Sen. Landrieu Says S. Dakota Borders Canada While Calling Border Fence 'Dumb':
“A smart fence, which is what Senator McCain and I want to build--since he’s from Arizona, I think he knows more about this than the Senator from South Dakota who only has a border with Canada and that is quite different,” Landrieu said.
South Dakota does not share a border with Canada. It does, however, share borders with North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa.
Landrieu went on to argue that the 700-mile border double-fence that Congress passed into law a few years ago is a “dumb fence.”
Friday, June 14, 2013
Mike Rogers will not run for U.S. Senate | MLive.com
Mike Rogers will not run for U.S. Senate | MLive.com
Growing up in Brighton, my mom ran the local Chamber of Commerce and my dad was a high school teacher, football coach and local official. Their selfless actions ingrained in me the importance of and honor in public service, and the satisfaction of working with others to improve our community.
It has been such a privilege and honor to represent the people of Michigan's Eighth Congressional District. In recent years, and with my constituents' confidence, we have been able to work in a bipartisan way to make a difference and accomplish great things for our state and country. We eliminated federal taxes on education savings accounts and protected the sanctity of military funerals. Together we continue to fight the massive government takeover of health care, and work to provide real cost savings and preserve the doctor patient relationship. We've worked to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and led bipartisan efforts to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species like Asian Carp.
And now, as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, we've worked in a bipartisan way to dramatically improve the oversight of our national security programs and pass significant national security measures into law. We have also advanced important cyber security legislation and measures to crack down on cyber thieves like China who are stealing good-paying jobs from Michigan and around the nation.
I am truly humbled by the encouragement I have had to run for the United States Senate. After careful and thorough deliberation and long talks with my family, friends and supporters, I have determined that the best way for me to continue to have a direct impact for my constituents and the nation is to remain in the House of Representatives. For me, the significance and depth of the impact I can make on my constituent's behalf far outweighs the perceived importance of any title I might hold.
I believe that my constituents sent me to Washington to do something - to work to help improve the economy, crack down on wasteful Washington spending and keep America safe. With these marching orders, I believe that from my current position I am best able to have a real, positive impact on protecting our nation and her citizens. And with complex challenges in Syria, Iran, North Korea, North Africa, Afghanistan, and China - intelligence issues will continue to be at the forefront of American national security concerns in the coming years.
I am committed to doing my best on your behalf to work with Republicans and Democrats in a non-partisan way to advance America's national security interests in these areas, while conducting aggressive oversight of President Obama's new national security team and the policies this Administration is implementing. Of course, without strong national security, America cannot have a strong economy and good-paying jobs back home.
We in Michigan have the good fortune of having a deep bench of Republican leaders who would make great United States Senators. I have full confidence that Michigan's Republican primary voters will select a candidate who can win and who will represent what has united the Michigan Republican party for generations: support for the free market capitalism that has created the strongest economy and biggest middle class on earth, a limited government, a strong American foreign policy, and a robust defense of our nation's security.
Once the Senate primary has concluded, I look forward to doing everything I can to elect a Republican U.S. Senator from Michigan who will work to keep Michigan moving forward and help us get a handle on out-of-control Washington spending and debt.
Thank you again for your generous support, friendship and encouragement. I look forward to continuing to work together.
Sincerely,
Mike Rogers
Growing up in Brighton, my mom ran the local Chamber of Commerce and my dad was a high school teacher, football coach and local official. Their selfless actions ingrained in me the importance of and honor in public service, and the satisfaction of working with others to improve our community.
It has been such a privilege and honor to represent the people of Michigan's Eighth Congressional District. In recent years, and with my constituents' confidence, we have been able to work in a bipartisan way to make a difference and accomplish great things for our state and country. We eliminated federal taxes on education savings accounts and protected the sanctity of military funerals. Together we continue to fight the massive government takeover of health care, and work to provide real cost savings and preserve the doctor patient relationship. We've worked to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and led bipartisan efforts to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species like Asian Carp.
And now, as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, we've worked in a bipartisan way to dramatically improve the oversight of our national security programs and pass significant national security measures into law. We have also advanced important cyber security legislation and measures to crack down on cyber thieves like China who are stealing good-paying jobs from Michigan and around the nation.
