Sunday, January 19, 2014

GENIUS: House Leaders Prepare to Push Amnesty Though Only 3% of Americans Believe It's a Priority

Guest post by Van Esser

As Speaker John Boehner and House Republicans gear up for an internal debate over whether to address immigration in 2014, a new Gallup poll lends support to those who want to delay consideration. The poll found that only three percent of Americans think immigration is the top problem Congress must tackle this year. This is consistent with rankings in the recent past so why does Boehner consider immigration to be urgent or even a priority?

Of the new poll, Gallup’s Lydia Saad said, “Americans start the new year with a variety of national concerns on their minds. Although none is dominant, the government, at 21%, leads the list of what Americans consider the most important problem facing the country. The economy closely follows at 18%, and then unemployment/jobs and healthcare, each at 16%. No other issue is mentioned by as much as 10% of the public; however, the federal budget deficit or debt comes close, at 8%.” And below that at 3 percent, just above "lack of respect for each other," comes immigration.

There are a variety of reasons why Americans' top priority is the category “dissatisfaction with government/Congress/politicians; poor leadership; corruption; abuse of power.” Anyone who reads or listens to the news knows there have been a string of governmental failures and outrages, including President Obama’s setting aside enforcement of the immigration laws he does not like. Second and third come the economy and unemployment – two matters that Congress has debated for years but failed to address, at least in any effective manner. That in itself is an outrage. Unemployment remains high, especially for less-skilled/educated Americans and young Americans, and long-term unemployment is forcing people to abandon the workforce. The labor participation rate is the lowest it has been in the last 36 years yet politicians find time to address everything but putting Americans back to work.

COMING ATTRACTIONS: Vast Stretches Of Impoverished Appalachia Look Like They Have Been Through A War

Guest post by Michael Snyder

If you want to get an idea of where the rest of America is heading, just take a trip through the western half of West Virginia and the eastern half of Kentucky some time. Once you leave the main highways, you will rapidly encounter poverty on a level that is absolutely staggering. Overall, about 15 percent of the entire nation is under the poverty line, but in some areas of eastern Kentucky, more than 40 percent of the population is living in poverty. Most of the people would work if they could. Over the past couple of decades, locals have witnessed businesses and industries leave the region at a steady pace. When another factory or business shuts down, many of the unemployed do not even realize that their jobs have been shipped overseas. Coal mining still produces jobs that pay a decent wage, but Barack Obama is doing his very best to kill off that entire industry. After decades of decline, vast stretches of impoverished Appalachia look like they have been through a war. Those living in the area know that things are not good, but they just try to do the best that they can with what they have.

In previous articles about areas of the country that are economically depressed, I have typically focused on large cities such as Detroit or Camden, New Jersey. But the economic suffering that is taking place in rural communities in the heartland of America is just as tragic. We just don't hear about it as much.

Most of those that live in the heart of Appalachia are really good "salt of the earth" people that just want to work hard and do what is right for their families. But after decades of increasing poverty, the entire region has been transformed into an economic nightmare that never seems to end. The following is a description of what life is like in Appalachia today that comes from a recent article by Kevin D. Williamson...

Ben Carson Comix

Via @BiffSpackle:



Larwyn's Linx: Assault on US from southern border to explode with 'immigration reform'

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

Nation

Assault on US from southern border to explode with 'immigration reform': Exam
Surprise: Team Obama Delays Equal Coverage Provision: RWN
President’s Weekly Address – I Don’t Need No Stinking Congress: Caleb Howe

Oh, my: far left 9th Circuit confirms Citizens United: Ace
Latina Actress Blacklisted for Supporting Republican Candidate: R.S. McCain
Little Sisters vs. Goliath: Thomas Purcell

Triumph of the Mediocre: Theodore Dalrymple
Man Posts On Facebook About "Police State"-Guess Who Shows Up?: FreePatriot
Patriot Comments: John Boehner Weekly Facebook Top Ten Comments: IM41

Why is DHS participating in human smuggling operation?: John Hawkins
Barry explains Cloward-Piven Strategy: Allen West
Number of able-bodied adults without dependents on food stamps doubles: Breitbart

Economy

1.1 Trillion Reasons to Dump Boehner and McConnell: J. Robert Smith
Common Core to teach ‘all right wing extremist groups’ are fascist: BPR
Four Reasons Oregon Medicaid Results Even Worse Than They Look: Avik Roy

