sequester

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News/Politics 8-14-13

What’s interesting out there today?

Open thread, so feel free to share with the group. 🙂

First up, this guy just keep shooting more and more holes in the Obama admins “workplace violence” story.

From TheNYTimes  “One year after he waged a deadly shooting rampage at the Fort Hood Army base here in November 2009, Major Nidal Malik Hasan told a panel of military mental health experts that he wished he had been killed during the attack because it would have meant God had chosen him for martyrdom.”

(And yet the coward selected targets he knew were unarmed)

“Major Hasan, 42, an American-born Muslim of Palestinian descent whose long-delayed court-martial began last week in a Fort Hood courtroom,  said in the documents and in previous statements in and out of court that he carried out the attack to wage jihad for what he has called the illegal and immoral wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the documents, he described in blunt and unapologetic terms how he killed soldiers as he stepped into a medical processing building on Nov. 5, 2009. He said he wore earplugs to muffle the sound of his semiautomatic weapon, and shot into areas that had the “greatest density of soldiers.” In the end, 13 people were dead.       

“I don’t think what I did was wrong because it was for the greater cause of helping my Muslim brothers,” he told the military panel.”

Call it what it is. Islamic terrorism. And give the victims their benefits.

You can come up with your own theory as to why the Obama admin continues to ignore the obvious. I already have one, and again, it’s because of the influence muslim groups hold with this administration.

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Pro-Morsi demonstrators are now protesting in DC as well.

From TheInvestigativeProject  “A rally Saturday in Washington supporting deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, the second in a month sponsored by a group calling itself Egyptian-Americans for Democracy and Human Rights (EADHR), along with its press conference on Friday, makes it harder for some leading American Islamists to deny their connection with the Muslim Brotherhood.”

“The pro-Morsi demonstrators who packed Freedom Plaza just a block from the White House repeated many of the same chants that have been common in Muslim Brotherhood protests in Egypt since Morsi’s fall.”

“The demonstrators and protest organizers hope to get the Obama administration to follow Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in calling Morsi’s ouster a “coup.” Thus far, Secretary of State John Kerry and the Obama administration have declined to do so, saying that the military intervened to keep Egypt from devolving into chaos.”

He’ll cave. Just watch.

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And remember folks, Al-Qeada is defeated and on the run. Or they just changed their name or something.

From TheWaPo  “A rebranded version of Iraq’s al-Qaeda affiliate is surging onto the front lines of the war in neighboring Syria, expanding into territory seized by other rebel groups and carving out the kind of sanctuaries that the U.S. military spent more than a decade fighting to prevent in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the four months since the Iraqi al-Qaeda group changed its name to reflect its growing ambitions, it has forcefully asserted its presence in some of the towns and villages captured from Syrian government forces. It has been bolstered by an influx of thousands of foreign fighters from the region and beyond.

The group, now known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, is by no means the largest of the loosely aligned rebel organizations battling to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and it is concentrated mostly in the northern and eastern provinces of the country. But with its radical ideology and tactics such as kidnappings and beheadings, the group has stamped its identity on the communities in which it is present, including, crucially, ­areas surrounding the main border crossings with Turkey.”

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Once again Eric Holder is caught playing fast and loose with the facts.

From HotAir  “Bloomberg News caught the Department of Justice in a particularly noteworthy Friday-night news dump over the weekend.  The Obama administration, stung by accusations from the Left that it hadn’t gone after fraudulent mortgages and the lenders that helped fuel the bubble, claimed that a year-long initiative run by the Mortgage Fraud Working Group in the DoJ had charged 530 people who had victimized 73,000 people.  When Bloomberg’s reporters began digging into the claim, the DoJ stonewalled — and then finally admitted it cooked the books themselves:

The Justice Department made a long-overdue disclosure late Friday: Last year when U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder boasted about the successes that a high-profile task force racked up pursuing mortgage fraud, the numbers he trumpeted were grossly overstated.

We’re not talking small differences here. Originally the Justice Department said 530 people were charged criminally as part of a year-long initiative by the multi-agency Mortgage Fraud Working Group. It now says the actual figure was 107 — or 80 percent less. Holder originally said the defendants had victimized more than 73,000 American homeowners. That number was revised to 17,185, while estimates of homeowner losses associated with the frauds dropped to $95 million from $1 billion.