I am truly humbled by the encouragement I have had to run for the United States Senate. After careful and thorough deliberation and long talks with my family, friends and supporters, I have determined that the best way for me to continue to have a direct impact for my constituents and the nation is to remain in the House of Representatives. For me, the significance and depth of the impact I can make on my constituent's behalf far outweighs the perceived importance of any title I might hold.
I believe that my constituents sent me to Washington to do something - to work to help improve the economy, crack down on wasteful Washington spending and keep America safe. With these marching orders, I believe that from my current position I am best able to have a real, positive impact on protecting our nation and her citizens. And with complex challenges in Syria, Iran, North Korea, North Africa, Afghanistan, and China - intelligence issues will continue to be at the forefront of American national security concerns in the coming years.
I am committed to doing my best on your behalf to work with Republicans and Democrats in a non-partisan way to advance America's national security interests in these areas, while conducting aggressive oversight of President Obama's new national security team and the policies this Administration is implementing. Of course, without strong national security, America cannot have a strong economy and good-paying jobs back home.
We in Michigan have the good fortune of having a deep bench of Republican leaders who would make great United States Senators. I have full confidence that Michigan's Republican primary voters will select a candidate who can win and who will represent what has united the Michigan Republican party for generations: support for the free market capitalism that has created the strongest economy and biggest middle class on earth, a limited government, a strong American foreign policy, and a robust defense of our nation's security.
Once the Senate primary has concluded, I look forward to doing everything I can to elect a Republican U.S. Senator from Michigan who will work to keep Michigan moving forward and help us get a handle on out-of-control Washington spending and debt.
Thank you again for your generous support, friendship and encouragement. I look forward to continuing to work together.
Sincerely,
Mike Rogers
WayPoint Academy shutting its doors, board cites achievement, financial problems
WayPoint Academy shutting its doors, board cites achievement, financial problems | MLive.com
Fisher said a series of controversies that hit the school recently didn’t enter into the decision to close. Last October, the school’s former director, Barbara Stellard, was charged with inflating student numbers to obtain more funding for the school. She subsequently pleaded guilty.
Last December, former staff member Eva Amaya sued the school, saying she lost her job because she had informed GVSU officials of Stellard’s student count inflation, triggering the state’s investigation. Her lawsuit is still pending.
In January, embattled Portage Public Schools official Patricia Koeze took over as superintendent of WayPoint. Koeze had been implicated in an “inappropriate relationship” with Portage’s superintendent who ended up resigning.
Portage Public Schools officials said they didn’t know Koeze had started a new job at Waypoint while she was still on the Portage payroll. Portage officials issued a statement saying Koeze submitted her “involuntary resignation” from Portage on Jan. 21 a week after she began at WayPoint. Koeze ended up resigning from WayPoint on Jan. 24 after just 10 days on the job.
Reedell Holmes, the man Koeze replaced as superintendent, ended up filing a breach of contract lawsuit against the school in late February. His claim that he’s owed more than $67,000 has not been settled.
California, Illinois on Brink of Pension Crisis; New Actuarial Rules Will Force States to Admit Problems
Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis: California, Illinois on Brink of Pension Crisis; New Actuarial Rules Will Force States to Admit Problems:
"Many states, especially California and Illinois, have had severe pension underfunding problems for many years.
However, new actuarial pension rules will finally force states to admit the problem. Thus, it should not be surprising that talk of "technical bankruptcy" and “service insolvency” is growing."
"Many states, especially California and Illinois, have had severe pension underfunding problems for many years.
However, new actuarial pension rules will finally force states to admit the problem. Thus, it should not be surprising that talk of "technical bankruptcy" and “service insolvency” is growing."
Funding for Common Core implementation ends with Gov. Snyder's signature on budget
Funding for Common Core implementation ends with Gov. Snyder's signature on budget | MLive.com
"Michigan joined Indiana as the only other state to halt implementating the Common Core State Standards for mathematics and language arts after Gov. Rick Snyder signed the state's budget Thursday."
"Michigan joined Indiana as the only other state to halt implementating the Common Core State Standards for mathematics and language arts after Gov. Rick Snyder signed the state's budget Thursday."
