politics

by

News/Politics 4-11-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

ObamaCare savings? I think not. From Bloomberg

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

Just one more reason to dislike the IRS. From TheHill

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

Sure, after the horse has left the barn.

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

by

News/Politics 4-10-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

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

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

Next, a question. Educating or indoctrinating? From FoxNewsRadio

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

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

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

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

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

Wow. Lies and misinformation sold as education.

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

From HotAir

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Like I keep saying, priorities.

____________________________________________________

This one will make you go Hmmmm…… From TheWeeklyStandard

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

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

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

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

More from Politico

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

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

“Someone on the tape is heard saying:

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

____________________________________________________

by

News/Politics 4-9-13

What’s interesting out there today?

Open Thread, as always.

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

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

From WeaselZippers

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

Even the online tributes. Disgusting.

____________________________________________________

More on these horrible displays here, from TheGuardianUK

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

But CONTENT WARNING!!!  big time.

____________________________________________________

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

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

Yes, liberal media bias is a myth.”

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

From USNews

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

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

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

Hey Bob, did you get a buck this morning?

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

You know I’m right.

____________________________________________________

Speaking of shooting aerial targets……..

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

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

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

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

And here is that video.

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

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

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

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

____________________________________________________

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

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

____________________________________________________

by

News/Politics 4-8-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread.

I guess we’ll start with the Obama budget.

And of course, more class envy. From TheHill

“President Obama’s budget, to be released next week, will limit how much wealthy  individuals – like Mitt Romney – can keep in IRAs and other retirement accounts.

The proposal would save around $9 billion over a decade, a senior administration  official said, while also bringing more fairness to the tax code.

The senior administration official said that wealthy taxpayers can currently “accumulate many millions of dollars in these accounts, substantially more than  is needed to fund reasonable levels of retirement saving.”

Under the plan, a taxpayer’s tax-preferred retirement account, like an IRA,  could not finance more than $205,000 per year of retirement – or right around $3 million this year.”

Once again, punishing success.

____________________________________________________

ObamaCare is taking friendly fire. From TheHill

“Delays in implementing popular pieces of ObamaCare are hurting it with  Democrats.

Ahead of an election year in which Republicans promise to make  healthcare an issue again, Democrats are criticizing the White House for  delaying policies that could help build support for the unpopular law.

“Senate Republicans will have the opportunity to campaign against Obamacare’s  rising health care costs, burdensome paperwork and broken promises and could use  it to motivate voters against Democrat candidates, especially vulnerable ones in  red states,” Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said.”

This is all on them. Point it out repeatedly.

____________________________________________________

And remember folks, this is who our govt is supporting and funding.

From TheTimesofIsrael

“A mob threw rocks and fired birdshot Sunday at several hundred Christians marching in a protest against Egypt’s Islamist government after the funeral of four Christians killed in sectarian clashes over the weekend.

The Christians were chanting slogans against Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, just as several thousand did earlier during the funeral service nearby in the Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo.

Riot police later arrived, firing tear gas at the Christians and the mob. Several tear gas canisters landed inside the cathedral’s grounds, causing a panic among women and children who attended the funeral.”

Central Security Forces are being accused of allowing the attack to continue.

Tweeted by Alastair Beach on site……

“Csf doing absolutely nothing to stop the fighting. Standing around as the rocks and molotovs continue to fly over the wall”

____________________________________________________

Meanwhile a group of 700 retired special forces members are asking the House to investigate Benghazi. From Breitbart

“Seven hundred retired Military Special Operations professionals from the organization “Special Operations Speaks” sent a letter to the House of Representatives urging members to support H.Res 36, which will create a House Select Committee to investigate last September’s deadly terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya.

“It appears that many of the facts and details surrounding the terrorist attack which resulted in four American deaths and an undetermined number of American casualties have not yet been ascertained by previous hearings and inquiries,” the letter states. It continues further, “Additional information is now slowly surfacing in the media, which makes a comprehensive bipartisan inquiry an imperative. Many questions have not been answered thus far.” The letter puts forth over twenty unanswered questions the select committee should address.

Congressman Frank Wolf, a sub-committee chairman on the House Appropriations Committee, issued a resolution for a House Select Committee to investigate issues surrounding the Benghazi Attack last November in the 112th Congress. He re-issued his resolution for the select committee when the 113th Congress began. The resolution currently has over 60 co–sponsors.”

____________________________________________________

The mother of one of the victims is speaking out against the White House handling of the situation. From Mediaite

“On Friday, Sean Hannity brought Pat Smith, mother of the late Sean Smith, on his radio program. The 34-year-old information management officer was one of four Americans murdered in the Benghazi embassy attack on September 11, 2012.

In the chilling interview, a distraught Ms. Smith, in tears, pleaded for answers and spoke of the efforts to silence her.

