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CALIFORNIANS REAP WHAT THEY SOW: IT’S NO LONGER TAX THE RICH, IT IS TAX EVERYBODY!

For the past few years we have been hearing about the ultra-wealthy, the millionaires and billionaires who refuse to pay their fair share. And Californians. mostly liberals, acted with outrage, to pass Proposition 30 and re-electing politicians who promised to tax the wealthy, promising that the rich would pay their fair share. Never once demanding that the politicians reduce their profligate spending or curtail the waste, fraud and abuse that was to be found almost everywhere you looked in State government.

Proposition 30 …

  • Raises California’s sales tax to 7.5% from 7.25%, a 3.45% percentage increase over current law.
  • Creates four high-income tax brackets for taxpayers with taxable incomes exceeding $250,000, $300,000, $500,000 and $1,000,000. This increased tax will be in effect for 7 years.
  • Imposes a 10.3% tax rate on taxable income over $250,000 but less than $300,000--a percentage increase of 10.6% over current policy of 9.3%. The 10.3% income tax rate is currently only paid by taxpayers with over $1,000,000 in taxable income.
  • Imposes an 11.3% tax rate on taxable income over $300,000 but less than $500,000--a percentage increase of 21.5% over current policy of 9.3%.
  • Imposes a 12.3% tax rate on taxable income over $500,000 up to $1,000,000--a percentage increase of 32.26% over current policy of 9.3%.
  • Imposes a 13.3% tax rate on taxable income over $1,000,000--a percentage increase of 29.13% over current "millionaires tax" policy of 10.3%.
  • If this proposition is passed in November, 2012, the income tax will apply retroactively to all income earned or received since the first of the year (1 January, 2012).

So here is part one of your little misadventure in allowing legislators to increase taxes …

The sales tax will be 7.50 percent on January 1, 2013. For many counties and cities across the state, the rate will be significantly higher due to local tax enhancements.. It will be 8 percent in Orange County, and 9 percent in Los Angeles County.

Part two is another punishing blow to the construction industry which will be forced to increase your costs …

As of January 1, 2013, Californians will be forced to pay a new one-percent on wood products. You, know the stuff used in construction, remodeling, repairs to our infrastructure. In a state ravaged by the mortgage meltdown, with decaying homes begging for rehabilitation, costs are now 1% higher

And part three is an insult in every productive entrepreneur and small businessperson who elects to operate their business as a sole proprietorship or corporation using individual tax rates …

The Franchise Tax Board updated the 2012 tax rate schedules to reflect tax increases due to the passage of Proposition 30. Among other things, Proposition 30 raises the personal income tax rate on individuals making more than $250,000 per year for the next seven years. The income tax changes apply retroactively to all income earned or received since January 1, 2012.

Bottom line …

We shall see waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer funds in the State of California continue.

We shall see corrupt politicians rewarding the unions, driving prices up, productivity down.

We shall see continuing special interest boondoggles like a $1 TRILLION train to nowhere.

We shall see a failing educational system that continues to graduate functional illiterates be rewarded – at least the teachers pensions will be rewarded – for little or no systemic improvement.

We shall see a protected political class of public employees whose jobs are guaranteed for life – complete with full salary and healthcare when they retire.

We shall see politicians obtaining personal protection from the state (state secret service) to protect them against the eventual uprising that will occur when the State goes broke and the pampered begin to whine.

But worst of all, add all of the new faux-environmental and healthcare regulations and we shall see creative and productive individuals and companies leave this state for more beneficial business climates. Leaving the state to those who cannot afford to leave, those who are here illegally – and increasing the spiraling downward trend of having too few people to pay the taxes for those who do pay any.

You are screwed! And you did it yourself. The 6,854,000 idiots who decided that it felt good to kill the State of California, or should I say, the People’s Republic of California.

e1

You have proved that the majority of the California electorate is either stupid or corrupted.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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SAN BERNARDINO CITY ATTORNEY TELLS THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NEED FOR GUNS AND SELF-PROTECTION AND THE LIBERALS GO CRAZY

How dare the San Bernardino City Attorney to tell the residents of his city to protect themselves …

According to the City of San Bernardino police, a son found the body of his 76-year-old mother, Mary Elizabeth Blaskey, in her ransacked San Bernardino home where she apparently was killed by someone who then stole her car.

