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News/Politics 4-1-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, as always.

Here’s a few to start off.

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Ready or not, here comes amnesty, and with the borders left open.

From TheHill

“Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” senators  working on an immigration-reform bill, said Sunday the group had agreed on a  deal to be unveiled soon and that he was confident the bill would eventually be  signed into law by President Obama.

“We’ve got a deal,” said Graham on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “2013 I hope  will be the year we pass bipartisan immigration reform, signed into law.””

“Sen. Charles Schumer, another member of the immigration group gave a similar  timeline. He said the final draft will be done this week, Senate Judiciary  Committee hearings would be in April, and the bill could hit the floor for a  vote as early as May.”

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What is it with this guy and Pastors who make radical statements?

From TheBlaze

“The pastor at the Washington, D.C. church where the Obama family celebrated Easter on Sunday said members of the religious right want blacks “in the back of the bus,” women “back in the kitchen” and immigrants “back on their side of the border.”

“It drives me crazy when the captains of the religious right are always calling us back…for blacks to be back in the back of the bus…for women to be back in the kitchen…for immigrants to be back on their side of the border,” Rev. Dr. Luis Leon said in his sermon, according to the White House press pool report.”

More on the Pastor’s comments here, from TheWeeklyStandard

And a Hat Tip to Donna J 🙂

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We have an interesting read here from FreedomWorks

“As a 15 year old, I never imagined my activism in politics would translate into controversy for me at school.

My name is Benji Backer and I attend a public high school in Appleton, Wisconsin. I have always supported the public school system and plan to do so for the rest of my life. Many Americans who stand up for the public school system and the unions believe there is no attempt to sway opinion or that students with opposing beliefs are singled out. Unfortunately, experiences I have had with harassment and bullying prove that wrong. This is a timeline of the most extreme cases of harassment and indoctrination I have had in the three different public schools I have attended over the last three years.

I am currently in my freshman year of high school and the incidents are happening more frequently and I believe are more severe.  As you can imagine, the ongoing pressure and bullying has been disturbing to me, my friends and my family.”

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And as long as we’re on the subject of public schools….

From TheWashingtonPost

“The former superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools and nearly three dozen other administrators, teachers, principals and other educators were indicted Friday in one of the nation’s largest cheating scandals.

Former Superintendent Beverly Hall faces charges including racketeering, false statements and theft. She retired just days before a state probe was released in 2011 and has previously denied the allegations. The indictment represents the first criminal charges in the investigation.

The previous state investigation in 2011 found cheating by nearly 180 educators in 44 Atlanta schools. Educators gave answers to students or changed answers on tests after they were turned in, investigators said. Teachers who tried to report it faced retaliation, creating a culture of “fear and intimidation” in the district.”

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And we’ll end with this story on the fiscal nightmare years of Democrat rule will get you. Detroit has nothin’ on Cali.

From TheSacrementoBee

“Were California’s state government a business, it would be a candidate for insolvency with a negative net worth of $127.2 billion, according to an annual financial report issued by State Auditor Elaine Howle and the Bureau of State Audits.

The report, which covers the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, says that the state’s negative status — all of its assets minus all of its liabilities — increased that year, largely because it spent more than it received in revenue.”

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by

News/Politics 3-30-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread, feel free to share.

Here’s a few from me.

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Atheists lose another one.

From TheNYPost

“A New York judge has tossed out a lawsuit seeking to stop the display of a cross-shaped steel beam found among the World Trade Center’s wreckage.

Federal judge Deborah Batts on Friday rejected the arguments of a national atheists’ group.

American Atheists had sued the National September 11 Memorial & Museum’s operators in 2011 on constitutional grounds.”

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More NY news, this is not as good. Also from TheNYPost

“New York’s big government — with its hands deep in taxpayers’ pockets and regulations controlling everyone’s lives — has made the Empire State the worst in the nation for personal liberty, a new study shows.”

“The university found New York’s government slams citizens from every angle — from huge taxes to tight controls on business to myriad rules on all kinds of fun.

“New York has, by a wide margin, the highest taxes in the country,” the report found.”

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Poor airports. Apparently nobody has explained to them that laws don’t apply to the Obama Admin.

From YahooNews

“Airport operators are mounting a legal challenge to the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to cut funding for 149 air traffic control towers, accusing the agency of violating federal law meant to ensure major changes at airports do not erode safety.

Several airports are now asking a federal court to halt the plan and compel the FAA to more carefully study the potential safety impact, said Carl Olson, director of the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, Ill. He warned that without a more cautious approach, lives will be put at risk by cuts that he contends are arbitrary and the result of reckless political brinkmanship in Washington.

“I think everybody’s going to realize what the industry knows, and that is there is a razor thin margin of error in aviation and any diminishment of safety is going to have an immediate and cascading effect,” Olson said in an interview Friday. “And all the talk to the contrary won’t change that fact.”

Hey it was either this or less vacations. Guess which one they picked? 🙄

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You can take the Dictator out of the KGB, but you can’t take the KGB out of the Dictator.

From TheWashingtonTimes

“Governments and rights organizations are decrying raids by Russian  authorities on more than 2,000 international and domestic advocacy groups, what  observers say is an unprecedented campaign to silence critics of the  Kremlin.

In the past couple of weeks, the Russian  Prosecutor General’s Office has conducted surprise inspections at hundreds  of locations, including the offices of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International  and Transparency International.

In addition, Russian groups that receive money from foreign donors have been  targeted, as have religious groups, environmental advocates, and cultural  exchange and education programs.”

