Fiscal Deal Emerges- Angst All Around: NEXT- Debt Ceiling Battle

By Susan Duclos

Details of the fiscal cliff deal are emerging and both hardcore conservatives and hardcore liberals are wringing their hands and screaming "our side caved."

The emerging details, via the AP, we will call the bad news, but below the quotes, we'll discuss the good news, after everyone is done stomping their feet, screaming and threatening to kick all the bums out in 2014.

The proposal in the works would raise the tax rates on family income over $450,000 from 35 percent to 39.6 percent, the same level as under former President Bill Clinton. Also, estates would be taxed at 40 percent after the first $5 million for an individual and $10 million for a couple, up from 35 percent to 40 percent.

Unemployment benefits would be extended for one year. Without the extension, 2 million people would lose benefits beginning in early January.

A Republican official familiar with the plans confirmed the details described to The Associated Press.

[...]

An agreement on the proposed deal would also shield Medicare doctors from a 27 percent cut in fees and extend tax credits for research and development, as well as renewable energy.

The deal would also extend for five years a series of tax credits meant to lessen the financial burden on poorer and middle-class families, including one credit that helps people pay for college.

The deal would achieve about $600 billion in new revenue, the officials said.

[Update] Weekly Standard confirms:

A senior Republican Senate aide passes along the tax terms of the deal being worked out by Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill and the White House to avert the "fiscal cliff." These terms are "locked," says the source, between Senate Republicans and the White House:

·         Permanent extension of current rates on income below $400k (singles) and $450k (married).
·         Permanent 15% rate on cap gains and dividends for income below $400k (single), $450k (married).
·         Permanent 20% capital gains & dividends for those above $400k (single), $450k (married).
·         Permanent death tax at $5M exemption but a 40% Rate (as of tomorrow, exemption would be on estates valued at $1m at a 55% rate)
·         Permanent AMT patch
·         One year extension of 50% Bonus Depreciation

No cuts have been "locked," I'm told.

[End Update]
Okay, proceed to kicking your computers, hitting your desks and basically getting it all out.

So, here is the good news.

Democrats and Barack Obama no longer have the hammer they have been hitting Republicans over the head with because middle class tax cuts will be extended, permanently.

Democrats say they are angry, distraught, disappointed and unhappy... all descriptions from the discussions around the blogosphere.

Conservatives feel betrayed because there are no spending cuts described and they "caved" on the tax cuts for those making over $450,000.

Now let me remind you what I said earlier:

Best guess is a deal will be reached, no grand bargain, tax cuts for the majority of Americans will be extended, some odds and ends will be thrown in to avoid the automatic sequestration cuts, then the next huge headlines will be the next cliff, black hole, or whatever descriptive boogeyman the media decide to use to describe the debt ceiling disaster waiting around the corner.

This is not what the White House wanted because now they won't be able to charge the GOP with holding middle class American's tax cuts  as "hostage,"and the GOP will use the debt ceiling limit as leverage to force meaningful spending cuts and perhaps then an extension of the rest of the tax cuts that don't make it into this deal.

Principles met reality and the indisputable reality is that a liberal Democrat is in the White House and Democrats control the Senate and Republicans control the House.

Obama has the bully pulpit and has been wielding the middle class tax cuts against Republicans like loaded weapon.

If this deal goes through, that weapon becomes useless to Obama and next up is the debt ceiling fight and that is where Republicans now force the spending cuts and if they don't screw it up, the remainder of the tax cuts for the job creators, investors and employers that keep this country moving.

The second this deal passes the Senate, The House and Obama signs it, headlines are going to start appearing about the debt ceiling battle looming ahead and whether conservatives admit it or not today, by tomorrow many are going to see that Republicans have much more leverage going forward now that the middle class is no longer worried about their taxes rising.

Now the discussion can stop being all about taxes and start being exactly where it needs to be.... spending and how our government makes a habit of spending more money than we have, constantly borrowing more so that they can spend more.

Before Obama and his media lapdogs start muddying the waters when he starts demanding a debt limit increase without conditions, now is the perfect time to remind Americans, as often as possible of a statement by Barack Obama in 2006:

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure,” he said. “It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here.’ Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit.”

It is time to wield our own hammer and start pounding as loudly as possible so that Republicans in the House can insist, demand spending cuts equal to or more than whatever amount Obama wants as an increase in the debt ceiling which in his own words is "a sign of leadership failure."

His leadership failure.

Text of - Sen. Obama, Congressional Record,  3/16/06:

The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies.

Over the past 5 years, our federal debt has increased by $3.5 trillion to $8.6 trillion.That is “trillion” with a “T.” That is money that we have borrowed from the Social Security trust fund, borrowed from China and Japan, borrowed from American taxpayers. And over the next 5 years, between now and 2011, the President’s budget will increase the debt by almost another $3.5 trillion.

Numbers that large are sometimes hard to understand. Some people may wonder why they matter. Here is why: This year, the Federal Government will spend $220 billion on interest. That is more money to pay interest on our national debt than we’ll spend on Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. That is more money to pay interest on our debt this year than we will spend on education, homeland security, transportation, and veterans benefits combined. It is more money in one year than we are likely to spend to rebuild the devastated gulf coast in a way that honors the best of America.

And the cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the Federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing our cities and States of critical investments in infrastructure like bridges, ports, and levees; robbing our families and our children of critical investments in education and health care reform; robbing our seniors of the retirement and health security they have counted on.

Every dollar we pay in interest is a dollar that is not going to investment in America’s priorities.

Senator Barack Obama
Senate Floor Speech on Public Debt
March 16, 2006

Biden Jumps Into Fiscal Cliff Talks After Harry Reid Admits To Being Useless

By Susan Duclos

Amusing that when Obama is busy giving softball interviews blaming Republicans for the lack of progress on the fiscal cliff negotiations, what receives far less attention and barely even a mention by the liberal media is Harry Reid's statement that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell "has shown absolutely good faith" in the negotiations but that Reid, himself, could not provide a counteroffer and has proven once again he is absolutely useless.

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NEVADA): We have been negotiating now for 36 hours or thereabouts. We did have conversations last night that ended late in the evening between staffs. This morning, we have been trying to come up with some counteroffer to my friend's proposal. We have been unable to do that.

I have had a number of conversations with the president, and at this stage we're not able to make a counteroffer. The Republican leader has told me that -- and he's just said here -- that he's working with the vice president, and he and the vice president, I wish them well.

In the meantime, I will continue to try to come up with something. But at this stage, I don't have a counteroffer to make. Perhaps as the day wears on, I will be able to. I will say this, I think that the Republican leader has shown absolutely good faith. It's just that we are apart on some pretty big issues.

Unsurprising from a Senate majority leader that hasn't brought a budget to floor in three years.

Mitch McConnell then looks to VP Joe Biden to enter the negotiations and now they are hammering out a deal.

Best guess is a deal will be reached, no grand bargain, tax cuts for the majority of Americans will be extended, some odds and ends will be thrown in to avoid the automatic sequestration cuts, then the next huge headlines will be the next cliff, black hole, or whatever descriptive boogeyman the media decide to use to describe the debt ceiling disaster waiting around the corner.

This is not what the White House wanted because now they won't be able to charge the GOP with holding middle class American's tax cuts  as "hostage,"and the GOP will use the debt ceiling limit as leverage to force meaningful spending cuts and perhaps then an extension of the rest of the tax cuts that don't make it into this deal.

The kicker here, despite all the noise about avoiding another recession if politicians can pull back from the fiscal cliff, 54 percent of Americans believe whether a deal is made or not, America is heading for another recession anyway in 2013.

The media will milk every last word they can out of the fiscal cliff battle, then turn their eyes to the doomsday headlines for the debt ceiling battle before they finally turn their pens and typewriters towards the upcoming recession.

Of course they will claim it was "unexpected", a "surprise" and no one could have seen it coming, but 185 economists do see it coming and they say these tax increases for the so-called rich that Obama and Democrats are fighting so hard for, will be the reason for major economic damage.

