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News/Politics 6-4-13

What news story has caught your attention?

Open thread, so let us know.

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The Ft. Hood shooter is being allowed to represent himself. It should be interesting to hear what he has to say. I’m sure a lot will just be propaganda, but I have a feeling he’ll make it clear that this was not simple “work place violence” as the Obama admin insists on labeling it. He’ll make his motivations known. From CBSNews

“A military judge is allowing the Army psychiatrist charged in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage to represent himself at his upcoming murder trial.

The judge also ruled Monday that Maj. Nidal Hasan’s attorneys will remain on the case, but only if he asks for their help.”

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This one is a bit hypocritical IMO. They complain about a school informing kids of a Christian program available after school and off-site, yet expect even greater benefits from the schools and the ability to pray in special rooms, and foot baths as well. Christian and Jewish students are not given prayer rooms or similar accommodations. All, or none. Which is it? From EAGNews

“CAIR-MI sent a letter to Roseville Public Schools after receiving a complaint from two parents of children who attend Huron Park Elementary School about distribution by teachers of permission slips for the Bible classes at a local Baptist church. CAIR Executive Director Dawus Walid wrote in a letter to the school district, “School staff and teachers are not to serve as advocates for one particular religion or congregation within a religion by passing out slips inviting parents to give permission for their children to attend religious instruction.”

But that’s precisely what CAIR sought in the nearby Dearborn district.

The Arab American News reported that CAIR staff “recently met with Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston to discuss concerns from some parents regarding prayer accommodations in Dearborn Public Schools.

“Dearborn Public Schools has implemented a policy which fully accommodates student-led prayer in all the schools, as well as unexcused absences for students who leave early on Fridays for Jumu’ah prayers. CAIR-MI is currently in discussion with Melvindale Public Schools to get similar accommodations for students that are now in place for Dearborn Public Schools.””

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I gotta tell ya’, those “rogue employees” at the IRS could take some lessons from this guy on how to be better employees.

And this guy’s completely made up. This is your govt. at work. From WFB

““Richard Windsor” may have only been an alias for former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson, but that didn’t stop him from being awarded numerous certificates for ethics and records management.

The EPA awarded certificates naming Jackson/Windsor a “scholar of ethical behavior.” Jackson, under her secret alias, was also awarded certificates for completing training modules on email records management.”

“EPA official Eric W. Wachter, director of the office of the secretariat, said Jackson was only certified under her alias because that was the account she happened to be signed in as when she took the online tests in a FOIA response letter to Horner.”

So she uses a fraudulent account and a made up employee gets certified? But she can claim credit for completing the course by fraud anyway. Nice.

Oh, and she’s not the only one either. This seems to be a preferred tactic in the Obama admin for hiding info from the public. From APNews

“Some of President Barack Obama’s political appointees, including the Cabinet secretary for the Health and Human Services Department, are using secret government email accounts they say are necessary to prevent their inboxes from being overwhelmed with unwanted messages, according to a review by The Associated Press.

The scope of using the secret accounts across government remains a mystery: Most U.S. agencies have failed to turn over lists of political appointees’ email addresses, which the AP sought under the Freedom of Information Act more than three months ago. The Labor Department initially asked the AP to pay more than $1 million for its email addresses.

The AP asked for the addresses following last year’s disclosures that the former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency had used separate email accounts at work. The practice is separate from officials who use personal, non-government email accounts for work, which generally is discouraged – but often happens anyway – due to laws requiring that most federal records be preserved.

The secret email accounts complicate an agency’s legal responsibilities to find and turn over emails in response to congressional or internal investigations, civil lawsuits or public records requests because employees assigned to compile such responses would necessarily need to know about the accounts to search them. Secret accounts also drive perceptions that government officials are trying to hide actions or decisions.”

Gee, I wonder why they’d think that?  🙄

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And speaking of IRS employees…. From APNews

“Conservative groups who were targeted by the Internal Revenue Service are getting their say on Capitol Hill just as the details of another IRS controversy are being made public.

The leaders of six conservative groups were scheduled to tell lawmakers Tuesday about their mistreatment at the hands of IRS agents. Several of the groups say their applications for tax-exempt status were delayed while agents asked intrusive questions that the IRS has since acknowledged were inappropriate. One group, the National Organization for Marriage, says the IRS publicly disclosed confidential information about donors.”

Looks like the Koch brothers aren’t the only ones.

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The Republicans are rejecting the DoJ’s explanation of Holder’s testimony discrepancies in the AP scandal. From FoxNews

“Republican leaders of the House Judiciary Committee on Monday accused  Attorney General Eric Holder of having “something to hide,” after the Justice  Department issued a formal defense of his questionable testimony on reporter  surveillance — a defense Republicans rejected as inadequate.

“This response is insulting and further proof that Attorney General Holder  refuses to hold himself accountable,” Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.,  said.”

