NEVER trust the government!-----California Hits the Brakes on High-Speed Rail Fiasco

California Hits the Brakes on High-Speed Rail Fiasco - Bloomberg View
"...Sold to the public in 2008 as a visionary plan to whisk riders along at 220 miles an hour, making the trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles in a little over two and a half hours, the project promised to attract most of the necessary billions from private investors, to operate without ongoing subsidies and to charge fares low enough to make it competitive with cheap flights.
With those assurances, 53.7 percent of voters said yes to a $9.95 billion bond referendum to get the project started. 
But the assurances were at best wishful thinking, at worst an elaborate con.
The total construction cost estimate has now more than doubled to $68 billion from the original $33 billion, despite trims in the routes planned.
The first, easiest-to-build, segment of the system -- the “train to nowhere” through a relatively empty stretch of the Central Valley -- is running at least four years behind schedule and still hasn’t acquired all the needed land.
...And no investors are lining up to fill the $43 billion construction-budget gap.
Now, courtesy of Los Angeles Times reporter Ralph Vartabedian, comes yet another damning revelation:
When the Spanish construction company Ferrovial submitted its winning bid for a 22-mile segment, the proposal included a clear and inconvenient warning:
“More than likely, the California high speed rail will require large government subsidies for years to come.” 
Ferrovial reviewed 111 similar systems around the world and found only three that cover their operating costs.
This research should surprise no one who pays attention.
Even advocates acknowledge that almost all high-speed rail systems need ongoing subsidies..."

EU referendum: German and French to unveil European superstate blueprint post-Brexit

EU referendum: German and French to unveil European superstate blueprint post-Brexit | Politics | News | Daily Express:
EUROPEAN political chiefs are to take advantage of Brexit by unveiling their long-held plan to morph the continent’s countries into one GIANT SUPERSTATE, it has emerged yesterday.
The foreign ministers of France and Germany are due to reveal a blueprint to effectively do away with individual member states in what is being described as an “ultimatum”.
Under the radical proposals EU countries will lose the right to have their own army, criminal law, taxation system or central bank, with all those powers being transferred to Brussels.
...The public broadcaster reports that the bombshell proposal will be presented to a meeting of the Visegrad group of countries - made up of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia - by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier later today.
Excerpts of the nine-page report were published today as the leaders of Germany, France and Italy met in Berlin for Brexit crisis talks.
In the preamble to the text the two ministers write: "Our countries share a common destiny and a common set of values that give rise to an even closer union between our citizens. We will therefore strive for a political union in Europe and invite the next Europeans to participate in this venture..."

Lunch video-----America's Debt Crisis Explained

Noon-toon

‘You Have No Idea What’s Happening’: Muslim Woman Makes Chilling Threat Before Being Arrested at LAX | Video | TheBlaze.com

‘You Have No Idea What’s Happening’: Muslim Woman Makes Chilling Threat Before Being Arrested at LAX | Video | TheBlaze.com:

"A Muslim woman was caught on camera at Los Angeles International Airport two days after the Orlando terrorist attack, threatening to bomb America and making derogatory comments about LGBT people, according to citizen journalist and cameraman Tony Vera.

Vera first observed the woman being questioned by five police officers, who put her in handcuffs while they searched her luggage. After police cleared her to go, Vera approached the woman to ask about what had happened."

Good, albeit terrible, read.-----Where Was The Commander-n-Chief For 8 Hours? A Case for Maladministration

