Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Larwyn's Linx: Where Was Obama on Night of Benghazi Attack? WH Isn’t Saying

Send us tips! Bloggers: install a Larwyn's Linx widget. Get real-time news, 24/7, at BadBlue.

Nation

Where Was Obama on Night of Benghazi Attack? WH Isn’t Saying: CNS
If the target fits, wear it: TL in Exile
Death from Above: Your Advance Information Sheet: American Digest

Dr. Ben Carson's getting buzz: Ace
The Hunt for a leftist killer: GSL
Random Thoughts: Sowell

Dr. Carson’s Refreshing Jolt of Good Societal Medicine: DLim
McConnell: No Tax Hikes to Replace Sequester: Lane
Support for Dorner is Troubling: Prager

Economy

The Texas Growth Machine: City Journal
Jim McDermott avoids answering question about Obamacare premiums: Scoop
How Long Does it Take to Get a Building Permit?: Ace

Scandal Central

MUST WATCH – An ominous warning from Canada: Scoop
REPORT: Nominee to Lead CIA Lied Under Oath: WS
Here’s How Obama Is Using Executive Orders to Bypass Congress: Blaze

Climate & Energy

Mann, Gore, Smog, and the big lie: Watts
Washington Post Chief Meteorologist: Bill Nye Is a Weather Idiot: Lid
Can Leak Detection End the Pipeline Impasse? Interview with Adrian Banica: OilPrice

Media

Dr. Ben Carson on Cavuto doesn’t pull punches when asked about Obama and his policies: Scoop
Abortion Loving Touré Welcomed at Catholic St. Louis University: CI
Flashback: AP Protects Obama While Attacking Conservative Film: AIM

Hunted by Drones, Chris Dorner Taunts Police by Posting Pics on Facebook: Reaganite
Buzzfeed's Ben Smith Discovers Reality: 'Obama Prepares To Screw His (Young) Base': NB
Razing Ratzinger: Media Won’t be Sad to See Benedict Go: MRC

The Blaze: Rise of the Next Conservative Media Giant?: Last
Media Whistle Past Menendez Prostitution Scandal: NB
Kerry Took More Security on Trip to Arlington, Va., Than State Dept. Posted in Benghazi: CNS

World

Four more reasons to deny John Brennan as CIA chief: Creeping
'Iran is preparing for Assad's fall, building militias in Syria': Hayom
Tragic… Navy SEAL Who Killed Bin Laden Is Jobless, Broke & Without Security: GWP

Obama aims to shrink US nuclear arsenal: DC
The next Director of the CIA calls Jerusalem... "Al Quds": Glick
The Man Who Shot Bin Laden Breaks His Silence: Atlantic

Sci-Tech (courtesy BadBlue.com/Tech)

The 10 weirdest, wildest, most shocking security exploits ever: PC World
Why US Internet Access Is Slow and Expensive: Gizmodo
Password Cracking AES-256 DMGs and Epic Self-Pwnage: Whitehat

Cornucopia

Pope Names for Democrats: Looking Spoon
Your Government Loves You. To Death.: MOTUS
Obama Signs Executive Order Moving Center to the Left: Cube

Image: Razing Ratzinger: Media Won’t be Sad to See Benedict Go
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Stand and Fight

QOTD: "You should view these politicians with the deepest contempt you can possibly imagine. What they are doing to this country, what they are doing to our finances – there is not a criminal in any federal prison, state prison, city or county jail, with respect to financial crimes of any sort who collectively could have done the kind of damage that Barack Obama and Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and YES, willing, timid, gutless Republicans have done to this country! To your future, to your children and your grandchildren! What they are doing is with malice and with forethought….

What the hell does the Democrat party stand for today? The destruction of America? And what the hell does the Republican party stand for today? To sit there with their thumbs in their mouths while it’s going on?

Any politician with an ounce of common sense should be getting on any soap box imaginable and screaming from the top of their lungs that these policies are destroying America!" --Mark Levin

Monday, February 11, 2013

Mark Levin Flashback: Why Liberalism is the Philosophy of the Stupid

Mark Levin:

The reason I say that liberalism is the philosophy of the stupid is because we can look at what's going around in the country today. If, in your own lives, you were pursuing policies that were destroying your own home ownership, that were destroying your own job, that were creating a massive, impossible debt for your family and your children in particular, you'd stop it. You wouldn't keep doing it!

And yet for the liberal, if it's imposed on you -- and they feel that they can be immune from it -- they're for it.

They wouldn't do to themselves and their own family what they're doing to you, and your family, and the whole nation!

Take Barack Obama. Does Barack Obama conduct himself in his own, personal affairs, in his family's affairs, as recklessly as he conducts the affairs of the nation? No. Would he run up the kind of relative personal debt that he's running up for the nation? No way.

Would he do anything that would endanger his position as president? Of course not -- he thinks his agenda will return him to office. He's taking care of his constituent groups...

So they do to us -- and they do to our society -- what they would never do to their own families. They do not live in their own lives as they seek to have the rest of us live. Or as they seek to have our society conduct itself.