In a town hall-style meeting to discuss the impact of the City’s municipal bankruptcy on policing and the slaying of Mary Blaskey, San Bernardino City Attorney Jim Penman told the approximately 200 attendees to “go home, lock their doors and load their guns.”

According to City Councilwoman Wendy McCammack who called the meeting, “The city has had three homicides in less than two weeks and 43 this year. the City of San Bernardino. “We're down 80 cops. It makes it tough to police a city this size, especially with the parolee population, to get a handle on the proper amount of patrols in every neighborhood."

The liberals are outraged …

SB City Attorney spouts inflammatory remarks at town hall meeting 

Well, San Bernardino City Attorney Jim Penman has done it again.

At a town hall meeting prompted by an elderly woman’s slaying last week, he told an overflow crowd of worried residents to go home, lock their doors and load their guns.

That’s right, to load their guns.

A recipe for survivor-mentality vigilantism and accidental shootings. Nice work, Mr. Penman.

The inflammatory remarks at the town hall meeting at Arrowhead Country Club came as Police Chief Rob Handy was taking questions from residents upset about increased panhandling and a homeless encampment near a freeway exit in their well-heeled neighborhood.

Handy told the crowd of more than 200 people that panhandling laws are inadequate to fix the problem and that panhandlers, when arrested, are quickly released from jail.

Penman elbowed his way to the microphone and told the crowd police in the bankrupt city would not be able to protect them and that they should arm themselves inside battened-down homes.

First of all, stirring up more fear among residents is irresponsible. People already have a distorted sense of how dangerous the city is. Truth be told, the vast majority of homicides are of people with risky lifestyles such as gang activity.

Second, Penman’s incendiary comments undermine the police at a time when the department is already in turmoil. Nearly 30 sworn-officer positions are vacant as part of the city’s plan to reduce a $46 million deficit and emerge from bankruptcy.

Penman didn’t need to undermine public confidence in the police department’s ability to keep the city safe. Handy said it can get by with 260 officers.

Penman owes the police and the residents an apology for an ill-timed, unwise statement when San Bernardino least needed it.

But he doesn’t care about that. Creating drama is his style.

Source: SB City Attorney spouts inflammatory remarks at town hall meeting : Cassie MacDuff

Sounds reasonable to me …

Penman told CBS Los Angeles: “Well, if I remember right, I told them to ‘lock their doors and load their guns.' Let’s be honest, we don’t have enough police officers. We have too many criminals living in this city. We have had 45 murders this year…that’s far too high for a city of this size.”

“I’m not advocating that people go out, who don’t have any training, and buy firearms. I certainly strongly caution anyone who has children at home not to have a loaded gun in the house.” <Source>

In his own words …

What nonsense …

Consider the following facts:

  • You have a God-given right to protect the lives of yourself and your family, using deadly force if required. Perhaps in your state or municipality, lesser rights when it comes to using deadly force to protect property.
  • The police are required by law to maintain government-mandated law and order, but do not have any responsibilities to protect individual citizens that are not in their custody. That is, an individual cannot sue the police for failing to prevent crime when and where it occurs. You are pretty much on your own, even if you live across from the police station.
  • Weapons, properly used, are a force-multiplier that permits weaker, infirm or elderly people to respond and resist superior force or armed assailants to prevent injury or death.
  • People, many of whom do not have familiarity or training with firearms, view firearms as dangerous to all society and suggest that they be tightly controlled.

And while it may be statistically true that you are unlikely to encounter life-threatening aggression under ordinary circumstances, it really sucks to be you if you are the one who is at the statistical end of the scale and you are unprepared to save your own life or the lives of your family.

If people want to cower in fear, beg and plead for their lives in front of deranged or drug-addled criminals, it is their choice. Some of us may chose another path. To protect ourselves and our families from the growing criminal population that has been mollycoddled and been given early release by liberal politicians.

