BloggeRhythms

Watching Fox News this morning, one gets the sense that someone in the White House has finally woken up to realize the mistakes made by employing Al Sharpton as spokesperson for race relations issues, which lately, have gotten considerably worse for the administration.

 

That premise is evidenced by the fact that he’s now “announced he was holding an “emergency meeting” to discuss Hollywood’s all-white list of Oscar nominees and talk about possible action against the Academy Awards’ powers-who-be.

 

“The movie industry is like the Rocky Mountains,” he said in a statement reported by Business Insider. “The higher you get, the whiter it gets. … I have called an emergency meeting early next week in Hollywood with the task force to discuss possible action around the Academy Awards.”

 

However, while the extortion train warms up for its trip to the coast, some other information might be considered before Reverend Al climbs on board. 

 

Because, according to The Hollywood Reporter, via washingtontimes.com: “The awards ceremony has only nominated an all-white list of names for best actor, best actress and best director only once before in the last 20 years.”

 

Even some readers chimed in, including Old_Jimmy1929, who wrote: “Is the Rev. likewise upset when 21 of 22 starting football players are of his race.”

 

Proud Conservative added: “You ever notice that when you see him with a woman SHE isn't black………..Double standard?”

 

And then Robert asked: “What about the NBA, Al?”

 

What’s more, some additional research in Wikipedia shows that just last year the same Academy’s “Best Motion Picture of the Year of the year” was 12 Years a Slave, “a 2013 historical drama film and an adaptation of the 1853 slave narrative memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, a New York State-born free African-American man who was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., in 1841 and sold into slavery. Northup worked on plantations in the state of Louisiana for twelve years before his release. The first scholarly edition of Northup's memoir, co-edited in 1968 by Sue Eakin and Joseph Logsdon, carefully retraced and validated the account and concluded it to be accurate. Other characters in the film were also real people, including Edwin and Mary Epps, and Patsey.”

 

Additionally, “12 Years a Slave became the first film directed and produced by a black filmmaker, the first film directed and produced by a black filmmaker (Steve McQueen) and also the first to be written by an African-American (John Ridley) to win the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture of the Year.

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role went to Lupita Nyong'o, while Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay also went to John Ridley.

 

So, although for Reverend Al last year may be too long ago for blacks to be recognized for their achievements in film, perhaps he might recall that when the top awards were presented to them in 2013, there was no white backlash, rebellion, extortion or rioting. And thus, it might be best if he just backed off and gave us all a rest for a while.

 

On another issue, Sarah Ferris notes in thehill.com that, “Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), announced her departure Friday, which will take effect next month.

 

“Tavenner is leaving after five turbulent years overseeing the agency. Her tenure included the disastrous rollout of the government’s HealthCare.gov website as well as, most recently, an inflated tally of total ObamaCare enrollment.”

 

What’s interesting to note is that despite the seemingly horrible job performance demonstrated by this bureaucrat, she kept her position regardless.

 

But then, just recently, “Republicans on the House Oversight Committee last month grilled Tavenner about the miscount, which had helped push the first-year enrollment total for ObamaCare past 7 million — a milestone that was celebrated by the administration at the time.

 

Tavenner said the figures were “inadvertently” double-counted, an explanation that was greeted with deep skepticism from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), whose staff identified the error.”

 

Which indicates that either Ms Tavenner finally decided to come to grips with the fact that she wasn’t qualified nor skilled enough to handle the responsibilities of her position, or she reached a stage where her lifetime retirement benefits kicked in from the government.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

Yesterday, it was noted here that the IRS’s concerns about its inability to handle the volume of tax refunds this year posed a potential problem with the president’s health care tax. Because if the agency can’t even handle its primary responsibility, administering taxation, how in the world can it possibly perform the huge additional work loads acceptably?    

  

And then, today Stephen Ohlemacher of AP Washington writes that, “Filing a federal tax return is about to get more complicated for millions of families because of President Barack Obama's health law. But they shouldn't expect much help from the Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Got a question for the IRS? Good luck reaching someone by phone. The tax agency says only half of the 100 million people expected to call this year will be able to reach a person. 

 

“Callers who do get through may have to wait on hold for 30 minutes or more to talk to someone who will answer only the simplest questions.”

 

However, this situation should come as no surprise to anyone who’s ever tried to work with or obtain information from any government agency, regardless. Because all those under the umbrella of government as an employer only operate at two speeds; slow and stop. 

 

On another issue, many conservatives are gravely concerned about John Boehner’s return as House Speaker. Their feeling is that he’s been in the position too long, has become part of the establishment and is now a RINO, siding with the opposition far too often. Especially in regard to his pushing the “Cromnibus” bill through recently.

