Dr. Benjamin Carson (Full Interview) Sean Hannity Saving America

◼ Ben Carson: America’s Doctor - Jeffrey Lord/American Spectator

Ambassador Chris Stevens didn’t have to die in Benghazi – The real story of what led to his death on 9/11

◼ Yesterday Sean Hannity interviewed on his radio show Jack Murphy and Brandon Webb for their new book Benghazi: The Definitive Report. - The Right Scoop

In short there were two operations going on in Benghazi, neither of which Stevens nor the CIA [Petraeus] were made aware, that made the situation on the ground in Benghazi far more dangerous than they even knew. We already know that Stevens was concerned about security, but he didn’t even know the full story.

Video at the link

In just two months, (Ted) Cruz has made his presence felt in an institution where new arrivals are usually not heard from for months, if not years

◼ Texas Senator Goes on Attack and Raises Bipartisan Hackles - New York Times

As the Senate edged toward a divisive filibuster vote on Chuck Hagel’s nomination to be defense secretary, Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, sat silent and satisfied in the corner of the chamber — his voice lost to laryngitis — as he absorbed what he had wrought in his mere seven weeks of Senate service.

Mr. Hagel, a former senator from Mr. Cruz’s own party, was about to be the victim of the first filibuster of a nominee to lead the Pentagon. The blockade was due in no small part to the very junior senator’s relentless pursuit of speeches, financial records or any other documents with Mr. Hagel’s name on them going back at least five years. Some Republicans praised the work of the brash newcomer, but others joined Democrats in saying that Mr. Cruz had gone too far....

In just two months, Mr. Cruz, 42, has made his presence felt in an institution where new arrivals are usually not heard from for months, if not years. Besides suggesting that Mr. Hagel might have received compensation from foreign enemies, he has tangled with the mayor of Chicago, challenged the Senate’s third-ranking Democrat on national television, voted against virtually everything before him — including the confirmation of John Kerry as secretary of state — and raised the hackles of colleagues from both parties.

He could not be more pleased. Washington’s new bad boy feels good.

“I made promises to the people of Texas that I would come to Washington to shake up the status quo,” he said in e-mailed answers to questions, in lieu of speaking. “That is what I intend to do, and it is what I have done in every way possible in the responsibilities that have been granted to me.”

In a body known for comity, Mr. Cruz is taking confrontational Tea Party sensibilities to new heights — or lows, depending on one’s perspective.

FACEBOOK GETS MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR TAX BREAK

◼ It hasn’t drawn much attention, but Facebook’s first annual earnings report contains an accounting gem: a multibillion-dollar tax deduction for the cost of executive stock options and share awards. - Peter Coy/Bloomberg Business Week

Even though Facebook (FB) reported $1.1 billion in pre-tax profits from U.S. operations in 2012, it will probably pay zero federal and state taxes—and even receive a federal tax refund of about $429 million—according to a Feb. 14 statement from Citizens for Tax Justice.

...You won’t find any $429 million tax refund in Facebook’s financial statements. Indeed, the company says it had a $559 million federal tax liability in 2012. But that liability isn’t an actual payment....Facebook says that it anticipates reducing its tax liability in the future by an additional $2.17 billion by using further net operating loss carry-forwards that it has banked.

Obama’s ‘Pay Hike’ Executive Order Overturned With Passage of House Bill 273

◼ One of the U.S. Congress’ rising young Republican stars, Florida Congressman Ron DeSantis, has just seen his first piece of legislation pass in the U.S. House of Representatives by a 261-154 bipartisan vote.

DeSantis’ H.R. 273 bill was supported by 43 of the President’s supposed Democrat ‘friends’ in the House of Representatives

The take away here is that the bill overturns President Obama’s executive order that implemented “an across-the-board pay hike for non-military federal employees, including Members of Congress, members of the President’s cabinet and the Vice President, Joe Biden.’ This is significant because it sends a message to President Obama that he needs to tread lightly and not continue the egregious overstepping of his powers as President.

According to DeSantis, his bill will save the American taxpayer $11 billion in new spending over the next decade.

STUNNING PICS & VIDEO: REPORTS OF MANY INJURIES FROM METEORITE STRIKE IN RUSSIA’S URAL MOUNTAINS

◼ A meteor streaked across the sky above Russia’s Ural Mountains on Friday morning, causing sharp explosions and reportedly injuring around 100 people, including many hurt by broken glass. - The Blaze

Amateur video broadcast on Russian television showed an object speeding across the sky about 9:20 a.m. local time (0320 GMT), leaving a thick white contrail and an intense flash.

◼ We’re on notice to plan for the next meteor - Rush Holt and Donna F. Edwards/Washington Post

A meteor broke apart over rural Russia on Friday morning, injuring at least 1,200 people. Hours later, an asteroid known as 2012 DA14 passed about 17,000 miles above Earth’s surface — a close shave in astronomical terms, passing nearer than many of our communications satellites. One was predicted; the other was not.

These events were unrelated, but they underscore how crucial it is that nations know, quickly, what is falling from the sky and what, if any, dangers are posed.

◼ Why Almost Everyone in Russia Has a Dash Cam - Damon Lavrinc/Wired via Instapundit

How is it possible that a dozen different motorists around the Russian city of Chelyabinsk were able to capture video of a massive meteor flying through the sky? Because almost everyone in Russia has a dash-mounted video camera in their car.

The sheer size of the country, combined with lax — and often corrupt — law enforcement, and a legal system that rarely favors first-hand accounts of traffic collisions has made dash cams all but a requirement for motorists.

◼ Bad news: The asteroid that just missed Earth is coming back. And... - Andrew Malcolm/Investors.com

...Friday's uneventful visit was not without effects. The pull of Earth's gravity altered 2012 AD 14's orbit around the Sun, shortening its annual solar rotation from 366 Earth days to 317.

Based on current information, NASA scientists calculate the orbits of each known near-earth object out for the rest of this century.

For instance, 2012 AD 14's orbit will not bring it back to our neighborhood again until 2046, when Americans will still be paying for Barack Obama's recent borrowing.

Now, about that other bad news. According to the same computer calculations, in 2080 the orbit of 2012 AD 14, if unaltered in these next 67 years by some super-natural force like Bruce Willis, will slam into Earth at almost 18,000 miles an hour.