Related: My Top 10 Mark Levin Transcripts.

WONDERFUL: New Jersey Prepares to Ban Shotguns, Ammo Sales, Normal Capacity Magazines... and More!

And given Governor Crispy Creme Cristie's long history of antipathy to the Second Amendment, don't expect him to veto any of these bills. After all, it's for the children, don'tcha know?

This is the worst threat to NJ gun rights in history Your efforts matter most right now!

Buses to Trenton on Wednesday are being planned, But you must register immediately so Arrangements can be finalized... As reported in our last alert, the New Jersey Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee is scheduled to hold hearings on a package of 24 gun bills on Wednesday, February 13 beginning at 10 a.m. in the State House Annex, Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, Trenton, NJ (directions here).

The worst of these bills have the effect of banning all rifle-barreled shotguns, numerous rifles and handguns, most rifle ammunition, and magazines that hold over 10 rounds. Ammunition sales would be severely restricted, logged and reported to the State Police, and internet and catalog sales would be banned.

Unaccountable health practitioners (including nurses, social workers, and marriage counselors!) would be turned into spies with the power to effectively suspend Second Amendment rights and have firearms seized. And the exercise of the Constitutional right to own firearms would be conditioned on proof of having firearms safety training. And that’s just the beginning (see detailed bill analysis here).

It is imperative that gun owners and sportsmen flood the Committee Members with phone calls, faxes, and emails between now and Wednesday morning voicing their opposition to these bills (see legislator contact information below). If you’ve already sent an email, please go the distance and make the extra effort to also send in faxes and make phone calls to each member of the Committee, and please do so on both Monday and Tuesday of this week. The extraordinary challenge we are facing needs an extraordinary response from gun owners and sportsmen.

Then, we need to pack the committee room on Wednesday with a show of unity and strength to make sure that legislators who won’t see the light will definitely feel the heat.Everyone will not get to testify, and this will not be a rally, but we need to all be there in a courteous and respectful show of strength. Bus transportation is being planned and coordinated in a joint effort between ANJRPC and NJ2AS. Click here for information and to register – we need to know if you’re coming ASAP so we can finalize arrangements.

On Monday and Tuesday, please call, fax, and email every member of the Assembly Law & Public Safety Committee (listed below). Tell them to vote no on these extreme gun and ammunition bans and other new anti-gun measures, and urge them to instead support meaningful measures to address school safety and the mental health system. Tell them that their proposals will not prevent another tragedy, because criminals and madmen who already ignore New Jersey’s thousands of gun laws will not follow another new law.

AmmoLand has the list of legislators to call and email. I don't care if you don't live in New Jersey. Help out, please. Your state may be next if these would-be tyrants have their way.


Hat tip: BadBlue Gun News.

EXCLUSIVE: Boy Scouts to Unveil New Merit Badge

At least that's what Cub Reporter Biff Spackle is telling us:


Extreme? Why, no. This President isn't extreme.


Hat tip: @Slone.

Freedom of Information Request: FAA forced to release list of U.S. groups who say they need to fly drones over America

Government Security News reports that a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has produced results: the list of U.S. organizations that have applied to fly drones over America:

The new drone authorization list, said EFF, includes law enforcement agencies and universities across the country, and the first Indian tribal agency to apply. In all, EFF said the list includes more than 20 new entities over the FAA’s original list, bringing to 81 the total number of public entities that have applied for FAA drone authorizations through October 2012.

...EFF said it received the list as [the] controversy over the use of the unmanned aircraft grows. Several cities, including Charlottesville, VA, and Florida lawmakers consider legislation to ban their use in the state. EFF reiterated its criticism that drones have serious privacy and civil liberty concerns, even though they can be used for beneficial purposes.

EFF said it hopes the new list would spur questions from civilians to law enforcement agencies about their drone programs.

