Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Senator Chuck Grassley: "Bad Outweighs The Good" On Health Care Insurance Bill
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One of the most important aspects of this interview is when the MSNBC host asks Grassley how an individual mandate could be unconstitutional if the Republican Senator was in favor of such a proposal as an alternative if need be to Hillary Clinton's plan in the early 1990's. His answer needs to be heard across the land when he is asked about the Attorneys Generals challenging the constitutional legality of the individual mandates: "I think they're right...and I think the only difference between 1993 and the year now, if it was unconstitutional today it was unconstitutional in 1993, but I don't think anybody gave it much thought." Tweet
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Fidel Castro Praises Obama For Passing Health Insurance Legislation
The AP reports that Cuban Communist leader "Fidel Castro on Thursday declared passage of American health care reform 'a miracle' and a major victory for Obama's presidency, but couldn't help chide the United States for taking so long to enact what communist Cuba achieved decades ago."
"We consider health reform to have been an important battle and a success of his (Obama's) government," Castro wrote in an essay published in state media.
"It is really incredible that 234 years after the Declaration of Independence ... the government of that country has approved medical attention for the majority of its citizens, something that Cuba was able to do half a century ago," Castro wrote.
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Binyamin Netanyahu Humiliated By Barack Obama When Visiting The White House: "It Was Awful"
The London Times reports on the humiliating treatment that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recieved when visiting the White House this week. The Times reports that for "a head of state to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare. For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was, until this week, unheard of… After failing to extract a written promise of concessions on Jewish settlements, Mr Obama walked out of his meeting with Mr Netanyahu but invited him to stay at the White House, consult with advisors and 'let me know if there is anything new', a US congressman who spoke to the Prime Minister said today. 'It was awful,' the congressman said. One Israeli newspaper called the meeting 'a hazing in stages', poisoned by such mistrust that the Israeli delegation eventually left rather than risk being eavesdropped on a White House phone line. Another said that the Prime Minister had received 'the treatment reserved for the President of Equatorial Guinea'… Newspaper reports recounted how Mr Netanyahu looked 'excessively concerned and upset' as he pulled out a flow chart to show Mr Obama how Jerusalem planning permission worked and how he could not have known of the announcement that hundreds more homes were to be built just as Mr Biden arrived in Jerusalem. Mr Obama then suggested that Mr Netanyahu and his staff stay on at the White House to consider his proposals, so that if he changed his mind he could inform the President right away. 'I’m still around,' the Yediot Ahronot daily quoted Mr Obama saying. 'Let me know if there is anything new.'" Tweet
Senator Max Baucus: "This Legislation Will Have The Effect Of Addressing That Mal-Distribution Of Income In America"
Sen. Max Baucus: "Too often, much of late, the last couple three years the mal-distribution of income in America is gone up way too much, the wealthy are getting way, way too wealthy, and the middle income class is left behind. Wages have not kept up with increased income of the highest income in America. This legislation will have the effect of addressing that mal-distribution of income in America."
To see the video for yourself visit http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/03/25/dem_senator_health_legislation_will_address_the_mal-distribution_of_income_in_america.html.
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House Minority Leader John Boehnor: Democrats Are "Beyond Irresponsible" When It Comes To Support Of Israel
House Minority Leader John Boehnor wrote the following letter urging support for the Republican party from all those who consider themselves supporters of Israel:
Fellow Friend of Israel,
The Obama Administration's heated denouncement of our ally Israel's actions in approving the development of 1600 apartments in East Jerusalem during Vice President Joseph Biden's visit was beyond irresponsible.
The actions taken by Israel were absolutely consistent with the policy and commitments of three previous U.S. administrations. It is this current administration's attempt to renege on such previous promises that is abhorrent and should be condemned by all Americans. It is clearly an affront to the values and foundation of our long-term relationship, but most importantly, from a national security standpoint, it is beyond comprehension why this administration would choose to demonize and weaken Israel - the U.S.'s closest friend, the strongest democracy and our most important military ally in the Middle East.
Unfortunately, this development is just another example of how the far left ignores the principles and traditions of America. The Obama Administration has demonstrated a repeated pattern since it took office: while it makes concessions to countries acting contrary to U.S. national interests, it ignores or snubs the commitments, shared values and sacrifices of many of our country's best allies.
With Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid in the president's back pocket, the cycle is likely to continue. That's why it's absolutely critical for Republicans to win a majority in Congress in November. I am reaching out to you because I need your financial support to ensure my re-election so I can continue to provide conservative leadership for the entire country.
Will you follow this link and make a contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250 or more today? Any amount you can give will make a big difference in my campaign.
Threatening America's relationship with Israel is a dangerous path for the far left to lead us down politically and militarily. Americans have strong ties to Israel, and will not tolerate a fraying in our two countries' relationship. And with troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, Americans will not allow the Administration to put their safety at risk. It's reckless to focus so much attention on Israel when countries like Iran pose such serious challenges to our national security.
