politics

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News/Politics 7-10-13

What’s interesting out there today?

Open thread, as always.

If sometime today you think things are rough, take heart. It could be worse. Much worse. 😯

From ABCNews

“It was exactly midnight when Caroline Burns eerily opened her eyes and looked at the operating lights above her, shocking doctors who believed she was dead and were about to remove her organs and donate them to patients on the transplant waiting list.

The Syracuse Post-Standard unearthed a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that chronicled the series of errors that led to the near-organ removal on a living patient at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, N.Y., in 2009.”

😯 See? 🙂

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This next one won’t be ending as well as the first story. We’ll call this one “Why am I not shocked?”

From FoxNews

“The cost of subsidies for those seeking government aid through ObamaCare has  increased dramatically, critics say – even before a single dollar has been  collected.

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah wrote a letter to the administration  asking why the president is already requesting 107 percent more than three years  ago to pay for subsidies.

“They low-balled everything, and they knew they were not asking for enough  money to actually do this,” John Goodman of the National Center for Policy  Analysis said. “And so now they are coming along saying: ‘Oh, we’ve just  discovered we don’t have enough money’.  They should’ve known that from day  one.””

Oh they knew. They just didn’t care. It’s also why they were in such a hurry to pass it before anyone else could figure that out.

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This next one, while I appreciate the principle behind it, ain’t goin’ nowhere. But it may have it’s uses in campaign materials for 2014.

From TheWeeklyStandard

“The House of Representatives will take up a bill that would stop the Department of the Treasury, including the Internal Revenue Services, from implementing and enforcing the provisions of Obamacare. The bill, authored by Georgia Republican Tom Price and co-sponsored by 114 other House members, is just two pages long and claims its purpose is to “prohibit the Secretary of the Treasury from enforcing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.”

Section 3 of the bill simply states that the Treasury Secretary, or any delegate thereof, “shall not implement or enforce any provisions” of the 2010 health care law.”

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Meanwhile, the White House says “FORWARD!” over the cliff.

From TheHill

“White House press secretary Jay Carney on Tuesday angrily dismissed demands  from GOP leaders for more information on the decision to delay ObamaCare’s  employer mandate, declaring that “implementation is moving forward” on the  healthcare law.

Carney said Republicans who argue the Affordable Care Act is unwieldy and unworkable had no realistic alternative to propose, and that support for the  president’s legislation would be buoyed once Americans began benefiting from the  law.”

You can keep sayin’ that Jay, but it doesn’t make it true. The majority of public opinion is still against it. They already see what you refuse to admit. And the Republican’s offered alternatives, yet Democrats shut them out and didn’t consider other plans. You guys own it buddy. 😉

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And next, the PC Police are at it again. 🙄

From TheWashingtonTimes

“The president of an NAACP branch in Florida has  petitioned members of the Lee County  Commission to take down a painting of Gen. Robert E. Lee, calling the former Confederate leader a historic symbol of racism.

Lee County was named after the general in 1887 — 22 years after the Civil War wrapped, the Fort Myers News-Press said.

But James Muwakkil, of the Lee County chapter of the NAACP, said the painting,  which has hung in the county commission’s meeting room for years, divides the community.

“That painting is a symbol of racism. It’s a symbol of divisiveness, and it  doesn’t unify Lee County. It divides Lee County,” Mr. Muwakkil said in a letter, the News-Press reported.”

This northerner says 🙄

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These next 2 are without comment, since I have nothing nice to say.

From CNSNews

” Unborn babies who have reached at least 20 weeks of age in utero are  aborted at a rate of about 30 per day in the United States, according to  the Congressional Budget Office.

The CBO has also concluded that aborting babies at 20 weeks or later  in pregnancy saves money for the government-run federal-state Medicaid  system.

The CBO made these determinations when doing its official “Cost  Estimate” of a federal bill that would prohibit abortions at 20 weeks or  later into pregnancy (except in cases of reported rape, incest against a  minor or to save the life of the mother).”

And this piece asks several very good questions about this.

From TownHall

“The Congressional Budget Office is tasked with “scoring” pending legislation based on the (sometimes cherry-picked) data they’re provided.  I understand that.  Nevertheless, producing an analysis of what amounts to an anti-infanticide bill based on the icy calculation of how much infanticide “saves” taxpayers is downright ghoulish.  The objective of the law is to end a form of inhumane killing, not to clean up our balance sheets.”

“(1) Are abortion advocates going to fleetingly morph into budget hawks over $17 million per year?  After all, hospital births are expensive.

(2) Since they’ve reduced the debate over the protection of innocent life to callous, green-eyeshade facts and figures, will CBO also score the effects of aborting hundreds of thousands of future taxpayers — especially when it comes to annual cash-flow deficits in programs like Social Security?”

“CBO recently determined that granting legal status to illegal immigrants would significantly reduce deficits — but not aborting would-be US citizens would increase them?  I think the reason for this apparent disconnect is related to the “scoring windows.”  CBO concluded that adult illegal immigrants would be able to work and pay taxes immediately (thus affecting the ten-year window), whereas newborns are more of a long-term investment.  Therefore, pre-born infants’ deaths would cost less than their births in the short term.  This entire discussion is surreal.”

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News/Politics 7-9-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First up, an American has been arrested in the UK for calling homosexuality a sin. From FoxNews

“An American evangelist said he was arrested and interrogated about his Christian faith after he was caught on a London sidewalk preaching that homosexuality is a sin.

Tony Miano, a retired deputy sheriff and former chaplain with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept., was charged with “using homophobic speech that could cause people anxiety, distress, alarm or insult.””

“I talked about women addicted to romance novels, men addicted to pornography, people with lustful thoughts, heterosexual fornication and homosexuality,” Miano told Fox News. “When I mentioned that the Bible was clear that homosexuality is a sin, a lady walked by and she glared at me and hurled the f-bomb.”

Miano said the woman came back a short time later and began to videotape his sidewalk sermon. Then, she called the police.”

Don’t think this isn’t coming here soon.

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Another scandalous development in the ongoing State Dept. sex scandals. From TheDailyCaller

“A State Department officer has been accused of selling visas for sex and  money in what may have been a massive human trafficking operation, The Daily  Caller has learned.

The State Department acknowledged last week that one of its officials is  the target of a probe over “allegations of improprieties relating to a Consular  Officer formerly assigned to Georgetown, Guyana” without providing further  details. Local media are also claiming the official, who was recently withdrawn  from normal duties pending completion of an official  investigation, associated with drug lords as part of his visa scam.

The scandal began when executives and tourists complained that their visa  applications were being held up, and local media began reporting that a visa  official was demanding bribes and sex in exchange for visas.”

This is in addition to another where an ambassador is alleged to have solicited underage prostitutes.

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This one isn’t shocking. Most of the media has been in the pro-abortion camp for a long time now. They certainly don’t want people seeing the truth about what a 20 week old baby in the womb looks like. Because it looks human, and exposes the lie that it isn’t yet. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act goes against everything they’d like you to believe. From LifeSiteNews

“A national pro-life organization is outraged after three major American newspapers rejected a pro-life ad as “too controversial.”