Muskegon church leader charged with alleged criminal sexual conduct involving multiple victims over 40-year span
Muskegon church leader charged with alleged criminal sexual conduct involving multiple victims over 40-year span | MLive.com:
"A 76-year-old Muskegon man who’s been an active church leader for decades has been charged with three felonies for alleged criminal sexual conduct with multiple victims that spanned over 40 years, authorities said.
Carlton Lindberg Johnson has been charged with three felonies in relation to criminal sexual conduct he allegedly committed with multiple victims, according to Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tim Maat."
"A 76-year-old Muskegon man who’s been an active church leader for decades has been charged with three felonies for alleged criminal sexual conduct with multiple victims that spanned over 40 years, authorities said.
Carlton Lindberg Johnson has been charged with three felonies in relation to criminal sexual conduct he allegedly committed with multiple victims, according to Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tim Maat."
Muskegon Farmers Market groundbreaking to reveal new Community Foundation matching grant
Muskegon Farmers Market groundbreaking to reveal new Community Foundation matching grant | MLive.com: ".......announce a matching grant from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.
.... The matching grant will help fund the $3 million project spearheaded by the Downtown Muskegon Development Corp., the nonprofit that spearheaded plans to move the market earlier this year."
.... The matching grant will help fund the $3 million project spearheaded by the Downtown Muskegon Development Corp., the nonprofit that spearheaded plans to move the market earlier this year."
U.S. Census: Muskegon County gets older; median age half a year older than in 2010
U.S. Census: Muskegon County gets older; median age half a year older than in 2010 | MLive.com:
"The median age of Muskegon County residents is 6 months older than it was two years ago, according to recently released U.S. Census estimates.
Muskegon’s median age in 2012 was 38.7 years old, up from 38.2 in 2010.
The statewide median age increased during the same time, 39.4 years old, up half a year from 38.9 in 2010.
Related: More young adults are staying in Michigan while number of school age kids decreases
Muskegon is still several years the senior of its south and southeast neighbors, Ottawa County (35 years old) and Kent County (34.6)."
"The median age of Muskegon County residents is 6 months older than it was two years ago, according to recently released U.S. Census estimates.
Muskegon’s median age in 2012 was 38.7 years old, up from 38.2 in 2010.
The statewide median age increased during the same time, 39.4 years old, up half a year from 38.9 in 2010.
Related: More young adults are staying in Michigan while number of school age kids decreases
Muskegon is still several years the senior of its south and southeast neighbors, Ottawa County (35 years old) and Kent County (34.6)."
Overcriminalization: The Government vs. YOU
Overcriminalization: The Government vs. YOU:
"A young girl was fined $535… for rescuing a wounded woodpecker.
A businessman was jailed for years… for shipping lobsters in plastic bags rather than cardboard boxes.
A Maryland father and building engineer faced a years-long legal ordeal… after being unfairly targeted under the Clean Water Act."
"A young girl was fined $535… for rescuing a wounded woodpecker.
A businessman was jailed for years… for shipping lobsters in plastic bags rather than cardboard boxes.
A Maryland father and building engineer faced a years-long legal ordeal… after being unfairly targeted under the Clean Water Act."
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Poof! Media drop coverage of IRS scandal
Poof! Media drop coverage of IRS scandal | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"That was fast--but not unexpected. The media frenzy over the IRS scandal, which dominated the Big Three networks for two weeks, has practically disappeared from the news, according to a new report."
"That was fast--but not unexpected. The media frenzy over the IRS scandal, which dominated the Big Three networks for two weeks, has practically disappeared from the news, according to a new report."
Family Relations Between Media, Obama Officials Does Not Affect Coverage
Washington Post: Family Relations Between Media, Obama Officials Does Not Affect Coverage
Let's start by going through the Post's article to create a list of journalists married to or closely related to officials within the Obama administration. The size and scope of this is bad enough. But what is most troubling is how high up this incest occurs in the worlds of both the media and the Obama administration:
- ABC News President Ben Sherwood, who is the brother of Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, a top national-security adviser to President Obama.
- His counterpart at CBS, news division president David Rhodes, is the brother of Benjamin Rhodes, a key foreign-policy specialist.
- CNN’s deputy Washington bureau chief, Virginia Moseley, is married to Tom Nides, who until earlier this year was deputy secretary of state under Hillary Rodham Clinton.
- White House press secretary Jay Carney’s wife is Claire Shipman, a veteran reporter for ABC.
