912 Patriots of Lower Bucks - Your Daily Updates ALL in ONE Place!
April 3, 2013
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U.N. Votes to Adopt Landmark Global Arms Treaty.............
The treaty will take effect soon after 50 countries ratify it - but a lot will depend on which countries ratify and which don't, and how stringently it is implemented.
According to The Hill, a majority of U.S. Senators called on the administration not to sign on to the treaty last month. Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association has also long opposed it, saying in an address to the UN's Arms Trade Treaty Conference last July: "Neither the United Nations, nor any other foreign influence, has the authority to meddle with the freedoms guaranteed by our Bill of Rights."
"The treaty will not control the domestic use of weapons in any country, but it will require countries that ratify it to establish national regulations to control the transfer of conventional arms, parts and components and to regulate arms brokers."
If anything past the first clause of this sentence is true, then the first clause of this sentence is false.
I can just hear the gun control and gun grabber spokesmen now... "we didn't want to do this, but now we have to... not our fault, we told you all along we didn't want this, we just do not have any choice in the matter..."
If you think you've seen panic purchases of guns and ammo, just give it a bit until this news goes around. This one even regulates parts.
...and the American Kristalnacht draws one step closer.
Want to See What CSCOPE and Common Core (Even Homeschooling) Lessons Look Like? These Parents Opened Up to TheBlaze
The Blaze | Tiffany Gabbay | Apr. 2, 2013 10:10am
As a greater level of scrutiny is being placed on the controversial curriculum systems CSCOPE (in Texas) and Common Core Standards (nationwide), concerned parents spoke to TheBlaze about their troubling experiences, revealing that not even home-schooling is beyond the reach of these encroaching systems.
Home-schooling not beyond the reach of Common Core?
Keven Card, a former Marine from Houston who has home-schooled his children for the last six years, thought his family was safe from the reach of Common Core, but soon learned otherwise. As noted on his blog, two years ago Pearson Education, which is linked to Common Core, acquired Texas Connections Academy, the online charter school Card uses to homeschool his ninth-grader.
One lesson plan featured a video dubbed, "China Rises," that appears to tout the virtues of Communism over capitalism.
Where Is the Former Weather Underground Radical Who Spent 22 Years in Prison for Robbery That Left 2 Cops Dead?
The Answer May or May Not Surprise You
The Blaze | Jason Howerton | Apr. 2, 2013 6:00pm
Former Weather Underground radical Kathy Boudin (New York Post)
Following in the footsteps of Weather Underground founder Bill Ayers, a domestic terrorist-turned respected academic thinker, former Weather Underground radical Kathy Boudin - who spent 22 years in prison for her involvement in an armored car robbery that left two cops and a Brinks guard dead - currently holds a prestigious adjunct professorship at Columbia University, the New York Post reports.
In addition to her new professorship at Columbia's School of Social Work, Boudin, 69, also earned another academic achievement this year, being named the Sheinberg Scholar-in-Residence at NYU Law School. She reportedly gave a lecture on "the politics of parole and re-entry" at the university last month.
REACT: Megyn Kelly, Michelle Malkin Take On Columbia for Hiring Ex-Radical Kathy Boudin as Professor
Columbia University has sparked outrage by giving a prestigious professorship to a former Weather Underground radical who spent 22 years in prison for a 1981 robbery that left three people dead.
Kathy Boudin, 69, now holds an adjunct professorship at Columbia University's School of Social Work, The New York Post reported today. She apparently teaches courses on convicts re-entering society.
A movie by Robert Redford, "The Company You Keep," also starring Susan Sarandon, is loosely based on the $1.6 million heist and will be released in a week. Two police officers and a Brinks security guard were killed in the robbery.
Megyn Kelly discussed the latest controversy surrounding an American university with Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin, who said colleges in this country are increasingly turning into "cesspools of tenured radicalization and rationalization for left-wing domestic violence."
She said people need to take notice of how colleges and Hollywood are "whitewashing" the violent acts of the Weather Underground and other left-wing groups.
Bucks County Commissioners Meeting Bucks County Courthouse Community Room, 55 E State St, Doylestown
Commissioner Marseglia sought to identify and exclude any County retirement funds from investing in firearm manufacturing or firearm sales unless they sign on to a set of gun control principles. This is outrageous and stinks of a total firearms ban and a an attack of free enterprise. Stores like Cabelas and Dick's Sporting Goods fall into that category. Challenge her at this Commissioner meeting and ask her if this means that she advocates a total gun ban for hunters and sportsmen as well as protection. Ask her how this would "control unsafe gun use" in her words. Remind her that her duty concerning the county pension funds is to maximize returns. Read news story here
Saturday, April 6th 3-6pm
Chief Kessler's Constitutional Security Force Meeting
Friendship Fire Co, 147 N. 7th St, Frackville PA 17931 Guest Speakers- 2nd Amendment Attorney Joshua Prince Criminal Defense Attorney Joseph Nahas Oath Keepers Representative Larry Liguori Pro-gun Schuylkill County DA Candidate Christine Holman Pro-gun Schuylkill County Sheriff Candidate Pat Reynolds Justin Caldwell & Joseph Smith from Fast-Tactics
CGOBC will be represented! We are calling out a challenge to get 50 people from CGOBC to the meeting. Please email Andy Rumbold for information on carpooling/caravaning. It is about 2 hours from central Bucks. Hope to get a good turnout from Bucks County!
Announcing - Women On Target, Getting Comfortable With Firearms
Place: Wicen's Shooting Range, 3179 Mozart Road, Furlong, PA 18925
Date: April 26-27.
This is a 2-day class, 4 hours total. You may attend Day 1 classroom only, or you may attend both Day 1 classroom & Day 2 shooting event. You may NOT attend Day 2 shooting event without attending the Day 1 classroom portion. (Some students may choose not to attend the shooting portion, but we will encourage them to do so.)
Day 1 Classroom (40 people maximum): Friday, April 26, 2013 from 7-9pm Day 2 Range: Saturday, April 27, 2013 Two sessions (20 people each maximum): First come first serve 9 am -11 am 1 pm - 3 pm
Cost: Each Day is $25.00. Total cost if you attend both Day 1 and Day 2 will be $50.00 per student. You must make payment in the form of check or cash.
On Day 1 students will take an after-hours range tour, learn firearm safety, reasons to own a firearm, and have the opportunity to handle and ask questions about various pistols, rifles and shotguns.
On Day 2 students will split into 3 small groups, and have the opportunity to shoot pistols, rifles and shotguns, with an NRA Certified Instructor coaching them through each safety step.
All firearms and ammunition will be supplied. Up to 50 rounds per student will be allocated.
This will be performed by Lori Wicen of Wicen's Range (not CGOBC):
Email will be checked each evening and respond accordingly. Please note how many ladies will be attending this course in your email. (Lori will answer and allocate spots according to the time stamp on the email from you.)
Lori will keep a chart of interest, and then highlight when their check is received.
Lori will let us know (via the the Facebook post) when she has 15 in either Saturday session so we know when one class is almost full.
Check must be at least $25.00 (per person) .. you may pay the entire $50 (per person) if you want to lock in both days. If you only pay $25 (per person) then your Saturday class will not be locked in and you risk not getting the time slot you desire.
Please make check payable to: Wicen's Shooting Range Mailed to: Wicen's Shooting Range 3179 Mozart Road Furlong, PA 18925 note in comment area or enclose a note: WOT April 26, and specify morning or afternoon Saturday session, put their telephone number on the check ***You must submit payment (cash or check only) no later than close of business Saturday April 13th or your spot will be released.
contact info: loriwicen@yahoo.com Telephone at the range: 215-598-3534 leave a message!
************************************************ There will be a raffle on day one where four lucky women will receive their $25 "DAY 1" payment refunded and on day two there will be a raffle where four lucky women (two in each session) will receive their "DAY 2" payment refunded. ************************************************ As an added bonus through the generosity of Tanner's Sport Center, Ray Tanner is offering 5% off a gun purchase to attendees of the course after completion of the full course.
***Please refer all questions pertaining to this course to Lori Wicen. loriwicen@yahoo.com 215-598-3534
Terri's Day 2013!
Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network announces the, "International Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Terri Schindler Schiavo, and All of Our Vulnerable Brothers and Sisters," (Terri's Day!), which is typically observed each year on March 31, the anniversary of Terri's death.Because Easter falls on March 31, this year Terri's Day Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, April 5, 2013. (Read below)
National Memorial Mass for Terri's Day!
This year's Terri's Day Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, April 5, 2013 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul located at 18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
The mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Charles Chaput, Archbishop of the Diocese of Philadelphia, beginning at 5:00 p.m. All are invited to attend.
Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network's Award Gala with Governor Sarah Palin
Following the Memorial Mass, there will be the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network's Award Gala, currently scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception. This dinner gala will be held at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, located at 1201 Market Street in Philadelphia. The first "Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Award" will be presented.
*As you may know, Philadelphia parking is very limited in the city, particularly around the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul. The Marriott, however; has plenty of parking available. Please plan ahead.
Introduction to Terri's Day!
We invite individual believers to spend time on that day learning about Terri, and praying for all whose lives are threatened in the same way that Terri's was.
We invite Churches to hold memorial services and to educate their people on the dignity of every human life, despite any disability or disease with which that life may be afflicted.
We invite educational institutions to help dispel the myths and inaccuracies about Terri's life and death, and to contribute to our society's debate regarding the rights of the disabled by providing accurate, factual information and mature reflection on the ethical demands of caring for the weak and vulnerable.
We invite all people to use the resources on this website and to help us continue to draw good out of the sad and tragic way in which Terri was treated.
in support of ACTION of PA Cumberland County Chapter
Thursday, April 4, 2013
8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The Bongiorno Conference Center 430 Union Hall Rd. Carlisle, PA
This presentation will provide Biblical worldview answers for such key questions as:
Is there hope for America?
What is God's role for pastors in our time?
How do we rebuild the walls?
Speakers and Program for the Morning Include:
8:30-9:00 a.m. - Welcome
9:00-9:35 a.m. - Hon. Sam Rohrer, President, PA Pastors' Network - presents the need for pastors to "Stand in the Gap"
9:35-9:55 a.m. - Pastor Gary Dull, Faith Baptist Church of Altoona and PPN Leadership Council Member presents the content for pastors to "Preach the Word"
10:00-10:40 - Pastor Jim Arcieri, Community Bible Fellowship Church and PPN Leadership Council Member presents the "Tools" for pastors to "Rebuilding the Walls"
It will be a vital addition to your ministry when you attend this very important luncheon. ABSOLUTELY FREE! Olive Tree Ministries and our event hosts invite you to join us for a Middle East Briefing with Pastor Victor Styrsky on April 4th and 5th. Victor a speaker your will love! His straight forward and passionate heart drew enthusiastic response last Fall when his powerful message about Israel reached audiences throughout Delaware and Pennsylvania region. Victor has just returned from Israel where he hosted over 50 pastors on life - changing tours and briefings. As the First State, Delaware need to be on God's radar in support fo Israel, the apple of His eye! Won't you become part of our initiative here in this area to bring together Pastors, Rabbis and congregational Leaders for Israel? NOW is the time! We will look forward to having you join us. Staff of Olive Tree Ministries.
Click above to register for either or both events Bring spouses and guests. You will be linking directly to the CUFI registration pages. Your guests are welcome but each individual person must register as indicated on the registration pages.
VALLEY FORGE PATRIOTS APRIL MEETING
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 6pm AT PJ RYANS
BRIDGE ST. PHOENIXVILLE
We will have an organizational meeting with members. The VFP wants to talk with our members to review how the organization is structured, what kind of help we need to be successful and to discuss our plans for 2013. We also need to discuss meeting location(s) and what amenities you want.
There will be no formal speakers, however, Paula Stiles will fill us in on the latest with Smart Meters and state legislation dealing with them.
We really need your thoughts and ideas about how you want your organization to function and what you think we should focus on. We have learned that we can't do everything because there is so much going on at all levels.We must focus on a few most important issues.
Should we work on projects at the local level, the state level, and/or the federal level? Or, should we pick several focal points that could be worked on at all levels? Voter ID would be one of these issues. Should the VFP continue its legislator visit program. This would be another program that would involve all levels of government. How about UN Agenda 21? School Board?
The VFP Steering Committee wants your ideas, your help, and your involvement in continuing to make our programs successful.
PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION!
P.S. Since we are having the meeting at a commercial establishment, and since the room is free, we are expected to buy our food and drink at PJ Ryans. No outside food or drink please.
SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 16th CITIZENS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
Tuesday, April 16, 2013, 6:30-8:30 pm
Quakertown Library, 401 W. Mill Street, Quakertown
hosts PEG LUKSIK on Indoctrination in Education
Founder & Chairman Pennsylvania Parents Commission and National Parents Commission - to give parents a voice in education and public policy: State-wide leader in successful effort to stop implementation of Outcome Based Education
Founder, CEO, Chair Board of Trustees of Mom's House - service network assisting single parents and children in completing education to become employable
State Chairman, Constitutional Party of Pennsylvania 1995
T.V. host "The Learning Curve"
Co-author "Outcome Based Education: The States Assault on our Children's Values"
WHO CONTROLS THE CHILDREN??For a preview of this fantastic speaker, watch this dynamite YouTube video
Peg Luksik "Who Controls Our Children" How Public Schools Dumb Down Kids
Updated PA Leadership Conference Agenda Released
The conference which will be held April 19-20, 2013 at the Radisson Penn Harris Convention Center in Camp Hill (Harrisburg), PA.
