A Deadly Mix in Benghazi - The New York Times

A Deadly Mix in Benghazi - The New York Times: "Months of investigation by The New York Times, centered on extensive interviews with Libyans in Benghazi who had direct knowledge of the attack there and its context, turned up no evidence that Al Qaeda or other international terrorist groups had any role in the assault. The attack was led, instead, by fighters who had benefited directly from NATO’s extensive air power and logistics support during the uprising against Colonel Qaddafi. And contrary to claims by some members of Congress, it was fueled in large part by anger at an American-made video denigrating Islam."

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John Kerry Fist-Bumped Snoop Dogg At A White House Party

John Kerry Fist-Bumped Snoop Dogg At A White House Party: "No telling what the two were talking about at this Kennedy Center Honorees after party."

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What Is Duck Dynasty? - Business Insider

What Is Duck Dynasty? - Business Insider: "I Just Watched 'Duck Dynasty' For The First Time And Now I Finally Get It"

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White House broadens Obamacare exemptions - Jennifer Haberkorn and Carrie Budoff Brown - POLITICO.com

White House broadens Obamacare exemptions - Jennifer Haberkorn and Carrie Budoff Brown - POLITICO.com: "Millions of Americans who had their health plans cancelled will be exempt from the Obamacare individual mandate, the administration said Thursday — a surprise move that comes just before Monday’s deadline to sign up for coverage starting Jan. 1.

The administration also said people who had their plans cancelled could get a scaled-back catastrophic plan, which has more limited benefits than those included in other Obamacare health plans."

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States Cite Surge in Obamacare Sign-Ups Ahead of First Deadline - ABC News

  Breaking News from ABC
  ABC Sports News

States Cite Surge in Obamacare Sign-Ups Ahead of First Deadline - ABC News:

States running their own Obamacare insurance exchanges are reporting a significant surge in sign-ups just four days before the first major enrollment deadline.

The increase has ranged from 30 percent to 40 percent in the past few weeks, according to state officials who briefed reporters Wednesday. Monday is the last day to sign up for a plan that will guarantee health coverage effective Jan. 1.

California, which has one of the most successful programs, averaged 15,000 enrollments a day last week, up from an average 7,000 a day the week before, state officials said. In all of November, 80,000 Californians picked a plan; in the first week of December, 50,000 signed up.

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Mom Finds Out Son Died Through Facebook - Business Insider

Wow, that's horrible.

Mom Finds Out Son Died Through Facebook - Business Insider: "Nikkita Milledge, told WTHR that she found out her son, Anthony Warren, was killed outside of an apartment complex on Saturday night, when someone wrote "RIP Anthony, I'll miss you" on his Facebook timeline."

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Report: Move to indict Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell delayed - James Hohmann - POLITICO.com

Report: Move to indict Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell delayed - James Hohmann - POLITICO.com: "The Justice Department has reportedly delayed until next year a decision on whether to indict outgoing Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife in connection with a gifts scandal — a delay that came after a face-to-face appeal from the couple’s lawyers."

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Pope Francis Response To Marxist Criticism - Business Insider

Pope Francis Response To Marxist Criticism - Business Insider:
Pope Francis has responded to critics who have called him a "Marxist" in a new interview with an Italian newspaper, saying Marxist ideology "is wrong" while simultaneously noting that much of what he wrote in his powerful critique of capitalism is part of the fabric of the Catholic church.

“Marxist ideology is wrong. But I have met many Marxists in my life who are good people, so I don’t feel offended," Francis told La Stampa. "There is nothing in the Exhortation that cannot be found in the social Doctrine of the Church.”

Francis' answer was in response to accusations from U.S. critics on the right, including Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/pope-francis-marxist-response-2013-12#ixzz2nWzUFWP3
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Kansas man arrested in terror bomb plot at Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, wanted to be 'martyr': prosecutor - NY Daily News

TERROR-IST.