- NPR’s White House correspondent, Ari Shapiro, is married to a lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, who joined the White House counsel’s office in April.
- The Post’s Justice Department reporter, Sari Horwitz, is married to William B. Schultz, the general counsel of the Department of Human Services.
- [VP] Biden’s current communications director, Shailagh Murray (a former Post congressional reporter), is married to Neil King, one of the Wall Street Journal’s top political reporters.
This list doesn't even include those dating and sleeping together. And if you've seen "House of Cards," you know it's Caligula up there.
Naturally, the Post, and those in media interviewed for the article, all claim that none of this in any way affects their coverage of the Obama administration.
And you know what -- I believe them.
As someone who has been watching the media closely for twenty-years, I can tell you that even without all this incest, the media would still be guarding Obama's palace just as aggressively as it does now. Family relations have nothing to do with it.
Our media would be just as corrupt, just as unwilling to dig into scandals, just as obsessed with The War On The WomanParts and gay marriage; just as dishonest, partisan, and lazy were no one in any way related to top officials within the Obama administration.
These relations are not the cause of the media's corruption; they are a symptom of it.
St. Louis police commander survives ambush while on special patrol
St. Louis police commander survives ambush while on special patrol : News:
“He looks me dead in the eye, lifts his pistol and starts shooting at me,” Spiess said Wednesday.
“The first round sounded like a shotgun went off in my car.
Then I heard a high-pitched whine go through the (open) driver’s side window and out the passenger window.
“He looked at me square in the face, I’m in an Impala, wearing a police shirt, and he was looking me right in the eye.
He knew who he was shooting at.
He absolutely knew I was a policeman.”
Obama's America......
“He looks me dead in the eye, lifts his pistol and starts shooting at me,” Spiess said Wednesday.
“The first round sounded like a shotgun went off in my car.
Then I heard a high-pitched whine go through the (open) driver’s side window and out the passenger window.
“He looked at me square in the face, I’m in an Impala, wearing a police shirt, and he was looking me right in the eye.
He knew who he was shooting at.
He absolutely knew I was a policeman.”
Obama's America......
If There Is A "Housing Recovery" Then This Chart Can't Be Right
If There Is A "Housing Recovery" Then This Chart Can't Be Right | Zero Hedge:
"Let's start with the oldest economics joke in the book: "assume there is a housing recovery."
Ok, let's assume that.
So, applying logic, wouldn't consumers be actively buying furniture for their brand new homes, instead of furniture sales not only declining for the past year but posting the first negative print since January 2011"
"Let's start with the oldest economics joke in the book: "assume there is a housing recovery."
Ok, let's assume that.
So, applying logic, wouldn't consumers be actively buying furniture for their brand new homes, instead of furniture sales not only declining for the past year but posting the first negative print since January 2011"
Franz Statement on Medicaid Expansion
RightMichigan.com || Franz Statement on Medicaid Expansion:
"Representative Ray Franz (Genuine R-101) issued a statement on Medicaid expansion:
I apologize in advance for the length of this piece, but this is a big and complex issue.
I find it somewhat amusing that some of the people who were worried that I would vote in lockstep with the Governor, now want me to rubberstamp his Medicaid Expansion plan.
I cannot and here's why:
First, this subsidized health coverage (benefit) is going to include a very large portion of our population - some say as many as 600,000.
I believe it may be more.
The benefit will go to those over 133% of the Federal Poverty Line.
But that is based on adjusted gross income which takes 5% off the bottom and adjusts.
So the 133% could be 140% of actual earnings - or more.
When you consider that ObamaCare is forcing many in the service and retail industry to cut employee hours to under 29 - this has the potential of including far more than 600,000 people."
"Representative Ray Franz (Genuine R-101) issued a statement on Medicaid expansion:
I apologize in advance for the length of this piece, but this is a big and complex issue.
I find it somewhat amusing that some of the people who were worried that I would vote in lockstep with the Governor, now want me to rubberstamp his Medicaid Expansion plan.
I cannot and here's why:
First, this subsidized health coverage (benefit) is going to include a very large portion of our population - some say as many as 600,000.
I believe it may be more.
The benefit will go to those over 133% of the Federal Poverty Line.
But that is based on adjusted gross income which takes 5% off the bottom and adjusts.
So the 133% could be 140% of actual earnings - or more.
