Thursday, January 31, 2013

Hagel: Iran Has Legitimate, Elected Government

Oh dear God, this man is an imbecile:

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Jerry Sandusky "sex with male escorts" angle emerging on the Bob Menendez story?

There are no details given. Just this rather curious headline from the NY Post:
Feds raid office of doc who allegedly provided male escorts to Sen. Menendez
Yes, you read that correctly. There is no 'fe' at the beginning of that gender designation.

Added to the already salacious "underage hooker" side of the story, this Menendez scandal promises to even eclipse Weiner-gate.

Another development from last night. It was revealed on Fox News that the resort where Menendez stayed at in the Dominican Republic where the sex-capades took place, was owned by "Sugar Barons." Of course, he cast numerous votes on sugar subsidies.

A number of political blogs are already speculating on a Menendez replacement. Republican Governor Chris Christie gets to appoint. Will it be Menendez's 2012 Republican opponent Joe Kyrillos, some sweet revenge for the GOP. Or, more likely a safer choice like State Senator Tom Kean, Jr. or former Republican Governor Christie Todd-Whitman?

Sources: Obama Has Gone Skeet Shooting 'Twice,' 'Hated it'

From Fox News:
News of President Obama's apparently long-secret fondness for skeet shooting came as a surprise to those who say they have witnessed the president's "awkward" attempts at pinging the (clay) pigeons.

This has only happened with the president at Camp David, at most, a couple of times, according to a source who says he has been to the retreat on a half-dozen visits with Obama.

"The only time he shot skeet was for President's Cup," said the source, referring to a shooting competition tradition involving the presidential Marine guards. "I was there. He stayed for about five minutes, and couldn't leave fast enough."

Skeet shooting "is very hard," said the source. "Especially for someone not used to guns ... He couldn't have been more uncomfortable."
President Obama
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Muslim Rapist Avoids Jail Because He "Didn’t Know" Sex With 13-Year-Olds Is Illegal

Since when is ignorance of the law a viable defense when it comes to crimes? Apparently in the United Kingdom it is.

Adil Rashid, an 18-year-old Muslim man, met a thirteen-year-old girl on Facebook last year. After texting her for two months, they met in Nottingham. Rashid proceeded to rape the girl and was subsequently arrested.

In his defense, Rashid claimed that he simply "did not know" it was illegal to rape minors. Rashid stated that "he went to an Islamic faith school where he was taught that women are worthless," and thus consent was not necessary.

He further argued that the thirteen-year-old had "tempted" and "seduced" him in person, leading to his rape of her.
Rashid
Shockingly, the defense worked. Judge Michael Stokes handed down a suspended sentence on January 25th. Stokes reasoned that "because Rashid was ‘passive’ and ‘lacking assertiveness,' sending him to jail might cause him ‘more damage than good.'"

He added, "Although chronologically 18, it is quite clear from the reports that you are very naive and immature when it comes to sexual matters."
Judge Stokes
The judge concluded, however, that Rashid "knew what he was doing was wrong." He explained, in part, "I accept this was a case where the girl was quite willing to have sexual activity with you. But the law is there to protect young girls, even though they are perfectly happy to engage in sexual activity."

Why he would say this and get rid of jail time is anyone's guess.

Update: It is not immediately apparent if the rape was statutory or forced.

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Jimmy Lee Dykes Identified as Hostage Taker in Alabama

From USA Today:
Police, SWAT teams and FBI negotiators kept vigil Wednesday near an underground bunker in rural Alabama where a gunman was holding hostage a 5-year-old boy he had snatched from a school bus Tuesday after killing the driver, authorities and neighbors said.

A law enforcement official who is not authorized to speak to the media identified the man as 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes, a retired truck driver and Navy veteran. Neighbors said he was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to face charges for pointing a gun at residents last month in a dispute over a speed bump.

Dale County Sheriff's Office reports Dykes is connected to the anti-government survivalist movement.

Patricia Smith, who lives across the street from Dykes in the rural community in far southeastern Alabama, said her children had been on the bus about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when the shooting occurred. They told her that two other children had just been dropped off when Dykes stepped onto the bus and grabbed the door so that the driver couldn't close it.
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Brian Ballard: Getting to Know Florida’s Electorate

Lobbyist and Republican strategist Brian Ballard points out that, in the weeks and months leading up to the 2012 election, both the Romney and Obama Presidential campaigns spent more than a little time campaigning in the Sunshine State—and that is no accident. Florida is one of the nation’s most significant swing states, its impact perhaps unparalleled outside of Ohio. What is more, the state is large, rich, and diverse—with 10 major media markets and a melting pot of cultures and demographics, the state’s political inclinations can prove difficult to pin down.

All of this is very important as the Republican Party casts its gaze toward the 2016 race for the White House. Obviously, many factors of the 2016 political landscape are still unknown. With that said, one thing is hard to deny: Winning Florida is crucially important, and, if the GOP wishes to stage a comeback in the next presidential race, winning Florida would be a huge step in the right direction.

Not Just Senior Citizens

There is a cliché about Florida, held by many non-residents of the State, that Florida is—to be totally blunt—one big retirement community. Indeed, a lot of the discussions about Florida’s significance in the 2012 election hinged on the notion that the state’s voters are mostly senior citizens, concerned only with issues like Medicare and Social Security. This represents a misguided view of what Florida’s electoral makeup is really like, however—and in fact, the largest age group of Florida voters is the 30-49 group. Succeeding in Florida starts by accepting the fact that the Sunshine State’s voters are not all retirees.

The I-4 Corridor is Critical

The I-4 corridor represents a couple of the state’s big media markets, and, more to the point, it represents a huge swathe of the Florida electorate—44 percent of all registered voters, in fact. Obviously, then, this area is important for any political campaign seeking to succeed in Florida, and it tends to be a promising area for Republicans, with about a quarter of the state’s GOP voters located in the area. The corridor has many young voters, and it is predominantly white, but with significant Hispanic populations—all pertinent demographic facts for political strategists to consider.

