Before the administration
battered its own healthcare law with a series of delays and unilateral changes,
Democrats excitedly informed the media that their grand new scheme to win in
2014 involved"owning"Obamacare.
You've got to hand it to Pryor; going the full hack to defend
theunpopularsignature
legislative "accomplishment" of a president who just lost Arkansas by24 percentage pointsis a pretty ballsy move. If public approval of the law
is deep underwaternationally, one can roughly extrapolate how Arkansans feel
about it. Pryor -- who cast the decisive 60th vote for Obamacare -- has
little choice but to mutter about how "amazing" it's been, and keep
his fingers crossed. This strategy rests on the hope that voters aren't
aware of storieslike this, orthis, orthis, orthis, orthis, orthis, orthis, orthis, orthis, orthis, orthis, orthis. And then there's the
local angle, which highlights Obamacare's "amazing" effects on the
lives of at least 170 Arkansashospital workersand their families:
Little Rock-based Baptist Health System says it willlay off 170 workers across its statewide
health care network and one industry leader says more hospitals could follow
suit. Baptist
Health has hospitals, clinics and medical facilities throughout Arkansas. The
health care organization is one of the state’s largest private employers with
more than 7,300 workers...Bo Ryall, President and CEO of the Arkansas Hospital
Association, said the Baptist Health layoffs are part of a national trend in
recent months due to cuts made by the Affordable Care Act...The Affordable
Care Act reduced national Medicare funding by $155 billion over a 10-year
period that starts this year, Ryall said. He added that the fiscal impact
on Arkansas was roughly $2 billion.
But weren'twe toldthat Obamacare's cuts to Medicare (to "pay for"
Obamacare) would not affect anyone's care? Tell that to patients in Mark
Pryor's home state. Medicareneeds to bereformed, not raided with double-counted, indiscriminate cuts to
finance anew,
unwanted,exorbitantly expensiveentitlement program. If the GOP has any shot at seizing a
Senate majority next year, Pryor's seat is a must-have. Military veteran
and strong conservative Rep.Tom Cottonhasentered the race,
and is alreadyedgingthe incumbent, whose re-elect numbers arein tatters.
Cooing about the wonders of Obamacare isn't likely to improve Pryor's
prospects, especially with outside groupspummeling himwith effective ads. Here's the latest offering from the
Club for Growth:
I analyzed Republicans' challenging but plausible path to a Senate
majorityhere.
UPDATE- TheWashington Postadds
that Obamacare's security testing is "months behind"
schedule. This is on top ofyesterday's itemabout the training process for the law's "navigators"
being "barely off the ground" in many quarters. Those navigators pose
a datasecurity riskin and of themselves, and now they'll receive aless rigoroustraining regimen, as the administration scrambles to launch this
mess.
When laws get to the point that they attempt to regulate against natural instinct, common sense is not long for this world. In typical liberal fashion Mayors Against Illegal Guns handed out some strange self-defense pointers. The Executive Director of Mayor Bloomberg’s antigun juggernaut, Mark Glaze, suggested that victims of potentially lethal attacks should use their words – not their legal firearm – to protect their life.
Speaking to Chris Mathew’s giant head, Glaze said victims should “deescalate the situation” rather than employing deadly force against their attacker:
MARK GLAZE: Very often somebody will come at you. They might want to have a fistfight. They might come at you with an axe handle.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Would you consider the guy with the axe handle armed or not?
MARK GLAZE: Not with a gun.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: I would consider him armed [laughter].
MARK GLAZE: I have a word for him. I grew up in Colorado where my dad was a gun dealer, and a guy who shoots somebody who has anything other than a gun when they could have done something else like talk or fight with their fists –
CHRIS MATTHEWS: How do you talk to a guy with an axe handle?
MARK GLAZE: Well, you fight him. You run away. You deescalate the situation.