Registration includes admission to all conference functions EXCEPT the pre-dinner reception. Registration DOES include the Friday evening dinner with speaker Steve Hayes of Fox News/The Weekly Standard (do not register separately for the dinner); the Saturday breakfast with John Gizzi and Saturday lunch with pollster/commentator Scott Rasmussen. It also includes all panels, workshops and speakers. The only function NOT included in the registration fee is the pre-dinner reception with Steve Hayes, which is priced separately.
Depart: Doylestown Library When: 8 AM Rally at the Capitol followed by lobbying visits 12noon Returning to Doylestown 8:30
Cost is Free To reserve your spot
Please Call Anastasia at 215-534-1851
April 23rd-Bus Trip-2nd Amendment Rally
Depart: Doylestown Library When: 7:30 a.m. Arrive: Harrisburg, PA Depart: 2:30 p.m. Cost: $50.00 due ASAP to reserve bus(es) Includes: Shirt, Drink
Please mail your check payable to CGOBC as follows:
CGOBC PO Box 745 Doylestown, PA 18901
Come join the Concerned Gun Owners of Bucks County (COGBC) on their bus trip to Harrisburg to promote H.B. 357. Plan on entering the capital to meet with your legislators and to support your 2nd Amendment Right!
FrackNation is a documentary on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and the natural gas boom in the US and abroad. FrackNation shows how unfounded opposition to fracking is damaging the lives of some of the poorest and hardest working people in America. FrackNation dispels myths and tells the story of the people directly affected by fracking bans.
FrackNation premiered January 22, 2013 on Mark Cuban's AXS TV. The New York Times called the film "meticulously researched...provocative." And Variety said it was a "briskly paced...mischievous pic."
The film was created and directed by the husband and wife team of Phelim McAleer and the always outrageous Ann McElhinney. Ann will be speaking on April 20th at the upcoming PA Leadership Conference. DVDs of the film will be available for purchase at the PA Coalition booth at PLC
Phelim will be touring Pennsylvania for a series of screenings across the Commonwealth. Listed below are venues and dates for screenings in April. Additional screenings are planned for May including one in the Pittsburgh area. If your grass roots group would like to schedule a screening, please contact Magdalena Segieda at magda@fracknation.com
We are so blessed that over the last four years thousands of churches in over 60 countries have stood in solidarity with Israel through CUFI Sunday. From the largest cities to the smallest towns, from mega churches in the American heartland to underground churches in China, Christians have come together to express their love and support for Israel.
We pray that your church will participate in the fifth annual CUFI Sunday on May 5, 2013. CUFI will provide you with all the materials you need to implement a successful CUFI Sunday, including videos, literature and Pastor John Hagee's personal sermon notes for your use.
Please click hereto participate in CUFI Sunday. As you'll see, you don't have to be a pastor to ensure that your church stands with Israel on CUFI Sunday.
The date we've chosen for CUFI Sunday -- May 5th -- is close to Israeli Independence Day. As the Jewish State celebrates her 65th birthday, there is no better present we can send than the news of thousands of churches standing in solidarity with her!
We look forward to uniting in action and prayer on behalf of Israel with you and your congregation on May 5, 2013.
May God Bless You and Those that You Love,
Pastor John Hagee National Chairman
David Brog Executive Director
Brigitte Gabriel to Speak
in Baltimore, MD!
Brigitte Gabriel
Leading Global Islamic Terrorism Expert
CLICK HERE to view Brigitte's special video invitation!
It is my privilege to invite you to a special event featuring Brigitte Gabriel, Founder and President of ACT! for America. This event is free and open to the public and will be held at the following:
Central Christian
7411 Rossville Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21237
Monday, May 6th at 7 pm
Ms. Gabriel will speak on the rise of Islamic radicalism in your community and in our nation. Her story of survival as a persecuted Christian living in a bomb shelter for 7 years will have you captivated and inspired! She will share how the events of 9/11 compelled her to start ACT! for America, the largest national security grassroots organization in the U.S.
The recent assaults at our embassies have been a sobering wake-up call to America. The lesson is that we should be displaying strength to our enemies, not appeasement which only demonstrates our weakness. Without question, the threats of radical Islam to America have increased.
These are just some of the threats Brigitte will discuss:
Suppression of criticism of Islam
Homegrown jihad
Terrorists infiltrating our borders
The Muslim Brotherhood and creeping sharia law in America
Misrepresentation of history in our public education
You will hear first-hand how ACT! for America is successfully rolling back the tide of radical Islam...how we are winning legislative victories...how we don't have to live in fear or resign ourselves to the inevitability of the threats arrayed against us...and how we will prevail.
I encourage you to forward this email to everyone you know. For those who are not familiar with ACT! for America, please share this short video with them.
I know those of you who have heard Brigitte will agree, not only do you not want to miss this, but you will want to bring your relatives and friends with you. It will be an event people will be talking about for a long time to come!
Invite your friends and come join us in Baltimore, MD! We look forward to seeing you on May 6th
Guy Rodgers Executive Director
Announcing the 2013 National Conference
& Legislative Briefing!
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!
As Israelis celebrate their 65th Independence Day this year, we should all take time out to reflect on the miracle of Israel's independence. We must also ask ourselves the question, "What can I do to ensure that this miracle of Israel survives and thrives?"
We announced earlier this week that we'll be headed to New Orleans the first weekend in August for this year's RedState Gathering. As a member of our RedState family, we'd like to extend exclusive Early Bird registration and pricing to you (just use the promo code EARLYBIRD on the registration page).
The 2013 RedState Gathering will be held August 2-3 at the Westin Canal Place in New Orleans, LA. We'll have two full days of speakers and activities and you can expect a good mix of elected officials and potential candidates for the 2014 cycle (we'll keep you informed as additions are made).
The Gathering has always been a unique event, in that all speakers, even the most in-demand and influential, pay their own way and make their own travel arrangements. This helps keep our costs low, a savings we are happy to pass along to our conference attendees. Additionally, we strive to get you up close to the speakers, ask them to take your questions, and we take care of nearly all your meals during the conference. Bottom line: fewer frills, more thrills and access.
We are thrilled to once again be joined by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who will be hosting a reception for all attendees and appear at the Gathering podium as a keynote speaker. A huge hit in 2012, we're looking forward to Gov. Jindal playing an even larger role this year as he welcomes us to his home state.
Now, more than ever, true conservative activists must come together to exchange ideas and strategize for the future. That's what this year's Gathering is all about. We hope you'll join us.
P.S. Don't delay! You'll receive 20% off if you register today - just use the promo code EARLYBIRD. Click here.
Glenn: Help us get in millions of home
Why should you support the "Get TheBlaze" movement to get TheBlaze in millions of homes across the country? For starters, how about a network that will cancel out the damage Al-Jazeera will be doing in America as it replaces Current in your lineup? Check out Glenn's "why" in this exclusive letter HERE.
Ready to take action? Click here to contact your TV provider and urge them to add TheBlaze.
ATTENTION: Are you a Verizon FiOS Subscriber? They've created a new form for you to fill out to request TheBlaze! You can complete the form HERE. And don't forget to make your request public by posting on their Facebook page. Thank you for supporting us!
Sirius XM adds TheBlaze Radio News to Patriot channel
Sirius XM Radio announced today that TheBlaze, Glenn Beck's multi-platform news, information, and opinion network, will produce 24/7 hourly radio newscasts on SiriusXM Patriot, SiriusXM's conservative talk channel. DETAILS
If you're like most of TheBlaze TV community, you watched the first episode of For the Record when it premiered and immediately wanted to share the truth about how the NSA has turned America into a surveillance state. Now, due to popular demand, we have made this must-see episode available on DVD.
The restoration of journalism has begun. For The Record is an investigative news magazine with no political agenda and nothing to lose. Probing, fair, but unforgiving. Journalism the way it used to be.
Don't miss your chance to own the premiere episode of For The Record. Watch as For the Record investigates how the NSA turned America into a surveillance state. Hear from former NSA employees who left the agency after discovering the government was spying on her people. Plus, join us as we investigate a facility being built in Utah slated to become the largest information-gathering center in the country.
This chilling, one-hour episode, reminds us all that with every call, every email...the government is watching.
We can't rely on "honest" journalists to get this information to the public, so we are counting on YOU. Order your copy now.
TheBlaze | 1133 Avenue of the Americas | New York, NY 10036 | TheBlaze LLC | All Rights Reserved 2013
Hi All - I just spoke w/ Lisa Lnancollas@aol.com (717 437 1327) who lives in Lewistown, Pa and is majorly involved in fighting the smart meters............and it's more than just electric, it's water, furnaces/ac's and wells too
We need to share this information. I asked her if she'd speak to groups in our area and she said yes, but would like to include Mike Reese who's written several bills that we want to get out of committee and approved:
2.signs in our yards saying NO SMART METERS......put them around like election signs
3.Let our State Reps know how you feel ie Warren Kampf....tell him you're in favor of the bills against smart meters
4.Do neighbor alerts........call your neighbors if you see trucks coming into the area
5.Write letters to the editors....remember if they get several letters, they're more likely to put at least one in.....educate the public
6.Prepare handouts
7.Send certified letter to electric company and get return receipt of name of person who signed for it
Be aware:
Water Smart Meters.........(IF YOU LET THEM IN, you're giving permission.) YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LET THEM IN
Well Smart Meters......are coming and will limit the amount of water you use.
If you get someone knocking on your door asking if you want to save money on your heat/ac, do not say yes or they'll put a clip on your unit that will limit your usage of air conditioning. The fan will work, but your usage will be CONTROLLED.
IF you get a new wall mount (thermostat & it may be required w/ a new ac unit because of the wiring) for your AC DO NOT GET ONE WITH A GPS in it........there is a cheaper model that has no GPS........ask questions BEFORE you start or consider any changes!!!!!!!!
Important Announcement from SFL
Across America, state and local officials are writing bills and resolutions to protect citizen's from Agenda 21's policies. Because many people do not recognize Agenda 21 in action, property owners still remain at risk.
To help officials recognize Agenda 21's footprint, SFL created a document in a Q&A format that answers:
How do I know Agenda 21 exists in the U.S.?
What does Agenda 21 have to do with sustainable development?
What is wrong with the Brundtland Commission's definition of sustainable development?
How do I know the UN's sustainable development is the same one in our community?
I thought sustainable development is good, what makes you think it is so bad?
How can something like this happen in America?
How will I recognize Agenda 21?
The document has a lot more information for community members and officials, including a brief history of Agenda 21 and actions to take to have safe planning without top-down intervention.
Grants issued in conjunction with government 'sustainability initiatives' contain stipulations or implementation practices that are the primary doorway for Agenda 21/sustainable development to enter your community. These stipulations often require no growth boundaries, income integration through low-income housing demands, reduced vehicle usage, healthy cities, livability principles and other forms of social engineering.
Other grants issued by non-profit groups such as the Packard, Pew or Carnegie Foundations, frequently promote Agenda 21. Often this happens when HUD or some other federal agency funds the foundation with the money they in turn offer as a sustainability-related grant.
Non-governmental organizations:
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including ICLEI, the Nature Conservancy, American Farmland Trust and the American Planning Association have close ties to HUD-EPA-DOT sustainability initiatives and promote Agenda 21 through their regional and community work, conservation easements and funding.
Federal agencies:
Federal agency Acts including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act have so expanded, that individual's rights are losing way to unfounded and often exaggerated endangerment findings. The solutions to their findings invariably require fines, taxes, property rights' infringements or the outright transfer of private lands to the government.
Preservation programs, National Parks, Historic Places and Byways, Heritage Sites and Legacy Forest programs have exceeded prudent land and species' protection and are now confiscating massive quantities of the U.S. land mass in alignment with Agenda 21 principles.
The planning process:
Planners' surveys - contain unfair questions that do not express all of resident's options
Consensus meetings - are conducted in ways that elicit responses that support the planner's goals rather than genuine community desires
Visioning sessions- may be over-conducted to the point that the vision belongs to the facilitator and only appears to be that of the community.
Stakeholder meetings - can produce misleading results when the stakeholders do not represent the average community member. Frequently the "stakeholders" have a financial or ideological interest in implementing the plan.
Zoning regulations - originating with the American Planning Association (and others,) contains language that establishes the legal framework to implement Agenda 21 in communities. HUD, other federal agencies and firms such as Siemens funded the development of the APA's Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook, 2nd ed. These supporters all have a stake in Agenda 21's implementation.
Conservation easements - often contain undiscussed clauses that severely restrict property owners' rights, reduce property values and favor the land trust for future contract changes.
Regionalism:
Regional councils replace much of the local officials' authority with unelected boardmembers.
As the regional council matures, local rule diminishes, leaving citizens with more distant and reduced representation.
Once a region is formed, the ability to oppose sustainable development is limited.
Generally, when the regional council accepts grant monies, all tethered communities are bound by the grant stipulations.
Regional planning often includes tax base sharing which promotes wealth transfer by forcing community members to pay for services in other locations.
Regional planning often includes "no growth boundaries" that force housing into urban and inner ring suburban areas. This reduces homebuyers' choices and artificially inflates the value of some properties, while reducing it for others.
Awareness about Agenda 21 is finally spreading throughout the country, due in no small part to your efforts. But knowing it is there isn't enough. Now we need to educate ourselves on how to combat it. That's where you come in.