Bottom line …

In the final analysis, it is up to the individual to protect themselves from injury or death. You can trust no one but yourself. Your neighbor who spouts this twaddle about gun control is either unprepared or unwilling to come to your assistance if circumstances turn against you. You will find them hiding in their gated communities, in well-protected, alarmed homes with panic rooms, waiting for help to arrive.

It is helpful to remember that when seconds count and the police are minutes away, there is a handy dispenser of justice at your fingertips.

In my world, gun control is not about disarming the population to avoid rebellion in the face of government tyranny, keeping children and criminals away from guns, empowering criminals by creating more victims – it is hitting what you shoot at. A cliché to be sure – but a wise one based on human experience.

-- steve

Full Disclosure: I am a life member (Benefactor Level) of the National Rifle Association. The NRA supports the Second Amendment of the Constitution, provides training for law enforcement and civilians and promotes sportsmanship in weapon-related sporting events as well as hunting.

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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If there is anything more dangerous and disgusting than a corrupt and incompetent President, it is a weak, corrupt and incompetent President.

There are only two paths that make sense of Obama’s actions … One, he is a closet Marxist and Muslim, hell-bent on transforming the United States into a democratic socialist state and helping Muslims to achieve their Middle East Caliphate. Or two, he is a weak, corrupt and incompetent President.

Actually there is a third path that also makes sense. He is clinically insane and believes he is in charge of the world.

--steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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Are you about to be screwed via e-mail sent in error by an unknown third party?

Consider the circumstances in which an innocent citizen is trapped in the legal system because a company’s vendor erroneous sent an innocent party an e-mail containing confidential information. When the owner did not reply to the vendor regarding the erroneous e-mails, the company went to court to issue a search warrant which will now expose all of the innocent party’s personal contact information in court documents. Thus, the innocent party will be required, at their own expense, to retain an attorney to fight the court-issued subpoena.

As it played out in court documents …

I. Expedited Discovery

Plaintiff has brought this action against Defendant John Doe seeking declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and recovery of unidentified specific personal property.

“Plaintiff alleges that it “contracted with a vendor for a project relating to certain of its Property,” and that “[t]he vendor inadvertently sent the HII Property to John Doe.

Once the vendor discovered its mistake, it “attempted to contact John Doe for return of the Property but received no response.

In the present application, Plaintiff provides additional details about these events.

Specifically, Plaintiff provides evidence that on September 26, 2012, “an employee of the vendor erroneously sent two email messages containing HII Property to the email address
”REDACTED.”

The owner of that email address is an unknown individual or entity identified in the complaint as John Doe, and the only information Plaintiff knows about Doe is the “REDACTED ” email address. 

Defendant Doe has not responded to any requests by Plaintiff or its counsel that he or she return the HII property.

Plaintiff alleges that both the Property and information regarding its status is located within this District, based upon its use of publicly-available geolocation technology that revealed that the IP address associated with Doe’s email account is located in California.

Since learning of its vendor’s mistake, Plaintiff has communicated with Google, which owns and operates Gmail, to seek its assistance in identifying the person associated with the “REDACTED.”

Google has indicated to Plaintiff that it has information that will identify Doe and confirm whether the account has been accessed since September 26, 2012, the date Plaintiff’s vendor erroneously sent the HII Property to the Gmail email address. 

Google also has the ability to assist in the return of the Property and to ensure that the Property is not unlawfully retained or converted.

However, Google will not provide any information about the email address without a valid subpoena.

Therefore, Plaintiff asks the court to grant it expedited discovery to issue a subpoena to Google to obtain Defendant Doe’s name and contact information and to learn whether the email account was accessed on or after September 26, 2012. (

Plaintiff cannot determine Defendant Doe’s identity without procuring this information from Google. Plaintiff notes that if the requested relief is not granted on an expedited basis, it may not be able to recover its property and will suffer irreparable injury. 

Furthermore, at this point, a subpoena is the exclusive means by which Plaintiff may take steps to protect its property.