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Now back to the IRS….   I love this idea. This should jog some memories and loosen lips. From TheHill

“GOP  appropriators on Monday said they would use the IRS’s purse strings to get  answers about how and why it targeted conservative groups.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) said his panel may  impose conditions on IRS funding, calling the targeting tantamount to a  political enemies list that harkens back to “a dark page in our past.””

“Other Republicans on the panel wondered how Congress, in the words of Rep. Ander  Crenshaw (R-Fla.), “should spend one more dime” on the agency without having  more answers on how the tax agency is currently operating.”

““And I don’t need to remind you or anybody else that the power of the purse  rests with the Congress, and we’re prepared to use that purse to get to the  truth.””

Works for me.

And a Drudge editor is saying this is about to get real interesting. Seems the “low-level” employees are about to hit back. They say they were worried about this from the start and kept a paper trail for protection. A paper trail that leads to high level people.

😯  Ru-roh.

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This one sounds like a great idea, at least to me. It’s way overdue. From Politico

“Republican political strategist Stuart Stevens is seeking to publicly shame the executives at NBC Universal for employing and promoting the Rev. Al Sharpton — a man who has an “outrageous history of hate,” according to Stevens.

Stevens, the chief strategist on Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, writes in a new column for The Daily Beast that Sharpton “has gone from manipulating the news with vile accusations to delivering the news for NBC.”

“”If you are an NBC exec and have kids, sit down with them and watch the Times documentary on Tawana Brawley,” he writes. “And when your kids ask why your colleague Al Sharpton is working for NBC, you can explain to them why everything you’ve tried to teach them about honesty, fair play and decency is wrong and Al Sharpton is right.””

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This last one I offer with no comment. From TheWallStJournal

“New York City is launching a campaign to recruit gay and lesbian foster parents, part of a major push to expand the kinds of families who consider fostering and to find more welcoming homes for children who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.

The public ad campaign, set to roll out this week, features images of an interracial gay couple spending time with a young child. “Be the reason she has hope,” one of the ads reads. In another, a black woman is pictured alone with a white teenage boy. “Be the reason it gets better,” the message says.

How many of the nearly 13,000 children in New York City’s foster-care system identify as LGBTQ is unclear because the city does not keep such data. But, citing anecdotal evidence, researchers, child advocates and city officials insist that the children are disproportionately represented in the foster care system and say the need to find them supportive homes is great.”

“Mr. Richter, citing a study the city commissioned last year, said the data show that adults who identify as LGBTQ are more likely to want to foster a child who may also identify that way.”

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News/Politics 5-31-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

There’s plenty to choose from today.

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

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

Is anyone really surprised?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s a good read.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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In other news from Cali…..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sound familiar?

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This one isn’t really shocking.

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

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

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

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

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

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

White said he wasn’t surprised of possible evidence violations by Zimmerman prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda. From TheMiamiHerald

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And if you like your plan……..

“Many people who buy their own health insurance could get surprises in the mail this fall: cancellation notices because their current policies aren’t up to the basic standards of President Barack Obama’s health care law.”

“But supporters of the overhaul are betting that consumers won’t object once they realize the coverage they will get under the new law is superior to current bare-bones insurance. For example, insurers will no longer be able to turn people down because of medical problems.” From TheAP

Uh-huh. I’m sure they will love it. Or not.

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by

News/Politics 5-18-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

First, the IRS scandal continues to grow. From TheWallStJournal

“The Internal Revenue Service’s watchdog told top Treasury officials around June 2012 he was investigating allegations the tax agency had targeted conservative groups, for the first time indicating that Obama administration officials were aware of the explosive matter in the midst of the president’s re-election campaign.”

“The disclosure to the Treasury general counsel and the deputy secretary was a cursory one, according to J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration. He said he didn’t reveal conclusions of the probe, which was in its early stages, and his disclosure came as part of a routine update to Treasury leaders. At the time, Republican lawmakers were complaining publicly about alleged IRS targeting of tea-party groups.

The revelation nonetheless raised a fresh set of questions about who was aware of the problem within the Obama administration. It was one of several new details that emerged during a contentious four-hour House committee hearing Friday, held one week after an IRS official revealed at a legal conference that the agency had taken “absolutely inappropriate” actions in targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status for often heavy-handed scrutiny.”

And of course they knew, it’s looking more and more like they ordered it.

More. From TheWeeklyStandard

“NBC’s Lisa Myers reported this morning that the IRS  deliberately chose not to reveal that it had wrongly targeted conservative groups until after the 2012 presidential election:”

Of course they did. The whole point was to aid Obama in his re-election bid. How successful do you think he would have been if the truth got out before election day?

The probe will be expanding now for sure, as it should. From TheNYTimes

“Congressional Republicans, not resting with the Internal Revenue Service scandal, are moving to broaden the matter to an array of tax malfeasances and “intimidation tactics” they hope will ensnare the White House.”

Don’t panic though, the Times hasn’t turned on Obama. They carry water for him numerous times in the article, starting with the second paragraph.