Obama's Broken Record (SOTU 2013 Edition)

Krauthammer: The Definition Of A Liberal Is To Take Failed Program And ‘Double Down And Make It Universal’ (Video)

◼ Speaking Truth to Power– - Jim Hoft/Gateway Pundit
◼ FOX Nation has the transcript:

Krauthammer: I find this amazing. First of all, just hearing him say every first grader in America has to be prepared for a high-tech economy, that is a bit early, I think. The other part of this is here we are with $16 trillion in debt, a trillion dollars a year of deficits. We have created already, with under Obama, the biggest entitlement in 50 years. And now he wants to create a new entitlement for preschool for every 4-year-old in the country.

The worst part of this, this isn’t just any new entitlement. This is an entitlement in an area where we know the $7 billion a year that we spend on Head Start doesn’t make any difference after the third grade. There is a study that HHS has done that showed that. So it’s failure and yet he wants to double down and to make it universal. That’s probably a definition of a liberal.

Humboldt Tea Party: Meeting Location Change!!!!

Location has been changed back to the Eureka Veterans Building as the Water District meeting is expected to run into our meeting time!!!

Please let everyone know!!!!

Thank you!!!

Please come to the regular meeting on February 14th (2nd Thursday) at 6:00 pm at our NEW MEETING PLACE: The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District’s conference room at 828 – 7th St ( corner of 7th & J) in Eureka.

Debbie Provolt will be our speaker. Debbie will update us on the General Plan, Shaded Parcels, lawsuit filed by HumCPR and she will take questions.

Participate in strategizing as we regroup and reinvent ourselves. You and your ideas are critical.

In order to make a difference we need folks to stand up, be counted and participate. Working together we can make changes; it only takes 10% of the population to make a difference.

Some ideas for the future include partnering with certain other local, established organizations to focus on a few community issues, such as: Humboldt TaxPayers League regarding County Supervisors’ salaries; Howard Jarvis group regarding Proposition 13 and the Fire Fee lawsuit; HumCPR regarding shaded parcel issues and the General Plan.

The Board of Directors and Officers will meet again in six months to review progress and assess participation as it relates to sustaining viability of the club. We need the continued, vigorous involvement of longtime members, plus that of new participants to sustain the organization.

◼ Humboldt Tea Party Patriots

Ted Nugent also called Obama’s speech “predictable” and “flowery.”

◼ ...couldn’t give real reaction to SOTU because he had to ‘keep his pants on’ - Red Alert Politics

“It pains me to give you my reaction,” he told CBS while giving an interview safe enough for TV. “I just don’t believe a word the man says.”

THE DEFINITIVE FACT CHECK OF OBAMA’S STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

◼ Though Glenn Beck didn’t have the patience to watch President Barack Obama deliver his State of the Union address Tuesday night, he did get caught up enough on Wednesday to conduct a blistering fact check of the speech. - The Blaze

He went almost point-by-point and rebutted many of the proposals and statements put forth by the commander in chief.

I’ll bet when Hoyer was a kid and got caught in the cookie jar after his parents told him to stay away from it, his defense was “I don’t have a cookie eating problem, but you obviously have a major issue with jar security!”

◼ Steny Hoyer: We don’t have a spending problem — we have a ‘paying for’ problem - Michelle Malkin

MICHELLE CARUSO-CABRERA: Does the country have a spending problem sir? Does the country have a spending problem?

REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), HOUSE MINORITY WHIP: Does the country have a spending problem? The country has a paying for problem. We haven’t paid for what we bought, we haven’t paid for our tax cuts, we haven’t paid for war.

Ron Paul Reacts to State of the Union Address

DR. BEN CARSON SLAMS STATE OF THE UNION

◼ This morning on "Fox and Friends," Dr. Ben Carson critiqued President Obama's State of the Union address... - Breitbart

"You've got to realize that you're the president of everybody."

58 TRILLION DIMES

◼ Obama claims plans won’t add ‘a single dime’ to deficit - Neil Munro/Daily Caller

◼ Obama’s Amazing Bullshit Factory - The Other McCain

Barack Obama is to bullshit what Willy Wonka was to chocolate, and America has bought the golden ticket.

◼ COST OF OBAMA'S SOTU WISH LIST? MORE THAN A DIME - William Bigelow/Breitbart

In his Tuesday State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama promised, “Let me repeat--nothing I’m proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime.”
That line quickly proved to be typical political rhetoric, as he spent the rest of his speech proposing myriad "investments" and expanded federal programs. And common sense dictates that such programs, if they are to have any noticeable effect, will cost more than a dime. But how much?

A Nuts and Bolts Approach to Rebuilding the Republican Party

◼ Jim Brulte said in his candidacy speech to the San Diego Republican Central Committee that he wanted to be “a boring state party chair focused on the nuts and bolts.” He said it wasn’t a matter of new ideas, Republican ideas are fine thank you. Brulte announced he would focus on fundraising, volunteers and candidates rather than on policy and issues. - Fox&Hounds

I had a chance recently to ask Ron Nehring why Brulte singled out San Diego as an exemplar. Nehring referred me to his ◼ 2002 article, Turnaround in San Diego and the Five Point Program he championed to breath new life into a fractious central committee as the incoming chairman....

In his 2002 article Nehring elaborates, speaking of “ideological divisions paralyzing county central committees.” This is unnecessary, he says. There is no liberal way to register voters, no conservative way to raise money, no moderate way to get out the vote, he argues.
In fact, in my brief conversation with Nehring, he said that ideological infighting is most aggressive and destructive where the party organization is failing on the nuts and bolts. Nehring told me that as 2001 incoming San Diego chair he brought in great speakers (Grover Norquist, Ward Connerly, etc.), moved the monthly meeting out of a dingy office into an upscale hotel and instituted a meet and greet social hour. Ideological battles fell by the wayside and precinct work, voter registration and fundraising increased dramatically....