Don’t you see? According to Glaze, if a guy attacks you with a wooden axe handle you should chat with him. This self-defense advice – aside from being incredibly dangerous – seems tremendously unfair for the would-be victim. Didn’t we learn in pre-school that sticks and stones can break bones, but words can never hurt anyone? Whether the man with the axe handle has the intent to kill becomes surprisingly irrelevant when he is directing clear and aggressive force – with means, and opportunity for bodily harm – against an unarmed victim.
And while Glaze campaigns for laws that would require women to run away from their rapists instead of stopping them with force, most Americans seem to know better. Over two million times each year firearms are used to stop lethal assailants in their criminal acts. Police are equipped with guns, not talking points, to combat armed thugs. Even Glaze surrounds himself with armed security because he know that his recommendation might not be enough to combat a threat on the gun-free streets of New York, Chicago, or LA.
It seems as if liberal elites are increasingly living in a world where they confuse what they think ought to be possible with what is actually possible. In the highest echelons of Liberal elitism, there seems to be a belief that if we act like guns are the problem. . . Well, then they are. This sense of invincibility when it comes to their agenda and their ideology has plagued Washington for decades. It is this inability to recognize the realities of their actions that has plunged the US into $16.7 trillion worth of debt. It is this assumption that liberalism is infallible that encouraged Democrats to pass a healthcare law while millions of Americans struggled to find work; and they believe it is right, not because of Obamacare’s demonstrable consequences, but because of its altruistic intentions. It’s this kind of liberal elitism that keeps the Federal Reserve printing presses rolling while unemployment remains stubbornly high.
To the liberal elite that want to tell the rest of us how to live, this is not a matter of action and consequence. If we lived in a world without crime, greed, or disaster, Mark Glaze’s remarks might make sense. Elitists like Glaze insist we work backwards by living as if we have already arrived in a utopia. In a perfect world there would be no need for guns. So Liberals try to ban them. In a perfect world, no one would want to drink 32 oz. of sugary soda. So liberals try to ban them. In a perfect world there would be no need for companies to move their profits overseas. So liberals try to ban the practice.
Rather than eliminating the core problems, liberals like to regulate the symptoms. Rather than cracking down on violent criminals, they tell law abiding citizens to disarm. Rather than targeting the unfair and burdensome tax code, they target the companies that avoid punitive taxation. Rather than encouraging natural consequences, Liberals encourage Nannyism.
So, while Mark Glaze tells victims to use their words, Americans should go with their instincts. If someone comes at you with an axe handle, use your best judgment. . . And maybe that .38 snub nose.
Detroit Public Schools Teacher, Accountant Found Guilty of Money Laundering and Fraud
Katie Pavlich | Aug 06, 2013 In the city of Detroit, 47 percent of adults are functionally illiterate. Students in Detroit's public school system have a higher chance of going to prison than they do of graduating high school. The average teacher salary in Detroit is $71,000.
Yesterday, the FBI announced the Detroit Public Schools contract accountant and a teacher have been found guilty of money laundering, tax evasion and fraud.
Sandra Campbell, 57 a former Detroit Public Schools contract accountant and school board candidate, and her daughter, Domonique Campbell, 38, a Detroit Public Schools teacher, were convicted today by a federal jury in Detroit on charges of program fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and tax charges following a five-week jury trial, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today. The jury returned its verdict after only one-and-a-half hours of deliberations.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley, III and Special Agent in Charge, Erick Martinez, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
The evidence presented at trial established that between 2004 and 2008,Sandra Campbell and Domonique Campbell obtained in excess of $530,000 from the Detroit Public Schools through a fraudulent scheme in which orders were placed with the Campbells’ sham company for books and educational materials never provided to the schools. Sandra Campbell and Domonique Campbell conspired to launder the fraud proceeds and to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and failed to report the money they fraudulently obtained from the Detroit Public Schools as income on their tax returns.
United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said, “Anyone who considers stealing from our school children should take note that we are scrutinizing records and conduct, and will prosecute wrongdoers.”
But the Campbell duo aren't alone when it comes to dysfunction, corruption and bad behavior within Detroit Public Schools. Just a few years ago, now former president of the school board Otis Mathis, fondled himself during a public meeting. Naturally, his inappropriate behavior was defended by a school board colleague who argued Mathis, 55- years-old at the time, was simply a "naive young man" about appropriate behavior. All of these people are Democrats. [What a surprise, huh?]