The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, and the LA Times refused to run an advertisement created by Heroic Media.

The ad features a hand holding a 20- to 24-week-old baby with the quote, “This child has no voice, which is why it depends on yours. Speak Up.”

Heroic Media Executive Director Joe Young said he was shocked and angered that the media outlets were willing to talk about the issue but were unwilling to show the reality of life at 20 weeks.”

Here’s the ad in question. You can click it for a larger version, or visit their website https://www.heroicmedia.org/20weeks

Heroic-Media-628x550

So what’s so “controversial” about it?

Nothing, except the truth.

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The White House and their mouthpiece did lots of squirming yesterday. They just can’t admit it was a coup in Egypt. Why? Well because if they do, they’ll be forced to follow US law and pull all aid to the country. From Politico

“The White House is taking its time to determine whether the overthrow of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was a coup because of the potential fallout from calling it one, press secretary Jay Carney said Monday.

“I’m being very clear with you … this is a complex and difficult issue with significant consequences,” Carney said during his daily briefing, the first since Egypt’s military ousted Morsi nearly a week ago. Calling the action a coup could cut off more than $1.5 billion in annual U.S. foreign aid for Egypt.

But the Obama administration is reluctant to cut off aid. “We think it would not be in the best interests of the United States” to change its aid program at this time, Carney said. Asked if that would mean the administration would be cutting off aid in the near-term, Carney repeated his response: “we think that would not be in our best interests.””

Oh please, since when are they ever concerned with following the law in this admin?

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Who’s up for a “Summer of Recovery II” update? From TheWashingtonExaminer

“Behind Wal-Mart, the second-largest employer in America is Kelly Services, a temporary work provider.

Friday’s disappointing jobs report showed that part-time jobs are at an all-time high, with 28 million Americans now working part-time. The report also showed another disturbing fact: There are now a record number of Americans with temporary jobs.

Approximately 2.7 million, in fact. And the trend has been growing.”

And from CNSNews

“The number of Americans receiving subsidized food  assistance from the federal government has risen to 101 million,  representing roughly a third of the U.S. population.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that a total of 101,000,000 people currently participate in at least  one of the 15 food programs offered by the agency, at a cost of $114  billion in fiscal year 2012.

That means the number of Americans receiving food assistance has surpassed the number of full-time private sector workers in the U.S.”

The Recovery is a myth.

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by

News/Politics 7-8-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, as always.

Here’s a bunch to start you off.

First up, who’s in charge of the FISA court? John Roberts. From OutsideTheBeltway.com

“When it comes to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which isn’t so much a Court unto itself as it is a rotating group of Federal Judges appointed to hear warrant requests and other matter designated as appropriate for secret proceedings under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, there’s nobody more powerful than Chief Justice John Roberts:

The 11 FISA judges, chosen from throughout the federal bench for seven-year terms, are all appointed by the chief justice. In fact, every FISA judge currently serving was appointed by Roberts, who will continue making such appointments until he retires or dies. FISA judges don’t need confirmation — by Congress or anyone else.

No other part of U.S. law works this way. The chief justice can’t choose the judges who rule on health law, or preside over labor cases, or decide software patents. But when it comes to surveillance, the composition of the bench is entirely in his hands, and, as a result, so is the extent to which the National Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation can spy on citizens.”

Which brings us to the next question, who watches the watchers? From PJMedia

“Eric Lichtblau of the New York Times has a shocking scoop on some of the secret decisions made by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that would indicate that there has been a fundamental shift in the government’s attitude toward 4th Amendment protections for American citizens.

A secret body of law has been built since 2010 that gives the government vast powers — all perfectly legal — to snoop on American citizens as long as the surveillance is connected to terrorism or some other national security issue.

The rulings, some nearly 100 pages long, reveal that the court has taken on a much more expansive role by regularly assessing broad constitutional questions and establishing important judicial precedents, with almost no public scrutiny, according to current and former officials familiar with the court’s classified decisions.”

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File this one under “Things that make you go Hmmmmm…….”  From ForeignPolicy.com

“The offices of a Dallas law firm representing a high-profile State Department whistleblower were broken into last weekend. Burglars stole three computers and broke into the firm’s file cabinets. But silver bars, video equipment and other valuables were left untouched, according to local Fox affiliate KDFW, which aired security camera footage of the suspected burglars entering and leaving the offices around the time of the incident.

The firm Schulman & Mathias represents Aurelia Fedenisn, a former investigator at the State Department’s Office of the Inspector General. In recent weeks, she raised a slew of explosive allegations against the department and its contractors ranging from illicit drug use, soliciting sexual favors from minors and prostitutes and sexual harassment.

“It’s a crazy, strange and suspicious situation,” attorney Cary Schulman told The Cable. “It’s clear to me that it was somebody looking for information and not money. My most high-profile case right now is the Aurelia Fedenisn case, and I can’t think of any other case where someone would go to these great lengths to get our information.”

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Looks like the Employer regulations for ObamaCare that were put off now have company. Anti-fraud measures have now been put off too. Hey, just like Obama did with his campaign donations, removed anti-fraud protections.

But hey, what could possibly go wrong, right? 🙄  From TheWashingtonExaminer

“One of the biggest administrative hurdles facing Obamacare was the ambitious plan to verify the income and insurance status of applicants for federal health coverage subsidies. In theory, on Oct. 1 of this year, a prospective beneficiary of Obamacare was supposed to be able to visit a website like Orbitz, enter basic information, and wait as multiple state and federal government databases communicated with one another to confirm in real time the applicant’s income level, and then display the level of subsidy to which the applicant was entitled, if any. It was a level of technological sophistication unlike anything ever attempted by the government. Now, with less than three months to go before Obamacare’s health insurance exchanges are set to begin enrolling applicants, Obama’s Department of Health and Human Services is throwing up its hands. Just as it did with the employer mandate, the administration has announced it would delay the implementation of these anti-fraud procedures due to the administrative difficulty.”

“In a regulation released Friday and flagged by Washington Post reporters Sarah Kliff and Sandhya Somashekhar, the administration will now rely on self-reported data. You read that correctly. A man who earns $50,000 per year and gets insurance through his employer could log on to the new government website and say he earns $20,000 and gets no insurance through his employer, and the government would not even attempt to confirm that the information is accurate before forking over generous taxpayer subsidies. It’s a recipe for rampant fraud, which is already widespread in Medicare and Medicaid.

According to the rule as reported by Kliff and Somashekhar, “The exchange may accept the applicant’s attestation regarding enrollment in eligible employer-sponsored plan . . . without further verification” and “the Exchange may accept the attestation of projected annual household income without further verification.””

Gotta love the Friday news dump. 😉

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Since we’re on the subject of debacles from the Obama admin…….  From TheLATimes

“A high-powered rifle lost in the ATF’s Fast and Furious controversy was used to kill a Mexican police chief in the state of Jalisco earlier this year, according to internal Department of Justice records, suggesting that weapons from the failed gun-tracking operation have now made it into the hands of violent drug cartels deep inside Mexico.

