912 Patriots of Lower Bucks - Your Daily Updates ALL in ONE Place!
February 6, 2013
Quote:
"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."
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by Tim Brown
Obama DOJ: We Don't Need Clear Evidence To Kill Americans With Drones
"The condition that an operational leader present an 'imminent' threat of violent attack against the United States does not require the United States to have clear evidence that a specific attack on U.S. persons and interests will take place in the immediate future," reads a confidential Justice Department memo defending the U.S. government's ability to order the killing of American citizens if they believe them to be "senior operational leaders" or "an associated force," even if they don't have any evidence that the person targeted is actually engaged in or plotting an attack on the U.S.
Tribesmen this week examine the rubble of a building in southeastern Yemen where American teenager Abdulrahmen al-Awlaki and six suspected al-Qaida militants were killed in a U.S. drone strike on Oct. 14, 2011. Al-Awlaki, 16, was the son of Anwar al-Awlaki, who died in a similar strike two weeks earlier.
All of the controversy stemmed from the September 2011 drone strike in Yemen that killed alleged al-Qaida operatives Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan. Both were U.S. citizens who had never been indicted by the U.S. government nor charged with any crimes.
States step up fight against use of surveillance drones by law enforcement
FoxNews.com | Published February 06, 2013
Lawmakers in at least 11 states are proposing various restrictions on the use of drones over their skies amid concerns the unmanned aerial vehicles could be exploited by local authorities to spy on Americans.
Concerns mounted after the Federal Aviation Administration began establishing safety standards for civilian drones, which are becoming increasingly affordable and small in size.
Some police agencies have said the drones could be used for surveillance of suspects, search and rescue operations, and gathering details on damage caused by natural disasters.
New York State Resistance - "... prime for something like that." 1/29/13
13 States, and Counting, with Bills to Nullify Federal Gun "Laws
Calling all Patriots!
We have a man in Harrisburg (Daryl Metcalfe) who has the backbone to write the legislation we need and he has done this! Please note which Reps. have NOT signed on as co-sponsors of HB 357. Please use the link below to enter the Tenth Amendment Center and click on Representative Metcalfe's link, SIGN his petition, PRINT his petition for friends & family and then CALL your Rep. to either thank them or encourage them to sign on as CO-Sponsors! This is IMPORTANT! Let's support a man who is supporting us!!!
Petition to Montgomery County Sheriff. "PLEASE CLICK LINK BELOW AND SIGN!"
We, the undersigned residents of Montgomery County, implore our Sheriff to publicly pledge to honor her sworn oath to protect and preserve our guaranteed right to bear arms in defense of ourselves and the State under both the Pennsylvania and Federal Constitutions and to intercede on our behalf against any incursion by Federal or local law enforcement. Our PA Constitution is clearly stated in Article 1: Section 21- "The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned."
... In response to unconstitutional actions by the President, on .223, February 23, 2013 the American people will stand together in solidarity to protect the right that protects ALL of our rights, the 2nd Amendment! This is a pro-2nd Amendment rally along with other liberties that they are trying to take away. This is more than just about gun rights, this rally is a battle cry in support of ALL our Constitutional & god-given rights that are being flushed down the toilet PIECE by PIECE! People are organizing locally and banding together neighbor to neighbor to reassert our community's right to determine our own destiny! This is NOT a Republican thing, this is NOT a Democrat thing, this is an American thing. Join today by RSVPing!
[When] Saturday, February 23rd
[Where] Montgomery County Courthouse, 2 E Main St Norristown, PA 19401
2:00 - Rally Starts (feel free to come a little early if you want) 3:15 - Open Carry Walk
Metcalfe Seeks to Make Federal Gun-Grabbing A Criminal Offense in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG - State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) today announced his legislation that would make any new federal gun control laws unenforceable within the Commonwealth.
"Passage of my legislation will send the message that there will never be additional gun control, anywhere in Pennsylvania," said Metcalfe. "Whether by White House executive orders, congressional fiat, or judicial activism, we will never allow the left to benefit from the wicked acts of murderers in order advance their senseless gun-grabbing agenda which would only succeed in replacing one of our most sacred personal liberties with the chains of government tyranny."
Similar to legislation most recently introduced in Wyoming and Texas, Metcalfe's Right to Bear Arms Protection Act (House Bill 357) would:
Prohibit enforcement of any new federal registration, restriction or prohibition requirement for privately owned firearms, magazines and ammunition.
Require the state of Pennsylvania, including the Office of Attorney General, to intercede on behalf of Commonwealth citizens against any federal attempt to register, restrict or ban the purchase or ownership of firearms and firearms accessories which are currently legal products.
Final enactment of Metcalfe's Right to Bear Arms Protection Act would mean that anyone - even federal agents - who try to enforce any type of gun control restriction within state borders would face arrest and being charged with a felony offense.
"The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned," said Metcalfe. "Article 1, Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution makes it crystal clear that no level of government, especially the federal government, has any authority whatsoever to impose senseless restrictions on law-abiding firearms owners, or worse, the confiscation of legally owned firearms. The purpose of my legislation is to force any gun-grabbing federal official to count the costs of unconstitutionally disarming or denying Pennsylvania citizens their God-given right to keep and bear arms."
Metcalfe is also calling on all Pennsylvania citizens who support Constitutional liberty to attend Pennsylvania's annual Second Amendment Action Day on Tuesday, April 23, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda, and to sign the all-new Armed Pennsylvania: Say to No Gun Control petition by visiting RepMetcalfe.com.
Representative Daryl Metcalfe 12th District Pennsylvania House of Representatives Media Contact: Ty McCauslin 717.772.9979
The Warminster Township Republican Club Presents "Warminster GOP Winter Blast 2013" Sunday, February 10, 2013 - 2 to 6 pm VFW Post 6493 645 Louis Dr. Warminster, Pa 18974 Food- DJ Entertainment- Beer and Wine $30.00 per person in advance RSVP by February 4 For Tickets contact: Mark McKee- 267-688-2910 or Bill Rinier- 215-704-7691 Name_________________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________________ ___________(# of tickets) Amount Enclosed: $________________
Please make checks payable to "Warminster Republican Club" No Corporate checks, please. Warminster Republican Club - PO Box 2313 - Warminster, PA 18974 Pay at the door $35
Hello Patriots on this Day!
We need to make daily calls to Washington to stop infringement on our 2nd Amendment rights!!
February 15 - March 27, 2013 - Debt Ceiling: Sometime in this date range we are expected to reach the debt ceiling (Technically we have already hit the debt ceiling, but this is the date range when we will reach a point where the Treasury can no longer implement "extraordinary measures" to meet our spending obligations.
February 28, 2013 - Sequestration: The "fiscal cliff" bill created a new manufactured crisis that will happen sometime at the end of February. This is when the sequestration can was kicked down the road.
March 31, 2013 - Continuing Resolution: The current Continuing Resolution that the government is operating under expires on March 31. This means that they will have to pass a CR between now and then.
April 15, 2013 - Budget Resolution: This is the date by law in which both Houses should have a budget resolution passed. We are already hearing that the President is late in submitting his budget, the House is reporting that they will not meet their deadline for a budget, and the Senate... well they haven't passed a budget in over 1,350 days.
Any questions, holler.
Lil
Rob Boysen Lil Boysen Bill Harper
Tea Party Patriots PA State Coordinator, S.E. Region Co-Coordinator Co-Coordinator
Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots Group Coordinator Communications Coordinator, Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots-Lower Bucks
We are pleased to announce that noted author, attorney, and Breitbart columnist, Ben Shapiro, will be headlining our March 3 program, On Defending the Second Amendment, to be held at the Independence Visitors Center Ballroom (details to follow). Please save the date!
Checkout the following Ben Shapiro v. Piers Morgan video and news article:
This event marks the Association's 4th Anniversary. (Our first Tea Party was held on February 28, 2009.) The program is part of an ongoing series commemorating the 225th Anniversary Year of the United States Constitution.
Also, this Saturday (February 9, 1 PM), we have been invited to participate in a Dom Giordano Workout at the AFC fitness center in Bala Cynwyd.
Dom encourages everyone to work-off any anger and hostility still lingering in the aftermath of the November election. Let's get this defeat out of our system once and for all!
An important reminder: This Friday (February 8, 10 AM) there will be a Right to Keep and Bear Arms Rally at the New Jersey State Capitol in Trenton (see below).
As more than 20 bills restricting that right have been introduced in the New Jersey State Legislature, it is imperative that we rally Governor Christie and elected officials to our side.
Finally, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Salute Our Troops Live Broadcast and Luncheon has been cancelled. If you already bought tickets, WPHT will contact you regarding your refund.
1. Right to Keep & Bear Arms--A Peaceful Demonstration
When: Friday, February 8, 10 AM
Where: State Capitol, 125 West State Street, Trenton, NJ
Sponsored by the New Jersey Second Amendment Society
2. Saturday Workout with Dom
When: Saturday, February 9, 1 PM
Where: AFC, 601 Righters Ferry Road, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Sponsored by WPHT 1210 AM and AFC
For more information, call 610.664.6464.
You're invited to check out AFC's state of the art equipment free of charge.
Everything from the pool, steam, sauna, Jacuzzi, pool, and basketball court wil be open to you. (One lucky winner will leave with an Apple iPad®!)
You can also challenge Dom to a work out using the MyZone® belt!
MyZone® monitors your heart rate while you challenge your friends based on effort, not fitness. No matter where you work out, My Zone® will help you
achieve your goal with a simple physical activity belt and online account.
3.On Defending the Second Amendment with Ben Shapiro
When: Sunday, March 3, 2-4 PM
Where: Independence Visitors Center Ballroom, 6th and Market Streets
Sponsored by the Independence Hall Tea Party Association
More details to follow in the coming days!
We hope to see you!
On behalf of the Association Board of Directors,
Teri Adams
The Independence Hall Tea Party Association formed after historic February 28 and April 18, 2009 Tea Parties on Independence Mall. It is the oldest and largest independent grassroots Tea Party organization in the tri-state (DE, NJ, PA) region and encompasses the 5th leading media market in the United States.
June 19 - 21 we will convene at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC for our fourth annual National Conference & Legislative Briefing.
And here's some really great news: This year's registration fee is only $229! Register by April 15th and you'll receive our "Early Bird" rate of just $189!
We also offer again this year special benefits for Patriot Eagle and Patriot sponsors.
We have some exciting new wrinkles planned for this year's event, and our list of confirmed speakers already includes:
Steven Emerson - Journalist, author, and the Executive Editor of the Investigative Project on Terrorism. A. M. Rosenthal, late-managing editor of The New York Times, described Emerson as "one of the nation's best national security correspondents."
John Guandolo - Former FBI agent and one of America's leading authorities on the Muslim Brotherhood and its inner workings in America. Guandolo spoke at our conference in 2011 and received rave reviews from conference attendees!
Ezra Levant - Canadian lawyer, author, newspaper columnist with Sun Media, and former publisher of the Western Standard. Hauled before a Canadian "human rights commission" because he published the Danish cartoons that satirized Muhammad, Levant's personal account of a politically correct government inquisition is something you won't want to miss!
The National Conference & Legislative Briefing will begin on Wed. evening, June 19th, and conclude on Friday, June 21st at noon, with additional optional training sessions Friday afternoon.