Lawsuit Against State Of Connecticut Over Sandy Hook Massacre- They Did Not Protect The Children

By Susan Duclos

A lawsuit is being filed against the state of Connecticut, on behalf of a child survivor, because the state Board of Education, Department of Education and state education commissioner failed to protect the child "from foreseeable harm," including by failing to provide a safe school setting, the filing said. (Via ABC News)

Pinksy's client, whom he calls "Jill Doe" in the claim, sustained "emotional and psychological trauma and injury" on Dec. 14 after gunman Adam Lanza forced his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and gunned down 20 children and six adults inside in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

In comment sections across the blogosphere, there are a number of people criticizing the lawyer and the family for initiating this lawsuit, but perhaps it is the right time to highlight the insufficient security measures that "gun free" zones offer to the nation's children.

Two things stood between the survivors of the horrendous attack and sure death.

A locked door, which the killer managed to get through rather easily and the teachers, unarmed teachers, that put their bodies in the line of fire to protect the children.

Every family, whether they lost a  beloved member of their family or not, should be joining in on this lawsuit.

Politicians, teachers, school personnel and citizens from almost a dozen different states, so far, are taking active measures to offer more than a "locked door" as protection for their children, while federal politicians posture and exploit the tragedy for nothing more than their political ideology.

Protecting children across the country is a discussion that needs to be had, and if it takes a lawsuit to bring the matter to the front and center and to highlight just how open and exposed children are while in school if they are not protected, as well as spotlight the automatic target put on the backs of those children every time a zone is classified publicly as "gun free," then let the lawsuits begin.

Here is the kicker.... Newtown police are guarding the school now from gawkers, thieves and vandals:

Newtown police are guarding Sandy Hook to prevent thieves or anyone else from getting inside, Kehoe said. Police are "very concerned" about the possibility that curious people may also try to sneak inside for a look, Kehoe said.

"That would be devastating to the families," Kehoe said, referring to relatives of the victims of the mass shooting there. "Our aim is to protect the school as best as possible."

Wow... novel idea, perhaps the state of Connecticut should have thought that way before the massacre.





 

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Feds! OH, TX, UT, AZ and More Prepare To Protect The Children

By Susan Duclos

While idiot lawmakers like Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D-Calif.) prepare to offer gun bans, ammo bans and laws that have already been tried and spectacularly failed, on a federal level, state officials, teachers, and citizens around the country are actively taking steps to train, arms themselves and defend our nation's school children.

A few headlines that say it all.

Salt Lake City Tribune- "More than 150 Utah teachers, school workers go to gun class."

The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio- "Scores of school workers want gun training"

Daily News- "In tiny Texas town, teachers are armed with concealed weapons, a 'better' solution than a security guard"

The Texas Tribune- "To Beef Up School Security, Lawmakers Turn to Firearms"

AZ Family- "Sheriff Arpaio sending armed posse to protect schools"

Virginia Politics- "Va. bill would order schools to arm teachers"

KATU News- "Incoming Washington lawmaker proposes arming teachers"

Yahoo News- "Tennessee Considers Training And Arming Schoolteachers To Protect Against Shootings"

[Update] Found more.

Tulsa World- "2 Oklahoma Legislators to Propose Arming Teachers"

Aberdeen News- "Aberdeen-area state lawmakers weigh issue of arming South Dakota educators"

Florida Today- "Brevard legislators: Armed teachers worth considering"

While our federal politicians are busy exploiting the tragedy of Sandy Hook,  states are actually taking steps to protect the children. [End Update]


Quote of the day: "The idea is to make it hard to kill a kid."---  Jim Irvive, Buckeye Firearms Foundation

Vive La France!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! French Court Rules 'Millionaires Tax' Unconstitutional

By Susan Duclos

Bloomberg:

President Francois Hollande’s 75 percent millionaire-tax is unconstitutional because it fails to guarantee taxpayer equality, France’s top court ruled today.

The tax, one of Hollande’s campaign promises, had become a focal point of discontent among entrepreneurs and other wealth creators, some of whom have quit French shores as a result. The ruling comes as the president seeks to cut France’s public deficit to 3 percent of gross domestic product next year from a projected 4.5 percent this year.

Reuters:

France's Constitutional Council on Saturday rejected a 75 percent upper income tax rate to be introduced in 2013 in a setback to Socialist President Francois Hollande's push to make the rich contribute more to cutting the public deficit.

I use the Reuters link because of this little tidbit, showing the writer's socialistic tendencies:

While the tax plan was largely symbolic and would only have affected a few thousand people, it has infuriated high earners in France, prompting some such as actor Gerard Depardieu to flee abroad. The message it sent also shocked entrepreneurs and foreign investors, who accuse Hollande of being anti-business.

Somehow punishment for being successful if it is only aimed toward a few thousand people, is okay?

As conservatives have been insisting about Barack Obama's "millionaires tax" he continues to push for here in the US, in which Obama uses the exact same argument as Socialist President Francois Hollande uses, these are the job creators, the investors, those that pump money into the economy and for doing so, for already paying more than any other segment of the  population, they are to be rewarded by Socialist Barack Obama by raising their tax rates even more!!!!

Socialist President Francois Hollande and Socialist President Barack Obama both seem to be of the opinion that the bank accounts of the successful, those that built their businesses, grew them and turned them into profit making companies, are their very own piggy banks.

Kudos to the French Court for this.

Vive La France!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Update] Politisite:

Favorite factual “Pull Quote” from the AP article – “… it would do little to stem the country’s mounting fiscal problems and would drive away the wealthiest citizens” – sounds familiar … don’t ya’ think?

Wow.... amazing that the AP, a publication that carries Obama's water on a regular basis, can write something like that about France without seeing the same applies to America.

Chicago: The Biggest Gun Control Experiment In America Confirms It's 500th Homicide

By Susan Duclos

One has to look no further than Chicago, Illinois, for a shining example of how detrimental onerous gun laws are and how preventing law abiding citizens from the right to bear arms in defense of person and family, leaves them defenseless against criminals with illegal guns.

Chicago Tribune reports that police confirmed the 500th homicide in Chicago.

The police department went back and forth for much of Friday over whether Jackson was the 500th murder so far this year, at first confirming it, and then denying it, saying a murder last week had been reclassified as a death investigation, therefore making Jackson the 499th homicide. But by late afternoon, the department once again confirmed there had been 500 murders.

McCarthy issued a statement declaring: “The city has seen its 500th homicide for 2012, a tragic number that is reflective of the gang violence and proliferation of illegal guns that have plagued some of our neighborhoods.”

What the Tribune article does not delve into is Chicago's gun laws, where despite a Supreme Court ruling in the case of McDonald v. Chicago, where the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the handgun bans of Chicago and Oak Park to be unconstitutional, it is still almost impossible for law abiding citizens to acquire a handgun.

The Examiner explains:

Of course, it is basically illegal for Chicago residents to defend themselves...

The state of Illinois has placed many obstacles between citizens and their Constitutional right "to keep and bear arms." Illinois is one of only two states in the country which does not allow concealed carry. Incredibly, open carry of firearms is also illegal throughout the state.

Illinois also requires residents to obtain a Firearm Owner´s Identification card, in order to purchase ammunition as well as a firearm.

Chicago municipal law dictates that all guns be registered with the police. However, the city does not permit handguns to be registered, which places a ban on handguns for lawful Chicago residents.

Additionally, the Chicago suburbs of Evanston, Highland Park, Morton Grove, Oak Park, Wilmette, and Winnetka have all outlawed the ownership of handguns.

440 school-age children have been wounded by a gun in Chicago in 2012.

Let's take a look at another gun law experiment, one that actually worked.

Kennesaw, Georgia:

Kennesaw once again was in the news on May 1, 1982, when the city unanimously passed a law requiring "every head of household to maintain a firearm together with ammunition." After passage of the law, the burglary rate in Kennesaw declined and even today, the City has the lowest crime rate in Cobb County. 

Yes, when criminals know the people they are targeting are capable, armed and prepared to defend themselves, they head elsewhere.


The Kennesaw law has endured as the town's population has swelled to about 30,000 from 5,000 in 1982.

"When the law was passed in 1982 there was a substantial drop in crime ... and we have maintained a really low crime rate since then," said police Lt. Craig Graydon. "We are sure it is one of the lowest (crime) towns in the metro area. (Source- Reuters)

Another more recent report from Sacramento Bee headlines with "California gun sales jump; gun injuries, deaths fall."

The image below has been making the rounds across social media sites. Ask yourself, which sign would criminals avoid and which would they gravitate towards?

