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Darrell Issa Takes Aim at Eric Holder’s Extortion Racket
Townhall.com ^ | June 1, 2014 | Michael Schaus

Posted on 06/01/2014 1:18:30 PM PDT by Kaslin

The nation’s top extortion artist, Eric Holder, is at it again (or still). This time, rather than running guns to Mexican drug cartels or investigating reporters who publish inconvenient facts about the administration’s scandals, Holder is taking aim at America’s small businesses. While Holder and Co have been busy collecting billion dollar fines from big banks, they’ve taken a more direct approach to snub out businesses that don’t necessarily conform with the Holder/Obama view of America.

Operation Choke Point, as it has been known, was a DOJ initiative that was intentionally designed to pressure banks and lenders into avoiding certain industry-specific businesses. Ostensibly, Operation Choke Point was designed to fight money laundering and fraud. The secretive initiative was launched with little fanfare in 2013. According to the Justice Department, it was aimed at “choking out” companies the Administration considered high-risk, despite the fact that they were legal businesses that had shown no signs of fraud.

In other words, the program was aimed at punishing businesses for merely existing. One of the primary victims of Operation Chokepoint has been gun manufacturers, and legal firearm dealers. (What a shock… I’m sure that’s completely coincidental.)

So, while Eric Holder was busy shaking down banks for billions of dollars on trumped up charges, his department was also intentionally harassing legal businesses such as gun dealers, payday lenders, and anyone else that earned the scorn of the Obama Administration.

The DOJ has acknowledged that their tactics have resulted in many businesses being unduly punished, but brushed off any concerns by saying that legitimate businesses will merely have to make additional efforts to “prove to banks they are not engaged in fraud.” Because, yeah… That’s clearly how our system is supposed to work, right? I mean, sure, we could try to use the DOJ to target people that have actually broken laws, but that would require a little less Chicago-style corruption.

Lucky for us, a handful of Republicans in California (yeah… there are still some Republicans left in that state) elected Darrel Issa to the US House of Representatives. Issa, who chairs the Oversight committee, has chosen to take Holder to task for his latest affront to American style government, by claiming that the DOJ’s actions are flagrantly illegal.

And, of course, Issa’s right… But it’s actually worse than that. Holder’s actions are also un-American. More than being corrupt, political, or criminal, Eric Holder’s repeated use of thuggary and intimidation are fundamentally antithetical to the American form of government. But, he’s not alone in his un-American wielding of federal power. There is a growing sense among the ruling elite, that government is a tool to keep the citizens in line. The IRS is more than a revenue collection agency, it is (apparently) a tool to silence and harass political opponents. The DOJ isn’t merely a law enforcement agency, but an agency with the power to manipulate and intimidate the public into compliance with certain world views.

When (a) government is gleefully wielding its power to harass, bully or intimidate the populace into submission, things have gone off the track somewhere. I guess this is the “Hope and Change” that America voted for in 2008: A world where the government runs extortion schemes and protection rackets while bullying industries they don’t like. Who knew that liberal utopia looked so much like Chicago?


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: 0bamaadmin; doj; ericholder; gunrights; secondamendment
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To: Kaslin

Once the tipping point happens there will be a massive purge of Facists in government with hundreds going to prison. It may take some time to occur, and will be driven by events ... but it will happen.


21 posted on 06/01/2014 2:26:42 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
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To: GOPJ

When it comes to going against a Media supported Political Candidate that does not have to pay for coverage, and is the leading story on the 6 O Clock News and is given about 75% vs 25% of the story coverage, you better have a candidate that can reverse it. Who do you have that can do it? Where is the Reagan? Hell, I’d take an IKE if there was one. LOL, you are not fighting the Democrat Party, you are fighting against their controlled powerful media that inserts their agendas into every thing you watch on TV or at the movies. The next 2 years should be very interesting if I can live that long.


22 posted on 06/01/2014 2:26:52 PM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (2016 an election or a coronation of a Queen? I'm sure we'll be told to eat cake.)
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To: RIghtwardHo

Until we are confidently topheavy in Congress, I’d rather keep Issa as a vociferious placeholder for his redistricted district, rather than see the slot he’s held 10 years go to a Dem - and that will happen if a greenhorn should run against a Dem.


23 posted on 06/01/2014 2:33:36 PM PDT by blueplum
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To: Bringbackthedraft

Back in the early days of FreeRepublic even FOX news wasn’t in all parts of the country - and Drudge was considered ‘not relevant’.

We’ve come a long ways since those days... and we’re still winning. I’m a person who cheers for my team... and wishes them well when they move the ball down the field. I stay loyal.

The whole ‘sad sack’ give up and quit thing doesn’t work for me.

So yeah, we’re fighting against the media but even there we’re winning. Look at MSNBC. Everyone knows they’re a joke. Network evening news shows are down in numbers and WAAAAY up in the age of people watching. Drudge is an established news source - CNN is going under and FOX has more viewers for most of their shows than CNN and MSNBC combined. Yeah, it’s slower than I’d like, but we’ve come a long way....


24 posted on 06/01/2014 2:39:12 PM PDT by GOPJ (ObamaCare - like buying a pig in a poke...)
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To: GOPJ
We've also made great 2nd amendment gains since the early days of FR.

/johnny

25 posted on 06/01/2014 2:44:34 PM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: GOPJ
If you think everything’s hopeless and that democrats are sooooooo powerful we have to give up why are you here?

