YouTube - The Obama Deception HQ Full length version
A two hour video that is worth watching.
It explains A LOT.
It asks more.
Do your job, take the time to watch and think.
Freedom is not free
Thursday, January 7, 2010
FOXNews.com - C-SPAN CEO: Obama Used Us as 'Political Football'
FOXNews.com - C-SPAN CEO: Obama Used Us as 'Political Football': "C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb accused President Obama of using his network as a 'political football' during the presidential campaign, citing the president's broken pledge to televise health care reform negotiations on the nonpartisan channel which is devoted to covering Washington.
Lamb, speaking on liberal host Bill Press' radio show Wednesday, said Obama had 'no right' to assume C-SPAN would cover the talks in the first place. And while he said his network would naturally want to cover the negotiations in full anyway, Lamb expressed disappointment that the White House has not lived up to that commitment.
He said the 'only time' the network has been allowed to cover the White House's involvement in the talks was a 'one-hour' event in the East Room which he described as a 'show-horse' affair.
'We are an independent journalistic institution, and the president, when he was a candidate, had no right to assume that we would cover anything ... That was the first thing. We were used as kind of a political football during the campaign,' Lamb said, according to an audio recording of the interview posted on Breitbart.tv but not available on Press's radio show's Web site.
'We obviously would cover these negotiations. ... It's just a gut reaction that if we pay for something, and it's the public's business, we ought to be able to see how it's done,' he added."
Lamb, speaking on liberal host Bill Press' radio show Wednesday, said Obama had 'no right' to assume C-SPAN would cover the talks in the first place. And while he said his network would naturally want to cover the negotiations in full anyway, Lamb expressed disappointment that the White House has not lived up to that commitment.
He said the 'only time' the network has been allowed to cover the White House's involvement in the talks was a 'one-hour' event in the East Room which he described as a 'show-horse' affair.
'We are an independent journalistic institution, and the president, when he was a candidate, had no right to assume that we would cover anything ... That was the first thing. We were used as kind of a political football during the campaign,' Lamb said, according to an audio recording of the interview posted on Breitbart.tv but not available on Press's radio show's Web site.
'We obviously would cover these negotiations. ... It's just a gut reaction that if we pay for something, and it's the public's business, we ought to be able to see how it's done,' he added."
THE RETIREMENT FLU: DEMS START TO STAMPEDE at DickMorris.com
THE RETIREMENT FLU: DEMS START TO STAMPEDE at DickMorris.com: "Other than the H1N1 virus, the most contagious disease in our nation’s capital is retirement. The more Democrats that quit, the more others are also encouraged to hang it up.
Retirements like those of Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) turn off donors to Democratic incumbents, encourage viable Republican challengers to get in races around the nation and lead other incumbent Dems to think about spending more time as lobbyists making money in Washington.
The retirement bug is in full rein in DC. The week before Christmas saw three House Democrats from red districts retire (two from Tennessee and one from Kansas) — while a fourth, Parker Griffith of Alabama, became a Republican. With Dodd and Dorgan now leaving, expect blue legislators from red states to start falling ever more quickly.
These retirements also send a signal to voters that is anything but helpful to President Obama: Democrats expect to lose.
Nobody buys that these folks are leaving to spend more time with their families. It’s plain that Democratic lawmakers are reading the writing on the walls (and the polls): Voters are fed up with the Obama administration and with the Democratic Party."
Retirements like those of Sens. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) turn off donors to Democratic incumbents, encourage viable Republican challengers to get in races around the nation and lead other incumbent Dems to think about spending more time as lobbyists making money in Washington.
The retirement bug is in full rein in DC. The week before Christmas saw three House Democrats from red districts retire (two from Tennessee and one from Kansas) — while a fourth, Parker Griffith of Alabama, became a Republican. With Dodd and Dorgan now leaving, expect blue legislators from red states to start falling ever more quickly.
These retirements also send a signal to voters that is anything but helpful to President Obama: Democrats expect to lose.
Nobody buys that these folks are leaving to spend more time with their families. It’s plain that Democratic lawmakers are reading the writing on the walls (and the polls): Voters are fed up with the Obama administration and with the Democratic Party."
Sarah Palin: Wrong prescription for America? (OneNewsNow.com)
Sarah Palin: Wrong prescription for America? (OneNewsNow.com)
"Well, she's, she's --"
"Stupid?"
"All right."
"Really? Why, because she isn't as glib or articulate as you elites like? She didn't answer Katie Couric or Charlie Gibson the way President Obama would have?"
"Yes -- I'm one of those elites."
"How stupid do you have to be to take on the establishment in Alaska and win? How stupid do you have to be to have -- at the time Republican presidential candidate John McCain picked her -- an 84 percent popularity rating in Alaska? She had more executive experience than Obama."
"Well, she doesn't come across as prepared."
"I don't know what qualities you look for. But I'll tell you what counts for me: character, competence and vision. She's likable. She has a strong, stable marriage with a down-to-earth husband. She has convictions that I agree with. Government too big? Check. People taxed too much? Check. Stay on offense in the war on terror? Check. For me, what's not to like?"
"Sarah Palin, do you guys really like her?"
My dad's doctor asked me this a couple of weeks ago. His smile seemed to shout, "Are you guys crazy?" I had taken my 94-year-old Republican father to see him several times, but politics never came up. Did the doc really want to go there? It went something like this:
"Well, she's, she's --"
"Stupid?"
"All right."
"Really? Why, because she isn't as glib or articulate as you elites like? She didn't answer Katie Couric or Charlie Gibson the way President Obama would have?"
"Yes -- I'm one of those elites."
"How stupid do you have to be to take on the establishment in Alaska and win? How stupid do you have to be to have -- at the time Republican presidential candidate John McCain picked her -- an 84 percent popularity rating in Alaska? She had more executive experience than Obama."
"Well, she doesn't come across as prepared."
"I don't know what qualities you look for. But I'll tell you what counts for me: character, competence and vision. She's likable. She has a strong, stable marriage with a down-to-earth husband. She has convictions that I agree with. Government too big? Check. People taxed too much? Check. Stay on offense in the war on terror? Check. For me, what's not to like?"
'Wrecking ball' wrong approach to reform (OneNewsNow.com)
'Wrecking ball' wrong approach to reform (OneNewsNow.com): "The president of a non-partisan seniors' advocacy group says two U.S. senators who decided not to seek re-election are the first victims of a senior citizen tsunami.
Democratic Senators Byron Dorgan (North Dakota) and Chris Dodd (Connecticut), members of their party's leadership on Capitol Hill, have both announced they will not seek re-election. They were among the Democratic majority in the Senate that voted en masse for the controversial healthcare reform bill just before Christmas.
60 Plus logoJim Martin, president of the 60 Plus Association, says senior citizens are outraged over the proposed healthcare reform. 'They're upset [and] they feel betrayed by these massive cuts to Medicare -- and that's what it amounts to,' he states. 'We're talking about half-a-trillion dollars worth of cuts to Medicare.'"
Democratic Senators Byron Dorgan (North Dakota) and Chris Dodd (Connecticut), members of their party's leadership on Capitol Hill, have both announced they will not seek re-election. They were among the Democratic majority in the Senate that voted en masse for the controversial healthcare reform bill just before Christmas.
60 Plus logoJim Martin, president of the 60 Plus Association, says senior citizens are outraged over the proposed healthcare reform. 'They're upset [and] they feel betrayed by these massive cuts to Medicare -- and that's what it amounts to,' he states. 'We're talking about half-a-trillion dollars worth of cuts to Medicare.'"
War on terror primarily a 'war against young Muslim men' (OneNewsNow.com)
War on terror primarily a 'war against young Muslim men' (OneNewsNow.com): "A bestselling author and terrorism expert disagrees with the premise of a newly released U.S. government study on homegrown terrorism that contends extremism is contrary to the true teachings of Islam.
Nidal Malik HasanResearchers at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill produced the new study on homegrown terrorism in order to reveal more about the types of persons who might be 'radicalized.' The cases studied included Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, charged with the Fort Hood mass shooting last November, and the five young men from Virginia who were recently arrested in Pakistan, supposedly on their way to join the Taliban in Afghanistan. (See related article from Associated Press)
The study -- which was funded by the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Justice Department -- found that among the publicly known cases, the typical suspect is male, under age 30, and either U.S.-born, a naturalized citizen, or legal resident of the country."
Nidal Malik HasanResearchers at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill produced the new study on homegrown terrorism in order to reveal more about the types of persons who might be 'radicalized.' The cases studied included Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, charged with the Fort Hood mass shooting last November, and the five young men from Virginia who were recently arrested in Pakistan, supposedly on their way to join the Taliban in Afghanistan. (See related article from Associated Press)
The study -- which was funded by the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Justice Department -- found that among the publicly known cases, the typical suspect is male, under age 30, and either U.S.-born, a naturalized citizen, or legal resident of the country."
The Breaking Point - Reprieve Eases Medical Crisis for Illegal Immigrants - Series - NYTimes.com
The Breaking Point - Reprieve Eases Medical Crisis for Illegal Immigrants - Series - NYTimes.com: "ATLANTA — After a largely sleepless night, Cruz Constancia got up Tuesday morning wondering whether this would be the day that she finally stopped receiving dialysis without charge."
It was not. When Ms. Constancia, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, arrived at her dialysis clinic at 6 a.m., she was escorted promptly to her recliner. “I thanked God,” she said after concluding the three-hour session, “because he is really the only one that can allow us to continue our treatments.”
More immediately, it was Grady Memorial Hospital that allowed it on Tuesday.
American Thinker: What the Dems Know: Universal Voter Registration
American Thinker: What the Dems Know: Universal Voter Registration
A MUST READ ~~~ The Munz
A MUST READ ~~~ The Munz
Many are puzzled that Democrats persist in ramming unpopular and destructive legislation down our collective throats with no apparent concern for their plummeting poll numbers. A widespread belief is that the Democrats are committing political suicide and will be swept from one or both houses of Congress with unprecedented electoral losses next November. But since Democrat politicians rarely do things that will not ultimately benefit themselves, this column asked two weeks ago, "What do they know that we don't?"
We may have found out. It's called universal voter registration. The Wall Street Journal's John Fund described the Democrat plan recently at a David Horowitz FreedomCenter
forum. Watch the video here.
James Simpson authored the landmark article Barack Obama and the Strategy of Manufactured Crisis.
We may have found out. It's called universal voter registration. The Wall Street Journal's John Fund described the Democrat plan recently at a David Horowitz Freedom
Fund describes the proposal as follows:
In January, ChuckSchumer and Barney Frank will propose universal voter registration. What is universal voter registration? It means all of the state laws on elections will be overridden by a federal mandate. The feds will tell the states: 'take everyone on every list of welfare that you have, take everyone on every list of unemployed you have, take everyone on every list of property owners, take everyone on every list of driver's license holders and register them to vote regardless of whether they want to be ...'