Finally, Plaintiff has proposed a procedure to protect Doe's due process rights. Specifically, Plaintiff proposes a timeline for the service and response to the subpoena by which Google and Doe may object to the release of Doe's identifying information. Plaintiff proposes that the court order Google to serve a copy of the subpoena, along with the order granting it leave to serve a subpoena, on Doe within five days of being served. Plaintiff proposes that Doe then have 20 days to challenge the subpoena before Google provides the requested information.

The court is satisfied that this procedure will protect Doe's rights.

II. Conclusion

For the reasons above, the court ORDERS that Plaintiff's Second Ex Parte Application for Order Granting Leave to Take Expedited Discovery is GRANTED. It is hereby ORDERED that
Plaintiff is allowed to serve immediate discovery on Google by serving a Rule 45 subpoena that seeks information sufficient to identify Defendant Doe, including the registration information for the Gmail address "REDACTED," including names, addresses, telephone numbers, alternate email addresses and any other contact information for the individual to which the email address is
registered, and information regarding whether the Gmail address "REDACTED" was accessed on or after September 26, 2012.

The subpoena shall include a copy of this order. It is further ORDERED that Google will have five days from the date of service upon it to serve Defendant Doe with a copy of the subpoena and a copy of this order. Google may serve Defendant Doe using any reasonable means, including written notice sent to the last known address, transmitted either by first-class mail or via overnight service. Google and Defendant Doe each shall have 20 days from the date of service to file any motions in this court contesting the subpoena (including a motion to quash or modify the subpoena). If that 20-day period lapses without Defendant Doe or Google contesting the subpoena, Google shall have 5 days to produce to Plaintiff the responsive information

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
HUNTINGTON INGALLS INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
JOHN DOE,
Defendant.

No. C 12-05506 DMR

Bottom line …

Perhaps the best thing to do when you receive an e-mail from an unknown party that contains seemingly confidential data is to do what I was taught long ago by an e-mail pioneer whose name currently escapes me, send them a notice of receipt and destruction. Do not re-send the e-mail or attachment back to them – even if they ask. Only respond to legal counsel or the court – provided they can prove that they are the correct party that sent the information. Make sure that their affidavit of identification is provided under perjury, contains sufficient information to identify the owner of the information and is notarized. Two can play at the verification game.

To the e-mailer at <insert sender’s e-mail here>

I have received an e-mail from <insert name here> dated <insert date here> containing what appears to be proprietary data. I have deleted the e-mail from my local system, but cannot vouch for the fact that the e-mail has not been retained by those carbon- or blind-copied, my service provider or any other third party. I have not used or acted upon any of the information contained in the e-mail for any purpose. Should you require further contact, my hourly billing rate is <insert an amount> with a <insert a minimum time) hour minimum engagement plus any additional expenses plus a (insert percentage here) markup for handling.

Sincerely yours <sign with your e-mail account domain name>

 

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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It worked for Obama: 38-year old democrat socialist San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is writing his autobiography, perhaps he will try for a Nobel Peace Prize too?

What is this world coming to when middle-aged men are writing their autobiographies in the hopes of winning higher office? Especially if such middle-aged men grew up in a household headed by a radical socialist and Mexican activist. Julian Castro’s mother was a Chicano political activist who helped establish the Chicano political party La Raza Unida. If anyone cares to translate La Raza, they will find it is “The Race” – and they are referring to Mexicans – not Americans.

So we have a well-educated (affirmative action program, Stanford), well-spoken, telegenic radical activist who is pandering to a particular class of people. Something that persuaded the Democrat National Committee to provide Castro with a “historic opportunity” to deliver the keynote address at the 2012 DNC National Convention at Charlotte.

Bottom line …

Will there be anything left of the United States after the women and Hispanics take their turn at plundering our nation with their corrupt incompetence. Think about what the democrat party has given us: Jimmy Carter (the father of Islamo-Fascism), Bill Clinton (the paragon of corruption and the father of the Korean Nuclear Bomb), and Barack Obama who nationalized over one-sixth of the American economy, enlarged the government and blew out our national debt.