Scandal Central

Stopping food stamp fraud is racist: MinorityReport
The stealth jihad of Islamic immigration: Allen West
Kerry Dismisses 98% Support for New Egypt Constitution as Just One Election and Not ‘Inclusive’: PJM

Judge Jeanine Blasts Hillary Clinton on Benghazi: IM41
Shredding the layers of the ObamaCare onion: CFP
Stop? She Shouldn’t Even Be in a Position to Start: iOTW

Media

Politico silent on pay-to-play scandal: Breitbart
John Feehery – Under the Glare: Jen Kuznicki
It's Not Only NSA Spying on Americans: Ballseye's Boomers

50 Ways to Celebrate Michelle Obama's Birthday: Cube
Hillary Clinton’s Google Problem: Glob
Free At Last: Federal Court Hands Bloggers Legal First Amendment Protections: Publius

The Education of Barack Obama: The Devil’s in the Details: MOTUS
Weinstein UNCHAINED — The Top 7 Most Violent, Gun-Toting Harvey Weinstein Films: Bryan Preston
Gowdy Places Blame On Press – Outstanding: A Nod to the Gods

World

I Need a Favor: Ann Barnhardt
Hamas losing control of Gaza Strip: ynet
Pope may seek to unseal Holocaust-era archives: Times of Israel

Sci-Tech (courtesy BadBlue Tech News)

Microsoft employees reportedly call Windows 8 ‘the new Vista’: Brad Reed, BGR
Engineering Managers Should Code 30% of Their Time: Eliot Horowitz
A Broken Cell Phone As A Survival Tool...: 90 Miles

Cornucopia

For the Laughs: Say Uncle
Hidden Talent: 700hp And Street Legal: Brad Lord
Signature Accomplishment: PCP

Image: Fundamentally Transforming America
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: An Article V Symposium

QOTD: "If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." --Samuel Adams

Saturday, January 18, 2014

FORMER NSA CHIEF CONFIRMS SNOWDEN REVELATIONS: It's official, we're living in a totalitarian police state

I'd somehow missed this (yes, I'll say it -- terrifying) Snowden revelation:

Bill Binney is the high-level NSA executive who created the agency’s mass surveillance program for digital information. A 32-year NSA veteran widely regarded as a “legend” within the agency, Binney was the senior technical director within the agency and managed thousands of NSA employees.

Binney has been interviewed by virtually all of the mainstream media, including CBS, ABC, CNN, New York Times, USA Today, Fox News, PBS and many others...

...today, Binney told [us that] the government is spying on virtually everything we do.

All of the information gained by the NSA through spying is then shared with federal, state and local agencies, and they are using that information to prosecute petty crimes such as drugs and taxes. The agencies are instructed to intentionally “launder” the information gained through spying, i.e. to pretend that they got the information in a more legitimate way … and to hide that from defense attorneys and judges.

NSA FUNNIES: Closing Argument

Biff Spackle:


These guys are really entertaining!

What the hell is this thing on the moon?

Daily Mail:

Is it part of an alien spaceship nestled under the dust of the moon, or a secret moonbase occupied by humans?

Speculation has exploded over these controversial images which appear to show something unexplained on the surface of the moon... The triangular anomaly, spotted on Google's map of the moon, has rows of seven light-like dots along its edge that have been likened to an alien base or spaceship.


Hillary on Jeopardy

Another Biff Spackle exclusive:


Hat tip: BadBlue Real-Time News.

Larwyn's Linx: Bombshell: White House pressured Fox not to report on Benghazi Terror Attack

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

Nation

Bombshell: White House pressured Fox not to report on Benghazi: YoungCons
The Root of Obama’s Imperious Presidency: Keith Koffler
White House caught red-handed lying about Obamacare enrollment: Scoop

Report: House GOP To Endorse Legalization of Illegal Immigrants: WZ
Illegal Wanted for Murder in Mexico Enjoys 13-Year Crime Spree in U.S.: Virtuous
Will Boehner Lose House by Shifting from Obamacare to Amnesty?: CIS

IRS Targeting and 2014: Kimberley Strassel
Cuomo: ‘Conservative Republicans… have no place in the state of New York’: JWF
Upset: GOP wins surprise blowout in Ark. Senate special election: Greenroom

Economy

Why is Obama Funding Food Stamp Ads in Mexico?: Glob
House GOP, Chamber of Commerce Team Up Against Unemployed: RWN
TX Congressional Candidate Responds To Latest Bad Budget Deal: Rhymes

