Annette De Modena officially announces candidacy for 1st District Supervisor

◼ Eureka resident and retired school teacher Annette De Modena made her official bid for the 1st District supervisorial seat Thursday and said she's ready to immerse herself in all the issues facing Humboldt County - Megan Hansen/Times-Standard

De Modena currently serves as a member of the Sequoia Zoo Foundation board, the League of Women Voters, Humboldt Sponsors, Humboldt Arts Docents and the KEET fundraising committee. She served on the grand jury for 2010-2011. Before retiring, she taught for 28 years, 24 of which were at Catherine L. Zane Junior High. She served as the language arts department chair and student government advisor, and she received a Humboldt Excellence in Teaching Award in 2010.

...She's running against community leader Rex Bohn, who announced his candidacy in June. Current 1st District Supervisor Jimmy Smith has decided not to run in the 2012 election.
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annette4supervisor.com

GOP outsider Ron Paul gaining traction in Iowa

◼ Texas Rep. Ron Paul is emerging as a significant factor in the Republican presidential race, especially in Iowa. - AP

He's been long dismissed by the GOP establishment, but the libertarian-leaning candidate is now turning heads beyond his hard-core followers - and rising in some polls - just weeks before the state holds the leadoff presidential caucuses...

NBA Stars to Play in Obama Campaign Fundraiser

◼ Tickets range from $100 to $5,000 for courtside seats. The money will go to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising account by the Democratic Party and Obama's re-election campaign. - FOX

Obama's campaign says Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics, Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul and Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and many others will play in the "Obama Classic Basketball Game" on Dec. 12 in Washington.

Global Warming Activist Dr. James Hansen’s growing financial scandal, now over a million dollars of outside income

◼ A Summary of James E. Hansen’s NASA Ethics File - Watts Up With That?

NASA records released to resolve litigation filed by the American Tradition Institute reveal that astronomer and global warming activist Dr. James E. Hansen, an astronomer, received approximately $1.6 million in outside, direct cash income in the past five years for work related to — and, according to his benefactors, often expressly for — his public service as a global warming activist within NASA. This does not include six-figure income over that period in travel expenses to fly around the world to receive money from outside interests.

The AGREE Act

◼ Rubio-Coons AGREE Act: Obama’s nightmare? - HotAir

This is a clever little trap that Rubio has laid for Reid. If it proceeds, it’s likely to pass. The challenge then passes to the House, which Coons probably hopes will offer some resistance in order to perpetuate the do-nothing meme. However, the AGREE Act is palatable enough that the House GOP should have no problem with it — and Boehner would jump at the chance to wave the bill as evidence that the House will work with the Senate on incremental reforms when possible.

If it passes the Senate and the House, then it will land on Obama’s desk with a thud. Would he find a reason to veto it? He might want to try; its passage would highlight the opportunity for engagement that Obama eschewed for his new class-warfare schtick and insistence on Congress swallowing Porkulus II: Economic Boogaloo in its entirety. But it would be very difficult for Obama to explain a veto on a jobs bill that passed the Senate, and a veto would make him look even more extreme when it stops widely-supported reforms from becoming law.

The AGREE Act throws a wrench into Team Obama’s machinations. I’d expect to see Harry Reid find ways to slow or stop it as quietly as possible — so it’s worth keeping our eyes on it.

Obama's campaign this week started "Women for Obama," an initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama that is enlisting female voters to serve as campaign surrogates

◼ Michelle rallies female voters behind her husband - Hayley Peterson/Washington Examiner

Obama badly needs female voters to turn out at the polls next year. He handily won them over in 2008, when 56 percent of women favored Obama compared with the 43 percent who backed Republican nominee Sen. John McCain. By contrast, men were nearly evenly divided between Obama and McCain.

But Obama's support among women has since fallen to 45 percent, and his support among men has slipped to 40 percent, according to the latest Gallup Poll.

California higher education commission shuts down

◼ A longtime state agency, felled by the budget ax, closes its doors today. - Sacramento Bee

The California Postsecondary Education Commission got zeroed out in June by Gov. Jerry Brown, whose veto message called the agency "ineffective" and requested the state's three higher education systems to explore other ways of coordinating and developing higher education policy.

...The commission's database has been transferred to the California Community Colleges' chancellor's office. The commission's website, www.cpec.ca.gov, is still online for now. Reports and other materials have been farmed out to the State Archives and the California State Library, and the state Department of Education will now administer a federally funded grants program.

Profiles in Conservatism with Tabitha Hale

◼ Twitter Workshop with Tabitha Hale (52:21 minutes)

Crowded field in California's 2nd Congressional District; eight candidates vying to replace Mike Thompson as North Coast rep

◼ With more than six months until voters take to the polls, a total of eight candidates have announced their intent to run for a seat representing the North Coast in Congress in the newly created 2nd Congressional District. - Times-Standard

The California Citizens Redistricting Commission shook things up earlier this year when it redrew the North Coast district to exclude incumbent Congressman Mike Thompson's hometown of St. Helena. Thompson, who has represented the North Coast in Congress since 1999, has announced his intention to run in the state's new 5th Congressional District, leaving the coastal race wide open.