“Republican charges range from the clearly questionable to the seemingly specious, and they grow by the day. On Friday, lawmakers sought to tie the I.R.S. matter to the carrying out of President Obama’s health care law, which will rely heavily on the agency. Whether they succeed holds significant ramifications for Mr. Obama, who will soon know if he is dealing with a late spring thunderstorm that may soon blow over or a consuming squall that will leave lasting damage.”

Nothing to see here, move along.

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We have a Benghazi update too. From CBSNews

” The chairman of the House Oversight committee has issued a subpoena to compel the co-chairman of the independent review board that investigated last year’s attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, to answer questions about its findings in closed session.

California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa issued the subpoena on Friday to retired veteran diplomat Thomas Pickering to force him to appear at a deposition next Thursday.”

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A terrorist with a bomb was arrested in Idaho. Once again, he’d been legally admitted into the country. From TheLongWarJournal

“The Department of Justice arrested an Uzbek national living in Idaho today  and charged him with supporting the al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of  Uzbekistan and possessing an “unregistered destructive device,” or bomb.  Fazliddin Kurbanov  faces charges in both Idaho and Utah, and is accused of  conspiring to train others to purchase components to assemble a bomb.

Kurbanov is “legally present in the United States” at the time of his arrest  and is currently living in Boise, Idaho, the  Justice Department said in the press release that announced his arrest. He  has been charged with “conspiracy to provide material support to a designated  foreign terrorist organization,” the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and “to  terrorists,” as well as “possessing an unregistered destructive device.”

Not surprising really. After all, DHS is too busy concentrating on make-believe right-wing terrorists instead. Real Islamic radicals get a pass. From TheDailyCaller

“The Department of Homeland Security, which under Secretary  Janet Napolitano has shown a keen interest in monitoring and warning about outspoken conservatives, takes a very different approach in monitoring political  Islamists, according to a 2011 memo on protecting the free speech rights of pro-Shariah Muslim supremacists.

In a checklist obtained by The Daily Caller entitled “Countering Violent  Extremism Dos and Don’ts” the DHS’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil  Liberties notifies local and national law enforcement officials that it is  Obama administration policy to consider specifically Islamic criticism of the American system of government legitimate.

This policy stands in stark contrast to the DHS Office of Intelligence and  Analysis’ 2009 memo “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and  Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” [pdf], which warned of the dangers posed by pro-life  advocates, critics of same-sex marriage and groups concerned with abiding by the  U.S. Constitution, among others.”

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54 Colorado Sheriffs are standing up to the state for its unconstitutional new gun grab laws. From WeaselZippers

“54 Colorado Sheriffs File Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Anti-Gun Bills: It’s About Upholding The Constitution And Public Safety”

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And here’s more on a story from the other day about what sounds like the next Gosnell, with a CONTENT WARNING!, from TheHoustonChronicle

“Harris County authorities and the Texas Department of State Health Services are investigating a local doctor accused Wednesday by an anti-abortion group of performing late-term abortions in 2011.

“We have several people looking into the allegations,” said Sara Marie Kinney, a spokeswoman for the Harris County District Attorney.

In an email, DSHS spokeswoman Carrie Williams said the agency, which monitors abortion facilities across the state, is “aware of the allegations, and we are investigating.” Added Williams: “This is a very high priority for us.”

The anti-abortion group Operation Rescue issued a report on Wednesday saying that three former employees of Dr. Douglas Karpen’s Houston clinic had relayed accounts of fetuses that had been illegally aborted and provided them with grisly photographs.”

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by

News/Politics 5-7-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

We’ll start off with this one. A frightening story on the kidnapping of 3 women. They were all abducted as teens over a 10 year period , but thankfully all are now free. Their apparent kidnappers are in custody. Police will release more info this morning. From TheAP

“The woman’s voice was frantic and breathless, and she was choking back tears. “Help me. I’m Amanda Berry,” she told a 911 dispatcher. “I’ve been kidnapped and I’ve been missing for 10 years and I’m, I’m here, I’m free now.”

Those words led police to a house near downtown Cleveland where Berry and two other women who vanished a decade ago were found Monday, elating family members and friends who’d longed to see them again.”

“At first Tejeda said she didn’t want to believe who the young woman was. “You’re not Amanda Berry,” she insisted. “Amanda Berry is dead.”

But when Berry told her she’d been kidnapped and held captive, Tejeda said she gave her the telephone to call police, who arrived within minutes and then took the other women from the house.”

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I hate to say I told you so, but…..

Welcome to the Arab Spring. In Libya, Al-Qaeda is blooming. From TheDailyBeast

“A rare interview with a top Libyan intelligence official reveals that, as an unintended consequence of the French intervention to quash a radical Muslim insurgency in nearby Mali, which forced al Qaeda in the Mahgreb to move north earlier this year, Libya has now become the main base of the terror group in the region, heightening the instability of what is already a volatile country.”

““Libya has become AQIM’s headquarters,” says the intelligence source, adding that in just the last few weeks three new al Qaeda camps have opened in southern Libya.”