Proponent
1 Arlington Police Department  (Texas)
2 Barona Band of Mission Indians Risk Management Office (California)
3 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
4 California State University, Fresno
5 Canyon County Sheriff's Office (Idaho)
6 City of Herington (Kansas)
7 City of Houston, TX Police Department
8 City of North Little Rock, AR ‐ Police Department
9 Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (Oregon)
10 Cornell University
11 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
12 Department of Energy  ‐ Oak Ridge National Laboratory
13 Department of Homeland Security  ‐  Science and Technology
14 Department of Homeland Security  ‐ Customs and Border Protection
15 Department of the Interior
16 Eastern Gateway Community College
17 Federal Bureau of Investigation
18 Gadsden Police Department (Alabama)
19 Georgia Tech Police Department, Office of Emergency Preparedness
20 Georgia Tech Research Institute
21 Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department (North Dakota)
22 Hays County Emergency Service Office (Texas)
23 Indiana State University
24 Kansas State University
25 King County Sheriff's Office (Washington)
26 Lorain County Community College
27 Medina County Sheriff Office (Ohio)
28 Mesa County Sheriff's Office (Colorado)
29 Miami‐Dade Police Department (Florida)
30 Middle Georgia College
31 Middle Tennessee State University
32 Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
33 Mississippi State University
34 Montgomery County Sheriff's Office (Texas)
35 National Aeronautics & Space Administration
36 National Institute of Standards and Technology
37 National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
38 New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology  
39 New Mexico State University  ‐ Physical Science Laboratory
40 Nicholls State University
41 Northwestern Michigan College
42 Ogden Police Department (Utah)
43 Ohio Department of Transportation
44 Ohio University
45 Orange County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)
46 Oregon State University
47 Otter Tail County (Minnesota)
48 Pennsylvania State University
49 Polk County Sheriff's Office (Florida)
50 Seattle Police Department (Washington)
51 Sinclair Community College
52 Texas A&M University (TAMU) ‐ Corpus Christi
53 Texas A&M University (TAMU) ‐ Texas Engineering Experiment Station
54 Texas Department of Public Safety
55 Texas State University
56 U.S. Air Force
57 U.S. Army
58 U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service
59 U.S. Department of Agriculture ‐ Forest Service
60 U.S. Department of Energy  ‐ Idaho National Laboratory
61 U.S. Department of Energy  ‐ National Energy Technology Laboratory
62 U.S. Department of Justice  ‐ Queen Anne's County Office of the Sheriff
63 U.S. Department of State
64 U.S. Marine Corps
65 U.S. Navy
66 University of Alaska, Fairbanks
67 University of Arizona
68 University of California, Davis
69 University of California, Merced
70 University of Colorado, Boulder
71 University of Connecticut
72 University of Florida
73 University of Michigan
74 University of North Dakota
75 University of Oklahoma
76 University of Wisconsin
77 Utah State University
78 Virginia Commonwealth University
79 Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
80 Washington State Department of Transportation
81 West Virginia University

So not only are police departments militarizing at a frightening clip (thanks to DHS money slathered around at a furious pace), they're also trying to procure drones to perform surveillance just like the military does in Afghanistan.

What could possibly go wrong?


Larwyn's Linx: Year of the Political Snake

Send us tips! Bloggers: install a Larwyn's Linx widget. Get real-time news, 24/7, at BadBlue.

Nation

Year of the Political Snake: NoisyRm
Ben Carson: US Like Ancient Rome; Obama Not My Target: NewsMax
Saturday, May 25th, 2013: 10 Million Gun Owners March On Washington: CDN

This Is It: New Jersey Schedules Massive Attack on Gun Rights: NRAILA
Retail Outlets Beginning To Get Small Quantities Of Ammo: Extrano's Alley
LAPD To Women: Sorry For Shooting You, Here’s A New Truck: Jalopnik

Dorner becoming Progressive icon: Blogmocracy
Marines Forced to Dismantle Empty Parade Rifles for Inauguration: Nice Deb
GOP threatens walkout on Chuck Hagel vote: Politico

Economy

Football, Fries and Government Spending: DTG
Pelsoi: Nah, we really don’t have a spending problem: Scoop
We will leave Colorado if the state's gun-bans pass: Magpul

California Has Shortage of Doctors Because of Obamacare: Lid
Combating the "culture of can't": AEI
Americans Buying Guns Every 1.6 Seconds: CNS

Scandal Central

UH OH: NYT-Details Emerging In Menendez Case...: Instapundit
Report: Benghazi attack was a retaliation for secret raids authorized by Obama adviser John Brennan: IHTM
Here Come the Drones: RWN

Climate & Energy

NYT writer test drives an electric Tesla – ends up stranded: Exam
Obama Administration Touts 38 Million Acre Lease Sale, But It’s DĂ©jĂ  Vu All Over Again: RS
Obama weighing executive actions on housing, gays and other issues: WaPo

Media

Where is the Media Speculation When a Leftist Goes Crazy?: RWN
Krugman's Explicit Endorsement "Time to Kick the Can" Shows True Colors He Denies in "Despicable Me": Mish
I have to wonder whether Christopher Dorner is dead: Moe Lane

Marxist Jan Schakowsky on CNN: Criticizing Obama Offensive, Inappropriate: Breitbart
The Brooks/Parker Cage Match: RSM
In the NY Times, being compared to George Bush is the worst thing that could happen: MoneyRunner

Massachusetts’ new US Senator helped organize ‘friendly takeovers’ of restaurants for black Bostonians: DC
CNN: Christopher Dorner May Have .50 Cal and Surface to Air Missile: PunditPress
What the Fluke, Sandra? Contraception Coverage ? Leukemia Coverage!: RWN

World

Which Country has the Highest Rape Rate in the World?: AT
Country with highest murder rate has low gun ownership rate : Lott
Foreign adversaries ramp up defense spending as Pentagon cuts back: Fox

Pope Benedict XVI to resign on Feb. 28, Vatican says: NBC
Texans hold memorial tribute and 200-mile procession for American hero Chris Kyle: Twitchy
Egypt's street children face mob sex attacks: Matzav

Sci-Tech (courtesy BadBlue.com/Tech)

Driverless cars? Not so fast.: CSM
The Apple iWatch Rumors Just Became Apple iWatch Reports: AtlWire
“Breathing Bike” Protects Riders Against Ominous Beijing Air: Gizmodo

