Saturday, May 18, 2013
WHY ANDREW BREITBART WALKED INTO THE FIRE WITH SARAH PALIN
◼ Sarah Palin, perhaps more than any other person in recent history, endured the full weight of what Breitbart called the "Democrat-media complex," and so Sarah Palin had no more fierce a defender than Andrew Breitbart. - Andrew Marcus/Breitbart
...But if Andrew Breitbart fiercely defended Sarah Palin, Sarah Palin also taught Andrew Breitbart an important lesson--one which he took to heart for himself, and one which he imparted to others wherever he went: refuse to be destroyed. Do not cower before the name-calling. Do not apologize for your beliefs. Do not hide.
If somebody calls you a racist for criticizing the Obama administration, demand that they explain how you're a racist. If somebody demands that you apologize, respond with, "Apologize for what?" If somebody rhetorically attacks you, punch back twice as hard. Breitbart called this "walking into the fire." He observed that Sarah Palin, by refusing to back down in the face of the smears, became stronger--and by refusing to retreat, she became a touchstone for millions who felt that her peril was their own. And so her resistance became their resistance.
Andrew Breitbart, tragically, is no longer here to walk into the fire with Sarah Palin--or any other targets of media malpractice. His legacy, Breitbart.com, and others must carry the mantle forward from where he left it. As the director of Hating Breitbart, which released nationwide May 17th, I had the profoundly unique experience of following Andrew during the closing years of his life, capturing him walking into the fire again and again on behalf of those who believe in a small, limited federal government, sustainable fiscal policy, and above all, those who revere genuine honesty in reporting.
__________________
Andrew Marcus is the director of the film Hating Breitbart which releases in theaters and on DVD/VOD on May 17th. For more information visit ◼ www.hatingbreitbart.com
...But if Andrew Breitbart fiercely defended Sarah Palin, Sarah Palin also taught Andrew Breitbart an important lesson--one which he took to heart for himself, and one which he imparted to others wherever he went: refuse to be destroyed. Do not cower before the name-calling. Do not apologize for your beliefs. Do not hide.
If somebody calls you a racist for criticizing the Obama administration, demand that they explain how you're a racist. If somebody demands that you apologize, respond with, "Apologize for what?" If somebody rhetorically attacks you, punch back twice as hard. Breitbart called this "walking into the fire." He observed that Sarah Palin, by refusing to back down in the face of the smears, became stronger--and by refusing to retreat, she became a touchstone for millions who felt that her peril was their own. And so her resistance became their resistance.
Andrew Breitbart, tragically, is no longer here to walk into the fire with Sarah Palin--or any other targets of media malpractice. His legacy, Breitbart.com, and others must carry the mantle forward from where he left it. As the director of Hating Breitbart, which released nationwide May 17th, I had the profoundly unique experience of following Andrew during the closing years of his life, capturing him walking into the fire again and again on behalf of those who believe in a small, limited federal government, sustainable fiscal policy, and above all, those who revere genuine honesty in reporting.
Andrew Marcus is the director of the film Hating Breitbart which releases in theaters and on DVD/VOD on May 17th. For more information visit ◼ www.hatingbreitbart.com
Labels:
Andrew Breitbart,
Media bias,
Push Back,
Sarah Palin
JOE SCARBOROUGH, PIERS MORGAN: OBAMA SCANDALS PROVE GUN ADVOCATES AREN'T CRAZY
◼ How big of a wake-up call are the Obama scandals, especially the ones surrounding the seizing of phone records from the Associated Press and the IRS's targeting of conservatives? - John Nolte/Breitbart
So big that two of the media's most shameful and shameless gun control advocates -- Joe Scarborough and Piers Morgan -- have finally conceded that arguments made by pro-Second Amendment activists against the expanding of background checks might not be so ridiculous.
In a roundtable discussion on Friday's "Morning Joe," Scarborough said that because of the IRS scandal, “My argument is less persuasive today because of these scandals.” He added: "People say, ‘Hey, if they do this with the IRS, asking people what books you read, then how can I trust them with information about my Second Amendment rights?’”
Mika agreed completely: "That is a really, really good point." Even the Huffington Post's Sam Stein agreed.
Labels:
AP,
Awakening,
DOJ,
Gun Control,
Investigations,
IRS,
Media bias,
Scandals
54 Colorado Sheriffs File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Over New Gun Laws
◼ At a news conference held at the Independence Institute, a free-market think tank, the sheriffs and representatives from the Colorado Farm Bureau, Women for Concealed Carry and members of Outdoor Buddies — a charitable organization for disabled individuals — explained their case Friday. - Denver Post
◼ The suit alleges that two of the new gun laws in Colorado are unconstitutional. - D.C. Clothesline
It is also widely believed that the problems go beyond constitutional issues and create an enforcement problem. ◼ The Daily Caller reports:
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa said the laws are not only unconstitutional, but also confusing and unenforceable.◼ According to Breitbart.com the NRA issued a statement on Friday in support of the Colorado Sheriffs. - Debra Heine/Breitbart
For example, the ban on magazines was discussed by its Democratic sponsors as applying only to those that hold more than 15 rounds, in response to mass-shooting incidents in Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn.
But the law also outlaws any magazine that can be easily converted to hold more than 15 rounds, which applies to practically all magazines with a removable base plate that can be replaced with an after-market extender.
After July 1, the owners of such magazines cannot sell them, loan them or give them away. In effect, it means that even if they give their weapon to someone else for safekeeping — or, in the case of one wheelchair-bound plaintiff who spoke Friday, to hold momentarily as he gets in and out of his chair — they will be breaking the law.
The background-check requirement is also unduly burdensome, the sheriffs say. Maketa gave as an example a neighbor of his who, under the new law, would have to perform a background check on his fiancé if he left his firearm with her when he deploys with the military.
USPS: Radical Surgery Needed
◼ The Postal Service continues to limp along, still losing big money along with some of your mail. - Peter Hannaford/American Spectator 5.17.13
Second quarter results are in: The U.S. Postal service lost another $1.9 billion. At this rate, its loss for a full year could be $8 billion. Ever since its bread-and-butter business, First Class Mail, began a steady decline as e-mail and “social media” took the place of letters it has been a consistent money loser and stays alive only with annual loans from the federal government--loans which it cannot repay.
Since 2007, the USPS revenues have been unable to cover its budget. Although it longer gets formal subsidies as it did before it became a quasi-independent body and not a cabinet department, it has reached the limit--$15 billion--of money it can borrow from the government. Last year it defaulted on $11.1 owed to its pension fund. By this September it predicts an added pension default of $5.6 billion.
Earlier this year, the Postal Service announced it would eliminate Saturday delivery of First Class mail (but not packages) come August. Whoa, said Congressional critics. Some claimed the USPS could not legally do that without Congressional approval. That was never tested in the courts, but Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe could see the handwriting on the wall.
His staff that esimtated that cutting Saturday delivery would save $2 billion a year. That would have been a long way from covering a likely annual loss of $8 billion.
Mr. Donahoe soldiers on. He says the solution is for Congress to pass his “updated” five-year plan. It reads a lot like the last one. For example, it includes cutting Saturday delivery, another possible postage rate increase and allows it to expand the range of products and services it sells. Selling more stuffed animals and knickknacks, however, will add only marginally to its revenue, as will another penny for every First Class stamp.
One practical item in the five-year plan that would have positive consequences would be a requirement that as of a date certain any new hires would have a different pension plan. The current “defined benefit” system requires the USPS to pay fixed sums to every retiree based on formalas negotiated with unions. The plane for new hires would be variation on the 401K-like “defined contribution” system, wherein the employee designates a certain amount of his/her pay to go into an investment account (subject to guidelines) which will earn income and to which the USPS, if it had a surplus in any year could add a percentage of it to the plan (as most private companies do).
These ideas alone will only partially alleviate the USPS’s annual agony.
It will remain and Congress will have to keep upping its debt limit, ad infinitum.
The long-range solution would be to find a way to privatize the entire system. For now, a good start would have two elements. First, auction off to the highest bidder (viz. Fed Ed, UPS) the entire package delivery operation. The USPS is required by law to deliver a First Class letter to midtown Manhattan and Nome, Alaska for the same price, regardless of cost. With packages, however, it may take time and distance into account in setting rates--just as Fed Ex and UPS do.
The auction of this service will bring in a lump of cash which can be used to reduce the current year’s loss and/or make good on some of the pension defaults.
With the package service phased out, the USPS will need fewer package-processing personnel, less related equipment, fewer trucks and less real estate--thus, lower operating costs.
At that point Congress will need to do what it often avoids--face reality.
Left with First-Class mail, Second Class (periodicals) and direct mail pitches,(Third Class), it will almost certainly continue to lose money, even if less than before. Congress must therefore step in and vote for an annual subsidy to make sure the service meets its budget. Along with that, Congress should vote itself oversight over the service’s budget and adjust it according to changing conditions, but always with a fixed limit to the year’s subsidy.
__________________
Peter Hannaford was long-associated with the late President Ronald Reagan. His latest book is “Presidential Retreats.”
Second quarter results are in: The U.S. Postal service lost another $1.9 billion. At this rate, its loss for a full year could be $8 billion. Ever since its bread-and-butter business, First Class Mail, began a steady decline as e-mail and “social media” took the place of letters it has been a consistent money loser and stays alive only with annual loans from the federal government--loans which it cannot repay.
Since 2007, the USPS revenues have been unable to cover its budget. Although it longer gets formal subsidies as it did before it became a quasi-independent body and not a cabinet department, it has reached the limit--$15 billion--of money it can borrow from the government. Last year it defaulted on $11.1 owed to its pension fund. By this September it predicts an added pension default of $5.6 billion.
Earlier this year, the Postal Service announced it would eliminate Saturday delivery of First Class mail (but not packages) come August. Whoa, said Congressional critics. Some claimed the USPS could not legally do that without Congressional approval. That was never tested in the courts, but Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe could see the handwriting on the wall.
His staff that esimtated that cutting Saturday delivery would save $2 billion a year. That would have been a long way from covering a likely annual loss of $8 billion.
Mr. Donahoe soldiers on. He says the solution is for Congress to pass his “updated” five-year plan. It reads a lot like the last one. For example, it includes cutting Saturday delivery, another possible postage rate increase and allows it to expand the range of products and services it sells. Selling more stuffed animals and knickknacks, however, will add only marginally to its revenue, as will another penny for every First Class stamp.
One practical item in the five-year plan that would have positive consequences would be a requirement that as of a date certain any new hires would have a different pension plan. The current “defined benefit” system requires the USPS to pay fixed sums to every retiree based on formalas negotiated with unions. The plane for new hires would be variation on the 401K-like “defined contribution” system, wherein the employee designates a certain amount of his/her pay to go into an investment account (subject to guidelines) which will earn income and to which the USPS, if it had a surplus in any year could add a percentage of it to the plan (as most private companies do).
These ideas alone will only partially alleviate the USPS’s annual agony.
It will remain and Congress will have to keep upping its debt limit, ad infinitum.
The long-range solution would be to find a way to privatize the entire system. For now, a good start would have two elements. First, auction off to the highest bidder (viz. Fed Ed, UPS) the entire package delivery operation. The USPS is required by law to deliver a First Class letter to midtown Manhattan and Nome, Alaska for the same price, regardless of cost. With packages, however, it may take time and distance into account in setting rates--just as Fed Ex and UPS do.
The auction of this service will bring in a lump of cash which can be used to reduce the current year’s loss and/or make good on some of the pension defaults.
