VIDEO: ANOTHER OBAMA LIE VIA ROBERT GIBBS

The news of this Blagojevich trial being presented to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs yielded a response very reminiscent to the responses Gibbs gave when asked about alleged offers made by the White House to Joe Sestak and Andrew Romanoff. Gibbs, once again, pleads ignorance and says he won't comment on the trial. When reporter Ann Compton reminds Gibbs that he said something in direct opposition to the testimony of SEIU official Tom Balanoff, who under oath testified that he was sent to Blagojevich by Obama, he stonewalls.......again.

Gibbs' response is predictable.



h/t to Impeach Obama

HUH? TONY REZKO MAY NOT TESTIFY?

This Blagojevich trial is really starting to give off some serious Chicago political stink. In the latest example, the one man that ties both Barack Obama and Blagojevich together - Tony Rezko - may end up not testifying. Presiding judge James Zagel is stating that he doesn't think Rezko would be a good witness for either side. Obama emissary and SEIU emissary to Blagojevich, Tom Balanoff's testimony is expected to have some influence on whether Rezko ends up becoming a witness. I find it rather peculiar though, that a judge would strongly recommend that an individual so involved with the details of a corruption trial not be called as a witness.

Rezko was convicted on 16 of 24 felony charges involving fraud and kickback schemes.

Said Zagel via the Tribune:

It’s still not certain whether Rezko will testify, but at a hearing before testimony resumed today, U.S. District Judge James Zagel strongly suggested that Rezko would make a lousy government witness.

Zagel said there was a word to describe witnesses like Rezko who damage whatever side calls them to testify. That, said Zagel, “generally explains why they’re not called.” Zagel refrained from actually saying what the word was, leaving the suggestion it was less than polite.

At issue is a letter written to Blagojevich by Rezko while the latter was in jail. The letter allegedly states federal officials were pressuring Rezko to make up stories against Blagojevich.

It is at minimum very curious that Zagel would recommend that prosecutors not call Rezko in light of one of the phone conversations between Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris earlier in the trial. In that recording, Blagojevich said the following - found on page 17 of 49 on lines 32-34:

32 ...compared to
33 even Obama, you know, I believe I'm more
34 pristine on Rezko than him.

Listen to the actual recording HERE.

It strikes me that if the prosecution were not concerned about protecting Obama but in convicting Blagojevich, they would want Rezko's testimony based on those statements. When Blago said he's more "pristine on Rezko", it inherently meant that he was at least somewhat dirty when it came to Rezko. Is the prosecution contemplating avoiding Rezko not because he couldn't help them get a conviction of Blago but because he could expose Obama's level of involvement.

Read it all.

JUDGE IN BLAGO TRIAL BLOCKS OBAMA QUESTIONS

One thing that continues to become more obvious is that Barack Obama knew much more about the discussions involving his soon-to-be vacated Senate seat in 2008 than many are comfortable with. We may be able to start counting the judge in the Blagojevich corruption trial among them. In April, Blago's attorneys filed a motion to subpoena Obama. In particular, they focused on a two hour interview he reportedly gave to FBI investigators after Blago's arrest. The motion was heavily redacted but due to a software glitch, the redacted portions were revealed.

U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel denied that motion. Subsequent requests made by defense attorneys to get access to the summary notes of that interview were also denied. Now we're finding out that Judge Zagel's ears almost seem hypersensitive to the name "Obama".

Via the Chicago Tribune:

Sheldon Sorosky, one of Rod Blagojevich’s lawyers, has been trying to drag President Barack Obama into the fray this afternoon, asking union official Tom Balanoff whether the FBI asked him about campaign money going to Obama.

Prosecutors objected, as they have so often during cross-examinations, and U.S. District Judge James Zagel said Sorosky should only ask in general what the FBI had said to Balanoff.

Sorosky tried the question again, using Zagel’s recommended wording. “I know that won’t be objected to,” Sorosky said, causing the nearby Blagojevich to laugh.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Based on the recorded phone conversations and the testimony of more than one witness under oath, Obama lied about his contacts with Blagojevich. I'm not an attorney but this should warrant more scrutiny of Obama - not less - about what he knew regarding the sale of his senate seat.

See for yourself.

Read MORE HERE

AUDIO EXPLOSIVE: BREITBART EXPLAINS JOURNOLIST

David Weigel was a writer for the Washington Post blog and he was assigned to cover the conservative beat and report on it. Weigel also belonged to JourNolist, which is a group of 400 journalists who are supposed to be able to communicate with each other confidentially about issues and stories they cover. Any journalist communicating to the group is supposed to feel comfortable their words will not be made public.

Weigel learned the hard way that such assumptions are not warranted. JourNolist is headed by far left ideologue, Ezra Klein, who writes for the Post. In an interview with WIBC in Indianapolis, Andrew Breitbart explains that Weigel was outed because he didn't conform with the ideology of the 400. Breitbart is offering $100,000 to anyone who can deliver him the JourNoList archives.

BLAGO TRIAL REVEALS OBAMA EMISSARY

SEIU leader Tom Balanoff took the stand today in the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich. In his testimony, he corroborated what was captured on recorded phone conversations between Blago and Chief of Staff John Harris - Obama sent him to meet with Blago about the Senate seat Obama would be vacating after winning the election in 2008. Unfortunately, at a press conference on December 9th, 2008, Obama told reporters that he had no contact with Blagojevich.

Via the Sun-Times:

"Tom, i want to talk to you with regard to the Senate seat," Obama told him.

Balanoff said Obama said he had two criteria: someone who was good for the citizens of Illinois and could be elected in 2010.

Obama said he wasn't publicly coming out in support of anyone but he believed Valerie Jarrett would fit the bill.

"I would much prefer she (remain in the White House) but she does want to be Senator and she does meet those two criteria," Balanoff said Obama told him. "I said: 'thank you, I'm going to reach out to Gov. Blagojevich."

Contrast that with this press conference on December 9th, 2008 - the day of Blago's arrest. Fast forward to the 3:00 mark to see another instance where Obama lied.

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

As an added bonus, let's not forget Axelrod's appearance on a local Chicago Fox affiliate on November 23rd, 2008 in which he said he knew Obama had conversations with Blago.



h/t to OchairBall for the videos.

AUDIO: BLAGO WANTED A BLACK ALBERT EINSTEIN

During testimony on June 28th in the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich, another recorded phone conversation was played for the jury. The headline story seemed to be Blago floating the idea to his Chief of Staff, John Harris, that he appoint Oprah Winfrey to Barack Obama's Senate seat.

Maybe it's just me but I found the more outrageous idea coming from the mouth of Blago was his request for Harris to find him a "black Albert Einstein". Where exactly should Harris have gone to find such a person? I don't know. Perhaps the same place to find another person Rod wanted - Mother Theresa.

CLICK HERE for the audio.

VIDEO: ELENA KAGAN SLAMMED BY SCOTUS JUSTICES

Naked Emperor News does it again, posting a video montage of the various Supreme Court Justices challenging then Solicitor General Elena Kagan during oral arguments in the case that ultimately led to Obama chastising the Supreme Court during the State of the Union last January. Part of my was apoplectic listening to this as the debate actually devolves to the point of whether the government should have the right to ban books - yes, banning books.

Scalia, Roberts, and Alito all do a more than sufficient job of slamming Kagan for her absurd arguments, the most absurd being that even if there was a law that mandated the banning of any book, the FEC wouldn't enforce it.

As Scalia points out, that's not the least bit comforting - nor should it be.