Fund anticipates that Congress will attempt to ram this legislation through, as with the health care bill. What a surprise! Fund covers the vote issue at greater length in his book, How the Obama Administration Threatens to Undermine Our Elections.
Leftist groups are already arguing that universal voter registration will solve all the problems with our voting system. But the left created most of these problems. The radical leftist Nation Magazine, for example, absolutely loves the idea of universal voter registration. This is the same magazine, however, that advanced Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven's Manufactured Crisis strategy. The Cloward/Piven strategy was designed to undermine government institutions by overwhelming them with impossible demands for services. Cloward and Piven focused on welfare, housing, and voting as the main targets of this strategy, and the radical group ACORN was specifically created for the purpose of executing it.
The Nation article enthusiastically lists Cloward/Piven-inspired organizations like Project Vote, the ACORN group where President Obama cut his teeth. It also discusses the left's efforts to push enforcement of the Motor Voter law and explains how universal voter registration could assist in these efforts. Cloward and Piven were the ones who crafted Motor Voter legislation in the early 1980s and pushed for its enactment until 1993, when President Clinton signed it into law.
Cloward and Piven considered Motor Voter to be their crowning, lifetime achievement. The picture at right, from White House photo archives, shows Cloward (light gray suit) and Piven (green coat and navy dress) standin
g directly behind Clinton at the Motor Voter signing ceremony.
Cloward and Piven considered Motor Voter to be their crowning, lifetime achievement. The picture at right, from White House photo archives, shows Cloward (light gray suit) and Piven (green coat and navy dress) standin
g directly behind Clinton at the Motor Voter signing ceremony.The left has predictably launched vicious smear attacks against John Fund for bringing universal voter registration to our attention. A Google search of the issue brings up any number of nasty ad hominem attacks. Most notable is Media Matters, the leftist group whose sole purpose seems to be to smear Republicans and defend the left's indefensible policies. They put up this gem: "Right-Wing Ass Weasel John Fund Doesn't Like Universal Voter Registration because of ACORN ."
The problems with universal voter registration are numerous and obvious. Many states' lists include vast numbers of illegals, including some states which allow illegals to obtain drivers licenses; because many homeowners have more than one home, there will be duplicates; because so many people are on so many separate federal and state government agency lists, there will be duplicates; and because so many lists exist with little or no cross-checking capability, all of these duplicates are likely to go uncorrected. Add to this the fact that Dems hope to extend voting rights to felons, and the whole thing begins to look like a nationwide Democrat voter registration drive facilitated by taxpayers.
Universal voter registration will create massive vulnerabilities to systemic voter fraud nationwide, and if Democrats have proven anything in recent years, it is that they can win elections that way. The George-Soros-funded Secretary of State project (SOS) was designed to take advantage of such vulnerabilities and may have been developed in anticipation of the universal voter registration plan. Al Franken's stolen election in Minnesota was a trial run for the SOS project. Longtime ACORN friend Mark Ritchie was elected Minnesota Secretary of State in 2006 with Soros's SOS and ACORN money, and what followed in Norm Coleman's Senate runoff election was a frightening demonstration of just how far Democrats will go to win. Franken won the runoff, and the Democrats got their filibuster-proof sixty-vote Senate majority.
The Motor Voter law was correctly identified as a facilitator of vote fraud. One of the few legal issues Barack Obama actually participated in as a lawyer was a 1995 suit against the State of Illinois, which he brought on behalf of ACORN. Then-Republican Governor Jim Edgars saw the newly passed Motor Voter act as creating the potential for massive vote fraud and refused to implement it. With the assistance of the Clinton Justice Department, Obama's legal team won that suit. Obama himself actually participated very little, a strategy that seems to have served him well in life. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, after identifying himself in court proceedings, Obama sat back and let "the heavy-hitters at the Justice Department make the arguments."
It is not surprising that the Democrats are now choosing to push this new initiative, for universal voter registration will be Motor Voter on turbochargers. And who better to sign it into law than the president from ACORN?
James Simpson authored the landmark article Barack Obama and the Strategy of Manufactured Crisis.
Sen. Brown: 'You can bet' Nebraska's special deal on healthcare will be nixed - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
Sen. Brown: 'You can bet' Nebraska's special deal on healthcare will be nixed - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room: "Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) vowed Tuesday that a provision in the Senate's healthcare bill exempting Nebraska from additional Medicaid payments would be eliminated.
'You can bet that won't be law by the time that goes into effect,' Brown said during a town hall meeting, as reported by the Toledo Blade.
Nebraska secured $100 million in funds to pay for its additional obligations to Medicaid under a deal struck in late December to win Sen. Ben Nelson's (D-Neb.) crucial vote for the Senate's health reform bill.
Republicans had pounced on the provision, naming it the 'Cornhusker Kickback,' while trying to force politically embarrassing votes to either remove or expand the reimbursements. Brown's pledge marks some of the most pointed words directed by a fellow Democrat toward the deal Nelson secured.
Brown said that lawmakers would repeal the controversial measure before the new Medicaid obligations go into effect in 2016, the Blade reported."
'You can bet that won't be law by the time that goes into effect,' Brown said during a town hall meeting, as reported by the Toledo Blade.
Nebraska secured $100 million in funds to pay for its additional obligations to Medicaid under a deal struck in late December to win Sen. Ben Nelson's (D-Neb.) crucial vote for the Senate's health reform bill.
Republicans had pounced on the provision, naming it the 'Cornhusker Kickback,' while trying to force politically embarrassing votes to either remove or expand the reimbursements. Brown's pledge marks some of the most pointed words directed by a fellow Democrat toward the deal Nelson secured.
Brown said that lawmakers would repeal the controversial measure before the new Medicaid obligations go into effect in 2016, the Blade reported."
AP sources: Obama OKs taxing high-end health plans - Yahoo! News
AP sources: Obama OKs taxing high-end health plans - Yahoo! News: "WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama signaled to House Democratic leaders Wednesday that they'll have to drop their opposition to taxing high-end health insurance plans to pay for health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.
In a meeting at the White House, Obama expressed his preference for the insurance tax contained in the Senate's health overhaul bill, but largely opposed by House Democrats and organized labor, Democratic aides said. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.
House Democrats want to raise income taxes on high-income individuals instead and are reluctant to abandon that approach, while recognizing that they will have to bend on that and other issues so that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., can maintain his fragile 60-vote majority support for the bill.
Pelosi and four committee chairmen met with the president Wednesday as they scrambled to resolve differences between sweeping bills passed by the House and Senate. The aim is to finalize legislation revamping the nation's health care system in time for Obama's State of the Union address early last month."
In a meeting at the White House, Obama expressed his preference for the insurance tax contained in the Senate's health overhaul bill, but largely opposed by House Democrats and organized labor, Democratic aides said. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.
House Democrats want to raise income taxes on high-income individuals instead and are reluctant to abandon that approach, while recognizing that they will have to bend on that and other issues so that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., can maintain his fragile 60-vote majority support for the bill.
Pelosi and four committee chairmen met with the president Wednesday as they scrambled to resolve differences between sweeping bills passed by the House and Senate. The aim is to finalize legislation revamping the nation's health care system in time for Obama's State of the Union address early last month."
ObamaCare vs. the Constitution - NYPOST.com
ObamaCare vs. the Constitution - NYPOST.com: "The health bills in Congress rob you of your constitutional rights. Here are five provisions (of many) that fail the constitutionality test and reveal Congress's disrespect for the public:
* Section 3403 of the Senate health bill, establishing a commission to cut Medicare spending, says the law can't be changed or repealed in the future. This whopper shows that Congress thinks its work should be set in stone. Wrong. The people always have the right to elect a new Congress to change or repeal what a previous Congress has done.
* A Senate health-bill amendment mysteriously allocates $100 million to an unnamed facility that 'shall be affiliated with an academic health center at a public research university in the United States that contains a state's sole public academic medical and dental school' (Sec. 10502, p. 328-329). Why not name the facility?"
* Section 3403 of the Senate health bill, establishing a commission to cut Medicare spending, says the law can't be changed or repealed in the future. This whopper shows that Congress thinks its work should be set in stone. Wrong. The people always have the right to elect a new Congress to change or repeal what a previous Congress has done.
* A Senate health-bill amendment mysteriously allocates $100 million to an unnamed facility that 'shall be affiliated with an academic health center at a public research university in the United States that contains a state's sole public academic medical and dental school' (Sec. 10502, p. 328-329). Why not name the facility?"
CNSNews.com - Pelosi Pledged to Give Public ‘Ample Amount of Time’ to Read Final Health Bill
CNSNews.com - Pelosi Pledged to Give Public ‘Ample Amount of Time’ to Read Final Health Bill: "(CNSNews.com) - While Nancy Pelosi is now dodging a request from C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb to open up House-Senate negotiations over the final version of the health-care bill so C-SPAN’s cameras can show them to the public, back in July she pledged she would give the public an “ample amount of time” to read the final bill before brining it to a vote.
At a July 9 press briefing, CNSNews.com’s Nicholas Ballasy asked Pelosi: “Minority Leader Boehner has taken a pledge that he will not vote for a health care bill that he hasn't read, that he hasn't had a chance to read in its entirety or until it's available to the public online for 72 hours. Will you take that pledge--a similar pledge and encourage other members to take it?”
In response, Pelosi did not pledge to post the bill online for 72 hours, but did pledge to give the public “ample time” to get to know the legislation."
At a July 9 press briefing, CNSNews.com’s Nicholas Ballasy asked Pelosi: “Minority Leader Boehner has taken a pledge that he will not vote for a health care bill that he hasn't read, that he hasn't had a chance to read in its entirety or until it's available to the public online for 72 hours. Will you take that pledge--a similar pledge and encourage other members to take it?”
In response, Pelosi did not pledge to post the bill online for 72 hours, but did pledge to give the public “ample time” to get to know the legislation."
Sebelius: Senate health care plan will pay for abortions :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)
Sebelius: Senate health care plan will pay for abortions :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): "Washington D.C., Jan 4, 2010 / 06:53 pm (CNA).- In a little-publicized interview given with the Feminist blog, “BlogHer.com,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius praised the language in the Senate version of the health care bill because it upholds publicly-funded abortion coverage.
In the interview with BlogHer’s Political Director Morra Aarons-Mele, Sebelius stated that the Senate bill takes “a big step forward from where the House left it with the Stupak amendment.” Sebelius went on to note that she thinks it does “a good job making sure there are choices for women, making sure there are going to be some plan options, and making sure that, while public funds aren’t used, we are not isolating, discriminating against, or invading the privacy rights of women.”"
In the interview with BlogHer’s Political Director Morra Aarons-Mele, Sebelius stated that the Senate bill takes “a big step forward from where the House left it with the Stupak amendment.” Sebelius went on to note that she thinks it does “a good job making sure there are choices for women, making sure there are going to be some plan options, and making sure that, while public funds aren’t used, we are not isolating, discriminating against, or invading the privacy rights of women.”"