American Policy Center has recently released a booklet that explains everything you need to know to start fighting back against sustainable programs both locally and nationally. The booklet is called Special Report: Agenda 21 and How to Stop It and is available in the APC store for only $5.95.
I wrote this 35 page booklet in order to give activists a succinct resource they can refer to if they suspect Agenda 21 or Sustainable Development is being implemented in their area. It includes my own research coupled with incredibly helpful graphics created by Carroll County, Maryland Commissioner Richard Rothschild.
In the booklet you will find answers to several roadblocks that grassroots anti-Agenda 21 activists often face, including a definition of property rights and "Resolution to Protect Citizens' Property Rights," which many concerned citizens are already using to tie the hands of power hungry politicians.
This booklet is a great resource for anyone interested in preserving their property rights. It includes all the information to put up a first line of defense and step by step instructions for how to proceed from there. If you face Agenda 21 or Sustainable development in your area or are simply concerned with the national fight this booklet is a must read.
P.S. - The American Policy Center store has recently updated our inventory to include everything you need to fight back against Agenda 21. The revamped catalogue includes the "Stop Agenda 21 Action Kit", which provides users with everything they need to know about Agenda 21 in their own living room, as well as ways to share it with other concerned activists and critical knowledge on how to fight back. The store also offers DVDs of past successful conferences and symposiums, books and articles that deal with the issues of sustainability and Agenda 21 and individually packaged manuals and workbooks to aid you in your activism. You don't need to look any farther than the American Policy Center Store for everything you need to combat Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development in your area.
A concerned parent tipped off TheBlaze to the disturbing fact that NY public schools are teaching the U.N.'s Socialist-leaning Universal Human Rights. We also discovered that the schools are delivering this indoctrination using videos made by the Church of Scientology. Learn what our investigation revealedHERE.
TheBlaze has been at the forefront in uncovering the disturbing details of the nationalized curriculum standard known as Common Core. One of the most troubling aspects of this federal program is that government bureaucrats are currently mining sensitive and highly personal information on children through Common Core's tracking system. Watch the powerful segments from The Glenn Beck Program HERE.
It's time to opt out of the creepy federal data-mining racket.
By Michelle Malkin
Last week, I reported on the federal government's massive new student-tracking database, which was created as part of the nationalized Common Core standards scheme.
The bad news: GOP "leadership" continues to ignore or, worse, enable this Nanny State racket. (Hello, Jeb Bush.)
The good news: A grassroots revolt outside the Beltway bubble is swelling. Families are taking their children's academic and privacy matters out of the snoopercrats' grip and into their own hands. You can now download a Common Core opt-out form to submit to your school district, courtesy of the group Truth in American Education.
Parents caught off guard by the stealthy tracking racket are now mobilizing across the country. According to the
New York Daily News
, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, echoing parents across New York City, blasted the tracking database in a letter to government officials: "I don't want my kids' privacy bought and sold like this." This Wednesday, prompted by parental objections, Oklahoma state representatives unanimously passed House Bill 1989 - the Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act - to prohibit the release of confidential student data without the written consent of the student's parent or guardian.As I noted in last week's column, the national Common Core student database was funded with Obama stimulus money. Grants also came from the liberal Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (which largely underwrote and promoted the top-down Common Core curricular scheme). A division of the conservative Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. built the database infrastructure. A nonprofit startup, "inBloom, Inc.," evolved out of this strange-bedfellows partnership to operate the invasive database, which is compiling everything from health-care histories, income information, and religious affiliations to voting status, blood types, and homework completion.
And it gets worse. Research fellow Joy Pullmann at the Heartland Institute points to a February Department of Education report on its data-mining plans that contemplates the use of creepy student-monitoring techniques such as "functional magnetic resonance imaging" and "using cameras to judge facial expressions, an electronic seat that judges posture, a pressure-sensitive computer mouse and a biometric wrap on kids' wrists."
The DOE report exposes the big lie that Common Core is about raising academic standards. The report instead reveals Common Core's progressive designs to measure and track children's "competencies" in "recognizing bias in sources," "flexibility," "cultural awareness and competence," "appreciation for diversity," "empathy," "perspective taking, trust, [and] service orientation."
That's right. School districts and state governments are pimping out highly personal data on children's feelings, beliefs, "biases," and "flexibility" instead of doing their own jobs of imparting knowledge - and minding their own business. And yes, Republicans such as former Florida governor Jeb Bush continue to falsely defend the centralized Common Core regime as locally driven and non-coercive, while ignoring the database system's circumvention of federal student-privacy laws.
Why? Edu-tech nosybodies are using the Common Core assessment boondoggle as a Trojan horse to collect and crunch massive amounts of personal student data for their own social-justice or moneymaking ends. Reminder: Nine states have entered into contracts with inBloom: Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina. Countless other vendors are salivating at the business possibilities in exploiting public-school students.
Marxism in Education - The Infiltration of Our School Systems by the Common Core Standards
Details
Written by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
Right Side News has been reporting on progressive education reformers and the Common Core Standards being implemented in our public schools across the nation. Here is an excellent article with videos detailing how the Obama Administration is requiring the public schools in your county through grants (bribes) to adopt Common Core Standards.
Bottom line: the Obama Administration is using your tax money to indoctrinate your children to a Marxist mindset. You can make a difference, as explained below the videos by downloading an OPT-OUT form and submitting that to your local school district.
Terresa Monroe-Hamilton, Noisy Room Blog
I caught Glenn Beck on The Blaze and his excellent showcasing of Obama's Common Core Standards that are now in 45 states, including my state of Idaho. Common Core is Marxism for children. It is state run propaganda and is meant to dumb down and control our little ones. It is evil and it has been a long time coming. Obama pushed it through slyly and quickly after coming into office, but I can tell you, this has been brewing since at least the 1990s.
A little background... When my children were in school in the 1990s, my husband and I requested to see the school curriculum for their school in Las Vegas, Nevada. We were refused and basically told we were too dumb to understand what the teachers were instructing our son and daughter in. The last straw came when they wanted to put my daughter in the second grade on Ritalin instead of disciplining her. I was pulled in front of four teachers and accused of not raising my daughter correctly, as well as basically being an abusive and stupid parent.
I promptly told these teachers that they could pound sand and pulled our children (our son was in third grade at the time) out of school that very same day. I left the Fortune 500 and home schooled both of them till high school and in retrospect, should have kept them out even then. My children could not do the simplest of math or read when we pulled them out. I tested them and started them all over again with the ABEKA home schooling system, which at the time, cost a great deal of money.
Forty-five states, the District of Columbia, four territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity have adopted the Common Core State Standards.
What information is being collected on your kids through Common Core?
TheBlaze TV subscribers can watch past episodes covering Common Core and CSCOPE. The March 14th episode focused on Common Core and the March 7th episode focused on CSCOPE. Not a subscriber? Sign up HERE.
Glenn has spent a lot of time over the past few weeks exposing some of the education initiatives in states across the country that are indoctrinating kids into the radical progressive agenda. Today, Glenn discussed an issue tied into Common Core that many people aren't aware of: data mining.
"We cover many important stories and topics on this program, but I don't think any could be more important than what we are covering tonight: the progressive takeover of America's schools,"
OK....when they look at you like you have a tin foil hat on your head......take some of this information with you. It is 126 pages. I have not read through the entire document (YET) but what I have read is enough to blow off the top of your head. I have highlighted some stuff. KIPP (Charter Schools) has a CHARACTER REPORT CARD on Page 39. So for now start on page 39 and work your way through to page 45. Remember FERPA laws were changed last year and I am sure not one parent is aware that permission to share information about our children no longer requires parental consent. Obama just slipped all these new changes in and I don't believe any parents were ever asked their opinions about these changes. And where was our Republican Congress when this happened???
AGENDA 21 is: The complete control and inventory of every human activity. After your friends read some of this information ask them if they still believe A21 is not real. Chapter 36 of A21 document is devoted to education.
Our government forgets there are still people alive that can think and see through their garbage.
Print this document and get a highlighter...........then start visiting your neighbors, school boards, elected officials and start screaming. GET COMMON CORE AND THE GOVERNMENT out of our class rooms. I think it is time to start a MASS movement for Home Schooling. I know Home Schooling will not be spared. This should be a movement to bring education back to the local level and DESTROY the Federal Department of Education. If our kids are not in school it will create an uprising at all levels. We should not settle for shutting down Common Core because they will masquerade it....they are already doing this in VA. VA supposedly never signed on to Common Core but GUESS WHAT........they ARE implementing Common Core and disguising it from the citizens in VA....of course they aren't doing a good job of hiding it and people in VA are catching on. Our schools have been in the process of a government take over (in earnest) for more than 20 years. If we don't shut down the Department of Education it will never stop. We have to cause a citizen uprising!!
Here is the U.S. Department of Education - Office of Educational Technology document:
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests"- Patrick Henry
To fix "THE SYSYEM" We must become "THE SYSTEM" - k. bracken "The change we seek has always required great struggle and great sacrifice." - Barack Hussein Obama "The man who speaks to you of sacrifice, speaks of slaves and masters. And intends to be the master." - Ayn Rand
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."
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Overview:
The sectional divide that led to the outbreak of the Civil War was rooted in fundamentally opposing interpretations of the principles of the Declaration of Independence in addition to diverging perceptions of the institution of slavery. Slaveholders and non-slaveholders alike at the time of the Founding generally agreed that slavery was unjust and an evil that ran counter to the ethos of the Founding, even while countenancing it in practice. By the 1850s, prominent men such as John C. Calhoun and Alexander Stevens argued that slavery was a positive good, and that liberty and equality, far from being natural rights belonging to every human being, were privileges to be earned.
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Tuesday, April 2, 2013
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary L. Bauer
Planned Parenthood & Post-Birth Abortions
Last week legislators in the Sunshine State succeeded in exposing the ugly reality of Planned Parenthood -- it is in the business of destroying children.
The Florida House Civil Justice Committee debated a bill requiring medical attention for babies who survived failed abortions. Alisa LaPolt Snow, representing the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, testified against the legislation. Her comments were shocking to those who are still in the dark about how extreme Planned Parenthood is. Please read this exchange:
Rep. Jim Boyd: "So, um, it is just really hard for me to even ask you this question because I'm almost in disbelief. If a baby is born on a table as a result of a botched abortion, what would Planned Parenthood want to have happen to that child that is struggling for life?"
Ms. Snow: "We believe that any decision that's made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician."
Rep. Jose Oliva: "You stated that a baby born alive on a table as a result of a botched abortion that that decision should be left to the doctor and the family. Is that what you're saying?"
Ms. Snow: "That decision should be between the patient and the health care provider."
Rep. Jose Oliva: "I think that at that point the 'patient' would be the child struggling on the table, wouldn't you agree?" (Here Mrs. Snow realizes that she is walking into a trap. She "punts.")
Ms. Snow: "That's a very good question. I really don't know how to answer that."
Even after a baby is born, Planned Parenthood's representative still cannot see the humanity of that child struggling on the table. As shocking and disgusting as her response was, she was merely echoing President Obama's position.
As an Illinois State Senator, Barack Obama repeatedly opposed similar legislation. During a 2008 debate at Saddleback Church, Obama could not tell Pastor Rick Warren when babies had the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Even for a supporter of abortion, "at birth" would seem like an obvious answer. But for pro-abortion extremists, the choice to terminate a life extends beyond birth into the realm civilization calls infanticide.
Dr. Carson Fights Back
Dr. Ben Carson went on Mark Levin's radio show last night and fought back against the left-wing smear machine that is desperately trying to tear him apart. Responding to the attacks, Carson said:
"They want to shut us up completely, and that's why the attacks against me have been so vicious. I represent an existential threat to them. They need to shut me up, they need to get rid of me, they can't find anything else to delegitimize me, so they take my words, misinterpret them, and try to make it seem that I'm a bigot."
Responding to a question from Mark Levin about being a black conservative, Dr. Carson turned the tables on his left-wing critics and accused them of racism, saying, "They're the most racist people there are because they put you in a little category, a box. 'How could you dare come off the plantation?'"
Good for him! That is how conservatives should respond to leftist bullies!
Obamacare Killing Jobs & Raising Prices
For the past three years critics of Obamacare have said that it is bad medicine for a weak economy -- job-killing legislation that would also raise prices on struggling consumers. The latest evidence comes from a prospectus from a restaurant chain seeking additional investment funding.
When businesses seek investment funds, they are legally required to provide a prospectus -- a document outlining the potential rewards and risks to investors. This is a financial statement, not a political statement. In this case, Obamacare is identified as a clear risk to the company's bottom line. Consider these excerpts:
"Although [XXX] already offers health care, there is expected to be an increase in costs associated with the Affordable Health Care Act ('ACA,' see 'Risks' section). To mitigate this cost, employees that were working more than 30 hours per week ... have moved down to 29 hours per week, reducing the 'full time' pool requiring health insurance from 1,100 to 835 employees. ...
"According to an NFP study of the Company's health insurance and potential impact of the ACA, the total cost increase to the Company in 2014 is estimated to be $400,000 (or a 33% cost increase)... We believe this cost will continue to increase as the ACA is modified over the next several years but that most of the impact can be managed through cost reducing the plan or of set through menu price increases."
Salmon's Stand For Marriage
Kudos to Congressman Matt Salmon (R-AZ). He was interviewed over the weekend by an Arizona TV station and asked about his view on same-sex marriage. Salmon's son, also named Matt, has been openly gay for years and active in the Log Cabin Republicans.