Via Naked Emperor



h/t to Gateway Pundit

BLAGO TAPES REVEAL HE CONSIDERED OPRAH, WAS FIXATED ON RACE

This guy, Rod Blagojevich is increasing being revealed as someone extremely fixated on race. He's entertaining - I'll give him that - but during Monday's testimony of Blago's former chief of staff, John Harris, tapes revealed that Blago considered appointing Oprah Winfrey to the senate seat vacated by Obama after the 2008 election, not because she was qualified but because of how Blagojevich could leverage such a pick to his advantage.

Harris seemed rather apoplectic at Blago's outlandishness based on the transcript. Via the Chicago Sun-Tmes:

"That's crazy," his top aide John Harris is heard responding.

"That's where you're wrong," the then-governor says. "She's a king-maker. She made Obama. ... She's up there so high that no one can assail this pick. This would be huge."

Blago's fixation on skin color didn't stop there. In fact, he placed a unique order at the feet of Harris a little later in the conversation:

Blagojevich at one point suggests Harris find various African American candidates.

"Maybe a black Albert Einstein," Blagojevich said.

All of this focus on black candidates had the jurors shaking their heads and smiling in embarrassment but Blago wasn't done.

Blagojevich at another point begins discussing Jesse Jackson Jr., referring to the U.S. Congressman as an "uber-African American."

At that, an African American juror laughs quietly and has to put a hand over her mouth to suppress laughter. A juror beside her flashes a knowing smile.

Not being familiar with the word, "uber", I had to go to the Urban dictionary for a proper definition. It is as follows:

(1) german word for "above" or "over" (correct spelling "über")
(2) Became popular in the american language through its occurence in a phrase of the old nazi-time german anthem, re-used by punk bands ("california über alles")
(3) Is now used as a substitute for "really" or "very" etc.

However, Rod wasn't done. In fact, he got even more colorful in the taped recording when Harris suggested he appoint his former secretary, who happened to be black as well:

When Harris suggests former staffer and former U.S. Sen. candidate Cheryle Jackson should be in the mix, Blagojevich goes berserk.

"She's so f------ incompetent and a f------ liar," he says. "There's no f------ way. ... She bounced a check, forget about it. Don't put her in there."

Be sure to check back here for updates. I will post a link to the actual audio recording once it is made available.

h/t to Free Republic

VIDEO: SANTELLI GOES OFF ON LIBERAL LIESMAN

CNBC's Rick Santelli is best known for being the guy who started the Tea Party movement by yelling from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He hasn't stopped railing on insane government spending and liberal monetary policies. His latest righteous meltdown occurred while having to deal with one of the proponents of the latter, Steve Liesman. The irony in this exchange is not the spelling of Liesman's last name, it's that he's literally proven wrong by facts that slap him in the face and like most liberals, has far too much pride to admit he's wrong.

During this exchange, Santelli goes over the edge when he corrects Liesman, who wants to focus on the tax side of the debate. Santelli cuts right through it all and shouts multiple times, "STOP SPENDING". Liesman has no coherent response to that concept and Santelli lands another blow that rocks Liesman, telling him to "go back to Russia". The off-camera anchor then piles on, asking Liesman about changing the name of his rule book, making reference to "the Little Red book" already being taken.

Liesman is thoroughly punk'd and simply cannot humble himself.

Click HERE for the latest Santelli Rant.

Here's a better version; it cuts right to the chase.



h/t to Free Republic

BLAGO TRIAL SET TO GET VERY INTERESTING THIS WEEK

The corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich started off slow but it gained significant momentum this past week with the testimony of former Blagojevich Chief of Staff, John Harris. Harris can be heard consulting with Blago on numerous tapes of phone conversations between the two after the 2008 election, strategizing about how to deal with Obama's request that Valerie Jarrett be appointed to Obama's soon-to-be vacated Senate seat. During Harris' testimony, he said that he had no doubt Obama knew that Blago wanted something in return for the appointment.

Phone calls between Harris and Blagojevich appear to back that up - a time when both were being honest with each other. Tom Balanoff, an official with SEIU at the time, spoke with Blagojevich according to the phone conversations as well. In one of the conversations, recorded on November 5th, 2008, Blago discusses his meeting with Balanoff about what he wants in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the seat - the HHS Secretary gig. Balanoff is also expected to testify in the trial.

While Harris is expected to take the stand on June 28th for a fifth day, another interesting development is percolating. It involves current Democratic candidate for that Senate seat in November - Alexi Giannoulias. Giannoulias is finding himself in a tough spot as a result of another phone conversation played for the jury this past week. It too was between Blago and Harris. In it, Harris can be heard telling Blago that "Alexi" called him, wanting to talk about the Senate seat, presumably to help push for Jarrett. Blago tells Harris not to engage Giannoulias.

This is particularly curious because Giannoulias has maintained that it was Blagojevich's team that reached out to him during the period in question. For a year and a half, he has withheld any information about this phone call.

Now we learn that Mr. Giannoulias has been subpoenaed to testify. Via the AP:

CHICAGO — U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias said Sunday that he has been subpoenaed to testify at the corruption trial of ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The first-term Illinois treasurer, a Democrat who's locked in a contentious race for President Barack Obama's old Senate seat with Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, told The Associated Press that he was subpoenaed by Blagojevich's defense team.

Giannoulias' name was mentioned briefly last week during Blagojevich's trial. Former Blagojevich chief of staff John Harris was heard on federal wiretaps mentioning that Giannoulias had called about Obama's old seat on behalf of someone else.

Interestingly, the Chicago Tribune reported back in December, 2008 that Giannoulias claimed that it was Blagojevich's team that reached out to him.

Giannoulias also said that staff within Blagojevich's office have "reached out" to him as a possible candidate to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, though a Blagojevich spokesman said the governor has not contacted Giannoulias directly.

Perhaps this contradiction between what Giannoulias said in 2008 juxtaposed with what was revealed on the tape of the phone conversation has a little something to do with his being subpoenaed? As you'll hear in the tape, not only was it Giannoulias that reached out to Harris but Blago tells Harris not to speak to Giannoulias.

Yep, this is going to be interesting, regardless of the Mainstream media's refusal to cover it.

h/t to Blago Files

AUDIO: CASS SUNSTEIN OUTLINES HIS INTERNET PLAN

While appearing on WBZ in Boston, MA in 2001, Obama's Regulatory czar Cass Sunstein went on a virtually incoherent rant about how people who use the internet don't know what's best for them and if they don't voluntarily follow his agenda, they should be forced to do so by Congressional mandate. Mind you, he's allegedly advocating that everyone should have access to opposing views. Lost on him is that there are opposing views to his.

This guy has several screws loose. Intellectualism requires a willingness to consider others lesser human beings who can't think for themselves when they don't agree with you.

Sickness on display.



h/t to Naked Emperor

VIDEO: ANOTHER WOMAN MAKING MORE MEN LOOK LIKE GIRLS

Liz Cheney does it again, talking tougher than so many men who are supposed to actually be tough. We continue to witness more courage, in very large numbers, being demonstrated by political women than by their male counterparts. Exceptions when talking about the latter include but are not limited to Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R). Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Jan Brewer, and New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez are just a few of the increasingly large number of women out there who are showing guts.

Liz Cheney needs to be on the list as well - if she wasn't already.

Here, on Fox News Sunday, she identifies Obama's economic policies as a threat to national security. You'd think, at some point, the girlie men would get a little embarrassed.



h/t to Gateway Pundit

VIDEO: BIDEN RIPS CUSTARD STORE MANAGER

When V.P. Joe Biden entered Kopps' Frozen Custard store in Greenfield, Wisconsin while campaigning with Russ Feingold, he asked for ice cream. The employees rightfully took issue with his ignorance of their product and informed him in unison that he was in a custard store. It went down hill from there as Biden was told by the manager that he didn't have to pay for his portion but instead, the manager wanted him to lower their taxes. Biden obviously, blatantly, and rudely ignored the comment. After thinking about it, Biden apparently decided to give the manager a piece of his mind.

