Friday, March 28, 2014



"This is my last election," President Obama said in words caught on an open mic. "After my election, I have more flexibility."

He was speaking in Seoul, South Korea, in March 2012, almost exactly two years ago, to Dmitry Medvedev, then in his last year as Vladimir Putin's stand-in president of Russia.

The subject was missile defense, and Obama was apparently seeking time to assuage Russia's objections that a proposed U.S. missile defense system, sited in Romania, Poland, Turkey and Spain, would not be aimed at Russian missiles.

Earlier, in September 2009, Obama canceled missile defense installations in Poland and the Czech Republic, to which Russia objected. The decision was relayed by telephone, at midnight European time, on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union's attack on Poland pursuant to the Hitler-Stalin pact in 1939. The Polish prime minister refused to take the call.

"I understand your message," Medvedev told Obama in Seoul. "I will transmit this information to" -- no question of who was in control -- "Vladimir."

It is becoming apparent now what "more flexibility" looks like. And that Mitt Romney was not entirely off the mark when, after Obama's words to Medvedev, he called Putin's Russia "our No. 1 geopolitical foe."

Romney did not predict Putin's seizure of Crimea last month any more than Obama did. Very few people foresaw it during the cascade of events -- the firing on demonstrators in Kiev, the ouster and flight of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich -- that led to it late last month.

And Obama probably did not anticipate that Syria's Bashar Assad regime would use chemical weapons after he warned in August 2012, during his reelection campaign, that doing so would be "a red line for us ... that would change our calculus." With the flexibility provided "after my election" and with Putin's help, Obama quietly erased the red line.

The takeover of Crimea rubbed out the red boundary line guaranteed by the U.S., Britain, Russia and Ukraine in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. In response, Obama imposed weak sanctions on some Russians on March 17 and somewhat stronger sanctions three days later.

Additional F-15s were sent to Lithuania and a dozen F-16 jets were sent to Poland. Vice President Joe Biden journeyed to Poland and assured NATO members of what, absent Obama's flexibility, would not have had to be said: that the United States would maintain its obligations to respond to attack on NATO allies -- Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia.

These responses are, as former Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote in the Wall Street Journal on March 25, "anemic." Unsettling possibilities loom. Putin is massing troops near eastern Ukraine and might attack in the name of protecting ethnic Russians there. And there are large Russian minorities in Latvia and Estonia.

In the Netherlands, Obama suggested he'd impose tougher sanctions on Russian businesses if Putin moved further into Ukraine. But he conceded there would be no military response to the seizure of Crimea.

The contagion may spread further. China, long opposed to outside interference in nations' internal affairs, has made it clear it does not oppose Russia's move across a recognized international border.

Since Richard Nixon's opening to China, American administrations have tried to capitalize on tensions between China and Russia. Now these two once-Communist powers seem to be coming together.

And China has been asserting sovereignty over disputed islands in the East and South China Seas long claimed by Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam. That follows its earlier declaration of an air defense identification zone jutting out far from its recognized territorial waters.

All this follows from what Gates calls "the fecklessness of the West in Syria" -- flexibility in action. Gates argues that Putin's actions "require from Western leaders strategic thinking, bold leadership and steely resolve -- now."

Gates suggests that Obama reinstate the defense budget he proposed last year, without the sequester-required cuts in this year's budget that would shrink the Army's manpower to 1940 levels and the Navy to 1917 levels.

But that would require difficult negotiations with Republicans on a range of budget issues. Obama has made no serious attempts to negotiate such issues, as President Bill Clinton did with Newt Gingrich, since he raised the ante and broke up the "grand bargain" negotiations in August 2011.

The problem with flexibility and erasing red lines is that it leaves you with little flexibility and tempts others to cross red lines you don't dare erase. "After my election" turns out to be a dangerous time.


Has Nancy Pelosi seen a newspaper lately? (Pro tip, hon: Like the Obamacare monstrosity, you have to read it to find out what's in it.) I'd love to see her face in the wake of the veritable epidemic of Democratic corruption now sweeping the country. Pelosi's blink count must be off the charts.