With the package service phased out, the USPS will need fewer package-processing personnel, less related equipment, fewer trucks and less real estate--thus, lower operating costs.
At that point Congress will need to do what it often avoids--face reality.
Left with First-Class mail, Second Class (periodicals) and direct mail pitches,(Third Class), it will almost certainly continue to lose money, even if less than before. Congress must therefore step in and vote for an annual subsidy to make sure the service meets its budget. Along with that, Congress should vote itself oversight over the service’s budget and adjust it according to changing conditions, but always with a fixed limit to the year’s subsidy.
Peter Hannaford was long-associated with the late President Ronald Reagan. His latest book is “Presidential Retreats.”
Labels:
Budget,
Peter Hannaford,
USPS
“We should not only fire the head of the IRS, which has occurred, but we’ve got to go down the line and find every single person who had anything to do with this and make sure that they are removed from the IRS and the word goes out that this is unacceptable,” she said. “It is un-American, it is wrong, and it cannot occur again.”
◼ Dens Grow Nervous... - CBS St. Louis
McCaskill Calls For Firing Of All Involved In IRS Targeting Scandal
◼ BOBBY JINDAL: SEND IRS OFFICIALS WHO TARGETED CONSERVATIVES TO JAIL - Tony Lee/Breitbart
“...Anyone who participated in this targeting of Americans for their political beliefs, anyone who knew about it, anyone who simply looked the other way, and anyone under whose watch this occurred needs to be fired,” he said.
According to CNN, Jindal also made the point that Americans who fail to pay taxes face jail time.
“But in this instance, it is the IRS, people in a position of public trust, who have violated the Constitution of the United States of America," Jindal remarked. "You cannot take the freedom of law-abiding Americans, whether you disagree with them or not, and keep your own freedom. When you do that, you go to jail."
Labels:
Claire McCaskill,
Democrats,
Investigations,
IRS,
Scandals
Taxes on some wealthy French top 100% of income
◼ More than 8,000 French households' tax bills topped 100 percent of their income last year, the business newspaper Les Echos reported on Saturday, citing Finance Ministry data. - Reuters
The newspaper said that the exceptionally high level of taxation was due to a one-off levy last year on 2011 incomes for households with assets of more than 1.3 million euros ($1.67 million).
◼ C’EST LA VIE! THOUSANDS OF WEALTHY FRENCH TAXED MORE THAN THEY EARNED - Dave Urbanski/The Blaze
The newspaper said that the exceptionally high level of taxation was due to a one-off levy last year on 2011 incomes for households with assets of more than 1.3 million euros ($1.67 million).
◼ C’EST LA VIE! THOUSANDS OF WEALTHY FRENCH TAXED MORE THAN THEY EARNED - Dave Urbanski/The Blaze
Labels:
France,
International News,
Taxes
Weiner’s Wife Concealed Consulting Work She Did While Serving in State Dept.
◼ The State Department, under Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, created an arrangement for her longtime aide and confidante Huma Abedin to work for private clients as a consultant while serving as a top adviser in the department. - New York Times
Ms. Abedin did not disclose the arrangement — or how much income she earned — on her financial report. It requires officials to make public any significant sources of income. An adviser to Mrs. Clinton, Philippe Reines, said that Ms. Abedin was not obligated to do so.
The disclosure of the agreement that Ms. Abedin made with the State Department comes as her husband, former Representative Anthony D. Weiner, a Democrat, prepares for a mayoral run in New York City. Politico reported the arrangement on Thursday afternoon.
Ms. Abedin declined a request for an interview, but the picture that emerges from interviews and records suggests a situation where the lines were blurred between Ms. Abedin’s work in the high echelons of one of the government’s most sensitive executive departments and her role as a Clinton family insider....
Officials in the State Department and Clinton circles seem especially sensitive about the arrangement, and no one would speak about it on the record. Earlier this month, Mr. Weiner released a copy of the couple’s 2012 tax return showing that they had income of more than $490,000.
◼ More Secrets From Huma Abedin - Arnold Ahlert/FrontPage Magazine
The disclosure was revealed as Abedin’s husband, disgraced former Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner, has begun preparations for a New York City mayoral run next year in an attempt to resuscitate his career.
...The Obama administration could quickly put an end to this controversy by revealing the contents of Abedin’s responses contained in Standard Form 86, a “Questionnaire for National Security Positions.” That questionnaire should have been completed prior to Abedin serving in her capacity at State beginning in 2009.
No doubt a State Department up to its neck in the Benghazi scandal is too busy to respond.
◼ Weiner to seek erection, will announce bid for mayor - DAVID SEIFMAN/New York Post
Ms. Abedin did not disclose the arrangement — or how much income she earned — on her financial report. It requires officials to make public any significant sources of income. An adviser to Mrs. Clinton, Philippe Reines, said that Ms. Abedin was not obligated to do so.
The disclosure of the agreement that Ms. Abedin made with the State Department comes as her husband, former Representative Anthony D. Weiner, a Democrat, prepares for a mayoral run in New York City. Politico reported the arrangement on Thursday afternoon.
Ms. Abedin declined a request for an interview, but the picture that emerges from interviews and records suggests a situation where the lines were blurred between Ms. Abedin’s work in the high echelons of one of the government’s most sensitive executive departments and her role as a Clinton family insider....
Officials in the State Department and Clinton circles seem especially sensitive about the arrangement, and no one would speak about it on the record. Earlier this month, Mr. Weiner released a copy of the couple’s 2012 tax return showing that they had income of more than $490,000.
◼ More Secrets From Huma Abedin - Arnold Ahlert/FrontPage Magazine
The disclosure was revealed as Abedin’s husband, disgraced former Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner, has begun preparations for a New York City mayoral run next year in an attempt to resuscitate his career.
...The Obama administration could quickly put an end to this controversy by revealing the contents of Abedin’s responses contained in Standard Form 86, a “Questionnaire for National Security Positions.” That questionnaire should have been completed prior to Abedin serving in her capacity at State beginning in 2009.
No doubt a State Department up to its neck in the Benghazi scandal is too busy to respond.
◼ Weiner to seek erection, will announce bid for mayor - DAVID SEIFMAN/New York Post
Friday, May 17, 2013
CFRW Capitol Update
We have another plea to all clubs who have not yet sent me a copy of the Achievement Awards. We can have a 100% on clubs if you are willing to take a few minutes to fill them out and send them to me. We have a little more than two weeks to get them mailed. You will be proud when you see your names listed as having accomplished whatever level you achieve. It looks scarier than it really is. If you have any questions just call me 209-483-1915.
The 2013 CFRW Nomination Committee information is now on the Web Site. IF you are thinking of running for office, nominating someone or wanting to send letters of endorsement, all the information is there for you to use. The leaders you choose will be faced with electing a new California Governor and Constitutional Officers as well as Congressman and California Legislators. Please be participants and not spectators.
Also, remember that your Divisions will also be electing officers and their Nominating Committees should be meeting soon. Remember if you do not vote you have no right to complain.
Saturday, May 18th is Armed Forces Day and we want to send a rousing cheer of support for our Veterans and current military personnel. I am a past Woman in the Air Force (WAF as we were known a million years ago, or so it seems). Our current CFRW Membership Secretary is active US Army. I know of several members of our Federation who are past military. THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND WHO
ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILIES.
Again, if you know of a young woman between the ages of 14 and 18 who is in high school, and might be interested in serving as the California Page at the NFRW Biennial Convention, find the application on the NFRW Web site. This will be a great experience for them.
Never ever forget:
YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST
ONE TEAM, ONE PURPOSE, ONE GOAL
Thank you for letting me serve you,
Carol Hadley
CFRW President ◼ link
May Revise
The Governor has released his May Budget revise and according to his figures, it will leave California with a $2.8 billion surplus. This surplus projection is in large part to the Prop 30 tax increase revenue and from wealthy taxpayers shifting income years to avoid higher federal taxes. The Legislative Analyst Office urges fiscal restraint, even with this revenue windfall. Legislative Analyst, Mac Taylor, said today, “this is an ideal time for the Legislature to begin addressing its huge budgetary and retirement liabilities, including funding problems of the California State Teachers Retirement System.” But it is likely that Governor Brown will not touch pension reform, not with the 2014 gubernatorial election just around the corner. Unfortunately Democrats in the legislature are eyeing this projected surplus with plans to spend, spend, spend. Now it is up to the legislature to take Governor Brown’s recommendations, send their budget to the Governor, and see where it lands. They have until midnight on June 15th to get the budget to Governor Brown. The big fights on the revised budget are still to come.
Important State Senate Race
Next Tuesday, May 21st, is Election Day in the central valley. Andy Vidak, a tried and true conservative, is running in the vacant Senate District 16 seat and he needs your help this weekend! There are many Get Out The Vote efforts in counties across the state. This seat is vital for Republicans to win. Please contact your local Republican Central Committee to volunteer this weekend or call Julie Griffiths at 559-213-2240.
We are proud to be part of the California Federation of Republican Women (CFRW), and the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW), the largest women’s political volunteer organization in the nation. When you join Humboldt Republican Women, Federated, you're joining forces with women throughout the state and across the nation, women who share your ideals and your goals for our country.
Labels:
California,
Capitol Update,
CFRW,
NFRW
The court concludes, incorrectly and without any documentation, that off-label use of RU-486 has been “demonstrated by scientific research to be safer and more effective” than the FDA-approved protocol.
◼ The Real War on Women: Abortion Drug RU 486 Injures Thousands - Life News
On Monday, a state trial court judge overturned an Oklahoma law intended to ensure the safe use of abortion-inducing drugs, such as RU-486. The law, enacted in 2011 and based upon an AUL model, simply required that abortion providers administer the drugs in the manner approved by the FDA.
The state’s interest in enacting such a law was clear: Since RU-486 was approved in 2000, thousands of women have faced complications, many life-threatening. Both the FDA and the drug manufacturer have acknowledged the substantial risk of complications following use. Fourteen women have died. Eight of those women died of a severe bacterial infection that would not otherwise harm healthy women. All eight of those women were instructed to use the drugs in a manner that directly contravened the approved FDA protocol.
On the other hand, no women have died from bacterial infection after using RU-486 in the manner approved by the FDA. (Get the details at the link.)
Labels:
#WarOnWomen,
Abortion,
Healthcare,
MEDICINE,
Women
BOB WOODWARD: THERE SURE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BENGHAZI & WATERGATE
Two segments here:
“And I have to go back 40 years to Watergate when Nixon put out his edited transcripts to the conversations, and he personally went through them and said, ‘Oh, let’s not tell this, let’s not show this.’ I would not dismiss Benghazi. It’s a very serious issue,” he added.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
◼ “If you read through all these emails, you see that everyone in the government is saying, ‘Oh, let’s not tell the public that terrorists were involved, people connected to al Qaeda. Let’s not tell the public that there were warnings,’” he said. - The Blaze“And I have to go back 40 years to Watergate when Nixon put out his edited transcripts to the conversations, and he personally went through them and said, ‘Oh, let’s not tell this, let’s not show this.’ I would not dismiss Benghazi. It’s a very serious issue,” he added.
