News of the Week
Arizona Shooting *************** Democratic congressman: Gabrielle Giffords shooting ‘the start of the revolution’ By Jeff Poor - The Daily Caller Were the heinous acts that occurred on Jan. 8 in Arizona the product of an isolated deranged mind, or were they the spark of something scarier with more violent implications? *************** Officers stopped suspect on day of Ariz. shooting By AMANDA LEE MYERS and JUSTIN PRITCHARD, Associated Press TUCSON, Ariz. – A wildlife officer pulled over the suspect in the assassination attempt against an Arizona congresswoman less than three hours before the deadly attack, authorities said Wednesday as they pieced together more details of a frenzied morning. *************** Jared Loughner’s friend says suspect ‘Did not watch TV … disliked the news’ By Chris Ariens This morning on “Good Morning America,” ABC’s Ashleigh Banfield sat down with Zach Osler, a high school friend of Jared Loughner, the suspect in the Tucson massacre. *************** Arizona shooting: Pima County Sheriff's Department, college won't release data on suspect by Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic Sheriff's Department and community-college officials in Pima County are refusing to release a wide range of public documents about the man charged in Saturday's shooting rampage that left six dead and more than a dozen wounded. *************** The Sixties Were Violent, Not Today *************** UC Berkeley Chancellor Blames Arizona Shooting on 'Hateful Speech,' Warns of Safety Consequences on Campus by Adam Kissel Yesterday morning, UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau e-mailed the campus community with regard to the horrendous mass shooting in Arizona that killed a federal judge, a 9-year-old girl, and several others while gravely injuring Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the apparent target of the attack. *************** Dem Congressman who called for GOP Gov. to be put against a wall and shot now pleads for civility *************** Liberals: Hey Let's Elevate the Tone And/Or Call For The Assassination of Sarah Palin Awful. They're agitating for this. Guilty of precisely the crime they charge their political enemies with -- and they're proud of it. *************** The Authoritarian Media The New York Times has crossed a moral line. *************** Glock Pistol Sales Surge in Aftermath of Arizona Shootings By Michael Riley After a Glock-wielding gunman killed six people at a Tucson shopping center on Jan. 8, Greg Wolff, the owner of two Arizona gun shops, told his manager to get ready for a stampede of new customers. *************** Pima County sheriff should remember duty The Arizona Republic On Saturday afternoon, with his friend Gabby Giffords in surgery fighting for her life, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik railed against the tense partisan politics - "the anger, the hatred, the bigotry" - that prompted the mass murders outside Tucson, in his view. *************** Fellow commenters at UFO conspiracy website questioned Jared Lee Loughner’s sanity in threads By Will Rahn - The Daily Caller Jared Lee Loughner, the gunman who stands accused of killing six people in Arizona on Saturday, appears to have been a frequent contributor to the comment threads of UFO conspiracy website AboveTopSecret.com. *************** Jared Loughner is a product of Sheriff Dupnik’s office This is the report that Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik has been dreading since the tragic event on Saturday January 8. The sheriff has been editorializing and politicizing the event since he took the podium to report on the incident. His blaming of radio personalities and bloggers is a pre-emptive strike because Mr. Dupnik knows this tragedy lays at his feet and his office. Six people died on his watch and he could have prevented it. He needs to step up and start apologizing to the families of the victims instead of spinning this event to serve his own political agenda. *************** 'You're dead,' man yells while photographing Tea Party spokesman http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41094534/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/ Man wounded in Tucson shooting arrested at meeting by Amy B Wang, The Arizona Republic A victim in the mass shooting north of Tucson attending a special town hall today was arrested after his outburst at a tea-party supporter who favored delaying talk about gun laws until emotions over the shooting have died down. *************** Heavy metal band responds to allegations that their music had any influence on AZ shooter By Caroline May - The Daily Caller The heavy metal band whose song “Bodies” was the only video listed on Jared Loughtner’s YouTube page is denying suggestions that one of their songs had anything to do with last weekend’s shootings. *************** FBI: Family of suspect in Giffords shooting blocking access to house Family members of the suspect in the Gabrielle Giffords shooting on Monday blockaded themselves into their home north of Tucson and were refusing FBI agents' entry. *************** Angle beats back criticism in Arizona shooting aftermath By: CNN Political Producer Shannon Travis Washington (CNN) – In the