I'm going to make it easy on Pelosi and put all of the latest cases in one handy rogue's gallery reference list. But let's not be naive. It's clear to me that the Barack Obama/Eric Holder DOJ is clearing the decks before the midterms. Prediction: The FBI's GOP corruption shoe will drop right before the elections for maximum distraction and damage. For now, let's take stock of the jackassery:

--The Dirty Democratic Mayors' Club: Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Patrick Cannon, who bragged about partying with the Obamas to help grease the wheels for city projects, was arrested this week on federal corruption and influence-peddling charges. He's accused of accepting gobs of cash payoffs and Las Vegas trips.

The bust follows former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's conviction in January on corruption charges; former Trenton Mayor Tony Mack's February conviction on cash bribes for a downtown parking garage; and former San Diego mayor and serial groper Bob Filner's disgraceful resignation after conviction on sexual harassment-related charges; former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's conviction on extortion, bribery and conspiracy charges; and former Birmingham, Ala., Mayor Larry Langford's corruption and bribery conviction.

--California state Democratic Sen. Leland Yee, gun grabber by day, alleged arms-trafficking gangsta by night: Yee made a decades-long career out of sanctimoniously demonizing gun owners and railing against the Second Amendment. He was arrested this week on corruption charges after an FBI sting found probable cause to believe Yee had conducted wire fraud and engaged in a conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and illegally import firearms. The Chinatown pol went so far as to discuss "details of the specific types of weapons" with a prospective donor. Yee is currently a candidate for California's secretary of state office.

--Pennsylvania state Democratic Sen. LeAnna Washington, party animal: This week, a judge ruled that the Keystone State could proceed with a trial against Washington, who reportedly forced her legislative staff for eight years to use taxpayer time and money for an annual birthday party whose proceeds were diverted to her campaign account. She is charged with felony theft of services and felony conflict of interest. More than a half-dozen former employees blew the whistle. "I am the f---ing senator," she screamed at one staffer who objected. "I do what the f--- I want, and ain't nobody going to change me."

--Rhode Island state Democratic House Speaker Gordon Fox, multiple-raid target: The powerful Democrat, beloved by the left for his gay-marriage activism, announced last weekend that he is stepping down from office after FBI raids on his home and work office. Fox is the target of several criminal investigations by the U.S. attorney's office, FBI, IRS and state police. Mum's the word so far on the nature of the alleged criminal activity involved.

--California state Democratic Sen. Ronald Calderon, all in the corrupted family: Calderon is on a paid leave of absence after being hit with a 24-count federal indictment for bribery and corruption. His brother also was charged with multiple counts of money laundering and influence peddling.

Prosecutors allege the legislator accepted nearly $100,000 in bribes, plane trips, gourmet meals and golf games in exchange for political favors. He also is accused of paying his daughter $39,000 for a phony office job and paying $40,000 in "consulting" fees for a campaign website that didn't exist.

--California state Democratic Sen. Roderick Wright, lying liar: Also on paid leave, the entrenched Los Angeles-area politician is now fighting his January conviction on felony perjury, false declaration of candidacy and fraudulent voting charges. Wright claimed to live in a rented room in an Inglewood home within his district, but the jury found his true residence was outside the district in upscale Baldwin Hills. The jury found he lied on candidacy declarations and voter registration documents and fraudulently voted in five elections.

--New York state Democratic Assemblyman Bill Scarborough, shady jet-setter: The FBI and state authorities raided his home and offices as part of a probe into his travel voucher practices. He blamed a "tabloid hit job" by the New York Post over questionable per diem claims totaling $60,000.

--Illinois state Democratic House Rep. Keith Farnham, child porn probe suspect: After sponsoring two bills to increase penalties for child porn possession, Farnham was the subject of state and federal raids last week on his home ... for possession of child porn. Over the weekend, he resigned his seat citing "serious health issues." There's a euphemism.

Remember: Nancy Pelosi famously promised to "drain the moral swamp" and end the "culture of corruption." She cast herself and her minions as America's political clean-up crew. But once again, the culture of corruption boomerang has swung back around to smack Democrats in their smug mugs.

The cynical Swamp Drainers just hope you forget it all by election time. Don't.

Muslim Brotherhood supporter Qatar turns to U.S. for support

/ Jihad Watch
 
 
amb-al_attiya
Qatar, which is under fire by fellow Gulf States and Egypt for its material and propaganda (Al Jazeera) support to the Muslim Brotherhood — which has again been reclassified as a terrorist organization by said Arab states — is now turning to the United States and Obama administration for support.