Ms. Smith first relayed how her son, prior to the attack, requested additional security in advance and warned the State Department:

He did tell them, ahead of time, he typed it into his little typewriter over there, that they were going to be attacked, ‘please they needed more security,’ and they were ignored. And I don’t appreciate everybody going to bed and going to sleep and not taking care of the guys that they put in harm’s way, one of them being my son.”

____________________________________________________

We talked a little last week about the love Hollywood and the left have with terrorists and radicals. It’s a new week, new celebrity, and new radical, but it’s the same old story. Greg Gutfeld has noticed too. And while he may be a bit abrasive, I don’t see where he’s wrong. He seems to have nailed it if you ask me.

From TheFive on Fox with a content warning for extreme sarcasm.

“Gutfeld: Why The Left Embraces Armed Radicals, Mocks Law-Abiding Gun Owners”

Take the time to watch the video.

____________________________________________________

by

News/Politics 4-6-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

The President’s proposed budget is taking heat from the left.

From TheHill

“Progressive groups and lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), are  blasting the Obama administration for cuts to Social Security and other programs  expected to be unveiled in the president’s budget next week.

One  progressive group, Democracy for America, is threatening primary challenges to  those Democrats who support the cuts.”

““The Senate just last month went on record in opposition to the president’s  approach. In poll after poll, the American people are overwhelmingly against  cutting Social Security. And organizations representing a broad spectrum of  millions of Americans from the AFL-CIO to the American Legion to AARP to NOW  have urged the president not to make this terrible mistake,” Sanders said in a  statement.”

____________________________________________________

The White House is fighting a subpoena from the Catholic Church on the birth control issue.

From Reuters

“The Obama administration has gone to court to try to block a subpoena from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York seeking White House documents about the government’s requirement of insurance coverage for birth control.

The subpoena requesting documents from President Barack Obama and his senior advisers would be burdensome to fulfill, the administration said in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Citing U.S. Supreme Court precedent, the suit also argues that civil subpoenas of the president’s executive office are inappropriate except in extraordinary circumstances.”

Not surprising. There’s a lot they don’t want seen.

____________________________________________________

The new unemployment numbers are out. While the rate lowered, things are actually worse. More fuzzy math and disappeared workers.

From CNSNews

“A record 89,967,000 Americans were not in the labor force in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is an increase of 663,000 from the 89,304,000 Americans who were not in the labor force in February.

Since President Barack Obama was first inaugurated in January 2009, 9,460,000 people have dropped out of the labor force.”

Here’s some nice Tweets to put it in perspective for ya’.

James Pethokoukis@JimPethokoukis

10.98%: What the unemployment rate would be if labor force participation was the same as in January 2009

8.3%: What the unemployment rate would be if labor force participation was the same as in March 2012

Recovery? Anyone?

____________________________________________________

Jake Tapper states the obvious.

From TheWashingtonTimes

“Mr. Tapper quoted the president as saying, “It is possible for us to create  common sense gun safety measures that respect the traditions of gun ownership in  the country, and hunters and sportsman, but also make sure that we don’t have 20  children in a classroom  gunned down by a semi-automatic weapon — by a fully automatic weapon in that  case.”

Mr. Tapper corrected Mr. Obama, pointing out that the weapons used in the  Newtown, Conn., massacre were semi-automatic. He also reminded his audience  about an interview on ABC’s “Nightline” just days after the shooting in which  Mr. Bloomberg described the weapons used in the attack with characteristics only  fully-automatic weapons possess.

“It might help the advocates of gun control if, in their advocacy for  stricter measures, they seemed more familiar with what they are trying to ban,” Mr. Tapper said.”

They have no clue. Most don’t even seem to have a basic understanding of what they’re talking about.

____________________________________________________

Trayvon Martin’s parents have settled a civil suit with the Homeowners Association.

From FoxNews

“Trayvon Martin’s parents have settled a wrongful death claim for an amount  believed to be more than $1 million against a Florida homeowners association  where their teen son was killed, Fox News confirms. ”

____________________________________________________

This one I find personally insulting, as I’m sure will many other vets. This is what happens when liberals with agendas run the military. The Army claims it was an isolated incident. And where did this govt employee get this info on scary terror groups like us? Why the SPLC of course. Disgusting.

From FoxNews

“A U.S. Army training instructor listed Evangelical Christianity and Catholicism as examples of religious extremism along with Al Qaeda and Hamas during a briefing with an Army Reserve unit based in Pennsylvania, Fox News has learned.

We find this offensive to have Evangelical Christians and the Catholic Church to be listed among known terrorist groups,” said Ron Crews, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “It is dishonorable for any U.S. military entity to allow this type of wrongheaded characterization.”

The incident occurred during an Army Reserve Equal Opportunity training brief on extremism. Topping the list is Evangelical Christianity. Other organizations listed included Catholicism, Al Qaeda, Hamas, the Ku Klux Klan, Sunni Muslims, and Nation of Islam.”