SOTU: Rand Paul response

◼ Tea party State of the Union 2013 rebuttal: Rand Paul response (full text, video) - Politico

Uncle Sam is downloading the contents of laptops, cellphones and digital cameras belonging to international travelers. The widespread snooping may help agents discover whether someone illegally downloaded music before boarding a long flight, but it also has chilling implications for personal privacy

◼ EDITORIAL: Obama’s license to snoop - Washington Times

In theory, grabbing someone’s digital camera or cellphone and downloading its contents is meant to catch individuals carrying child pornography or perhaps bank records providing evidence of money laundering. Homeland Security officials insist they need to be able to stop terrorists from moving “large amounts of information across the border via laptops and other electronic devices.” This is hardly plausible, considering there are plenty of easier ways to securely — and instantly — transmit the same information over the Internet without the risk of losing a physical device in transit.

Snooping bureaucrats have just given themselves a license to peep at vacation photos, pore over emails and save whatever looks interesting for future review. There’s far more reason to be concerned about misuse of such power than there is reason to think it serves a legitimate purpose.

...Homeland Security’s chief privacy officer and now the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties have given their blessing to this program. It’s a sign that these offices are serving as a rubber stamp, not the voice of reason and restraint that Congress intended.

Reform is long overdue. The Fourth Amendment couldn’t be more clear that a person’s “papers and effects” should be free from random searches, and that includes the digital version of a document. If border agents have reason to believe a particular traveler is a criminal, they should be able to convince a judge and obtain a warrant.

Since the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals feels otherwise, Congress needs to update the law so that airports are no longer treated as zones where the Constitution does not apply.

◼ The Executive Order The Press Agreed To Keep Secret For Five Hours - Andrew Kaczynski/Buzzfeed

The Executive Order The Press Agreed To Keep Secret For Five Hours

◼ Shortly before 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, the White House emailed reporters that President Obama had signed a highly anticipated Executive Order aimed at protecting cyber security. - Andrew Kaczynski/Buzzfeed

The order — setting up new programs aimed at stopping online espionage and terrorism — was already the law of the land, signed by the president. But it was also secret.
The document was "embargoed until delivery of the President's in the State of the Union address" — despite the fact it had already been signed....

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor explained in an email Administration's decision to, temporarily, conceal the new order: "We wanted to release the EO early on an embargoed basis because the subject matter is complicated and we knew you guys would have questions. It seemed more helpful for the press corps than sending it concurrent with the speech."

Vietor added "this isn't unprecedented. Take for example sanctions Executive Orders. They are signed one day, go into effect at midnight but are not released until the next day."

The new order appears, however, to have taken effect immediately; Vietor didn't respond to a follow up question about when the order took effect.

Keeping White House executive orders secret is far from unprecedented, but usually concerns actual secrets. In 2002, the Bush White House signed a controversial executive order allowing for warrantless surveillance on those suspected of terrorism. - Read more at the link

◼ Cybersecurity Executive Order Is a Mistake Every Way You Look at It - David Inserra/Heritage: The Foundry

FULL TEXT: Sen. Marco Rubio Delivers the Republican Address to the Nation

◼ February 12, 2013 WASHINGTON, DC - Following is the full text of Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-FL) Republican Address to the Nation, as prepared for delivery:

Good evening. I'm Marco Rubio. I’m blessed to represent Florida in the United States Senate. Let me begin by congratulating President Obama on the start of his second term. Tonight, I have the honor of responding to his State of the Union address on behalf of my fellow Republicans. And I am especially honored to be addressing our brave men and women serving in the armed forces and in diplomatic posts around the world. You may be thousands of miles away, but you are always in our prayers.

The State of the Union address is always a reminder of how unique America is. For much of human history, most people were trapped in stagnant societies, where a tiny minority always stayed on top, and no one else even had a chance.

But America is exceptional because we believe that every life, at every stage, is precious, and that everyone everywhere has a God-given right to go as far as their talents and hard work will take them.

Scott Walker responds to State of the Union address

◼ Gov. Scott Walker released the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union Address: - JS Online

"It's disappointing that tonight's State of the Union Address glossed over the serious fiscal problems facing our nation and failed to deliver an honest plan for real reform in America.

"In Wisconsin, we faced our challenges head on and implemented reforms that eliminated a $3.6 billion deficit and created a healthy surplus without raising taxes. We're developing our workforce, creating jobs and lowering our unemployment rate. Real reform is happening on the state level; but in order to move our country forward, President Obama can no longer ignore the overwhelming economic troubles looming over our nation. Enacting Wisconsin-like reforms will move our economy forward and put American families first."

The media is now swarming around Nugent in Statuary Hall--as senators glide past, unnoticed.

The media is now swarming around Nugent in Statuary Hall--as senators glide past, unnoticed.

— Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul: Tea Party response tonight at 10:30 ET (7:30)

Tonight, join Rand Paul as he delivers the Tea Party response to President Obama's State of the Union address. You can watch the live stream around 10:30 PM EST (7:30) at www.teapartyexpress.org◼ www.teapartyexpress.org

"Not only should the sequester stand, many pundits say the sequester really needs to be at least $4 trillion to avoid another downgrade of America's credit rating. Both parties will have to agree to cut, or we will never fix our fiscal mess"

◼ CNN's preview of the Tea Party response to SOTU. - CNN

We are LIVE at TeaPartyExpress.org and RedState.com for the #TeaParty Response with @senrandpaul! ow.ly/hF9yY #TPSOTU #RS

— Tea Party Express (@TeaPartyExpress) February 13, 2013

Sen. Rand Paul Gives the Tea Party Response to the State of the Union Address bit.ly/UcxE4V #TCOT #RS

— RedState (@RedState) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul 's not doing too badly here, himself.

— Moe Lane (@moelane) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul: "Both parties have been guilty of spending too much."

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul: Let's stop sending money to countries burning our flag

— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) February 13, 2013

Bipartisanship is not what is missing in Washington. Common sense is. Trillion-dollar deficits hurt us all. static.teapartyexpress.org #TPSOTU

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul: "The President offers you free stuff, but his policies keep you poor."

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

@senrandpaul: Big Gov't is not your friend. #SOTU

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 13, 2013

RT @jedediahbila: Rand Paul says next month he's proposing a 5-yr balanced budget.

— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) February 13, 2013

I have to admit, I'm pleased that we're getting both Paul's & Rubio's responses.