Luis Lucio Rosales Astorga, the police chief in the city of Hostotipaquillo, was shot to death Jan. 29 when gunmen intercepted his patrol car and opened fire. Also killed was one of his bodyguards. His wife and a second bodyguard were wounded”

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Continuing with the debacle theme…… From TheHill

“Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) called the ouster of Egyptian President Mohammed  Morsi a coup d’etat and pressed the Obama administration to suspend aid to the  country on Sunday.

“It was a coup and it was the second time in two and a half years that we  have seen the military step in,” McCain said on CBS’s “Face the  Nation.”

“Reluctantly I believe that we have to suspend aid until such time as there is a  new constitution and a free and fair election,” McCain added.”

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And lastly, does Zimmerman walk? We should know by the end of the week. From ABCNews

“Analysis: George Zimmerman Probably Won’t Be Convicted of Murder or Manslaughter — Here’s Why”

“I drew a legal conclusion on “Good Morning America” Saturday that would have surprised the Dan Abrams who covered the George Zimmerman case leading up to, and shortly after, his arrest.

Now that the prosecution’s case against Zimmerman is in, as a legal matter, I just don’t see how a jury convicts him of second degree murder or even manslaughter in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.”

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by

News/Politics 7-6-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, as always.

First, a story on the 28 people injured at a fireworks display. From APNews

“More than two dozen people were injured when a wood platform holding live fireworks tipped over, sending the pyrotechnics into a crowd at an annual 4th of July show northwest of Los Angeles, authorities said Friday.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 revelers were settling into their seats for the fireworks extravaganza at a Simi Valley park Thursday night when the spectacle of lights that were supposed to be launched in the sky never took off. A bright plume of red and white bursts spread across the ground, injuring 28 people and sending others fleeing for safety.”

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Things are escalating in Egypt as Morsi supporters attack those celebrating his ouster. From TheNYTimes

“Egypt’s bitter split over who should be ruling the country exploded into violent clashes in the streets of Cairo and elsewhere on Friday as masses of demonstrators celebrating the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi battled crowds of Islamists who wanted him reinstated.”

“The mayhem capped a day full of massive and defiant protests by Islamists demanding that Mr. Morsi be returned to power. At least four people were killed and many were wounded when security forces fired into a protest near the officers’ club of the powerful Republican Guard, where many believed Mr. Morsi was detained.

With clashes breaking out late into the night, it was impossible to estimate the full extent of casualties and damage. But early Saturday, security officials said at least 30 people had been killed nationwide and hundreds wounded, many of them in Cairo.”

Meanwhile the Obama admin is advocating for Morsi and his supporters to be included. He always sides with the Islamists. From Bloomberg

“The Obama administration’s call for an “inclusive” political process in Egypt with a role for the Muslim Brotherhood has been overshadowed by deadly clashes between security forces and supporters of the Islamist group.

Violent protests yesterday in Cairo and elsewhere over the military’s ouster of President Mohamed Mursi raised doubts about prospects for an eventual accommodation that would allow the Brotherhood that supports him to compete in new elections.

While President Barack Obama’s administration has stopped short of condemning the July 3 military takeover, it has called on Egyptian leaders to pursue “a transparent political process that is inclusive of all parties and groups,” including “avoiding any arbitrary arrests of Mursi and his supporters,” Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said July 4 in a statement.

The administration has urged the Egyptian military to stop using heavy-handed tactics, according to two U.S. officials who asked not to be identified commenting on private communications. They said the administration is concerned that some in the military may want to provoke the Islamists to violence and provide a rationale for crushing the movement once and for all.”

Oh no, we can’t have that, can we? 🙄

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And the next bunch are on the just released jobs report. Obama would like you to know that it proves the recovery act worked, or something. From TheWashingtonExaminer

“It’s to be expected. Every month the White House claims that the economy is improving despite evidence to the contrary. On Friday, Alan Kreuger, chairman of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, said, “In the four years since the recession ended in June 2009, the economy has added 5.3 million jobs, thanks to the resilience of the American people and policies like the Recovery Act, which helped bring the recession to an end and put us on the path to recovery.”

That rosy outlook disregards the numbers behind the jobs report. While the media reports that 195,000 jobs were added in June and that is better than expected, they neglect to mention that if the economy added 195,000 jobs a month consistently, it would not return to pre-recession employment levels until 2021, according to a nifty interactive chart developed by the Brookings Institute.”

“Furthermore, the rest of the jobs report is even worse. The reported unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.6 percent despite the increase in jobs, but the real unemployment rate, the U-6 rate (which is the total unemployed, including all part-time workers) jumped from 13.8 percent in may to 14.3 percent in June. The unemployment rate looks worse when broken down into demographics:”

A closer look at the numbers only makes it look worse. From Breitbart

“The release of the June Jobs’ Report Friday was something of a relief for the markets. The Labor Department reported that the economy gained 195,000 jobs in June, which beat economists’ expectations. The Department also reported that the economy gained 70,000 more jobs in April and May than it originally estimated. The report, however, also provides clear evidence that the nation is splitting into two; only 47% of Americans have a full-time job and those who don’t are finding it increasingly out of reach.

Of the 144 million Americans employed last month, only 116 million were working full-time. Friday’s report showed that 58.7% of the civilian adult population of 245 million was working last month. Only 47% of Americans, however, had a full-time job.”

Even more details here, from ZeroHedge

“As a reminder: jobs have quantity and quality components. The quantity component was good enough to convince the 10 Year the taper is imminent (if not stocks, which continue to trade dislocated from any and all fundamentals). But how about the quality? In a word: not good. In June, the household survey reported that part-time jobs soared by 360,000 to 28,059,000 – an all time record high. Full time jobs? Down 240,000.  And looking back at the entire year, so far in 2013, just 130K Full-Time Jobs have been added, offset by a whopping 557K Part-Time jobs. And there is your jobs “quality” leading to today’s market euphoria (if only for now).”

Summer of Recovery II anyone?

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by

News/Politics 7-5-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, and here’s a few from me.

This first one I must caution you on. It is very hard to read, and comes with a strong CONTENT WARNING!! for adult subject matter. It’s a horrible story on just one of the many atrocities being committed by Syrian rebels against the Christian population. It involves 15 repeated forced marriages, rapes, and then repudiations, against an unwilling 15 year old Christian girl. And all of it sanctioned and authorized by the radical Sunni clerics in charge.

From Persecution.org

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Meanwhile in Egypt, Morsi has been replaced.

From TheTelegraph/UK

“Egypt coup: Interim president sworn-in as Morsi supporters protest

Adly Mansour, until now the head of the Egyptian supreme court, pledges to hold democratic elections, but Muslim Brotherhood supporters say “this is not freedom – we’re back to Mubarak.”

Meanwhile the military continues to crack down on the MB. The MB has responded by calling their supporters to the streets.

From FoxNews

“Egyptian military arrest top Muslim Brotherhood figures amid crackdown.”

“An Islamist coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood is calling on their  supporters to peacefully protest the removal of former Egyptian President  Mohammed Morsi in a “Friday of Rejection,” after the Egyptian military arrested  top Brotherhood figures as part of a major crackdown against the group.”