____________________________________________________

And lastly this. I linked to something on this before, but then the judge issued a gag and the subject was dropped. Needless to say, prosecutors sought to keep this info from the record. And the public.

From HotAir

“In a revelation that may have Colorado voters rethinking their state’s push on gun control, court documents revealed that the mass shooting in Aurora that killed 12 and injured 70 more could have been prevented by law enforcement.  The psychiatrist for suspect, James Holmes, had warned campus police that Holmes was dangerous and homicidal a month before the shooting took place.  Lynne Fenton even told the police that Holmes had begun to stalk and threaten her, and yet no action was apparently taken:

Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist at the Denver campus, told police that Holmes had also “threatened and harassed her via email/text messages” in June 2012. He is standing trial for the July 20 shooting rampage that killed 12 and injured 70 during a midnight premiere of the latest Batman movie. …

Soon after the shooting, university police said they had not had any contact with Holmes, a graduate student doing neuroscience research. But a search warrant affidavit released Thursday revealed that an officer had told investigators that Fenton had contacted her to report “his danger to the public due to homicidal statements he had made.””

“The prosecution had tried to keep these records sealed, and it’s not difficult to see why.  (They can be viewed at KUSA’s website, where they were posted last night.) The narrative from political and law-enforcement leaders in Colorado has been that this could have been anyone with a gun who just flipped out, and a society without gun control cannot hope to stop it.  But Holmes didn’t just flip out shortly before the murder, and police had ample warning of the danger he presented.”

More gun laws wasn’t the solution to this. The police enforcing existing laws may have prevented it. There were plenty of laws broken that would warrant arrest. Yet he wasn’t even interviewed. Amazing.

____________________________________________________

by

News/Politics 4-5-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Lots to talk about today.

First off the North Korea mess. Did we just blink? I think we blinked.

From HotAir

“Report: U.S. backing off shows of force against North Korea for fear of what Kim might do”

“This isn’t merely a failure of nerve, it’s a failure of intelligence and a failure to keep operational secrets. The White House had a “playbook,” agreed to by O, Hagel, and John Kerry, on how to rattle its saber at North Korea during the next crisis without rattling it so much that NK would get spooked and do something rash. E.g., first comes some B-52 flights over South Korea, then the B-2s make a cameo, then the F-22s, and so forth. Problem one: Kim’s gone further in his bellicosity than U.S. analysts expected and now they’re unsure if they know where his personal red line is. Problem two: The deployment of two destroyers last weekend to the Pacific wasn’t part of the “playbook” and wasn’t supposed to be publicized. That was a bona fide strategic move, not a show of muscle-flexing designed for North Korean and international consumption. But then the news leaked and the Navy confirmed it, which turned the deployment into an inadvertent, potentially war-sparking audible.

One screw-up on top of another, so now it’s time to cool things off before someone gets nuked.”

____________________________________________________

This one I’m a little confused about. But the atheists and the ACLU aren’t happy about it, so that’s good at least. 🙂

From ChristianityToday

“The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) may have thought it had the upper hand when it filed suit against a North Carolina county for opening its board meetings with explicitly Christian prayers. After all, the federal Establishment Clause of the Constitution prohibits the government from interfering with citizens’ religious exercise.

But a new bill introduced in the North Carolina state legislature would protect the county’s right to prayer in an unconventional way: by nullifying any federal regulations or court rulings regarding religion.

Eleven House lawmakers already have signed on to the bill, which “would [allow North Carolina to] refuse to acknowledge the force of any judicial ruling on prayer in North Carolina—or indeed on any Constitutional topic,” according to WRAL, a local news source.

____________________________________________________

Wait, am I reading this right? In this one the ACLU is on the right side?

From TheDailyCaller

“In an exclusive interview with The Daily Caller, a top lobbyist for the ACLU  announced that the group thinks Reid’s current gun bill could threaten both  privacy rights and civil liberties.

The inclusion of universal background checks — the poll-tested lynchpin of  most Democratic proposals — “raises two significant concerns,” the ACLU’s Chris  Calabrese told TheDC Wednesday.

Calabrese — a privacy lobbyist — was first careful to note that the ACLU  doesn’t strictly oppose universal background checks for gun purchases. “If  you’re going to require a background check, we think it should be effective,” Calabrese explained.”

____________________________________________________

I don’t know why the ACLU is making a big deal of this. Obama and Reid have both assured us this national registry thing won’t happen. Yeah, except once again they’re being dishonest.

From Heritage.org

“As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) must know, Americans who own firearms have a special sensitivity to a “Big Brother” federal government that wants to keep centralized records on who owns what guns and where in America. Loose language in his gun control bill (S. 649) could start America down that slippery slope.