“Disgruntled militiamen in league with the Muslim Brotherhood last week applied a choke hold on the government by besieging key ministries in an effort to coerce approval of a measure that is likely to collapse of the government of Ali Zeidan, plunging Libya into even greater political turmoil and weakening Libya’s ability to battle jihadists.”

On the ropes huh? 

And we helped do it. We’re doing the same in Syria. And we’re about to give them more arms.

And our govt. won’t lift a finger to stop them, even when American lives are at stake. From FoxNews

“On the night of Sept. 11, as the Obama administration scrambled to respond to the Benghazi terror attacks, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a key  aide effectively tried to cut the department’s own counterterrorism bureau out of the chain of reporting and decision-making, according to a “whistle-blower”  witness from that bureau who will soon testify to the charge before Congress,  Fox News has learned.

That witness is Mark I. Thompson, a former Marine and now the deputy  coordinator for operations in the agency’s counterterrorism bureau. Sources tell Fox News Thompson will level the allegation against Clinton during testimony on Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by  Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.

Fox News has also learned that another official from the counterterrorism  bureau — independently of Thompson — voiced the same complaint about Clinton and Under Secretary for Management Patrick Kennedy to trusted national security colleagues back in October.”

Certainly explains the order to stand down as well.

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Meanwhile back in the States, our govt found yet another way to get more tax money from us. From TheAP

“The Senate sided with traditional retailers and financially strapped state and local governments Monday by passing a bill that would widely subject online shopping — for many a largely tax-free frontier — to state sales taxes.

The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 69 to 27, getting support from Republicans and Democrats alike. But opposition from some conservatives who view it as a tax increase will make it a tougher sell in the House. President Barack Obama has conveyed his support for the measure.”

“”We ought to have a structure in place in the states that treats all retail the same,” said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation. “Small retailers are collecting (sales tax) on the first dollar of any sale they make, and it’s only fair that other retailers who are selling to those same customers the same product have those same obligations.””

Sure. That’s the only motivation for retailers, and the extra money the govt pulls in has nothing to do with it for our elected officials. Riiiight. 🙄

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But hey it’s not all bad. The President is gonna concentrate on jobs now too. Apparently it took 4 1/2 years to focus that laser of his on jobs. He’s even gonna tour the country and tell folks about. Which will waste tons of money. Again. The Never-ending Campaign rolls on. From TheWashingtonPost

“President Obama will travel this week to Austin, where the jobs market has been booming, to kick off a new focus on the middle class and economic growth.

Obama is planning a campaign-style “Middle Class Jobs & Opportunity Tour” across the country, beginning Thursday in Austin, a magnet for new tech jobs. The push seems designed to help jump-start the president’s second term.”

“Now, White House officials hope that Obama, by campaigning outside of Washington, can galvanize the public and pressure Congress to back his legislative agenda, including economic measures he outlined in February’s State of the Union address.”

I love it. Hey, if you’re gonna try and grab credit for some good economic news, where else but Texas? He won’t mention that they got there by doing the opposite of what he would do, and in spite of him and his policies.

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And this last one…..  The printable firearm has arrived. From HotAir

“Just to establish a baseline of what we’re talking about here, any of you who regularly watch shows like How it’s Made, Modern Marvels or any of the other science and technology offerings on cable probably already know about 3-D printing. (One of the featured manufacturers of these machines has a nice video tutorial on it.) Basically, a 3-D model is designed and the “printer” lays down one layer after another of material until the model is produced. And some of these machines are already getting down to the affordable range.

So what would you do if you got one? Well, if you’re Cody Wilson, you’d print a gun of course. Forbes has the exclusive.”

““We want to show this principle: That a handgun is printable,” says Wilson, a 24-year-old second-year law student at the University of Texas. “You don’t need to be able to put 200 rounds through it…It only has to fire once. But even if the design is a little unworkable, it doesn’t matter, as long as it has that guarantee of lethality.””

So, sure as the sun rising in the East, Dems wanna ban it.

“New York congressman Steve Israel has responded to Defense Distributed’s work by introducing a bill that would renew the Undetectable Firearms Act with new provisions aimed specifically at 3D printed components. In January, personal 3D printing firm Makerbot removed all gun components from Thingiverse, its popular site for hosting users’ printable designs.

More on the banning, and some good ol’ fashioned media fear mongering, from TheNYDailyNews

“The future just got a lot scarier.

A Texas company is set to release blueprints for making a plastic gun with a  3-D printer — a development Sen.  Chuck Schumer called “stomach-churning” Sunday.

Defense Distributed, a collective of gun access advocates headed by  self-described “free-market anarchist” Cody Wilson, has announced it made such  an untraceable gun with the new plastic-making technology. The nonprofit Texas  group intends to post blueprints for “The Liberator” (pictured) online this  week.

The Liberator may look like a toy, but “this gun can fire regular bullets,” Schumer said, calling for legislation outlawing the technology’s weapons potential.”