 One last bit of information in light of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D-Calif.) proposed gun ban legislation she plans to offer on January 3, 2013:

Plus, critics of the proposal point to studies showing that the previous “assault-weapons” ban — in place from 1994 to 2004, but far less draconian than the current proposal — did virtually nothing to stop crime, murder, or mayhem, despite promises by its supporters. One 2004 study by the National Research Council cited in news reports, for example, found that the scheme "did not reveal any clear impacts on gun violence.”

Even the Justice Department explained that it had “no discernible reduction in the lethality and injuriousness of gun violence, based on indicators like the percentage of gun crimes resulting in death or the share of gunfire incidents resulting in injury.” When the ban expired, anti-Second Amendment extremists claimed murder and mayhem would be sure to follow. Of course, that never happened, with murders nationwide actually dropping by almost four percent — the first decline since 1999 — the year after lawmakers refused to renew the ban. 

When law abiding citizens are forced to disarm, they become prey to those that do not abide by the law.

The Second Amendment: A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Gallup: NRA Has 54% Favorable Image in U.S.

By Susan Duclos

Via Gallup we see that despite the demonetization by liberals throughout the media in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre, the NRA is still viewed favorably by a majority of Americans, 54 percent.

Fifty-four percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the National Rifle Association, while 38% have an unfavorable opinion. The public's ratings of the NRA have fluctuated since first measured by Gallup in 1993 -- from a low of 42% favorable in 1995 to a high of 60% in 2005.

The NRA's positions on guns and gun control legislation have received significant attention from media and politicians during the last week after the association's top lobbyist, Wayne LaPierre, held a press conference in the wake of the Newtown school shooting. LaPierre denounced the idea of additional gun control legislation and instead called for armed guards in the nation's schools. The press conference came midway through the field period of this Dec. 19-22 USA Today/Gallup poll.

Although the NRA is presented by the media and liberals as the boogeyman each and every time a shooting occurs, taking a look at their history since their inception in 1871, the NRA provided services and training to the government whenever it was needed.

During World War II, the association offered its ranges to the government, developed training materials, encouraged members to serve as plant and home guard members and developed training materials for industrial security. NRA members even reloaded ammunition for those guarding war plants. Incidentally, the NRA's call to help arm Britain in 1940 resulted in the collection of more than 7,000 firearms for Britain's defense against potential invasion by Germany (Britain had virtually disarmed itself with a series of gun control laws enacted between World War I and World War II).

More:

Law enforcement training was next on the priority list for program development. Although a special police school had been reinstated at Camp Perry in 1956, NRA became the only national trainer of law enforcement officers with the introduction of its NRA Police Firearms Instructor certification program in 1960. Today, there are more than 10,000 NRA-certified police and security firearms instructors. Additionally, top law enforcement shooters compete each year in eight different pistol and shotgun matches at the National Police Shooting Championships held in Jackson, Mississippi.

In civilian training, the NRA continues to be the leader in firearms education. Over 55,000 Certified Instructors now train about 750,000 gun owners a year. Courses are available in basic rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading firearms, personal protection, and even ammunition reloading. Additionally, nearly 2,800 Certified Coaches are specially trained to work with young competitive shooters. Since the establishment of the lifesaving Eddie Eagle® Gun Safety Program in 1988, more than 21 million pre-kindergarten to sixth grade children have learned that if they see a firearm in an unsupervised situation, they should "STOP. DON'T TOUCH. LEAVE THE AREA. TELL AN ADULT." Over the past seven years, Refuse To Be A Victim® seminars have helped more than 15,000 men and women develop their own personal safety plan using common sense strategies.

 Many point to the NRA's political arm and their influence, but rarely does anyone point out how they were created, what they have done aside from politics and how they have continued to provide services and education to promote safety from the beginning and up until today.

In the Gallup quote above it said the NRA "called for armed guards in the nation's schools," but does not address what the NRA offered in that same press conference.

The NRA is going to bring all of its knowledge, dedication and resources to develop a model National School Shield Emergency Response Program for every school that wants it. From armed security to building design and access control to information technology to student and teacher training, this multi-faceted program will be developed by the very best experts in their fields.

Former Congressman Asa Hutchinson will lead this effort as National Director of the National School Shield Program, with a budget provided by the NRA of whatever scope the task requires. His experience as a U.S. Attorney, Director of the Drug Enforcement Agency and Undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security will give him the knowledge and expertise to hire the most knowledgeable and credentialed experts available anywhere, to get this program up and running from the first day forward.

Whether one agrees with all their views or not and I can honestly say I do not agree with all of them, they have stepped up, once again, to provide funding and services that even those in law enforcement say are needed in today's world to protect the nation's children.

The Fiscal Cliff And The Politics Of Keeping Promises

By Susan Duclos

After being bedridden for a few days, I come back to the "negotiations" on the fiscal cliff, exactly where they were beforehand.

Obama and Democrats continue to insist that the so-called rich be taxed more than they already are so that Government can be funded for an extra eight days... yes, read that again... eight whole days.

On the other side of the aisle are the Republicans, who believe the Bush era tax cuts should be extended for everyone. Their stated reasoning is that to allow anyone's taxes to increase in a sputtering economy is to kill jobs, investment, and basically slow things down even further.

Then you have the liberal media that love to call Republicans "obstructionists" and spew vitriol about the House GOP "intransigence."

Those horrible Republicans want to protect the "rich" aka successful job creators that just happen to keep people employed, invest their money when they feel secure,  spend their money into the economy and pretty much guarantee they economy will move forward and not back into another recession.

How freaking dare Republicans!!!

Ideology. It is all about ideology if you are to believe the liberal press. Obama's class warfare ideology which is, to them, a principled stand. After all he used his whole first term to pitch class warfare, including setting off the failed experiment of the "Occupy Wall Street" year. Then he campaigned on class warfare, punish those nasty rich people and our nation's debt would be solved..... ummm.... he neglected to mention it would only solve eight days out of 365, but hey, no biggie.

On the Republican side, the press tells you that fighting for what they campaigned on, spending cuts and no tax increases on anyone, is being "captured" by the Tea Party extremists, letting the "fringe" take the whole country hostage to protect those nasty ole rich people.

They also tell their viewers and readers that the only reason Republicans refuse to agree to a deal that punishes the successful in the nation is "self-interest," so they won't lose their next election.

Give them a hand, finally they get something right. Although they carefully refrain from stating it accurately.

It is called keeping your promises to those that elected you.

South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan points out to the liberal leaning Politico, exactly that:

One of the Republicans in a deeply conservative district, South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan, said he has no doubt the voters he represents want him to oppose higher taxes as part of any fiscal cliff deal.

“I believe if you do what you said you were going to do, if you vote with integrity, if you do what you told voters you were going to do, reelection will take care of itself,” he said. “People who have contacted me are asking me to stand firm on what really matters, which is the spending side of the equation.”

Amazing. A politician that states, loudly and proudly, that he understands that he was chosen to represent his constituents, not just the party label and furthermore, he understands that when a politician makes campaign promises, those same constituents expect them to keep those promises.

Hallelujah.

Paper Publishes Personal Info Of Gun Permit Owners and Blogger Publishes Personal Info Of Paper's Employees

By Susan Duclos

Tit for tat.

The best quote I have seen over this story is from Wizbang who says "Karma’s a bitch..." Yes, it is.

The The Journal News sparked outrage when they decided to publish list of names and addresses of law abiding citizens that have obtained gun permits.

After mounting criticisms reached a fevered pitch, the paper then attempted to justify their action:

“New York residents have the right to own guns with a permit and they also have a right to access public information,” said Janet Hasson, president and publisher of The Journal News Media Group.

Quick side note here- There seems to be a question of whether The Journal News broke New York State law by publishing the names and the locations of people who obtained gun permits: (H/T American Thinker)

Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 400.00 of the penal law
A. 9388 2
1 (II) A REQUEST FOR THE ENTIRE LIST OF LICENSEES, OR FOR ALL LICENSEES IN A GEOGRAPHIC AREA, SHALL BE DENIED, EXCEPT TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY OR ANY ENTITY ACTING ON BEHALF OF OR PROVIDING SERVICES TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY" SHALL MEAN THE DIVISION OF STATE POLICE, ANY NEW YORK STATE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ANY POLICE DEPARTMENT OF ANY CITY, VILLAGE OR TOWN WITHIN NEW YORK STATE, THE POLICE FORCE OF ANY NEW YORK STATE AUTHORITY OR AGENCY, THE STATE POLICE FORCE OF ANY OTHER STATE, ANY FEDERAL LAW

Back on point here, a blogger, over at "For What It's Worth," decided to turn the tables on The Journal News and published the "public information" available on the paper's staff and employees, calling it "sauce for the goose."

