Republican Governors want their pork

The GOP Governors have broken rank with their Congressional counterparts. The poor economy has damaged their state budgets to the point they are ready to beg for a handout. I hope the Republicans in the Senate hold out long enough to get some of the more egregious items removed.

Republican Governors Urge Congress to Pass Stimulus Bill
Most Republican governors have broken with their GOP colleagues in urging Congress to swiftly pass President Obama's economic stimulus plan.
AP

Saturday, January 31, 2009

NEW YORK -- Most Republican governors have broken with their GOP colleagues in Congress and are pushing for passage of President Barack Obama's economic aid plan that would send billions to states for education, public works and health care.Excerpted from FoxNews.com

Congress gave itself a $93,000 raise to "stimulate" the economy(video)

If this doesn't make you want to fly to Washington and slap your legislator, nothing ever will. Congress gives itself a $93,000 raise to stimulate the economy. It must be nice to have that kind of extra petty cash laying around. Instead of tightening your belt in this recession, wouldn't you like an extra $90,000? Never mind the record deficits. Never mind that ordinary Americans are struggling to pay their bills. Our Congress thinks it is far more important to be able to dole out perks to itself.

Here is the video from Bulls and Bears.

Bush shoe thrower statue is being removed

I must say former President Bush took this incident with great dignity and decent reaction time. Well, as much dignity as you can have while having a shoe lobbed at you. I wonder if President Obama would be so gracious? He seems much quicker to anger than former President Bush.

Police Order Statue Dedicated to Bush Shoe-Thrower Removed

BAGHDAD — The director of an orphanage in Tikrit says she must remove the shoe sculpture set up to honor the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at former U.S. President George W. Bush. Excerpted from FoxNews.com

Is Tom Daschle a tax cheat?

Owing a hundred thousand dollars in back taxes seems a bit too much. What is it with these democrats? They don't have any problem raising taxes on the rest of us. When it comes their turn to pay, they are looking for a pass. This really is shameful.

Daschle Paid $100,000 in Back Taxes During Vetting
wsj ^ | 01/30/09 | JONATHAN WEISMAN

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, President Barack Obama's nominee for the secretary of Health and Human Services, paid around $100,000 in back taxes after his nomination to pay for a car and driver he was supplied but did not report as income, according to documents being prepared by the Senate Finance Committee.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ..

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The French turn over captured pirates to Somali government. Good bye hands? (video)

The Somalian punishment for piracy, under sharia, is the removal of heads, arms, or other appendages. I guess these pirates careers are coming to an end. I have no sympathy for them.

Video of pirates being turned over to Somali government.

Computer models forecasting global warming are not scientific

Since I am in the middle of an area ravaged by an ice storm, it seems appropriate to talk about the weaknesses of the global warming theory. The global warming predictions have been a failure. Temperatures have been falling globally since 2002. Now, the former chief of NASA says the computer models predicting radical climate change are not proven scientifically.

No Scientific Forecasts to Support Global Warming

January 29, 2009
Jennifermarohasy
YESTERDAY, a former chief at NASA, Dr John S. Theon, slammed the computer models used to determine future climate claiming they are not scientific in part because the modellers have "resisted making their work transparent so that it can be replicated independently by other scientists". [1]

Today, a founder of the International Journal of Forecasting, Journal of Forecasting, International Institute of Forecasters, and International Symposium on Forecasting, and the author of Long-range Forecasting (1978, 1985), the Principles of Forecasting Handbook, and over 70 papers on forecasting, Dr J. Scott Armstrong, tabled a statement declaring that the forecasting process used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) lacks a scientific basis. [2]Excerpted from rightsidenews.com

For more global warming fun, Weather Channel Founder Blasts Gore.

Lawsuit filed claiming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is constitutionally ineligible to serve

There were serious questions about the constitutional eligibility of Hillary Clinton to serve as secretary of State. The issue arises from the Secretary of States salary having been raised during Hillary Clinton's term in the Senate. The Constitution forbids members of the Senate from being appointed to civil office, such as the Secretary of State, if the "emoluments," or salary and benefits, of the office were increased during the Senator's term. This clearly occurred. Congress tried to do an end run around the Constitution by lowering the Secretary of States salary. This does not change the historical fact that the salary of the Secretary of State was raised three times during Hillary Clinton's tenure as a Senator from New York. This case will eventually end up at the Supreme Court.

Lawsuit challenges Clinton eligibility
State department officer claims Constitution bars Obama appointee from serving
Posted: January 30, 2009
12:20 am Eastern

By Chelsea Schilling
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

A State Department employee has filed a lawsuit today in federal court against newly sworn-in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton claiming she is constitutionally ineligible to serve.

Judicial Watch, a public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it is pursuing the complaint in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C, on behalf of U.S. Foreign Service Officer and State Department employee David C. Rodearmel. Excerpted from worldnetdaily.com

Illinois Senate tells Rod Blagojevich to not let the door hit him in the butt on the way out

Personally, I am going to miss this guy. He epitomizes the worst of Democratic politics. He has been an embarrassment to Democrats in general and the State of Illinois. Well, Democrats anyway. He is just following a long tradition of corrupt politicians in Illinois. Wait a minute. Doesn't Barack Obama hail from the State of Illinois?

Illinois Senate Kicks Blagojevich Out of Office
Illinois senators were unswayed by Rod Blagojevich's closing statement delivered earlier in the day in which the former governor insisted that he should not be thrown out of office on what he called incomplete evidence.

FOXNews.com
Thursday, January 29, 2009

Illinois senators stripped Rod Blagojevich of power Thursday in the final act of a political drama that handed the reins of state government to his estranged lieutenant, Pat Quinn, and will likely end Blagojevich's career in politics. (excerpted) from FoxNews.com...

Barack Obama is trying to be nice to fanatics in the hope they will kill us last

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are preparing to write a nice "make up" letter to Iran. They do not understand that the leaders of Iran are fanatics who want to kill us or forcibly convert us to their brand of Islam. They will see this letter as a sign of weakness and attempt to expand their power in the region. Former administrations would not talk to Iran unless there were preset conditions. The Obama administration does not seem to be that wise.