More on the arrests here from Reuters

While all this goes on, the Sec. of State John Kerry, is all over the situation. Or not. Depends who you ask.

From Politico

“The White House’s photo of the Wednesday afternoon Situation Room meeting on Egypt shows several senior administration officials, but Secretary of State John Kerry is notably absent.”

“A CBS News producer tweeted a photo of Kerry’s yacht, Isabel, on Wednesday afternoon and said a colleague saw Kerry boarding it at the Nantucket Boat Basin. She shouted “Morsi,” but got no response from the secretary of state.

But the State Department said Kerry was not aboard a boat on Wednesday and has spent the day working the phones on Egypt. “Since his plane touched down in Washington at 4 a.m., Secretary Kerry was working all day and on the phone dealing with the crisis in Egypt,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “He participated in the White House meeting with the president by secure phone and was and is in non-stop contact with foreign leaders, and his senior team in Washington and Cairo. Any report or tweet that he was on a boat is completely inaccurate.”

UPDATE!

Despite the insistence by the Obama admin that Kerry wasn’t on a boat yesterday, and was hard at work on the Egypt story, we now have proof that he was vacationing instead. Has lying become so easy for them that they do it even when they know the truth will come out? Despite the admins claims that Kerry was all over the situation, reality has photos of him on a boat and strolling the streets of Nantucket. John Kerry, reporting for duty. Eventually, but not on a holiday.

From TheBostonHerald

“U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry — who spent the Fourth of July on sun-splashed Nantucket even as the chaos from a military takeover rocked Egypt — drew fire from Republican critics who said it’s a bad time for the nation’s top diplomat to be seen cavorting on an island getaway.

“It doesn’t look good, and I think it sends the wrong message” said Republican strategist Brad Marston. “If I were advising him, I’d already have him on a plane.”

As first reported on bostonherald.com, Kerry, who owns a house and a yacht on the ritzy retreat, was seen yesterday strolling down Federal Street away from July Fourth festivities on Main Street in jeans and a light-colored polo shirt.

Later in the afternoon, Kerry was seen offloading bags from a single-person kayak to a boat in Nantucket Sound after launching from the beach behind his home at 5 Hulbert Ave.”

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And I always thought July in New Mexico would have weather that’s drier. Who knew?  🙂

You should see the pics at the link, from TheWeatherChannel

“A lone thunderstorm dumped over a foot of hail in the town of Santa Rosa, N.M. Wednesday evening, leaving a surreal sight the day before the Fourth of July.

Photos from the Santa Rosa Fire Department showed snow plows clearing city streets clogged with accumulated hail drifts.”

That’s crazy. 😯

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by

News/Politics 7-3-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

UPDATE

BREAKING: Egyptian TV Says Morsi Under House Arrest – Update: Travel Ban Placed On Muslim Brotherhood Leaders – Update: Top Morsi Aide: “Call This By Its Real Name – A Military Coup”…

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First, an update on the continuing backlog of veterans claims. I would say this is ridiculous, but of course it is, this is our govt at work.

From FoxNews

“A new study released ahead of the Fourth of July holiday sheds more light on  the tangle of paperwork facing America’s veterans — showing they’re up against  as many as 613 forms across 18 agencies as they seek services.

The study by the American Action Forum also found the paperwork — in part the result of  roughly 31 million Veterans Affairs claims alone each year — takes federal  employees roughly 43.3 million hours to process.

“Navigating 18 agencies and more than 600 forms has produced absurd results  and unnecessary delays,” the self-described “center-right” leaning nonprofit  said.”

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And don’t think for a minute that ObamaCare will be any more efficient. The problems are already beginning in fact. So of course Democrats are trying to hide it, because they own it.

From WaPo

“I don’t know if Members of Congress will be hearing about it in town hall gatherings and other meetings back home over the Fourth of July recess, but the rolling thunder of the approaching ObamaCare train can be heard in the distance.  Smart Democrats are beginning to get frantic about the need to suppress the confusion and hide the cost of ObamaCare between now and the 2014 midterm elections.  We are just three months away from the October 1st enrollment start date and so far, nothing about the ObamaCare implementation process should be politically encouraging for Democrats.  In fact, the more people learn about ObamaCare, the more frightened they become.

Right now, small businesses across America are making the final determinations on how to reduce the working hours of their employees so fewer employees qualify for the mandated, employer-provided health insurance.  Employers are also deciding whether it makes more economic sense to pay a fine to the government or pay for healthcare benefits for their employees.  What this means is that hundreds of thousands – and perhaps even millions – of Americans will learn that they are being dismissed from their employer’s healthcare coverage.

The healthcare pink slips will start raining down in late summer and early fall.  This will push people into the healthcare exchanges, where, in some cases, people will be writing health insurance checks for the first time.  And in many cases, people will be facing increased health insurance costs, particularly if they are young and healthy.  The negative effects on personal income and the overall economy will be undeniable.  Sometime next year, before the elections, the penalties associated with not having or providing health insurance will begin to pour in.  Will the fines come in the mail?  Will you be able to appeal?  What happens if someone doesn’t pay?  No one knows.  Or, no one who knows is talking.  The consequences of ObamaCare are being hidden.”

They’re so frightened by it that they’ll now delay the employers mandate until after the 2014 mid-terms. Can’t have people finding out how bad it will be before the elections. Cowards.

From Bloomberg

“Businesses won’t be penalized next year if they fail to provide workers health insurance after the Obama administration decided to delay a key requirement under its signature 2010 health-care law.

The government will postpone enforcement of the so-called employer mandate until 2015, the administration said today. Under the provision, companies with 50 or more workers face a fine of as much as $3,000 per employee if they don’t offer affordable insurance.

The move addresses complaints from employer groups to President Barack Obama’s administration about the burden of the law’s reporting requirements. The decision pushes the issue past the 2014 midterm congressional elections, as Republicans have sought to make the health law a symbol of government overreach.”

More here from TheDailyMail

“But the Treasury source said the extra year  will give the White House an extra year to persuade health insurers to  participate in the exchanges that make up the backbone of the Affordable Care  Act.

The revised timetable, the source added, will  also push back the final implementation of Obamacare’s penalties past the 2014  midterm elections, providing Republicans fewer chances to highlight the law’s  potentially harmful effects on businesses’ bottom lines.”

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Next up, another “Green Scam” is exposed.

From UPI.com

“Electric cars, despite their supposed green credentials, are among the  environmentally dirtiest transportation options, a U.S. researcher suggests.

Writing in the journal IEEE Spectrum, researcher Ozzie Zehner says electric cars lead to hidden environmental and health damages and are likely more harmful than  gasoline cars and other transportation options.”

Shocked? 😯

No. 🙄

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Things are escalating in Egypt.

From Reuters

“Egypt’s high command said on Wednesday the army was ready to die to defend Egypt’s people against terrorists and fools, in a response to Islamist President Mohamed Mursi that was headlined “The Final Hours”.”

This piece is more specific on what the military leaders have in mind.