Not many people can say they were called a "Smart A**" by the Vice President of the United States but this Kopps' manager now has that distinction.

Just to recap: Biden goes into a renowned frozen custard store and asks for ice cream; he is then corrected by proud employees and patrons; this is followed by his being told he doesn't have to pay for his custard - it's on the house; he proceeds to call the manager a "smart a**". What I find rather ironic is that Biden may have been sent to Wisconsin to help support Feingold's re-election because Obama is becoming radioactive for Democrats. Uh, mission failed.

UPDATE: One other thought here. Notice that Biden implies that this manager is "always" a "smart a**". I think it's right to assume this is the first time the two met so how would Joe know? The answer was obvious. The American people are getting to these politicians and Biden lashed out at what he viewed as the face of them.

via Weasel Zippers:

SPRINGSTEEN HEARTS RAHM, WARRANTS EVEN LESS RESPECT

I really didn't need a reason to have less respect for Bruce Springsteen than I already do but courtesy of the Chicago Tribune, I got one anyway. It appears that Springsteen and Rahm Emanuel are personal friends. The New Jersey rocker apparently gifted Rahm 25 tickets to his concerts in Washington, D.C. Having been a Springsteen fan - I'm ashamed to say - as recently as 2004, he lost me big time when he decided to stump for John Kerry. For me, that proved he was less intelligent than I had given him credit for.

Now we learn that he's personal friends with a foul, dirty, leftwing, Chicago-style politician, in addition to being quite far down on the leftwing side of the spectrum himself. Springsteen could almost factually be labeled a socialist at this point. He started showing his true colors a little more brightly in 2000 when he released a song called, "41 shots", which was an anthem against police - though he provided enough vagueness in the song to allow him some wiggle room. Since then, Bruce has reached full socialist bloom.

Via the Tribune:

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel's new financial disclosure report shows investments worth a minimum of $6.7 million, plus what many would consider priceless: 25 seats to Bruce Springsteen concerts directly from "The Boss."

At $95 a seat, the gift totaled $2,375. Emanuel received 10 seats for a show May 18, 2009, and 15 for one on Nov. 2, 2009. Both were in Washington.

Emanuel and his wife, Amy Rule, are personal friends of Springsteen and his wife, Patti Scialfa, a White House official said, and ethics rules let friends gift friends.

For years, Springsteen stayed intentionally out of politics. He was respected by most everyone for his ability to remain apolitical. He seemed to "get it" when it came to politics having no place in entertainment. We learned in 2004 that he just couldn't stay in the leftwing closet anymore.

Springsteen is now friends with a political Chicago thug who is being exposed as such on a near daily basis.

h/t to Free Republic

VIDEO: AFL-CIO ECONOMIST CALLS CAVUTO A**HOLE

My first reaction to this was apoplexy at the fact that the AFL-CIO actually has a chief economist. The whole concept seems oxymoronic since these people have proven time and again that they don't even know where money comes from. Nonetheless, Fox's Neil Cavuto has an interview with Ron Blackwell, who holds that very position. The level of frustration coming from Cavuto is more than warranted. In fact, it gets so palpable that he rhetorically asks Blackwell if he got his degree from a 'Baking School'.

Perhaps most revealing about Blackwell's lack of qualifications is that he doesn't whip out the name of the highly reputable institution he did come from, which would have immediately made Cavuto look foolish. Instead, he calls Neil an "A**hole" which actually makes Cavuto's frustration justified.

The essence of Blackwell's argument - I think - is that the $787 Billion stimulus prevented much worse conditions but he can't explain how. At the heart of Cavuto's frustration is Blackwell's ignorance of - or refusal to acknowledge - very basic economic principles.

Some may say Cavuto is badgering but this guy Blackwell makes so little sense, I thought Cavuto went easy on him.



h/t to Hot Air

BLAG-O-BAMA: BLAGO AIDE SAYS OBAMA KNEW

The Rod Blagojevich trial is definitely starting to heat up. Audio recordings of conversations between the former Governor, his brother, his then Chief of Staff John Harris, Lon Monk, etc. are in abundance and posted on line. They are very interesting to listen to and provide a look into how Chicago style politics work.

In testimony on June 24th, Harris said he believes Obama knew about Blago wanting something in exchange for appointing Obama's choice, Valerie Jarrett to the newly vacated Senate seat. Via POLITICO:

John Harris, Blagojevich’s former top aide, testified during the governor’s corruption hearings this week that three days after Obama’s election as president, Blagojevich felt assured he had a deal from the president that would place aide Valerie Jarrett in the Senate. He offered no proof of his claim.

“The president understands that the governor would be willing to make the appointment of Valerie Jarrett as long as he gets what he's asked for,” Harris said in testimony.

If there weren't other instances - like the confirmed offer to Sestak and the "dangled" offers to Romanoff - perhaps less credence could be given to Harris' testimony. The fact that Rahm Emanuel provides a common thread to all three, Obama should have to answer questions at some point.

They appear more interested in continuing the stonewalling...

The White House has declined comment. The same claim has been made by defense lawyers in past court filings, without supporting evidence.

This is exactly why Blago's motion to subpoena Obama needs to be granted. Either Harris is lying under oath or he's telling the truth and Obama's testimony is required.

So far, repeated attempts by Blago's attorneys to get transcripts or even summaries of the interviews between Obama and the FBI have fallen on deaf ears.

The president spoke with FBI agents about the Blagojevich scandal soon after the former governor was arrested in 2008. Blagojevich’s legal team has tried to compel the FBI to release a transcript of the interview it conducted with the president, but the bureau has declined all requests.

While the FBI head reports to the president, he is supposed to be able to act independently. That's a laugher. The Department of Justice isn't supposed to protect the president either but that's actually become SOP. Is there a legitimate reason why the FBI won't turn over the contents of that interview?

In light of the recent events, I can't think of any.

More on Blago trial HERE.

NEW MEXICO GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ANOTHER BREWER?

Here we go again. Another example of a woman who is showing more guts than most men - including Rick Perry in Texas. In New Mexico, Democratic incumbent Bill Richardson is aligned with Barack Obama and the Justice Department when it comes to attacking Arizona SB 1070. However, the Republican candidate for Richardson's spot is likely to stand shoulder to shoulder with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer.

The website for Susana Martinez indicates that she is a staunch advocate for immigration enforcement. Take note of her last name. It would be hispanic. The next logical question is somewhat rhetorical - unless you ask a liberal. If Martinez is hispanic and supports immigration enforcement, how is immigration enforcement a racist notion?

Via Martinez's website:

As a New Mexican and member of law enforcement, Susana Martinez recognizes how critical it is that we secure our border. With violence in Mexico reaching unprecedented levels, we must do everything within our power to protect against that crime and violence crossing over the border.

While other candidates talk about border security, Susana Martinez is the only one with actual experience taking on the issue. Martinez’s office prosecutes over 600 cases related to border security every year and works with various law enforcement agencies to secure convictions against members of Mexico’s most violent drug cartels. Martinez understands first-hand the threat these criminals pose to our state and will make securing the border a top priority.

Bordering New Mexico's eastern border is the great state of Texas, which is still being led by a Governor who is playing politics by not expressing strong public support for Arizona and Governor Brewer. As I reported HERE, a Public Policy Poll shows Perry and his Democratic challenger, Bill White in a dead heat. What Perry doesn't seem to understand is that if he started talking and acting like Brewer, he would win going away. More evidence of that is the state on Texas' western border.