Obama team drafting letter to heal Iran rift: report
Yahoo

Obama team drafting letter to heal Iran rift: report

LONDON (Reuters) – Officials of U.S. President Barack Obama's administration are drafting a letter to Iran from the president aimed at unfreezing U.S.-Iranian relations and opening the way for face-to-face talks, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported on Thursday.

The U.S. State Department has been working on drafts of the letter since Obama was elected last November, the report said. It was a response to a letter of congratulations sent by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after Obama's poll victory.

The letter gives assurances that Washington does not want to overthrow the Iranian administration, but instead seeks changes in its behavior, the paper said. It would be addressed to the Iranian people and sent directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or released as an open letter.

In Washington, a State Department official said the policy on Iran was under review and declined to comment on whether a letter was possibly being prepared to send to the Iranians.

"No decision on any specific policy initiative has yet been decided by the State Department," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Guardian said the letter was being considered by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of a review of U.S. policy on Iran. A decision on sending it was not expected until the review was complete.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...

Stimulus bill moves us closer to nationalized health care and rationing

The House of Representatives approved an $819 billion economic stimulus package Wednesday. The party line vote was a blow to Barack Obama's alleged desire for bipartisanship. All the Republicans and 11 democrats voted against the bill. One thing in the bill that went mostly unnoticed was a new bureaucracy called the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research. This group will spend over a billion dollars to decide what medical treatments result in the best outcomes. They will exert control over what drugs and treatments are available. They will resemble the United Kingdom's National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Also, the bill will allow some laid-off workers receiving unemployment checks to enroll in Medicaid. There will be no means testing for this entitlement. We have a bill that increases government control over health care and begins moving average citizens into a government controlled health program. Can anyone say "nationalized health care" and "rationing"?

The Entitlement Stimulus. More giant steps toward government health care.
Wall Street Journal ^ | Jan. 29, 2009 | WSJ Editorial

So the stimulus also devotes $1.1 billion to create a new bureaucracy called the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research. A billion dollars isn't nearly enough to conduct the rigorous clinical studies needed to provide more information on what medical treatments result in the best outcomes. But Democrats want to get this "health-care Fed" on the books now so it's around when they pass the next entitlement expansion -- for the entire middle class.

When government finances start to buckle under that subsidy, the comparative effectiveness outfit will start to ration care to control costs, much like the United Kingdom's National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). The draft report accompanying the House portion of the bill notes that procedures and drugs "that are found to be less effective and in some cases, more expensive, will no longer be prescribed."

In sum, what we are really getting in this stimulus bill are several more steps in the gradual government takeover of the health-care market.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...

The Post Office threatens mail delivery cut

The Postmaster General is trying to scare Congress. He is threatening a mail delivery cut. He said the mail delivery may be cut by one day a week. The Post office has been making money recently. They have raised rates in the last several years. I don't know what his problem is. I am not in that big a hurry to get my bills anyway. If the Post Office can't delivery the mail six days a week, it is time we considered privatizing mail delivery.

Postmaster General: Mail days may need to be cut
YAHOO NEWS ^ | 28 JANUARY 2008 | AP

WASHINGTON – Massive deficits could force the post office to cut out one day of mail delivery, the postmaster general told Congress on Wednesday, in asking lawmakers to lift the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week.

If the change happens, that doesn't necessarily mean an end to Saturday mail delivery. Previous post office studies have looked at the possibility of skipping some other day when mail flow is light, such as Tuesday.

Faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year. "If current trends continue, we could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year," Potter said in testimony for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...

There is no pony hiding in the stimulus "pile of manure"

You can dig all you want, but there is no pony hiding under the Democrat's stimulus manure pile. They have shoved all kinds of pork in the package for their supporters. They are even trying to pay off Acorn for acting as their agent in the last election. According to the CBO, only $26 billion would be spent in this fiscal year. Most of the rest of the stimulus won't be spent until the economy has recovered on its own. Republicans should ready "the filibuster" and bury this stinking pile of manure. If Barack Obama wants to stimulate the economy, let him lower taxes.

An overoptimistic stimulus plan
By Jeff Jacoby
Globe Columnist / January 28, 2009

First of two columns
RONALD REAGAN loved to tell the story of the unfailingly cheerful little boy who wakes up on Christmas morning to find, instead of presents, an immense pile of manure. Undaunted, he grabs a shovel and starts digging. "With all this manure," he says excitedly, "there must be a pony in here someplace!"

Is there a pony somewhere in the $825 billion "stimulus" plan that Democrats in the House of Representatives plan to bring to a vote this week? The Congressional Budget Office started digging into this immense pile of, uh, deficit spending, and what it found would discourage even a Reagan-caliber optimist.

According to the CBO, less than half of the $355 billion the bill allocates to infrastructure and other "discretionary" projects would actually be spent by the end of 2010; of that, a mere $26 billion would be spent in the current fiscal year. "The rest would come in future years," the Washington Post reported, "long after the CBO and other economists predict the recession will have ended." Excerpted from boston.com

Democrats attempt to pay off Acorn

We all know the help Acorn gave the Democrats in stealing winning the last election. What was in it for them? Is 4 billion dollars enough? That is the amount the Democrats have put in the new stimulus bill for community organizing groups like Acorn. There is good money in registering fake voters.
Republicans Object to Stimulus Dollars for ACORN

Republicans say voter registration and community groups like ACORN could be eligible for funding under the Democrats' economic stimulus bill.

FOXNews.com

Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Republican lawmakers are raising concerns that ACORN, the low-income advocacy group under investigation for voter registration fraud, could be eligible for billions in aid from the economic stimulus proposal working its way through the House.

House Republican Leader John Boehner issued a statement over the weekend noting that the stimulus bill wending its way through Congress provides $4.19 billion for "neighborhood stabilization activities."

He said the money was previously limited to state and local governments, but that Democrats now want part of it to be available to non-profit entities. That means groups like ACORN would be eligible for a portion of the funds.Excerpted from FoxNews.com.

