912 Patriots of Lower Bucks - Your Daily Updates ALL in ONE Place!
June 17, 2013
Quote:
In a speech before his fellow Virginians, Patrick Henry said, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almight God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
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LIFE WITH BIG BROTHER
MICHAEL SAVAGE CALLER: AMERICANS SPIED ON FOR DECADES
'They're listening to everything. They know what everybody does
Many Americans have been astonished in the past week to learn of the government's extraordinary ability to invade their privacy, but a caller told "The Savage Nation" radio show of his contract work for a global National Security Agency system during the administration of President George H.W. Bush more than 20 years ago that spied on citizens.
"John" in San Francisco told host Michael Savage he worked for one of the largest intelligence contractors in the world on a massive program known as Echelon that intercepted private and commercial communications.
To "get around the Constitution and laws," he said, "they based the program out of another country, England."
"They routed it back to the NSA building, which was 14 stories below the ground," said John.
In his conversation with Savage, John didn't name the contractor but revealed the company was based in Sunnyvale, Calif., which is the headquarters of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.
But privacy groups warn Obama gun crackdown goes too far
Privacy experts are warning of a strategy embedded inside a federal plan to adjust privacy rules so that the federal government can access Americans' mental health records as part of Barack Obama's war on gun ownership.
According to the plan, the government would be told the details right away if anyone is sent to a mental institution for "mental defectiveness, or mental illness."
But the White House plan also includes a notification to Washington should someone be lodged in a mental facility "for other reasons."
"The phrase 'for other reasons' is overly broad and vague," said the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "Although the DOJ has illustrated that drug use is an example of 'commitments for other reasons,' the nebulous language would grant the DOJ sweeping authority to prohibit individuals from possessing firearms, a constitutionally protected right."
It isn't just Internet and phone companies that are giving your personal information to the U.S. government. According to an astounding report by Bloomberg, "four people familiar with the process" say that "makers of hardware and software, banks, Internet security providers, satellite telecommunications companies" and a whole host of other sources are handing over your personal data to federal agencies. The truth is that there is so much more to this NSA snooping scandal than the American people know so far. When U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez said that what Edward Snowden had revealed was "just the tip of the iceberg", she wasn't kidding. The U.S. government is trying to collect as much information about everyone on the planet as it possibly can. And this incredibly powerful intelligence machine is not going to go away just because a few activists get upset about it. The United States government spends more than 80 billion dollars a year on intelligence programs. Those that have spent their careers constructing this monolithic intelligence apparatus are doing to defend it to the bitter end, as will the corporate partners in the private sector that rake in enormous profits thanks to big fat government contracts. But if the American people don't stand up and demand change now, it is going to be a signal to those doing the snooping that they can push the envelope even more because nobody is going to stop them.
So why are thousands of companies handing over your personal data to the NSA? Well, according to Bloomberg they are getting things in return...
IRS Supervisor in DC Claims She Scrutinized Tea Party Groups
Associated Press | Published June 17, 2013
An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including some requests that languished for more than a year without action.
Holly Paz, who until recently was a top deputy in the division that handles applications for tax-exempt status, told congressional investigators she reviewed 20 to 30 applications. Her assertion contradicts initial claims by the agency that a small group of agents working in an office in Cincinnati were solely responsible for mishandling the applications.
Report: School district scanned children's eyes for bus program without permission
FoxNews.com | Published June 17, 2013
A series of behind-the-scenes mistakes by educators in a Florida school district led to children's biometric information being culled without their parents' permission, TheLedger.com reported.
In May, parents of students in the Polk County School District received a letter stating a pilot program would track bus riders using each child's iris.
Parents could opt out, but by the time they learned about the program, the company charged with gathering the information had already captured images of about 750 children's eyes.
According to TheLedger.com, a series of missteps ensued, including allowing Stanley Convergent Security Solutions to scan children's eyes before a contract was finalized.
8th Grader Suspended, Arrested Over NRA T-Shirt Now Faces $500 Fine and a Year in Jail
The Blaze | Madeleine Morgenstern | Jun. 15, 2013 3:55pm
The West Virginia eighth-grader arrested and suspended over his National Rifle Association T-shirt with an image of a firearm is now facing a $500 fine and a year in jail.
A judge is allowing prosecutors to move forward with charging Jared Marcum, 14, with obstructing an officer, WOWK-TV reported.
Marcum got into an argument with a teacher over his "Protect Your Rights" NRA shirt at Logan Middle School in April. He was arrested for disturbing the education process and for obstructing an officer - the latter, according to court documents obtained by WOWK, because Marcum refused to stop talking, thus hindering the arresting officer from doing his job.
Importing Jihad: Obama Considers Bringing Syrian Refugees To America
More of Obama's immigration war on America. Obama supports the jihadist opposition in Syria - al Qaeda elements. And he is bringing those savages here? He has turned a blind eye to religious minorities that are being persecuted under Muslim rule. So it will be more Muslim immigration. Clearly, jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda pose a grave security concern. It's another giant middle finger to the American people by the Obama administration, endangering national security.
There is an awesome application for computer and cell phone called 2ND VOTE (2ndvote.org) Want to know what companies support conservative issue and what companies support liberal agendas. It rates the companies and tells you how they finance different issues. Please take a few minutes to watch a short video on this application. Politicians understand only two things 1. Getting power 2. Keeping power. Business too understands just 2 things 1. Getting your money 2. Getting more of your money. Start using the free market system while we still have it. There is ALWAYS an alternative.
PLEASE SHARE WITH EVERYONE you know. Post on FaceBook and Twitter. This software was developed by a concerned conservative from Tennessee.
JUST GET THE WORD OUT!
Beyond Disrespect
Subject: Abraham asked the Lord to spare 50 righteous people. God responded to Abraham's plea "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all ....Genesis 18:16-33
The movie " Corpus Christi " is due to be released this June to August. A disgusting film set to appear in America later this year depicts Jesus and his disciples as homosexuals! As a play, this has already been in theaters for a while. It's called " Corpus Christi " which means "The Body of Christ". It's revolting mockery of our Lord. But we can make a difference.
That's why I am sending this e-mail to you. If you do send this around, we just might be able to prevent this film from showing in Canada and America . Let's stand for what we believe in and stop the mockery of Jesus Christ our Savior. Where do we stand as Christians? At the risk of a bit of inconvenience, I'm forwarding this to all I think would appreciate it, too. Please help us prevent such offenses against our Lord. There is no petition to sign, no time limit, or minimum number of people to send this to.. It will take you less than 2 minutes!
If you are not interested and do not have the 2 minutes it will take to do this, please don't complain when God does not have time for you because He is far busier than we are. Hey it's worth a shot! Apparently, some regions in Europe have already banned the film. All we need is a lot of prayer and a lot of e-mails.
JUST GET THE WORD OUT!
Please stop using Gmail. Gmail is part of Zgoogle and Google sits on the right hand of President Obama. They track everything that you do. James Rosen of Fox News used Gmail.
Google Needs Extra Time to Spy on Your Kids
It seems that Google is constantly falling afoul of conservatives, consumers, pundits, regulators and really everyone else on earth (except for the Obama campaign) for its privacy-infringing tendencies.
It got hammered for "alleged" spying in the Safarigate scandal, where it wound up agreeing to a record-breaking $22.5 million fine in connection with charges it surreptitiously tracked Apple Safari users who Google had said could opt out of tracking, and did what Google said was necessary to opt out. This spying of course enabled Google to grab data it shouldn't have had, to improve its highly profitable targeted ad business, and do it in a way that amounted to a violation of its contract with users. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
Patriotic Summer Movie!
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GODS AND GENERALS AND GETTYSBURG COMES THE LIBERTY MOVIE OF THE YEAR
RON MAXWELL'S COPPERHEAD
For anyone who reveres and believes in the preservation of the Constitution of the United States, Copperhead is a must see this summer!
Copperhead is unlike any Civil War movie to date. It is a film of the war at home - of a family ripped apart by war, of a community driven to an appalling act of vengeance against a man who insists on exercising his right to free speech during wartime. A story of the violent passions and burning feuds that set ablaze the homefront during the Civil War, Copperhead the movie is also a timeless and deeply moving examination of the price of dissent, the place of the individual amidst the hysteria of wartime, and the terrible price of war - a cost measured not in dollars but in fractured families, broken loves, and men dead before their time.
Based on the extraordinary novel by Harold Frederic, who witnessed these conflicts firsthand as a small child, Copperhead tells the story of Abner Beech, a stubborn and righteous farmer of Upstate New York, who defies his neighbors and his government in the bloody and contentious autumn of 1862.
"The Dangers of 'Land For Peace', and What Price Appeasement?"
Are America and Europe Betraying Israel, and the Importance of Geography, Topography and Water Supply in the Peace Process.
Please join us for the next Philadelphia ZOA meeting
Featuring the dynamic father-and-son team of William and Mark Langfan
Tuesday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m., at the Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, Philadelphia 19115
This event is free and open to the public
Join Us For Our Next Monthly Meeting!
Thursday, June 27th @ 7:00pm
The Standard Club (formerly the "Moose Lodge") 127 E State St Doylestown, PA 18901 (215) 348-9135 Disaster Preparation Instruction Bob Collins Wilderness Survivalist
Bob Collins gained his teaching and survival experience as an instructor at the U.S. Army NCO Academy and Army Aviation Unit.
Now retired from the Air Force, Bob will discuss the following topics: Surviving natural or manmade disasters by applying the principals of wilderness survival. Even if we stock our homes with food and water, we will spend more than 50% of our lives out of our homes. We'll discuss the tools and techniques that will get you where you want to be.
DUAL RALLY
US Capitol, Washington DC
Wednesday, June 19th
AUDIT THE IRS!
12:00-2:00
IRS - Targeting Conservative Groups! Data Mining Phone Calls and Emails!
STAND UP AGAINST AMNESTY!
Tell Washington to Secure the Borders FIRST!!!
9:00-12:00 & 2:00-5:00
In Attendance
Representatives
Michele Bachmann
Louie Gohmert
Steve King
The Blaze & Possibly Glenn Beck
Everyday a new scandal! Time to tell the government to STOP! Bring family, friends and signs to this event!
Rob & Lil Boysen of Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots - Lower Bucks will be carpooling. Need more drivers! Contact Lil at patriot1944@gmail.com or cell 267-278-1656.
Joellen Arrabito of East Jersey Tea Party will have buses going down, email jdidie@aol.com.
Or contact The Kitchen Table Patriots at the below info...
Were you targeted by the IRS for your political beliefs? Did you receive extra scrutiny for promoting limited government, the constitution, and fiscal responsibility? If not, will you be next?
What: Audit the IRS Rally When: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 from Noon - 2pm Where: West Lawn of the US Capitol
Join us on Wednesday, June 19th at 12pm on the West Lawn of the US Capitol as we come together to rally against the IRS. It's time that Washington sees first-hand just how outraged the American people are by these discriminatory acts.
In the spirit of what Becky Gerritson of Wetumpka Tea Party so elegantly said in her testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee:
"We are patriotic Americans. We peacefully assemble. We petition our government. We exercise our right to free speech and we don't understand why our government tried to stop us. We aren't here as a serf or a vassal. We're not begging our lords for mercy. We are born free American citizens and we're telling our government that you've forgotten your place. Its not your responsibility to look our for our well being and monitor our speech. Its not your right to assert an agenda. The post that you occupy exists to preserve American liberty. You've sworn to perform that duty and you have faltered."
Becky Gerritson gives testimony to Ways and Means Committee on IRS targeting her Tea Party group
WE'RE GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C! On Wednesday, June 19, 2013 Tea Party Patriots (and maybe some other grassroots groups), are putting together an "Audit the IRS" Rally in D.C. Right now, the bus situation is up in the air, but TPP is working on it. In the meantime, I suggest that as group leaders/coordinators, you put together car pools and get as many of your members to Washington, D.C. as possible on the 19th. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT FOR TPP to make bus arrangements! If they put something together, we'll know about it and get the word out immediately. Set up carpools and be on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol by 12:00PM. If you're carpooling and you live in the Philadelphia area, leave no later than 6:00AM, otherwise you'll spend 2-3 hours trying to get from Delaware to D.C. As far as parking goes, you can park your car at Union Station for $20.00 for the day and walk or take a cab over to the Capitol. Below is a link from the TPP website. Please pass it on to everyone on your groups' email list and get as many of your group members to D.C. as possible.
If you are interested in going with us, the Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots-Lower Bucks, we will be carpooling, and we will be leaving from our house at 6:00AM SHARP! (If you're late, you can catch up with us on I-95!) Our address is 3585 Aster Avenue, Feasterville , PA 19053. I will be driving and have four people.....and I'm asking for other volunteers to drive and take others.
The latest info I have is that there are buses coming from many states as well as individual cars with folks. The crowd may not be in the million people area as it was in 2009; however, it is going to leave a huge mark on Washington. They will know we are there!!!
Good speakers.....among Michelle Bachman, Rand Paul, Louie Gohmert, etc.
Please make every effort to let DC know we aren't going to let our country shrivel on the vine~
Rob Boysen
Tea Party Patriots PA State Coordinator, S.E. Region
Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots Group Coordinator
Coordinator, Philadelphia Tea Party Patriots-Lower Bucks
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!
TO MY POLITICAL FRIENDS: Please mark your calendars for Monday, July 15...there is going to be a upcoming rally in Washington DC at Freedom Plaza at 9:30 AM. From what I understand this rally is organizing AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION and IN FAVOR OF JOBS FOR AMERICANS!! You can get more info about it at: http://dcmarchforjobs.com/ is the link site. A number of organizations are sponsoring it and organizing for it including: the Black American Leadership Alliance and the New Jersey Citizens For Immigration Control. If you are not available that day to attend the rally, you can still donate money towards helping to offset the costs of the buses to get to DC. From what I understand buses will be headed to DC for this rally coming from all over the United States!!. So if you support jobs for Americans then please join the rally.