Hispanic Voters are Independent

Much is made about winning over the many Hispanic voters in Florida—and this is not without reason. There is a large Hispanic population in Florida, and, politically speaking, it is a fairly even split, with Hispanics making up 13 percent of Florida’s Democrats, 11 percent of its Republicans. What is critical is that Hispanics make up the largest population of independent voters in the Sunshine State—so the idea of winning over Hispanics is hardly a pipe dream, for either political party.

Ultimately, Brian Ballard says that Florida is next to impossible to summarize or to fully understand, but there are certainly important demographic and political trends to consider. Understanding Florida is the first step toward winning Florida. According to Brian Ballard, that is a lesson that the Republican Party will do well to remember in 2016.

Veteran lobbyist Brian Ballard knows Florida politics inside and out. For more information on the expert check out this site.

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Video: Gee, Um.... Isn't Al Gore a Horrible Hypocrite?



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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Carly McKinney Twitter Pictures

Carly McKinney, 23, was placed on paid leave after posting these pictures on Twitter under the name CarlyCrunkBear.




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CarlyCrunkBear Pictures


Carly McKinney, 23, was placed on paid leave after posting these pictures on Twitter under the name CarlyCrunkBear.






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Colorado Teacher Twitter Pictures

Carly McKinney, 23, was placed on paid leave after posting these pictures on Twitter under the name CarlyCrunkBear.




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Whoops: US Economy Shrinks in Q4 of 2012

From CNBC:
The U.S. economy posted a stunning drop of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter, defying expectations for slow growth and possibly providing incentive for more Federal Reserve stimulus.

The economy shrank from October through December for the first time since the recession ended, hurt by the biggest cut in defense spending in 40 years, fewer exports and sluggish growth in company stockpiles.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. That's a sharp slowdown from the 3.1 percent growth rate in the July-September quarter.

The surprise contraction could raise fears about the economy's ability to handle tax increases that took effect in January and looming spending cuts.
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BREAKING... Bob Menendez to resign? Christie to appoint replacement Senator. Could it be this man?

The Bob Menendez - underage Hooker scandal is moving at lightening speed. The New Jersey Senator unexpectedly left a major Senate immigration press conference early yesterday, not taking any questions. He scampered away from the conference without a word. Now, a day later, news that Menendez's good friend, Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgin's home and office were raided yesterday by the FBI. Agents reportedly were searching for documents related to alleged unpaid IRS penalities.

Also today, reporters, including journalists from some major media outlets, peppered Menendez with questions about the growing scandal. It is one thing to be rumored to have had an affair with a prostitute outside of the U.S. Quite another if said prostitute was underage. Even the normally cover-up for liberals at any cost, Wonkette remarks:
we do know that when you are having an orgy pile, and you are a United States Senator — even if you are out of the country! — you should really try your best not to f*ck children.
An imminent resignation by Menendez?

Speculation already surfacing as to who Republican Governor Chris Christie would appoint as a replacement.

Could it be this man?

New Jersey State Senator, and son of former moderate Republican two-term Governor Thomas Kean, Thomas Kean, Jr.

The younger Kean has shown a much more defined pro-liberty, almost Tea Party like record as a leading voice in the State Senate; good on guns, staunchly anti-tax.

Governor Patrick Appoints Mo Cowan to US Senate as Placeholder


Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has appointed longtime friend and former chief of staff William "Mo" Cowan to serve as a placeholder in the United States Senate as John Kerry takes over as Secretary of State and the independent minded voters of the Commonwealth have five months to decide on their next Senator. 

The Governor reportedly wanted someone who was out of the box and hadn't run for political office before, and he found that man in Mr. Cowan, who will not seek full election to the U.S. Senate after his interim term is up, and who left the Patrick administration wanting to pursue a private sector career. 

Mr. Cowan will join Tim Scott, who was also recently appointed to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina, as the only African-Americans in the prestigious legislative body and the first time two have served together in history.

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Israel Strikes Syrian Convoy Entering Lebanon


HT: Hot Air

One of the darkest fears for Israeli and American alike is that with Assad's regime crumbling, he might transfer his conventional weapons and perhaps even chemical agents to allies in Lebanon or Iran. We have seen this with countless media reports on Israel's government preparing to prevent this from occurring.

Well, with the IDF dramatically increasing surveillance over Lebanon the past couple of days, we just received news this morning of an Israeli air strike on a Syrian convoy allegedly transporting anti-aircraft missiles across the border into the Cedar State, and likely into Hezbollah's welcoming arms.

While it cannot be confirmed what weapons were being transported, or even where the air strike occurred (some are reporting Lebanon, while others within Syria), we do know the Israeli's did attack and destroy a convoy likely transporting arms and that this could possibly lead to al-Assad attempting to widening the war.

Much of the news coming out right now is contradictory, as is common with the fog of war, but I'm sure we will learn the facts in the coming hours, which will probably be friendly to Israel, as they have been monitoring the Syrian situation for years and knew that they had to act to defend their interests and sabotage their foes.

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Alabama Hostage Standoff in Midland City

 A shame. A six year old is apparently been taken hostage:

Michael Creel, who lives on the road where the shooting occured, said a girl told him that the shooter boarded the bus and told the driver that he needed two kids "between the ages of 6 and 8."
Dykes, for his part, was scheduled to be in court Wednesday for a menacing charge, the report said.
Police with SWAT teams and negotiators were at the rural property. Residents in the surrounding area were evacuated and a bomb squad was at the scene, the WSFA.com reported.

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Hadiya Pendleton, Young Lady Who Performed at Obama Inauguration, Shot Dead in Chicago

From CBS:
A teenage girl–an honor student who had just performed at President Obama’s inaugural–was gunned down Tuesday afternoon in the Kenwood neighborhood, just blocks from the high school she attended.