The "Big Three" are sinking and Barack Obama fires a salvo of torpedoes

The "Big Three" are under bankruptcy watch and begging for more bailout money. President Barack Obama thinks this is a good time to appease his environmental base by weighing Detroit down with a new round of environmental regulations. This is horrible timing and it will severely damage the ability of the "Big Three" to return to profitability. The first increase in CAFE will take place by the 2011 model year. Detroit is now preparing to launch the 2010 model year in July. That is when they change their factories over and begin production of the next years model. They will have only a little over a year to prepare for this change. How will they do it? The easiest solution to raise the fleet millage averages would be if people bought more small and compact cars. That is unlikely unless gas returns to $4 per gallon. They will be forced to cut prices on compact cars to induce more of the public to buy them. The problem is they are already losing money on these cars and can not change that unless the UAW agrees to severe concessions. The UAW (see a UAW contract here) is resisting that solution. The other method is to increase the mileage on the same size car. That takes time and money. It takes expensive new technologies to improve engine mileage without sacrificing power. The "Big Three" are working on this, but no major breakthrough will occur in the next year. The other method is to make vehicles lighter. This requires higher tensile steels and stronger alloys. These materials cost more money and may require different manufacturing processes. All these things will make automobiles more expensive for consumers. Consumers are currently not buying cars and trucks. This isn't because they don't want them or need them. They simply can not afford them in today's economy. If they can not buy them now, they will not buy them when the price is increased by a few thousand per vehicle. The decision to let California decree the emission standards will have a similar effect of raising vehicle prices. Barack Obama may have good knowledge of politics, but he is ignorant of the realities of the automotive industry. The bailout of the "Big Three" will fail. We should stop calling it a bailout. Let's be honest. We will have to "subsidize" the "Big Three" for years under an Obama Administration.

Obama May Let States Set Emissions Standards

Monday, January 26, 2009

President Obama is continuing his reversal of Bush-era policies, issuing two memoranda on Monday that promote his clean-energy policy while having a far-reaching impact on the ailing U.S. auto industry.

The first memorandum will order the Transportation Department to work out rules for automakers to improve fuel economy. It will call for the department to notify automakers by March 2009 to increase their fuel efficiency for 2011 model year cars and trucks.

The second memorandum will order the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider California's request for a waiver from the Clean Air Act -- a move that would allow California, the nation's most populous state, to set tougher tailpipe emission standards than apply nationally. Excerpted from FoxNews.com

Make some gravy. The stimulus bill is full of pork.

We had high hopes Barack Obama would push through a stimulus bill that would truly stimulate the economy. Instead, he is seems to be appeasing his constituents and Congressional Democrats. The $825 billion economic stimulus package contains $400 million in money for computers at Social Security and $276 million to fix the computer systems at the State Department. They may very well need upgraded computer systems, but that won't stimulate the economy. They will probably buy computers made oversees and talk to people with Indian accents on a help line. Also, the bill contains money for contraceptives. Contraceptives? How will that stimulate the economy? The bill also contains $400 million for NASA scientists to conduct climate change research. I guess that will stimulate the economy for NASA scientists. I am not sure how it will trickle down to us normal citizens. There is a $50 million outlay for the National Endowment for the Arts. I guess this is to help those "starving artists". I always thought those "starving artists" should get a job like the rest of us. Even though there are no "earmarks" in this bill; Barack Obama has left the back door open for lobbyists. Update: The contraceptive item was removed.

Economic stimulus or just more pork?

Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau

(01-26) 04:00 PST Washington - --

Is $200 million to rehabilitate the National Mall a crucial way to stimulate the U.S. economy? How about $276 million to fix the computer systems at the State Department? And what about $650 million to repair dilapidated Forest Service facilities?

As Congress rushes toward what leaders of both parties predict will be a speedy passage of an $825 billion economic stimulus package, critics from GOP lawmakers to government watchdog groups are questioning whether key parts of the bill will spur economic growth or whether they're wasteful pork.

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana pointed to a $50 million outlay for the National Endowment for the Arts - an agency that conservatives have long criticized - to help arts groups hit by a drop-off in philanthropy.

"This is stimulus?" Pence asked. Excerpted from sfgate.com

Hamas continues to throw Palestinian civilians under the bus

Hamas is smuggling new weapons into Gaza in preparation for a new round of fighting. Only half the tunnels were destroyed during operation Cast Lead. Hamas does not want to negotiate peace. They are willing to fight to the death of every Palestinian civilian in Gaza. Next time you see photos of Palestinian children killed in Israeli bombings; remember the actions of Hamas during the cease fire.

Tunnel Smuggling into Gaza Continues, Hamas Resupplying Weapons
January 25, 2009
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC)

Hamas Invites Foreign Correspondents to the Egyptian Border to Prove Some Smuggling Tunnels Still Operating after Operation Cast Lead. The move was made to defy Israel, Egypt and the international community, and is part of Hamas’s battle for hearts and minds and to produce a victory narrative. Excerpted from here.

Barack Obama leaves the back door open for lobbyist

Barack Obama promised there would be no earmarks in the stimulus package. Does that mead lobbyist have packed their bags and left Washington. No. They have a back door to get their projects inserted into the package.

AP IMPACT: Lobbyists skirt Obama's earmark ban

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 33 mins ago
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's ban on earmarks in the $825 billion economic stimulus bill doesn't mean interest groups, lobbyists and lawmakers won't be able to funnel money to pet projects.

They're just working around it — and perhaps inadvertently making the process more secretive.

The projects run the gamut: a Metrolink station that needs building in Placentia, Calif.; a stretch of beach in Sandy Hook, N.J., that could really use some more sand; a water park in Miami.

Instead, the money will be doled out according to arcane formulas spelled out in the bill and in some cases based on the decisions of Obama administration officials, governors and state and local agencies that will choose the projects.
Excerpted from news.yahoo.com

Nancy Pelosi wants more TARP money than the 700 billion already wasted

Do all our Congressmen and Congresswomen own bank stock? We have already committed 700 billion dollars to bail out banks and institutions posing as banks. House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi doesn't think that will be enough. She is willing to spend waste more tax dollars. I warned that Barack Obama's Presidency would be the most expensive in history. Hold onto your checkbooks.