Dear RedStater,
We are excited to announce that Governor Nikki Haley will be attending this year's RedState Gathering!
We'll be in New Orleans August 2nd and 3rd with an all-star line-up to celebrate our Fifth Annual event. Nikki Haley hosted us two years ago in South Carolina where she hosted a great welcome reception and gave a fantastic speech that really got the crowd fired up on Saturday morning. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the RedState Gathering in New Orleans.
Confirmed speakers include:
Ted Cruz
Ken Cuccinelli
Nikki Haley
Bobby Jindal
Jim Bridenstine
Speaker invitations have also been extended to:
-
Gov. Rick Perry (TX)
-
Sen. Marco Rubio (FL)
-
Liz Cheney
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Rep. Mick Mulvaney (SC)
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Sen. Tim Scott (SC)
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Rep. Steve Scalise (LA)
-
And more!
We'll have plenty more speaker announcements coming shortly, but we're guaranteed to have a good mix of elected officials, potential 2014 cycle candidates, and other RedState friends. Remember, the Gathering is unique in conservative events in that speakers pay their own way and are required to take questions from folks in the audience.
What better excuse for a trip to New Orleans? And, don't forget, your registration even includes most of your food, as well as access to deeply discounted hotel rooms.
As some of you may know, I am associated with Coventry Christian Schools as a parent of a graduate (2010) and as member of the Board of Trustees. Last October we spent a wonderful evening honoring Mark Niehls at our revitalized Founder's Dinner and celebrated our shared heritage in the remarkable community that is Coventry Christian Schools. Our vision for future Founder's Dinners is to inspire and inform not only our alumni and current CCS families but to inspire and inform the Tri-County Area and even our region by hosting speakers and artists who can uniquely assist us in celebrating the heritage, core values, and mission of CCS while also lifting our vision for an even greater future built upon the foundation of our past. The caliber of our speakers and guest artists should provide us with wonderful opportunities to share our CCS story with new partners in Christian education. Proceeds from the dinner will be applied to our annual Coventry Kids Fund for CCS scholarships.
This year we are proud to announce that our distinguished guest and speaker is Dr. Benjamin Carson, and our dinner's theme is "Faith of Our Fathers: The Role of Faith in American Schools." Please join us as we welcome Dr. Carson to the Tri-County Area and celebrate the great things God is doing at CCS!
Dr. Carson is a highly regarded neurosurgeon and motivational speaker who has addressed various audiences across the country. He is one of the most honored and recognized physicians in the world and holds more than 60 honorary doctorate degrees along with hundreds of awards and citations. He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. He is the author of five books and is the founder of the Carson Scholars Fund. The 2009 award-winning movie entitled Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Carson, premiered on TNT and is based on his memoir. Dr. Carson is an authentic disciple of Christ, has been married to his wife Candy for more than 37 years, and is the father of three sons.
The 2013 Founder's Dinner, which will once again be a part of our Homecoming festivities, will be held at the historic Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown on Sunday, October 13th, 2013. Doors will open at 4:30pm, followed by dinner at 5:15. Dress will be business/professional. Tickets will be priced at $100 until May 15th, then will be $125, so reserve your tickets for the reduced price.
Due to Dr. Carson's international reputation and recent prominence in the media, including his recent speech at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, we fully anticipate that this event will sell out quickly once advertised to the public. Tickets go on sale to the public April 15. If you are interested in attending, tickets can be purchased online. I will send the link out to those who wish to go on April 15
th
. While online reservations are preferred because they facilitate efficient event planning, you may also complete a paper order form, which I can forward to you as well.
All of us at Coventry Christian Schools, look forward to sharing this very special evening with you and acquainting you with the school and its mission!
Blessings,
Christine Gordon
Sponsorships are available as well and are as follows:
Gold Sponsor $3,000
Two tickets at Speaker's Table
Two tickets at Headmaster's Table
Listed as sponsor on school website through 12 months post event
Listed as sponsor on pre-event print marketing
Mentioned by name at event
Full Page ad in Dinner Program
Silver Sponsor $1,500
Two tickets at Speaker's Table
Listed as sponsor on school website through 12 months post event
Half page ad in Dinner Program
Bronze Sponsor $500
Two tickets at Headmaster's Chairman's or Founder's Table
Listed as sponsor on school website through 12 months post event
ˇQuarter page ad in Dinner Program
Please spread the word to all AMERICAN PATRIOTS!
Reality Check.....COMMON CORE EDUCATION = COMMUNISM IN AMERICA!
Common Core Education is the INDOCTRINATION of our CHILDREN.
DO NOT LISTEN TO THE GOP ESTABLISHMENT RHETORIC FROM MIKE HUCKABEE!!!
Reality Check- just in case you ever had a doubt......MIke Huckabee is a typical GOP Establishment person.
Mike Huckabee is now championing Common Core Education on Fox News for the GOP! How disgusting is that?!?!? "Mike Huckabee Urges Conservatives to Back Common Core Standards"
This is another reason why Constitutional Conservatives MUST leave the GOP and beware of what you hear on Fox News. Fox News continues to move to the left - to the liberal progressive side of issues. That is the very very sad but true fact. Mr. GOP Huckabee....."It's disturbing to me there have been criticisms of these standards directed by other conservatives including the RNC," Huckabee wrote. "The truth of the matter is, these criticisms are short-sighted." see attached article from Sunshine News. Send a message to Mr. GOP Huckabee at http://www.mikehuckabee.com/masterfeedback and send a loud message to the every more liberal progressive Fox News! Americans that believe in our Constitution must not be silent about this!
Do NOT let Fox News get away with promoting the very liberal progressive Common Core Education that promotes the ideology that American Children are Common/Community Property!
Do NOT let Fox News get away with promoting the loss of state's rights and the federal government taking over Education. WE NEED TO ABOLISH THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - NOT EMPOWER IT!
If you support SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM FOR THE U.S.A. then COMMON CORE EDUCATION IS FOR YOU. If you believe in the U.S.A. CONSTITUTION....then YOU WILL LOUDLY AND OPENLY REJECT AND OPPOSE COMMON CORE EDUCATION AND ANYONE THAT PROMOTES IT!!
Common Core Education is the indoctrination of American Children. This is NOT acceptable if you still believe in FREEDOM!!
The proponents of Common Core say that the standards ARE state led because they were developed by The National Governors' Association.
Well, perhaps this is true in a way that is very disturbing! Listen to this speech at the 1989 NGA conference on education (at 12:48).
The Development of Common Core, Explained by Michael Chapman
The video says this is a clip from the 1989 National Governors'Assoc conference on Education:
Sr. Director of Mid-Continental Regional Education Laboratory, Dr. Shirley McCune
She says about education:
#1) Total transformation of our society
#2) Teaching of facts and information (knowledge) is no longer the primary purpose of education
#3) Close connection between economic (sustainable) development and human capitol (human resource labor for a planned economy)
A group that allowed this kind of rhetoric to be said at their meeting? I don't think I want them developingeducational standards! Please read to the bottom for transcripts from the 1987 NGA meetings chaired by Bill Clinton. These transcripts are eye-opening. They are clearly more concerned with workers for the manufacturing. They seem to have concerns that we have students who can't read well enough (non-English speaking especially) to function in the manufacturing plants, and then on the other end of the spectrum... too many with higher ed degrees who don't WANT to work in the manufacturing. So... what to do about all this? Hummm.... standards! Make sure they read well enough to function as the industrial workers, but not so well that they don't want to!!! This is the John D. Rockefeller goal of the early 20th century when he started pushing for compulsory government schooling and funding the building of government schools.
NOW.... review the transcripts below of the conferences chaired by Bill Clinton: National Governor's Association website (find all annual meetings here with transcriptsm- ) 1986-87 NGA Chair Gov. Bill Clinton's Initiative
Making America Work: Productive People, Productive Policies
1987 Annual meeting.See page 34of this document to see how those governors seem to be concerned that we aren't training our students for the "workforce." They are concerned that the professors of higher ed are telling students to strive for more than the job of working in the manufacturing plants. On page 40 they start talking about standards needed in education. " See page 42 with this statement by Governor Sinner (great name!) to Lee Iacoccoa: "But you also made a point about the terrific cost to industry of the disparity between states in these regulations and I wondered, with all the fuss and the furor that we make over states' rights...." http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/1987NGAAnnualMeeting.pdf
June 11, 2013: Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) leads the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee in a markup of the Strengthening America's Schools Act of 2013, an education initiative to replace No Child Left Behind. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/event/220036
At the June 10 Common Core forum in Fayette County, Superintendent Barge stated over and over again that if Georgia wants to change these standards at any time, we have the ability to do so.The testimony below contradicts this belief by Superintendent Barge and confirms that states who adopted the Common Core standards DO NOT have the ability to change the standards in any way on their own.
2:23:00 - Rep. Tim Scott discusses his amendment to Harkin's bill. Instead of states being forced to adopt blanket standards like Common Core as a prerequisite for funding, let's put decision-making back in the hands of parents and teachers in our communities."
2:31:00 - It is admitted that states who want to change the CC standards,the Secretary of Education would have to approve it. States DO NOT have the ultimate decision making abilities!
2:39:00 - Alexander reads page 89 of the bill stating that any changes to standards MUST go through the Secretary of Education for approval. As are most of the amendments offered by Republicans to this education bill, the Scott Amendment is defeated 12-10.
DATA COLLECTING: Senator Burr at the 1:00:00 mark reveals information about ADDITIONAL data points that this legislation will add to the data mining.He says that his count is now 500 data points.
TEACHER EVALUATIONS: Senator Alexander at 2:00:00 mark discusses his amendment to end federally mandated school and teacher evaluations. He says states had a "gun to their head" to adopt the teacher evaluations because they were desperate for NCLB waivers. He makes the charge that the Harkin bill creates a "NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD." The Gates Foundation involvement is mentioned frequently.
Harkin says over and over "this is voluntary." If states don't want to implement the programs in the bill we just don't accept the money!" More strong evidence that our states need to "just say no" to all federal education dollars. As is pointed out in this debate: Any private business that entered into a partnership where the partner who contributed 10% funding got 80-90% of the control (as is the case with education funding under NCLB and Common Core) the partnership is DOOMED TO FAIL!
We all know how tough it is to maintain your morals in today's media world. Here are two gifts from the AFA to you, each meant to help you navigate your way through media today:
The critically-acclaimed film, The Third Jihad - Radical Islam's Vision for America educates about the nature of radical Islamic ideology. Law enforcement agencies across the country have used the film in their counter-terror training.
Understanding the threats of terror is the first step in preventing deadly attacks.
Please consider supporting our efforts
AGENDA 21 RESOURCE PAGEs
Agenda 21 and the impact on personal property rights and land rights content, This page is updated often, last update was May 3rd, 2013 about conservation easements by Rick Buchanan The most recent updates are first, but the foundational video series are below. under the
Taking Liberty Video Documentary. We have had several hundred thousand visitors to this page due to its indepth resources on Agenda21 and property rights. You can also search our database of over 15,000 content news and commentary articles for more information. Use the search box in the upper right corner above the newsletter subscription button. Recently the UN website removed some long standing links to the 351 page document on Agenda21 (link below) Just a note: Don't be fooled by the term "non-binding", as that can be easily edited by the removal of 3 letters.
Donna Holt from Campaign for Liberty has also written extensively on this issue and her research provided valuable information both to James Simpson and Right Side News, and most importantly, the citizens of Virginia to get them involved at the local level.
Sustainable Development is code for a policy designed to transform human society, essentially eliminating individual life decisions and replacing them with top - down, one-size-fits-all government control. In steady fashion, the agenda for this new policy, designed at the international level, is put into place piece by piece with a new government council here, and new regulation there, each designed to appear as a "local" development program. Like the proverbial frog in the slowly boiling pot, many Americans fail to notice the rise in government heat.
The main course of action to impose the new agenda is through the pretense of environmental protection; "Sorry about your rights, but if we don't save the planet, then we will all perish!" And so with the devastation of a thousand pin pricks, America and its form or government is being changed through the creation of non-elected boards, councils and regional governments, designed to enforce the new regulations and "assure that we protect the environment."
The pin pricks come disguised as such issues as controls on community development; controls on use of private property; controls on use of open space; creation of development areas, many times under the excuse of historic preservation; communities designed on the blue print of pack and stack housing; making it harder to drive as roads are narrowed, even forcing cars to share the road with bicycles; the enforcement of expensive mass transit boondoggle projects; and the never ending spending spree on inefficient, unworkable alternative energy, such as wind and solar power.
In fact, control of energy and water are the two most effective tools in the enforcement of the Sustainable Development agenda. Without energy and water, human society stops. Using strict controls on how, or even if, energy and water can be used provides government with the power to dictate every aspect of society.
Following is a list of all members representing Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives. Their name, party affiliation, office number, phone number and Congressional assignments are listed. You can print this list for immediate reference. If you wish to have the email address of your representative, type in "United States House of Representatives," click on 'Members" and then search for your Congressman's name. Go to his web page, where you will find his email contact page, regional office phone numbers and addresses and, hopefully, other information regarding what he is doing to preserve the Constitution.
Please note the committee assignments of each representative. They are very important.
Please pass this information to all those on your list!
Pennsylvania House Bill 961 is a bill to nullify warrantless drone spying. It is currently in the Judiciary Committee and needs your action to help it move forward.