Cornucopia

Dressing For Success: Gun Control Style: MOTUS
Alien Abductions Blamed For Disappearing Workforce: Cube
Valentines for Liberals and Contest: Morlock

Image: @jhvb159
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Saturday, 5/25/13: 10 Million Gun Owners March On Washington

QOTD: "The Left derides the conservatives for having so few minorities in our crowds, yet viciously attack anyone of color who dare approach conservatism. Seems like the only people barring entrance of Blacks are the Dems. The sign that says "No Blacks Allowed" is posted at the exits of the Dem plantation." --"wilarrbit", via Twitchy

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Lindsey Graham fetches a pair of pliers and a blowtorch, vows to get all medieval on Chuck Hagel and John Brennan

While I haven't exactly been Lindsey Graham's biggest fan over the last six or so years, I have to give him credit for fighting back against two of the most radical nominees in recent memory.

Lindsey Graham said today that he didn’t want to see Chuck Hagel and John Brennan in office before the Obama administration gave more answers on Benghazi.

“I don’t think we should allow Brennan to go forward for the CIA directorship, Hagel to be confirmed to secretary of defense, until the White House gives us an accounting,” Graham said on Face the Nation. “Did the president ever pick up the phone and call anyone in the Libyan government to help these folks? What did the president do?”

In response to Bob Schieffer’s question about whether he would put a hold on the nominations if he didn’t get answers from the White House, Graham responded, “Yes, I’m going to ask my colleagues, just like they did with John Bolton, Joe Biden said no confirmation without information.”

Given credible reports that Chuck Hagel received funds from a Hamas-linked terror group and John Brennan recently converted to Islam, substantial vetting of this pair is required.


Hat tip: A.C.

Damn Biased Media

A movie review, spotted at BorePatch:



NBER: Yep, Bill Clinton, Andrew Cuomo, and Janet Reno Were Directly Responsible for the 2008 Mortgage Meltdown

Any careful and honest analysis puts the blame for the 2008 financial crisis on Bill Clinton and his sycophants who implemented the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The National Bureau for Economic Research (NBER) just put the final nail in the coffin.

Democrats and the media insist the Community Reinvestment Act, the anti-redlining law beefed up by President Clinton, had nothing to do with the subprime mortgage crisis and recession... But a new study by the respected National Bureau of Economic Research finds, "Yes, it did. We find that adherence to that act led to riskier lending by banks."

Added NBER: "There is a clear pattern of increased defaults for loans made by these banks in quarters around the (CRA) exam. Moreover, the effects are larger for loans made within CRA tracts," or predominantly low-income and minority areas.

To satisfy CRA examiners, "flexible" lending by large banks rose an average 5% and those loans defaulted about 15% more often... The strongest link between CRA lending and defaults took place in the runup to the crisis — 2004 to 2006 — when banks rapidly sold CRA mortgages for securitization by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and Wall Street.

CRA regulations are at the core of Fannie's and Freddie's so-called affordable housing mission. In the early 1990s, a Democrat Congress gave HUD the authority to set and enforce (through fines) CRA-grade loan quotas at Fannie and Freddie... It passed a law requiring the government-backed agencies to "assist insured depository institutions to meet their obligations under the (CRA)." The goal was to help banks meet lending quotas by buying their CRA loans.
But they had to loosen underwriting standards to do it. And that's what they did.

"We want your CRA loans because they help us meet our housing goals," Fannie Vice Chair Jamie Gorelick beseeched lenders gathered at a banking conference in 2000, just after HUD hiked the mortgage giant's affordable housing quotas to 50% and pressed it to buy more CRA-eligible loans to help meet those new targets. "We will buy them from your portfolios or package them into securities."

She described "CRA-friendly products" as mortgages with less than "3% down" and "flexible underwriting." ... From 2001-2007, Fannie and Freddie bought roughly half of all CRA home loans, most carrying subprime features.

...Obama officials, who are cracking the CRA whip anew against banks, insist the law played no role in the mortgage meltdown... While the 1977 law was passed 30 years before the crisis, it underwent a major overhaul just 10 years earlier. Starting in 1995, banks were measured on their use of innovative and flexible" lending standards, which included reduced down payments and credit requirements.

Banks that didn't meet Clinton's tough new numerical lending targets were denied merger plans, among other penalties. CRA shakedown groups like Acorn held hostage the merger plans of banks like Citibank and Washington Mutual until they pledged more loans to credit-poor minorities... WaMu CEO Kerry Killinger has blamed the CRA for his bank's overexposure to risky loans. He said he wanted to tighten lending requirements, but "such measures would have presented other issues such as the company's CRA rating and its commitment to serving its (low-income and minority) customers and communities."

President Obama, in his younger days, was an attorney for Acorn and party to a lawsuit against Citibank. He, too, had a direct hand in triggering the mortgage meltdown.


