News of the Week for January 3rd, 2016
- Obama Scandals
- Gun Rights
- Hide the Decline
- Obamacare
- War & Terror
- National News
- Economy & Taxes
- International News
- Opinion
Obama Scandals
Another Obama Administration Spying Scandal
The news reports about the National Security Agency snooping on foreign leaders show a White House intent on abusing NSA capabilities for political purposes. As a veteran of the George W. Bush White House, I’m persuaded that had we done this, the Democrats in Congress would have called it a major scandal and held endless hearings designed to attack the administration.
Get Ready For Racial Quotas On Your Neighborhood
The Supreme Court’s disparate impact ruling has enabled an Obama administration power grab on neighborhood zoning regulations—all in the name of diversity.
Obama’s New Immigration Plan Offers Work-Permits To Foreigners Slated For Deportation
President Barack Obama’s new 181-page plan to award work-permits to at least 100,000 foreign college-grads also contains a convoluted section that would also sneak work-permits to a huge range of foreign migrants – even after courts have formally ordered their repatriation.
Gun Rights
New Ban Bill Hits Congress: Targets Semi-Automatic Rifles & Handguns: “To Ensure That The Right To Keep and Bear Arms Is NOT Unlimited”
In the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings we warned that sweeping changes were in the works for Americans’ right to bear arms. It started with ammunition tax proposals, restrictions on firearm accessories imports and most recently Governors began bypassing Congress altogether by banning gun ownership for those on any of the government’s many watchlists. The Obama administration has also targeted licensed firearms sellers across the United States by forcing banks to treat them like pornography businesses and impeding their access to transaction processing systems and business banking accounts.
NRA working on “total recognition” legislation to fix Virginia’s concealed carry mess
Given that the National Rifle Association’s headquarters is located in Virginia, it was to be expected that the nation’s oldest civil rights organization wasn’t just going to sit around while Attorney General Mark Herring decided to set fire the Constitution on fire. As Katie wrote last week, the AG decided to unilaterally gut concealed carry reciprocity agreements with two dozen states.
Obama set to unveil curbs on gun sellers
Executive actions expected next week will be part of the president’s new year push to make progress on long-stalled problems before the 2016 presidential election heats up.
2016 will usher in a fresh wave of assaults on Second Amendment rights
Matt covered the ongoing mess in Virginia earlier this morning, where the reciprocity issue for gun permit owners is being essentially tossed on the trash heap, but I’m sorry to say that their story is only the tip of the iceberg.
Hide the Decline
Environment &
“Green Energy”
Peer-Reviewed Survey Finds Majority Of Scientists Skeptical Of Global Warming Crisis
It is becoming clear that not only do many scientists dispute the asserted global warming crisis, but these skeptical scientists may indeed form a scientific consensus.
Obamacare
Government in Healthcare
Plenty of Revelations in Latest Clinton Emails Batch, Including Obamacare Link
As I mentioned yesterday, New Year’s Eve was the deadline for the latest batch of Hillary Clinton’s emails to be released by the State Department. While they fell 2,000 pages short of their court-ordered goal of 43,000 for the year, there are still a lot of interesting stories in what we did get yesterday.
War & Terror
Ramadi has been taken from ISIS, Iraqis say
Iraqi troops have retaken the city of Ramadi from ISIS, the country’s military said.
Muslim ACLU Director: “I Emphatically Refuse” to Condemn Terrorism
Islamic terrorism is “just as foreign to me as the terror advanced by mostly white men.”
Teenage Islamist “poster girl” who fled Austria to join ISIS was used as a sex slave for new fighters before she was beaten to death as she tried to escape, former prisoner reveals
Samra Kesinovic, 17, from Vienna, fled home to join the terrorist group
Enrique Marquez indicted as co-conspirator in San Bernardino terror attack
Two victims of the attack remain hospitalized.