Labels:
AP,
Benghazi,
Bob Woodward,
Investigations,
IRS,
President/Candidate Obama,
Scandals,
Watergate
Stand up and cheer these House Republicans
◼ IRS Hearings - Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion
IRS Commissioner Steven Miller: "I Don't Think Targeting Is Wrong" PAUL RYAN Destroys IRS Commissioner Steven Miller at House Hearing Roskam Questions Former IRS Commissioner Miller at Ways and Means ◼ Some good stuff today. - Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion Rep. Mike Kelly Receives Standing Ovation Rep. Tom Reed Questions IRS Acting Commissioner Rep. Todd Young grills IRS official about targeting of conservatives Rep. Tim Griffin questions IRS official on the agency's targeting of conservative groups
IRS Commissioner Steven Miller: "I Don't Think Targeting Is Wrong" PAUL RYAN Destroys IRS Commissioner Steven Miller at House Hearing Roskam Questions Former IRS Commissioner Miller at Ways and Means ◼ Some good stuff today. - Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion Rep. Mike Kelly Receives Standing Ovation Rep. Tom Reed Questions IRS Acting Commissioner Rep. Todd Young grills IRS official about targeting of conservatives Rep. Tim Griffin questions IRS official on the agency's targeting of conservative groups
Labels:
Congress,
Investigations,
IRS,
Scandals
Those who can do, do; those who cannot sue
◼ Eureka attorney Peter Martin finally revealed the true agenda behind the lawsuit filed against the City of Eureka and invocations by saying he hopes that his motion to dismiss Superior Court Judge Dale Reinholtsen will better his odds for a favorable ruling. - John Chiv/Words Worth
In a May 17 Times-Standard article, Martin was quoted as saying that he decided to request the dismissal of Reinholtsen because he feels that the judge is “on the right flank of the political bent.”
Kim Starr must be kicking herself for not thinking of this brilliant and objective strategy in Occupy Eureka’s lawsuit against the City. In the last 2 years, the mantra of those who only know how to blame and create drama has been: “If I don’t get my way and if my mud slinging does not work, I will just sue” has backfired both at the ballot and with the public. Nevertheless, they continue to employ the same tired tactics. It has hurt any legitimate cause and sincere people Martin and Starr claim to represent.... read the rest, at the link.
In a May 17 Times-Standard article, Martin was quoted as saying that he decided to request the dismissal of Reinholtsen because he feels that the judge is “on the right flank of the political bent.”
Kim Starr must be kicking herself for not thinking of this brilliant and objective strategy in Occupy Eureka’s lawsuit against the City. In the last 2 years, the mantra of those who only know how to blame and create drama has been: “If I don’t get my way and if my mud slinging does not work, I will just sue” has backfired both at the ballot and with the public. Nevertheless, they continue to employ the same tired tactics. It has hurt any legitimate cause and sincere people Martin and Starr claim to represent.... read the rest, at the link.
Obama Administration's New Benghazi Excuse: We're Idiots
◼ A new report by CBS's Sharyl Attkisson presents a new administration fallback on Benghazi. The people who made the decisions now claim they are just "idiots." But that's not what the record shows, at least when it comes to decisions we can examine up close. - John Sexton/Breitbart
An unnamed administration official tells CBS "We're portrayed by Republicans as either being lying or idiots...It's actually closer to us being idiots." It's quite an admission to come out of any Democratic official, which is all the more reason to wonder why it's being offered eight months into the investigation of the administration's actions.
The real problem with the "idiots" excuse is that it's belied by the evidence. Earlier this week, after pressure from news organizations, the administration release 100 pages of emails related to the drafting of Benghazi talking points. What the emails show is not a group of dummies but politicos seeking to put the best face on a bad situation.
An unnamed administration official tells CBS "We're portrayed by Republicans as either being lying or idiots...It's actually closer to us being idiots." It's quite an admission to come out of any Democratic official, which is all the more reason to wonder why it's being offered eight months into the investigation of the administration's actions.
The real problem with the "idiots" excuse is that it's belied by the evidence. Earlier this week, after pressure from news organizations, the administration release 100 pages of emails related to the drafting of Benghazi talking points. What the emails show is not a group of dummies but politicos seeking to put the best face on a bad situation.
WH 'Still Hasn't Explained Why It Blamed Benghazi On YOUTUBE Video'... drudge.tw/19GTZuf
— DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) May 17, 2013
NYT: OBAMA ADMINISTRATION KNEW OF IRS SCANDAL 5 MONTHS BEFORE ELECTION
THEY KNEW.
◼ Why did the IRS keep the scandal quiet until after the election? Update: Treasury Dep’t knew last yea - Allahpundit/HotAir
◼ In no uncertain terms and with no hedging, The New York Times reports that the Obama administration was aware of the fact that the IRS was targeting Tea Party groups as far back as June of 2012. - John Nolte/Breitbart
The Treasury Department's Inspector General confirmed that he told senior Treasury officials in June of 2012, a full five months before Election Day...
We still don’t know for sure what the President knew or when he knew it, but this does confirm that the administration was aware of the fact that Obama's political enemies were under fire by the IRS and covered that fact up during an election year.
As Lisa Meyers of NBC News told "Morning Joe" today, "Imagine if we -- if you can -- what would have happened if this fact came out in September 2012, in the middle of a presidential election? The terrain would have looked very different."
The first time President Obama was asked when he found out about the IRS scandal, he told the media that he learned of the news last Friday, the same way the rest of us did -- from the news media.
Thursday, a Bloomberg reporter asked the President when he or anyone else in the White House learned of the scandal. The President dodged the question.
◼ Treasury Officials Knew of IRS Probe Last June - SIOBHAN HUGHES and DAMIAN PALETTA/Wall Street Journal
The revelation, one of the few new details to come from a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the IRS controversy, suggests administration officials may have known about the practice earlier than was previously disclosed. The inspector general's investigation had only begun in March 2012, so the review would have been at an early stage.
◼ Treasury Knew of I.R.S. Inquiry in 2012, Official Says - JONATHAN WEISMAN/New York Times
◼ Obama Fails to Deny White House Knew About IRS Targeting - Katie Pavlich/Townhall
◼ TREASURY SEC JACK LEW: I KNEW ABOUT IRS SCANDAL LAST WEEK--AND ALSO LAST FALL - Wynton Hall/Breitbart
...Bloomberg's Al Hunt asked Lew, whose Treasury Department oversees the IRS: “When were you first notified that IRS agents were targeting conservative groups like the Tea Party?”
Instead of answering Hunt’s question directly, however, Lew instead chose to answer when he first learned about the IG report, a tactic President Barack Obama also used earlier this week during a press conference.
“I learned the substance of this report last Friday when it became a matter of public knowledge,” Lew claimed....
Hunt then asked whether former Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Lew’s deputy, Neal Wolin, or the general counsel knew about the IRS’s political profiling of conservative groups.
“I think that there was-the heads-up that I got was something that was a matter of public knowledge,” said Lew. “It was posted on the IG's website in the fall of 2012. I believe that other is typically the practice that an inspector general notify the agencies when matters are opened. I was not aware of any details.”
It is possible that "fall of 2012" could refer to a period of time before the election. Regardless, Lew would have discovered the investigation in his capacity as President Obama's chief of staff, meaning that it is possible the president knew of the investigation in 2012 as well.
This is not the first time Lew has provided confusing or less-than-candid answers.
◼ Why did the IRS keep the scandal quiet until after the election? Update: Treasury Dep’t knew last yea - Allahpundit/HotAir
◼ In no uncertain terms and with no hedging, The New York Times reports that the Obama administration was aware of the fact that the IRS was targeting Tea Party groups as far back as June of 2012. - John Nolte/Breitbart
The Treasury Department's Inspector General confirmed that he told senior Treasury officials in June of 2012, a full five months before Election Day...
We still don’t know for sure what the President knew or when he knew it, but this does confirm that the administration was aware of the fact that Obama's political enemies were under fire by the IRS and covered that fact up during an election year.
As Lisa Meyers of NBC News told "Morning Joe" today, "Imagine if we -- if you can -- what would have happened if this fact came out in September 2012, in the middle of a presidential election? The terrain would have looked very different."
The first time President Obama was asked when he found out about the IRS scandal, he told the media that he learned of the news last Friday, the same way the rest of us did -- from the news media.
Thursday, a Bloomberg reporter asked the President when he or anyone else in the White House learned of the scandal. The President dodged the question.
◼ Treasury Officials Knew of IRS Probe Last June - SIOBHAN HUGHES and DAMIAN PALETTA/Wall Street Journal
The revelation, one of the few new details to come from a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the IRS controversy, suggests administration officials may have known about the practice earlier than was previously disclosed. The inspector general's investigation had only begun in March 2012, so the review would have been at an early stage.
◼ Treasury Knew of I.R.S. Inquiry in 2012, Official Says - JONATHAN WEISMAN/New York Times
◼ Obama Fails to Deny White House Knew About IRS Targeting - Katie Pavlich/Townhall
◼ TREASURY SEC JACK LEW: I KNEW ABOUT IRS SCANDAL LAST WEEK--AND ALSO LAST FALL - Wynton Hall/Breitbart
...Bloomberg's Al Hunt asked Lew, whose Treasury Department oversees the IRS: “When were you first notified that IRS agents were targeting conservative groups like the Tea Party?”
Instead of answering Hunt’s question directly, however, Lew instead chose to answer when he first learned about the IG report, a tactic President Barack Obama also used earlier this week during a press conference.
“I learned the substance of this report last Friday when it became a matter of public knowledge,” Lew claimed....
Hunt then asked whether former Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Lew’s deputy, Neal Wolin, or the general counsel knew about the IRS’s political profiling of conservative groups.
“I think that there was-the heads-up that I got was something that was a matter of public knowledge,” said Lew. “It was posted on the IG's website in the fall of 2012. I believe that other is typically the practice that an inspector general notify the agencies when matters are opened. I was not aware of any details.”
It is possible that "fall of 2012" could refer to a period of time before the election. Regardless, Lew would have discovered the investigation in his capacity as President Obama's chief of staff, meaning that it is possible the president knew of the investigation in 2012 as well.
This is not the first time Lew has provided confusing or less-than-candid answers.
Leading the network evening newscasts: CBS/ABC: new IRS developments; NBC: threat of more severe weather.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 17, 2013
The IRS Scandal Started at the Top
◼ The bureaucrats at the Internal Revenue Service did exactly what the president said was the right and honorable thing to do. - KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL/Wall Street Journal
Was the White House involved in the IRS's targeting of conservatives? No investigation needed to answer that one. Of course it was.
President Obama and Co. are in full deniability mode, noting that the IRS is an "independent" agency and that they knew nothing about its abuse. The media and Congress are sleuthing for some hint that Mr. Obama picked up the phone and sicced the tax dogs on his enemies.
But that's not how things work in post-Watergate Washington. Mr. Obama didn't need to pick up the phone. All he needed to do was exactly what he did do, in full view, for three years: Publicly suggest that conservative political groups were engaged in nefarious deeds; publicly call out by name political opponents whom he'd like to see harassed; and publicly have his party pressure the IRS to take action.
◼ White House counsel should resign if she knew about IRS abuses - Lanny J. Davis/The Hill
If Ms. Ruemmler did know about this IRS story and didn’t inform the president immediately, then, respectfully, that must mean she didn’t appreciate fully the mammoth legal and political implications for the U.S. government as well as the American people of a story involving IRS officials abusing power and possibly violating criminal laws.
It is also hard to understand why some people in the media who apparently knew about this foreknowledge by the White House counsel and her failure to tell the president missed this story and its significance.
◼ Flashback: Schumer, Franken urged IRS to target tea party in 2012 - Jeff Poor/Daily Caller
Long before the Internal Revenue Service revealed it had improperly targeted conservative 501(c)(4) groups, a group of Democratic senators led by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer urged the IRS to do just that....