DEMOCRATS' UTOPIA AS SEEN FROM SPACE: 1992 and 2010

I refer, of course, to North Korea. No Constitution, no free market, no capitalism, no private property, and unfettered centralized government. No individual rights, no state's rights, no rights of any kind.


How do I know that North Korea is the inevitable result of the hard left Democrat Party's policies? Because Democrats can't articulate any limits on their vision of centralized government. None.

They won't tell us how much more of our private property they want to confiscate in taxes. They won't tell us when they'll stop ringing up trillion-dollar deficits. They won't tell us when they will stop centralizing control of society in Washington in pursuit of Utopia.

They won't share their blueprint for society. They won't tell us their endgame.

Because they don't have one. They're making it up as they go along, subverting the Constitution in a naked pursuit of power. And over the long haul, North Korea is where we're headed.


Candy Crowley and CNN panel: should people be permitted to critique Dear Leader's policies?

That's strange: CNN never seemed to ask these questions when a man named George W. Bush was president.

CNN Panel: Was Doctor’s Conservative Speech In Front Of Obama ‘Offensive,’ ‘Inappropriate’?

Dr. Benjamin Carson, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital, raised a number of political eyebrows in Washington this week when he took to a stage he shared with President Barack Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast and advocated a number of conservative reforms. On Sunday, the panel guests on CNN’s State of the Union weighed in on whether it was appropriate for Carson to use the forum of the prayer breakfast to advocate for free market reforms to healthcare and a flat tax code.

“Whoa,” said CNN anchor Candy Crowley after playing a portion of Carson’s speech in which he linked the biblical principle of proportional tithing to a flat taxation system... “This was really interesting, number one for the venue, number two for the person doing this,” Crowley said.

...Crowley turned to Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and asked if she found “anything offensive” in Carson’s speech.

“I think that there is a political correctness that he was trying to use to appeal to a conservative audience,” Schakowsky said. “I think it’s really not really an appropriate place to make this kind of political speech and to invoke God as his support for that kind of view.”

Schakowsky concluded by saying that Carson’s message displayed an “empathy gap” between where the American propel are and where Carson, and other conservatives, want the nation to go. “We need to have an economy that works for everyone,” she concluded.

I seem to remember Democrats openly chortling and celebrating when a shoe was thrown at George W. Bush. Open criticism of the president, in any venue imaginable, was actively encouraged and cheered on by CNN... then.

CNN's message is clear: it's not appropriate nor legitimate to criticize the government, at least when a radical Leftist is openly subverting the Constitution.

The best word to describe CNN's contempt for even gentle criticism of Obama's policies? Fascism.

Furthermore, Jan Schakowsky is a known Communist sympathizer. As such, she doesn't deserve any sort of forum on national television, let alone serving as a member of Congress. Schakowsky can't honestly take an oath to uphold the Constitution while working with radical groups like DSA.

Oh, as an aside, Ms. Crowley may want to lay off the nachos for a while. Just sayin'.


Firearms manufacturer LaRue Tactical will limit law enforcement sales to same weapons as citizens

Interesting.

LaRue Tactical Issues New Sales Policy for State & Local Agencies.

Editors Note: This is a company of patriots, we challenge all companies in the shooting sports industry to adopt this same policy.


LEANDER, TX --Due to the recent and numerous new Anti-gun/Anti-2nd Amendment laws passed and/or pending across our country, LaRue Tactical has been forced to reconsider how we provide products to state and local agencies.

Effective today, in an effort to see that no legal mistakes are made by LaRue Tactical and/or its employees, we will apply all current State and Local Laws (as applied to civilians) to state and local law enforcement / government agencies.


In other words, LaRue Tactical will limit all sales to what law-abiding citizens residing in their districts can purchase or possess.

State and local laws have always been a serious focus of this firm, and we are now dovetailing that focus with the constitutional rights of the residents covered in their different areas by the old and new regulations.

We realize this effort will have an impact on this firm’s sales – and have decided the lost sales are less danger to this firm than potential lawsuits from erroneous shipments generated by something as simple as human error.

Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Mark LaRue

You can visit LaRue Tactical's website and follow them on Twitter at @LaRueTactical to express your support.


Hat tip: BadBlue Gun News.

Larwyn's Linx: Pirro: The Obama Administration uses drones to kill Americans, not save them

Send us tips! Bloggers: install a Larwyn's Linx widget. Get real-time news, 24/7, at BadBlue.

Nation

Pirro: Administration uses drones to kill Americans, not save them: Nice Deb
House Democrats' 15-Point Plan: Pagun
Second Amendment Rallies Across the U.S.: Nice Deb

No biggie: Menendez admits intervening in Medicare for Melgen: WyBlog
Now States Cutting Employee Hours to Avoid Obamacare Costs: Breitbart
Yes, progresives, God made farmers: RWN

New plan: mandatory gun insurance: Hot Air
Gun Control ‘Logic’ – Kills Leftists On Contact!: SHN
Figures-Obama Weekly Address Threatens, Blames GOP: LoneCon

Economy

Obama administration gears up for new ‘healthy housing’ initiative: Malkin
The Fed's Bailout Of Europe Continues With Record $237 Billion: ZH
China Passes U.S. to Become World’s Biggest Trading Nation: Bloomberg