With the official filing period for candidates not opening until February, the field is likely to change in the coming months, but already a diverse array of candidates have thrown their hats into the ring in the run up to the June 5 primary election. In sharp contrast to the partisan primaries of the state's past, next year will see an open primary under which the top two vote-getters -- regardless of party -- move on to compete in the November general election.
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...The race's only Republican, Dan Roberts is hoping to bring a little fiscal sanity and know-how to Washington.

”Today, economic recovery and job creation are imperatives,” Roberts said on his website. “The private sector and especially small businesses create real jobs. Government spending does not provide jobs but rather is characterized as a series of transfer payments from one person to another.”

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, Roberts received a master's degree in business administration from Loyola University and is the founder and chief executive officer of Roberts and Ryan Investments Inc. in San Francisco, which he started in 1987. A member of the Newt Gingrich/American Solutions group, Roberts has worked for more than four years as an advisor to Congress and said he hopes to bring problem-solving abilities to Congress.

With serious issues facing the country, Roberts said his primary campaign focus is on war and peace, taxation and spending, and protecting the border.

For more information on Roberts and his policy positions,
visit his website at ◼ http://danrobertsforcongress.com/

(W) 415-956-2000 (H) 415-383-2235 (f) 415-296-8873
Email: droberts@robertsryan.net

15 Trillion And Counting

◼ The United States government officially passed the $15 trillion debt milestone on Tuesday. The Republican National Committee produced a little video to commemorate the occasion, and remind us of the bygone days when Barack Obama stridently declared $9 trillion in debt was too much, and he’d cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term - John Hayward at Human Events

...Okay, so we’ve got the federal ouroboros chewing on its own tail, with a swollen belly full of madly churning printing presses, ready to explode in a shower of devalued dollars. But at least Obama’s madcap spending spree helped stimulate the economy, right?

Nope. Not only did we get nothing for the trillions in debt Obama has piled on, his “stimulus” ideas were worse than useless. It will have a net negative effect on GDP over the next ten years....

Fifteen trillion in debt and counting. You won’t like what happens when we hit twenty. We’ll probably get there by the end of Barack Obama’s second term.

This call for real reform must transcend political parties. The grass-roots movements of the right and the left should embrace this. The tea party's mission has always been opposition to waste and crony capitalism, and the Occupy protesters must realize that Washington politicians have been "Occupying Wall Street" long before anyone pitched a tent in Zuccotti Park.

◼ How Congress Occupied Wall Street - Sarah Palin/Wall St. Journal

Politicians who arrive in Washington as men and women of modest means leave as millionaires. Why?

◼ REPORT: Pelosi's credit card bonanza - The Daily Beast
◼ PELOSI: "I'M NOT CORRUPT" - CNN
◼ Abramoff: Congress Members Took Part in Insider Trading - CNBC

"These people should not be using whatever information they gain as public servants to benefit themselves, any more than they should be taking bribes," he said.

...Abramoff has been making the rounds, speaking with the media this week, to promote his new book, "Capitol Punishment: The Hard Truth About Washington Corruption From America's Most Notorious Lobbyist," which went on sale Monday.

◼ Sheldon Whitehouse, luckiest investor in America? - Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island also made a flurry of trades in the days after the Paulson-Bernanke meeting with legislators.

At minimum, Whitehouse sold $250,000 in the stocks below between September 18-24, 2008. He may have sold as much as $600,000 in the stock below according to disclosures.

Morning Examiner: The Occupiers won yesterday

◼ The Occupiers won yesterday - Conn Carroll/Washington Examiner

Did you know that Congress narrowly avoided another government shutdown yesterday by passing another temporary spending bill that will keep the government running through December 16th? If you are like most Americans, probably not. Yesterday, cable news networks were all covering the Occupy Wall Street two-month anniversary, which the movement decided to celebrate by terrorizing school children and making it harder for working Americans to get to their jobs.

These were all news worthy events, but coming in the same week that our nation passed the $15 trillion debt mark, the focus should have been on Congress and how it continues to misspend our money.

◼ "The protesters are calling for a massive event aimed at disrupting major parts of the city," Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson said. "We will be prepared for that."

It (was) not clear how many demonstrators would actually attend. Previous protests in New York have consisted of several hundred people. - AP

◼ On Wall Street, unoccupied with nowhere to go - Byron York/Washington Examiner

Occupy Wall Street organizers are trying to keep their movement alive even though they're not actually occupying anything at the moment. A march on Thursday resulted in lots of street action and plenty of arrests, but earlier, confusion reigned after New York police swept into Zuccotti Park, clearing it of the protesters' tents, tarps, and personal belongings. The demonstrators believed their rights had been terribly violated, but in what way, precisely? Had Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the NYPD infringed upon a previously unrecognized constitutional right to camp in the park?