CBS 2’s Mike Parker reports the victim, 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, was taking shelter from the rain with a group of 10 to 12 teenagers under a canopy in Vivian Gordon Harsh Park on the 4500 block of South Oakenwald Avenue around 2:30 p.m., when someone jumped a fence, ran up to them, and opened fire.

Just days before, Hadiya performed with her high school band at President Obama’s inauguration.

The park is near King College Prep High School — where Pendleton was an honor student, volleyball player, and majorette.
Pendleton
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16-Year-Old Hacked to Death with Swords in Central London

This is more than a little disturbing. From the Telegraph:
The boy, who has not been named, was heard screaming for his life as he was attacked in Lupus street, Pimlico, shortly before 7pm yesterday, eyewitnesses have claimed.

He was rushed to hospital where he died from his wounds, becoming the first teenager to be killed in London this year.

Scotland Yard have launched a murder inquiry and said that they are keeping an “open mind” on the motive for the attack.

Witnesses told the Evening Standard that teenager’s mother ran up to the police cordon as paramedics tried to save him.

Steve Russell, 46, a project manager, He said: “She was screaming with grief and shouting her son’s name but they wouldn’t let her through.”
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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

MSNBC Guest: Maybe Welfare Doesn't Solve all of Society's Ills


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Bus Driver Shot, Child Taken Hostage in Midland City, Alabama

From WSFA 12:
The Dale County Sheriff's Department has established a command post location at the intersection of 231 North and Private Road 1539 in Dale County, Alabama following a shooting.

Multiple agencies are present assisting with the incident where multiple reports are indicating that a bus driver was shot and a student on-board the bus was taken hostage. The incident started around 3:40pm Tuesday near Destiny Church.

Both north and southbound traffic on U.S. Hwy. 231 near the church have been rerouted to keep commuters away from the area.

The Sheriff's Department is confirming that one adult male was shot and the suspect is not in custody. They would not confirm a child hostage situation.

Authorities with the Dale County School System and the Ozark City School System have cancelled classes for Wednesday, January 30.
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Caleb Moore Crashes at X Games, Aspen 2013 (Video)

While competing in this year's X Games, Caleb Moore crashed his snowmobile. He is in critical condition with bleeding around his heart. Sadly, he is not expected to make it.

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Report: A-Rod Took HGH from 2009-2012

At this point, I seriously doubt that Alex Rodriguez will ever see inside the Hall of Fame unless he buys a ticket. From the Miami New Times:
Open the neat spreadsheet and scroll past the listing of local developers, prominent attorneys, and personal trainers. You'll find a lengthy list of nicknames: Mostro, Al Capone, El Cacique, Samurai, Yukon, Mohamad, Felix Cat, and D.R.

Then check out the main column, where their real names flash like an all-star roster of professional athletes with Miami ties: San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera, Oakland A's hurler Bartolo Colón, pro tennis player Wayne Odesnik, budding Cuban superstar boxer Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz. There's even the New York Yankees' $275 million man himself, Alex Rodriguez, who has sworn he stopped juicing a decade ago.

Read further and you'll find more than a dozen other baseball pros, from former University of Miami ace Cesar Carrillo to Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal to Washington Nationals star Gio Gonzalez. Notable coaches are there too, including UM baseball conditioning guru Jimmy Goins.

The names are all included in an extraordinary batch of records from Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic tucked into a two-story office building just a hard line drive's distance from the UM campus. They were given to New Times by an employee who worked at Biogenesis before it closed last month and its owner abruptly disappeared. The records are clear in describing the firm's real business: selling performance-enhancing drugs, from human growth hormone (HGH) to testosterone to anabolic steroids.
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Picture of Obama Skeet Shooting an Obvious Fake (With Original, Non-Shopped Image Included)

For some reason The New Republic was desperate to show President Obama skeet shooting. Perhaps it was to back up Mr. Obama's quote that he goes skeet shooting "all the time," with little evidence. Perhaps it was to show the President as an outdoorsman. Whatever the reasoning, they ran with a "scoop" that was clearly fake.

Here's the tweet they ran:
Here's a closer pic of the President:
Despite the fact that it looks shoddily put together, my instant reaction was that it looked like the average "Obama admiring his golf shot" pose. And guess what: it is. Here's the original picture:
That's some great reporting, New Republic. Great reporting.

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Toure: Abortion is AWESOME!



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What is a Pyramid?

For our less acquainted readers:
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Finding the Right Hotel Supplies

In today's economy, you want to make sure that you can do everything you can to get your business into the shape it needs to be to succeed. There are so many ways to get ahead, especially if you have the business savvy to know what your competitors are doing. Make sure that you have the best distributors for what you need, like PeachSuite Hotel Supply, which can get you the resources you need all in one convenient location.

You will be able to find the right Hotel Supplies Online by using a company that you trust. A site that gives you all that you need can be a great way to buy supplies all together and quickly. The ease can be a great thing, especially when you are building up your inventory. Finding the right Hotel Amenities Supplier can be just what you were looking for. 

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Debt Relief and the Law

Let's face it. The economy is not as strong as it should be and many people of all walks of life have been struggling. Taking on debt seems to be the normal thing to do as people are starting out, but that same debt can become the burden that drags you down. Thousands of dollars can certainly add up over time, especially when dealing with interest and collection agencies.

This is why a good attorney can be a great move for you. Do your research to find out what your options are and how you and your family can prepare for the next step. Finding a debt relief lawyer could be the step that you need to take. An attorney that will fight for you, like Sheila Cockburn, can be a great chance to set the record straight and clear your credit while also making amends with your creditors. Make sure that you have someone that you trust and that is there for you. It could be one of the best decisions of your life.

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Monday, January 28, 2013

When Should You Take Someone to Court?