It will again feature our very popular Capitol Hill Awards Luncheon and our signature gala banquet-and of course, our Legislative Briefing, where Members of Congress will brief you on various issues and answer your questions.
So make your plans now to join us in our nation's capital for what promises to be our best National Conference & Legislative Briefing ever!
More details to come!
AAA warns E15 gasoline could cause car damage
Gary Strauss, USA TODAY November 30, 2012
E15, a higher blend of ethanol and gasoline, has rolled out in a handful of states. But its use in older vehicles is generating warnings from AAA, which says E15 could be harmful to pre-2012 vehicles.
The AAA says the Environmental Protection Agency and gasoline retailers should halt the sale of E15, a new ethanol blend that could damage millions of vehicles and void car warranties.
AAA, which issued its warning Friday, says just 12 million of more than 240 million cars, trucks and SUVs now in use have manufacturers' approval for E15. Flex-fuel vehicles, 2012 and newer General Motors vehicles, 2013 Fords and 2001 and later model Porsches are the exceptions, according to AAA, the nation's largest motorist group, with 53.5 million members.
"It is clear that millions of Americans are unfamiliar with E15, which means there is a strong possibility that many may improperly fill up using this gasoline and damage their vehicle," AAA President and CEO Robert Darbelnet tells USA TODAY. "Bringing E15 to the market without adequate safeguards does not responsibly meet the needs of consumers."
More Horrific Hagel Statements - Israelis Keep "Palestinians Caged Up Like Animals," Iran Should Not Be Isolated, Supports Fatah/Hamas Merger
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has pointed to further, alarming statements made by President Barack Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, and urged senators to vote against confirming him in that office.
The far-left J Street, which present itself as a pro-Israel group, has now released the video of Hagel's speech to its 2009 conference, in which Hagel said that he opposed isolating Iran through diplomacy and sanctions, saying, "How in the world do we think isolating someone is going to bring them around to your way of thinking?"
Hagel also subscribed to the discredited 'linkage' argument, which contends that the Middle East can be greatly tranquilized and U.S. relations with Arab states enhanced if the U.S. pressures Israel into a peace agreement with the Palestinians. Hagel said, "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is central, not peripheral, to U.S. vital security interests in combating terrorism, preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon, stability in the Middle East and U.S. and global energy security."
Echoing the views of hostile anti-Israel figures Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski, Hagel suggested imposing a peace agreement on Israel, saying, "I think we are getting close to the time where something has to be laid down here on this."
Hagel also called for a Fatah-Hamas merge, saying, "No peace will be possible nor sustainable as long as the Palestinians remain a house divided." He did not mention any conditions for Hamas
Also, Hagel seemed to refer, like Israel's Arab enemies, to Israel's capital being Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem, when said, "It's always difficult for leaders to step forward, either in Ramallah, Tel Aviv, Riyadh or Cairo." ('Sen. Chuck Hagel at the first J Street Conference,' Youtube, January 29, 2012). Other than Tel Aviv, all the other cities named by Hagel are Arab capitals.
Additionally, a report in the Washington Free Beacon has unearthed a Hagel statement that appeared in a Nebraska newspaper, the Lincoln Journal Star, on January 12, 2003, in which Hagel said that Israel was "keep[ing] Palestinians caged up like animals" ('Hagel in 2003: Israel Keeps "Palestinians Caged Up Like Animals,"' Washington Free Beacon, January 9, 2013).
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, "These newly unearthed statements by Hagel simply reinforce the fact that Hagel has a virtually unrivaled record of hostility to Israel, bigotry towards Jews and gays, disbelief in the importance of a strong U.S. military, indulgence of Middle Eastern terrorist groups like Hizballah and Hamas, and antipathy towards any conceivable measure - economic or military - for preventing Iran becoming a nuclear power if negotiations fail.
"These statements afford further reasons for the Senate to vote against confirming Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary and we urge senators to do so."
Please continue to call both of your U.S. senators and respectfully ask that they oppose the nomination of Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense. Please ask friends, relatives, colleagues and all of your electronic contacts to call as well.
Has Communist Ideology Overtaken America? Education is crucial. Today I want to share two very interesting lists with you, and rather than adding an extensive amount of my commentary, I want to give you the chance to examine the facts for yourself. It is my opinion that many communist goals have already been accomplished. I also believe that advancement has been made in other areas. But, you owe it to yourself to do your own research. I believe not only in the freedom of speech, but also in the responsibility of free thought. So please don't take my word for it. Examine the facts for yourself.
Again, I want to share two lists with you. The first is a list that was entered into 1963 Congressional Record. The second is the 10 planks of The Communist Manifesto.
If you can't see this happening in America, and a ton of progress being made, then I offer two potential explanations:
You are one of the "useful idiots" of communist teaching.
I am one of the "village idiots" that your Mama probably warned you about.
Some of these points will be open for debate and some will not. In some cases it is blatantly obvious that they have achieved their goals. It is even rumored that our own President has deep communist ties. You might want to check that out as well but I will withhold my opinion at this point. Let's just lay it out and you can interpret it.
This list was originally printed in "The Naked Communist" by Cleon Skousen. It was entered into Congressional Record in 1963 as the 45 goals of "The Communist Takeover of America."
Registration for CPAC 2013 is now open! The American Conservative Union's legendary annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is scheduled for March 14-16, 2013 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.
Register Now for CPAC 2013 Don't miss your chance to help take our country back to the right. To register now and reserve your space, visit conservative.org.
Join the Celebration In honor of CPAC's 40th Anniversary, we look forward to joining conservatives from across the nation for CPAC 2013, celebrating the accomplishments of the movement while also energizing the next generation of conservatives.
New Location CPAC 2013 boasts a new location at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Complimentary CPAC shuttle busses to and from the Gaylord Center will be available at convenient locations across the National Capitol Region. Details will be released in the coming weeks; please visit conservative.org for updates.
CPAC Past & Present The ACU has hosted CPAC in the Nation's Capital since 1973, and it now stands as the largest annual gathering of conservatives in the country. Additionally, the ACU this year hosted two regional CPACs designed to energize and mobilize Midwest and Mountain West conservatives, giving them the tools needed to defeat the liberal agenda in 2012 while also highlighting rising conservative stars and issues in the region. Stay tuned for details on 2013 regional CPAC locations!
Interested in Sponsoring CPAC 2013? National and local partners are critical to achieving a successful event. CPAC 2013 provides an excellent platform to promote your message and network with the leaders and activists who are on the frontlines of the conservative movement. We invite you to review the special opportunities available to join the action at CPAC 2013 by visiting conservative.org.
This email was sent by: American Conservative Union 1331 H. St., NW Washington, DC, 20005,
Individuals sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood's sinister agenda have infiltrated the Obama Administration.
Brainwashed by the Muslim Students Association and then propelled in to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the David Horowitz Freedom Center tracks the path of Huma Abedin and other Muslim sympathizers who have navigated their way into positions of great influence in the Obama Administration. Everything is revealed in the explosive new Freedom Center pamphlet, "The Muslim Brotherhood in the Obama Administration," written by Frank Gaffney, national security expert who served as Assistant Secretary of Defense under Ronald Reagan.
The David Horowitz Freedom Center is committed to educating the public on the Muslim Brotherhood's sinister Agenda. That is why we are giving away this pamphlet for FREE.
Subject: Great Sources of information---Please keep in folder.
From a Fellow Patriot that was kind enough to put this together.
I spoke with someone recently regarding web sites/groups and subscriptions to information/news feeds. This is a listing of many such which may be of use to folks.
The number of emails can get overwhelming at times, so check out the sites and see what suits your need. I recommend, though to be sure to subscribe to at least #1 Tea Party Patriots and #2 Americans for Prosperity.
Groups/web sites for keeping up on issues, events, etc.
1. Tea Party Patriots (National) http://www.teapartypatriots.org Dot's note ► From this site, you can get to state and local group sites. Basically, this is our "Home page" for information on the national level. Great site to keep up with issues within the "realm" of the Tea Party's core values: Fiscal Responsibility, Free Markets and constitutionally limited Government. They have many citizen journalists who contribute. Also, information on events, etc.
From the site: ABOUT TEA PARTY PATRIOTS The Tea Party movement spontaneously formed in 2009 from the reaction of the American people to fiscally irresponsible actions of the federal government, misguided "stimulus" spending, bailouts and takeovers of private industry. Within the first few weeks of the movement, Tea Party Patriots formed to support the millions of Americans seeking to improve our great nation through renewed support for fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free market economic policies.
Tea Party Patriots is a national grassroots organization that exists to serve and support the thousands of local organizations and millions of grassroots Patriots throughout our nation. We provide logistical, educational, networking and other support to thousands of community-based tea party groups around the country. Tea Party Patriots state and national coordinators serve your local grassroots groups, support you with the tools and technology you need to address your local issues, listen to your voices, gather your ideas, and together help shape the overall direction of our national movement. Working in a truly grassroots fashion, we have already changed the political landscape of America. TEA PARTY PATRIOTS IS 100% GRASSROOTS, 100% OF THE TIME. Tea Party Patriots is made up of, and funded by, millions of regular Americans just like you, who believe there is a better way forward for America. We are a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization that does not support any political party nor do we endorse candidates. If you support fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government, and free market economic policies, we encourage you to sign up for Tea Party Patriots today.
2. Americans for Prosperity (AFP) http://americansforprosperity.org/ Dot's note ► Great organization, super info. they sponsor/organize many events in the area and DC. Jennifer Stefano is the PA State Director. You've most likely seen her on Fox News Channel. From the web site: OUR MISSIONS Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is committed to educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process. AFP is an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state, and federal levels. AFP grassroots activists advocate for public policies that champion the principles of entrepreneurship and fiscal and regulatory restraint. To that end, AFP supports: Cutting taxes and government spending in order to halt the encroachment of government in the economic lives of citizens by fighting proposed tax increases and pointing out evidence of waste, fraud, and abuse. Removing unnecessary barriers to entrepreneurship and opportunity by sparking citizen involvement early in the regulatory process in order to reduce red tape. Restoring fairness to our judicial system. WHO WE ARE The heart and soul of AFP is our citizen activists. They organize events, write letters to the editor, and petition their lawmakers to uphold freedom and prosperity. Americans for Prosperity has more than 1,800,000 activists in all 50 states and 34 state chapters and affiliates. More than 90,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial contribution to AFP or our sister organization, AFP Foundation. WHAT WE DO AFP's network of organized and influential citizen leaders in a growing number of states throughout the country is working to change the nation one state at a time. AFP mobilizes citizens to effectively make their voices heard in public policy issue campaigns. AFP educates citizens about where their elected officials stand on our issues. AFP combines "best-in-class" capabilities built once at the national level with local knowledge from our state staff and on-the-ground grassroots to create economies of scale that win. AFP leverages our comparative advantages with those of other groups by building coalitions of local, state, and national grassroots organizations fighting for a common cause.
3. Freedom Connecter http://connect.freedomworks.org/ Dot's note ► A great site to connect with others. Register, then browse for folks who are near your residence or elsewhere who share your views. I have connections in CA, NY, NC, AL, TX, MO and FL.