Also from Reuters/EI

“Egypt’s armed forces would suspend the constitution and dissolve an Islamist-dominated parliament under a draft political roadmap to be pursued if Islamist President Mohamed Morsy and the liberal opposition fail to agree by Wednesday, military sources said.

The sources told Reuters the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) was still discussing details and the plan, intended to resolve a political crisis that has brought millions of protesters into the streets, could be changed based on political developments and consultations.”

Islamists are rallying to Morsi.

From Reuters/EI

“Islamist demonstrators in Rabea al-Adaweya Square have increased on Tuesday in support of the legitimacy of President Mohamed Morsy, as several marches arrived to the square from various parts of Cairo and other governorates.”

Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamists are warning the Christian population to stay out of it or face the consequences for joining in the demonstrations.

From RaymondIbrahim

“Hours before the June 30 protests against Egyptian president Muhammad Morsi and his party, the Muslim Brotherhood, began, the nation’s Christians were, once again, singled out for behaving like citizens who have the right to participate in the protests.

In Minya, Upper Egypt, where millions of Christians live, letters addressed to the Copts threatened them not to join the protests, otherwise their “businesses, cars, homes, schools, and churches” might “catch fire.” The message concluded by saying “If you are not worried about any of these, then worry about your children and your homes.  This message is being delivered with tact.  But when the moment of truth comes, there will be no tact.”  It’s signed by “People zealous for the nation.”

Such threats are hardly limited to anonymous letters.  During a recent TV interview, Sheikh Essam Abdulamek, a member of parliament’s Shura Council, warned Egypt’s Christians against participating in the June 30 protests, threatening them by saying “Do not sacrifice your children” since “general Muslim opinion will not be silent about the ousting of the president [Morsi].”

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In other news, the FBI has yet to contact the victims of the IRS scandal, despite claims that they are “investigating” it.

From CNSNews

“More than a month and a half after it was announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would launch an investigation into the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) targeting of conservative groups, the groups and their legal representatives are still waiting to hear from the FBI.

Cleta Mitchell, an attorney representing nine tea party groups who were targeted by the IRS, told CNSNews.com that she has not heard from the FBI regarding the case and questions whether an investigation is actually underway.”

And in other Obama admin scandal news, the National Intelligence Director would like you to know he’s sorry for lying to Congress.

From USNews

“The director of National Intelligence apologized in June to the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee for lying during a hearing, according to a letter published on the DNI website on Tuesday.

Director James Clapper appeared before the committee in March, where Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked him specifically if NSA spies on millions of Americans. Clapper answered, “No.”

Since then, Edward Snowden reportedly leaked government documents that unveiled a secretive government program that did precisely what Wyden suggested in collecting meta data for cell phone and internet records of hundreds of millions of Americans.”

But Roger Clemens was tried for a far less important instance of lying. Why does this guy get a pass?

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This last one is encouraging. The more people know, and technology advances, the more who join the pro-life side. 20 years, and a 20 point swing in America’s opinion.

From TheWeeklyStandard

“Gallup’s most recent polling on the issue, taken this spring, indicates that more Americans actually regard themselves as “pro-life” than “pro-choice.”  According to the poll, 48 percent of Americans say they are “pro-life,” while 45 percent say they are “pro-choice.”  What’s more, opposition to abortion is rather plainly on the rise, as those numbers were effectively flipped ten years ago — and as, in the mid-1990s, the number of people who considered themselves “pro-choice” outpaced the number who considered themselves “pro-life” by about 20 percentage points.

Another finding from Gallup’s polling, however, is perhaps even more illuminating.  Those who work in America’s newsrooms are overwhelmingly in favor of abortion’s legality, and they tend to report the issue as if anyone who opposes abortion is a fringe religious fanatic.  (Moreover, they rarely miss an opportunity to subtly editorialize by describing opponents of abortion as being against “abortion rights.”)  It’s telling, therefore, that while Gallup’s polling indicates that a plurality of Americans are pro-life, Gallup’s respondents guessed that only about a third of their fellow Americans share those pro-life sentiments.”

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News/Politics 7-2-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, so feel free to contribute. I’ve had a rough go of it the last day and a half, so I’m a little behind. I’ve been unable to sit for long so it’s been a bit hard to keep up, but I do have a few that caught my eye…..

First up, the propaganda machine kicks into high gear.

From NationalReview

“The American Library Association announced on Sunday that public libraries across the country will be partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services to help millions of uninsured Americans sign up for Obamacare.

With the emphasis on web-based enrollment under the Affordable Care Act, Americans without computers are at a disadvantage to register for the “reasonable health insurance” that will soon be available to them. And “that is where public libraries come in,” explained American Libraries magazine. In addition to providing computer and Internet access to patrons, librarians will receive training to help people navigate through the various healthcare plans and choose the plan that suits their needs. It has also been suggested that libraries host healthcare-awareness events and hand out information to foster “health care literacy” in the coming months.

The Washington Times reports that up to 17,000 U.S. libraries will be a part of the effort, and that “libraries will be particularly important in conservative states that are not making much effort to promote the health law’s opportunities.” (That’s quite an understatement.)”

Gee, maybe when they’re done with this job, they can help with this one, since the Obama admin also seems incapable of handling this on their own too.

Also from NationalReview

“The backlog of disability claims at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has catapulted the agency into an unwanted spotlight. Unlike other scandals besetting the Obama administration, there is nothing to indicate that the VA is targeting conservative vets with systematic delays or passing their telephone records along to the Justice Department. Simply put, the VA backlog has grown because of the technical burdens veterans face in navigating a complex process in a vast bureaucracy.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki promises to do his best to reduce the backlog. So far, his most visible step is a dictate that VA employees who review claims work mandatory overtime to tackle the problem, which is staggering. As of June 22, VA reported that 833,130 vets had pending compensation and pension (C&P) claims. That’s more people than reside in San Francisco. If these claimants represented a single city, it would be the 14th largest in America. Backlogged claims, defined as those pending more than 125 days, represent nearly two-thirds of that total.”

Most of the discussion of the claims backlog misses the mark. Secretary Shinseki and others at VA repeatedly tell us that the key to reducing the backlog is computerization. VA’s goal is to move from paper records to digital ones. It’s a good talking point, but it won’t get the job done any time soon.”

“navigating a complex process in a vast bureaucracy” Just like ObamaCare will be. That’s guaranteed, since the govt does nothing well, except grow ever larger and more controlling.

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Ruh-roh…..  Quick, somebody get John “Did you know he was in Vietnam?” Kerry on the phone. It’s time for some of that Obama/leftist “smart diplomacy”.

From WeaselZippers

“Breaking: Military In Egypt Announces Will Stage Coup D’Etat In 48 Hours If People’s Demands Not Met…

Update: Statement From Military”

““The Armed Forces repeat its call for the people’s demands to be met and give everyone 48 hours as a last chance to shoulder the burden of a historic moment for a nation that will not forgive or tolerate any party that is lax in shouldering its responsibility,” it said.”

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This next one demonstrates nicely what happens when affirmative action is carried to it’s logical conclusion in a college environment. Is this the exception, or the rule? I fear it’s the latter.

