Blog Heap of Links for the day 15 July 2011

They are addicted to big taxes, big spending and big government, and none of it- NONE. OF. IT. - has a darn thing to do with what's best for the public and the economy. All of it- ALL. OF. IT. - has to do with funneling money into Democrat Party coffers. And it's sitting like a wet blanket over our economy. And Daley's right. Democrat leaders can't solve it. They couldn't solve it when they ran the tax scam in Chicago and they can't solve it now.

Thirty months into his term as president, the evidence is overwhelming and America is horrified. Americans en masse have awakened to a president drunk with the wine of presidential power. Lawless, unaccountable, and unwilling to be restrained, Barack Obama has broken trust with America and he is being judged just as Dr. King had dreamed. Not by the color of his skin, but by the delinquent content of his character. Barack Obama has many names. A new one is offered here for America to consider. "Tyrannus Obama Rex." Obama, the Tyrant King.

Obama is convinced that raising taxes is a job creator and blames Republicans for being unwilling to burden the taxpayer to create jobs. ... So, in a roundabout way, both Obama and Pelosi agree that the higher the unemployment the more job creation, because taxes can be obtained from the unemployed - which, according to some liberals, could get people back to work. [Uh... WTF?] Besides raising taxes, as a way to get people working again apparently Obama believes career opportunities can be created by sharing Second Amendment rights with Mexican drug cartels. [Heh]

"I continue to push congressional leaders for the largest possible deal," he said from the White House. "It is possible for us to construct a package that would be balanced, would share sacrifice [and] would involve both parties taking on their sacred cows." ... "I've been hearing from my Republican friends for some time it is a moral imperative to tackle our debt and deficits in a serious way," Mr. Obama said. "What I've said to them is, let's go." The president said today he would not accept a smaller, short-term deal. "We might as well do it now," he said. "Pull off the band aid. Eat our peas."

Obama chafes at the time-honored practice of answering questions shouted at him during pooled, non-press conference events — and his staff has often opted for "stills sprays," excluding print reporters or TV cameras who might capture Obama in the less than flattering non-act of snubbing a query. ... When asked today why TV crews and print reporters were barred from the pool covering the White House meeting with congressional leaders on the deficit ... "People shouted questions at him," Carney said. He then added, "The purpose of the meeting is not to create a circus, but to negotiate, so today we're doing stills only."

"Dealing with them the last couple months has been like dealing with Jell-o," Boehner said. "Some days it's firmer than others. Sometimes it's like they've left it out over night." Boehner explained that talks broke down over the weekend because, he said, the president backed off entitlement reforms so much from Friday to Saturday, "It was Jell-o; it was damn near liquid." "By Saturday, they'd spent the previous day and a half just going backwards" on reforming entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. "The only thing they've been firm on is these damn tax increases," the Speaker said.

"He shoved back and said 'I'll see you tomorrow' and walked out," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told reporters in the Capitol after the meeting. ... "Eric, don't call my bluff," the president said, warning Cantor that he would take his case "to the American people." [Er... WTF?]

On "The Ed Show" July 12, Schultz claimed he knew why Fox pundits such as Bill O'Reilly oppose President Obama's call for higher taxes on the wealthy ... "Tax profits" that quickly turned to tax payments, Schultz told his audience last night, perhaps after an exchange of clarifying phone calls between lawyers at News Corp. and MSNBC ... absent from both segments was any mention of General Electric, parent company of MSNBC -- in other words, your boss prior to Comcast acquiring NBC Universal in January 2011 -- paying no federal taxes in 2010. And by the way, $4.8 billion in taxes on $10.4 billion in profit is a tax rate of 46 percent -- 11 points higher than the corporate tax rate of 35 percent.

Allen West, referring to how this administration spins language to push their agenda, said that Goebbels would be proud to see the kind of people in the Obama administration... "all of a sudden, instead of 'redistribution of wealth' they call it 'shared sacrifice'. Instead of 'government spending' they call it 'investment'. These guys are masters and Goebbels would be very pleased...."

Writers know that to use the same word over and over again demonstrates a limited vocabulary, and to repeat it in the same sentence is even worse. How about when a writer — or speaker — uses it first as a point of sarcasm and later in the same sentence as a measure of earnestness? ...

And it is possible for us to construct a package that would be balanced, would share sacrifice, would involve both parties taking on their sacred cows, would involved some meaningful changes to Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid that would preserve the integrity of the programs and keep our sacred trust with our seniors…

James Zogby, the anti-Israel pollster who released these findings today, blames the drop in support for Obama in the Arab world on Obama's failure to put the amount of pressure on Israel the Arab world wanted and expected. But according to the poll, the Arab world doesn't seem to be happy with any of America's foreign policy positions. Respondents rated Obama's policies as the least popular, when compared with other leaders, including Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. ... Obama's approval ratings are even lower than President Bush's before he left office in 2008. [Maybe it's time for O' to go on another apology tour!]