Not hopeless or ready to give up...just reality...with the Senate in control of the Senate at least for now...Holder is untouchable..

Holder is the US AG, the highest ranking law enforcement officer in the land..

He is basically Obama consigliere for his democrat crime syndicate...

Not only does he think he's above the law, he thinks he is the law unto himself...

The GOP can and should continue to hold him accountable, but it's not going to mean much unless we win the Senate...

26 posted on 06/01/2014 2:56:58 PM PDT by Popman ("Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God" - Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Once the tipping point happens there will be a massive purge of Fascists in government with hundreds going to prison.

Though I certainly agree with your sentiment...that's a fantasy...

We as a country tend to expose scandals, corruption, and by congressional committee spread the blame and move on...

27 posted on 06/01/2014 3:11:02 PM PDT by Popman ("Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God" - Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Kaslin

Darrell Issa does a valuable service for Americans by bringing the Obama administration’s impeachable offenses to public attention, even if he hasn’t actually been able to impeach anyone yet.

In Eric Holder’s latest act of tyranny and malfeasance described in this article, he’s been ‘’harassing legal businesses such as gun dealers.’’

The more gun owners become of aware of these actions through Darrell Issa’s hearings, the angrier they will become and the more strongly they will support Republicans in the coming elections...which will lead to more Republicans in Congress...which will result in more support for Darrell Issa and more success in his efforts to punish people like Eric Holder.


28 posted on 06/01/2014 4:04:50 PM PDT by Bluestocking
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To: Popman

Someone could “citizens arrest” holder. If he resisted I bet he would have less chance of surviving than a lab retriever with a cop strolling by. Is he above the law? I bet there is someone being destroyed who will think turnabout is fair play. Let holder do the talking to attempt not to be destroyed.


29 posted on 06/01/2014 5:20:50 PM PDT by MtnClimber (Just doing laps around the sun and shaking my head that progressives can believe what they do!)
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To: JRandomFreeper

> I consider despair to be a loss of faith in God, and a sin.
Besides, it doesn’t do anything to help you reach your goal.

/johnny

True. I know that’s biblical and easy to say when life is good but it still doesn’t mean we don’t have some feelings of despair when there is an extended drought...: )


30 posted on 06/01/2014 5:41:36 PM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: RIghtwardHo

I am not sure of what to make of Issa.

I see the merits of what he has done so far, though he has not made the sorts of progress we have desired. Issa has a thin line to follow, and a media that will harass him into silence. His committee lacks a certain follow though when it comes to Holder, but honestly, Holder has the upper hand because of his ability to refuse to appoint independent prosecutors.

That sort of leaves Issa in a bad spot. He can hold hearings, and then it goes nowhere because whatever he turns up, would normally go to a prosecutor who...works for....Holder.

He’s damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t. Not a good spot for him, so he goes through the motions, checks off the items on the list, and lets the chips fall where they may.


31 posted on 06/01/2014 5:43:39 PM PDT by Ouderkirk (To the left, everything must evidence that this or that strand of leftist theory is true)
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To: Popman

+I would be delighted if the NRA opened their own banks nationwide.

I can see a large segment of the USA population swarming to such banks, and telling Holder & Obama to pound sand.


32 posted on 06/01/2014 5:44:10 PM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: Bluestocking

You said it, although some here just don’t get it


33 posted on 06/01/2014 5:45:53 PM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Logical me

Yeah, what good does it do to impeach that arrogant pos if the Senate does not remove him


34 posted on 06/01/2014 5:47:32 PM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Bringbackthedraft

He’s not running for president and I will not vote for a congress man for president


35 posted on 06/01/2014 5:49:08 PM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: RIghtwardHo
Can you do any better? Then run for his office and prove it. Otherwise shut up
36 posted on 06/01/2014 5:51:02 PM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

“You can’t be serious!

No kidding! Issa is all hat and no cattle! He needs to go visit Trey Gowdy and find out what it takes to be a leader. Issa ends up being just a poseur in my estimation.


37 posted on 06/01/2014 5:54:41 PM PDT by vette6387
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To: Popman
New Living Translation - Ecclesiastes 9:11 I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives.

Work hard to change things for the better - hope, luck, and prayers are with us.

The democrat side is riddled with lies, corruption and age - and they hang in there... We need to do the same. I get exhausted with people making a point of 'giving up' and somehow working that sentiment into the 2nd or 3re reply spot. I don't believe you're trying to demoralize the site, but sometimes I think there are people attempting to do that.

38 posted on 06/01/2014 8:51:23 PM PDT by GOPJ (ObamaCare - like buying a pig in a poke...)
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To: JRandomFreeper

You’re right on that J - many reasons to feel good about the direction freepers are helping take the country.


39 posted on 06/01/2014 8:54:06 PM PDT by GOPJ (ObamaCare - like buying a pig in a poke...)
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To: Bringbackthedraft
The glamor of 'the 'one outstanding candidate' isn't the problem or our answer. Democrats could run crooks, liars, and traitors and the press would treat them as if they were Statesmen.

We could run Jesus and the press wouldn't like him. Besides, before Reagan was elected the first time the press mocked him worse than they mocked Sarah Palin.

Waiting for 'THE ONE' isn't the field Republicans should play on anyhow - it reeks of totalitarian. Our win will come with our ideas... and lots of good people on our side can carry those ideas into battle. Have faith... we're winning in so many ways.

40 posted on 06/01/2014 9:03:37 PM PDT by GOPJ (ObamaCare - like buying a pig in a poke...)
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