From CampusReform

“School administrators at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) are systematically raising the final grades of African-American students, three ex-faculty members told Campus Reform last month.

Former Director of Academic Technology Shira Hedgepeth, along with two former professors who spoke to Campus Reform on the condition of anonymity, alleged administrators at the historically black college routinely increase the final grades of African-American students in order to raise the school’s standing.

“Some students had their final grades changed based on their race,” Hedgepeth told Campus Reform on June 6. “That was a common complaint of many of the faculty that I worked with.””

“According to Hedgepeth, and the two former professors who were granted anonymity because they feared speaking out may jeopardize their retirement, instructors would submit final grades to the school only to have them later revised upwards by administrators as a way to “take care of their African American students.””

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Next up, a not surprising, but still pathetic, new tactic for women to get men to support abortion. Sexual blackmail. With a CONTENT WARNING!!! for adult subject matter.

From HuffPo

“We’ve all been there, attracted to that man who does not mean well for us.  We sure would not want our daughters dating or married to these kinds of guys who think they should decide what is best for women.  How perfectly patriarchal, these Texas men trying to not hear what women want have shown themselves to be, but how incredibly out of touch with today’s reality.  Women of Texas, it’s going to be a long hot summer — make sure the men who do not deeply respect and support women feel it.

As a native Texan, and someone who has survived 100-plus-degree temperatures for many summers, I can tell you, this summer in Texas is surely going to be hotter than usual.  Sultry, sweaty summers can be made much nicer when good old-fashioned sex is part of the picture.  But women, take heed: Don’t give in if your man, boyfriend, husband, toyboy is not voting for your best interests, your reproductive health — do not sleep with that man!  I don’t care how cute or charming he is!  I don’t care if he is your husband of many years.  Resist! Go swimming!  Meditate!

Do not make him dinner, do not go fetch him a cold beer from the fridge, do not iron that shirt, hell, do not change that diaper… do not make his life a little nicer this summer if he does not “get it” and learn to respect women!  Instead, volunteer some time for senators like Wendy Davis, go with a group of women to Austin and make your voices heard.  Get on the computer and the social networks and organize.”

Sad.

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And so is this one. I know they think this is a great new ad campaign to push their product, but is ticking off half of your potential customers the way to increase sales? I’d think not. But I do know one thing, this pandering has cost them at least one customer already….. Me.

Also from HuffPo

“From all of the marriage equality celebrations to Facebook’s new Pride emoticon, everyone’s seeing the colors of the rainbow these past few days and now, to continue celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pride, you don’t have to look any further than your cereal bowl.

General Mills has come out in support of the gay community for Pride, and what better way to show their love than with the Lucky Charms marshmallow rainbow?

The “magically delicious” cereal is serving as the face of the new #LuckyToBe campaign which encourages people with Pride to tweet and post online their reasons for why they’re prideful using the hashtag #LuckyToBe.

“We’re celebrating Pride month with whimsical delight, magical charms, and two new rainbow marshmallows… If you’re lucky enough to be different, we’re celebrating you,” the #LuckyToBe campaign stated in a press release sent to GLAAD.

🙄 And someone remind me again, what comes before a fall?

Yeah, exactly.

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by

News/Politics 7-1-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First up, he who laughs last……..

From HotAir

“In an exclusive* Hot Air interview, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst of Texas insists that the attempt to hijack the legislative process by pro-abortion activists this week will not stop the state from passing a limitation on late-term abortions and requirements for clinics to meet the same standards as other ambulatory surgical centers.  Dewhurst also says that his office is reviewing the security tapes from the demonstration that derailed the bill at the end of the regular session, and that arrests may be made for inciting a riot — including perhaps some members of the media.

“I had the votes,” Dewhurst told me, “I had the strategy.” He had wanted the Senate to tackle the bill, SB5, a little earlier in the session to prevent the obstructionism that he foresaw.  When it came time to clear the galleries, Dewhurst lacked the resources to finish the job on time.  “These are common sense … measures that the majority, the big majority of Texans support,” Dewhurst insisted, “so I was frustrated.  I’m not going to let a minority group of demonstrators — Planned Parenthood and ACLU — block the will of the majority. And I will pass this bill.””

“Dewhurst talked about how the “ugly mob … went wild,” and ripped the media for its coverage of the event.  When I asked whether the same media would provide the glowing coverage of a demonstration where Tea Party activists blocked a tax increase, Dewhurst said, “Absolutely not.” Dewhurst went on to tell me that he suspects that reporters may have helped incite the crowd to riot, and that his office plans on reviewing security tapes to identify any individuals who did.

“We have reports, and I have my staff taking a look at the video,” Dewhurst explained, “and if I find, as I’ve been told, examples of the media waving and trying to inflame the crowd, incite them in the direction of a riot, I’m going to take action against them.” Dewhurst continued, “We take a democratic policy seriously.” I asked whether Dewhurst could confirm whether members of the media took part in pushing the demonstration forward. “We have reports that members of the media on the floor, on the floor of the Senate, were looking up at the people in the gallery, waving their hands, trying to motivate them to yell more,” he replied. “If I find examples of that, proof certain on our video,” Dewhurst warned, “I’m going to address this firmly.””

Unbiased media? Anyone?………

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Looks like the Muslim Summer has begun. Alternate title, We Backed the Wrong Horse.

From WeaselZippers

“Millions came out in protests all over Egypt today, but especially in Cairo, where there were hundreds of thousands, with huge crowds outside the Presidential Palace.

Chanting against the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and demanding that Morsi leave office, they cut a huge swath throughout the area. The majority seen in this video were secular in their expression, shouting “Muslim and Christians are one!”

Many also called on Obama to “stop supporting terrorism” against the Egyptian people through his support of the Muslim Brotherhood.”

See also,

Video Of Uniformed Egyptian Police, Joining Protests Against Morsi, Calling For A Military Coup

Here’s further evidence we backed the wrong horse in Syria as well. With a CONTENT WARNING!!!

From TheBlaze

“Syrian Catholic priest Francois Murad killed last weekend by jihadi fighters was beheaded, according to a report by Catholic Online which is linking to video purportedly showing the brutal murder.

As TheBlaze reported last week, Murad, 49, was setting up a monastery in Gassanieh, northern Syria. Last Sunday, on the Christian leader’s Sabbath, extremist militants trying to topple President Bashar Assad breached the monastery and grabbed Murad.””

“The Catholic news service quotes local sources who report that the radical Al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, or Al-Nusra Front, was behind the savage killing.”

The same group our govt is now arming and training. Again, the politically correct muslim influence in the Obama admin has us siding with our enemies, and ignoring the treachery and bloodshed they’re responsible for.

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The number of federal wiretaps rose 71% in 2012.

From TheWashingtonPost

“The number of wiretaps secured in federal criminal investigations jumped 71 percent in 2012 over the previous year, according to newly released figures.

Federal courts authorized 1,354 interception orders for wire, oral and electronic communications, up from 792 the previous year, according to the figures, released Friday by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. There was a 5 percent increase in state and local use of wiretaps in the same period.”

