Senate dodges government shutdown…again | TheBlaze.com

Senate dodges government shutdown…again | TheBlaze.com:

"The Senate voted Saturday afternoon to pass a short-term continuing resolution that will keep the federal government open through Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Passage of the resolution — which the House approved on Friday — lets Congress dodge a government shutdown that was due to take place at the end of the day Saturday."

We're #37!!-------State Fiscal Condition: Ranking the 50 States

State Fiscal Condition: Ranking the 50 States | Mercatus:
I'm thinkin' increasing taxes and spending won't be helpful if they want to rise in this contest.

Iowa’s journalism school director: Follow Europe’s lead on ‘free’ speech

Iowa’s journalism school director: Follow Europe’s lead on ‘free’ speech

" ...The effects of the display were felt throughout the Iowa City community. That display immediately caused Black students and community members to feel terrorized and to fear for their safety.

The university’s response was not adequate, nor did that response occur soon enough. Our students tell us that this portrayal made them feel unwelcomed [sic] and that they lost trust in the University of Iowa. For failing to meet our goal of providing a respectful, all-inclusive, educational environment, the university apologizes. All of us need to work together to take preventive action and do everything we can to be sure that everyone feels welcome, respected, and protected on our campus and in our community.

I urge any student who was negatively affected by this incident who feels a need for support to consider contacting the University Counseling Service …

Seriously? How exactly does a piece of art whose message is anti- racism cause people to feel terrorized?"

Obama: ‘I Spend Most of My Time Watching ESPN in the Morning’

Obama: ‘I Spend Most of My Time Watching ESPN in the Morning’ | Washington Free Beacon: "While on ESPN radio with Colin Cowherd, President Obama admitted that he gets a little overwhelmed by politics in the morning and looks to a different kind of news channel.
“Listen, I spend most of my time watching ESPN in the morning,” Obama said.
“I get so much politics I don’t, you know, want to be inundated with a bunch of chatter about politics during the day.”
A report in October from the Government Accountability Institute noted Obama has missed 62.5 percent of his daily intelligence briefings during his presidency."

University study: Rats like sex partners in ‘lingerie’

University study: Rats like sex partners in ‘lingerie’ - EAGnews.org:
"MONTREAL, Canada – Students and professors at Concordia University in Montreal think they’ve learned some valuable lessons about behavior after studying male rats they mated with female rats in lingerie, then killed to look at their brains.
“In an unusual study, researchers allowed virgin male rats to have sex with females wearing special rodent ‘jackets.’ 
Later, when scientists gave the males a chance to mate again, the animals preferred to mate with jacket-wearing female rats rather than with unclad ones,” according to LiveScience.com.
“The findings suggest that male animals can learn to associate the sight and feel of clothing with sex.”
The study basically involved putting a dozen virgin male rats together with receptive female rats with their mini “jackets” and letting them go at it.
After that, they put the male rats with two receptive females, one with a jacket and one without, and they preferred jackets on.
....In other words, the scientists think the study provides insight into why men are turned on by lingerie.
The Post reports it’s the early experiences that is the big factor..."

‘This Is a Riot and an Uprising!’: Protesters Across the Nation March Against Police Violence | Video | TheBlaze.com

‘This Is a Riot and an Uprising!’: Protesters Across the Nation March Against Police Violence | Video | TheBlaze.com:

"Thousands of protesters marched across the country Saturday — past the White House in the nation’s capital, along iconic Fifth Avenue in New York and in the middle of Nashville’s honky-tonk district — to call attention to the deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police and urge lawmakers to take action.

Chanting “I can’t breathe!” ”Hands up, don’t shoot!” and waving signs reading “Black lives matter!” the demonstrators also staged “die-ins” as they lay down across intersections, and in one city briefly blocked an onramp to an Interstate."

Why Is This One Campus Assault Statistic Being Ignored?

Why Is This One Campus Assault Statistic Being Ignored? - Investors.com
Given all the attention paid to sexual assault on college campuses in recent months, you'd think a Justice Department report showing that the campus rape and assault rate had dropped 52% since 1997 would attract a lot of attention.
That is, after all, what the data contained in its 20-page report, released on Thursday, show.
In 1997, the number of rapes or sexual assaults per 1,000 students ages 18-24 was 9.2. By 2013, that had fallen to 4.4. 
The same trend occurred for young women who weren't attending college. 
Justice data show that the rate peaked in 2000 at 12.2, but was down to 4.3 last year.

History for December 14

History for December 14 - On-This-Day.com
Nostradamus 1503, James Doolittle 1896, Lee Remick 1935 


Stan Smith 1946, Patty Duke 1946, Dee Wallace-Stone 1948 


1798 - David Wilkinson of Rhode Island patented the nut and bolt machine. 