Hey, they only inflated those claims by 80% and 9o% — or looking at it from the other direction, 500% and 900%.  Shouldn’t they get a chance to round up to the nearest 1000%?  If you’re wondering what prompted this sudden outbreak of honesty, Bloomberg explains that two of its reporters had figured out the fraud:

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Here’s an update from one of yesterdays stories. We may now know the culprits. Now all we need to know is who put them up to it.

From TheDailyCaller  “A new rush through the U.S. border has been triggered by an outspoken  progressive group that is exploiting new asylum regulations to demand American  citizenship for 1.7 million illegals previously deported to Mexico, according to  Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

Border officials have told advocates and TV stations that hundreds of people  are using the group’s innovative legal tactic to get approval from the border  patrol for a temporary legal stay in the country.

The National Immigrant Youth Alliance triggered the rush by sending a group  of illegals back to Mexico. The illegals then successfully used the asylum claim  to win a temporary stay in the United States. The members, dubbed the  “Dream 9,” walked up to the U.S. border and asked for asylum, based on the claim  that they’re afraid of Mexico’s drug-cartels.

The group’s tactic works because new regulations allow immigrants to ask that  a judge, rather than a border patrol officer, decide their asylum claim. Instead  of jailing the prospective immigrants until their courtroom date, border  officials are releasing many into the United States.”

Where many will disappear and ignore their court date.

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And just further proof that the sequester meme from Obama and Dems was way overstated.

From GovExec.com  “When sequestration was about to kick in, the Obama administration began a nearly across-the-board campaign to discuss the devastating impact the automatic cuts would have on agency operations.

At the center of these warnings stood employee furloughs: mandatory unpaid leave to help each department meet the lower budget caps that took effect March 1. Furloughs, combined with hiring freezes, would disrupt the proper functioning of government, agency chiefs said, as fewer employees working fewer hours could not accomplish the same amount as a fully staffed workforce.

While many federal agencies have in fact moved forward with furloughs, and there remain countless examples of sequestration interfering with government operations, most major departments have reduced furlough days, or eliminated them altogether.

The earliest examples came from departments that told Congress they would have to furlough employees, but ended up backtracking. The Education and Justice departments fall into this category. The Agriculture, Transportation and Homeland Security departments all received authority to transfer funds between agency accounts, and were therefore able to cancel planned furloughs. The Commerce Department projected furloughs at its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, only to cancel them in May.”

Defense too.

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.”

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Next, a question. Educating or indoctrinating? From FoxNewsRadio

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

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

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

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

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

Wow. Lies and misinformation sold as education.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From HotAir

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Like I keep saying, priorities.

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This one will make you go Hmmmm…… From TheWeeklyStandard

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

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

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

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

More from Politico

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

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

“Someone on the tape is heard saying:

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

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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.”

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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.””

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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by

News/Politics 3-30-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread, feel free to share.

Here’s a few from me.

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Atheists lose another one.

From TheNYPost

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From YahooNews

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

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

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

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

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

From TheWashingtonTimes

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

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

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

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

From NationalReview

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

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

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

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

From TheWeeklyStandard

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

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

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

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

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

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by

News/Politics 3-11-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread.

Here’s a few to start off.

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But…but…. the Sequester…..  They had to cancel those tours it was so bad.

Or was it all just a fraud?

From NationalReview

“We are now firmly ensconced in the brutal Age of the Sequester, and things in America are grave. The federal government, we learned on Wednesday, is so strapped for cash that the president has been forced to cut off the People’s access to the home he’s borrowing from them. He didn’t want to have to do this, naturally — “particularly during the popular spring touring season.” But then Congress just had to go and acquiesce in measures that the president himself had suggested and signed into law. How beastly! We axed 2.6 percent from a $44.8 trillion budget, and now the president can’t even afford the $18,000 per week necessary to retain the seven staff members who facilitate citizens’ enjoying self-guided tours around the White House.

