Monday, September 30, 2013

Generals Fired Over Leatherneck Attack - Business Insider


Generals Fired Over Leatherneck Attack - Business Insider: "The Marine Corps has announced it will fire the pair of 2-star generals who were in charge in Helmand province, Afghanistan last year when the Taliban executed a complex ambush on the Marines regional headquarters at Camp Leatherneck.
In what he described as the hardest decision of his tenure, Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Jim Amos has recommended to the Secretary of the Navy that Maj. Gen. Mark Gurganus and Maj. Gen. Gregg Sturdevant be relieved of duties and forced to retire."

'via Blog this'

Sunday, September 29, 2013

In McDonnell probe, action unlikely before Virginia’s November election, sources say - The Washington Post


In McDonnell probe, action unlikely before Virginia’s November election, sources say - The Washington Post: "Federal prosecutors investigating Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell’s ties to a wealthy donor are unlikely to file charges or resolve the case before the state’s November election, as they conduct new witness interviews and continue to review evidence, people familiar with the investigation said."

'via Blog this'

Friday, September 27, 2013

How Much Obamacare Will Cost - Business Insider

How Much Obamacare Will Cost - Business Insider: " Americans will pay an average premium of $328 monthly for a mid-tier health insurance plan when the Obamacare health exchanges open for enrollment next week, and most will qualify for government subsidies to lower that price, the Obama administration said on Wednesday."

'via Blog this'

Health Care Costs Climb Moderately, Survey Says - NYTimes.com

Health Care Costs Climb Moderately, Survey Says - NYTimes.com: "Premiums for employer-provided health insurance have increased by relatively modest amounts this year, according to a new survey, a further sign that once-torrid health care inflation has abated for now.

The average annual premium for a family rose 4 percent in 2013, to $16,351, according to the survey results released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Annual premiums for individual policies purchased through an employer rose 5 percent, to $5,884.

The 4 percent increase for a family is relatively tame, at least compared with the roughly 10 percent annual increases experienced a decade ago. But it is still a far bigger rise than 1.8 percent increase in wages and the 1.1 percent rate of inflation in the last year, the foundation said."

'via Blog this'

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Rush Limbaugh Has No Business Teaching History to Our Kids - The Daily Beast


Rush Limbaugh Has No Business Teaching History to Our Kids - The Daily Beast: "Rush Limbaugh is coming for your children. Not in the flesh, thank God. But on his radio show last Thursday, the right’s favorite gasbag announced that, after a two-decade hiatus, he is returning to the publishing world, this time with a history lesson for the grade-school set.

The title of his forthcoming book is Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims: Time Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans. As befitting an author of such extraordinary narcissism, the book’s hero is “a fearless middle-school history teacher named Rush Revere, who travels back in time and experiences American history as it happens,” and the book’s cover features the colonial-themed caricature of Limbaugh that also serves the logo of his patriot-themed brand of iced tea."

'via Blog this'

Friday, September 20, 2013

Have Mass Shootings Become the 'New Normal?' - To the Point on KCRW

The Answer: YES!


Have Mass Shootings Become the 'New Normal?' - To the Point on KCRW: "Somebody shot up a pickup basketball game in Chicago last night. Nobody was killed, but 13 were injured. On Monday, 13 people died in the shooting at Washington's Navy Yard. Will there be action? Or, are multiple shootings coming to be accepted as part of America's routine? Also, the House passes a bill defunding Obamacare, setting the stage for a showdown, and the new Pope wants a new direction for the Roman Catholic Church."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, September 19, 2013

New memos detail Republican Frederic Malek's role in Nixon campaign against Jews


New memos detail Republican Frederic Malek's role in Nixon campaign against Jews: "Frederic V. Malek, who is among Washington's wealthiest Republican power brokers, is discovering that even a single problematic episode in government service can be hard to shake."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Virginia Republican Not Going for Jewish Vote -- Daily Intelligencer


Virginia Republican Not Going for Jewish Vote -- Daily Intelligencer: "John Whitbeck, 10th District Republican Committee chairman, kicked off the festivities by telling a joke about how the head of the Jewish religion presented the pope with a long, elaborate document that the Jewish leader said was a bill for the last supper."