1799 - The first president of the United States, George Washington, died at the age 67. 


1896 - Gen. James H. Doolittle, who led the first air raid on Japan during World War II, was born. 


1900 - Professor Max Planck of Berlin University revealed his revolutionary Quantum Theory. 


1903 - Orville Wright made the first attempt at powered flight. The engine stalled during take-off and the plane was damaged in the attempt. Three days later, after repairs were made, the modern aviation age was born when the plane stayed aloft for 12 seconds and flew 102 feet. 


1911 - Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole. He reached the destination 35 days ahead of Captain Robert F. Scott. 


1945 - Josef Kramer, known as "the beast of Belsen," and 10 others were executed in Hamelin for the crimes they committed at the Belsen and Auschwitz Nazi concentration camps. 


1981 - Israel annexed the Golan Heights, seized from Syria in war in 1967. 


1986 - The experimental aircraft Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, took off from California on the first non-stop, non-refueled flight around the world. The trip took nine days to complete. 


2013 - The Chinese spacecraft Chang'e 3 became the first spacecraft to "soft"-land on the Moon since 1976. It was only the third robotic rover to land on the moon. 

Obama is Getting Sued; Both The Plaintiff and the Reason are Full of Irony

Obama is Getting Sued; Both The Plaintiff and the Reason are Full of Irony:

"My how things have changed since unions are unfortunately experiencing, five years after Obamacare was deceptively crammed down the throats of, who Obamacare Jonathan Gruber repeatedly referred to as, “the stupid American voter.”
A major New York City Union is suing Obama (he is specifically named as a defendant) and his regime, claiming that Obamacare will bankrupt its healthcare fund. 
A police union, the Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA), is claiming that Obamacare has caused its healthcare costs to skyrocket, and is asking for an exemption from the highly unpopular Democrat Party passed law."

Paying Down The Debt Is Now Almost Mathematically Impossible

Paying Down The Debt Is Now Almost Mathematically Impossible | Zero Hedge
A lot of folks don’t realize that, since the end of World War II, the US government’s total tax revenue has been almost constant at roughly 17% of GDP.

In other words, even though the actual tax rates themselves rise and fall, the government’s ‘slice’ of the economic pie is almost always the same - 17%.

I’ve worked out a mathematical model which shows that, even with absurd assumptions (7%+ GDP growth for years at a time, low interest rates, etc.), it is simply not feasible for the US government to ‘grow’ its way out.

Default has become the only option. 
And that could mean a number of things.

They could default on their creditors (other governments like China who loaned money to the US government). But this would spark a global financial and banking crisis.

They could default on the Federal Reserve, which owns trillions of dollars of US debt. But this would create an epic currency crisis for the US dollar.

They could also default on their obligations to their citizens—primarily to future beneficiaries of Social Security (who collectively own trillions of dollars of US debt).

Or they could choose to default on their obligations to every human being alive who holds US dollars… and engineer rampant inflation.

None of these is a good option. And simply put, the US government has reached a point of no return.

I aim to demonstrate this to you in today’s video podcast episode. It’s a very sobering realization.

Join me to see it for yourself:

Despite Racking Up Three Consecutive Unanimous Votes, FOIA Reform Bill Killed Off By Rep. John Boehner

Despite Racking Up Three Consecutive Unanimous Votes, FOIA Reform Bill Killed Off By Rep. John Boehner | Techdirt
FOIA reform is now truly dead. Earlier this week, it looked as though Sen. Jay Rockefeller might be the one holding the murder weapon. 
Despite passing unanimously through the House and the Senate Judiciary Committee, (DEMOCRAT)Rockefeller placed a hold on the bill, citing nebulous concerns by two regulatory agencies (FTC, SEC -- neither of which were willing to go on the record about their problems with the bill) and something about "law enforcement agencies" being faced with "needless litigation" that would be a drain on their bottom lines. 
Of course, this ignores the fact that plenty of litigation involving law enforcement agencies is "needless" (because why be proactive about misconduct and abuse when you can just settle later?) and that any agency fighting the War on Drugs/Terror has generally been able to secure funding and equipment with a minimum of hassle.

Rockefeller's hold provoked a deluge pro-FOIA reform phone calls and emails, leading to Rockefeller releasing his hold and the bill moving on with unanimous Senate consent. This booted it back to the House where it ran headlong into Speaker of the House John Boehner, who immediately tabled it.

Newsweek's coverage of Boehner's "opaque" move concludes with this paragraph:

But these improvements may never see the light of day, as Boehner has tabled the bill. In a press conference on Thursday morning, a journalist asked Boehner about the fate of the FOIA reform bill to which he replied, “I have no knowledge of what the plan is for that bill.” If the bill does not make the House’s calendar by the end of the day, the bill dies.