4. FreedomWorks for America (FWFA) https://www.freedomworksforamerica.org/ From the web site: FreedomWorks for America (FWFA) is focused on spearheading bottom-up grassroots campaigns on behalf of candidates who will promote economic freedom. Unlike other PACs and organizations, FreedomWorks for America will aggressively support candidates who will defend freedom, even in political primaries against establishment or incumbent Republicans. And instead of spending funds on traditional methods like TV and radio advertisements, our financial resources will primarily be spent mobilizing our over a million-strong volunteer base to promote candidates who are champions of freedom. We are the only group with the grassroots base and the campaign expertise to make a real impact on the ground in races across the country. WHAT WE DO FreedomWorks for America utilizes its over a million-strong grassroots volunteer base to elect candidates who fight for lower taxes, less government, and more freedom. WHY WE DO IT FreedomWorks for America believes individual liberty and the freedom to compete increases consumer choices and provides individuals with the greatest control over what they own and earn. FreedomWorks for America aims to elect real champions of freedom who will stand up for these principles in the face of Washington establishment pressure, and who will be standard bearers for the grassroots to rally behind. HOW WE DO IT FreedomWorks for America's aggressive, real-time campaigns activate a growing and permanent volunteer grassroots army to show up and demand that our elected officials stand up for freedom. Our decentralized approach means that we have the capability to directly impact elections across the country through citizen action on the local level.
5. Constitutional Organization of Liberty (COOL) http://reclaimliberty.com/ Dot's note ► Great educational offerings. Sign up for email. Ruth & I bumped into each other at one of these events: From the web site: Liberty Breakfast The Liberty Breakfast is a new presentation format that allows participants to enjoy a casual meal with other like-minded individuals, and then engage in an interactive review and discussion of a specific topic related to the Constitution, the Founding Fathers or relevant historic documents. The Liberty Breakfast is held on a rotating basis across Pennsylvania, and topics and instructors may vary from location to location. Participants are responsible for the cost of their meal. (Duration: 2-3 HR) A Project Of The Alexander Hamilton Institute For Constitutional Studies Education is the critical service that COOL provides to participants in order to develop a more well rounded understanding of the documents critical to the founding of this nation. Currently, COOL offers a variety of different fee-based courses and is constantly seeking out new material for presentation. Mark Thomas, Chairman, P.O. Box 822, Lebanon, PA 17042 reclaimliberty@verizon.net 1-717-228-7524
6. The Blaze http://www.theblaze.com/ Dot's note ► Glenn Beck's media corporation. This is news site. They send reporters out and get some good videos. Sign up for emails. From the web site: The Blaze is a news, information and opinion site brought to you by a dedicated team of writers, journalists & video producers. Our goal is to post, report and analyze stories of interest on a wide range of topics from politics and culture to faith and family. Email: contact@theblaze.com
7. PJTV http://www.pjtv.com/ Dot's note ► Some really good interviews From the web site: About PJTV PJTV launched at the 2008 Republican National Convention, where it was the first online news organization accorded a full television booth along with the old media networks. Since then it has evolved into the premier center-right online news and commentary television network, broadcasting over the Internet from its headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. PJTV studios are also located in Washington, DC, New York City, Knoxville, TN & Denver, CO. Besides covering the political and economic issues of the day, PJTV has been covering the Tea Party movement from its inception. PJTV viewers have found a new voice in the media via opinion commentators like Glenn Reynolds, Bill Whittle, Tony Katz, Allen Barton, Joe Hicks, Andrew Klavan, Alfonzo Rachel, Al Sonja Schmidt, Stephen Kruiser, Scott Ott, Stephen Green and others. PJTV is under the direction of PJ Media CEO Roger L. Simon.
8. The Heritage Foundation http://www.heritage.org/ Dot's note ► Great resource for information on and analysis of issues. From the web site: Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution-a think tank-whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
9. Glenn Beck http://www.glennbeck.com/ Dot's note ► Audio of radio shows and commentary. Other programs require a paid subscription.
10. National Center for Policy Analysis http://www.ncpa.org/ From the web site: Daily Policy Digest - NCPA's Daily Policy Digest brings you the most wide-ranging public policy findings five times a week at no charge. 12770 Coit Road, Suite 800 Dallas, TX 75251-1339 1-972.386.6272
11. PoliticsPA www.politicspa.com From the web site: Online political community features news briefs, editorials, and links to sites of interest to Pennsylvania voters. 900 19th Street NW, 8th Floor Washington, DC 20006
12. PAIndependent http://paindependent.com/ Dot's note ► great news of PA From the web site: Pennsylvania Independent is a public interest journalism project dedicated to promoting open, transparent, and accountable state government by reporting on the activities of agencies, bureaucracies, and politicians in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 225 State Street, Suite 300 Harrisburg, PA 17101 Phone 717.350.0963
13. 912 Patriots of Lower Bucks http://patriotsoflowerbucks.com Dot's note ► MUCHO information from multiple sources! From the web site: Your Daily Updates ALL in ONE Place PO Box 2122 Warminster, PA 18974 215-274-5415
14. Rasmussen Reports http://www.rasmussenreports.com/ Dot's note ► also commentary regarding what's in the news. From the web site: "If it's in the News, it's in our Polls. Public opinion polling since 2003". 625 Cookman Avenue Asbury Park, NJ 07712
15. Town Hall http://townhall.com/http://townhall.com/columnists/ Dot's note ► you'll recognize many of these conservative columnists. Sign up for Town Hall daily and you get, again, MUCHO commentary. From the web site: Townhall is the top source for conservative news, political cartoons, breaking news, election news and commentary on politics and the media culture. Townhall Spotlight 1901 N. Moore St - Suite 701 Arlington, VA 22209
16. Tea Party Nation http://www.teapartynation.com/ Dot's note ► Great discussions on numerous issues. From the web site: A HOME FOR CONSERVATIVES!!! Tea Party Nation is a user-driven group of like-minded people who desire our God-given individual freedoms written out by the Founding Fathers. We believe in Limited Government, Free Speech, the 2nd Amendment, our Military, Secure Borders and our Country. Judson Phillips
17. Daily Caller http://dailycaller.com/http://dailycaller.com/wp-login.php?action=register Dot's note ► Several editions including: The DC Morning and The DC Links. From the web site: Daily Caller is a news and opinion website based in Washington, D.C., United States, with a focus on politics, original reporting and breaking news, founded by journalist and political pundit Tucker Carlson and politician Neil Patel.
18. Cowboybyte http://cowboybyte.com/ Dot's note ► Cowboybyte has a BITE to it as well. Most entries link to original information/articles. I really like it! From the web site: Ronald Reagan... John Wayne... Charlton Heston... These men were rugged individualists, conservatives, and patriotic Americans - the very qualities that make up a true Cowboy. CowboyByte.com is dedicated to bringing the cowboy out in all of us. While the mainstream media is lying to you and covering up the truth, CowboyByte.com will inspire and inform you. At CowboyByte.com, you'll be the first to know about any threats to our Constitutional right to bear arms. We'll tell you about the effects of bills introduced and passed regarding our air, water, and food supply. You have the right to know how your government is affecting you and our family. That's why CowboyByte.com will be there to tell you what is really going on behind the scenes.
19. Conservative Daily http://conservative-daily.com/ Dot's note ► Good articles and links. A big part is their "action alerts". They also charge for sending faxes to Congress. From the web site: Conservatives Daily Alerts
20. Conservative Daily News - (different than the one above) www.conservativedailynews.com/ From the web site: "News for the People, By the People" - CITIZEN JOURNALISTS. Rich Mitchell - Managing Editor Conservative Daily News PO Box 42 Bahama, North Carolina 27503
22. Atlas Shrugs http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/ Dot's note ► Pamela Geller pulls no punches on this site. Some somewhat incendiary articles. Pam was a speaker in DC at the Independence Hall Tea Party Association Independence Day event.
The group who was having a statewide tour selling the Agenda 21 "Smart Towns" concept... http://www.strongtowns.org/
Posted byDaniel Greenfield @ the Sultan Knish blog
There was a time in the 80s when standup comedians were required by law to wear loud blazers and louder ties and to demand answers to life's unanswerable questions about senseless products, airline regulations and the other inconveniences of modern life. "Who were the geniuses who came up with that one?" was their demand.
The Republican Party, which has been a joke for almost as long as it has been a party, is in the hands of those same geniuses. Fresh off two defeats in presidential elections, they have come up with the plan of all plans to get back on top.
First, they will nuke their own grassroots by raising money to attack deviant Tea Party candidates and protect true conservatives who support amnesty, tax shelters and tax hikes. Considering that the Tea Party was responsible for the first Republican victories since 2004, spending money going after it is bound to attract voters and improve prospects for more victories in 2014.
Second, they will add 11 million Democratic voters to the rolls through amnesty for illegal aliens as part of a brilliant plan to stop being a national party and settle down to fighting pitched battles for local council seats. Even the geniuses behind the election polling and ORCA should be able to win a few those. And if they can't, then it'll be time to raise more money to keep down some of those pesky Tea Party types trying to run for school boards while saying politically incorrect things.
Fortunately there is a clear path to victory. All we have to do is convince the Party of Consultants that all is lost and that they should come out as Democrats now. If they do that, then the Democratic Party will be a useless ruin within a decade. If they don't do that, the Republican Party will have the same policies as the Democratic Party, except for the part where it wins elections.
The establishment wanted Romney in '12. And they got him. They assured us that he was the only electable candidate. And when he lost, they told us that he didn't fail, the country failed him. And if a campaign built on Staples couldn't catch fire, it must have been due to the descent of the country into a nation of takers.
And they have a plan for '16. They'll run an immigration friendly candidate like Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio to win the Latino vote. Sure, Rubio lost the non-Cuban Latino vote in Florida, and unless the entire population of Cuba gets imported to the United States and legalized between now and '16, he'll only win, at best, as much of the Latino vote as Bush did, or as Rick Perry did, which isn't enough to win an election, especially once you've legalized the 10 percent of Mexico that lives north of the Rio Grande. But after they blow that one, the geniuses will step up to the plate and blame the Tea Party for a loss by another of their perfect candidates because during the primaries Rubio or Bush was forced to disavow Amnesty II or Amnesty III.
The Republican Party of '12 looks a lot like the Democratic Party of '88. It's outdated and running on fumes. All its slogans are tired and its leaders seem completely out of touch. Even the most unfair attacks stick to it, because it has no momentum. It isn't going anywhere because it's enclosed in a shell of outdated ideas and tired figures from its past who prevent anyone from coming to the fore. That same state of affairs led to the unlikely candidacy of Bill Clinton among the Democrats, but assuming that an obscure southern governor will battle his way through the Republican primaries to reveal a talent for national politics may be hoping for too much. And if he did, the establishment would spend their cash reserves to crush him in favor of a reliable choice like Paul Tsongas.
It didn't have to be this way. The Tea Party gave the GOP a shot in the arm. Suddenly it was acting and thinking like a revolutionary party. There were ideas in the air, energy on the ground and anger coalescing into action. And then it all got shut down for four months of infomercials about Staples because the establishment had gotten what it wanted and decided to play it safe before the big game.
As Sheriffs across the country reflect on how to address a future that may ask them to participate in firearm registration and confiscation schemes more are saying with clarity "not my department".
Broad coalition supports important bill to nullify this unconstitutional monstrosity
"Once again, we see the bipartisan nature of the pushback against federal kidnapping," Tenth Amendment Center national communications director Mike Maharrey said. "This is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. This is an American issue."