The blogger, Christopher Fountain, explains his reasoning on CNN's Early Start, according to MediaIte.

Going a step further than Fountain's information dump on The Journal News' employees, Talk of the Sound's Robert Cox  created an interactive map of the FWIW data, just like the one that The Journal News published.

Via Wizbang:

Looks like the anger directed at Cyndee Royle Lambert (her married name) has caused the woman who so proudly noted the protests as some sort of badge of honor is pulling back from the web.

Her private Facebook page is down, her Twitter account is protected, and her work Facebook account is over-run by commenters chastising her.

Karma’s a bitch…

Indeed.

There is another point other than the tit for tat or the absurd justification by the paper for deliberately targeting law abiding citizens.

Everything else aside, The Journal News literally just provided every criminal or would-be criminal in the state of New York, that cannot obtain a gun permit for whatever reason, a list, with a detailed map, of targets to try to obtain guns illegally from, by stealing them.

IOwnTheWorld calls The Journal News article "The Most Irresponsible Piece of “Journalism” I Have Ever Seen."

Agreed.

[Update] Fox News Channel’s “The Five,” co-host Greg Gutfeld makes another excellent point.

Not only has The Journal News targeted law abiding citizens who have gun permits, but they have also highlighted "gun free" homes, telling criminals those homes not on their map, are not protected.

“So, a New York paper called The Journal News is under fire for printing names and addresses of local gun owners, even adding a map that shows exactly where they live,” Gutfeld said. “Some gun owners are ticked, which is wrong because this article is the best argument for gun ownership ever. I mean, if you knew that an idiotic editor would out non-gun owners, wouldn’t you get a gun to protect yourself with the thugs the paper just enabled? You think the paper works for the NRA? If anything, non-gun owners should be livid for the paper made them the easiest marks. Just look at this map — what do you see? Not just pockets of gun owners in red, but pockets without. How comfy would you feel knowing your gun-free zone is now public?”

Criminal Investigations Division Detectives Say There Should Be A Trained, Armed Force, Protecting Schools

By Susan Duclos

There has been a lot of political posturing going on publicly since the tragic massacre of 20 children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut.

Liberals want gun control, conservatives want armed guards and/or  teachers trained in handling weapons to protect our nation's children when they are at school.

In an email response to a post titled "Intellectual Dishonesty-  Columbine Had Armed Guard.... Guarding 'Smoking Pit,' Not Inside School," a husband and wife, parents and also Detectives for the Criminal Investigations Division at their local police department, have their own ideas on what would help protect children while they are at school.

With full permission from the author to reprint the email, it is below:

Hello, I am Ryan McGee and my wife is Sandy McGee.  We are both Detectives with the Kernersville Police Department in Kernersville, North Carolina.  Our community is virtually the same as Newtown, Connecticut concerning population and number of schools.  Our schools have one School Resource Officer in the High Schools and some Middle Schools, we have no officers in the Elementary Schools.  We read your response to Weigel’s comments.  You are absolutely correct.  My wife and I have been telling people for years that a School Security Force is needed in our schools, not just one officer.  I do not blame the officers either, I would just like to see “America Wake Up”.  If you put the school shooting incidents in real time, from the first shot fired, to the phone call to police, to the police response, the end result is a lot of educators and children die.  I am not ignorant to the mental health side of this issue, but that is only one part of the problem.  The main problem is The Active Shooter and the measures that can be taken to stop them.  If a School Security Force is denied, then America should at least have Principals, Vice Principals, and five (5) to ten (10) trained teachers (depending on the size of the school) with bullet proof vest and firearms locked in a secure location in their offices and classrooms. The bullet proof vest should be identifiable with the words “School Staff” in bright colors.  Local Law Enforcement could assist in the appointment of these teachers with a review board for suitability for these positions.  Law Enforcement could also provide training in Rapid Deployment to the Active Shooter for school personnel.

On January 2^nd, 2013 I am meeting with  North Carolina Legislator Peter Brunstetter on an issue of having a law changed in North Carolina.  In October 2012, the Kernersville Police Department’s officers responded to the Wal-Mart Department Store concerning an Active Shooter.  Luckily there were no injuries only property damage.  The shooter shot in the direction of customers, missing one customer’s head  who was standing on the other side of a sign.  The shot missed the customer by one and half (1 ½) feet.  In short, North Carolina Law states that if the Active Shooter had been outside of the building and fired into the building the crime would have been a felony.   Because the shooter crossed the threshold of the building he could only be charged with Discharging a Firearm in the City Limits, Malicious Injury to Personal Property, and Carrying a Concealed Firearm.  These are all Misdemeanors.  Some evidence was found that makes me of the opinion that his original intention was “suicide by cop” and  self-restraint got the better of him.  This law needs to be changed. While in my meeting with Legislator Brunstetter, I am going to discuss the issue of a School Security Force and the issue of arming some school personnel in each school. My wife and I am so glad that there are people like you.  Thank you for your comments and if there is anyone you know of that we could contact for support on the security of our schools please let us know.

Also the lockdown drills of our schools needs to be re-examined, I will talk about that issue another time. Keep fighting the good fight. 

There are actions we as a country can take to protect our nation's children while they are in school to learn, from individuals that are determined to mass murder them.

Gun control?  That would not have saved one of the children killed in the most deadly school massacre in US History, in Bathe, Michigan 1927, where no death was by bullet, instead explosives were used.

The NRA has been demonized by liberals after the Sandy Hook massacre, but they have offered to fund an initiative, spending millions, perhaps billions, to help create a safer environment in schools across America:

The NRA is going to bring all of its knowledge, dedication and resources to develop a model National School Shield Emergency Response Program for every school that wants it. From armed security to building design and access control to information technology to student and teacher training, this multi-faceted program will be developed by the very best experts in their fields.

Former Congressman Asa Hutchinson will lead this effort as National Director of the National School Shield Program, with a budget provided by the NRA of whatever scope the task requires. His experience as a U.S. Attorney, Director of the Drug Enforcement Agency and Undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security will give him the knowledge and expertise to hire the most knowledgeable and credentialed experts available anywhere, to get this program up and running from the first day forward.

They are willing to put their money where their mouths are.... take them up on it.

The latest from “DHS Insider” (Part I & Part II)

By Findalis
Monkey in the Middle


Hat Tip to Texas Fred

If this doesn't scare you, then you're dead.

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For those that haven’t seen it, aren’t on the mailing list or what have you, I have been getting messages from these folks and their Department of Homeland Security *mole* for quite some time now. In light of recent events I am sharing this story, Parts I and II, in their entirety. From the folks at Northeast Intelligence Network I give you this.

The latest from “DHS Insider” (Part I)

By Douglas J. Hagmann


Introduction

23 December 2012: After a lengthy, self-imposed informational black-out, my high-level DHS contact known as “Rosebud” emerged with new, non-public information about plans being discussed and prepared for implementation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the near future. It is important to note that this black-out was directly related to the aggressive federal initiative of identifying and prosecuting “leakers,” at least those leaks and leakers not sanctioned by the executive office – the latter of which there are many.

Due to those circumstances, my source exercised an abundance of caution to avoid compromising a valuable line of communication until he had information he felt was significant enough to risk external contact. The following information is the result of an in-person contact between this author and “Rosebud” within the last 48 hours. With his permission, the interview was digitally recorded and the relevant portions of the contact are provided in a conversational format for easier reading. The original recording was copied onto multiple discs and are maintained in secure locations for historical and insurance purposes.

Meeting

The following began after an exchange of pleasantries and other unrelated discussion:

DH: Do I have your permission to record this conversation?

RB: You do.

DH: I’ve received a lot of e-mail from people wondering where you went and why you’ve been so quiet.