Obama's healthcare law will leave millions of families without affordable coverage unless tax officials rewrite the rules on who gets subsidies

◼ Oopsie! IRS reports Obamacare will force millions to go without health insurance - Doug Ross
◼ IRS warned healthcare law could leave millions without insurance - The Hill

A dozen consumer advocacy groups urged the Internal Revenue Service to allow workers' spouses and dependents to qualify for tax credits if employer-sponsored family plans are unaffordable. The Treasury Department in August released proposed regulations that grant subsidies to workers and their families in cases when employer coverage costs too much for the employee only, but not when family coverage is out of reach.

The issue risks blowing up in Democrats' face in 2014, when the subsidies for coverage in state-based insurance exchanges become available. House Republicans have already used the glitch, which The Hill first reported in July, as ammunition to hammer the law for allegedly discriminating against marriage.

...IRS officials listened silently for two and a half hours and asked no questions. The Treasury Department has said its hands are tied because of the way the law was written.

SHOCK POLL IOWA: GINGRICH 32% ROMNEY 19% CAIN 13%

◼ Rasmussen’s latest poll in Iowa gives Newt Gingrich a big claim to legitimacy in the Republican nomination fight, but it also is pretty good news for Mitt Romney as well. Among likely caucus-goers, Gingrich now leads Romney 32/19, with Herman Cain dropping more than half of his previous support. - HotAir

Occupy San Diego Loons Hold Moment of Silence for White House Shooter (Video)

◼ On Wednesday, Occupy San Diego loons held a moment of silence “for the guy who shot at the White House” during their protest outside of the San Diego Police Department. - Gateway Pundit

Forget about retiring at age 55. Or 65. Or perhaps even 75.

◼ Many Americans say they will have to work until they're 80 - LA Times

One-quarter of middle-class Americans fear they will have to work until they're at least 80 years old to afford a comfortable retirement (if "retirement" is even the right word, given that many of these people may never actually retire).

That conclusion, in a survey released Wednesday by Wells Fargo & Co., found that nearly three-quarters of Americans expect to continue working into what long has been retirement age. A little more than half of those said they'll need to work to pay their bills, while the rest said they want to keep working.

"There is definitely going to be another financial crisis around the corner," says hedge fund legend Mark Mobius, "because we haven't solved any of the things that caused the previous crisis."

◼ The next financial crisis will be hellish, and it’s on its way - Addison Wiggin/Forbes

"Prior to the bursting of the credit bubble, the public was shocked to learn that our biggest investment banks were levered 30-to-1. When asset values fell, those banks were quickly wiped out. But now the Fed is holding many of the same types of assets and is levered 51-to-1! If the value of their portfolio were to fall by just 2%, the Fed itself would be wiped out."

◼ Fed Now Largest Owner of U.S. Gov’t Debt—Surpassing China - CNS

◼ Total public debt outstanding Nov. 15 15,033,607 - Yahoo Finance

Pass it to find out what's in it: Obama's healthcare law will leave millions of families without affordable coverage unless tax officials rewrite the rules on who gets subsidies

◼ Oopsie! IRS reports Obamacare will force millions to go without health insurance - Doug Ross
◼ IRS warned healthcare law could leave millions without insurance - The Hill

A dozen consumer advocacy groups urged the Internal Revenue Service to allow workers' spouses and dependents to qualify for tax credits if employer-sponsored family plans are unaffordable. The Treasury Department in August released proposed regulations that grant subsidies to workers and their families in cases when employer coverage costs too much for the employee only, but not when family coverage is out of reach.

The issue risks blowing up in Democrats' face in 2014, when the subsidies for coverage in state-based insurance exchanges become available. House Republicans have already used the glitch, which The Hill first reported in July, as ammunition to hammer the law for allegedly discriminating against marriage.

...IRS officials listened silently for two and a half hours and asked no questions. The Treasury Department has said its hands are tied because of the way the law was written.

California Attorney General's Office Subpoenas Fannie, Freddie

◼ Investigators with the state attorney general's office are seeking information on the roles of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as landlords who own thousands of foreclosed properties in California. - Alejandro Lazo and Jim Puzzanghera, Los Angeles Times

Investigators with the California attorney general's office have subpoenaed information from mortgage titans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into lending and foreclosure practices in the state.

The subpoenas ask the government-controlled finance companies to answer a series of questions about their activities in California, including their roles as landlords who own thousands of foreclosed properties. The attorney general's office is also seeking details of Fannie and Freddie's mortgage-servicing and home-repossession practices, according to a person familiar with the matter.

In addition, investigators want to learn more about the companies' purchases and sponsorship of securities holding "toxic mortgages" in the Golden State, said the person, who was not authorized to speak on the matter and requested anonymity....