National
How Polls Manipulate Voters, No Matter The Results
When polls show a majority of folks favor a policy or candidate, it marginalizes those who disagree with the poll, peer-pressuring them into conformity.
NYC Will Fine You $250,000 For “Misgendering” A Transsexual
Did you call a transsexual person “he” or “she” when they preferred to be called “zhe?” According to a newly updated anti-discrimination law in New York City, you could be fined an eye-watering $250,000.
Wisconsin Conservative and US Veteran Considering Primary Run Against Paul Ryan
A facebook page was set up to primary Paul Ryan from Congress.
Supreme Court to decide politically charged cases in 2016
As the nation heads into a presidential election year, the Supreme Court is set to decide a half-dozen politically charged cases in 2016 on such topics as abortion, affirmative action, contraceptives and immigration.
Comedian Jerry Lewis Rips Obama, Praises Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump
Jerry Lewis is a comedic legend, and you’d be hard pressed to find someone who disagrees.
Personal Data of More Than 191 Million Voters Leaked
If you’re registered to vote, you may be one of the more than 191 million U.S. citizens whose personal information was exposed through a misconfigured database that’s just been discovered.
Motorhead’s Lemmy, heavy metal pioneer, dead at 70: A voice like shrapnel and a bass tone to match
A voice like shrapnel and a bass tone to match. A steady diet of rock-and-roll and rebellion — fueled by, until not so long ago, a bottle of Jack Daniels per day and sexual escapades too numerous to count. Plus: muttonchops.
Oregon Bakers Take Next Step in Fight For Freedom, As Media Wrongly Claim Gay Victory
The two Oregon cake-makersfined by the state for not selling a cake with a pro-gay message to a lesbian couple are fighting for their legal rights, amid misleading media reports.
Man charged with setting Houston mosque fire was a devout attendee
A Houston man has been arrested in connection with a suspected arson at a mosque on Christmas Day.
Faculty Focus: How Three Professors Banded Together to Beat Back a Free Speech Threat at Clemson
In late 2014, members of Clemson University’s Coalition of Concerned Students (CCS) were setting the stage for what would become a louder drumbeat of campus protests over allegedly racially insensitive behavior. Their list of demands, presented to Clemson administrators in an effort to rectify perceived racial inequality on campus, were among the first in the recent wave of such demands to be presented by students to administrators at dozens of colleges nationwide.
California Laws: On January 1st, Students Won’t Have to Pass High School to Receive Diploma
On January 1, California residents will have to accustom themselves to a number of new laws that will be implemented in the state.
FIRE Q&A: Reason@Brown’s Christopher Robotham
“At Brown, there is an underground group whose purpose is to allow kids to say what they ought to be free to say above ground.”
Boy Opens Toy Plane & Puts Batteries in. The Recording That Plays Shocks Everyone: Not “What We Expected”
A Washington state man who purchased a toy airplane for his nephew this Christmas said he was stunned by the recording it played back when powered on.
Scientific Journal Publishes Fake Study On Whether Mommy Boo-Boo Kisses Really Work
“Maternal kissing of boo-boos is a common practice that appears to have no ability to reduce the distress of toddlers and may have significant untoward effects.”
Federal judge: Drinking tea, shopping at a gardening store is probable cause for a SWAT raid on your home
In April 2012, a Kansas SWAT team raided the home of Robert and Addie Harte, their 7-year-old daughter and their 13-year-old son. The couple, both former CIA analysts, awoke to pounding at the door. When Robert Harte answered, SWAT agents flooded the home. He was told to lie on the floor. When Addie Harte came out to see what was going on, she saw her husband on his stomach as SWAT cop stood over him with a gun. The family was then held at gunpoint for more than two hours while the police searched their home. Though they claimed to be looking for evidence of a major marijuana growing operation, they later stated that they knew within about 20 minutes that they wouldn’t find any such operation. So they switched to search for evidence of “personal use.” They found no evidence of any criminal activity.
New Hampshire is Bush’s firewall. What delegates will he get?