The Daily News has no problem being a mouthpiece for anything anti-gun. Even if that means publicly attacking anyone who dares disagree. Like this, from TheNYDailyNews

“Sarah Palin showed up  at the NRA convention the other day, which was merely perfect. She belonged there as much as anybody in the hall just because from the start, from the time  John McCain picked her out of the chorus, Palin has most appealed to mean, dumb, angry crowds exactly like the one she found in Houston.

Palin should have worn a prom dress, but on this occasion wore a T-shirt  that read “Women Hunt.” In her case, that means hunting for attention.

Or relevance.”

“She wants to be a populist and a patriot, the way the phonies cheering her on  Friday think they’re patriots, and brave defenders of the Second Amendment. But all Palin did this time was turn herself out for the craziest and creepiest gun  lovers on the planet. It is the same as turning yourself out for gun  manufacturers.”

He goes on to whine and name call some more after calling Wayne LaPierre her pimp.

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by

News/Politics 4-25-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

It appears from press reports that Boston bomb suspect #1 was on a watch list, yet it didn’t help, or work as it’s supposed to. From Reuters

“The name of one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was listed on the U.S. government’s highly classified central database of people it views as potential terrorists. But the list is so vast that this did not mean authorities automatically kept close tabs on him, sources close to the bombing investigation said on Tuesday.”

“After being put in the TIDE system, his name was entered in another database, this one maintained by the Homeland Security Department’s Customs and Border Protection bureau which is used to screen people crossing U.S. land borders and entering at airports or by sea.

Tsarnaev was flagged on that database when he left the United States for Russia in January 2012 but no alarm was raised, presumably because the FBI had not identified him as a threat after the interview.”

It was the CIA who asked that his name be put on the list. From TheWashingtonPost

“The CIA asked the main U.S. counterterrorism agency to add the name of one of the suspected Boston Marathon bombers to a watch list more than a year before the attack, according to U.S. officials.

The agency took the step after Russian authorities contacted officials there in the fall of 2011 and raised concerns that Tamerlan Tsarnaev — who was killed last week in a confrontation with police — was seen as an increasingly radical Islamist and could be planning to travel overseas. The CIA requested that his name be put on a database maintained by the National Counterterrorism Center.”

“The CIA’s request came months after the FBI had closed a preliminary inquiry into Tsarnaev after getting a similar inquiry about him from Russian state security, according to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

The new disclosure suggests that the U.S. government may have had more reason than previously known to scrutinize Tsarnaev in the months leading up to the bombings in Boston.”

John Kerry has made some statements that raised eyebrows. From Politico

“Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday that Tamerlan Tsarnaev returned from Russia last year “with a willingness to kill people.”

“Well, of course we have the same problem. We just had a young person who went to Russia, Chechnya, who blew people up in Boston,” Kerry said. “So he didn’t stay where he went, but he learned something where he went and he came back with a willingness to kill people.”

His remarks appear to go further than those made by other U.S. officials, who have said they haven’t determined yet if Tsarnaev received terrorist training during his 6-1/2 month stay in Russia. Tsarnaev and his younger brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, are suspected of carrying out the Boston bombings last week.”

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And in an unrelated domestic terrorism case we have some interesting testimony from Floyd Lee Corkins II, the Family Research Council shooter. His motivation? He explained to investigators that he attacked the group’s headquarters because the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) identified them as a “hate group” due to their traditional marriage views. The hate preached by the SPLC motivated him. From TheWashingtonExaminer

““Southern Poverty Law lists anti-gay groups,” Corkins tells interrogators in the video, which FRC obtained from the FBI. “I found them online, did a little research, went to the website, stuff like that.””

“The Southern Poverty Law Center still lists FRC as an “anti-gay” hate group on the “hate map” Corkins used. “The SPLC’s reckless labeling has led to devastating consequences,” said FRC President Tony Perkins.  “Because of its ‘hate group’ lists, a deadly terrorist had a guidemap to FRC and other organizations.  Our staff is still reeling from the attack, and the chilling effect this could have on organizations that are simply fighting for their values is outrageous.”

And yes, there’s a short video.

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And the Obama admin and DHS have been handed a loss in federal court. It’s not the final decision, but the judge feels the ICE Agents Union is likely to prevail. The Union filed suit over the admin insisting that agents NOT do their jobs. It’s a shame that these folks had to sue, but the admin only enforces laws it likes. From BusinessWeek

“A court challenge by federal immigration agents seeking to block President Barack Obama’s deferred-deportation initiative will probably succeed, a judge said.

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Dallas today put off his own decision on whether to grant the request for a preliminary injunction by 10 U.S. Immigration and Customs agents. He asked both sides to file additional arguments no later than May 6.”

““The court finds that DHS does not have discretion to refuse to initiate removal proceedings” when the requirements for deportation under a federal statute are met, O’Connor said today in a 38-page decision, referring to the Department of Homeland Security.”

More here from TheWashingtonExaminer

“The judge’s comments come one day after Napolitano scolded the union, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Gang of Eight’s immigration bill, for challenging the policy she and Obama have implemented.