HB961 requires that a judge sign an order for the use of a drone for surveillance purposes during a criminal investigation or unless prior consent was given.
GOP to constituents: Questions on ObamaCare? Call Obama. By Elise Viebeck
Republican lawmakers say they anticipate a flood of questions in the coming months from constituents on the implementation of ObamaCare, which will pose a dilemma for the GOP.
People regularly call their representatives for help with Medicare, Social Security and other government programs. Yet, Republicans believe healthcare reform spells doom for the federal budget, private businesses and the U.S. healthcare system. They're also enormously frustrated that the law has persevered through two elections and a Supreme Court challenge and believe a botched implementation could help build momentum for the repeal movement.
Some Republicans indicated to The Hill they will not assist constituents in navigating the law and obtaining benefits. Others said they would tell people to call the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Five years ago I put up a post at RedState asking if, after four years of knowing each other online, did anyone want to get together in Atlanta to meet face to face. I expected a few dozen to say yes. More than 400 did. Thus the RedState Gathering was born.
Each year, the first weekend in August, we meet somewhere. Elected officials and candidates join us to have a conversation. They speak for fifteen minutes and spend another answering questions. They talk about what they care about and answer questions based on what you care about. Many of them hang around.
To be honest, it is not a fancy event. There's no fancy music choreography. There's no MC booming over a microphone. It is not CPAC or one of the other fancy conventions. This is about you. The speakers pay their own way. They answer your questions. You get to interact with each other.
We don't do silly dead-end panel conversations weighing the future of some esoteric topic and how it impacts conservatives. We meet for each other and to see the conservative leaders who fight with us, for us, and beside us. We meet the conservative candidates RedState readers help get elected. We set aside pretensions in favor of shared activist goals.
This is why I love the RedState Gathering. It's not about backslapping donors and providing lobbyist access into the conservative movement. It's about conservatives spending time with conservatives -- the elected, the candidates, and the grassroots who help them.
This year we are delighted to be joined by Governors Jindal, Haley, and Perry, Attorney General Cuccinelli, Senators Cruz and Scott, Congressmen Bridenstine, Mulvaney, and Scalise, and we'll be announcing more shortly. The room block is almost filled and the discounted registration is almost expired. But you've got a chance still to register at a discount and get a room.
The RedState Gathering will be in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 1st through the 4th. The two active days will be the 2nd and 3rd. But you're going to want to make sure you are there by the evening of the 1st so you don't miss anything. You can register and get access to the room block by going to http://www.redstategathering.com.
Five years in, we've seen most of the candidates we've supported at the RedState Gathering get elected - some even as primary challengers to powerful incumbent Republicans. We're going to present some new challengers this year too. I look forward to seeing you there. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
2.Activate Damage Control, Senator Rubio
This cannot stand, particularly if you want to run for President. Ryan Lizza is a liberal and has occasionally written about things he does not understand, i.e. Christianity, but Ryan Lizza doesn't make sh. . . tuff up. He's good.
So when Ryan Lizza writes that a Rubio aide told him Senator Rubio had "sided with the Chamber against the construction workers," we have to take seriously that the aide to Senator Rubio really believes there are Americans who should, for lack of a better term, suffer the fate of natural selection.
The aide's exact quote is:
"There are American workers who, for lack of a better term, can't cut it .... There shouldn't be a presumption that every American worker is a star performer. There are people who just can't get it, can't do it, don't want to do it. And so you can't obviously discuss that publicly." . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
3.Microwave Ovens and Monopoly Money
A recent press release from the Department of Energy typifies the regulatory legerdemain we have come to know and love from the Most Transparent Administration in HistoryŽ. Other blogs and news outlets covered the story this week: the obvious angle is that the Obama Administration pulled a fast one by burying a controversial regulatory change inside an apparently innocuous press release, hoping to slip it by a sleepy constituency and scientifically illiterate journalists.
But in researching the story for this blog, I came to see the story in deeper terms that reveal what's really going on with the maladministration that afflicts this country. It's as if they were selling Obamacare with promises to cut your aspirin bill in half. Some folks call it "straining at a gnat to swallow a camel", typical of how the "blind guides" in this Administration run their business. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
4.Mr. Hogan
Readers of RedState may know that I was a regular front-page contributor for a while before life, circumstance and the good Lord took me, and my place in our larger fight for freedom and in defense of the American way of life to different places. I remain an active reader - and, shall we say, facilitator for other writers. Many have wondered why I write under the name "hogan." It is because the legendary golfer and American sports icon, Ben Hogan, is a hero of mine - and I chose the lower case "h" because only he is Mr. Hogan.
Mr. Hogan was never a father. This may have been so because Mr. Hogan's own father Chester committed suicide when Ben was only 9 years old, possibly in front of him. But I always will associate Mr. Hogan with Father's Day and all that it represents - including what it means to persevere and to work hard to succeed and to win (in golf, in life and in politics). Such always was the American way - and it is why we are a great nation and a great people.
I particularly think of Mr. Hogan as we watch the final round of the United States Open Championship at Merion Golf Club - the site of perhaps Mr. Hogan's greatest triumph. (Hat tip to the USGA for taking the Open back to a venue deemed "to small" to handle it). . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
5.Out of Bounds: Another Court Smack's Obama NLRB's Overreach On Union Rights Posters
In 2010, when Barack Obama's constitutionally-challenged National Labor Relations Board began proposing an edict to force private-sector, union-free employers to post so-called Union Rights posters. the Board's lone Republican at the time, Brian Hayes, argued that "the posting requirement is beyond the scope of the Board's NLRA Sec. 6 power to issue 'such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions' of the NLRA."
A Warped Prism J.R. Dunn The NSA guys are the ones with the magnifying glasses and deerstalker hats. More
The Consequences of Liberalism Christopher Chantrill Bleak as it may seem at times, always keep in mind that the real American Revolution has not finished unfolding yet. More
People, Privacy, and Fear Shoshana Bryen Americans appear to have made a balanced assessment of the NSA scandal. Is that a good thing? More
Time to Get Some Perspective on Israel Abraham Katsman Something the pointy heads in D.C. need to understand: John Kerry can afford to be wrong about what he "knows" will bring Israeli-Palestinian peace. Israel can't. More
God Save the Queen June 16, 2013 The British monarch takes an indirect swipe at Israel-bashing academics. More
Man of Steel June 16, 2013 Did anyone notice that all major characters except Diane Lane and bearded Russell Crowe had chin dimples? Even the bad-guy generals. What were the producers trying to say? But you'll go to see it no matter what the criticisms. More
LibertyNEWS TV - "Is It Possible the U.S. Will Now Arm Our Terrorist Enemies?"
LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT U.S. CONGRESSMAN MIKE POMPEO STANDS UP TO CAIR! Rep. Pompeo scheduled to speak at our Legislative Briefing
By Lisa Piraneo, Director of Government Relations
Earlier this week, Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-KS/4th) took to the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to ask why there is continued relative silence by Islamic religious leaders worldwide after jihadist attacks. Mr. Pompeo noted, "It's been just under two months since the attacks in Boston and in those intervening weeks, the silence of Muslim leaders has been deafening...and that is sad, but most importantly, it is dangerous." Click HERE to watch the Congressman's full statement on the House Floor before his colleagues.
So how did CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations respond? Did they agree with the Congressman and join together with him in his call for more Islamic religious leaders to speak out boldly against ongoing jihadist attacks here in the U.S. and across the world?
Of course not.
No, CAIR, an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial (the largest terror-financing trial in U.S. history), and the Hamas propaganda arm in the United States, played their usual game of legislative "whack-a-mole" by attacking Congressman Pompeo.
As CAIR soon found out, however, the Congressman isn't one to easily back down when he is right. Kudos to Congressman Pompeo!!!
Yesterday, in a public response to CAIR's attack, Mr. Pompeo said, "I'm not backing down in my call for Islamic partners to do more to combat Islamic extremism. Actions speak louder than words: If religious leaders are serious about wanting to end this violence, they need to help address the cause of it...." Further, the Congressman noted to CAIR, "While it is laudable to issue English-language press releases in response to a couple of high-profile terrorist attacks, this is simply not enough. Instead, these groups must lead the charge on eliminating the radical elements of your faith."
Click HERE to read Congressman Pompeo's full response to CAIR.
For those who wish to stand with Congressman Pompeo, we recommend you write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in support of his call for Islamic leaders to speak out and denounce Islamic terrorism. If you wish to thank him personally for his recent actions, please do NOT call or e-mail his office. Mass quantities of calls shut down a congressional office and are not effective for "thank you" messages. This applies to e-mails as well. Instead, please write the Congressman a personal note and send it to him at:
Congressman Mike Pompeo, 107 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Next week hundreds of ACT! for America Chapter Leaders and grassroots members will head to Capitol Hill for our annual National Security Legislative Briefing.
We look forward to hearing more from Mr. Pompeo, as well as from many other members of the U.S. Congress, who have made countering the threat of radical Islam a high priority. There's still time for you to register and join us!
ACT! for America's 260,000 grassroots activists thank these legislators-and we will continue to stand alongside them as we work together to protect and defend our great nation.
While Director of Boston's EMS, Richard Serino (now the Obama Deputy FEMA Director) developed and authored a 39 page PDF publication entitled "A Tale of Two Cities and the Running of a Planned Mass Casualty Event." (1) In 2009, Serino retired from his Boston post to serve under FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. Prior to his promotion, Serino created Course 18 which contains the following seven chapters: "Presentation Overview, Planned Disaster Concept, Groundwork, Collaboration , Planning, Execution, and Evaluation and Analysis."
Florida Atlantic University Professor James F. Tracy is being credited for bringing this important publication to our attention in his research blog called memoryhole.org. (2) "High Threat Incidents frequently result in a high number of casualties," states one chapter of the Serino publication. He sees such events as opportunities to run disaster drills for EMS and medical personnel in the event of an actual incident. ... Continue Reading:"Mass Casualty Event" Guru coordinating plans at FEMA
A FIRED San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit employee made far more money after her termination. Sit back and watch this union outrage and ask yourself if you really believe in the California Miracle."
The Obama Administration has finally come to the conclusion that Syrian dictator Assad has chemical weapons which he will use against al Qaeda aligned, Muslim Brotherhood backed insurgents and rebels. So after calling for an end to the war on terror, the White House resident has now ordered the U.S. military to develop a plan to assist Syrian rebels in an overthrow of the Assad regime. Once accomplished, Assad will be replaced with a Muslim Brotherhood puppet as seen in Egypt and Libya.
Obama's military planners are developing plans for arming Syrian rebels and insurgents (al Qaeda terrorists) to fight the forces loyal to Assad. Current plans call for establishing a no-fly zone in Syria from bases located in Jordon. (1) A safe zone will be created near the Jordanian border to train and arm anti-Assad forces. However this proposal leaves Syrian anti-aircraft capabilities untouched. Unless Obama ... Continue Reading:Obama will end the war on terror as soon as he helps al Qaeda win it
Venture behind the scenes in any hospital, and you will be astounded by the amount of time taken up with paperwork. Detailed reports, for every single patient encounter (largely for defensive purposes), are input into ever more sophisticated computer systems. The latest wrinkle allows medical billing experts to view these reports as they are being entered in real time, so that they can issue helpful pop-ups suggesting how additional billing items can be added.
Hospitals need the additional revenue since insurance limits reimbursements, and they are forced to treat many patients at no charge. Hospital poverty can also be used to justify the virtual slave labor conditions under which residents operate. Med students, facing $250,000-plus college loan debt, can look forward to around $50,000/year as a resident (with slight step increases for each year) and upwards of 80 hours per week on the job.
Few people are aware that residencies are funded via Medicare, giving the hospital about $100,000/year ... Continue Reading:Behind the scenes in health care
Few fair minded Americans would argue that the tenants of Capitol Hill should suffer the slings and arrows which complicate the lives of mere commoners. After all, seeing to the 24/7 needs of the underclasses is burden enough for anyone.
But thanks to an amendment to the Affordable Care Act, members of the political ruling class and their congressional staff will soon join the little people in suffering the financial distress promised in a 2,700 page law read and understood by very few within the beltway. And the DC elite do not like it one bit.
Before ObamaCare was rammed through the Senate via reconciliation, Senator Charles Grassley made certain that members of congress and their staff would have to obtain health insurance by enrolling in ObamaCare exchanges just like everyone else. After all, "...if Congress was going to impose Obamacare upon the country, it should have ... Continue Reading:DC Lawmakers afraid they might be subject to their own legislation
Posted by Daniel Greenfield @ the Sultan Knish blog
This has been a very long week and while there has been Thank G-D some important progress, there is still a road ahead. That means more reruns and shorter less edited new articles.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
THE DISPENSABLE OBAMA
The Dispensable Nation is the story of a struggle between two Democratic administrations; the one that exists and the shadow administration that Hillary Clinton attempted to create as Secretary of State. Like any fawning propaganda text, The Dispensable Nation has to be read on two levels. On one level, it's a critique of Obama's foreign policy. On another level, it exists to make the case for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
In 2008, Obama campaigned against Hillary Clinton as the peacenik versus the warmonger who voted to invade Iraq. Now Hillary's people are preparing to run her as the peacenik alternative to the warmonger of the previous administration who was too hard on Iran and the Taliban.
To understand how terrible the foreign policy of Hillary Clinton would be, it's enough to know that here she is depicted as the negotiator to Obama's militarist. If you thought that Obama spent too much time apologizing and negotiating, then just wait till Hillary arrives. And indeed, one of the few foreign policy "triumphs" of the Secretary of State that Nasr cites involved an apology to Pakistan.