Progressives' welfare state dream is really a nightmare: Susan Brown
Obamacare may have another gift for Republicans: Jonah Goldberg
States With Higher Dependence on Government Losing Population: Michael Barone

Scandal Central

Hillary Fired For “Lying, Unethical Behavior” on Watergate Committee: Downtrend
Was Benghazi a “Plan B?”: Matthew S. Harrison (2012)
Northern Resistance to Slavery is the Blueprint to Stop NSA Spying: TAC

Climate & Energy

Scientists Decide Americans Are Too Stupid to Understand Global Warming: R.S. McCain
Media and Global Warming Priests Puzzled by Bright Yellow Orb in Sky: MoneyRunner
Double down: EPA goes after lucrative mine project in second damning report: Dustin Hurst

Media

John Hawkins Interviews Scott Walker: Ace
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace.: III Percent
Obama Announces NSA Reforms: Gregory Ferenstein

A Fitting End to HBO's The Newsroom: Jonah Goldberg
Obama’s IRS Is Now Targeting Sarah Palin’s Father, Old Media Ignores: Wizbang
National Enquirer: Michelle Obama To Leave Barack Over Affair: John Hawkins

World

Kerry’s ‘Poor Jihadist’ Myth : Michelle Malkin
Julian Assange says President Obama lied in the NSA speech: GretaWire
A Man, a Plan, a Pipe — Manalapan!: GoV

Sci-Tech (courtesy BadBlue Tech News)

Proofpoint reveals ‘Internet of things’ cyberattack: Krissy Rushing, TechTell
Google unveils contact lens that helps diabetics monitor glucose levels: Maclean's
Netflix neutrality: Court ruling won't boost your Netflix bill. Yet.: Joan E. Solsman

Cornucopia

Historical Metropolitan Populations of the United States: Peakbagger
Regardless of what Dear Leader says, DON”T EAT THE PEAS!: MOTUS
Panel discussion: Mainstream Media Pundits wrap up 2007: Me

Sponsored by: Send a love letter to the cowardly GOP Establishment: support Matt Bevin for Senate

QOTD: "Liberal pundits and reporters are utterly contemptuous of the idea that the Benghazi scandal will be a problem for her. Eugene Robinson writes today that the Senate Intelligence Report is a total exoneration of the administration. This is bizarre on many levels. It's also hard to square with the fact that the White House is livid with the Democrats who signed on to the report (or so a couple of Hill folks have told me). Why get furious at an exoneration?

The lack of curiosity about the report from the mainstream media is really remarkable. Why, exactly, aren't reporters camped outside Clinton's home demanding a reaction? I mean I understand that she didn't close a couple of lanes on the George Washington Bridge, but four murdered Americans, including a U.S. ambassador, is important, too. Maybe if she had joked about putting traffic cones in front of the embassy on September 11?

Still, it is obvious that this is bad news for Hillary Clinton. No, she won't be indicted. No, it won't sink her candidacy (if she runs). Yes, it's true: There aren't many Americans who would have otherwise voted for Hillary were it not for Benghazi. But when you have pretty much no real accomplishments to put on the pro side of the scale, and you have a U.S. ambassador murdered in an attack your department could have prevented (and which you subsequently lied about) on the con side of the scale, the scale simply won't balance in your favor. --Jonah Goldberg

Friday, January 17, 2014

George Orwell Comix

1984? We're living it.


The first dose of the antidote.

JUST, WOW: Obama's refusal to name Al-Qaeda in Benghazi attack prevents military from pursuing killers

Guest post by Investor's Business Daily

War On Terror: By refusing to acknowledge the role of al-Qaida-linked terrorists in the Benghazi attack, the administration has kept our military from hunting down and killing people responsible for the deadly 2012 attack.

There would seem to be no shortage of targets for America's fleet of drones after the Senate release of a report documenting, despite the efforts of the New York Times and others to revive the video lie, the presence and participation of terrorists from no fewer than four al-Qaida-affiliated groups on the ground in Benghazi.

Among the al-Qaida-affiliated groups involved in the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack, according to the Senate report released last week, were groups such as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the Mohammad Jamal Network and Ansar al-Sharia, the terrorist group that actually took credit for the attack as it was happening, according to communications received by the State Department that night.

A month later, President Obama said of the attack that "my biggest priority now is bringing those folks to justice, and I think the American people have seen that's a commitment I'll always keep."