But, unlike Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Congressman Salmon still believes marriage should remain the union of one man and one woman. Here is how he handled the issue:
"I don't support the gay marriage. My son is by far one of the most important people in my life. I love him more than I can say. I'm just not there as far as believing in my heart that we should change 2,000 years of social policy."
That is how the issue should be handled -- with love for the child and respect for the institution of marriage.
The congressman's son was equally loving toward his father, telling the Washington Post, "We respect each others' opinions and we just know that on certain issues we have to agree to disagree." He also condemned the intolerant "hate speech" that homosexual rights activists have posted on his father's Facebook page since this interview.
Please take a moment to encourage Rep. Salmon. Thank him for not abandoning normal marriage. It would be politically convenient for him to reverse his position under these circumstances, and I have no doubt that the gay rights movement will continue to target him and his family for harassment and intimidation.
David Addington at the Heritage Foundation reports on a little something-something slipped into the rough beast of gun control laws slouching toward the Senate to be born, courtesy of majority leader Harry Reid. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
2.Medicaid Expansion Would "Save" Ohio Money by Increasing State, Federal Spending
Governor John Kasich and other supporters of expanding Medicaid in Ohio make a strange economic case for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Medicaid expansion, portraying millions in new state spending as responsible because it would be offset by billions in new federal spending.
The left-leaning Urban Institute, in estimates the Kaiser Family Foundation released last November, projected that Ohio's adoption of the PPACA Medicaid expansion would increase federal Medicaid spending by over $53 billion and Ohio's Medicaid spending by more than $4 billion through 2022. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
3.The ObamaCare tax credit trap
Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi encouraged us to pass ObamaCare to find out what was in it.Here's the latest grisly surprise, courtesy of the Associated Press.. . . please click here for the rest of the post →
Using Conservative Jujitsu on Progressives Jason Kissner Conservatives should take every opportunity to expose Progressive hypocrisy about, and cynicism toward, the very culture they themselves are creating -- sucker punching when necessary. More
The VA: a Culture of Disconnect Elise Cooper The VA has become the poster child of an incompetent, complacent American health care system. More
Stomping on Jesus: The Iconoclasm of the Left Fay Voshell The attempt to wipe out Christian symbols and to achieve the Leftist goal of the total secularization of American society continues apace even though the majority of Americans are at least nominally Christian. More
Eerily Authentic: The Americans Bernie Reeves An example of ongoing political warfare, perfected by the KGB during the Cold War, was unintentionally revealed recently. More
American Thinker Blog
Gay Marriage: The Left's Great Shame April 3, 2013 You wouldn't know it if you spent all your time reading the American media dominated by the neo-liberal-corporate-industrial complex, but a street revolution is occurring in France. More
American Arrested for Anti-homosexual Statements April 3, 2013 What do the Islamic world and Europe have in common? There are actually many similarities, but one is this: in neither place are Christians always allowed to express their beliefs without fear of persecution. More
The global Islamist demand for shutting down free speech has grown louder and stronger over the past eighteen months-even here in the U.S.
And more creative.
"Cyber bullying" is the latest argument for limiting free speech deemed "offensive" to Islam, and was described in a March 19th event at Howard University (see article below, highlights added).
Those intent on muzzling our free speech rights are going to keep at it, building support and looking for ways to persuade people that free speech as we know it must be changed.
The threat is REAL. We can't afford to ignore it.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP TO WAKE UP AMERICA!!!
Obama's Religious Freedom Appointee Involved in Muslim Event Calling for Limiting Freedom of Speech
March 26, 2013
By Elizabeth Harrington
(CNSNews.com) - America's free-speech model is in desperate need of an update, says an American-Muslim human rights activist who recently spoke at an event linked to an Obama administration appointee.
Dr. Qasim Rashid argued that cyber-bullying laws could be used to limit freedom of expression - such as the burning of Korans -- in war time:
"When a nation is at war, many things that might be said in times of peace are a hindrance to this effort," Rashid said on March 19 at Howard University. "And their utterance will not be endured so long as men fight and...no court can regard them as protected by any constitutional right."
Rashid began his remarks by personally thanking Dr. Azizah al-Hibri, appointed by President Barack Obama to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in June 2011. Al-Hibri founded Karamah, a group devoted to the rights of Muslim women, and it was this group that invited Rashid to speak.
"I do want to start by thanking Karamah," Rashid said. "I was fortunate enough to have several constitutional scholars look at this paper and provide feedback. Dr. al-Hibri, of course..."
The topic of the March 19 event at Howard University was titled, "The Limits of Free Speech in a Global Era: Does America's Free Speech Model Endanger Muslim Americans?"
"Our understanding of free speech today is not some long-held 227- or 235-year understanding," said Rashid, a member of the Muslim Writers Guild of America, who presented a paper titled "In Harm's Way: The Desperate Need to Update America's Current Free Speech Model."
Rashid quoted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who in 2011 said, "Free speech is a great idea, but we're in a war."
Advances in technology that allow videos and messages to cross the world in an instant require a "revised speech model," Rashid said.
"Most, if not all of you are familiar with the 2011 case where Terry Jones, a pastor from Florida, burned a Koran on March 20, 2011, and this event itself provides a prime example of the gap that advanced technology caused in America's free speech model," Rashid said.
"So in addition to placing a big sign on his church lawn that said Islam is the devil, Jones burned the Koran, screened it live on the Internet and put in layman's translations so that people in war-torn [areas] in particular can see what he's doing," he continued. "Now like the hypothetical KKK member who might burn a cross on his black neighbor's lawn to target him specifically, Jones did the exact same thing by burning the Koran -- broadcast it and targeted Muslims in a war- torn country...to target them specifically."
Rashid noted that government officials warned Jones that his actions might provoke violence, and while Jones said he knew it, he burned the Koran anyway, sparking deadly protests in Afghanistan and a condemnation by Pakistan's government.
Using the Koran burning as an example, Rashid said that cyber-bullying legislation could be used to prosecute individuals for their speech on a case-by-case basis.
"My argument is that we already have legislation, right?" he said. "I mean, we already have a cyber-bullying policy in all 50 states that even without the threat of violence - even without violence occurring, we're already holding individuals responsible for this intentional infliction of harm on others."
"So I think that legislation's already there," Rashid said. "It's just more a question of how is it going to be applied."
According to the Cyber-bullying Research Center, 49 states have bullying statutes and 16 states have cyber-bullying laws, which can prosecute individuals for electronic bullying.
In Arkansas, for example, a person can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor if they engage in communications online "with the purpose to frighten, coerce, intimidate, threaten, abuse, harass, or alarm another person."
According to the Investigative Project on Terrorism, Dr. al-Hibri sat on the National Advisory Board of the American Muslim Council (AMC) from 1991 to 1998 with AMC Executive Director Abdurahman Alamoudi. Alamoudi was later sentenced to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to terrorism charges for his involvement in an assassination plot of then- Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah.
In June 2011, President Obama appointed Dr. al-Hibri to the USCIRF, an eight member federal body that monitors religious freedom conditions abroad and recommends policies that will "enhance freedom where it is imperiled."
Dr. al-Hibri founded Karamah in 1993, one year after she became the first Muslim female law professor in the United States. She has written extensively on women's issues, democracy, and human rights from an Islamic perspective, her biography says.
Karamah said that Dr. al-Hibri is out of the country and was not available for comment.
When asked what he liked best about the "Let's Move!" initiative, Moore didn't hesitate. "Government involvement!" he crowed, waving a turkey leg dripping with gravy worthy of King Henry VIII.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has finally owned up to the fact that the so-called Affordable Care Act may be producing something less affordable for U.S. citizens.
I am concerned CAIR's hateful supremacist rhetoric could lead to possible bias incidents inciting "practicing Muslims" to act in a lawless manner against non-Muslims.
We can know things in our hearts with certainty. Most of you probably understand this already, but I'm just getting used to it, having overused my brain and underused my heart for most of my sixty-two years.
"This is a very simple game; you throw the ball, you catch the ball you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains." Bull Durham
"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
North Korea routinely threatens to annihilate South Korea, the United States, and Japan. After its recent successful long-range missile and nuclear tests, Pyongyang now claims it already has the capability to target U.S. bases in the Pacific and the American homeland with nuclear weapons.
As frightening as these warnings are, North Korea would more likely conduct another tactical-level attack to achieve its objectives rather than risk national suicide through a nuclear strike. Discerning bluster from actual North Korean intent is always difficult, but recent actions suggest greater potential for another attack-perhaps imminent-on South Korean military and civilian targets.
The danger of North Korean miscalculation has increased further with new North Korean leader Kim Jong-un emboldened by recent nuclear and missile test successes and the knowledge that Seoul and Washington have never struck back in any significant way after previous deadly attacks. But South Korea is now more likely to strike back after another North Korean assault.
The government picking winners and losers is bad for any economy. But it also often leads to the opposite of the intended result - just take a look at Japan's green economy.
Burma's latest bout of violence is a reminder that despite its significant political reforms, the country remains either unable or unwilling to sufficiently protect the human rights of minority groups.
Cybersecurity threats from nations like China and Russia are among the most critical issues the U.S. faces today.
In their new report, Heritage Foundation national security analysts detail seven measures to protect America's assets and interests in the cyber domain.
Leading the Way tells the remarkable story of Ed Feulner and The Heritage Foundation. At its helm for 36 years, Feulner led The Heritage Foundation into becoming the most influential conservative think tank in the nation.
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.
Haifa, Israel - Hizballah's continuing alliance with embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has the notorious Shia political and military movement navigating choppier waters than at any other time in recent memory.
Led by Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah - the Iranian-backed preacher rarely seen in public these days for fear he might be assassinated - Hizballah had been the unquestioned Shia force in Lebanon. But cracks have begun to appear as both internal dissent and external pressures have been brought to bear and reveal a vulnerability that had rarely, if ever, been seen before.
President Obama - angry at Hizballah's continued support of the Assad regime - didn't mince his words in Jerusalem March 21: "Every country that values justice should call Hizballah what it truly is - a terrorist organization."
That's a much more direct statement than administration officials previously were willing to make. In 2010, then-National Security Advisor and current CIA Director John Brennan spoke of trying "to build up the more moderate elements" of the organization.
It's a fast fall from Hizballah's previous high-point of influence, Mordechai Kedar, an Israeli scholar of Arabic specializing in Islamic movements and ideology, told the Investigative Project on Terrorism. "Hizballah was the most popular organisation in the Arab world after the 2006 Lebanon War [against Israel], but now their image is as bad as it could be because Hizballah is considered as a collaborator with the most vicious of regimes [Syria]. They have lost much of the image they gained after the 2006 war."
In a December report, the United Nations confirmed that Hizballah was fighting alongside the Assad regime in Syria.
"From the outside point of view, they [Hizballah] are supporting Assad by sending hundreds of combatants to Syria in order to preserve the regime, because they know that if they are not loyal to their friend, no-one will be their friend in the future," Kedar explained. "Secondly, they need the Syrian regime as the bridge between Iran and Lebanon. It would be very hard for them to function without Syrian mediation between Lebanon and Iran when it comes to supplies, logistics, missiles and all the weapons that they need."
Having been supported by both Syria and Iran for many years, Hizballah determined that it must stand by the Syrian regime even though it appears to be fighting a losing battle. Failure to do so could cost it financial support from Iran, leaving Hizballah - once Assad has gone - with no significant nation state supporting their cause.
Here we have an example that demonstrates this reality further and it comes via Kenneth Timmerman, who has picked up on the fact that the new Secretary of State - John Kerry - has a son-in-law with family still living in Iran. This reality could conceivably affect how Kerry deals with the Iranians.
In a greeting to the Iranian people on the occasion of the traditional New Year (Nowruz) holiday last week, Secretary of State John Kerry exposed a secret that journalists and academics have been agonizing over for the past six weeks: the fact that his daughter has married an Iranian-American who has extensive family ties to Iran.
"I am proud of the Iranian-Americans in my own family, and grateful for how they have enriched my life," Kerry said in the official statement. Kerry also said he was "strongly committed to resolving" the differences between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, "to the mutual benefit of both of our people."
Politicians like to keep their families off-limits to the press, a decorum enforced vigorously when it comes to politicians who are in favor with the national media but ruthlessly discarded for others. But in Kerry's case, there could be larger ramifications.
Since its inception, the FBI has vetted U.S. government officials involved in national security issues, and it generally won't grant clearances to individuals who are married to nationals of an enemy nation or have family members living in that country, for fear of divided loyalties or, more simply, blackmail.
Behrouz (Brian) Nahed and Vanessa Kerry Nahed are both resident physicians at Mass General in Boston. An Iranian government website first published pictures of the married couple in February, just as Kerry was up for confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Dr. Nahed's parents live in Los Angeles, but he has relatives still in Iran. The Iranian website reported that shortly after their marriage, the young couple visited those relatives in Iran.
Was the Iranian publication itself a subtle form of blackmail, aimed at letting Kerry know that the regime is fully aware of his son-in-law's extended family in Iran? The Islamic Republic systematically puts pressure on family members of prominent Iranian-Americans (for example, individuals who work at the Persian service of Voice of America), to make sure that they do not engage in hostile statements or activities against the Tehran regime.
Certainly, Secretary Kerry has long favored a U.S. rapprochement with the Islamic Republic. He has repeatedly appeared with groups such as the American Iranian Council (AIC), and has taken money from Iranian-Americans for his political campaigns, including at least one illegal donation from an Iranian woman who did not have a green card. So he didn't need to have an Iranian-American family member to believe that the United States should forge direct relations with the Islamic Republic or ease U.S. pressure on the regime.