Posted by Daniel Greenfield @ the Sultan Knish blog
We utilize systems to achieve goals whether it's defending the country or fighting poverty or making the trains run in time or achieving political change.
Modem systems are systematic creatures that aim to achieve goals by maximizing control over all the subsidiary elements of the problem.
So if you set out to solve poverty, you need control over all the social and economic elements that either cause poverty or could be used to ameliorate poverty. Those elements include the sum amount of national wealth for the purposes of wealth redistribution, the rate of unwed teen pregnancies and any forms of racial discrimination... and that's just for starters. Even poverty, which would seem like a rather simple phenomenon becomes a system which takes into account tools like abortion, progressive taxation and discrimination laws.
The scope of each social problem becomes so limitless that all social problems must merge into a Holistic Socialism of piano wire in which every string touched spreads vibrations everywhere. Solving even the most minor problem requires solving all the problems and the only solution is the absolute power of the system.
Socialism relies on systems as means to achieve social ends. The systems develop policies that control as a means to achieve those ends.
When the ends are not achieved then the system responds by intensifying the depth and scope of the control. Increasing control is the only solution of the system to failure.
And so the system changes from pursuing control as a means to pursuing control as an end.
Socialism, like most systems of government derived from it, has enshrined control as an end in and of itself.
Are governments engaged in too much secret intelligence work or not enough, or is it a matter of the actual quality of the intelligence deployed to make sense of the information gathered?
A couple has filed a class-action lawsuit against the NSA and Verizon, claiming they and their phone records were targeted for surveillance because of their outspoken criticism of Obama.
If the Obama Administration breaks the law at will, lies to the American people, uses every government agency at its disposal to punish its conservative enemies and no one does anything about it, does it make a sound?
The mainstream media have embraced Obama's recent national security team picks either by omitting key information about the nominee or, by miscasting the controversy as one of Republican outrage, rather than lies about Benghazi.
In the ongoing debate over amnesty, the wholesale collaboration of Sen. Rubio has been touted by liberals on Capitol Hill, and in the media, as "proof" that conservatives are in agreement with the likes of Sen. Schumer.
Claims that American Muslims are loyal citizens, partners in counterterrorism investigations, part of radicalization prevention efforts, and an integral part of American society for centuries fell flat...
Due to IRS abuse, funding has become more difficult for nonprofits like FSM.
Did you know that if everyone who visited our FSM website this year donated just $1, we would easily exceed our annual budget?
Your gift will be an investment in freedom.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, The Family Security Foundation relies upon the thoughtfulness and (tax-deductible!) generosity of visitors like you.
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Morning Jolt. . . with Jim Geraghty
June 14, 2013
The Administration Finally Acknowledges Brutal Reality in Syria
I guess I should give the Obama administration some credit; part of me wondered if they would try to avoid acknowledging the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons forever, or at least until the Syrian civil war ended.
Whatever your view on what our Syria policy ought to be, I hope we can all agree that it hurts this country to be claiming to be unable to see or verify chemical weapons use that the rest of the world seems to be openly acknowledging and discussing.
Naturally, this will feed the "return of the liberal hawks" meme that's spreading in some quarters. Other commentators will gnash their teeth or decry that this is the first ill-considered step towards dragging the United States into another Middle Eastern war.
To your humble blogger, this is simply the next iteration of the unspoken, brutally realpolitik policy towards Syria that's been going on for the past two years. To recap, the goal of that policy is to ensnare Iran and Hezbollah into a protracted, resource-draining civil war, with as minimal costs as possible. This is exactly what the last two years have accomplished . . . at an appalling toll in lives lost.
This policy doesn't require any course correction . . . so long as rebels are holding their own or winning. A faltering Assad simply forces Iran et al into doubling down and committing even more resources. A faltering rebel movement, on the other hand, does require some external support, lest the Iranians actually win the conflict. In a related matter, arming the rebels also prevents relations with U.S. allies in the region from fraying any further.
So is this the first step towards another U.S.-led war in the region? No. Everything in that Times story, and everything this administration has said and done for the past two years, screams deep reluctance over intervention. Arming the rebels is not the same thing as a no-fly zone or any kind of ground intervention. This is simply the United States engaging in its own form of asymmetric warfare. For the low, low price of aiding and arming the rebels, the U.S. preoccupies all of its adversaries in the Middle East.
Doug Mataconis argues that a policy that leads to more Rwanda-like death tolls is not merely acceptable, but the wiser choice than intervention:
I don't deny that Syria is a tragedy, but not every tragedy demands that the United States ride to the rescue. For example, in the 1990s, the civil war in Rwanda led to massive numbers of deaths in what turned into a Tutu-Hutsi bloodbath. President Clinton didn't intervene in that conflict, for what I would argue were wise reasons, but reports now indicate that it is one of the decisions of his Presidency that he regrets. Notwithstanding the horrible legacy of that war, Clinton is wrong to have any regrets. The idea of the United States intervening in a tribal war in the middle of Africa is as absurd now as it was then. In all likelihood, U.S. involvement in Rwanda would have just made a bad situation worse. And, that's why we ought to keep our noses out of the tragedy in Syria.
Come On, Senator, Fair Is Fair. If the Government Can Read Our E-mails . . .
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said two days ago he believed that the National Security Agency's PRISM domestic surveillance program was appropriate for our times. He added:
"In World War II, the mentality of the public was that our whole way of life was at risk, we're all in. We censored the mail. When you wrote a letter overseas, it got censored. When a letter was written back from the battlefield to home, they looked at what was in the letter to make sure they were not tipping off the enemy," Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters on Capitol Hill. "If I thought censoring the mail was necessary, I would suggest it, but I don't think it is."
Speaking of disclosure, Debra Heine sends along word . . .
Enter Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) who figured out away to insinuate White House involvement in the IRS targeting scandal and needle the president about the NSA spy scandal at the same time.
Stockman sent a letter to Chairman Darrell Issa of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee on Tuesday, asking him to subpoena all NSA records of phone calls between employees of the White House and the IRS.
"Obama assures the public he only collected this information to uncover wrongdoing and protect civil liberties. Clearly he would want us to use it to investigate this case, because otherwise he'd be lying," said Stockman.
"If Obama has nothing to hide he has nothing to fear," said Stockman.
"This case must be investigated fully, given admitted wrongdoing by the IRS, its potentially criminal implications and revelations the White House has been less than honest about what they knew and when," said Stockman. "Obama says the PRISM program is perfectly legal, so there should be no problem whatsoever in providing the information on White House and IRS phone calls."
"The only possible scenario in which the administration refuses to comply would be if it would reveal unconstitutional or illegal behavior," said Stockman.
The guys who are doing this are not bad guys, but I don't think these sorts of contests are such a good idea.
On the one hand, we're fooling ourselves every time we deny the obvious, that attractiveness is a huge factor in human behavior. ("Really? And you let yourself go out of the house looking like that? And that haircut -- what, did you put your head under a lawnmower?" Shut up, Jonah's couch! Your snark is supposed to stay in the Goldberg File!) And I'll bet a doughnut that the scales say I shouldn't eat that none of the women mentioned in this contest are offended about being nominated.
On the other hand . . .
I realize I shouldn't presume to speak on any of these women's behalf -- some of them are friends, and they're more than capable of speaking for themselves! -- but I'd note that none of them set out to be considered notable for their appearance. We can say they're beautiful enough to be models, but they didn't choose to be models -- or actresses or any other profession in which your appearance is your primary purpose. I presume that if they had wanted to pursue those different fields, they would have done so, and they haven't. So I wonder how flattering it really is to assess a Michelle Malkin or a Mary Katharine Ham or Dana Perino and to respond . . . "Wow, you're HOT!"
Yes, but they have limited control over that, and again, at the risk of speaking on their behalf, that's not what they came here to do. Some of their attractiveness is genetics, and the rest is a sense of style and taking good care of themselves. They're writers, reporters, authors, activists and analysts, and they do stuff, and it's probably more appropriate to view them and assess them based on their actions, not their attractiveness.
Of course, none of the guys running this contest would say we shouldn't appreciate their actions, and I'm sure they appreciate those actions. But notice the nomination list consists of the womens' names, affiliations . . . and then big photos of them. Not what they've accomplished, awards, and so on. And the contest isn't saying they're the best, having the most impact, most dedicated, or any other measure. It's the "hottest."
If you've ever checked out the comments section of just about any blog discussing a female conservative pundit, you know the usual vile comments are even more vile than usual, dissecting the woman's appearance in detail. (I'm sure all of those commenters are comparable to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.) I'm not saying this contest is quite like these repugnant comments, but if women in our industry have to endure being judged on their appearances every day, both overtly and subtly, it doesn't seem very empathetic to formalize the process, pick out 17 or so for particular praise, and then run a contest to see who is hottest. I mean, there are dozens of conservative women in new media out there who didn't get picked, and who have just been told, quietly, "Yeah, apparently not enough people think you're hot."
The other thing is . . . You've heard the phrase, "Washington is Hollywood for ugly people." (Origin of the cliché discussed here.) Permit me to stand up for "ugly people" for a moment.
Most of us came out of an appearance-obsessed and status-obsessed subculture called "high school." Maybe you're one of the lucky ones who always felt okay about how you looked; sometimes, you go through it looking like this.
Hopefully somewhere in high school, or maybe after high school, you find something you're good at and you thrive in it, and you realize your value as a person goes well beyond what other people think of your appearance. It's always a little sad when someone doesn't move beyond this measurement of self-worth, because our appearances change, no matter how hard we try.
Look, attractive people. "Washington" -- the world of politics and policy that goes well beyond the District of Columbia's borders -- was supposed to be our turf. As I discuss in my novel coming out next year, it's "Nerd-vana," where all of us geeks who had interests beyond video games and MTV get to play and be in charge and feel normal. It's an endangered-species preserve for people who care enough about political issues to make a career out of them. You beautiful people got Hollywood, and most of New York, and almost every beach community along the Atlantic Coast from Virginia Beach to South Padre Island, Texas. Some would argue Nashville, too. This was supposed to be the place where how you looked didn't matter quite as much as what you knew.
Anyway, vote in the contest, don't vote in the contest, cheer it, boo it, do as you will . . . but let's at least try to see people beyond their appearances, okay?
ADDENDUM: Happy Father's Day, dads around the world.
NRO Digest - June 14, 2013
Today on National Review Online . . .
JONAH GOLDBERG: The libertarian idea is the only truly new political idea in the last couple thousand years. Freedom: The Unfolding Revolution
Top Story Media Downplay Their Conflicts of Interest By Roger Aronoff | June 13, 2013 The mainstream media might just be owned and operated by the Obama Administration-lock, stock, and barrel. They are married at the hip, quite literally, and often have relatives within the Administration. The Washington Post names names in a recent piece entitled, "Media, administration deal with conflicts." Conflicts of interest, that is. From the AIM Blogs Journalism is the Worst 4-Year College Investment By Don Irvine | June 13, 2013 From the Accuracy in Academia America Betrayed By Elites By Malcolm A. Kline | June 13, 2013 When you compare meticulously researched commercial histories with the extended blogs that pass for academic ones, you come to a startling revelation: Just about everything we've been taught about our history is wrong.
Women in Afghanistan Ali Swee | June 13, 2013 Living in a country where women lawyers, doctors, and CEOs are ubiquitous, Americans often take advantage of the many opportunities granted by freedom.
Where Food Comes From By Isabel Mittelstadt | June 12, 2013 Though likely unbeknownst to many, much of the food sold in grocery stores today has been genetically altered. Guest Column Scandalmania By Col. Kenneth Allard US Army ret. | June 13, 2013 President Obama has learned nothing and forgotten nothing. In elevating truth-challenged U.N. Ambassador Susan E. Rice to the government's premier national security position, Mr. Obama effectively flashed an upturned middle finger toward his critics as if to say, "I'm large and in charge. If you have a problem with her, then come and get me." AIM Newswire Greek economy rebounding at an anemic rate
"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. What is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?" --James Madison
Intense debate continues to rage over the legality, constitutionality and morality of the National Security Agency's data collection, as well as the status of Edward Snowden, the contract employee who leaked the documents to a British newspaper last week. Is he a Patriot or a traitor?
(Regarding the program itself, read Mark Alexander's essay, It's the Profiling, Stupid!One noteworthy addition to the essay is that the administration's surveillance seems to have excluded mosques, which are often jihadi programming centers. Target conservatives with the IRS, but don't mess with Muslims.)
Snowden is a 29-year-old former contract employee of Booz Allen Hamilton, which in turn provided technical service to the NSA. He also spent time previously working for the CIA. Though he worked as a computer technician in several positions with some level of security clearance, he never completed high school, dropped out of community college and overstated his pay grade at Booz Allen Hamilton by about 40 percent, calling into question his veracity. He was also a Ron Paul donor who was reportedly disappointed to discover that Barack Obama didn't fix everything upon taking office.
He opined to the UK's Guardian newspaper, "I can't in good conscience allow the U.S. government to destroy privacy, Internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they're secretly building." No question he put his money where his mouth is, giving up a comfortable life with a (we suppose) secure job to stand for his convictions. Then again, he argues, "I have done nothing wrong." That must be why he fled to Hong Kong -- a rather ironic choice for a lover of "privacy, Internet freedom and basic liberties" given that the city is a Special Administrative Region of Communist China.
If conscience was such a problem, Snowden could have taken any number of other jobs. He also had much better options than the Leftmedia to make his concerns known. If not the chain of command in place within the NSA, he likely would have received a fair hearing by approaching a senator opposing the NSA's programs.