Grassley on Lew’s Cayman Islands holdings: “The irony is thick.”: Hot Air
SEIU Busted For “Unfair Labor Practice” Against Employee: WZ
Venezuela Drops First Nuke In Currency Wars, Devalues By 46%: ZH

Scandal Central

Brennan’s Evasions: WS
Congress: EPA is flouting gov’t transparency laws to hide emails: DC
Explosive new book: Obama administration up to its neck in covert acts that caused Benghazi deaths: Bookworm

Climate & Energy

CNN anchor: Is oncoming asteroid an effect of global warming?: Twitchy

Media

Revolutionary Math: Owens
Because We Sleep: John Galt FLA
Are California Democrats creating ground zero for the next revolutionary war?: Owens

I Kinda Preferred The Media Cover-Up: JOM
Dorner murder spree is the just the logical extreme of Alinsky tactics: Owens
Paul Krugman: "We Should Kick The Can Down The Road. It’s The Responsible Thing To Do": ZH

Stop Putting Out So Much, Ugly Sluts: RSM
Leno: What to do when you find yourself in a lovefest: Greenroom
ABC's Cynthia McFadden Compares Hillary Clinton to Thomas Jefferson: MRC

World

God Bless Those Americans Murdered in Benghazi and Damn Those Who Watched Them Die!: AWD
Pentagon Knew Stevens Smith Were Dead at 5:30 pm – Obama Not Notified Until 4 am Next Day?: MagNote
Would the Sequester Devastate Defense?: NRO

Officials: Obama coming to Israel to prevent strike on Iran: JPost
Brigitte Gabriel: More Information on Benghazi Attack Is Going to Come Out That Will Shock and Amaze You: GWP
Death toll in Mexican Drug War rises to 2,243 since December 1st: Borderland

Sci-Tech (courtesy BadBlue.com/Tech)

How a Chinese Hacker Tried To Blackmail Me: Slashdot
Harvard soft robot explodes into action, jumps 30 times its height: Engadget
The simple form that could save your life: Godin

Cornucopia

Taking a Commercial Break: MOTUS
The Most Depreciated Cars Of The Past Ten Years: Jalopnik
Mid-Country Runabout: Petrolicious

Image: Blizzard of '78
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Dr. Benjamin Carson Epic Full Speech at National Prayer Breakfast

QOTD: "In the analysis of gun murders and shootings in my city, I could only find one in the entire time I’ve been mayor—and unfortunately there have been hundreds and hundreds—where a person who was involved in a shooting where they had their gun legally, where they legally acquired their gun. The guns that are causing carnage in our cities, my city and our country, every single year are acquired illegally." --Newark Mayor Cory Booker, schooling the execrable Bill Maher

Saturday, February 09, 2013

The Best Picture From Today's Blizzard

From the front lawn of a climatard, which I hear is the term they prefer:



Via: The Lid.

The Elephant in the Gun-Grabbers' Room

Violent crime in the United States peaked in 1991. Since then, 41 states have eased restrictions on concealed carry with 24 of those states adopting "shall issue" laws, which require the issuance of permits to qualified, law-abiding citizens.

In addition, the number of privately-owned guns has risen by more than 110 million.

And what has been the result?

[An] analysis of data within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System reveals 10 empirical and interrelated reasons why Mr. Obama’s assumptions are false and why his top two priorities are dead wrong:

1. The rates of gun-related homicide, suicide and accidental death have decreased by 44 percent, 19 percent and 69 percent respectively since 1993 (for all races and ages).
2. After declining substantially over 10 years, gun suicides rates have significantly increased each year since 2006 (for all races and ages).


3. Since 1993 the rate of gun suicides has been higher than both gun homicides and accidental gun deaths combined (all races and ages).
4. The ratio of gun suicides to gun homicides for white Americans is 3.1 to 1 and is the highest across all races, with whites aged 15 to 34 being most at risk.
5. Americans aged 15 to 24 are the most at risk for gun homicide, but the ratio of gun homicides to accidental deaths for this group was just 1 to 3 (all races).
6. The majority of American gun homicides (54 percent) take the lives of black Americans, who constitute just 14 percent of the total population.
7. Homicide is the leading cause of death only for black Americans aged 15 to 34, with 87.4 percent of all homicides for this group caused by guns.
8. The ratio of gun homicides to gun suicides for black Americans is over 6.1 to 1, but for non-black Americans it is just 1 to 3 (a difference of nearly 20 times).
9. The ratio of gun homicides to deaths from flu/pneumonia for black Americans is 1.1 to 1, for non-black Americans, it is just 0.1 to 1 (a difference of 10 times).
10. The ratio of gun homicides to accidental death not due to firearms for black Americans is .50 to 1. For non-black Americans, it is just .05 to 1 (a difference of 10 times).

The primary reason for rampant violence in America's inner cities -- the eradication of the two-parent family -- has been ignored by Barack Obama since his early days as a community organizer.


Hat tip: BadBlue Gun News.