Yet so far the only individual apprehended and incarcerated for the Benghazi attack is the hapless Coptic filmmaker responsible for the video the Obama administration used as an excuse, even though, as we have noted, military leaders informed the president that night that it was a terrorist attack.

As The Hill reports, it is the refusal by Obama and his administration to designate those responsible for the attack as members of al-Qaida or its affiliates that prevents the U.S. military from apprehending or targeting them under the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which allows the military anywhere in the world to move against al-Qaida and "associated forces."

Do keep up, progressives -- do keep up

Ain't this the truth (via @JimDWrech)?



MSNBC hardest hit.


We, the Peasants

Guest post by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

As predictable as the rising and setting of the sun, the Republican machine is bent on betraying its base. They will force Amnesty on us in a brutish move that aligns itself with Obama and the other Progressive Marxists. Obama has declared that he will conduct weaponized legislative warfare in the coming year and by the use of pen and phone, he will have his way with illegal immigration and raising the minimum wage. It is a dictatorial move that is breathtaking and basically circumvents and destroys the Constitution — all the while, Progressive Republicans will be assisting and aiding him behind the scenes and out in the open for the world to see, just as they did with Obamacare. This is not to help the downtrodden. This is for the votes and the labor, pure and simple.

 
Brown Shirts of the new Cuba unite:

“We are not just going to be waiting for legislation in order to make sure that we’re providing Americans the kind of help that they need,” President Obama told reporters before a meeting with his Cabinet Tuesday. “I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone.”

The pen, the president said, can be used “to sign executive orders and take executive actions,” while the phone will allow the president to bring together non-profits, businesses, and universities to promote a “unifying theme–making sure that this is a country where if you work hard, you can make it.”

And while Obama plays dictator, John Boehner plays traitor:

“John Boehner is planning to unveil a set of Republican principles for immigration reform before President Obama’s State of the Union address, aiming to show the GOP is not hostile to legislation that might win them Hispanic voters.

TED CRUZ: Senate Report on Terror Attacks in Benghazi Raises More Questions Than It Answers, Hillary

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) released this statement on the Senate Benghazi report released earlier this week


Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released the following on yesterday’s Senate Select Committee’s Review of the Terrorist Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi, Libya:

“The majority views of the SSCI report confirm a number of things long suspected about the Benghazi attacks. Our government was warned, and there were steps that could have been taken to protect Americans,” Sen. Cruz said. “But our people were left at significant risk against a known terrorist threat, and when the attack came, there was no help to send. After the attack, the Obama administration tried to mask its failure with false claims of a protest over an Internet video. All the while, the terrorists who carried out this attack are still at large. Most chilling, however, is the conclusion that the attacks were preventable in the first place.”

On the first anniversary of the attacks, Sen. Cruz filed a resolution (S. Res. 225 with 24 Republican co-sponsors) calling for a joint select committee that would put all the resources of both Houses of Congress behind a thorough investigation that could answer the basic questions that remain. For instance:

· Why did any of this happen in the first place?

· Why was there no appreciation for the repeated intelligence warnings about the security situation in Libya?

· Why were the repeated requests for more protection refused?

· Why were no military assets made ready near this acknowledged terrorist hot spot on the anniversary of September 11, 2001?

· Why did the Obama administration falsely insist the attacks were the result of a spontaneous protest over an Internet video?

· Why has no one in our government been held accountable for these failures?

· Why has no terrorist been punished for this outrage?

“This most recent committee report is a valuable bi-partisan effort that demonstrates how reasonable people on both sides of the political aisle are inching closer to consensus on what happened before, during, and after the attacks on our facilities in Benghazi,” Cruz continued. “But it also starkly demonstrates that we are still far from getting clarity on why any of this happened. Unfortunately, this report thus raises more questions than answers. Until we can answer the basic questions that remain, we cannot in any way be confident that history, like the al Qaida terrorists who have attacked us so often, is not preparing to repeat itself. As the minority additional views conclude, the American people and, most importantly, the families of the victims deserve the truth.”