Perhaps something can be learned from Snowden's choice of Glenn Greenwald as the journalist to whom he would leak: Greenwald is a well-known hard-left attack dog and supporter of U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, currently facing court martial for having aided our enemies by leaking to WikiLeaks the largest trove of classified documents in U.S. history.
Many resignations and appointments in the Obama adminsitration have been about finding a thank-you spot for those who have done campaign time or otherwise helped propel his terms in office. But the Obama shuffles aren't necessarily all about loyalty. They're also about moving the chess pieces into place.
In this age of jihad, Americans understood that some adjustments to everyday habits had to be made. But tracking every last phone call made in the entire country for months on end and monitoring all emails cannot be adequately justified by efforts to combat terror. What is this but the nightmare of political modernism?
The debate over the impact of austerity on the economy continues to divide both lawmakers and economists as evidenced by a Senate hearing about the fiscal and economic effects of policies designed for deficit reduction.
Honduras has been the global homicide capital since at least 2010, with levels of violence, corruption, and impunity that suggest a failing state. A gang truce is not a long-term solution to rampant drug violence, but it could provide short-term relief.
To read Yusuf al-Qaradawi's 1984 book "Islamic Education and Hasan al-Banna" is to get an Islamic education. Just as Marx claimed in the Communist Manifesto of his movement, the Islamists, too, disdain to conceal their aims. However, almost thirty years after al-Qaradawi clearly explained the movement's ideas, the opponents of Islamism have barely begun their attempt to understand and to educate others on this ideology.
Today I had the pleasure of speaking to conservative activists at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's annual conference here in Washington, D.C. The Faith & Freedom Coalition, led by Ralph Reed, is a dedicated ally in the battle to defend our values.
While it is easy to be focused on the failures of Obama's left-wing agenda -- and they are numerous -- I challenged the audience to hold the GOP's feet to the fire in fighting for our values.
Republican leaders are very passionate about holding down tax rates on billionaires and reforming Social Security. Policies that grow the economy and control our deficit spending are important. So too is addressing our growing virtue deficit.
If Republicans want to capture the hearts and minds of the American people, they need to be just as passionate about policies that ensure children have mothers and fathers, and making sure that unborn babies have more rights than Styrofoam cups.
Pelosi & Press Laugh Off Abortion
Kudos to my friend Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ). In the wake of the horrific Gosnell trial, Rep. Franks sponsored legislation to prohibit late-term abortions performed after 20 weeks based on medical evidence that unborn children feel pain. His legislation was approved this week by the House Judiciary Committee and will be debated by the full House next week.
At a press conference yesterday John McCormack, a reporter for The Weekly Standard, asked House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi, "[W]hat is the moral difference between what Dr. Gosnell did to a baby born alive at 23 weeks and aborting her moments before birth?"
The pro-abortion Pelosi did not appreciate the question. She snapped, "You're probably enjoying that question a lot. I can see you savoring it."
At that point, several other reporters in the room laughed, joining her in mocking the seriousness of the issue. How easy it must be for liberals in this town to get up every morning and do what they do knowing a compliant press corps will cover for them.
Undeterred, McCormack continued to press Pelosi. Visibly angered, she condemned Gosnell's barbaric behavior, but also went on to condemn Franks' legislation as "reprehensible." Then she said this: "I'm going to tell you something. ...As a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground to me when you talk about this. I don't think it should have anything to do with politics."
What exactly is "sacred" to her: the life of the child or the unfettered practice of abortion? I think Nancy Pelosi needs a remedial course in Christian teaching on the sanctity of life.
I do not believe the sanctity of life should be a political issue either. But so long as the destruction of one million innocent lives continues in this country, I will continue to speak out and work for the day when America lives up to the promise of our Declaration of Independence and guarantees the God-given right to life of every individual.
Obama Stepping Into Syrian Civil War
The White House announced yesterday evening that intelligence agencies have confirmed the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime against its own citizens in the Syrian civil war. As a result, the Obama Administration declared it would "increase the scope and scale of the assistance that we provide to the opposition."
Once again Obama is finding out that as president there is often no good option on the table. The Syrian opposition is increasingly aligned with Al Qaeda. Need I say more? Assad is being backed by Iran and Hezbollah. If they prevail, that is a disaster for America and Israel.
It would take an incredibly astute president with a well-honed grasp of geopolitical issues and the growing risk confronting the United States to successfully navigate this minefield. Unfortunately, that president is not sitting in the oval office today, leaving me with zero confidence that this will end well.
Stand With Israel
Conditions in the Middle East are increasingly chaotic. The Arab Spring Obama cheered has emboldened radical Islamists and destabilized the region. Syria's civil war -- with the U.S. arming Sunni Muslims and Al Qaeda against Iran, Hezbollah and Russia -- has the potential to spiral out-of-control and engulf other neighboring states.
Meanwhile, the rampant hatred of Israel and America is difficult to comprehend. While most of us are looking forward to fun family vacations this summer, Palestinian children are being trained to fire machine guns, plant bombs and capture Israelis at camps run by Islamic Jihad.
It's not easy to make your voice heard on complex foreign policy matters, but there is one way you can: Join me in our nation's capital for the Christians United for Israel Washington Summit!
Led by Pastor John Hagee, CUFI's Washington Summit will be held July 22-24. This year's Summit features an outstanding lineup of speakers, including:
Rep. Michele Bachmann Glenn Beck House Majority Leader Eric Cantor Sen. Ted Cruz Gov. Mike Huckabee And many more!
Early registration discounts end soon, so please reserve your seats today. I look forward to seeing you there!
The West Virginia eighth-grader arrested and suspended over his National Rifle Association T-shirt with an image of a firearm is now facing a $500 fine and a year in jail. A judge is allowing prosecutors to move forward with charging Jared Marcum, 14, with obstructing an officer. See the family's response to these charges HERE.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin scoffed at President Barack Obama's decision to begin arming the Syrian rebels, saying that until the U.S. has a commander in chief that knows what they're doing, "let Allah sort it out." Watch clips from Palin's Saturday speech at the Faith and Freedom Coalition event in D.C.HERE.
Two Boy Scout leaders who've been reprimanded by the organization for marching with several Scouts in the Utah Pride Parade in Salt Lake City refused to sign an apology letter acknowledging they violated Scout policy and were disobedient. Learn which rule the Scouts violated and why they are unapologeticHERE.
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If you are a dad, Happy Father's Day! If you are fortunate enough to still have your father in your life, call him first and then check out the results of a new Associated Press-WE tv poll about fatherhood and a man's desire to be a dadHERE.
Danielle Powell was going through a hard time in the spring of 2011, just months away from graduating from a conservative Christian college in Nebraska. She had fallen in love with another woman, a strictly forbidden relationship at a school where even prolonged hugs were banned. Powell said she was working at a civil rights foundation when she was called back to Grace University in Omaha and confronted about the relationship. Find out why the school is charging her $6,000 in addition to expelling herHERE.
A classified Capitol Hill briefing this week on the NSA's surveillance programs failed to garner even half of the Senate. The briefing with Intelligence Director James Clapper and NSA head Keith Alexander, was held Thursday afternoon -- after many senators had already elected to leave town to get a jump on their Father's Day weekends. Find out which Democratic politician expressed disgust because of the small crowd HERE.
The owner of the New England Patriots is coming forward with a wild tale: he says Russian President Vladimir Putin actually stole his Super Bowl ring in 2005 -- and that the White House urged him to drop the matter in the interest of international relations. Find out how Putin confiscated the ring in broad daylight with the help of the KGBHERE.
It's been said that there's no such thing as "bad publicity." And for journalists, getting arrested in the line of duty is resume gold. Which is likely why two student reporters at West Islip (N.Y.) High School and staffers at its newspaper are smiling since their recent arrests on multiple charges after they got a little enterprising with their notepads. Read the unique story that led to their incarcerationHERE.
The Kansas City Royals wouldn't typically feel relief after losing a game and a franchise-record pitching streak. But once they learned that Tampa Bay right-hander Alex Cobb sustained only a mild concussion after taking a line drive to the head, Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Rays was an afterthought. See video of this stunning eventHERE.
It lasted only seconds, but a photo of a soon-to-be husband and wife praying together -- yet hidden from one another's eyes -- has become an Internet sensation. Bre and Josh Curtas were nearly ready to walk down the aisle when they took a moment to bow their heads in prayer, grasping hands from around a corner so neither one could sneak a peek. Take a glimpse at the heartwarming image HERE.
On his radio show Friday, Rush Limbaugh put forth a theory as to why the Republican Party is seemingly willing to pass "amnesty" and create millions of "instant Democrats." "The Republican Party is embarrassed by its own base," Limbaugh said. He went on to support his claim by telling a story about his first-ever trip to the Hamptons where he visited a "famous American Republican." Hear the rest of his story HERE.
Democratic National Convention organizers claim they lost roughly half a million dollars' worth of electronics during last year's convention. "Organizers of the Charlotte, N.C. convention have filed an eyebrow-raising police report for lost and stolen electronics, some of which they have valued at as much as 62 times the listed market prices," ABC News reports. See some of the outragious claims HERE.
Actor Ken Wahl, known for playing several iconic roles in the 1980s and 1990s, has been increasingly vocal about the current state of affairs in America. He has openly decried the Obama administration, made his voice heard about the atrocities at Dr. Kermit Gosnell's clinic -- and is even considering pleas from some that he run for public office. See what he said when TheBlaze asked him why he is so outspoken about his views HERE.
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Todd Reimer is a doctorate-level physics and math teacher at the same school where his son, Remington, graduated as valedictorian and infamously had his microphone cut off during his graduation speech. On Friday, the elder Reimer told TheBlaze that reports are true regarding Remington's former principal allegedly threatening to write a letter to the college where his son is headed this fall-the Naval Academy -- to inform officials there of Reimer's actions during his speech. Learn the other startling claims from Todd Reimer regarding the principal's behavior HERE.
New "Jihawg" ammunition claims to offer gun owners a "peaceful and natural deterrent" to the growing threat of radical Islam. See how "Jihawg" ammo claims to work and the criticism surrounding it HERE.
Something very unusual happened to pro golfer Carl Pettersson during the U.S. Open on Friday. While on the 5th fairway, an errant tee shot came in from out of nowhere and smashed right into his golf ball mid-backswing. Pettersson did not look pleased. See his reactionHERE.
The Department of Defense lost roughly $1.1 billion via improper payments in 2011 -- and the amount may be even higher than that, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. The GAO isn't sure how much money is lost because DOD accounting practices are apparently unreliable. Learn the rest of the GAO's startling conclusionsHERE.
Filling in for Fox News host Sean Hannity Friday night, Monica Crowley sparred with former South Carolina Democratic Chairman Dick Harpootlian over the legitimacy of the multiple scandals plaguing the White House. Crowley criticized President Obama for not coming out publicly and laying out all the facts to prove his administration's innocense in the scandals. See the startling statement that Harpootlian said about former President Bush that led Crowley to respond, "Are you kidding me?" HERE.
Comedian Steven Crowder's latest sketch video imagines what would happen if the "Man of Steel" was forced to join a union. Spoiler Alert: It doesn't work out well. See the comical video HERE.
People say that it's better to give than to receive. And three Utah children seem to agree. Aidan, 8, Sofia, 8, and Zach, 6, run a lemonade stand and business has been pretty good. However, rather than keep all their earnings, they decided to engage in a little philanthropy and cut the Utah Food Bank a check for $36.50. See the heartwarming note that the children left with their donationHERE.
Thursday, things got tense during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and FBI Director Robert Mueller battled over the efficiency of the FBI's investigation into the Boston bombers prior to the April 15 terrorist attack. Watch the FBI Director admit that his agency was unaware of a very specific terrorism connection in the Boston caseHERE.
On the Tursday edition of The Glenn Beck Program, Rep. Michele Bachmann told Beck; "We have the really bad bill in the Senate and what's going to happen, Glenn, is that a Trojan horse - a bill that's going to really look good and really sound good and it's going to talk about border security - a bill that we like will get voted on and passed." Watch the segment from TheBlaze TVHERE.
Holly Paz, an Internal Revenue Service official, is at the center of the agency's political targeting scandal has reportedly been fired and has since "dropped off the edge of the world," according to a new report from National Review Online. Get the full storyHERE.
As pointed out by TheBlaze on Wednesday, MSNBC's Chris Matthews said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) "fits the tradition" of notorious Nazi sympathizer Father Charles Coughlin. He also made the outrageous comment that he had a "black Irish look." On the Thursday edition of his radio show, Glenn Beck lost it when he heard the comparison. Watch the segmentHERE.
At a signing event for the contentious "Merry Christmas Bill," Texas Gov. Rick Perry had a message for atheist activists who have a penchant for sometimes taking church-state separatism to the extreme: The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee "freedom from religion." Watch the video showing Gov. Perry explaining the "Merry Christmas Bill"HERE.
On Wednesday, three Czech companies that teamed up to make a prototype of a flying electric bicycle successfully debuted it in Prague. Watch the video from the five minute demonstration of their flying two-wheeled wonderHERE.
"The Papers of the Founding Founders Are Now Online." That's how a White House blog post from Thursday afternoon originally introduced an exciting new project that gives the American people access to letters and other documents written by the Founding Fathers. But wait, doesn't that seem an odd way to phrase it: "the Founding Founders"? See the actual blog post from the White HouseHERE.
On Thursday, federal authorities have recovered about 400 handwritten pages from the wartime diary of Alfred Rosenberg, a key Nazi adviser to Adolf Hitler. The papers were discovered after a 17-year search. Learn some of the shocking statements inside the Rosenberg diariesHERE.
