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Issa Slams New IRS Chief: Agency Still Withholding Documents

By Melanie Batle

 

Rep. Darrell Issa, the House Oversight and Reform Committee chairman tasked with running  congressional investigations into the IRS tea party targeting scandal, blasted the agency's new commissioner Wednesday, accusing him of being more concerned with managing the political fallout than cooperating with the probe.

According to Politico, the California Republican went head-to-head with IRS Chief John Koskinen over the "dismal" pace at which the agency was supplying documents related to the investigation which the panel requested last year.

"Does a nonpartisan or nonpolitical agency withhold documents requested during a congressional investigation? The IRS does and did," Issa said, according to Politico. "You've been more concerned with managing the political fallout."

Koskinen said that IRS employees have spent nearly 100,000 hours and $8 million sending more than 1 million pages of documents to the committees, Politico reported.

"We are working through the process. We never said we wouldn't provide those. We will provide, we are actually trying to, in an orderly way, conclude the investigation," Koskinen said, according to Politico. "You may want this investigation to go on forever."

Koskinen, who was sworn in as commissioner in January, said at the time that the agency had provided the "vast majority" of information requested by Congress, and that he believed the investigation was in "the home stretch."

He also acknowledged at that time that the scandal, which saw many cases of conservative groups being targeted for heightened scrutiny, cost the agency the public trust but he hoped to turn that around.

Other Republicans on the committee, however, were clear that they do not trust the IRS and accused Koskinen of obstructing the congressional probes.

"Our witness today won't get us [former IRS official Lois Lerner's] emails. The guy who can give us the emails won't give us the emails. The same people who pressured Lois Lerner to fix the problem are the same people who picked John Koskinen to finish the job," Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan said, according to Politico.

Democrats on the investigation's panel say Republicans are deliberately trying to give the controversy new life purely out of political motivations.

"This is all to feed the base. It is designed to get certain groups all riled up in time for a midterm election. There are some of us here that wish you well and will try to cooperate with you," Democratic Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly said, according to Politico.

"[But] be aware, unfortunately this committee has a history of cherry picking the facts."

Iran resumes financial assistance to Hamas

Robert Spencer / Townhall Columnists

 

 

After a brief interval caused by the widening Sunni-Shi’ite jihad, the Iranian mullahs have resumed their financial aid to Hamas. Apparently, even though the aid is at a lower level than before, Islamic antisemitism trumps Shi’ite hatred for Sunnis. My brother against my brother, and both of us against our cousin, goes the old saying.

“Iran Resumes Financial Assistance to Hamas,” from IPT News, March 25:

Facing increasing pressure from Egypt and deteriorating economic conditions in Gaza, Hamas has been flirting with the notion of re-entering the Iranian camp. Now, Al-Monitor is reporting that Iranian monetary aid has officially resumed to Hamas, but at a lower level than that it provided before ties between the two broke. The report also cited a source close to Hamas’ political leadership who says Iran is planning to receive Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal. Qatar was mediating discussions between Iran and Hamas in an effort to restore ties, after a two-year hiatus.

Syria’s civil war led to the split. Iran, trying to protect its Shiite axis, backed dictator Bashar al-Assad and ordered its Lebanese terror proxy Hizballah to help shore up the regime. Hamas, a Sunni movement, allied with anti-Assad rebels.

Iranian Shura Council head Ali Larijani announced the resumption of relations between the two sides on March 10. Larijani stated that “Iran is supporting Hamas on the grounds that it is a resistance movement. … Our relationship with [Hamas] is good and has returned to what it was. We have no problems with [Hamas].” It is clear that their differences in Syria do not trump Hamas and Iran’s shared desire to facilitate Israel’s destruction.

The Israeli Navy recently intercepted an Iranian ship earlier this month that carrying advanced weaponry for the Gaza strip. Even though Palestinian Islamic Jihad was the likely recipient of most of the payload, Israel officials believe some of the arms were meant for Hamas as well. Military-ruled Egypt is increasingly isolating Hamas and engaging in a concerted campaign to destroy the terrorist organization’s smuggling tunnels. This new report showing renewed financial assistance demonstrates that Hamas is on its way to fully restoring ties with its Iranian patron.

Obama’s top fear is Manhattan getting nuked 

Pamela Geller / Bare Naked Islam


Obama went down the rabbit hole in his  reassuring statement today in the Netherlands to our allies in Eastern Europe and NATO who rely on US strategic, military and tactical engagement.

President Obama dissed Russia as a “regional power” on Tuesday and said his bigger worry is a nuclear weapon going off in Manhattan.

Another plaintive wail about his lack of leadership on Russia. The fumbler-in-chief tried to dismiss Russian imperialism with a different one-off.

Let’s take him at his word *cough*. If that were true, why would he be sanctioning and aiding the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear weapons program?

And by whom does Obama fear this nuke? Al Qaeda, according to the buffoon, is “on the run.”

Obama has scrubbed Islam and jihad from our counter-terror training materials. Who does he have in mind? The evangelicals?

Or is he giving his jihadist friends ideas?

The NYC Tourism board and the Chamber of Commerce thanks you, President Obama. Did the stock market react to this dunce?

“Obama’s top fear is Manhattan getting nuked,” NY Post, March 25, 2014

WASHINGTON — President Obama dissed Russia as a “regional power” on Tuesday and said his bigger worry is a nuclear weapon going off in Manhattan.