Where Was The Commander-n-Chief For 8 Hours? A Case for Maladministration | Journal of a Conservative G-Ma:
"There is this thing called a CBA, Cross- Border-Authority.
This is either granted or withheld by the President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief. Sending additional forces into a foreign country is the direct responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief, only he can give this command (authorize the CBA) or refuse it.
According to retired Navy Seal officer, Matt Bracken, who took a Nav-Spec-War Detachment to Beirut:
“Once the alarm is sent -in this case, from the consulate in Benghazi — dozens of HQs are notified and are in the planning loop in real-time, including AFRICOM and EURCOM, both located in Germany.
Without waiting for specific orders from Washington, they begin planning and executing rescue operations, including moving personnel, ships, and aircraft forward toward the location of the crisis. However, there is one thing they can’t do without explicit orders from the president: cross an international border on a hostile mission.  
That is the clear ‘red line’ in this type of a crisis situation.”
We know the back story, we have heard all the talk and speculation regarding Gun running to the Syrian’s and we now know that to be true, as Obama and his criminal cronies are currently and openly sending arms and God knows what else to the Syrian Rebels.
We have heard from dozens of officials, and even been told by Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State at the time the catastrophe in Benghazi occurred “What Difference Does it Make!”
Well Hillary, according to this new or not so new information which has come to light, it makes a bloody big difference!
Because what Mr. Bracken is saying is that to avoid any embarrassment, or stumbling into a war because some “jet jokey, in hot pursuit (or a mixed-up SEAL squad in a rubber boat) strays into hostile territory.”  
Only the Commander-in-Chief, the president of the United States can give the order for our military to cross a nation’s boarder without that nation’s express permission.
...Now on the flip side of the CBA coin is this; to avoid or prevent a rescue in Benghazi, all the Commander-in-Chief, the President of the United States, the only person with the authority to grant a CBA, is to not grant the Cross Border Authority; if the Commander-in-Chief does not grant the CBA, the entire rescue mission must stop, even if underway. 
According to Mr. Bracken, retired Navy SEAL officer:
“Ships can loiter on station, but airplanes fall out of the sky, so they must be redirected to an air base (Signorelli, in Sicily) to await the [Commander-in-Chief’s] decision on granting CBA.
If the decision to grant CBA never comes, the besieged diplomatic outpost in Benghazi can rely only on assets already “in country” in Libya — such as the Tripoli quick reaction force and the Predator drones.
These assets can be put into action on the independent authority of the acting ambassador or CIA station chief in Tripoli.
They are already “in country,” so CBA rules do not apply to them.”
So with this in mind, how might this process have played out in the White House, that fateful night on September 11th 2012?..."

Gas Station Offers Special Discount To Help Security

Gas Station Offers Special Discount To Help Security « WCCO | CBS Minnesota:
"MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — After two robberies in less than three months, a Sauk Rapids gas station owner decided to try something different. His unique offer gained so much attention that business is now up.
Now, the owner says a single sheet of paper is changing his business.
The new, nondescript sign hanging on a Sauk Rapids Shell gas station is changing business for owner Frank Schwagel.
“If you come in and provide evidence that you are law enforcement, security or have a permit to carry a firearm — if you show it to my employees you’ll get a 10 cent per gallon discount on any gas you’ll buy,” he said.
In March and May of this year, the small town gas station was robbed twice — once at gunpoint.
“It’s very frustrating,” Schwagel said.
“You get mad and concerned about your employees.”
While local police are doing their job investigating the crime, Frank thought to make a move on his own: offer discounted gas to law enforcement and those with a permit to carry after 7 p.m.
“It was just an idea to increase store traffic in the evening and get people in here so my employees wouldn’t have to be down here alone at night,” he said.
He posted the sign Tuesday, and within a week a photo of the new offer went viral on Facebook.
“The next thing, the radio was calling and newspaper and now TV stations are calling,” Schwagel said.
The uptick in customers is not only good for business, but a busy store helps employees feel safer.
“It’s working out so far,” Schwagel said.
“We have a lot more people coming in at night versus what we used to have.
It’s been a good thing so far.”
Shwagel says he’s also installed a new security and surveillance system in his store, and he hopes to see other gas stations adopt their policy."

This is GREAT!-----‘Brexit’ leader gives face-melting speech to stunned EU leaders he worked 17 YEARS to defeat