According to the person familiar with California's investigation, the central question posed by the California investigators is: To what extent did the two mortgage giants contribute to the foreclosure crisis in California?

Fannie and Freddie hold a vast number of loans in California. The major banks that are employed to act on their behalf — collecting payments from borrowers, foreclosing or evicting borrowers or striking deals with homeowners to modify their mortgages — must adhere to their guidelines.

One in four American women take medication for a mental disorder

◼ Women more likely than men to take antipsychotic drugs, according to new report - Most often prescribed to females over 45 - Daily Mail

The statistics were taken from Medco's database of prescriptions and is based on 2.5million patients with 24 months of continuous prescription drug insurance and eligibility.

The company said women are twice as likely as men to use anxiety treatments as 11per cent of women 45 to 65 are on an anxiety medication.

Women are also more likely than men to take antipsychotic drugs like Zyprexa, Risperdal, and Abilify, which treat disorders like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

However, among men 20 to 64, use of the drugs has quadrupled over the last decade.

Humboldt Republican Women Welcome Napa Valley Republican Women Federated President Gaylon Kastner - Join Us For Lunch

It’s always fun to hear from other Clubs, learn what they’re doing, what works, what doesn’t, and get new ideas to incorporate into our own Club.

This month is extra special as Gaylon Kastner, the two-term President of one of Napa Valley’s most successful nonprofit organizations, and President of Napa Valley Republican Women Federated, is here to swear in our 2012 officers, and to share her experiences - and how she helped to grow the Napa Valley Club, increasing membership from 125 to 325.

She’s creative, fun, and innovative, and sure to inspire us as we move into one of the biggest and most important election years of our lifetime.

And, having recently attended The National Federation of Republican Women's 36th Biennial Convention in Kansas City, she brings news from the national front...

Join us for this, our last meeting of 2011.... take time to enjoy wonderful and festive holidays. Stay in touch via our website, Facebook and Twitter, (@hrwf) and come back rejuvenated for 2012. Our January luncheon meeting will be held at Baywood Golf and Country Club in Arcata, watch for details.
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JOIN US FOR LUNCH - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17th
11:30 a.m. Lunch 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. 445 Herrick, Eureka
Lunch & Speaker ~ $14.50 (Tax and tip included)
Beverage & Speaker ~ $4.00 Payable to Elks Lodge
THIS MONTH - Please RSVP to Laura 839-5538 by Friday November 11
Early RSVP lunch reservations URGENTLY NEEDED and to be honored

SAVE THE DATE: January 21, 2012

◼ Leadership Workshop

Network with other members of Northern Division as we begin this critical year in Republican politics. Watch your mail for the call in early December.
SACRAMENTO MARRIOTT RANCHO CORDOVA

Rooms available for Friday, January 20th
◼ Click here to Reserve Hotel Room
by using the following codes:
CFRCFRA, King Room - $85.00
CFRCFRB, 2 Queen Room - $95.00
Last day to make Hotel reservations is Monday, January 9, 2012.

Annette De Modena Campaign Kickoff Tonight

◼ Meet The Candidate Campaign Kickoff Thursday, November 17th

Stop by Annette's Campaign Headquarters in Henderson Center located at 336 Grotto Street from 5:00 - 7:30 pm. The event will be catered by Rita's Cafe, and beverages will also be available. Annette is running for 1st District Humboldt County Supervisor.
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annette4supervisor.com

NORTHERN DIVISION'S BIENNIAL CONVENTION

◼ 2012/2013 OFFICERS ELECTED AT NORTHERN DIVISION'S BIENNIAL CONVENTION

The election of the 2012-13 officers of the Northern Division of CFRW were elected at the biennial convention held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Sacramento. Leading the team is President Elect Roseann Slonsky-Breault. Doris Whitney will be First Vice President, Carla Embertson will be Second Vice President and Dottie Ray Souter will be Third Vice President. Also elected were Kathy Rodriguez, Membership Secretary; Nancy Alvarez, Recording Secretary; and Laura Riffle, Treasurer. Those relected to a second term as Regional Directors are Mary Ruth Reinscheild (Northwest), Dottie Linden (Capitol Corridor), Kay Young (Santa Clara Valley) and Joan Matteson (Motherlode). Newly elected Regional Directors are Kerry Criss (North), Marlene Nelson (Northeast), Marcia Myers (North Central), Cindy Eisenhower (North Bay), Pat Scott (East Bay), Elsie Gufler (San Francisco Peninsula) and Charlotte Dahms (South).

Events began on Friday evening with a Dessert Reception where President Murriel Oles honored those who had served for this biennium. Following the presentation of colors by the Travis AFB Honor Guard, members were welcomed by Senator Ted Gaines, Assemblywoman Beth Gaines and CRP Chair Tom Del Beccaro. During the business session, delegates adopted bylaw amendments and elected the officers named above.

The luncheon speaker was author Janie Johnson Don't Take My Lemonade Stand: An American Philosophy and the afternoon workshops were centered around the 2011 FOCUS edited by Diane Page.