Related: DAMNING: The Complete Benghazi Timeline Spreadsheet

Larwyn's Linx: Mitch McConnell hearts Obamacare

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

Nation

Mitch McConnell hearts Obamacare: Erick Erickson
It's a River of Bulls***: Ace
The Left's Reordering of Human Desire: Harrison Dietzman

Just How Out of Touch is the Ruling Class?: Daniel Horowitz
Obama administration poised to give incredible gift to GOP: Jonah Goldberg
Holmes Helps Americans Go To Hell: Timothy Sandefur

Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) tries to run against Obamacare. :pause: Umm…: Moe Lane
Levin calls on Republicans to boycott the State of the Union: Scoop
Will New Bill Nullify Federal Gun Laws In Tennessee?: Ben Swann

Obama administration mandates racism in schools: Mona Charen
Don't Like My Article? I Will Sue!: Dollar Vigilante
Imperial, Lawless Obama Threatens More Unilateral Action: David Limbaugh

Economy

America drops off list of top 10 economically free nations: Frugal Cafe
Here It Comes: Obama Considering Executive Order To Raise Minimum Wage: ZH
Who Read 1,582-Page $1.1T Spending Bill? Congressman: 'Nobody Did': CNS

Scandal Central

The families of the victims in Benghazi deserve the truth: Ted Cruz
Damning: New GAO Timeline Shows Obama MIA During Benghazi Attacks: TPNN
NSA collecting SMS messages in bulk, says reporting based on latest Snowden document: David Perera

Climate & Energy

Sessions Hammers EPA Administrator Unable to Defend Obama's Claims on Global Warming: Breitbart
UN climate chief: Mass-murdering Communists are best at fighting global warming: Michael Bastasch
Canada: New proving ground for eco-terrorism: Kathy Shaidle

Media

NBC Silent on $7.3 Million from Soros for Special Anchor’s Liberal Report: Mike Ciandella
Media types aren't pleased to have real information about Obama:: Ace
Campaign Ad 2016 For Hillary Clinton: The Phone Is Ringing From Benghazi: NoisyRm

Rev. Wright Trashes Obama At Chicago Union Event: Shark Tank
Time Cover? A Giant Hillary With A Tiny Man On her Shoe Of Course!: Tammy Bruce
Levin to Krauthammer and Will: See, I told you Obamacare wouldn’t implode: Mofo

Krauthammer: Insecurity on Healthcare.gov is a Disaster Waiting to Happen: Glob
MOTUS Gets Mail: The Secrets to Michelle Obama’s “Signature Look”: MOTUS
Benghazi a pre-planned Movie Narrative?: Shoebat

World

Senior UK Defense Advisor: Obama Is Clueless About ‘What He Wants To Do In The World’: Daily Beast
John Kerry, Jihad Coddler: Michelle Malkin
Obama Calls Dominican Republic ‘the Dominican Republican’: WFB

Sci-Tech (courtesy BadBlue Tech News)

Adobe introduces support for 3D printing to Photoshop: Ken Yeung, NextWeb
Skype’s Incredible Rise, in One Image: Tom Gara
U.S. Military Begins Testing ‘Smart’ Rifles: DefTech

Cornucopia

Oh, now who hasn’t wanted to do this?: Sondrakistan
Where it will be fought: Winter Soldier
Ice Advice: C&S

Image: A Brief History Of Jim Cramer's Opinions On "Pillar Of Strength" Best Buy
Sponsored by: Send a love letter to the intransigent GOP Establishment: support Matt Bevin for Senate

QOTD: "Just connect the dots. The Chamber of Commerce says it is going to work to fix, not repeal, Obamacare. A top policy wonk who has Mitch McConnell’s ear is starting a think tank to fix, not repeal, Obamacare. The Chamber of Commerce is going to attack conservatives in Republican Primaries. The Republican Main Street Partnership is getting Democrat money to join them. McConnell sends his current Chief to the NRSC, which in turn black balls a political shop helping conservatives. The NRCC joins in the black balling.

Folks, you may want to sit it out. You may think all Republicans will advance in your direction. But all the talk about the GOP just fighting over tactics is crap. This is a fight over the direction of the party and whether it will repeal Obamacare or work with Democrats to fix it.

Mitch McConnell and his ilk no longer believe the problem with government is government. They believe the problem with government is Democrats in charge of it. If you want to clean up the mess in Washington, you can no longer just vote Republican. You have to vote against Mitch McConnell and his preferred candidates inside Republican primaries." --Erick Erickson

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Obama admission: I'm a terrible communicator and can't convince anyone that my policies make sense

While many pundits have correctly pointed out that Barack Obama's latest public statements sound like those of a Third World dictator, that's not the only takeway.