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Ah yes, the oh so tolerant left. I’m sure the faculty agrees. 🙄

From NationalReview

“Ben Carson, the noted pediatric neurosurgeon, has become the target of a petition by Johns Hopkins students who want him removed as the medical school’s commencement speaker this spring.

Dr. Carson became a media sensation in January when he questioned Obamacare and progressive taxation in a speech to the National Prayer Breakfast as President Obama sat just a few feet away from him.

With his new prominence, Carson has apparently also riled some liberals, including these Johns Hopkins students. Last Tuesday, he told Sean Hannity of Fox News that “marriage is between a man and a woman. No group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn’t matter what they are, they don’t get to change the definition.””

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And we’ll finish up with a stunningly honest admission of how they really feel, for a change.

From TheWeeklyStandard

“Florida legislators considering a bill to require abortionists to provide medical care to an infant who survives an abortion were shocked during a committee hearing this week when a Planned Parenthood official endorsed a right to post-birth abortion.

Alisa LaPolt Snow, the lobbyist representing the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, testified that her organization believes the decision to kill an infant who survives a failed abortion should be left up to the woman seeking an abortion and her abortion doctor.

“So, um, it is just really hard for me to even ask you this question because I’m almost in disbelief,” said Rep. Jim Boyd. “If a baby is born on a table as a result of a botched abortion, what would Planned Parenthood want to have happen to that child that is struggling for life?”

“We believe that any decision that’s made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician,” said Planned Parenthood lobbyist Snow.”

Not shockingly this is the same group of affiliates Michelle Obama’s aide left to take a CEO position in. I posted that story on Thursday from LifeNews

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by

News/Politics 3-29-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread, you decide.

No seriously, it’s on you. I’ve got nothing. 🙂

I just couldn’t seem to find any news items that seemed important to me today. I’m concentrating on my family, church, and the ultimate gift we received today thru the death of Christ.

So I guess that’s today’s news from me.  Christ died, for you and me. Forgiveness is ours, thru Him.  That’s about as big a piece of news as you’ll ever hear. 🙂

So the headline for me today is 1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit

And in other news, death has no sting. 🙂

Have fun, and enjoy your day.

by

News/Politics 3-28-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread.

President Obama received some sharp criticism from conservative Justices yesterday.

From TheHill

“Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder decided in 2011 that the federal  Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. They quit defending it in the  courts, but directed federal agencies to continue to comply with the law.

Conservatives on the Supreme Court criticized that approach Wednesday during  oral arguments over whether DOMA is constitutional.”

““I don’t see why he doesn’t have the courage of his convictions,” Chief Justice  John Roberts said of Obama’s decision to continue following the law, even though  he believes it is unconstitutional.

Justice Antonin Scalia said the legal system appears to be “living in this  brave new world” in which the Justice Department can simply opt out of its  traditional responsibility to defend federal laws in the courts.”

Just like with gun laws. They cry for more restrictions on guns, yet at the same time complain that enforcing existing ones is racist and harder on minorities. Enforce the laws, it’s not rocket science.

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And speaking of refusing to enforce existing laws…….

From HotAir

“Janet Napolitano: We shouldn’t wait until the border is secure to legalize illegals”

“No worries. She says the border’s already “as secure as it’s ever been,” even though her department has given up trying to measure that. Marco Rubio recently claimed that 10 million new illegals would cross the border over the next decade if there’s no new guest-worker program in place. Maybe Napolitano could quantify border control that way. Are things secure enough now to ensure that only nine million of them would make it? Eight million?”

Of course they don’t want to have to secure it first. They’re not even trying. And they’re releasing criminal illegals already, which is another example of them chosing not to enforce the law.

We also had another example of our not so secure borders yesterday. She was apprehended, but you know she’ll be released. The only question is on which side of the border will she be released on?

“John McCain        ✔@SenJohnMcCain

Just witnessed a woman successfully climb an 18-ft bollard fence a few yards from us in pic.twitter.com/GnMwEeQwDB“

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This one is disturbing, but sadly not surprising. Given our anything goes culture, consequences like this will continue to worsen. Just like abortion. Meanwhile groups like Planned Parenthood that promote and encourage this free love/if it feels good lifestyle are also the ones who benefit financially from the real life consequences of both.

From CNSNews

“According to new data released by the federal Centers for Disease Control  and Prevention, there were 19.7 million new venereal infections in the  United States in 2008, bringing the total number of existing sexually  transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S. at that time to 110,197,000.”

“The STI study referenced by the CDC estimated that 50 percent of the new infections in 2008  occurred among people in the 15-to-24 age bracket. In fact, of the  19,738,800 total new STIs in the United States in 2008, 9,782,650 were  among Americans in the 15-to-24 age bracket.”

““CDC’s new estimates show that there are about 20 million new infections in the United  States each year, costing the American  healthcare system nearly $16 billion in direct medical costs alone,”  said a CDC fact sheet.”

20 million new infections a year. Obviously what these groups are teaching in schools isn’t working. I can’t help but think that’s by design.

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Here’s an interesting read from RealClearPolitics.

“The University Utopia”

“Just after November’s election, I posed  three paradoxes of American politics, asking why certain demographic groups make  up reliable voting blocs for the left, even though the pro-free-market ideas of  the right have so much to offer them.

I have begun to revisit these paradoxes. In part  one of this series, I laid out the case for why the pro-free-market right  needs to reclaim these key demographic groups—young people, racial minorities,  and city dwellers—and why I regard these as natural constituencies for  the free market whose lockstep voting for the left is a paradox.

