Palin giving Tingles a leg trill?

Via RCP

I must have missed it, when did the left suddenly start worrying about the American flag?

It all sounds like a wonderful commitment to American values and American history, but it’s nothing of the kind. In fact, the whole thing could be in breach of a federal law because the United States Flag Code establishes important rules for the use and display of the stars and stripes, the flag of the United States. Under standards of respect and etiquette, it’s made clear that the flag of the United States should never be used for any advertising purpose whatsoever. Yet that’s precisely what Sarah Palin is doing. She’s using the flag of the United States for her own financial purposes.

Keep reading…

OsamaCare?

(NPR) - When U.S. commandos stormed Osama bin Laden’s compound earlier this month, they spent much of their time on the ground shoving papers, CDs and thumb drives into huge document bags strung around their necks. That sweep was considered an integral part of the operation, and it confirmed what the intelligence community had long believed: that bin Laden was obsessive about documenting everything.

From its earliest days, al-Qaida leaders insisted on receipts. If fighters were buying a car for an operation, or even disc drives and floppy disks for their computers, they were required to return to base with a precise accounting of everything they had spent.

. . . Al-Qaida “didn’t function as a traditional or typical terrorist organization did,” he says. “It functioned really like a multinational. On the eve of 9/11, for example, the State Department has stated that al-Qaida had 60 offices worldwide. I mean, in essence it was a multinational.”

More proof of its corporate structure: As odd as it sounds, al-Qaida had excellent HR benefits. The seized documents showed that al-Qaida paid an unusual amount of attention to its fighters and their families. Married members were allowed to have seven days of vacation for every three weeks worked. Bachelors got five days off a month.

Married members also got a salary of $108 a month. The pay was smaller for single men and larger if the fighters had more than one wife. Now that the organization has less money and is under such pressure, it is unclear whether the benefits are as generous as they used to be.

Feel good story of the day.

(Bangkok Post) – Two men believed to be members of the separatist Runda Kampulan Kecil movement were killed when their home-made bomb exploded prematurely near a military outpost in Narathiwat’s Rueso district early Tuesday morning, police said.

A joint military and police force led by Pol Col Sathanfa Wamasing, chief of Rueso police station, and Lt-Col Manit Paopngchan, chief of Narathiwat Special Task Force No. 30, inspected the scene of the explosion.

The found a bomb crater over a metre deep and nearly two metres wide  near a bridge in Ban Baluka of Moo 7 in tambon Samakkee.

They found the dead body of Sorahudin Dorloh, 30, about 20 metres from the crater.

Soldiers searched nearby area and found the dead body of Abas Abu about 400 metres away.

Villagers told police that three suspicious-looking men on two motorcycles arrived at the bridge about 12.30am. Two of them were planting the what police said was a 5kg bomb at the foot of the tree near the bridge when the it went off, killing them both.

Sorahudin died instantly, Abas was dragged away by the third militant, who then fled  after he realised Abas was also dead.

Police believed the militants intended their bomb to kill the soldiers on teacher escort duty who patrol the local road in the morning.

The two holy grails of the left, welfare and a bloated federal government.

(ABC News) - A record number of Americans — about 14 percent — now rely on the federal government’s food stamps program and its rapid expansion in recent years has become a politically explosive topic.

More than 44.5 million Americans received SNAP benefits in March, an 11 percent increase from one year ago and nearly 61 percent higher than the same time four years ago.

Nearly 21 million households are reliant on food stamps.

Opponents of the program argue that money from the food stamps budget — with what they call its increasingly lax requirements — needs to be shifted to other programs such as education and child nutrition. The program’s supporters argue that at a time of economic decline, such welfare programs are even more important to try to keep Americans from spiraling into poverty.

(Fox News) - Obama administration officials are riding in style.

A new report from a watchdog group shows that the number of limousines owned by the federal government rose by 73 percent during the first two years of President Obama’s administration. The State Department was the recipient of most the new luxury vehicles.

The “Limousine Liberals?” report from iWatch News, part of the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity, showed that government data pegged the number of limos in the federal fleet at 412 in fiscal 2010, up from 238 in fiscal 2008.

HT: Fox Nation

Frothing at the mouth liberals in 3..2..1..

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) – Expect challenges to a bill signed by Governor Rick Scott which will require welfare applicants to undergo drug testing.

The bill also requires that those who apply for welfare must pay for the drug testing out of their own pockets. However, the cost would be reimbursed if the person passes the drug test.

Republicans said the measure was needed because if taxpayers are screened at their place of employment, so should welfare recipients. The drug testing bill was a priority for Scott.

“While there are certainly legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction,” Governor Scott said. “This new law will encourage personal accountability and will help to prevent the misuse of tax dollars.”

HT: Jay

Bad sheeple!

