Excerpt: A Des Plaines resident who served as a Marine in Vietnam will be honored later this month by a non-profit organization for his poetry, which captures the life of the Marines, their courage and what it means to be at war. In his book, “Old Jarhead Poems,” Robert A. Hall compiled pieces he has penned over almost 50 years, starting as a Marine in the 1960s. Though the majority of his work in the book focuses on the Marines, some are also about patriotism and the War on Terror.
Excerpt: GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, after defying long odds to become a top contender for the nomination, said Tuesday he is suspending his campaign, in effect paving the way for front-runner Mitt Romney to challenge President Obama. Santorum’s announcement came as a surprise, though his campaign faced an increasingly unlikely path to the nomination in recent weeks.
Worth Reading: Is America Prepared for a Saudi Oil Crisis?
Excerpt: Think fueling up your car at $4 a gallon is rough? How would you feel about paying more than $6.50? Add on top of that massive job losses and a drastic drop in U.S. economic productivity, and you'll get the picture of what life in America would be like if oil stopped flowing from Saudi Arabia. It's a scenario that's not entirely out of the realm of possibility. Over the past year, the world has watched the Arab Spring spread across the Middle East, toppling regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Were massive social upheaval to strike Saudi Arabia, the conditions could be ripe for the country's oil spigot to be shut off to the Western world.
Mojave Solar Project Killing Threatened Desert Tortoises
Grudge match: PETA vs. Big Green. ~Bob. Excerpt: Construction of BrightSource Energy’s Ivanpah solar power project in the Mojave Desert is destroying the habitat of threatened desert tortoises. Conservationists have documented that in addition to destroying desert tortoise habitat, the project, approximately 50 miles south of Las Vegas in southeastern California, has directly caused many desert tortoise deaths.
Americans Want More Control Over Their Own Health Care: ObamaCare's popular provisions lose their appeal once Americans are confronted with the consequences. By Shikha Dalmia
Excerpt: With the three-day ObamaCare circus at the Supreme Court behind us, let’s fast-forward to June. Suppose that five justices find their constitutional bearings and do what a majority of Americans want them to do: Scrap the individual mandate, the key provision without which the law will collapse. What then?
Completion matters: the high cost of low community college graduation rates By Mark Schneider, Lu Michelle Yin
Excerpt: An ever-increasing number of individuals are turning to community college for their higher education. However, the majority of students entering community college fail to complete their degrees, and as a result, earn lower wages throughout the course of their lives. If community college retention rates were increased, graduates could become part of a wholly different income bracket, and taxpayers in the nation and the states would likewise experience substantial monetary gains. (I’m a fan of community colleges. Cheaper to start a student there than at a research university. In1968, a Marine Corporal went up to Fitchburg State College to see about applying. Looking at his high school grades, they suggested he try the local community college. It gave me a great start, and five years later, I was the state senator for Fitchburg, and FSC was talking to me about their budget needs. ~Bob.)
Women vs. the State: It’s time to liberate ladies from unequal and unjust government policies. By Veroniquede Rugy
Excerpt: March is Women’s History Month. As schoolteachers across America lecture students about how women fought for the right to own property, vote, and control their own bodies, another important lesson will be neglected: Women are still suffering from overly intrusive government. Improving the lot of American women means lowering marginal tax rates, abolishing many workplace regulations, increasing the number of low-skilled immigrants, and ending the drug war.
Dems Turn Passover Into Obama Worship By Jonathan Tobin
Excerpt: One of the most disturbing aspects of modern American Jewish life is the almost obsessive desire of many Jews to universalize every aspect of Jewish belief while downplaying the original meanings of customs and ritual. Leftist Rabbi Arthur Waskow help set this in motion decades ago with his "Freedom Seder" in which he hijacked the Haggadah recited by Jews on Passover to promote other causes. Since then, transposing the seder in order to morph the Jewish holiday that celebrates the freedom of the Jewish people into something that has nothing to do with the Jews and Judaism has become so commonplace it is something of a cliche.