In this installment, I take up the first of the paradoxes: Why do the young  vote for dependency—when the essence of youth is a quest for independence?  My purpose for now is mostly just to solve the paradox, to explain the reason  for the apparent contradiction, and to indicate what this implies for how the  right should change its message and its sales tactics. When I am done looking at  all three paradoxes, I will look in greater depth at an agenda of reform for the  political strategy of the right.”

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And we have a couple new ideas for wasteful things govt funds that should be cut, unlike White House tours.

From FoxNews

“A prime example of how slowly the federal government moves is a piece of prime  real estate in Washington’s tony Georgetown neighborhood — an old  steam-generating plant with a spectacular view of the Potomac  waterfront.

The government-owned building was finally sold to a private developer for  $19.5 million this month. But it sat there for 10 years — off the  market  and vacant — while taxpayers footed the bill for its upkeep.

A for-sale sign only went up the day before the House Committee on Oversight  and Government Reform dragged General Services Administration officials into the  musty structure for a hearing last summer. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., berated a  bewildered GSA official at that hearing, saying: “You can’t get your job done! I  don’t care if it’s a Republican or Democratic administration, the job is not  getting done!””

But that’s not even the worst we have today. For that, we go to CNSNews

” The National Science Foundation awarded a grant for $876,752 to the University of Iowa to study whether there is any benefit to sex among New Zealand mud snails and whether that explains why any organism has sex.

The study, first funded in 2011 and continuing until 2015, will study the New Zealand snails to see if it is better that they reproduce sexually or asexually – the snail can do both – hoping to gain insight on why so many organisms practice sexual reproduction.

“Sexual reproduction is more costly than asexual reproduction, yet nearly all organisms reproduce sexually at least some of the time. Why is sexual reproduction so common despite its costs,” the study’s abstract asks.”

A better question to ask is why is govt. waste like this so common despite it’s costs?

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by

News/Politics 3-27-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

I guess we start with some good news from North Dakota. 🙂

From LifeNews

““Gov. Jack Dalrymple today signed HB 1305, HB 1456 and SB 2305 and provided the following statements to the Legislature:”

“I have signed HB 1305 which would ban abortions performed solely for the purpose of gender selection and genetic abnormalities.

I have signed HB 1456 which would ban abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. Although the likelihood of this measure surviving a court challenge remains in question, this bill is nevertheless a legitimate attempt by a state legislature to discover the boundaries of Roe v. Wade. Because the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed state restrictions on the performing of abortions and because the Supreme Court has never considered this precise restriction in HB 1456, the constitutionality of this measure is an open question. The Legislative Assembly before it adjourns should appropriate dollars for a litigation fund available to the Attorney General.

I have signed SB 2305 which requires admitting and staff privileges at a nearby hospital for any physician who performs abortions in North Dakota. The added requirement that the hospital privileges must include allowing abortions to take place in their facility greatly increases the chances that this measure will face a court challenge. Nevertheless, it is a legitimate and new question for the courts regarding a precise restriction on doctors who perform abortions.””

More here on the banning of abortion based on Down Syndrome, as well as gender preference based abortions. Also via LifeNews

“With the governor’s signature on the ban today, North Dakota has become the first state to ban abortions based on genetic “defects” like Down Syndrome. When diagnosed before birth, such genetic abnormalities prompt couples to have abortions 90 percent of the time.”

“The measure would also ban abortion based on gender selection, an issue of increasing concern in the United States has people from nations like China and India migrate to the United States and bring their cultural preference for boys with them.”

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Then some possibly good news. Or just wishful thinking. But the quicker we lame duck the current President, the better.

From Bloomberg

“U.S. Senator Tim Johnson’s announcement that he’ll retire after the 2014 election just made the Democrats’ job of holding their Senate majority a lot tougher.

Johnson, 66, the Senate banking committee chairman, is the second Democrat from a state won by Republican nominee Mitt Romney last year to say he won’t seek re-election in 2014. The announcement today means his party must defend two open seats and support five other Democratic incumbents running for re-election in Republican-leaning states.”

““The battle for the Senate will come down to Democrats’ability to hold seats in Republican-leaning states,” said Nathan Gonzales, deputy editor of the non-partisan Rothenberg Political Report, based in Washington. “A lot depends on how popular the president is” next year “because if people are dissatisfied, their option is to vote against the president’s party.””

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And then it starts to go downhill. 😦

It sounds like good news for a change due to ObamaCare, more jobs. But there’s a catch.

From HotAir

“Today, the Washington Post discovers that the Law of Unintended C0nsequences applies to ObamaCare, too.  Thanks to the massive costs added to hiring full-time workers, businesses now want to operate on cash-only relationships with labor:

The health-care law could prove to be a boon for temporary-staffing companies as employers outsource jobs to sidestep complex requirements for medical insurance.

But some experts say the Affordable Care Act’s exceptions for temporary employees could undercut the goal of expanding coverage to more American workers.

“That could lead to an increase in part-time workers” who lack insurance, said Susan N. Houseman, an economist at the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research who studies staffing companies. “You regulate something and people will always try to find a way around the regulation.”

Gee, nobody saw that comin’ huh? 🙄

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Then we get a GRINCH ALERT!!! and it’s not even Christmas. 😦

From FoxNews

“Boys and girls at an Alabama elementary school will still get to hunt for eggs – but they can’t call them ‘Easter Eggs’ have the principal banished the word for the sake of religious diversity.”