(Washington Examiner) — Eighty-two House Democrats joined every Republican in rejecting a bill to raise the federal debt ceiling to $16.7 trillion, and the measure failed by a vote of 97 to 318, with seven members (all Democrats) voting “present.”

The Obama administration has argued for such a “clean” vote on the debt ceiling without strings attached (such as additional legislation to reduce the debt).

Just last month, 114 Democrats signed a letter calling for a “clean” vote and Democratic Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., also advocated one. But today, Hoyer announced he was advising his caucus to vote against the measure. Ultimately, just 97 Democrats voted for it, with 82 explicitly voting against it (on top of the seven “present” votes). A total of 10 members (six Democrats, four Republicans) did not vote.

No doubt, this is political gamesmanship by the GOP meant to call the Democrats bluff and show that a stand-alone vote on the debt limit has no chance of passage. But it still is another demonstration that Democrats are reluctant to vote for anything that could open them up to criticism, even when it means voting for policies for which they had previously expressed support.

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Surprise!

(CNS News) – John Bryson, nominated by President Barack Obama today to head the Department of Commerce, once said it was “incredibly important” that the United States pass cap and trade legislation and that America needed to become a global leader in combating man-made global warming.

“I regard it as incredibly important that the United States comes forth in this year with federal climate change legislation as a foundation for moving ahead,” Bryson told the U.N. International Energy Conference in late August 2009. “I think we in the U.S. have an obligation to assist in significant ways in providing leadership in this community of nations that you represent and addressing energy and climate change.”

Bryson, in stating “in this year,” was speaking about the U.N. Climate Change Conference then-scheduled for Decmeber 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Bryson, formerly the long-time CEO of Edison International, has long been an advocate of some sort of federal plan for regulating greenhouse gasses. While still CEO of Edison, Bryson called for a national cap and trade system.

Hit a nerve?

(RCP) - Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) blows up on Ted Barrett, CNN’s Congressional producer.

Giddy up.

(Daily Caller) — Florida Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns is demanding an investigation into cybersecurity issues raised by #Weinergate, saying it is vital to “ensure our national security.”

Though New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner remains silent on whether or not he’ll be seeking an investigation into his claims that his Twitter and Facebook accounts were hacked, leading to his Twitter account’s posting of a picture of a man’s erect penis underneath gray boxer-briefs, Stearns told The Daily Caller that the imbroglio raises troubling questions that should be looked into by Congress.

“Although this particular incident is a matter for law enforcement, it clearly indicates that hacking is a serious problem and as Chairman it would be appropriate for the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee to examine the issue of cybersecurity to protect our privacy and to ensure our national security,” Stearns said in an email to The Daily Caller.

…Stearns is the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, a committee on which Weiner sits.

Weiner responded to Stearns’s call for a cybersecurity investigation by telling Politico he doesn’t “respond to distractions, particularly ones named Cliff Stearns.”

Keep reading…

No good deed goes unpunished.

(EWTN) — A proposal in Congress would ban Catholic adoption agencies and undercut the needs of children by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of marital status or sexual orientation, two legislative experts say.

“This legislation would prohibit adoption agencies and foster care agencies, including religious adoption agencies and foster care agencies, from providing services in many cases,” warned Lori Windham, Senior Counsel with the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. “They would have to choose between following their religious beliefs and shutting down.”

Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, agreed.

“It would have the effect of either banning Christian adoption agencies or forbidding them from acting on their faith convictions and their moral convictions in terms of what is in the best interest of a child.”

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) introduced the bill, titled “Every Child Deserves a Family Act,” on May 3. Its 52 co-sponsors in the House include Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Sen. Kristin Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is expected to introduce companion legislation in the Senate.

The House bill would prohibit “discrimination in adoption or foster care placements” based on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status of any prospective adoptive or foster parent, or the sexual orientation or gender identity of the child involved.

HT: Creative Minority

Which begs the obvious question, if she’s such a danger than why do they continue following her?

(CBS News) - Since Palin and her team won’t share where the potential candidate is headed, reporters and producers have little choice but to simply stay close to Palin’s bus. This has resulted in scenes of the Palin bus tooling down the highway followed by a caravan of 10 or 15 vehicles – including a massive CNN bus – all trying to make sure they don’t lose sight of the Palin bus.

It adds up to a dangerous situation, says CBS News Producer Ryan Corsaro.

“I just hope to God that one of these young producers with a camera whose bosses are making them follow Sarah Palin as a potential Republican candidate don’t get in a car crash, because this is dangerous,” he said.

Corsaro asked a member of Palin’s team if he thought it was dangerous to have reporters forced to chase her from stop to stop. “You’re the ones that are trailing us,” he replied.

HT: Hot Air

(CNSNews.com) – Republican Congressman and retired Army veteran Allen West (R-Fla.) said he “cannot understand” America’s involvement in Libya and that U.S. military is being used as a “rent-a-force” in the region.