 

Nonetheless, to the surprise of those same hard-liners, yesterday according to dailymail.co.uk, “John Boehner created the first live-action high drama on the House floor Wednesday, staking out a no-compromise position on blocking Barack Obama's sweeping immigration plan and reading aloud 22 examples of the president's past claims that he lacked the authority to put it into action.

 

“Angering Democrats, the House speaker spoke during a floor debate to defend an amendment to the Homeland Security Department's budget bill that would forbid the cabinet agency from spending any money to implement it.

 

“Boehner openly mocked Obama for what he said was an effort to evade the U.S. Constitution, throwing in his face his past claims that he wasn't a 'king' or an 'emperor.'

 

“The Constitution explicitly gives Congress the power to control America's immigration policies.

 

Now, although Speaker Boehner’s tirade surprised those doubting his devotion to their cause, including El Rushbo who won’t be convinced of the speaker’s sincerity until he follows through completely, there’s a point all of them seem to be missing. Because, the speaker’s been doing what he does long enough to clearly grasp the point that, unless his party delivers what it’s voters desire, they not only won’t gain the presidency in 2016, he and his party members won’t be re-elected next time either.   

 

And finally, a note about another Republican hopeful. 

 

Fox News.com reports that, “Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul warned Wednesday that another presidential run by Mitt Romney would not necessarily be good news for the GOP.

 

"The same old, same old has been tried," said Paul, who is weighing a 2016 bid himself. "And if we try the same thing again we might get the same result."

 

The most interesting thing about the senator’s commentary is his apparent concern about getting the same result if Mitt Romney runs again for president.

 

Yet, what the senator seems to miss, or avoid mentioning, is what the projected result would be if he himself were to be elected president. Because he hasn’t a whit of knowledge or understanding of what national leadership or management is all about whatsoever.

 

And if the voting public hasn’t learned anything over the past six years, one point is crystal clear. The presidency of the US isn’t the place for an unskilled amateur to try to obtain the skills and talents called for by the position. Which virtually eliminates the senator from presidential contention. 

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

Two subjects buried in the news today, not getting much attention at all, are quite distressing. Both clearly illustrating how significantly the administration has either lost control, or is purposefully working against the good, security and best interests of the nation.

 

Charles Hoskinson in washingtonexaminer.com writes that, “New sanctions legislation from Congress could bring a halt to talks on limiting Iran's nuclear program, Iran's foreign ministry spokeswoman said Wednesday, as Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met in Geneva to prepare for the next round.”

 

Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said, “according to Press TV. “It is totally clear [that] using a worn-out tool which has been evidently proved ineffective is not helpful.”

 

At the same time, according to Adam Kredo of washingtonfreebeacon.com, “Iranian military leaders admitted this week to building and operating missile-manufacturing plants in Syria, where it was also revealed that Tehran is helping to build a secret nuclear facility.

 

“IRGC Aerospace Commander Haji Zadeh touted Iran’s capabilities and bragged that Iran has gone from importing most of its military hardware to producing it domestically, as well as for regional partners such as Assad.

 

“It has long been suspected that Iranian forces operating in Syria are providing weaponry to Assad’s forces. Zadeh’s remarks confirm that Tehran is committed to a long fight in Syria and hopes to turn the country into an Iranian proxy state.

 

Iran’s military actions in Syria could constitute a gross violation of sanctions on the regime enacted by the United Nations and Western  powers. Zadeh also bragged about Tehran’s ability to build missiles capable of travelling at least 2,000 kilometers, far enough to reach into Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, according to the report.”

 

So, here we have continuing confirmation of Iran’s purposeful disregard for any type of efforts to curb its nuclear weapon capability, regardless of threats, appeals or sanctions. However, what’s most incredible is that the administration keeps buying the Iranian pap being fed to them while the conclusion’s been blatantly obvious for more than the past four years. 

 

On another issue, Fox News reports that, “Taxpayers could see delays in getting their refunds this year -- as well as "unacceptable" customer service -- as the IRS commissioner warns budget cuts are forcing the agency to cut back. 

 

“IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, in an email sent to workers predicted a messy tax season on several fronts, writing, “The effect of these cuts will hurt taxpayers and our tax system."

 

While the cuts could “force the IRS to shut down operations for two days later this year, resulting in unpaid furloughs for employees and service cuts for taxpayers, in the near-term, the commissioner said cuts in overtime and temporary staff hours could cause delays in refunds. 