““This is just one more piece of evidence demonstrating the need for a full, informed public debate about the scope, breadth, and pervasiveness of government surveillance in this country,” Mark Rumold, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in an e-mail. “We have a secret surveillance program churning in the background, sweeping in everyone’s communications, and, at the same time, in the shadows (and frequently under seal), law enforcement is constantly expanding its use and reliance on surveillance in traditional criminal investigations.””

EU officials aren’t pleased with the news that they were bugged too. Must be more of that “smart diplomacy” Obama is using in the Mid-East.

From TheNYPost

“Senior European officials expressed concern Sunday at reports that U.S. intelligence agents bugged EU offices on both sides of the Atlantic, with some leftist lawmakers calling for concrete sanctions against Washington.

The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, said he was “deeply worried and shocked about the allegations of U.S. authorities spying on EU offices” made in a report published Sunday by German news weekly Der Spiegel.The magazine said the surveillance was carried out by the U.S. National Security Agency, which has recently been the subject of leaks claiming it scanned vast amounts of foreign Internet traffic. The U.S. government has defended its efforts to intercept electronic communications overseas by arguing that this has helped prevent terror attacks at home and abroad.

Schulz said that if the allegations that the NSA bugged European Union offices were confirmed “it would be an extremely serious matter which will have a severe impact on EU-US relations.””

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Next up, the stupidity over Paula Dean’s decades old remarks continues.

From TheWashingtonTimes

“Just a couple days after Paula Deen’s  forthcoming cookbook topped Amazon’s best-sellers  list, Ballantine Books, a Random House imprint, announced Friday it was making  the “difficult decision” to cancel publication of the book.

Advance  sales for “Paula Deen’s New  Testament: 250 Favorite  Recipes  All  Lightened Up,” which was scheduled to be  released in October,   skyrocketed  after numerous sponsors dropped the TV chef  after she   admitted to using  racist language more than two decades ago.”

🙄   Meanwhile Alex Baldwin’s days old homophobic rants elicits barely a chirp from the PC crickets. It’s hard not to call the left total hypocrites.

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And lastly, atheists get tossed a bone. It has absolutely no historical significance unlike what it seeks to compete with, but hey, if it shuts them up, whatever…..

From Yahoo

“A group of atheists unveiled a monument to their nonbelief in God on Saturday to sit alongside a granite slab that lists the Ten Commandments in front of the Bradford County courthouse.

As a small group of protesters blasted Christian country music and waved “Honk for Jesus” signs, the atheists celebrated what they believe is the first atheist monument allowed on government property in the United States.”

Again, 🙄

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by

News/Politics 6-21-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Since I won’t be posting a news thread next week, (see Our Daily Thread) I figured I’d go a little crazy today. Short and sweet.

Good idea. From TheDailyCaller

“Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is one of four senators on Capitol Hill  who introduced a new bill Thursday that would block President Obama from getting  involved in the Syrian civil war.”

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The propaganda is going into high gear. From Time

“To prevent that, Obama-land is going on offense. Organizing for Action, the  grassroots group spun out of the President’s campaign, has made selling the  already-passed bill a top priority with its first television ad. Enroll America, a nonprofit coalition  of community groups and insurers that has been promoted by the White House and  is staffed by Obama campaign alumni, launched its “Get Covered America” campaign  to educate uninsured Americans about the exchanges.”

This is what Sebelius and DHS are doing with all that implementation money. Paying off donors to spread the propaganda. And of course ObamaCare will provide them with many more financial incentives as well.

From Politico

“Planned Parenthood is diving into a new area of education, not without its  own controversy: Obamacare.

The group’s more than 750 health centers across the country will be promoting  the health law and helping women find out about new coverage options for  themselves and their families before — and after — enrollment begins Oct. 1.  They’re creating everything from refrigerator magnets to online apps that help  people enroll in a health plan. Some affiliates will be applying to become  official government-funded “navigators” to give people more hands-on help  through the signup process.”

Here’s another piece on where this slush fund for implementation is spending billions. From InvestorsBusinessDaily

“The Obama administration granted a whopping $910 million to California to set  up its insurance exchange. That money is not for bandages, surgery, nurses and  doctors to care for the sick. Nor is it for insurance plans, though $910 million  could buy generous coverage for at least 113,000 people!

Shockingly, the $910 million is slated for bureaucracy, including rich  compensation packages for exchange employees ($360,000 a year for the executive  director) and contracts for computer equipment, public relations and  “outreach.”

Outreach is the largest expenditure and where the real monkey business  occurs.”

WooHoo, everbody’s ACORN now. 😉

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So why has Pelosi suddenly clammed up on her usual abortion rhetoric and War on Women nonsense?

From TheWeeklyStandard

“Two days after the House passed a bill prohibiting most abortions during the final four months of pregnancy, Pelosi didn’t say a single word about abortion, the “war on women,” or “reproductive rights.” When a reporter tried to ask Pelosi a question related to the late-term abortion bill this afternoon, Pelosi said she only wanted questions about the budget.”

She didn’t mention that, although she did take the time to accuse Republicans of starving children.

And I wonder if this has anything to do with it. And also, it’s about time.

From TheDailyCaller

“A pro-life group called on California Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi to “exercise  your duties as a public servant and a Catholic, or have the honesty to formally  renounce them,” in a widely-circulated open letter  Wednesday.”

The letter, which you can read here, includes this….

“Whatever Catholic faith you claim to respect and practice, it is not the faith that the Catholic Church teaches. And I speak for countless Catholics when I say that it’s time for you to stop speaking as if it were.

Abortion is not sacred ground; it is sacrilegious ground. To imagine God giving the slightest approval to an act that dismembers a child he created is offensive to both faith and reason.”

“Mrs. Pelosi, for decades you have gotten away with betraying and misrepresenting the Catholic faith as well as the responsibilities of public office. We have had enough of it. Either exercise your duties as a public servant and a Catholic, or have the honesty to formally renounce them.”

I agree. It’s time to start calling them on this.

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Meanwhile Harry Reid is focused on important stuff, like Amnesty and this. From LifeSiteNews

“In the midst of so many crises, it’s comforting to know that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is focused on what matters: genderless bathrooms. Unfortunately, that’s just one effect of a sweeping proposal that could destroy personal freedom in the American workplace. On Flag Day, Reid saluted the rainbow flag instead of Old Glory, becoming the 50th cosponsor of the Senate’s latest Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), one of the most anti-business policies this Congress will consider.”

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This one is just pathetic. More dishonest propaganda. From Breitbart

“Although Mayor Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) has apologized for listing Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev as a victim of gun violence at their Concord, NH rally on June 18, it is now apparent that the “list of names” was pregnant with criminals and cop killers as well.

In fact, the New Hampshire Republican State Committee is pointing out the list also included Christopher Dorner, the former Los Angeles police officer who went on a killing spree before finally dying in a fire after a gun fight with police. Dorner killed two police officers.”

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And in sports news….

Good news if you’re a  Miami Heat fan. 🙂 Not so much for Spurs fans. 😦

And in another not happy sports story…. From CBSNews

“New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has not been ruled out as a suspect in a homicide investigation in North Attleboro, a law enforcement source told WBZ-TV’s Karen Anderson.