Lynne Leach was the banquet speaker and performed the installation of the 2012-13 officers following entertainment by the Sierra Bells of Auburn.

Sunday was dedicated to awards, a legislation update by Edelweiss Geary and passage of three of the four resolutions. Maxine Robinson of Nevada County RWF was named Northern Division Woman of the Year.

Convention Co-Chairs Karen Atteberry and Paula Celick, along with Motherlode Region Director Joan Matteson delivered on their promise of a jam-packed two day convention.

Send us your photos!
Whether you have clicked a Republican Woman in action on your phone or have a perfect picture for our showcase above - email it to support@cfrwnd.org and we will get it posted to this web site. Check out our photo albums for your friends in action.

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HRWF members Debbie Walker (President), Gwen Morris (2nd Vice President), Jean Giannini, Rose, and Kathy Rodriguez attended.

Marco Rubio on Hannity

Fed debt hits $15 trillion; GOP blasts Obama

◼ It's official: The federal debt has his $15 trillion, the U.S. Treasury Department reported today.

"This debt is hurting not only our economy today, but will result in our children and our grandchildren experiencing a diminished future," (Rep. Paul) Ryan said. "And the President -- rather than tackling this challenge, rather than facing up to our debt -- is pursuing policies that are making matters worse."

◼ Federal debt tops $15 trillion - Total increased $56 billion in one day - Washington Times

The Treasury Department said Wednesday that federal debt now tops $15 trillion — a staggering figure that has risen precipitously over the last decade.

The exact debt total stood at $15.034 trillion as of the end of business Tuesday, an increase of $56 billion over Monday’s tally.

All told, federal debt has risen $4.41 trillion since President Obama took office, and is nearly triple the size of the debt in 2001, when President George W. Bush landed in the White House.

Rep. West Calls for Eric Holder to Resign

Lazy

As other cities crack down, DC Council backs 'Occupiers'

◼ As other cities crack down, DC Council backs 'Occupiers' - Liz Farmer/Washington Examiner via Drudge

"I'm glad Mayor [Michael] Bloomberg is not running the District of Columbia -- we are more sensitive to the important expressions of freedom of speech," said Ward 1 Councilman Jim Graham, referring to the New York City raid. "I think as long as we have what a reasonable person would consider an orderly protest, I think it ... should be respected."

Last week both Mayor Vincent Gray and Police Chief Cathy Lanier issued statements warning people occupying the park against violent behavior after a clash between protesters and police.

◼ UNIONS SUPPORT - Meredith Somers/Washington Times
◼ Occupy protesters plan to 'shut down' Wall Street on Thursday - CBS/New York

In a video posted on YouTube after protesters were evicted from Zuccotti Park, a demonstrator in the crowd says “On the 17th, we’re going to burn New York City to the ground.”

Later in the video, he then goes on to say “No more talking. They’ve got guns, we’ve got bottles. They’ve got bricks, we’ve got rocks…in a few days you’re going to see what a Molotov cocktail can do to Macy’s.”

Secret Service Searched Occupy D.C. Camp For Person Who Shot At White House

◼ The Secret Service searched Occupy D.C. on Monday for a man suspected of firing bullets at the White House on Friday, one of which was stopped by the building’s ballistic glass.

Police have been trying to locate 21-year-old Oscar Ortega Hernandez, a mentally ill man from Idaho who authorities say is connected to the incident, which apparently took place on Friday.

◼ Suspect arrested in White House shooting - WTOP

◼ Park Police: Suspect arrested in WH shooting might have spent time at Occupy DC protests - HotAir

According to Talking Points Memo, the Secret Service scoured Occupy D.C. looking for this guy. If Park Police suspected Ortega had been at a Tea Party rally, that tidbit would be included in every bit of MSM coverage of this incident.

California — toxic for business

◼ Unless Sacramento moves to improve the business climate, California's reputation as one of the country's most toxic business environments will make it hard for the Golden State to regain its luster. - Wendell Cox and Steven Malanga/LA Times

...For years, California could rely on its temperate climate and a talented workforce to attract and keep businesses even as taxes and regulations increased. No more. In surveys, executives regularly express the view that California has one of the country's most toxic business environments, and they say it is one of the least likely places they would open or expand a company. Many firms headquartered here say they have forsaken expansion in the state. Meanwhile, California suffers from an unemployment rate some 2 percentage points higher than that of the nation as a whole....

A better approach for Gingrich and Romney would have been to say that while it is good that al-Awlaki is dead, the Obama Administration’s role in the killing should be explained fully by the administration itself and examined by Congress.

◼ CBS Tricks Newt, Mitt into Defending Obama - Trevor Loudon

(T)he fact is that Gingrich offered more of a rationale for killing the terror leader than anything the President has said publicly. Gingrich and Romney provided a defense of Obama that even Obama refuses to offer....