Kerry may have figured that by revealing the family tie himself he could diffuse the situation, and make it more difficult for the regime to put pressure on his son-in-law's family. Of course, that's assuming Kerry in fact plans to do anything that angers the regime.
But what if the regime simply decides to round up Nahed's family members and torture them? Or sends its goons to visit them at home? Or exerts some form of more subtle pressure on them that gets no publicity, and then makes it known they want the United States to release Iranians jailed in the United States on terrorism charges or for attempting to procure weapons technology or military spare parts?
In any other administration, such a complicated situation would have been considered an unacceptable security risk for a cabinet-level officer. My guess: Now that the cat is out of the bag, a fawning left-wing media will attempt to gin up public sympathy for Secretary Kerry, and lionize him for bravely reaching out to Tehran.
While that might send shivers down the leg of a Chris Matthews, it won't resolve the very real security risk. The mullahs in Tehran and their goon squads won't hesitate to exploit this messy situation for their own benefit.
One can only sympathize in advance with Behrouz Nahed's family in Iran, and wonder at the audacity, naiveté and hubris of an American politician who apparently thinks his position (and positions) put him above it all.
Kenneth R. Timmerman is the founder and president of the Foundation for Democracy in Iran.
Connecticut lawmakers spurred into action by the Sandy Hook school shooting have agreed on what they say is the nation's strongest gun control bill. The bipartisan agreements includes universal background checks for firearm sales, new state-issued eligibility certificates for the purchase of any rifle, shotgun, or ammunition, and a ban on future sales of high-capacity magazines, the New York Times reports. The package, which also strengthens the state's existing ban on semiautomatic assault rifles, is expected to easily pass the state House and Senate this week, reports the Hartford Courant.
A contingent of liberal Democrats in Congress is proposing a new federal gun control idea: mandatory liability insurance for gun owners.
When New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney introduced the legislation last month with eight other Democrats, she boasted that it is "the first bill to require liability insurance of gun buyers nationwide."
Maloney's "Firearm Risk Protection Act" requires gun buyers to have "a qualified liability insurance policy" before they are able to legally purchase a firearm.
Gun control advocates in Sacramento are putting a new twist on an old NRA slogan: "Guns don't kill people - bullets kill people." Democratic lawmakers are pushing like never before to regulate or tax ammunition sales. They say the logic is simple: A firearm is nothing but an expensive paperweight without ammunition. "We regulated gun [...]
At a speech yesterday at the White House to outline a new science initiative, President Barack Obama named himself "Scientist-in-Chief." "I'm glad I've been promoted Scientist-in-Chief," Obama said to laughter at the White House. "Given my grades in physics, I'm not sure it's deserving. But I hold science in proper esteem, so maybe that gives [...]
April 2, 2013
Exclusive: Illegal Border Crossings Double, Border Becomes Less Secure as Beltway Gets Close to Deal on Immigration Reform
By Katie Pavlich
4/1/2013
As the immigration reform Gang of Eight inside the Beltway prepares to announce a deal later this week, claiming border security will come before a path to citizenship for millions of illegals, Border Patrol agents have seen illegal border crossings double and warn the cutting of agent work hours will only result in less border security, not more.
"We've seen the number of illegal aliens double, maybe even triple since amnesty talk started happening," an agent told Townhall, who asked to remain unnamed due to fears of retaliation within Customs and Border Protection [CBP], something he said is common. "A lot of these people, although not the majority, are criminals or aggravated felons. This is a direct danger to our communities."
Data obtained by Townhall and reported within CBP from February 5 through March 1, 2013 shows 504 illegal aliens were spotted exploiting the Tucson/Nogales area, 189 were caught on CBP intelligence cameras. Of those 504, only 174 were apprehended and 32 of the 189 on camera were carrying large drug load packs for Mexican cartels. Some were armed with AK-47 style weapons.
Below are selected photos obtained by Townhall from CBP intelligence cameras in Southern Arizona near the border with Mexico. Sensitive information has been redacted in order to protect the security and identity of the camera locations.
PEOPLE THIS IS REALLY BAD. LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FRAUD IN OUR SYSTEM ALREADY. This is a blatant attempt to manipulate the voting in America. Think about other countries run by Dictators..........who runs/owns the election process??
Thursday, as many Americans prepared for a three day weekend, Obama signed an Executive Order that can alter the course of all future elections.
In it, he established the Presidential Commission of Election Administration. The 9 members are appointed by the President. Their mission includes:
establishing the number, location, management, operation and design of polling places
the training and recruitment of poll workers
accessibility for overseas and uniformed voters
voting machine technology
management of Provisional ballots
management of Absentee ballots
Consider this: Most of Obama's power-grabs were initiated via Federal Agencies. A strong incoming president could unravel much of his work. If BHO controls the election process, there is little left for the future but totalitarianism.
Most Americans do not know about the order or what it means. Please:
1. Contact everyone you know and let them see what the WH is up to. Don't talk about politics, just that this is a bad overreach of authority for any president, regardless of political party.
2. Call, call, call your representatives and state public officials:
The House and Senate can pass a bill overriding the EO and then have a 2/3 majority to override the president's veto. Obviously, this is not likely today, But, it can work if public opinion is also overwhelmingly against the president.
We can garner public opinion by pointing out that once the Executive branch assumes control of the election process, any incoming president can then use his powers to alter any election. The public does not want presidents with that kind of power.
Stopping the EO:
Like Obama's pre-holiday release, Clinton signed his EO while in Birmingham, England. The low profile attempt worked since most Americans and even congress knew little of his move. But, representatives Ron Paul (TX) and Bob Barr (GA) sponsored counter legislation bringing the EO to the public's attention.
At the same time, Big Seven" organizations of state and local governments: the National Governors Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties and the International City/County Management Association joined forces and sent a letter to Clinton demanding he rescind EO 13083. (We must notify these groups!!!)
Several media picked up on Pauls' bill and the state actions and the story began to spread.
In 1998-99, there were marches across the country over 13083. We need to notify every media outlet and every neighbor of Obama's order. Clinton eventually backed off of his EO.
Another avenue to repeal is for Congress to deny the funds necessary to fund the EO. My guess is Obama has ample money he can shuffle from other agencies to fund whatever this without Congress.
Small Businesses Won't Have Plan Choices Under Obamacare
Monday, 01 Apr 2013
By Cyrus Afzali
Citing the challenges in establishing a new health insurance marketplace, the Obama administration is delaying a key provision of the Affordable Care Act designed to provide employees of small businesses affordable health coverage.
The New York Times reported Monday that in most states employers will not be able to provide workers with a choice of health plans as the law intended. Instead, they will be limited to a single plan.
One of the health law's provisions, known as "employee choice," called for each state to operate a Small Business Health Options Program, known as a SHOP exchange.
The exchange, which was to start operating in January, is designed to allow small businesses and their employees to compare health plans and enroll employees for coverage. However, in 33 states where the federal government will be running the exchanges, the choice option will be delayed until 2015, meaning employees of small firms will only have the choice of one plan. Other states operating their own exchanges will also have the option to only offer a single plan as well.
While war drums continue to echo across the globe, the U.S. is now on alert for this highly classified threat that could detonate a high-altitude nuclear device over the country.
Mark Sanford wins GOP primary runoff in South Carolina By Cameron Joseph
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) has won his House primary runoff, setting up a high-profile special election against businesswoman Elizabeth Colbert Busch (D).
Sanford led attorney Curtis Bostic (R), 55 percent to 45 percent, with 67 percent of precincts reporting. The Associated Press has called the race.
The win is the latest step in Sanford's rehabilitation after an extramarital affair derailed his political career in 2009, but his biggest test lies ahead in the Republican-leaning district.
Immigration is a difficult issue-there's no getting around that. How do we encourage and improve lawful immigration, while deterring unlawful immigration?
David Addington, head of Heritage's Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, takes on this question just as the Senate's "Gang of Eight" nears a deal on a new bill. He writes:
The U.S. should reform its immigration system through a careful, step-by-step process that welcomes lawful immigrants, encourages their full participation in American life, and expands opportunity. The process also must prevent unlawful immigration, encourage respect for law, secure America's borders, and preserve America's sovereignty.
Heritage has described this step-by-step process for a problem-solving approach to immigration issues, such as reform of the lawful immigration system, visa reforms, lawful temporary worker arrangements, and strong border and interior enforcement.
Broad federal declarations usually don't work, and a one-size-fits-all immigration policy is not the way to go.
It's also important to remember why people come to America. They are drawn by the promise of freedom and the chance to make a better life for themselves and their families.
The best thing we can do for all immigrants-past and future-is to make sure that America remains a place where people want to come. America must be a place where citizens are protected and laws are enforced. Respect for the law is what makes individual freedom possible; the Constitution safeguards our freedoms.
Immigration policy that extends amnesty to unlawful immigrants goes against that respect for the law that makes America stand out in the world. As new congressional plans emerge, Addington warns that people who knowingly entered or remain in the U.S. unlawfully should not receive amnesty:
Amnesty comes in many forms, but in all its variations, it discourages respect for the law, treats law-breaking aliens better than law-following aliens, and encourages future unlawful immigration into the United States.
America needs-and wants-immigrants to enrich the nation. At the same time, we have to protect the nation's borders and its sovereignty. Workable immigration reform will balance these necessities without compromising the American values that attract immigrants in the first place.
Obamism is an emotional flight from reality, completely unsustainable to the degree it is a paradigm for anything. It is mythical, this notion of borrowing vast amounts of money to grow government and subsidize a new cadre on government support, or demonizing millions as suspect for their success, or assuming that foreign nations react best to apologies, contextualization, and sermons.
Hollywood believes that it influences our society, and recognizes a responsibility to do something about it. Except, of course, if it involves stylized gunfights where the consequences of suffering, loss, and grievous injuries are almost never realistic.
The flurry of gun-control bills introduced at the beginning of the 113th Congress in January, many reactive to the Sandy Hook tragedy, just scratched the surface. Lawmakers continue to introduce new regulations, and many of these move forward in the shadow of more famous cousins such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D-Calif.) assault weapons ban. Still, control of congressional chambers may change, and there's no guarantee these bills and others won't have a life if reintroduced in a future Congress.
There was a time when the start of the baseball season was one of the most anticipated events in America. Today, every single game is televised, with the all-sports cable networks broadcasting replays and highlights all day long. Something special went out of the game when baseball became so ubiquitous. It lost some of its mystique, its perception as a special event.
The Gay marriage plot is not hard to see. It goes as follows: First: legalize Gay "marriage" next: use tax law to force churches to commit Gay "marriages" with an either or choice: finally: close those that refuse to commit Gay "marriages."
The forced choice will be Gay "marriage" or lose tax exempt status.
The real target of all of this is the Catholic Church. For all of her faults the Catholic Church has steadfastly refused to change her position against same gender marriage. The elevation of Pope Francis has done nothing to make anyone think this position will be changed.
The Left knows that a Supreme Court victory will never give Gays what they really want which is a totally unfettered lifestyle and "freedom" to live not only as they wish, but to be accepted as equals in everyday life. With the Catholic Church standing in the way that is a ... Continue Reading:The Ultimate aim of the Gay "marriage" plot is putting the Catholic Church in an "either or" trap
For the first time in history, the wife of a United States prosecutor was murdered along with her husband when Texas District Attorney Mike and Cynthia McClelland were found shot to death last Saturday in their home.
While the motive for the apparent and unprecedented assassinations are still unknown, authorities suspect Mexican drug cartels and their associates that are escalating and infiltrating major cities in the United States were behind the apparent executions.
As a greater level of scrutiny is being placed on the controversial curriculum systems CSCOPE (in Texas) and Common Core Standards(nationwide), concerned parents have been speaking with TheBlaze about their troubling experiences with these curriculum systems. See some of the actual lessons that have parents very upset and re-evaluating their school boardsHERE.
Although it�s widely believed that �Obamacare� is here to stay, one lawsuit is threatening to undo President Obama�s landmark health care bill. The Washington Times notes: �A challenge filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation contends that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional because the bill originated in the Senate, not the House. Does this legal action have a leg to stand on? Find outHERE.
Italian archeologists have found the �gate to hell� Naturally, you�re probably wondering what, exactly, does this mean? Located in Pamukkale, Turkey, the newly-discovered cave was known in ancient times as Pluto�s Gate. And, as Fox News reports, it is a so-called doorway to hell � one that was discussed and revered in Greco-Roman mythology. See the digital recreation of the areaHERE.
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Monday night's panel on Fox News� �Hannity� program night exploded into a heated debate over Dr. Ben Carson and his comments about gay marriage. To say things got heated between panelists would be an understatement. Watch the exchange that forced Sean Hannity to have his guests microphones turned offHERE.
A Minnesota mom who is six months pregnant and getting ready to head home from a trip to New York with her 6-year-old daughter was arrested last week. The problem? She had an unloaded handgun in the luggage she was attempting to check at New York's LaGuardia Airport. See the unbelieveable sentence that could be imposed upon the womanHERE.
Strangely enough, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper has been fired for a speeding ticket he didn�t write. Roughly two weeks ago, Florida Highway Patrol trooper Charles Swindle was fired for �conduct unbecoming of a public employee� after he offered a state lawmaker, Rep. Charles McBurney (R-Jacksonville), a warning for doing 87 mph in a 70 mph zone. Learn who spilled the beans on the lenient trooperHERE.