““We had in the past a parent to question us about some of the things we do here at school,” said Heritage Elementary School principal Lydia Davenport. “So we’re just trying to make sure we respect and honor everybody’s differences.””

““Kids love the bunny and we just make sure we don’t say ‘the Easter Bunny’ so that we don’t infringe on the rights of others because people relate the Easter bunny to religion,” she told the television station. “ A bunny is a bunny and a rabbit is a rabbit.”

🙄 And you’re a weasel Ms. Davenport. They’d probably lock the school down if anybody dared mention Jesus’ name in connection with Easter.

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But I guess as annoying as that is, it’s nothing compared to the persecution other believers face. And this is who our govt. is supporting and funding.

From FoxNews

“Islamic hard-liners stormed a mosque in suburban Cairo, turning it into  torture chamber for Christians who had been demonstrating against the ruling  Muslim Brotherhood in the latest case of violent persecution that experts fear  will only get worse.

Such stories have become increasingly common as tensions between Egypt’s  Muslims and Copts mount, but in the latest case, mosque officials corroborated  much of the account and even filed a police report. Demonstrators, some of whom  were Muslim, say they were taken from the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in  suburban Cairo to a nearby mosque on Friday and tortured for hours by hard-line  militia members.

“They accompanied me to one of the mosques in the area and I discovered the  mosque was being used to imprison demonstrators and torture them,” Amir Ayad, a  Coptic who has been a vocal protester against the regime, told MidEast Christian News from a  hospital bed.”

““There is no longer anything to hold them back. The floodgates are  open.”

And in Libya more of the same, from CNSNews

“On Feb. 12, about two years after the U.S. government first militarily intervened in Libya to advance the cause of Libyan revolutionaries and five months after Libyan terrorists murdered Amb. Chris Stevens and three other Americans in that country, the  post-revolutionary Libyan government arrested a U.S. citizen for  allegedly “proselytizing” Christianity in Benghazi.

As of today, according to both a senior administration official and a State Department spokesperson, this U.S. citizen remains imprisoned in  post-Qaddafi Libya.

The Libyan government also arrested seven other Christians in Benghazi in connection with the same alleged case of Christian proselytizing. These include a South African woman, a South Korean man  and five Egyptian men.”

And again, this is who we’re propping up.

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by

News/Politics 3-26-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

There’s a lot going on.

Let’s start with ObamaVote, just another “free” service ObamaCare provides. They even have community organizers on hand to help out! They’ve thought of everything. What could possibly go wrong?

And now you know what happened to ACORN. They sold out to the man and went legit.

From TheWashingtonExaminer

“The 61-page online Obamacare draft application for health care includes asking if the applicant wants to register to vote, raising the specter that pro-Obama groups being tapped to help Americans sign up for the program will also steer them to register with the Democratic Party.

On page 59, after numerous questions about the applicant’s identity and qualification for Obamacare, comes the question: “Would you like to register to vote?” The placement of the question could lead some to believe they have to register to vote to get health care.”

“Boustany, a Louisiana Republican, said the application raises two alarming issues: What does HHS plan to do with all the information it collects on each applicant and will pro-Obama groups like AARP and Families USA that might be tapped as “navigators” to sign people up to Obamacare, steer them to register as Democrats. Others have indicated that groups like Planned Parenthood and ACORN could also act as a navigator.”

And the worst part is it’s not even shocking. This is exactly the kind of behavior you’d expect.

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More fun facts on ObamaCare here, from HotAir

“Remember when we were told that there was no way that Obamacare would result in driving up costs of healthcare, and in fact would lower it? Well, that ship has already sailed. But there was another popular “myth” which many of us were accused of falling for.  It was the prediction that government meddling in cost setting would drive health care professionals out of business resulting in less available services and a subsequent decline in quality of care. That was just a myth, right? Ah, good times… good times….

Unfortunately, the early projections show that precisely such a result is already kicking into gear.

“The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has recently triggered a debate within the medical community about both its potential impact on medical trainees and on practicing physicians. While the president of the American Medical Student Association has publicly supported the changes in a recent official memo, a recent survey indicates that 40 percent of medical students may not even be aware of the provisions of the act.

Institutional changes can often be double-edged swords, and this series of proposed changes is no different. There are both potential benefits and downsides to what is now widely seen as almost inevitable healthcare reform.”

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So what can we do about it? First, we need to hang this albatross where it belongs, around the necks of Dems. This is all their doing.

From TheNYPost

“Democrats hope to retake the House of Representatives in next year’s elections. They won’t — and they’ll have themselves to blame, because 2014 is when ObamaCare kicks in.

With a vengeance.

The authors of the Obama health law postponed the pain until after the 2012 election. Some popular provisions went into effect immediately, such as allowing children to stay on their parent’s plan until age 26. And the White House granted 1,472 waivers to various companies and unions, exempting them from insurance reforms so they wouldn’t drop coverage for employees and members before the presidential contest.

Yet a majority of voters on Election Day still opposed the health law (though, obviously, it wasn’t the deciding issue in the presidential race). And opinion will only sour more as the law takes full force starting in January.”

Plenty of low info voters are still under the impression that it’s all free. Reality will not be kind to them. Let’s make sure they are reminded of who is responsible for it.

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And on the gun issue we have this, from Politico

“Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Mike Lee are threatening to filibuster  gun-control legislation, according to a letter they plan to hand-deliver to  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office on Tuesday.

“We will oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a  vehicle for any additional gun restrictions,” the three conservatives wrote in a  copy of the signed letter obtained by POLITICO.”

