Dean 5/19/2013 8:14:25 AM We present to you a clip from the oft-contentious congressional hearings with HMFIC of the IRS and IRS scandal fall guy, Steven Miller, who was set to retire in June.He would appear to have some problems with that whole 1st amendment thingy:From the Washington Examiner:During a House Ways and Means Committee hearing today, Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., grilled outgoing IRS commissioner Steven Miller about the IRS targeting a pro-life group in Iowa. Their question, specifically asked from the IRS to the Coalition for Life of Iowa: Please detail the content of the members of your organizations prayers," Schock declared. Would that be an inappropriate question to a 501 c3 applicant? asked Schock. The content of ones prayers? It[...]
*.If you are still a big government liberal, you probably aren't paying attention.#IRS #Obamacare #Pigford #AP#EPA#Benghazi— Dean R. Riehm (deanriehm) May 16, 2013That wasn't meant as an admonishment to our liberal friends who follow us on Twitter (and whom most likely pay no never mind to our politically-themed tweets) rather an invitation to discuss just what the unfolding scandals represent in the broader context of things. And to provide, perhaps a counter-balance to that if it was taken as an admonishment, we offered up this: Hey, conservatives, keep big picture in mind:this isn't D v. R, this is DC/Political Class v. you.#AP#IRS— Dean R. Riehm (deanriehm) May 16, 2013We used "Ruling Class/Political Class"[...]
If you don't visit Tim's blog regularly, you should. It's one of the reasons the Internet was invented.A male fishing spider. Found fishing with a six pack of Bud and a transistor radio tuned to the Tigers game, you knew he was a male. Click the link above to read more and see some outstanding photography.
Today, I've got a bunch of small, unrelated chores to do. Can they all be accomplished without a list, by simply doing one and then doing the next one that pops into your head, triggered by wherever you happen to be at the moment?Here, we see three possible paths around our house and yard for accomplishing the day's tasks.Image source.
Friday, May 17, 2013 7:18 PM Limited-government, conservative, libertarian-leaning, constitutional anti-statist perspective on news, politics, and current events
5/16/2013 4:03:35 PM ... it is if we are dealing with the binary judgement of a fundamentalist religion."-- Subprime short extraordinaire Michael Burry in 2012 at the 2012 UCLA Economics Commencement.Michael Burry is correct: We are dealing with a fundamentalist religion in America, and no, it is not Christianity. The religion of the state and that of collectivism is steamrolling our individual freedoms into oblivion, facts -- economic, historical, or otherwise -- be damned.Watch the comencement video starting at 12:00 on the YouTube dial and tell me that Michael Burry's words don't send a chill down your spine.Ponder not only what he says about our nation but how he was dealt with by our feral government overlords when he was seen as a[...]
Doo Doo Econ Friday, May 17, 2013 11:06 AM Doo Doo Economics are the policies of overspending, printing money, neglecting the key economics issues, bad science and promoting entitlement programs which all add up to higher taxes during a recession and economic unsustainablility.
I am a political geek. CSPAN is on a lot when everyone else is asleep or away. This is the first time that I have seen a Congressional hearing that included a standing ovation and subsequent call to order. The opposition of the IRS terrorizing President Obama's opponents has opened the eyes of America. The question is if our eyes will stay open, or do we fall back to sleep.For those of you familiar with this blog, it includes some analysis, theories, breaking stories and occasionally speculation. However, when it comes to truth, we endeavor to provide in context information. With this in mind, we often include source footage and try to keep it short. Today, we must ask you to watch a 4 and a half minute clip[...]
President Obama spoke moments ago about leaks that put national security at risk. His remarks also describe in detail how his beauty sleep prior to a Vegas fund raiser put national security at risk and cost the lives of brave Americans in Benghazi. This comment goes a long way in explaining why the Obama administration is lying to the American people about Benghazi. To be, uhh, clear, President Obama was talking about leaks relating to CIA operations similar to the Benghazi, Libya operation in which America armed and trained Al Qaeda and other groups in order to overthrow various governments and then allocated $40 million to track down and buy back heavy weapons."They can put men and women in[...]