Kansas man arrested in terror bomb plot at Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, wanted to be 'martyr': prosecutor - NY Daily News: "A Kansas man has been arrested while attempting to drive explosives into the state's largest and busiest airport early Friday morning in a mass casualty bombing, authorities said.

Terry Loewen, a former employee of Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, "spent months developing a plan to use his access card to the airport to drive explosive devices into the terminal" on behalf of terror group Al Qaida, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said at a press conference."

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Sheriff: Colorado school shooter dead - CNN.com

Sheriff: Colorado school shooter dead - CNN.com: "A student who opened fire Friday inside a suburban Denver high school appears to have been seeking revenge against a faculty member because of a "confrontation or disagreement," the Arapahoe County sheriff said.
The shooter, identified as 18-year-old Karl Halverson Pierson, shot one student before turning the gun on himself and taking his own life, Sheriff Grayson Robinson told reporters."

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House Passes Budget Bill - Business Insider

House Passes Budget Bill - Business Insider: "The House of Representatives easily passed the budget bill that was the result of a deal brokered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Sen.), clearing its biggest hurdle on the way to becoming law"

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Michigan Legislature OKs initiative to require insurance rider for abortion coverage | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Michigan Legislature OKs initiative to require insurance rider for abortion coverage | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: " A controversial initiative requiring women to buy additional insurance if they want abortion coverage in their health insurance plans passed the Legislature Wednesday afternoon and will take effect 90 days after lawmakers adjourn for the year.

The issue was brought up at the same time in the House and Senate and Democrats immediately cried foul, decrying not only the bill, but that it should be an issue decided by all the state’s voters and not just the 315,477 people — about 4% of the state’s voters — who signed the Right to Life petition."

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Santa Claus White? Fox News’ Megyn Kelly thinks so. But Santa’s not real.

Hey Megan, Santa is usually the color\race of the people in the location where he is being celebrated!

- But hey he's white for most people here in the US.

In contrary to what you said about Jesus - he is not White!  It's impossible for him to be White!

Santa Claus White? Fox News’ Megyn Kelly thinks so. But Santa’s not real.: "Earlier this week, I argued that our image of Santa Claus should no longer be a white man, but, instead, a penguin. I hoped the piece would come across as a little tongue-in-cheek, while at the same time expressing my real concern that America continues to promote the harmful idea of whiteness-as-default. Over the past couple of days, I’ve received a lot of responses. Some of them were positive—mostly because, as I said in the piece, people love penguins."

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Santa Claus an old white man? Not anymore. Meet Santa the Penguin, a new Christmas symbol.

Santa Claus an old white man? Not anymore. Meet Santa the Penguin, a new Christmas symbol.: "When I was a kid, I knew two different Santa Clauses. The first had a fat belly, rosy cheeks, a long white beard, and skin as pink as bubble gum. He was omnipresent, visiting my pre-school and the local mall, visible in all of my favorite Christmas specials."

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John Boehner Slams Conservative Groups For 'Using' Lawmakers And The American People

John Boehner Slams Conservative Groups For 'Using' Lawmakers And The American People: ""You mean the groups that came out and opposed it before they ever saw it?" he said in a response to a reporter's question.

Before the deal was even announced on Tuesday, Heritage Action and Americans For Prosperity stated their opposition to it. Following the announcement, Club For Growth said it would oppose the deal and include it on its congressional scorecard.

"They're using our members and they're using the American people for their own goals. This is ridiculous," Boehner said loudly. "Listen, if you're for more deficit reduction, you're for this agreement.""

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The Cry of the True Republican - NYTimes.com

The Cry of the True Republican - NYTimes.com: "I AM a genetic Republican.

Five generations of Tafts have served our nation as unwaveringly stalwart Republicans, from Alphonso Taft, who served as attorney general in the late 19th century, through William Howard Taft, who not only was the only person to be both president of the United States and chief justice of the United States but also served as the chief civil administrator of the Philippines and secretary of war, to my cousin, Robert Taft, a two-term governor of Ohio."