Backers of a newly adopted ordinance requiring gun ownership in a small northern Georgia town acknowledge they were largely seeking to make a point about gun rights. But that won�t stop firearms control advocates from protesting its implementation. Get all the details on Nelson, GA's new lawHERE.
This article is part of a series on Guns in America that explores the use of firearms in our country and the debate over gun control. -- Measuring gun ownership in America is a monumentally difficult task � one that has led to intense debate and a wide range of numbers that cannot be definitively pinned down. See our latest analysis of the dueling poll numbers on the subject og gun ownership HERE.
A thief who allegedly grabbed the purse of a 50-year-old woman in Australia had his plans for running away quickly foiled for a moment as he sprinted right through a glass door, knocking himself out. See the surprising thing that happened nextHERE.
April Fools� Day has always been ripe with pranks. Some of yesterday's pranks came from big names like the White House, Google and YouTube. Of course, there are a plethora of videos showing tricks played on people uploaded online as well. We�ve pulled together eight of these videos so you can get your April Fools fill in one place. Watch them allHERE.
In Cairo a few years ago, Obama promised to ensure Muslims could fulfill "ZAKAT." What is "ZAKAT"? And what are the implications of this promise? Related posts: Rioting Muslims, We Don't Care If You're "Offended" A powerful video from a citizen tired of coddling and... Muslims Torch Christian Homes Egyptian Muslims torched Christians' homes after [...]
Apr 02, 2013 01:23 pm While most Americans are absorbed in their own lives (whether it be trying to make sure they can provide for their families, having a hobby, or just plain watching TV), one thing stands clear. Our Republic is being stolen right out from under our noses. Some have realized this, but some are still asleep. Allow [...]
Video: Obama Will Teach Americans To Budget Responsibly - No Joke!
Apr 02, 2013 01:16 pm
I needed a good laugh this morning; and watching this, I did laugh! Related posts: Is This A Joke Headline? 'Obama To Order $100 Million In Budget Cuts' By Tim Graham What happens when the White House publicity... Is The Ryan Budget A Joke? Last April, House Republicans released the Ryan budget for FY...
Apr 02, 2013 01:12 pm The gay marriage plot is not hard to see. It goes as follows: First, legalize gay "marriage." Next, use tax law to force churches to commit to gay "marriages" with an either/or choice. Finally, close those that refuse to commit to gay "marriages." The forced choice will be: gay "marriage," or lose tax exempt status. [...]
Video: Fischer: The Left Driven By 'Dark, Satanic Powers'
Apr 02, 2013 01:10 pm
Bryan Fischer says the Left is being used by demonic forces to attack those who stand on the word of God. Related posts: Fischer: Obama's Christian Faith Is A "Total Sham" Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association is not convinced by... Fischer: "Smart People Are Conservative" Bryan Fischer says young people are liberal but become [...]
Apr 02, 2013 12:57 pm Brunswick, GA city commissioner and mayor pro tem James Henry Brooks should be ashamed of himself for interfering in this extremely hot button murder case. His bungling reminds me yet again that Black faces in high places doesn't necessarily mean colorblind governance! Quite the contrary, as we see. Brooks attempted to assist the prime suspect's [...]
Mike Zullo, head of Sheriff Joe's Cold Case Posse, will take his case to the public this Friday! Find out here how you can talk to Mr. Zullo directly!! Related posts: An Update From Sheriff Joe's Cold Case Posse Mark Gillar talks to Mike Zullo, lead investigator of Sheriff... Cold Case Posse Responds To CNN's [...]
Apr 02, 2013 12:36 pm This past week, the Supreme Court was busy hearing two cases concerning the legality of same-sex marriage in the United States. No decision is likely to be made until the court takes their recess sometime in late June. Many think that the court is going to make a wide, sweeping decision, declaring that same-sex marriage [...]
Video: "Basketball Star" Barry Obama Goes 2-for-22
Apr 02, 2013 12:25 pm
Brick House Barry Bust 2 for 22! If only he could manage an economic recovery as good as he shoots baskets... Related posts: Is America Under Barry Becoming A Totalitarian State? A Totalarian state is one in which the leader, in... Barry The Betrayer: Iran V. Egypt V. America Obviously, there is a major difference [...]
Apr 02, 2013 12:17 pm Sadly, bureaucracy is a time-honored tradition in the United States government; but perhaps no greater bureaucratic juggernaut exists today than the Veteran's Administration (VA) run by the Obama Administration. The abject failure of the VA under the leadership of the three-ring circus we know as the Obama Administration is a case in point that increasing [...]
Do you think more cities should require homeowners to have a gun? Let us know what you think below... Related posts: Freddie Mac Bets Against American Homeowners Freddie Mac, the taxpayer-owned mortgage giant, has placed multibillion-dollar bets... Media Celebrates Armed Killers, Ignores Armed Heroes Mass killers are celebrated endlessly by a salivating national media...
Apr 02, 2013 12:09 pm "It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'is' is," said the smooth-talking, skirt-chasing, totally busted philanderer. "Well, no, Bill," replied Congress. "Actually, things just 'is' what they is." Here's what marriage is: The God-ordained, lifelong, covenantal union between man and wife, designed to provide men, women, and children optimal stability and overall well-being. [...]
Illegal Border Crossings Double, Not Decreasing As Feds Claim
Apr 02, 2013 11:50 am About two weeks ago the New York Times published an article claiming that the Arizona - Mexico border was the safest it's been in years and that illegal border crossings had dramatically decreased. They cited all of the beefed up security measures and equipment including miles of 18 foot high fencing, increased patrols of Blackhawk [...]
Video: Ex-Obama Official Fights To Regulate The Internet
Apr 02, 2013 11:41 am
Daniel Weitzner, a former White House deputy chief technology officer for Internet policy, is now advising the Coalition for Privacy and Free Trade; and his power could change the way the Internet is regulated. Related posts: FCC VOTES 3-2 TO REGULATE INTERNET VIA NET NEUTRALITY The FCC has voted 3-2 along political lines to extend... Just [...]
Ark. House Finishes Veto Override On Voter ID Bill
Apr 02, 2013 11:38 am LITTLE ROCK, Ark.- The Arkansas House has completed an override of Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe's veto of a bill requiring voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot. The Republican-controlled House voted 52-45 on Monday to override the veto. Last week, the GOP-led Senate voted 21-12 to override it. Only a simple majority was [...]
Video: North Dakota Takes A Tough Stand On Abortion
Apr 02, 2013 11:31 am
At least one state is being active in trying to overturn Roe vs. Wade... Related posts: Unlocking The Future: North Dakota's Energy Boom The topic of oil is an old one that... Oil Production Keeps Recession At Bay In North Dakota Oil production in the Bakken shale formation is making unemployment...
Apr 02, 2013 11:22 am WASHINGTON- Republican Sen. Jeff Flake says it is "inevitable" that his party will see one of its own run for president while supporting gay marriage. The Arizona lawmaker on Sunday said the shifting political landscape will eventually yield a candidate who backs same-sex marriage and predicts that candidate would find support within the GOP. [...]
Rush Limbaugh admits he is "freaked out" that he agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin on banning gay adoption... Related posts: Putin Arms As Obama Disarms Over the past week, we've seen reports that President Obama... Why Putin Wants Obama To Win The 2012 U.S. presidential election presents a contrast to the...
Apr 02, 2013 10:54 am (CNSNews.com) - North Korea said Tuesday that it will restart the plutonium-based nuclear reactor that was shut down in 2007 under an agreement reached in talks with the United States and four other countries. The announcement, made by its official media outlet, came shortly after the regime vowed never to abandon its nuclear capability for [...]
Apr 02, 2013 10:48 am NICOSIA, Cyprus - Cyprus' president has appointed a panel of three former supreme court judges to investigate how the country ended up nearly bankrupt. President Nicos Anastasiades said Tuesday that ordinary citizens who are shouldering the burden of "actions and omissions" by officials want to see those responsible punished. Read More at OfficialWire . Related posts: [...]
Apr 02, 2013 10:46 am LONDON- The eurozone economy has passed another bleak milestone. Official figures Tuesday showed that unemployment across the 17 European Union countries that use the euro has struck 12 percent for the first time since the currency was launched in 1999. Eurostat, the EU's statistics office, said the rate in February was unchanged at the record [...]
Apr 02, 2013 10:35 am NELSON, Ga.- Backers of a newly adopted ordinance requiring gun ownership in a small north Georgia town acknowledge they were largely seeking to make a point about gun rights. The ordinance in the city of Nelson - population 1,300 - was approved Monday night and goes into effect in 10 days. However, it contains no [...]
Apr 02, 2013 10:33 am Advocates of loan guarantees claim that this subsidy is a success when the recipient company remains in business. This is a superficial and misleading way to view loan guarantees. Indeed, loan guarantees are among the most pernicious ways that governments distort markets and harm American families and businesses alike. Here are seven reasons why. 1. [...]
Apr 02, 2013 10:31 am On March 26th, we asked you to contact Representative Tobin, who was blocking HB 2573 from coming up for a vote. The response was huge. Activist Post, Western Journalism, Lew Rockwell Blog, and several other websites picked up the alert, which was seen by thousands of people across the web. The Action Alert worked so well, according [...]
America On The Brink Of Despair That Can Still Be Turned To Joy
Jeb Bush: Entitlement System Will Collapse If We Don't Act Now By Jim Meyers and John Bachman NewsMax.com
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has written the cover story for the April edition of Newsmax magazine, offering an optimistic view of America's future--and straight talk about its problems--with the resounding message: "Growth is the answer" to our nagging economic woes.
Shadow Network: Leaked Strategy Memo Reveals Powerful and Partisan Network of Left-Wing Nonprofits By Susan Myrick Capital Research Center/RightSideNews.com
Thanks to this leak, the public can see how these organizations collaborate and employ highly coordinated hardball tactics to achieve their goals, hoping to undermine elected officials and apparently defying the law.
ROK Says Rodman's BFF Has Mapped Out N Korea's "Strategic Forces' Plan to Strike the U.S. Mainland"
Map Purports to Show Kim Jong-un's Wish List of Missile Targets in the U.S. By Patrick Goodenough CNSNews.com
A photograph released by North Korea's news mouthpiece over the weekend seems to show a map of American sites that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un evidently would like to target.
There's an old saying about locking the barn door after the horse has escaped, but what Connecticut legislators have cooked up, gun control-wise, is more like watching your horse recede into the distance and then nailing all your neighbors' windows and doors shut.
Now, Krugman wants to tell us what we can learn from California's comeback. Yes, he has bought into that narrative, while at the same time accusing the rest of us of buying into a narrative that the state is going to hell.
Democratic politicians are jumping on the gay marriage bandwagon, which may come as a surprise to those who thought same-sex marriage recognition was already a solid plank in the party's platform.
Obama's $1 Million Trip to Colorado to Talk about Gun Control
Today President Obama travels to Colorado to "meet with law enforcement and community leaders to discuss the gun control package signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper."
That's a three-hour flight, right?
At $179,750 per hour, that comes out to $1,078,500 in costs for Air Force One for the trip.
"On the road again . . . Just can't wait to get on the road again . . ."
Eh, you knew I was kidding . . . Obama's not just flying across the country to give a predictable speech on gun control; he's also traveling out to San Francisco for a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser, and he'll stay overnight. (Yes, our president is already preparing fundraising for November 2014 midterm elections.) So the cost of the flights for today and tomorrow is really more like $1.4 million.
Coming Soon to Obamacare: The 'We Told You So' Coalition
I'm not sure I endorse this theory, but I'll put it out there: What if 2012 didn't represent a major turning point in the political preferences of the American people, didn't signify an epoch-defining victory for liberalism over conservatism, and so on?
What if it just came down to Obama's ability to delay the consequences of his first-term decisions until after November 2012?
One of the recurring arguments since November has been why Obamacare, never particularly popular in the polls, didn't prove to be an Achilles' heel for the president's reelection bid. Whatever skepticism Americans had about Obamacare, it wasn't enough to get them to remove the president who passed it. Perhaps they felt lingering skepticism about Mitt Romney because he passed his own health-care reform bill that included an individual mandate. Either way, not enough Americans were upset or worried enough about Obamacare to vote for the guy who pledged to repeal and replace it, over the guy who pledged to keep it.
But what if the public's opinion on Obamacare was only half-baked in 2012? (Insert punchline about an electorate that was "half-baked" because of the marijuana-legalization initiatives here.) What if the issue was largely defused because only half of the plan had kicked in, and the second half would prove to be one kick in the pants after another to most American patients, doctors, and employers? What if the pooh-poohing of the "Death Panels" accusation proved beside the point, because long before IPAB started deeming treatments insufficiently cost-effective to be worth covering, the whole system would start to fall apart from skyrocketing costs and ludicrously complicated regulations?
Unable to meet tight deadlines in the new health care law, the Obama administration is delaying parts of a program intended to provide affordable health insurance to small businesses and their employees - a major selling point for the health care legislation.
The law calls for a new insurance marketplace specifically for small businesses, starting next year. But in most states, employers will not be able to get what Congress intended: the option to provide workers with a choice of health plans. They will instead be limited to a single plan.
The choice option, already available to many big businesses, was supposed to become available to small employers in January. But administration officials said they would delay it until 2015 in the 33 states where the federal government will be running insurance markets known as exchanges. And they will delay the requirement for other states as well.