The court system was created to help the citizens of this country. Understanding when to use the system and when to work it out between the two of you could possibly save you hundreds of dollars and tons of time.

Work it Out Without Court

There are some occurrences that do not need court involvement. Immature citizens with a vendetta for someone may want to go, regardless of the frivolous reason. However, more often than not, an alternative dispute resolution of some sort will keep everybody happy.

A Simple Dispute

Going to court doesn’t automatically make unreasonable people reasonable. It doesn’t work that way. Simple arguments with family members, neighbors or friends do not need court involvement. Learn how to maturely come to an agreement, or simply agree to disagree.

Small Misunderstandings

A simple misunderstanding between you and someone you work for does not need court involvement. You thought you were getting paid $20 an hour, but it was actually $20 for the project? Talk to the client about it. See if you can come to a middle ground. If not, cut your losses and move on.

Anything Worth Less than $500

If you want to sue someone for anything less than $500, forget about it. The sheer stress, time and money that is involved in the court process will far surpass the cost of that it.

Take it to the Courts

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are those that try to avoid the courts if at all possible. Unfortunately, there are times that coming to an agreement is impossible, or court involvement is the only way to feel safe.

A Fraudulent Employer

If you’re a contractor or a freelancer an your employer has scammed you out of thousands of dollars, you may want to get the courts involved. Losing a large sum of money that you were counting one can throw your entire world upside down. There’s nothing wrong with getting the court system involved in that.

To Protect Yourself or Your Child

If you or your child feels threatened or endangered by someone, the courts are a great way to keep you safe. You can get a restraining order as a measure to keep the threatening person away from you.

You may not need the courts involved in everything, but there are certainly times that it is beneficial to use. Make sure to use wisdom and common sense when making the decision to take someone to court. It will be a long, tiresome process and you need to know that what you’re doing is worth all the hassle.


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New Year, New Health Care Policies?


For the past four years, national health care has been at the forefront of political debates with the election of Barack Obama as president and a Democratic Congress that passed the Affordable Care Act early in 2010. 

Just under three years later, America is getting a chance to see what is in the bill.

It is a new year, and although the ACA remains controversial among the American electorate there are some revisions to health care that have met with approval from many people, regardless of party lines.

Policies already online that will get more attention in 2013 include the ability to permit care based on pre-existing condition or gender, and the ability for a child to stay on a parent’s medical insurance policy until they turn 26 years old.

The biggest health care changes haven’t come in actual care as of yet. According to healthcare.gov, the government's health-care website, the big change will hit your pocketbook with the implementation of an increased Medicare tax from 1.45 to 2.35 percent for high-income earners ($200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples). Those same high earners will also be taxed 3.8 percent on unearned income (worker benefits, inheritance money, etc.)

This money will go toward funding some programs key to the Medicaid portion of care. The Children’s Health Insurance Program will get two more years of funding for states. CHIP gives insurance to lower-income children who do not qualify for Medicaid, and that increased funding will come with increased federal funding to state Medicaid programs that give preventive services.

The Consumer Operated and Oriented Program is a non-profit health insurer that is supposed to come online by January 2014, with the idea that small business owners band together to offer health insurance for their employers by becoming a bigger pool, rather than an individual company offering individual plans for individual customers.  You may have heard about this in the news as an Affordable Insurance Exchange.

Sound confusing? As the year continues, things will start to fall into place. According to the federal government’s health care website, healthcare.gov, hospitals, doctors and care providers will earn a flat fee for services provided rather than a fee for each test or procedure performed. This has attracted some controversy in the fear that it will decrease payments to doctors and care providers for their services and maybe drive them away from the profession toward other jobs that would pay more money. After all, you have to make a living, true?

With so many changes coming to the health-care system in the next year, companies may be wise to use all avenues available to make things easier. Find ways to save money by comparing insurance policies. Utilize a healthcare financial services company that deals in this sort of business, to help companies find ways to save money and uncover unclaimed health funds.

The Affordable Care Act may or may not turn out to be affordable. Time will tell. What we do know in the next year is some of the questions will get answers. How you as a company approach the answers remains to be seen.


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French, Malian Soldiers Enter Timbuktu

HT: ABC News

The French-led intervention into the Malian conflict has yielded its greatest victory thus far: the successful entrance and Islamist evacuation of the ancient trade city of Timbuktu, grounded by Malian soldiers and backed by French helicopters and paratroopers.

Timbuktu's liberation (note: the city is still not entirely occupied by Malian and French soldiers right now, as the allied force is still clearing it of Islamist fighters, most of whom fled to the desert) spurred celebration among the thousands of Timbuktu refugees residing in Bamako, realizing at long last a hope of freedom returning to their besieged home.

Although still a long way from winning this conflict and beating down the Islamist threat, the joint French-Malian force, with supporting African soldiers, are moving in the right direction - pushing their adversaries deeper into Southern Mali and liberating more cities and villages that have been imprisoned by the Islamist-led Taureg rebellion for nearly a year.

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Facebook Group Calling for Assassination of Sarah Palin Surpasses 3,300 Members

The Facebook group "I hate it when I wake up and Sarah Palin is still alive" has surpassed 3,300 "likes."

The founder explicitly says, "This is a page about venting dislike over Sarah Palin. This is no way advocates an assassination of Sarah Palin in any way, shape or form."

The fact that the group's name specifically wishes for her death is one thing that dispels that ludicrous statement. The second is its main picture, which clearly shows what the group advocates:
Among its posts, the group has angrily denounced Palin and Tea Party members. This post summarizes the majority of the members of the group:
Oddly, the group has also denounced President Obama, calling him "conservative" while posting this video:

Further, the group "liked" the Facebook page "I Hate it When I Wake Up and Michele Bachmann is Still Alive."

Pundit Press has reported on this hate group before. We had reported it at the time for its offensive use of images and calls for Sarah Palin's death. It's sad, but not surprising, to see that nothing has been done to end such foolishness.