Time to revitalize the GOP or even a third party to resist these corrupt, pandering, inept and incompetent politicians who rely on a deeply divided America and a coalition of victims to win office.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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BRASS BALLS: MULTI-MILLIONAIRES BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON WANT YOU TO HELP PAY THEIR $73,000 CAMPAIGN DEBTS

I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that Bill Clinton is requesting the public’s help to pay off a paltry $73,000 campaign debt. Here is the man who is worth multiple millions and who has lived off the taxpayers for much of his life. So why doesn’t this cheap bastard simply write a check and retire the debt? OPM – Because they never spend their own money – only Other People’s Money. OPM, the mantra of the democrat party, and to be fair, politicians in general.

What is he hiding behind this request? That he could get the Saudis and big corporations to donate multi-millions to his foundation, but can't get one of his millionaire friends to ante up a relatively few bucks.

Me thinks something stinks …

I personally think Bill Clinton is preparing his e-mail and social media assets for a Hillary for President in 2016. Hoping that the women of this nation will reprise what the blacks have done for Barack Obama and go all in to elect Hillary as an “historic” event.

Pretty much why Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is nowhere to be found when it comes to providing answers about HER State Department and the CIA gun-running to our enemies in Benghazi, Libya. Why she will not say if the facility attacked was a consulate or simply a meeting or transfer point in Obama’s gun-running scheme. Why she will not answer the question why we were the only flag in the neighborhood when the British and Red Cross pulled out due to the danger posed by al Qaeda terrorists or their affiliate.

Perhaps the answer will come to her as did the Whitewater law firm billing records – out of a cloud, left on a table for others to discover.

The story …

Bill Clinton asks for help with Hillary’s 2008 campaign debt

Bill Clinton isn’t finished campaigning just yet.

Amid speculation that Hillary Clinton might make a run for the presidency in 2016, her husband is taking another swing at shrinking her lingering 2008 campaign debt, which totals $73,000 as of Sept. 30.

In an email to supporters Wednesday, Bill Clinton offered a chance to spend a day with him if donors chipped in to drive down his wife’s campaign debt before Dec. 6.

”There is nothing I enjoy more than good conversation with good people, which is why I’ve enjoyed it so much whenever we’ve brought one of Hillary’s strongest supporters to New York to spend the day with me — and I’m happy to tell you that I’ve asked to do it again,” the email said.

Since becoming the nation’s top diplomat, Hillary Clinton can’t involve herself in any campaigning, which has left Bill Clinton to help out with debt reduction. In June 2008, after losing the Democratic nomination to President Barack Obama, the debt totaled $25 million, according to CBS, and since then, Bill Clinton has pitched similar emails and raffles. <Source: Bill Clinton asks supporters to help reduce Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign debt - POLITICO.com>

Bottom line …

The campaign is starting now and the GOP better figure out a way to hang Benghazi and all of her previous scandals around her neck while combatting charges they are anti-woman. It appears that if we follow the current pattern of events in America, we must elect a woman – no matter how corrupt or incompetent – because it is their turn. This is bull pucky and the GOP needs to slap down potential candidates sooner rather than later or find themselves, as they were in this most recent election cycle, outgunned by the bad guys.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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Obama and White House apparently not concerned about lying to the American people?

Listen to Chief Spokesman and media weasel, Jay Carney …

  

"What the president is worried about, Major, is what happened and why in Benghazi. He is not particularly concerned about whether the ambassador or I went out and talked about the fact that we believed extremists might have been responsible. And whether we named them as al Qaeda or not does not--no, it certainly doesn't have any bearing on what happened and who was responsible as that investigation was continuing on Benghazi."