The promise of affordable health insurance for small businesses was portrayed as a major advantage of the new health care law, mentioned often by White House officials and Democratic leaders in Congress as they fought opponents of the legislation.
Supporters of the law said they were disappointed by the turn of events.
In his November 2009 address to Congress, President Obama said, "Under [this] plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition . . . [or] drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it most."
That might be true when ObamaCare is fully implemented in January. In the meantime, people have to rely on a plan administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Well, guess what?
The CMS has announced that it has run out of money to enroll any more individuals in the program. So it is blocking states from accepting any more applications.
It's a sweet political irony, but it's not funny to those stuck without insurance.
A poorly thought-out section of the Affordable Health Care Act, better known as Obamacare, is causing a loss in downtown Pottstown.
Royal Medical Supply, a medical equipment supply business that has been quietly thriving at 34 E. High St., is set to move the bulk of its operation to Oaks this spring, taking as many as 75 jobs with it.
The site will remain as a showroom, but the loss will be in the group of employees who spent money downtown, a critical loss to the business district.
Company owner Roy Repko says the firm had hoped to expand downtown but is being forced to move to stay afloat.
This time, the culprit isn't local taxes or a lack of space or parking, it's a federal law killing the company's profit margins.
It's a complicated situation, with many factors, Repko said, "but at the end of the day, without Obamacare, we would still be in town."
Central to his dilemma, Repko explained, are the reimbursement rates which will affect Medicare and Medicaid, which comprise such a sizeable part of his business.
State Sen. Irene Aguilar wants Coloradans to imagine a day when 80 percent of them see their health care costs drop.
She says the wildly different health care system she envisions can make that happen - largely by eliminating much of what health insurance companies do, and by purchasing everyone's medications in bulk.
The Denver doctor and Democrat is proposing that Colorado throw out the impending reforms know as Obamacare - which is permitted if the state comes up with a better plan. This week Aguilar introduced a resolution to ask Colorado voters to create a universal health care system for the state.
Specifically, Aguilar's bill would ask voters to create a statewide health insurance co-op, owned by all Coloradans, which would replace health insurance companies. It would offer one wide-ranging policy for all residents. It would be funded by a tax, which would replace the insurance premiums that companies and people now pay.
I Prefer to Think about Web Traffic, Not the Other Kind
. . . the freeways of northern Virginia, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and the terrifying merge-or-die Schuylkill Expressway.
With the exception of the Escape from New York segment, each of these routes has been at one time or another a daily commute for me, but I travel around the country enough to appreciate that they are not even the worst these United States have to offer. Just outside Metuchen, I spot what I suspect is a big part of the reason for that: The New Jersey Transit commuter train is as tightly packed as the Black Hole of Calcutta. Car commuting in the densely urban Northeast Corridor can be a frustrating waste of time, but for many of those living between Fairfield County and Fairfax County, it is a choice - a choice not really available to the vast majority of commuters in such traffic-addled metropolises as Houston or Atlanta, to say nothing of the poor people of Southern California, where whatever spatio-temporal anomaly governs life requires two hours to get from any given Point A to any given Point B. (On a recent drive from San Pedro to LAX, I averaged 6.25 mph over the course of the 20-mile trip.) Houston, Phoenix, and other big American cities that saw most of their growth in the highway-intensive postwar era are simply too spread out to support the kind of mass transit available in the Northeast. Sun Belt workers are more or less stuck in their cars.
Traffic is a visceral quality-of-life issue. The morning rush-hour commute is pure, unadulterated, Grade A hell for millions of Americans - millions of suburb-dwelling Americans with old-fashioned jobs of the sort that require one to be in a particular place at a particular time doing a particular thing, i.e., low-hanging Republican fruit - an everyday problem that is right here, right now, right on the other side of the windshield. It costs billions of dollars in squandered time and productivity, and in effect extends the 40-hour workweek into 50 or more hours for millions of voters. And it makes people furious.
Do you know anyone who carpools to work? Maybe you've lucked out; in my circles, it's like an urban legend. I don't know enough people who live close enough together and then work together, or work close enough together, and arrive and depart at the same time, and who have predictable work schedules, never needing to arrive early or stay late, and who don't require a vehicle to get anywhere else in the course of the day. Oh, and preferably, this person will not be a weirdo or have a serious body odor problem or INSIST upon tuning the car radio to some oh-so-wacky trying-too-hard "Morning Zoo" radio personality.
For many people, time is money. So a quicker zip around one of the Beltway's more notoriously-congested curves would definitely be worth a few extra bucks. (The amount of the toll changes depending upon the time of day.) But unlike the exorbitant congestion charges in places like London, this toll isn't mandatory; you have the option of taking the "normal" Beltway lanes. What's really great is that each toll-paying car takes one car off the "normal" lanes, alleviating traffic a bit on folks who don't like paying the extra toll. So everybody wins.
I could get behind adding two toll lanes the length of Interstate 95.
The Associated Press announced today that it is amending its style book to eliminate the phrase "illegal immigrant." (Also "illegal alien," "an illegal," "illegals" or "undocumented.") The AP's explanation is a little hard to follow:
[W]e had in other areas been ridding the Stylebook of labels. The new section on mental health issues argues for using credibly sourced diagnoses instead of labels. Saying someone was "diagnosed with schizophrenia" instead of schizophrenic, for example.
And that discussion about labeling people, instead of behavior, led us back to "illegal immigrant" again.
We concluded that to be consistent, we needed to change our guidance.
So illegal immigrants are now to be treated by analogy to schizophrenics? I guess the AP views that as an upgrade.
The AP's about-face is a bit odd, in that as recently as October 2012, it had reaffirmed use of the term "illegal immigrant" on what appear to be more solid grounds:
what about the cases where we do write "illegal immigrants"? Why not say "undocumented immigrants" or "unauthorized immigrants," as some advocates would have it?
To us, these terms obscure the essential fact that such people are here in violation of the law. It's simply a legal reality.
Terms like "undocumented" and "unauthorized" can make a person's illegal presence in the country appear to be a matter of minor paperwork. Many illegal immigrants aren't "undocumented" at all; they may have a birth certificate and passport from their home country, plus a U.S. driver's license, Social Security card or school ID. What they lack is the fundamental right to be in the United States.
Without that right, their presence is illegal. Some say the word is inaccurate, because depending on the situation, they may be violating only civil, not criminal law. But both are laws, and violating any law is an illegal act (we do not say "criminal immigrant").
So how will the AP now refer to illegal immigrants? Weirdly, it doesn't say:
Except in direct quotes essential to the story, use illegal only to refer to an action, not a person: illegal immigration, but not illegal immigrant. Acceptable variations include living in or entering a country illegally or without legal permission.
Except in direct quotations, do not use the terms illegal alien, an illegal, illegals or undocumented.
Do not describe people as violating immigration laws without attribution.
Specify wherever possible how someone entered the country illegally and from where. Crossed the border? Overstayed a visa? What nationality?
So apparently we can expect a lot of references to "people who entered the country without legal permission" in news stories to come.
Or maybe the AP will emulate the Minneapolis Star Tribune and start referring to illegal aliens as "dreamers," as in "Young undocumented dreamers find doors opening in Minnesota." Then again, given recent developments in Washington, the whole problem of how to refer to illegal immigrants may soon become moot.
We condemned Robert Redford for glorifying the lives and works of the Weather Underground terrorists in new movie, The Company You Keep, opening soon at a theater near you. Among their good works was the armored car robbery that resulted in the murders of two police officers and a Brinks guard. Michelle Malkin called Redford out in her syndicated column "The bloody company Hollywood keeps." We seconded her here, citing George Russell's great Commentary essay, "The other Rosenberg case."
Now the New York Post reports that Columbia University has honored Kathy Boudin - the Weather Underground terrorist who spent 22 years in prison for the armored-car robbery that killed two police officers and a Brink's guard - with an adjunct professorship at Columbia's School of Social Work. Columbia lists her as an assistant professor. Among her listed areas of expertise is "restorative justice." In 2003 Boudin was paroled for felony murder that resulted in a lot of kids being left without dads. I wonder if she has restored any justice to them.
Hey, how about a special screening of Redford's movie at Columbia to be followed by questions-and-answers with Professor Boudin? That would be an event Columbia alums could really take pride in.
Let's continue our look at the top players in the history of this year's NCAA Final Four teams. Today, Wichita State is up.
In recent years, the Shockers, who play their home games in Charles Koch Arena, have been a high-quality mid-major team. But back in the day, they were, at times, indisputably a national power house.
During the 1964-65 season, for example, Wichita State was briefly ranked number 1 in the country. That team was the Shockers' only Final Four entrant until this year.
There is no shortage of great Wichita State players, but there is a bit of shortfall at the point guard position (current player Malcolm Armstead may be their best point guard ever) and among true centers. In addition, I needed to include a few players I never saw in action. Their numbers speak louder than my observation could have.
First Team Warren Armstrong (1965-68)
At 6-2, Armstrong could play just about any position. He's second on the Shockers' all-time assist list and seventh on the all-time rebounding list. Armstrong was a three-time all-conference selection. As Warren Jabali, he had a successful career in the ABA.
Cleo Littleton (1951-55)
Almost 60 years after graduating, Littleton is still the Shockers' all-time leading scorer. He was one of college basketball's first Black stars, and the first player west of the Mississippi to score 2,000 points in a season. Littleton is also one of the program's two two-time All Americans.
Dave Stallworth (1962-65)
"Dave the Rave" is the other two-time All American. The star of the 1964 Final Four team, Stallworth ranks third all-time at Wichita State in points, fifth in assists, and eighth in rebounds. Stallworth excelled for the New York Knicks early in his NBA career. A heart attack suffered on the basketball court caused him to miss two season, but he returned to become a key reserve on the Knicks 1970 championship team.
Antoine Carr (1979-83)
He's fourth on the schools' all-time point list, ninth in rebounds, and first in blocked shots. Carr was conference player and an All-American his senior year. He averaged 17 points per game on 55 percent shooting during his four-year career at Wichita State
Xavier McDaniel (1981-85)
Can you say stud? The X-Man has 300-plus more rebounds than any other player in Shocker history, and he ranks second in all time points, just 12 behind Littleton. As a senior, McDaniel became the first Division One player ever to lead the nation in scoring (27.4) and rebounding (15.0).
Second Team Aubrey Sherrod (1981-85)
Sherrod was considered at least the equal of Michael Jordan as a shooting guard coming out of high school. He never quite lived up to his billing, but stands seventh on the Shockers' all-time scoring list. He is also sixth in assists and fourth in steals.
"Cheese" Johnson
This New York City playground legend could play any position. He led the Shockers in scoring for three years and in rebounding twice. His senior year, Johnson averaged 22.2 points per game. For his career, he averaged 17.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.
Paul Miller (2002-06)
Miller was Missouri Valley Conference player of the year in 2006. That season, he led Mark Turgeon's outfit to the regular-season MVC championship and an at large berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Cliff Levingston (1979-82)
Along with Antoine Carr, Levingston made up the "bookend" forward pair that led Wichita State to the Elite Eight in 1981, beating Kansas in the Round of 16 to get there. ALthough the Shockers missed the Final Four, Carr and Levingston combined for 41 points in a loss to LSU. An All-American in 1982, Levingston ranks fourth all-time in rebounding. By leaving a year early, Levingston missed out on his chance to put up the numbers that might get him on my first team.
Robert Elmore (1973-77)
The Shockers' second leading all-time rebounder behind McDaniel. He's also second all-time in blocked shots behind Carr.
With our remaining scholarships, we had better add a point guard. Who better than Toure' Murray, who finished his career last season? He's the school's all-time leader in assists and second in steals. Randy Smithson of the 1981 Elite Eight team, who later coached the Shockers, would also be a good choice. So would Tony Martin from the same era.
Let's also add Terry Benton, a fierce rebounder from the late 60s/early 70s (his fifth on the all-time list and twice had 24 in a single game), and Greg Carney, an outstanding guard from the same era who averaged 20 points per game and is tenth on the all-time scoring list.
The Republican establishment - or at least the large chunk of it that favors amnesty and a path to citizenship for illegal aliens - must be delighted that the two Republicans said to be the leading candidates for the 2016 presidential nomination both favor amensty and a path to citizenship for illegal aliens. I'm referring, of course, to Marco Rubio and Rand Paul.
The establishment's delight is understandable. But a closer look at how 2016 may play out provides an alternative perspective.
Keep in mind that most Republican voters do not favor a path to citizenship for illegals. Among all voters, polls typically find its support to be slightly above 40 percent. Among Republicans, it must be considerably lower.
What might this mean in a primary season where both leading Republican contenders support amnesty and a path to citizenship? For one thing, it means that conservatives are less likely to rally around the leading candidate the establishment plainly favors - Marco Rubio.
Stated differently, it means that, since politics abhors a vacuum, a strong third contender - one who opposes amnesty and a path to citizenship - will emerge. If a strong third contender who opposes amnesty has already emerged, he or she will be all the stronger.
Rand Paul's chances would clearly be enhanced by the emergence of one or more strong candidates. It's difficult to imagine him prevailing head-to-head against Rubio. But if the non-libertarian, pro-defense vote is split, Paul's nomination doesn't seem like such a long-shot. Paul's nomination would not delight the Republican establishment, and I would be dismayed.
Paul, though, would not be the favorite in a three way race with Rubio and a credible third candidate who opposes a path to citizenship for illegal aliens. In that race, my money might well be on the third candidate.