'via Blog this'

Monday, September 16, 2013

Aaron Alexis, Navy Yard shooter, ID'd by officials (Photo) - Associated Press - POLITICO.com

Another military member goes postal.  (which is a reflection of military members going crazy)

Aaron Alexis, Navy Yard shooter, ID'd by officials (Photo) - Associated Press - POLITICO.com: "Federal law enforcement officials say the man accused in a shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard that left at least 12 people dead has been identified as Aaron Alexis.

The two officials spoke Monday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Initial Jobless Claims, September 7 - Business Insider

Initial Jobless Claims, September 7 - Business Insider: "First, jobless claims plunged to 292,000, which was much lower than the 330,000 expected by economists."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Cuccinelli claims Gov. McDonnell responsible for choice of attorney | WTVR.com


Cuccinelli claims Gov. McDonnell responsible for choice of attorney | WTVR.com: "A spokesman for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is the one who hired his personal attorney after Cuccinelli recused himself from the case involving the executive mansion chef charged with embezzlement.
Not Cuccinelli, as the governor said just last week."

'via Blog this'

Cuccinelli donates $18,000 value of Star chief’s gifts - The Washington Post

It's about time!

Cuccinelli donates $18,000 value of Star chief’s gifts - The Washington Post: " Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II said he will give a Richmond-based charity more than $18,000 — the value of gifts he received from a Star Scientific executive whose much larger presents to Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and his family are the focus of two investigations.

Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate for governor, has been under pressure from critics and supporters to pay back Star chief executive Jonnie R. Williams Sr. since late July, when McDonnell (R) announced that he would return valuables and money that Williams had provided to him and his family."

'via Blog this'

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Obama's Stance On Syria Is One Contradiction Too Many - Business Insider


Obama's Stance On Syria Is One Contradiction Too Many - Business Insider: "But what may doom the president's effort, in the end, is not his short-term tactics. It is years of contradictory policies by the American government and Obama himself.

As Charles Blow noted in the New York Times last week, this is the "Era of Disbelief," where Americans don't trust their president or Congress. Blow rightly cited Iraq as the primary cause. But a litany of other government half-truths have pushed the public's trust in its government to record lows."

'via Blog this'

Friday, September 6, 2013

Honda hits 50—mpg, that is—on new Accord Hybrid


Honda hits 50—mpg, that is—on new Accord Hybrid: "In the battle for bragging rights in the high-mileage category, Honda has landed a solid blow against the competition, with its 2014 Accord Hybrid delivering an EPA-certified rating of 50 mpg in city driving.

That's a full three miles per gallon better than the previous king-of-the-fuel-economy-hill, the 47 mpg Ford Fusion Hybrid. The Toyota Camry Hybrid comes in at 43 and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid at 40."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Top House Republican Rewrites History, Claims Reagan Stood Up To Chemical Weapons Use | ThinkProgress

Say What!!

Top House Republican Rewrites History, Claims Reagan Stood Up To Chemical Weapons Use | ThinkProgress:
ROS-LEHTINEN: It is against the norms of international standards and to let something like this go unanswered, I think will weaken our resolve. I — I know that President Reagan would have never let this happen. He would stand up to this. And President Obama — the only reason he is consulting with Congress, he wants to blame somebody for his lack of resolve. We have to think like President Reagan would do and he would say chemical use is unacceptable.
What Ros-Lehtinen seems oddly unaware of, however, is that Ronald Reagan did exactly the opposite. For the majority of the 1980s, Iraq under Sadaam Hussein was locked in combat with the Islamic Republic of Iran in a war that killed more than 1,000,000 people on both sides. The United States explicitly backed the secular Hussein over the Ayatollah Khomeini’s government in Tehran, still smarting from the embassy hostage crisis that had only ended when Reagan took office. That backing not only included the shipment of tons of weapons to support Baghdad, but also looking the other way when Iraq unleashed its chemical weapons stockpiles — including sarin and mustard gas — against Iranian civilians and soldiers alike.
'via Blog this'

Iraq Hawks’ Flip-Flop - The Daily Beast

Iraq Hawks’ Flip-Flop - The Daily Beast: "Iraq Hawks’ Flip-Flop"

'via Blog this'

Sheldon Adelson: I Stand With President Obama on Bombing Syria

What??
One-Issue voters!