RB: As I told you earlier, things are very dicey. Weird things began to happen before the election and have continued since. Odd things, a clampdown of sorts. I started looking and I found [REDACTED AT THE REQUEST OF THIS SOURCE], and that shook me up. I’m not the only one, though, that found a [REDACTED], so this means there’s surveillance of people within DHS by DHS. So, that explains this cloak and dagger stuff for this meeting.

DH: I understand. What about the others?

RB: They are handling it the same way.

DH: I’ve received many e-mails asking if you are the same person giving information to Ulsterman. Are you?

RB: No, but I think I know at least one of his insiders.

DH: Care to elaborate?

RB: Sorry, no.

DH: Do you trust him or her. I mean, the Ulsterman source?

RB: Yes.

DH: Okay, so last August, you said things were “going hot.” I printed what you said, and things did not seem to happen as you said.

RB: You’d better recheck your notes and compare [them] with some of the events leading up to the election. I think you’ll find that a full blown campaign of deception took place to make certain Obama got back into office. The polls, the media, and a few incidents that happened in the two months before the election. I guess if people are looking for some big event they can point to and say “aha” for verification, well then I overestimated people’s ability to tell when they are being lied to.

DH: What specific incidents are you referring to?

RB: Look at the threats to Obama. Start there. The accusations of racism. Then look at the polls, and especially the judicial decisions about voter ID laws. Bought and paid for, or where there was any potential for problems, the judges got the message, loud and clear. Then look at the voter fraud. And not a peep from the Republicans. Nothing. His second term was a done deal in September. This was planned. Frankly, the Obama team knew they had it sewn up long before election day. Benghazi could have derailed them, but the fix was in there, so I never saw anything on my end to suggest a ready-made solution had to be implemented.

DH: What’s going on now?

RB: People better pay close attention over the next few months. First, there won’t be any meaningful deal about the fiscal crisis. This is planned, I mean, the lack of deal is planned. In fact, it’s necessary to pave the way for what is in the short term agenda.

DH: Wait, you’re DHS – not some Wall Street insider.

RB: So you think they are separate agendas? That’s funny. The coming collapse of the U.S. dollar is a done deal. It’s been in the works for years – decades, and this is one of the most important cataclysmic events that DHS is preparing for. I almost think that DHS was created for that purpose alone, to fight Americans, not protect them, right here in America. But that’s not the only reason. There’s the gun issue too.

DH: So, what are you seeing at DHS?

RB: We don’t have a lot of time, tonight – our meeting – as well as a country. I mean I have heard – with my own ears – plans being made that originate from the White House that involve the hierarchy of DHS. You gotta know how DHS works at the highest of levels. It’s Jarrett and Napolitano, with Jarrett organizing all of the plans and approaches. She’s the one in charge, at least from my point of view, from what I am seeing. Obama knows that’s going on and has say, but it seems that Jarrett has the final say, not the other way around. It’s [screwed] up. This really went into high gear since the election.

But it’s a train wreck at mid management, but is more effective at the lower levels. A lot of police departments are being gifted with federal funds with strings attached. That money is flowing out to municipal police departments faster than it can be counted. They are using this money to buy tanks, well, not real tanks, but you know what I mean. DHS is turning the police into soldiers.

By the way, there has been a lot of communication recently between Napolitano and Pistole [TSA head]. They are planning to use TSA agents in tandem with local police for certain operations that are being planned right now. This is so [deleted] important that you cannot even begin to imagine. If you get nothing else out of this, please, please make sure you tell people to watch the TSA and their increasing involvement against the American public. They are the stooges who will be the ones to carry out certain plans when the dollar collapses and the gun confiscation begins.

DH: Whoa, wait a minute. You just said a mouthful. What’s the agenda here?

RB: Your intelligence insider – he knows that we are facing a planned economic collapse. You wrote about this in your articles about Benghazi, or at least that’s what I got out of the later articles. So why the surprise?

DH: There’s a lot here. Let’s take it step by step if you don’t mind.

RB: Okay, but I’m not going to give it to you in baby steps. Big boy steps. This is what I am hearing. Life for the average American is going to change significantly, and not the change people expect. First, DHS is preparing to work with police departments and the TSA to respond to civil uprisings that will happen when there is a financial panic. And there will be one, maybe as early as this spring, when the dollar won’t get you a gumball. I’m not sure what the catalyst will be, but I’ve heard rumblings about a derivatives crisis as well as an oil embargo. I don’t know, that’s not my department. But something is going to happen to collapse the dollar, which has been in the works since the 1990′s. Now if it does not happen as soon as this, it’s because there are people, real patriots, who are working to prevent this, so it’s a fluid dynamic. But that doesn’t change the preparations.

And the preparations are these: DHS is prepositioning assets in strategic areas near urban centers all across the country. Storage depots. Armories. And even detainment facilities, known as FEMA camps. FEMA does not even know that the facilities are earmarked for detainment by executive orders, at least not in the traditional sense they were intended. By the way, people drive by some of these armories everyday without even giving them a second look. Commercial and business real estate across the country are being bought up or leased for storage purposes. Very low profile.

Anyway, I am hearing that the plan from on high is to let the chaos play out for a while, making ordinary citizens beg for troops to be deployed to restore order. but it’s all organized to make them appear as good guys. That’s when the real head knocking will take place. We’re talking travel restrictions, which should not be a problem because gas will be rationed or unavailable. The TSA will be in charge of travel, or at least be a big part of it. They will be commissioned, upgraded from their current status.

They, I mean Jarrett and Obama as well as a few others in government, are working to create a perfect storm too. This is being timed to coincide with new gun laws.

DH: New federal gun laws?

RB: Yes. Count on the criminalization to possess just about every gun you can think of. Not only restrictions, but actual criminalization of possessing a banned firearm. I heard this directly from the highest of my sources. Plans were made in the 90′s but were withheld. Now, it’s a new day, a new time, and they are riding the wave of emotion from Sandy Hook., which, by the way and as tragic as it was, well, it stinks to high heaven. I mean there are many things wrong there, and first reports are fast disappearing. The narrative is being changed. Look, there is something wrong with Sandy Hook, but if you write it, you’ll be called a kook or worse.

DH: Sure

RB: But Sandy Hook, there’s something very wrong there. But I am hearing that won’t be the final straw. There will be another if they think it’s necessary.

DH: Another shooting?

RB: Yes.

DH: That would mean they are at least complicit.

RB: Well, that’s one way of looking at it.

DH: Are they? Were they?

RB: Do your own research. Nothing I say, short of bringing you photographs and documents will convince anyone, and even then, it’s like [DELETED] in the wind.

DH: So…

RB: So what I’m telling you is that DHS, the TSA and certain, but not all, law enforcement agencies are going to be elbow deep in riot control in response to an economic incident. At the same time or close to it, gun confiscation will start. It will start on a voluntary basis using federal registration forms, then an amnesty, then the kicking-in of doors start.

Before or at the same time, you know all the talk of lists, you know, the red and blue lists that everyone made fun of? Well they exist, although I don’t know about their colors. But there are lists of political dissidents maintained by DHS. Names are coordinated with the executive branch, but you know what? They did not start with Obama. They’ve been around in one form or another for years. The difference though is that today, they are much more organized. And I’ll tell you that the vocal opponents of the politics of the global elite, the bankers, and the opponents of anything standing in their way, well, they are on the top of the list of people to be handled.

DH: Handled?

RB: As the situations worsen, some might be given a chance to stop their vocal opposition. Some will, others won’t. I suppose they are on different lists. Others won’t have that chance. By that time, though, it will be chaos and people will be in full defensive mode. They will be hungry, real hunger like we’ve never experienced before. They will use our hunger as leverage. They will use medical care as leverage.

DH: Will this happen all at once?

RB: They hope to make it happen at the same time. Big cities first, with sections being set apart from the rest of the country. Then the rural areas. There are two different plans for geographical considerations. But it will all come together.

End of Part I

Source: The latest from “DHS Insider” (Part I) « Northeast Intelligence Network

The latest from “DHS Insider” (Part II)

24 December 2012: The following is the second part of my in-person interview with a DHS insider.

DH: Wait, this sounds way, way over the top. Are you telling me… [Interrupts]

RB: [Over talk/Unintelligible] …know who was selected or elected twice now. You know who his associates are. And you are saying this is way over the top? Don’t forget what Ayers said – you talked to Larry Grathwohl. This guy is a revolutionary. He does not want to transform our country in the traditional sense. He will destroy it. And he’s not working alone. He’s not working for himself, either. He has his handlers. So don’t think this is going to be a walk in the park, with some type of attempt to rescue the country. Cloward-Piven. Alinsky. Marx. All rolled into one. And he won’t need the rest of his four years to do it.