UPDATE: Books were never provided to the schools? No wonder Detroit kids, and adults, can't read.
During a press conference at the Washington Press Club on Monday, the Weekly Standard’s John McCormack asked Texas State Senator and possible gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis a simple yet straight forward question: what is the difference between the late-term abortions you support and what the ex-abortionist Kermit Gosnell did in his Philadelphia slaughterhouse?
She didn’t even attempt to answer the question:
THE WEEKLY STANDARD: The supporters of these bans, they argue that there really isn't much of a difference between what happened in that Philadelphia case with abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell [killing born-alive infants] 23 weeks into pregnancy and legal late-term abortions at 23 weeks. What is the difference between those two, between legal abortion at 23 weeks and what Gosnell did? Do you see a distinction between those two [acts]?
SEN. WENDY DAVIS: I don't know what happened in the Gosnell case. But I do know that it happened in an ambulatory surgical center. And in Texas changing our clinics to that standard obviously isn't going to make a difference. The state of the law obviously has to assure that doctors are providing safe procedures for women and that proper oversight by the health and human services department is being given. It sounds as though there was a huge gap in that oversight, and no one can defend that. But that's not the landscape of what's happening in Texas.
You don’t know what happened, Ms. Davis? I’m sorry but I find that hard to believe. Sure, the media went to great lengths to suppress the details of the trial and invented all sorts of excusesnot to cover it, but the late-term abortion ban you opposed (and filibustered) was introduced in large part because of what happened in Philadelphia. The Gosnell trial mobilized Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill and in the state governments to take collective action. Their goal was to protect women and their pain-capable unborn (and born alive) children from death. As a top national spokeswoman for women’s health, it seems implausible that she wouldn’t have the vaguest idea who he is.
At the same time, pro-choice advocates incessantly argue that late-term abortion bans harm women, but in fact 60 percent of women support them, according to arecent national poll. A majority of the public does too. But the Left’s hellish scare tactics give the distinct impression that somehow supporting a late-term abortion ban is politically unpopular.
It's important to remember, though, that’s not at all the case.
“Paranoia is just having the right information.”
William S. Burroughs (?)
Muslim operatives learned well from their KGB instructors: infiltrate,
demoralize, propagandize, divide, create chaos and fear, destabilize, seize
power from within. The Soviets did not have to work too hard to fan
Islamic flames of hatred toward the U.S. and Israel. That hatred existed
long before Soviet involvement. It is important to consider that anti-American
and anti-Semitic forces, including Nazi Germany, have long coordinated with
Islamic extremists, working to destroy the U.S. and the Jewish people.
Furthermore, it has long been established that the American Left, including
people like Bill Ayers, the Clintons, and Barack Obama, have coordinated with
enemies of the U.S.— both Muslim operatives and communist subversives.
Considering just a few
other realities makes the case: Barack Obama is truly an anti-American Muslim
operative promoting communism and Sharia via stealth infiltration, destruction
of the Constitution, and the collapse of the American economy.
Every move Obama has
made in the last few years has favored Muslims, downplayed Americanism, and
denigrated Israel. Bowing and kissing the Saudi king’s hand should have
been all the evidence needed to confirm the truth: Obama is a Muslim. As a
Muslim, he has no affection for the Constitution, or respect for our way of
life.
Obama’s White House is
infiltrated by Muslim extremists including members of the Muslim Brotherhood.
He insists on supporting
the terrorist Morsi in Egypt, sending him billions in cash and military
hardware just before he was overthrown. Even in the wake of his downfall, Obama
supports Morsi.
Obama went to bed as
terrorists murdered our people in Benghazi. He ignores Muslim atrocities
and points the finger of accusation at our own soldiers and veterans, and Tea
Party people. He recently released $500 million or your tax dollars to
Hamas!