Abu Hamza US extradition backed by European Court
Excerpt: The European Court of Human Rights has backed the extradition of Abu Hamza and four other terror suspects from the UK to the US. The Strasbourg court held there would be no violation of human rights for those facing life and solitary confinement in a "supermax" prison.
Bam’s jobs downer: Bad news changes campaign
Excerpt: The dynamics of the presidential race changed shape last week for two reasons. First, neither Mitt Romney nor his staff made a gaffe following the victories that put the nomination in his pocket at long last — which suggests they may be settling in and getting more focused after a jumpy couple of months. Second, President Obama and his staff were caught up short by a worrisome jobs report they didn’t expect — a report that demonstrates the degree of Obama’s vulnerability in November and the challenge the president may confront if he has to face the voters on Election Day with an economy little better than it is now.
More on Holder's Ballot
Excerpt: The young man then suggests that he should show his ID; the poll worker, in compliance with DC law, states: “You don’t need it. It's all right. As long as you’re in here, you’re on our list, and that’s who you say you are, you’re okay.” The young man replies: “I would feel more comfortable if I just had my ID. Is it alright if I go get it?" The poll worker agrees. "I’ll be back Faster than you can say Furious,” the young man jokes on his way out…”
Old but timely: Registered to vote in city & Fla.
Excerpt: Some 46,000 New Yorkers are registered to vote in both the city and Florida, a shocking finding that exposes both states to potential abuses that could alter the outcome of elections, a Daily News investigation shows. Registering in two places is illegal in both states, but the massive snowbird scandal goes undetected because election officials don't check rolls across state lines.
Always worth reading: Random Thoughts by Thomas Sowell
I do a regular “Random Thoughts” piece, borrowing the idea from Dr. Sowell. But his are far better. ~Bob. Excerpt: How long do politicians have to keep on promising heaven and delivering hell before people catch on, and stop getting swept away by rhetoric? … Have you noticed that what modest economic improvements we have seen occurred during the much-lamented" gridlock" in Washington? Nor is this unusual. If you check back through history, doing nothing has a far better track record than that of politicians intervening in the economy.
Philadelphia Police, FBI Searching For Serial Robbers
Excerpt: The suspects are both described as black, having a thin build, 5’10” tall, with black Muslim-like garments covering their heads and bodies.
Video: Two black males wear Burkas, rob banks; Paging CAIR…
Nod To Death For Blasphemy
Excerpt: Al-Dallal added the legal committee also unanimously approved amendments to the Penal Code pertaining to blasphemy. The amendments stipulate the death penalty for those who publicly insult God Almighty (Divine Entity) or Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) or his wives. He said the committee discussed the matter with representatives from the Awqaf Ministry and fatwa experts and the bill will be on the agenda of the next session. (freedom or Shari’a—choose. ~Bob.)
Obama holds key leads on Romney, as economy malaise looms over reelection bid
Excerpt: With the general-election campaign beginning to take shape, President Obama holds clear advantages over Mitt Romney on personal attributes and a number of key issues, but remains vulnerable to discontent with the pace of the economic recovery, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Obama has double-digit leads over the likely Republican presidential nominee on who would do a better job of protecting the middle class, addressing women's issues, handling international affairs and dealing with health care. (A few points of Obama’s lead in this poll may be polling bias and a few more simply reaction to the uniformly negative press Republicans get on gender issues. Some of it may evaporate as the election draws nearer, too. Clearly, though, there is a lot of work to be done if we hope to win. If you can, contribute money(they WILL accept small donations and be glad to get them); call the local headquarters of candidates you like and find some volunteer work you can fit into your schedule (yes, they can use irregular hours). Get a bumper sticker. Get a yard sign. Don't be obnoxious, but let your position be known. In short, be part of the team you want to win with. Ron P.)
The Even More Evenly Divided Congress
Excerpt: Although the general election is just under seven months away and no one can be sure of the outcome, one thing is very likely: Whichever party that controls the House will have a smaller majority than the 242-193 that Republicans have today.