Since the Second Amendment guarantees to the people the right to keep and bear arms, many Americans look askance at efforts to create centralized records that might some day, in some distant future neither wanted nor expected, facilitate a despotic government’s efforts to disarm the populace or ensure that its supporters but not its opponents possess arms. Some Americans look at history and view that concern as far-fetched; others look at history and see careful attention to that concern as essential to maintaining freedom.

Congress has attended carefully to the concern about a federal gun registry in the past.”

“Unfortunately, the Reid legislation deviates from this strong guarantee that protects against misuse of the NICS process to start a national firearms registry.”

____________________________________________________

Meanwhile, more obvious flaws with their approach emerge. They say they want a national conversation on guns, yet they ignore obvious pieces of the conversation. Not shockingly, the part of the conversation that points to Hollywood as part of the problem. Must protect the cash cow.

From TheWallStJournal

“There was something missing from President Obama’s Wednesday speech in Denver about gun violence. He focused almost exclusively on passing gun-control laws, and not at all on one of the nation’s biggest promoters of violence: the entertainment industry.

The president’s campaign against gun violence has produced a stale debate marked by lots of speeches with little achieved. A more creative chief executive would have used this moment to widen the discussion by drawing attention to the increasingly graphic violence so pervasive in television shows, movies and videogames. Mr. Obama is particularly well positioned to challenge Hollywood because of his special relationship with the media world’s elites. They might be more likely to heed criticism coming from Mr. Obama than from any other president or member of Congress.”

Yeah, don’t hold your breath.

____________________________________________________

In ObamaCare news……  

From HotAir

“This sounds remarkably like what we’ve been writing, and it’s nice to see a few Obamacare supporters recognize this reality. Holding Obamacare to its promises is rather important, no matter which side you’re on. On my side, it’s to ameliorate the damage and prevent such debacles in the future. For Klein, it’s to make sure this debacle doesn’t make activist government biting off way more than it can chew competently look, well, incompetent.

“Let me try to understand this: The key incentive for small businesses to support Obamacare was that they would be able to shop for the best deals in health care super-stores—called exchanges. The Administration has had 3 years to set up these exchanges. It has failed to do so.

This is a really bad sign. There will be those who argue that it’s not the Administration’s fault. It’s the fault of the 33 states that have refused to set up their own exchanges. Nonsense. Where was the contingency planning? There certainly are models, after all—the federal government’s own health benefits plan (FEHBP) operates markets that exist in all 50 states. So does Medicare Advantage. But now, the Obama Administration has announced that it won’t have the exchanges ready in time, that small businesses will be offered one choice for the time being—for a year, at least. No doubt, small business owners will be skeptical of the Obama Administration’s belief in the efficacy of the market system to produce lower prices through competition. That was supposed to be the point of this plan.”

____________________________________________________

And despite their best efforts, people ain’t buyin’ what they’re selling. 

From InvestorsBusinessDaily

“The White House recently released details about how it plans to market ObamaCare  to the uninsured. What it reveals is that most of them don’t want what the  administration is trying to force them to buy.”

“Let’s leave aside for a minute the oddity of this effort. Its backers have  endlessly touted ObamaCare as a miracle of modern government that will at long  last bring insurance within reach of 48 million people who desperately want it.  Besides, the law mandates that everyone buy ObamaCare coverage.

So why the need for a big marketing push at all?”

“What they’ve learned since is that more than half of the 48 million who the  government says are uninsured aren’t interested in health insurance, which is  why they don’t bother to buy it in the first place.”

Whaaaaaat……!!!!  I’m 😯 

Yeah, not really. 🙄

____________________________________________________

Here’s a look at the future of medical care.

From FoxDC

“Walgreen Co. has expanded the reach of its drugstore  clinics   beyond treating ankle sprains and sinus infections to handling chronic   diseases such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.

The company, based in Deerfield, Ill., said Thursday  that most of its   370 in-store Take Care Clinics now will diagnosis, treat and  monitor   patients with some chronic conditions that are typically handled by    doctors.

Drugstore clinics, which are run by nurse  practitioners or physician   assistants, have grown popular in recent years as a  convenient way for   patients to get immunizations, physicals and treatment for  relatively   minor illnesses when their regular doctor is unavailable. But the    clinics have been broadening their scope of care: Walgreen’s decision   follows  a move by CVS Caremark Corp. a few years ago to handle chronic   conditions at  most of its 640 MinuteClinics.”

Oh Goody! 🙄

____________________________________________________

And we’ll finish up with some immigration news. And yes, more misleading and false claims from the Obama admin.

From TheLATimes

“Vader, a system originally used to track the Taliban, finds that more immigrants elude capture at the U.S.-Mexico border than previously estimated.”

“The number of “gotaways,” as the Border Patrol calls those who escape apprehension, is both more precise and higher than official estimates.”

