<![CDATA[Shannondale & Beyond Forums - National & International Politics]]> http://www.shannondale.org/forum/ News and discussions about politics in the outside world. en Tue, 21 May 2013 05:33:53 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.shannondale.org/forum/images/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[Shannondale & Beyond Forums - National & International Politics]]> http://www.shannondale.org/forum/ Who wants to be the President right now? http://www.shannondale.org/forum/showthread.php?27539-Who-wants-to-be-the-President-right-now&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 04:24:26 GMT I think it's safe to say that if Barack Obama were asked today if wished he hadn't won that second term, he would probably say 'yes.' When you just look around at the headlines and the scandals brewing, you see one very besieged man who faces the blame for things that are happening on his watch --- and can't be blamed on his predecessor.

Just look at the latest findings about the growing IRS scandal. Yesterday, it was revealed that the IRS also targeted conservative watchdog groups and GOP sympathizers and supporters by conducting multiple audits aimed directly at individuals involved and groups. Which, if left unchecked, could also grow to include any group, subculture, minority, or anyone else who doesn't happen to toe the party line, despite the President going on record saying that the targeted scrutiny was "outrageous." Yet, Mr. Obama said nothing last week when it was revealed that Jewish groups were also targeted by the IRS.

But given the rude and insolent behavior and attitude Mr. Obama has shown the Jewish State of Israel, it's people, and their Prime Minister, this should actually be no surprise.

If all this weren't enough to keep our commander in-Chief away from the golf course, there was another report issued by a consortium of 17 of the largest health insurance providers that in the coming year, 2014, premiums will increase 100-400% for the American worker. And to rub salt in the wound, forms are already being printed for next years' tax filers, who will be required to disclose their personal health insurance information to the IRS (huh?). There is even a question on the new tax form asking someone if they are an illegal 'immigrant' who would be exempt from the Obamacare mandate!!!!!!!! (But if that illegal immigrant needs medical care, don't worry. The American taxpayer will foot the bill)

Can you believe this? Well, then take a look for yourself. (.PDF form)

But what disturbs me most is the almost harrowing news I read today; The Justice Department (DOJ) finally admitted, under pressure, that 20+ telephone lines at the Associated PRESS had been 'tapped' in the form of data revealing the telephone numbers of outbound calls by journalists within the AP. And Eric Holder, our all-honest Attorney General, claims that 60 days of phone records were secretly obtained by the DOJ because they were, according to the Washington Post, " .... as part of a year-long investigation into the disclosure of classified information about a failed al-Qaeda plot last year."

Huh? So we're supposed to think this year-long 'investigation' was aimed just at the AP? Because I'll tell you something; there are plenty of news organizations that have leaked things that the government didn't want people to know. Are they next? If I worked at Fox News, I would have to pause and think twice before I dialed a number after picking up the phone.

But really, it doesn't matter who was targeted by the DOJ. The point here is that one of the most sacred things we have is a free press. And when one news organization is targeted, any news organization, or journalists employed by that organization, could face the same danger of having their basic, constitutional rights compromised by a growing administration of corruption. Perhaps someone should take Eric Holder aside and remind him that his agency is engaging in tactics practiced in third-world and communist block countries. Or Russia.

But wait! The pressure cooker is still building up steam over a place called Benghazi. Just how much the Obama administration (and the then-Secretary of State) knew, or didn't know, about the terrorist attack against a sovereign American territory that resulted in the brutal murders of four Americans, including an Ambassador, will come to light as time marches on. The investigations will become more intense. The congressional hearings that follow will make Iran-Contra look like a formal Tea. And despite the government pressure and silencing of 'whistleblowers,' the truth will soon be known.

That truth could come back to haunt a potential front runner in the 2016 presidential elections, as well as raise the handicap of our chief executive.

Who wants to be President of the United States right now? Anyone? Raise your hands. Make noise. Yell 'BINGO!' ]]> ClearThunder http://www.shannondale.org/forum/showthread.php?27539-Who-wants-to-be-the-President-right-now The new improved CISPA http://www.shannondale.org/forum/showthread.php?27460-The-new-improved-CISPA&goto=newpost Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:54:12 GMT Well, not improved at all over last year's CISPA. But this time the industry is pouring more money into it. Write your senators and ask them to kill it.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contac...m.cfm?State=WV

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/201...-million.shtml ]]> Tony http://www.shannondale.org/forum/showthread.php?27460-The-new-improved-CISPA <![CDATA[Why does America lose its head over 'terror' but ignore its daily gun deaths?]]> http://www.shannondale.org/forum/showthread.php?27459-Why-does-America-lose-its-head-over-terror-but-ignore-its-daily-gun-deaths&goto=newpost Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:05:58 GMT Interesting article from Michael Cohen for The Guardian. Sums up a lot of what's been bothering me since this whole Boston thing. I mean, the bombs only killed 3 people, but an entire major city was closed for it. Bizarre.

http://m.guardiannews.com/commentisf...mbs-us-gun-law

Quote:
At the same time that investigators were in the midst of a high-profile manhunt for the marathon bombers that ended on Friday evening, 38 more Americans – with little fanfare – died from gun violence.
Quote:
It's not just firearms that produce such legislative inaction. Last week, a fertiliser plant in West, Texas, which hasn't been inspected by federal regulators since 1985, exploded, killing 14 people and injuring countless others. Yet many Republicans want to cut further the funding for the agency (OSHA) that is responsible for such reviews.
]]> Tony http://www.shannondale.org/forum/showthread.php?27459-Why-does-America-lose-its-head-over-terror-but-ignore-its-daily-gun-deaths