The executive mansion is not in that much trouble, of course. It’s certainly not in sufficiently dire straits for Air Force One ($181,757 per hour) to be grounded, or to see the executive chef ($100,000 per year) furloughed, or to cut back on the hours of the three full-time White House calligraphers ($277,050 per year for the trio), or to limit the invaluable work of the chief of staff to the president’s dog ($102,000 per year), or to trim his ridiculous motorcade ($2.2 million). If Ellen DeGeneres wants another dancercize session or Spain holds another clothing sale, the first family will be there before you can say “citizen executive.” Fear ye not, serfs: Austerity may be the word of the week, but the president is by no means in any danger of being forced to live like the president of a republic instead of like a king.”

“The current annual cost of the White House — just in household expenses, not the policy operations for which it exists — is $1.4 billion: Annually, presidential vacations cost $20 million (the low estimate for one presidential vacation to Hawaii is $4 million, but the true cost is probably five times that); the first family’s yearly health-care costs are $7 million; more than $6 million is spent on the White House grounds each year. Transporting the president cost $346 million last year. But as Michelle Obama might say, America is basically a downright mean sort of place, so the tours will just have to go. One hopes at least that the calligraphers were recruited to sign the docents’ pink slips.”

Yeah, pretty much.

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Catholic Bishops are claiming that the new Violence Against Women Act undermines religious liberty.

From CNSNews

“The new act expands its coverage beyond women to homosexuals,  bisexuals and transgenders, and includes language refering to “sexual  orientation” and “gender identity.”

“These two classifications are unnecessary to establish the just  protections due to all persons,” the bishops said in their statement.  “They undermine the meaning and importance of sexual difference. They  are unjustly exploited for purposes of marriage redefinition, and  marriage is the only institution that unites a man and a woman with each  other and with any children born from their union.”

The bishops also objected to the fact that the new act does not  include conscience protections for organizations providing care to  victims of human trafficking. Because of this, they say, the law  undermines religious liberty.”

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The Ninth Circuit get’s one right, but only partially.

From CNetNews

“U.S. customs officials must have a reasonable justification before snatching your laptop at the border and scanning through all your files for incriminating data, a federal appeals court ruled today.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Homeland Security’s border agents must have “reasonable suspicion” before they can legally conduct a forensics examination of laptops, mobile phones, camera memory cards, and so on.

Today’s opinion (PDF) is a limited — but hardly complete — rejection of the Obama administration’s claim that any American entering the country may have his or her electronic files minutely examined for evidence of criminal activity. Homeland Security has said the electronic border searches could detect terrorists, drug smugglers, and people violating “copyright or trademark laws.””

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This one is just wrong. She’s an old woman for cryin’ out loud.

From News7WSVN

“A South Florida woman claims a security guard forced her to exit the  Metrorail last month for refusing to stop singing religious hymns.

The incident involving 82-year-old Emma Anderson and the guard occurred Feb.  20 at the Brickell Metrorail station, was caught on cell phone video. The  footage shows the guard approaching Anderson, who was singing loudly on a corner  seat and tapping her thigh with a rolled-up piece of paper to keep time with the  music.

The guard asked Anderson several times to stop singing before grabbing her  cart and escorting her off the train. “You’re getting off here, let’s go,” the  guard is heard telling Anderson, who was heading to the Brownsville station.”

And the poor woman fell while being tossed. Yes, there’s video.

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This last one? HYPOCRISY ALERT!!!

Especially considering how he and his wife have spoken out against these sort of weapons. I guess he just means WE shouldn’t have them, but it’s fine for our ruling class elites, like them.

From Breitbart

“Mark E. Kelly, gun-control proponent and husband to former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, recently purchased an AR-15 (an “assault weapon,” he called it)—which he now says he intended as an illustration of the need for more stringent gun laws.

Kelly reportedly bought the AR-15 and a 1911-style semi-automatic pistol at a gun store in Tucson, Arizona.”

“Kelly and Giffords founded their own advocacy group to restrict gun rights, Americans for Responsible Solutions, in January. On its website, ARS wrote: “High capacity magazines are a deadly factor in gun violence.” A 30-round magazine is considered a high-capacity magazine.”

And then, like most weasels, he makes up a story days later to cover it up. Says he only bought it to turn over to the Tucson PD. Sure, ‘cuz people do that all the time. 🙄

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by

News/Politics 3-7-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

As always, Open Thread.

Here’s a few to start.