1.CBO: Government to Spend $47.2 Trillion Over Next 10 Years
We've all been waiting to see the updated CBO Budget and Economic Outlook for 2013 and the next ten years. Most of the news articles are focusing their headlines on the deficit and debt numbers projected in the CBO report.But remember that the reason why CBO deficit projections always understate the reality is because they overstate the amount of revenue they expect to come into the Treasury.
CBO projects the gross federal debt to rise to $26.1 trillion by 2023, just under $10 trillion more than it is today.However, this fails to tell the full story.CBO is projecting revenues to climb to 19% of GDP, even as they predict lethargic economic growth and high unemployment for the foreseeable future.This is all the result of their ridiculous practice of statically scoring every dollar of a tax increase as a dollar more earned by the Treasury.To that end, they are projecting more revenue as a result of the Obama tax hikes. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
2. NBC: here's the Obama administration's white paper legitimizing drone strikes!
NBC News has gotten its hands on a white paper that's being used to legitimize the Obama administration's drone policy, and it's a... doozy. Short version: members of terrorist groups actively attacking the United States (or our interests) can expect to be shot on sight; and that includes the members of terrorist groups that happen to also be American citizens. And the administration does not have the inclination, and does not feels that it has the need, to particularly clear with anybody their taking the shot if a suitable target hoves into view.. . . please click here for the rest of the post →
Governor John Kasich's proposal to expand Medicaid eligibility in Ohio after years of criticizing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly known as Obamacare, means a total collapse in Kasich's credibility on Washington spending. Kasich, a Republican, was elected in 2010 due in part to his record as a fiscal hawk in the U.S. House of Representatives. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
4.As Rates Increase, Colorado Accounted For Nearly Half Of Xcel's Record 2012 Profits
Coloradans serviced by Xcel Energy were responsible for nearly half of the company's profits in 2012 due to rate hikes implemented last May. According to Xcel's 2012 Year End Earnings Report released last week, Coloradans who purchased energy from Xcel paid higher rates and helped boost the company's profit to a record $905 million dollars.
Though Xcel is based in Minneapolis and serves seven states other than Colorado, the company's operations in the Rocky Mountain state managed to rack up nearly the same profit as in Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin combined. Xcel, through its local Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo) division, provides 1.4 million Coloradans with electricity and 1.3 million with natural gas. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
Murder in Turkey Strikes Close to Home Alicia Colon It was a note on my daughter's Facebook page asking for prayers for Sarai Sierra, the young mother of two, then missing for a week traveling alone in Turkey, that made me wonder if my daughter knew her. More
Top Ten Problems with that Skeet Shooting Picture Marion DS Dreyfus A listing of what makes one suspect the photo was bogus, cooked up with Photoshop or entirely composited, like the President's one "composite girlfriend" in his account of his 'dating life' before he became noteworthy and flew right into the radar. More
Exchanging Liberty for a Pittance Jeffrey Folks For the last four years, this has been Obama's strategy to consolidate power for himself. So far, it's working. More
Burkas and Babies Glenn Fairman Sex appears so persistent in the Islamic consciousness that it has been subject to a byzantine set of laws that seek to enflame rather than tame carnal lust. More
People to Thank February 6, 2013 Most GOP senators were as clueless as the Democrats when it came to voting on whether to give F-16's and Abrams tanks to Egypt. But not all. More
Failed Assassination Attempt Against Lars Hedegaard February 5, 2013 The intrepid, erudite journalist/historian Lars Hedegaard, head of the Danish Free Press Society survived an apparent assasination attempt by a jihadi. More
San Francisco greenies devastate foodies February 5, 2013 The green religion has scored a small but highly symbolic victory in San Francisco, using the bureaucratic state and courts to vanquish a den of sin, where humans have used part of nature for their own benefit and enjoyment. More
Fighting Government Cronyism with an Opportunity Agenda
Matthew Spalding, Ph.D. | February 5, 2013 at 6:00 am
Would you like a raise?
For some workers, cronyism prevents receiving raises in pay. In early 2011, a Giant Eagle supermarket in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, wanted to give wage increases and higher starting wages to 25 employees. But a union wouldn't let it do so.
Why would a union object to workers receiving higher wages? Because in this case, the increases went to "less senior" employees. The union went to arbitration and won a judgment that Giant Eagle can't give raises "without first obtaining concurrence from the Union"-and an order to rescind those increases already given.
Today, some employees in Edinboro are earning less than their employer wants to pay them. All because of cronyism in the American economy.
Are you a college student? Check out the new blog from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute that features student voices across America and the issues you're facing on campus.
Senator Tom Coburn's longtime chief of staff, Mike Schwartz, died Sunday at the age of 63 after succumbing to Lou Gehrig's disease. Schwartz was ardent pro-life champion and friend to many in the conservative movement.
The U.S. Senate is debating the deceptively named Violence Against Women Act this week. Heritage Action's Katherine Rosario explains why you should be skeptical.
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) will deliver remarks Wednesday at The Heritage Foundation laying out his ideas for "Restoring the Founders' Vision of Foreign Policy." A major portion of that speech is likely to focus on how the U.S. should deal with the rise of Islamist political movements.
A curriculum system used across the state of Texas reportedly includes a lesson plan for 6th graders instructing students to create a flag for a "new socialist nation" using "symbolism to represent aspects of socialism/communism."
If Gore will lie to protect his $100 million payoff from the Arab dictatorship in Qatar, a major oil and gas producer, what else will he lie about? Global warming?
The Obama administration's proposal to slightly revise the health care mandate on contraceptives, sterilizations, and abortifacients was praised by liberal and pro-abortion groups but that Catholic bishops needed "both prudence and courage" to take "right action" on the rule, "whatever the cost."
The latest scene in our now global war with Militant Islam occurred in Algeria in January, when a huge gas plant on the edge of the Sahara Desert was attacked with many foreign engineers and workers taken hostage.
Geller claims that America's free press, the bulwark against tyranny, has been compromised and people have been silenced by the threat of Islamic terrorism.
A prominent Saudi Arabian preacher who raped his 5-year-old daughter before torturing her to death because he reportedly questioned the child's virginity has been spared a death sentence or even a lengthy prison term.
Did you know that if everyone who visited our FSM website this year donated just $1, we would easily exceed our annual budget?
Your gift will be an investment in freedom.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The Family Security Foundation relies upon the thoughtfulness and (tax-deductible!) generosity of visitors like you.
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." ~ Ronald Reagan
Family Security Foundation, Inc. 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., #298 Washington, D.C. 20006
SOURCES: IRAN PROTECTING SYRIA'S CHEMICAL WEAPONS
Iran's Revolutionary Guard units are currently working to secure Syria's missile arsenal and sensitive military installations and components, including the country's chemical weapons, according to informed Middle Eastern security officials.
The officials said Iran is acting to protect Syria from further possible Israeli airstrikes.
To cut to the chase, a country that was serious about its national security would never put John Brennan in charge of its premier intelligence service. Of course, it is by no means clear that the United States is any longer a serious country in this regard.
It is unfortunate that the formation of the Conservative Victory Project -- a non-profit outfit backed by Karl Rove that will supposedly vet Republican primary candidates, backing the most conservative candidate who can win -- is only going to drive the wedge between the establishment and right wing activists deeper, and open the chasm between the two sides wider. Indeed, victory seems farther away today than it did yesterday.
The taxpayer price tag so far for Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri's experts is more than half a million dollars, and the case is still at a competency stage in pretrial hearings. The military judge also approved a defense request for one controversial expert witness to deliver testimony this week related to the U.S. government, torture, and the accused operative of Osama bin Laden. Stay tuned to PJM for ongoing coverage of the Guantanamo tribunals.
Do you ever look at another human being and just want to say, "Stop it!" -- except, before the words leave your mouth, you realize that what you really want the person to do is to stop being himself?
[Editor's Note: We're sending out this important email again today just in case you missed it yesterday]
Last Friday, a terrorist blew himself up at the U.S. embassy in Turkey.
Unfortunately, this likely won't be the last time this occurs.
This is what happens when American leadership signals weakness, indecision and wavering in response to the threat of radical Islam.
Our enemies didn't miss President Obama's mixed-message response to the Benghazi consulate attack.
They watched UN Ambassador Susan Rice blame the attack on a video, which only encouraged militants to riot in front of American embassies all over the world.
They know that no one has yet been arrested for the attack.
They saw Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's outrageous response during her congressional testimony, when she asked, "What difference, at this point, does it make?" regarding why the attack happened.
While the American people still don't have answers to many of the questions swirling around Benghazi, our enemies have drawn their own conclusion-they see weakness, confusion and indecision.
And they have become emboldened as a result.
It's past time America got answers, answers that weren't forthcoming at the House and Senate hearings.
This is why we're urging you to sign our open letter to the House leadership demanding the creation of a House Select Committee to thoroughly investigate what happened in Benghazi and why.
Unanswered questions include:
Who exactly was responsible for the attack?
Why has not even one of the terror suspects been taken into custody?
Why did members of the Administration falsely claim on numerous occasions that a low-budget movie was the catalyst for the attack, something known to be untrue?
Why was there no immediate military response during the attack to either rescue the victims or recover the bodies?
Is it true, as the New York Times reported, that militants involved in the recent attack of an Algerian gas complex also were involved in the Benghazi incident?
Rep. Frank Wolf has introduced H. Res. 36, which calls for the creation of this Select Committee.
The House leadership needs to hear from the grassroots that there is a demand for the creation of this committee to thoroughly investigate what happened in Benghazi.
Please add your name to our open letter to the House leadership, and forward this email to everyone you know.
It's tragic enough that the families of the four men who died in Benghazi still don't have all the answers.
But how many more of our embassies are now in the crosshairs of Islamic jihadists as a result?
Video depicts New York City ablaze as result of North Korea launching Nuclear Missile Attack.
Update: The video has been removed from North Korea's You Tube Channel since I posted this article. DD
North Korea creates video with their nuclear missile hitting USA and setting New York City ablaze. This is the latest in the not so veiled threats of the North Koreans to take out their enemies.
It begins benignly enough, with an image of a sleeping young North Korean man, and a genteel piano version of the US feel-good pop anthem We Are the World providing the musical backdrop.
But the YouTube video recently posted by Uriminzokkiri, North Korea's official website, quickly takes a more sinister turn as the man's dream continues into the realms of Stalinist fantasy.
Within seconds he is aboard a space shuttle, launched into orbit by the same type of rocket the North successfully launched in December. The shuttle orbits Earth, at one point passing over a jubilant and reunified Korean peninsula, before the focus switches to an unidentified city draped in the Stars and Stripes.
What appear to be missiles rain down on the city, setting fire to high-rise buildings in scenes reminiscent of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York.
"Somewhere in the United States, black clouds of smoke are billowing," the Korean-language caption says. "It seems that the nest of wickedness is ablaze."
The ease with which the North's dozing pilot circumnavigates the planet owes more to North Korea's ability in visual special effects than the reality of its space programme.
But the video, which has received a relatively modest 38,000 views since it was uploaded at the weekend, is a timely reminder of the growing threat posed by the regime's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes.Source
CBO projects $845B budget deficit for 2013 By Erik Wasson
The federal budget deficit in 2013 is projected to be $845 billion, the first time the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has forecast a deficit below $1 trillion under President Obama.