“There are tensions with union leadership, unfortunately,” Napolitano told Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., on Tuesday. “Here’s what I expect as a former prosecutor and attorney general: that is that law enforcement agents will enforce the law in accordance with the guidance they are given [by] their superiors.”

Sessions faulted Napolitano for refusing to meet with the ICE officers’ union. “I have never heard of a situation in which a group of law officers sued their supervisor, and you, for blocking them from following the law,” he said. “They weren’t complaining about pay, benefits, working conditions — they were saying their very oath they took to enforce the law is being blocked by rules and regulations and policies established from on high, and that this is undermining their ability to do what they are sworn to do.””

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by

News/Politics 4-18-13

What’s interesting in the news today.

As always, Open Thread.

There was a devastating explosion at a Waco, Texas fertilizer plant late Wednesday. Video from the scene shows a fire which set off a huge explosion. Authorities say 5 to 15 dead, and 160 wounded. Homes and businesses around the plant were leveled in the explosion.

From NBCNews

“At least five to 15 people were killed and more than 160 wounded when a large fertilizer plant explosion rocked a small Texas town late Wednesday, destroying dozens of homes under a cloud of toxic smoke, police said.

Firefighters, including local volunteers, were battling a blaze at the time of the blast, which caused a ground tremor equivalent to a magnitude-2.1 earthquake, the USGS said.”

“”It was a huge explosion,” Swanton said. “It reached blocks, if not miles, in its devastating effect. … My guess is going to be that … we will see the casualty rate rise and the injury rate rise.”

“We know fire was there, we know law enforcement was there assisting with traffic, and I believe there were EMS …,” Swanton said, adding some of those first responders were among the missing.”

Hat Tip to Donna J

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Police have made an arrest in the Ricin letter case. President Obama was a target, as were a group of elected officials. The person responsible didn’t seem to care about the intended victim’s political party.

From NBCNews

“Federal agents on Wednesday arrested a suspect in the mailing of letters to President Barack Obama and a U.S. senator that initially tested positive for the poison ricin.

The suspect was identified as Paul Kevin Curtis of Tupelo, Miss., federal officials told NBC News. They said he may appear in court as early as Wednesday night.

Both letters carried an identical closing statement, according to an FBI bulletin obtained by NBC News on Wednesday.”

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Police believe they have some suspects in the Boston bombing.

From TheAP

” In what could be major break in the Boston Marathon case, investigators are on the hunt for a man seen in a department store surveillance video dropping off a bag at the site of the bombings, a local politician said Wednesday.

Separately, a law enforcement official confirmed that authorities have found an image of a potential suspect but don’t know his name.

The development – less than 48 hours after the attack, which left three people dead and more than 170 wounded – marked a possible turning point in a case that has investigators analyzing photos and videos frame by frame for clues to who carried out the twin bombings and why.”

For some reason they haven’t released photos for the public yet. But at least one website claims to have photos of possible suspects.

From TheNYPost

“In the photos being distributed by law-enforcement officials among themselves, one of the men is carrying a blue duffel bag. The other is wearing a black backpack in the first photo, taken at 10:53 a.m., but it is not visible in the second, taken at 12:30 p.m.

“The attached photos are being circulated in an attempt to identify the individuals highlighted therein,” said an e-mail obtained by The Post. “Feel free to pass this around to any of your fellow agents elsewhere.”

“Meanwhile, officials have identified two potential suspects who were captured on surveillance videos taken shortly before the deadly blasts, law-enforcement sources told The Post yesterday.

Authorities know the names of the two men, but do not have enough evidence to make an arrest for Monday’s attack, which killed three and wounded 176, the sources said.”

UPDATE II  Or not?

From HotAir

“The FBI is (finally!) going to release the footage that everyone’s been clamoring for later today. If you’ve read the New York Post this morning, you probably think you know who the guys in the video will be. You’re probably wrong. I watched an interview on Erin Burnett’s show last night with Fran Townsend (I think it was her), who’d seen photos of the suspects circulated by cops; CNN refused to air the pics but it was abundantly clear from her description that it’s the same two guys in the Post’s story today. If you followed Reddit’s marathon photo sleuthing yesterday, you knew instantly watching that interview who she meant. There were at least five or six different shots of them near the finish line being scrutinized on Reddit — one of them wore a white cap and bulging black backpack, the other a blue track suit with a sagging duffel bag. I went to bed last night thinking that’s who’d be in the video released today.

But apparently I’m wrong. The administrator of the Reddit sleuthing thread posted an alert this morning urging people to back off.”

“We are not waiting for them to be officially cleared, one of the men has contacted the police to try and clear his name. Please understand that the FBI now knows who they are, so our posts now have no purpose. If the situation changes then people can make new posts. It’s not our job to keep their information out there, people are innocent until proven guilty – not the other way around.”

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Some in the left-wing media are pretty upset about the “dark-skinned” references some news sources used. Others on the left are hoping it’s a white male that’s responsible. But only because they fear it could hurt Obama’s agenda or some such nonsense. And believe it or not, it supposedly has something to do with “white privilege.”