◼ Why did the IRS keep the scandal quiet until after the election? Update: Treasury Dep’t knew last year - Allahpundit/HotAir
◼ Report: IRS Deliberately Chose Not to Fess Up to Scandal Before Election - Daniel Halper/Weekly Standard
◼ IRS henchwoman got $103,390 in bonuses - Did Obama OK them? - Mark Tapscott/Washington Examiner
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., described the Ingram awards as "stunning, just stunning."
Bonuses as large as those awarded to Ingram typically require presidential approval, according to federal personnel regulations.
◼ What is Sarah Hall Ingram’s Role in the IRS Scandal? - Viral Read
Imagine if we -- if you can -- what would have happened if this fact came out in September 2012, in the middle of a presidential election? The terrain would have looked very different."
IRS stalled conservative groups, but gave speedy approval to Obama foundation...
Agency used 'planted' question to reveal scandal...
'Absolutely Not Illegal'...
'IS THIS STILL AMERICA?'
Charlie Rangel outraged: 'Wrong to Abuse the Tax System'...
◼ Democrat Baucus warns: More to come out on IRS scandal - Paul Bedard/Washington Examiner
◼ Obama #IRS Scandal Amnesia - the Other McCain
Ingram received a $7,000 bonus in 2009, according to data obtained by The Washington Examiner from the IRS, then a $34,440 bonus in 2010, $35,400 in 2011 and $26,550 last year, for a total of $103,390. Her annual salary went from $172,500 to $177,000 during the same period
It would be a gross understatement to say that ex-IRS acting commissioner Steven Miller was an uncooperative and unhelpful witness at today’s House Ways and Means Committee hearing. Everything about the IRS scandal can apparently be divided into two categories:
◼ ‘Best rant ever!’ Huge applause after Rep. Mike Kelly nails acting IRS chief [video] - Twitchy
Was the White House involved in the IRS's targeting of conservatives? No investigation needed to answer that one. Of course it was.
President Obama and Co. are in full deniability mode, noting that the IRS is an "independent" agency and that they knew nothing about its abuse. The media and Congress are sleuthing for some hint that Mr. Obama picked up the phone and sicced the tax dogs on his enemies.
But that's not how things work in post-Watergate Washington. Mr. Obama didn't need to pick up the phone. All he needed to do was exactly what he did do, in full view, for three years: Publicly suggest that conservative political groups were engaged in nefarious deeds; publicly call out by name political opponents whom he'd like to see harassed; and publicly have his party pressure the IRS to take action.
◼ White House counsel should resign if she knew about IRS abuses - Lanny J. Davis/The Hill
If Ms. Ruemmler did know about this IRS story and didn’t inform the president immediately, then, respectfully, that must mean she didn’t appreciate fully the mammoth legal and political implications for the U.S. government as well as the American people of a story involving IRS officials abusing power and possibly violating criminal laws.
It is also hard to understand why some people in the media who apparently knew about this foreknowledge by the White House counsel and her failure to tell the president missed this story and its significance.
◼ Flashback: Schumer, Franken urged IRS to target tea party in 2012 - Jeff Poor/Daily Caller
Long before the Internal Revenue Service revealed it had improperly targeted conservative 501(c)(4) groups, a group of Democratic senators led by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer urged the IRS to do just that....
◼ Why did the IRS keep the scandal quiet until after the election? Update: Treasury Dep’t knew last year - Allahpundit/HotAir
◼ Report: IRS Deliberately Chose Not to Fess Up to Scandal Before Election - Daniel Halper/Weekly Standard
◼ IRS henchwoman got $103,390 in bonuses - Did Obama OK them? - Mark Tapscott/Washington Examiner
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., described the Ingram awards as "stunning, just stunning."
Bonuses as large as those awarded to Ingram typically require presidential approval, according to federal personnel regulations.
◼ What is Sarah Hall Ingram’s Role in the IRS Scandal? - Viral Read
Imagine if we -- if you can -- what would have happened if this fact came out in September 2012, in the middle of a presidential election? The terrain would have looked very different."
IRS stalled conservative groups, but gave speedy approval to Obama foundation...
Agency used 'planted' question to reveal scandal...
'Absolutely Not Illegal'...
'IS THIS STILL AMERICA?'
Charlie Rangel outraged: 'Wrong to Abuse the Tax System'...
◼ Democrat Baucus warns: More to come out on IRS scandal - Paul Bedard/Washington Examiner
◼ Obama #IRS Scandal Amnesia - the Other McCain
Ingram received a $7,000 bonus in 2009, according to data obtained by The Washington Examiner from the IRS, then a $34,440 bonus in 2010, $35,400 in 2011 and $26,550 last year, for a total of $103,390. Her annual salary went from $172,500 to $177,000 during the same period
It would be a gross understatement to say that ex-IRS acting commissioner Steven Miller was an uncooperative and unhelpful witness at today’s House Ways and Means Committee hearing. Everything about the IRS scandal can apparently be divided into two categories:
1. Things Steven Miller does not know; and
2. Things Steven Miller can not remember
Despite this, some actual information got pried loose today:
The hearing’s one clear revelation came ◼ when Mr. Miller conceded that the I.R.S.’s apology for targeting was prompted by a question planted by the agency last Friday at an American Bar Association meeting. At that meeting, Lois Lerner, the head of the I.R.S.’s division overseeing tax-exempt organizations, was asked about an inquiry of the targeting issue, eliciting an apology that quickly leaked out of the closed-door session. The I.R.S. then scrambled to issue a formal release on the issue.
Mr. Miller divulged that the exchange was not an impromptu apology but a planned exchange between Ms. Lerner and Celia Roady, a tax attorney at the Washington law firm Morgan Lewis. That revelation only underscored the ham-handed way the scandal has burst into view.
◼ ‘Best rant ever!’ Huge applause after Rep. Mike Kelly nails acting IRS chief [video] - Twitchy
How About Scandal, Incompetence, Venality, Hubris, Vanity and Error to Start
Lost amidst the White House he-said-she-said of finger pointing, scandal, incompetence, venality, hubris, vanity, error, greed, gluttony, embarrassment, cover up, stupidity, amateur bungling, brownnosing, grandstanding, photo-opting and hearings as the result of a few minor mistakes made by the Obama administration- an administration which rode roughshod over a several outdated laws, certain small parts of the Bill of Rights written by irrelevant white dudes; an administration that got people killed, violated civil rights, harassed government employees, ignored it’s basic responsibilities and common sense- are these small, little, niggling details: The folks in charge are freaking hypocrites; and because the are hypocrites they have nothing to offer the American people.
Nothing as in Zero (0).
Their ideas don’t work, and all they stand for is some vague notion of fairness and equity, with themselves as judge over what’s fair and what’s not. Even in that they fail.
As demonstrated recently, their notions of fairness and equity are worrisome. They want to win politically, by fair means or foul. That’s their only idea of fairness. ◼ John Ransom - Townhall
◼ This Is No Ordinary Scandal - Peggy Noonan/Wall St. Journal
We are in the midst of the worst Washington scandal since Watergate. The reputation of the Obama White House has, among conservatives, gone from sketchy to sinister, and, among liberals, from unsatisfying to dangerous. No one likes what they're seeing. The Justice Department assault on the Associated Press and the ugly politicization of the Internal Revenue Service have left the administration's credibility deeply, probably irretrievably damaged. They don't look jerky now, they look dirty. The patina of high-mindedness the president enjoyed is gone.
Something big has shifted. The standing of the administration has changed.
As always it comes down to trust. Do you trust the president's answers when he's pressed on an uncomfortable story? Do you trust his people to be sober and fair-minded as they go about their work? Do you trust the IRS and the Justice Department? You do not....
It is not even remotely possible that all this was an accident, a mistake. Again, only conservative groups were targeted, not liberal. It is not even remotely possible that only one IRS office was involved. Lois Lerner, who oversees tax-exempt groups for the IRS, was the person who finally acknowledged, under pressure of a looming investigative report, some of what the IRS was doing. She told reporters the actions were the work of "frontline people" in Cincinnati. But other offices were involved, including Washington. It is not even remotely possible the actions were the work of just a few agents. This was more systemic. It was an operation. The word was out: Get the Democratic Party's foes. It is not remotely possible nobody in the IRS knew what was going on until very recently. The Washington Post reported efforts to target the conservative groups reached the highest levels of the agency by May 2012—far earlier than the agency had acknowledged. Reuters reported high-level IRS officials, including its chief counsel, knew in August 2011 about the targeting.
The White House is reported to be shellshocked at public reaction to the scandal. But why? Were they so high-handed, so essentially ignorant, that they didn't understand what it would mean to the American people when their IRS—the revenue-collecting arm of the U.S. government—is revealed as a low, ugly and bullying tool of the reigning powers? If they didn't know how Americans would react to that, what did they know?
Nothing as in Zero (0).
Their ideas don’t work, and all they stand for is some vague notion of fairness and equity, with themselves as judge over what’s fair and what’s not. Even in that they fail.
As demonstrated recently, their notions of fairness and equity are worrisome. They want to win politically, by fair means or foul. That’s their only idea of fairness. ◼ John Ransom - Townhall
◼ This Is No Ordinary Scandal - Peggy Noonan/Wall St. Journal
We are in the midst of the worst Washington scandal since Watergate. The reputation of the Obama White House has, among conservatives, gone from sketchy to sinister, and, among liberals, from unsatisfying to dangerous. No one likes what they're seeing. The Justice Department assault on the Associated Press and the ugly politicization of the Internal Revenue Service have left the administration's credibility deeply, probably irretrievably damaged. They don't look jerky now, they look dirty. The patina of high-mindedness the president enjoyed is gone.
Something big has shifted. The standing of the administration has changed.
As always it comes down to trust. Do you trust the president's answers when he's pressed on an uncomfortable story? Do you trust his people to be sober and fair-minded as they go about their work? Do you trust the IRS and the Justice Department? You do not....
It is not even remotely possible that all this was an accident, a mistake. Again, only conservative groups were targeted, not liberal. It is not even remotely possible that only one IRS office was involved. Lois Lerner, who oversees tax-exempt groups for the IRS, was the person who finally acknowledged, under pressure of a looming investigative report, some of what the IRS was doing. She told reporters the actions were the work of "frontline people" in Cincinnati. But other offices were involved, including Washington. It is not even remotely possible the actions were the work of just a few agents. This was more systemic. It was an operation. The word was out: Get the Democratic Party's foes. It is not remotely possible nobody in the IRS knew what was going on until very recently. The Washington Post reported efforts to target the conservative groups reached the highest levels of the agency by May 2012—far earlier than the agency had acknowledged. Reuters reported high-level IRS officials, including its chief counsel, knew in August 2011 about the targeting.
The White House is reported to be shellshocked at public reaction to the scandal. But why? Were they so high-handed, so essentially ignorant, that they didn't understand what it would mean to the American people when their IRS—the revenue-collecting arm of the U.S. government—is revealed as a low, ugly and bullying tool of the reigning powers? If they didn't know how Americans would react to that, what did they know?
A Farm Bill Primer: 10 Things You Should Know About the Farm Bill
◼ Congress is once again preparing to take up the “farm bill,” a multi-billion-dollar tangle of agriculture subsidies, welfare payments, and environmental patronage - Heritage Foundation
The time is particularly ripe to create meaningful reform and reduce the excessive burden imposed on taxpayers and consumers. Farmers are pulling in record levels of income and carrying record-low levels of debt. Agriculture policy must be freed from the politics of welfare and the blight of farm subsidies, price controls, and tariffs that do more harm than good.