Here it comes--Congress set to ram through govt healthcare
Here it comes--Congress set to ram through govt healthcare: "Now that the tax-hungry Maoists we call 'Congress' makes its way back to Washington after the Christmas break, the charlatans who supposedly 'represent the people' are set to ram through government-controlled healthcare.
The fact is these people do not represent the citizens at all. Citizens have made it abundantly clear in poll after poll, in Town Hall meetings, and in Tea Party protests that they do not want this 2 trillion dollar government takeover of 1/3 of the nation's economy."
The fact is these people do not represent the citizens at all. Citizens have made it abundantly clear in poll after poll, in Town Hall meetings, and in Tea Party protests that they do not want this 2 trillion dollar government takeover of 1/3 of the nation's economy."
Bay State Health Reform Not Popular
Bay State Health Reform Not Popular: "An interesting nugget from Tuesday’s Rasmussen poll on the Massachusetts Senate race:
In 2006, Massachusetts implemented its own statewide version of health care reform which has been cited as a model for the national plan. But just 32% of the state’s voters consider that reform a success. Thirty-six percent (36%) consider the plan a failure, and another 32% are not sure.
That’s fairly consistent with a prior Rasmussen survey from June.
Paul Krugman dismissed that June poll because “It asks the wrong questions.” He pointed to this June 2008 survey (pdf) from the Harvard School of Public Health, which shows 69% of Bay States support the law while only 22% oppose it, as legitimate.
Krugman doesn’t say why Rasmussen asked the wrong question. Asking respondents whether they think the law is a success or failure, as Rasmussen did, would seem to be just as legitimate as asking if they support it, as the Harvard one did. Taken together, the two polls suggest a lot of ambivalence about the Massachusetts health care law."
In 2006, Massachusetts implemented its own statewide version of health care reform which has been cited as a model for the national plan. But just 32% of the state’s voters consider that reform a success. Thirty-six percent (36%) consider the plan a failure, and another 32% are not sure.
That’s fairly consistent with a prior Rasmussen survey from June.
Paul Krugman dismissed that June poll because “It asks the wrong questions.” He pointed to this June 2008 survey (pdf) from the Harvard School of Public Health, which shows 69% of Bay States support the law while only 22% oppose it, as legitimate.
Krugman doesn’t say why Rasmussen asked the wrong question. Asking respondents whether they think the law is a success or failure, as Rasmussen did, would seem to be just as legitimate as asking if they support it, as the Harvard one did. Taken together, the two polls suggest a lot of ambivalence about the Massachusetts health care law."
Schwarzenegger Withdraws Support for Democrats’ Health Care Reform - Political Punch
Schwarzenegger Withdraws Support for Democrats’ Health Care Reform - Political Punch: "In his annual “State of the State” message today, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger withdrew his support for the health care reform measures Democrats are attempting to finish up in Washington, DC.
“While I enthusiastically support health care reform, it is not reform to push more costs onto states that are already struggling while other states get sweetheart deals,” the governor said.
The White House had in the past brought much attention to Schwarzenegger’s previous support for the effort.
“Health care reform, which started as noble and needed legislation, has become a trough of bribes, deals and loopholes,” Schwarzenegger said. “You’ve heard of the bridge to nowhere. This is health care to nowhere.”
He called for California's congressional delegation to “either vote against this bill that is a disaster for California or get in there and fight for the same sweetheart deal Senator Nelson of Nebraska got for the Cornhusker State. He got the corn; we got the husk.”
In the Senate bill, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., secured a deal for the federal government to pick up his state’s share of the Medicaid expansion the bill legislates."
“While I enthusiastically support health care reform, it is not reform to push more costs onto states that are already struggling while other states get sweetheart deals,” the governor said.
The White House had in the past brought much attention to Schwarzenegger’s previous support for the effort.
“Health care reform, which started as noble and needed legislation, has become a trough of bribes, deals and loopholes,” Schwarzenegger said. “You’ve heard of the bridge to nowhere. This is health care to nowhere.”
He called for California's congressional delegation to “either vote against this bill that is a disaster for California or get in there and fight for the same sweetheart deal Senator Nelson of Nebraska got for the Cornhusker State. He got the corn; we got the husk.”
In the Senate bill, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., secured a deal for the federal government to pick up his state’s share of the Medicaid expansion the bill legislates."
Medicaid Long-Term Care Spending Tops $106 Billion | HULIQ
Medicaid Long-Term Care Spending Tops $106 Billion | HULIQ: "Long-term care represents 32.1 percent of total Medicaid spending according to a new report. As costs rise, the program is raising serious budget problems for numerous states.
Total Medicaid expenditures for long-term care increased 3.8 percent in 2008 reaching a total of $106.4 billion. Medicaid is the nation's poverty program with expenses borne by federal and state taxpayers.
Institutional long-term care spending by the Medicaid program increased 2.9 percent in fiscal year 20908 to $61.0 billion according to the report issued by Thomson Reuters. Medicaid nursing home expenditures increased 4.1 percent to $49 billion.
'State governments don't have the ability to print money and taxpayers are having to pay an ever-increasing cost for long-term care services,' explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. 'If the trend continues, people can expect to see reduced services across the board as states are unable to sufficiently raise taxes to cover the increased cost.'"
Total Medicaid expenditures for long-term care increased 3.8 percent in 2008 reaching a total of $106.4 billion. Medicaid is the nation's poverty program with expenses borne by federal and state taxpayers.
Institutional long-term care spending by the Medicaid program increased 2.9 percent in fiscal year 20908 to $61.0 billion according to the report issued by Thomson Reuters. Medicaid nursing home expenditures increased 4.1 percent to $49 billion.
'State governments don't have the ability to print money and taxpayers are having to pay an ever-increasing cost for long-term care services,' explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. 'If the trend continues, people can expect to see reduced services across the board as states are unable to sufficiently raise taxes to cover the increased cost.'"
US House Leaders Back Off Public Health Insurance Option - WSJ.com
US House Leaders Back Off Public Health Insurance Option - WSJ.com: "WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--U.S. House leaders signaled Tuesday they are willing to agree to a final health overhaul bill without a government-run health insurance option if other parts of the bill would fulfill the same goals.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said after meeting with senior House Democrats that the bill must meet the test of 'holding insurance companies accountable,' whether or not it includes a public option.
'There are other ways to do that, and I look forward to ..."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said after meeting with senior House Democrats that the bill must meet the test of 'holding insurance companies accountable,' whether or not it includes a public option.
'There are other ways to do that, and I look forward to ..."
Pelosi to bear heavy lifting in selling centrist-influenced health plan to left - TheHill.com
Pelosi to bear heavy lifting in selling centrist-influenced health plan to left - TheHill.com: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi has begun the difficult task of selling a healthcare bill heavily influenced by Senate centrists to her liberal members.
Success could be the difference between President Barack Obama signing his signature domestic policy initiative into law, thereby boosting the party in his second year, or watching a year’s worth of work crumble 10 months ahead of the midterm elections.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) will have the support of Obama and Senate liberals, many of whom have already started emphasizing the positive elements of the bill that passed their chamber on Christmas Eve."
Success could be the difference between President Barack Obama signing his signature domestic policy initiative into law, thereby boosting the party in his second year, or watching a year’s worth of work crumble 10 months ahead of the midterm elections.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) will have the support of Obama and Senate liberals, many of whom have already started emphasizing the positive elements of the bill that passed their chamber on Christmas Eve."
Long-term care, the other new entitlement
Long-term care, the other new entitlement: "nside the House and Senate health care bills lurks a ticking time bomb - a new federal entitlement, under the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act, that would allow Americans to buy into a voluntary federal long-term care insurance program.
The main problem, as Josh Gordon, policy director for the fiscal-watchdog group the Concord Coalition, noted, is that CLASS, which has passed 'below the radar' of most Americans, is a poorly designed 'gimmick.' While Washington would start collecting CLASS premiums in 2011, CLASS would not pay benefits for five years. So, because it charges for 10 years, but only pays out in five, CLASS appears to be a deficit cutter in the health care bill's 10-year budget window."
The main problem, as Josh Gordon, policy director for the fiscal-watchdog group the Concord Coalition, noted, is that CLASS, which has passed 'below the radar' of most Americans, is a poorly designed 'gimmick.' While Washington would start collecting CLASS premiums in 2011, CLASS would not pay benefits for five years. So, because it charges for 10 years, but only pays out in five, CLASS appears to be a deficit cutter in the health care bill's 10-year budget window."
C-SPAN complains about private health talks - Political Intelligence - A national political and campaign blog from The Boston Globe - Boston.com
C-SPAN complains about private health talks - Political Intelligence - A national political and campaign blog from The Boston Globe - Boston.com: "Democrats' apparent decision to come up with a final health care bill not only behind closed doors but within a very select group of negotiators is drawing criticism not only from expected quarters, but from the media.
Both C-SPAN and House Republicans are reminding President Obama that he once pledged to have the health care negotiations carried on the gavel-to-gavel cable network.
'As your respective chambers work to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate health care bills, C-SPAN requests that you open all important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings, to electronic media coverage,' C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb wrote in a letter to Obama and congressional leaders that the network released this morning."
Related:
Both C-SPAN and House Republicans are reminding President Obama that he once pledged to have the health care negotiations carried on the gavel-to-gavel cable network.
'As your respective chambers work to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate health care bills, C-SPAN requests that you open all important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings, to electronic media coverage,' C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb wrote in a letter to Obama and congressional leaders that the network released this morning."
Related:
TRANSPARENCY?? Congress Ignores C-SPAN Request To Televise Healthcare Negotiations
In November 2007, President Obama promised that the reform of health care including the negotiations will be open in a public setting, and not behind closed doors. He even suggested that they would be broadcast live on CSPAN and streamed live over the net. In fact he said they needed to be open because that's why Hillarycare was defeated.
Both the president and the congress have been Ignoring that promise, because transparency is the last thing they want.
Sources: Obama, Dems to sidestep GOP on health care - CNN.com
Sources: Obama, Dems to sidestep GOP on health care - CNN.com: "Washington (CNN) -- President Obama met Wednesday with House Democratic leaders who face the likelihood of having a final health care bill look much more like the Senate's version than their measure.
The meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairmen of the three House committees that approved health care legislation was part of efforts by Obama and top Democrats to merge the separate House and Senate bills into a final version capable of winning approval in both chambers.
Senior Democratic sources say Democrats are prepared to short-circuit the traditional legislative process of a formal conference committee comprising House and Senate members to exclude their Republican counterparts during final congressional health care deliberations.
Obama gave his blessing Tuesday for that move, according to two congressional Democratic leadership sources.
Democrats are trying to prevent the Republicans from using Senate rules to slow the push for final passage of a comprehensive reform bill, the sources said.