When you consider that ObamaCare is forcing many in the service and retail industry to cut employee hours to under 29 - this has the potential of including far more than 600,000 people."
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
BLACKFIVE: First verified lie from Ed Snowden
BLACKFIVE: First verified lie from Ed Snowden
The 18 X-ray program is a way to go directly from the street to the Special Forces course. You first would attend basic and advanced individual training and then airborne school. Upon successful conclusion of those you head to Bragg for some prep training and the Special Forces Assessment and Selection course. If you pass all of those, then and only then do you start Special Forces training.
Mr. Snowden wasn't even eligible for this program as he didn't even graduate from High School. So the claim that he broke his legs in Special Forces training is BS and that makes him a poseur. Well actually not even a poseur, he claimed to be training to be SF, so that makes him a poseur wannabe, or a wannabe poseur. I'm not real sure how the semantics of that work out. But either way, not really a great way to build credibility. He also made this claim that never rang true when I first read it.
He recounted how his beliefs about the war's purpose were quickly dispelled. "Most of the people training us seemed pumped up about killing Arabs, not helping anyone," he said.
Right, so the people who weren't training you for Special Forces also happened to be knuckle-dragging troglodytes who were simply looking for a chance to go smoke some A-Rabs. Well I'm not buying it Eddie. I ran into plenty of your types in the military, disaffected losers who never actually finish anything but always have a bucket-load of excuses and who were always whining about how the system sucks. They were never responsible for their own failures, it was always oppression by the man. They were just too smart for the fools running things to recognize their brilliance. Sound familiar? They were also all varying flavors of bats**t as well.
- See more at: http://www.blackfive.net/main/2013/06/first-verified-lie-from-ed-snowden.html#sthash.FBclJwh0.dpuf
New transgender rules at BPD
New transgender rules at BPD | Boston Herald:
"Transgender criminal suspects can demand that cops call them by their adopted names, choose whether male or female officers frisk them and get a personal, private ride to court under new policies unveiled by Boston police Commissioner Edward F. Davis yesterday.
...The policies require cops to:
• “address transgender individuals by the individual’s adopted name ... even if the individual has not received legal recognition of the adopted name”
• “respectfully ask the individual” when they are “uncertain about which pronouns are appropriate”
• ask transgender suspects whether they prefer a frisk by male or female officers.-
"Transgender criminal suspects can demand that cops call them by their adopted names, choose whether male or female officers frisk them and get a personal, private ride to court under new policies unveiled by Boston police Commissioner Edward F. Davis yesterday.
...The policies require cops to:
• “address transgender individuals by the individual’s adopted name ... even if the individual has not received legal recognition of the adopted name”
• “respectfully ask the individual” when they are “uncertain about which pronouns are appropriate”
• ask transgender suspects whether they prefer a frisk by male or female officers.-
Jeff Duncan questions IRS rifle usage
Jeff Duncan questions IRS rifle usage - Tal Kopan - POLITICO.com:
"As chairman of the House Homeland Security oversight subcommittee, Duncan (R-S.C.) toured a federal law enforcement facility in late May and noticed agents training with the semi-automatic weapons at a firing range. They identified themselves as IRS, he said.
“When I left there, it’s been bugging me for weeks now, why IRS agents are training with a semi-automatic rifle AR-15, which has stand-off capability,” Duncan told POLITICO.
“Are Americans that much of a target that you need that kind of capability?”"
"As chairman of the House Homeland Security oversight subcommittee, Duncan (R-S.C.) toured a federal law enforcement facility in late May and noticed agents training with the semi-automatic weapons at a firing range. They identified themselves as IRS, he said.
“When I left there, it’s been bugging me for weeks now, why IRS agents are training with a semi-automatic rifle AR-15, which has stand-off capability,” Duncan told POLITICO.
“Are Americans that much of a target that you need that kind of capability?”"
What is a derecho? Meteorologist explains
What is a derecho? Meteorologist explains | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com:
"A derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm associated with a band or shelf of rapidly moving thunderstorms.
By definition, a derecho has to be at least 240 miles long and have winds of at least 58 miles per hour or greater."
"A derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm associated with a band or shelf of rapidly moving thunderstorms.
By definition, a derecho has to be at least 240 miles long and have winds of at least 58 miles per hour or greater."