DH: I need you to be clear. Let’s go back again, I mean, to those who speak out about what’s happening.

RB: [Edit note: Obviously irritated] How much clearer do you want it? The Second Amendment will be gone, along with the first, at least practically or operationally. The Constitution will be gone, suspended, at least in an operational sense. Maybe they won’t actually say that they are suspending it, but will do it. Like saying the sky is purple when it’s actually blue. How many people will look a the sky and say yeah, it’s purple? They see what they want to see.

So the DHS, working with other law enforcement organizations, especially the TSA as it stands right now, will oversee the confiscation of assault weapons, which includes all semi-automatic weapons following a period of so-called amnesty. It also includes shotguns that hold multiple rounds, or have pistol grips. They will go after the high capacity magazines, anything over, say 5 rounds.

They will also go after the ammunition, especially at the manufacturer’s level. They will require a special license for certain weapons, and make it impossible to own anything. More draconian than England. This is a global thing too. Want to hunt? What gives you the right to hunt their animals? Sound strange? I hope so, but they believe they own the animals. Do you understand now, how sick and twisted this is? Their mentality?

The obvious intent is to disarm American citizens. They will say that we’ll still be able to defend ourselves and go hunting, but even that will be severely regulated. This is the part that they are still working out, though. While the plans were made years ago, there is some argument over the exact details. I know that Napalitano, even with her support of the agenda, would like to see this take place outside of an E.O. [Executive Order] in favor of legislative action and even with UN involvement.

DH: But UN involvement would still require legislative approval.

RB: Yes, but your still thinking normal – in normal terms. Stop thinking about a normal situation. The country is divided, which is exactly where Obama wants us to be. We are as ideologically divided as we were during the Civil War and that rift is growing every day. Add in a crisis – and economic crisis – where ATM and EBT cards will stop working. Where bank accounts will contain nothing but air. They are anticipating a revolution and a civil war rolled into one (emphasis added by this author).

Imagine when talk show hosts or Bloggers or some other malcontent gets on the air or starts writing about the injustice of it all, and about how Obama is the anti-Christ or something. They will outlaw such talk or writing as inciting the situation – they will make it illegal by saying that it is causing people to die. The Republicans will go along with everything as it’s – we have – a one party system. Two parties is an illusion. It’s all so surreal to talk about but you see where this is headed, right?

DH: Well, what about the lists?

RB: Back to that again, okay. Why do you think the NSA has surveillance of all communications? To identify and stop terrorism? Okay, to be fair, that is part of it, but not the main reason. The federal agencies have identified people who present a danger to them and their agendas. I don’t know if they are color coded like you mentioned, red blue purple or peach mango or whatever, but they exist. In fact, each agency has their own. You know, why is it so [deleted] hard for people to get their heads around the existence of lists with names of people who pose a threat to their plans? The media made a big deal about Nixon’s enemies list and everyone nodded and said yeah, that [deleted], but today? They’ve been around for years and years.

DH: I think it’s because of the nature of the lists today. What do they plan to do with their enemies?

RB: Go back to what Ayers said when, in the late 60′s? 70′s? I forget. Anyway, he was serious. But to some extent, the same thing that happened before. They – the people on some of these lists – are under surveillance, or at least some, and when necessary, some are approached and made an offer. Others, well, they can be made to undergo certain training. Let’s call it sensitivity training, except on a much different level. Others, most that are the most visible and mainstream are safe for the most part. And do you want to know why? It’s because they are in the pockets of the very people we are talking about, but they might or might not know it. Corporate sponsorship – follow the money. You know the drill. You saw it happen before, with the birth certificate.

It’s people that are just under the national radar but are effective. They have to worry. Those who have been publicly marginalized already but continue to talk or write or post, they are in trouble. It’s people who won’t sell out, who think that they can make a difference. Those are the people who have to worry.

Think about recent deaths that everybody believes were natural or suicides. Were they? People are too busy working their [butts] off to put food on the table to give a damn about some guy somewhere who vapor locks because of too many doughnuts and coffee and late nights. And it seems plausible enough to happen. This time, when everything collapses, do you think they will care if it is a bullet or a heart attack that takes out the opposition? [Deleted] no.

DH: That’s disturbing. Do you… [interrupts]

RB: Think about the Oklahoma City bombing in ’95. Remember how Clinton blamed that on talk radio, or at least in part. Take what happened then and put it in context of today. Then multiply the damnation by 100, and you will begin to understand where this is going. People like Rush and Hannity have a narrow focus of political theater. They’ll still be up and running during all of this to allow for the appearance of normal. Stay within the script, comrade.

But as far as the others, they have certain plans. And these plans are becoming more transparent. They are getting bolder. They are pushing lies, and the bigger the lie, the easier it is to sell to the people. They will even try to sell a sense of normalcy as things go absolutely crazy and break down. It will be surreal. And some will believe it, think that it’s only happening in certain places, and we can draw everything back once the dust settles. But when it does, this place will not be the same.

DH: Will there be resistance within the ranks of law enforcement? You know, will some say they won’t go along with the plan, like the Oath Keepers?

RB: Absolutely. But they will not only be outnumbered, but outgunned – literally. The whole objective is to bring in outside forces to deal with the civil unrest that will happen in America. And where does their allegiance lie? Certainly not to Sheriff Bob. Or you or me.

During all of this, and you’ve got to remember that the dollar collapse is a big part of this, our country is going to have to be redone. I’ve seen – personally – a map of North America without borders. Done this year. The number 2015 was written across the top, and I believe that was meant as a year. Along with this map – in the same area where this was – was another map showing the United States cut up into sectors. I’m not talking about what people have seen on the internet, but something entirely different. Zones. And a big star on the city of Denver.

Sound like conspiracy stuff on the Internet? Yup. But maybe they were right. It sure looks that way. It will read that way if you decide to write about this. Good luck with that. Anyway, the country seemed to be split into sectors, but not the kind shown on the internet. Different.
DH: What is the context of that?

RB: Across the bottom of this was written economic sectors. It looked like a work in progress, so I can’t tell you any more than that. From the context I think it has to do with the collapse of the dollar.

DH: Why would DHS have this? I mean, it seems almost contrived, doesn’t it?

RB: Not really, when you consider the bigger picture. But wait before we go off into that part. I need to tell you about Obamacare, you know, the new health care coming up. It plays a big part – a huge [deleted] part in the immediate reshaping of things.

DH: How so?

RB: It creates a mechanism of centralized control over people. That’s the intent of this monster of a bill, not affordable health care. And it will be used to identify gun owners. Think your health records are private? Have you been to the doctor lately? Asked about owning a gun? Why do you think they ask, do you think they care about your safety? Say yes to owning a gun and your information is shared with another agency, and ultimately, you will be identified as a security risk. The records will be matched with other agencies.

You think that they are simply relying on gun registration forms? This is part of data collection that people don’t get. Oh, and don’t even think about getting a script for some mood enhancement drug and being able to own a gun.

Ayers and Dohrn are having the times of their lives seeing things they’ve worked for all of their adult lives actually coming to pass. Oh, before I forget, look at the recent White House visitor logs.

DH: Why? Where did that come from?

RB: Unless they are redacted, you will see the influence of Ayers. Right now. The Weather Underground has been reborn. So has their agenda.

DH: Eugenics? Population control?

RB: Yup. And re-education camps. But trust me, you write about this, you’ll be called a kook. It’s up to you, it’s your reputation, not mine. And speaking about that, you do know that this crew is using the internet to ruin people, right? They are paying people to infiltrate discussion sites and forums to call people like you idiots. Show me the proof they say. Why doesn’t you source come forward? If he knows so much, why not go to Fox or the media? To them, if it’s not broadcast on CNN, it’s not real. Well, they’ve got it backwards. Very little on the news is real. The stock market, the economy, the last presidential polls, very little is real.

But this crew is really internet savvy. They’ve got a lot of people they pay to divert issues on forums, to mock people, to marginalize them. They know what they’re doing. People think they’ll take sites down – hack them. Why do that when they are more effective to infiltrate the discussion? Think about the birth certificate, I mean the eligibility problem of Obama. Perfect example.