When a president wages illegal war in Libya, an impeachable offense, and no one
does a thing about it, when he engages in many illegal activities without being
held accountable, he gets the idea he has permission to operate above the law,
a distinctly Muslim attitude.
Like Holder and Obama, the Fort Hood shooter and members of the Council on
Islamic-American Relations (a terror front group) agree: they are above U.S.
law, serving the higher law of Islam.
Finally, just as in Europe, we are seeing a systematic takeover by Islam right
here in the U.S. From 2000 to 2010, the number of mosques in the U.S.
went from 1,209 to 2,106. In many of these facilities, hate is preached,
and homegrown terrorism is supported.
What do we hear from Obama, Hillary Clinton, Janet Napolitano and others if you
express concern about the obvious Islamic invasion of our country?
“Racist. Islamophobic!
Moron!”
Time to face facts
Americans: with the help of the mainstream media, an Islamo-Communist has
occupied the White House, threatened the Supreme Court, and effectively
neutralized Congress.
Only a handful of
legislators, led by Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, stand in Obama’s way.
If he is not dealt with soon through impeachment, one day, as Ronald Reagan
warned, we will have to describe for our children and grandchildren what it was
like in America when people were free.
As his top national security advisors gathered for an urgent Saturday meeting to discuss the terrorist threat that has forced the United States to close embassies overseas, President Obama was at Camp David celebrating his birthday with friends.
Sixteen senior officials participated in the unusual gathering, according to the White House. Among them were National Security Advisor Susan Rice, who chaired the session, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
Obama was briefed after the session by Rice and Monaco, according to the White House. The White House said Obama has “received frequent briefings over the last week” on the threat.
Obama, whose birthday is today, was already celebrating at least a day early, playing golf in the morning with 11 longtime buddies and then traveling with them to Camp David, where the party continued. The president is scheduled to return to the White House today.
The White House didn’t say where the meeting took place, though such a session would presumably be held at the White House in the Situation Room. The White House labeled the gathering a “principals meeting,” which may be an attempt to excuse the president’s absence by suggesting that only the top officials of various agencies were meant to be present. But it’s unclear why Obama wouldn’t have wanted to directly participate in such a vital discussion.
As his top national security advisors gathered for an urgent Saturday meeting to discuss the terrorist threat that has forced the United States to close embassies overseas, President Obama was at Camp David celebrating his birthday with friends.
Sixteen senior officials participated in the unusual gathering, according to the White House. Among them were National Security Advisor Susan Rice, who chaired the session, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
Obama was briefed after the session by Rice and Monaco, according to the White House. The White House said Obama has “received frequent briefings over the last week” on the threat.
Obama, whose birthday is today, was already celebrating at least a day early, playing golf in the morning with 11 longtime buddies and then traveling with them to Camp David, where the party continued. The president is scheduled to return to the White House today.
The White House didn’t say where the meeting took place, though such a session would presumably be held at the White House in the Situation Room. The White House labeled the gathering a “principals meeting,” which may be an attempt to excuse the president’s absence by suggesting that only the top officials of various agencies were meant to be present. But it’s unclear why Obama wouldn’t have wanted to directly participate in such a vital discussion.
As his top national security advisors gathered for an urgent Saturday meeting to discuss the terrorist threat that has forced the United States to close embassies overseas, President Obama was at Camp David celebrating his birthday with friends.
Sixteen senior officials participated in the unusual gathering, according to the White House. Among them were National Security Advisor Susan Rice, who chaired the session, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
Obama was briefed after the session by Rice and Monaco, according to the White House. The White House said Obama has “received frequent briefings over the last week” on the threat.
Obama, whose birthday is today, was already celebrating at least a day early, playing golf in the morning with 11 longtime buddies and then traveling with them to Camp David, where the party continued. The president is scheduled to return to the White House today.
The White House didn’t say where the meeting took place, though such a session would presumably be held at the White House in the Situation Room. The White House labeled the gathering a “principals meeting,” which may be an attempt to excuse the president’s absence by suggesting that only the top officials of various agencies were meant to be present. But it’s unclear why Obama wouldn’t have wanted to directly participate in such a vital discussion.