A New York appellate court has ruled that the New York Times's request for a list of gun owners in New York City, under the Freedom of Information Law, violates...(more)
A confidential Justice Department memo concludes that the U.S. government can order the killing of American citizens if they are believed to be...(more)
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican who campaigned as a budget hawk and rode the Tea Party wave to victory in 2010, has agreed to accept Obamacare funding to expand his state's Medicaid program, breaking ranks with fellow Republican governors and the Tea Party that elected him.
Kasich's decision, announced yesterday, could encourage other Republican governors to do the same, joining the five who have done so already.
Rock legend Ted Nugent sat down with CNN�s Piers Morgan in a Texas gun shop on Monday to talk, well, guns. Nugent blasted Morgan over his apparent �obsession with guns� and told him to leave responsible American gun owners �the hell alone.� Watch the video that's gone viralHERE.
Commentator Ann Coulter appeared on �Hannity� last night, issuing a dire warning to the American people about universal background checks, a provision currently being touted by gun control advocates. Rather than embracing the proposal, Coulter warned that it could lead to �universal confiscation� and, ultimately, �universal extermination� of firearms. Watch the segment HERE.
There are few chapters in history more bereft of humanity than the Holocaust, where Adolf Hitler sought to implement his �final solution� by way of mass genocide. What most do not realize, however, is that Eugenics, as a social movement and scientific application, was actually part of the American landscape long before it reached Germany. Watch the segment from Monday night's Glenn Beck TV ProgramHERE.
On Tuesday morning, Glenn Beck delivered an excoriating rebuke of former Texas congressman Ron Paul. The radio host�s tough words for the former representative were an official response to Paul�s much-publicized tweet about ex-NAVY SEAL Chris Kyle�s death. Beck began his comments by praising Kyle�s bravery and his devotion to America, going on to outline his shock at the politician�s decision to comment so callously. Listen to the entire statementHERE.
A curriculum system used across the state of Texas reportedly includes a lesson plan for 6th graders instructing students to create a flag for a �new socialist nation� using �symbolism to represent aspects of socialism and communism.� See the lesson plan that has many parents concerned HERE.
On Monday, Penelope Soto was arrested in Miami for possession of controlled substance and had to face Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat. After the judge set Soto�s bond at $10,000, she became upset and let loose a �fu** you� and flipped him the middle finger as she walked away. That�s when Rodriguez-Chomat called her back and asked what she said. Ms. Soto answered honestly and ended up making things much worse for herself. Get the whole storyHERE.
Bill Stevens is the father of a student in the Newtown School District. Late last month, during a public hearing at the Connecticut State Capital, Bill testified before the working group on gun control. His statement has gone viral. Video of his impassioned defense of the Second Amendment is making its rounds today � and it�s certainly worth watching. In the video, Steven delivers a blow to those proposing tougher gun laws. Watch the clipHERE.
Real News from TheBlaze -- The panel "celebrates" the 100th birthday of income tax. Tune in to Real News tonight -- 6pm ET or on-demand on TheBlaze TV.
Wilkow! -- Andrew wonders - Why are drones good, but the 2nd Amendment is bad? -Wilkow! at 6pm ET -- only on TheBlaze TV.
NJ's Gov. Christie has termed his plumpness �fair game� for comedians and he fully embraced this sentiment Monday night on David Letterman's show. Watch the exchangeHERE.
Can you believe this video? It's a phenomenon. In fact, it was sent to more than 289,000 people in just the first 24 hours! This video is the 'shot heard around the world' the establishment prayed would never come. Before it's banned, watch it here.
How about something baffling on a Tuesday? A patch of purple spheres has been found in the middle of the desert in Vail, Ariz. See the photos and video and guess what they might beHERE.
I'm writing this in the middle of the afternoon and like clock-work President Obama just interrupted my regular TV programming to make a statement that the media feel we need to hear.
Alas, Obama's brief press statement was not must-see TV. He announced that he wants Congress to delay a package of automatic spending cuts-known here in Washington as sequestration-that are set to take place on March 1st by passing a short-term package of spending cuts and tax hikes.
I have mixed emotions about the March sequestration cuts. The defense budget would take a hard hit, threatening our national security. But let me be clear: Obama has no credibility on fiscal matters. He complains about how Congress won't compromise, but he just got his way and hit us with a huge tax increase on January 1st. Now he's trying to pressure Congress to agree to more tax increases.
By the way, Obama also has no credibility in accusing Congress of not doing its job. The president is required by law to submit a budget by February 1st. And for the fourth time in five years, he failed to do so. We'll keep you posted.
Most Fear The Federal Government
Ronald Reagan once said that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." It turns out most Americans still agree with the Gipper.
A recent Pew Research Center for the People and the Press poll found that 53% of Americans believe the federal government threatens their personal rights and freedoms. That's up from 45% in 2003 and 36% in 1995.
Distrust of the federal government is not felt by just conservative Republicans, 76% of whom feel threated by the government. Fifty-five percent of moderates feel the same way.
Some establishment Republicans get nervous about the Tea Party. Big media has succeeded in marginalizing the movement to the point where even many conservatives are reluctant to associate with it. But there's nothing to be afraid of. Distrust of the federal government is a core Tea Party belief, and it's shared by most Americans.
A Cautionary Tale
As the Boy Scouts consider whether to cave to the cultural left and allow open homosexuals to serve as scout masters, they might consider what happened in Canada when Scouts Canada began allowing gays to serve. In the late 1990s, in an effort to be more "inclusive," the board of governors of Scouts Canada decided to admit females, atheists, homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals into scouting. You can well guess what happened next.
Scouting membership immediately plummeted, to less than half of their original size. Pushing its ideal of political correctness and its version of tolerance, the Left has been on a decades-long campaign to destroy many of America's most revered institutions, including the media and the military. Now it wants to do the same to the Boy Scouts.
America's Coming Demographic Disaster
I rarely endorse books in my End-of-Day report, but I've got one that's simply too important to pass up. Jonathan Last, senior writer at The Weekly Standard, has just published a fascinating book called "What to Expect When No One's Expecting."
The left has long preached that the world suffers from over-population. That theory was debunked decades ago. But, as Last details, not only does the world-and specifically America-not have too many people, it in fact has too few. Last's book is an excellent exploration of how falling birthrates threaten our nation. You can order a copy here.
Video: Glenn Beck Calls Obama A Girl
Feb 05, 2013 01:33 pm
Glenn Beck has taken it upon himself to officially "revoke" President Obama's "man card." Beck was responding to the president's comments to CBS News' Scott Pelley during a pre-Super Bowl interview that he'd "have to think about it" before letting his hypothetical son play football. Related posts: Glenn Beck To Leave Fox News Program Updated: [...]
Why Is Obama Selling Military Assets To An Unstable Egypt?
Feb 05, 2013 01:24 pm Congress recently struck down an amendment to the debt ceiling extension bill to prohibit the sale of military armament to Egypt by a 79 to 19 vote. The amendment was introduced by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) in an effort to block all current and remaining sales. Now - follow the money. The most recent sale [...]
Last week in New York, at a Q & A event for the rushed-into-law "SAFE" Act essentially banning guns in the state, a number of concerned citizens gave the state government a piece of their mind. Related posts: New York Times Staffers In Open Revolt Against Management The New York Times, which has been in [...]
Will Boy Scouts Commit Gay-Activist-Assisted Suicide?
Feb 05, 2013 01:12 pm In coming days, the Boy Scouts of America will decide whether to violate - eliminate, really - its own mission statement, oath, and law by changing its policy to allow, within its ranks, Scouts and Scoutmasters who are open practitioners of the homosexual lifestyle. Sadly, to do so would destroy BSA's credibility as a "morally [...]
Video: Ted Nugent Slams Piers Morgan For His 'Obsession' With Guns
Feb 05, 2013 01:03 pm
When Ted Nugent sat down with Piers Morgan in Texas last night, he delivered the CNN host his most explosive interview since last month's showdown with Alex Jones. Related posts: TV Anchor Delivers Blistering Fact-Check Of Piers Morgan's Anti-Gun Claims After Morgan's very public, on-air spat with radio host Alex... Piers Morgan And Guests Openly [...]
Feb 05, 2013 01:01 pm What's wrong with this picture? Allegedly, Democrat Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey used a political donor's plane to travel to the Dominican Republic for a sex holiday with underage prostitutes. That should turn your stomach enough. But wait, there is more. He stiffed them, literally; he didn't pay what he promised, which resulted in [...]
Video: Chuck Hagel, Like Obama, Is A Complete Joke!
Feb 05, 2013 12:56 pm
Unfortunately, Hagel will become the next Secretary of State; and he will help Obama destroy our Military and further weaker our defenses, making easy access to the Brotherhood. Related posts: Did Obama Steal The Election With Hagel's Help? Chuck Hagel has been tapped by Obama for Secretary of... Hagel Emerges With Solid Dem Support For [...]
Forget "RINO"; Rove And Their Ilk Are Just Republicans
Feb 05, 2013 12:31 pm Overuse of a word sometimes causes it to lose its meaning. As ugly an insult as being called a "Nazi" once was, in the mind of some Americans who think World War II was fought one hundred years ago, its overuse has caused the word to now connote a "busybody" or a "stickler for rules." [...]
Forget "RINO"; Rove And Their Ilk Are Just Republicans
Feb 05, 2013 12:31 pm Overuse of a word sometimes causes it to lose its meaning. As ugly an insult as being called a "Nazi" once was, in the mind of some Americans who think World War II was fought one hundred years ago, its overuse has caused the word to now connote a "busybody" or a "stickler for rules." [...]
Feb 05, 2013 12:28 pm WASHINGTON (OfficialWire) - Republican Sen. John McCain, a sharp critic of Chuck Hagel's nomination as defense secretary, said Monday he will not support a filibuster of President Barack Obama's pick, even though he declined to say whether he intends to vote for confirmation. "I do not believe a filibuster is appropriate and I would oppose [...]
Media Keeping Americans Uninformed (Part 2: Green Energy Failures)
Feb 05, 2013 12:12 pm Concerned American citizens who don't know the facts about how our government uses taxpayer dollars are being misled because the truth is not reported by the media. Before the massive economic stimulus bill passed in 2009, VP Joe Biden insisted "We have to spend more money to keep from going bankrupt." That was three and [...]
We all know that some activities should be guaranteed privacy, like voting on whether or not to join a union. Today, union lobbyists are demanding that most employees be forced to vote in public. The Employee Rights Act guarantees that your private vote will always be protected. Related posts: The Death Spiral Of Union Power [...]
Video: Sheriffs Against Obama Regime Stand Strong For 2nd Amendment!
Feb 05, 2013 12:03 pm
Here is a compilation of video clips from different mainstream media interviews with Sheriffs from across the nation who have publicly vowed to oppose any new gun laws/violations of the United States Constitution. Related posts: More County Sheriffs Stand Up For 2nd Amendment There is a growing movement of county sheriffs saying they... Arpaio: Sheriffs [...]
The Case For Celebrating George Washington's Birthday
Feb 05, 2013 12:02 pm Merriam-Webster defines a Statesman as a "wise, skillful, and respected political leader." The same dictionary describes a politician as "a person experienced in the art or science of government." It also gives the definition: "a person engaged in conducting the business of a government." When we think of a President today, who do we think [...]