If the Administration was serious about working toward resolving the conflict in the Middle East, it would focus on Iran's behavior - its pursuit of nuclear weapons, state-sponsorship of terrorism, crushing of domestic democratic forces, destabilizing impact on the region - and the credibility of international nonproliferation efforts.
But don't count on it. The Administration is more focused on ramming its jobs-killing agenda through Congress. Fortunately, House Republicans remain committed to our long-standing bilateral friendship with Israel, as well as to the promises this country has made.
House Republicans recognize the real security dilemmas facing the United States. So can I count on you to make a generous contribution to my re-election campaign? I need your support to help ensure that I continue to represent our responsible, conservative values in the House. Please follow this link to give so generously as you can today.
Thank you in advance for your support.
John Boehner
House Republican Leader
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Caterpillar Takes Hit On Health Care
The Wall Street Journal reports "Caterpillar Inc. said Wednesday it will take a $100 million charge to earnings this quarter to reflect additional taxes stemming from newly enacted U.S. health-care legislation. The world's largest construction equipment manufacturer by sales, warned last week that provisions in the legislation would subject the company to federal income taxes on the subsidies it receives for providing prescription drug benefits for its retirees and their spouses." Tweet
U.S. Softens Sanction Plan Against Iran
The Wall Street Journal reports that the "U.S. has backed away from pursuing a number of tough measures against Iran in order to win support from Russia and China for a new United Nations Security Council resolution on sanctions, according to people familiar with the matter. Among provisions removed from the original draft resolution the U.S. sent to key allies last month were sanctions aimed at choking off Tehran's access to international banking services and capital markets, and closing international airspace and waters to Iran's national air cargo and shipping lines, according to the people. The U.S. and allies are trying to force Iran to rein in a nuclear program that they worry is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Tehran says its nuclear activities are peaceful. The U.K. and Germany, concerned that Russia and China would reject the resolution outright and preferring to turn up pressure on Iran gradually, persuaded U.S. officials to drop or soften several elements, including some of the document's harshest provisions, the people said." Tweet
Democrat Congressman Weiner Dodges Questions About Refusal To Cooperate With Health Care Mandates Resulting In IRS Penalty
The fact is that Bill O'Reilly was on target, and that the Congressman was refusing to answer the simple questions and instead obfuscating. The Obamacare law includes a health insurance mandate requiring those without insurance to purchase it. Refusal to follow the mandate results in a fine from the IRS, the IRS acting as the enforcement agency for the mandate. Congressman Weiner refused to answer the simple questions because he realized that if most Americans knew this was in the bill, they may very well be outraged at the unprecedented scope of federal power.
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Alan Dershowitz In WSJ: "Obama’s legacy And The Iranian Bomb"
Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz writes that "Iran's construction of nuclear weapons, if it manages to do so in the next few years, become President Barack Obama's enduring legacy." To read the full article visit http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2010/03/23_dershowitz.html. Tweet
Obamacare Opts Obama Out Of Legislation
The Washington Times reports that the "new health care law exempts the president from having to participate in it. Leadership and committee staffers in the House and Senate who wrote the bill are exempted as well. A weasel-worded definition of "staff" includes only the members' personal staff in the new system; the committee staff that drafted the legislation opted themselves out. Because they were more familiar with the contents of the law than anyone in the country, it says a lot that they carved out their own special loophole. Anyway, the law is intended to affect 'ordinary Americans,' according to Vice President Joe Biden (who - being a heartbeat away from the presidency - also is not covered), not Washington insiders." Tweet
Obamacare Will Result In Small Businesses Out Of Providing Health Insurance
Watch how an owner of one business explains that Obamacare incentivizes dropping health care, paying the penalty, and putting their workers into the government exchanges:
Watch CBS News Videos Online
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Court Rules On Cancelled Prom Allegedly In Response To Lesbian Teen Requesting To Bring Girlfriend And Wear Tuxedo
The Jackson Clarion Ledger reports that "U.S. District Court Judge Glen Davidson denied 18-year-old senior Constance McMillen's request to reinstate the prom, noting 'the court cannot go into the business of planning and overseeing a prom.' But based on the evidence presented at the hearing Monday, Davidson said it is clear to him that the Fulton school district violated McMillen's First Amendment rights. 'We feel really good about his ruling and the way that everything has been handled to date,' American Civil Liberties Union attorney Kristy Bennett said. 'This ruling clearly tells school districts there is a First Amendment right to bring same-sex dates to the prom.' " Tweet
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Obama Administration Awarded Hundreds of Thousands in Airport Grants to Stupak’s District Two Days Before Vote
The NRCC reports that three "airports in the district of infamous fence-sitting and ultimately kowtowing Democrat Bart Stupak were awarded $726,409 in grants by the Obama Administration just two days before a vote on Obama and Pelosi’s government takeover of healthcare. Did Stupak compromise his supposed principled stand against taxpayer funding of abortion in exchange for taxpayer dollars for pet projects?"