One of the things that I’ll be emphasizing in this meeting is the fact that we are not just going to be waiting for legislation in order to ensure Americans are provided with the help that they need. I’ve got a pen and I’ve got a phone. And I can use that pen to sign executive orders and take executive actions and administrative actions that move the ball forward.

One of the things I’m going to be talking to my cabinet about is how do we use all the tools available to us, not just legislation in order to advance a mission that I think unifies all Americans.

While Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton each were able to work with a Congress controlled by the other party to achieve significant accomplishments, Obama has all but admitted his failings.

I can't convince anyone that I'm right. I can't work with the other party. I have no persuasive skills. I'm a horrible communicator. And, because I'm a failure, I refuse to work within the confines of the Constitutional structure.

I don't play well with others.

I'm a tiny little child and no one else can play with my toys.



Related: A Child's First Book of Regulations.

MARK LEVIN TO REPUBLICANS: Want to rebel against Presidential lawlessness? Boycott the State of the Union

Great idea:

Here’s what should happen at the State of the Union speech. Since these men and women will not use the Constitution to defend this nation, since they will not use the Constitution to confront a lawless president, and worse yet, since they are funding his activities, these omnibus bills filled with all kinds of crap, what the Republicans should do is boycott the State of the Union. They should boycott the State of the Union so half of the House floor is empty.

Then they should get together and present their own case on the State of the Union and explain in an articulate and concise way what the State of the Union is, and how the president threatens this republic.

They need to do something bold that will get the attention of some of our fellow citizens, at which the media which will attack it but cannot ignore it.

If they’re not going to take a stand constitutionally and legally, they should at least take a stand on the steps of the Capitol or somewhere. Together. Shoulder to Shoulder. And say we have a lawless president doing lawless things and make their case to the American people.

It would be historic. It would be profound. That finally the opposition party demonstrates that it opposes not just the Democrat Party, but the destruction of this republic by this president and his willing dupes in Congress.

It will be interesting to see which Republicans consider this idea.

I know who won't consider it: the spineless, useless, feckless, bought-and-paid-for hacks in the GOP leadership. Yes, I'm looking at you, John Boehner. And you, Mitch McConnell.


Hat tip: BadBlue News

SUPER: Obamacare Official Admits They Have No Earthly Idea Who Has Actually Paid Their Premiums

Unexpectedly, of course. Not to worry: it's only January freaking 16th.

Q: ...whether individuals have paid [their insurance premiums through the Obamacare websites]... does the administration collect this information... do you collect this information?

A: Uh, right now, we're not. But we will be.

Q: When?

A: As soon as that functionality is built. I think I answered some... of those questions earlier. Not all of that functionality is built yet.

Q: Will that mean we have to go back to all of those who have enrolled and find out who has paid, so we're not collecting as it occurs?

A: We ultimately will reconcile to make sure... the tax credits, for example, are not paid to, with respect to, anyone who's not paid their premium. That's a requirement. You pay your premium to get the tax credit.

Q: What department would have this data?

A: It's gonna. It's gonna come to. To my department. My. My. Area.

Q: And who would be the individual in charge of receiving this?

A: That's also Sharon Arnold.

Q: So we don't know how many people have actually paid for coverage?

A: That's right.

This exchange, between Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS) and Medicare official Gary Cohen is, frankly, shocking.

Not only do they have no idea how many people have actually signed up for Obamacare, they don't know who's actually paid their premiums and -- as a bonus -- they're actively encouraging tax fraud as no reconciliation process exists.

These people are the worst of the worst. Dregs. Lowlifes. Miscreants. They need to be ejected from office in November -- with extreme prejudice.


Hat tip: BadBlue News

Massive Target credit-card hack: More details emerge

Security expert Bruce Krebs has been scrutinizing the massive hack of the retailer Target, which compromised tens of millions of consumer credit cards.

Target has yet to honor a single request for comment from this publication, and the company has said nothing publicly about how this breach occurred. But according to sources, the attackers broke in to Target after compromising a company Web server. Somehow, the attackers were able to upload the malicious POS [point-of-sale] software to store point-of-sale machines, and then set up a control server within Target’s internal network that served as a central repository for data hoovered by all of the infected point-of-sale devices.

“The bad guys were logging in remotely to that [control server], and apparently had persistent access to it,” a source close to the investigation told KrebsOnSecurity. “They basically had to keep going in and manually collecting the dumps..."

...[Russian security firm] Group-IB [may have linked the attack] to a set of young Russian and Ukranian men who appear to be actively engaged in a variety of cybercrime activities, including distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and protests associated with the hackivist collective known as Anonymous.