The time is particularly ripe to create meaningful reform and reduce the excessive burden imposed on taxpayers and consumers. Farmers are pulling in record levels of income and carrying record-low levels of debt. Agriculture policy must be freed from the politics of welfare and the blight of farm subsidies, price controls, and tariffs that do more harm than good.
Labels:
Congress,
Farm Bill,
Federal Legislation
The House just passed Michele Bachmann's bipartisan Obamacare repeal bill 229-195
◼ It’s time for the Senate to do the same. - Michele Bachmann
◼ Reform Begins With Repeal Of ObamaCare - Michele Bachmann/Investors Business Daily
Despite the bill's misleading title, internal cost estimates from 17 of the nation's largest insurance companies indicate that ObamaCare will be anything but "affordable."
On average, premiums will grow 100% when the law is fully implemented, and some will soar more than 400%.
And despite being hailed as a deficit reducer, the GAO reports that Obamacare will increase our federal deficit by $6.2 trillion in the long-term.
One of President Obama's main selling points for ObamaCare was that it would help the most vulnerable populations with pre-existing conditions.
Instead, the program to help them is refusing new applicants and is already out of money before less than 1 percent of those with pre-existing conditions received coverage.
After Congress passed the president's health care law, one of my top priorities has been its full repeal. I plan to continue this fight until this becomes a reality.
Passing my bill to repeal ObamaCare is just the first step towards free market solutions for real health care reform.
Real health care reform is about bringing down the cost of health care through free market competition.
Rather than empowering big government in which doctors and patients have little to no say about the quality of care they receive, real health care reform is about giving families more choices — not fewer.
We must work together for commonsense health care solutions, and that begins today by repealing the ObamaCare train wreck.
Labels:
Congress,
Federal Legislation,
Michele Bachmann,
Obamacare,
ObamaTAX,
Repeal
Thursday, May 16, 2013
IRS Official in Charge During Tea Party Targeting Now Runs ObamaCare Office
◼ Sarah Hall Ingram served as commissioner of the office responsible for tax-exempt organizations between 2009 and 2012. But Ingram has since left that part of the IRS and is now the director of the IRS’ Affordable Care Act office, the IRS confirmed to ABC News today. - ABC
◼ Unreal: IRS Official Who Oversaw Targeting Scandal Now In Charge of Obamacare Division - Guy Benson/Townhall
DRUDGE:
Report: IRS denied tax-exempt status to pro-lifers on behalf of Planned Parenthood...
Conservative Hispanic Groups Targeted...
FOX NEWS HOST: I Was Audited After Criticizing Obama...
Employees at center of scandal: 'We were simply doing what our bosses ordered'...
◼ Second IRS official to leave amid tea party scandal - AP via FOX
◼ Obama: No Special Counsel Needed on IRS - Eliana Johnson/National Review
President Obama maintained today that he was not aware the IRS was targeting conservative groups until last Friday, when news of the inspector general’s report was leaked to the press, but dodged the question about whether anybody in the White House possessed that knowledge.
Silent on what others in the executive branch may have known, he said, “I can assure you that I certainly did not know anything about the IG report before the IG report had been leaked to press.”
◼ Unreal: IRS Official Who Oversaw Targeting Scandal Now In Charge of Obamacare Division - Guy Benson/Townhall
DRUDGE:
Report: IRS denied tax-exempt status to pro-lifers on behalf of Planned Parenthood...
Conservative Hispanic Groups Targeted...
FOX NEWS HOST: I Was Audited After Criticizing Obama...
Employees at center of scandal: 'We were simply doing what our bosses ordered'...
◼ Second IRS official to leave amid tea party scandal - AP via FOX
◼ Obama: No Special Counsel Needed on IRS - Eliana Johnson/National Review
President Obama maintained today that he was not aware the IRS was targeting conservative groups until last Friday, when news of the inspector general’s report was leaked to the press, but dodged the question about whether anybody in the White House possessed that knowledge.
Silent on what others in the executive branch may have known, he said, “I can assure you that I certainly did not know anything about the IG report before the IG report had been leaked to press.”
Labels:
IRS,
President/Candidate Obama,
Scandals
Physically strong men more likely to have right wing political views
◼ Weaker men more likely to support welfare state and wealth redistribution - Emma Innes/Daily Mail
Men who are physically strong are more likely to take a right wing political stance, while weaker men are inclined to support the welfare state, according to a new study.
Researchers discovered political motivations may have evolutionary links to physical strength.
Men's upper-body strength predicts their political opinions on economic redistribution, according to the research.... The findings were published in the journal Psychological Science.
Labels:
Conservatives
The thrill is gone:
◼ Chris Matthews sours on Obama - Dylan Byers/Politico
◼ CHRIS MATTHEWS: He does run the IRS. He runs the Treasury Department. He runs the United States government, and he is accountable for it, and this is nonsensical. - Washington Free Beacon
Labels:
AP,
Awakening,
Benghazi,
Investigations,
IRS,
Media bias,
MSNBC,
President/Candidate Obama,
Scandals
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Krauthammer: Obama “Understands He’s Losing His Constituency – The Media” (Video)
◼ You Want Angry? I'll Show You Angry, Obama Says on IRS Scandal - National Journal
◼ President Obama announced Wednesday night that the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service had been ousted after disclosures that the agency gave special scrutiny to conservative groups. - NYT
◼ “That was the absolute minimum he could have done, he said. He relieves one person – he obviously had to – he had to relieve at least one person and he chose, of course, the acting commissioner.” - Nice Deb
Said Krauthammer of Obama’s statement:
And then he says there’s going to be an investigation from Treasury. Well, that just means that the left hand of the government investigating the right hand. He did say he’d cooperate with Congress, but then he has the chutzpa to essentially warn republicans not to make this into a political event.
[W]e’re talking about is the IRS applying political criteria — inexcusably, unconstitutionally, probably criminally — and deciding who it’s going to investigate.
“I found this the bare minimum,” he concluded. “It’ll hold them for 12 hours, but no more.”
◼ President Obama announced Wednesday night that the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service had been ousted after disclosures that the agency gave special scrutiny to conservative groups. - NYT
◼ “That was the absolute minimum he could have done, he said. He relieves one person – he obviously had to – he had to relieve at least one person and he chose, of course, the acting commissioner.” - Nice Deb
Said Krauthammer of Obama’s statement:
And then he says there’s going to be an investigation from Treasury. Well, that just means that the left hand of the government investigating the right hand. He did say he’d cooperate with Congress, but then he has the chutzpa to essentially warn republicans not to make this into a political event.
[W]e’re talking about is the IRS applying political criteria — inexcusably, unconstitutionally, probably criminally — and deciding who it’s going to investigate.
“I found this the bare minimum,” he concluded. “It’ll hold them for 12 hours, but no more.”
Document dump: White House releases 100 pages of Benghazi e-mails. Emails Directly Contradict White House Claims
◼ Jake Tapper has all of them in PDF form. Click the link and let’s start crowdsourcing. - Allahpundit/HotAir
◼ First on CNN: White House releases 100 pages of Benghazi e-mails - Jake Tapper
The White House released more than 100 e-mails on Wednesday in a bid to quell critics who say President Barack Obama and his aides played politics with national security following the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.
◼ You can read all the e-mails here. - CNN
◼ Via John Nolte and Stephen Hayes, another one. Remember when Jay Carney said in November that a “single adjustment” had been made to the initial talking points? Nope
◼ Document: The Released Benghazi Emails - Bryan Preston/PJM
Notably, the emails only begin on September 14, 2012. By that point, the administration had already taken to blaming the attack on a YouTube video.
◼ Hayes: Benghazi Emails Contradict Clinton Testimony: 'Very clear' changes to talking points were not driven by intelligence community - Washington Free Beacon
◼ Benghazi emails show Obama admin knew talking points were misleading - - Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion
What the emails and the history unequivocally show is that various government entities under the control of the White House performed a factual and contextual cleansing of the truth which then was used by the Obama campaign to make sure it stayed in the White House. But we are supposed to believe this was not political?
◼ Emails Directly Contradict White House Claims - Stephen F. Hayes/Weekly Standard
Benghazi Dump: Critical Two-Day Gap...
First Released Email 67 Hours After Attack...
PETRAEUS: 'Frankly, I’d Just As Soon Not Use This'...
INSIDE THE EMAILS: 'No One Knew Much of Anything'...
Holder Says No to Special Counsel on Scandal...
◼ First on CNN: White House releases 100 pages of Benghazi e-mails - Jake Tapper
The White House released more than 100 e-mails on Wednesday in a bid to quell critics who say President Barack Obama and his aides played politics with national security following the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.
◼ You can read all the e-mails here. - CNN
◼ Via John Nolte and Stephen Hayes, another one. Remember when Jay Carney said in November that a “single adjustment” had been made to the initial talking points? Nope
Per Fox/Baier page 46 of email dump is smoking gun. State's input on CIA not "single revision" as Carney repeatedly claimed.
— John Nolte(@NolteNC) May 15, 2013
CIA email says "major" concerns from State Dept led to revisions to TPs. Carney on 11/28: State/WH wanted a "single adjustment." #Benghazi
— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) May 15, 2013
◼ Document: The Released Benghazi Emails - Bryan Preston/PJM
Notably, the emails only begin on September 14, 2012. By that point, the administration had already taken to blaming the attack on a YouTube video.
◼ Hayes: Benghazi Emails Contradict Clinton Testimony: 'Very clear' changes to talking points were not driven by intelligence community - Washington Free Beacon
◼ Benghazi emails show Obama admin knew talking points were misleading - - Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion
What the emails and the history unequivocally show is that various government entities under the control of the White House performed a factual and contextual cleansing of the truth which then was used by the Obama campaign to make sure it stayed in the White House. But we are supposed to believe this was not political?
◼ Emails Directly Contradict White House Claims - Stephen F. Hayes/Weekly Standard
Benghazi Dump: Critical Two-Day Gap...
First Released Email 67 Hours After Attack...
PETRAEUS: 'Frankly, I’d Just As Soon Not Use This'...
INSIDE THE EMAILS: 'No One Knew Much of Anything'...
Holder Says No to Special Counsel on Scandal...
Labels:
Benghazi,
Investigations,
Scandals
Would You Believe The Administration Got Phone Records of The House Of Representatives? Along with AP reporters'...
◼ That’s the revelation made by California Congressman Devin Nunes, who sits on the House Ways And Means Committee on Hugh Hewitt’s Show Wednesday night. - HotAir's Greenroom
...DN: No, I absolutely do not, especially after this wiretapping incident, essentially, of the House of Representative. I don’t think people are focusing on the right thing when they talk about going after the AP reporters. The big problem that I see is that they actually tapped right where I’m sitting right now, the Cloak Room.
HH: Wait a minute, this is news to me.
DN: The Cloak Room in the House of Representatives.
HH: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
DN: So when they went after the AP reporters, right? Went after all of their phone records, they went after the phone records, including right up here in the House Gallery, right up from where I’m sitting right now. So you have a real separation of powers issue that did this really rise to the level that you would have to get phone records that would, that would most likely include members of Congress, because as you know…
HH: Wow.
DN: …members of Congress talk to the press all the time....
...DN: No, I absolutely do not, especially after this wiretapping incident, essentially, of the House of Representative. I don’t think people are focusing on the right thing when they talk about going after the AP reporters. The big problem that I see is that they actually tapped right where I’m sitting right now, the Cloak Room.
HH: Wait a minute, this is news to me.
DN: The Cloak Room in the House of Representatives.
HH: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
DN: So when they went after the AP reporters, right? Went after all of their phone records, they went after the phone records, including right up here in the House Gallery, right up from where I’m sitting right now. So you have a real separation of powers issue that did this really rise to the level that you would have to get phone records that would, that would most likely include members of Congress, because as you know…
HH: Wow.