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Dutch Queen Beatrix Abdicates Throne

From Chron:
Dutch Queen Beatrix announced Monday that she will abdicate on April 30 after 33 years as head of state, clearing the way for her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, to become the nation's first king in more than a century.

The announcement, in a nationally televised speech, signaled an end to the reign of one of Europe's longest-serving monarchs, whose time on the throne was marked by tumultuous shifts in Dutch society and, more recently, by personal tragedy.

The queen's abdication from the largely ceremonial role had been widely expected, but it is sure to bring an outpouring of sentimental and patriotic feelings among the Dutch, most of whom adore Beatrix. In everyday conversation, many of her subjects refer to her simply by the nickname "Bea."

"Responsibility for our country must now lie in the hands of a new generation," Beatrix said in the speech delivered from her Huis ten Bosch palace just days before she was to turn 75.
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Senators Announce Deal to Overhaul Immigration System

From USA Today:
As President Obama prepares to lay out his immigration plan during a speech in Las Vegas on Tuesday, a group of bipartisan senators has reached agreement on a framework to overhaul the nation's immigration system.

The deal was announced at a press conference Monday at the U.S. Capitol. The plan addresses border security, the ability of businesses to check immigration status and a streamlined process for future immigrants to enter the United States. It also opens a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants currently living in the country.

The next few months will feature heated disagreements in the divided Congress over the details of each of those proposals. But the senators' announcement is another indication that the elusive issue of immigration, which has not been significantly addressed since the Reagan administration, may finally be in line for an overhaul.

Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney among Hispanic voters by 71%-27%, according to surveys of 2012 voters as they left polling places. Hispanics are the fastest growing part of the electorate, and some Republicans worry about their future electoral prospects unless the party improves its standing with Latinos.
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Video: Paul Krugman: What Deficits?


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President Reagan's Challenger Disaster Speech

27 years ago today:

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Berlusconi Praises Mussolini on Holocaust Memorial Day

From the BBC:
Italy's gaffe-prone former premier Silvio Berlusconi has stoked controversy by praising Benito Mussolini on Holocaust Memorial Day - despite Il Duce's anti-Jewish laws.

Mussolini had been wrong to pass anti-Jewish laws but had otherwise been a good leader, said Mr Berlusconi.

He was speaking at a Milan ceremony commemorating victims of the Nazi Holocaust.

He has not ruled out another stint as PM if his party wins polls next month.

His People of Freedom (PDL) party is hoping to form a centre-right coalition government with another party after elections on 24-25 February, but have not named a candidate for prime minister.
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Sunday, January 27, 2013

At Least 245 Dead in Brazilian Nightclub Fire

"Caused by indoor fireworks." From the Daily Mail:
At least 245 people have been killed in a Brazil nightclub after a fire ravaged through the building in the early hours of this morning.

Initial reports were that 90 people perished in the blaze, but the death toll has steadily been rising as more bodies have been found in the packed nightclub.

While the official cause of the blaze has not been stated, local reports claim it was sparked by a firework set off during a band's performance.

The total number of victims is still unknown and there may be hundreds injured, civil police and regional government spokesman Marcelo Arigoni told Radio Gaucha.

He told the radio a truck carrying 70 bodies had arrived at the Municipal Sports Centre, which was being used as an improvised morgue.
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Video: Which News Anchor Mocked Bush for saying “God Bless America”?



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Saturday, January 26, 2013

"Anonymous" Takes Over Gov't Website to Avenge Reddit Co-Founder

From CBS:
The hacker-activist group Anonymous says it hijacked the website of the U.S. Sentencing Commission to avenge the death of Aaron Swartz, an Internet activist who committed suicide.

The website of the commission, an independent agency of the judicial branch, was taken over early Saturday and replaced with a message warning that when Swartz killed himself two weeks ago "a line was crossed."

The message read in part:
Citizens of the world,

Anonymous has observed for some time now the trajectory of justice in the United States with growing concern. We have marked the departure of this system from the noble ideals in which it was born and enshrined. We have seen the erosion of due process, the dilution of constitutional rights, the usurpation of the rightful authority of courts by the "discretion" or prosecutors. We have seen how the law is wielded less and less to uphold justice, and more and more to exercise control, authority and power in the interests of oppression or personal gain."
Anonymous Logo
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Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) Won’t Seek Re-election

From the New York Times:
Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat from Iowa who championed landmark legislation banning discrimination against people with disabilities, said Saturday he would retire and not seek re-election to a sixth term.

The announcement from Mr. Harkin, 73, sets the stage for one of the most competitive Senate races in the country next year. It will be a key battleground in the Republican Party’s quest to win control of the chamber from Democrats.

“To walk away from this position and this power is not an easy thing,” Mr. Harkin told The Des Moines Register on Saturday. “But I think it’s the right thing. And I have two years left. I’m not passing the torch sitting down, it’s a running relay. I intend to be very active over the next two years.”

In a career spanning four decades in Washington, Mr. Harkin pushed for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and was a leading voice in the overhauling of the nation’s health care system. He sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992.
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Four-Star General Mattis Fired Without even a Phone Call over Iran Questions


HT: The Weekly Standard

Just days after the news four-star U.S. Marine General James "mad dog" Mattis, a very outspoken Marine if there ever was any and Commander of the United States Central Command since 2010, was being replaced, we are starting to uncover a very disturbing story behind his removal.

It is being reported that neither the White House nor the Pentagon had the courtesy to even inform the four-star General of his pending removal, or notify him by telephone. Instead, an aide passed along a note to him with the announcement of his replacement while he was travelling on business.

And while that's one of the worse cases of civilian indifference and complete disrespect towards a leading officer I have ever heard of, the reason behind it is even worse - apparently the General made civilian officials uncomfortable with his questioning of Iran, of how we would deal with Iran if the nuclear threat is neutralized, how to deal with their exporting of terror, and nuclear info, etc.