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Senator Rand Paul ended his filibuster of the Brennan nomination after almost 13 hours. That’s the first old-fashioned one I’ve seen since I started paying attention to politics. I watched an hour or so off and on and the Senator made some excellent points. The Senator stood up for his beliefs, and I give him credit for that. So a tip of the hat to the good Senator from Kentucky. And just a quick question. Where did all the Jose Padilla supportin’ lefties go? Isn’t this just the sort of thing (only worse) that they railed against during the Bush presidency? I guess like the rest of the anti-war crowd, they’ve changed their tune. You would think that this extreme was something we could all agree on, regardless of leanings. But no.

From TheWashingtonTimes

“After years in the shadows, the administration’s secret drone program burst  into very public view Wednesday with lawmakers grilling the attorney general  over legal justification for targeted killings and Sen. Rand Paul launching an old-style one-man  filibuster to demand answers from President Obama.

The Kentucky Republican held the floor for almost 13 hours, effectively blocking a vote on the nomination of John O.  Brennan, whom Mr. Obama has tapped to be CIA director. He said he would relent only if the administration publicly vowed not  to target Americans on U.S. soil.”

““This is a long, drawn-out day, but it’s to try to get some answers,” Mr. Paul said after he crossed the eight-hour mark late Wednesday evening. “It’s to try to shame the president into doing the right thing.””

Sorry Senator, but you can’t shame the shameless.

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The drone issue is not going away. And it shouldn’t.

Senator Cruz pressed AG Holder on whether Pres. Obama’s plan is constitutional. The AG had little choice but to admit that it’s not.

From HotAir

“A must-see via Mediaite, not just because this is the right question to ask after Holder’s letter on drone policy yesterday but because it fell to Cruz, the new bete noire of the left, rather than a Democrat to press the civil-libertarian case. Simple question: Is it a violation of due process to fire a missile at a guy on American soil if he’s not engaged at the moment in carrying out a terrorist attack? He might be a member of Al Qaeda; he might be planning an attack; but if he’s strolling down Main Street in some American town, is there any constitutional justification to toss a Hellfire at him rather than send the cops in to pick him up? Watch Holder’s reaction. Cruz has to browbeat him for three minutes to get him to shift from saying it wouldn’t be “appropriate” — which implies that the government might have the power to do it but would refuse to exercise that power for prudential reasons — to finally saying that, constitutionally, it doesn’t have that power. That’s an important admission; unless I missed something, it’s the first time anyone at the top has acknowledged a legal limit to drone strikes under certain circumstances. Here’s hoping we don’t have to point back to it someday.”

Now the President could have ended the filibuster by acknowledging what the AG did, and agreeing to support legislation banning such uses. He chose not to accept the Senator’s offer. In fact, he’s not even acknowledged it. He was busy having dinner with Republican “leaders” and RINO’s.

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Well call this one “Message Fail”.

From ABCNews

“For all the dire warnings, most Americans welcome a five percent cut in overall federal spending this year. But the defense budget is another matter.

The public by nearly 2-1, 61-33 percent, supports cutting the overall budget along the lines of the sequester that took effect last Friday. But by nearly an identical margin, Americans in this ABC News/Washington Post poll oppose an eight percent across-the-board cut in military spending.

See PDF with full results, charts and tables here.

Why it’s almost like they support the Republican ideas, and not President, or something.

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This one is just pathetic, but not surprising.

From TheWeeklyStandard

“On Friday March 8, Michelle Obama will join John Kerry at a special ceremony at the State Department to present ten women the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award. The award, says the press release, is given to “women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk.”

“Five of these awards are being given to women from Muslim-majority countries, underscoring the unique plight of women in those countries. The only problem is that one of the women to be recognized is an anti-Semite and supports the 9/11 attacks on the United States.”

“Ibrahim holds other repellent views as well. As a mob was attacking the United States embassy in Cairo on the eleventh anniversary of 9/11, pulling down the American flag and raising the flag of Al Qaeda, Ibrahim wrote on twitter: “Today is the anniversary of 9/11. May every year come with America burning.” Possibly fearing the consequences of her tweet, she deleted it a couple of hours later, but not before a screen shot was saved by an Egyptian activist.”

She claims her Twitter account was stolen. 

Sure. Let me guess, it musta been the Jews. 🙄

But don’t worry, it’s not like radical muslims have undo influence in this admin or anything. Now move along, nothing to see here.