While the Iowa caucuses are volatile, and you never know just how the delegates will turn out as rooms full of people get together and make deals, the New Hampshire primary has a simple set of rules for determining the winner.
Public University To Hold Racially-Segregated “Social Justice Retreats”
Oregon State University will hold four racially-exclusive “Social Justice Retreats” focusing on “white privilege,” “microaggressions,” and “institutional racism” in the first month of 2016 alone.
More than 1,000 Clinton emails now deemed classified
The agency also falls short of its court-ordered goal of releasing 43,000 pages of the former secretary of state’s emails by the end of the year.
Dating site billboard turning heads in Utah
A billboard for a dating website along SR 201 in West Valley City is getting a bit of attention but not for the reason you might think.
Chuck Norris Helped Open Communist Romania to West
During the darkest days of communism, Romanians had something to brighten their oppressed existence—illicit American movie parties.
Oregon ranching case sparks anti-government sentiment
The father and son of a prominent Oregon ranching family plan to surrender Monday to serve more time in prison for setting fires that spread to government lands they leased as cattle rangeland.
Insiders give their top predictions for 2016
Get ready for a Ted Cruz-Nikki Haley ticket. And a GOP establishment freak-out in January.
Three of Cliven Bundy’s sons, militia seize federal building in Oregon
Three of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy’s sons and what they claim are 150 militia members have occupied a federal building in eastern Oregon in order to keep two local ranchers out of prison, according to local reports.
Militia takes over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters
The Bundy family of Nevada joined with hard-core militiamen Saturday to take over the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, vowing to occupy the remote federal outpost 50 miles southeast of Burns for years.
Women pilots who served in WWII can’t have ashes laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery
The ashes of World War II veteran Elaine Harmon are sitting in a closet in her daughter’s home, where they will remain until they can go to what her family says is her rightful resting place: Arlington National Cemetery.
Armed Protesters Occupy Building on Oregon Wildlife Refuge
Several armed men have occupied a building on an Oregon wildlife refuge, protesting the prison terms of two ranchers convicted of arson on public lands.
Economy & Taxes
How Tocqueville Schooled Bernie Sanders 200 Years Ago
Bernie Sanders appears to think all we need to be happy is more money. Alexis de Tocqueville dismantled that idea two centuries ago.
Jobless claims rise sharply during holiday week
The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose sharply last week, a potential signal the job market was losing steam although some of the increase might be attributed to temporary holiday factors.
International
Bangladesh cricketer charged with torturing maid
Police in Bangladesh have charged the cricketer Shahadat Hossain and his wife with torturing their former domestic servant, an 11-year-old girl.
Police Crime Commissioner Vera Baird Will Block You On Twitter If You Bring Up Male Domestic Abuse
A male domestic abuse victim says he was blocked on Twitter by Vera Baird, the Police & Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, after he complained about the sexism of a police campaign that focused solely on female victims.
Transgender Fad Rapidly Spreading in Primary Schools, “Clusters” Emerging as Children Copy Friends
The number of primary school-aged children, some as young as four, beginning to “transition” their gender is rising rapidly in the UK. The popularity of the fad appears to be clustered, with children copying others in the same schools.
Australia’s Turnbull Loses Ministers 3 Months After Taking Over
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull lost two ministers from his three-month-old administration Tuesday as Jamie Briggs, responsible for development of cities, quit and Special Minister of State Mal Brough temporarily stood aside.
Burkina Faso’s first new leader in decades sworn in
Burkina Faso’s constitutional court swore in Roch Marc Kabore as president on Tuesday, making the former prime minister the country’s first new leader in almost 30 years following his election last month.
Fire breaks out near Dubai’s New Year’s fireworks display
Fire engulfed a luxury building near the world’s tallest skyscraper in Dubai on Thursday, where tens of thousands of people had gathered for a massive New Year’s fireworks display.