Yesterday, I heard something that I have never — NEVER — heard an American politician admit on national TV: that the American government has been lying to her people for the past 75+ years. ... Obama: I cannot guarantee those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven't resolved this issue because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it. ... this American president admitted what many people have been saying for decades: not only is the American government stealing money from the people, but the entire Social Security scheme is a lie.

American aid to the Palestinians is in jeopardy over their ties to the terrorist group Hamas, unwillingness to restart negotiations with Israel and push for statehood ... The Obama administration forcefully pushed back Tuesday against threats from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to cut off aid to the Palestinian government because of its ties to the Hamas terror group.

Barack Hussein Obama promised before the election that he would bankrupt the coal industry that provides us with 57% of our electricity. In an appalling testimony to the suicidal stupidity of 53% of the population, he was elected anyway. He's using the malignant EPA to make good on his promise: Utility giant American Electric Power said Thursday that it will shut down five coal-fired power plants and spend billions of dollars to comply with a series of pending Environmental Protection Agency regulations. …

Three suspected US missile strikes in north-western Pakistan in less than 12 hours have killed at least 38 alleged militants, an unusually heavy barrage at a time when relations between the two countries are badly strained

Islamic terrorist groups are setting up shop in Mexico and forming alarming ties with the country's brutal drug cartels, according to a 2010 internal memo from the Tucson Police Department. The memo, leaked by the hacker group LulzSec as part of its Arizona Department of Public Safety hack, warns that Hezbollah has established operations — and a large arms stockpile — in Mexico. ... could be disastrous for Mexico's drug war, given Hezbollah's advanced weapons capabilities — specifically their expertise with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It notes that some Mexican criminal organizations have started using small IEDs and car bombs, a marked change in tactics that indicates a relationship with Islamic militants. Partnerships between Mexican organized crime and Islamic militants are mutually beneficial — and therefore terrifying. The cartels are able to gain smuggling and weapons expertise, as well as access to cheap heroin from Afghanistan and Iran. The terrorists benefit from Mexico's drug war lawlessness and its porous border with their primary target: The United States.

Iran is moving its nuclear program into a mountain facility able to withstand air and missile strikes ... Experts fear that Tehran's decision to begin moving some 3,000 centrifuges to Fowdrow could signal its final push for a nuclear weapon. ... [Gee, y'think?]

The Pentagon has admitted a foreign power hacked and stole 24,000 files from the United States this year forcing them to treat the internet as a warzone. The audacious theft was announced as Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn launched a new online security strategy, which now classes cyberspace as an 'operational domain' like the sea, air and land. ... He said as part of its active defences, the Pentagon would introduce new operating concepts and capabilities on its networks, such as sensors, software and signatures to detect and stop malicious code before it affects U.S. operations. [And even though the whole herd of horses has been stolen, we are doubling the locks on the barn door!]

Even when a mother is literally killing her children with deep-fried, chocolate-covered kindness, it is counter-intuitive for her to listen to criticism of the way she is performing that most basic of womanly tasks: bringing up baby. I do, in fact, have a sneaking sympathy for some among such misguided parents — although plenty of people don't. Take Tam Fry, chairman of Britain's Child Growth Foundation, who doesn't mince his words at all; he calls the stuffing of children's already fat faces 'a form of child abuse'.

A study of babies in intensive care suggests that doctors are getting better at recognizing situations where infants are sure to die or have severe brain damage -- and are often holding back on life support when that's the case. The findings "reflect increasing awareness by the medical community of the need to limit interventions of minimal or very questionable benefit, and particularly if those interventions potentially include significant pain or suffering to the patient," said Dr. Renee Boss, a neonatologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, who wasn't part of the new research.

a women's protest on the streets of Kabul on Thursday was the first of its kind. On a hot, muggy day, about 30 women of all ages mustered up the courage to speak up against the age-old indignity of sexual harassment by men. ...

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday she's hopeful that a religious tolerance agreement between the West and Islamic countries will end efforts to criminalize blasphemy that threaten freedom of expression. At an interfaith conference in Turkey, Clinton said an initiative by the U.S., the European Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference will promote religious freedom without compromising free speech. [Yes, because, as was pointed out by someone on the web, Islam, which means "submit" and FREEDOM are so compatible!]

A cellphone-size stun gun found aboard a JetBlue plane arriving from Boston did not appear intended to be used in an attack

Italy: Muslim destroys statue of the patron saint of Agrigento ... He took it and threw it violently against the wall, destroying it completely. ... A Greek immigrant who lived in the city in the 5th century, Saint Calogero has been considered "an example of integration between people".