aftermath of the Arizona shootings, some critics have accused Republican Sharron Angle of spewing potentially dangerous political rhetoric in her recent bid for Nevada's Senate seat. Now, Angle is responding: releasing a statement on Wednesday that denounces any form of violence - and calls the criticism of her dangerous. *************** Where Are the Riots? By Kevin D. Williamson I would like to draw your attention to the sound of a dog not barking: Following the slaughter in Tucson, consider what did not happen: no further violence, no retaliation against Loughner’s family or friends. Indeed, the only sentiments I have heard expressed about Loughner’s family have been those of concern and sympathy. The killer was not torn to pieces at the scene. He will receive a trial, with gold-plated legal representation, and, almost certainly, first-rate psychiatric care. *************** CHARGES FOR ALL Tim Blair *************** America's Enduring Strength by Sarah Palin Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent victims. No words can fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn for the victims’ families as we express our sympathy. *************** Validating Aspects of 'The Cholla Jumps' Backstory Within hours of the shootings in Tucson, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik made the questionable decision to appear on as many national television programs as possible. In each appearance, he made the rather bizarre assertion that talk radio, the Republican Party or other dark forces motivated young Loughner to commit mass murder. These statements were completely unfounded and Dupnik admitted as much when pressed. *************** Did Dupnik dismiss Loughner threat? I have a rule of thumb: if I write a post on a topic, and I get either hate mail or hate posts about it, then I’m onto something. Well, yesterday I wrote a post on Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik’s rather strange tactical decision to imply that the Chinese were behind Jared Loughner’s attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords*, and I got both. Apparently, the Left was not too happy at my suggestion that Sheriff Dupnik’s re-election chances have taken a fatal hit; which was perhaps a bit surprising, because I’ve had Arizona political mavens tell me that Dupnik’s typically seen as being fairly safe. *************** Man who shot AZ Congresswoman in the head is a left-wing lunatic *************** War
& Terror *************** Russia nears arms pact approval, warns on pullout By Steve Gutterman MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia's parliament moved closer to approving a landmark arms reduction treaty with Washington Friday by amending domestic legislation to stress that Moscow could withdraw from the pact if it felt threatened by the West. *************** Israeli Test on Worm Called Crucial in Iran Nuclear Delay By WILLIAM J. BROAD, JOHN MARKOFF and DAVID E. SANGER The Dimona complex in the Negev desert is famous as the heavily guarded heart of Israel’s never-acknowledged nuclear arms program, where neat rows of factories make atomic fuel for the arsenal. *************** National *************** Former Planned Parenthood Director to Expose Abortion Biz Abby Johnson was named an employee of the year in 2008 when she was the director of a Planned Parenthood abortion business in southeast Texas, but the recent pro-life convert will tell all in a new webcast. *************** Feds threaten to sue states over union laws By SAM HANANEL, Associated Press WASHINGTON – The National Labor Relations Board on Friday threatened to sue Arizona, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah over constitutional amendments guaranteeing workers the right to a secret ballot in union elections. *************** Fish compete with college students on math test Mosquitofish perform as well as college students on a basic numbers test. *************** Marin County’s Minority Problem HUD busts the liberal bastion (Barbara Boxer's former district!) for insufficient minority population. *************** GOP gears up again to strip NPR of federal funds TAGS: Byron York Congressional Research Service Corporation for Public Broadcasting doug lamborn Juan Williams Muslim garb national endowment for the arts National Public Radio npr Republicans vivian schiller By: Byron York, Chief Political Correspondent For years, Republicans have wanted to cut off federal funding for National Public Radio. They tried and failed in the 1990s, but now, with a new GOP majority in the House, they're ready to try again. It's still a long shot, but they have a fighting chance. *************** Hutchison First Retirement of 2012 Cycle By David M. Drucker Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) announced Thursday that she will not run for re-election in 2012, making official a decision that many predicted was forthcoming. *************** Realistic Agricultural yield increases can sustainably feed everyone in 2050 and another study shows we can house them too *************** The ultrasound that changed my life - Abby Johnson’s pro-life conversion in her own words by Abby Johnson *************** Ensign seriously endangered in primary Nevada Republican insiders hope that