Pelosi signals willingness to add to TARP funds


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday the federal government may need to pump more taxpayer funds into the faltering banking system and that taxpayers should receive equity as compensation.

Pelosi told ABC's "This Week" program that "some increased investment" might be needed beyond the $700 billion approved last year under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, to stabilize the nation's banks and get them to resume making loans. Excerpted from reuters.com

Barack Obama is a "miserable failure"

I must admit that this is sweet revenge. A few years ago, tech savvy internet users with "Bush derangement syndrome" linked President Bushes bio with the Google search term "miserable failure." Now, the label has been transferred to President Barack Obama.

Google-Bombing Moves From Bush to Obama

By Marisa Taylor

Newly minted President Barack Obama has enough problems to tackle without a Google bomb getting thrown into the mix.

In 2003, haters of President George W. Bush with a mean streak and tech savvy managed to Google-bomb him as a “miserable failure” — meaning that a rash of users linked Bush’s name to the words “miserable failure” so that if the term was Googled, Web sites referencing him would show up higher in the search.

According to a Search Engine Land article, Obama is inheriting all the old links from Bush’s biography to the term “miserable failure” because the link to his biography was swapped for Bush’s on the White House site on Inauguration Day. As a result, a search for “miserable failure” on Yahoo will likely yield Obama’s biography, and on Google, a search for “failure” will do the same. Excerpted from blogs.wsj.com

A cheesy dispute with France

President Bush took a parting shot at the French by raising the duty on Roquefort cheese from 100% to 300%. This was in retaliation for a French ban on American beef. The French are notorious for protecting their crummy agriculture industry. Many people think President Obama will reverse the decision. He loves the French and they love him back.

Cheese threatens Obama's French honeymoon

The in-tray of Barack Obama may be piled high, but he might like to put aside the banks, the Middle East and health care to focus on a truly urgent matter: the French cheese emergency.

The new President could blow the great goodwill that he enjoys in France if he fails to reverse a parting shot by George W. Bush against that symbol of Gallic gastronomy -- roquefort cheese. We could even face a new round in the war against Yankee junk food, with Coca Cola and MacDonald's in the firing line.

The story began last Thursday when Washington suddenly tripled an already heavy duty on the pungent blue cheese from the southern Massif Central. The idea was to punish Europe for maintaining a longstanding ban on beef from US cattle that had been administered with growth hormones. Excerpted from timescorrespondents.typepad.com/charles_bremner

Bill Gates throws Americans under the bus

Hard economic times are forcing job cuts at many businesses. Most Americans understand that; even if they deplore it. This economic downturn has even hit Microsoft. They are downsizing 5000 jobs. Of the 1400 they cut immediately, 873 were in the Puget Sound area where the company is headquartered. None of the cuts are going to be in India. Can you think of a better reason to avoid Microsoft products when possible?

Microsoft to axe 5,000, no job cuts in India
Times of India ^

"Microsoft will eliminate up to 5,000 jobs in R&D, HR, marketing, sales, finance, legal, and IT over the next 18 months, including 1,400 jobs today," the company said in a statement.

The layoff, however, would not be impacting the Indian operations. "It's not going to impact us. No job cuts in India," a Microsoft India spokesperson said in New Delhi.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesofindia.indiatimes.com ...

Where is the liberal outrage when Obama kills civilians?

President Bush was criticized for attacks against Al Qeada that sometimes killed civilians. Even candidate Barack Obama was critical. Will liberals now start calling Barack Obama a murderer? I suspect they will just look the other way.

Obama to CIA: Bombs Away! No Let Up in US Drone Attacks
New President Approves Continued Attacks That Have Killed 8 of al Qaeda's Top 20
By BRIAN ROSS, HABIBULLAH KHAN, and NICK SCHIFRIN
January 23, 2009

The CIA's bombing campaign against al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan continued with two more attacks today, an indication, senior officials say, that President Barack Obama has approved the U.S. strategy that has killed at least eight of al Qaeda's top 20 leaders since July 2008. Excerpted from here.

New York Gov. Paterson chooses dark horse candidate for Hillary's seat

I know very little about Rep. Gillibrand. I think I will like her better than Hillary. The National Rifle Association has endorsed her and she voted against the bail out.

New York Gov. Paterson to Name to Clinton's Former U.S. Senate Seat
Kirsten Gillibrand, elected in 2006, represents the state's 20th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

FOXNews.com

Thursday, January 22, 2009

New York Gov. David Paterson will name Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, an upstate Democrat, to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate, a Democratic official with knowledge of the governor's decision told FOX News on Thursday night. Excerpted from here.

Main Stream Media: Unfair and Unbalanced.

The MSM is having a love affair with President Obama. According to a Reuters article; he got 35 times the coverage that President Bush got at his last inauguration. Even ESPN covered the inauguration. Thirty five time is an unbelievable number. This unbalanced coverage hasn't just started. This outrage has been going on for some time. Time magazine is a prime example. Only FOX news covered former President Bushes return to Texas. Turn your TV's off for the next four years. The Main Stream Media is having an Obamathon.

Obama inauguration got unprecedented news coverage
Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:36pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's inauguration generated an unprecedented 35,000 stories in the world's major newspapers, television and radio broadcasts over the past day -- about 35 times more than the last presidential swearing-in -- a monitoring group said on Wednesday.

The Texas-based Global Language Monitor said there had also been 6 million new Obama-related mentions on the Internet since December 31.

By comparison, the last U.S. presidential inauguration, of George W. Bush in January 2005, resulted in about 1,000 stories in major media worldwide, Paul JJ Payack, president of Global Language Monitor said. excerpted from reuters.com

She is out. She is in. Caroline's head is in a spin

First we get this news flash.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Published reports say Caroline Kennedy is withdrawing from her effort to join the U.S. Senate in the seat once held by her uncle, slain Sen. Bobby Kennedy.

The New York Times and New York Post reported Wednesday that Kennedy has ended her monthlong bid to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was confirmed as secretary of state.Link here.