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Conyers: Obamacare Constitutional Because Of "Good And Welfare Clause"
There is no "good and welfare clause" in the Constitution:
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Senator Jon Kyl Discusses Obamacare On Dennis Prager Show And Dennis Miller Show
Dennis Prager Show:
Dennis Miller Show:
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Monday, March 22, 2010
Judge Orders Release Of Gitmo Detainee Described In The 9/11 Commission Report As A Significant Al-Qaeda Operative Providing Advice To 9-11 Hijackers
The AP reports that a "judge has ordered the release of a Guantanamo Bay detainee described in the 9/11 commission report as a significant al-Qaida operative who provided advice to three of the Sept. 11 hijackers. The ruling in favor of detainee Mohamedou Ould Salahi was disclosed Monday in a two-sentence court entry. U.S. District Judge James Robertson will issue a written decision at a later date explaining his reasons for granting the detainee's petition. The detainee remains at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the Obama administration could appeal Robertson's order. Even if the administration were to decide against appealing, Salahi would remain at Guantanamo until U.S. diplomats found a nation willing to accept him. The 9/11 Commission report says Salahi was known to U.S. and German intelligence a decade ago and living in Germany when he gave instructions to four men about how to reach Afghanistan to train for jihad. Three of the men later became Sept. 11 hijackers — Mohamed Atta, Ziad Jarrah and Marwan al Shehhi. The fourth was Ramzi Binalshibh, who helped coordinate the 9/11 plot and who now faces trial. Salahi was arrested in his home country of Mauritania late in 2001." Tweet
Phyllis Schlafly: Health Care Vote Exposes The Myth Of The Pro-Life Democrat
Phyllis Schlafly, president and founder of the conservative grassroots public policy organization Eagle Forum, made the following remarks after the public announcement that formerly pro-life Democrat Bart Stupak (D-MI) will cast a "yes" vote for the Senate health care bill today in the House:
"It is naive for any elected official, especially one who describes himself as 'pro-life,' to expect that a promise to issue an Executive Order that reasserts the intentions of the Hyde Amendment will be fulfilled by the most pro-abortion president to ever sit in the White House. Perhaps Mr. Stupak and his fellow pro-life Democrats forget that President Obama's first Executive Order was the repeal of the Mexico City Policy to allow for international funding of abortion."
"Not only would an Executive Order be rendered meaningless in the face of Congress passing legislation which actively provides for the massive expansion and funding of abortion services, but anyone who doubts the abortion tsunami which awaits this bill becoming law lives in a fantasy world."
"Barack Obama has lined every existing federal agency with the most dedicated pro-abortion ideologues, and we know that he will continue this pattern of pro-abortion appointments when it comes time for him to fill the over-100 bureaucracies created to administer his socialized health care program."
"Any formerly pro-life Democrat who casts a 'Yes' vote for this Senate health care bill tonight will be forever remembered as being among the deciding votes which facilitated the largest expansion of abortion services since Roe v. Wade."
"Mr. Stupak and his Democrat followers have now clarified that you cannot be pro-life and be a Democrat. If abortion was truly their biggest issue, they wouldn't willfully align themselves with the Party of Death."
"This vote will expose the myth of the 'pro-life Democrat.' With this single vote, the Democratic Party will divide our nation into the Party of Death and the Party of Life, and future elections will never be the same."
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Nonpartisan Joint Tax Committee: 73 Million People Will Face Higher Health Care Costs From The New Fees And Taxes
Fox News reported that a "nonpartisan study is casting new doubt on President Obama's campaign pledge not to raise taxes on the middle class. The Senate health care bill crucial to saving President Obama's signature domestic initiative will hit the wallets of a quarter of all Americans making less than $200,000 per year, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Joint Tax Committee that assessed the way the bill would hit taxpayers directly through new taxes and fees and indirectly through taxes levied on health care providers and passed on to consumers. The committee also determined that the bill would subsidized insurance premiums for 7 percent of taxpayers -- about 13 million people -- while some 73 million people would face higher costs from the new fees and taxes." Tweet
Hillary Clinton's Speech At 2010 AIPAC Policy Conference
What the media took away from the speech, as seen by Reuters reporting, is continued criticism of Israel as U.S. "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday that indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians should be serious and substantive and that new Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank were jeopardizing progress."
"New construction in East Jerusalem or the West Bank undermines mutual trust and endangers the proximity talks that are the first step toward the full negotiations that both sides want and need," Clinton said in a speech to AIPAC, an influential pro-Israel lobby group.