According to sources, “Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah, The Qatari Minister of State for Defence Affairs, is leaving for Washington to discuss the situation in Qatar with US Secretary of State John Kerry, an American Foreign Ministry source said on Monday. Al-Attiyah and Mohammed Jaham Al-Kuwari, Qatar’s Ambassador at Washington, are also planning to meet with Barak Obama during their stay in US, the source told reporters.”

And what is the purpose of these high level meetings?  The Qatar Royal family has sent an official letter “requesting urgent help and US mediation in the crisis between Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.”

Of course, all Qatar need do to avert this “crisis” is to stop supporting the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood; stop inciting violence, regional chaos, and terrorism (or “jihad) through its Al Jazeera network and Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi (who himself earlier called on the U.S. to wage jihad on Muslims).

It is specifically for these reasons that the tiny state, which aside from its Al Jazeera network has little influence, is under fire by its neighbors.

Yet instead of obliging and ceasing its pro-Muslim Brotherhood support, Qatar prefers to turn to the U.S. Obama administration for “mediation” — which of course is not surprising considering the latter’s connections to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Israeli Arab Christians come out swinging against against ‘Anti-Israel’ Facebook Campaign
Bare Naked Islam

imagesThe Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum on Thursday came out loaded for bear against yet another malicious propaganda campaign targeting Israel on the popular social network Facebook. The campaign appears to center around a composite picture of six dilapidated local churches that are presented as false evidence that the Jewish state discriminates against and seeks to remove Christians from the Holy Land.

140327_christians

 

Israel Today  Such notions have undergirded a new Evangelical Christian movement that paints Palestinian Christians as the suffering Jesus to Israel’s strong-armed Romanesque oppressor.

 

The first lie the Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum (a growing movement of Arabic-speaking Christian natives) takes on is that in 1948, Jewish forces swept through the land with the aim of eradicating all Christians, along with the Muslims.

 

Israel Arab Christians protest in support of Israel

Israel Arab Christians protest in support of Israel“To our great disappointment, in 1948 David Ben Gurion wanted the Christians to stay and join the defense of the State of Israel, but the Christians failed to be forward-thinking and instead cowered in fear behind the Arab militias or tried to stay out of the conflict all together,” the group wrote on its own Facebook page.

 

The forum noted that the local Druze residents “initially fought against Israel, but ultimately switched sides, saving their villages and their people.”

 

Arab Christians are enlisting in the IDF in ever greater numbers

Arab Christians are enlisting in the IDF in ever greater numbersAmong the other fallacies listed is the idea that surrounding Arab nations are “paradise” for Christians compared to the “hell” of living in what many try to portray as the “apartheid state” of Israel.

 

To this, the forum responded: “If Israel is hell and the Arab state are paradise, then we as Christians with Aramean roots say that our religion is actually rooted in Judaism, [so] we prefer to remain in the ‘hellfire of the State of Israel.’ We invite the rest of you to take a one way trip to Syria or Iraq where you will be warmly welcomed as Arab Christians by [various terror groups], or to Gaza where Hamas will surely love you well.”

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Greek Orthodox priest Rev. Gabriel Naddaf in Jerusalem. Naddaf advocates on behalf of integration by Arab Christians, or Arab-speaking Christian Israelis, into Israel’s mainstream.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Greek Orthodox priest Rev. Gabriel Naddaf in Jerusalem. Naddaf advocates on behalf of integration by Arab Christians, or Arab-speaking Christian Israelis, into Israel’s mainstream.

The group also addressed the ongoing spate of Jewish vandalism against primarily Christian targets, calling it the actions of a small group of racists who first and foremost are harming Israel’s image, and reminding everyone that the so-called “price tag” attackers have yet to kill or injure a single person.

 

Mona Liza Abdo, an Israeli-Arab soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, said she wasn’t required to enlist in the Israeli army, but her determination to protect Israel motivated her to volunteer
Mona Liza Abdo, an Israeli-Arab soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, said she wasn’t required to enlist in the Israeli army, but her determination to protect Israel motivated her to volunteer

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Op-ed: 
The ObamaCare happiness continues on
By: Diane Sori 

“We have made it clear that if, through no fault of their own, they were unable to enroll, that eligibility extends to a delayed enrollment period, and they will have a special enrollment period we have the authority to grant.” 
- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius when asked about the extended ObamaCare enrollment period

And so the happiness that is ObamaCare continues to hurt 'We the People'... continues to hurt American businesses...and continues to result in massive job losses.

