Clipmarks | bferman's clips

Climategate e-mails sweep America, may scuttle Barack Obama's Cap and Trade laws

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:41:19 GMT

clipped by: bferman

Joe Public, coast-to-coast, now knows, thanks to the clowns at East Anglia’s CRU, just how royally he has been screwed

Senator James Inhofe’s Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has written to all the relevant US Government agencies, acquainting them with the nature of the e-mails. But the real car crash for Obama is on Capitol Hill where it is now confidently believed his Cap and Trade climate legislation is toast

Voters may not understand the cut and thrust of climate debate at the technical level, but they know when the Man from Washington has crossed their threshold uninvited

Now is the time to mount massive resistance to the petty tyrants and hit them where it hurts – in the wallet

in many countries, a question of criminal prosecution of anybody who has falsified data to secure funds and impose potentially disastrous fiscal restraints on the world in deference to a massive hoax

It’s a new world out there, Al, and, as you may have noticed, the climate is very cold indeed

Tags: climate change, global warming, climategate, hoax

ACORN Sues the Federal Government

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:07:15 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: "neither ACORN nor any other group is entitled to federal money", wow what a concept!

Clip Source: www.washingtontimes.com

ACORN sued the federal government Thursday, charging that efforts by Congress and President Obama to stop federal money from going to the community activist organization are unconstitutional because they single the group out for punishment.

"All this without a hearing and with no judicial adjudication of guilt,"

ACORN said being singled out amounts to a "bill of attainder," an ancient legal concept that deems a single person or entity guilty and worthy of punishment by legislation. Bills of attainder areprohibited by Article I of the Constitution.

Lawmakers have rejected the charge, saying neither ACORN nor any other group is entitled to federal money.

"ACORN is an organization that has a pattern and culture of employees engaging in fraud and other illegal behavior. Receiving federal funding is a privilege, not a right."

Mr. Obama signed the ban on federal funding into law as part of a broader spending measure on Oct. 1, and renewed it in another spending bill he signed Oct. 30.

Tags: politics, acorn, fraud

UK Carbon Tracking for Individuals

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:24:08 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Extending "Cap and Tax" to individuals in the UK will ruin what is left of their economy. The US should pay close attention to this UK debacle.

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Everyone in Britain should have an annual carbon ration and be penalised if they use too much fuel, the head of the Environment Agency will say.

Lord Smith of Finsbury believes that implementing individual carbon allowances for every person will be the most effective way of meeting the targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

It would involve people being issued with a unique number which they would hand over when purchasing products that contribute to their carbon footprint, such as fuel, airline tickets and electricity.

Like with a bank account, a statement would be sent out each month to help people keep track of what they are using.

If their "carbon account" hits zero, they would have to pay to get more credits.

Those who are frugal with their carbon usage will be able to sell their unused credits and make a profit.

He said: "A lot of people who cycle will get money back. It will probably only be bankers and those with extravagant lifestyles who would lose out."

Tags: cap and tax, carbon, global warming, politics, uk

9/11 Mastermind to Receive Trial in Civilian Court

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:10:01 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: This also presents the possibility of him getting off on a legal technicality.

Clip Source: www.redstate.com

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and four others accused in the attacks will be put on criminal trial in New York, Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to announce later Friday.

There have been reports in the past month about another potential terrorist attack disrupted in New York City. Bringing these high profile terrorist leaders to New York will just put a target on New York again.

Even worse, the White House is going to subject these terrorists to criminal trials in civilian courts. They will get all the due process rights of citizens in court and potentially will be able to get access to material evidence in a civilian court that could reveal intelligence we’d prefer them not to have.

Perhaps Obama is banking on a jury of New Yorkers intent on hanging Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, but remember, if he goes to a jury in New York, he gets to wind his way through the system claiming he got no right to a fair trial.

Tags: 9/11, politics, terrorist

Children Arrested & Jailed For School Food Fight

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:12:43 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: What happened to getting detention, or in my day paddled? This is the nanny-state out of control. The oldest of the children that were jailed was only 15 years old.

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

Eighth-graders Cassandra and Aliyah Russell of Chicago never imagined they'd be arrested in their school cafeteria, much less for throwing food.

But that's just what happened following lunchtime mayhem last Thursday at the Perspectives Charter Middle School, south of Chicago. More than two dozen students, ages 11 to 15, were rounded up by police, arrested and charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct.

"They took us to jail, fingerprinted us, mugshotted us, or whatever, all because of a food fight...I was arrested. Handcuffs on," 13-year-old Cassandra told ABC News.

"We were suspended, went to jail and now have to go to court," said 14-year-old Aliyah.

The sisters' mother, Erica, told ABC News she's stunned.

"Who does that? Lock children up for throwing a carrot, a biscuit, milk, Jello," she said. "Who does that?"