'There's clearly a tactic of slowing down progress on behalf of the American people,' White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday of GOP maneuvers in the Senate. When asked if Obama supported avoiding a formal conference committee, Gibbs said: 'The president wants to get a bill to his desk as quickly as possible.'"
The meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairmen of the three House committees that approved health care legislation was part of efforts by Obama and top Democrats to merge the separate House and Senate bills into a final version capable of winning approval in both chambers.
Senior Democratic sources say Democrats are prepared to short-circuit the traditional legislative process of a formal conference committee comprising House and Senate members to exclude their Republican counterparts during final congressional health care deliberations.
Obama gave his blessing Tuesday for that move, according to two congressional Democratic leadership sources.
Democrats are trying to prevent the Republicans from using Senate rules to slow the push for final passage of a comprehensive reform bill, the sources said.
'There's clearly a tactic of slowing down progress on behalf of the American people,' White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday of GOP maneuvers in the Senate. When asked if Obama supported avoiding a formal conference committee, Gibbs said: 'The president wants to get a bill to his desk as quickly as possible.'"
Democrats hoping to ‘ping-pong’ Republicans right out of final health care reform negotiations - Yahoo! News
Democrats hoping to ‘ping-pong’ Republicans right out of final health care reform negotiations - Yahoo! News: "Now that the House and Senate have both passed separate health care reform bills, the legislative process shifts to ironing out the differences. This typically involves having a formal conference committee containing members of both the House and the Senate. The goal is to reconcile the two bills, creating a final bill that both chambers will vote on. In a surprise turn, according to Jonathan Cohn of the New Republic, Democrats intend to employ an obscure tactic, informally known as 'ping-pong,' to shut Republicans out of the final negotiations and speed the bills toward completion. In 'ping-pong' the legislation is bounced back and forth between the House and the Senate, controlled by just the Democratic leadership in each chamber and the White House, until a final agreement can be reached.
It's 'almost certain,' according to a pair of senior congressional staffers Cohn spoke to, that the Democratic leadership will seek to avoid a formal conference committee and its procedural steps. The formal process and additional votes would have offered multiple additional opportunities for the Republicans to slow or obstruct the bill's process, as they did throughout the fall."
It's 'almost certain,' according to a pair of senior congressional staffers Cohn spoke to, that the Democratic leadership will seek to avoid a formal conference committee and its procedural steps. The formal process and additional votes would have offered multiple additional opportunities for the Republicans to slow or obstruct the bill's process, as they did throughout the fall."
Obama Reneges on Health Care Transparency - CBS Evening News - CBS News
Obama Reneges on Health Care Transparency - CBS Evening News - CBS News: "(CBS) President Obama wants the final negotiations on health care reform - a reconciliation of the House and Senate versions of the bill - put on a fast track, even if that means breaking an explicit campaign promise.
'The House and Senate plan to put together the final health care reform bill behind closed doors according to an agreement by top Democrats,' House Speaker Nanci Pelosi said today at the White House.
The White House is on board with that, too, reports CBS News political correspondent Chip Reid. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs stressed today that 'the president wants to get a bill to his desk as quickly as possible.'"
'The House and Senate plan to put together the final health care reform bill behind closed doors according to an agreement by top Democrats,' House Speaker Nanci Pelosi said today at the White House.
The White House is on board with that, too, reports CBS News political correspondent Chip Reid. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs stressed today that 'the president wants to get a bill to his desk as quickly as possible.'"
American Chronicle | 2010 will witness the most destructive wars in modern history
American Chronicle | 2010 will witness the most destructive wars in modern history: "2010 will witness the most destructive wars in modern history
2010 will determine the fate of Iran and Lebanon for many years
2010 will observe a bitter end of Hezbollah and the destruction of Syria´s missile and chemical programs
Middle East journalist and analyst, Hamid Ghoriafi, wrote this analysis in Arabic especially for the Lebanese Canadian Coordinating Council (LCCC http://www.10452lccc.com)
Translated by LCCC Chairman, Elias Bejjani*
Middle East analysts predict that the year 2010 could make the past nine years look laughable considering the kinds and ferocity of tragedies that might hit the region that has been a violent battlefield for four crushing wars.
The first two are the Taliban regime of Afghanistan and that of Baathist Saddam Hussein in Iraq which were toppled by force in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks by Osama bin Laden's Al Qaida group that targeted New York´s twin towers and the Pentagon in Washington."
2010 will determine the fate of Iran and Lebanon for many years
2010 will observe a bitter end of Hezbollah and the destruction of Syria´s missile and chemical programs
Middle East journalist and analyst, Hamid Ghoriafi, wrote this analysis in Arabic especially for the Lebanese Canadian Coordinating Council (LCCC http://www.10452lccc.com)
Translated by LCCC Chairman, Elias Bejjani*
Middle East analysts predict that the year 2010 could make the past nine years look laughable considering the kinds and ferocity of tragedies that might hit the region that has been a violent battlefield for four crushing wars.
The first two are the Taliban regime of Afghanistan and that of Baathist Saddam Hussein in Iraq which were toppled by force in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks by Osama bin Laden's Al Qaida group that targeted New York´s twin towers and the Pentagon in Washington."
OfficialWire: Former Congressman Says Obama Should Fire Key Intelligence Official
OfficialWire: Former Congressman Says Obama Should Fire Key Intelligence Official: "Former Congressman Joe DioGuardi, president and chairman of Truth In Government, is calling for “accountability and action” after the Christmas Day failed bombing attempt on Flight 253. DioGuardi strongly urged President Obama to take swifter action to fire top officials such as Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano, CIA Director Leon Panetta, or others at the top of the intelligence chain of command. “This is an egregious failure that must be addressed now,” DioGuardi said.
In a series of video clips, DioGuardi employs a risk-management perspective to national security issues, specifically the need to identify and fix government deficiencies related to terrorist attempts since Sept. 11. “What we have is a criminal enterprise—al-Qaeda and all of its affiliates,” he said. “This should not be a global war. This is a policing operation and that means good intelligence. We have to be much better at this. We cannot afford to fail once. They can afford to fail many times.”
The first practicing Certified Public Accountant ever elected to Congress, DioGuardi takes a practical, results-driven view of managing counterterrorism. “We just lost seven CIA operatives in Afghanistan—that is a huge amount of intelligence assets to be lost at one time,” DioGuardi said, referring to last week’s suicide bombing by an informant cleared to enter an American base in Afghanistan.
“It’s conceivable that today we would have forward-looking people like Winston Churchill before World War II, who can take initiative to gather, understand, and deploy appropriate intelligence. But, obviously, that’s not happening and we’re spending too much money not to have the best,” he said. DioGuardi also questioned why the Obama administration had not already implemented full-body scanners in most airports, as previously suggested in the 9/11 Commission Report, released in 2004."
In a series of video clips, DioGuardi employs a risk-management perspective to national security issues, specifically the need to identify and fix government deficiencies related to terrorist attempts since Sept. 11. “What we have is a criminal enterprise—al-Qaeda and all of its affiliates,” he said. “This should not be a global war. This is a policing operation and that means good intelligence. We have to be much better at this. We cannot afford to fail once. They can afford to fail many times.”
The first practicing Certified Public Accountant ever elected to Congress, DioGuardi takes a practical, results-driven view of managing counterterrorism. “We just lost seven CIA operatives in Afghanistan—that is a huge amount of intelligence assets to be lost at one time,” DioGuardi said, referring to last week’s suicide bombing by an informant cleared to enter an American base in Afghanistan.
“It’s conceivable that today we would have forward-looking people like Winston Churchill before World War II, who can take initiative to gather, understand, and deploy appropriate intelligence. But, obviously, that’s not happening and we’re spending too much money not to have the best,” he said. DioGuardi also questioned why the Obama administration had not already implemented full-body scanners in most airports, as previously suggested in the 9/11 Commission Report, released in 2004."
White House Budget Director Peter Orszag's ex-girlfriend Claire Milonas gave birth to his son, after his engagement to ABC News gal Bianna Golodryga - NYPOST.com
White House Budget Director Peter Orszag's ex-girlfriend Claire Milonas gave birth to his son, after his engagement to ABC News gal Bianna Golodryga - NYPOST.com: "President Obama’s budget guru has a secret love child — with the woman he jilted before hooking up with his hot new fiance, The Post has learned.
White House budget director Peter Orszag’s ex, shipping heiress Claire Milonas, gave birth to little Tatiana Zoe in New York Nov. 17. That was just six weeks before Orzsag and ABC news babe Bianna Golodryga gleefully announced their engagement on national TV and in the press.
Orszag and Milonas, the daughter of New York-based Greek shipping magnate Spiros Milonas, were a serious item when he met the stunning Golodgryga at the White House correspondents' dinner.
Peter Orszag.
UPI
Peter Orszag.
‘‘Claire told Peter she was pregnant, and he said he’d marry her — and then something went wrong,’’ a source close to the situation told The Post."
White House budget director Peter Orszag’s ex, shipping heiress Claire Milonas, gave birth to little Tatiana Zoe in New York Nov. 17. That was just six weeks before Orzsag and ABC news babe Bianna Golodryga gleefully announced their engagement on national TV and in the press.
Orszag and Milonas, the daughter of New York-based Greek shipping magnate Spiros Milonas, were a serious item when he met the stunning Golodgryga at the White House correspondents' dinner.
Peter Orszag.
UPI
Peter Orszag.
‘‘Claire told Peter she was pregnant, and he said he’d marry her — and then something went wrong,’’ a source close to the situation told The Post."
Pelosi’s Iron Curtain Surrounds Health Care - HUMAN EVENTS
Pelosi’s Iron Curtain Surrounds Health Care - HUMAN EVENTS: "Democratic leaders in Congress have apparently shunned a request from C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb to open up the health care negotiations process to their cameras and therefore to the American people. Emerging from yet another closed door meeting on health care, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) denied at a press conference that Democrats had in any way been secretive in their negotiations, asserting that they have been perfectly transparent throughout the legislative process.
“There has never been a more open process for any legislation,” Pelosi actually said with a straight face.
In December, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) compiled a full laundry list of the secretive, backroom payoffs included in the Senate bill solely to garner votes."
“There has never been a more open process for any legislation,” Pelosi actually said with a straight face.
In December, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) compiled a full laundry list of the secretive, backroom payoffs included in the Senate bill solely to garner votes."
Temporary lockdown at Fort Sam Houston lifted
Temporary lockdown at Fort Sam Houston lifted: "A temporary lockdown of Fort Sam Houston was lifted by noon Wednesday after officials determined that a man who tried to visit Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan wasn't a threat to post security.
The man, whose name was not released, asked for an escort to Hasan's Brooke Army Medical Center hospital room about 9 a.m.
He first said he was the lawyer for the Fort Hood rampage suspect, and then claimed to be his doctor, hospital spokesman Dewey Mitchell said.