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A disturbing new trend for cash strapped people struggling to make it in this economy.

From PhiladelphiaCBSLocal

“A new national study shows that too many of us are cashing out 401(k) accounts to pay bills. If that retirement account is calling your name, a financial expert advises you to stop listening.”

“When the bills pile up and money is tight, many people turn to their 401(k) accounts to help ease the bind.

Downingtown, Pa. CPA Jacquelyn Basso says it’s not a good idea to raid your retirement; you’re getting money now that you’ll need to live on when you’re older.”

Unfortunately they need it to live now.

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by

News/Politics 3-6-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

We’ve got lot’s to choose from today.

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UPDATE

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is pulling a good ol’ fashioned fillibuster. He’s holding up the cloture vote for CIA nominee Brennan until he gets answers on the Obama drone program. He plans to keep it up until he can’t speak any more. Other Republicans are joining in. You can watch live at CSPAN 2 at the link below.

http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN2/

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Since I pointed out the allegations against Senator Menendez, it’s only fair to point out this one too. This one alleges the prostitute has recanted her story.

From TheWashingtonPost

“An escort who appeared on a video claiming that Sen. Robert Menendez  (D-N.J.) paid her for sex has told Dominican authorities that she was instead paid to make up the claims and has never met or seen the senator, according to court documents and two people briefed on her claim.

The woman said a local lawyer had approached her and a fellow escort and asked them to help frame Menendez and a top donor, Salomon Melgen, according to affidavits obtained by The Washington Post.”

“Daily Caller Editor Tucker Carlson did not reply to phone calls and e-mails requesting comment.”

Now I included that last line for a reason. The Daily Caller says the Post story is inaccurate. The Post has the wrong prostitute. They also point out a discrepancy with the last line there from the Post.

From TheDailyCaller

“The Washington Post mistook one prostitute for another Monday in a report that  initially seemed to debunk a November 2012 Daily Caller exposé of New  Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.”

“While the Post said it had an affidavit from a woman in the Dominican Republic  admitting she fabricated claims Menendez paid her for sex, that woman was not  one of the two prostitutes TheDC interviewed for a Nov. 1 report.”

Politico  get’s in on the act, as referee.

“ORIGINAL STORY: The Washington Post and the Daily Caller remain at odds over whether or not WaPo reporter Carol Leonnig reached out to TheDC for comment prior to reporting about the outlet’s involvement in a story pertaining to Dominican prostitutes and Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez.

The Daily Caller has now provided POLITICO with what it says is the first email Leonnig sent to Daily Caller editor Tucker Carlson on Monday night. According to the email as it was provided by TheDC, Leonnig sent her first email to Carlson at 5:35 p.m., more than half an hour after the Post posted its original story online. Her email — again, as provided by TheDC — includes an introduction and a link to the already-live story.”

“UPDATE (1:07 p.m.): The Washington Post’s Carol Leonnig did not report that she had reached out to The Daily Caller for comment in her initial report. She later updated her story after reaching out to Carlson, noting that Carlson did not return requests for comment. But updated versions of the story did not — and, so far, do not — mention that the story was updated.

UPDATE (2:38 p.m.): The Daily Caller now points out that the Post has changed its story — again, without noting that the post has been updated — so that it no longer claims definitively that the Dominican prostitute who recanted her allegation against Sen. Menendez was the same one who appeared in a video posted by The Daily Caller. The Washington Post has yet to comment on why it does not note updates to its story.”

Hmmmm…….

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We also have some new developments in the Trayvon Martin case. You probably won’t hear much about this though. Doesn’t fit the meme.

From TheOrlandoSentinel

“Trayvon Martin’s girlfriend, the state’s most important witness in the George Zimmerman murder case, was caught in a lie Tuesday.

It was not the first piece of misinformation tied to her, but it was the most damaging to date and left prosecutors in a very awkward position.

They had to publicly acknowledge that their star witness had lied under oath and had to answer questions about what they intend to do about it.”

OK, now I’ll ask the obvious. Was she coached to lie by Al Sharpton, like he did with Tawana Brawley? It seems to be similar in that one case fell apart when it went to court, and this one seems to be faring just as poorly. The truth comes out.