“Reid plans to bring up a gun-control measure that focuses on broadening  background checks and cracking down on interstate gun-trafficking after the  current Senate recess.”

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And it’s been one misstep after another from liberals on this issue. NY didn’t think to exempt police in their rush to pass something. Then they didn’t think through the magazine capacity issue either. They don’t even make the magazines they said were the only ones now legal to possess. Now we have Bloomberg, the next clown who knows little about guns acting like he’s an expert. Oh well, at least the 12 million he’s blown on this was his money. If this commercial is any indication, maybe we should just ban liberals from possessing guns, for the safety of others.

From TheWashingtonTimes

“Mike Bloomberg is spending $12 million on  attack ads designed to force U.S. senators to vote for national gun control laws  that will supposedly save lives. However, the New York mayor’s commercials  running in 13 states over the next two weeks could cause injury or death by  showcasing irresponsible handling of a firearm.

Mr. Bloomberg’s organization, Mayors  Against Illegal Guns, produced two ads featuring a man holding a shotgun,  wearing plaid flannel with a camouflage cap and sitting on the tailgate of a  pickup truck. While a child swings on a tire in the background, the man says, “I  support comprehensive background checks so criminals and the dangerously  mentally ill can’t buy guns.”

“The ad does not specify if the man is an actor, but the text accompanying it  says he is a “gun owner.”  Either way, the man violates all three gun  safety rules taught by the National Rifle Association (NRA).”

It’s Amateur Hour in NY. 🙄

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Remember folks, we don’t have a spending problem. We have a revenue problem, as in not enough revenue for the elitists in charge. And sadly this isn’t new. Waste like this has been going on for years. But these people seem to have perfected it.

From CNN

“Official business took him last month to Europe, a trip that included a bill of $585,000 for his one-night stay in Paris.

Also on the receipt was $321,665 for a limousine company and $459,338.65 for a hotel stay in London.

And while Biden was only in each town for one night, the London hotel bill, for example, included 136 rooms for multiple nights for his advance team, according to the documents posted on the website for Federal Business Opportunities and unearthed by the conservative magazine, The Weekly Standard.

Whether or not the figures were posted online intentionally remain unclear, as similar reports for previous overseas trips could not be located on the same website.”

Oh I’d wager it was done intentionally. More than likely by someone who actually had to deal with Sequester cuts, unlike the VP and Vacationer in Chief and his family. No word yet on the cost for this year’s taxpayer funded Spring Break trip to Atlantis for the Obama girls, or if Mrs. O is joining them. And still no tours for the children of taxpayers. Priorities people!

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by

News/Politics 3-25-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

I guess we’ll start with a modern medical marvel. Or something. Cool, but a little scary too.

From TheWallStJournal

“Inside a warren of rooms buried in the basement of Gregorio Marañón hospital here, Dr. Aviles and his team are at the sharpest edge of the bioengineering revolution that has turned the science-fiction dream of building replacement parts for the human body into a reality.

Since a laboratory in North Carolina made a bladder in 1996, scientists have built increasingly more complex organs. There have been five windpipe replacements so far. A London researcher, Alex Seifalian, has transplanted lab-grown tear ducts and an artery into patients. He has made an artificial nose he expects to transplant later this year in a man who lost his nose to skin cancer.”

“In additional to the artificial nose, Dr. Seifalian is making cardiovascular body parts. He sees a time when scientists would grow the structures needed for artery bypass procedures instead of taking a vein from another part the body. As part of a clinical trial, Dr. Seifalian plans to transplant a bioengineered coronary artery into a person later this year. His employer, University College London, has designated a person to oversee any future commercialization of it and other man-made organs.”

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The attempts to place further restrictions on individual rights continues, with the usual suspects/useful idiots.

From TheHill

“Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has emerged as a key player if Senate Democrats are  to have any chance of passing legislation to expand background checks for  private sales of firearms.

McCain and Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) are at the top  of a list of Republicans considered most likely to sign on to legislation  expanding background checks after talks with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) stalled  earlier this month.

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) has signaled he will likely support the  yet-to-be-finalized proposal he negotiated with Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)  and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to expand background checks to cover private gun  sales, according to Senate sources.”

Meanwhile the NRA asks the obvious questions, and points out the flaws in the leftist idea of gunless Utopias.

From NewsBusters

“National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre asked a marvelous question on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday.

“Why doesn’t the national press corps, when they’re sitting down there with  Jay Carney and the president and the vice president, why don’t they say, ‘Why is Chicago dead last in enforcement of the gun laws against gangs with guns, felons  with guns, drug dealers with guns?'”

“Do you know where Chicago ranks in terms of enforcement of the federal gun laws?  Out of 90 jurisdictions in the country, they ranked 90th. Why doesn’t NBC News  start with, “Shocking news on Chicago. Of all the jurisdictions in the country,  Chicago’s dead last on enforcement of the federal gun laws?” Why doesn’t the  national press corps, when they’re sitting down there with Jay Carney and the  president and the vice president, why don’t they say, “Why is Chicago dead last  in enforcement of the gun laws against gangs with guns, felons with guns, drug  dealers with guns?”

Because it would be racist to do so in the mind of the Democrats that control the city.

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This one, if true, is certainly disturbing. But let’s face it, it wouldn’t be shocking.

From ChristianNewsNet

“An Oregon high school teacher was escorted from the building by police this week over what is believed to be related to his continued opposition to Planned Parenthood’s presence in the classroom.

Bill Diss is a math and computer science teacher at Benson High School in Portland, and has taught at the school for 11 years. Diss has also become known in the school for his opposition to Planned Parenthood since 2007, when he first began organizing efforts during after-school hours to stop the furtherance of the abortion provider in the community.”