“The man was asked by BAMC security to leave, and he complied,” Mitchell said in an e-mail. The man wasn't arrested.
The post was locked down immediately, spokesman Phil Reidinger, said, but by noon, activity was back to normal.
“We executed a lockdown until we could determine whether this individual was a threat to the post,” he said.
The visitor left the hospital but tried to drive farther onto the post. Reidinger said a security guard stopped him and told him to leave.
Hasan's lawyer, John P. Galligan, said Wednesday afternoon that he wasn't aware of the incident."
The man, whose name was not released, asked for an escort to Hasan's Brooke Army Medical Center hospital room about 9 a.m.
He first said he was the lawyer for the Fort Hood rampage suspect, and then claimed to be his doctor, hospital spokesman Dewey Mitchell said.
“The man was asked by BAMC security to leave, and he complied,” Mitchell said in an e-mail. The man wasn't arrested.
The post was locked down immediately, spokesman Phil Reidinger, said, but by noon, activity was back to normal.
“We executed a lockdown until we could determine whether this individual was a threat to the post,” he said.
The visitor left the hospital but tried to drive farther onto the post. Reidinger said a security guard stopped him and told him to leave.
Hasan's lawyer, John P. Galligan, said Wednesday afternoon that he wasn't aware of the incident."
Stimulus Funds Went to Nonexistent Zip Code Areas [Updated 7X]
Stimulus Funds Went to Nonexistent Zip Code Areas [Updated 7X]: "First it was phantom Congressional districts. Now it’s phantom zip codes.
Last month, we reported on federal stimulus money credited with creating jobs in nonexistent New Mexico Congressional districts. Further examination of the most recent report on the recipients and uses of New Mexico’s share of the $787 billion stimulus shows jobs created and money going to zip codes that do not exist.
New Mexico Watchdog broke what became a national news story, and fodder for Jon Stewart and Steve Colbert. The website launched by the Obama Administration to track the destinations of billions of dollars of stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act showed billions going to nonexistent Congressional districts. The website, recovery.gov, reported $26.5 million going to ten New Mexico Congressional districts that do not exist. Those millions were credited with creating 61.5 jobs. Spadework by our Watchdog counterparts in other states showed a total of $6.4 billion reported as being allocated to 440 nonexistent, or “phantom,” Congressional districts."
Last month, we reported on federal stimulus money credited with creating jobs in nonexistent New Mexico Congressional districts. Further examination of the most recent report on the recipients and uses of New Mexico’s share of the $787 billion stimulus shows jobs created and money going to zip codes that do not exist.
New Mexico Watchdog broke what became a national news story, and fodder for Jon Stewart and Steve Colbert. The website launched by the Obama Administration to track the destinations of billions of dollars of stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act showed billions going to nonexistent Congressional districts. The website, recovery.gov, reported $26.5 million going to ten New Mexico Congressional districts that do not exist. Those millions were credited with creating 61.5 jobs. Spadework by our Watchdog counterparts in other states showed a total of $6.4 billion reported as being allocated to 440 nonexistent, or “phantom,” Congressional districts."
Phantom zip codes also found in Virginia | Washington Examiner
Phantom zip codes also found in Virginia | Washington Examiner
As much as $9.5 million in federal stimulus dollars went to 14 zip codes in Virginia that don’t exist or are in other states, Old Dominion Watchdog (http://virginia.watchdog.org) reports. The fake zip codes were listed on Recovery.gov, the federal Web site that is supposed to track how the stimulus money is being used.
The phony zip codes are a new wrinkle in Recovery.gov’s increasingly tattered credibility. In November, Ed Pound, director of communications for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, said a rash of phantom congressional districts found on the website were the result of confusion by fund recipients, who apparently didn’t know who their congressman was.
But who would give millions of dollars to somebody who doesn’t even know their own zip code?
UPDATE: Even with a real zip code, it takes seven hours for one firm to report back to Recovery.gov on its $2,000 stimulus contract.
Where is the accountability that Obama promised? There seems to be more corruption than ever. Why isn't the media all over this???
FOXNews.com - Nelson: Obama Made a 'Mistake' by Tackling Health Care ReformLast Year
FOXNews.com - Nelson: Obama Made a 'Mistake' by Tackling Health Care ReformLast Year: "Sen. Ben Nelson, the Nebraska Democrat who played a pivotal role in helping the Senate pass its version of health care reform right before Christmas, said this week that the Obama administration should have delayed taking up the issue to spend more time tackling economic problems.
'I think it was a mistake to take health care on as opposed to continuing to spend the time on the economy,' Nelson told the Fremont Tribune.
'I would have preferred not to be dealing with health care in the midst of everything else, and I think working on the economy would have been a wiser move,' he told the newspaper."
'I think it was a mistake to take health care on as opposed to continuing to spend the time on the economy,' Nelson told the Fremont Tribune.
'I would have preferred not to be dealing with health care in the midst of everything else, and I think working on the economy would have been a wiser move,' he told the newspaper."
Intel chief must go: Fire counterterror boss for staying on vacation after plane attack
Intel chief must go: Fire counterterror boss for staying on vacation after plane attack: "It is reported in today's Daily News that the chief of the National Counterterrorism Center was skiing on Christmas and stayed on the slopes for several days after the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253.
It must soon be reported, certainly by tomorrow's editions, that President Obama has given Michael Leiter all the free time he likes to schuss and slalom the slopes to his heart's delight.
Where Leiter belonged the moment he was notified that a terrorist had nearly executed an attack upon the United States was on his way back to Washington. Staying in touch by phone or by teleconference or by any other marvel of communication does not cut it following an act of war.
You can't phone in a high-alert scramble seeking evidence of a possible follow-on attack.
You can't phone in top-priority intelligence-gathering on how the plot was executed."
It must soon be reported, certainly by tomorrow's editions, that President Obama has given Michael Leiter all the free time he likes to schuss and slalom the slopes to his heart's delight.
Where Leiter belonged the moment he was notified that a terrorist had nearly executed an attack upon the United States was on his way back to Washington. Staying in touch by phone or by teleconference or by any other marvel of communication does not cut it following an act of war.
You can't phone in a high-alert scramble seeking evidence of a possible follow-on attack.
You can't phone in top-priority intelligence-gathering on how the plot was executed."
Obama - Just a Liar and Not a Leader
Obama - Just a Liar and Not a Leader: "During one of Barack Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress last year, he was met at one point with an emphatic outburst of “You lie!” by Congressman Joe Wilson. At the time Wilson’s outburst was deemed to be disrespectful, demeaning, unprofessional and/or even just stupid. In retrospect though, Wilson should be commended for pointing out what is the absolute truth about Obama, which is that he is indeed a liar.
When Bill Clinton was serving as president, it became very evident that he was a pathological liar. However, Clinton’s lies were more of a personal nature which for the most part only affected himself. On the other hand, Obama’s lies will affect hundreds of millions of Americans for generations to come.
As a prime example of Obama’s pathological lying, there is perhaps none more glaring than his reversal about holding healthcare hearings in the public eye, which he often noted would be broadcasted on C-SPAN. He made these vows many times during the presidential campaign (see video below)."
When Bill Clinton was serving as president, it became very evident that he was a pathological liar. However, Clinton’s lies were more of a personal nature which for the most part only affected himself. On the other hand, Obama’s lies will affect hundreds of millions of Americans for generations to come.
As a prime example of Obama’s pathological lying, there is perhaps none more glaring than his reversal about holding healthcare hearings in the public eye, which he often noted would be broadcasted on C-SPAN. He made these vows many times during the presidential campaign (see video below)."
BBC News - Chief defends Met Office record
BBC News - Chief defends Met Office record
John Hirst, head of the Met Office, defends the record of the weathermen after they predicted a mild winter.
Andrew Neil asked him to justify his salary which is higher than the prime minister's.
Lloyd Marcus » AA LLOYD’S COMMENTARY
Lloyd Marcus » AA LLOYD’S COMMENTARY: "My wife Mary’s eyes glaze over whenever I mention football. “But honey this is about life not football” I promise her. She graciously listens. Three years ago with only a few minutes left in the game, all Tony Romo, quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys had to do was hold the football so his kicker could kick a game tying field goal. Romo fumbled the ball.
After his horrible unbelievable mistake, the young quarterback sat on the bench dejected with his head hung low. John Madden, former pro football coach was one of the announcers on the TV broadcast team. Madden said, “Somebody needs to tell Romo to get his head up. This game is not over and he still has to lead his team”. Wow, I don’t know why, but I found the wise old coach instructing (mentoring) the young man quite moving.
Madden was saying leadership is understanding it is not about you. As the Bible says, “To whom much is given, much is required”. Madden is also saying, OK, Tony Romo, you said you wanted to be the leader of this team; you must do just that, Lead! You do not have the luxury of sulking over your mistakes. True leadership is putting the needs of your team before your needs.
The Obama administration and the media puts his needs before the best interest of the American people. They believe since Obama is the first black president, he is simply too big to fail. Consequently, every event, policy and etc is judged from a “how will this affect Obama’s presidency” point of view rather than what is best for America."
After his horrible unbelievable mistake, the young quarterback sat on the bench dejected with his head hung low. John Madden, former pro football coach was one of the announcers on the TV broadcast team. Madden said, “Somebody needs to tell Romo to get his head up. This game is not over and he still has to lead his team”. Wow, I don’t know why, but I found the wise old coach instructing (mentoring) the young man quite moving.
Madden was saying leadership is understanding it is not about you. As the Bible says, “To whom much is given, much is required”. Madden is also saying, OK, Tony Romo, you said you wanted to be the leader of this team; you must do just that, Lead! You do not have the luxury of sulking over your mistakes. True leadership is putting the needs of your team before your needs.
The Obama administration and the media puts his needs before the best interest of the American people. They believe since Obama is the first black president, he is simply too big to fail. Consequently, every event, policy and etc is judged from a “how will this affect Obama’s presidency” point of view rather than what is best for America."
YouTube - White House Press Corps Clash With Gibbs Over C-Span Promise
YouTube - White House Press Corps Clash With Gibbs Over C-Span Promise
BAGHDAD Bob At it again .. he can't answer the question and didn't yesterday either which I blogged.
BAGHDAD Bob At it again .. he can't answer the question and didn't yesterday either which I blogged.
FSM - Video: The C-SPAN Lie? See Eight Clips of President Promising Televised Healthcare Negotiations
Video: The C-SPAN Lie? See Eight Clips of President Promising Televised Healthcare Negotiations
Stop the secret health care shenanigans and let CSPAN cover the meetings. No more secret sessions. No more sweetheart deals. The American people have a right to know. Let the cameras in. Click Here To Sign Petition
Couldn't be as simple as someone telling Obama
"YOU LIE!"