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Looks like Democrats have some explaining to do. They won’t of course, and the media is still on his side and will continue to carry his water so he doesn’t have to. But he should. Here’s further proof of what a fraud this whole Sequester thing has been. All of it orchestrated by the man who signed it into law.

From TheWashingtonTimes

“The Obama administration denied an appeal  for flexibility in lessening the sequester’s effects, with an email this week appearing to show officials in Washington that because they already had promised  the cuts would be devastating, they now have to follow through on that.”

“In the email sent Monday by Charles Brown,  an official with the Animal  and Plant Health Inspection Service office in Raleigh, N.C., Mr. Brown asked “if there was any latitude” in how to spread the sequester cuts  across the region to lessen the impacts on fish inspections.”

“He said he was discouraged by officials in Washington, who gave him this reply: “We have gone on record with a notification to Congress and whoever else that ‘APHIS would eliminate assistance to producers in 24 states in managing wildlife damage to the aquaculture industry, unless they provide funding to cover the costs.’ So it is our opinion that however you manage that reduction, you need to make sure you are not contradicting what we said the  impact would be.””

““This email confirms what many Americans have suspected: The Obama administration is doing everything they can to make sure their worst  predictions come true and to maximize the pain of the Sequester cuts for  political gain,” said Rep. Tim Griffin, Arkansas Republican.”

And they paraded out a bunch of flunkies to lie as well.

From TheTelegraphUK

“Ms Napolitano said today that major airports were seeing lines “150 to 200 percent as long as we would normally expect” as result of the federal spending cuts that went into force on Friday.”

“However, when contacted by The Daily Telegraph, spokespeople for both O’Hare and LAX, as well as representatives from the travel industry, denied that airports had been hit by delays.”

“Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, was widely criticised last month for saying that teachers were already being laid off because of the cuts, a claim without evidence. The Washington Post‘s Fact Checker blog awarded the claim four Pinocchios – its highest rating for falsehood.”

It’s a disaster of their own making. Just like they intended.

And even with all of this out and exposed, they just double down on the lies and intentionally inflicted pain.

From TheHill

“Members of the Congressional Black Caucus said Monday night that the $85 billion in cuts to federal spending, known as the sequester, will disproportionately affect blacks and other minorities, in part because they are more likely to work  for the government.

“Sequestration will impact everyone, but it will have  a particularly harmful effect on communities of color who were hit first and  worst by the great recession, and have yet to significantly feel the effects of  the recovery,” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said Monday.”

“”Federal budget cuts under sequestration would quickly mean cuts to federal, state and local public-sector jobs, which disproportionately employ women and African-Americans.””

And it’s only disproportionate because of reverse discrimination and sexism, which the govt is fine with and enables thru affirmative action.

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by

News/Politics 3-4-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, what have ya’ got?

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Here’s a good story.

From TheNYTimes

“Doctors announced on Sunday that a baby had been cured of an H.I.V. infection for the first time, a startling development that could change how infected newborns are treated and sharply reduce the number of children living with the virus that causes AIDS.

The baby, born in rural Mississippi, was treated aggressively with antiretroviral drugs starting around 30 hours after birth, something that is not usually done. If further study shows this works in other babies, it will almost certainly be recommended globally. The United Nations estimates that 330,000 babies were newly infected in 2011, the most recent year for which there is data, and that more than three million children globally are living with H.I.V.

If the report is confirmed, the child born in Mississippi would be only the second well-documented case of a cure in the world. That could give a lift to research aimed at a cure, something that only a few years ago was thought to be virtually impossible, though some experts said the findings in the baby would probably not be relevant to adults.”

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Here’s an amusing piece on the gift that just keeps giving. Joe Biden. 🙂

And the video at the end, like all things Joe, is quite amusing.

From InvestorsBusinessDaily

“Lots of people like Joe Biden. He’s the zany uncle, the benign bumbler who  shows up at Thanksgiving dinner and takes over the mealtime conversation with  confusing stories, most of them very familiar and not all of them off-color.

Joe is from Delaware, a place that’s famous for absolutely nothing and  arouses no feelings whatsoever. Joe likes to ride the choo-choo trains. He talks  a lot, which can be good in politics. He often talks before thinking about the  words coming out of his mouth, which can not be good in politics. (Scroll down  for humorous video that illustrates this.)