Over the weekend, three fishermen off the coast of New Jersey came face-to-fins with a great white shark they estimated to be around 16 feet long. But there was something about this story that has sparked interest from the web. Watch the clip, to see why it's gone viralHERE.
Earlier this week, an 11-year-old from Texas nicknamed "El Charro de Oro," which means The Golden Mariachi, kicked off game three of the NBA finals with a stirring rendtion of our national anthem. Sebastien De La Cruz was born in San Antonio, but after his performance Tuesday night, some said his singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" was "un-American" because "he's probably illegal." Watch an interview that shows this young man's detractors and find out what real poise and class looks like HERE.
Last month, CBS investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson said that she believed her computer had been compromised and that the matter was under investigation within CBS News. Through a series of tweets released Friday, Attkisson reported that an internal CBS investigation conducted by a cyber security firm, confirmed that her computer has been hacked.
Data was extracted and the investigation into the hacker is ongoing.
"Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it; no constitution, no law, no court can even do much to help it." ~ Judge Learned Hand
Behind The Sudden Concern Over Syria
Wag the Syrian Dog By Chriss W. Street Breitbart.com With embattled President Barack Obama facing a scandal about electronic spying on the private lives of almost every voter in America, it should not be surprising that he would make "a decision to provide lethal assistance," including weapons, ammunition, and air support, to the Syrian rebels.
Abortionist's Comments Not Only Callous, They Are Also Bizarre And Non-Sensical
Carhart: Aborting Late-Term Baby 'Like Putting Meat in a Crock-Pot' By Melanie Hunter CNSNews.com In a covertly made tape-recording at a Nebraska abortion clinic, Dr. Leroy Carhart told a pregnant woman that aborting her late-term baby by subjecting the child to a lethal injection inside the womb was "like putting meat in a Crock-Pot."
Obamas To Flout Wealth In Poorest Regions Of Africa By Judi McLeod CanadaFreePress America in Decline will spend $60-100 million for the Obama Act called "reinforcing U.S. commitment to forging strong relationships with emerging democracies in sub-Saharan Africa".
Life With Big Brother: 'This Stuff Is So Secret Is That It Would Scare The Pants Off A Lot Of People'
Inside The NSA: Peeling Back The curtain WorldNetDaily/The Independent Whether you love it or loathe it, there is no intelligence service anywhere in the world comparable to America's massive electronic eavesdropping organisation, the National Security Agency (NSA).
Defending America the American Way By Alan Keyes WorldNetDailyThe Obama faction is now openly engaged in a campaign to use the power of the U.S. government to overthrow the U.S. Constitution.
Some Day Pelosi's Tongue Is Going To Turn Black And Fall Right Out Of Her Head ...
Pelosi: Banning Abortion Post-22 Weeks is 'Disrespectful' to Women By Elizabeth Harrington CNSNews.comHouse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said a bill to outlaw abortions after 22 weeks (5-and-a-half months) is "disrespectful" to women, adding that "as a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground to me."
Image: Syria Crosses Obama's 'Red Line'--Uses Chemical Weapons Multiple Times By Todd Beamon Newsmax.comAmong those whose comments put pressure on Obama to act was one of his predecessors, Bill Clinton[:] "The only question is: now that the Russians, the Iranians and Hezbollah are in there head over heels ... should we try to do something to try to slow their gains and rebalance the power so that these rebel groups have a decent chance to prevail[.]"
CIA Deputy Director Steps Down 'To Spend More Time With His Family' By Patrick Goodenough CNSNews.comCIA deputy director Michael Morell, who played a key role in editing the administration's controversial talking points on last September's terror attack in Benghazi, announced his retirement on Wednesday after 33 years of service.
Jun 14, 2013 01:33 pm These remarks were delivered at yesterday's Faith and Freedom Coalition luncheon in DC. Last year in Pakistan, 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban for being a girl and for wanting to go to school. If you haven't seen the YouTube videow of Malala being interviewed on national television, speaking [...]
Video: FBI Director Mueller Doesn't Know Anything About IRS Investigation
Jun 14, 2013 01:29 pm
Robert Mueller could offer no information under questioning from Rep. Jim Jordan about the investigation into the IRS for its targeting of conservative groups seeking tax-exemption. Related posts: FBI Director Defends Surveillance Programs WASHINGTON - FBI Director Robert Mueller on Thursday defended a... Issa Staffer: Gunrunner Investigation Points Much Higher Than ATF Director A spokesman [...]
The Obama Family Trip To Africa To Cost $60 To $100 Million
Jun 14, 2013 01:21 pm President Obama and his family will be going to Africa later this month. But the trip won't be cheap; it's expected to cost American taxpayers $60 to $100 million, according to the Washington Post. "When President Obama makes his first extended trip to sub-Saharan Africa later this month, the federal agencies charged with keeping him [...]
Video: Congressman Concerned Over IRS Agents Training With AR-15s
Jun 14, 2013 01:11 pm
Congressman Jeff Duncan questions why he saw IRS agents training with powerful, semi-automatic rifles when he toured a Maryland Federal Law Enforcement Training Center on May 23. Related posts: Obama Administration Pulls References To Islam From Terror Training Materials, Official Says Deputy U.S. Attorney General James Cole confirmed on Wednesday that... Wheelchair-bound Marine Disrespected By [...]
Michelle Obama's Farmer's Market Resorts To Fat, Sugar, And Salt For Sales
Jun 14, 2013 01:06 pm A persistent myth in the food policy world, spread most forcefully by First Lady Michelle Obama, is that the nation can conquer obesity through the power of farmers' markets. This is typically positioned against the supposed evils of a "food industry" fingered by book authors chasing residuals cash for using ingredients like salt, sugar, and [...]
A video composed by Rep. Steve Stockman's DC Interns expressing their views as to why they are conservative. Related posts: Geico Actor: I Was Fired Because I'm A Conservative R. Lee Ermey, a veteran, recently made this claim. Watch... Obama Admin Is Preparing To Take Out Conservative Americans Military veterans consistently poll as identifying themselves [...]
Jun 14, 2013 12:59 pm Washington, D.C.-Something quite unexpected happened just hours ago, in the dark of night, during a two-day layover in Washington, DC. My son and I are scheduled to take part in a seminar outside of Raleigh, North Carolina this weekend, so we combined our travels to include a side-trip to DC for a business meeting we [...]
DC Lawmakers Afraid They Might Be Subject To Their Own Legislation
Jun 14, 2013 12:52 pm Few fair-minded Americans would argue that the tenants of Capitol Hill should suffer the slings and arrows that complicate the lives of mere commoners. After all, seeing to the 24/7 needs of the underclasses is burden enough for anyone. But thanks to an amendment to the Affordable Care Act, members of the political ruling class [...]
Video: Beck Compares Certain Republicans To Civil Rights Leaders
Jun 14, 2013 12:47 pm
Glenn Beck calls on his audience to support Republicans opposed to amnesty... Related posts: Beck: Obama 'Is Trying To Send Us Into Civil War' Glenn Beck says President Obama is trying to incite a... Glenn Beck's Departure From Fox News, Part 1 On rare occasions, a unique figure bursts onto the national...
Bill Cosby Wants Americans To Be More Like Muslims
Jun 14, 2013 12:46 pm I grew up watching Bill Cosby on the television show I Spy back in the 1960's. I also heard many of his comedy routines like Noah, Parents, Little Tiny Hairs and Fat Albert. In the early 1970s, I saw Cosby on a talk show and was impressed with his goals. He said he wanted to [...]
Americans amd government officials fear costs... Related posts: Herman Cain Understands ObamaCare's Rationing by Dr. Tracy Miller During the last Republican presidential debate,... Obamacare Is Raising Healthcare Costs, Not Lowering Them No one really knows how much Obamacare is going to...
Jun 14, 2013 12:37 pm When I post a new article to my blog on the Constitution, I always send out an email to those who request to be put on the list to be notified of new posts. I have many military veterans on the list and some members of the active military. Most of them have given [...]
Video: Why Did NSA Surveillance Fail To Stop Nidal Hasan?
Jun 14, 2013 12:26 pm
An expert on Fox News attempts to answer this question... Related posts: Robert Bales And Nidal Hasan- Another Obama Hypocrisy Robert Bales, a US military soldier who served three tours... CBS & NBC Fail To ID Hasan As Muslim; ABC's Raddatz Relays: 'I Wish His Name Was Smith' Neither the CBS Evening News nor NBC [...]
Jun 14, 2013 12:20 pm Americans are seeing levels of corruption in government like never before. The truths being revealed almost daily highlight a central issue: the importance of integrity in leadership. Leadership sets the tone and the example. We've been down this road before. Richard Nixon actively engaged criminality, creating a crisis and destroying confidence in leadership, leading to [...]
Jun 14, 2013 12:13 pm We have heard a lot about people entering our country for the sole purpose of having their children born here so that they become citizens of our country. And we call our citizens Americans. But what is America, and what is an American? Is it just a person born here? And is America (I know, [...]
Government surveillance never sounded so smooth. Song performed by the talented Remy. Related posts: An Original Western Journalism Production: "Big Big Government!" Perhaps you remember our video we put up a few months... Great New Song - Ban Everything, Y'all! This song is titled "Ban This Song", performed by the...
Political Accountability And The Loss Of American Liberty
Jun 14, 2013 12:04 pm In the past decade, the loss of privacy, freedom, and liberty has been unprecedented. Prior to the declassification, disclosure, and leaks depicting how the American government has been spying on its own citizens, the average American was free to dismiss such
Jun 14, 2013 12:00 pm "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."- Martin Luther King, Jr. As the initial stages of the George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin case proceeds, the media is [...]
Jun 14, 2013 11:56 am LONDON (AP) - Phone call logs, credit card records, emails, Skype chats, Facebook message, and more: The precise nature of the NSA's sweeping surveillance apparatus has yet to be confirmed. But given the revelations spilling out into the media, there hardly seems a single aspect of daily life that isn't somehow subject to spying by [...]
Jun 14, 2013 11:30 am WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's decision to authorize lethal aid to Syrian rebels marks a deepening of U.S. involvement in the two-year civil war. But U.S. officials are still grappling with what type and how much weaponry to send the opposition forces and how to ensure it stays out of the hands of extremists battling [...]
Judith Levy of Ricochet takes a look at the newly elected Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani. Here are my takeaways from her analysis of the man I call "Sh*t Squared" (so as to distinguish him from his election rivals, Sh*t to the third and fourth power):
1. Rouhani is a disciple of Ayatollah Khomeini. He stayed close to Khomeini while in exile and then moved up the political system once Khomeini seized power in Iran.
2. More recently, Rouhani has been aligned with former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Rafsanjani believes at least somewhat in a free market economy, and he prefers not to antagonize America and the West unnecessarily. Rouhani apparently shares these views.
3. This distinguishes Rouhani from President Ahmadinejad and makes him a better choice for Iranians. But it doesn't make Iran appreciably less dangerous to America's underlying interests in the Middle East or to Israel.
4. In this regard, Rouhani has not wavered in his support for the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Why the staunch backing? According to Levy, it's because "Rouhani admires Assad's absolute rejection of any kind of rapprochement with Israel, ever."
5. Perhaps the biggest tip-off to Rouhani is the fact that Iran's Guardian Council culled the original list of presidential candidates from about 680 names down to eight. Rafsanjani was among those disqualified. The fact that Rouhani remained standing strongly suggests that he is on board with the regime's core policy objectives.
6. Perhaps the most central of these core objectives is the development of nuclear weapons. Rouhani backs Iran's nuclear program.
7. Rouhani's image as a moderate, and his tendency to avoid inflammatory language, will help take heat off Iran as it continues with its nuclear program. It also diminishes even further the likelihood that the U.S. under President Obama would back a decision by Israel to attack Iran's nuclear capability.
8. At the end of the day, Supreme Leader Mohammad Khameini will retain the last word on anything of consequence. Naturally, this includes nuclear policy. He has already warned Rouhani not to make concessions to the West on that (or any) score.
Let's review the climate diplomacy story so far. The elephant in the room at the UN negotiations has always been China, India, and other developing nations who have steadfastly refused to agree to future limits on their use of affordable hydrocarbon energy, which they rightly see as the path to becoming fully middle class nations as we and Europe did. The Chinese told Al Gore in Kyoto in 1997 when Gore was begging them to agree to future limits at some point: "We don't understand you Americans; do you expect us to be poor forever?" The Indians were equally direct, telling Gore: "You people in the West got rich on fossil fuels, and now it is our turn. When we are as rich as you, then we'll talk about emissions limits." (I heard these accounts off the record from career State Department people who were present in Kyoto, and who were harshly critical of Gore's role there.)
Here in this country it has always been obvious that an asymmetrical treaty that imposed higher costs on the U.S. than our trading partners would be economically disastrous. Bill Clinton's economists told him this in 1998, which is why Clinton never lifted a finger to promote the Kyoto Protocol, and also why ratification of Kyoto was quietly dropped from the Democratic National Platform starting in 2004.
I've always thought the cynical play for China would be to come out with an offer to agree to bilateral emissions limits with the United States, which would remove the "China won't go along" objection to emissions limits here. The Chinese would surely treat it as the Soviet Union treated arms control treaties-as a massive opportunity to cheat and gain further advantage over the U.S. Think we'd be any more effective with Chinese emissions violations that we are with their intellectual property theft and currency manipulation? (Brief aside: At the various UN climate negotiations, China has from time to time playfully suggested they might agree to some kind of emissions limits provided they were given tradable emission reduction credits for the results of the population control programs going back several decades. This always causes discomfort for the diplomats, most of whom privately approve of China's one-child policy, but know that, as a matter of human rights, they can't admit this publicly, though in these days of moral relativism and multiculturalism they would be hard pressed to give a coherent reason why.)