Rasmussen is reporting that Martinez is in a virtual tie with her Democratic challenger. Interesingly, Martinez trailed her opponent by nearly 20% in March. It's reminiscent of Scott Brown and Martha Coakley. Her tough talk on immigration can only help her at this point.

Rick Perry, are you listening?

h/t to Barrackaid #7

VIDEO: COUNTY SUPERVISOR SAYS ARIZONA NOT A BORDER STATE

In Milwaukee, WI there was a meeting recently to debate whether that city should boycott Phoenix over SB 1070. At this meeting, a County Supervisor named Peggy West, who is opposed to the new Arizona law, not only seems completely ignorant of her country's geography but actually makes a case FOR Arizona's new law because of it. Shockingly, this public servant thinks Arizona doesn't have a border with Mexico. She says if it did, they might be justified in passing such a law.

Ms. West also makes reference to a Google search for Arizona and SB 1070. Uh, perhaps she should have done a Google Maps search of Arizona before getting behind a podium with a microphone on it. Assuming she now knows that Arizona borders Mexico, she would be exposed as a complete hypocrite and ideologue to hold the same position she did before. Again, her argument is that if Arizona shared a border with Mexico - like Texas does - it would be justified in having such a law.

Well Peggy, now that you know it does, are you prepared to stand by your original argument?

Something tells me she won't.

Via Innocent Bystanders



NOTE: VIDEO ABOVE HAS BEEN REMOVED. TRY THIS:



h/t to Hot Air

LYNN WOOLLEY TARGETS MSNBC AND ALEX JONES

From Studio 'L' in Texas, the Secretary of Logic, Lynn Woolley, is calling out MSNBC and Chris Matthews over the documentary intended to demonize the Tea Party Movement by, in part, attempting to paint another Texas-based talk show host, Alex Jones, as the face of the Tea Party. Lynn's emails from Jones supporters have definitely picked up.

Via Human Events:

Worst of all was Matthews holding up conspiracy-based radio host Alex Jones as a representative of the movement. Jones told Matthews that the country has entered the phase of “deep tyranny,” and that some mysterious force is planning to eradicate up to 99% of the population. But Jones has nothing to do with the Tea Party—and in fact is on videotape disrupting an Austin Tea Party rally with his bullhorn. He’s also associated with “truthers” who contend that 9/11 was an inside job.

Jones cooperated with Matthews, said the most outrageous things he could for the cameras, and then later complained that MSNBC was biased. Please.

The Tea Party, or more correctly, the Bottom-Up Government movement, isn’t about conspiracy nuts or militias or truthers. It comes from the spirit of Samuel Adams who helped organize the original Tea Party to fight back at a government that acted against the will of the people. It is based on the Jeffersonian concept, outlined in the Declaration of Independence, that “Governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

A significant number of Americans have withdrawn their consent. And that’s what Chris Matthews and MSNBC don’t understand.

Read it All

VIDEO: CHRISTIANS ARRESTED AT MUSLIM FESTIVAL

Things are getting dire in Dearborn, Michigan. If this video reveals what it appears to reveal, these police officers should be found guilty of either following an unlawful order or violating very basic Constitutional rights on their own. In either case, they appear to be guilty of something very egregious.

Via Powerline, here's the video from David Wood, showing the arrests very shortly after literature was distributed.



Via Hot Air, there is video of an extremely lame Muslim response to the claims of David Wood and those with him. Take note that the argument here is that Wood claims he was arrested for "preaching Christianity". Actually, the claim was the men were arrested for distributing Christian literature.

That's important to this individual's argument because he shows video of someone he claims is preaching Christianity and police walk right on by.



More HERE.

SURPRISE: ANOTHER HOUSE COMMITTEE BLOCKS FOR WHITE HOUSE

As ranking member of the House Oversight Committee on Government Reform, Issa was unsuccessful in getting Democrats in that committee to demand answers from the White House regarding offers it made to Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and offers it 'dangled' to Andrew Romanoff (D-CO). Now ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) has run into the same stonewall.

Via McCall Blog:

A motion to "adversely report" the resolution of inquiry narrowly passed 15-12 by the House Judiciary Committee, asked that the U.S. Attorney General turn over all communication the Justice Department had regarding "discussions of administration appointments by White House Staff, or persons acting on behalf of White House staff, with any candidate for public office in exchange for such candidate's withdrawal from any election..."

The author of the measure, Lamar Smith, a Republican from Texas, said in prepared remarks that he is "disappointed" the resolution was even necessary to get more information from the Obama administration.

As for Darrell Issa, he is chomping at the bit to become chairman of the Oversight committee because he is going to launch investigations and issue subpoenas the second he gets the job.

Darrell Issa, the California Republican who has the led the charge for information by writing numerous letters requesting more information to various officials in the Obama administration, said, as he has in the past, that at the least the offer was unethical.

"Congressman Sestak has done nothing but tell us something that should have never happened, happened," Issa said.

This scandal is in Issa's crosshairs and he is sending the message that he will be going full boar to get to the bottom of it. Now the Democrats in the Judiciary are on record as not interested in doing so.

h/t to Line of Sight

9/11 SURVIVOR BEATS ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE IN TEXAS

Col. Brian Birdwell ran for the Texas State Senate seat in District 22 in a special run-off election with Republican party establishment candidate - and former State Senator - David Sibley. Sibley was definitely the establishment's favorite, getting the support of George W. Bush and other well known Texas politicians. Birdwell's story is that of a Tea Party candidate on steroids and it clearly helped him defeat Sibley by 3000 votes on June 22nd.

Via the Texas Tribune:

What Birdwell lacked in experience, he made up for in narrative. He was working in the Pentagon on 9/11, was burned badly when terrorists crashed an airliner into the building, recovered after a long convalescence and is now a public speaker and, with his wife, the operator of a nonprofit called Face the Fire that combines a Christian ministry with aid for burn victims and their families. He nearly ran for the Texas House a few years ago — against Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland — and decided against it.

Working at the Lynn Woolley Show, I had the opportunity to hear the Logic Czar interview Birdwell on more than one occasion and his story is utterly fascinating. Receiving a first hand account from someone who was not only in the Pentagon when it was attacked, but suffered severe burns from the jet fuel, is enthralling to say the least. Birdwell understands who America's enemies are and comes across as an uncompromising patriot on every conservative issue Lynn threw at him. It is welcome news that Birdwell will be representing the Texas state Senate in District 22 until January.

Birdwell's victory was a run-off to fill the vacancy left by Kip Averitt, who resigned his seat recently. Averitt has said that he doesn't want to run again in November and if you read the tea leaves, a Sibley victory would have almost certainly guaranteed that he wouldn't. As the Tribune reports, a Birdwell victory on the other hand, was sure to present a different scenario.

Via the Tribune:

It’s not David Sibley, the George W. Bush-backed former state senator, who has Averitt worried. It’s his challenger, Brian Birdwell, a fellow Republican and a 9/11 survivor whose detractors have alleged doesn’t meet legal residency requirements to represent Senate District 22 in the upper chamber of the Legislature.

The issue surrounding Birdwell concerns requirements by the Texas State Senate that candidates reside in the state for five years. Indications are that Birdwell moved to Texas in 2007. Averitt's name is still on the November ballot. He was apparently willing to take it off if Sibley won. A judge ruled in Birdwell's favor prior to the June 22nd run-off according but the Waco Tribune reported on Birdwell's eligibility being called into question:

Legal experts said a district court judge should have refused to hear a case brought by state Senate candidate Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, who sought in late April to prove in court that he met residency requirements.