Obama keeps the harmless guy around because, in comparison, Biden makes the  president look smooth and smart. As long as no one gets to thinking, “God  Almighty, that garrulous goof is one heartbeat away from becoming  commander-in-chief.”

Hey, guys, what does this red button do?”

🙄

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What?! I’m :shock:ed

From FoxNews

“The White House retreated from its doomsday predictions Sunday about the  impact of the $85 billion in federal spending cuts that have  kicked   in — as Republican leaders appeared at least satisfied about delivering  on their promise to limit government spending and hold down taxes.

Gene Sperling, the White House’s top economic adviser, repeatedly said the  cuts will not hurt as much on “Day One” as they will over the long haul.

“Nobody ever suggested that this … was going to have all its impact in the  first few days,” he told “NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “It is a slow grind.”

His remarks are in contrast to weeks of President Obama and his Cabinet  warning that the cuts will result in furloughs or pay cuts for middle-class  wage-earners such as teachers, Capitol Hill janitors and air traffic  controllers, which they said could cause 90-minutes delays at major U.S.  airports.”

OK, not really.

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So it’s not a big deal? Or is it?

Brandon Smith takes a look at govt. programs that should be cut but won’t be, over at Alt-Market.com

“Washington is laying on the malaise pretty thick lately over automatic budget cuts set to take effect in March, with admonitions and partisan attacks galore.  Of course, those of us who are educated in the finer points of our corrupt puppet government are well aware that the public debate between Democrats and Republicans amounts to nothing more than a farcical battle of Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots with only one set of hands behind the controls.  The reality is, their decisions are scripted, their votes are purchased, and they knew months ago exactly how America’s fiscal cliff situation would progress.  The drama that now ensues on the hill is meant for OUR benefit and distraction, and no one else. ”

“Let’s put all of this into perspective; America’s current annual deficits have exceeded $1 trillion for the past four years.  Our official national debt has expanded nearly $7 trillion in the span of five years.  Through QE3 (QE infinity), the Federal Reserve is now pumping over $85 billion (that we know about) per month into our financial system.  And in March, the federal government is being asked to cut $85 billion over a span of six months?

It sure seems like a drop in the bucket compared to the massive expenditures already taking place.  Yet, these moderate cuts are being heralded as a sign of fiscal apocalypse by the White House and others.  Why?  Because America has reached the point at which any disruption in government liquidity will damage our recovery fantasy, and the establishment is acclimating us to the coming crisis so that we don’t immediately take up our torches and pitchforks.  The lie is so tenuous, that the fiat must forever flow, or the illusion crumbles.  Not only must spending continue unabated, it must also EXPAND with each passing year in order to handle the growing liabilities of entitlements and interest payments on capital already borrowed.  Even the smallest of cuts could indeed send our economy into a tailspin (with a little help from the Federal Reserve and reduced currency creation), because that’s exactly how desperate our circumstances are. ”

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by

News/Politics 3-1-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open thread, so feel free to chime in.

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The Scarequester nonsense continues. The Democrat proposed bill was as bad as you’d think. How does adding to the deficit solve anything, other than just maintaining the status-quo? It deserved to fail.

From NationalReview

“The sequester replacement bill proposed by Senate Democrats, and endorsed by the White House, would add $7.2 billion to the federal deficit over ten years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

“CBO estimates that S. 388 would increase direct spending by $62.4 billion and revenues by $55.1 billion over the 2013–2023 period. Thus, the cumulative deficit would increase by $7.2 billion from those changes,” CBO wrote in a report.

The Democratic bill would replace the $85 billion in automatic cuts scheduled to take effect on Friday with a mixture of tax increases and spending cuts to defense programs and farm subsidies. However, those spending cuts would be phased in over a ten-year period, whereas the sequestration cuts would occur this year.”

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The Republican bill which would keep the sequester in place, but allow Obama discretion in implementing the cuts, failed as well.

From IBTimes

“A sequester will go into effect Friday, after a Republican measure to offset the automatic, across-the-board spending cuts associated with the budget act was rejected by Senate leadership Thursday. A Democratic proposal also fell short of the 60 votes needed.”

“The GOP’s bill that would have given President Barack Obama the flexibility to implement the $85 billion in spending cuts was rebuffed 38 to 62. The measure was struck down by both Democrats and tea party members. On the other hand, the Democrats’ proposal failed 51 to 49 and wasn’t popular among Republicans, as expected.”