Ex-Ficano aide, 41, to get $96k pension
WXYZ News: Ex-Ficano aide, 41, to get $96k pension:
"Matt Schenk isn't your average retiree.
He's 41, works full-time and collects $196,000 a year at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.
But as soon as next month, he'll start collecting an estimated $96,000 annual pension, courtesy of an early retirement incentive offered to Wayne County appointees.
It had no age restriction.
Before moving to the water department, Schenk was Robert Ficano's former chief of staff.
He admits he doesn't need the cash, and said he wanted to wait another five years before drawing his lucrative pension.
But last month, he says, the retirement board notified him that he needed to enroll now or lose out on the benefit."
"Matt Schenk isn't your average retiree.
He's 41, works full-time and collects $196,000 a year at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.
But as soon as next month, he'll start collecting an estimated $96,000 annual pension, courtesy of an early retirement incentive offered to Wayne County appointees.
It had no age restriction.
Before moving to the water department, Schenk was Robert Ficano's former chief of staff.
He admits he doesn't need the cash, and said he wanted to wait another five years before drawing his lucrative pension.
But last month, he says, the retirement board notified him that he needed to enroll now or lose out on the benefit."
If the GOP is this stupid, it deserves to die
If the GOP is this stupid, it deserves to die | The Daily Caller
If the GOP is this stupid, it deserves to die
Posted By Ann Coulter On 6:27 PM 06/12/2013 In Opinion | No Comments
Democrats terrify Hispanics into thinking they’ll be lynched if they vote for Republicans, and then turn around and taunt Republicans for not winning a majority of the Hispanic vote.
This line of attack has real resonance with our stupidest Republicans. (Proposed Republican primary targets: Sens. Kelly Ayotte, Jeff Flake, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio.) Which explains why Republicans are devoting all their energy to slightly increasing their share of the Hispanic vote while alienating everyone else in America.
It must be fun for liberals to manipulate Republicans into focusing on hopeless causes. Why don’t Democrats waste their time trying to win the votes of gun owners?
As journalist Steve Sailer recently pointed out, the Hispanic vote terrifying Republicans isn’t that big. It actually declined in 2012. The Census Bureau finally released the real voter turnout numbers from the last election, and the Hispanic vote came in at only 8.4 percent of the electorate — not the 10 percent claimed by the pro-amnesty crowd.
The sleeping giant of the last election wasn’t Hispanics; it was elderly black women, terrified of media claims that Republicans were trying to suppress the black vote and determined to keep the first African-American president in the White House.
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, 10 percent more blacks voted in 2012 compared to 2008, even beating white voters, the usual turnout champions. Eligible black voters turned out at rate of 66.2 percent, compared to 64.1 percent of eligible white voters. Only 48 percent of all eligible Hispanic voters went to the polls.
No one saw this coming, which is probably why Gallup had Romney up by 5 points before Hurricane Sandy hit, and up by 1 point in its last pre-election poll after the hurricane.
Only two groups voted in larger numbers in 2012 compared to 2008: blacks aged 45-64, and blacks over the age of 65 — mostly elderly black women.
In raw numbers, nearly twice as many blacks voted as Hispanics, and nine times as many whites voted as Hispanics. (Ninety-eight million whites, 18 million blacks and 11 million Hispanics.)
So, naturally, the Republican Party’s entire battle plan going forward is to win slightly more votes from 8.4 percent of the electorate by giving them something they don’t want.
As Byron York has shown, even if Mitt Romney had won 70 percent of the Hispanic vote, he still would have lost. No Republican presidential candidate in at least 50 years has won even half of the Hispanic vote.
In the presidential election immediately after Reagan signed an amnesty bill in 1986, the Republican share of the Hispanic vote actually declined from 37 percent to 30 percent — and that was in a landslide election for the GOP. Combined, the two Bush presidents averaged 32.5 percent of the Hispanic vote — and they have Hispanics in their family Christmas cards.
John McCain, the nation’s leading amnesty proponent, won only 31 percent of the Hispanic vote, not much more than anti-amnesty Romney’s 27 percent.
Amnesty is a gift to employers, not employees.