DH: How soon do you see things taking place?

RB: They already are in motion. If you’re looking for a date I can’t tell you. Remember, the objectives are the same, but plans, well, they adapt. They exploit. Watch how this fiscal cliff thing plays out. This is the run-up to the next big economic event.

I can’t give you a date. I can tell you to watch things this spring. Start with the inauguration and go from there. Watch the metals, when they dip. It will be a good indication that things are about to happen. I got that little tidbit from my friend at [REDACTED].

NOTE: At this point, my contact asked me to reserve further disclosures until after the inauguration.

SOURCE: The latest from “DHS Insider” (Part II) « Northeast Intelligence Network

To my readers I say this; you can believe or disbelieve this article as you wish. I am only offering up this information for your perusal. I am sure that your common sense will guide you in the right direction.

And let me make this very clear; this is NOT MY STORY, I didn’t write it, I am only offering it to folks that I know and to my readers in an effort to educate and share the opinions of the writer and his source!

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Any one else have goosebumps on their arms.  I have been hearing rumors of this for years now.  Bits and pieces of this.  But I do trust this "source" and know that no decent President would act towards the opposition (Especially one in charge of the purse strings.) the way Barack Hussein Obama has.  Vallerie Jarrett said: 

"After we win this election, it’s our turn. Payback time. Everyone not
with us is against us and they better be ready because we don’t forget. The ones who helped us will be rewarded, the ones who opposed us will get what they deserve. There is going to be hell to pay. Congress won’t be a problem for us this time. No election to worry about after this is over and we have two judges ready to go."

Do you imagine that statement was just a fluke.  No it was a warning to us.


We had our chance to stop this on November 6.  Now we have to prepare for the upcoming Civil War that is about to start.

Santa's Present To Me..... The Flu Bug

By Susan Duclos

My apologies for the lack of posting over the last few days, but Santa brought me the Flu for Christmas this year and at my age I don't bounce back as quickly as I used to.

There is quite a bit of political news out there and I will do my best to catch up on it all when I feel better.

Thanks in advance for understanding,

Susan

Merry Christmas Everyone (2012)

By Susan Duclos


Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year




It's the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"
It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It's the hap- happiest season of all

There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year
There'll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time
It's the most wonderful time of the year

In The Beginning...

By Findalis
Monkey in the Middle


I originally wrote this post for Christmas Eve 2008 the 40th anniversary of the flight of Apollo 8. I repost it for tonight to remind us of that mission and of a time in which Americans were more appreciative of G-d.

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Three words read by William Anders aboard the Apollo 8 mission on Christmas Eve 1968.

1968 was our Annus horribilis. It was a year of unrest at the Democratic National Convention. It was the year that saw the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. It was a year in which riots and protests were the daily fare on the nightly newscasts. It was a year in which America felt at its lowest point. And America needed a boost.

When the Apollo 8 mission was originally planned the mission was not suppose to go to the moon. It was suppose to be in a low Earth orbit checking out the systems on the Command module and possibly the lunar module if one had been ready by then. Instead the mission was changed and Apollo 8 would be the first manned mission to go to the moon. In itself it would be a very dangerous mission, the first of anything is alway a dangerous mission to accomplish. Because of the nature of the mission and the decision to change it, the true mission was kept a secret from the public until the official announcement on 12 November 1968, less than 40 days before the scheduled launch.

Apollo 8 launched at 7:51:00 a.m. on December 21, 1968. During the flight, three fellow astronauts served on the ground as capsule communicators (usually referred to as "CAPCOMs") on a rotating schedule. The CAPCOMs were the only people who regularly communicated with the crew. Michael Collins was the first CAPCOM on duty and at 2 hours, 27 minutes and 22 seconds after launch radioed, "Apollo 8. You are Go for TLI". This communication signified that Mission Control had given official permission for Apollo 8 to go to the moon. Over the next twelve minutes before the TLI burn, the Apollo 8 crew continued to monitor the spacecraft and the rocket. The S-IVB third stage rocket ignited on time and burned perfectly for 5 minutes and 17 seconds. The burn increased the velocity of Apollo 8 to 35,505 feet per second (10,822 m/s) and the spacecraft's altitude at the end of the burn was 215.4 miles (346.7 km). At this time, the crew also set the record for the highest speed humans had ever traveled.

Five hours after launch, Mission Control sent a command to the S-IVB booster to vent its remaining fuel through its engine bell to change the booster's trajectory. This S-IVB would then pass the Moon and enter into a solar orbit, posing no further hazard to Apollo 8. The S-IVB subsequently went into a 0.99 by 0.92 AU solar orbit with an inclination of 23.47° and a period of 340.80 days.

The Apollo 8 crew were the first humans to pass through the Van Allen radiation belts, which extend up to 15,000 miles (25,000 km) from Earth. Scientists predicted that passing through the belts quickly at the spacecraft's high speed would cause a radiation dosage of no more than a chest X-ray, or 1 milligray (during the course of a year, the average human receives a dose of 2 to 3 mGy). To record the actual radiation dosages, each crew member wore a Personal Radiation Dosimeter that transmitted data to Earth as well as three passive film dosimeters that showed the cumulative radiation experienced by the crew. By the end of the mission, the crew experienced an average radiation dose of 1.6 mGy.

At about 55 hours and 40 minutes into the flight, the crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans to enter the gravitational sphere of influence of another celestial body. At 64 hours into the flight, the crew began to prepare for Lunar Orbit Insertion-1 (LOI-1). This maneuver had to be performed perfectly, and due to orbital mechanics had to be on the far side of the Moon, out of contact with the Earth. After Mission Control was polled for a Go/No Go decision, the crew was told at 68 hours, they were Go and "riding the best bird we can find". At 68 hours and 58 minutes, the spacecraft went behind the Moon and out of radio contact with the Earth.

When the spacecraft came out from behind the Moon for its fourth pass across the front, the crew witnessed an event no one had ever seen — Earthrise. Borman saw the Earth emerging from behind the lunar horizon and called in excitement to the others, taking a black-and-white photo as he did so: Earthrise, seen for the first time by human eyes. In the ensuing scramble Anders took the more famous color photo, later picked by Life magazine as one of its hundred photos of the century.



As they rounded the Moon for the ninth time, the second television transmission began. Borman introduced the crew, followed by each man giving his impression of the lunar surface and what it was like to be orbiting the Moon. Borman described it as being "a vast, lonely, forbidding expanse of nothing." Then, after talking about what they were flying over, Anders said that the crew had a message for all those on Earth. Each man on board read the story of creation from Book of Genesis. Borman finished the broadcast by wishing a Merry Christmas to everyone on Earth. His message appeared to sum up the feelings that all three crewmen had from their vantage point in lunar orbit. Borman said, "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, and a Merry Christmas to all of you, all of you on the good Earth"

After 10 lunar orbit, Apollo 8 returned to Earth on 27 December 1968. A successful and historic mission.

So on this Christmas Eve, we should remember a historic moment in Human history that took place 40 years ago.


William Anders

"We are now approaching lunar sunrise and, for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Jim Lovell

"And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

Frank Borman

"And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth."

View at YouTube

On this Christmas Eve I wish to again recall the words of Apollo 8 in wishing you a Merry Christmas.

And God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.

Studies: Obama's Tax The Rich Death Trap Has Already Failed in Maryland, NY And California

By Susan Duclos

Studies have shown that individual states that have passed "millionaires" taxes and continue to put onerous taxation on the so called rich are seeing the rich and businesses in those states, leave.

A study by Change Maryland, in July, showed that the "millionaire's tax" cost the state 31,000 residents between 2007 and 2010, when it expired. The "millionaires tax" imposed a rate of 6.25 percent on incomes of more than $1 million a year.

The Change Maryland study found that the tax cost Maryland $1.7 billion in lost tax revenues. A county-by-county analysis by Change Maryland also found that the state’s wealthiest counties also had some of the largest population outflows.

In total, Maryland has added 24 new taxes or fees in recent years, Change Maryland says. Florida, which has no income-tax, has been a large recipient of Maryland's exiled wealthy.