How Taqiyya Alters Islam's Rules of War: Defeating Jihadist Terrorism :: Middle East Quarterly
How Taqiyya Alters Islam's Rules of War: Defeating Jihadist Terrorism :: Middle East Quarterly: "Islam must seem a paradoxical religion to non-Muslims. On the one hand, it is constantly being portrayed as the religion of peace; on the other, its adherents are responsible for the majority of terror attacks around the world. Apologists for Islam emphasize that it is a faith built upon high ethical standards; others stress that it is a religion of the law. Islam's dual notions of truth and falsehood further reveal its paradoxical nature: While the Qur'an is against believers deceiving other believers—for 'surely God guides not him who is prodigal and a liar'[1]—deception directed at non-Muslims, generally known in Arabic as taqiyya, also has Qur'anic support and falls within the legal category of things that are permissible for Muslims."
Sensibly Selective Screening by Heather Mac Donald on National Review Online
Sensibly Selective Screening by Heather Mac Donald on National Review Online: "President Obama’s bold and unexpected decision to subject travelers from 14 mostly Muslim countries to increased physical scrutiny at airports has brought forth the usual denunciations, well represented in a collection of responses solicited by the New York Times. (The only Times commentator who seems to support the decision also argues that “those who intend to blow up airplanes are not necessarily bad guys,” a statement representative of her essay’s coherence.)
The by-now-familiar arguments against focusing scarce security resources on the places or populations of highest risk boil down to following:"
The by-now-familiar arguments against focusing scarce security resources on the places or populations of highest risk boil down to following:"
Michael Gerson - Airline attack shows Obama's listless approach to terrorism
Michael Gerson - Airline attack shows Obama's listless approach to terrorism: "The word 'vigilance' is sometimes mocked as reactionary and jingoistic. As in: 'We must be vigilant to protect the homeland during this duck-and-cover drill against communists under every bed because loose lips sink ships.'
But the failures in the war on terrorism during the past few months have been failures of vigilance. After warnings to American officials from his father, a radicalized Nigerian with ties to Yemen -- holding a one-way ticket and no luggage -- is allowed on a plane headed to Detroit. A man in Afghan military fatigues -- covering a bomb vest -- enters a CIA base in Afghanistan for an intelligence debriefing, without being screened. An Army psychologist -- with a history of making provocative jihadist arguments and known to classmates as a 'ticking time bomb' -- is assigned to Afghanistan and reports for processing at Fort Hood.
In all these cases -- whether in the State Department, the CIA or the Army -- some internal guard was lowered. After the Christmas attack, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano concluded, 'One of the things that may come out of this awful day is perhaps a renewed sense of urgency.'"
But the failures in the war on terrorism during the past few months have been failures of vigilance. After warnings to American officials from his father, a radicalized Nigerian with ties to Yemen -- holding a one-way ticket and no luggage -- is allowed on a plane headed to Detroit. A man in Afghan military fatigues -- covering a bomb vest -- enters a CIA base in Afghanistan for an intelligence debriefing, without being screened. An Army psychologist -- with a history of making provocative jihadist arguments and known to classmates as a 'ticking time bomb' -- is assigned to Afghanistan and reports for processing at Fort Hood.
In all these cases -- whether in the State Department, the CIA or the Army -- some internal guard was lowered. After the Christmas attack, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano concluded, 'One of the things that may come out of this awful day is perhaps a renewed sense of urgency.'"
Investors.com - No More Screw-ups
Investors.com - No More Screw-ups: "War On Terror: Homeland Security, we are learning in alarming ways, is a mess. It can't do its job and even has a policy for letting known terrorists board jetliners. We need a government that will fight for us.
The inspector general for Homeland Security found that the department's National Operations Center is 'unable,' according to CNSNews.com, 'to do its job of ensuring coordination among the 22 federal agencies that make up the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and focuses too much on disaster management rather than terrorism prevention.'
In other words, about all Homeland Security can do is clean up the messes it couldn't stop. Or maybe the messes it helped create. CNSNews.com is also reporting that Homeland Security's inspector general published a report that indicates the department is guilty of gross malfeasance.
'Not all known or reasonably suspected terrorists are prohibited from boarding an aircraft, or are subject to additional security screening prior to boarding an aircraft,' said the inspector general.
'This is not an oversight,' CNSNews.com editor in chief Terence P. Jeffrey explains. 'It is a policy.'"
The inspector general for Homeland Security found that the department's National Operations Center is 'unable,' according to CNSNews.com, 'to do its job of ensuring coordination among the 22 federal agencies that make up the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and focuses too much on disaster management rather than terrorism prevention.'
In other words, about all Homeland Security can do is clean up the messes it couldn't stop. Or maybe the messes it helped create. CNSNews.com is also reporting that Homeland Security's inspector general published a report that indicates the department is guilty of gross malfeasance.
'Not all known or reasonably suspected terrorists are prohibited from boarding an aircraft, or are subject to additional security screening prior to boarding an aircraft,' said the inspector general.
'This is not an oversight,' CNSNews.com editor in chief Terence P. Jeffrey explains. 'It is a policy.'"
Investors.com - Dead Deadline
Investors.com - Dead Deadline: "Iran: Words are as important in the art of diplomacy as materials are in the building of a house. Our chief diplomatic voice has now told Tehran that America's words have no structural integrity.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday claimed, with regard to the growing nuclear weapons threat in Iran, that 'we've avoided using the term 'deadline' ourselves. That's not a term that we have used because we want to keep the door to dialogue open.'
Does she really believe people don't remember the president repeatedly saying the end of 2009 was when time would expire for the mullahs defying the world on their atomic bomb ambitions?"
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday claimed, with regard to the growing nuclear weapons threat in Iran, that 'we've avoided using the term 'deadline' ourselves. That's not a term that we have used because we want to keep the door to dialogue open.'
Does she really believe people don't remember the president repeatedly saying the end of 2009 was when time would expire for the mullahs defying the world on their atomic bomb ambitions?"
Sept. 11 terrorism trial will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, says Mayor | Washington Examiner
Sept. 11 terrorism trial will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, says Mayor | Washington Examiner: "NEW YORK — Stepped-up security measures for the upcoming detention and trial of the suspects in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are now expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars — a far heftier price tag than originally thought.
In a letter to federal officials, Mayor Michael Bloomberg put the cost at $216 million for the first year after Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspects arrive in Manhattan from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After that, the mayor said it would cost $200 million annually for as long as the men are detained in the city — mainly overtime for extra New York Police Department patrols.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly had given an initial estimate of $75 million a year but later warned it could be higher. A recent NYPD analysis came up with the totals cited by the mayor.
It's uncertain when the case will go to trial, or how long the proceedings would last. But past terrorism cases have taken two years or more to complete.
City officials and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., have called on the federal government to foot the bill."
In a letter to federal officials, Mayor Michael Bloomberg put the cost at $216 million for the first year after Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspects arrive in Manhattan from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After that, the mayor said it would cost $200 million annually for as long as the men are detained in the city — mainly overtime for extra New York Police Department patrols.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly had given an initial estimate of $75 million a year but later warned it could be higher. A recent NYPD analysis came up with the totals cited by the mayor.
It's uncertain when the case will go to trial, or how long the proceedings would last. But past terrorism cases have taken two years or more to complete.
City officials and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., have called on the federal government to foot the bill."
Brennan Behind ‘Terrorism as Crime’ Policy - HUMAN EVENTS
Brennan Behind ‘Terrorism as Crime’ Policy - HUMAN EVENTS: "John O. Brennan, the closest advisor to President Obama on how to fight al Qaeda, has emerged as a key promoter of dumping much of George Bush's tough war policies and embracing the White House's legalistic approach to terrorism.
The nation got its first extended long look at Brennan on Sunday when he appeared on TV talk shows to defend the administration's response to al Qaeda's Christmas Day would-be airline bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
It was during his appearance on Fox News that he made several astounding policy statements.
"Brennan has said a number of disappointing things on Sunday," said Rep. Peter Hoekstra, senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. "If you take a look at the policies he is advocating, they clearly are policies that run totally counter to what the former president had in place."
But in truth, Brennan has been an internal Bush critic going back to his days in the CIA, which culminated in him serving as chief of staff to director George Tenet, then setting up the first National Counter-Terrorism Center."
The nation got its first extended long look at Brennan on Sunday when he appeared on TV talk shows to defend the administration's response to al Qaeda's Christmas Day would-be airline bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.
It was during his appearance on Fox News that he made several astounding policy statements.
"Brennan has said a number of disappointing things on Sunday," said Rep. Peter Hoekstra, senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. "If you take a look at the policies he is advocating, they clearly are policies that run totally counter to what the former president had in place."
But in truth, Brennan has been an internal Bush critic going back to his days in the CIA, which culminated in him serving as chief of staff to director George Tenet, then setting up the first National Counter-Terrorism Center."
The American Spectator : "Better a Hundred Terrorists Go Free…"
The American Spectator : "Better a Hundred Terrorists Go Free…": "There's a phrase repeated over and over by civil libertarian and ACLU types and often attributed to either Justice William O. Douglas or Justice Louis Brandeis:
'Better 100 guilty parties go free than one innocent person be convicted.'
I found the original reference is Blackstone and the figure is 10, not 100, but the point is the same. If the justice system is to err, it must err on the side of the criminal defendant.
I once wrote a book on crime and after hearing this phrase for about the 20th time, I came to one conclusion: Whoever said it wasn't planning on living in the same neighborhood with those 10 or 100 guilty criminals.
Over the last 40 years, a series of U.S. Supreme Court rulings have turned criminal investigations into an incredible obstacle course, wringing just about every last trace of street smarts out of the law enforcement profession. I was talking to an emergency preparedness consultant at a New Year's Party and he burst out, 'I think I'm going to start a business training cops to be observant. They don't see anything anymore. You give them an assignment and they'll go and arrest someone, but they never notice anything along the way. There was an older generation of cops who were always picking things up but cops don't do that anymore.'"
'Better 100 guilty parties go free than one innocent person be convicted.'
I found the original reference is Blackstone and the figure is 10, not 100, but the point is the same. If the justice system is to err, it must err on the side of the criminal defendant.
I once wrote a book on crime and after hearing this phrase for about the 20th time, I came to one conclusion: Whoever said it wasn't planning on living in the same neighborhood with those 10 or 100 guilty criminals.
Over the last 40 years, a series of U.S. Supreme Court rulings have turned criminal investigations into an incredible obstacle course, wringing just about every last trace of street smarts out of the law enforcement profession. I was talking to an emergency preparedness consultant at a New Year's Party and he burst out, 'I think I'm going to start a business training cops to be observant. They don't see anything anymore. You give them an assignment and they'll go and arrest someone, but they never notice anything along the way. There was an older generation of cops who were always picking things up but cops don't do that anymore.'"