The (pro-amnesty) Pew Research Hispanic Center has produced poll after poll showing that Hispanics don’t care about amnesty. In a poll last fall, Hispanic voters said they cared more about education, jobs and health care than immigration. They even care more about the federal budget deficit than immigration! (To put that in perspective, the next item on their list of concerns was “scratchy towels.”)
Also, note that Pew asked about “immigration,” not “amnesty.” Those Hispanics who said they cared about immigration might care about it the way I care about it — by supporting a fence and E-Verify.
Who convinced Republicans that Hispanic wages aren’t low enough and what they really need is an influx of low-wage workers competing for their jobs?
Maybe the greedy businessmen now running the Republican Party should talk with their Hispanic maids sometime. Ask Juanita if she’d like to have seven new immigrants competing with her for the opportunity to clean other people’s houses, so that her wages can be dropped from $20 an hour to $10 an hour.
A wise Latina, A.J. Delgado, recently explained on Mediaite.com why amnesty won’t win Republicans the Hispanic vote — even if they get credit for it. Her very first argument was: “Latinos will resent the added competition for jobs.”
But rich businessmen don’t care. Big Republican donors — and their campaign consultants — just want to make money. They don’t care about Hispanics, and they certainly don’t care what happens to the country. If the country is hurt, I don’t care, as long as I am doing better! This is the very definition of treason.
Hispanic voters are a small portion of the electorate. They don’t want amnesty, and they’re hopeless Democrats. So Republicans have decided the path to victory is to flood the country with lots more of them!
It’s as if Republicans convinced Democrats to fixate on banning birth control to win more pro-life voters. This would be great for Republicans because Democrats will never win a majority of pro-life voters, and about as many pro-lifers care about birth control as Hispanics care about amnesty.
But that still wouldn’t be as idiotic as what Republicans are doing because, according to Gallup, pro-lifers are nearly half of the electorate. Hispanics are only 8.4 percent of the electorate.
And it still wouldn’t be as stupid as the GOP pushing amnesty, because banning birth control wouldn’t create millions more voters who consistently vote against the Democrats.
Listening to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus burble a few weeks ago on “Fox News Sunday” about how amnesty is going to push the Republicans to new electoral heights, one is reminded of Democratic pollster Pat Caddell’s reason for refusing to become a Republican: No matter how enraged he gets at Democratic corruption, he says he can’t bear to join such a stupid party as the GOP.
Ann Coulter is an author and political commentator.
This line of attack has real resonance with our stupidest Republicans. (Proposed Republican primary targets: Sens. Kelly Ayotte, Jeff Flake, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio.) Which explains why Republicans are devoting all their energy to slightly increasing their share of the Hispanic vote while alienating everyone else in America.
It must be fun for liberals to manipulate Republicans into focusing on hopeless causes. Why don’t Democrats waste their time trying to win the votes of gun owners?
As journalist Steve Sailer recently pointed out, the Hispanic vote terrifying Republicans isn’t that big. It actually declined in 2012. The Census Bureau finally released the real voter turnout numbers from the last election, and the Hispanic vote came in at only 8.4 percent of the electorate — not the 10 percent claimed by the pro-amnesty crowd.
The sleeping giant of the last election wasn’t Hispanics; it was elderly black women, terrified of media claims that Republicans were trying to suppress the black vote and determined to keep the first African-American president in the White House.
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, 10 percent more blacks voted in 2012 compared to 2008, even beating white voters, the usual turnout champions. Eligible black voters turned out at rate of 66.2 percent, compared to 64.1 percent of eligible white voters. Only 48 percent of all eligible Hispanic voters went to the polls.
No one saw this coming, which is probably why Gallup had Romney up by 5 points before Hurricane Sandy hit, and up by 1 point in its last pre-election poll after the hurricane.
Only two groups voted in larger numbers in 2012 compared to 2008: blacks aged 45-64, and blacks over the age of 65 — mostly elderly black women.
In raw numbers, nearly twice as many blacks voted as Hispanics, and nine times as many whites voted as Hispanics. (Ninety-eight million whites, 18 million blacks and 11 million Hispanics.)
So, naturally, the Republican Party’s entire battle plan going forward is to win slightly more votes from 8.4 percent of the electorate by giving them something they don’t want.
As Byron York has shown, even if Mitt Romney had won 70 percent of the Hispanic vote, he still would have lost. No Republican presidential candidate in at least 50 years has won even half of the Hispanic vote.