Turns out it is a very modest agreement, totally incommensurate with the headlines, that won't touch energy use at all: The U.S. and China merely agreed to lower the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which ironically are the replacement chemicals for the CFCs that were phased out in the Montreal Protocol of 1987. HFCs are a potent greenhouse gas, but relatively easy pickings as these things go. In other words, this agreement hardly ranks as a "major" breakthrough from any point of view. But so desperate is the climate campaign and its media cheerleaders that any agreement, no matter how small, is heralded as a breakthrough.
Much more significant but contrarian, and hence naturally drawing no media attention at all, was the announcement from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (their version of our NAS) that it has translated into Chinese the Climate Change Reconsidered and Climate Change Reconsidered: 2011 Interim Report, products of the Heartland Institute's Non-Governmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC-heh). These reports comprise over 1,200 pages of material that takes a sharply different view of the matter than the U.S. scientific establishment. Sounds like the Chinese scientific establishment has decided to sign up with the climate skeptics, or at least give their point of view a fair hearing instead of just resorting to name-calling. It's enough to give any self-respecting member of the NAS here an embolism.
If you want to understand quickly and simply why China is never going to agree to any serious impediments on its energy use, check out this 24-second video I made a couple of years back of comparing coal use history and IEA projections for the United States and China through the year 2035.
My father was a thoughtful man. In the last years of his life he listed the things he was most grateful for and in retrospect I can see he thought about gratitude a lot. He itemized the three things he was most grateful for in this order: 1) that his grandfather didn't miss the boat from Russia to the United States, 2) that when his grandfather arrived in New York he kept traveling until he reached Minnesota (this although my father loved New York), and 3) that his father was born before he was. The last was his way of acknowledging his debt to his father. I join him today in all three thoughts.
I started thinking about my father and this Father's Day when I heard the old Winstons' single "Color Him Father" on the radio last week. I learn from the Allmusic Guide entry on them that the Winstons were a Washington, D.C.-based soul act led by Richard Spencer. Spencer was born in North Carolina, where he received some formal training on the piano.
In 1969 the Winstons hit it big with "Color Him Father." The single was a top ten R&B and pop hit. Spencer wrote the song and won a Grammy for it.
The father depicted in the song sets a good example for his seven kids. He works hard to support his family. He emphasizes the importance of education. He also has a big heart for the kids. As if that is not enough, Spencer loads an O. Henry twist into the last verse; the man is the kids' stepfather. Their father was killed in the war.
I wonder if the father in Spencer's life resembled the man in the song. Spencer followed one of the that man's precepts, taking time out from show business to pursue his education in 1979. (First posted in 2010.)
The U.S. reportedly has decided to send small arms to Syrian rebels and is preparing to deliver these arms through bases in Turkey and Jordan that have been used to provide non-lethal assistance. According to the Washington Post the decision to supply arms predates the CIA's conclusion with "high certainty" that regime forces have used chemical weapons against Syrian rebels.
The decision is said to have been clinched not by that conclusion, but rather by growing confidence that we understand the various rebel factions well enough to be make sure the weapons we supply won't fall into "the wrong hands." As Ben Rhodes, the president's deputy national security adviser put it, the U.S. is capable of delivering materiel "not only into the country, but into the right hands."
I don't doubt that we are capable of delivering weapons to the groups we intend to give them to; nor do I question our ability to identify rebel factions that are not now dominated by the worst kind of extremists. The problem is that we cannot control what happens to the weapons after we deliver them.
This problem is compounded by the fact that, from all accounts I've seen, the composition of various rebel groups is in constant flux. Fighters tend to migrate from one faction to another.
We also know from John McCain's ill-fated photo opportunity that even groups we think have "the right hands" contain individuals whose hands are "wrong." To make matters worse, the New York Times reports that "even the Supreme Military Council, the umbrella rebel organization whose formation the West had hoped would sideline radical groups, is stocked with commanders who want to infuse Islamic law into a future Syrian government." According to the Times, "nowhere in rebel-controlled Syria is there a secular fighting force to speak of."
With the situation in flux but trending in favor of extremists, it's not a huge leap from commanders who "want to infuse Islamic law into a future Syrian government" to commanders prepared to wage war against secularists, and against U.S. interests and allies.
This doesn't necessarily mean that the Obama administration is making the wrong decision by arming rebel groups; the alternative may be a victory for Hezbollah and for Iran. But it does mean that a major component of the administration's justification for finally arming rebels is seriously flawed.
We should keep in mind, however, that the kinds of weapons we apparently are supplying are of the "light" sort, so that it won't be the end of the world if some fall into "the wrong hands." But by the same token, because the weapons are "light," it's questionable whether they will achieve our purpose of affecting the course of the civil war.
The administration is probably trying to act incrementally - start with lighter arms and see if they are enough to have the desired impact; if not, maybe supply heavier arms and perhaps even consider some kind of aerial intervention That's not an unreasonable approach.
But if heavier arms are provided, it will then matter that the administration seems seriously to underrate the likelihood that they will fall into the hands of Islamic extremists.
Irving Kristol said that a neoconservative is "a liberal who was mugged by reality." If so, then Abe Drexler - the lefty new-journalist in "Mad Men" - must have gone on to become one of Kristol's prime neocon disciples.
My post yesterday about liberals and racism, and the way the Left attacks any mention of "states' rights" as code for racist oppression, brought a note from Prof. Jack Pitney at Claremont McKenna College (not to worry Jack-you'll make the Power Line 100 roster, though maybe as a group entry since your whole department makes the cut) about how contemporary liberals have suddenly rediscovered the virtue of states' rights in connection with . . . gay marriage.
Pitney and textbook co-author Joe Bessette note that Sen. Dianne Feinstein argued against a federal gay marriage ban in grounds of-you guessed it-states' rights. Such a ban she said, would "strike at the heart of states' rights in the area of family law."
Or how about this statement: "I believe in states' rights." Says who? Says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Hadn't realized that he is a racist, too.
Or how about the guy who said that a congressional ban on abortion funding for the District of Columbia (not a state) "undermines the principle of states' rights." Or that the Defense of Marriage Act "interferes with states' rights."
Turns out that person is . . . President Obama. I'll leave it to Glenn Beck to take the heat for drawing the conclusion of consequent (liberal) logic here
Meanwhile, if you don't think liberals don't suffer from racism OCD, check out the story out of Oregon where a school official wants to scrub any mention of peanut, butter, and jelly sandwiches from scholl curricula because P,B & Js are . . . racist:
PORTLAND, Ore. - Dr. Verenice Gutierrez, a principal with Oregon's Portland Public Schools, has become convinced that America's "white culture" negatively influences educators' world view and the manner in which they teach their students.
For instance, last year a teacher in the district presented a lesson that included a reference to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Gutierrez says that by using sandwiches as an illustration, the teacher was engaged in a very subtle form of racism.
Remind me again who has the race problem in America?
On June 18, 1972, the Washington Post reported that the night before, there had been a break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate Hotel. Although the break-in story made the Post's front page, no one could then foresee the consequences that would spin out over the ensuing months.
This morning, the Post's Erik Wemple reported that forensic analysis has confirmed multiple invasions of at least one computer used by CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson in late 2012. Attkisson has been one of only a handful of reporters who have dared to write critically about the Obama administration. In October 2011, we noted her statement that a representative of the White House had screamed and sworn at her because she was not being "reasonable" about the Fast and Furious scandal. A representative of the Department of Justice was more moderate; she merely yelled at Attkisson, but didn't curse at her.
Last month, we noted Attkisson's public statement that she had experienced multiple "intrusions" with respect to more than one of her computers. She said that she first noticed "irregular activity" on one of her computers in February 2011, when she was reporting on Fast and Furious and the Obama administration's "green energy" scandals.
Forensic analysis has now confirmed Attkisson's claims, at least in part. CBS News says:
A cyber security firm hired by CBS News has determined through forensic analysis that Sharyl Attkisson's computer was accessed by an unauthorized, external, unknown party on multiple occasions late in 2012. Evidence suggests this party performed all access remotely using Attkisson's accounts. While no malicious code was found, forensic analysis revealed an intruder had executed commands that appeared to involve search and exfiltration of data.
This party also used sophisticated methods to remove all possible indications of unauthorized activity, and alter system times to cause further confusion.
CBS News is taking steps to identify the responsible party and their method of access.
Additional shoes may drop, e.g. with regard to personal computers or additional time periods. DOJ has already announced that "to our knowledge," it has never accessed Ms. Attkisson's computers. There are, of course, multiple people and entities who might be interested in information stored on a reporter's computer. Conceivably, a foreign government might want to know how much of a threat Fast and Furious posed to the Obama administration, for example. But the obvious potential culprit is the White House. If it turns out that the White House, or someone acting on behalf of the White House, carried out the illegal infiltration of Attkisson's computer(s), the scandals already swirling around the administration will be seen in an entirely different light. For the first time, there would be serious talk of impeachment.
Our pal Mark Perry put out the first chart here today, showing that the recent growth in oil production in the United States is the largest in the nation's history. Some time I'm going to have to go back and collate all of the "peak oil" pronouncements from just a few years ago that U.S. oil production was destined to decline, full stop. Instead, as Mark puts it, "Welcome to 'Saudi America's' shale revolution."
Naturally Obama, like any craven politician, has tried to claim credit for this happy development, which is an extreme unhappy development for environmentalists everywhere. In one sentence, the environmental movement is being run over by the freight train of the hydrocarbon renaissance right now, but they still think that headlight is the light at the end of the fossil fuel tunnel and the opening to green energy nirvana.
But never mind that. The second chart here, from our friends at the Institute for Energy Research, shows how in fact virtually all of the action is taking place on private land. Imagine what we could do in energy if we had an administration that was actually for domestic energy production?
President Obama has drawn plenty of criticism for his position on aiding Syrian rebels in light of his acknowledgement that the Assad regime has crossed his "red line" by using chemical weapons. Here is the key part of the administration's response to that development:
[T]he President has augmented the provision of non-lethal assistance to the civilian opposition, and also authorized the expansion of our assistance to the Supreme Military Council (SMC), and we will be consulting with Congress on these matters in the coming weeks.
Charles Krauthammer promptly slammed the administration. With Hezbollah soon to be "amassing outside Aleppo" Obama's response is to "add chicken to the tuna we're giving them in the food aid," Krauthammer mocked. Max Boot was also critical, though less derisive.
I find the administration's approach reasonable. As Barry Rubin and others have shown, the Syrian rebels are dominated by Islamic extremists. Thus, arming them is fraught with peril, including the likelihood that the weapons we supply will end up in the hands of terrorists, to be turned against Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, or U.S. diplomats.
This reality leaves us with no good choices. But there are two bad outcomes we may be able to prevent: (1) a victory by Assad/Hezbollah/Iran over the rebels and (2) U.S. arms falling into the hands of our Islamist enemies.
The difficulty consists of avoiding both outcomes. For it may be that without providing arms to rebels, the Assad-Hezbollah forces will prevail.
But we don't know that yet. Rubin notes that "the government is merely holding the northwest area (where the ruling Alawite group lives), the region along the Lebanese border (with Hizballah's help), Damascus (where the best troops are based and there is a favorable strategic situation in the army holding the high ground), and part of Aleppo." According to Rubin, if the regime presses much further, "it will stretch its resources thin and face a successful rebel counteroffensive."
Under these circumstances, the administration is wise to hold back and keep its options open. Achieving the twin goals of avoiding an Assad victory and keeping dangerous weapons out of Islamist hands requires a sound assessment of the facts on the ground and the level of support needed to alter these facts to the degree necessary to keep Assad at bay.
The facts on the ground are constantly changing. But once the U.S. provides weapons to the rebels, we can't take them back. Thus, the administration's desire to make important decisions about aiding rebels on "our timetable" makes sense, as long as time isn't running out.
Under my analysis, the best U.S. options for aiding the rebels are America-centric - e.g., a no-fly zone and strategic air attacks on Assad/Hezbollah assets. The Obama administration probably disfavors these options because they put the U.S. in the fight. It would prefer to let the rebels do all of the fighting with the U.S. giving them non-lethal aid and, if things continue to degenerate, relatively small arms.
But that level of assistance may not help. And it seems like a weak response to the crossing of a "red line," however ill-advised it was of Obama to draw it.
Accordingly, I do have reservations about where the administration may be going. But I think Obama is right to proceed cautiously and to keep his options open.
Last week John Nolte of Breitbart observed that the mainstream media had failed to break any of the controversial news occupying Washington. This week Paul Farhi of the Washington Post, without intending to, explained why.
Afghan officials warned recently that terrorists from Pakistan are infiltrating into Wardak Province near Kabul as security deteriorates amid suicide bombings and insider attacks by the Taliban.
The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation defended intelligence agencies' surveillance programs Thursday and said one of the programs involved in the broad collection of telephone call data could have helped prevent the 9/11 terrorist attacks if it had been created earlier.
A top White House national security official late Thursday afternoon acknowledged the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime but repeatedly declined to say if the Obama administration would impose a no-fly zone or provide offensive weapons to rebels despite this violation of the president's "red line."
Conservative journalists often find themselves in something of a tight spot. On the one hand, they want to forcefully argue their opinions. On the other, they want to be taken seriously and have their ideas taken seriously by a media dominated by liberals.
You may have heard, but the Free Beacon polled 400 registered New Hampshire voters. In that poll, 49 percent said, if given the choice between spending the evening with Hillary Clinton and Kate Upton, they'd pick Hillary.