“According to internal reports, Border Patrol agents used the airborne radar to help find and detain 1,874 people in the Sonora Desert between Oct. 1 and Jan. 17. But the radar system spotted an additional 1,962 people in the same area who evaded arrest and disappeared into the United States.

In contrast, the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, estimated in January that the Border Patrol had caught 64% of those who illegally crossed into the Tucson sector in 2011.”

They say they catch 64%. The actual numbers are less than 50%.

____________________________________________________

Unlike the Obama admin, the public wants the border secured before reforms begin.

From Rasmussen

“President Obama argues that more border security is not a necessary first step before legalizing the status of illegal immigrants already here. But most voters are willing to support immigration reform only if it includes both border security and a way for some illegal immigrants to remain in the country.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Likely U.S. Voters favor an immigration plan that gives illegal immigrants legal status to stay in the United States provided the border is really secured to prevent future illegal immigration. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 25% are opposed to this plan. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

____________________________________________________

Oh yeah, and the Yankees finally won! 🙂

by

News/Politics 4-4-13

What’s interesting out there today?

Here’s a few and then you folks can have at it.

That North Korea things is getting a bit outta hand.  From Google

“North Korea dramatically escalated its warlike rhetoric on Thursday, warning that it had authorised plans for nuclear strikes on targets in the United States.

“The moment of explosion is approaching fast,” the North Korean military said, warning that war could break out “today or tomorrow”.

Pyongyang’s latest pronouncement came as Washington scrambled to reinforce its Pacific missile defences, preparing to send ground-based interceptors to Guam and dispatching two Aegis class destroyers to the region.”

____________________________________________________

More on North Korea, from TheHill

“Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) said Tuesday that the United States had the right to  take preemptive military action against North Korea if there was “solid  evidence” that Kim Jon Un planned to attack the U.S. or South Korea.

“If we have good reason to believe there’s going to be an attack, I believe  we have the right to take preemptive action,” King said on CNN’s “Erin Burnett  Outfront.”

“I don’t think we have to wait until Americans are killed or wounded or injured  in any way,” he continued. “I’m not saying we should be rushing into war, don’t  get me wrong, but if we have solid evidence that North Korea’s going to take  action, then I think we have a moral obligation and an absolute right to defend  ourselves.””

____________________________________________________

White House tours cut. Money to improve Armenia’s pension system not cut. Priorities people.

From NationalReview

“Today the “Spared by the Sequester” spotlight falls once again on the Agency for International Development. On March 29, USAID awarded $3,881,188 to Chemonics International, Inc. to help implement reforms to Armenia’s pension system.”

____________________________________________________

Now this one is being blamed on Sequester cuts, but that doesn’t really make sense. How exactly does a 2% reduction in INCREASED spending cause this, yet 70 billion of 700 billion in ObamaCare cuts hasn’t impacted it? Really? I’m not buyin’ it. And I’d also note that this is small clinics affected, not hospitals.

From TheWashingtonPost

“Cancer clinics across the country have begun turning away thousands of Medicare patients, blaming the sequester budget cuts.

Oncologists say the reduced funding, which took effect for Medicare on April 1, makes it impossible to administer expensive chemotherapy drugs while staying afloat financially.

Patients at these clinics would need to seek treatment elsewhere, such as at hospitals that might not have the capacity to accommodate them.”

____________________________________________________

First the Unions get exemptions, and now they’ll be paid to help the commoners navigate a system they’re not forced to participate in, at least to start. Nice racket they got goin’ there.  And of course the ACORN type community activist folks get a cut too. It’s the Chicago way after all. 🙄

From TheWashingtonExaminer

“Tens of thousands of health care professionals, union workers and community activists hired as “navigators” to help Americans choose Obamacare options starting Oct. 1 could earn $20 an hour or more, according to new regulations issued Wednesday.

The 63-page rule covering navigators, drawn up by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, also said the government will provide free translators for those not fluent in English — no matter what their native language is.”

“That could be an expensive proposition. The proposed rules, now open for public comment, suggest an estimated pay of $20-$48 an hour.”

As well as benefits too I’m sure.

____________________________________________________

And this one doesn’t surprise me. There are many military jobs where this will be the case. That’s not sexist, it’s the physical realities and differences in the sexes. Unless the standards are lowered.

From TheFreeBeacon

“The only two women to participate in the Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course (IOC) failed ongoing tests to determine which infantry positions should be available to women, according to the Marine Corps Times:

The women failed the introductory Combat Endurance Test, a punishing test of physical strength and endurance, officials at Marine Corps headquarters said Tuesday. The latest class began March 28 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., with 110 lieutenants participating. Ninety-six men passed the initial endurance test. Twelve men and two women — the only female Marines taking part — failed.

The two women both volunteered to participate in the IOC. Two other women had previously volunteered in September but also failed.”

____________________________________________________

by

News/Politics 4-3-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread, as always.