Apparently he was too "hawkish" to tolerate in their opinion... Well, shit... A man who has seen war for decades has a right to be concerned about a nation of theological nutcases developing an nuclear weapon to destroy little Satan (Israel) and big Satan (Oh, the United States), but I guess that's just too sensitive a topic to discuss in Obama's second term.

I am disgusted. It's bad enough the administration is trying to confirm former Senator Hagel, who not only has offended our allies in Israel with his offensive comments and votes against them, but who is an ultimate dove on the issue of Iran, who favors doing nothing to prevent their program... But now removing a four-star General because he was too hawkish? What exactly are they going for here?

Something's fishy in the Potomac...

Author's note: I originally referred to General Mattis as a three-star General, when in fact he is a four star-general... I apologize for the typo and it has been corrected.

Bring the Monster Out

When taxes become destructive they surpass the consent of the governed bending to the will of tyranny.  When regulations strangle competition instead of securing it from evil combinations they become counterproductive and defeat the very purpose for which they were proposed.  When foreign entanglements bleed the nation but do not secure the peace or defeat the enemy they become interventionist vehicles for vested interests.  When spending becomes a hemorrhaging of assists leading to national bankruptcy those who continue to pile debt upon debt seek not the good of the nation but instead its destruction.  When leaders selected to unite instead do all they can to divide they no longer advance the interest of the whole and are instead partisan leaders in a factional fight.

A social contract is one made between a people and their government.  It is an agreement whereby the people surrender certain aspects of their independence for the guarantee of corporate security and the enjoyment of a general welfare.  In the case of most countries this is an unwritten and unconscious arrangement built upon tradition and precedent as in the case of England.  However in the United States we have an actual contract: the Constitution.  This was ratified by the original states, and the subsequent states were formed under it and admitted as full partners to it. 

All contracts may be legitimately changed over time as long as there are mechanisms either within the document or established by the document to do so.  Within our Constitution there is an amendment process, and it has been amended twenty seven times so far.  Whether we agree with those amendments or not they have been legally ratified and accepted becoming part of the document.  However, over the years our government structure has been changed, and our manner of life transformed more by the informal changes of passing generations and subsequent precedent than by the formal amendment process.

Nowhere in the Constitution is the central government given the power to wage unending undeclared war.  Nowhere is the central government given the right to ignore the requirement to protect the states from invasion.  Nowhere is there found any basis for executive orders, signing statements, or bureaucratic regulations having the force of law without legislative action by Congress.

Well-connected rabble rousers now say equality will not be achieved until everything is equal in everybody’s house.  Leveling the playing field has finally thrown off its cloak of deceit and exposed itself as from each according to their ability to each according to their need.  The professional civil rights entrepreneurs who’ve extorted vast amounts of personal wealth with threats of boycotts and demonstrations have been unmasked as the true purveyors of prejudice seeking to keep race and gender differences alive for their own benefit.  Union bosses build political empires using the legally forced dues of members with more money spent on political activity than on member service.  The union bosses ride in limousine comfort from board meetings to political rallies while their members lose jobs.  The pensions of the bosses are golden parachutes while the pensions of the members are underfunded.

The Land of the Free is held captive, locked in a two party system where both parties are merely two heads on the same bird of prey.  Both parties are dedicated to more spending and bigger government.  Both parties exploit gerrymandering of districts and overwhelming corporate donations to ensure a hierarchy of the perpetually re-elected using a seniority system to enhance their power.  Legal barriers exist at every turn to stop any new parties from gaining access that might deflect the central government from its ever increasing growth towards totalitarianism. 

When will enough be enough?  When will citizens rise in their righteous indignation and demand not a New Deal, not a Great Society, a New Frontier or a Fundamentally Transformed America but instead their original deal.  The one we wrested from the hands of the tyrant King George.  The one we’ve fought to establish and defend from Yorktown to Kandahar, and the right of a free people to live as they choose, to work for their own benefits, and choose their own destiny.  Free from the smothering governmental control which has been the lot of most people in most places since the beginning of time.  When will the yoke of tyranny become too heavy to be borne?  What will be the spark that lights the torches and brings the incensed villagers to the gate of the castle demanding, “Bring the monster out!” so that a stake can be driven through the heart of tyranny and freedom can return to the land?

When that day comes what will we the people do?  Will we try to resurrect the government of old that ultimately brought us full circle, or will we be bold enough to forge anew the social contract and design better ways to ensure the beast of tyranny doesn’t once again break the chains of restraint?

Dr. Owens teaches History, Political Science, and Religion.  He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com © 2013 Robert R. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com  Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens

 

 

 

 

Thousands of Liberals Asked About Biggest "A-Ha" of Lives; Top Responses: "LSD," "Pot," and "Stealing"

Yesterday, thousands of members of the site Reddit answered the question, "What was your biggest "holy **** why haven't I done this sooner" moment?" At the time this article was written, the question had an astounding 14,815 answers.

There were quite a few non-controversial answers. "Getting an iPhone" was an answer repeated dozens of times. Switching from Internet Explorer to a better browser was another. Hundreds of members wrote "losing weight."
Reddit's logo
Decidedly more controversial answers, particularly illegal ones, garnered much more approval, however. Unsurprisingly, the answer "pot" received a tremendous amount of "upvotes," which show mutual agreement from other members.

User dogslike us responded to the question, in part:
Then at 22 I tried pot. Sooo much better than alcohol.
At the time of publication, this comment had received more than 3,000 upvotes.  User morganinhd went for harder drugs and was still met with great approval. She wrote:
LSD. Mother of god it's fantastic.
The comment has received over 1,500 upvotes.