Report: U.S. Learned of Airline Bomb Suspect's Extremist Ties While He Was in the Air - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com
Report: U.S. Learned of Airline Bomb Suspect's Extremist Ties While He Was in the Air - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com: "U.S. border officials learned of intelligence linking the man suspected of attempting to blow up a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines plane to extremists while he was en route from Amsterdam, the Los Angeles Times reported late Wednesday.
Authorities planned to question the Nigerian when the plane landed, the paper said, showing officials came close to uncovering the Christmas Day plot, despite failures at other levels.
Senior law enforcement officials told the Times if intelligence officials had learned of the information earlier, Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab could have been interrogated and searched before he got on the flight from Amsterdam. But it was unclear if the intelligence was strong enough to cause Dutch officials to prevent the man from boarding the plane."
Authorities planned to question the Nigerian when the plane landed, the paper said, showing officials came close to uncovering the Christmas Day plot, despite failures at other levels.
Senior law enforcement officials told the Times if intelligence officials had learned of the information earlier, Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab could have been interrogated and searched before he got on the flight from Amsterdam. But it was unclear if the intelligence was strong enough to cause Dutch officials to prevent the man from boarding the plane."
FOXNews.com - Sources: Obama OKs Taxing High-End Health Plans
FOXNews.com - Sources: Obama OKs Taxing High-End Health Plans: "WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama signaled to House Democratic leaders Wednesday that they'll have to drop their opposition to taxing high-end health insurance plans to pay for health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.
In a meeting at the White House, Obama expressed his preference for the insurance tax contained in the Senate's health overhaul bill, but largely opposed by House Democrats and organized labor, Democratic aides said. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.
House Democrats want to raise income taxes on high-income individuals instead and are reluctant to abandon that approach, while recognizing that they will likely have to bend on that and other issues so that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., can maintain his fragile 60-vote majority support for the bill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and four committee chairmen met with the president Wednesday as they scrambled to resolve differences between sweeping bills passed by the House and Senate. The aim is to finalize legislation revamping the nation's health care system in time for Obama's State of the Union address early last month.
Despite the dispute over the payment approach, Pelosi, D-Calif., emerged from the meeting expressing optimism."
In a meeting at the White House, Obama expressed his preference for the insurance tax contained in the Senate's health overhaul bill, but largely opposed by House Democrats and organized labor, Democratic aides said. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.
House Democrats want to raise income taxes on high-income individuals instead and are reluctant to abandon that approach, while recognizing that they will likely have to bend on that and other issues so that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., can maintain his fragile 60-vote majority support for the bill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and four committee chairmen met with the president Wednesday as they scrambled to resolve differences between sweeping bills passed by the House and Senate. The aim is to finalize legislation revamping the nation's health care system in time for Obama's State of the Union address early last month.
Despite the dispute over the payment approach, Pelosi, D-Calif., emerged from the meeting expressing optimism."
Nancy Pelosi takes swipe at President Obama's campaign promises - Patrick O'Connor and Glenn Thrush - POLITICO.com
Nancy Pelosi takes swipe at President Obama's campaign promises - Patrick O'Connor and Glenn Thrush - POLITICO.com: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, piqued with White House pressure to accept the Senate health reform bill, threw a rare rhetorical elbow Tuesday at President Barack Obama, questioning his commitment to his 2008 campaign promises.
A leadership aide said it was no accident.
Pelosi emerged from a meeting with her leadership team and committee chairs in the Capitol to face an aggressive throng of reporters who immediately hit her with C-SPAN’s request that she permit closed-door final talks on the bill to be televised.
A reporter reminded the San Francisco Democrat that in 2008, then-candidate Obama opined that all such negotiations be open to C-SPAN cameras.
“There are a number of things he was for on the campaign trail,” quipped Pelosi, who has no intention of making the deliberations public."
A leadership aide said it was no accident.
Pelosi emerged from a meeting with her leadership team and committee chairs in the Capitol to face an aggressive throng of reporters who immediately hit her with C-SPAN’s request that she permit closed-door final talks on the bill to be televised.
A reporter reminded the San Francisco Democrat that in 2008, then-candidate Obama opined that all such negotiations be open to C-SPAN cameras.
“There are a number of things he was for on the campaign trail,” quipped Pelosi, who has no intention of making the deliberations public."
Michael B. Mukasey: What Does the Detroit Bomber Know? - WSJ.com
Michael B. Mukasey: What Does the Detroit Bomber Know? - WSJ.com: "There was much to celebrate in the providential combination of an incompetent terrorist and surpassingly brave passengers and crew who saved 288 people aboard Northwest Airlines flight 253 on Christmas Day. There is a lot less to applaud in the official reaction.
Well-deserved mockery has already been heaped on the move-along-folks-nothing-to-see-here tone of the administration's initial pronouncements—from Janet Napolitano's 'the system worked,' to President Obama's statement that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was an 'isolated extremist.' This week brought little improvement.
The president acknowledged that the plot had been hatched in Yemen, but not without adding the misleading statement that Yemen faces 'crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies.' That Yemenis have to cope with 'crushing poverty' is irrelevant here. Abdulmutallab is the son of a wealthy Nigerian banker. Other jihadists, including the physician who blew himself up and killed seven CIA agents in Afghanistan last week, and indeed the millionaire Osama bin Laden, prove that poverty does not beget terrorists. 'Deadly insurgencies' is a half-truth, which omits the fact that the Yemeni government itself has supported al Qaeda and continues to harbor at least two people—Jamal Ahmed Mohammed Ali al-Badawi and Fahad Mohammed Ahmed al-Quso—involved in the bombing of the USS Cole."
Well-deserved mockery has already been heaped on the move-along-folks-nothing-to-see-here tone of the administration's initial pronouncements—from Janet Napolitano's 'the system worked,' to President Obama's statement that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was an 'isolated extremist.' This week brought little improvement.
The president acknowledged that the plot had been hatched in Yemen, but not without adding the misleading statement that Yemen faces 'crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies.' That Yemenis have to cope with 'crushing poverty' is irrelevant here. Abdulmutallab is the son of a wealthy Nigerian banker. Other jihadists, including the physician who blew himself up and killed seven CIA agents in Afghanistan last week, and indeed the millionaire Osama bin Laden, prove that poverty does not beget terrorists. 'Deadly insurgencies' is a half-truth, which omits the fact that the Yemeni government itself has supported al Qaeda and continues to harbor at least two people—Jamal Ahmed Mohammed Ali al-Badawi and Fahad Mohammed Ahmed al-Quso—involved in the bombing of the USS Cole."
Obama natl. security adviser: Thursday's terror report to 'shock' Americans | Washington Examiner
Obama natl. security adviser: Thursday's terror report to 'shock' Americans | Washington Examiner
National security adviser James Jones tells USA Today that a report to be released Thursday on the Christmas Day terrorist attack will "shock" the American people:
White House national security adviser James Jones says Americans will feel "a certain shock" when they read an account being released Thursday of the missed clues that could have prevented the alleged Christmas Day bomber from ever boarding the plane.
President Obama "is legitimately and correctly alarmed that things that were available, bits of information that were available, patterns of behavior that were available, were not acted on," Jones said in an interview Wednesday with USA TODAY.
"That's two strikes," Obama's top White House aide on defense and foreign policy issues said, referring to the foiled bombing of the Detroit-bound airliner and the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, in November. In that case, too, officials failed to act when red flags were raised about an Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Hasan. He has been charged with killing 13 people.
Jones said Obama "certainly doesn't want that third strike, and neither does anybody else."
Family Security Matters » Publications » African Hot Spots in 2010
Family Security Matters » Publications » African Hot Spots in 2010: "As I have been wont to do in this column space at the beginning of each year, the following is a broad survey of the most significant conflicts or flashpoints which will require the particular attention of the United States and its African and other international partners in the coming year.
Sudan. Moving up from the No. 2 slot it occupied in last year’s list, Sudan enters the most decisive phase in its modern history this year. In the survey 12 months ago, I noted that the looming indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of Sudanese President Umar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes for his role in the conflict in Darfur “may well mark a watershed in the progressive isolation of the Khartoum regime as well as the continuing break-up of the artificial Sudanese state as rigged elections and other tensions lead to the collapse of the [Comprehensive Peace Agreement, CPA] and South Sudan then declaring its sovereign independence without waiting for the scheduled 2011 referendum foreseen by the accord.”"
Sudan. Moving up from the No. 2 slot it occupied in last year’s list, Sudan enters the most decisive phase in its modern history this year. In the survey 12 months ago, I noted that the looming indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of Sudanese President Umar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes for his role in the conflict in Darfur “may well mark a watershed in the progressive isolation of the Khartoum regime as well as the continuing break-up of the artificial Sudanese state as rigged elections and other tensions lead to the collapse of the [Comprehensive Peace Agreement, CPA] and South Sudan then declaring its sovereign independence without waiting for the scheduled 2011 referendum foreseen by the accord.”"
Family Security Matters » Publications » The Pentagon War on CVSA – An Analysis
Family Security Matters » Publications » The Pentagon War on CVSA – An Analysis: "Editor’s note: This analysis was originally written in June of 2008, but with the recent jihadist attempt at blowing up a U.S. jetliner, it’s an important issue that deserves revisiting.
Introduction
By Policy Memorandum 08-11, dated 16 June 2008, Adm. Eric T. Olson, Commanding Officer of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), has prohibited the use of Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) as a credibility assessment tool throughout his command.
The memorandum states as follows: “In accordance with DOD and USD(I) regulations and guidance outlined in references (a) through (c) (of the memorandum), the use of CVSA… is strictly prohibited under all circumstances, with no exceptions. The polygraph and the PCASS (Preliminary Credibility Assessment Screening System) are the only approved credibility assessment technologies in DOD."
Introduction
By Policy Memorandum 08-11, dated 16 June 2008, Adm. Eric T. Olson, Commanding Officer of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), has prohibited the use of Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) as a credibility assessment tool throughout his command.
The memorandum states as follows: “In accordance with DOD and USD(I) regulations and guidance outlined in references (a) through (c) (of the memorandum), the use of CVSA… is strictly prohibited under all circumstances, with no exceptions. The polygraph and the PCASS (Preliminary Credibility Assessment Screening System) are the only approved credibility assessment technologies in DOD."
Family Security Matters » Publications » Foundations of Radical Tolerance and Cultural Inertia
Family Security Matters » Publications » Foundations of Radical Tolerance and Cultural Inertia: "With a difficult year behind us there is reason for positivity. There are now serving politicians in our country who are aware of Islam and the dangers that it poses to our freedoms and national survival; and there are now candidates running for national office who understand the challenges that we face from an ideology that is fundamentally opposed to ours.
We have been successful in raising awareness about political Islam its purposes and doctrine across the country and beyond. Even more important, perhaps, is the difficulty that we experience in discussing issues like this one.
We experience resistance to our discussions about Islamic doctrine and what it means for Americans and America because the United States and the West in general is in the midst of a crisis of meaning."