Bottom line …

The real questions remain:

  1. Was the facility a diplomatic consulate or was it a CIA outpost?
  2. Was the facility used as a transfer or meeting point to facilitate gun running activities to al Qaeda or al Qaeda-affiliates through Turkey for the purpose of destabilizing Syria or other Arab countries?
  3. What was the role of the Turkish Ambassador – who left the compound prior to the attack?
  4. Who decided to float the story of the video and the protest mob to the American public?
  5. Did Susan Rice knowingly lie to the American people at the behest of Barack Obama or the White House?
  6. Why is there a continuing cover-up?
  7. Why did the President of the United States continue the lie about the video when he obviously knew the truth?
  8. What did Barack Obama know and when did he know it?
  9. Who denied requests for increased security prior to the attack?
  10. Who pulled security personnel out of the area prior to the attack?
  11. Who denied assistance to Americans trapped in the attack?
  12. Who decided that 9/11 didn’t warrant heightened security?
  13. Why was General Ham relieved of command and reassigned?

And there are other questions.

I think Barack Obama has been caught in a cover-up worse than Watergate and should be impeached if found guilty of arming our enemies and lying to the American public to cover it up. I think Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice, and Leon Panetta should be fired in disgrace rather than be allowed to resign if they were complicit in the cover-up.

-- steve

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HIDING BEYOND PHONY "ONGOING INVESTIGATION?"

Not to be disrespectful of the FBI, but have they noticed that the 9/11 attack on our facility in Benghazi, Libya that saw four Americans killed is not a criminal matter, but an act of war committed by a hostile force? A matter which should be investigated and redressed by the military – not civilian authority.

And about that investigation, how trustworthy is the FBI when they appear to be hyper-politicized and under the control of Attorney General Eric Holder – a lapdog for the Obama Administration and a man who has been charged with Contempt of Congress.

Not to mention, the FBI’s failure to timely investigate the crime scene and recover not only evidence, but secret and sensitive documents that were left lying around to be recovered by anyone passing by or journalists who wanted to visit the scene for themselves. And, then there is the little matter of eyewitnesses who were never pursued by the FBI until Senator Lindsey Graham arranged for their interview by writing a letter to a foreign government. A lone Senator – not the Obama Administration and not the FBI.

Which tends to indicate that the idea of an “ongoing investigation” is nothing more than an administration ruse to keep “We the People” from discovering what appears to be a stunning level of malfeasance and a cover-up of Watergate proportions.

But, then again – The CIA said that Acting CIA Director “misspoke” when he said the FBI changed the talking points and gave an “ongoing investigation” as the reason.

Graham, McCain, and Ayotte demand to know who altered Rice’s talking points

Following their meeting with U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice on Tuesday morning, Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Kelly Ayotte strongly disagreed with the White House’s statement Tuesday that “there are no unanswered questions” regarding Rice’s initial statements on the Sept. 11 Benghazi attack.

The three senators have been highly critical of Rice, who said on several Sunday talk shows immediately following the attack that intelligence indicated that the incident was the result of a spontaneous protest about an anti-Muslim film.

In the Tuesday meeting, Rice acknowledged that that initial intelligence had been “incorrect.”

The three left the meeting saying they were “more disturbed” than when they went in, adding that many questions remained.

One major question appears to be who exactly removed all references to al-Qaida from the declassified talking points Rice used to prepare for the Sunday talk shows.

“Around 10:00 this morning in a meeting requested by Ambassador Rice, accompanied by acting CIA Director Mike Morell, we asked Mr. Morell who changed the unclassified talking points to remove references to al-Qaida. In response, Mr. Morell said the FBI removed the references and did so to prevent compromising an ongoing criminal investigation,” the three senators said in a joint statement issued Tuesday evening. “We were surprised by this revelation and the reasoning behind it.”

Whoops – another lying, misinformed or malfeasant official who hasn’t been given the taking points?

“However, at approximately 4:00 this afternoon, CIA officials contacted us and indicated that acting Director Morell misspoke in our earlier meeting,” the senators went on. “The CIA now says that it deleted the al-Qaida references, not the FBI. They were unable to give a reason as to why.”

“We are disturbed by the administration’s continued inability to answer even the most basic questions about the Benghazi attack and the administration’s response.The senators said that questions also remained about the timeline of the attack, “the president’s statements regarding the attack,” and about how long it took for the U.S. military to respond. <Source: Graham, McCain, Ayotte: Who altered Benghazi talking points? | The Daily Caller>

Bottom line …

There is an active cover-up and it includes the President of the United States, Barack Obama, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, the former Director of the CIA, General Petraeus, and others such as United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice.