W.C. Varones Thursday, May 16, 2013 9:07 PM Thoughts of a radical libertarian Jeffersonian vegan militant bicyclist populist capitalist pig in San Diego navigating GD II... and friends.
W.C. Varones 5/16/2013 9:07:14 PM Longtime hero of the W.C. Varones Blog Kevin Williamson does what we've all wanted to do in a theater (no, not the Fred Willard thing; the standing up to cell phone jerks thing).
Is the lottery really your best shot at avoiding Alpo in your old age?Apparently so. 57% of workers surveyed had less than $25,000 in total savings and investments.
Dawn Wildman 5/16/2013 10:29:28 AM I am a firm believer that if we cant keep our sense of humor during these trying times we are likely to lose our minds. So as I was watching the fallout about the IRS , Eric Holder and the President I kept thinking that it all reminded me of some SNL skit that should take place. Imagine Eric Holder being played by Eddie Murphy and when Holder goes to the part of his speech where he said, This Administration has put a lot of value on the rule of law, he lost it and started laughing and looks over to the side and says , Hey Barry, I cant do this with a straight face anymore Then I was reminded of a skit that Key and Peele did on their show last season on Comedy Central and Jay Carney is looking a lot like Luther, the[...]
Dawn Wildman 5/15/2013 10:51:54 AM Since no one wants to tell our story in a correct manner or with any degree of accuracy I will tell it. And by the way I would rather be working on stopping the liberty sucking policies of the government than talking about how they thwarted our ability to do so, but since this story has been raised I will gladly tell you what happened to us in 2009. After we held the first tea party in CA , in San Diego , Leslie , Sarah and I decided we saw a need here in San Diego for a group that would be honest with the electorate about how bad policies would affect their bottom line and budget. So we did what most responsible citizens would do ,we incorporated as a business in California so we could protect our work, ourselves and the[...]
Richard Nixon knew he was in trouble when he lost the confidence of his own side, the Republicans. It was Senator Howard Baker (R-Tennessee) who asked the now famous question regarding Nixon's involvement in the Watergate break-in: What did the President know and when did he know it?In today's Washington, that kind of honest non-partisan approach to holding our leaders accountable is notably absent. There are no HowardBakers anymore (and way to many Howard Deans).Beginning with the multiplicity of scandals during the Clinton Administration, in which Congressional Democrats and the Washington Press Corps not only ignored malfeasance on the part of the Executive, but worked to protect their guy from any blame or consequence;[...]
By Word Warrior and Russell FarrisThe Boston Marathon bombings, by a seemingly average college studentand his more obviously troubled and radicalized older brother has led to discussion on our policy towards Muslim immigrants; and our Visa policy regarding foreign students in general. What it should also trigger is a meaningful policy discussion on the nature of Islamic violence. Because unlikeany other religion in the world, violence is an integral part of Islam.The problemlies withinthe Quranitself.The Quran is no easy read. It is also not a gentle book of enlightening prose. The Prophet was no Kahil Gibran, and the Quran is not The Prophet. Itis the hodge-podge mumblings of a mean old pedophile.Muhammad'swords were[...]
Dear Readers: This week on Canto Talk we will be chatting with friend, fellow SLOB, and Deadliest Blogger Barry Jacobsen about a wide variety of topics that touch upon the complexities of the international scene. Tune in this Thursday (May 16th, 7 pm PST/9 pm CT/10 pm EST; click HERE for podcast link).The look back at history will focus on THE GREAT MUTINY AT MEERUT, INDIA 1856In response to growing tensions within the British East India Company's Bengal Army, mutiny and violence erupted at 5pm among the Sepoy (Indian) soldiers stationed at the Meerut depot. Within hours, the garrison town was a blazing scene of horror. Buildings were a fire, houses of the British officers and their families were looted, and British officers[...]
I agree with Tammy Bruce: If you are just following the mainstream media, you could not be blamed for thinking that we would have been better served in Benghazi if we sent Charles Ramsey.For those middle-class Chick-fil-A fans who have been following Professor Jacobson's streaming of the hearings covering the events surrounding the terror attack on our Libyan embassy, Ramsey just became a national hero when he helped rescue three missing women who were held hostage for a decade in Ohio.However, if you were only getting your information via Google, this is The NewsCNN has a bit more variety, also featuring the Jodi Arias trail verdict:The Washington Post, whose reporters lead the way in bringing down the Nixon Administration[...]