Then, we get this news flash.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A person familiar with Caroline Kennedy's decision says she has renewed her determination to win appointment to the U.S. Senate seat once held by her slain uncle, Sen. Bobby Kennedy.

The source says that after her surviving uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, suffered a seizure on Inauguration Day, Caroline Kennedy had misgivings about taking on the new job. Link here.

Do we need anymore proof she is unqualified for the job? She can't even make up here mind if she is running. How would she come to a decision on the hard issues this country faces. I guess she could try to vote present. Update: She is out again. For good?

Obama's benediction was race baiting

I can not believe the racial slap in the face Rev. Lowery gave all Americans when delivering Obama's benediction. I guess Rev. Wright wasn't available and this buffoon was the best Obama could come up with. Here is part of what he said.

“We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right,” Lowery said.

What is it with Obama and these radical black liberation preachers? Is this how he really thinks and feels? This did not bring me any hope of a brighter future under an Obama Administration.

You can see the video here.

Obama stops terrorist's trials

How will this make America more safe? Perhaps President Obama wants to bring them here and let some liberal judge throw the cases out on a technicality. Trying the cases in a public court might jeopardize intelligence assets and make prosecution impossible.

Obama seeks halt to Guantanamo trials
Reuters ^ | Jan. 20, 2009 | Jane Sutton, Reuters

GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) – Hours after taking office on Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama ordered military prosecutors in the Guantanamo war crimes tribunals to ask for a 120-day halt in all pending cases.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...

Obama is President: Rally around your checkbooks

Barack Obama was sworn in today as President number 44. This was done in spite of questions surrounding his status as a natural born citizen. He won after running the most expensive campaign in American history. He followed it up by having the most expensive inauguration in history. Let me make a bold prediction. This will be the most expensive Presidency in US history. Already deficit predictions are at record levels for 2009. On top of this Obama is promising 'pie in the sky' programs like insurance for illegal aliens. Hold onto your checkbooks. Taxes are going up and not just for the rich. In case you missed it; here is the video of Obama flubbing taking the oath of office.

Video of Barack Obama taking oath of office.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Al Qaeda gets the plague-40 dead

We always knew Al Qaeda was a plague. Now they appear to have the plague. Reportedly forty operatives in Algeria are dead and Al Qaeda has abandoned a training camp in the mountains of Tizi Ouzou province in eastern Algeria. According the the Washington Times, this is no accident. They are reporting an experiment with unconventional weapons went awry. Many will claim this is proof there is a God. We should all consider what it means for the future of the war on terrorism. The next major attack on American soil may be a biological or other unconventional attack. Will President Obama do everything in his power to prevent this? He won't use waterboarding even if it would save thousands of American lives. His administration will consider it torture. Waterboarding does not cause physical injury or death if properly executed. Hopefully, he can sweet talk the information from the terrorist operatives in time to prevent the next attack.

Black Death 'kills al-Qaeda operatives in Algeria'
The Black Death has reportedly killed at least 40 al-Qaeda operatives in North Africa.


Last Updated: 3:33PM GMT 19 Jan 2009

The disease, which struck Europe in the Middle Ages killing more than 25 million people, has swept through a training camp for insurgents in Algeria.

The arrival of the plague was discovered when security forces found the body of a dead terrorist by a roadside, the Sun reports.

The victim belonged to the large al-Qaeda network AQLIM (al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb).Excerpted from telegraph.co.uk

Bush commutes border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean's sentences

On his last day in office President Bush commuted the ten year sentences of border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. They will be released in March. Many people were hoping they would receive a pardon. They were convicted by a jury for shooting a drug smuggler. If you shot a drug smuggler in the butt, where I live, you wouldn't get a prison sentence. One of your relatives would take you to a Cracker Barrel for a celebratory meal.

Bush commutes sentences of former US border agents
Jan 19 01:09 PM US/Eastern
By DEB RIECHMANN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - In his final acts of clemency, President George W. Bush on Monday commuted the prison sentences of two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer ignited fierce debate about illegal immigration.

Bush's decision to commute the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who tried to cover up the shooting, was welcomed by both Republican and Democratic members of Congress. They had long argued that the agents were merely doing their jobs, defending the American border against criminals. They also maintained that the more than 10-year prison sentences the pair was given were too harsh. Excerpted from breitbart.com

ConstitutionWatch.org jumps into the Obama birth certificate fray

ConstitutionWatch.org has been on the sidelines during the discussion of Barack Obama's status as a natural born citizen. Just before his inauguration-they have jumped into the battle with both feet. They explain the history of the controversy and how it applies to the Constitution. ConstitutionWatch.org makes no claim about Barack Obama's status. They do present a laundry list of '100% truths.' Also, they accuse Factcheck.org and DailyKos.com of being caught 'red handed' presenting 'fake' copies of Obama's birth certificate.

Alert: Constitutional Crisis Looming

The Facts
Although we will not jump to conclusions and accuse Barack Obama of not being a natural born citizen, we will list the facts- absolute, 100% truths, below:

* It has been said, and verified, that Barack Obama’s grandmother in Kenya told many of her neighbors, friends and relatives that she witnessed Barack Obama’s birth- in Kenya. Whether or not that is the truth, the fact is that she made that statement. That, alone, should be enough to spark an investigation.
* Officials at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif., have been served with a demand to produce records concerning Barack Obama’s attendance there during the 1980s because they could document whether he was attending as a foreign national or not.
* The Supreme Court and Congress are both are being challenged to address the worries that Obama doesn’t meet the requirements of the U.S. Constitution that the president be a natural born citizen.
* A long list of legal cases have been filed against Barack Obama.
* “If Obama is sworn in as president, we will file a Petition for Writ of ‘Quo Warranto,’ a case that will challenge Obama as being ineligible to serve as president because he is ‘not qualified,’” said Philip J. Berg, a lawyer who has brought several cases to court. Berg, whose information is on his ObamaCrimes.com website, indicated the issue isn’t going away.
* Orly Taitz, a California lawyer, has filed a dispute against Barack Obama.
* Some allege his birth took place in Kenya, and his mother was a minor at the time of his birth – too young to confer American citizenship. They argue Obama’s father, Barack Obama Sr., was a Kenyan citizen subject to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom at the time and would have handed down British citizenship.
* There also are questions raised about Obama’s move to Indonesia when he was a child and his attendance at school there when only Indonesian citizens were allowed and his travel to Pakistan in the ’80s when such travel was forbidden to American citizens.
* Barack Obama and his own half-sister provide two different answers in regards to the hospital he was born at. Excerpted from ConstitutionWatch.org

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"We're gonna be in the Hudson"

Those were the exact words the pilot of the 'miracle flight' told air traffic controllers right before ditching the plane in the Hudson River. The flight attendants yelled, "Brace! Brace! Head down!" You never want to hear that from your flight attendants. Neither of them realized they were in the water. The decision to make a water landing was the best decision Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III will ever make.