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Senate Won't Address 3-D Printed Guns In Renewing Ban - Business Insider

Senate Won't Address 3-D Printed Guns In Renewing Ban - Business Insider: "On a voice vote, the Democratic-led Senate passed the bill, which would extend for 10 years the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988.

The Republican-led House of Representatives approved the bill last week and, like the Senate, refused to pass tougher provisions opposed by the powerful gun industry."

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Obama Shook Hands With Raul Castro - Business Insider

The President just blew up Conservative Twitter sites:

Obama Shook Hands With Raul Castro - Business Insider: "Barack Obama shook the hand of Cuban President Raul Castro on his way to speak at Nelson Mandela's memorial service.

The moment is special and unprecedented since the U.S. has held an economic embargo on Cuba since 1953, and Mandela was praised for his ability to unite enemies across political and racial divides. "

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Group Puts Gov. McDonnell on 'Worst Governors in America' List

Group Puts Gov. McDonnell on 'Worst Governors in America' List: "One website is criticizing Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell, calling him one of the worst governors in America.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) posted the list on CitizensForEthics.org, and ranked Gov. McDonnell as the third worst governor in the countr"

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The bogus claim that Obama is ‘closing’ the Vatican embassy

The current U.S. Mission to the Holy See is on the left, and the future U.S. Mission to the Holy See is on the right. (State Department photos)

The bogus claim that Obama is ‘closing’ the Vatican embassy: "“Why would our President close our Embassy to the Vatican? Hopefully, it is not retribution for Catholic organizations opposing Obamacare”"

http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2013/dec/04/jeb-bush/jeb-bush-says-obama-closing-embassy-vatican/

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is Catholic, tweeted on the day before Thanksgiving, "Why would our president close the embassy to the Vatican? Hopefully, it is not retribution for Catholic organizations opposing Obamacare."

Did President Barack Obama close the embassy to the Vatican as a way of sticking it to them over Obamacare? That sounds like some un-divine intervention. But is it the truth? (It would be a venial sin to omit a hat-tip to the Washington PostFact Checker, which ran a check on this earlier today. CNN also did a fact check earlier.)

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For exiting McDonnell, investigation ‘heartbreaking and humbling’ | GovBeat

For exiting McDonnell, investigation ‘heartbreaking and humbling’ | GovBeat: "But he pointed to a wide range of successes, from a bipartisan transportation package to record budget surpluses. Homelessness has declined 17 percent during his administration, and McDonnell has restored voting rights to more ex-convicts than any other governor in Virginia’s history. The state’s rainy day fund, which stood at $427 million in fiscal year 2010, is more than double that, $863 million, in fiscal year 2013."

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Rand Paul: Long-term benefits a ‘disservice’ to the unemployed

An oversimplification of an issue - again!

Rand Paul: Long-term benefits a ‘disservice’ to the unemployed: "“When you allow people to be on unemployment insurance for 99 weeks, you’re causing them to become part of this perpetual unemployed group in our economy,” he said on Fox News Sunday. If the unemployed stopped receiving benefits sooner, they would be back to work sooner, he suggested."

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Obama Says Americans Can Keep Their Damn Insurance : The New Yorker

Obama Says Americans Can Keep Their Damn Insurance : The New Yorker: "Faced with a barrage of new questions about the Affordable Care Act, President Obama cut short a White House press conference today, telling the stunned press corps, “You know what? Everybody can keep their damn insurance.”

Glaring at the reporters, the President continued, “You heard me. If your insurance is crappy, then you just go ahead and keep it—the crappier, the better. Let’s pretend this whole thing never happened.”"

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CFC: 49% of GOPers think the election was stolen.

ACORN, really!

CFC: 49% of GOPers think the election was stolen.: "According to a new Public Policy Polling survey, 49% of GOP voters nationally say they think that ACORN stole the election for President Obama. And, 25% of Republicans would like their state to secede from the union.

The Tea Party 2014 surge is gaining momentum..."

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CBS 7 - Your Eye on West Texas

CBS 7 - Your Eye on West Texas: " A large oil vessel explosion rattled much of the Midland area early Friday morning waking hundreds. The explosion took place just before two AM Friday morning on North Highway 349 near the Martin County and Midland county line. Only one worker was taken to the hospital where he was quickly released.

