Republican House Leadership Betraying Tea Party on Obamacare

The pleas of both Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Rep. Steve King (R-IA) for Republicans to defund Obamacare to the tune of $105 Billion by refusing to pass a Continuing Resolution, to this point, appear to be falling on the deaf ears of Speaker John Boehner. In short, $105 Billion was slipped into the Obamacare law, which frontloads the funding. This goes against the rules that appropriations must be made annually.

Bachmann and King are demanding that the government get shut down unless that money is taken out of the CR. Doug Ross has a great analysis explaining why the Old Republican guard consisting of John Boehner, Eric Cantor, and Kevin McCarthy don't seem interested in pursuing this course.

From Mark Levin's webpage via Doug Ross:

Republican leadership appears to be vague about why Republicans did not bother to vote on rescinding the $105 billion dollar mandatory appropriation. Some argue that the fact the appropriation for the healthcare bill is mandatory and cannot be rescinded is not sitting well with conservatives, because as Mr. Istook points out in his testimony above, "The House last month voted to repeal billions of dollars from previous appropriations to 123 federal programs." All those appropriations were mandatory as well.

House Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican, believes rescinding appropriations in the healthcare bill can be done through committee. He told me on Thursday afternoon, "We made it pretty clear of that when we put Obamacare on the floor and the House passed the repeal of that bill. We’re going through regular order. I would expect that the committees of proper jurisdiction will bring forward the bill to eliminate mandatory spending that is involved in that bill."

Ernest Istook is from the Heritage Foundation and uncovered the $105 Billion boondoggle in Obamacare. He gave testimony recently that has gotten the attention of some Tea Party conservatives - led by Bachmann and King - but so far, Boehner doesn't appear interested in doing what last November elections mandated he do. Doug Ross has an interesting take on why the Republican guard doesn't want to do what's right:

Mr. Speaker: there's a thing called leverage in negotiation. Either you want Obamacare, because you've become a power-hungry Beltway hack, or you don't. Right now, your Continuing Resolution tells me that you want to see ObamaCare implemented. After all, think about how much power you'll wield, what with all of those hundreds of billions in spending, and the thousands of lobbyists and corporations all trying to get their voices heard.

This message is not directed to the Republican old guard. This message is for the Tea Party conservatives: shut the government down. Hell, if you keep raising the debt ceiling, the whole system's going to collapse anyhow! Boehner's not a member of a Tea Party and could care less about Constitutional conservatism. He's too weak, too cowardly or too much of a power-hungry Beltway hack to act.

The Democrats are literally at war with America, and the Republican old guard won't even put up a fight.

Perhaps we're learning why John Boehner cries so much; think Wizard of Oz and then think about what the lion's problem was.

Read it all and call your congressman.

Video: Astounding Footage from Japan as Water Breaches Seawall

This may be the most compelling video to come out of Japan yet. It almost looks like a movie production with special effects as the water breaches a seawall. Note the cars driving by as water heads their way - the camera then turns back around to the seawall and captures rather large boats going over it.

Via The Blaze

Israeli Settlement Family Murdered; U.S. says Further Settlements 'illegitimate'

An Israeli family, consisting of two parents and three children (one very small) was killed when someone broke into their home in the middle of the night and slaughtered them. The perpetrator(s) was presumably a Palestinain Muslim. Because the family lived in a settlement home, that is the likely motive.

It now looks like Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of Fatah, may have claimed responsibility. Via Ynet:

According to an unverified report, Fatah's military wing – the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades – claimed responsibility for the attack. A group spokesman told a Palestinian news agency that a terror cell infiltrated the settlement of Itamar and committed the attack.

The spokesperson stressed that the attack "came as a response to Israel's continues hostile policy toward the Palestinian people."

All of this appears to be leading to another showdown between Israel and the U.S. as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in conjunction with his nation's recent approval of 300-500 more settlements, 'They murder, we build.'

Via the AP:

JERUSALEM (AP) -- The U.S. Embassy said Monday it was "deeply concerned" by Israel's plans to build hundreds of new homes in the West Bank following a deadly attack on a settler family, calling Israeli settlements "illegitimate" and an obstacle to peacemaking.

Barely a peep out of the Obama administration - if one at all - about the murder of five innocent people. Instead, not succumbing to terrorism is somehow an obstruction to the peace process.

Who knew?

h/t Weasel Zippers