— Moe Lane (@moelane) February 13, 2013

"We want you to have a job and a pathway to success." Rand Paul

— Red Alert Politics (@RedAlert) February 13, 2013

I like @senrandpaul's response. Principles over party. That's my style.

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

Rand: "We will boldly lead on these issues"

— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul wowing right now: hitting both sides on spending, says he'll propose a 5 yr balanced budget next month.

— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) February 13, 2013

Very different delivery styles between Rand Paul and Marco Rubio. Each has value, but very different.

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul speaks out for school choice.

— Red Alert Politics (@RedAlert) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul isn't just taking on Obama. He's taking on Washington's business as usual. Works for me.

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

RT @jonward11: Rand Paul: "We cannot and will not allow any President to act as if he were a king."

— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) February 13, 2013

"We will stand up against excessive government power wherever we see it." Paul

— Red Alert Politics (@RedAlert) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul: "I've seen the inner sanctum of congress . . .there is no monopoly of knowledge there"

— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) February 13, 2013

Congress must stand as a check to the power of the executive, and it must stand as it was intended, as the voice of the people. #SOTU #tcot

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) February 13, 2013

Well done, Rand Paul.

— Tabitha Hale (@TabithaHale) February 13, 2013

Rand Paul's SOTU response was dynamite. Loved it. Good charisma, good take on the issues, criticism of both parties, memorable. @senrandpau

— John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) February 13, 2013

Good @senrandpaul line: "We want you to have something infinitely more valuable than a free phone. We want you to have a job."

— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) February 13, 2013

Rubio to Obama: 'I Oppose Your Plans Because I Want to Protect My Neighbors'

Live video by Ustream

◼ http://www.gop.gov/sotu/ WATCH HERE

You can watch Senator Rubio give the Republican response to the State of the Union online. He’ll be speaking around 10:15pm EST (7:15) ◼ http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN/

If you’re on Twitter, make sure you’re following ◼ @SenRubioPress. Our press team will be live tweeting Senator Rubio’s State of the Union response there. Make sure to share this with your friends & use ◼ #GOPResponse in your tweets tonight! ◼ #SOTU

◼ ...excerpts of the Republican response to the State of the Union Address, which will be delivered by Marco Rubio... - Daniel Halper/Weekly Standard

"This opportunity – to make it to the middle class or beyond no matter where you start out in life – it isn’t bestowed on us from Washington. It comes from a vibrant free economy where people can risk their own money to open a business. And when they succeed, they hire more people, who in turn invest or spend the money they make, helping others start a business and create jobs. Presidents in both parties – from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan – have known that our free enterprise economy is the source of our middle class prosperity. But President Obama? He believes it’s the cause of our problems."

"Mr. President, I still live in the same working class neighborhood I grew up in. My neighbors aren’t millionaires. They’re retirees who depend on Social Security and Medicare. They’re workers who have to get up early tomorrow morning and go to work to pay the bills. They’re immigrants, who came here because they were stuck in poverty in countries where the government dominated the economy. The tax increases and the deficit spending you propose will hurt middle class families. It will cost them their raises. It will cost them their benefits. It may even cost some of them their jobs. And it will hurt seniors because it does nothing to save Medicare and Social Security. So Mr. President, I don’t oppose your plans because I want to protect the rich. I oppose your plans because I want to protect my neighbors."

◼ Marco Rubio to deliver bilingual State of the Union response - Washington Post

Next up is @marcorubio a pro-life champion lifenews.com/2012/02/03/mar… #SOTU #stateoftheunion

— Steven Ertelt (@StevenErtelt) February 13, 2013

Read the text of @marcorubio's response to the #SOTU. A real vision for solving our challenges. m.speaker.gov/press-release/…

— Reince Priebus (@Reince) February 13, 2013

Rubio making it personal. Telling his story. Middle-class, hard-working story. Well done.

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

Rubio tells the story of his parents working to give their children an opportunity "to accomplish my dreams." #SOTU

— Red Alert Politics (@RedAlert) February 13, 2013

@marcorubio says America is EXCEPTIONAL. Nice to hear that again. #SOTU

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 13, 2013

Rubio "Government's role is wisely limited by the Constitution" #SOTU response

— Watchdog News (@Watchdogorg) February 13, 2013

Rubio's pushback on climate change was beautiful.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 13, 2013

Rubio seeking to give the response to "GOP only cares about the rich" attack that Romney never could do.

— The Fix (@TheFix) February 13, 2013

@marcorubio: Economic growth is the best way to help the middle class. #SOTU

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 13, 2013

Rubio to Obama: "I don't oppose your plans b/c I want to protect the rich. I oppose your plans b/c I want to protect my neighbors."

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

RT @davidmdrucker: "I hope the prez will abandon his obsession with raising taxes." @marcorubio

— Roll Call (@rollcall) February 13, 2013

Gotta say Rubio's doing better than I expected. Hard gig. Hard expectations to fulfill. Pretty effective.

— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 13, 2013

Rubio: Mr President, I don't oppose your plans because I want to protect the rich; I oppose them because I want to protect my neighbors.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 13, 2013

GOP State of the Union 2013 rebuttal: Marco Rubio response (English, Spanish full text) politi.co/15aRcdh

— POLITICO (@politico) February 13, 2013

I'm incorrigible--I'm judging Rubio not on his counterpoint to Obama but how he'll stack up in '16 GOP debates. Answer: Well.

— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) February 13, 2013

You know, this Rubio kid might have a future..

— John Nolte(@NolteNC) February 13, 2013

Marco Rubio nailed it! Obama hasn't shown the American a plan since he was elected the first time!#fail

— GOP*Girl (@GOPGirlLA) February 13, 2013

Rubio putting responsibility on family and faith.

— Red Alert Politics (@RedAlert) February 13, 2013

RT @senrubiopress: Our strength comes from the people, not the White House or Capitol #GOPResponse

— NRSC (@NRSC) February 13, 2013

Bring back Bobby Jindal!!! I kid I kid :) Rubio rocked it.

— Jason Mattera (@JasonMattera) February 13, 2013

Rubio did a terrific job with a tough gig.He even put his own spin on the SOTU drinking game by reaching for H20.Nice!

— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) February 13, 2013

This GOP response brought to you by a Tall Cool Drink of FREEDOM. Ahhhh!

— Leslie Dowd (@LADowd) February 13, 2013

2013 State of the Union address tonight at 6:00pm

◼ LIVE STREAM/CHAT - Washington Times

LIVE STREAM REMOVED

◼ FULL TEXT: The President’s State of the Union address - Washington Post

◼ WATCH LIVE: State Of The Union 2013 Live Stream - Mediaite

President Barack Obama will be center-stage before the joint session of both Houses of Congress on February 12, Tuesday night at 9 p.m. EST. All broadcast and most of cable news programs will carry it live, pre-empting other programming.

◼ Open thread: Time for another instantly forgettable Obama SOTU - HotAir
◼ STEPHEN GREEN WILL BE DRUNKBLOGGING THE STATE OF THE UNION…. - PJM via Instapundit
◼ State of the Union open thread - Michelle Malkin
◼ State Of The Union: Excerpts of President Obama’s Speech Released - The Blaze

Watch and chat live with TheBlaze starting at 8:30 p.m. EST as President Obama delivers annual State of the Union address.

◼ Alternative #SOTU - Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion
◼ Obama SOTU/Chris Dorner Manhunt Open Thread - Ace of Spades

Tonight I will be delivering the Tea Party response to the #SOTU Address. You can watch it live here at 10:30 p.m. ET: teapartyexpress.org

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) February 12, 2013

Anonymous hackers plan to sabotage online broadcasts of Obama's #SOTU address tonight nyp.st/YaBycy

— New York Post (@nypost) February 12, 2013

◼ Anonymous Wants to Ruin Your State of the Union Livestream - The Atlantic
◼ Anonymous CALL TO IMMEDIATE ACTION! #opSOTU - anonrelations

He's especially good at being on time with budgets too RT @davidmdrucker: Almost 9:15 and the #SOTU hasn't started yet.

— NRSC (@NRSC) February 13, 2013

The real "State of the Union" --> Price of Gallon of Gas Up 96% Under Obama #SOTU #RunningOnEmpty ow.ly/hF0Kd

— CNSNews.com (@cnsnews) February 13, 2013

Obama added $518 billion in new regulatory costs to America’s job creators since taking office is.gd/jNIvE7 #sotUGottaBKiddingMe

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) February 13, 2013

This is going to be a long night if dems applaud every stupid,inane, and dishonest thing Obama says. #SOTU

— Nice Deb (@NiceDeb) February 13, 2013

The Executive Order The Press Agreed To Keep Secret For Five Hours buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynsk…

— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) February 13, 2013

Shortly before 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, the White House emailed reporters that President Obama had signed a highly anticipated Executive Order aimed at protecting cyber security.
The order — setting up new programs aimed at stopping online espionage and terrorism — was already the law of the land, signed by the president. But it was also secret.
The document was "embargoed until delivery of the President's in the State of the Union address" — despite the fact it had already been signed.

Chronic unemplyment hasn't been this bad since WWII #SOTU

— John Nolte(@NolteNC) February 13, 2013

"These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts..." That you insisted on, Mr. President.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 13, 2013

Obama calls sequester a "really bad idea".

— The Fix (@TheFix) February 13, 2013

Keep in mind that the sequester was Obama’s baby. He signed it into law. Now he thinks it’s economic Armageddon. #sotUGottaBKiddingMe

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) February 13, 2013

As he explains the sequester, you can almost hear millions turning to "Reef Wranglers" on the Weather Channel.

— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 13, 2013

So the choice is between "sudden, harsh cuts" in Medicare, or letting Democrats fly it into the ground in a fireball?

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 13, 2013

.@senatorwicker had it right when he asked CBO Dir if POTUS provided plan to avoid sequester & CBO said no. Where's your plan Mr. Pres?

— Karl Rove (@KarlRove) February 13, 2013

So far the #SOTU is a dud.Democrats don't even believe this crap anymore.

— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) February 13, 2013

$150 Billion in Spending Cuts to Offset Defense Sequestration heritage.org/research/repor… #sotu

— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) February 13, 2013

What we're learning from @gop digital warroom - Americans don't like Obama's divisive class warfare rhetoric #SOTU twitter.com/GOP/status/301…

— RNC (@GOP) February 13, 2013

Obama has zero credibility on getting rid of special-interest tax credits: washingtonexaminer.com/article/2521022

— Timothy P Carney (@TPCarney) February 13, 2013

Obama wants to do away with "brinksmanship." That's the defining characteristic of his presidency. Debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, sequester

— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) February 13, 2013

President Double Credit Downgrade is talking about the nation's credit rating that he destroyed, blaming others. #SOTU

— Bob Owens (@bob_owens) February 13, 2013

We’ve gone 1,385 days without a budget from the U.S. Senate. Could your #smallbiz survive that long without a budget? #SOTU

— NFIB (@NFIB) February 13, 2013

.@timphillipsafp says: Same old class warfare attack launched in first five minutes of State of the Union. Sadly, so predictable. #SOTU

— AFP (@AFPhq) February 13, 2013

RT @emzanotti: Yes. RT @parkerbriden: Did president obama just call the debt ceiling a manufactured crisis? #sotu

— Jeff Dunetz (@yidwithlid) February 13, 2013

Obama: Fact is the hottest 12 years came in the last 15.Fact.Fact: Global warming stopped 16 yrs ago dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ar…

— Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) February 13, 2013

FACT: New offshore leases for oil and natural gas drilling have declined 61% under Obama. #noenergy #sotUGottaBKiddingMe

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) February 13, 2013

"Basically, I'm being nice by letting congress do their little 'legislating' thing.Ultimately, I'll do whatever the hell I want." - Obama

— Ben Howe (@BenHowe) February 13, 2013

He actually just told everyone to go to hell, he was going to issue executive orders no matter what anyone else wanted. #sotu

— Tabitha Hale (@TabithaHale) February 13, 2013

.@barackobama's policies have not helped #smallbiz create #jobs. Instead we have more #regs, #taxes & #healthcare costs. #SOTU

— NFIB (@NFIB) February 13, 2013

#SOTU FACT CHECK: Obama's Energy Hypocrisy ow.ly/hFgVu

— NRCC (@NRCC) February 13, 2013

.@barackobama: Tonight, I propose working with states to make high-quality preschool available to every child in America. #sotu

— Roll Call (@rollcall) February 13, 2013

Loans for everyone! You'll go into debt, America goes into debt, and nothing costs anyone a dime.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 13, 2013

Yes, the man who promised to lower your health insurance premiums by $2,500, wants to lower YOUR mortgage payment by $3,000. Why not.

— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) February 13, 2013

Who needs moms and dads? Let's turn our kids over to Obama at birth. #sotu

— Rob Bluey (@RobertBluey) February 13, 2013

Short version of this speech: Government can fix all of your problems. And "the rich" will pay for it.

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

"You aren't smart enough to take care of yourself. Let me spend trillions to impose what I think is right on you, or else." #SOTU

— Bob Owens (@bob_owens) February 13, 2013

This isn't a speech so much as a laundry list of expensive, paternalistic crap that sounds like it was dreamed up by a Belgian bureaucrat.

— John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) February 13, 2013

Why is the freakin' federal government redesigning schools? Isn't that the job of the local school board? #SOTU

— John Nolte(@NolteNC) February 13, 2013

What Are Those Green Ribbons People Were Wearing During the State of the Union Speech? theblaze.com/stories/2013/0… by @lizklimas #sotu

— TheBlaze (@theblaze) February 13, 2013

"Paycheck fairness act?" That's where Obama starts paying his female employees as much as men, right?

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 13, 2013

Status update: We are at the top of page 8 out of 13 #SOTU

— Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) February 13, 2013

Looks like it's time to reprint every article from The Public Interest in the 1970s that demonstrated most of these ideas were bad.

— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) February 13, 2013

Sweet quetzalcoatl he's said this same crap the last 4 SOTUs#sotu #SOTFU

— El SOOPer!! (@SooperMexican) February 13, 2013

I hope the president will follow through on his election mandate to keep tampons legal.

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) February 13, 2013

This is a cliche-riddled uninspired speech that will be declared brilliant and amazing by most of the media, if past is prologue.

— kirsten powers (@kirstenpowers10) February 13, 2013

My 98-yr-old grandma on the phone: "Wow, this guy really hates rich people, ha?" LOL.

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

Susan Rice is there but waiting to get the other version of the #SOTU w/all the bad stuff edited out.

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) February 13, 2013

The annual cost per household from federal regulations is over $15,000. #sotUGottaBKiddingMe

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) February 13, 2013

WOW! this is like FOURTH time Obama has defeated Al-Qaeda!!! Will they stop killing ambassadors after the fifth? sixth?#sotu #SOTFU

— El SOOPer!! (@SooperMexican) February 13, 2013

None of the SCOTUS clapped when he said "Executive order". #SOTU #SeparationOfPowers

— Elizabeth Emken (@ElizabethEmken) February 13, 2013

.@barackobama: America must remain a beacon to all who seek freedom during this period of historic change #sotu

— Roll Call (@rollcall) February 13, 2013

Hey, wasn't Anonymous going to hack this speech, or something?

— Moe Lane (@moelane) February 13, 2013

Still waiting to see if he works in blame on a YouTube video.

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

Maybe @barackobama should talk to Sen. Menendez about child working conditions in other countries #SOTU

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) February 13, 2013

.@barackobama: As long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, we will do whatever we must to protect those who serve their country abroad #sotu

— Roll Call (@rollcall) February 13, 2013

This State of the Union is meh. Perhaps that's because the state of the union is meh, and Obama knows it.

— James Poulos (@jamespoulos) February 13, 2013

Will the Paycheck Fairness Act compel vacationing Democrat senators to pay full wages to their sex workers?

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) February 13, 2013

.@barackobama: We must all do our part to make sure our God-given rights are protected here at home. #sotu

— Roll Call (@rollcall) February 13, 2013

Shorter Obama: "Flurp, blurr, Spend! Gurble, garp, Me! Revenue, expand Me! Churble Gorp, yeah, heh, You! But Me First, curkle glurb..."

— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) February 13, 2013

Obama talking about voter's rights. So I can only assume he'll bring up Black Panther Party voter intimidation.

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

For first time, Wall Street unscathed in Obama State of the Union address j.mp/X0JD46 by #SOTU

— The Hill (@thehill) February 13, 2013

Obama is hitting all the "guns are bad" talking points and scary words. #SOTU

— Red Alert Politics (@RedAlert) February 13, 2013

Good that Obama insists on voteson "assault weapon" and "high capacity" magazines. We will know who stands with 2nd amendment.

— Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) February 13, 2013

And now the plea for more gun control. Cause, you know, criminals obey laws.

— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 13, 2013

Just fyi @barackobama 1000 kids a day are killed with abortion, where is their "chance at life" #SOTU

— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) February 13, 2013

It is heart breaking to look at Hadiya's parents

— Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) February 13, 2013

VIDEO: Obama: We will do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon bit.ly/UcrMbQ

— Wash. Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) February 13, 2013

RT @jeff_poor: Based on the FNC graphic respondents not particularly impressed by the #SOTU address twitpic.com/c37zn7

— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) February 13, 2013

Looking forward to Marco Rubio response, hard to believe President Obamas news ideas will not add a single dime, a single dime!

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) February 13, 2013

RT @conservativelez: Obama: These proposals against your Second Amendment rights deserve a vote! Unlike the budget.

— Jeff Dunetz (@yidwithlid) February 13, 2013

Fact Check: State of the Union 2013 shar.es/YjvDx via @breitbartnews

— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) February 13, 2013

After slogging through this speech, I just want to hear a cry for freedom - Can Rubio and Paul deliver?

— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) February 13, 2013

INFOGRAPHIC: During the 59 minutes that Obama spoke, the national debt went up $123.5 million ow.ly/hFiZa#SOTU

— NRCC (@NRCC) February 13, 2013

Obama's SOTU was more recycled rhetoric. He wants to make the fed govt more intrusive, bankrupt, and controlling. #sotUGottaBKiddingMe

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) February 13, 2013

Obama's 59 minutes of denial ow.ly/hFlBz #SOTU

— NRCC (@NRCC) February 13, 2013

Obama will call economy 'unfinished task'... Took 57 Vacation Days Since Vowing He 'Will Not Rest'...