On April 20, Birdwell petitioned the Hood County District Court to issue what’s called a declaratory judgment, but in his lawsuit he didn’t name any other parties.

Six days later, Judge William Brigham, a retired appeals court judge assigned to the case, affirmed that Birdwell had been a state resident for the past five years, thus meeting a constitutional requirement for Senate candidates.

Lost in all of this is that the voters have spoken. What will be interesting to watch is how Sibley handles defeat. Will he and Averitt bow out gracefully, letting the voice of the voters stand or will he take the lead of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist?

READ MORE about Col. Birdwell HERE.

More at the Texas Tribune.

VIDEO: BP EXECUTIVE ALL ABOUT CAP 'N TRADE IN 2007

As the oil at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico continues to spew, keeping it in the news, more and more layers to the overall story seem to be getting simultaneously peeled back. The latest installment includes the relationship between current Energy Secretary Steven Chu and BP in 2007. Almost equally disturbing is the support for Cap & Trade on the part of disgraced BP Executive Tony Hayward at the same time.

First, the video of Chu in 2007, courtesy of Verum Serum. Take note of how Chu says that his partnership with BP will actually "Help Save the World".



Uh, Steve, how's that whole "save the world" thing working out?

Now on to Hayward. Taken directly from the BP website, Hayward had quite the affinity for Cap and Trade as recently as 2007. Hayward's own words - thanks again to VS:

From BP’s perspective, the evidence that climate change is happening, and that it is manmade, is mounting all the time. As the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found, the evidence is almost overwhelming. We could wait until the science is 100% certain, but BP believes that, as an energy company, it has a duty to act pre-emptively. When you balance the likely impacts of not taking action against the real opportunities that exist to take action, it is difficult to believe that humanity will not move towards a solution to climate change…

We need to ensure that the costs of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are included in the price we pay for everything – whether it be a television, a train journey, or switching on a light – all should reflect the cost of emissions in their price.

This can be achieved through a Cap and Trade system, taxation, or regulation.

Time for another quick rundown of some very pertinent facts.

* In 2007, BP's Hayward and Energy Secretary Chu were partnered up to "save the world" through a scenario that relied heavily on Cap and Trade.

* Over the last 20 years, BP has given more in campaign contributions to Barack Obama than any other political candidate.

* Last week, BP agreed to give Obama $20 Billion with no cap.

Do the words "incestuous relationship" come to mind?

* Beginning on February 13th, BP was communicating with MMS about the red flags that led to the actual April 20th explosion.

* In March, Obama announced plans to explore offshore drilling expansion.

* The explosion happened on April 20th.

* Obama subsequently called for a six month moratorium on offshore drilling.

* On June 22nd, a Federal Judge in Louisiana struck down Obama's moratorium. Almost immediately, Obama appealed the ruling.

There's not just a mess in the Gulf. There's a mess in the White House.

h/t to Verum Serum

OBAMA UNHAPPY WITH YET ANOTHER COURT RULING

We learned some time ago how Barack Obama reacts to court rulings he doesn't like - he stomps, he stammers, he pouts, and he yammers. In the latest example, he does so vicariously through Department of Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar. On June 22nd, a Federal Judge in Louisiana struck down Obama's offshore drilling moratorium. In response - also on June 22nd - the Obama administration appealed the decision as Salazar simultaneously issued a statement saying he will issue a new drilling ban.

Salazar's move in particular carries with it chutzpah on steroids. As head of the Interior Department, Salazar oversees the Minerals Management Service (MMS). This fact is especially relevant because BP was actually in communication with MMS as early as February regarding concerns about the safety of the Deep Water Horizon rig. When viewed in that context, it's safe to say that Salazar is advocating a punitive course of action against all oil companies that drill offshore, all employees that work on those rigs, and any industries that help keep them running. This amounts to penalizing others for your own Department's incompetence. MMS - and by extension the Dept. of Interior - appears to have some culpability relative to the BP disaster while other oil companies have zero. This ranks right up there with having a tax cheat heading the Treasury Department.

Check out how MSNBC reports on the story:

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday he will issue a new order imposing a moratorium on deepwater drillingafter a federal judge struck down the existing one.

Salazar said in a statement that the new order will contain additional information making clear why the six-month drilling pause was necessary in the wake of the Gulf oil spill. The judge in New Orleans who struck down the moratorium earlier in the day complained there wasn't enough justification for it.

When a judge rules against Obama, that ruling apparently involves complaining, which is what District Judge Martin Feldman did in the eyes of MSNBC in this case.

MSNBC's CHEAP SHOT

After reporting on Salazar's intentions without challenging them and coming off as bitter toward the judge, MSNBC takes it a step further, implying that the judge's ruling may have had something to do with ownership of oil stock. Not only do they report on it without any facts that his decision was related to such a premise, MSNBC doesn't even seem to know what stock he owns.

Feldman's financial disclosure report for 2008, the most recent available, shows holdings in at least eight petroleum companies or companies that invest in them, including Transocean Ltd., which owned the Deepwater Horizon. The report shows that most of his holdings were valued at less than $15,000, though it did not provide specific amounts.

It's not clear whether Feldman still has all of the energy industry stock listed in the report. Recent court filings indicate he may no longer have Transocean shares. He did not own any shares in big companies such as BP PLC, which was leasing the rig that exploded, or ExxonMobil.

Feldman did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his current holdings.

This is despicable reporting - yeah, I know it's MSNBC but this may be a new low. Ok, maybe not but it's still a dereliction of journalistic integrity. Why SHOULD Feldman dignify insinuations that his decision was corrupt due to a conflict of interest? As a judge, he deals in facts exclusively. Reporters making such claims had none.

MSNBC is implying a conflict of interest without any facts because it doesn't like the ruling. Why call into question the Judge's motives for ruling a certain way without investigating the evidence that Salazar's Department dropped the ball with respect to red flags coming from Deep Water Horizon, beginning back in February?

This episode is yet another in a long line of examples that illustrate Obama's immaturity. When something doesn't go his way, he can't accept it. This is particularly obvious when it comes to the courts. We all remember his reaction to the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. FEC; he called out the Supreme Court Justices at the State of the Union and began work on getting around that ruling, which served to demonize the five Justices who ruled in favor of Citizens United.

Of course, we also have the FCC attempting to circumvent a court ruling that said the former had no right to regulate the internet as a utility, thereby restricting access to web content.

h/t to Free Republic

TEXAS: IS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY IN TROUBLE?

Public Policy Polling is reporting that incumbent Texas Governor Rick Perry is finding himself tied with Democratic challenger and former mayor of Houston, Bill White. On one hand, this is mildy shocking because Texas is a conservative state and Perry is an established Republican who talked tough before his primary with Kay Bailey Hutchison. He made national news championing the Tea Parties, even aligning with them against the Feds. Now that he has the nomination, that sort of talk is conspicuously absent.

In fact, Texans may already be viewing Perry as part of the establishment.

Via Public Policy:

One of the biggest questions about the 2010 election cycle, which we still don't really know the answer to, is whether it will be solely an anti-Democratic year or more broadly an anti-incumbent year. Our newest Texas poll would seem to suggest voter fatigue toward long serving politicians in both parties- Republican Governor Rick Perry is now tied at 43 with Democratic challenger Bill White.

The solution to this problem for Perry is actually very simple. All he has to do is look two states over to his west and follow Jan Brewer's lead. She's already built the model and it includes taking a stand on illegal immigration and actually DOING what Perry talked about before his primary - standing up to the Federal government. Once Perry won his primary, he became the anti-Brewer.