 

"People who file paper tax returns could wait an extra week -- or possibly longer -- to see their refund," he wrote, adding: "Taxpayers with errors or questions on their returns that require additional manual review will also face delays." 

 

Now, what was really eye-catching was a warning buried farther along in the column, as follows: “Further, he warned of delays to IT investments of more than $200 million, predicting this would delay "new taxpayer protections against identity theft." 

 

That alert stood out strongly whereas it was remindful of former Representative, Michele Bachmann, who was one of a number of Republican lawmakers who sought to link the Internal Revenue Service and the president’s health care tax.

 

Back on Monday, May 20th, 2013 in politifact.com from the Tampa Bay Times, Louis Jacobson wrote, “The IRS has a number of roles in implementing the health care law -- the agency has posted a list that includes everything from levying additional payroll taxes on certain high-income Americans to taxation of medical devices and brand-name drugs. Its best known role, beginning in 2014, is to confirm that a taxpayer has health insurance and to assess a financial penalty if they do not. 

 

“In another fact-check, we discussed another key role for the IRS -- approving subsidies for Americans seeking insurance on the newly created health exchanges. To do this, the IRS will need to check its databases to make sure an applicant is eligible to receive subsidies.”

 

So, here we have an agency that cannot even properly perform the responsibilities it’s primarily responsible for; administration of taxation. Yet, it has also been assigned significant tasks critical to the health and well-being of citizens. Which is the same as letting kindergarten classes practice neurosurgery. 

 

That's it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

The list of Democrat mistakes in judgment keeps growing at an amazingly rapid pace. One of the worst being the completely wrong-headed decision to snub the anti-terrorism rally in Paris, attended by 40 world leaders and approximately 1.5 million citizens. 4 million in total gathered throughout France.  

 

While that event gains press attention worldwide, William La Jeunesse of FoxNews.com writes about another misjudgment causing Democrats to scramble in efforts to save face.

 

Mr. La Jeunesse reminds readers that, “Back when gas topped $4 a gallon, Republicans chanted "drill, baby, drill" at rallies across the country -- arguing more domestic drilling would increase supplies, reduce dependence on foreign oil and boost the U.S. economy.”

 

At that time, while “Democrats, almost universally, mocked the GOP plan. In 2012, President Obama called it "a slogan, a gimmick, and a bumper sticker ... not a strategy." 

 

The president went on, "They were waving their three-point plans for $2-a-gallon gas," Obama told a laughing audience during an energy speech in Washington. "You remember that? Drill, baby, drill. We were going through all that. And none of it was really going to do anything to solve the problem." 

 

Rep. Janice Hahn, D-Calif., echoed the president, stating, “Drill, baby, drill' won't lower gas prices today or tomorrow,"on the floor of Congress in 2012. "But it will fuel our addiction to fossil fuel." 

 

However, as it turns out, Democrats are singing a different tune today, whereas “increased domestic drilling has led to a record supply of domestic crude, put some $100 billion into the pockets of U.S. consumers and sent world oil prices tumbling. 

 

“The price of a gallon of regular gasoline on Monday was $2.13 nationwide, and below $2 in 18 states.”

 

While Democrats in general are wavering across the country as their beliefs and predictions continue to prove totally false, their role-model Clintons remain solidly consistent as they use their celebrity to line their own pockets.  

 

Daniel Halper writes in weeklystandard.com that, "New Yorkers with roots in Haiti say the picture [of the Haiti recovery] isn't so rosy," said the NY1 anchor."

 

“The protesters claimed that the $10 billion meant to help rebuild Haiti did little to help the country after the devastating quake. And that much of the money went to non-Haitian companies.

 

"[I]n Harlem, people raised their voices to call attention to the missing money," said the local New York City reporter.  "This protest outside the offices of the Clinton Foundation, which helped lead the reconstruction fund."

 

Said one protester, “These people, they are still living in very difficult conditions, still living under tents, while Bill Clinton and his cronies--they waste this money."

 

As secretary of state, Hillary Clinton devoted much of her time in 2010 to the Haiti recovery.”

 

So,  it remains quite obvious that the Clinton’s are probably the easiest people to find on the planet. Because if they were ever to really get lost, all one would have to do to locate them would be to follow the money, since that’s where both of them always are.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

The happiest man in the world today has to be Jimmy Carter. Because, once again, the incumbent president has surpassed him as the worst ever elected, by far.

 

Although there are arguments on both sides of the issue, the consensus among observers seems to indicate that it was a significant mistake that POTUS decided not to attend the anti-terrorism rally in France yesterday. 

 

Even Jake Tapper, of CNN voiced displeasure, as follows: “I say this as an American -- not as a journalist, not as a representative of CNN -- but as an American: I was ashamed.