The guy who made the plan for the bill (1. Do nothing) claimed he had no idea what the plan was. If the plan was to kill the reform bill, mission accomplished. Death by Rockefeller was narrowly averted only to result in Death by Boehner -- despite the fact that the FOIA reform sailed through the House earlier with a 410-0 vote. 

Tom Coburn Just Tried One Last Time to Fix the Broken Senate, and Here’s What Happened | TheBlaze.com

Tom Coburn Just Tried One Last Time to Fix the Broken Senate, and Here’s What Happened | TheBlaze.com:

"In one of this final acts in office, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on Friday tried to undo a Senate rule imposed by Democrats that has prevented Republicans from offering amendments to legislation for the last several years.

But Coburn, nicknamed “Dr. No” for his opposition to legislation that expands the government without finding spending cuts, was told “No” by his Democratic Senate colleagues."

Simple common sense could fix a lot of thing in our country--------6 ways the government criminalizes economic activity

6 ways the government criminalizes economic activity - MarketWatch
Although many politicians say they support economic growth, the federal government goes out of its way to criminalize broad ranges of economic activity. 
It’s as simple as this:
A person or a company wants to provide a good or a service, and Uncle Sam says no.

Here are six examples, and there are many others.
As well as tax and entitlement reform, and passing an immigration bill, the 114th Congress could simply let people work.

Federal law criminalizes exports of oil and natural gas

North America’s oil and natural gas production is surging, but it is still unlawful to export it.
On Tuesday, Rep. Joe Barton, a Republican from Texas, introduced a bill to allow exports of oil, and the bill will be considered at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Thursday.
In addition, the United States could benefit from exporting some of its natural gas production. Companies in North Dakota waste about 33% of total gas production by flaring, or burning, it.

Exports stimulate the economy and result in more jobs because foreign customers buy U.S. products. Exports also lead to more innovation.
...The export bans were set up in the 1970s, at a time when America was highly dependent on OPEC for energy.

One of these plans sounds reasonable. Decide for yourself--------'Let's Make a Deal' Time on Road Funding?

'Let's Make a Deal' Time on Road Funding? [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
As the end of the legislative year draws near, motorists still wonder:
What sort of changes will the Legislature and governor make in the way the state funds its roads and highways?
Political observers in Michigan expect some sort of compromise among competing plans passed by the House and Senate, but the specifics are still lacking.

According to projections from the state and University of Michigan economists, under the House-passed road plan – which devotes $1 billion more to roads with no tax hike – school funding will increase from $11.5 billion in 2014 to $14.0 billion in 2023. 

With the Senate plan – which devotes $1 billion more to roads by doubling the state gas tax – the School Aid Fund would increase to $14.9 billion by 2023.

The Michigan Senate works out to 10 cents a gallon. 
The House alternative plan wouldn’t raise the price at the pump. 
The House plan gets rid of the sales tax that’s levied when motorists buy gas or diesel fuel and replaces it with one that would actually be used for roads.
Money from the current retail tax does not go toward road building or road maintenance.
Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Snyder wants a more aggressive gas tax hike than the House or Senate plans call for.
Snyder says the state needs to bring in $1.2 billion to fix the roads, and do so quicker than either plan would allow...

Imagine the media explosion if this socialist/progressive/democrat was a republican!-----Cops tell de Blasio: Stay away from our funerals

Cops tell de Blasio: Stay away from our funerals | New York Post:
"Not over their dead bodies.
​Cops are warning Mayor de Blasio and Council Speaker Melissa ​Mark-​Viverito to stay away from their funerals should they be ​killed in the line of duty.
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association distributed a flier to members, blaring: “DON’T LET THEM INSULT YOUR SACRIFICE!” Cops were encouraged to sign and submit the “Don’t Insult My Sacrifice” waiver to ban the cop-bashing pols from their funerals.
“I, as a New York City police officer, request that Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito refrain from attending my funeral services in the event that I am killed in the line of duty,” the waiver states."

Here Are the 67 Republicans Who Voted Against the Massive ‘CRomnibus’ Spending Bill | TheBlaze.com

Here Are the 67 Republicans Who Voted Against the Massive ‘CRomnibus’ Spending Bill | TheBlaze.com:

"The massive $1 trillion “CRomnibus” spending bill squeaked through the U.S. House of Representatives with a 219-206 vote on Thursday night.

Among those voting against the unpopular spending bill were 67 Republicans, including conservative favorites like Reps. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Dave Brat (R-Va.)"