Perry is in this position for one very simple reason - political cowardice.

Read more.

DID McCHRYSTAL CALL OBAMA A DOMESTIC ENEMY?

In the soon to be notorious interview given by Gen. Stanley McChrystal and his staff to Rolling Stone, some extremely charged words were used in reference to the Obama administration. McChrystal then issued a strongly worded apology. That was then followed by a summoning to the White House from Afghanistan. It's difficult to believe the apology was heartfelt considering the circumstances under which McChrystal made the comments that caused the furor.

The implications of his words, however, may have lasting consequences. In particular, these words via the NY Daily News:

McChrystal, the article reports, took control of the war, the article states, "by never taking his eye off the real enemy: The wimps in the White House."

An aide is quoted as calling National Security Adviser Gen. (Ret.) Jim Jones a "clown."

The dots McChrystal lays out with his words are not difficult to connect. He practically said the American people elected a domestic enemy. Speaking from Afghanistan, those statements appear to provide a window into what McChrystal actually believes and the apology does not change that. The words were potentially so damaging to Obama that McChrystal has been summoned to the White House from Afghanistan.

Via The Daily News:

Gen. Stanley McChrystal apologized from overseas Tuesday for ripping the administration in a magazine article.

Now, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan will have a chance to say sorry in person.

McChyrstal has been ordered to Washington to explain why he and his staff criticized the White House in a recent Rolling Stone interview, administration officials said Tuesday.

Larger issues involve how McChrystal's expected firing will impact his troops, who reportedly hold him in very high regard.

The entire Rolling Stone interview is now AVAILABLE HERE.

More here.

VIDEO: LABOR SECRETARY VINDICATES JOE WILSON

Obama Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is featured in a 30 second PSA, in which she blatantly says that undocumented workers (illegal aliens) in the United States should be paid honest wages. How ironic. Solis is overtly advocating that illegal alien workers should feel justified in demanding something they're not eligible for in the first place, not to mention her outward rejection the law of the land while encouraging the furtherance of illegal behavior on the part of employers.

If this message isn't sanctioned by the White House, Solis should be fired. The fact she is not is actually an indictment of the Obama administration. Technically speaking, Solis is overtly advocating law-breaking. See for yourself and then let's talk Joe Wilson.



We all remember Joe Wilson's two famous words on September 9, 2009. He yelled, "You Lie!" directly at Obama. Do you remember what Obama said that Wilson specifically responded to? Wilson took umbrage with Obama's claim that his health care plan would not pay for illegals. In light of Solis' remarks that illegals working in the United States should be paid fairly - and assuming Obama agrees with her - why wouldn't health care apply as well?

Wilson continues to age like a fine wine...



h/t to Hot Air

GEERT WILDERS SAYS JORDAN SHOULD BE PALESTINE

Dutch politician Geert Wilders continues to raise his game as others refuse to join him, apparently unable to read the tea leaves resulting from Wilders' huge gains in the recent June 9th elections in The Netherlands. Israel is almost constantly on defense against the collective arab world, which refers to Israel as occupied land. That occupied land belongs to the Palestinians and should be called 'Palestine' according to them. As a consequence, Israel is constantly trying to defend itself by having to explain why it should be called 'Israel'.

Enter Geert Wilders, who says Jordan should be re-named 'Palestine' and that Palestinians can move. Via Ynet:

"Jordan is Palestine," said Wilders, who heads the third-largest party in Holland. "Changing its name to Palestine will end the conflict in the Middle East and provide the Palestinians with an alternate homeland."

Wilders added that Israel deserved a special status in the Dutch government because it was fighting for Jerusalem in its name.

"If Jerusalem falls into the hands of the Muslims, Athens and Rome will be next. Thus, Jerusalem is the main front protecting the West. It is not a conflict over territory but rather an ideological battle, between the mentality of the liberated West and the ideology of Islamic barbarism," he said.

Predictably, Jordan didn't take kindly to Wilders' assertions, neither did the Saudis. The west is in desperate need of leaders like Wilders.

The phrase, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way" could not be more appropriate.

h/t to Free Republic

RAHM'S EXODUS FROM WHITE HOUSE EXPECTED BUT WHY?

On June 18th, POLITICO reported that Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), ranking member of the House Oversight Committee on Government Reform is preparing to issue subpoenas to the White House regarding offers made to Joe Sestak and Andrew Romanoff should he become chairman of that committee after the November midterms. Issa is already planning to double his staff to aid in the effort. There is one man inside the Obama administration with indisputable connections to both offers - Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel.

Two days later, the London Telegraph reported that Emanuel is expected to step down as Chief of Staff in the coming months:

Washington insiders say he will quit within six to eight months in frustration at their unwillingness to "bang heads together" to get policy pushed through.

Mr Emanuel, 50, enjoys a good working relationship with Mr Obama but they are understood to have reached an understanding that differences over style mean he will serve only half the full four-year term.

Other reasons given were that Emanuel is mulling a Chicago mayoral run and wants to spend more time with his family - the latter sounds like the reasons given by NFL head coaches who are on the chopping block in an attempt to minimize controversy.

Another pay-to-play story that could involve Emanuel is playing out in a Chicago courtroom - the Rod Blagojevich corruption trial. Running concurrent with Issa's aggressive stance relative to what he'll do with subpoena power is the Blagojevich trial, which has been heating up in recent days. The prosecution has introduced some of the audio recordings of phone conversations that took place between Rod, his brother Rob, and Rod's one time Chief of Staff, Lon Monk. One of the things that becomes readily apparent while listening to the tapes is that pay-to-play politics was a way of life in Chicago when Blago was governor.

When Blago was arrested in December of 2008, Emanuel appeared to be quite involved. News reports indicated that Emanuel had conversations with Blago about Obama's vacant senate seat. At one point, Emanuel seemed to hide behind his kids with reporters and dropped out of sight for some time.

Click HERE for some compelling audio recordings between Rod, Rob, and Lon.

Now, NBC Chicago is reporting that Rahm traded favors with Blagojevich and the Associated Press has the emails:

Emanuel agreed to sign a letter to the Chicago Tribune supporting Blagojevich in the face of a scathing editorial by the newspaper that ridiculed the governor for self-promotion. Within hours, Emanuel's own staff asked for a favor of its own: The release of a delayed $2 million grant to a school in his district.

The 2006 discussion occured with Blagojevich's top aide, Deputy Gov. Bradley Tusk, and doesn't appear to cross legal lines; Emanuel couldn't speed up the distribution of the funds. But it offers a peek at ties between two high-profile Illinois politicians — one now the president's right-hand man, the other facing years in prison if convicted of political corruption.

The very next paragraph explains what could end up being a PR hit for Emanuel and, by extension, the Obama administration...

Discussion of the exchange could come up at Blagojevich's corruption trial, currently under way in Chicago. Blagojevich, who is accused of plotting to profit by selling an appointment to Obama's former Senate seat, also tried later that year to use the school grant in an extortion attempt against Emanuel, according to federal prosecutors.

It's quite possible that Emanuel is sowing the seeds of egress from the White House so that if the Blago trial, coupled with the Sestak and Romanoff scandals, implicates him directly in the commission of crimes, he can say he was planning to leave anyway and any new accusations that arise will have nothing to do with his decision.

Emanuel's common thread with Sestak, Romanoff, and Blago....

On May 28th, courtesy of a White House legal memo, Emanuel was identified as the man inside the Obama White House who sent former President Bill Clinton to meet with Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) with an offer to drop out of the Senate primary with incumbent Arlen Specter.