The Fairness Agenda Divides Democrats. Seriously.
Excerpt: For a brief moment it seemed that Democrats had become the organized party Will Rogers never knew, orchestrating a seamless campaign against the unfairness they see in the tax code and in support of tax reforms meant to ensure that billionaires like Warren Buffett don't pay a lower tax rate than their secretaries. But as President Obama and other Democrats ramp up for a Senate vote next week on the so-called Buffett rule, the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way is rudely interrupting the unity-fest with a warning that this is the wrong way to lock down wavering independents in swing states. These crucial voters prefer hearing candidates talk about opportunity, the group said.(Wow. There’s a “centrist Democratic think tank?” I thought they (centrist Democrats) all went extinct back around1982. It would be nice to think some Democrats still believe capitalism works, especially since it’s the only thing that provides the targets for the looters to loot. If you find one of these folks, invite them to become Republicans. Ron P.)
Zimmerman family challenges Holder on New Black Panthers, says no arrests ‘based solely on your race’
Excerpt: “In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday, obtained exclusively by The Daily Caller, a family member of George Zimmerman asked the nation’s top law enforcement officer why he has chosen to not arrest members of the New Black Panther Party for their rhetoric — some of which may fit the federal government’s definition of a hate crime — throughout the Trayvon Martin case. The family member believes the reason Holder hasn’t made those arrests is because he, like the members of the New Black Panther Party, is black.”
Polling Headline Can't Hide Truth – Obama In Trouble Among Independents
Excerpt: The poll was conducted by a Democratic Party think tank group and worked hard to push the social justice theme– and yet despite that, the results of the poll clearly indicated Barack Obama is in serious political trouble among key battleground state Independents.
Specter of bankruptcy raised in L.A.
Excerpt: Offering a dire warning about potential bankruptcy, Los Angeles City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said Friday the city will need to raise taxes, clamp down on employee pay and consider layoffs in order to keep solvent. Santana issued a report that begins with "a cautionary tale" about the city of Stockton, which is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, and how, like Los Angeles, it has relied on a series ozone-time revenue sources to balance its budget.
The Unhappy History of Running Against the Supreme Court: President Obama might note that in American politics the goal is not to curb the judiciary but to co-opt it. By Paul Moreno
Excerpt: By scolding the Supreme Court over its2010 Citizens United decision and cautioning it against declaring ObamaCare unconstitutional, President Obama is ignoring a lesson liberals and progressives should have learned long ago. None has ever succeeded in galvanizing popular opinion against the courts. In American politics, the goal is not to curb the judiciary but to co-opt it.
Tax Policy is About Competition, Not Fairness ---What John F. Kennedy understood that today's politicians forget. By Amity Shlaes
Excerpt: Heller's successful plan to combat the recession of the early 1960s was the Kennedy-Johnson tax cuts, which pushed the unemployment rate below 5% and the growth rate above 5% from 2%. Crucially, the administration's marketing pitch didn't talk about "fairness" but about competition.
IPT Exclusive: State Department Barred Inspection of Muslim Brotherhood Delegation
Excerpt: The State Department broke with normal procedures last week when it ordered the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) not to conduct a secondary inspection on members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) on their way to visit government officials and think tanks in the United States.
Elizabeth Warren raises $6.9 million in first quarter
Excerpt: Brown, a Republican, said through his campaign on Friday that he raised $3.4 million in the first three months of the year, giving the Republican a total of about $15 million in the bank. Warren’s campaign noted in an e-mail sent to supporters today that she still has $4 million less than Brown, who had money left over from his 2010 special election victory when he began fundraising for his reelection campaign. But the latest numbers show that the likely Democratic challenger has continued to close that gap with surprising speed.
SEIU union hacks paid hired cronies $20 to show up and support Obama Care at the Supreme Court.
Congressional Dem Incumbents: Who Are the Most Vulnerable?