◼ Obama will call restoring the economy 'unfinished task' in speech - LA Times

“It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country, the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, what you look like or who you love,” Obama will say Tuesday night, according to excerpts of his speech released by the White House. “It is our unfinished task to make sure that this government works on behalf of the many, and not just the few.”

Obama will say that “it’s not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth.”

◼ It's time for the State of the Union address, which means the president is pivoting back to jobs once more. It's an annual game where President Obama pretends to be focused on employment and many in the media pretend to believe him. - Dan Gainor/CNS

Back in 2009, the president promised never to "rest" until the job situation was fixed. Nearly four years later, he's done a lot of resting.

According to The Weekly Standard, Pres. Obama has had 83 vacation days overall and Factcheck.org says he took 26 of those in 2009. That means the president has taken at least 57 vacation days since his vow not to "rest."

◼ STATE OF THE UNION: 11,629 MORE GO ON FOOD STAMPS EACH DAY... - Elizabeth Harrington/CNS

◼ Boehner: How much further is Obama going to run us into the sewer? - Charlie Spiering/Washington Examiner @charlesspiering

Boehner signaled he was not interested in additional calls for government spending to boost the economy, suggesting that it would only make the economic problems in America worse.

“If government spending were the tonic for all our ills, this would have been solved a long time ago,” he said reminding the press that Obama added five trillion dollars in new debt over the last four years.

“How much further is he going to run us into the sewer?” Boehner asked.

Obamaphones: $2.2 billion in 2012 alone

◼ WSJ: Millions fraudulently claimed eligibility for federal phone subsidies - Erika Johnsen/HotAir

◼ Millions Improperly Claimed U.S. Phone Subsidies - spencer.ante@wsj.com

◼ STATE OF THE UNION: 11,629 MORE GO ON FOOD STAMPS EACH DAY... - Elizabeth Harrington/CNS

Since taking office in 2009, food stamp rolls under President Barack Obama have risen to more than 47 million people in America, exceeding the population of Spain.

“Now is the time to act boldly and wisely – to not only revive this economy, but to build a new foundation for lasting prosperity,” said Obama during his first joint session address to Congress on Feb. 24, 2009....

Fort Hood Hero Who Sat With Michelle O at Speech Says President 'Betrayed' Her...

◼ link - Ned Berkowitz/ABC

Three years after the White House arranged a hero's welcome at the State of the Union address for the Fort Hood police sergeant and her partner who stopped the deadly shooting there, Kimberly Munley says President Obama broke the promise he made to her that the victims would be well taken care of.

"Betrayed is a good word," former Sgt. Munley told ABC News in a tearful interview to be broadcast tonight on "World News with Diane Sawyer" and "Nightline."

"Not to the least little bit have the victims been taken care of," she said. "In fact they've been neglected."

USED FOR POLITICAL ADVANTAGE...

5 Things to Expect at the State of the Union Address

◼ The Nuge is dropping in for Obama's big night as POTUS waxes on job creation like Kevin Kline in Dave - Bridget Johnson/PJM

If his clear frustration over having his immigration speech undercut by senators’ announcement of a bipartisan framework is any indication, he’s hellbent to claim the mantle on what he sees as legacy issues. And if the emerging makeup of his second-term cabinet is as clear of an indicator, he’s drawing a tight circle of loyalists even closer as he plunges ahead with his domestic and foreign policy agenda.

So what can be expected as Obama stands in the chamber before both houses of Congress Tuesday night?

Ready, aim, gun control: Obama’s party says that they’ve invited victims of gun violence to highlight their own legislative aims, but members who are allocating their one guest ticket in this way are filling a chamber full of people Obama can reference and point to during his address as he advocates for stricter gun laws. Dems are even splitting their tickets to fill the seats with gun victims. Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Calif.) is bringing Christopher McDonnell, the father of 7-year-old Newtown victim Grace McDonnell, while Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) is bringing McDonnell’s wife, Lynn. “His presence at the president’s address this Tuesday will also serve as a powerful reminder that victims of gun violence are not just those who perish, but those who suffer from losing a loved one,” Negrete McLeod said.

Connecticut’s senators are expanding the guest list with Richard Blumenthal (D) bringing Newtown Chief Executive Officer Pat Llodra — a Republican, Blumenthal’s office stresses — and Chris Murphy (D) is bringing Newtown Detectives Jason Frank and Dan McAnaspie.

Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas), the shock-jock of the freshman class who has already called for Obama’s impeachment, has invited Ted Nugent as his guest. “I am excited to have a patriot like Ted Nugent joining me in the House Chamber to hear from President Obama,” said Stockman. “After the address I’m sure Ted will have plenty to say.” Meanwhile, Stockman will be live-tweeting the address with the hashtag #youlie — surely he should pay some royalties to Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who earned a formal rebuke from his House colleagues in 2009 after yelling “You lie!” to Obama during a joint session of Congress.

Half the story on sequestration...First-term revisionism...Prom dates...Fight-picking... Read more at the link.

◼ ‘Centrist’ Meme Abandoned, Lapdog Media Encouraging Obama to Head to the Left for SOTU - Stephen Kruiser/PJM

“We love you-don’t disappoint us!”

◼ Ooh, that *scary* Barack Obama’s gonna go after the GOP tonight! - Moe Lane

Now, this is rich:

Here’s what we know about President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night: It will include some news — as in new challenges aimed at Congress — and enough rhetoric about economic growth and job creation to sound familiar to most Americans who worry about continued 8 percent unemployment.

The president’s speech, described by White House officials as an expansion of January’s inauguration theme of “opportunity for all,” will kick off a week of campaign-style Obama travel designed to pressure GOP lawmakers to bend to the wishes of [WHAT THE DEMOCRATS CLAIM IS] a majority of Americans — or risk their election-year wrath.

Yeah, I had to fix that article a bit: I’m a little surprised, though. Usually Real Clear Politics is admirably even-handed about these sorts of things. Maybe the author is new?