“For every decision there are consequences and we have to sometimes analyze what could be those consequences. Just the same with operations in Libya – I cannot understand it. I don’t know what the goal and objective are,” West said in an address at the Heritage Foundation on Tuesday.

“No one can clearly tell me who these rebels or who the rebel leaders are – where they come from; what do they seek to have; what are they going to bring to the table different than Moammar Gadhafi. Moammar Gadhafi’s a bad guy, there’s no doubt about it but there are means by which you can contain him, instead of committing our Air Force and our Navy to be kind of like a ‘rent-a- force’ to them.”

President Obama recently called the U.S. military operations in Libya, which began 71 days ago, a “slow, steady process” where the U.S. and its allies attempt to “wear down the regime forces and change the political calculations of the Gadhafi regime to the point where they finally realize that they’re not going to control this country.”

Jason from Story Balloon who did such a great job filling in for me last weekend has accepted my offer and will be joining WZ on a permanent basis.

Still grieving.

Via Cleveland Plain Dealer:

…Kucinich said he voted “present” on a measure that congratulated the U.S. intelligence community on the mission that killed Osama Bin Laden because he felt the action raised questions about whether the United States wants a justice system that is “retributive” or one that follows a “constitutional process.”

Kucinich was one of only four House members to vote present on the congratulatory measure, which passed 406 to 0. Twenty-one House members didn’t vote. The same measure also passed the U.S. Senate without opposition.

“I think that’s a debate that is worth having,” Kucinich said, adding that the resolution suggested the matter was closed.

“We understand what Osama Bin Laden stood for,” he said. “But the deeper question is: ‘What do we stand for?’ Not what he stands for, what do we stand for? And what direction are we going? That is a concern I have.

C’mon, we all know she lives in their heads rent free.

(The Hill) — White House spokesman Jay Carney on Tuesday brushed aside questions about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R) nationwide bus tour.

Asked about the tour, which began in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Carney said that the president has been busy with other matters.

“I don’t think he’s paying much attention to that,” he told reporters during his daily briefing.

Palin is considering a run for the GOP presidential nomination, and many believe she could contend for the chance to face Obama in 2012.

LONDON (AP) — It was supposed to be a warning about the perils of joining the international jihad. But those behind “Wish You Waziristan” — a cartoon take on two young Britons’ tortured journey to the heart of the Taliban insurgency — say officials have put the brakes on their government-funded counter-extremism project after being spooked by negative press.

The six-minute movie follows two England-raised Muslim brothers as they travel to a terrorist training camp in Pakistan and back to Britain — where they’re taken into custody.

“It’s a cautionary tale,” said Martin Orton, whose company Bold Creative made the animated short with funding from the British government.

Orton said Tuesday that the government appeared to have developed cold feet about releasing the video, which was due to be launched online on Sunday, after hostile newspaper articles.

The government denied it had pulled the plug, saying the film simply wasn’t finished.

Orton said his company studied the ways in which young Muslims had been radicalized by watching extremist videos online — and wanted to help fight back by debunking some of the glamour attached to fighting as a jihadist.

The movie offers a rather uninspiring picture of what it’s like to become a jihadi.

The pair of young would-be militants are held up at gunpoint and viewed with suspicion by the Islamist militants they want to help. At one point the younger brother has his dignity violated by a particularly exacting body search. A planned grenade attack goes wrong, and they’re arrested as they return home.

Orton said that the movie was based on two years’ worth of research, drawing on interviews with young people who’d been to the camps and media reports.

British tabloids were unimpressed, wondering at the film’s 33,000 pound ($54,000) price tag and asking whether a cartoon would be effective in tackling terrorism. The Daily Mail called it “bizarre”.

Stuck in the 7th century.

We are in the era of jihad. The era of jihad has come over us, and jihad in the path of Allah is a pleasure. It is a real pleasure. The companions (of the Prophet) used to compete to (perform jihad). The poverty that we’re in—is it not due to our abandonment of jihad? But if we could conduct one, two, or three jihadist operations every year, many people throughout the earth would become Muslims. And whoever rejected this da’wa, or stood in our way, we would fight against him and take him prisoner, and confiscate his wealth, his children, and his women—all of this means money.

Every mujahid who returned from jihad, his pockets would be full. He would return with 3 or 4 slaves, 3 or 4 women, and 3 or 4 children. Multiply each head by 300 dirhams, or 300 dinar, and you have a good amount of profit. If he were to go to the West and work on a commercial deal, he would not make that much money. Whenever things became difficult (financially), he could take the head (i.e. the prisoner) and sell it, and ease his (financial) crisis. He would sell it like groceries.

Via Translating Jihad

All aboard the Herman Cain train.