We have been successful in raising awareness about political Islam its purposes and doctrine across the country and beyond. Even more important, perhaps, is the difficulty that we experience in discussing issues like this one.
We experience resistance to our discussions about Islamic doctrine and what it means for Americans and America because the United States and the West in general is in the midst of a crisis of meaning."
Family Security Matters » Publications » Exclusive: Media Bias? What Media Bias?
Family Security Matters » Publications » Exclusive: Media Bias? What Media Bias?: "As a history teacher, I must strive for objectivity. However, I know it’s not possible for a thoughtful person to study history, politics, or economics and not develop biases. Best practice would be to disclose those biases to students because it’s inevitable that I’ll teach concepts I believe in with more enthusiasm than concepts in which I don’t believe. It’s human nature. To detect this, students would need to understand the left/right political spectrum and the terminology used to describe it, so I sketched one out and taught it. Then I advised them to point out my bias when they detect it. Those exercises train them to identify and to be aware of a presenter’s political perspective when any sort of information is promulgated."
Family Security Matters » Publications » Exclusive: In Wake of Christmas Day Bomb Attempt, DHS Predicts Dismal Success Rate in Traveler Screening
Family Security Matters » Publications » Exclusive: In Wake of Christmas Day Bomb Attempt, DHS Predicts Dismal Success Rate in Traveler Screening
The idea that DHS predicts that it will only catch one in four travelers entering our country while committing criminal violations should stop all of us in our tracks.
I am a realist and I understand that in spite of law enforcement's efforts, many people manage to get away with committing crimes. However, let us stop for a moment and consider that as we hear ever so frequently from our nation's leaders, "In order to be successful, the terrorists only have to get it right once while, in order to protect our nation from terrorism, we have to get it right every time."
Family Security Matters » Publications » Exclusive: You Can’t Make This Stuff Up! (1/7/10)
Family Security Matters » Publications » Exclusive: You Can’t Make This Stuff Up! (1/7/10): "Whenever you think general incompetence by those who purport to serve by the consent of the governed can’t get any worse, think again:
“Fed Judges: Felons should get vote” (Associated Press, 1/6/10)"
“Fed Judges: Felons should get vote” (Associated Press, 1/6/10)"
The Left’s Architects of Disaster | NewsReal Blog
The Left’s Architects of Disaster | NewsReal Blog
If blame could be assigned for America’s ongoing economic collapse, Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven would deserve special recognition for their contribution to the nation’s ongoing decline.
The two Marxist university professors are “fundamentally responsible for the unsustainability and possible collapse of our economic system,” Glenn Beck said on his TV show yesterday.
Cloward and Piven are renowned in community organizing circles for devising the Cloward-Piven Strategy of orchestrated crisis, which they spelled out in “The Weight of the Poor: A Strategy to End Poverty,” published in the Nation magazine in 1966.
“Cloward and Piven instructed activists that if a crisis did not exist, promote or manufacture one by exaggerating some unthreatening predicament,” Beck said. “Global warming anyone? And to an extent, health care?”
Bill Ayers, Israel’s Latest Attacker – by P. David Hornik | FrontPage Magazine
Bill Ayers, Israel’s Latest Attacker – by P. David Hornik | FrontPage Magazine: "“What a country. It makes me want to puke.” Thus spoke Bill Ayers, the former but unrepentant Weatherman terrorist who’s now a professor of education at the University of Illinois, in 2001. The country he had in mind was the United States. It’s a safe bet that people with his degree of America-hatred don’t like Israel, either. Indeed, Ayers has now joined 431 academics in signing an anti-Israeli petition.
Not surprisingly, it accuses Israel of apartheid—the ritual accusation of the Israel-hating crowd that dreams of Israel’s Jewish-majority government being forced to dissolve the way South Africa’s white-minority government was forced to. The petition also “urge[s] our colleagues, nationally, regionally, and internationally, to stand up against Israel’s ongoing scholasticide and to support the non-violent call for academic boycott, disinvestment, and sanctions.”
Soon after signing the petition Ayers, along with his wife and fellow former terrorist Bernadine Dohrn, was in Egypt, agitating to be allowed into Gaza to express “solidarity” with the Gazans and their leadership, Hamas."
Not surprisingly, it accuses Israel of apartheid—the ritual accusation of the Israel-hating crowd that dreams of Israel’s Jewish-majority government being forced to dissolve the way South Africa’s white-minority government was forced to. The petition also “urge[s] our colleagues, nationally, regionally, and internationally, to stand up against Israel’s ongoing scholasticide and to support the non-violent call for academic boycott, disinvestment, and sanctions.”
Soon after signing the petition Ayers, along with his wife and fellow former terrorist Bernadine Dohrn, was in Egypt, agitating to be allowed into Gaza to express “solidarity” with the Gazans and their leadership, Hamas."
Open Thread: “Planned Economy or Planned Destruction | NewsReal Blog
Open Thread: “Planned Economy or Planned Destruction | NewsReal Blog
A political cartoon from 1934 has resurfaced, that proves the old adage that “The more things change, the more they stay the same”. Look at all the details, and I think you’ll see how uncanny the similarities are between then and now. It’s positively frightening!
A Marine Shares the Good News in a Letter from Afghanistan | NewsReal Blog
A Marine Shares the Good News in a Letter from Afghanistan | NewsReal Blog
Wouldn’t it be nice if the media reported ALL the news from the front, rather than just the bad news?
War is horrible of course, but even under terrible conditions, our troops have made much progress thus far, and they’re justly proud of what they’ve accomplished. As a former Marine myself, I tend to pay extra attention to news about The Corps, and have strong paternal feelings for those terrific kids serving today. The following letter from a company commander in Afghanistan was just forwarded to me by one of my fellow Vietnam vets. Marines are trained to improvise, overcome & adapt, and they’re certainly earning their pay right now. In The Corps we like to say that our job is to take bullets for civilians. I’ve never been more proud of my boys than I am right now.
Open Thread: “Planned Economy or Planned Destruction | NewsReal Blog
Open Thread: “Planned Economy or Planned Destruction | NewsReal Blog
A political cartoon from 1934 has resurfaced, that proves the old adage that “The more things change, the more they stay the same”. Look at all the details, and I think you’ll see how uncanny the similarities are between then and now. It’s positively frightening!
George Obama: An Inadvertent American | NewsReal Blog
George Obama: An Inadvertent American | NewsReal Blog
In a self-conscious missive to the American People published in Newsweek, George Obama reveals the disparity between his life in a Kenyan slum and his famous brother living in the White House.
If there was a leading light in the Obama clan, he was it; and if there was a shadowed place that no one liked to talk about, then that, I guess, was me.
Obama generously details his own post-childhood rebellion, including a life-altering stint in prison for robbery. There, enduring punishment unheard of in comparably posh U.S. correctional facilities, he determined to change…and became an American.
Not in the literal sense, of course (although given our lax immigration policies of late, it appears all that is needed is a bit of determination and, um, legs). He, along with other slum-dwellers, organized an area soccer team for youth, eventually winning the Nairobi Super League. Modestly giving credit to his brother for the media spotlight he has earned, Obama details what humans can do in spite of circumstances and without government aid. This proves that American, no, human ideals of individual worth and perseverance can achieve success often antagonistic to their surroundings.
All personal achievement aside, George Obama poignantly notes the vast expanse between he and his brother, while indirectly highlighting President Obama’s own political platform:
I still live in one of Africa’s biggest slums, along with some 4.5 million others. We have little or no access to health care, no welfare, and no free schooling. The average income is less than $5 a day—and that’s for those who find work as servants, taxi drivers, or garbage collectors. For the rest, there is nothing. My brother has risen to be the leader of the most powerful country in the world. In Kenya I hope to be a leader among the poorest, most powerless people on earth—the people of the ghetto. (emphasis mine)
Learning From Winston Churchill – by Tony Blankley | FrontPage Magazine
Learning From Winston Churchill – by Tony Blankley | FrontPage Magazine: "Over the Christmas holiday, I read a couple of books that, at least for me, may provide some guidance in the upcoming tumultuous and probably consequential year. The first book was Munich, 1938 by David Faber (grandson of former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan), by far the most authoritative book on that world-changing event.
Beyond the obvious policy point that appeasement is generally bad, the value of the book is in its dissection of how the experienced leadership class of the then-leading power — the British Empire — was able to think, talk and deceive itself to a catastrophically bad policy decision. The author reveals in minute example how domestic politics, leaks and counter leaks to major newspapers shaped — and misshaped — both vital foreign policy judgment and how the world construed and misconstrued British strategic thinking.
The author also reveals in fresh details the well-known story of how Winston Churchill, Duff Cooper and a handful of others — in and out of government — dissented from the policy."
Beyond the obvious policy point that appeasement is generally bad, the value of the book is in its dissection of how the experienced leadership class of the then-leading power — the British Empire — was able to think, talk and deceive itself to a catastrophically bad policy decision. The author reveals in minute example how domestic politics, leaks and counter leaks to major newspapers shaped — and misshaped — both vital foreign policy judgment and how the world construed and misconstrued British strategic thinking.
The author also reveals in fresh details the well-known story of how Winston Churchill, Duff Cooper and a handful of others — in and out of government — dissented from the policy."
Barack Obama: the Killing Machine | NewsReal Blog
Barack Obama: the Killing Machine | NewsReal Blog
“…once he became president…Obama became a murderer and a terrorist, because the US has a machine that spans the globe, that has the capacity to kill, and Obama has kept it set on kill. He could have flipped the switch and turned it off…but he chose not to do so. In fact, as far as one can tell, Obama seems to have killed more civilians during his first year than Bush did in his first year, and maybe even than Bush killed in his final year.”—Allan Nairn
Harsh words indeed.
Morning Bell: The System is Failing » The Foundry
Morning Bell: The System is Failing » The Foundry
This past weekend the American public learned that not only was the Obama administration briefed about the bombing technique attempted on Flight 253, not only did the United States have information that a Nigerian was being prepared for a terrorist attack by al Qaeda in Yemen, but our government also knew that an “Umar Farouk” was involved.
Following these revelations, the Obama administration again took to the Sunday shows to defend their national security record. Last week Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano tried to convince Americans that “the system worked”. She failed. This Sunday, Deputy National Security Adviser for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan did admit that the system failed on Christmas Day but still insisted: “Every other day the system has worked this year….The system is working.”
No, it is not. The complete failure of the Obama administration to connect the dots on the Flight 253 bomber was not an isolated incident. On June 2nd of this year, Adulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, upset about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, shot and killed one soldier and wounded another while they were standing outside a military recruiting center in Little Rock, Arkansas. And on November 5th, Nidal Malik Hasan, also upset about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, opened fire at Fort Hood, Texas, killing 12 people and wounding 31 others. And on December 10th, five young men, all Muslim extremists from Northern Virginia, were arrested in Pakistan at the home of a man linked to a radical jihadist group.
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