Video: Trump Files $5 Million Lawsuit Against Maher Over Birth Certificate Challenge
Feb 05, 2013 11:48 am
Donald Trump made the announcement on Fox and Friends yesterday morning... Related posts: Trump Forces Hannity To Address Obama's Forged Birth Certificate Donald Trump appeared on Sean Hannity's radio show yesterday to... Ann Coulter On Donald Trump's $5 Million Obama Records Challenge Ann Coulter appeared on Sean Hannity's program last night to...
Feb 05, 2013 11:44 am WASHINGTON (OfficialWire) - House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is joining the growing list of Republicans who say the party needs to broaden its political appeal. The Virginia Republican, appearing on CBS's "This Morning," previews a major policy address he'll give Tuesday to the conservative-oriented American Enterprise Institute, saying the GOP must "explain why we're doing [...]
Video: Voter Fraud Group Sues Over Allen West Recount
Feb 05, 2013 11:41 am
We cannot allow botched recounts to erode faith in our elections. I am happy to see this lawsuit being filed. Related posts: Voter Fraud Analyzed By Allen West Allen West talks to Sean Hannity about voter fraud in... Allen West Concedes Despite Massive Voter Fraud We have witnessed massive voter fraud on the part of...
Video: Danny Glover's Outrageous Claim Vs History Of Racism And Gun Control
Feb 05, 2013 11:27 am
Journalist Ben Swann takes a look at a claim by actor Danny Glover that the "genesis of the second amendment" is to protect slave owners. What is the real history of racism and gun control laws? Related posts: Democrats' History Of Racism Here's a bit of American history guaranteed not to appear... Lets Rename Black [...]
Green Crusader Goes Down In Flames; Record $18 Billion Lawsuit In Doubt
Feb 05, 2013 11:17 am They called it the "rainforest Chernobyl." When Texaco left Ecuador, in 1992, it allegedly left behind open pits overflowing with black sludge and rivers laced with chemicals. The damage was so bad that a number of indigenous tribes almost died out completely. Those that remained, according to a group of Ecuadoreans who waged a nearly [...]
Video: Only Days Left Before 50 State Open Carry Demonstration On Feb. 8th!
Feb 05, 2013 11:16 am
Alpena Mi - I got up at 0700 after only an hour of fitful sleep and traveled 120 miles to the only open spot in a concealed weapon licensing class. The only reason I got in at all was because I "know a guy", as CPL classes in Michigan are booked solid for at least [...]
Feb 05, 2013 11:06 am WASHINGTON (OfficialWire) - The U.S. government is accusing the debt rating agency Standard & Poor's of fraud for giving high ratings to risky mortgage bonds that helped bring about the financial crisis. The government said in a civil complaint filed late Monday that S&P misled investors by stating that its ratings were objective and "uninfluenced [...]
Video: Orly Taitz Takes Criminal Case Against Obama To Supreme Court
Feb 05, 2013 10:59 am
Independent journalist Adam Kokesh of "Adam vs. the Man" interviews Orly Taitz. Interesting interview. Related posts: Drake Dumps Lawyer Taitz Hires Gary Kreep Orly Taitz, the Mission Viejo lawyer trying to get... RT - Orly Taitz States Obama Is Using STOLEN Connecticut SS Number And Provides Proof ... Continue to Post...
Boeing Asks Permission To Conduct 787 Test Flights
Feb 05, 2013 10:58 am WASHINGTON (OfficialWire) - Federal regulators say they are evaluating a Boeing request to conduct test flights of its 787 Dreamliners, which were grounded nearly three weeks ago after a battery fire in one plane and smoke in another. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the request, but officials declined to elaborate. Read More at OfficialWire . By The [...]
State And Local Governments Impose Hefty Taxes On Cell Phone Consumers
Feb 05, 2013 10:45 am The number of U.S. cell phone subscribers has grown significantly in recent years from 48.7 million in 1997 to 321.7 million in 2012. That period has also seen a fall in landline telephones, with 34 percent of households now only using wireless phones. [1] This trend toward cell phones has not gone unnoticed by state [...]
Feb 05, 2013 10:28 am A constant claim by opponents of right-to-work, whether it be from the AFL-CIO, state Democratic legislators or the president, is that income is lower in right-to-work states. But these naysayers are blinded to a paycheck reality: the cost of living. Having a larger paycheck doesn't matter much if you can't purchase as much with it. [...]
Scout Leaders Vow To Quit If "Gay" Policy Reversed
Feb 05, 2013 10:23 am He's a fourth-generation Boy Scout leader, recipient of an award for distinguished leadership and a member of the Southern Region committee as well as an ad hoc member of the national committee. But if the Boy Scouts of America's national executive board follows through this week with a proposal to reverse a century-old policy and [...]
Video: Obama Coddles Criminals Who Use Guns Posted On America's Conservative News
He wants to confiscate your guns, but when it comes to criminals who use guns in the commission of a crime, Barack Obama sings a different tune... Watch the video...
Is Fatherhood Being Killed So The State Can Play God? By Kelly O'Connell CanadaFreePress.com
Is there a master plan for the subjugation of the human race? If so, it must perforce include a strategy for the removal of the single most influential figure in history...
Someone's Wrong: CIA And State Dept. Accounts Of Benghazi Contradict Gen. Dempsey's Explanation For Why DOD Sent No Help By Terence P. Jeffrey CNSNews.com
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is telling a different story about Benghazi than the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency.
With black-mob violence reaching epidemic levels, even the prosecutor at trial cautioned the jury:
"I need to warn you that the video you're going to see in this case contains graphic disturbing footage of possibly the most prolonged and brutal assault that you have ever, or will ever, see."
We've got the full story plus the video the rest of the media won't show you.
The Boy Scouts of America faces a vote tomorrow by its executive board that could reverse the iconic organization's century-old policy of barring homosexuals from its ranks.
The vote comes on the heels of charges against a man accused of sodomizing a young Scout.
One guess how the accused gained access to the boy ...
They're some of the biggest companies in America. You're most likely a customer of many of them. But these titans of business have a problem with the Boy Scouts of America. Find out which ones, then take part in the WND poll on the issue.
You won't believe how easy it is to bring the U.S. to its knees with an electromagnetic pulse. Be sure to watch our live-stream discussion of the threat today at noon Eastern time.
Overuse of a word sometimes causes it to lose its meaning. As ugly an insult as being called a "Nazi" once was, in the mind of some Americans who think World War II was fought one hundred years ago, its overuse has caused the word to now connote a "busybody" or a "stickler for rules." "Soup Nazi" makes this point. As an insult there is no longer any sting in the word "Nazi."
RINO "Republican In Name Only" is an insult whose time has come and gone as well. "RINO" as an insult to Republicans who were not conservatives, or failed to stand up to liberals in the public area, had a rather short life. A search of the word reveals that although it may have been around since the 1920s, it didn't find its way into print until December 1992.
STEPHEN STONE, RA PRESIDENT - When Mitt Romney ran for president last year, he gave the world an unprecedented glimpse into Mormon values and traditions, as he showcased his religion's relativistic, pragmatic, materialistic excesses... (more)
ALAN KEYES - On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight... (more)
WORLDNETDAILY - He's a fourth-generation Boy Scout leader, recipient of an award for distinguished leadership and a member of the Southern Region committee as well as an ad hoc member of the national committee... (more)
WORLDNETDAILY - Millions of Americans believe a vote taking place this week could mean the end of the Boy Scouts of America -- one of the last truly great American institutions, which for 100 years has prepared tens of millions of boys for responsible manhood... (more)
ASSOCIATED PRESS - President Barack Obama said Sunday that gays should be allowed in the Boy Scouts and women should be allowed in military combat roles, weighing in on two storied American institutions facing proposals to end long-held exclusions... (more)
JOSEPH FARAH - Is the U.S. government getting ready for a war we don't know about? And, if that's why Washington is stockpiling massive amounts of ammunition (hollow points, by the way), why is Homeland Security doing the buying instead of the Defense Department?... (more)
WORLDNETDAILY - While President Obama and some of his allies on Capitol Hill prepare for a major push on gun-control legislation, state lawmakers are preparing to resist new federal restrictions... (more)
CHRISTIAN POST - By many accounts, the Dodge commercial featuring Paul Harvey's commentary was the winner in quality and in pulling at heart strings. Here's Harvey's words: "And on the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, 'I need a caretaker.' So God made a farmer... (more)
NEWSMAX - Two powerful conservative groups say a new American Crossroads' initiative, formed to work against Republican candidates it deems unelectable, is just another attempt to muzzle the GOP's true base. American Crossroads, a super PAC founded by a group led by former Bush White House advisor Karl Rove, was the largest Republican super PAC of the 2012 election cycle... (more)
TWITCHY - Wait, did we say Twitter users have been Photoshopping that picture of President Mom Jeans and his shotgun? Can't be. As Twitchy reported earlier today, the White House issued the photo with the stern warning that it "may not be manipulated in any way"... (more)
ASSOCIATED PRESS - A 25-year-old Iraq war veteran charged with murdering former Navy SEAL and "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle and his friend turned a gun onto the pair while they were at a Texas shooting range, authorities said Sunday... (more)
THE HILL - Under a bipartisan Senate framework, Democrats say, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano would have final say over whether the border is secure enough to put 11 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship... (more)
SKY NEWS - British troops are using a nano drone just 10cm long and weighing 16 grams on the front line in Afghanistan to provide vital information on the ground. They are the first to use the state-of-the-art handheld tiny surveillance helicopters, which relay reliable full motion video and still images back to the devices' handlers in the battlefield... (more)
ASSOCIATED PRESS - Gov. Rick Perry said emphatically Saturday that the Boy Scouts of America shouldn't soften its strict no-gays membership policy, and suggested that bending the organization to the whims of popular culture is wrong. Perry is an Eagle Scout and in 2008 he authored the book "On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting For."... (more)
ANDREW C. MCCARTHY - I'm done grumbling about how President Obama is empowering America's enemies. After all, it is not just Obama. When it comes to abetting the Muslim Brotherhood, Republicans are right there with him. Not all of them, of course. This week, for example, Senator Rand Paul proposed an amendment that would have prohibited our government from transferring F-16 aircraft and Abrams tanks to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood--dominated government... (more)
WASHINGTON EXAMINER - President Obama will travel to Minnesota on Monday with hopes of building support in the law enforcement community for his set of gun control initiatives. However, public safety officials outside urban pockets are increasingly hostile toward a sweeping set of proposals they say would do nothing to curtail violence... (more)
BOSTON HERALD - Massachusetts Republicans are desperately scrambling to find a strong Senate candidate to replace Scott Brown, with some even trying to persuade Mitt Romney's wife or son to jump into the race to avert another electoral disaster. The former GOP senator's decision to stay out of the June 25 special election surprised and angered some Republican leaders... (more)
ASSOCIATED PRESS - Andre Cassagnes, the inventor of the Etch A Sketch that generations of children drew on, shook up and started over, has died in France, the toy's maker said. Cassagnes died Jan. 16 in a Paris suburb at age 86, said the Ohio Art Co., based in Bryan in northwest Ohio. The cause wasn't disclosed Saturday... (more)
JOHN HAYWARD - Sunday, February 3, is the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment, which makes it the one hundredth birthday of the income tax. It has grown rather ill-tempered in its dotage. Americans for Tax Reform commemorated the occasion by publishing a few fun facts about the income tax... (more)
WORLDNETDAILY - The U.S. Supreme Court has asked the federal government to explain its punishment for a U.S. soldier convicted of shooting and killing a suspected terrorist who was attacking him... (more)
Last night, Brian Ward and I recorded Episode 42 of the Hinderaker-Ward Experience, featuring the Super Bowl, President Obama's visit to Minnesota to plug his gun control proposals, the Listener/Ricochet Member of the Week, Lydens Cheng, who increased the average IQ of the program considerably, and Glenn Reynolds, who stopped by to talk about his latest book, The K-12 Implosion. Given that Glenn was the first person (as far as I know) to write about the higher education bubble, he has a lot of credibility when it comes to forecasting downward spirals in educational institutions. The conversation was interesting to say the least. The K-12 Implosion is the latest from Encounter Books, which means you can buy it at a reasonable price on Amazon and read it on a short airplane flight.