‘Brexit’ leader gives face-melting speech to stunned EU leaders he worked 17 YEARS to defeat | BizPac Review:
"...“When I came here 17 years ago and I said that I wanted to lead a campaign to get Britain to leave the European Union, you all laughed at me,” Farage said.
“Well I have to say, you’re not laughing now, are you?”
The reason for their obvious anger was “perfectly clear” to Farage.
“You, as a political project, are in denial,” he said.
“You’re in denial that your currency is failing …” 
When interrupted by strong boos, Farage pointed to the EU’s inept policies in the Mediterranean. When this drew more boos, Farage sarcastically quipped, “No, no, no — as a policy to impose poverty on Greece and the rest of the Mediterranean, you’ve done very well.”
Farage blasted their lax immigration policies as well, telling the European MEPs they were “in denial over Mrs. Merkel’s call last year for as many people as possible to cross the Mediterranean into the EU has led to massive divisions between countries and within countries.”
Describing the Brexit vote as a way ordinary citizens are taking back their ability to make decisions in their own national interest, Farage said the British people, “rejected the multinationals, they rejected the merchant banks, they rejected big politics, and they said actually we want our country back, we want our fishing waters back, we want our borders back.
We want to be an independent, self-governing, normal nation and that is what we have done and that is what must happen.”
“And in doing so,” Farage continued, “we now offer a beacon of hope to democrats across the rest of the European continent.”
In maintaining British desire to continue trade with member nations, The UKIP leader implored members to not seek a trade war with the British, because the “consequences would be far worse for you than it is for us,” mentioning in particular the thousands of German automotive jobs at stake.
After predicting that the UK wouldn’t be the last member state to leave the EU, the British MEP offered a parting shot that got him censured by President Schultz – Farage openly mocked the members by telling them they have never held a “proper job” or “worked in business” or “worked in trade or indeed ever created a job.”
Even though that was probably true, it was a bridge too far for Schultz, who told Farage as much.
But the victory lap had already been run, and what a lap it was!
Watch the video below, and be sure to look for where the camera caught member reactions to Farage’s speech:

Veteran Federal Judge’s Stunning Declaration About the Constitution | TheBlaze.com

Veteran Federal Judge’s Stunning Declaration About the Constitution | TheBlaze.com:

"Richard Posner, a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, wrote, “I see absolutely no value to a judge of spending decades, years, months, weeks, [days], hours, minutes, or seconds studying the Constitution, the history of its enactment, its amendments, and its implementation.”"

Attorney General: Fight Terror With Love

Attorney General: Fight Terror With Love – Law Officer:
"Speaking to LGBT activists in Orlando, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said that love and compassion are the best responses to terrorism during remarks to the media  on Tuesday.
Lynch said the Department of Justice stood in solidarity with the LGBT community “in the light” following a Muslim terrorist’s massacre of 49 people at a gay nightclub last week.
“We stand with you to say that the good in this world far outweighs the evil, that our common humanity transcends our differences, and that our most effective response to terror and to hatred is compassion, it’s unity, and it’s love,” Lynch said.
Following the remarks, South Carolina Representative Jeff Duncan took to twitter to say the following: “All You Need Is Love” is a great Beatles song but a horrible foreign policy. 
Seriously @LorettaLynch, resign immediately.”"

AM Fruitcake

History for June 29

History for June 29 - On-This-Day.com
George W. Goethals 1858, William Mayo 1861, Antoine de Saint-Exupery 1900


John Toland 1912, Slim Pickens 1919, Gary Busey 1944


1767 - The British Parliament approved the Townshend Revenue Acts. The acts imposed import duties on glass, lead, paint, paper and tea shipped to America.


1804 - Privates John Collins and Hugh Hall of the Lewis and Clark Expedition were found guilty by a court-martial consisting of members of the Corps of Discovery for getting drunk on duty. Collins received 100 lashes on his back and Hall received 50.


1888 - Professor Frederick Treves performed the first appendectomy in England.


1903 - The British government officially protested Belgian atrocities in the Congo.


1925 - Marvin Pipkin filed for a patent for the frosted electric light bulb.


1956 - The Federal Highway Act authorized the construction of 42,500 miles of freeway from coast to coast.


1956 - Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller were married. They were divorced on January 20, 1961.


1995 - The shuttle Atlantis and the Russian space station Mir docked, forming the largest man-made satellite ever to orbit the Earth.

GOP Reps. Jim Jordan and Mike Pompeo Issue Scathing Addendum to Final Benghazi Report — Here Are the Highlights | TheBlaze.com

GOP Reps. Jim Jordan and Mike Pompeo Issue Scathing Addendum to Final Benghazi Report — Here Are the Highlights | TheBlaze.com:

"Reps. Jim Jordan and Mike Pompeo issued a scathing proposed addendum to the final report released Tuesday by the House Select Committee on Benghazi, accusing the Obama administration of misleading the public and not doing enough to “rescue our people.”"