 

“I certainly understand the security concerns when it comes to sending President Barack Obama, though I can't imagine they're necessarily any greater than sending the lineup of other world leaders, especially in aggregate. 

 

“But I find it hard to believe that collectively President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Attorney General Eric Holder -- who was actually in France that day for a conference on counterterrorism -- just had no time in their schedules on Sunday. Holder had time to do the Sunday shows via satellite but not to show the world that he stood with the people of France?”

 

Now, naturally, since the comments were made by a CNN anchor, he added, “I find it hard to believe that Speaker of the House John Boehner and new Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had more worthy pursuits on Sunday than standing side-by-side with our French brothers and sisters as they came together in an inspirational way.” However, not only would their arrival have been viewed as intentionally insulting to the president, they do not have the ranking of those other world leaders in attendance.  

 

Two readers posted salient comments. Tami Morris opined, “Eric Holder had the time to protest in Furgeson.  What does that tell you Jake?”

 

Obamabus added: “He should have at least sent a senior adviser like Jay Z or Al Sharpton.”

 

On another issue, Maria Bartiromo in USA TODAY wrote about an interview with Saudi billionaire businessman Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who told her “we will not see $100-a-barrel oil again.”

 

While the interview contained significant detail about the technical causes of the recent plunge in oil prices, including decreased demand and the development of alternative production techniques such as extraction from shale, there’s likely another, extremely important reason.

 

Once prices began to slide, it’s probable that the Saudi's realized that the US and its allies weren’t providing much hope in prevailing over Russia, Syria and Iran, all of which present serious threats to their nation. However, all of those enemies derive much, if not all, of their revenues from the sale of oil. And therefore, since there’s no hope of Saudi Arabia protecting itself militarily, the best remaining choice is destroying then financially by keeping oil prices as low as the situation demands.    

 

And now for item three today, which is almost beyond human comprehension.

 

Aside from snubbing the anti-terrorism rally in France, which 50, or more, world leaders attended and the continued opposition to the Keystone pipeline, the administration continued to demonstrate an upside-down perspective on national priorities. 

 

Jeryl Bier in the Blog in the Weekly Standard, writes that, “While the attention of much of the world Sunday was focused on the massive unity rally in France in response to the recent terror attacks in that country, Secretary of State John Kerry was in India for a "global business" summit where he spoke of, among other concerns, the "one enormous cloud hanging over all of us which requires responsibility from leaders. Global climate change."

 

Kerry said that climate change is "violently affecting communities" worldwide, but that the silver lining in his view is that responding to climate change offers an "unprecedented number of plusses, and frankly, almost no downside."

 

Now, since "climate change" doesn't even exist, it reminds me of that old line by now deceased Henny Youngman about the guy who saw a sign in a restaurant that said, “Watch your coat.” And while the guy sat there watching his coat, somebody stole his lunch.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

Much of today's news, naturally, concerns the international gathering of world leaders in Paris, expressing solidarity against Islamic terrorism. Since most media outlets, especially Fox as usual, are covering the event, commentary here is unnecessary. However, a couple of reactions are extremely interesting.

 

Our president didn’t attend, although other leaders arriving included British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and even Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas, all vowing solidarity against terrorism.

 

The undercurrent regarding the president’s decision to stay home seems to be the supposition that he doesn’t want to have to answer pointed questions from foreign media he can’t control as to his own, significant, responsibility for the resurgence of international terrorism. In that regard, John Kerry was absent as well.

 

Then there was this comment reported by washingtontimes.com that, “A key senator said Sunday she believes there are terrorist sleeper cells in the U.S. that could carry out attacks similar to the ones in France that left 17 people dead last week.

 

“Senator Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, did not comment on specific threats against America but said other attacks are possible.

 

“I think there are sleeper cells not only in France but certainly in other countries and, yes, in our own,” she said on CNN’s “State of the Union” program. “This calls for vigilance. … Hopefully, we can be even more active in terms of doing those things which enable us to find terrorists, see who they’re communicating with and to track that.”

 

Now, although there really isn't anything lower than a typical politician, even they are capable of sinking far further than reasonably imaginable. Because it was only last month when this same senator, Feinstein, produced a scathing anti-intelligence gathering report which was obviously slanted to smear the Bush administration's treatment of September 11th suspects.

 

According to nytimes.com on December 9, 2014, “The Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday issued a sweeping indictment of the Central Intelligence Agency’s program to detain and interrogate terrorism suspects in the years after the Sept. 11 attacks, drawing on millions of internal C.I.A. documents to illuminate practices that it said were more brutal — and far less effective — than the agency acknowledged either to Bush administration officials or to the public.