“Maryland has reached the point of diminishing returns. We're taxing people too much and people are voting with their feet," said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. “Until we change our focus from tax increases to increasing the tax base, more people are simply going to leave, leading to a downward spiral of raising revenues on fewer citizens."

The plan to gain revenue by taxing the rich backfired because the so-called rich, left.

Another study done in Setember 2012, by the Manhattan Institute found the same outflow occurring in another state that has one of the highest tax rates, federal and state on it's citizens... California.

 Since 1990, the state has lost nearly 3.4 million residents through this migration.

What has caused California’s transformation from a “pull in” to a “push out” state? The data have revealed several crucial drivers. One is chronic economic adversity (in most years, California unemployment is above the national average). Another is density: the Los Angeles and Orange County region now has a population density of 6,999.3 per square mile—well ahead of New York or Chicago. Dense coastal areas are a source of internal migration, as people seek more space in California’s interior, as well as migration to other states. A third factor is state and local governments’ constant fiscal instability, which sends at least two discouraging messages to businesses and individuals. One is that they cannot count on state and local governments to provide essential services—much less, tax breaks or other incentives. Second, chronically out-of-balance budgets can be seen as tax hikes waiting to happen.

The data also reveal the motives that drive individuals and businesses to leave California. One of these, of course, is work. States with low unemployment rates, such as Texas, are drawing people from California, whose rate is above the national average. Taxation also appears to be a factor, especially as it contributes to the business climate and, in turn, jobs. Most of the destination states favored by Californians have lower taxes. States that have gained the most at California’s expense are rated as having better business climates. The data suggest that many cost drivers—taxes, regulations, the high price of housing and commercial real estate, costly electricity, union power, and high labor costs—are prompting businesses to locate outside California, thus helping to drive the exodus.

This is what the study found on California's high taxation:

2. Taxes 

Most of the destination states favored by Californians have lower taxes. Even Oregon, with income-tax rate like those of California, has a more business-friendly tax code. On the other side of the migration ledger, the states that are still net senders of people to California range from near the middle of the tax scale to the very top. As a general rule, Californians have tended to flee high taxes for low ones.

Whether this is why they move is a matter of debate. With so many factors possibly influencing the decision to migrate, it’s impossible to tease out how much the tax burden matters in each individual’s case. But, as we have noted, individual decisions in the aggregate add up to suggestive patterns. California remains a destination for people moving from high-tax states even as it loses thousands of people every year to low tax states. This is a highly suggestive pattern.

Even as individual motives are varied and idiosyncratic, we must also note that not all migration is driven by such household choices. Businesses affect migration patterns by their choice of where to relocate or expand. Theirs is largely an economic decision, based on costs as well as access to suppliers and customers. We can say with some confidence that business decisions to leave California are sensitive to its tax code because taxes are a large component of business costs, and no competent business owner will ignore them. Taxes are a significant factor in business migration along with the cost of labor, the skills of the workforce, utility costs, and the time and expense of getting permits.

To explore the tax-migration link, we looked at two types of tax ratings in the destination states for Californian out-migration and the states from which new migrants came to California in 2000– 10. One rating is based on the overall state and local tax burden, computed by the Tax Foundation as a percentage of personal income. The other is the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index. This is given as a score for which the U.S. average is 5.00. The higher the index score, the better the climate. To match these data sets as much as possible to the full-decade migration totals, we averaged tax-burden figures and state ranks for 2000–09 (the latest available), and we chose the State Business Tax Climate Index at mid-decade, for the fiscal year ending in 2006. The top ten target states attracted a net total—the difference between total inflows and outflows—of 1,085,818 Californians over the decade. Texas attracted the most, at 225,111. The top ten source states sent a net total of 152,324 to California, with New York sending the most, at 31,434.

One pattern stands out in these data. With few exceptions, the states that have gained the most at California’s expense (in income as well as people) have decidedly lower tax burdens and better business-tax climates. California’s ranking on both scales is near the high-tax, poor business-climate end, and it scores near the average of the sender states, most of which share its poor marks. The major destination states, on average, do better than California in the rankings, with lower tax burdens and higher business-climate scores.

We have also found another clue suggesting that taxes make a difference in migration: California’s net out-migration to the top destination states was far larger than what it received from the sender states. In other words, with its higher-than-average tax burden, California is competitive only with a few other high-tax states, such as New York and New Jersey. And its burden is too close to the top to leave it any real advantage. The much greater advantage lies with low-tax states such as Texas, which can offer more substantial savings.

If you click over to read the entire study, with charts, you see people move to more tax friendly states and businesses move to states that are more business friendly, less regulation and offer more pro-growth incentives.

Last month, California again raised taxes on the rich:

A vote last month that makes Californians among the highest-taxed residents in the country is sparking debate about whether the Democrat-back initiative will backfire, by forcing high-earners to join a long exodus from the cash-strapped state.

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown successfully pushed the tax increase by suggesting that high-earners must shoulder the largest burden in bailing out the state, particularly its debt-ridden public school system.

However, high unemployment and government debt have already sent residents fleeing in large numbers – an estimated 225,000 annually for the past 10 years.

And the recently passed tax increase for families making more than $250,000 each year could further shrink the tax base for California, whose 2012 budget deficit is projected to hit $28 billion.

Much of the debate has raged among California advocacy groups and in the editorial pages of the state’s biggest and most influential newspapers.

“More is never enough for these people,” Kris Vosburgh, executive director of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assoc., said about the Democrat-backed increase. “It’s hard to believe people will not leave.”

Vosburgh said his group is not an advocate for the wealthy and argued the tax increase atop other bad economic factors – including high gas and sales taxes – also have small and large businesses packing.

“With high taxes and heavy regulations, it’s just difficult to produce those widgets at a lower price than somebody in, say, Texas,” he told FoxNews.com on Tuesday.

 Sound familiar? It should, it is the same exact plan Barack Obama has spent the past four years pitching to Americans.

Another published study from the Empire Center for New York State Policy shows that 1.5 million NY state residents have migrated out of NY from 2000 to 2008.

Why? High taxes.

The average Manhattan taxpayer who left the state earned $93,264 a year. The average newcomer to Manhattan earned only $72,726.

That's a difference of $20,538, the highest for any county in the state. Staten Island was second, with a $20,066 difference.

It all adds up to staggering loss in taxable income. During 2006-2007, the "migration flow" out of New York to other states amounted to a loss of $4.3 billion.

Another study finds that the more Washington taxes Americans, the more they spend, none of the increased revenue gets applied to the deficit.

 We've updated the research. Using standard statistical analyses that introduce variables to control for business-cycle fluctuations, wars and inflation, we found that over the entire post World War II era through 2009 each dollar of new tax revenue was associated with $1.17 of new spending. Politicians spend the money as fast as it comes in—and a little bit more.

We also looked at different time periods (e.g., 1947-2009 vs. 1959-2009), different financial data (fiscal year federal budget data, as well as calendar year National Income and Product Account data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis), different lag structures (e.g., relating taxes one year to spending change the following year to allow for the time it takes bureaucracies to spend money), different control variables, etc. The alternative models produce different estimates of the tax-spend relationship—between $1.05 and $1.81. But no matter how we configured the data and no matter what variables we examined, higher tax collections never resulted in less spending.

Inevitably, Democrats and liberals say the wealthy won't leave America... but in May 2012, Bloomberg reported  "Wealthy Americans Queue to Give Up Their Passports."

About 1,780 expatriates gave up their nationality at U.S. embassies last year, up from 235 in 2008, according to Andy Sundberg, secretary of Geneva’s Overseas American Academy, citing figures from the government’s Federal Register.

To be clear here that is over 7 times the amount of people renouncing U.S. citizenship in 2011 than did in 2008 before Barack Obama took office.

Those are individuals, but we also have businesses who need to make profits in order to invest, expand and hire. If they cannot do so here in America, does anyone doubt they will pick up, move and base themselves somewhere where regulatory practices won't strangle them and they can continue to make profits?

According to Gallup, here, here and here, U.S. Small-Business Owners' Hiring Intentions Plunge, U.S. Small-Business Owners Pessimistic Post-Election and U.S. Small-Business Owners Pull Back Capital Spending Plans.

Why? Higher taxes, worries about future regulations, etc... Pretty much all of Obama's economic policies.

Speaking of, this weekend the Obama administration just released a slew of new regulations.