It is mind-boggling that any Republican, or Democrat, would go to the defense of the Obama Administration under such circumstances, when even Obama is afraid to take public credit for the operation. Why don’t the Republicans insist on full disclosure in regard to the process that resulted in al-Awlaki’s death? Is this the kind of power that should be put into the hands of President Obama and not seriously questioned by the opposition party?...

GOP members call on Eric Holder to quit

◼ A group of House Republicans Tuesday called on Eric Holder to immediately resign because of Operation Fast and Furious, saying the Attorney General did not tell the truth about the controversial “gun-walking” program. - Politico

“Attorney General Eric Holder cannot avoid responsibility for his involvement with a government program that directly led to the tragic death of a decorated Border Patrol agent,” Labrador said. “As our nation’s top enforcer of the principles of law and justice, Mr. Holder has now lost credibility and should step down immediately.”

And the Republican members said they should no longer be the only ones putting pressure on Holder to resign — Obama must also take action.

“When you have the privilege of leading the Department of Justice there is no excuse for not knowing what is going on, especially when it relates to something as controversial and dangerous as Fast and Furious,” Huelskamp, a Kansas Republican, said. “But ultimately the buck stops with the president of the United States. And I believe it’s time for the president to join us and step up to the plate and ask Mr. Holder to resign.”

The Obama administration urged officers of the struggling solar company Solyndra to postpone announcing planned layoffs until after the November 2010 midterm elections, newly released e-mails show.

◼ Blockbuster: Obama administration pressured Solyndra to delay layoffs for political gain - HotAir

◼ Solyndra: Energy Dept. pushed firm to keep layoffs quiet until after midterm elections - Carol D. Leonnig and Joe Stephens/Washington Post

...The Obama administration urged officers of the struggling solar company Solyndra to postpone announcing planned layoffs until after the November 2010 midterm elections, newly released e-mails show. …

Solyndra’s chief executive warned the Energy Department on Oct. 25, 2010, that he intended to announce worker layoffs Oct. 28. He said he was spurred by numerous calls from reporters and potential investors about rumors the firm was in financial trouble and was planning to lay off workers and close one of its two plants.

But in an Oct. 30, 2010, e-mail, advisers to Solyndra’s primary investor, Argonaut Equity, explain that the Energy Department had strongly urged the company to put off the layoff announcement until Nov. 3. The midterm elections were held Nov. 2, and led to Republicans taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“DOE continues to be cooperative and have indicated that they will fund the November draw on our loan (app. $40 million) but have not committed to December yet,” a Solyndra investor adviser wrote Oct. 30. “They did push very hard for us to hold our announcement of the consolidation to employees and vendors to Nov. 3rd – oddly they didn’t give a reason for that date....”

◼ SCANDAL DEEPENS: Energy Department Pushed Solyndra To Wait To Announce Layoffs Until After Midterm Elections - Zeke Miller/Business Insider

◼ Obama Admin. Pushed Solyndra Layoff Announcement Until After Election - Daniel Halper/Weekly Standard

10:21 This Morning: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO VISIT HUMBOLDT REPUBLICAN HQ

John Davis, a Colorado-based “grassroots” candidate for the Republican presidential nomination will visit the Humbold County Republican headquarters, 311 Fifth Street, Eureka, on Tuesday, November 15.

Davis, a small-business owner and former Republican county chairman in his area, is on a “votercade” in a 43-foot motor home to visit all 3,143 of the nation’s counties. According to Humboldt County Chairman Peter Hannaford, “The Davis campaign says he is not discouraged by his low profile and not being mentioned in any of the polls as yet. “Davis says, ‘I’m okay with not being in the typical media/political dog fight I’d rather be on the road listening to what people have to say’.”

The Davis “votercade” will arrive from Weaverville at 10:21 a.m. that morning for a 25-minute visit before leaving for Ukiah. It is also scheduled to make stops that day in Lake, Sonoma, Marin and Napa Counties that day.
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Please set aside a few minutes next Tuesday morning to give John Davis a Humboldt welcome. He's a genuine candidate, although "off the radar" so far. He's solidly conservative and determined to talk to everyday folks in every one of the nation's counties.
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johndavisforpresident.org

Occupy Eureka camp raided for a second time; 31 protesters arrested, 2 cited and released

◼ Law enforcement from four agencies arrested 31 protesters and cited and released two others, including a juvenile, during an early morning raid of the Occupy Eureka encampment on the courthouse lawn Monday. - Times-Standard (image source)

The Occupy Eureka group had re-established its camp in front of the courthouse on Friday, roughly four days after the Eureka Police Department first raided the site. Police arrested 13 people on suspicion of obstruction of justice on Nov. 7.

Following those arrests, the county put temporary fences around the courthouse lawn along with no camping signs. Last Monday night, protesters from Occupy Arcata, Occupy Eureka and Occupy Humboldt returned and tore down the fences.