“For a situation that could have been bad it really turned out pretty well,” said Martin County Sheriff John Woodward.

Officials are saying the explosion was caused by a build-up of pressure, something that isn’t uncommon in West Texas. “You feel and hear different thing in the oil field all the time, even some underground movement,” said Woodward.
"

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U.S. Economy Adds 203,000 Jobs, as Unemployment Falls to 5-Year Low - NYTimes.com

U.S. Economy Adds 203,000 Jobs, as Unemployment Falls to 5-Year Low - NYTimes.com: "The economy added 203,000 jobs in November, a bit better than expected, as the unemployment rate fell to 7 percent, the lowest in five years."

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Nelson Mandela: From 'terrorist' to tea with the Queen - World - News - The Independent

Nelson Mandela: From 'terrorist' to tea with the Queen - World - News - The Independent:
"'The ANC is a typical terrorist organisation ... Anyone who thinks it is going to run the government in South Africa is living in cloud-cuckoo land' - Margaret Thatcher, 1987

'How much longer will the Prime Minister allow herself to be kicked in the face by this black terrorist?' - Terry Dicks MP, mid-1980s

'Nelson Mandela should be shot' - Teddy Taylor MP, mid-1980s"

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C.I.A. TIE REPORTED IN MANDELA ARREST - New York Times

C.I.A. TIE REPORTED IN MANDELA ARREST - New York Times: "The Central Intelligence Agency played an important role in the arrest in 1962 of Nelson Mandela, the African National Congress leader who was jailed for nearly 28 years before his release four months ago, a news report says.

The intelligence service, using an agent inside the African National Congress, provided South African security officials with precise information about Mr. Mandela's activities that enabled the police to arrest him, said the account by the Cox News Service."

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Republicans Now Getting Their Ideas From 30 Rock - Business Insider

So Sad!

Republicans Now Getting Their Ideas From 30 Rock - Business Insider:
"Jack: What Christmas card did we end up sending out?
Avery: Happy Holidays... [opens card] is what terrorists say. Merry Christmas, Avery and Jack."

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New Yorker's Stunning Nelson Mandela Tribute Cover

HERO!

FIGHTER!

PROPHET!

New Yorker's Stunning Nelson Mandela Tribute Cover: "The cover of the New Yorker next week will pay tribute to Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday at 95, the magazine reported.

See the cover below:"

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Pope no fan of 'trickle-down' theory - POLITICO.com

Pope no fan of 'trickle-down' theory - POLITICO.com:

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The War Against Wal-Mart - Business Insider

The War Against Wal-Mart - Business Insider:

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Army Prostitution Ring: Fort Hood Case Represent Progress | New Republic

Dang, no picture!
Army Prostitution Ring: Fort Hood Case Represent Progress | New Republic:
Yet again, a soldier employed by the U.S. military’s sexual assault and harassment program has been accused of being a sexual predator. And Sgt. 1st Class Gregory McQueen did his predecessors one better: He allegedly organized a prostitution ring of young servicewomen at the Army base in Fort Hood, Texas, pressuring them to have sex with their male superiors. Details are trickling out from the trial of Master Sgt. Brad Grimes, a 17-year army veteran charged with conspiring to use the ring's services. “A young private told authorities McQueen had tried to recruit her to have sex with high-ranking soldiers and sexually assaulted her during what she termed an ‘interview,’”reported the Austin American-Statesman. Accusations that McQueen leveraged both social hierarchy and physical force to get what he wanted from female subordinates won’t surprise anyone who has followed the military’s sexual assault epidemic. But the story reveals another canker of military culture, too: the buddy-buddy refusal to report on a predatory peer.
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Twitter / GOP: Today we remember Rosa Parks’ ...

Twitter / GOP: Today we remember Rosa Parks’ ...: "Today we remember Rosa Parks’ bold stand and her role in ending racism. "

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