UNPRECEDENTED: Maryland Gun Hearings Bring Overflow Crowds [James Simpson]

By James Simpson

Wednesday I traveled to Annapolis to testify in opposition to SB 281, the painfully misnamedFirearms Safety Act of 2013.” I was not alone. Media outlets counted “hundreds” but there were probably at least 5,000. According to the office of Senate Judiciary Proceedings Committee Chairman Brian Frosh, 2,444 people originally signed up to testify. Another 200 or so signed handwritten sheets to voice their opinions. Within the Miller Senate Office Building, the hearing room and two overflow rooms were closed as they reached their rated capacity. The hallways were jammed with people. Thousands of people milled about the State House courtyard outside.

I was told it was likely the largest crowd ever signed up to testify in Maryland history. They have not taken a count of supporters vs. opponents, but most opposed.

There were actually four gun-related bills slated for discussion: SB 281, SB 266, SB 420 and SB 228, but the primary focus was SB 281. Hearings began at approximately 1:00 p.m. Chairman Frosh allotted eight hours for testimony, four hours for each side.

Governor O’Malley began the testimony, stating in his remarks that they were only making “sensible” proposals and weren’t trying to take away anyone’s gun rights. In response, Carroll County Senator Joseph Getty relayed concerns from retired law enforcement members in his community who had faced death threats from criminals, afraid their gun rights would be lost. O’Malley replied without irony that there would be exceptions for law enforcement.

PRIORITIES: Pampers versus Aircraft Carriers

So I was at the pharmacy this afternoon picking up a prescription for my Mom. I happened to spot a large pile of Pampers-brand diapers stacked haphazardly next to one of the pharmacist's work areas.

I jokingly asked the pharmacist, "What are those -- prescription-strength diapers?"

The pharmacist grinned and said, "Yeah, extra-heavy duty."

He went on to explain, "Actually, those are diapers paid for by the government."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"People who say they can't afford diapers can get a prescription written for them. Then the government picks up the tab."

"Are you serious?"

"Yep," he said, shaking his head, "You'd be amazed at what the government's paying for these days."

And then I read this story (hat tip: Mark Levin):

Navy: Lincoln Refueling Delayed, Will Hurt Carrier Readiness


The U.S. Navy will delay the refueling of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) for an unknown period because of the uncertain fiscal environment due to the ongoing legislative struggle, the service told Congress in a Friday message obtained by USNI News.

Lincoln was scheduled to be moved to Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipyard later this month to begin the 4-year refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the ship.

“This delay is due to uncertainty in the Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations bill, both in the timing and funding level available for the first full year of the contract,” the message said... “CVN-72 will remain at Norfolk Naval Base where the ships force personnel will continue to conduct routine maintenance until sufficient funding is received for the initial execution of the RCOH.”

The move by the navy is the second this week involving funding for carriers. On Wednesday it announced it would delay the deployment of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) to the Middle East do to the ongoing budget strife bringing the total number of carriers in U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to one until funding normalizes.

The most fundamental task of the federal government is to protect the United States. And a handful of aircraft carriers are critical to maintaining control of the seas and the trade that is integral to civilization.

But for this president, Pampers -- and any other form of wealth redistribution -- always trumps the military.

And Pampers, for those unfamiliar with the iconic brand, are premium diapers. They're probably among the most expensive diapers you can buy. And those are what the government has decided to give the freeloaders -- many of whom we know for a fact are gaming the system -- when many taxpayers with toddlers struggle to afford any diapers at all.

Money's no object when it comes to wealth redistribution!

And there's nothing to cut, don't ya' know?

The government itself admits that it wastes at least $125 billion in fraud, theft and abuse of the system. In reality, we can surmise it's probably double or triple that amount.

Barack Obama likes to talk about closing loopholes in the tax code. But he never talks about closing the ripoff loopholes that would fund a significant chunk -- if not most -- of the entire defense budget.

This president and his party are setting the stage for the destruction of American society. They are spending and borrowing on a scale that has never been seen before in human history. They are recklessly and wildly redistributing cash, with untold waste, as fast as they can, on everything but protecting the nation. They are monetizing so much debt, so fast, that the risk for out-of-control inflation increases each and every day.

There will be a reckoning, that much is sure, and when it comes the only question is whether the United States will survive as a free nation.


Reports: Chuck Hagel received funds from Hamas terror group; John Brennan is a convert to Islam

Oh, my.

SECDEF Nominee Chuck Hagel Received Funds From 'Friends of Hamas'

Senate sources told Breitbart News exclusively that they have been informed that one of the reasons that President Barack Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, has not turned over requested documents on his sources of foreign funding is that one of the names listed is a group purportedly called “Friends of Hamas.”

Former FBI Agent Confirms CIA Nominee John Brennan a Convert to Islam

Yesterday, a former U.S. Marine and FBI agent confirmed [that] John Brennan did convert to Islam...

“Mr. Brennan did convert to Islam when he served in an official capacity on behalf of the United States in Saudi Arabia.”

But, no: our president simply couldn't be a Muslim. Nor a Muslim sympathizer. Those are just conspiracy theories.