Take your seats please, and let’s get started. We have a lot to cover.  🙂

____________________________________________________

Byran York points out the obvious. Let’s face it, immigration reforms are necessary. But you can’t solve the issue while more continue to pour in. Secure the border, then we can talk. Why is that such an unreasonable request? Why set the whole process up for failure because you’re unwilling to secure the border? Do the right thing, and you get what you want. It’s a simple enough concept.

From TheWashingtonExaminer

“We’ve come to a basic agreement,” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday, talking about the Gang of Eight’s progress crafting a comprehensive immigration reform bill. “First, people will be legalized … then we will make sure the border is secure … and after that happens, there’s a path to citizenship.”

Much of the public discussion about immigration reform has focused on the requirement that the border be proved secure before the creation of a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants currently in the country illegally. But Schumer laid out the progression correctly. The still unfinished Gang of Eight plan would first legalize those 11 million (provided they have not committed any serious crimes), and after that would come efforts to improve and certify border security, and then, finally, the path to citizenship.

That first step, immediate legalization, could prove a stumbling block for reformers once it becomes better known. In general, a majority of the public believes that enhanced border security must precede everything else when it comes to immigration reform.”

____________________________________________________

Here’s a “Conservative Approach to Immigration Reform” from TheLATimes

“A consensus has been building about the need to reform and modernize our immigration system. While I am optimistic that Republicans, including “tea party” members, will support reform, it must be done right. We must create a system for the 21st century and beyond, one that honors the rule of law, provides a fair path for those seeking to come to the United States and fixes our broken borders.

We must not fall prey to the mistakes made by earlier immigration reform efforts. An estimated 11 million or more undocumented people live in our country. Most Americans understand their quest for freedom, but they are here illegally. Successful reform will not reward them, and it must prevent another wave of illegal immigrants who will demand that we legalize their status 10 or 20 years from now.

I am in a unique position to understand the problem. I practiced immigration law for 15 years and experienced the difficulty of working within the current patchwork of immigration laws. As a state legislator and now a member of Congress, I have been frustrated with a bureaucracy that creates inefficiency in the labor market, lacks the proper tools to protect us from threats at the border and does nothing to discourage illegal immigration.

The starting place — the trigger for reforming and modernizing our immigration system — must be securing our borders and effectively enforcing our immigration laws before any legal status is granted to those here illegally.”

____________________________________________________

In other news the White House has defied the Senate’s wishes and signed the UN Small Arms Treaty. The Senate already squashed this idea, so the idea that they’d get 2/3 to go along and ratify it is silly. A symbolic, empty gesture at best. So when they make a big deal of Obama signing it remember, it’s just posturing, nothing more.

From TheHill

“The Obama administration defied a majority of the Senate on Tuesday by voting  to approve a United Nations treaty on the trade of small arms and other  conventional weapons.

The treaty, overwhelmingly approved by the U.N., requires countries to create  internal mechanisms to ensure that their arms exports aren’t likely to be used  to harm civilians or violate human rights laws.

President Obama is expected to sign the treaty within the next few months, but  it faces a tough road to win the two-thirds majority support needed in the  Senate for approval.”

____________________________________________________

And in other gun news, another lie from the President exposed. From TheWashingtonPost

““Why wouldn’t we want to close the loophole that allows as many as 40 percent of all gun purchases to take place without a background check?”

— President Obama, remarks on gun safety, March 28, 2013

“FACT: Nearly 40% of all gun sales don’t require a background check under current law. #DemandAction”

— tweet from @BarackObama, March 28

“Two months ago, we were willing to cut the White House some slack, given the paucity of recent data. But the president’s failure to acknowledge the significant questions about these old data, or his slippery phrasing, leaves us little choice but to downgrade this claim to Three Pinocchios.

Three Pinocchios”

____________________________________________________

More pesky gun control facts from TheWallStJournal

“Much of the national discussion in the wake of the Newtown schoolhouse shootings has focused on limiting gun ownership by high-risk people. But to truly address the many homicides committed in America’s cities, lawmakers also need to ensure there are real consequences for illegally carrying a gun on the street. Regardless of whether or not the gun was lawfully obtained—carrying one illegally is a more serious offense than possession, since it is directly linked with high murder rates.

In 2012, 506 people were murdered in Chicago. According to an analysis of homicide data by the University of Chicago Crime Lab, nearly 86% of those killings were committed with a firearm, and more than three-fourths occurred outdoors, virtually all with illegally carried guns. Across the country in 2010, guns were used in 11,078 homicides—and illegally carried guns were a central element in most of the killings.

Although gun offenses are generally taken seriously when they are part of crimes such as homicide, aggravated assault or robbery, the act of illegally carrying a gun itself typically doesn’t incur significant punishment. Many judges often seem to focus on the fact that no one was hurt, and so they treat these cases leniently—often by sentencing offenders to probation. Time behind bars is saved for those who commit “real” crimes.”