Who might that candidate be? It might be Paul Ryan, Bobby Jindal, Ron Johnson, or Ted Cruz. With the possible exception of Cruz, I think the establishment would be fine with all of the above.
But we don't know whether any of them will run; nor, with the possible exception of Ryan, do we know how any of them would hold up during a primary campaign. In some cases, we also don't know what position they would take on immigration reform.
This means that the credible alternative to Paul and Rubio might be a non-establishment type - Rick Santorum, for example. Santorum ran well in 2012, and could run better in a three-person race in which the other two leading candidates support a path to citizenship for illegals. A Santorum (or someone like him) who corners the social conservative market and the anti-amnesty/path to citizenship market could capture the nomination.
The establishment wouldn't be happy, and I'm not sure I would be either. But this is the risk a political party runs when its leading lights disregard the strongly held views of a majority of its voters.
Last week I pored over the magnificent new (Winter, just in time for Spring) issue of the Claremont Review of Books. The CRB is the flagship publication of the Claremont Institute and my favorite magazine. I want to persuade you to subscribe to it, which you can do here for the ridiculously low, heavily subsidized (don't feel guilty!) price of $19.95 a year and get immediate online access thrown in to boot.
As has become the custom, our friends at the CRB have let me pick three pieces from the new issue to preview on Power Line. This time around, I sought to select three pieces that would gave a representtative sample of the wealth of riches on offer. Limited to three, I have of necessity passed over many truly outstanding pieces. Please check out the table of contents at the link above.
We lead off our preview with the estimable Bill Voegeli's lead review/essay "The Same Old Deal." Voegeli reviews Time-man Michael Grunwald's The New New Deal: The Hidden Story of Change in the Obama Era. Grunwald's publisher holds the book out as "a riveting account based on new documents and interviews with over 400 sources on both sides of the aisle...reveal[ing] the vivid story behind President Obama's $800 billion stimulus bill, one of the most important and least understood pieces of legislation in the history of the country." According to Grunwald, the stimulus bill has been unfairly maligned by the like of, well, us.
Grunwald glorifies the Obama administration's stimulus package as an "overwhelming success," and argues that the president has thereby proven that big government - big, big government, is perhaps now more apt - can be both effective and efficient. So have no fear, conservatives, the government is here (and there and there and there) and here to help. Lest you worry that Grunwald's judgment may derive from a certain partiality for big, big government, Grunwald assures us of his discomfort with too much government meddling in the economy.
Voegeli will have none of it. Voegeli merrily skewers Grunwald for purporting "to know more than he can about the future" and decidedly "less than he should about the past." Voegeli's review performs an utter demolition, with plenty of textual support. Grunwald's pretensions to the contrary notwithstanding, Voegeli adjudges the book a "450-page press release from the Democratic National Committee."
Obama Seeks To Teach Young People "How to Budget Responsibly"
Posted on by Philip Hodges
No, I don't think this is an April Fools' joke. Obama released an official statement on the White House website declaring that April is National Financial Capability Month. It would be funny if it weren't true. In his statement, Obama said he wants to help young people better manage their finances:
"I call upon all Americans to observe this month with programs and activities to improve their understanding of financial principles and practices....My Administration is dedicated to helping people make sound decisions in the marketplace....Together, we can prepare young people to tackle financial challenges-from learning how to budget responsibly to saving for college, starting a business, or opening a retirement account....My Administration continues to encourage responsibility at all levels of our financial system by cracking down on deceptive practices and ensuring that consumers are informed of their rights."
I wonder if Obama is planning on leading by example anytime soon. He's trying to tell young people how to manage their money better, but he manages to rack up over $6 trillion in debt during his time in office.
The finest trick of the devil, Baudelaire once wrote, is to persuade you that he does not exist. Modern liberalism, being far less devilish, has pulled a lesser, but still effective, trick: It has convinced Americans that conservatives don't care.
Some people bury themselves in their work. At Saint Joseph Abbey in southern Louisiana, burying is the work. Monks at Saint Joseph make inexpensive caskets. And, thanks to a recent Fifth Circuit decision, state cronyism won't kill the monks' livelihood.
Last summer, the Supreme Court famously declared that the individual mandate is a tax (and not a penalty). Now, a new constitutional challenge is wending its way through the courts. How will Obamacare fare against the Origination Clause?
Quote of the Week
"There is a passion natural to the mind of man, especially a free man, which renders him impatient of restraint."
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 Job-Killing Senate Budget
Passed last week, Senate Budget Committee chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) has crafted the first Senate budget in four years. Murray deserves some credit for actually advancing a budget, but her budget contains steep tax increases that would reduce economic growth.
Three Reasons for Social Security to Use Chained CPI One of few Social Security reforms with broad bipartisan support, chained CPI is a more accurate method of measuring price inflation. With 25 percent automatic benefit cuts looming, switching to chained CPI for Social Security is an important first step toward addressing the government entitlement crisis.
Senator Patty Murray's tax plan would lower after-tax household income for a family of four by an average of $2,281 a year through 2023. This contrasts starkly with Rep. Paul Ryan's House budget.
CHANGE IN AFTER-TAX INCOME FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, DUE TO MURRAY TAX PLAN
Obama Ignores 85,933 Ideas to Save Money Why ask public employees for savings ideas that you don't use? Read and Share Now
VIDEO: Wisconsin Welfare Reform Promotes Self-Sufficiency Gov. Scott Walker discusses how to reverse America's welfare state Watch the Video Now
Retirement: Delaying It Brings Many Benefits It's a big income boost for seniors, and leads to overall economic growth Read and Comment Now
Send FREE Fax to your elected officials in 1 STEPAmnesty Betrays Tea Party
Many self-appointed Tea Party leaders lately have expressed views supportive of an amnesty to legalize illegal aliens. This is a betrayal of Tea Party values.The Tea Party movement was not founded on rewarding illegal activity. It wasn't founded on taking jobs from American workers and giving them to illegal aliens. And it certainly wasn't founded on expanding the size of the federal government.
Yet those who support "comprehensive immigration reform" legislation play into the hands of those who want to do all of those things. An amnesty would only increase the size of government and support the open-borders liberals who want to expand government, increase the deficit, and control our lives. The rule of law needs to be respected. There should be no hand outs, especially of U.S. citizenship.
Dear Senator [Seperate faxes will be sent to Sens. Paul and Rubio]:
I am deeply distressed that you have come out in support of legislation to legalize most of the 11 to 18 million illegal aliens in America, today. Any legislation that grants legal status to illegal aliens is an amnesty, which rewards breaking U.S. laws. Your proposal will take jobs away from Americans, resulting in increased government dependency, and trillions of dollars in increased spending. And ultimately, any amnesty will attract millions of more illegal aliens.
An amnesty is not the only alternative to deportations, however. Illegal immigrants will go home if we they no longer can take American jobs and benefits. Please abandon your plans to support amnesty, and support real, effective immigration enforcement, instead.
NumbersUSA, America's largest-member immigration-reduction organization. We are non-profit and non-partisan.
Big Business & Labor Unions Sell-out American Workers
Strike Backroom Deal on New Foreign Worker Program
Yesterday, an outline of the AFL-CIO and Chamber of Commerce's deal on a new "guest worker" program was leaked to the public. The deal, which sells out U.S. workers,
shows the lengths to which special interests will go to craft an immigration deal on the backs of unemployed and struggling Americans.
Specifically, the deal creates a
new
W immigrant visa program that:
Allows employers to bring in 20,000 to 200,000 foreign workers each year in "lesser-skilled" occupations, including hospitality, janitorial, retail, construction, etc.
Creates a loophole allowing businesses to exceed the 200,000 cap by paying a "premium"
Allows foreign workers to petition for green cards after only one year, making them a permanent part of the U.S. labor force and NOT guest workers
Allows professional recruiters to market jobs to foreign nationals, risking steep fees and abuse (while the requirements for recruiting American workers for those jobs remain unknown).
Most importantly, however, Americans need to know that while the Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO are selling this new foreign worker program as necessary to fill "shortages" in the U.S. labor market,
the deal allows workers to change employers and then stay in the U.S
. By definition, this means that
the new foreign worker program is not designed to fix any
claimed shortages
in the labor market. Instead the AFL-CIO and Chamber have designed it to simply bring more foreign workers into the U.S.
This deal was negotiated as part of the Senate "Gang of Eight's" immigration reform plan.
Call Senate Leadership NOW and tell them you oppose bringing in more foreign workers when 22 million Americans are either unemployed or underemployed!
Tell them:
1. U.S. immigration policy should prioritize the needs of
Americans first.
2. The U.S. doesn't need more guest workers-the government already admits over 800,000 guest workers each year-REGARDLESS OF UNEMPLOYMENT.
3. Americans need jobs, not new foreign worker programs that create unfair competition and drive down wages.
4. Jobs in the construction, hospitality, retail and other industries are good jobs that Americans will do for a living wage.
5. Congress shouldn't even consider expanding immigration until the federal government has fulfilled its duty to secure the border and ensure that those who come to the U.S. to work follow the law and aren't a drain on public resources.
Contact Senate Leadership TODAY and tell them Americans need jobs, not increased competition!
Today, Cyprus, Tomorrow ... By Patrick J. Buchanan If this persuades depositors to seek security first for their income, pensions and savings, and to transfer funds out of risky banks into more solid institutions, is that such a bad thing?
After last year's historic Supreme Court ruling, it seemed like Obamacare was here to stay. But a new challenge from the Pacific Legal Foundation could prove the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. What is the legal argument that has some saying the President's signature legislation is in danger? Find out HERE.
Obama is a really bad basketball player: For a guy who plays basketball all the time, he sure is bad at it. WATCH
Dana Loesch: The RNC's problem
The RNC recently unveiled its 100-page, 219-point plan (aka the 'autopsy report') for winning the youth vote and saving the party. On last night's Glenn Beck Program, guest-host Dana Loesch made the bold prediction that if the RNC does not change its strategy, the Republican Party will face an actual autopsy sooner rather than later. What does Dana's life-saving strategy for the GOP entail? WATCH
Monica Crowley joined Dana Loesch on last night's Glenn Beck Program to discuss whether or not President Obama has successfully carried out his 2008 campaign promise to fundamentally transform the United States. Has Obama's dream of a government dependent, welfare state come true? Furthermore, is tyranny just around the corner? WATCH
Pregnant mom arrested in NY for unloaded gun in checked bags A pregnant Minnesota mom was traveling home via New York's LaGuardia Airport with her six-year-old daughter after visiting with her husband, a master sergeant in the Air Force stationed in Honduras, when Port Authority Police handcuffed, arrested, and took her to jail after finding an unloaded handgun in her checked luggage. The woman has now been charged with criminal possession of a loaded firearm. You won't believe the ridiculous sentence that could be imposed on her. STORY
On radio this morning, Joe Pags spoke with Texas Governor Rick Perry. The Governor is facing serious backlash from many on the left who are accusing him of trying to kill Texas citizens by not conforming to certain Obamacare standards. Get Perry's reaction HERE.
6 Tips for travelling safely overseas
International travel is all about using good common sense. Baghdad may not be the safest place in the world right now, but there are still a few good places to get a great ice-cream cone or some fresh hummus without putting yourself in any kind of extreme danger. Here are six things you can do to stay safe while travelling overseas.
Guns in America: Are Americans really giving up their guns? TheBlaze.com looks at the polling numbers behind American gun ownership. Are they accurate? STORY
Get TheBlaze: Are they listening? For weeks, thousands of you have taken the time to reach out to your cable and satellite providers to request that TheBlaze, a network that represents your values, be added to your channel lineup. Don't stop there! Remind your provider that you have a choice - they should value your opinion. Call 1.800.996.2529 or go to GetTheBlaze.com and ask your provider if they're listening to your requests to get TheBlaze on TV.
Basketball Barry Goes 2-for-22
If only he could manage an economic recovery as good as he shoots baskets... Watch Video »
Hop Along. Nothing to See Here.
None of the Above
April Fools?
Today's BIG LIE Award Winner: "I call upon all Americans to observe this month with programs and activities to improve their understanding of financial principles and practices. My Administration is dedicated to helping people make sound decisions in the marketplace. My Administration continues to encourage responsibility at all levels of our financial system..." --Barack Obama, in a declaration designating April "National Financial Capability Month." As you recall, since taking office in 2009, Obama has increased the national debt by 60 percent, or $53,377 per household.
And Now for Cartoons...
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As a greater level of scrutiny is being placed on the controversial curriculum systems 
Following the Memorial Mass, there will be the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network's Award Gala, currently scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception. This dinner gala will be held at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, located at 1201 Market Street in Philadelphia. The first "Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Award" will be presented.
Glenn: Help us get in millions of home
American Policy Center has recently released a booklet that explains everything you need to know to start fighting back against sustainable programs both locally and nationally. The booklet is called Special Report: Agenda 21 and How to Stop It and is available in the APC store for only $5.95.
+Just+Happened.jpg "What+the+(Bleep)+Just+Happened crowley")
Connecticut lawmakers spurred into action by the Sandy Hook school shooting have agreed on what they say is the nation's strongest gun control bill. The bipartisan agreements includes universal background checks for firearm sales, new state-issued eligibility certificates for the purchase of any rifle, shotgun, or ammunition, and a ban on future sales of high-capacity magazines, the New York Times reports. The package, which also strengthens the state's existing ban on semiautomatic assault rifles, is expected to easily pass the state House and Senate this week, reports the Hartford Courant. 
Could this lawsuit stop Obamacare?