John Ensign will voluntarily step aside rather than seeking a third term in the Senate but even if he doesn't his chances of winning another term are pretty small. Asked who they want their Senate candidate to be next year from a laundry list of candidates just 20% pick Ensign, with Dean Heller leading the way at 30%. *************** Vanderbilt University illegally requiring nursing residents to sign abortion pledge ADF files complaint with Department of Health and Human Services NASHVILLE — The Alliance Defense Fund filed a complaint Tuesday with the Department of Health and Human Services against Vanderbilt University for requiring nursing residents to participate in abortion procedures. Vanderbilt receives more than $300 million in federal tax dollars each year, and federal law prohibits grant recipients from forcing students or health care workers to participate in abortions contrary to their religious beliefs or moral convictions. *************** Ashley Turton, former Hill staffer, dies in car fire By Rachael Bade and Jessica Brady - Roll Call Ashley Turton, former chief of staff to Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and wife of White House liaison to the House of Representatives Dan Turton, was found dead in her car Monday morning. *************** Poll: Gays, lesbians more likely to go green at ballot box By Ben Geman Gays and lesbians are more likely than heterosexuals to prioritize environmental issues at the ballot box — and when deciding which products to buy, according to a new poll. *************** Judge sentences Tom DeLay to 3 years in prison By JUAN A. LOZANO, The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas -- A judge ordered former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to serve three years in prison Monday for his role in a scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002. *************** Do Voters’ Constitutional Cravings Spell Daniels in ’12? The Indiana governor has a good shot at the nomination. *************** Bitter Blue Dogs Ready to Cut Deals By Steven T. Dennis and Kathleen Hunter, Roll Call Staff Blue Dog Democrats remain deeply frustrated with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s leadership and are signaling they are ready to break ranks and cut deals with Republicans. *************** Barbour defeats Boehner in proxy battle for control of RNC; Steele ousted By Ralph Z. Hallow, The Washington Times For many Republican National Committee members and GOP activists, the real headline after Friday's defeat of RNC Chairman Michael S. Steele was "Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour defeats House Speaker John A. Boehner." *************** Former LA Mayor Richard Riordan on Schwarzenegger, Unions, and Bankrupt Cities by Reason TV “Throughout the country, 90 percent of cities and states are going to go bankrupt within the next five years, many of them sooner.” So says former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan. *************** Parents fume over Black's 'birth control' quip about overcrowding By YOAV GONEN Education Reporter Less than two weeks into her new gig, Schools Chancellor Cathie Black has riled parents and public officials by jokingly suggesting that "birth control" was the solution to school overcrowding. *************** Uncertainty reigns in 2012 House handicapping By Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake With Republicans gaining a whopping 63 seats in the 2010 election and the decennial redistricting process just beginning to ramp up, uncertainty is the watch word heading into 2012 House election. *************** Economy
& Taxes *************** Moody’s, S&P issue warning to US on bond ratingsMind you, these are the same bond-rating agencies that Congress has blamed for the financial collapse in 2008 for being too lenient with their credit ratings — specifically, on those holding government-endorsed mortgage-backed securities, or derivatives directly or indirectly related to them. Now Moody’s and S&P are setting off alarms over the debt ratios of the United States and warn that our AAA ratings may be in danger. *************** Jobless Claims Jump, Wholesale Food Costs Surge U.S. jobless claims jumped to their highest level since October while food and energy costs boosted producer prices, pointing lingering headwinds for an economic recovery that had been showing renewed vigor. *************** The Government Spending Threat to Economic Freedom This morning, The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal released the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom, and while the news is good for many countries, it is depressing for the United States. All told, 117 countries, mainly developing and emerging market economies, improved their Economic Freedom Index score. Meanwhile the U.S. dropped to 9th place, remaining “mostly free,” weighed down by the burden of President Obama’s spending spree. *************** Simplify! Dump the Current Tax Code and Start Over TAX REFORM: A WIN-WIN Want to reduce the deficit and at the same time get Republicans and Democrats to agree on major legislation? Try tax reform—a winning bipartisan platform that can finally rid us of the 60,000 pages in the current tax code. *************** Budget