'Miracle' pilot tells why he ditched in river

Larry Neumeister,David B. Caruso, Associated Press

(01-18) 04:00 PST New York - --

The pilot of a crippled US Airways jetliner made a split-second decision to put down in the Hudson River because trying to return to the airport after birds knocked out both engines could have led to a catastrophic crash in a populated neighborhood, he told investigators Saturday.

Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III said that in the few minutes he had to decide where to set down the powerless plane Thursday afternoon, he felt it was "too low, too slow" and near too many buildings to go anywhere else, according to the National Transportation Safety Board report of his testimony. Excerpted from www.sfgate.com

The vanishing Israeli cease fire

Israel unilaterally declared a ceasefire yesterday. Of course it quickly vanished when Hamas fired five rockets into Israel. Hamas does not want to cease fire unless it is on their terms. They are concerned about looking defeated in the eyes of the Arab world. In truth, they have been defeated from a military standpoint. Israel killed over six hundred of their fighters. Almost twelve hundred Palestinians have been killed-half of them women and children. Only thirteen Israelis had died in the recent fighting. As long as Arabs and Jews occupy the Middle East, their will never be peace on this third rock from the Sun. Perhaps, our new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton can play the role of pacifier.

Gaza Ceasefire Broken With Hamas Rockets
The Times ^ | January 18, 2009

The Gaza ceasefire has already been broken, just hours after the unilateral truce took hold, as Hamas militants fired a volley of rockets into southern Israel.

No one was injured in the attack, in which five rockets were fired into Israel shortly after dawn. But shortly after, security sources in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun reported an airstrike that wounded a woman and her child. The Israeli military made no comment on the claims.

In another incident after the truce took hold, militants fired small arms at an infantry patrol, which returned fire, according to the Israeli military.

"Israel will only act in response to attacks by Hamas, either rockets into Israel or firing upon our forces" Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said. "If Hamas does deliberately torpedo this cease-fire, they are exposing themselves before the entire international community as a group of cynical extremists that have absolutely no interest in the well-being of the people of Gaza."

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...

Barack Obama no longer thinks we have to kill Osama Bin Laden(video)

Barack Obama doesn't think it is necessary to kill Bin Laden?

In a presidential debate in October, he said: 'We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al-Qaeda. That has to be our biggest national security priority.' Link.

He seems to have changed his mind. This is a radical departure from his previous criticism of the Bush administration for not going after Bin Laden aggressively enough. Things really change when you have to accept the responsibility.

We no longer need to kill Bin Laden, claims Barack Obama

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:34 AM on 15th January 2009

Barack Obama has claimed it is no longer necessary to kill Osama Bin Laden to win the war against al-Qaeda.

In an unprecedented departure from the current wanted 'dead or alive policy,' the U.S. President-Elect said that simply keeping bin Laden holed up in a cave was enough to keep America safe. excerpted from dailymail.co.uk/news....

Here is the interview video

Actual video of Flight 1549 skidding into the Hudson

At about the two minute mark you can see US Air Flight 1549 skid into the Hudson. Then, you can see the passengers climb out onto the wings. This video is 10 minutes long.

Bright Automotive to make 100 miles per gallon hybrid

If you thought no one would start a new car company in these difficult economic times, your were wrong. A company called Bright Automotive is to make a 100 mpg plug in hybrid. You will be able to drive it on the freeway too. This should cause our oil producing enemies great pain.

Michael Kanellos
Rocky Mountain Institute Spins Off a Car Company: Bright Automotive January 15, 2009 at 1:48 PM

The Rocky Mountain Institute, the think tank that has played a central role in transforming green technology and energy efficiency from a fringe pursuit to a central pillar in industrial and national planning, has spun out a car company.

Bright Automotive wants to make plug-in hybrids. The cars will go about 30 miles on a charge and 400 miles or so in all with the help from the gas generator. Overall, the cars will get 100 miles an gallon.

The cars will be street and freeway legal. Excerpted from here.

The Bail Out Game (link provided)

There is is new free web based game called the "Bail Out Game." It has you driving a truck load of money around a Monopoly like board while you make decisions about what companies to bail out. Economic events like stock market drops often occur. This would be hilarious if it didn't so closely resemble reality. You can play it here. Have fun while the money lasts.

Brace for impact: Hudson river landing video

Here is the best video I could find relating to the Hudson river crash of U.S. Airways Flight 1549. This emergency landing was a "miracle."

Early Friday morning video from Gaza

Israels attack on Hamas in the Gaza strip continues. There is talk of a cease fire, but fighting continued in the Strip on Friday, the 21st day of Operation Cast Lead. You can see a burning building in this early morning video. In a surreal moment, you hear a rooster crow in the background.

Low oil prices are causing our enemies great pain

Iran and Venezuela are suffering from $40 a barrel oil. These countries have no real serious economy except for oil. The high price of oil has allowed these despotic regimes to cling to power. They have been able to avoid sanctions and thumb their nose at the international community for the last few years. Hopefully, the sanctions will start to bite now.

Oil price weakness pressures Iran, Venezuela: CIA
By Randall Mikkelsen Randall Mikkelsen – Thu Jan 15, 4:50 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Weak global oil prices threaten to destabilize major oil producers Iran and Venezuela, but Russia is better able to manage because of its sovereign investments, CIA Director Michael Hayden said on Thursday.