During Thursday's press conference, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi criticized legislation that would outlaw nearly all abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy with exceptions for when the life or physical health of the mother was at risk.
Hollywood gun-controllers have met their match
Do you know what happens to Hollywood and TV celebrities like Sylvester Stallone who achieve mega-stardom and earn multi-mega-millions shooting people with machine guns while demanding passage of new gun-control laws for everyone else?
Army Sgt. Gordon Helsel isn't the first soldier to promise he'd do whatever God wanted him to do if only God would save his life.
Forty-five years after he made his vow -- ambushed and bleeding to death in a Vietcong jungle -- and 45 years after God kept his part of the bargain, Gordon Helsel heard a Voice ....
Insiders and Arizonans still fuming over the Justice Department's scheme to run guns to criminal groups in Mexico say they know why people who should be speaking out have clammed up on Fast and Furious.
It's not pretty.
You didn't think people who run guns to Mexican drug cartels played nice, did you?
Well, that's another fine mess you've gotten us into ...
If you thought the Benghazi fiasco was an aberration, think again. Here's what American interventionism and your tax dollars have given us in Libya today.
Associated Press, in what many saw as a fit of political correctness, nixed the terms "Islamist" and "illegal alien" from its stories earlier this year.
Now another media giant has decided a perfectly good, widely used descriptive term should be replaced.
The only thing weirder than the replacement term is the reason for choosing it.
A lawyer who represents whistleblowers -- including four from the NSA -- says the government's collection of information on all Americans is really a "currency" grab.
This week, the Senate is debating the Gang of Eight amnesty bill.
Believe it or not, Senate staffers are telling us they are not hearing from constituents like they did in 2007. We know that's not true, because we've heard from many of you that you're not able to get through.
In reality, they've simply sent their phones to voice mail. But, do not be discouraged - we must keep fighting! It might be necessary for you to call and visit your Senator's district offices to be sure they are hearing your opposition. You can also use this tool to send them an e-mail.
On the Senate floor, Harry Reid is up to his usual antics. Despite his promises that the immigration bill would be drafted through an open amendment process (which is unusual under his leadership), and the Gang of Eight members' oft-repeated promise that their bill would secure the borders first then legalize illegal aliens, Reid moved to table (in other words, kill) an amendment offered by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley that would have significantly strengthened the border security requirements. Sen. Grassley was quite upset and addressed Sen. Reid very pointedly. See parts of that exchange here.
S. 744 is fatally flawed in so many areas, but even Gang of Eight member Marco Rubio said that he cannot support the bill in its current form, because the border security provisions are so weak. Senator Reid's obstructionism and fact that the entire Gang of Eight voted against Grassley's amendment prove that amnesty advocates are not serious about securing the border. The Gang of Eight assured us that amnesty would only happen once the borders were secure, now they are blatantly breaking that promise and refusing to secure the borders. We need you to keep calling to stop this bill!
Click here to see how your Senator voted on border security. If your Senators voted YES, that means they voted to kill the amendment that would have kept the Gang of Eight's promise to secure the border. If they voted YES, we need you to contact them to express your outrage and to tell your friends and neighbors that their Senator voted against securing the borders. If your Senator voted NO, call them and thank them for their vote while urging them to oppose the bill as a whole since it is obvious that the liberals aren't serious about border security.
Mark Levin lays into Paul Ryan over his immigration stance
What? Really? How about the law of the land? Border security first.
Check it out:
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush (R) argued Wednesday that the United States should pass immigration reform because the U.S. economy needs the labor of young immigrants, and immigrants are "more fertile."
"Immigrants create far more businesses than native-born Americans," Bush said at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to the Majority conference. "Immigrants are more fertile, and they love families, and they have more intact families, and they bring a younger population. Immigrants create an engine of economic prosperity."
Bush said immigrants are an advantage that the United States has over China, Europe and Japan, which don't have the same immigrant tradition and are struggling to find young laborers.
"If we don't do it, we will be in decline, because the productivity of this country is dependent upon young people that are equipped to be able to work hard," Bush said.
"It is unconscionable to think that a smartphone application could be made available to the general public to help 'treat' homosexuality," a homosexual pressure group responds.
The 28-page report targets Catholic critics of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, accusing them of adopting "McCarthy-era tactics" in their quest to rid the USCCB-run organization of problematic partnerships.
The Life Institute has said that the publication of a bill permitting abortion on suicide grounds shows that the government "doesn't give a damn for the evidence" and is "blinded by arrogance and ideology" on the issue.
Don Pino's life is not just an example for those resisting the mafia to follow. We are all called to defend human dignity in the face of injustice, like Don Pino did.
New State Polls: Voters Overwhelmingly Oppose AmnestyVoters overwhelmingly oppose the Gang of Eight amnesty bill according to new polling conducted in seven key states... Full Story
S. 744 - The Great Jobs GiveawayUnder the pretense of immigration reform, the high-tech industry is using S. 744 to push for an unlimited numbers of workers. Full Story
The Republican Establishment's New Talking Point: "De Facto Amnesty"It is clear that someone in the Republican hierarchy has decided that the Gang of Eight atrocity is the only way to secure the border and enforce immigration laws. Full Story
Limbaugh Says He is 'Disappointed' by RubioOn his Tuesday radio show, conservative talker Rush Limbaugh said he is 'disappointed' in Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio for changing his position on immigration Full Story
Why is the AFL-CIO Supporting "Unambiguous Attacks on American Workers"? Last month, AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka said, "The labor movement has no higher priority in 2013 than a workable immigration system that will allow 11 million aspiring Americans to become citizens." Full Story
Pro-Life Friend:
On Thursday at a press conference, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was asked what the moral difference is between what Dr. Kermit Gosnell did to babies born alive and aborting those same infants in the womb, moments before birth.
Pelosi was pressed several times to answer the question, and she refused, saying:
"As a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground to me when we talk about this. I don't think it should have anything to do with politics."
As a practicing Catholic, Nancy Pelosi knows full well there's no moral difference between the atrocities of Kermit Gosnell and abortions in the womb.
She also knows that politics has everything to do with it: The bill she is trying to shut down - the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act -- would protect these babies and women from the pain of late-term abortion.
Pelosi's refusal to answer shows how scared she and the pro-abortion lobby are of the bill, which is exactly why they are trying to shut it down. They've seen the same polling we have: The majority of Americans reject late-term abortion.
The bill is scheduled to hit the House floor next week - but it won't if Pelosi and the pro-abortion lobby have their way.
In fact, NARAL just sent out a national action alert urging their members to call their Representative and demand that the bill is not brought to the floor of the House.
That's why we are asking you to do one very simple thing:
Take just 30 seconds to call your Representative and urge them to vote for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.
Representative Michael G. Fitzpatrick (202) 225-4276 (Capitol)
Here are five talking points to use: 1) I'm calling to urge my Representative to vocally support and vote YES on HR 1797 - the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. 2) This bill would safeguard women and protect unborn children at the 20-week fetal age mark. 3) The trial of Kermit Gosnell showed the brutality and lawlessness of the late-term abortion industry. 4) Evidence of negligence and brutality across the abortion industry emerges daily, showing that there are other Gosnells operating across America. Congress must stop them. 5) I strongly urge the Representative to vote to end late-term abortion in America. Polls show the majority of Americans agree.
Remember, this bill is scheduled to hit the floor next week, and you can bet that Pelosi and the pro-abortion lobby will do anything to stop it!
Since January, the number one question you've asked about our legislative score card is: when will the new scores be up? I'm glad to finally answer: now.
Many Members of Congress have improved since the last score card. There are two reasons for this. First, it's early, and a lot of tough votes are coming up, for example on the farm bill, immigration, and spending bills. Second, many Members of Congress are taking note of Heritage Action after three years of hard accountability from conservatives like you and the Heritage Action team.
Now is the time to create a Watch List so that you can check back each week as scores rise and fall. We update the score card as new key votes occur, and we expect scores to change rapidly in the next few months.
Thanks for all you do to hold Congress accountable. We hope the score card continues to be a helpful tool for you and conservatives across the country.
Sincerely,
Russ Vought Political Director Heritage Action for America
Obama and the Callous Kanye Culture By L. Brent Bozell III Who is insensitive to black-on-black violence, black dropouts and stubbornly high-black unemployment? This is the kind of shameless world Obama and his mediating minions make, and we're supposed to shut up and live with it.
The Bell Tolls for the 'New Majority' By Patrick J. Buchanan The GOP is favored to hold the House and make gains in the Senate next year, but the long-term prognosis for the party remains grim.
Barack Obama's 'Social Innovation' Slush Fund By Michelle Malkin The Obama administration has created a permanent taxpayer-backed pipeline to Democratic partisan outfits masquerading as public-interest do-gooders.
Rumbles on the Left By Rich Galen The hard Left and the hard Right are among the groups most upset by the recent disclosures of NSA, DoJ, and CIA snooping on Americans. In fact, foreign policy may be Obama's Achilles Heel among his base.
In the testimony regarding the investigation into the Boston Marathon bombings, Rep. Louis Gohmert shredded FBI chief Robert Mueller's weak answers. Mueller's big defense on not looking at the mosque was that they were there before the bombing, but as part of their 'outreach' not an investigation. More on the stunning details from radio today.
Pelosi: Abortion is 'sacred' because of my Catholic religion
Nancy Pelosi gave a peculiar reason this week as to why she is against a bill that would ban abortions after the 4 month period. After erroneously claiming it would ban 'all abortions', Pelosi said she felt abortion was a 'sacred' topic because of her Catholic faith. The Catholic Church is against all forms of abortion. What is Pelosi talking about? Glenn has audio & reaction on radio today.
Obama's pick for #2 CIA spot also into hosting erotic book readings
Given that Obama was introduced at a gay/lesbian event by a pair of three-year-olds, it shouldn't come as much of a shock that he's also totally cool with hiring people who love sharing erotica with the public. After buying an old strip club, Obama's choice for the #2 CIA spot turned the club into a regular meeting place for fans of erotica. Just another day at the office for Obama. Glenn reacts on radio today. WATCH
Intern Blog: Perry goes to Washington
In part two of our Intern Blog, marketing intern Perry describes her experience planning and attending TheBlaze's "News and Politics in a Multi-Platform World" reception in Washington D.C. this week. As if moving from the mountains of Tennessee to New York City wasn't scary enough, imagine being asked to go to D.C. your second week on the job. Read the rest of Perry's story HERE.
Buy The Eye of Moloch and join Glenn for an exclusive event!
Purchase Glenn's new political thriller The Eye of Moloch from any retailer (in hardcover or ebook) before July 31, 2013 and you'll receive an invitation to join Glenn for an exclusive online video forum later this year. Only a small group of dedicated readers will join, making this a great opportunity to meet Glenn and have your questions answered. Pick up your copy of The Eye of Moloch today!
Rep. Steve King: If you grant amnesty, you can never enforce immigration again
Glenn interviewed Rep. Steve King (R-IA) on radio today about the 'Gang of 8' immigration bill being pushed in Congress and what the 'Gang of 70' House Republicans plan to do about it. Get the latest from radio today.
What exactly does the FBI director do? Doesn't know anything about IRS either
It's been a rough week for FBI director Robert Mueller as he has been grilled on several issues in DC this week. The investigation into the IRS scandal was another big issue, and Mueller didn't appear to know anything about anything. What is Mueller doing all day long? He couldn't answer even the most basic questions. WATCH
The GlennBeck.com Father's Day Gift Guide
Looking for a last minute Father's Day gift that your dad is sure to love? We've teamed up with 1791 and the Marketplace to put together some great gift ideas. Check out all the products HERE.
Equal Justice is not the same as Special Justice
Last night on TheBlaze TV, Glenn took a hard look at the immigration bill and explained why progressives are wrong when they say it's a solution to a Civil Rights issue. Why is the bill insulting to the people who come to the United States legally? WATCH
Genius: Rep. Mary Landrieu says we shouldn't build a 'dumb ' border fence ... in South Dakota
Rep. Mary Landrieu condescendingly mocked the idea of building a 'dumb' border fence to keep illegals from crossing into the country along the 'South Dakota' border with Canada. Yep, it would be dumb to build a fence there, since it does NOT border Canada.
You asked, we listened! Read & share news from TheBlaze.com directly in TheBlaze App!
TheBlaze iOS App is your direct portal into "the network that YOU are building". Get access to live and on demand video from TheBlaze TV, listen to TheBlaze Radio Network, and much more! Plus, with the new TheBlaze newsreader, access to breaking news from TheBlaze.com is easier than ever! Download TheBlaze iOS App HERE.
Tonight's primetime lineup on TheBlaze TV
5pm ET - The Glenn Beck Program: Penn Jillette and Rabbi Lapin join Glenn for a candid discussion on faith and atheism.
6pm ET - Real News: Will the NSA's overreach have international implications?
7pm ET - Wilkow!: David Webb fills in for Andrew and looks back at the biggest stories of the week.
Saturday on TheBlaze TV: Don't miss a new episode of the Wonderful World of Stu at 10:00pm ET, followed by a hilarious new episode of the B.S. of A. at 10:30pm ET.
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An Internal Revenue Service supervisor in Washington says she was personally involved in scrutinizing some of the earliest applications from tea party groups seeking tax-exempt status, including some requests that languished for more than a year without action.
A series of behind-the-scenes mistakes by educators in a Florida school district led to children's biometric information being culled without their parents' permission, TheLedger.com reported.
The West Virginia eighth-grader 
Gohmert Rips Mueller for ignoring Boston mosque 