The Russell sisters returned to school today after finishing a three-day suspension for their part in the food fight.

Tags: nanny state, politics, school

Report: 237 millionaires in Congress

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:21:19 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Given that there are so many liberal democrats in congress and the whitehouse, can we finally stop demonizing wealthy people?

Clip Source: www.politico.com

As Washington reels from the news of 10.2 percent unemployment, the Center for Responsive Politics is out with a new report describing the wealth of members of Congress.

Among the highlights: Two-hundred-and-thirty-seven members of Congress are millionaires

All told, at least seven lawmakers have net worths greater than $100 million, according to the Center’s 2008 figures.

lawmakers have profited from investments in companies that have received federal bailouts

Among executive branch officials, CRP says the richest is Securities and Exchange Commission Chairwoman Mary L. Schapiro, with a net worth estimated at $26 million.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is next, worth an estimated $21 million. President Barack Obama is the sixth-wealthiest, worth about an estimated $4 million

One caveat on those numbers: Federal financial disclosure laws don’t require members to list the value of their personal residences. That information could alter the net worth picture for many lawmakers.

Tags: politics, congress, obama, hillary, milionaire

Pelosi: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:39:31 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Of course, this penalty wouldn't apply to illegal aliens.

Clip Source: republicans.waysandmeans.house.gov

PELOSI: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail

the Pelosi health care bill (H.R. 3962, as amended) could land people in jail.

If the government determines that the taxpayer’s unpaid tax liability results from willful behavior, the following penalties could apply…”

• Section 7203 – misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.

Section 7201 – felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.”

The Senate Finance Committee had the good sense to eliminate the extreme penalty of incarceration. Speaker Pelosi’s decision to leave in the jail time provision is a threat to every family who cannot afford the $15,000 premium her plan creates

Republicans have an alternative that will lower health insurance costs without raising taxes or cutting Medicare

According to the Congressional Budget Office the lowest cost family non-group plan under the Speaker’s bill would cost $15,000 in 2016

Tags: healthcare, penalty, politics

Iran's Secret Nuclear Weapons Test

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:21:20 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: I guess this was just part of their nuclear energy plans we've been hearing about.

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Iran tested advanced nuclear warhead design – secret report

The UN's nuclear watchdog has asked Iran to explain evidence suggesting that Iranian scientists have experimented with an advanced nuclear warhead design, the Guardian has learned.

The very existence of the technology, known as a "two-point implosion" device, is officially secret in both the US and Britain, but according to previously unpublished documentation in a dossier compiled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iranian scientists may have tested high-explosive components of the design. The development was today described by nuclear experts as "breathtaking" and has added urgency to the effort to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis.

The sophisticated technology, once mastered, allows for the production of smaller and simpler warheads than older models. It reduces the diameter of a warhead and makes it easier to put a nuclear warhead on a missile.

Tags: iran, nuclear, weapons, politics

Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:16:57 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Is it possible that Obama didn't see the shooting as that big of a deal? Why else react the way he did?

Clip Source: www.nbcchicago.com

After news broke out of the shooting at the Fort Hood Army post in Texas

The White House was notified immediately and by late afternoon, word went out that the president would speak about the incident prior to a previously scheduled appearance

But instead of a somber chief executive offering reassuring words and expressions of sympathy and compassion, viewers saw a wildly disconnected and inappropriately light president making introductory remarks. At the event, a Tribal Nations Conference hosted by the Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian affairs, the president thanked various staffers and offered a "shout-out" to "Dr. Joe Medicine Crow -- that Congressional Medal of Honor winner." Three minutes in, the president spoke about the shooting, in measured and appropriate terms. Who is advising him?

Tags: politics, fort hood, shooting, obama

Unemployment Climbs to 10.2%

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:08:22 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Jobs created or saved? What a load of crap!

Clip Source: finance.yahoo.com

U.S. jobless rate climbs to 10.2 percent

U.S. employers cut a deeper-than-expected 190,000 jobs in October, government data showed on Friday, driving the unemployment rate to 10.2 percent, the highest in 26-1/2 years.

The Labor Department said the unemployment rate was the highest since April 1983. It revised job losses for August and September to show 91,000 fewer jobs lost than previously reported.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected payrolls to drop by 175,000 and the jobless rate to edge up to 9.9 percent from 9.8 percent in September.

The labor market is being watched for signs whether the economic recovery that started in the third quarter can be sustained without government support. The economy grew at a 3.5 percent annualized rate in the July-September period, probably ending the most painful U.S. recession in 70 years.

Payrolls have declined for 22 consecutive months now, throwing 7.3 million people out of work since December 2007, when the recession started.

Tags: unemployment, politics, economy

Health Plan Forces Uninsurable to Wait 6 Months

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:54:59 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: This must be one of those Democrat cost cutting measures. Force a 6 month wait and maybe you'll have less uninsurable people to insure.