Turks Warn “We’re One Step Away From Civil War” On Erdogan Crackdown
Sadly, Erdogan’s campaign against the Kurds did not end after AKP put on a better showing in November’s manipulated rerun elections.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan cites Hitler’s Germany as example of effective government
Turkey’s president has been pushing for some time for a new presidential system to govern the country, sparring with critics who accuse him of attempting a power grab.
Nigel Farage fears he was victim of assassination attempt after motorway crash
Ukip leader fears someone tampered with his car causing him to crash on a motorway
Saudi Arabia Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Iran
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told news conference Iran’s diplomatic mission and related entities in Saudi Arabia given 48 hours to leave
Iranians Set Fire to Saudi Embassy in Tehran Following Execution of Shiite Cleric
Nimr al-Nimr, a Saudi Shiite cleric and leader of the Shiite opposition to the dominant Sunni government, was executed yesterday along with 47 al-Qaeda terrorists.
Gisela Mota: Mexican mayor shot dead within hours of taking office
She was attacked by four gunmen, police shot two and arrested the others
Opinion
Don’t Let Cultural Freeloaders Steal The Seeds Of Western Civilization
We must ensure that immigrants become what makes us the civilization they aspire to benefit from, rather than unwitting destroyers of its bounty.
The Death of Gratitude
The Roman philosopher and statesman Cicero insisted that gratitude was “the parent of all the other virtues.”
Seeing the West as worse
In the aftermath of San Bernardino and Paris massacres, our cognitive leaders – from President Obama on down – have warned Americans not to engage in what Hillary Clinton has described as “a clash of civilizations.” But you can’t have a real clash when one side – ours – seems compelled to demean its traditions and values.
International year of screaming campus garbage babies
Did you know that 2015 was the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies? It’s true! The United Nations, which apparently decides these things, reckoned 2015 was an appropriate time to recognise Thomas Edison’s world-changing invention, some 135 years after his light bulb was patented.
Leaving New York
But, still more attractive than a third-world country!
Hey, You Guys, It Is Now “Anti-Feminist” to Say Feminists Are “Not All Lesbians”
Carmen Rios (@carmenriosss) has described how she “became a women’s studies major and a raging lesbian feminist in college.” She is communications coordinator at the Feminist Majority Foundation. She speaks on behalf of the movement, and Carmen Rios is tired of hearing heterosexual women say the wrong thing
What Price Will Californians Pay for Decent Roads?
California Republicans and the Sacramento Bee have welcomed Gov. Jerry Brown (D) back to Sacramento from the climate change discussions in Paris. And now that he has finished, for the time being, saving the world, they are hoping Brown is ready to tackle, as the Bee put it, “the more prosaic reality of California’s miserable roads.”
2015: The Year When Campuses Went Mad
Paul and I lived through–participated in, I am sorry to say–the first round of madness, decades ago. We never imagined, in the intervening years, that America’s college campuses would sink so low again, without even the arguable excuse of an unpopular war.
Our Constitution : Now More Than Ever
Often, when a movie or a novel wants to use a truly vapid slogan for a pretend political campaign, the writers will fall back on the phrase “Now more than ever.” It’s so broad and vague as to be utterly meaningless. Yet it’s precisely what popped into my mind today when I thought about the pressing need for educating the public, both young and old, about the wonders of the United States Constitution.
When High School Students Know More About “Gender Equality” Than Grammar…
An Oklahoma High School girl struck back at the patriarchy in an attempt to start yet another stupid feminist social justice movement because she doesn’t like covering up her crotch.
Why Equality And Diversity Departments Should Only Hire Rich, Straight White Men
Twitter has hired a new head of “diversity” and already some uber-progressive types are whinging because he is white and male. Preposterous! they cry. But they are wrong. Actually, only rich, straight white men should have anything to do with running diversity initiatives.
When You Believe In Nothing, Islam Becomes Something
One of France’s best known writers weaves a believably dystopian tale where cultural passivity leads to Islamic dominance in the heart of Europe.