"Here's one (event) that's destabilizing, but it could be positive," Hayden told reporters.

He said global prices hovering around $40 per barrel could increase the bite of sanctions aimed at persuading Iran to give up its nuclear program, and could shake the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has been an irritant to U.S. policy in Latin America. excerpted from news.yahoo...

The Media continues to smooch Obama's butt

Time magazine is putting Barack Obama on the cover for the 15th time. You can see the covers here. This level of coverage is unprecedented. If the editors of Time were poodles, they would be humping Obama's leg. Now, the final insult has occurred. ESPN is broadcasting Obama's inauguration. We won't even be able to turn the channel to sports on inauguration day.

ESPN will televise Obama's inauguration live
January 15, 2009

NEW YORK - ESPN is joining the lineup of networks that will offer extensive coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration next Tuesday.

The network will televise the noon ceremony, and possibly carry live interviews with sports figures at the event.

It's likely the first time that the sports channel has ever covered a presidential inauguration, even with presidents like a former sportscaster (Ronald Reagan) or a former baseball-team owner (George W. Bush). Read more at nbcsports.msnbc.com ..

Positive proof Israelis are trying to avoid civilian casualties(video)

Here is positive proof that Israelis are trying to avoid civilian casualties. This video shows missiles already in flight to mobile targets being diverted when those targets enter civilian areas. It is a sad fact of war that civilians often get caught in the line of fire. The difference between Hamas and Israel is Hamas targets civilians and uses them as shields. The Israelis are trying to avoid civilian deaths.

Obama's mother-in-law to freeload at the White House

I understand the taxpayer supporting President Obama and his immediate family. That is part of the contract I think Americans have with their President. Why do we have to provide free room and board to his mother-in-law? That is just wrong. I wonder if his illegal Aunt in Boston will be moving in too?

Barack Obama's mother-in-law to join first family as it moves into White House

By LISA TOLIN | Associated Press Writer
6:08 PM CST, January 9, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) — Get ready for the in-law in chief. President-elect Barack Obama's mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, is moving into the White House at least temporarily to join Michelle Obama and the two children, transition officials said Friday. That's good news not just for late-night comics, but for 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha. During the campaign, Robinson retired from her job as a bank executive secretary to help care for her granddaughters.

"Mrs. Robinson will be coming with the family to help the girls get acclimated, and she will determine in the coming months whether or not she wants to stay in D.C. permanently," said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, spokeswoman for Michelle Obama. Full story here.

Hillary has Bill's donor's backs

People alway wondered what the donors to Bill Clinton's foundation got for their dollars. Was it pay for past favors? Perhaps, but it seems some are still at the trough and Senator Hillary Clinton is ladling out the political favor slop.

AP: Clinton acted on concerns of husband's donors
By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer Sharon Theimer, Associated Press Writer – Tue Jan 13, 10:23 am ET

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton intervened at least six times in government issues directly affecting companies and others that later contributed to her husband's foundation, an Associated Press review of her official correspondence found. Full story here.

Obama threatens veto

President Bush almost never used the power of veto. President Elect Obama is using the threat before he even enters office. Obama is pressing to get access to the remaining $350 billion in federal bailout funds. Members of Congress in his own party may be testing him. Of course, republicans will want to flex what little they have left in muscle.

Obama warns Democrats of veto over bailout funds
Associated Press ^ | January 14, 2009 | DAVID ESPO and JIM KUHNHENN

WASHINGTON – Tested before taking power, President-elect Barack Obama privately delivered a pre-inauguration veto threat to fellow Democrats on Tuesday, saying they would not deny him use of the remaining $350 billion in federal bailout fund. Read more at news.yahoo.com

Sample video of "Iron Fist" strike at Hamas

The Israeli's are threatening a third phase in the war against Hamas.

Gaza: Israel Prepares "Iron Fist" Strike At Hamas
The Times ^ | January 13, 2009

Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 1:22:24 PM by Fennie

Israel is preparing to wage war against Hamas in the very heart of Gaza's crowded population centres unless the Islamic militants accept ceasefire demands swiftly and stop firing rockets over the border.

As thousands of reservists pour into Gaza to bolster Israel's forces, the Cabinet is expected to approve imminently a devastating new "third phase" of its 18-day-old offensive unless there is a last-minute diplomatic breaktrough.

Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, pledged yesterday to hit Hamas with an "iron fist" if the rockets did not cease. Article here.

Here is a video of a huge strike.

Women are turned on by the smell of an excited guy

This is news men can use. Should we dump the deodorant? I doubt my wife would approve. Some men were paid to watch adult videos and have their perspiration swabbed. Where do you get a job like that? Personally, I want this job. Australia Offers 'Best Job in World' On Paradise Island I could get paid to live on a tropical island and blog.

Women Can Smell a Man's Sexual Intentions

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

By Melinda Wenner

It's not hard to tell when a guy is "happy to see you."

The twinkle in his eye, his swagger, that sexy smile — all are clear signs he's in the mood.

And, at least subconsciously, a woman can also tell by the scent of his sweat, according to new research.

Scientists have long debated whether humans, like animals, use chemical signals called pheromones to communicate sexual interest to potential mates.

Problem is, the effects of pheromones are thought to be subconscious — meaning that if we do communicate using them, we sure don't know it.

It's also hard to know what these pheromones might be and how we sense them, so researchers understand little about them. Full story here.

A priggish plumber seeks to become a shining star

Am I the only one getting very tired of "Joe the Plumber?" I will be glad when his 15 minutes of fame has ended. John McCain launched him into the national media spot light, but Joe was completely unappreciative. I don't mind anyone trying to earn a buck, but this guy just needs to shut up and go away.

Meet Joe The Reporter

Tuesday, January 13, 2009; Page A13

Samuel Wurzelbacher, best known as Joe the Plumber, is reporting from Israel these days as part of his new gig for a conservative Web site, Pajamas TV (http://www.pjtv.com).

Wurzelbacher did a stand-up next to a large pile of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel and offered this interesting take on what journalists, such as himself, should do. Full article here.