And why don’t they? Why because it would be racist to do so. The DoJ and Obama admin have been very clear on that. PC stupidity trumps actual deterrents. So they go with useless “feel good” stuff that doesn’t work instead.

____________________________________________________

Speaking of posturing…….

It’s all about controlling people’s perceptions and false fronts with this guy. Even TheNYTimes has noticed.

“A photo of the Obamas hugging that was released on Election Day 2012 has become the world’s most popular tweet on Twitter. A dressed-up version of Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech, packed with charts and graphs, is huge on YouTube. A playful picture of the president cavorting with a 3-year-old in a Spiderman costume is a favorite online.

It’s all courtesy of the Obama image machine, serving up a stream of words, images and videos that invariably cast the president as commanding, compassionate and on the ball. In this world, Obama’s family is always photogenic, first dog Bo is always well-behaved and the vegetables in the South Lawn kitchen garden always seem succulent.

You’ll have to look elsewhere for bloopers, bobbles or contrary points of view.”

____________________________________________________

I’ve posted a few stories the last couple of days on the leftist lunacy which seems to have completely taken over the establishments of “higher” learning. Here’s yet another example of a possible reason for such radicalism. They love their radicals. First Weather Underground member Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn were embraced by academia, now another of their co-conspirators is as well.

From TheNYPost

“Former Weather Underground radical Kathy Boudin — who spent 22 years in prison for an armored-car robbery that killed two cops and a Brinks guard — now holds a prestigious adjunct professorship at Columbia University’s School of Social Work, The Post has learned.

Boudin, 69, this year won another academic laurel — being named the Sheinberg Scholar-in-Residence at NYU Law School, where last month she gave a lecture on “the politics of parole and re-entry.”

This coincides nicely with Hollywood about to glorify these terrorists in a new sympathetic Robert Redford piece, titled oddly enough, “The Company You Keep” From TheBlaze

““The Company You Keep” tells the story of a 30 year long FBI manhunt for a Weather Underground terrorist, to be played by Redford, who must evade law enforcement after his identity is outed by an ambitious reporter (LaBeouf).

The producers may have already given a peek at the politics behind the film. Voltage producer Nicolas Chartier, who has teamed up with Redford’s Wildwood Enterprises production company for the project, said of the movie that:

“This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller about real Americans who stood for their beliefs, thinking they were patriots and defending their country’s ideals against their government.””

Yeah. Nice huh? 🙄

____________________________________________________

Who’s House?

Your house. Except you can’t visit it unless you’re rich and well-connected because rich squatters have taken over. Tours are canceled for you little people.

From TheWeeklyStandard

“At a “workshop” for the film 42 in the State Dining Room of the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama told the assembled guests that “this is your house, too.”

“I want to make sure that you all know how welcome you are here in this house, because the truth is we do these things — we make sure that we do these workshops so that you all know that this is your house, too,” Obama told the guests. “So we want you to make yourselves at home.  We want you to feel good and relaxed and learn and ask questions, okay?”

The White House is currently not allowing the public to tour or access the White House. Only invited guests are allowed inside.”

Sorry. The least they could do is give us cake to eat. Even Marie Antoinette had cake……

And while you stand around wishing you had some cake, the pretty people will be partying. In the White House of course. Turns out there’s still enough money for parties. Good thing too, otherwise they’d need another vacation.

From TheWeeklyStandard

“Next week Justin Timberlake, Al Green, Queen Latifah, and many others will perform at the White House in a “Memphis Soul” concert, the White House announced today.

“As part of their ‘In Performance at the White House’ series, the President and First Lady will invite music legends and contemporary major artists to the White House for a celebration of Memphis Soul music. The program will include performances by Alabama Shakes, William Bell, Steve Cropper, Al Green, Ben Harper, Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, Joshua Ledet, Sam Moore, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples and Justin Timberlake, with Booker T. Jones as music director and band leader. The President’s remarks will be pooled press and the entire event will be streamed live on  www.whitehouse.gov/live starting at 6:55 PM ET. ‘In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul’ will be broadcast Tuesday, April 16 at 8 PM ET on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings).  The program will also be broadcast at a later date via the American Forces Network to American service men and women and civilians at U.S. Department of Defense locations around the world,” the press release reads.”

You can’t come in for a tour, but at least they’ll let you watch while they have fun. That’s nice of ’em.

____________________________________________________

And finally this. In case you haven’t heard, the President has proclaimed April the Month to Teach Youths ‘How to Budget Responsibly’. Since it was released on the 1st everyone thought it was an April Fools joke. But no, he’s serious. So I guess we’ll now teach kids that it’s OK to overdraft your account, ignore doing a budget, and spend money like you have it even when you don’t. You know, like the President. 🙄

Megyn Kelly does the mocking, so I don’t have too. 🙂

____________________________________________________

by

News/Politics 4-2-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Here’s a few to start with.