Republicans Can Stop Obsessing Over Hispanic Voters
Can Republicans win the next presidential election without getting more Hispanic votes? It’s a question that has obsessed the party since 2012. It’s also the wrong question.
Ted Cruz as “Too Conservative to Win” and the Goldwater Talking Point
The media typically begins any Presidential campaign with comparisons to Harry Truman. The Reagan re-election in 1984 had the comparison. The Bush re-election in 1992 had the comparison. The Clinton re-election in 1996 had the comparison. Humorously, the off year election of 2002 used the Truman comparison too, as did 2004.
How the Coming War Between Donald Trump And Hillary Clinton Is A Win For the GOP
Donald Trump picking another fight. This one is supremely important and all candidates, regardless of what they think about Trump, should pitch in. This one is with Hillary Clinton and it is a fight that Trump is very likely to win. Last week I posted on the first salvo Trump has fired at Hillary Clinton over her decision to bring Bill Clinton on board to help her sclerotic, incontinent campaign gain traction against a yet another rather daft old socialist in New Hampshire.
The Year Reheated
In which we marvel at the mental entanglements of our self-imagined betters.
Poverty plan offers a wealth of bad ideas
Donations flowing to statewide initiative that would impose surcharge on pricey properties
Coming 2016: All-Out War On So-Called “Social Justice”
In 2016, battle lines will be drawn. On one side, people of all colours, genders and orientations are rallying around the flag of freedom of speech. On the other, a nasty set of authoritarians are rallying around a flag that identifies as a flag only on Mondays, uses they/them pronouns and will try to get you fired or expelled from school if you forget it.
Feminism: Death Cult Chaos
“Feminism Is a Totalitarian Movement to Destroy Civilization as We Know It” — this is a truth that cannot be repeated often enough as we watch the Democrat-Media Complex mobilize all its resources to elect Hillary Clinton president.
Political Correctness Teaches Humans to Fail the Turing Test
One of mathematician Alan Turing’s most famous achievements — the one most people associate with his name, although a recent movie did much to change that — was his formulation of a test for artificial intelligence.
Islamotopia: The First Hundred Years
From the vantage point of one hundred years, we can see more clearly the achievements of the new island-nation known as Islamotopia.
Are Droids Slaves?
In Star Wars, droids aren’t robots or comic relief—they’re chattel
America’s self-destructive whites
Why is Middle America killing itself? The fact itself is probably the most important social science finding in years. It is already reshaping American politics. The Post’s Jeff Guo notes that the people who make up this cohort are “largely responsible for Donald Trump’s lead in the race for the Republican nomination for president.” The key question is why, and exploring it provides answers that suggest that the rage dominating U.S. politics will only get worse.
Why Online Anonymity frightens Progressives
The United States, as we know it today, was born in an anonymous debate.
2016: Year of the Chinese Curse
It’s not just because I have been reading the English translation of Michel Houellebecq’s Submission that I sense we are heading for some sort of apocalypse in 2016.
What’s Wrong With “Equality”?
One of the fundamental principles of logic is that you cannot reach a true conclusion if your argument is based on a false premise. Feminists have been proving this for nearly 50 years.
Campus Turmoil Begins in High School
A month before the Yale Halloween meltdown, I had a bizarre and illuminating experience at an elite private high school on the West Coast. I’ll call it Centerville High. I gave a version of a talk that you can see here, on Coddle U. vs. Strengthen U. (In an amazing coincidence, I first gave that talk at Yale a few weeks earlier).
What the Oregon protest is really about
The news stories about the protests in Oregon over father and son ranchers being sent to jail are all about the protests but say little about what is being protested.
Nevada is killing jobs it spent tax money to attract
Sometimes the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.
Renting your future
See, when you get all your music from Spottify and your movies from Netflix and your books from Amazon, your games from online, and your pictures are all stored on “the cloud” instead of locally or in physical format… you don’t actually own any of it. You rent it all.