House Committee’s Final Benghazi Report Includes These 15 Questions for Obama | TheBlaze.com

House Committee’s Final Benghazi Report Includes These 15 Questions for Obama | TheBlaze.com:

"Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), the committee’s chairman, said in a letter addressed the president’s counsel that Obama is “the only person who can answer some of these questions.”

“The Executive Branch would, perhaps, argue sending questions to the President is ‘unprecedented’ and would create a ‘constitutional crisis,’” Gowdy wrote. “The Legislative Branch would argue several prior Committee Chairmen sent an extensive set of questions to the President regarding Benghazi, the President has answered media inquiries about Benghazi without a ‘constitutional crisis,’ and the President is uniquely situated to answer these questions.”

Read the full list of questions via the House Benghazi Committee below:"

Committee Releases Final 800-Page Benghazi Report — Here Are Some of the Top ‘Revelations’ | TheBlaze.com

Committee Releases Final 800-Page Benghazi Report — Here Are Some of the Top ‘Revelations’ | TheBlaze.com:

"Obama administration appointees crafted the story of an anti-Muslim video igniting the Benghazi terror attacks despite differing reports from the compound, according to Tuesday’s final Republican report from the Benghazi Select Committee. It’s one of several revelations found in the extensive 800-page document."

Gun-Controlled Chicago: 51 Shot, 7 Killed Over Weekend - Breitbart

Gun-Controlled Chicago: 51 Shot, 7 Killed Over Weekend - Breitbart:

"It should be noted that Chicago has an “assault weapons” ban, a violence tax, state-imposed waiting periods on handgun and long gun purchases, and strict limitations on the number of gun stores allowed in the city, as well as regulations on where those stores can be located.

It is only June, and the Chicago Tribune reports the city is already nearing 1,900 shooting victims this year."

The OTHER History Of Slavery In America

The OTHER History Of Slavery In America | The Federalist Papers:
One of the favorite narratives of angry, America-hating liberals is to bring up the fact that America was once a slave nation and some of America’s ‘founding fathers’ were slave owners.
Surf progressive/liberal social media pages and it’s just a matter of (not much) time before you encounter an angry liberal typing in all caps and using multiple exclamation marks to say, “AMERICA IS A RACIST NATION THAT WAS FOUNDED BY RACISTS WHO OWNED SLAVES!!!”

Or some variety thereof.
While a part of that narrative is true–some of our Constitution’s signers were slave owners–telling that part is only telling one half of the story. If you’re going to scream, “This is a racist nation, founded by racists, steeped in racism and racist to the core!!!” and cite the fact that some of our founders were slave-owners to back the statement up, it’s only fair to tell the other half of the slavery story too — that those supposed racists also ended slavery.
We had a little thing here called the Civil War. 
Here’s a simple backdrop:
Read on!

Making Great Britain Great Again

Cartoon: Making Great Britain Great Again - NetRight Daily

Tom Tancredo: Oath to Defend America Made Optional Because It Could Reduce Muslim Immigration

Tom Tancredo: Oath to Defend America Made Optional Because It Could Reduce Muslim Immigration:

"Tancredo explained that, in July of 2015, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS, sometimes shortened by Tancredo to USIS) “decided there was part of the Oath of Allegiance that has been taken by millions, and millions, and millions of immigrants into this country. It’s the last thing they have to do before actually getting their citizenship” that should be made optional. It was the part of the oath in which immigrants promised, “If called upon, I will indeed take up arms to defend the United States of America.”

“They have told immigrants now – the next 18 million that are in the pipeline – they do not have to take that part of the oath. It’s still in there, but they’ve said it’s optional; you don’t have to swear,” said Tancredo."

'Racist' Red Cross poster prompts apology - Chicago Tribune

'Racist' Red Cross poster prompts apology - Chicago Tribune:
"When Margaret Sawyer first noticed the Red Cross safety poster at a pool in Salida, Colo., she thought she was looking at an unfortunate relic of the past.
When she saw it a second time at an entirely different pool in the central Colorado town, she was shocked, according to NBC affiliate KUSA.
"I saw this one and I just kept thinking, 'It looks like they're trying to do something here that shows all kids together of all different backgrounds but they're clearly not hitting the mark,'" she said..."