From Salon

“As we now move into the official Political Aftermath period of the Boston bombing — the period that will determine the long-term legislative fallout of the atrocity — the dynamics of privilege will undoubtedly influence the nation’s collective reaction to the attacks. That’s because privilege tends to determine: 1) which groups are — and are not — collectively denigrated or targeted for the unlawful actions of individuals; and 2) how big and politically game-changing the overall reaction ends up being.

This has been most obvious in the context of recent mass shootings. In those awful episodes, a religious or ethnic minority group lacking such privilege would likely be collectively slandered and/or targeted with surveillance or profiling (or worse) if some of its individuals comprised most of the mass shooters. However, white male privilege means white men are not collectively denigrated/targeted for those shootings — even though most come at the hands of white dudes.

Likewise, in the context of terrorist attacks, such privilege means white non-Islamic terrorists are typically portrayed not as representative of whole groups or ideologies, but as “lone wolf” threats to be dealt with as isolated law enforcement matters. Meanwhile, non-white or developing-world terrorism suspects are often reflexively portrayed as representative of larger conspiracies, ideologies and religions that must be dealt with as systemic threats — the kind potentially requiring everything from law enforcement action to military operations to civil liberties legislation to foreign policy shifts.

“White privilege is knowing that even if the bomber turns out to be white, no one will call for your group to be profiled as terrorists as a result, subjected to special screening or threatened with deportation,” writes author Tim Wise. “White privilege is knowing that if this bomber turns out to be white, the United States government will not bomb whatever corn field or mountain town or stale suburb from which said bomber came, just to ensure that others like him or her don’t get any ideas. And if he turns out to be a member of the Irish Republican Army we won’t bomb Dublin. And if he’s an Italian-American Catholic we won’t bomb the Vatican.””

🙄

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The Senate has defeated the Obama admin backed gun bill. They couldn’t get the 60 votes needed. The President is not happy.

From TheHill

“The Senate delivered a devastating blow to President Obama’s agenda to regulate guns Wednesday by defeating a bipartisan proposal to expand background  checks.

It failed by a vote of 54 to 46, with five Democrats voting against it. Only four Republicans supported it.”

But they certainly aren’t giving up.

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Meanwhile Benghazi is back in the news, thanks to new, and talkative, whistleblowers.

From CBSNews

“CBS News has learned that multiple new whistleblowers are privately speaking to investigators with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attacks on the U.S. compounds in Benghazi, Libya.

The nature of the communications with the whistleblowers and their identities are not being made public at this time. But in response, the Oversight Committee yesterday sent letters to the three federal agencies involved: the CIA, the Defense Department and the State Department.

The letters make the case for the whistleblowers to be able to share sensitive or classified information with their own attorneys, and ask for each agency’s official description of the legal steps that process must follow. The letters also state that additional witnesses may be “compelled by subpoena to give testimony.””

And a Hat Tip to CBS, who has been on this story from the get go.

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by

News/Politics 3-23-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread, as always.

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This is just sad. No consequences.

From FoxNews

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

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

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

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

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

From CNetNews

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

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

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

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

From TheWashingtonExaminer

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

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

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

But wait, there’s more.

From TheWallStJournal

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

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

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

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

From CNSNews

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

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

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

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

From FoxNews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From BizPacReview

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

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

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

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by

News/Politics 3-2-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

Open Thread, you decide.

Just a few, then I’m taking the day off. 🙂

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A little honesty from Democrat Pat Caddell, about the Obama admin.

From FoxNews

“In my lifetime, in over 40 years in national politics, Mr. Obama is the only  president who comes close to rivaling Richard Nixon for fundamental  disingenuousness.

However, some things never change, just as Woodward and Bernstein were  attacked then by the establishment mainstream media for daring to question a  president — or do a story that they wouldn’t touch — they are once again  attacking Woodward the way they did when he and  Carl Bernstein pursued  Watergate.

As the youngest person on Nixon’s enemies list in 1972, I am particularly  sensitive to a White House where they have utter disregard for trampling on  dissent and on the rights of individuals.”

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Someone followed Joe Biden’s shotgun advice. And was promptly arrested.

Way to go Joe. 🙄

From USNews

“Vice President Joe Biden told Field & Stream magazine in an interview published Monday, “[if] you want to keep someone away from your house, just fire the shotgun through the door.”

Coincidentally, a 22-year-old man in Virginia Beach, Va., was charged Monday with reckless handling of a firearm after doing just that a couple days earlier.

Local TV station WAVY 10 reports that the man observed two masked men leaning into his bedroom window. The men allegedly had weapons and told him to close his bedroom door. He stepped outside of his bedroom and did as instructed, then fired his shotgun through the closed door and then several more times at the window.”

And don’t forget, he’s handling the gun control push for the Obama admin. 🙄

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The Canadians are officially smarter than us. At least they see the obvious problem, and acknowledge it, unlike our govt..

From TheGlobeAndMail

“The United States has shifted course to provide aid directly to Syria’s rebels, but Canada doesn’t have enough confidence in them to follow suit.