Everyone is pointing fingers at someone else while taking responsibility. Lies have been told under oath and nobody is being called out for perjury and lying to Congress. It appears we cannot trust our government in this matter and that the President of the United States is skating perilously close to Richard Nixon territory.

Something stinks in Benghazi. Something stinks in Washington. And when you have two aisle-hopping RINOs like John McCain and Lindsey Graham involved, I wonder if the truth will ever come out. Especially with McCain susceptible to being coerced by the administration over his collaboration with the enemy during the Viet Nam era?

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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Are you voluntarily sacrificing your privacy, security and freedom in exchange for convenience?

How many people realize that your DNA can be manipulated by the authorities to provide a false positive to a crime report? That is, they do not actually need your physical DNA as would be found at a crime scene to pronounce you guilty. All they would need is the numerical coded value that represents your DNA. Likewise, your fingerprints or any other biometric values used for identification.

How many people realize that Facebook represents the big brother’s dream of a master database, containing facial recognition data, voice recognition data, indications of your close associates and a timeline of your activities and purchases. Mostly available to the authorities without a warrant – just for the taking?

And here you are, providing information to the public that would require a warrant and weeks of investigation to obtain by a federal agency – many prohibited from creating, storing and maintaining such information without suitable safeguards and usage limitations.

Even worse, your service provider is aggregating your data with data from other sources; purchases from supermarkets, movies you have rented – and profiting from selling this expanded information to anyone with the money and need for such data. Woe to us the day a major credit repository contracts with a social media site to provide a full and complete picture of your financial, educational, employment and recreational activities. Think it might be hard? Consider what information may be held in Experian’s Credit Repository, Amazon’s purchase database, LinkedIn’s employment and resume files, Facebook and any online picture repository – and then think again.

And the law is not on your side!

There is no Constitutional protection against the use of volunteered information. No Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination. No pity for the stupid criminals who post details or actual photographic evidence of their crimes on Facebook or any one of the social media sites. There is no such thing as retroactive protection against stupidity.

Even worse, you do not own the preponderance of software on your computer, you license it under terms and conditions which are ever-changing, barely understandable, confer unprecedented use to the creator, allow access to other information on the computer, ostensibly to guarantee a “quality user experience,” and all with a take-it-or-leave-it unilateral agreement. We have seen instances when Amazon has wiped out an entire library of books and unilaterally closed a customer’s account, all the while refusing to tell the customer exactly what wrong was committed. Under media scrutiny and public outrage, the problem was resolved – but how many individuals have a compelling unique story and access to the media, or in the alternative, the funds to sue a vendor whose damages are contractually limited by their terms and usage agreements to little more than what you have recently paid for the service – in most cases, zero.

Even the Courts are unable to decide what rights you may have in this digital. Some think that browsing through a computer requires a warrant showing probable cause, but will freely allow investigators to browse through your cellphone – even if it is a computer. Consider the debate whether or not you actually own the data. Does your cellphone location data constitute privileged data or does it belong to the common carrier as a business record needed to facilitate a transaction? The difference can mean regarding you as a suspect or a material witness because your cellphone placed you at the scene of a crime at the time the crime was being committed. 

Another recent case that is yet to be heard involves a school system who demands students carry trackable identification at all times while on campus. Smart students will wrap their card in tinfoil and defeat the scanners. Why is this important to the school system? Follow the money. Schools are paid on the basis of their “average daily attendance” and without verifiable proof, they may lose money. It also allows the school system to determine who ditched school and may be costing them money. Other uses include payment of lunch money to prevent students from being mugged by other students. It is an interesting case only because the great majority of these students are voluntarily trackable with their cellphones.

Bottom line …

We need to start thinking about the tradeoffs in our lives. Freedom for faux safety and security at the government level. Privacy for convenience at the personal level.