In September of 2009, the Denver Post identified Deputy Chief of Staff and Emanuel right hand man, Jim Messina as the one who approached Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff (D-CO) with three job offers inside U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Messina is still Deputy Chief of Staff, which means Emanuel must have known about his dealings with Romanoff.

As the Blago trial continues to heat up - it's definitely starting to do so - look for more questions to arise about the relationship between Emanuel and Blagojevich. It could be that Emanuel's exit in several months is a trial balloon. If the Blago trial starts to shine a brighter spotlight on Emanuel, look for the latter to step down much sooner.

h/t to Blago Files

HAMAS CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY TO BE DEPORTED?

Mosab Hassan Yousef is the son of a prominent leader of Hamas, the notorious Islamic terror organization. In 2007, Yousef converted to Christianity. He was also an undercover informant for Israeli intelligence. He gained media recognition for authoring a book chronicling his experiences. As someone who thoroughly and completely understands the mindset of America's enemies, one would think he would be an invaluable resource for the U.S. government.

So why is he going to be in front of a judge for a deportation hearing on June 30th?

Via the Wall Street Journal:

In 2007, Mr. Yousef came to the United States, where he converted to Christianity from Islam and applied for political asylum. The request was denied in February 2009, Mr. Yousef says, on grounds that he was potentially "a danger to the security of the United States" and had "engaged in terrorist activity." His case has automatically proceeded to the deportation stage, and on June 30 at 8 a.m. he will appear before Judge Rico Bartolomei in Homeland Security Immigration Court in San Diego.

The contents Yousef's book, "Son of Hamas" seems to be what DHS attorneys are focusing on as reason for wanting his deportation. They say it reveals that he provided support to violent groups. Due to the fact that Yousef would necessarily be viewed as a traitor and apostate by Hamas, his fate if returned to the West Bank would be unkind to say the least.

Mr. Yousef is a native of the West Bank, which is where he would presumably return if he is deported and where Hamas would immediately seek to kill him. Under the Convention Against Torture, the U.S. has an international treaty obligation not to return people to countries where their lives would be at risk. That concern stopped the return to China of the Uighers at Guantanamo, and rightly so. It would dishonor the U.S. to deport a convert in the war on terror because our immigration bureaucracy is too obtuse to make even life and death distinctions.

What's utterly amazing - beyond the fact that the United States would be giving up an incredible resource to murderous thugs - is who has been given permission to enter the United States.

Tariq Ramadan is the grandson of Muslim Brotherhood founder Hasan al-Banna. In 2004, he was banned from entering the United States because of his involvement with a group found to have been financing Hamas. In January, 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed papers (Pictured below - click on image to enlarge) allowing him re-entry.

Via the Global Muslim Brotherhood Report:

...the U.S. revoked Ramadan’s visas several times since 2004, initially giving no reasons but later saying it was based on a provision of the Patriot Act, and eventually stating that he supported terrorism based on 1,670 Swiss Francs ($1,946) the gave to the Swiss Association de Secours Palestinien (ASP) , an organization designated as terrorist by U.S for its support of Hamas.

Just to get this straight, a man once belonging to Hamas, converts to Christianity, renounces Islam, and provides intelligence to the Israelis. He then seeks asylum in the United States, providing Americans with information about her enemies in the form of a book that the DHS wants to use against him in arguments calling for his deportation.

Conversely, Ramadan has familial as well as ideological ties to a group - the Muslim Brotherhood - that seeks the overthrow of western civilization through slow, incremental means. Ramadan was found to have financially supported the enemy that Yousef wants to help the United States defeat. Not only has Yousef not renounced his ties to nefarious individuals and groups but he has close ties to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) as well as an association with Barack Obama's Islamic envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Rashad Hussain. Hussain and CAIR both have connections to groups associated with Hamas and by extension, the Muslim Brotherhood.

Read the WSJ article on Yousef.

SHOCKING VIDEO: AZ SEN. KYL REVEALS OBAMA'S IMMIGRATION STRATEGY

This one is unbelievable. Fast forward to the 3:00 mark to get to the good stuff. Frankly, I'm somewhat surprised that Arizona Senator John Kyl revealed this much to the participants of his June 18th town hall meeting. Note that just before he delivers the goods, he says he asked everyone to leave the oval office so he and Obama could have a private one-on-one conversation. What he and the president discussed was immigration.

What Kyl alleges, basically, is that Obama was engaging in a little "pay-to-play" negotiations with immigration. The deal? No border security until immigration reform is passed. We have it straight from the horse's mouth. The reason the Obama administration is not enforcing existing immigration law is that it doesn't like it and wants a new one.

Meanwhile, Obama has announced that a lawsuit will be filed against Arizona for having the unmitigated gall to actually follow the process, pass a bill, and sign it into law, with plans to enforce it. Take note of the gasps in the audience as Kyl reveals what Obama told him.

Take note of the guy in the bottom left-hand corner of the video. Free Barrackaid number to anyone who can tell me what his hat is made of.

via Gateway Pundit



I can't help but wondering if Kyl is defending his state's governor in that video. This week, Hillary announced Obama would be suing Arizona. Two days later, Kyl reveals the contents of his private discussion with Obama. Here's the video of Hillary in Ecuador. Take note that she says Obama believes the Federal government should determine immigration policy. That statement in particular is a window into the level of arrogance in this administration. There's a big difference between "policy" and "law". What Hillary is actually saying here is that Obama is choosing what laws he wants to enforce.

BP INFORMED MMS OF WELL CONCERNS IN FEBRUARY

The talk track for many of the politicians in congress as well as the Obama administration has been that BP is solely responsible for the disaster in the Gulf. Lost on them are the government regulations and eco-wacko lobbyists who put BP so far off shore that capping a well after a disaster like this is proving next to impossible. Nope, the bureaucrats just want to point the finger at BP exclusively while abdicating all responsibility.

Courtesy of Bloomberg, we now have evidence that the Materials Management Service (MMS) had enough information from BP to warrant preventive measures as early as February:

On Feb. 13, BP told the minerals service it was trying to seal cracks in the well about 40 miles (64 kilometers) off the Louisiana coast, drilling documents obtained by Bloomberg show. Investigators are still trying to determine whether the fissures played a role in the disaster.

Then we have this:

In early March, BP told the minerals agency the company was having trouble maintaining control of surging natural gas, according to e-mails released May 30 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is investigating the spill.

Then, courtesy of even further detail, we have this:

On March 10, BP executive Scherie Douglas e-mailed Frank Patton, the mineral service’s drilling engineer for the New Orleans district, telling him: “We’re in the midst of a well control situation.”

The incident was a “showstopper,” said Robert Bea, an engineering professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who has consulted with the Interior Department on offshore drilling safety. “They damn near blew up the rig.”

I am far from being a BP apologist. In fact, based on what's being discovered, they had a reputation for being somewhat careless, cutting corners routinely, almost as a part of doing business. BP also had a track record that included at least two mini-disasters. Perhaps most disturbingly, its leadership has adopted a bit of a bunker mentality when it comes to talking to the press. Bloomberg reports that BP didn't respond to requests for comment. That's what we call lack of transparency, which often translates to having something to hide. It's a mentality that is as helpful to BP as Hayward saying he wants to get his "life back".

BP is culpable but what is even more maddening is the U.S. government's attempt to abdicate. Instead of indignantly pointing the finger at Executive Tony Hayward, Bart Stupak should be pointing the finger at the body he represents - Congress. The MMS - an agency overseen by the Obama administration - was clearly in the loop when it came to the red flags warning of the disaster that happened on April 20th; MMS is culpable as well.