DN: …members of Congress talk to the press all the time....
Labels:
AP,
Congress,
DOJ,
Eric Holder,
Investigations,
Scandals
ABC SAYS WHITE HOUSE AUTHORIZED IRS-GATE POLITICAL ENEMY SCANDAL
◼ Trey Hardin: “I will tell you this on the IRS front. I’ve worked in this town for over 20 years in the White House and on Capitol Hill and I can say with a very strong sense of certainty that there are people very close to this president that not only knew what the IRS were doing but authorized it. It simply just does not happen at an agency level like that without political advisers likely in the West Wing certainly connected to the president’s ongoing campaign organization.”
◼ Whoa: Report suggests IRS, WH monitored conservative group at same time - Twitchy
◼ White House, IRS show interest in Watchdog in December - Watchdog.org
◼ IRS exec got $42k in bonuses in three years - Mark Tapscott/Washington Examiner
MT @fox19benswann: FOX19 EXCLUSIVE: Names of 4 Cincy IRS employees at center of scandal."We were simply doing what our bosses ordered"
— Byron York (@ByronYork) May 16, 2013
Labels:
ABUSE OF POWER,
Investigations,
IRS,
President/Candidate Obama,
Scandals
NEW: And now, President Schultz
Labels:
Investigations,
President/Candidate Obama,
Scandals
President Obama Addresses the IRS Scandal UPDATE: Acting IRS commissioner resigns
There will be no questions tonight. #IRSgate
— Michelle Ray (@GaltsGirl) May 15, 2013
◼ Open thread: Obama to address IRS scandal at 6 p.m. ET; Update: More than 75% of donations at Cincinnati IRS office went to Democrats; Update: Acting IRS commissioner resigns
DRUDGE HEADLINES:
Ousted IRS chief claims in email that he's leaving because 'my acting assignment ends in early June'...
Obama claim: Was ASKED to resign...
AGENCY ASKED FOR FACEBOOK POSTS, READING LISTS, PRIVATE THOUGHTS...
Number of targeted groups swells to 500...
CLAIM: OBAMA CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR ATTACKED ROMNEY WITH LEAKED DOCS...
IRS approved liberal groups while Tea Party in limbo...
GOP Rep: Impeachment Not 'Off The Table'...
Prominent Catholic Prof. Claims Audited Her After Speaking Out Against Obama...
Demanded to Know Who Was Paying Her...
IRS Employees Donate Disproportionately to Obama...
Rubio: 'These Are The Tactics Of The Third World'...
Committee Chairman: 'Yes,' I Was Lied to...
DOCUMENTS: IRS tea-party letters came from DC headquarters, 2 California offices...
IRS accuses employees of going 'rogue'...
EXEC AT CENTER OF SCANDAL GOT $42K IN BONUSES...
Furloughs to shut down agency for a day...
W.H. Blames Treasury Dept for IRS Scandal...
Boehner: 'Who's going to jail over this scandal?'
REPORT: Agency demanded list of students trained by conservative group...
Conservatism can win
Conservatism can win: Interesting article from Slate about how the latest scandals show that "Conservatives" were... fb.me/JGEi9Cu8
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) May 15, 2013
◼ Justifiable Cause: The Obama administration is making the case for conservatism better than Mitt Romney ever did. - John Dickerson/Slate
The Obama administration is doing a far better job making the case for conservatism than Mitt Romney, Mitch McConnell, or John Boehner ever did. Showing is always better than telling, and when the government overreaches in so many ways it gives support to the conservative argument about the inherently rapacious nature of government....
If these scandals are indeed affecting the ideological landscape, this is bad news for liberals. It’s not just that the opposite ideology is getting some help from government bunglers, but the media is exacerbating the problem. Liberals believe that there is a role for government to play in mediating market failures, and there are plenty of stories of areas where the safety net is thinning as a result of sequestration—from cancer treatments to Head Start to Meals-on-Wheels—where government should step in. But those stories get lost in the scandal coverage of an administration, making it look like conservatives fundamentally understand something that liberals do not.
Labels:
ABUSE OF POWER,
Big Brother,
Big Government,
Conservatives,
Liberals
IMPORTANT: RSVP BY PHONE FOR THIS THURSDAY'S HRWF MEETING
We have a major complication with our RSVP system for this upcoming meeting.
All email RSVP's were to go to Marilyn. As it turns out she has become unavailable to check her email and let us know about any emailed reservations.
If you usually RSVP by email, please, instead, CALL Laura at 839 - 5538, and let her know you are coming. Reservations are important, as you know. If you have already RSVP'd by mail, we probably don't have your reservation, so CALL ANYWAY.
Please RSVP TODAY, we were supposed to have numbers last Friday. Please SHARE this information.
Our meeting is this Thursday, May 16th, at the usual time (11:30)
---- There is one other change, David Tyson has been called to attend a meeting in Sacramento, so David Hull will be taking his place, same topic (East-West rail).
Look forward to seeing you at the meeting!
All email RSVP's were to go to Marilyn. As it turns out she has become unavailable to check her email and let us know about any emailed reservations.
If you usually RSVP by email, please, instead, CALL Laura at 839 - 5538, and let her know you are coming. Reservations are important, as you know. If you have already RSVP'd by mail, we probably don't have your reservation, so CALL ANYWAY.
Please RSVP TODAY, we were supposed to have numbers last Friday. Please SHARE this information.
Our meeting is this Thursday, May 16th, at the usual time (11:30)
---- There is one other change, David Tyson has been called to attend a meeting in Sacramento, so David Hull will be taking his place, same topic (East-West rail).
Look forward to seeing you at the meeting!
IRS SUED FOR STEALING THE MEDICAL RECORDS OF 10 MILLION AMERICANS
◼ The last scandal dampening rods just failed, and the reactor core at the Internal Revenue service may be about to blow. - John Hayward/Human Events @Doc_o
◼ IRS faces class action lawsuit over theft of 60 million medical records - healthcareitnews.com
...According to a report by Courthousenews.com, an unnamed HIPAA-covered entity in California is suing the IRS, alleging that some 60 million medical records from 10 million patients were stolen by 15 IRS agents. The personal health information seized on March 11, 2011, included psychological counseling, gynecological counseling, sexual/drug treatment and other medical treatment data.
"This is an action involving the corruption and abuse of power by several Internal Revenue Service agents," the complaint reads. "No search warrant authorized the seizure of these records; no subpoena authorized the seizure of these records; none of the 10,000,000 Americans were under any kind of known criminal or civil investigation and their medical records had no relevance whatsoever to the IRS search. IT personnel at the scene, a HIPPA facility warning on the building and the IT portion of the searched premises, and the company executives each warned the IRS agents of these privileged records," it continued....
◼ The IRS Raids 60 Million Personal Medical Records - Scott Gottlieb/FORBES
The Internal Revenue Service is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that more than 60 million personal medical records were improperly accessed, and stolen, by agents from the embattled agency. It’s just one more reason, as I wrote yesterday, to re-think the agency’s role under Obamacare.
Inevitably, Obamacare confers the IRS with broad access to information about our health insurance, as well as direct electronic linkages into a new government super computer that will also store a lot of bottom line information about our individual healthcare choices.
It’s a recipe for mischief by an agency that’s proving that it can’t be fully trusted.
This isn’t a fictional, Orwellian vision. It’s a reality of how Obamacare was structured. And how much the law depends on enforcement meted out by the IRS....
“This is an action involving the corruption and abuse of power by several Internal Revenue Service agents,” the complaint reads.
“No search warrant authorized the seizure of these records; no subpoena authorized the seizure of these records; none of the 10,000,000 Americans were under any kind of known criminal or civil investigation and their medical records had no relevance whatsoever to the IRS search. IT personnel at the scene, a HIPPA facility warning on the building and the IT portion of the searched premises, and the company executives each warned the IRS agents of these privileged records,” it continued.
The claim asserts that the IRS agents’ seizure of medical records violated the 4th Amendment.
“These medical records contained intimate and private information of more than 10,000,000 Americans, information that by its nature includes information about treatment for any kind of medical concern, including psychological counseling, gynecological counseling, sexual or drug treatment, and a wide range of medical matters covering the most intimate and private of concerns,” the complaint states.
“Despite knowing that these medical records were not within the scope of the warrant, defendants threatened to ‘rip’ the servers containing the medical data out of the building if IT personnel would not voluntarily hand them over,” the complaint reads.
“Moreover, even though defendants knew that the records they were seizing were not included within the scope of the search warrant, the defendants nonetheless searched and seized the records without making any attempt to segregate the files from those that could possibly be related to the search warrant. In fact, no effort was made at all to even try maintaining the illusion of legitimacy and legality.”
According to the complaint, the IRS agents had a search warrant for financial data pertaining to a former employee of the John Doe company, however, “it did not authorize any seizure of any healthcare or medical record of any persons, least of all third parties completely unrelated to the matter.”
The IRS has not returned requests for comment.
◼ IRS faces class action lawsuit over theft of 60 million medical records - healthcareitnews.com
...According to a report by Courthousenews.com, an unnamed HIPAA-covered entity in California is suing the IRS, alleging that some 60 million medical records from 10 million patients were stolen by 15 IRS agents. The personal health information seized on March 11, 2011, included psychological counseling, gynecological counseling, sexual/drug treatment and other medical treatment data.
"This is an action involving the corruption and abuse of power by several Internal Revenue Service agents," the complaint reads. "No search warrant authorized the seizure of these records; no subpoena authorized the seizure of these records; none of the 10,000,000 Americans were under any kind of known criminal or civil investigation and their medical records had no relevance whatsoever to the IRS search. IT personnel at the scene, a HIPPA facility warning on the building and the IT portion of the searched premises, and the company executives each warned the IRS agents of these privileged records," it continued....
◼ The IRS Raids 60 Million Personal Medical Records - Scott Gottlieb/FORBES
The Internal Revenue Service is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that more than 60 million personal medical records were improperly accessed, and stolen, by agents from the embattled agency. It’s just one more reason, as I wrote yesterday, to re-think the agency’s role under Obamacare.
Inevitably, Obamacare confers the IRS with broad access to information about our health insurance, as well as direct electronic linkages into a new government super computer that will also store a lot of bottom line information about our individual healthcare choices.
It’s a recipe for mischief by an agency that’s proving that it can’t be fully trusted.
This isn’t a fictional, Orwellian vision. It’s a reality of how Obamacare was structured. And how much the law depends on enforcement meted out by the IRS....
“This is an action involving the corruption and abuse of power by several Internal Revenue Service agents,” the complaint reads.
“No search warrant authorized the seizure of these records; no subpoena authorized the seizure of these records; none of the 10,000,000 Americans were under any kind of known criminal or civil investigation and their medical records had no relevance whatsoever to the IRS search. IT personnel at the scene, a HIPPA facility warning on the building and the IT portion of the searched premises, and the company executives each warned the IRS agents of these privileged records,” it continued.
The claim asserts that the IRS agents’ seizure of medical records violated the 4th Amendment.
“These medical records contained intimate and private information of more than 10,000,000 Americans, information that by its nature includes information about treatment for any kind of medical concern, including psychological counseling, gynecological counseling, sexual or drug treatment, and a wide range of medical matters covering the most intimate and private of concerns,” the complaint states.
“Despite knowing that these medical records were not within the scope of the warrant, defendants threatened to ‘rip’ the servers containing the medical data out of the building if IT personnel would not voluntarily hand them over,” the complaint reads.