Rumors have been floating around the security community that the POS hardware had been compromised at the supplier before it had even reached Target.

Larwyn's Linx: Bic It Where The Sun Don't Shine

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

Nation

Bic It Where The Sun Don't Shine: Hopenchange
Re-living History: Christian Mercenary
Despairing statement from a Florida physician will break your heart: Moe Lane

The Great GOP Establishment Amnesty Swindle: Daniel Horowitz
GOP Lays Ground Work to Walk Away From Obamacare Opposition: Erick Erickson
Mitch McConnell’s lead drops big: Dan Riehl

Jim Moran becomes 3rd House Dem this week to retire: Hot Air
Special election suggests Dems’ grip on Arkansas crumbling: David Freddoso

The Truth About Sandy Hook: PJM
Spengler's Universal Laws: American Digest
CT state police seek to question Vanderboegh in gun dispute: Anthony Martin

Economy

Obama the Droughtmaker: Doug Kimball
Scranton Residents Plead for Bankruptcy vs. Higher Taxes: Mish
California Democrat Wants Illegals to Get Free Government Healthcare: Eagle

Scandal Central

Five CMS contracts that CGI Federal still somehow holds: Patrick Howley
8 Terrible Acts of Jim Moran, America’s Worst Congressman: Mollie Hemingway
Republicans Singling Out the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Benghazi: Eli Lake

Climate & Energy

Emails Show Extensive Collaboration Between EPA, Environmentalist Orgs: WFB
Farmers, ranchers sue EPA for releasing confidential data to environmental kooks: NRO

Media

The Media: The Illusion of Coverage: Fred on Everything
Is Chris Christie less believable than Tawana Brawley?: Ann Coulter
The ‘Lone Survivor’ Review So Outrageous Beck Will Pay Author to Read It To Marcus Luttrell’s Face: Blaze

Coburn to Congress: ‘The Problem Is Us’: PJM
Why Do We Have ‘Bridgegate’ — But Not ‘Gatesgate’?: Larry Elder
Amerika’s First, Historic, Community Organizer In Chief: With a Bullhorn: MOTUS

World

The cowardice of the new anti-Semitism: Victor Davis Hanson
Kerry's Peace Process Double Standards: Khaled Abu Toameh
Mexico: Military clash with cartel-fighting militias: Fausta

Rep. Trey Gowdy Wants A Subpoena for Hillary Clinton: RWN
Feinstein defends Clinton on Benghazi: No evidence she even knew about it so let’s move on: Scoop
Feinstein Admits 'NSA Reform' Bill Is About Protecting Existing Surveillance Programs : TechDirt

Sci-Tech (courtesy BadBlue Tech News)

What’s Net Neutrality? What Happened to Net Neutrality Yesterday? What Happens Next?: Peter Kafka
Trial seeks to provide hard data to answer FCC's indoor-location questions: Glenn Bischoff
Kvar Presents: It’s a Knife, it’s a Gun, no it’s both!: James Grant

Cornucopia

How Reggie Became Tank...: 90 Miles
Go Ahead and Laugh Now: Feral Irishman
Chabad Rabbi wins his first MMA fight with TKO: Algemeiner

Image: CNN Reporter Covering New Pot Laws In Colorado Looks Completely Baked
Sponsored by: Send a love letter to the intransigent GOP Establishment: support Matt Bevin for Senate

QOTD: "In a paroxysm of patriotic musing, I reflected that Washington is an insular, incestuous, inward-looking city, chiefly interested in itself, so politically inbred as to be in danger of hemophilia, out of touch with reality, having remarkably little understanding of or interest in the rest of the country or the world. Isnl’t this wonderful?

Inbreeding? By comparison with the Yankee Capital, West Virginians are on the outer limits of hybrid vigor. We had Bush I, a mediocrity but no worse, and later Bush II, in whom mediocrity would have been a welcome astonishment. We had Clinton the First, Bill, who was at least intelligent, then almost had Clinton II, who instead became Secretary of State, for which her only qualification was having been First Basilisk. Hillary lost the presidency to Barack Obama, whose only qualification was being black and reading a teleprompter well. Next we are likely to get Hillary anyway, and before that we almost had Kerry, whose only qualification was having married a pickle heiress. He is now Secretary of State, for no discernible reason.

So it goes in the national sandbox." --Fred Reed