And now the once written in stone March 31st sign-up deadline has been thrown out the window for this past Tuesday the White House said it would be postponing that drop date so they "can squeeze as many people as possible into the program." Yet another change unilaterally made...number 38 if I'm NOT mistaken...because the numbers to date are nowhere near the numbers needed to keep ObamaCare afloat. And this newest change will apply to the exchanges in three dozen states by extending the enrollment deadline for two to three weeks. Translation: NOT enough young people are enrolling in ObamaCare to carry the older and sicker people who need coverage the most.

Looks like even the young who once blindly supported Obama are now waking up to the harsh reality that NOTHING in life is free. So what will happen when the funding needed cannot be gotten...the bureaucratic fat-cats overseeing ObamaCare might just have to start 'killing off' older people to save needed dollars to funnel into ObamaCare, and they'll do it by revving up the 'death panels' into full operational mode starting with the sickest of the sick..those suffering from cancer.

And in a way...cancer patients NOT withstanding...it has already begun for back on January 1, 2014, to help with said funding, roughly $22 billion was cut from Medicare's home health care services... cuts to be implemented over four years. Translation: roughly 3.5 million seriously ill housebound seniors...seniors who are older, poorer, and sicker than the general Medicare population...woke up on New Year's Day to find Obama had left them a Happy New Year's gift from hell...left them with the fact that ObamaCare had drastically cut funding for their much needed home health care services. And to make matters worse, many of these affected live in rural areas where home health care might be their only source of medical care, because doctors and hospitals are often too far away...too far for those too weak and sick to travel.

And here's another bit of happiness...roughly 40% of all providers of home health services will see net losses because of this Medicare cut. Translation: 4-out-of-10 providers on whom housebound seniors depend on for their medical needs will now face bankruptcy and business closure because of ObamaCare. This means almost 5,000 home health care companies across America along with their corresponding roughly 500,000 jobs will be wiped out in order to pay for ObamaCare.

And sadly, what was once one's worst nightmare has now come to life as reality.

As I previously stated, Obama had made 37 previous unilateral changes to ObamaCare before this newest one and all were done without a Constitutionally required act of Congress. And with this change...probably the most serious of all the changes as it involves the individual mandate...Obama has taken it upon himself to extended the open enrollment period until mid-April for those individuals who had perused the HealthCare.gov. marketplace but who, for whatever reason, could NOT sign up. Never mind that Section 1311 of ObamaCare as passed into law allowed the Secretary of HHS...as in the infamous Kathleen Sebelius... discretion to define dates for the open enrollment period each year, it still specifically specified that the initial enrollment period had to be announced by July 1, 2012... which it was and that date was March 31, 2014.

And given that Sebelius has already declared that the first enrollment period must end on March 31st and with 20 months having gone by since then...Obama's unilaterally extending the period even by a few weeks is yet another breech of his namesake law...is yet another breech of our Constitution for the Constitution authorizes the President to propose and veto legislation but it does NOT authorize him to change existing laws.

And by Obama changing ObamaCare now 38 times he is actually legislating form the oval office and NO president has that authority. Article 1, Section 1 states, "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives..." Nowhere does it mention the President being able to change legislation and that's because the President is NOT a member of Congress.

And Article 2, Section 3, Clause 5, the "Caring for the faithful execution of the law" clause means the President must take care that the laws be faithfully executed as written and passed by Congress and is meant to ensure that a law is faithfully executed by the President...which by making 38 changes to ObamaCare as passed by Congress he is NOT doing.

Bottom line...all the changes Barack HUSEIN Obama has unilaterally made to ObamaCare are outright unconstitutional.

And now add in for a final bit of happiness that those who were cancelled under the ObamaCare steamroller of a few months ago did NOT have to be cancelled as they could have used the same nonsensical excuse that those who have NOT signed up by the March 31st deadline will be able to use, that is that they can simply check a box that says they had trouble signing up for ObamaCare and will be allowed to "rely on an honor system" to attest that “they tried to enroll before the deadline…and the government will not try to determine whether the person is telling the truth.”

Like the Obama government even knows the meaning of the word 'truth.'

And even after the mid-April deadline people can still be granted a sign-up extension by simply contacting the call center and requesting one.

Selective enforcement thy name continues to be ObamaCare...and the happiness continues on.