Almost as frequent an answer than the previous two, however, was "pirating," or the act of downloading either music, films, video games, or pictures without the consent or compensation of the artist.  User crazycarl003 received a whooping 3,681 upvotes for his short answer of:
pirating textbooks.
User dat_****_gray agreed, boasting:
Becoming a pirate. I've easily plundered 500 gigs worth of film, games and music over the last year.
Sometimes it's not terribly difficult to see why President Obama was able to get the vote of under-informed liberals. This is one of those times.

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Washington City Councilman Walks out of Meeting Because of Veteran with Concealed Weapon



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Friday, January 25, 2013

Michael Ramirez: The Difference Between Life and Death


From the brilliant cartoonist over at Investors Business Daily, I present without comment:


The Price of Legal Representation


When you find yourself in a position where you need to seek out legal representation, you may not really understand how expensive it can be. While it will be fairly expensive to pay for a lawyer, the truth is that this cost is greatly outweighed by the cost of a conviction.

Auto Lawyers

The sad truth about auto accidents is that they happen frequently, and you never know when you'll be the one suffering from one. You need to have an auto lawyer on hand to help quickly handle any liability issues before they become out of control. This way, you're protecting yourself from paying any more than you should for your accident.

Criminal Defense Lawyers

You never know when things may spiral out of control one night and lead you down a terrible path. Maybe you are being unjustly accused of a crime that you didn't commit. Whatever the reason may be, the fact is that a criminal conviction can follow you around for life.

Divorce Lawyers

Sadly, divorce is on the rise in this country and there's no sign of that trend lessening anytime soon. If you find that your marriage is coming to an end, it's important for you to find a good divorce lawyer. You stand to lose so much if you use an inexperienced, unskilled lawyer that it just doesn't make sense to not get one.

Drug Crime Lawyers

Drug possession charges are not uncommon around the country, and most of the time they aren't taken very seriously. However, there are always times where these infractions could be taken very seriously, making a drug crime lawyer essential. These lawyers will have a deep knowledge of how to argue this specific type of case, which is essential.

DUI Lawyers

DUI lawyers focus on helping clients who are facing DUI charges. When you think about how much you can lose by having your license suspended, it quickly becomes apparent that hiring a good lawyer here is a cost-cutting measure.

Protect Yourself

No matter how respectfully or ethically you conduct yourself, you never know if you're going to need a lawyer. Instead of waiting until you're in the middle of a stressful situation to find a lawyer, do the smart thing and take some time to learn more about lawyers. There are many resources online you can use for this, including the expansive attorneys.com legal resources.



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Video: Aleksey Vayner Video Resume "Impossible is Nothing"

Huh.



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Gawker Writer Takes to Twitter to Make Holocaust Joke

Horrifyingly stupid. From Fox News:
Travis Okulski, the senior writer and second name on the masthead for Gawker Media’s car blog Jalopnik, compared the cold snap that has struck the East Coast with the Holocaust.

“I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that this cold weather is far worse than the Holocaust,” Okulski wrote on Twitter at 9:41 a.m. on Thursday.

After making light of the murder of millions, it was business as usual for the writer: At 10:39 a.m., less than an hour later, Okulski followed up with a self-promotional link to a video of himself discussing the recent multi-million dollar sale of the original Batmobile.

Such remarks are clearly offensive and inappropriate, said Deborah Lauter, Civil Rights Director, Anti-Defamation League.
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Federal Appeals Court: Obama Recess Appointments Unconstitutional

Suck it. From the Washington Times:
A federal appeals court has overturned President Obama’s controversial recess appointments from last year, arguing he abused his powers and acted when the Senate was not actually in a recess. 
The three-judge panel’s ruling is a major blow to Mr. Obama. The judges ruled that the appointments Mr. Obama made to the National Labor Relations Board are illegal, and the board no longer has a quorum to operate.

But the ruling has even broader constitutional significance, with the judges arguing that the president’s recess appointment powers don’t apply to “intrasession” appointments — those made when Congress has left town for a few days or weeks.

The judges signaled the power only applies after Congress has adjourned sine die, which is a legislative term of art that signals the end to a long work period. In modern times, it means the president could only use his powers when Congress quits business at the end of a year.
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FBI Investigating Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) for Sleeping with Underage Dominican Prostitutes

I find it interesting how, when a stupid Republican said something ignorant about abortion (i.e, "legitimate rape") liberals painted the entire right as moronic neanderthals. Think they'd be upset if conservatives started saying Obama enjoys sleeping with minors because of this (alleged) scumbag?
Menendez
From the Daily Caller:
Documents published online for the first time Thursday indicate that the FBI opened an inquiry into New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez on August 1, 2012, focusing on repeated trips he took to the Dominican Republic with longtime campaign contributor and Miami eye doctor Salomon Melgen. TheDC reported in November that Menendez purchased the service of prostitutes in that Caribbean nation at a series of alcohol-fueled sex parties.

The documents, which The Daily Caller had obtained hours earlier from an anonymous source, also indicate that Carrie Levine, research director at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), was alerted on April 9, 2012 to Menendez’s habit of paying for sex while outside the United States.

ABC News senior investigative producer Rhonda Schwartz was aware as early as May 2, 2012, the documents show, when Levine wrote a source in the Dominican Republic to say that she had “shared your allegations, but not your identities, with a respected, trusted journalist with whom we have worked on other stories.”
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Senator Paul Questions John Kerry on Cambodia vs. Libya




Just one day after destroying the outgoing Secretary of State on her Department's failure to protect American lives at our consulate in Benghazi, Senator Rand Paul was back on the warpath yesterday - this time against the incoming State Secretary, Senator John Kerry.

Senator Paul, in painting Kerry as a hypocrite, questioned the longtime foreign policy giant from Massachusetts on his opposition to the Vietnam era bombings of Cambodia which he so strongly came out against to his recent support of the brief U.S. led NATO war in Libya, and how one is right and the other wrong...