We wrapped up with the Loon of the Week-a certain cabinet nominee-and This Week in Gatekeeping, featuring one of the longest corrections ever, relating, not surprisingly, to "assault weapons." It is a fun episode.
You can listen to the podcast by playing it right here, or you can go to Ricochet to download or subscribe to the podcast in various ways, or you can hit the subscribe button in the graphic above to subscribe on iTunes or elsewhere. Or you can use Stitcher. There are many ways to experience the Hinderaker-Ward Experience, but I think the best is by subscribing on iTunes. That way, you never have to worry about missing an episode.
Central banks all over the world are flooding the zone with money hot off the press, all in the name of stimulus. Even a country such as Switzerland, with a traditionally stable currency and low inflation rates, finds itself caught in the dance. How can it afford to let the Swiss franc appreciate against the currencies of its commercial rivals? The powers-that-be in Switzerland have concluded that they can't, and they may have a better excuse than Ben Bernanke et al., whose commitment to keep doing what isn't working continues unabated.
Today's Wall Street Journal carries a short article by Francesco Guerrera on the side effect of the running of the printing presses: "Currency war has started." I actually think Guerrera is arriving on the scene a little late, but his article makes up in drama whatever it might lack in timeliness:
Most of the currency-market tensions aren't the byproduct of direct intervention or trade wars but of extreme monetary measures that are attempts to make up for nonexistent fiscal policies.
As developed countries like Japan and the U.S. try to kick-start their sluggish economies with ultralow interest rates and binges of money-printing, they are putting downward pressure on their currencies. The loose monetary policies are primarily aimed at stimulating domestic demand. But their effects spill over into the currency world.
Since the end of November, when it became clear that Shinzo Abe and his agenda of growth-at-all-costs would win Japan's elections, the yen has lost more than 10% against the dollar and some 15% against the euro. The greenback last week plumbed its lowest level against the euro in nearly 15 months.
These moves are angering export-driven countries such as Brazil and South Korea. But they also are stirring the pot in Europe. The euro zone has largely sat out this round of monetary stimulus and now finds itself in the invidious position of having a contracting economy and a rising currency-making Thursday's meeting of the European Central Bank a must-watch event.
The dirty secret is that using monetary policy to weaken a currency, whether voluntarily or not, is a shortcut to avoid unpopular decisions on fiscal and budgetary issues.
"I don't remember central banks being so deep in experimental mode," says Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive and co-chief investment officer of Pacific Investment Management Co. "It is equivalent to a pharmaceutical company that feels forced to bring a new medicine to the market even though it has not been properly tested."
How will it end? There are two binary results: apocalypse or redemption.
James Rickards, a veteran financier and author of "Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis", predicts the former.
"People ask me who's winning. I say nobody," he told me. "I expect the international monetary system to destabilize and collapse. There will be so much money-printing by so many central banks that people's confidence in paper money will wane, and inflation will rise sharply."
Now that's something you don't read in the Journal every day. Guerrera, however, is guardedly optimistic: "[C]ommon sense could prevail, putting an end to the dangerous game of beggar (and blame) thy neighbor." Has counting on common sense to break out ever been a good bet? I'm thinking it might be time to pull down my copy of When Money Dies from the bookshelf.
Throughout the "fiscal cliff" drama, I argued that once the middle class tax increase was called off (as seemed almost inevitable), Republicans would have the upper hand because President Obama fears sequestration more than Republicans do (or should). The key, then, was to keep sequestration on the table or, as I put it, "to go over half of the fiscal cliff."
Now that we are about to take that plunge, sure enough, Obama is asking Congress for a short-term deficit reduction package of spending cuts and tax revenue that will delay steeper automatic cuts from kicking in on March 1. Republicans seem adamant, however, that additional tax revenue won't be part of such a deal. Speaker Boehner said:
President Obama first proposed the sequester and insisted it become law. Republicans have twice voted to replace these arbitrary cuts with common sense cuts and reforms that protect our national defense. We believe there is a better way to reduce the deficit, but Americans do not support sacrificing real spending cuts for more tax hikes. The president's sequester should be replaced with spending cuts and reforms that will start us on the path to balancing the budget in 10 years.
The first sentence is important - Obama proposed the sequester. This fact will make it difficult for him to the blame its economic consequences on Republicans, a growing priority for the president now that the economy has stopped growing.
Difficult, but not impossible. Obama is trying to return the playing field to something like its December 2012 shape by talking about closing tax loopholes. In other words , he wants to recouple spending cuts and tax hikes for the rich. When the Republicans insist they have already done tax increases so now it's time to do spending cuts, Obama will claim that the Republicans are once again putting the economy at risk in order to protect the rich.
But this time (a) it is Obama's own idea that allegedly is putting the economy at risk and (b) there is no question of a tax increase on the middle class. So although Obama is not without arguments, his position is nowhere near as strong as it was two months ago. In fact, Republicans may have the upper hand.
What should Republicans do? They should propose spending cuts that make more sense than the blunderbuss reductions in the sequester, but that add up to the same amount. If the Democrats shock the world and agree, great - we will have sensible cuts. If they don't agree, Republicans can, with some plausibility, blame sequestration on Obama for proposing it and the Democrats generally for not agreeing to modify it.
Finally, in the unlikely event that Obama shows a willingness to discuss entitlement reform in a serious way, Republicans should entertain a "grand bargain." Otherwise, they should take the spending cuts that Obama graciously handed them, and save entitlement reform for the next time they can exert pressure on the White House.
JOHN adds: I don't disagree with any of Paul's observations, but as I have said before, I think it is overwhelmingly probable that the best deal the Republicans will be able to get is the one they already have, i.e., sequestration. So let's take it: it will be the first significant spending cut in memory. As long as Obama keeps singing the same tune-the only one he knows, evidently-Republicans should just say no.
Former Texas Rep. Ron Paul responded to the murder of former Navy SEAL and legendary sniper Chris Kyle at the hands of another Iraq War veteran by tweeting: "Chris Kyle's death seems to confirm that 'he who lives by the sword dies by the sword,'" Paul overlooked the fact that the death of nearly every other combat veteran, including former snipers, illustrates the opposite.
Now, Eliana Johnson reports that Paul has explained his idiotic and inappropriate comment. His latest offering on the subject states:
As a veteran, I certainly recognize that this weekend's violence and killing of Chris Kyle were a tragic and sad event. My condolences and prayers go out to Mr. Kyle's family. Unconstitutional and unnecessary wars have endless unintended consequences. A policy of non-violence, as Christ preached, would have prevented this and similar tragedies.
He has a point. If there were no violence, there would be no violence.
As Eliana concludes, "Mohamed Morsi may have given Ron Paul a few lessons on how to explain away impolitic remarks."
One of my axioms when I lived in Washington was that you have to get up pretty early in the morning to get the drop on Ramesh Ponnuru, and Hayward's First Corollary of the Ponnuru Principle is that whenever I find myself disagreeing with Ramesh, I better check my math. Fortunate today we're in heated agreement about plastic bag bans. I had meant to flag yesterday the new research from George Mason's Josh Wright and Penn's Jonathan Klick on the adverse health tradeoffs of plastic bag bans, but Ramesh beat me to it in his Bloomberg column.
Wright and Klick have performed the simple task of comparing before and after rates for food borne illness in counties that enacted plastic bag bans and adjacent counties that didn't. The results aren't even close: counties that enact plastic bag bans see a sharp spike in hospitalizations for food-borne illness, much of it generated from reusable cloth bags that gather bacterial growths from raw food. From the abstract:
San Francisco County was the first major US jurisdiction to enact such a regulation, implementing a ban in 2007. There is evidence, however, that reusable grocery bags, a common substitute for plastic bags, contain potentially harmful bacteria. We examine emergency room admissions related to these bacteria in the wake of the San Francisco ban. We find that ER visits spiked when the ban went into effect. Relative to other counties, ER admissions increase by at least one fourth, and deaths exhibit a similar increase.
I'll just borrow Ramesh's summary here:
Klick and Wright estimate that the San Francisco ban results in a 46 percent increase in deaths from foodborne illnesses, or 5.5 more of them each year. They then run through a cost-benefit analysis employing the same estimate of the value of a human life that the Environmental Protection Agency uses when evaluating regulations that are supposed to save lives. They conclude that the anti-plastic-bag policies can't pass the test - and that's before counting the higher health-care costs they generate.
Simple!-the bag banners say: just get people to start washing their reusable bags. Okay, fine, but if public education is the remedy, why isn't that same remedy used for the purported evils of plastic bags, which are recyclable? I always recycled mine, and also used them for a variety of secondary uses.
Of course, one of the things you also hear in California is that we need to reduce water use. Twenty years ago the crusade of the greenies for a time was banning disposable diapers, which take up more than twice the space in landfills as plastic bags. Santa Barbara County, and then the state of California itself, considered a total ban on disposable diapers. They were routed in Santa Barbara County when someone did the calculations of how much additional water would be necessary to wash cloth diapers. The state legislature backed off when it contemplated the army of pitchfork- and soiled-diaper-bearing moms who would come at them if they passed a disposal diaper ban. I guess plastic bag users don't have as strong a constituency.
It's always fun watching environmentalists when they learn that tradeoffs are a real bitch. Doesn't happen often enough, especially when their refusal to consider tradeoffs result in increased deaths of real people.
Your Tax Money Down the Drain
Government waste in the discretionary budget abounds. But that's just the tip of a massive iceberg of federal spending. If Congress and the President keep ignoring the problem, they risk a crisis which would force drastic measures with significant harm to the American people.
The Income Tax Turns 100 Years Old On the somber 100th birthday of the federal income tax, we can clearly see how it greatly expanded the size of federal government. Today, a great danger lies in giving Congress the authority to levy broad-based new taxes like a carbon tax - allowing big government to grow even bigger.
By rapidly lowering total federal spending, Saving the American Dream: The Heritage Plan to Fix the Debt, Cut Spending, and Restore Prosperity would balance the budget by 2021 and keep it balanced permanently, without raising taxes.PERCENTAGE OF GDP
According to The Heritage Foundation's China Global Investment Tracker, Chinese non-bond investment in the U.S. set a record in 2012. China has $3.3 trillion in foreign reserves and, like other fast-growing economies, wants to invest more here. Foreign investment and other commerce benefits America, but there are understandable concerns about the loss of advanced technology and possible threats to national defense.