With the U.S. still not increasing the percentage of those employed, today's reading is about jobs and college graduates. First, the graph above represents the percent of people employed vs the total population. Notice how well it's doing during this "recovery," statistically unchanged since it bottomed out during Obama's first term. If you think its bad news that the percentage of people with jobs never recovered, you're right. On to some insight on the current situation for college grads. Kirk McDonald, President of an Ad Tech company in Manhattan, explains why he isn't hiring you, if you are a recent U.S. college[...]
B-Daddy 5/11/2013 10:25:49 PM Here comes the cover up. Yesterday, I wrote about the IRS illegal targeting tea party groups for harassment. Today, there are reports of a cover up and much, much earlier knowledge by senior IRS officials. Hotair has great coverage of the story, but if you don't have time, here is all you need to know, from the AP.A federal watchdog's upcoming report says senior Internal Revenue Service officials knew agents were targeting tea party groups in 2011. The disclosure contradicts public statements by former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, who repeatedly assured Congress that conservative groups were not targeted.And the left mocks conservatives for buying guns as insurance against eventual government[...]
divinryan 3/5/2013 6:10:42 PM Here:In sum, Holders attempt to make this all seem normal and common should insult anyone with the most basic understanding of American law. As The New York Times put it when first confirming the assassination program in April, 2010:The Obama administration has taken the extraordinary step of authorizing the targeted killing of an American citizen. . . .It is extremely rare, if not unprecedented, for an American to be approved for targeted killing, officials said. A former senior legal official in the administration of George W. Bush said he did not know of any American who was approved for targeted killing under the former president. To date, not a single such citizen has been identified.As always, the most important[...]
This blog doesn't get a lot of traffic, so I pay attention to those posts that do. Most of the all-time favorites are ones that have been featured in other, higher-traffic blogs, like one on Walmart and the DHS that made it onto some kind of right-wing e-mail list and one on collective bargaining that was featured on Mish's site. One post that has gotten consistent readership and strange little spikes (e.g. 260 pageviews this last month despite being two years old) is my review of Ill Fares the Land by Tony Judt. The book is a defense of socialism and was recommended to me by a leftist college (biology) professor. He read it for his professors' book club. No doubt it's assigned reading in many classes around the[...]
First a big thanks to Leslie Eastman, the most link generous blogger I know, fellow SLOB and now frequent contributor to College and Legal Insurrection. She tells a good story and makes a big effort to pull together the thoughts and posts of other bloggers. She's been quoting my e-mails and throwing me links in her posts, which makes me remiss in not posting something new here.WARNING: this post has no conclusion. Its just a description of an intellectual journey half over. Call it a thematic compendium of book blurbs. Where did we go wrong? This question has been bothering me for years. We started out with a near perfect system of government, as close as could have been achieved given the knowledge of the[...]
If I have to pull one more person off the ledge today Im going to start pushing. Honestly, people I thought we were all about strength and American Values...why is everyone acting like they got kicked in the balls?We, as Americans, collectively let Progressivism fester for over a century...and the chickens have come home to roost. Did anyone really think we would make up all that lost ground in four years? Wake-up call: its going to take generationsSo do what Progressives have done forever, get back on the damn horse and start infiltrating our schools, government, media and pop culture trends. Sidebar: you selfish isolationists who are home schooling because you dont want to have to deal with socialist[...]
Its not every day a spaceship rolls down Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Southwest Los Angels.In fact, it only happens once in a lifetime.About 12:30pm yesterday I decided that my kids could not miss the one and only chance to see the Space Shuttle Endeavor travel through the streets of LA to its final home at the California Science Center in Exposition Park. Without my husband (who was working), I grabbed my 4 and 6 year-olds, printed a map of the route, turned on KFIAM 640 in Los Angeles and headed into the great unknown...as Ive never explored that region East of USC (I lived in Long Beach for 15 years before becoming a country girl). As we exited off the 110 onto Vernon to feel our way parallel to[...]