It's the scene every Friday at the cafeteria of Valley Park Middle School in Toronto. That's not a private academy, it's a public school funded by taxpayers. And yet, oddly enough, what's going on is a prayer service — oh, relax, it's not Anglican or anything improper like that; it's Muslim Friday prayers, and the Toronto District School Board says don't worry, it's just for convenience: They put the cafeteria at the local imams' disposal because otherwise the kids would have to troop off to the local mosque and then they'd be late for Lesbian History class or whatever subject is scheduled for Friday afternoon. ... Some Canadians will look at this picture and react as Miss Shaidle did, or Tasha Kheiriddin in The National Post: Is this the Middle Ages? Have I stumbled into a time warp, where "unclean" women must be prevented from "defiling" other persons?

The CIA organised a fake vaccination programme in the town where it believed Osama bin Laden was hiding in an elaborate attempt to obtain DNA from the fugitive al-Qaida leader's family... CIA agents recruited a senior Pakistani doctor to organise the vaccine drive in Abbottabad, even starting the "project" in a poorer part of town to make it look more authentic... The doctor, Shakil Afridi, has since been arrested by the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) for co-operating with American intelligence agents. [And given a medal?? Oh...]

Meet John Rolczynski: The Grand Forks, N.D., resident has been trying to tell his legislators that an error in the state's founding document means that technically, North Dakota is not a state. Sounds like the ravings of a grumpy old man, but as it turns out, Rolczynski was right. News of uncertain statehood has put North Dakota in the spotlight and garnered big buzz. Here's the story: Back in 1889, North Dakota was carved out of the Dakota Territory and admitted to the Union at the same time as South Dakota. Or so everyone thought. But the state founders who drafted the constitution left out the key requirement that the governor and other top officials take an oath of office, putting the state constitution in conflict with the federal one. So Rolczynski has been arguing for the last 16 years that the omission made the state illegitimate.

Russia said there was little hope of finding any more people alive on Monday after an overloaded tourist boat sank in the Volga River, killing as many as 128 people in Russia's worst river accident in three decades.

Witnesses who watched a Northern California man get sucked into a Maui blow hole to his apparent death say that the tourist was dancing around and frolicking in the sprays of water moments before a wave knocked him down.

Consistent with ConocoPhillips previously stated strategies and focus on value creation for its shareholders, ConocoPhillips board of directors has approved pursuing the separation of the companys Refining & Marketing and Exploration & Production businesses into two stand-alone, publicly traded corporations via a tax-free spin of the refining and marketing business to ConocoPhillips (COP) shareholders. ... Consistent with our strategy to create industry-leading shareholder value, we have concluded that two independent companies focused on their respective industries will be better positioned to pursue their individually focused business strategies, said Jim Mulva, chairman and chief executive officer. Both companies will continue to benefit from the size and scale of their significant high-quality asset bases and free cash flow generation, allowing them to invest and create shareholder value in a changing environment. [Ummmmm....]

An Austrian atheist has won the right to be shown on his driving-licence photo wearing a pasta strainer as "religious headgear". Niko Alm first applied for the licence three years ago after reading that headgear was allowed in official pictures only for confessional reasons. Mr Alm said the sieve was a requirement of his religion, pastafarianism.

Behrokh Khoshnevis (USC Engineering) has been perfecting his contour crafter. The material used is a semi-liquid quick-setting, concrete-like compound. The system is able to make calls to onsite experts for insertion of plumbing and wiring as the construction effort proceeds. "The goal is to be able to completely construct a one-story, 2000-square foot home on site, in one day and without using human hands."

Poor dude. For forthy-three years no one gives you sh*t about your name. Then some chick in Florida goes a screws everything up for you. Now you can't answer the phone or get on Facebook without some d-bag thinking you're that Casey Anthony

Transportation Ray LaHood visited Europe to check out HSR there in person and came back proclaiming, "High speed rail is coming to America." The $8 billion, we were told, was a down payment, and that in little more than two decades, America's largest cities would be linked by a web of high speed trains. But as it turns out, a series of snafus and reversals has left Obama's HSR agenda on life support. ... But beyond those philosophically opposed to HSR, some high speed rail advocates have done themselves no favors either. They've resolutely backed pretty much any and every rail project regardless of whether it is potentially useful or an outright boondoggle.

President Obama unleashed his inner Alinskyite on Wednesday, storming out of a meeting with Congressional leaders and White House staff after threatening the GOP House Leader Eric Cantor with a parting "Eric, don't call my bluff." Presidential it wasn't, and loyalists in the MSM immediately began to spread covering smoke from Obama allies like Harry Reid blaming the GOP Leader for refusing to be filibustered or bullied in the long series of pointless meetings arranged by a desperate president to try and change a political dynamic that sees his approval rating plummeting in poll after poll. [h/t to Cuz BD http://twitter.com/#!/brandondutcher/statuses/91917856811393024]

The US is holding the entire world hostage, and it's the Republicans that are playing with fire. [????]