In the presidential election immediately after Reagan signed an amnesty bill in 1986, the Republican share of the Hispanic vote actually declined from 37 percent to 30 percent — and that was in a landslide election for the GOP. Combined, the two Bush presidents averaged 32.5 percent of the Hispanic vote — and they have Hispanics in their family Christmas cards.
John McCain, the nation’s leading amnesty proponent, won only 31 percent of the Hispanic vote, not much more than anti-amnesty Romney’s 27 percent.
Amnesty is a gift to employers, not employees.
The (pro-amnesty) Pew Research Hispanic Center has produced poll after poll showing that Hispanics don’t care about amnesty. In a poll last fall, Hispanic voters said they cared more about education, jobs and health care than immigration. They even care more about the federal budget deficit than immigration! (To put that in perspective, the next item on their list of concerns was “scratchy towels.”)
Also, note that Pew asked about “immigration,” not “amnesty.” Those Hispanics who said they cared about immigration might care about it the way I care about it — by supporting a fence and E-Verify.
Who convinced Republicans that Hispanic wages aren’t low enough and what they really need is an influx of low-wage workers competing for their jobs?
Maybe the greedy businessmen now running the Republican Party should talk with their Hispanic maids sometime. Ask Juanita if she’d like to have seven new immigrants competing with her for the opportunity to clean other people’s houses, so that her wages can be dropped from $20 an hour to $10 an hour.
A wise Latina, A.J. Delgado, recently explained on Mediaite.com why amnesty won’t win Republicans the Hispanic vote — even if they get credit for it. Her very first argument was: “Latinos will resent the added competition for jobs.”
But rich businessmen don’t care. Big Republican donors — and their campaign consultants — just want to make money. They don’t care about Hispanics, and they certainly don’t care what happens to the country. If the country is hurt, I don’t care, as long as I am doing better! This is the very definition of treason.
Hispanic voters are a small portion of the electorate. They don’t want amnesty, and they’re hopeless Democrats. So Republicans have decided the path to victory is to flood the country with lots more of them!
It’s as if Republicans convinced Democrats to fixate on banning birth control to win more pro-life voters. This would be great for Republicans because Democrats will never win a majority of pro-life voters, and about as many pro-lifers care about birth control as Hispanics care about amnesty.
But that still wouldn’t be as idiotic as what Republicans are doing because, according to Gallup, pro-lifers are nearly half of the electorate. Hispanics are only 8.4 percent of the electorate.
And it still wouldn’t be as stupid as the GOP pushing amnesty, because banning birth control wouldn’t create millions more voters who consistently vote against the Democrats.
Listening to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus burble a few weeks ago on “Fox News Sunday” about how amnesty is going to push the Republicans to new electoral heights, one is reminded of Democratic pollster Pat Caddell’s reason for refusing to become a Republican: No matter how enraged he gets at Democratic corruption, he says he can’t bear to join such a stupid party as the GOP.
Ann Coulter is an author and political commentator.
Obama Restricts Spying In Mosques While Spying Everywhere Else
Obama Restricts Spying In Mosques While Spying Everywhere Else - Investors.com:
"Homeland Insecurity:
The White House assures that tracking our every phone call and keystroke is to stop terrorists, and yet it won't snoop in mosques, where the terrorists are.
That's right, the government's sweeping surveillance of our most private communications excludes the jihad factories where homegrown terrorists are radicalized.
Since October 2011, mosques have been off-limits to FBI agents.
No more surveillance or undercover string operations without high-level approval from a special oversight body at the Justice Department dubbed the Sensitive Operations Review Committee.
Who makes up this body, and how do they decide requests?
Nobody knows; the names of the chairman, members and staff are kept secret."
"Homeland Insecurity:
The White House assures that tracking our every phone call and keystroke is to stop terrorists, and yet it won't snoop in mosques, where the terrorists are.
That's right, the government's sweeping surveillance of our most private communications excludes the jihad factories where homegrown terrorists are radicalized.
Since October 2011, mosques have been off-limits to FBI agents.
No more surveillance or undercover string operations without high-level approval from a special oversight body at the Justice Department dubbed the Sensitive Operations Review Committee.
Who makes up this body, and how do they decide requests?
Nobody knows; the names of the chairman, members and staff are kept secret."
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