Obama’s comment came at a press conference in the Netherlands, where he was asked if 2012 challenger Mitt Romney was right that Russia is the United States’ No. 1 political foe, in light of its absorption of Crimea.

“Russia’s actions are a problem. They don’t pose the No. 1 national security threat to the United States. I continue to be much more concerned when it comes to our security with the prospect of a nuclear weapon going off in Manhattan,” the president said.

Obama called Russia a “regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbors, not out of strength, but out of weakness,” while speaking with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte after a nuclear security summit in The Hague.

The president claimed the Russian seizure of Crimea is “not a done deal” — but then added he had “no expectation that they will be dislodged by force.”

Obama called for the international community to require Russia to pay costs for its action, both to deter any further incursions and to punish its behavior, indicating the policy could be effective.

“History has a funny way in moving in twists and turns and not just in a straight line,” he said.

He said there would always be “bad things” going on in the world, and noted that the US hadn’t gone to war with Russia. He said Russia had a legal right to build up forces on its own territory, although he has discouraged escalation and called for talks with Ukraine.

“We’re not recognizing what has happened in Crimea,” he said.

Op-ed:     
Hurting black America
By: Diane Sori

"For the first time in my life I'm proud of my country."
- Michelle Obama, February 18, 2008

Barack HUSSEIN Obama...America's first 'supposedly' black president...a man who many held high hopes for as being the bridge between the races has proven to be NOT a bridge but a swirling tornado of racial divide and hatred...so much so that he has made racism in America an excuse to be used as a way to escape personal responsibility of all kinds.

And under this president the race card resurfaces any and every time a black liberal 'supposed' leader is criticized, when any Democrat is criticized, when Obama's many economic and foreign policy failures are criticized, and when it's needed simply to stir up racial tensions. And liberals relish in claiming that America as a whole is a racist nation simply because they say it's a racist nation...never mind that we have a 'supposedly' black President, a black Attorney General, and 43 black members in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate...none of whom could have been elected without a substantial number of white 'anything but racist' Americans supporting them.

And like sheep to the slaughter the overwhelming number of blacks in America continue to support Barack HUSSEIN Obama just because he has dark skin NEVER minding that he has done NOTHING to help them out of the cycle of poverty that seems to dog generation after generation of blacks...NEVER minding that he has done NOTHING to help them get off the government teat. When he ran for president, Obama made countless promises to black Americans...promises he NEVER intended to keep...promises just so they would vote for him. After all his skin color matched theirs...but once in office their lot in life has remained the same or for many has gotten even worse, because now through his actions or lack thereof...through his words of hate...the scabs of long healed racial wounds have been ripped open to bleed raw once again.

And this was calculatingly intended, oh so wanted, and heralded by the left.

But none of that matters for many in the black community are just happy to have a 'supposedly' black president, and for them Barack HUSSEIN Obama can do NO wrong. Never mind that the black unemployment rate is double that of white Americans...never mind that 27+% of black Americans live in poverty...never mind that according to the latest census 26.4% of households who actually report (many do NOT) receiving food stamps are blacks even though blacks make up only a mere 13% of the American population...never mind that only 63.5% of black students graduate from high school...never mind any of that for Obama's skin being dark is all that matters to many of color...sadly to most but thankfully NOT to all.

And with black America currently NOT being a viable force in America's economic recovery what with the rise of newly emerging economic powers in both Asia and Africa, and as white America is losing patience with those who are NOT carrying their own weight...with those wanting what we have but who do NOT want to work for it...the downward economic and social spiral of black Americans continues.

And this is somewhat of a conundrum as there are men and women of color who have risen out of the black downward spiral who embrace conservative values and ideals yet whom black community leaders across America insist on calling 'Uncle Tom's' or worse...black men and women who through hard work, focus, and dedication have attained the American dream...throwing off the very 'chains' the black leaders themselves had encased them in.

Men and women like former Congressman LTC Allen West, former presidential candidate Herman Cain, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, Dr. Ben Carson, former Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice, and Congressional hopeful Mia Love...all who have made it...all who did NOT think they were 'owed' something...all who knew the importance of education...all who have put their race in the background moving their ideologies...their beliefs...their values and vision for America into the forefront ...as it should be...instead of playing the race card to win solely based upon the color of their skin.

And white America...conservative America...embraces them NOT even noticing the color of their skin.

And to those like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakham, Eric Holder, Elijah Cummings, Alcee Hastings, Shelia Jackson Lee, and of course half-black Barack HUSSEIN Obama...being black...playing the black victim...is the sole way they can justify their miserable, hateful, bigoted existence. Even though they're successful at playing the victim it's obvious they'd trade it all in a heartbeat to be white, but if truth be told they'd fail at being white as much as they fail at being black...for their failures in credibility and honorability are NOT because of their skin color but because of who they are inside.

These aforementioned men and women have so played the race card...the victim card...screamed the 'hate whitey' rant for so long that they've tainted the opportunity for true black conservatives to really shine without their own race turning against them...tainted it so bad that America might NOT see another black president for 20 or more years...for a generation.

And that would be sad for there are many of color who would honor our Constitution and all it stands for unlike the man who currently holds the office and those liberal white Americans who worship at his feet simply because they think supporting him shows they are NOT racists.

Hate to tell them but it does NOT show they are NOT racists...all it shows is that they have bought into the media created myth of Barack HUSSEIN Obama being the 'savior' of us all.

And like Michelle finally being proud of her country...that above all else that is the saddest thing of all...period.