The Wall Street Journal by Jim DeMint & Olympia Snowe: Before we consider saddling our children with even more debt, we must enact significant spending cuts and enforceable caps on future spending. For the long term, to prevent both this Congress and its successors from hijacking the promise of American prosperity, we also need a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, like the one we and all 47 Senate Republicans have introduced. ... The last time the Senate considered a balanced budget amendment was on March 4, 1997—and it failed to pass by one vote. On that day 14 years ago, the nation's outstanding debt was $5.36 trillion. Today it is $14.3 trillion, or nearly three times that amount. [Unfortunately, if the balance doesn't include some limits on spending, it really doesn't matter. They'll just keep raising taxes....]

Members of the U.S. military and their families who were stationed overseas during the 2010 elections were disfranchised at an alarmingly high rate, according to a new report released today by the Military Voter Protection Project. MVPP surveyed 24 states. Of the 2 million military voters covered by the report, 15.8 percent requested absentee ballots, but only 4.6 percent cast absentee ballots that were counted. This is at least partly due to the difficulty and uncertainty of the process. Both numbers were below the 2006 midterm election figures, when 5.5 percent of military and overseas voters cast absentee ballots that were counted. MVPP also found that local election officials in 14 states and the District of Columbia failed to comply with the federal requirement that all absentee ballots must be mailed at least 45 days prior to the election.

"You know, August and September, you do have to start laying out a plan if you are to be one to throw your hat in the ring, so that's basically the time frame," Palin told Sean Hannity during an appearance Wednesday night on Fox News. ... "I'm not wholly confident that we have that field set yet that that one individual is in the field," Palin said. "So I'm still thinking about being one that would offer myself up in the name of service, knowing confidently that I have those common-sense, fiscally conservative, pro-private sector experience and ideas that can be put to good work for this country." ... "We cannot default, but we cannot afford to retreat right now either," Palin said. "Now is not the time to retreat. It's the time to reload. And we reload with reality by giving facts and numbers to the American public so that those of us across the U.S. can start chiming in and letting our representatives know that we will not capitulate. We will not hand over more power, which I believe is unconstitutional, to President Obama to further manipulate our economy."

I don't trust this President… He doesn't know how to make those cuts. He's never had to do this before. He's always just been one to spend other people's money even if that money is just borrowed money or printed out of thin air. He's never had to exercise real executive authority like that.

A bill to prohibit people from openly carrying unloaded handguns in California... would make it a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a steep fine, to openly carry an unloaded handgun "on one's person or in a vehicle." ... "Existing law prohibits carrying a concealed weapon, loaded or unloaded, unless granted a permit to do so," according to the California Police Chiefs Association. But existing law doesn't prohibit carrying an unconcealed weapon — the source of the conflict. ... Portantino said police regularly receive calls from alarmed residents who see guns carried in plain sight in public venues. Responding to these complaints slows down reaction to other calls or threats. [UNCLEEEAR on the CONCEPT!!!]

I'm growing sour on travel. I have always disliked it. When I was a kid my parents took us all over Europe and the Caribbean, and it really exhausted me. Now that I'm a grown up, I am better able to articulate why I think travel is a waste of time. Here are four reasons why I think the benefits of travel are largely delusional

No one is immune to the probing hands of the TSA ... including former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld ... who got the pat-down at Chicago's O'Hare airport this afternoon

"It was extremely thorough, almost a violation, "says Jason Steitler as he describes how a TSA official searched him at the Greater Rochester International Airport July 6th. Steitler's disability requires he uses a wheelchair. "They did the hair then did the neck. Then they had me do a pushup in my chair, then got down into my inner thigh around my back side. It's the most thorough search [I've] had done in my life," says Steitler. ... "She's been using the phrase 'search raped' because it was that thorough. She says it was nearly to her crotch," says Steitler. "I feel the chair should have option of either scanner or searches, but automatically we're being thrown to being patted down."

A 41-year-old Clarksville woman was arrested after Nashville airport authorities say she was belligerent and verbally abusive to security officers, refusing for her daughter to be patted down at a security checkpoint. ... saying she did not want her daughter to be "touched inappropriately or have her "crotch grabbed" ... After the woman refused to calm down, airport police said, she was charged with disorderly conduct and taken to jail. ... At one point, Abbott tried unsuccessfully to take a video with her cellphone. ... TSA says it will instruct screeners how to make repeated attempts to screen young children without invasive pat-downs.