Supremes deny Berg, but questions about Obama's birth record persist

The Supreme court denied Philip Berg certiorari today, but questions about Obama's birth record persist. He has never provided his long form birth certificate even after several lawsuits. Instead, he has fought in court to keep it a secret document. On January 20th Barack Obama will enter the White House under a cloud of suspicion about his status as a natural born citizen. This is a shame. All he had to do was shoe the document. This is a slap in the face of every American who cherishes the Constitution.

Supreme Court Denies Certiorari in Primary Lawsuit Challenging Obama's Constitutional Eligibility to Serve as President

By Jeff Schreiber
America's Right

Nearly a week before his inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama likely has one less burden on his shoulders, as the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari today in the first lawsuit which called into question his constitutional eligibility to serve as president of the United States. Link here.

Here is a video of explaining some of the issues surrounding Obama's citizenship.

Have a seat Senator Burris

Senate majority leader Harry Reid and Senator Dick Durbin have been forced to back down on embattled Governor Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris to President Elect Obama's Senate seat. Many have predicted this day would come. The grounds for refusing to accept Burris were very thin from a legal standpoint. Minority advocates will be very pleased to still have an African American Senator. Republicans wanted Burris to promise to not run for re-election in 2010. However, Burris danced around that question and refused to give a clear answer. That means he is surely planning on running for the seat at the next election.

Burris declares fight over, praises opponents
January 12, 2009 4:51 PM | 21 Comments | BREAKING STORY

His appointment finally endorsed by U.S. Senate leadership, Roland Burris said today he expects to be sworn in this week as Barack Obama's replacement.

At a news conference this afternoon, Burris, a former Illinois Attorney General, extended an olive branch to the Democrats who had stood in his way after he was nominated by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Burris singled out for thanks two of his major opponents, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who had staunchly opposed the idea of seating any appointee named by Blagojevich. "It will be my honor to both serve with them and to learn from them," Burris said.

And he said he "owed a debt of gratitude" to Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who had refused to sign papers certifying his nomination. He called White "an honorable man" who "stood for what he believed was right."

It became clear that Burris had won his battle to become the junior senator from Illinois this afternoon when Senate Democratic leaders dropped their objections. Full story here.

Unions are throwing big money around and not to their members

Unions are spending large amounts of cash on lobbying. They have high hopes for getting every pet legislative project they can imagine through the new Democratic Congress. One of their favorites is the so called "Employee Free Choice Act" which would kill the right for secret ballot elections in unionization campaigns. That would be a disaster for employees and business owners. It also seems to be un-American.

Got Money To Burn Right Now? Big Labor Apparently Does

January 10, 2009
CFIF.org
During this difficult economic period, is pouring tens of millions into political lobbying the best way for union leaders to be spending members' hard-earned dues? Across the country and entire world, businesses and workers alike are struggling. Indeed, among those hit hardest are middle- and lower-income workers, the very people whose welfare Big Labor executives piously claim to represent.

But instead of applying union treasures toward direct assistance to hard-hit workers and their families, labor leaders are instead choosing to spend extravagantly on high-paid lobbyists pushing their self-serving political agenda.

This week, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) leaders approved a plan to spend some $150 million of its members' dollars on a lobbying campaign that will cover just the first one hundred days of the new administration. There's no telling, of course, how many more millions will follow that first 100 days.

Regardless, the SEIU's own website states that its executive board was unanimous in this curious decision. Although the site claims that the SEIU is fighting for "working people," its announcement reveals executives' true motivation: Full article here.

E-Verify Program for employment is threatened

The department of Homeland Security has a great new program that allows employers to almost instantly determine employment eligibility. About 99.6 percent of all work-authorized employees verified through E-Verify are verified without having to take any type of corrective action. This is a program that works well. If every business in America used this system, all illegal immigrants would become unemployable and have to return to their homelands.

E-Verify Program Update: 100,000 Employers Signed Up
January 10, 2009
Right Side News Reports
US Dept of Homeland Security reports:

E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administers the program. More information here.

Of course liberals hate the idea and have filed a lawsuit to block a final rule that would require most federal contractors and subcontractors to use the E-Verify system. They will attempt to block the program every way they can. I think every employer in the USA should be required to use this system.

US Legislative Immigration Update January 5, 2009

January 5, 2009
FAIRUS.org
Late December, a coalition of special interest groups filed a lawsuit to block a final rule that would require most federal contractors and subcontractors to use the E-Verify system to verify their employees' eligibility to legally work in the United States. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Maryland by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.; the Society for Human Resource Management; the American Council on International Personnel; and the HR Policy Association. More information here.

Hamas terrorists have booby trapped a school(video)

This action shows the kind of people the Israelis have to deal with on a daily basis. It is very sad when civilians are killed; especially children. When the enemy uses them as shields and stoops to rigging a school and zoo to blow up, the Israelis have to take that into consideration. Hat tip to Little Green Footballs.

Here is a video from the IDF.

More infomation is coming out on Obama's Blagojevich contacts

In spite of what the Obama team has told us, the contacts than had with Blagojevich ran deep. The most troubling thing is Obama wanted to maintain a close relationship with Blagojevich even after he was under suspicion. New information has been uncovered through the Freedom of Information act.

Blagojevich Contacts with Obama and Transition Team: Update
January 10, 2009
Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Re: Blagojevich Contacts with Obama and Transition Team
by Tom Fitton
Judical Watch

When federal authorities arrested Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in early December for attempting to "sell" Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, among other corruption charges, focus immediately turned to Barack Obama. Did the Obama team have any knowledge about the scheme? Obama vehemently denied he had any contacts with Blagojevich.

Not true, according to documents obtained by Judicial Watch this week from Blagojevich's office through the Freedom of Information Act. (You may recall that we filed a FOIA request on December 18th.)

The documents include a December 3, 2008, letter from Barack Obama following his well-publicized December 2, 2008, meeting with Blagojevich as well as a November 17, 2008, letter signed by Presidential Transition Team co-chairs Valerie Jarrett and John Podesta providing Blagojevich with a list of transition team contacts. Full story here.