 

“The long-delayed report delivers a withering judgment on one of the most controversial tactics of a twilight war waged over a dozen years. The Senate committee’s investigation, born of what its chairwoman, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, said was a need to reckon with the excesses of this war, found that C.I.A. officials routinely misled the White House and Congress about the information it obtained, and failed to provide basic oversight of the secret prisons it established around the world.”

 

So, here we have a woman who, for purely political purposes, excoriates a previous administration’s reaction to a direct attack on the US homeland in which  2,977 were killed, and that administration’s attempt to gain needed intelligence any way possible. 

 

On the other hand, however, her party’s approach of appeasement and ignoring of terrorist threats have resulted in the rise of ISIS in Syria, the Boston bombing and now, indirectly, the Paris massacre. And soon to come, an Iranian nuclear weapon.

 

Which means that this woman’s illogical action’s and statements are not only despicable, as a practical matter, they’re beyond moronic.

 

That's it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

Many news agencies are reporting, as is FoxNews.com that: “the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors have recommended bringing felony charges against former CIA director David Petraeus, the New York Times reported Friday night.

 

“The paper, citing “officials,” said the charges related to Petraeus allegedly providing classified information to his former mistress.”

 

The best summation of the pending case came from a Fox reader, GP Russell, as follows: “Keep in mind Petraeus is a key witness to what happened during and after the Benghazi event.  Makes it interesting they are defaming him and threatening to prosecute.” 

 

Then El Rushbo added a thought on his Facebook blog this morning, regarding the terrorist attacks in Paris and the ideological problems they cause for the left.

 

Rush wrote: “Political correctness, gun control, demilitarizing or disarming the cops, open borders, amnesty, everything the left believes in on parade. And that's why they're not talking about it. That's why their big concern is a backlash against militant Islamists and, of course, the rise to power of fringe conservative governance.”

 

Furthermore, while recent terrorist uprisings defy leftist beliefs that an approach of acceptance will quell radical ideological Islamists, a view shared by the US president, their anti-business, anti capitalism philosophy isn’t doing anyone any good either.

 

Christopher S. Rubager on myway.com writes that: “The government said Friday that employers added 252,000 jobs last month and 50,000 more in October and November combined than it had previously estimated. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.6 percent from 5.8 percent in November. The rate is now at its lowest point since 2008.”

 

However, while the numbers look quite good on the surface, the details show that, “Still, wage growth remains weak. Average hourly pay slipped 5 cents in December. And the unemployment rate fell partly because many of the jobless gave up looking for work and so were no longer counted as unemployed.”

 

And even worse, “to keep up with population growth since the recession began, the economy would need to create 4.9 million additional jobs, according to the Brookings Institution.”

 

Then came another very disturbing bit of information regarding the current US employment situation, whereas, “Economists expect more healing this year. Goldman Sachs estimates that additional spending on restaurants, auto dealers and other goods and services resulting from lower energy prices will lead to 300,000 more jobs this year than if oil prices had remained at their levels of six months ago.”

 

Thus, what that means is, that if the president hadn’t taken his rigid stand against drilling in the Gulf and on Federally owned land, while approving the Keystone pipeline, hundreds of thousands more Americans would likely have been employed over the past six years. Which when considered in regard to his intentional blockage of economic growth based on climate change that hasn’t occurred in the past 18 years, his anti- fossil fuel stance is absolutely incomprehensible.

 

Nonetheless, the weak economy, a real unemployment rate of 12% or so, and national debt now in excess of 18 trillion dollars didn’t deter the president from taking his annual 16 day vacation to Hawaii this year. 

 

According to watchdog.org: “Records obtained by Washington, D.C.-based Judicial Watch said “the flights to and from Honolulu for the December 2013-January 2014 Christmas vacation totaled 36.9 hours at $210,877 an hour, which comes to a flight expense alone of $7,781,361.30.”

 

Additionally, “Local taxpayers pick up the bill for Honolulu Police Department escorts who guard Obama, first lady Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha around the clock. Figures just released by HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu show HPD spent $277,000 on overtime costs this year during the president’s 16-day vacation. That’s $16,000 less than in 2013, but $60,000 more than in 2012.”

 

The short article contains more details. Here’s a link: “Hawaii vacation over, now  taxpayers to pay massive tab.”

 

So, it seems quite understandable from today’s assortment of items, that if you happen to be the president of the US and are personally uninvolved and protected from events and circumstances that effect all others significantly, socialism certainly sounds like a good philosophy for everyone else but him.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios