Political Digest for August 16, 2012

Half way through the transplant eval. I’m at our condo, but I have a box around my neck and a tube through my nose, into my stomach, to check for acid reflux. Doesn’t hurt a lot, though the first test like it took 6 tries and getting the 24-hour one in took three. So I’m feeling a tad irritable. Might as well check e-mail and feel a lot irritable, right? ~Bob

Judge Denies Request To Halt Pa. Voter ID Law

http://times247.com/articles/judge-won-t-halt-pa-voter-identification-law#ixzz23esYDntg

Excerpt: A tough new voter identification law championed by Republicans can take effect in Pennsylvania for November's presidential election, a judge ruled Wednesday. (Need it in Wisconsin. Discovered that they still have me as a voter, though I moved to Illinois and registered there in 2008. So any Democrat can vote in my name, no ID required. ~Bob.)

Mohammed Again No. 1 Among English Baby Names

http://times247.com/articles/mohammed-retakes-top-spot-in-english-baby-names#ixzz23etN1lFg

Excerpt: Mohammed reclaimed its place as the most popular name for baby boys born in England and Wales in 2011 — convincingly ahead of Harry, in second place, according to data released by the government this week. (Hen y V’s soldiers at Agincourt rallied to, “For Harry and England!” Somehow, “For Mohammed and England” doesn’t evoke the same spirit in me. ~Bob.)

Why the Doctor Can't See You. By John C. Goodman

https://webmail.aaos.org/owa/?ae=Item&a=Open&t=IPM.Note&id=RgAAAAA1jaYx5V6sQ6n4sV4ow6aCBwBZtK2TT7%2faQoLBqZkHczohAAAAOPsYAAC9DeUsSTDjS7j7bKM3xM5bAAAJXTZyAAAA&pspid=_1345070902526_27650129

Excerpt: Are you having trouble finding a doctor who will see you? If not, give it another year and a half. A doctor shortage is on its way. Most provisions of the Obama health law kick in on Jan. 1, 2014. Within the decade after that, an additional 30 million people are expected to acquire health plans—and if the economic studies are correct, they will try to double their use of the health-care system.

Worth Reading: Economics for Health Policy Wonks. By John Goodman 

http://healthblog.ncpa.org/economics-for-health-policy-wonks/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HA#more-26761 Excerpt: This blog is one of the few health policy blogs that approaches its subject from an economic point of view. We believe that almost all the problems in health policy arise because of perverse economic incentives and that to solve those problems we have to get the incentives right. In a way that’s too bad. That is, it’s too bad there are so few of us. What’s most missing from some otherwise good sites is…well…economics. Examples from Aaron Carroll, Austin Frakt and Sarah Kliff below the fold. 

Do the Rich Pay Their Fair Share in Taxes?

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=22254&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPD

Excerpt: The central theme of President Obama's tax policy has been that "the rich" do not pay their fair share of federal taxes, and the middle class pays more as a result. But a report issued by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in July 2012 shows this to be false, says Peter Ferrara, a senior fellow with the National Center for Policy Analysis. According to the CBO, the top 1 percent of income earners paid 39 percent of federal individual income taxes in 2009, while earning 13 percent of the income. That is down from 2007, before President Obama was elected. In 2007, after 25 years of Reagan Republican tax policies, the top 1 percent paid 40 percent of federal individual income taxes -- more than double the 17.6 percent share of taxes paid by the top 1 percent when President Reagan entered office in 1981.

Film/TV Businesses Flee California

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-runaway-tv-20120814,0,4137924.story

Excerpt: Just another piece of the glum picture of the CA economy. But very telling, since this is only one piece of the overall entertainment industry in CA. I'm guessing there are other parts of the industry that are also suffering. Even the porno industry is hurting now, there's so much free stuff on the Net, from amateurs all over the world. The downhill slide just keeps going..... I wonder what 2013 will be like for the CA budget, what crisis will come up that will trigger a real mess that they won't be able to get past. One way or another, it will be a hell of a reality show. –Del. Liberal rats in the entertainment industry fleeing the sinking progressive ship. ~Bob.

Russia says West reneging on Syria deal

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/15/us-syria-crisis-russia-idUSBRE87E0SQ20120815

Excerpt: Russia accused the West on Wednesday of reneging on an agreement to establish a transitional government in Syria and of prolonging the bloodshed by encouraging the rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said an agreement made by world powers and the then-peace …"And if so, then why don't they take any measures to execute that plan?" he told a news conference in the Belarus capital Minsk. (Like Libya, Egypt…Forward!)

Saudi Arabia tells citizens to leave Lebanon immediately: SPA

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/15/us-syria-crisis-saudi-lebanon-idUSBRE87E0T320120815

Excerpt: Saudi Arabia has ordered its citizens to leave Lebanon "immediately", the state news agency reported in an SMS alert on Wednesday. "The Saudi Arabian embassy in Lebanon calls all Saudi citizens to leave Lebanon immediately," the alert said, without elaborating. (Another report suggested because some Hezbollah infiltrators holding individuals hostage…. –Barb)

Gypsies trapped in misery as France demolishes camps

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/08/15/gypsies-trapped-in-misery-as-france-demolishes-camps/?intcmp=trending#ixzz23deJQAGu

Excerpt: They come mostly to harvest crops or beg from tourists. They pay no taxes. The state offers them no medical care, education or basic services. Discrimination against Roma goes back hundreds of years, culminating in the Nazi Holocaust that saw up to 25 percent of their population killed in concentration camps, according to the U.S. Holocaust Museum. ….

Spike Lee: Obama Will Do Whatever He Wants In Second Term (Video)

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/08/15/Spike-Lee-Im%20going-to-do-Whatever-Can-to-Get-Obama-a-second-term-So-he-can-finally-do-what-he-wants

In Harvard essay, young Michelle Obama argued for race-based faculty hiring. By Charles Johnson

http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/15/in-harvard-essay-young-michelle-obama-argued-for-race-based-faculty-hiring/#ixzz23ejz1wTk

Excerpt: Instead, she praised the teaching of several professors who didn’t use the Socratic method, including the far-left academics Martha Minow and Charles Ogletree. Minow’s father, Newton Minow, later recruited Michelle and Barack Obama to Sidley Austin, the Chicago law firm where the two met. Ogletree, who mentored both Michelle and Barack at Harvard, admitted during the 2008 election that he had concealed a videotape of Obama praising “critical race theory” architect Derrick Bell.

Scottish Sailor Claims to have "Best Picture Yet" of Loch Ness Monster. Erin McLaughlin
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/scottish-sailor-claims-best-picture-yet-loch-ness-100057921--abc-news-topstories.html

Excerpt: Legend has it that the Loch Ness Monster was first sighted in the sixth century by an Irish monk while preaching by the lake. Now, a Scottish sailor who has spent the last 26 years of his life searching for the elusive creature, says he has the best picture yet of “Nessie.” (My former mother-in-law's father saw Nessie in the Loch in 1933. He was a very religious man and also a Certified Public Accountant, so he wasn't the sort of person to make up stories. Kate)

Dishonorable Disclosures (Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Xfti7qtT0&feature=player_embedded
Remarks excerpt: Intelligence and Special Operations forces are furious and frustrated at how President Obama and those in positions of authority have exploited their service for political advantage. Countless leaks, interviews and decisions by the Obama Administration and other government officials have undermined the success of our Intelligence and Special Operations forces and put future missions and personnel at risk.

Analysis: Forget drought, "demand rationing" is corn's new master

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/15/us-usa-corn-rationing-idUSBRE87E04820120815

The USDA cut its forecast of corn use for ethanol in the 2012/13 marketing year by 400 million bushels this month to 4.5 billion bushels, the lowest in four years. …The USDA has already cut its outlook for 2012/13 exports to the lowest in 28 years, at just 1.3 billion bushels. ……Domestic livestock and poultry producers, traditionally the largest consumers of corn, have seen their share shrink from more than 60 percent two decades ago to just 37 percent due to ethanol. (Hey, the plan is working! No high fructose corn syrup, no plastics, no gas….no food… Guess who is producing? Brazil, China…Barb)

Response from a blog reader on military voters in Ohio

The way the story about the Ohio law and the military is being promoted by Obama’s opponents is so misconstrued as to be fairly described as a lie. If the Obama campaign wins the suit, nothing will change in Ohio for any member of the military. The suit doesn’t seek to change the amount of time that military personnel can vote, it seeks to alter the time that everyone else can vote to match that of the military. More info: http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2012/aug/06/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-lawsuit-filed-president-obamas-ca/ --Geoff. Response on this from the Romney campaign: Couple of problems with that. If the court sides with Obama it can be set as precedent for other states. Ultimately, however, the Obama campaign doesn't dictate what remedy or action the court takes. It could simply say military voters don't have extended time. If you read the lawsuit the Obama campaign claims that there is no rational basis why members of the military should have extra time to vote. They actually called it "arbitrary." -- Derek Gianino. (Please don’t send more. Not going to use the blog as a debate forum. No time for one thing. Just6 thought these two were worth sharing. ~Bob)

The Obama Campaign Launches Its Most Incendiary, Indefensible, False Attack . . . Since Their Last One. NRO Newsletters . . .Morning Jolt. . . with Jim Geraghty
http://www.nationalreview.com/

Excerpt: Do we want to have the same old attack politics we've become accustomed to, the same slash-and-burn politics? . . . We're not going to run around doing negative ads. We're going to keep it positive, we're going to talk about the issues. ==Candidate Barack Obama, April 28, 2008. Look at what they [Republicans] value, and look at their budget. And look what they're proposing. [Romney] said in the first 100 days, he's going to let the big banks write their own rules -- unchain Wall Street. They’re gonna put y'all back in chains. Vice President Joe Biden, August 14, 2012. So . . . the man who once pledged to end the era of the "same old attack politics" is now okay with his running mate suggesting that their opponents, the party of Abraham Lincoln, want to bring back slavery.

Biden to voters: GOP will put you ‘back in chains.’ By Neil Munro 

http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/14/biden-to-voters-gop-will-put-you-back-in-chains/#ixzz23ZrPVyNe

Excerpt: Gov. Mitt Romney’s campaign denounced Vice-President Joe Biden’s inflammatory claim today that GOP policies would put Democratic voters “all back in chains.” “President Obama should tell the American people whether he agrees with Joe Biden’s comments,” said a statement from the Romney campaign.

Obama camp on Biden’s ‘chains’ remarks: ‘We have no problem with those comments.’ By Jeff Poor

http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/14/obama-camp-on-bidens-chains-remarks-we-have-no-problem-with-those-comments/#ixzz23Zs9Y3nS

Excerpt: On Tuesday Vice President Joe Biden told a crowd in Danville, Va., that if Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is elected to the White House this fall, his administration would “put y’all back in chains.” Biden is known to make gaffes, but the Obama campaign gave no indication this was a misstep from Biden and doubled-down on the sentiment. In an appearance on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said it was a metaphor that President Barack Obama “probably” agreed with.

Speaking to Virginia crowd, Biden confuses Virginia with North Carolina [VIDEO]. By Caroline May 

http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/14/speaking-to-virginia-crowd-biden-confuses-virginia-with-north-carolina-video/#ixzz23ZtCXIBx

Excerpt: During a campaign stop in Danville, Virginia, Vice President Joe Biden appeared to be confused about where he was. “With you, we can win North Carolina again!” Biden told the Virginia crowd…. Throughout the course of his vice presidency, Biden has been known for having a predilection for foot-in-mouth issues — from cursing at inopportune times to encouraging a wheel-chair bound man to stand up.

The Biggest D.C. Spy Scandal You Haven’t Heard About (Part One). Why has the story of a 20-year illegal infiltration of D.C. on behalf of Pakistani intelligence gone unnoticed? By Patrick Poole 

http://pjmedia.com/blog/the-biggest-d-c-spy-scandal-you-havent-heard-about-part-one/?singlepage=true

Excerpt: So was the 20-year illegal lobbying effort by Ghulam Nabi Fai on behalf of Pakistan’s intelligence service really much ado about nothing? ….. Could it be that there’s more to the story of Ghulam Nabi Fai and the Kashmiri American Council than what you read in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Hill? The story of Pakistan’s two-decade influence operation in the heart of Congress, the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon is the biggest Capitol Hill spy scandal you’ve never heard about.

Eric Holder: Racial Preferences Needed for … National Security. By J. Christian Adams

http://feeds.feedburner.com/jchristianadams

Excerpt: The Eric Holder Justice Department has filed this brief in the United States Supreme Court defending racial preferences at the University of Texas. … Because the racial spoils go to Obama’s most loyal political constituency, people of color, naturally Eric Holder’s Justice Department is defending them by spending your tax dollars paying lawyers to write the brief. …..What is surprising is the argument the Justice Department makes in the brief — that racial preferences are vital to national security:

Piers Morgan Tries to Bait Gingrich; Isn't Ryan Budget 'Radical Form of Social Engineering'? By Matt Hadro

http://www.mrc.org/biasalerts/piers-morgan-tries-bait-gingrich-isnt-ryan-budget-radical-form-social-engineering

Excerpt: When CNN isn't reading liberal talking points about the Romney-Ryan ticket, it's resorting to using conservative friendly fire against the Ryan budget, like Piers Morgan did on Monday. (Ahh, Gingrich nails every point. Concise. --Bob)

Egypt Begins Descent into Tyranny. By Daniel Greenfield

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/daniel-greenfield/egypt%E2%80%99s-muslim-brotherhood-begins-descent-into-tyranny/?utm_source=FrontPage+Magazine&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1e9eb17b65-Mailchimp_FrontPageMag

Excerpt: Barely two months after taking power, the Muslim Brotherhood has wasted no time in swiftly taking Egypt down the road to a totalitarian state. Its latest target is Al-Dustour, a Christian-owned newspaper, which had condemned President Morsi’s ties to Hamas as a threat to Egyptian national security.

Inside the ‘Warmist’ Faith. By Bruce Bawer

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/bruce-bawer/inside-the-warmist-faith/?utm_source=FrontPage+Magazine&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1e9eb17b65-Mailchimp_FrontPageMag
Excerpt: For those of us who might have thought (hoped?) that the climate-change hysteria of a couple of years ago was already on its way into the dustbin of history, the New York Times ran a piece on August 11 insisting that the danger is more urgent than ever.

Obama Administration Continues to Fail on Energy Policy. By Ben Howe

http://www.redstate.com/aglanon/2012/08/14/obama-administration-continues-to-fail-on-energy-policy/
Excerpt: One would think that one of the primary requirements of energy independence would be having the ability to collect the energy through which one becomes independent by using. Somehow, this logic escapes the Obama administration as evidenced by their “Five-Year Plan.” However, if their goal was to diminish opportunities for energy resources, they’ve done a magnificent job.

Romney hits Obama for cutting $716 billion from Medicare to pay for ObamaCare. By Dan Spencer

http://www.redstate.com/california_yankee/2012/08/14/romney-hits-obama-for-cutting-716-billion-from-medicare-to-pay-for-obamacare/
Excerpt: The Romney campaign has released a powerful new television ad contrasting the Romney/ Ryan plan, which strengthens Medicare and protects the commitments made to current seniors, against Obama’s $716 billion cuts from Medicare.

$20 Million to Inspect Catfish: Zero Catfish Inspected. By Ben Howe

http://www.redstate.com/aglanon/2012/08/14/20-million-to-inspect-catfish-zero-catfish-inspected/
Excerpt: A few weeks ago I wrote about how the government is doubling up on the ever important Catfish inspection duties by having the USDA inspect catfish at an even greater cost than currently spent by the FDA to do the same thing.