While I don't agree with either Senator, as Paul is wrong to characterize either conflict as anti-constitutional or against our national interests, while Kerry's justification that Libya was acceptable because it was an expansion of the War on Terror but Cambodia wasn't equally as important to U.S. interests in Vietnam is downright asinine, I do appreciate watching Paul make Democrats squirm.

What say you?

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Video: Fly Bothers, Lands on Obama's Head

Yes, according to the MSM this counts as news. Politico did a whole article on it:
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What's in Diane Feinstein's New Gun Law?

A whole lot of crap:
Strengthens the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and various state bans by: Moving from a 2-characteristic test to a 1-characteristic test; eliminating the easy-to-remove bayonet mounts and flash suppressors from the characteristics test; and banning firearms with “thumbhole stocks” and “bullet buttons” to address attempts to “work around” prior bans. 
Bans large-capacity ammunition feeding devices capable of accepting more than 10 rounds.
Protects legitimate hunters and the rights of existing gun owners by: Grandfathering weapons legally possessed on the date of enactment; exempting over 900 specifically-named weapons used for hunting or sporting purposes; and exempting antique, manually-operated, and permanently disabled weapons. 
Requires that grandfathered weapons be registered under the National Firearms Act, to include: Background check of owner and any transferee; type and serial number of the firearm; positive identification, including photograph and fingerprint; certification from local law enforcement of identity and that possession would not violate State or local law; and dedicated funding for ATF to implement registration.

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After 1,460 Letters, Heart-Broken CNN Reporter to Stop Writing to President, Lamenting "He Never Called"

This is not satire. How I wish it was considering what it implies about journalists in our nation.

Tom Foreman is a CNN "reporter" who few have heard of. Maybe no one's noticed him because he's been writing letters to President Barack Obama. Often. Every single day, in fact. For four years. That's 1,460 letters.

Mr. Foreman, however, has declared that he will no longer be sending Mr. Obama any letters, as he proclaimed in his aptly named article My last letter to the president. His article proudly explained:
CNN reporter and anchor Tom Foreman has been writing a letter each day, every day, to President Barack Obama since he was inaugurated four years ago. This is his last one.
What precisely was in the letters, on top of the sheer number of them, is particularly disturbing. The joy that this exercise gave Foreman at times is all the more unnerving.
"He never called"
Mr. Foreman often ended letters asking the President to "call when you can," because he knows he's busy. He told him about "a guy [who] started giving [him] a hard time" in junior high. He talked about "Rachel Ray [and] her recipe for Warm Provencal Chicken Salad!"

Mr. Foreman even talked about the President's daughter Malia in a shower.

To be certain, these were not your normal letters. They are much closer to the idolizing of the President that the Main Stream Media has hardly been able to contain over the last four plus years.

And to make the final letter ever the more creepy, Mr. Foreman notes near its end:
I don't know if he ever read a single line. All I know is that in almost every missive, I invited the president to give me a call. He never did.
First class, Foreman. First class.

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North Korea to Test Nukes "Aimed at US"

From the Telegraph:
Following a UN Security Council meeting this week in which sanctions were tightened. the reclusive state hurled fresh invective at its US-led foes in a statement from its National Defense Commission, without specifying when the atomic test might be carried out.

But it said the test – which would follow detonations in 2006 and 2009 that were hotly condemned around the world – would be part of an "upcoming all-out action" that would mark a "new phase" of the country's anti-US struggle.

"We do not hide that the various satellites and long-range rockets we will continue to launch, as well as the high-level nuclear test we will proceed with, are aimed at our arch-enemy the United States," the commission said.

"Settling accounts with the US needs to be done with force, not with words," it added in the statement, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
He only smiles like this when he's either testing nukes or eating
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Ban on Women in Combat to be Lifted

From Fox News:
Women in all branches of the military soon will have unprecedented opportunities to serve on the front lines of the nation's wars.

Leon Panetta, in one of his last acts as President Obama's defense secretary, is preparing to announce the policy change, which would open hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs after more than a decade at war, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday.

The groundbreaking move recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff overturns a 1994 rule banning women from being assigned to smaller ground combat units. Panetta's decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women.

"This policy change will initiate a process whereby the services will develop plans to implement this decision, which was made by the secretary of defense upon the recommendation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," a senior defense official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Manti Te'o: I Lied About my Fake Girlfriend... But Just a Little

How deep does the rabbit hole go?

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Clinton: 'Hey, What Difference Does It Make How Four Americans Were Murdered?'

Shockingly out of touch:

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Senator Paul Destroys Secretary Clinton on Benghazi




Senator Rand Paul to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: "Had I been President at the time, and I found that you did not read the cables from Benghazi, you did not read the cables from Ambassador Stevens, I would have relieved you of your post. I think it's inexcusable."

Senator Paul is not known for taking on foreign policy matters, but his hard questioning of Secretary Clinton definitely impresses me, and I suspect others.

U.S. Slowly Enters Mali Conflict

HT: New York Times

The first of more to come?

That is the question casual observers and military analysts are asking as the United States Air Force is air-lifting hundreds of French soldiers from their home bases to the hostile grounds of Mali, while considering whether to supply refueling tankers to French warplanes.

It might not seem like much, but the United States is slowly entering the sub-Saharan theatre of the ongoing Western conflict to eradicate al-Qaeda and international Jihadism that is threatening to take over Mali, Algeria and neighboring North African nations and turn them into bases of terrorism.

These developments are coming as thousands of French and African soldiers enter the stage and the need for greater Western support grows every day, particularly with an eye towards the U.S. and other members of NATO, which has thus far remained unusually inactive in this conflict.

I personally believe the United States should take an active role in the Malian conflict, as this has the potential to not just determine North Africa's role in the War on Terror, but future security in both America and Europe, as the thought of thousands of jihadist warriors training just an ocean away is not reassuring.

What say you?