The Senate must block both of these outrageous nominees. Call your Senator now -- the number for the Senate switchboard is (202) 224-3121 -- and insist they block these nominations.


Larwyn's Linx: Dereliction of Duty: Obama Did Nothing to Save Americans in Benghazi--and Lied About It

Send us tips! Bloggers: install a Larwyn's Linx widget. Get real-time news, 24/7, at BadBlue.

Nation

Obama Did Nothing to Save Those in Benghazi--and Lied About It: Breit
Amnesty to create millions more Dems--and the GOP wants this?: RWN
Karl Rove and the Cotton Conservatives: Lord

The Blame Righty mob falls silent: Malkin
Why are the feds loading up on so much ammo?: IBD
Rough Week For Libs: 3 Deranged Far Left Killers Make News: GWP

Benghazi: Obama, Hillary and the Astonishing Derelictions of Duty: TPNN
CA Dems Show They Just Want To Grab Guns: RWN
Nancy Pelosi: Push for Gun Control While We Have the Chance: Breitbart

Economy

DoJ lawsuit against S&P even sillier than first thought: Hot Air
Catholic Bishops To Obama - See Ya In Court: JOM
Jack Lew benefited from newly doubleplusungood off-shore tax policies: RS

Scandal Central

ACLJ's Jay Sekulow: No Tolerance To President Obama’s Leaks: RWN
No Matter Which Way You Turn In The Menendez Story...: Ace
Graham `Not Going to Stop' on Benghazi: PJM

Climate & Energy

EPA’s “sue and settle” scam: Greenroom
Leading Warmists: All Weather Events Can Be Blamed On Man-Induced Climate Change: RWN

Media

When Crazed Shooters Can’t Be Linked To The Tea Party, Media Displays Admirable Restraint: Mediaite
How John Kerry Won, Then Ended The Vietnam War: Curmudgeonly & Skeptical
Fake But Accurate: Delusional Dan Rather Still Believes Forged Documents Were Real: JWF

NY Times Notices Obama Tax Hikes Are Crushing Americans, Fails to Mention Obama: JWF
Christopher Jordan Dorner: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know: Heavy
The Violence Of The Gun Hating Left: Extrano's Alley

Obama didn't answer the 3AM call: Fausta
Christopher Dorner has already won his war: Owens
We Are All Californians Now!: AmmoLand

World

"The most dangerous people we've seen in Europe for 70 years": ZH
Is This the Secret U.S. Drone Base in Saudi Arabia?: Wired
Marines Marching In Inauguration Parade Had Disabled Rifles: BlurBrain

The Foreign Aid Racket: FPM
Led By Pelosi, Dems To Bring Victims Of Gun Violence To State Of The Union Address: Cowboy
The Meaning Obama's Visit to Israel and U.S.-Israel Relations in Obama’s 2nd Term: BRubin

Sci-Tech (courtesy BadBlue.com/Tech)

Former Apple Human Interface Developer Speculates on Future 'iWatch': MacRumors
What on Earth is that thing on Mars?: Boing Boing
El Paso, America’s safest big city, shatters Chicago’s case for gun control: Exam

Cornucopia

Traditions! (NSFW): Curmudgeonly & Skeptical
Is Brad Bird's "Tomorrowland" movie about that "UFOs are real" show Disney almost made in the 1950s?: JHM
Ex-Texas GOP Chairman: Rove Was in ‘Anti-Reagan Faction’: AmSpec

Image: Nancy Pelosi: Push for Gun Control While We Have the Chance
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Major Exposé Coming!

QOTD: "Total U.S. government debt in the form of interest-bearing bonds and IOUs to Social Security and Medicare trust funds grew 53% during the last four years—from $10.7 trillion to $16.4 trillion—and is now 104% of U.S. GDP. Due to the Fed's massive quantitative easing bond-purchasing programs, today's blended cost of government borrowing is 1.96%, much less than the historical average market rate of about 5.5%. By staying on the current trajectory of debt monetization and thwarting credit-market price signals, the Fed is setting the stage for this new bubble to burst. It may come from resurgent inflation, the Fed's sudden need to defend the dollar or the credit-rating agencies' downgrade of the U.S. As a result, there would be a sharp decline in the standard of living for all Americans, accompanied by regret for having ignored the warning signs when there still had been time." --Scott S. Powell

Friday, February 08, 2013

HILARITY: IRS complains it needs more employees because tax code is getting "more complex and far reaching"

If this isn't an advertisement for the Fair Tax, I don't know what is.

It is alway reassuring to see the IRS complaining that the tax codes are getting more difficult for them to deal with. From Federal News Radio:

"In addition to facing budget cuts and the potential retirement of many experienced employees, the work performed by IRS employees continually requires greater expertise as tax laws become more complex and far reaching," [Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration] said.

When the United States implements a flat tax (and notice I said "when", not "if", because the current system is doomed), it will unleash the greatest era of economic prosperity in human history.

Read about the Fair Tax -- seriously, it's fascinating -- and I'd wager you agree.