“Moreover, even though defendants knew that the records they were seizing were not included within the scope of the search warrant, the defendants nonetheless searched and seized the records without making any attempt to segregate the files from those that could possibly be related to the search warrant. In fact, no effort was made at all to even try maintaining the illusion of legitimacy and legality.”
According to the complaint, the IRS agents had a search warrant for financial data pertaining to a former employee of the John Doe company, however, “it did not authorize any seizure of any healthcare or medical record of any persons, least of all third parties completely unrelated to the matter.”
The IRS has not returned requests for comment.
Labels:
ABUSE OF POWER,
California,
Healthcare,
Invasion of Privacy,
IRS,
Lawsuits,
Obamacare,
Privacy
Could California Make a Comeback?
◼ An unexpected glimmer of hope might cast a new light on the Golden State. - The American
“...The fossil fuel deposits in California are incredible, the potential is extraordinary,” Brown stated last month, also noting that “between now and development lies a lot of questions that need to be answered, and I feel confident that the people are in place in my administration to handle the issues as they come up.” Brown also reaffirmed his commitment, such as it is, to the state’s oil economy, declaring that “our permits are dramatically up … California is the fourth-largest oil producing state and we want to continue that.” It may be some time before fracking becomes a reality, but Brown is plainly both feeling the pressure and sensing the promise.
So for all the talk of a new, high-tech, white-collar economy bringing California back from the brink, it may turn out that one of the oldest and dirtiest industries around will save the future of the Golden State.
“...The fossil fuel deposits in California are incredible, the potential is extraordinary,” Brown stated last month, also noting that “between now and development lies a lot of questions that need to be answered, and I feel confident that the people are in place in my administration to handle the issues as they come up.” Brown also reaffirmed his commitment, such as it is, to the state’s oil economy, declaring that “our permits are dramatically up … California is the fourth-largest oil producing state and we want to continue that.” It may be some time before fracking becomes a reality, but Brown is plainly both feeling the pressure and sensing the promise.
So for all the talk of a new, high-tech, white-collar economy bringing California back from the brink, it may turn out that one of the oldest and dirtiest industries around will save the future of the Golden State.
Labels:
California,
Economy,
Fracking
A mastectomy at 21, and implants that 'look better' than the real thing: Why four women chose to have preventive breast cancer surgery like Angelina Jolie
◼ Here four mastectomy patients aged 21 to 50, reveal why they opted to have their breasts removed and how surgery changed - Daily Mail
Labels:
Healthcare,
Women in the News
There are no losers in this race to the bottom — except the American people.
◼ O’s scandals take nation by storm - Michael Goodwin/New York Post
As a metaphor for big government, it is hard to top the Justice Department’s seizing of journalists’ phone records from The Associated Press. Unless, of course, you think the best example is the Internal Revenue Service turning the screws on groups it viewed as conservative and, therefore, unworthy of fair treatment. Or maybe the winner is the sneaky spreading of ObamaCare’s tentacles, with insurance companies now predicting the law will drive up the cost of individual premiums by as much as 400 percent. There are no losers in this race to the bottom — except the American people....
The Obama administration is both corrupt and incompetent. It is a double whammy that spells trouble for the nation, at home and abroad.
The corruption is not like that in Albany, where officials stuff their pockets with taxpayer cash. The corruption in Obama-Land is the selective use of government power to reward friends and punish opponents. Or, as the president calls them, enemies.
Political allies — think Solyndra and unions — get special goodies, while those who oppose the regime’s agenda are demonized and singled out for scrutiny. The IRS targeting of groups with “Tea Party” or “patriot” in their names and those that advocate less spending smacks of the tactics of banana republic strongmen....
The ultimate danger is a lack of accountability. The idea that ordinary citizens hold the power has no meaning when the political class circles the wagons and the press looks the other way while the president accumulates more power and control.
That is where we have been, but hopefully, not where we are going. Their liberty DNA kicking in, more and more citizens, including some in the media, finally are expressing shock and anger at how big, clumsy and crooked our government is. They are welcome to the discovery, belated though it is.
For those of us not shocked by the inevitable, there is vindication but no satisfaction. Each example of Obama’s chickens coming home to roost just makes more obvious how much damage he’s already done.
The repair begins by throwing open the doors and windows of Washington. We’ll need a lot of sunshine to disinfect this rot.
As a metaphor for big government, it is hard to top the Justice Department’s seizing of journalists’ phone records from The Associated Press. Unless, of course, you think the best example is the Internal Revenue Service turning the screws on groups it viewed as conservative and, therefore, unworthy of fair treatment. Or maybe the winner is the sneaky spreading of ObamaCare’s tentacles, with insurance companies now predicting the law will drive up the cost of individual premiums by as much as 400 percent. There are no losers in this race to the bottom — except the American people....
The Obama administration is both corrupt and incompetent. It is a double whammy that spells trouble for the nation, at home and abroad.
The corruption is not like that in Albany, where officials stuff their pockets with taxpayer cash. The corruption in Obama-Land is the selective use of government power to reward friends and punish opponents. Or, as the president calls them, enemies.
Political allies — think Solyndra and unions — get special goodies, while those who oppose the regime’s agenda are demonized and singled out for scrutiny. The IRS targeting of groups with “Tea Party” or “patriot” in their names and those that advocate less spending smacks of the tactics of banana republic strongmen....
The ultimate danger is a lack of accountability. The idea that ordinary citizens hold the power has no meaning when the political class circles the wagons and the press looks the other way while the president accumulates more power and control.
That is where we have been, but hopefully, not where we are going. Their liberty DNA kicking in, more and more citizens, including some in the media, finally are expressing shock and anger at how big, clumsy and crooked our government is. They are welcome to the discovery, belated though it is.
For those of us not shocked by the inevitable, there is vindication but no satisfaction. Each example of Obama’s chickens coming home to roost just makes more obvious how much damage he’s already done.
The repair begins by throwing open the doors and windows of Washington. We’ll need a lot of sunshine to disinfect this rot.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) suggested Monday that Democrats use the IRS to overturn Citizens United by passing the DISCLOSE Act or amending the Constitution to restrict political speech
◼ In an appearance on MSNBC, Pelosi said, after conceding the IRS's targeting of conservatives was wrong, that she thought the scandal could be an "opportunity" to put a spotlight on 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organizations that are formed to promote "social well being." - Tony Lee/Breitbart
◼ Holder: I Don't Really Know How Many Times We've Secretly Monitored Reporters - Katie Pavlich/Townhall
◼ Obama Finally Acknowledges IRS Did In Fact Target Conservative Groups - Katie Pavlich/Townhall
White House blaming the Treasury Department for IRS scandal?
◼ Holder: I Don't Really Know How Many Times We've Secretly Monitored Reporters - Katie Pavlich/Townhall
◼ Obama Finally Acknowledges IRS Did In Fact Target Conservative Groups - Katie Pavlich/Townhall
White House blaming the Treasury Department for IRS scandal?
Labels:
ABUSE OF POWER,
AP,
Freedom of Speech,
IRS,
Nancy Pelosi,
Scandals
IRS ASKED FOR FACEBOOK POSTS, READING LISTS, PRIVATE THOUGHTS
◼ A POLITICO review of documents from 11 tea party and conservative groups that the IRS scrutinized in 2012 shows the agency wanted to know everything — in some cases, it even seemed curious what members were thinking. The review included interviews with groups or their representatives from Hawaii, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas and elsewhere. - David Nather, Tarini Parti, Byron Tau/Politico
Several of the groups were asked for résumés of top officers and descriptions of interviews with the media. One group was asked to provide “minutes of all board meetings since your creation.”
Some of the letters asked for copies of the groups’ Web pages, blog posts and social media postings — making some tea party members worry they’d be punished for their tweets or Facebook comments by their followers...
Chris Littleton, one of the co-founders of the Ohio Liberty Coalition, said the group got a grilling from the IRS when it submitted its application, in letters the group has posted on its website. The IRS also gave him so much grief when he tried to apply for tax-exempt status for another group, American Junto, that “we just gave up on it,” he said.
But when he submitted an application for a third group — Ohioans for Health Care Freedom, now renamed Ohio Rising — “it went through just fine,” Littleton said. “They never asked a single set of questions.”
◼ Chilling: IRS reportedly demanded list of high school and college students from conservative group - Twitchy
◼ Document: IRS ordered conservative educational group to turn over a list of high school and college students it trained...IRS Inspector General report listed seven questions the agency should never have asked, but this wasn't one of them - Daily Mail
◼ A Brief History of Slimy Dem Snoops and Dumpster Divers - Michelle Malkin
The latest confession by Obama IRS officials that they targeted tea party, pro-Constitution and pro-Israel groups isn’t a sign of “rogue” behavior. It’s tyrannical Democratic business as usual.
◼ LEFT-WING GROUPS SAILED PAST THE POLITICIZED IRS - John Hayward/Human Events @Doc_o
◼ IRS IG Report Could Not Determine Who Was Involved in Creating Criteria - Elizabeth Sheld/Breitbart
Several of the groups were asked for résumés of top officers and descriptions of interviews with the media. One group was asked to provide “minutes of all board meetings since your creation.”
Some of the letters asked for copies of the groups’ Web pages, blog posts and social media postings — making some tea party members worry they’d be punished for their tweets or Facebook comments by their followers...
Chris Littleton, one of the co-founders of the Ohio Liberty Coalition, said the group got a grilling from the IRS when it submitted its application, in letters the group has posted on its website. The IRS also gave him so much grief when he tried to apply for tax-exempt status for another group, American Junto, that “we just gave up on it,” he said.
But when he submitted an application for a third group — Ohioans for Health Care Freedom, now renamed Ohio Rising — “it went through just fine,” Littleton said. “They never asked a single set of questions.”
◼ Chilling: IRS reportedly demanded list of high school and college students from conservative group - Twitchy
◼ Document: IRS ordered conservative educational group to turn over a list of high school and college students it trained...IRS Inspector General report listed seven questions the agency should never have asked, but this wasn't one of them - Daily Mail
My new column w/chock full of links: A Brief History of Slimy Dem Snoops and Dumpster Divers ==> michellemalkin.com/2013/05/15/a-b…
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) May 15, 2013
◼ A Brief History of Slimy Dem Snoops and Dumpster Divers - Michelle Malkin
The latest confession by Obama IRS officials that they targeted tea party, pro-Constitution and pro-Israel groups isn’t a sign of “rogue” behavior. It’s tyrannical Democratic business as usual.
◼ LEFT-WING GROUPS SAILED PAST THE POLITICIZED IRS - John Hayward/Human Events @Doc_o
◼ IRS IG Report Could Not Determine Who Was Involved in Creating Criteria - Elizabeth Sheld/Breitbart
Labels:
ABUSE OF POWER,
Investigations,
IRS,
Obama's Enemies List,
Scandals,
Tea Party
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Stewart Tears Apart Obama: You Can’t Keep Saying You Found Out About News At The Same Time As Us!
◼ Jon Stewart tonight targeted President Obama for his reactions to major administration scandals in the past week and how every time there’s a big news item involving his administration, Obama always seems to have found out about the news at the same time as the rest of the public did. - Josh Feldman/Mediaite
◼ You Can’t Keep Saying You Found Out About News At the Same Time As Us! - FOX
Stewart mocked the blasé manner in which Obama answered the question, and pointed out that this is not the first time Obama has claimed to find out news at the same time as the rest of us. Stewart highlighted how Obama said the same thing about the Fast & Furious ATF gun-running scandal and the time when a low-flying plane freaked out everyone in New York City. And Jay Carney admitted that’s the same way Obama found out about the Justice Department seizing AP phone records.