Adelson New Obama Ally as Jewish Groups Back Syria Strike - Bloomberg: "Rabbis’ Briefing
Obama made the same argument Aug. 30 on a 30-minute conference call with 1,000 rabbis. Obama conducts such a call annually. This time, at the White House’s request, Syria was the topic of the first question, asked by Rabbi Gerald Skolnik of the Forest Hills Jewish Center in Queens, president of the Rabbinical Assembly, the association of Conservative rabbis."

'via Blog this'

Longtime Texas Minister of Former President George W. Bush, Rev. Mark Craig, Retires - Urban Christian News


Longtime Texas Minister of Former President George W. Bush, Rev. Mark Craig, Retires - Urban Christian News: "Kirbyjon H. Caldwell"

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Conservative activists heckle Marco Rubio over immigration stance - The Washington Post

Well, that love affair didn't last long!

Here's the deal: Rubio will say something (eat meat for the conservatives - Liberals want your guns; Taxes, taxes, taxes, Our socialist friends on the democrat party) and conservatives will fall in lust with him again.  Wash, rinse, repeat!

Conservative activists heckle Marco Rubio over immigration stance - The Washington Post: "en. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) came face-to-face Friday with how his support for a bipartisan immigration deal has hurt his standing with the GOP’s tea party wing, facing loud hecklers during a speech to a group of influential conservative activists.

Rubio’s address at the opening session of the “Defending the American Dream Summit,” sponsored by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, was punctuated repeatedly by calls of “No amnesty!” from attendees scattered throughout the audience of about 1,000 people."

'via Blog this'

McCain playing poker on his iPhone

J. McCain playing poker on his iPhone during the Syria Hearings!

McCain playing poker on his iPhone: "As the hearing continues, our ace photographer Melina Mara reports she spotted Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) “passing the time by playing poker on his iPhone during the hearing.”"

'via Blog this'

Husband Of Gay Service Member Booed At GOP Debate Now Has His Military Spouse ID Card

Husband Of Gay Service Member Booed At GOP Debate Now Has His Military Spouse ID Card:

 Major Stephen Snyder-Hill found himself at the center of the national debate over the end of “don’t ask, don’t tell” when he was booed by audience members at a a September 2011 Republican presidential debate when he asked about the change that allows him now to serve his country and talk openly about his husband, Joshua.
Two years later, in a sign of the changed landscape for same-sex couples, Stephen and Joshua Snyder-Hill went to the Defense Supply Center, Columbus, or DSCC, in Ohio on Tuesday — where Joshua became “official,” as Stephen put it, and received his spousal military ID card on the first day the cards were available to same-sex spouses.

'via Blog this'

Monday, September 2, 2013

1-Year-Old Boy Is Fatally Shot in Brooklyn - NYTimes.com


1-Year-Old Boy Is Fatally Shot in Brooklyn - NYTimes.com: "A 1-year-old boy died on Sunday night after being shot in the head on a Brooklyn street, the police said.

The shooting occurred on the corner of Livonia Avenue and Bristol Street in the Marcus Garvey Village project in Brownsville about 7 p.m. The boy, Antiq Hennis, was hit in the left side of the head and pronounced dead at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center."

'via Blog this'

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Gov. McDonnell described as aware of gifts from Virginia businessman - The Washington Post


Gov. McDonnell described as aware of gifts from Virginia businessman - The Washington Post: "Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell was aware of gifts and financial help provided by a wealthy Richmond area businessman during the same months the governor and his wife took steps to help his company, according to people familiar with documents and interviews gathered by federal investigators.

For example, McDonnell (R) was present at a charity auction in 2011 when the chief executive of Star Scientific, which makes a dietary supplement, successfully bid on a fashion tour of New York for the governor’s wife in front of a crowd of onlookers, witnesses said."

'via Blog this'