The one thing that I would most like to see is an extension of the law that criminalizes government (and their contractors, agents and informants) access and usage of electronic data for personal, political or commercial purposes. With mandatory sentences, loss of pension, no ability to plea bargain the charge downward or be eligible for parole before the sentence is served. This same penalty can apply to those investigators and prosecutors who use “manufactured or manipulated” electronic evidence against any individual or organization.

Think hard and long about what George Orwell said in his prophetic book, Animal Farm; “some animals are more equal than others,” and then look at his other prophetic book, 1984, a dystopian tale of Big Brother and a totalitarian regime. Both books conveying elements of truth about today’s ruling elite and the future of individuals versus the socialist collective.

-- steve 

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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Angus T. Jones on 'Two And A Half Men' -- FIRE the ungrateful little bastard!

At a time when the economy is shredded and the average citizen is unemployed, underemployed or facing layoff, we see Angus T. Jones earning a reported $350,000 per episode on a silly sitcom – and then having the stunningly bad judgement and nerve to describe the show as “filth,” and telling viewers not to watch it.

One might suspect that this was a publicity stunt to boost flagging ratings were it not for the fact that the statement – which went viral on YouTube – was made in the presence of a controversial pastor associated with a peripheral religious group.

Now we get the apology that was clearly crafted by a public relations team at Insignia PR …

Angus T. Jones Breaks Silence About Controversial ‘Two And A Half Men’ Remarks

I have been the subject of much discussion, speculation and commentary over the past 24 hours. While I cannot address everything that has been said or right every misstatement or misunderstanding, there is one thing I want to make clear.

Without qualification, I am grateful to and have the highest regard and respect for all of the wonderful people on Two and Half Men with whom I have worked over the past ten years and who have become an extension of my family.

Chuck Lorre, Peter Roth and many others at Warner Bros. and CBS are responsible for what has been one of the most significant experiences in my life to date.  I thank them for the opportunity they have given and continue to give me and the help and guidance I have and expect to continue to receive from them.

I also want all of the crew and cast on our show to know how much I personally care for them and appreciate their support, guidance and love over the years.  I grew up around them and know that the time they spent with me was in many instances more than with their own families.  I learned life lessons from so many of them and will never forget how much positive impact they have had on my life.

I apologize if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed.  I never intended that. <Source>

Not only disrespectful to his employer and co-workers, now disrespectful of the public …

This statement is clearly disrespectful of the public as it has been crafted in Public-Relations-Speak without any shred of remorse or personality that would indicate this even came from the snotty little brat.  Let him learn the consequences of his actions in both affiliating with a controversial religious leader who appears to have capitalized on Jones’ notoriety … and the consequences of crapping all over your overly generous employer without provocation.

There is no mistake, in his own words …

 

"I'm on 'Two and a Half Men' and I don't want to be on it,” he said. "If you watch 'Two and a Half Men,' please stop watching it and filling your head with filth. People say it’s just entertainment. Do some research on the effects of television and your brain, and I promise you you’ll have a decision to make when it comes to television, especially with what you watch."

"If I am doing any harm, I don't want to be here. I don't want to be contributing to the enemy's plan ... You cannot be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like that. I know I can't,” he continued. “I'm not OK with what I'm learning, what the Bible says and being on that television show."
<Source>

Bottom line …

Clearly Angus T. Jones does not have the acting ability or charisma of a Charlie Sheen or even the wooden performance of Ashton Kutcher, so he is clearly expendable without any major effect on the show.  Since he plays a soldier on the show, his absence can be easily explained. Or perhaps, in a fit of fairness, they should indicate that the character went AWOL (Absent Without Leave) from the service and was tragically killed when some teenagers cherry-bombed an outhouse next to the road upon which he had been hitchhiking. A perfect ending in a $h*tstorm.

Clearly there is something wrong with Angus T. Jones that cries out for professional assistance. As for forgiveness, let him learn that words have both meanings and consequences. And provide another actor with a sorely needed job.

-- steve.

Reference Links …

Angus T. Jones Breaks Silence About Controversial 'Two And A Half Men' Remarks - Deadline.com

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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