I’ve said for years that the more technology advances, the harder it will be to deny the humanity of the unborn. I’m happy to see this trend continue.

From TheDailyMail

“A blurry blob on a hospital screen is the  first view most expectant parents get of their child. But new state-of-the-art imaging software is  now able to map a foetus in incredible detail. The software takes a conventional 3D ultrasound scan and adds colour, skin texture, lighting and shadows.”

“The technology gives unparalleled clarity and allows parents to see the face of their  child before it is born.

There is also a 4D version which means mothers  and fathers are able to see  their baby smiling and kicking in the womb in  realtime.”

Needles to say, pro-abortion groups will continue to fight legislation which makes it a requirement.

____________________________________________________

Next we have an interesting read on CIA infighting. Politics appears to be inhibiting the selection of the best candidate for the job.

From TheWashingtonPost

“Former CIA director Mike Hayden credits “an incredible band of sisters” for the success of the operation that found and brought down Osama bin Laden. Now one of those sisters has been appointed acting chief of the CIA’s National Clandestine service. It is a major milestone for women at the CIA, the first time in the agency’s history that a female officer has headed the clandestine service.

But The Post reports that CIA Director John Brennan is “hesitating” at giving her the position on a permanent basis, because of her past association with the CIA’s rendition, detention and interrogation (RDI) program.

This is an outrage. According to several former senior CIA officials I spoke with, the officer is highly respected and unquestionably qualified for this post. Denying her this promotion because of her role in the RDI program would not only be a personal injustice, but also send a chilling message through the ranks of the CIA. It would effectively tell hundreds of talented officers who were involved in the program — who constitute the best and brightest of the agency’s counterterrorism professionals — that their careers over. It would push the agency back into a risk-averse, pre-Sept. 11, 2001, mindset, sending an unmistakable signal to CIA officers across the world: Don’t take risks in the fight against the terrorists; if you want to advance, play it safe.”

____________________________________________________

Meanwhile, the intolerant left continues to show what hypocrites they are.

From FoxNewsRadio

“The Student Government Association at Johns Hopkins University compared pro-life students to white supremacists and denied them official club status at the school.

“They were denied status because the students on the student council felt being pro-life violates their harassment policy,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America.“

“Another SGA member said they objected to pro-life displays at Johns Hopkins, saying she “felt personally violated, targeted and attacked at a place where we previously felt safe and free to live our lives.”

Violated? Really? 🙄

Overly dramatic and intolerant maybe, but not much else.

____________________________________________________

Well we learned yesterday that amnesty is coming. We also learned that there’s an influx because of it on our unsecure southern border. All by design I might add. And the writers took the time to video and photograph some of the illegal crossings.

From TownHall

“As the immigration reform Gang of Eight inside the Beltway prepares to announce a deal later this week, claiming border security will come before a path to citizenship for millions of illegals, Border Patrol agents have seen illegal border crossings double and warn the cutting of agent work hours will only result in less border security, not more.

“We’ve seen the number of illegal aliens double, maybe even triple since amnesty talk started happening,” an agent told Townhall, who asked to remain unnamed due to fears of retaliation within Customs and Border Protection [CBP], something he said is common. “A lot of these people, although not the majority, are criminals or aggravated felons.  This is a direct danger to our communities.”

Data obtained by Townhall and reported within CBP from February 5 through March 1, 2013 shows 504 illegal aliens were spotted exploiting the Tucson/Nogales area, 189 were caught on CBP intelligence cameras.  Of those 504, only 174 were apprehended and 32 of the 189 on camera were carrying large drug load packs for Mexican cartels. Some were armed with AK-47 style weapons.”

Here’s more on the cartel strategy, which is exploiting the lax security Obama is responsible for.

From TheNYPost

“Mexican drug cartels whose operatives once rarely ventured beyond the US border are dispatching some of their most trusted agents to live and work deep inside the United States — an emboldened presence that experts believe is meant to tighten their grip on the world’s most lucrative narcotics market and maximize profits.

If left unchecked, authorities say, the cartels’ move into the American interior could render the syndicates harder than ever to dislodge and pave the way for them to expand into other criminal enterprises such as prostitution, kidnapping-and-extortion rackets and money laundering.

Cartel activity in the US is certainly not new. Starting in the 1990s, the ruthless syndicates became the nation’s No. 1 supplier of illegal drugs, using unaffiliated middlemen to smuggle cocaine, marijuana and heroin beyond the border or even to grow pot here.”

Must be filling those jobs that Americans won’t do or something.

____________________________________________________

by

News/Politics 4-1-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, as always.

Here’s a few to start off.

____________________________________________________

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.”

____________________________________________________

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 🙂

____________________________________________________

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.”

____________________________________________________

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.”

____________________________________________________

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.”

____________________________________________________