembly.” From TheSacramentoBee

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In other news from Cali…..

“The Los Angeles Unified School District is taking part in a program to educate middle and high school students about how to share their HIV and STD statuses with their cell phones.”

“Described by district officials as a sex education prevention resource accessed by secondary health teachers, Qpid.me allows users to obtain, store and privately share their health records and HIV/STD statuses.”

“State law allows for children 12 or older to consent to medical care involving the prevention of sexually transmitted disease without parental consent.” From LosAngelesCBSLocal

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We’ve all been shocked by the British terror attack against a British soldier by 2 muslim extremists. More details are coming, little of it good. Like the Boston bombers, authorities in the UK missed/ignored the obvious.

“Woolwich terror suspect Michael Adebolajo was filmed encouraging 1,500 followers to turn against Britain in a hate-filled rant on the anniversary of 9/11.

Video footage unearthed by the Daily Mail shows the alleged killer addressing a crowd of young Muslims outside a mosque in north London.”

“Film of the extremist rant follows the revelation – the day after the slaughter of Drummer Lee Rigby last week – of photos of Adebolajo standing behind hate preacher Anjem Choudary outside Paddington Green police station six years ago.”

“It prompted MPs to call for an inquiry into what MI5 knew about Adebolajo and the other terror suspect Michael Adebowale.” From TheDailyMail

This guy should have set alarms off all over the place. And yet just like the Boston bombers, he was aided by the govt. after another govt. had pointed out his radical ties.

“British diplomats recommended that a British man detained in Kenya 2 1/2 years ago on suspicion of attempting to join Islamic fighters in Somalia be freed, the lawyer who represented him said Thursday. The man was let go and last week allegedly helped butcher a British soldier on the streets of London.

Michael Adebolajo’s lawyer, Wycliffe Makasembo, said a letter from the British High Commission in Nairobi recommended that the man be released because there was no tangible evidence to link him to the crime.” From TheCalgaryHerald

Sound familiar?

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This one isn’t really shocking.

“Gallup: 77% say influence of religion declining in US”

“Over three-quarters of Americans (77%) say religion is losing its influence on American life, while 20% say religion’s influence is increasing. These represent Americans’ most negative evaluations of the impact of religion since 1970, although similar to the views measured in recent years.” From HotAir

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It looks like prosecutors in the Martin/Zimmerman case have some explaining to do.

“A court employee who retrieved photos and deleted text messages from Trayvon Martin’s cellphone has been placed on administrative leave after an attorney testified that prosecutors didn’t properly turn over the evidence to the defense, an attorney said Wednesday.

Former prosecutor Wesley White said he was ethically obligated to reveal that Fourth Judicial Circuit Information Technology Director Ben Kruidbos retrieved the data that weren’t turned over.

Kruidbos was placed on leave shortly after White testified during a hearing in George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder case on Tuesday. White said Kruidbos was interviewed by state attorney investigators twice before the action was taken.