“According to reports, last year, Planned Parenthood of Columbia Williamette began promoting its Teen Outreach Program (TOP) at Benson High School where Diss is employed as a teacher. In September, two representatives from the organization showed up at Diss’ classroom as they were hoping to speak to students. However, he would not let the representatives enter and asked them to leave.”

“Following Diss’ refusal to allow the representatives into his classroom, the principal and vice principal of the school paid Diss a visit and temporarily removed him from the class. The next day, he was forced to sit in on a Planned Parenthood presentation.”

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Cyprus and the EU have reached a deal.

From ZeroHedge

“While we have little color on what kind of carnage the President of Cyprus had to accept to his fellow countrymen, the news is that :

i) Laiki to be wound down;

ii) Bank of Cyprus to survive but with deposit haircuts, and

iii) deal would see secured deposits in Laiki moved to Bank of Cyprus.

In other words, a deal far worse than the original one proposed by the Eurogroup last week – when the banks still existed. The key appears to be the ‘saving’ of the insured depositors (crucial to avoid a pan-European bank run) and the crushing of the ‘whale’ depositors.

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And we’ll end with some lowered expectations.

From HotAir

“Obamacare official on exchanges: “Let’s just make sure it’s not a third-world experience.””

“A quick reminder about what I’ve been saying about the challenges of Obamacare exchange implementation, here and here.

Now, Obamacare feds are conceding the same. Gary Cohen, head of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, is the one charged with getting this bird off the ground, and has faced grilling from even Democratic lawmakers worried it will crash on take-off.”

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by

News/Politics 3-23-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread, as always.

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This is just sad. No consequences.

From FoxNews

“Free to do as he pleases, living out his days in the suburbs of northern New  Jersey, a Syrian national who is a known associate of the 9/11 hijackers never  has to worry about deportation by the U.S. government, according to an  investigation by Fox Files.

With nearly 400,000 people waiting for U.S. citizenship, Daoud Chehazeh last  November received political asylum for a third time after a series of  bureaucratic screw ups at the federal level, according to a review of court  documents and interviews with former federal and state investigators.”

“Bukowski and Bush say they still believe there was an unknown relationship  between al-Awlaki, Chehazeh and Rababah. At least five of the hijackers were  tied to these men. And it is striking that the 9/11 Commission report makes no  reference to Chehazeh.”

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I wonder if they want to GPS track him, like they do the general public? Probably not. That might be profiling or something. 🙄

But at least some on both sides are standing up for the public.

From CNetNews

“A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced a new bill, known as the Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act, to force law enforcement to obtain a warrant to track suspects with GPS devices.

The bill, which was introduced to Congress yesterday, is sponsored by Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), as well as Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and House judiciary committee ranking member Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). If passed, it would provide a “legal framework” that provides clear guidelines on when and how GPS devices can be accessed and used.”

“The legislation was introduced a day after the government argued before a federal appeals court that warrantless GPS tracking is an important part of the law enforcement process. The government’s attorneys have argued that GPS devices can be used to “gather information to establish probable cause, which is often the most productive use of such devices.” Requiring a warrant means being forced to establish probable cause before that and ultimately limit the value of GPS devices.”

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The more we know, the worse it gets. The job killing/hours cutting by ObamaCare continues.

From TheWashingtonExaminer

“Over one-third of the 9.1 million full-time jobs among America’s diverse business franchises could be cut back or eliminated by Obamacare as small businesses struggle to maintain profitability while coughing up money to pay for Washington-mandated health care coverage, according to the International Franchise Association.

The threat of hitting 3.2 million full-time workers as the Affordable Care Act takes effect next year is prompting the owners of fast food restaurants, service companies and other franchises to urge Congress to make significant changes in Obamacare.

To help their cause, the association on Friday released a new state-by-state breakdown on the potential impact on jobs in the bull’s eye of Obamacare, which declares that a 30-hour week is full-time, not the industry accepted 40 hours. That 10-hour difference has thousands of franchise owners scrambling to either fund healthcare for those working 30 hours, or cut hours back to below 30 hours.”

But wait, there’s more.

From TheWallStJournal

“Health insurers are privately warning brokers that premiums for many individuals and small businesses could increase sharply next year because of the health-care overhaul law, with the nation’s biggest firm projecting that rates could more than double for some consumers buying their own plans.

The projections, made in sessions with brokers and agents, provide some of the most concrete evidence yet of how much insurance companies might increase prices when major provisions of the law kick in next year—a subject of rigorous debate.”

The projected increases are at odds with what the Obama Administration says consumers should be expecting overall in terms of cost. The Department of Health and Human Services says that the law will “make health-care coverage more affordable and accessible,” pointing to a 2009 analysis by the Congressional Budget Office that says average individual premiums, on an apples-to-apples basis, would be lower.”

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Meanwhile, the DHS refuses to answer questions about their massive ammo purchases. Meanwhile the shortage is hitting not only legal gun owners, but police as well.

From CNSNews

“The nationwide shortage of ammunition has left many police departments scrambling to get their hands on the necessary rounds – with some even bartering among each other.

Meanwhile, Rep. Timothy Huelskamp (R-Kansas) says the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has failed to respond to multiple members of Congress asking why DHS bought more than 1.6 billion rounds in the past year.

Police Chief Cameron Arthur of Jenks, Oklahoma says, “Ammunition and assault weapons in general have skyrocketed…In addition to the fact, not only is it a lot more expensive, but the time to get it could be six months to a year, or in some cases even longer.”