Excerpt: Twenty-three of the 33 Senate seats being contested in 2012 are presently held by Democrats. Of that number, 12seats currently held by Democrats are potentially at risk. Seven of these 12are open-seat races with the Democratic senator retiring. (Take this with a grain of salt. This article assumes the GOP will lose none of the seats it currently holds. While possible, that seems highly optimistic. Here in Massachusetts, we expect a nail-biter at best, even though Brown is currently about even or slightly ahead in polls. Even if Brown was favored in the polls by 5%, he would STILL be an underdog to the vast get-out-the-vote machinery that will support Warren. That's because of the Democrat stranglehold on the unions and minority groups combined with all the academic and Hollywood money going to support Warren. Ron P.)
Is America About to Repeat the Awful History of Germany in the1930s?
Excerpt: How did he get people on his side? He did it by promising jobs to the jobless, money to the money-less, and rewards for the military-industrial complex. He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe, and across the world. He did it with a compliant media — did you know that?
It Begins… Youths Screaming "This Is For Trayvon” Beat 78 Year-Old White Man in Toledo
The fruits of race baiting. ~Bob.
President Obama's $1 Million Pizza Party In Detroit!
Excerpt: President Barack Obama is coming to the Motor City for a $1 million pizza party being thrown for him compliments of Denise Ilitch, daughter of Little Caesars’ founders Mike and Marian Ilitch. Ilitch is opening her home April 18 for the fundraiser where movers and shakers are being asked to pony up thousands to add to his re-election coffer while getting a chance to rub shoulders with the most powerful man on the planet. (Who knew the rich 1% ate pizza? ~Bob.)
High Deductible Health Insurance By John Goodman
Excerpt: If I asked you to point to the most obvious examples of wasteful health care spending, where would you direct me? This is a no brainer. There is nothing more wasteful than first-dollar health insurance coverage. Even deductibles as low as $1,000 or $1,500 are incredibly wasteful in many places. By that I mean that if you choose a higher deductible, the premium savings is greater than the additional expense you are exposed to. That means you can put some of the premium savings in the bank to cover the additional risk exposure (dollar-for-dollar) and still come out ahead.
Victory in Holland: Muslim plaintiff loses
Victory in Florida: Request for Mosque permit denied
Obama administration corruption In Solyndra deal confirmed
Excerpt: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-FL) responded this week to the Department of Treasury Inspector General’s report on the Obama administration’s ill-fated $535 million loan guarantee to Solyndra by saying "it was a bad bet from the beginning. The report, “Consultation on Solyndra Loan Guarantee Was Rushed,” reveals that Department of Energy cut out the Treasury Department officials from issues regarding Solyndra, ignoring the agency’s advice and limiting its opportunity to review the high-priced, high-risk financing of what critics call "an Obama green pipe dream."
Somali MUSLIMS indicted for kidnapping, raping, and selling underage white girls
Excerpt: A federal trial involving more than two dozen defendants accused in a sex trafficking ring run by Somali MUSLIM gangs is being complicated by cultural issues within the Somali MUSLIM refugee communities in Minnesota and Tennessee. Defense attorneys argued that the defendants, many of whom are refugees from Somalia, were juveniles at the time the alleged crimes occurred.
Excerpt: Conservatives caricature 24/7 Barack Obama’s reliance on the teleprompter. True, his speeches are scripted; but we forget why so: He is very good at reading a prepared script as if he were talking off the top of his head, and he is very bad at actually talking off the top of his head. In the former mode, he sounds pleasantly moderate and mellifluous; in the latter, sort of creepy and awkward.
Media Dishonesty and Race Hustlers by Walter Williams
Excerpt: When NBC's "Today" show played the audio of George Zimmerman's call to a Sanford, Fla., police dispatcher about Trayvon Martin, the editors made him appear to be a racist who says: "This guy looks like he's up to no good. He looks black." What Zimmerman actually said was: "This guy looks like he's up to no good or he's on drugs or something. It's raining, and he's just walking around, looking about." The 911 officer responded by asking, "OK, and this guy — is he black, white or Hispanic?" Zimmerman replied, "He looks black."
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Robert A. Hall