Worries Push Governors to Same Mind-Set By MONICA DAVEY CHICAGO — The dismal fiscal situation in many states is forcing governors, despite their party affiliation, toward a consensus on what medicine is needed going forward. *************** Comprehensive List of Tax Hikes in Obamacare From Ryan Ellis Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will be voting on an historic repeal of the Obamacare law. While there are many reasons to oppose this flawed government health insurance law, it is important to remember that Obamacare is also one of the largest tax increases in American history. Below is a comprehensive list of the two dozen new or higher taxes that pay for Obamcare’s expansion of government spending and interference between doctors and patients. *************** Munis Crashing For Third Straight Day, And This Is The Worst Yet Joe Weisenthal It's hard to look at this chart, and not have your heart skip a bit of a beat. For three days now, munis have tanked, and this is the worst one yet. *************** Housing Market Slips Into Depression Territory As the economy revs back to life, with signs of hiring on the horizon, the housing market is being left behind like Macaulay Culkin in “Home Alone.” *************** New Move to Make Yuan a Global Currency China has launched trading in its currency in the U.S. for the first time, an explicit endorsement by Beijing of the fast-growing market in the yuan and a significant step in the country's plan to foster global trading in its currency. *************** Big Trouble in the Lone Star State Tim Cavanaugh "You can all go to hell, I'm going to Texas" got a little harder for fiscal conservatives and no-new-taxers to say yesterday, as it turned out longtime Gov. Rick Perry has been sitting on a pretty substantial budget deficit. *************** International *************** Whistleblower hands WikiLeaks offshore bank secrets by Robin Millard LONDON (AFP) – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange vowed to publish secret details of offshore accounts after a Swiss banking whistleblower handed over data Monday on 2,000 purportedly tax-dodging individuals and firms. *************** ‘That Little Faggot With the Earring and the Makeup’? He’s Now Banned in Canada Dire Straits ix now branded a homophobic hate group *************** Nick Clegg's referendum threatened by Lords power-struggle Nick Clegg’s plan for a May referendum on changing the electoral system is being threatened by a power-struggle in the House of Lords. *************** Amazing Video Chart Showing China's Fertility Rate Dropping Off A Cliff *************** China, High Speed Rail, and Mobility by Samuel Staley Many in the U.S. point to China as an example of why investment in rail transportation makes sense here. Unfortunately, that's not really the lesson from China we should learn. While it's true that China's investment in high-speed rail is making it a world leader in this technology, it's not true that this is a model that should be emulated by the U.S. or other developed countries. *************** Bolivia's Mayhem By Alvaro Vargas Llosa LIMA, Peru -- Bolivia has been shaken by violent protests that have pushed Evo Morales' populist government against the ropes for the first time since he assumed power five years ago. There have been other political crises under his tenure, but now the revolt has come from his own political base. *************** Opinion *************** Another Genius Idea from Central Planning by Ralph Reiland Just when employers were getting less fearful about what President Obama might do next to worsen the business climate, the National Labor Relations Board (now with its first Democratic majority in a decade) announced on December 14 that, under a newly proposed federal rule, private employers will be required to display pro-unionizing posters in their businesses. *************** The CPAC Controversy and the End of Fusionism Posted by Ben Domenech *************** 'We Don't Have Proof Yet' Violent fantasy goes mainstream on the left. *************** The Enduring Lesson Of The 2010 Elections by Thomas Del Beccaro Election cycles come and go. In recent years, control of the House of Representatives has been changing rather faster than ever before – three turnovers in the last 16 years alone after four decades of one-party rule. *************** ‘The Guardian Goes Full Orwell’ by Ed Driscoll *************** The progressive “climate of hate:” An illustrated primer, 2000-2010 By Michelle Malkin The Tuscon massacre ghouls who are now trying to criminalize conservatism have forced our hand. They need to be reminded. You need to be reminded. Confront them. Don’t be cowed into silence. *************** First Hispanic governor, Brian Sandoval, is the rising hope of GOP Is Gov. Brian Sandoval the white knight Nevada Republicans have been waiting for? Fractured by the 2010 elections, the GOP certainly seems in need of rescue. And leaders on the national and state levels point to the popular and telegenic Sandoval as a promising standard-bearer *************** The Ends Justify the Means: The Day Emma Goldman Shot President McKinley Posted by LaborUnionReport *************** |
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