◼ Obama Speech Will "Throw Down the Gauntlet" to Congress - Alexis Simendinger/Real Clear Politics

Context for #SOTU if Obama mentions debt/spending: The top 2 House Democrats in the last 48 hrs both say US doesn't have a spending problem.

— NRCC (@NRCC) February 12, 2013

Stephanopoulos Spins: Obama's 'Words' Will Be About Jobs, But 'Emotion' Will Be on Gun Control ow.ly/2uPGi1

— NewsBusters (@newsbusters) February 12, 2013

Does the White House really want to open up a national conversation about the state of Chicago? Ok, let’s talk.

◼ Who failed Chicago? - Michelle Malkin

On Tuesday, President Obama and the First Lady used the State of the Union spotlight to pay tribute to an innocent teenage girl shot and killed by Chicago gang thugs. On Friday, Obama will travel to the Windy City to decry violence and crusade for more gun laws in the town with the strictest gun laws and bloodiest gun-related death tolls in America.

Does the White House really want to open up a national conversation about the state of Chicago? Ok, let’s talk.

Obama, his wife, his campaign strategists, his closest cronies, and his biggest bundlers all hail from Chicago. Senior adviser and former Chicago real estate mogul/city planning commissioner Valerie Jarrett and her old boss, Richard Daley, presided over a massive “Plan for Transformation” in the mid-1990s to rescue taxpayer-subsidized public housing from its bloody hellhole. How’d that work out for you, Chicago?

Answer: This social justice experiment failed miserably. A Chicago Tribune investigation found that after Daley/Jarrett dumped nearly $500 million of federal funding into crime-ridden housing projects,
the housing complexes (including the infamous Altgeld-Murray homes) remained dangerous, drug-infested, racially segregated ghettos. Altgeld is a long-troubled public housing complex on Chicago’s South
Side where youth violence has proven immune to “community organizing” solutions and the grand redevelopment schemes championed by Obama and company.

In fact, as I’ve reported previously, it’s the same nightmarish ‘hood where Obama cut his teeth as a community activist – and exaggerated his role in cleaning up asbestos in the neighborhood, according to fellow progressive foot soldiers. As always, Obama’s claims to success there were far more aspirational than concrete.... MORE at the link.

George Washington's Birthday

Although George Washington's birthday is celebrated on February 22, it is observed as a federal holiday on the third Monday of February. To complicate matters, Washington was actually born on February 11 in 1731!

How can that be? During Washington's lifetime, people in Great Britain and America switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar (something most of Europe had done in 1582). As a result of this calendar reform, people born before 1752 were told to add 11 days to their birth dates. Those born between January 1 and March 25, as Washington was, also had to add one year to be in sync with the new calendar. By the time Washington became president in 1789, he celebrated his birthday on February 22 and listed his year of birth as 1732.

Upon entering office, Washington was not convinced that he was the right man for the job. He wrote, "My movements to the chair of government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit, who is going to the place of his execution." Fortunately for the young country, he was wrong. You can read more about Washington at the official White House Web site.

In the last five years Texas has gained 400,000 new jobs while California has lost 640,000

◼ Texas Trumps Governor Moonbeam - Governor Perry goes on a recruiting tour in California. - John Fund/National Review Online

Texas governor Rick Perry knows how to start a rumble. Last week, he spent a mere $24,000 on radio ads in California, urging firms there to move to Texas, with its “zero state income tax, low overall tax burden, sensible regulations, and fair legal system.” The ad goaded Governor Jerry Brown into telling reporters that Perry’s effort wasn’t news. “It’s not a burp,” he sneered. “It’s barely a fart.”

But his insult generated dozens of stories about the differences between Texas and California, playing into Perry’s hands. He begins a four-day barnstorming tour of California today, touting Texas’s virtues to business owners....

Joseph Vranich, a California business-relocation expert, agrees that California has a systemic job-creation problem and says it needs to worry about more than just Texas. He says that 15 states are sending delegations to California and seeking to convince firms to relocate or, if they stay in California, to expand their operations out of state. Wealthy individuals such as golfer Phil Mickelson are openly talking about following Tiger Woods and moving to low-tax states such as Florida. EBay, Facebook, and Visa, among others, have recently made major expansions in Texas. “That kind of talk will only intensify now that top earners in California face a 13.3 percent income-tax hit on earnings over $1 million,” says Jon Fleischman, editor of the political blog FlashReport.com. “That’s not only the highest rate in the U.S. It’s the highest rate any state has had since World War II.”

DR. BEN CARSON FIRES BACK AT CRITICS: ‘SOMEBODY HAS TO BE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO STAND UP TO THE BULLIES’

◼ Dr. Benjamin Carson won over conservatives when he railed against many of the big government policies endorsed by President Barack Obama during the National Prayer Breakfast last week, at which the president was in attendance. - Jason Howerton/The Blaze

However, the newly discovered conservative hero is also getting his first taste of criticism from the left who say his speech was inappropriate and even offensive. On Monday, he appeared on Fox News’ “Your World” with Neil Cavuto to respond to his critics.

“What we need to do is we need to be able to discuss intelligent ways of solving the multitude of problems that threatens to destroy our nation. And there are a group of people who would like to silence everybody and have everybody go along to get along, but that’s not going to be very helpful for us in the long run,” Carson said.

“Somebody has to be courageous enough to stand up to the bullies,” he added.

When asked why he took it upon himself to go “beyond medical policy” and address issues like tax policy, Carson went back to the Declaration of Independence to make his point.

“One of the things I also said during the speech, there will be some people who will say, but you’re a doctor and you’re a surgeon. You should be sticking to that,” Carson explained. “And I mentioned the fact that five physicians signed the Declaration of Independence and were involved in the framing of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and several other things.”

He continued: “There’s absolutely no reason at all that physicians, scientists, shouldn’t be involved in things that affect all of us. We’re people who’ve learned how to make decisions based on facts, empirical data, rather than on ideology. And one of the geniuses — one of the real things that made us a great nation — is that we brought people from all backgrounds into the legislative process.”

◼ Bob Beckel v. Benjamin Carson - Jonah Goldberg/National Review Online

◼ What the GOP Can Learn from Dr. Benjamin Carson - Political Outcast