Yellow police tape surrounded the courthouse lawn again at about 9 a.m. Monday while sheriff's deputies kept an eye on it. At about 2 p.m., county employees erected a chain-link fence while sheriff's deputies looked on. Humboldt County Sheriff Mike Downey said the chain-link fence will keep people off the lawn until it can be restored.

”Anybody who crosses or climbs over that fence will be subject to arrest,” he said.

Police in Riot Gear Clear Occupy Wall Street, Mayor Calls It "Intolerable Situation"

◼ NYPD ousts Occupy Wall Street protesters - AP/Washington Examiner

◼ Hours later, a judge granted a restraining order prohibiting the city from its enforcement plan. - nbcnewyork

Hundreds of police officers, some in riot gear, descended on Zuccotti Park overnight in a surprise sweep of the Occupy Wall Street headquarters that Mayor Bloomberg said had become an "intolerable situation."

Hours later, a judge granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting the city from enforcing rules of the plaza -- like a ban on tents and tarps -- that she said were published "after the occupation began." Bloomberg said at a City Hall briefing that the city had planned to let people back into the park at 8 a.m. but decided to keep it closed while officials evaluated the order.

Both sides were due in court at 11:30 a.m.

◼ "Getting kicked out of Zuccotti Park... was the best possible endgame" for Occupy Wall Street. - Althouse

◼ Court ruling on Occupy Wall Street eviction imminent - POSTED AT 4:15 PM ON NOVEMBER 15, 2011 BY ALLAHPUNDIT

Scott Walker: Working Together

◼ Republican Governors Association on Facebook

Listen Up, Boomers: The Backlash Has Begun

◼ “Talkin’ about my generation”: the Who song once expressed the hope and self confidence of the Baby Boomers as they reached biological if not emotional maturity.... - Walter Russell Mead/the American Interest

Talking about our generation is not going to be as much fun for the Boomers as it was in those long distant days of infinite promise. My generation has some real accomplishments under its belt, especially in the worlds of science and technology. And we made important progress in making American society a more open place for people and groups who were once excluded. In every field of American life, there are Boomers who have made and are making important, selfless contributions: in hospitals, in classrooms, in government, in business, in the military. You name it and we are there.

But at the level of public policy and moral leadership, as a generation we have largely failed. The Boomer Progressive Establishment in particular has been a huge disappointment to itself and to the country....

Obama not the man America voted for

◼ Historian says the 2008 Barack Obama went on to squander voters' goodwill - NY Daily News

Although the President had overwhelming majorities in both houses of Congress in his first two years, he has only two major legislative achievements to his credit: the stimulus bill and Obamacare. But the first is widely perceived as both a total failure — the administration said it would keep unemployment under 8% — and motivated more by politics than economics. Its $800 billion was directed towards public service union members and liberal causes, such as “green energy,” rather than economic recovery.

Meanwhile, Obamacare remains deeply unpopular with the general public and is headed for the Supreme Court, which could well find its key provision unconstitutional next summer, just as the election gets into high gear.

Budget deficits have soared during the Obama years, with three trillion-dollar-plus deficits in a row. This has caused the national debt to swell to a level that, relative to GDP, has not been seen since the end of World War II. For the first time ever, the United States has lost its AAA credit rating, a deep embarrassment for the country and thus the administration.

Not surprisingly under these circumstances, the President’s approval ratings have been in sharp decline, with some of his key supporting groups — such as the youth vote — abandoning him....

◼ Discussion at Lucianne

CNN Poll: Gingrich soars, Cain drops

◼ According to a CNN/ORC International Poll released Monday, 24% of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP say Romney is their most likely choice for their party's presidential nominee with Gingrich at 22%. - CNN

"From Lemonade Stands to Large Businesses, Governmental Regulation is Slowly Choking the American Way of Life."

Author Janie Johnson spoke at the CFRW Northern Division Biennial Convention this past weekend. You'll love her book!

"If kids had read this book a generation ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in today!"
- Steve Forbes, President and CEO of Forbes and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine
__________________
◼ Don't Take My Lemonade Stand: An American Philosophy - Get it at Amazon
◼ Published articles
◼ Her website: jjauthor.com
◼ Janie Johnson on Facebook
◼ Follow Janie on Twitter

5 1/2 HOURS: Supreme Court to Rule on Obamacare...

◼ Supreme Court will hear health care case this term - AP via Drudge (image source)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear arguments next March over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul — a case that could shake the political landscape as voters are deciding if Obama deserves another term.
This decision to hear arguments in the spring sets up an election-year showdown over the White House's main domestic policy achievement. And it allows plenty of time for a decision in late June, just over four months before Election Day.

◼ Healthcare Law's Fate Now In Supreme Court's Hands - Reuters

At the heart of the legal battle is whether Congress overstepped its powers by requiring that all Americans buy health insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty, a provision known as the individual mandate.