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Meanwhile, the fear-mongering and scare tactics continue.

From CNSNews

“Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) said that if the  sequester goes into effect, women who are victims of domestic violence  will be “forced to stay in their homes with their abuser” at the “hands  of the GOP.””

““The harm is real,” Edwards said.  “230,000 victims will be calling  crisis hotlines and those calls will go unanswered.  230,000 calls to  crisis hotlines around the country.”

“So can you imagine that in the middle of the night a woman is being  battered, she has her two children, she wants to get to safety, she  places a phone call to a hotline and that line goes unanswered,” she  said.  “That’s what sequestration means to victims of domestic  violence.””

There’s plenty that can be cut without touching stuff like this. Unless Dems and Obama chose to do it. This doesn’t need to be near as painful as they make it sound. Waste is everywhere, start there and with redundant programs.

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Stuff like this is a good place to start, along with Cowboy Poetry.

From TheWashingtonTimes

“The White House budget office has told  federal agencies to slow down new hiring, curtail travel and conferences, and to stop doling out bonuses unless absolutely required to by law, according to a new memo released late Wednesday.

Budget office controller Danny Werfel  also warned agencies not to use outside contractors to try to get around the new limits on hiring.

The  limits on bonuses and trips are unlikely to make a big dent in   the $85  billion that agencies will be required to cut over the rest of   this year. The  Asbury Park Press, a New Jersey  newspaper, reported  last  year that the  federal  government paid out $439 million in  employee  bonuses in 2011.  Meanwhile,  the House oversight committee  said that   big-dollar  conferences amounted to $267.6 million in 2012.

But federal travel is a bigger cost, totaling $14.8 billion in 2012, the  oversight committee said.”

Next we can have the President and his wife stop taking separate and numerous vacations on the taxpayer dime. That’ll save millions a year.

This isn’t nearly as hard as they’re making it.

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You won’t find much sympathy for these folks I’m guessing. And really, 5-7 days of furlough is the end of the world? Just be thankful you still have a job. Maybe they should have thought of the costs when hiring 16,ooo new IRS agents to enforce ObamaCare.

From TheWallStJournal

“The Internal Revenue Service plans to require  five to seven days of unpaid leave for many of it employees through September, but it won’t begin the furloughs until the summer  in an effort to avoid disruptions in the April tax filing deadline.”

““If sequestration occurs, we will continue to operate under a hiring freeze, reduce funding for grants and other expenditures, and cut costs in areas such as travel, training, facilities and supplies,” IRS Acting Commissioner Steven Miller wrote employees Thursday. “In addition, we will need to review contract spending to ensure only the most critical and mandatory
requirements are fully funded.””

Shouldn’t that be the norm instead of the exception? Critical and mandatory requirements should be all they do.

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And while Democrats and liberal members of the press attack Woodward for telling the truth, others have come forward.

From WeaselZippers

“First Bob Woodward, then Lanny Davis.

Now Ron Fournier of the National Journal reports being verbally abused and threatened by a “senior advisor”.”

“USA Today also contributed to the tide today :

It’s almost like there’s a pattern or something. 🙄

They don’t like it when the truth gets out.

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This one? Well sure it’s nice that we could, but should we? Sure it starts with something small, like with a pigeon, but then somebody does something stupid and dinosaurs are all over the place. I’ve seen Jurassic Park. I know how this ends. 😦

From SanFranCBSLocal

“Speaking from the prestigious TED Conference in Long Beach Wednesday, Sausalito activist Stewart Brand said scientists are developing the ability to reassemble an extinct animal’s genome, and even recreate the animal itself.

Brand, who gained fame after he campaigned to have the original NASA space photos of earth published, and subsequently created the Whole Earth Catalog, said Wednesday that “de-extinction” could be used to help restore organisms and habitats damaged human activity, according to a report in the Marin Independent Journal.

A team of Harvard geneticists are currently working to bring back the passenger pigeon, which has been extinct since 1914, according to the TED website. The passenger pigeon is considered a keystone species because it aided the survival of the buffalo, according to TED. Researchers believe it may now be possible to alter the genetic makeup of a close relative, the band-tailed pigeon, to re-engineer the passenger pigeon.”

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