And not one of our "representatives" read the 1600+ page bill--------Here Are the 67 Republicans Who Voted Against the Massive ‘CRomnibus’ Spending Bill

Here Are the 67 Republicans Who Voted Against the Massive ‘CRomnibus’ Spending Bill | TheBlaze.com:
"The massive $1 trillion “CRomnibus” spending bill squeaked through the U.S. House of Representatives with a 219-206 vote on Thursday night.
Among those voting against the unpopular spending bill were 67 Republicans, including conservative favorites like Reps. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) and Dave Brat (R-Va.)"
Voting for the bill: "Spending Bill" Huizenga.

How they "think"------No matter what Jackie said, we should generally believe rape claims

No matter what Jackie said, we should generally believe rape claims - The Washington Post:
"In last month’s deep and damning Rolling Stone report about sexual assault at the University of Virginia, a reporter told the story of “Jackie,” who said she was gang raped at a fraternity party and then essentially ignored by the administration.
It helped dramatize what happens when the claims of victims are not taken seriously.
Now the narrative appears to be falling apart:
Her rapist wasn’t in the frat that she says he was a member of; the house held no party on the night of the assault; and other details are wobbly.
Many people (not least U-Va. administrators) will be tempted to see this as a reminder that officials, reporters and the general public should hear both sides of the story and collect all the evidence before coming to a conclusion in rape cases.
This is what we mean in America when we say someone is “innocent until proven guilty.”
After all, look what happened to the Duke lacrosse players.
In important ways, this is wrong.
We should believe, as a matter of default, what an accuser says. 
Ultimately, the costs of wrongly disbelieving a survivor far outweigh the costs of calling someone a rapist. 
Even if Jackie fabricated her account, U-Va. should have taken her word for it during the period while they endeavored to prove or disprove the accusation. 
This is not a legal argument about what standards we should use in the courts; it’s a moral one, about what happens outside the legal system."

How they "think"----Dem Lawmaker: CIA Should Apologize to Al-Qaeda (Video)

Dem Lawmaker: CIA Should Apologize to Al-Qaeda (Video) | The Gateway Pundit: 

Democrat Jackie Speier (D-CA) told MSNBC yesterday that the Central Intelligence Agency should apologize to Al-Qaeda terrorists.

Speier: Every single page had something in the executive summary that shocked me. Whether it was the rehydration anally or keeping them sleep deprived for one-hundred and eighty hours with their hands over their head in shackles. That is not what this country is about and we have got to shut this down.

MSNBC host: Should the agency issue an apology?

Speier: Absolutely.

Via The Electric Stove:

Jonathan Gruber Subpoenaed: How Much Did He Earn in Taxpayer-Funded Consulting Fees? | TheBlaze.com

Jonathan Gruber Subpoenaed: How Much Did He Earn in Taxpayer-Funded Consulting Fees? | TheBlaze.com:

"House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa has subpoenaed Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber, and is demanding that he hand over information on how much money he received from taxpayers to consult on and design Obamacare.

Gruber appeared before Issa’s committee on Tuesday, where he was grilled over his comment that the “stupidity of the American voter” helped Democrats pass Obamacare."

"Hillary for the Holidays":

"Hillary for the Holidays": I Wish I Had a Time Machine to Avoid Mrs. Clinton's Presidential Bid | Truthstream Media:
Can you imagine walking into someone’s house who has decked out their tree in “I’m Ready for Hillary” ornaments, is drinking out of “I’m Ready for Hillary” wine glasses and using Hillary quote napkins that say, “I really do hope that we have a woman president in my lifetime,” signed Hillary Clinton?

For me, it’d be a lot like walking into a serial killer’s house and finding his collection of body parts that have been turned into functional furniture items, complete with jars of his victim’s hair and toenail clippings.

*Shiver*

But look! There are so many options because “Baby, it’s cold outside!”

Once Again, Baltimore Police Arrest a Person For Recording Them

Once Again, Baltimore Police Arrest a Person For Recording Them - Slashdot
A lawsuit was filed yesterday over a case in which a woman was arrested for recording the police from her car while stopped in traffic.
Ars Technica writes, "Police erased the 135-second recording from the woman's phone, but it was recovered from her cloud account according to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City lawsuit, which seeks $7 million."
Baltimore police lost a similar case against Anthony Graber in 2010 and another against Christopher Sharp in 2014.
This is happening so often in Baltimore that in 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to the police reminding them that they cannot stop recordings, and most certainly cannot delete them.
Local awareness of this issue is high since the the Mayor and the City Council support requiring police body cameras.
The city council just passed a bill requiring them, but the mayor is delaying implementation until a task force determines how best to go about it.
The country is also focused on police behavior in light of the recent cases in Ferguson and New York, the latter of which involved a citizen recording.
So the mayor, city council, police department policies, courts, and federal government are all telling police officers to stop doing this.
Yet it continues to happen, and in a rather violent matter.
What can people do to curb this problem?