The source also said Hernandez is not cooperating with investigators at this point in the probe.

I wonder if Tebow can play TE? Looks like a spot might be open soon.

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News/Politics 6-20-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

There’s a whole lot of news on the Gang of 8 Immigration/Amnesty Plan. The CBO has crunched the numbers, take them for what they’re worth. Just remember, they always leave stuff out, they only work what they are given, and the numbers always come in worse than they predicted. First up, TheWashingtonExaminer

“If the Senate immigration bill becomes law, federal health care spending would increase by $112 billion over the next decade as more people take advantage of Medicaid, Medicare and subsidies from President Obama’s health care law, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

In a highly anticipated report, the CBO found that overall, the immigration bill would reduce deficits by $197 billion in the first decade and $700 billion in the following decade, based on the assumption that a flow of new tax revenue would more than offset increased spending on federal benefits and other provisions of the law.

That said, CBO noted that the current language in the bill leaves it unclear which  categories of immigrants would be eligible for various government benefits. Under CBO’s interpretation, passage of the bill would boost spending on subsidies to purchase health insurance on Obamacare’s health insurance exchanges by $82.3 billion from 2014 through 2023; increase Medicaid spending by 29.3 billion; and raise Medicare spending by $0.8 billion. In the second decade following passage, the law would increase federal spending on low-income health programs by $400 billion, according to the CBO.”

The ObamaCare estimates from the CBO have already doubled to almost 2 trillion. More on the numbers here.  From TheDailyCaller

“The Senate’s pending immigration bill will pave the way for the arrival of 46  million legal immigrants over the next 20 years, increase the federal debt in  the same time period and shrink Americans’ average wage, according Alabama  Republican Sen. Jeff Session’s critical reading of two new reports on the  pending immigration reform bill provided by the Congressional Budget Office.

But Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, the most prominent GOP advocate for  the immigration reform bill, says the CBO reports are good news for  Americans.

“The CBO has further confirmed what most conservative economists have found:  reforming our immigration system is a net benefit for our  economy, American workers and taxpayers,” Rubio said in a statement on Tuesday.  “The report offers encouraging evidence that the  [bill could] reduce the  deficit over the next 20 years.””

Yeah, and I have a bridge to sell you. 🙄  Part of the problem here is that their “reform” doesn’t even fix the problem. From CNSNews

“The advocates of S. 744, the immigration bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate that would legalize many of the illegal aliens already in the United States, have argued that the proposed legislation would also secure the border and prevent future illegal immigration.

However, the cost estimate of the legislation that was released on Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office says that the legislation would actually allow the flow of new illegal aliens into the United States to continue at a rate equal to 75 percent of the current rate of illegal immigration. This will be the case, in part, argues CBO, because of people who overstay temporary work visas that will be authorized by the bill.

This revelation that 75 percent of illegal immigration would continue if the Senate immigration reform proposal were enacted is included in a section of the report headlined, “Future Unauthorized Residents.” The section is on page 23 of the 63-page report.”

I sure hope the House has a better plan than this. This one solves nothing, and it doesn’t secure the border. How is that reform?

And will this cost Rubio? One things for sure, this would drive McCain and the Old Guard nuts. From TheHill

“Former Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) said Wednesday that he may mount a primary  challenge to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in their state’s 2016 Senate primary.

West told station WMAL that he could run for Senate, “If I see people that are not taking our country  down the right path, if I see people that are not standing up for the right type  of principles and putting their own party politics before what is best for the  United States of America.”

“Rubio, a Tea Party favorite, is seen as crucial to winning conservative support  for the immigration bill. But the Florida senator has suggested he may oppose  the measure he helped write unless tougher border security requirements are  adopted.”

And I don’t get where they think conservatives are lined up with Rubio on this. The conservative position is secure the border, then we can discuss it. This doesn’t, and never will. I just don’t see it.

I guess we have our answer to the question above….. From TheHill

“Sen. Marco  Rubio (R-Fla.) is feeling the heat as potential GOP allies are now turning  against his immigration reform bill.

Republican colleagues who were previously viewed as possible “yes” votes are  keeping their distance from the 1,075-page measure.

On Wednesday, conservative activists ripped Rubio and Sen. John McCain  (R-Ariz.) — both sponsors of the bipartisan immigration measure — at a Capitol  Hill rally.”

“The crowd, which was protesting the bill’s effort to put millions of illegal  immigrants on a path to citizenship, booed at the mention of Rubio’s name during  the six-hour event.”

And he had such potential. Oh well.

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And since I mentioned ObamaCare…. From TheChristianScienceMonitor

“The central feature of Obamacare – getting the uninsured to sign up for health insurance – is due to start on Oct. 1, less than four months away. But both the federal and state governments are behind in their preparations.

That’s the conclusion of two reports issued Wednesday by the congressional Government Accountability Office (GAO) looking at the status of government efforts to set up online “exchanges,” or marketplaces, for both individuals and small businesses.

“Much progress has been made, but much remains to be accomplished within a relatively short amount of time,” said the GAO report on the establishment of “federally facilitated” health-insurance exchanges for individuals. Those are the exchanges being set up for the 34 states that opted not to set them up themselves.”

And local govts are following the lead of many major restaurants and retailers. From InvertorsBusinessDaily

“When Regal Entertainment Group (RGC) in April blamed ObamaCare for the fact that it  was cutting some of its workers’ hours, backers of the law mounted a furious  backlash against the theater chain, among other things filling its Facebook page  with boycott threats.

“Greed and selfishness make me sick,” one of them said.

Darden Restaurants (DRI) felt this intense heat last year after  suggesting it might shift to more part-time work to minimize the cost of the  law’s mandate that companies offer coverage to all their full-time workers. CEO  Clarence Otis even blamed its lowered outlook for 2013 in part on “recent  negative media coverage” over “how we might accommodate health care reform.”

Yet while private companies are getting all this unwelcome and hostile  attention, local governments across the country have been quietly doing exactly  the same thing — cutting part-time hours specifically so they can skirt  ObamaCare’s costly employer mandate, while complaining about the law in some of  the harshest terms anyone has uttered in public.”

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This one, well let’s just say it worked as intended. From BuzzFeed

“What I learned from our journalists should alarm everyone in this room and I think should alarm everyone in this country. The actions of the DOJ against AP are already having an impact beyond the specifics of this particular case,” AP CEO Gary Pruitt told an audience at the National Press Club. “Some of our longtime trusted sources have become nervous and anxious about talking to us, even about stories that aren’t about national security. In some cases, government employees that we once checked in with regularly will no longer speak to us by phone, and some are reluctant to meet in person.”

After it was made public that the Justice Department took AP Washington bureau phone records as part of the Obama administration’s aggressive anti-leak operation, Pruitt said the fear among potential sources has spread to reporters from other outlets.

“I can tell you that this chilling effect is not just at AP, it’s happening at other news organizations as well,” he said. “Journalists from other news organizations have personally told me it has intimidated sources from speaking to them.””

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And lastly today, a video with some brutal honesty from a La. State Senator who has switched from D to R, and his reasons why.

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