And in NY, the lawsuits against the unconstitutional gun grab there have begun.

From FoxNews

“The National Rifle Association on Thursday joined the the New York State  Rifle and Pistol Association, other sportsmen’s groups, firearms businesses and  individual gun owners in a lawsuit challenging the state’s strict new gun  control law.

The federal suit, filed in Buffalo, said the law violates the constitutional  rights of “law-abiding citizens to keep commonly possessed firearms in the home  for defense of self and family and for other lawful purposes.”

“The challenge takes aim at two key provisions of the law: a lower limit on  magazine capacity and an expansion of the state’s assault weapons ban to include  some popular and formerly legal semi-automatic rifles.”

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Yesterday DrivesGuy/Joe B. linked to this story from CBS12.com

“A student at Florida Atlantic University’s campus in Davie says he couldn’t believe what he and his fellow students were asked to do  by their instructor three weeks ago.

Ryan Rotela, a junior from Coral Springs at FAU, said what happened was an insult to his intelligence.

He said the instructor in his Intercultural Communications class at FAU told everyone in the class to take out a piece of paper, write the word JESUS on it in bold letters, and then put the paper on the floor and stomp on it.”

Well now we have a little more info on the FAU professor in question, and some of his other associations and fellow comrades. And no, not surprising.

From BizPacReview

“A South Florida college professor’s bizarre classroom antics have made waves for their shocking display of religious intolerance. But they were even more instructive in educating the rest of us on the alarming thought process of yet another Palm Beach County Democratic leader.”

“While the incident has made the news, the media has failed to report a key component of Poole’s resume: He is vice-chairman of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party. His recent actions add fire to an already-disturbing pattern of hate coming out of the local party.”

“Mark Siegel, the former chairman of the county Democratic Party, was forced to resign in September under a barrage of criticism over an anti-Christian tirade at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.”

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by

News/Politics 3-22-13

What’s interesting out there today?

We can start with Pres. Obama’s Mid East trip.

From Politico

“On his stops in the Holy Land Thursday, President Barack Obama turned again and again to a subject not obviously connected to the current troubles in the mideast: the struggles of African Americans in the United States.

One of the parallels the president drew—comparing the plight of Palestinians to that of blacks in the U.S.—has drawn criticism in the past when he raised it in this region.”

“Obama’s comments—which invoked life under Jim Crow in the U.S. or perhaps even under slavery—seemed to give support to Palestinian narratives that describe Arabs and Palestinians as second-class citizens in Israel. That line of criticism deeply angers many Israelis. Some critics of Israel go so far as to use the word apartheid, a word that angers Israelis further.

But at stops in Jerusalem later on Thursday, Obama invoked the history of African-Americans in the U.S. in ways far more pleasing to Israelis and Jews generally.”

The race card? How original. 🙄

Also note his habit of just saying whatever he thinks his audience wants to hear. Always in campaign mode.

While he fiddles, others point out the obvious. From USAToday

“President Obama’s first journey to Israel as president comes amid earth-shattering change in Middle East, much of it for the worse. The Arab Spring, which once raised hopes of freedom and dignity, has diverged onto the dark path of Islamist authoritarian rule. In Syria, tens of thousands of people have died in a bitter civil war that might have recently seen its first use of chemical weapons. And Iran continues its march toward nuclear weapons capability, heedless of international condemnation. Obama’s effort to seek peace between Palestinians and Israelis is in tatters.

That’s why the White House has been lowering expectations for Obama’s trip to Israel all this week. He will announce no new peace plan, grand design or major foreign policy initiative. His advisers are calling the trip a “listening tour.” That is what you call a state visit when you have little to say.

Despite downgrading the trip, many see Obama’s arrival as the sequel to his 2009 visit to Cairo, where he announced a “new beginning” with the Muslim world. Four years later, that doesn’t auger well for renewed efforts in Israel and the West Bank. According to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project, confidence in Obama in Muslim countries dropped from 33% to 24% in his first term. Approval of Obama’s policies declined even further, from 34% to 15%. And support for the United States in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Pakistan is lower today than it was in 2008 in the closing year of George W. Bush’s administration. That collapse of support has not happened elsewhere.”

Ouch. Lower than Bush. That’s gotta sting his ego a bit. So much for soft-power huh? Doesn’t seem to be working real well. Then again, it’s probably Bush’s fault. Most things are.

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This bothers me. Sure it’s limited now, but you know it’s ever expanding.

From NBCNews

“The U.S. government is expanding a cybersecurity program that scans Internet traffic headed into and out of defense contractors to include far more of the country’s private, civilian-run infrastructure.

As a result, more private sector employees than ever before, including those at big banks, utilities and key transportation companies, will have their emails and Web surfing scanned as a precaution against cyber attacks.

Under last month’s White House executive order on cybersecurity , the scans will be driven by classified information provided by U.S. intelligence agencies — including data from the National Security Agency (NSA) — on new or especially serious espionage threats and other hacking attempts. U.S. spy chiefs said on March 12 that cyber attacks have supplanted terrorism as the top threat to the country.

The Department of Homeland Security will gather the secret data and pass it to a small group of telecommunication companies and cyber security providers that have employees holding security clearances, government and industry officials said. Those companies will then offer to process email and other Internet transmissions for critical infrastructure customers that choose to participate in the program.”

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Looks like some officials are standing up to the promotion of sex on a college campus in their state. I’ll skip the details, but yeah, I’d have to agree. IMHO I don’t see much of educational value in it.