The decision to alienate Hayward was calculated. It was also overdone, obviously so because the committee that Stupak chairs, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, had to overcompensate in order to gain its political footing. The U.S. government is not without culpability here, regardless of how badly they want to give it all to BP. It's attempt to do so should enrage every American. Unfortunately, there are blind ideologues who simply love the red meat that is the demonization of BP exclusively. Those people will just jump on the Stupak bandwagon (and you thought that was an oxymoron).

h/t to Hot Air

BP EXPLOSION USED AS REASON TO REGULATE INTERNET

Talk about a leap. We're all familiar with the shared belief of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Rahm Emanuel that a crisis should never be allowed to go to waste. We saw that play out recently, when the Obama administration decided to exploit the BP oil rig explosion by having president teleprompter resurrect the mantra of calling for Cap and Trade legislation as a means to help the country move toward green energy - yeah, we also know it's a big scam but at least the logic was apparent. Exploiting the disaster in such a way seemed like a natural fit in the liberal mind.

Now, thanks to a piece by the Prowler in the American Spectator, the BP crisis may end up being used to help the FCC implement internet regulation:

The commission's chairman, Julius Genachowski, and his staff have insisted that imposing federal regulations originally written in the 1930s for the telephone is the only way the Obama Administration can gain the "kind of oversight and control that we need," says an FCC staffer with ties to another Democrat commissioner. "Look at the Gulf oil spill, that's what happens when we let corporations just do their own thing without any accountability. We can't allow that to happen with the Internet. We won't allow it."

Hang on. Let's work through this argument for a minute. The BP explosion occurred on a rig that was drilling 5000 ft. under the Gulf of Mexico. Has anyone asked why they are doing that? The answer is government regulations brought on by the Eco-wackos. The premise of this unnamed staffer is simply faulty - completely so. The premise is that because BP is allowed to operate without restriction, they got careless and caused this entire disaster all by themselves.

Uh, perhaps this staffer should probe into the reasons why BP is drilling so far out from shore. In fact, the argument could be made, quite logically, that the this disaster is as big and far reaching as it is because the government interfered and placed insane restrictions on oil drilling in the Gulf.

Read it all.

CATHOLIC SCHOLAR WANTS ARPAIO DENIED COMMUNION

If there was a hypocrite of the millennium award, a man named Anthony Stevens-Arroyo would definitely be a frontrunner. Arroyo writes on things Catholic for the Washington Post. On June 16th, he calls for Catholic bishops to deny communion to anyone associated with passage of Arizona's Immigration bill - SB 1070 - as well as those who enforce it. Arroyo specifically singles out Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio as a Catholic who should be denied communion.

Via Wapo:

Will any of today's bishops deny communion to Catholic officials who vote for this bill and its spawn of imitators in other states? Has censure been voiced against the local sheriff Joe Arpaio (a Catholic) who has led raids on Latinos? These are strategies used in the past by bishops.

Bishop Olmstead of Phoenix, has been forthright in signing documents detailing the Church's objections to this new law, but he has been criticized for not treating this issue with the same vigor as other public matters counter to Church teaching.

Now for the hypocrisy that is so thick, you'd have to sharpen the teeth on the chainsaw used to attempt to cut through it. Notice how Arroyo's reason for going after Arpaio is what he perceives as an immoral law - just prior to singling out Arpaio, Arroyo primes the pump by comparing immigration enforcement to Gestapo tactics.

In the interest of determining if Arroyo is consistent in his views that following what he believes to be an immoral law is reason enough to be refused communion, I decided to see what his take was on Nancy Pelosi receiving communion despite being pro-abortion. It turns out that we don't have to go back all that far - less than a year. Let's take a look at Arroyo's words from December 8th, 2009:

Michael Sean Winters rails against Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, telling all that she is "not pro-life." He sets himself up as judge and executioner of a Catholic woman who honors her role to uphold the law of the land that allows choice about abortion. (Does "pro-life" mean that one must be a subversive advocating civil disobedience?)

Ah, so in the case of Nancy Pelosi, the morality or immorality of the law is not at issue; Simply following it absolves her from any form of censure. Pelosi is allowed to be pro-abortion because the law prevents her from being culpable. However, Joe Arpaio isn't afforded the same luxury. He isn't even responsible for passing laws - unlike Pelosi. Yet, he should be denied communion for following one Arroyo doesn't like. Conversely, Pelosi should be allowed to continue receiving communion because she's just following laws he does like.

That may sound a bit confusing so let's just break it down to the truth that Arroyo isn't telling you. The truth is that Arroyo is pro-abortion and pro-illegal amnesty. As such, he will make any argument, regardless of hypocrisy or inconsistency to push his agenda. Perhaps Mr. Arroyo should check out his local confessional. Unlike communion, no one's banned from that.

Watch Arpaio's response to Arroyo's wish - via Fox 10 in Phoenix:



h/t to Hot Air Pundit

VIDEO: TRACE ADKINS RIPS OBAMA OVER DRILLING MORATORIUM

I've always liked Trace Adkins' music but I think I like it a whole lot more after watching this interview. CNN's Anderson Cooper does a very decent job in this interview, asking Adkins some good questions. Before watching this, I had no idea that the now famous country singer worked in the oil fields for four years and on rigs in the Gulf of Mexico for six years. That unquestionably makes him qualified to speak on the subject - unlike typical celebrities, who do it anyway.

This whole segment is worth watching but hang in there until Cooper asks Adkins for his opinion on Barack Obama's offshore drilling moratorium. Some of the words used are "Idiotic", "Juvenile", and "uninformed" - all after rolling his eyes in obvious disgust at Obama. He then goes on to say that the moratorium is like "kicking a man when he's down". Adkins' point is a very good one.

Yes, fishing and tourism are livelihoods for many on the Gulf Coast but so is oil drilling. Demonstrating how supply side economics works, Adkins then points to all of the industries that will be negatively impacted by this insane decision. Either Obama hasn't thought about them or he simply doesn't care.

Also note at the end of the interview, Cooper asks Adkins about which one of his songs would best fit the oil disaster. Adkins response is the song, "Missing You". A link to a video of that song is below the Anderson Cooper interview.



Click HERE to watch video of "Missing You".

h/t to Hot Air Pundit for CNN interview

ISSA PLEDGING SUBPOENAS IF CHAIRMAN

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) is currently the ranking Republican member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and has become the face of Republican opposition to the Sestak / Abramoff stonewalling by the Obama administration. He's now making it very clear that he will use subpoena power if he becomes chairman of that commmittee as a result of the upcoming November elections.

POLTICO is reporting, with dripping liberal bias, on what Issa's plans are:

Rep. Darrell Issa, the conservative firebrand whose specialty is lobbing corruption allegations at the Obama White House, is making plans to hire dozens of subpoena-wielding investigators if Republicans win the House this fall.

The California Republican’s daily denunciations draw cheers from partisans and bookings from cable TV producers. He even bought his own earphone for live shots. But his bombastic style and attention-seeking investigations draw eye rolls from other quarters. Now, he’s making clear he won’t be so easy to shrug off if he becomes chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in 2011.

Politico is known for its liberal bent already but I found this article particularly angry. This tells me that despite the left's attempts to downplay bribes as something that should be excused as business as usual, they're getting quite concerned about Issa's pledged aggressiveness and preparedness for a big showdown.

If the House gets a majority in November's elections and Obama's numbers continue tanking, Issa very well may get some serious political momentum behind him. As Politico reports, he's preparing for such a scenario right now.

Issa has told Republican leadership that if he becomes chairman, he wants to roughly double his staff from 40 to between 70 and 80. And he is not subtle about what that means for President Barack Obama.

This story has definitely got the attention of the Democrats and you can tell by how Politico goes after Issa in this article.

Read it all.