◼ Supreme Court agrees to hear Obama - Reuters

The decision had been widely expected since late September, when the Obama administration asked the nation's highest court to uphold the centerpiece insurance provision and 26 states separately asked that the entire law be struck down.

◼ “We are pleased the court has agreed to hear this case,” said White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer, adding, “We know the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and are confident the Supreme Court will agree.” - Washington Times

“Only 18 months after its passage, the new health care law has been brought to the steps of the Supreme Court by America’s small-business owners,” he said. “For the small-business community, this comes not a day too soon.”

In August, the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals handed a partial victory to the challengers, concluding in a 2-1 decision that Congress had exceeded its authority with the individual mandate. But while it called the mandate an “unprecedented exercise of federal power,” the court allowed the rest of the law to stand.

Debate Wrap: "This was quite possibly the best debate of the series thus far"

◼ South Carolina debate wrap - HotAir

The short lede here is that even with the aforementioned glitches, this was quite possibly the best debate of the series thus far, with almost all of the candidates exceeding expectations and the moderators (mostly) providing excellent topics for discussion.

Before getting to the contenders, though, it should be noted that the big loser of the night still had to be CBS. It was a good series of topics and Major Garrett did a very competent job in pitching questions, but as Mark Thiessen pointed out, Scott Pelley was out of his league and did a terrible job, and truly embarrassed himself when he tried to challenge Newt Gingrich on matters of the law. But even Pelley’s failures paled in comparison to the Tiffany Network’s baffling decision to schedule a ninety minute debate and then only broadcast the first sixty minutes of it so they could cut away to a re-run of NCIS (or Entertainment Tonight) in many markets.

◼ Gingrich schools (CBS moderator) Pelley on “rule of law” on terrorists - HotAir
◼ Cain stumbles in foreign policy debate - Byron York/Washington Examiner

CBS Republican Debate (full version)

◼ There's something I like about Newt Gingrich. - Althouse
◼ NEWT RISING...

"Gingrich was on his game from the beginning when he let loose a ringing anti-(Federal Reserve Chairman Ben) Bernanke, anti-food stamps, anti-(community organizer Saul) Alinsky answer. This was the Newt everyone thought we'd see before he got in the race," National Review editor Rich Lowry wrote, predicting "(t)he narrative about his rise will continue."
Fox News commentator and former Republican congressman John LeBoutillier wrote Gingrich "again played the role of the knowledgeable elder statesman/scold who chides the media and the Establishment." The Associated Press reported Gingrich "could emerge as the newest hope for conservative activists who doubt Romney's commitment to their priorities," though he still lags in creating a ground-level campaign structure in the critical early-caucus state of Iowa -- doubtlessly due in part to lackluster fundraising.
But that could soon change. A "super political action committee" -- which can raise unlimited money so long as it doesn't directly coordinate with a candidate's campaign -- called Solutions 2012 was launched Wednesday to "support Newt Gingrich's comeback run for president" by buying ads in early-voting states.

◼ Bachmann Campaign Accuses CBSNEWS of Bias...

Minnesota Congresswoman’s Michele Bachmann’s campaign staff went ballistic after one of her communications director, Alice Stewart, was mistakenly CC’d on an internal CBS News email. In the message, newly minted political director John Dickerson said he’d rather interview someone else on his post-debate webshow. Congresswoman Bachmann’s staffers responded by accusing CBS of bias and calling for Mr. Dickerson’s head

◼ Ron Paul Gets 89 Seconds To Speak In Debate! - InfoWars

Leaked email to Bachmann campaign indicates decision to limit air time for certain candidates was deliberate CBS News policy...

A scientific study undertaken by the University of Minnesota last month confirmed that Ron Paul had been given the least speaking time out of all the Republican candidates during the debates, even less than the likes of John Huntsman and Rick Santorum, who have routinely been beaten by Paul in national polls.

◼ "It gets a little lonely over here in Siberia from time to time" was the wry whine from the under-included Jon Huntsman at the debate last night. - Althouse
◼ Spartanburg Remainders: CBS Debate Inspires Media Fear and Loathing - the Other McCain
◼ The Big Loser of the Night: CBS – Marc A. Thiessen/National Review

If there was a loser on the debate stage tonight, it was CBS. First, they scheduled their debate on a Saturday night between two major football games. Then they decided to only broadcast the first hour of their 90-minute debate. Then their Internet feed failed for the final 30 minutes. This was CBS’s first and only debate — and it showed.

Scott Pelley was a terrible moderator. He treated the men who might be the next commander in chief like schoolchildren, cutting them off in mid-sentence, lecturing them to answer his questions. He even lectured Newt Gingrich on policy, telling him that killing “terrorist suspects” is “not the rule of law.” Big mistake. Newt smacked him down, explaining that we are at war and in war we are allowed to kill the enemy without a court order...

Fortunately, there will be another discussion of foreign policy and national security soon: the AEI/Heritage/CNN debate on November 22. It will be in prime time on a Tuesday — on a network that knows what it is doing.