CONTENT WARNING!

From TownHall

“A group of Tennessee lawmakers is preparing to issue an ultimatum to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville – either defund the first-ever “Sex Week” or they will defund the university.”

“This is truly an offense to the people of Tennessee,” State Rep. Susan Lynn said on the House floor. “I am offended for the people of my district at the University of Tennessee having sex week.”

A university spokesperson confirmed to Fox News that the nearly $20,000 event is being funded by student fees and university money.”

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Gee, do you think the promotion of stuff like the above in our learning centers has anything to do with this? I can’t help but think that promoting an “if it feels good do it” mentality leads to stuff like this, not to mention more abortions.

From CNSNews

“Calling it “The Great Crossover,” a report by academics and social activists shows that for the first time in history the median age of American women having babies is lower than the median age of marriage – 25.7 and 26.5, respectively.

These “dramatic changes in childbearing,” the report states, results in dramatic statistics about American children. Among them, 48 percent of first births are by unwed mothers, and by age 30 two-thirds of American women have had a child, typically out of wedlock.

Kay Hymowitz, an author of the report and a William E. Simon Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said at an event to release the report on Wednesday at the Brookings Institution, that it reflects how the view of what marriage is about has changed.”

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by

News/Politics 3-21-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, you decide.

Here’s a few from me, and we have some doozies. 🙄

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We’ll start with this one. The light bulb 💡 finally goes on over at the WaPo. Now they get it….. 🙄

From TheWashingtonPost

” The evidence was incontrovertible, captured on video and posted on YouTube for all the world to see. During a demonstration against the Syrian regime, Wael Ibrahim, a veteran activist, had tossed aside a banner inscribed with the Muslim declaration of faith.

And that, decreed the officers of the newly established Sharia Authority set up to administer rebel-held Aleppo, constitutes a crime under Islamic law, punishable in this instance by 10 strokes of a metal pipe.

The beating administered last month offered a vivid illustration of the extent to which the Syrian revolution has strayed from its roots as a largely spontaneous uprising against four decades of Assad family rule. After mutating last year into a full-scale war, it is moving toward what appears to be an organized effort to institute Islamic law in areas that have fallen under rebel control.”

Strayed? No. This is what it’s always been, you just ignored that aspect until now.

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The Budget from Senate Dems has died in the House, as it should have.

From TheHill

“The House on Wednesday rejected the Senate Democratic budget in a 154-261  vote, with 35 Democrats voting against the blueprint from their upper chamber  colleagues.

The Senate Democratic budget was one of three budgets cast aside in a series  of votes Wednesday after a debate in which Republicans excoriated President  Obama for failing to offer his own budget plan in time for the votes.

House Democrats were instructed to vote for the Senate Democratic budget, but  35 of them defected.”

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Cuomo’s gun restrictions are off to a great start. First they had to re-write portions because they forgot to exempt police, now it’s got other issues. Not very well thought out, but then again, it was always emotion based with little to do with facts or common sense. But like ObamaCare, I guess they had to pass it to find out what was in it. 🙄

From TheUticaObserverDispatch

“Cuomo and legislative leaders in state budget talks plan to change the law that was passed in January before a provision kicks in banning the sale of 10-bullet magazines. The gun measure outlaws the purchase of any magazines that carry more than seven bullets, the nation’s most stringent limit. That would have put a severe limit on the sale of guns with industry standard 10-bullet magazines when the provision of the law went onto effect on April 15.

“There is no such thing as a seven-bullet magazine. That doesn’t exist, so you really have no practical option,” Cuomo said. He told reporters that any suggestion this will be a rollback of the law is “wholly without basis.”

“Cuomo said the state needs to allow the sale of handguns and rifles with 10-shot magazines, but New Yorkers will still be required to keep no more than seven bullets in them, except at shooting ranges and competitions. Violating the seven-bullet limit is a misdemeanor, but a violation if the magazine was in the owner’s home.”

I need a head shaking, face-palm smiley. Sure 7 rounds. Got it. 🙄

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And now it goes down hill. We have no money for tours for school kids, but we’ve got plenty to waste on garbage like this.

CONTENT WARNING!

I’m not sure if it’s for the duck anatomy references, or because it’s so offensive what they waste our money on. Maybe both.

From CNSNews

“The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $384,949 grant to Yale University for a study on “Sexual Conflict, Social Behavior and the Evolution of Waterfowl Genitalia”, according to the recovery.gov website.

The grant description says,“The project examines how reproductive morphology covaries with season, age, and social environment in a diverse sample of duck species that differ in ecology, territoriality and breeding system.”

The grant was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus package.”

🙄 I’m just speechless here, which is probably for the best.

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And PETA shows once again why many consider them to be frauds. It’s about the cash and the show, but not the animals.

CONTENT WARNING! because PETA likes to use scantily clad and naked people in their ads.

From TheDailyMail

“Animal rights charity PETA killed almost 90 per cent of dogs and cats placed in the care of the shelter at its Virginia  headquarters last year, it has been revealed today.

The charity, well-known for attention  grabbing publicity campaigns such as the ‘I’d rather go naked’ anti-fur  campaign, euthanized 1,647 cats and dogs last year and only placed 19 in new  homes according to the data submitted to the Virginia  Department for Agriculture and Consumer Services.

PETA told Mail Online that the animals they  take in at the center are ‘unadoptable’, however 89.4 per cent of pets is much  higher than their own approximation that half of animals taken to shelters end  up being euthanized.”

Maybe they should protest their own headquarters.

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