"It exposes daylight between Israel and the United States that others in the region could hope to exploit. And it undermines America's unique ability to play a role -- an essential role, I might add -- in the peace process," she said.
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Likud Party Knesset Member And Deputy Knesset Speaker Danny Danon: Obama's Israel Policies Are "Racist"
WND reports that a "member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling Likud party slammed as 'racist' President Obama's policies against Jewish construction in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem.
"I think it is racist," stated Likud Knesset Member Danny Danon. "Can you imagine someone in the U.S. saying Hispanics or Muslims cannot build in a certain city?"
"What we see now coming from the (Obama) administration – telling Jews to not build in major parts of Jerusalem – is unacceptable," said Danon.
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Bloomberg: New Taxes for Health Care Help Obama "Spread the Wealth Around’
Bloomberg reports that "President Barack Obama said on the campaign trail in October 2008 that he wanted to “spread the wealth around.” With Obama on the verge of signing sweeping health-care overhaul legislation, he’s about to do just that." To read some more about the new taxes and penalties that are imposed by this bill visit http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ake7tOWwUT6E. Tweet
Legal Battles Over Obamacare To Begin After Bill Is Signed Into Law
Reuters reports that "Florida's attorney general will file a lawsuit with nine other state attorneys general opposing the healthcare legislation passed by Congress, a spokeswoman said on Monday."
"The health care reform legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last night clearly violates the U.S. Constitution and infringes on each state's sovereignty," Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, a Republican, said in a prepared statement announcing a news conference. "On behalf of the State of Florida and of the Attorneys General from South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota and Alabama if the President signs this bill into law, we will file a lawsuit to protect the rights and the interests of American citizens."
Reuters further reports that "Virginia's attorney general said he plans to sue the federal government over the healthcare reform legislation, saying Congress lacks authority to force people to buy health insurance. Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli, a Republican, said on Monday that Congress lacks authority under its constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce to force people to buy insurance. He said the bill also conflicts with a state law that says Virginians cannot be required to buy insurance."
"If a person decides not to buy health insurance, that person by definition is not engaging in commerce," Cuccinelli said in recorded comments. "If you are not engaging in commerce, how can the federal government regulate you?"
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Newt Gingrich On The Passage Of Obamacare: "This Will Not Stand"
Newt Gingrich says that together "we will prove that this will not stand. 2010 and 2012 will be among the most important elections in American history. These elections will allow us to save America from a leftwing machine of unparalleled corruption arrogance and cynicism." To read more visit http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36142. Tweet
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Stupak Caves: "We Have an Agreement"
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The AP reports that the "National Right to Life Committee quickly issued a scathing statement disputing Stupak's claim."
"The executive order promised by President Obama was issued for political effect. It changes nothing," the group said. "It does not correct any of the serious pro-abortion provisions in the bill."
Further, the AP notes that "the powerful Catholic bishops weren't on board, either."
"Without seeing the details of the executive order, our conclusion has been that an executive order cannot override or change the central problems in the statute. Those need a legislative fix," Richard Doerflinger, associate director of the bishops' conference's Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, said in an interview.
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Jihad "Is Becoming As American As Apple Pie," Says US-born Cleric Anwar Al-Awlaqi
The AFP reports that violent jihad is "becoming as American as apple pie," according to US-born fugitive cleric Anwar Al-Awlaqi in an unauthenticated message released Friday.
"Western jihad is here to stay," warned Awlaqi as he commented on the 46-year old blonde American Colleen LaRose from Pennsylvania who dubbed herself "JihadJane" and has pleaded not guilty to trying to recruit Islamist militants to murder a Swedish cartoonist. "Jihad is becoming as American as apple pie and as British as afternoon tea," the US-Yemeni cleric said. "Eight years after 9/11 and the declaration of war against terrorism, jihad is still reaching the shores of Europe and America. Not from the outside, but from within. Jihad is not being imported but is being homegrown," read the message. He also referred to Christmas Day bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. "The US has spent billions to protect its airlines but they couldn't prevent Umar Farouk, and the West has been profiling until 'Jihad Jane' shattered whatever trust was left in the value of profiling," the message read. "A blond, blue-eyed, small framed, middle-aged female. It couldn't get any further from your typical 'terrorist' profile."
The AFP further explains that "Awlaqi has been cited as an influence on three of the hijackers in the September 11, 2001 attacks and exchanged emails with Major Nidal Hasan, the US army psychiatrist accused of opening fire on fellow soldiers at a Texas army base, killing 13 people in November. The imam has also been linked to Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian student accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound flight with explosives in his underwear on December 25."
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U.S. Bishops’ Final Plea To Congressmen: Do Not Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill
The Catholic News Service reports that in "a final, urgent plea to prevent the passage of the current form of the Senate health care bill, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on Saturday evening sent a letter to Congressmen asking them to vote 'no.'" Tweet
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