Stewart quipped, “I wouldn’t be surprised if President Obama learned Osama bin Laden had been killed when he saw himself announce it on television.”
Labels:
AP,
Benghazi,
crisis,
Investigations,
IRS,
Jon Stewart,
President/Candidate Obama,
Scandals
Gov. Brown’s May budget revision balances only by ignoring unfunded liabilities
◼ link - Katy Grimes/Cal Watchdog
Brown is sticking to big spending on the controversial Common Core education program funding, primarily because of the influx of federal funds coming in if the state adopts the program. “$1 billion for the adoption of Common Core standards puts California in the forefront,” Brown said. Most Californians know just how important it is for California politicians to be at the forefront of every issue in America.
But Common Core is merely another one-size-fits-all, expensive national education standard that purports to be a fix-all to the continually dropping literacy scores — a problem created by the original education national standard.
“We have to get more kids through school in less time,” Brown said about higher education. “We’ve got 10 million immigrants [nationally]. We’ve got to get them legalized and into our schools.”
Other big spending programs include the Affordable Care Act, which will dramatically expand California’s publicly funded Medi-Cal health care program for low-income individuals. The ACA is another federal program Brown has embraced.
“California’s economy is not recovering at its full potential, weighed down, in part, by policy decisions made in Sacramento, like tax increases, the cap-and-trade program, and other regulatory burdens on state businesses. Regrettably, we are sending the wrong message to job creators in today’s May Revise,” Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, R-Camarillo, told media after Brown’s press conference.
◼ Jerry Brown to propose $1 billion for common core education standards
◼ As predicted, pensions eating up Prop. 30 education funds
◼ Gov. Brown chided for plan to borrow from cap-and-trade funds - LA Times
Gov. Jerry Brown sparked controversy Tuesday when he proposed to shift $500 million out of the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and loan it to the state general fund as part of the effort to balance the budget.
Brown is sticking to big spending on the controversial Common Core education program funding, primarily because of the influx of federal funds coming in if the state adopts the program. “$1 billion for the adoption of Common Core standards puts California in the forefront,” Brown said. Most Californians know just how important it is for California politicians to be at the forefront of every issue in America.
But Common Core is merely another one-size-fits-all, expensive national education standard that purports to be a fix-all to the continually dropping literacy scores — a problem created by the original education national standard.
“We have to get more kids through school in less time,” Brown said about higher education. “We’ve got 10 million immigrants [nationally]. We’ve got to get them legalized and into our schools.”
Other big spending programs include the Affordable Care Act, which will dramatically expand California’s publicly funded Medi-Cal health care program for low-income individuals. The ACA is another federal program Brown has embraced.
“California’s economy is not recovering at its full potential, weighed down, in part, by policy decisions made in Sacramento, like tax increases, the cap-and-trade program, and other regulatory burdens on state businesses. Regrettably, we are sending the wrong message to job creators in today’s May Revise,” Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, R-Camarillo, told media after Brown’s press conference.
◼ Jerry Brown to propose $1 billion for common core education standards
◼ As predicted, pensions eating up Prop. 30 education funds
Jerry Brown shifting $500M from CA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to help balance budget, greens :( lat.ms/17uuZcF
— Wash. Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) May 15, 2013
◼ Gov. Brown chided for plan to borrow from cap-and-trade funds - LA Times
Gov. Jerry Brown sparked controversy Tuesday when he proposed to shift $500 million out of the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and loan it to the state general fund as part of the effort to balance the budget.
Labels:
Budget,
California,
Common Core,
Education,
Mandates,
Pensions,
Prop 30,
Spending,
Unions
Media turn on Obama in response to AP probe
◼ link - Charlie Spiering/Washington Examiner @charlesspiering
Watch the video below for reactions from Christopher Hayes, Andrea Mitchell, Chuck Todd, Ron Fournier, John King, Piers Morgan, Howard Fineman and Carl Bernstein.
◼ NBC Compares Obama Admin to the Nixon Era - Washington Free Beacon ◼ Eric Holder Recuses Himself From Leak Investigation - Katie Pavlich/Townhall ◼ Discussion at Lucianne Fox News is reporting his recusal comes partially because Holder has testified about potential national security leaks surrounding a May 7, 2012 Associated Press story. ◼ Under sweeping subpoenas, Justice Department obtained AP phone records in leak investigation - Sari Horwitz/Washington Post ◼ Discussion at Lucianne
Labels:
AP,
DOJ,
Freedom of The Press,
Investigations,
President/Candidate Obama,
Scandals
Sen. Boxer’s latest take on Benghazi: “Mirror, mirror, who cut the funding for diplomatic security”?
Boxer Uses Snow White to Blame GOP for Benghazi
◼ On the Senate floor earlier today, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - Erika Johnsen/HotAir
◼ On the Senate floor earlier today, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) - Erika Johnsen/HotAir
Guest on The Glenn Beck Program contradicts Obama’s claim that he only found out about IRS scandal on Friday
◼ During a press conference... President Obama claimed he only found out about the IRS scandal on Friday, but Jay Sekulow told Glenn on his TV show that the White House Counsel’s office was notified of the IRS issue three weeks ago. - glennbeck.com
◼ BOMBSHELL… ABC Analyst: West Wing Of White House Authorized IRS-Gate Targeting (Video) - Gateway Pundit
From the video:
Trey Hardin: “I will tell you this on the IRS front. I’ve worked in this town for over 20 years in the White House and on Capitol Hill and I can say with a very strong sense of certainty that there are people very close to this president that not only knew what the IRS were doing but authorized it. It simply just does not happen at an agency level like that without political advisers likely in the West Wing certainly connected to the president’s ongoing campaign organization.”
◼ OBAMA'S SIGNATURE MOVE: UNSEALING PRIVATE RECORDS
Labels:
ABUSE OF POWER,
IRS,
President/Candidate Obama,
Tea Party
NFRW Political Briefing: What You Need to Know About the Senate Immigration Bill: Fourth (And Last) in a Series
In the past three weeks, the first three parts of the Senate immigration bill released by the "gang of eight" last month have been analyzed. The bill is divided into four parts, dealing with border security, immigrant visas, interior enforcement, and non-immigrant visa programs. Last week, Title III of the bill, concerning interior enforcement, was analyzed. This week, Title IV, the last title of the bill, will be analyzed, as it deals with changes to existing law concerning non-immigrant visas. Title IV is the most innocuous section of the bill, primarily because it does not deal with illegal immigration. Talking points are below:
The first type of visa Title IV covers is the H-1B visa, which allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations for a duration of 3 years and up to a maximum of 6 years. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree (658).
This Title calls for current law on H-1B's to be amended so that the exact number of applicants for H-1B visas accepted per year will be determined by how many were granted the previous fiscal year, multiplied by the High Skilled Jobs Demand Index for a given fiscal year. However, the number of H-1B visas granted will not exceed 10,000 more or less than the previous fiscal year (659).
Calculating criteria aside, the bill states that in total, no more than 110,000 H-1B visas will be granted for the first fiscal year after the date this bill is enacted (658). For any fiscal year after that, the number of H-1B visas granted shall not be less than 110,000 or more than 180,000 (659).
An employer who sponsors an H-1B applicant must pay a $500 fee to the STEM program, which stands for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, and that fund will be established as a separate account apart from the general treasury (667-668).
According to section 4212 of this Title, the number of non-immigrant nurses allowed to apply for visas to work in health professional shortage areas will be reduced from 500 to 300 (688).
Ninety days after this bill is passed, the Secretary of Labor will set up a public website where open positions can be posted for job applications from H-1B holders (703).
This Title calls for cutting down the number of H1-B and L non-immigrants that are hired by American employers. (N.B. An L non-immigrant visa status allows someone who works for an international company with offices in the US to work here.) It says that the number of H1-B non-immigrants and L non-immigrants working for an American employer may not exceed "75 percent of the total number of employees for fiscal year 2015...65 percent of the total number of employees, for fiscal year 2016...[and] 50 percent of the total number of employees, for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2016" (715).
The Title also concerns the W visa program, which is a program for lower-skilled workers. The Title states that an employer can only hire a W visa recipient if they cannot find an eligible US citizen to fill the open position. The Title also stipulates the kind of advertising the employer has to use in order to find appropriate workers who are "ready, willing, and able to fill such a position..." (797). The W visa status can last for the duration of three years, and may be extended in three year intervals. Overall, this Title of the bill seeks to reduce the number of W visas granted over time.
◼ National Federation of Republican Women
◼ NFRW Political Briefing: What You Need to Know About the Senate Immigration Bill's Border Security Provisions: First in a Series
◼ NFRW Political Briefing: What You Need to Know About the Senate Immigration Bill: Second in a Series
◼ NFRW Political Briefing: What You Need to Know About the Senate Immigration Bill: Third in a Series
◼ NFRW Political Briefing: What You Need to Know About the Senate Immigration Bill: Fourth (And Last) in a Series
The first type of visa Title IV covers is the H-1B visa, which allows US employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations for a duration of 3 years and up to a maximum of 6 years. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree (658).
This Title calls for current law on H-1B's to be amended so that the exact number of applicants for H-1B visas accepted per year will be determined by how many were granted the previous fiscal year, multiplied by the High Skilled Jobs Demand Index for a given fiscal year. However, the number of H-1B visas granted will not exceed 10,000 more or less than the previous fiscal year (659).
Calculating criteria aside, the bill states that in total, no more than 110,000 H-1B visas will be granted for the first fiscal year after the date this bill is enacted (658). For any fiscal year after that, the number of H-1B visas granted shall not be less than 110,000 or more than 180,000 (659).
An employer who sponsors an H-1B applicant must pay a $500 fee to the STEM program, which stands for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, and that fund will be established as a separate account apart from the general treasury (667-668).
According to section 4212 of this Title, the number of non-immigrant nurses allowed to apply for visas to work in health professional shortage areas will be reduced from 500 to 300 (688).
Ninety days after this bill is passed, the Secretary of Labor will set up a public website where open positions can be posted for job applications from H-1B holders (703).
This Title calls for cutting down the number of H1-B and L non-immigrants that are hired by American employers. (N.B. An L non-immigrant visa status allows someone who works for an international company with offices in the US to work here.) It says that the number of H1-B non-immigrants and L non-immigrants working for an American employer may not exceed "75 percent of the total number of employees for fiscal year 2015...65 percent of the total number of employees, for fiscal year 2016...[and] 50 percent of the total number of employees, for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2016" (715).
The Title also concerns the W visa program, which is a program for lower-skilled workers. The Title states that an employer can only hire a W visa recipient if they cannot find an eligible US citizen to fill the open position. The Title also stipulates the kind of advertising the employer has to use in order to find appropriate workers who are "ready, willing, and able to fill such a position..." (797). The W visa status can last for the duration of three years, and may be extended in three year intervals. Overall, this Title of the bill seeks to reduce the number of W visas granted over time.
◼ National Federation of Republican Women
◼ NFRW Political Briefing: What You Need to Know About the Senate Immigration Bill's Border Security Provisions: First in a Series
◼ NFRW Political Briefing: What You Need to Know About the Senate Immigration Bill: Second in a Series
◼ NFRW Political Briefing: What You Need to Know About the Senate Immigration Bill: Third in a Series
◼ NFRW Political Briefing: What You Need to Know About the Senate Immigration Bill: Fourth (And Last) in a Series
Labels:
Federal Legislation,
Illegal Immigration,
NFRW
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