Evaluating these concerns is the job for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). CFIUS is an inter-agency group chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury and including the Secretaries of Defense, State, and Commerce; the Attorney General; the United State Trade Representative; and others. The U.S. does not have to choose between security and the many benefits brought by foreign business. CFIUS can screen transactions so that nearly all proceed immediately while a remaining very few are investigated and possibly blocked.
CFIUS is responsible for all countries investing in the U.S., not just China. The surge in Chinese investment, however, indicates the prudence of enhancing the American review process. The initial presumption should remain that all transactions go forward. Beyond that, the CFIUS mandate should be extended while transparency and responsiveness are improved in several ways.
As senators prepare questions for Chuck Hagel, they would do well to clarify his views on Asia, a crucial region for U.S. interests. As demonstrated in the Japanese earthquake, any disruption to the region can have global consequences, rippling through international supply chains.Moreover, it is the source of much of the high technology that undergirds American economic activity.
When Congress holds hearings on Chuck Hagel's nomination for Secretary of Defense, they should pay close attention to his position on U.S. space capabilities. As Secretary of Defense, he would have responsibility for ensuring that the U.S. maintains the ability to access space as necessary, a position that is increasingly threatened by the People's Republic of China (PRC).
About The Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute -- a think tank -- whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400
In his upcoming State of the Union Address, President Obama will very likely address our nation's broken immigration system. Rather than call for comprehensive legislation, we invite the President to instead take a problem-solving approach.
But with a step-by-step approach on the basis of first principles and our best traditions, we develop real solutions to address our immigration systems' core problems.
Many looked at the results on Election Day and saw disaster. At The Heritage Foundation, however, we see opportunity. Americans are asking: "What do conservatives stand for?"
Conservatives frequently celebrate the economic boom generated by President Ronald Reagan's domestic policies. But as we celebrate his 102st birthday on Wednesday, let's also take note of Reagan's foreign policy successes. Reagan charted a course that allowed the West to win the Cold War without firing a shot.
Reagan's grand strategy rested on an understanding of American self-interest that respects the decent opinions of mankind without making international institutions or international opinion the polestar for American action. While we no longer have a Reagan, we still have the six enduring principles of his foreign policy to guide us.
Quote of the Week
"There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily."
Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank - whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
Boy Scouts of America: The Badge of Intolerance?
Recent events involving the Boy Scouts of America have once again raised concerns about attempts to shove people and groups with traditional viewpoints on issues such as marriage, family, and sexuality out of the public square.
For years, the Scouts have been targeted for upholding traditional moral standards and belief in God. When the Scouts reaffirmed certain commitments last summer, the pressure only intensified.
Some sources have disparaged the Scouts' membership policy as intolerant and retrograde. Some corporatedonors have stopped giving because of the Scouts' stance.
The Scouts controversy is just the latest reminder of how people or groups that stand up for traditional viewpoints on issues such as sex, family, and religion face intense and growing pressure to abandon those views.
The Heritage Foundation has documented many instances illustrating how people with traditional viewpoints face growing burdens to right of conscience and religious freedom.
When the Scouts' freedom to uphold its beliefs was challenged in the past, it fought and won in the court of law. Today, the Scouts' viewpoints are being challenged in the court of public opinion.
Changing course now, in a policy that attempts to compromise by allowing different troops to choose different policies, will likely place the Scouts in more, not less, cultural, financial, and even potentially legal jeopardy. In addition, by abandoning its deeply held religious and moral beliefs in the face of intense pressure, the Scouts would also miss an important opportunity to demonstrate the strength of conviction that makes it a vibrant thread in the rich and diverse fabric of American civil society.
DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation
Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is the nation's most broadly supported public policy organization. Heritage established the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society in 2004 to educate government officials, the media and the public about the role religion, family, and civil society play in sustaining freedom and the common good.
TODAY: House Judiciary Committee Will Hear from Pro-Amnesty Advocates
Call Members of Congress and Tell Them to STOP the Push for Amnesty!
Today, Members of the House Judiciary Committee will hear arguments in support of and in opposition to amnesty and guest worker programs during the Committee's first hearing on immigration reform. The hearing, entitled "America's Immigration System: Opportunities for Legal Immigration and Enforcement of Laws against Illegal Immigration," will examine current laws as well as suggestions for expanding immigration.
You can watch the hearing LIVE at 10:15 AM on the House Judiciary website.
A guest worker amnesty program, under any guise, is bad immigration policy. Not only is it inherently insulting to legal immigrants who wait in line, or a sure-fire way to encourage more illegal immigration, it also stands in direct conflict with the interests of ordinary Americans. Currently twenty-two million Americans are either unemployed or underemployed. It is these Americans who will be hurt most by a guest worker amnesty bill. They will face even tougher competition for jobs, and when they do find employment, receive lower wages.
The only way we can stop Congress from giving in to the push for amnesty is by flooding Congressional phone lines with the strong, unified voices of Americans. FAIR urges you to call your Representatives and House leaders NOW and tell them:
Granting amnesty or any legal status to illegal aliens unfairly rewards law-breaking.
Granting amnesty will do nothing but encourage more illegal immigration and is fundamentally unfair to individuals all over the world who are patiently waiting in line to come to the United States legally.
Granting amnesty and adding more guest worker programs adds millions of legal workers to the domestic workforce when 22 million Americans are either unemployed or underemployed. Moreover, those workers that are hurt the most are often legal immigrants working in low-skill, low-wage jobs.
Granting amnesty without first securing the border or making sure immigration laws are enforced guarantees that we will face this same problem again in the future.
Granting amnesty to illegal aliens will not secure our borders, will not improve national security, will not end fraud in the immigration system, and will not fix the problem of visa overstays.
Tell Congress that, instead, we need a secure border, tough immigration laws, and most importantly, we need to enforce the laws that are already on the books!
The Republican Obsession By Patrick J. Buchanan Where there is no vision, the people perish. Where is the vision that Republicans had in the time of Reagan?
Women in Combat By Walter E. Williams A senior Defense Department official said the ban on women in combat should be lifted because the military's goal is "to provide a level, gender-neutral playing field." I'd like to think the goal of the military should be to have the toughest, meanest fighting force possible.
As negotiations for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan have once again come to a halt, the Taliban Supreme Council has offered to level the playing field by sending a group of 400 battle-hardened Taliban peacekeepers to the U.S. city of Chicago, to help pacify one of the most violent regions in the Great Plains area of the North American continent.
With many years of combat experience in violent areas of their own country and having fought rebels, insurgents, villagers, urban militias, rival drug lords, as well as Soviet and American occupying forces on foot, horses, camels, donkeys, and trucks, they may be just what the Chicago city officials need to pacify their own population and bring the recently publicized murder rate under control.
Former Congressman Ron Paul posted a pretty pathetic and reprehensible tweet yesterday. The tweet essentially criticized slain Navy SEAL Chris Kyle for trying to help a fellow soldier in need. Not only was it an incredibly insensitive post, it was remarkably misinformed. Watch Glenn's epic response on radio today.
Glenn: it's time to end the war
Glenn has been a staunch supporter of the military, but recent events have proven that it is not enough to simply support the troops. The United States government is failing our servicemen and women. While we may not be spitting in vets faces anymore, we're creating a whole new generation of scarred Vietnam vets, because we're failing to properly take care of them. Where are we falling short and what can we do to fix it? Glenn explains today on radio.
Glenn: Obama is a full-fledged woman
The president has doubled down on the hesitation he would have letting his hypothetical son play football. Glenn's response? "STOP IT." Even Glenn, who knows nothing about sports, was ready to revoke the president's man-card after hearing the statement. It's hard to say what's worse, the president's form when throwing a baseball or having your man card revoked by Glenn Beck. See the rant HERE.
What justification does the U.S. government need to kill you?
President Obama says he's got a green light to kill American citizens? Yep. If a high-level official in the government determines an American is involved in "activities" that pose the threat of an attack on the U.S., they've apparently lost their right to due process. The media is absolutely outraged...or totally silent. One of the two (HINT: silent). STORY
Jesse Ventura: Dirtbag
Former Governor Jesse Ventura is a "reprehensible human being" according to Glenn, and in light of his alleged actions in the wake of Chris Kyle's death that title seems 100% warranted. He's going after Kyle's family for money in a stupid defamation lawsuit he filed over an alleged bar fight that took place between the two men. Glenn tears Ventura to shreds on radio today.
Did you know you can listen to Glenn Beck and TheBlaze Radio Network anywhere for FREE? There are three easy ways to listen to TheBlaze Radio Network at home or when you're on the go: online, on your iOS device, or on iHeartRadio. Get the full lineup HERE.
Stu recaps the Super Bowl: Stu returns and tells his tales of the Big Game in New Orleans and gives a firsthand account of why the lights went out in the Superdome. WATCH
Dirty Harry Reid "knows a lot about guns"
Harry Reid said he knows a lot about guns. That said, he didn't really explain anything that even hinted at an extensive knowledge of guns. However, he did provide some really bizarre reasons as to why he is a gun "expert". Dirty Harry? Hardly. Glenn mocks Reid on radio today.
"It really grips you....I lost a lot of sleep reading it." -Tim LaHaye, co-author of the LEFT BEHIND series.
Glenn's e-book thriller series Wrath & Righteousness examines the eternal battle between Light and Darkness while asking one of the fundamental questions of our existence: what is mankind's relationship to the spiritual world? The seventh episode in the 10-part series is available HERE. Download the previous 6 episodes HERE to catch up. Have a question or comment about the series? Visit our FAQ page.
Will Hagel be confirmed?
Glenn interviewed former Senator Rick Santorum on radio today to talk about the possibility of Chuck Hagel being confirmed to his post as the Secretary of Defense. There has been solid opposition to this nomination from both sides of the aisle, but will it be enough to knock this anti-Israel, "America is a bully" believing nitwit out of contention? Santorum gives Glenn his take today on radio.
5pm ET -The Glenn Beck Program: A full hour on PTSD. Our soldiers returning from overseas are not being taken care of and the government is ignoring the problem.
6pm ET -Real News: Will Cain takes a look at the personal income tax on its 100th anniversary.
7pm ET -Wilkow!: Hollywood star Clint Howard sits down with Andrew to discuss being a conservative and working with an extremely liberal brother in a liberal industry.
TheBlaze, Glenn's TV channel, is available exclusively on DISH channel 212. Click HERE for more details.
Obama: Shooting All the Time
The White House released a photograph that they claim depicts President Obama skeet shooting at Camp David. They warned the internet not to alter it, which is basically like demanding that an alcoholic ignore a free bar.
It would have been more believable if we hadn't uncovered a green screen photo...
...and these outtakes:
And Now For Some Cartoons...
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"The condition that an operational leader present an 'imminent' threat of violent attack against the United States does not require the United States to have clear evidence that a specific attack on U.S. persons and interests will take place in the immediate future," reads a confidential Justice Department memo defending the U.S. government's ability to order the killing of American citizens if they believe them to be "senior operational leaders" or "an associated force," even if they don't have any evidence that the person targeted is actually engaged in or plotting an attack on the U.S.
As negotiations for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan have once again 
Glenn responds to Ron Paul's despicable tweet 