It is a rare international question where the two allies are taking different views: Canada, which was gung-ho about helping rebels in Libya, thinks it’s too risky to fund those in Syria.”

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by

News/Politics 2-28-13

What’s interesting in the news today?

As always, Open Thread.

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First, a feel good story. Well, at least for me and fellow Yankee fans. The rest of ya’s, probably not. 😯

Say Hello! to the next generation. 🙂

From FoxSportsSouthwest

“Andy Pettitte is just like any other baseball dad who happens to have played 17 MLB seasons for the New York Yankees and Houston Astros and won five World Series titles.

“He sends me a text before every game that says, ‘Good luck buddy, to God be the glory.’ ” Josh Pettitte said. “He’s just a bystander now.”

Well, sort of. The younger Pettitte, who plays for Deer Park High School near Houston, threw a no-hitter on Friday against the Boerne (Texas) Champion Greyhounds. He struck out 10 and walked one, and then admitted it is pretty helpful to have one of the best pitchers of a generation as your father.”

Cue my maniacal laugh. 🙂

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Next, an Update.

Key provisions of the Voting Rights Act appear to be in jeopardy. Maybe it’s just me, but the lawyer for the DoJ sounded unprepared for the obvious questions from the Justices.

From NBCNews

“Central parts of an election law dating back to the civil rights struggles of the 1960s, the Voting Rights Act, appeared to be in jeopardy Wednesday after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a challenge to them.”

“When Verrilli defended the section 5 of the law, Chief Justice John Roberts asked him, “Do you know which state has the worst ratio of white voter turnout to African American voter turnout?”

Verrilli said he did not, to which Roberts replied: “Massachusetts. Do you know what has the best, where African American turnout actually exceeds white turnout? Mississippi.”

Roberts then asked Verrilli which state has the greatest disparity in registration between whites and African Americans, and again Verrilli did not know.”

Pete Williams is pretty upset. 🙂

And if you feel like checking out the comments be warned. This is NBC after all, so cries of voter suppression and racism are the norm.

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Meanwhile, President Obama has Verrelli calling on the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA.

From CNSNews

“On Friday, U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli formally filed a legal brief with the Supreme Court, calling the  law unconstitutional and “discriminatory against gays and lesbians.”

“It is abundantly clear that this discrimination does not  substantially advance (the government’s) interest in protecting  marriage, or any other important interest,” Verrilli wrote in the  67-page document.

“The Statute simply cannot be reconciled with the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection,” he said.

Conservative legal experts like Mathew Staver, president of Liberty Counsel, say the government’s position is “outrageous.”

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Mr. Woodward should have seen this coming. It is after all, the Chicago way.

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Lawmakers are attempting to override the Obama admins decision to declare the Ft. Hood shootings “workplace violence”. They are correct. Call it what it was. Terrorism, motivated by Islam.

From PJMedia

“Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), whose district includes Fort Hood, told PJM the base is soldiering on, but a recent ABC News interview in which the officer who shot Hasan during the rampage says President Obama has “betrayed” the victims came as no surprise to him.”

“Carter just introduced yet again legislation to ensure that the victims and victims’ families in the Fort Hood attack are eligible for the same treatment, benefits, and honors as Americans killed or wounded in an overseas combat zone.”

“Major Hasan was connected, influenced by Alwaki,” Wolf said. “The administration thought Awlaki was dangerous enough that they killed him with a drone missile… It’s got to be fairly significant, the fact that they did this to an American citizen.”

“The people at Fort Hood, the wounded have been getting a very, very bad deal with Panetta,” the congressman continued. “It clearly is a terrorist attack. It is not workplace violence and by not calling it that, it’s a failure.””

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And once again, or still, Texas shows how it’s done. Don’t panic, it’s not another future Yankee player. 🙂

From Forbes

“Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Rick Perry made a quick tour of California to remind business owners that life’s a whole lot easier in the Lone Star State. Perry’s California critics called him “Governor Oops” for his miscues during the presidential debates, and Gov. Jerry Brown dismissed the Texan’s recruiting drive as “not a burp,” and barely even a certain bodily release of gas.

Laugh away, Californians. But Perry is playing the stronger hand here. Texas trounced the rest of the country our latest survey of the Best Cities for Good Jobs, with five metropolitan areas in the Top Ten, including the four best cities to find jobs in the next few years.”

And it’s not just low paying service industry jobs as liberals allege.

“One explanation that is definitely false: Texas isn’t growing on the backs of underpaid, non-union workers. While Texas is a right-to-work state, many of the highest paying jobs in the Dallas area are with unionized defense manufacturers like Bell Helicopter and Lockheed Martin, which produces the F-35 Lightning II fighter at a mile-long plant in Fort Worth.”

““People say it’s all low-pay jobs, so I looked at employment growth by wage quartile,” she said. And guess what? Not only is the Dallas-area per-capita income of $39,548 comfortably above the national average of $37,000, but it’s growing fastest in the top half of wages above $16 an hour.”

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