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

Democrats' Plan to Help 'Uninsurables' Requires 6-Month Wait

In addition to a six-month wait to qualify for the health insurance program, there's a more fundamental issue -- whether $5 billion set aside for the three-year program is enough.

Under the health care bills in Congress, you could apply for coverage through a new high-risk pool that President Barack Obama promises would immediately start serving patients with pre-existing medical problems.

Wait a second. Read the fine print. You may have to be uninsured for six months to qualify.

"If you are a cancer patient and have cancer now, you can't wait six months to go into a plan because your condition can go from bad to death," said Stephen Finan, a policy expert with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. He called the waiting period in the Senate bill "unacceptable."

Tags: politics, obama, health care, government

In The Bill: Abortion Premiums For All Enrolled

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:48:30 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Why am I not surprised?

Clip Source: republicanleader.house.gov

Health care reform should not be used as an opportunity to use federal funds to pay for elective abortions. Health reform should be an opportunity to protect human life - not end it.

Pelosi’s 2,032-page government takeover of health care does just that. On line 17, p. 110, section 222 under “Abortions for which Public Funding is Allowed”

What is even more alarming is that a monthly abortion premium will be charged of all enrollees in the government-run plan. It’s right there on line 16, page 96, section 213, under “Insurance Rating Rules.” The premium will be paid into a U.S. Treasury account - and these federal funds will be used to pay for the abortion services.

Section 213 describes the process in which the Health Benefits Commissioner is to assess the monthly premiums that will be used to pay for elective abortions under the government-run plan. The Commissioner must charge at a minimum $1 per enrollee per month.

Tags: politics, pelosi, abortion, insurance, government run health, public option

Senate Blocks Census US-Citizenship Question

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:39:44 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Why should congressional districts take illegal aliens into account when determining how many representatives a state gets? The illegal aliens aren't suppose to be voting anyway.

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

Senate blocks census US-citizenship question

WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats have blocked a GOP attempt to require next year's census forms to ask people whether they are a U.S. citizen.

The proposal by Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter was aimed at excluding immigrants from the population totals that are used to figure the number of congressional representatives for each state. Critics said Vitter's plan would discourage immigrants from responding to the census and would be hugely expensive. They also said that it's long been settled law that the apportionment of congressional seats is determined by the number of people living in each state, regardless of whether they are citizens. A separate survey already collects the data.

The plan fell after a 60-39 procedural vote made it ineligible for attachment to a bill funding the census.

Tags: census, politics, illegal aliens, senate

Oprah Winfrey Leaves Network TV

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:31:15 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Wow, this is huge. How will people who don't have cable follow Oprah now? Perhaps Obama should get involved.

Clip Source: www.deadline.com

EXCLUSIVE:

One of the biggest questions in the TV biz has been when, and even if, Oprah Winfrey would give up her daytime syndicated talk show to focus on OWN, her long delayed Oprah Winfrey Network in 70 million homes that was supposed to launch in place of the Discovery Health Channel

Discovery Communications chief David Zaslav has demanded that Oprah "move it or lose it" -- move her talk show to OWN, or risk losing the Oprah Winfrey Network altogether

Winfrey and Discovery will issue a press release announcing OWN's on-air launch for the start of 2011. And, in several weeks, Oprah will tell the public that she's ending her syndicated Chicago-based daytime talk show when her current deal runs out and moving it to OWN headquarters in Los Angeles probably as soon as mid-2011.

Hardest hit by the news will be CBS Television Distribution which syndicates the show

Also hit will be ABC's owned-and-operated stations which make up Oprah's core station group, and also Sony TV execs

Tags: oprah, tv, abc

Fort Hood Shooting - 13 dead 30 injured

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:17:33 GMT

clipped by: bferman
clipper's remarks: Confirmed: Gunman still alive

Clip Source: www.msnbc.msn.com

NBC: 7 dead, 20 injured in Fort Hood shooting

SWAT teams battle at least one gunman on the military base

At least seven people are dead and 20 wounded in a mass shooting Thursday at Fort Hood, Texas, and at least one suspect is believed to be holed up in a building and shooting at SWAT team members, NBC News and affiliate KCEN reported.

It was unknown whether the victims were all soldiers or civilians at Fort Hood, one of the largest military complexes in the world.

One gunman was reportedly in custody and another was on the loose, NBC News said. A third shooter may be involved, according to NBC News affiliate KCEN in Waco, which said the person was holed up in building 42006 on the base and had opened fire on SWAT team members. KCEN quoted a source as saying the shooter had a high-powered rifle.

KCEN reported that a policeman was among those shot.

Temple ISD is on a "soft" lockdown. Parents will be able to pick their children up at the normal times, though they may experience delays.

Tags: crime, shooting, fort hood, shrill liberal comments