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Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that the PA will not meet Israel’s demand that it recognize Israel as the Jewish State, Kol Yisrael radio reported. According to the report, Abbas explained this statement using the reasoning that once that the PA agrees to this requirement, there would be no value to the million and a half PA Arabs living in Israel, and no refugee would be allowed to come back to Israel, in keeping with the PA demand that Israel allow millions of Arab refugees to return to their old homes in Israeli cities as part of...

January 29, 2012 Gingrich's Sunshine State strategy Former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum reacts

Krauthammer: State of the union flopBy CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER January 28, 2012 - 12:24am Once upon a time, small ball was not Barack Obama’s game. Tuesday, it was the essence of his State of the Union address. The visionary of 2008 — purveyor of hope and change, healer of the earth, tamer of the rising seas — offered an hour of little things: tax-code tweaks to encourage this or that kind of behavior (manufacturing being the flavor of the day), little watchdog agencies to round up Wall Street miscreants and Chinese DVD pirates, even a presidential demand “that all students stay...

WASHINGTON – It was a wish list, not a to-do list. President Obama's array of plans in his State of the Union speech was light on a key piece of context -- namely, that his hands are so tied until after the election that it is doubtful many if any of them can be done in the remainder of his term. There can be little more than wishful thinking behind his call to end oil industry subsidies -- something he could not get through a Democratic Congress, much less today's divided Congress, much less in this election year. A look...

My fellow Americans;Four years ago, on this day in 2008, Bear Stearns stood on the edge of collapse.  We did not know this, of course, as other than their two hedge funds' failure their internal condition was hidden -- by the company and by the regulators who were charged with keeping our financial system safe.Over the next six months we came close to losing America.Today, we're not in much better shape.We have failed to address the first, and only, reason we find ourselves mired in an economic situation where we cannot grow and we cannot prosper.  Where The Senate has...

"I would like to know how you started the association, because our state could use such an association." "We need an organization such as the BFA for WA. can you give me any pointers on starting such an organization?" "Do you know if there is a similar organization to BFA in Michigan?" "This a great site is there something like this for Connecticut people?" As a volunteer for Buckeye Firearm Association, I help field some of the questions that supporters send to us via the website. As you can imagine, there is a wide variety, but the four quoted above...

Minnesota lawmakers today will begin looking into the issue of payments for unused sick and vacation time to retiring state employees. The joint legislative subcommittee hearing follows reports by the Pioneer Press and KSTP-TV in November about $57 million paid out in unused sick time to state employees - a practice largely unheard of in the private sector - and $32 million paid out in unused vacation time between January 2008 and June 30, 2011.

(CNSNews.com) -- The United States is not “overly concerned” about the Iraqi government detaining a “handful of U.S. contractors” over visas and paperwork, State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters on Tuesday. Back on Jan. 11, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad issued an “emergency warning” for U.S. citizens in Iraq, informing them “not [to] attempt movements about the country in the absence of valid, current permits and paperwork.” On Sunday, Jan. 15, the International Stability Operations Association (ISOA), an organization that represents contractors in Iraq, sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton asking her to intervene regarding...

Jarrett’s partisan pulpit speech may have violated IRS church-state rules 12:14 AM 01/17/2012 Valerie Jarrett’s partisan speech at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church may have violated the IRS tax rules for churches’ political activities, said a prominent free speech attorney. “It is problematic under current regulations,” said Erik Stanley, a senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, which is campaigning to roll back IRS curbs on believers’ speech. But if the IRS concludes that the church violated the IRS code, the ADF “will represent the church, just as it would represent any church for what is said from the pulpit,”...

On the heels of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), otherwise known as the "Indefinite Detention Act," comes another draconian bill designed to give the federal government the power to turn American citizens into enemies of the state for virtually any reason it deems necessary. Stephen D. Foster, Jr. has the story. "Congress is considering HR 3166 and S. 1698 also known as the Enemy Expatriation Act, sponsored by Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Charles Dent (R-PA). This bill would give the US government the power to strip Americans of their citizenship without being convicted of being 'hostile' against the United...

Feds Wicthhunt against Sheriff Joe. ------- DOJ released a report last month alleging that Sheriff Joe's office racially profiles Latinos, ------ Sheriff Joe has denied the allegations, calling the DOJ report a politically motivated attack by Obama's administration. --------

States: California's in trouble. Businesses are leaving along with intellectual and investment capital and skilled workers. But rather than face up to serious problems, legislators pass silly laws. One would think that given the serious nature of the state's problems, the legislature would focus on solutions at the exclusion of all else. Instead, lawmakers — what would we ever do without them? — found the time in 2011 to trespass even deeper into Californians' personal lives. Topping off Sacramento's monument to foolishness is a law requiring children younger than 8, except for those taller than 4 feet 9 inches,

Wendy Sherman, undersecretary of state for political affairs at the State Department, had some rather nice things to say about the reclusive Kim Jong Il, the dictatorial leader of North Korea who died a few days ago. She had met the rogue dictator, Josh Rogin reports, when Sherman "served as State Department counselor and North Korea policy coordinator under former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, [and had] traveled to Pyongyang with Albright in 2000." An NPR obituary quotes the high ranking State Department official as saying that "He was smart and a quick problem-solver," and that "[Kim Jong Il] is...

A federal lawsuit has led to official recognition for a student-led Christian club that had earlier been banned by the Hicksville Union Free School District in Central Islip, N.Y. Attorneys of the Christian law firm Alliance Defense Fund on Friday started the process of voluntary dismissal of the federal lawsuit against the district after its “decision to change course and grant the club equal access to the rights, benefits, and privileges extended to all other non-curriculum student clubs.” Apart from officially recognizing the Frontline Club, the district also adopted a resolution affirming its “continuing policy to comply with the Equal...

The archbishop of Los Angeles is among a group of Latino bishops from throughout the US to have called for undocumented immigrants to be seen as a "revitalizing force" -- instead of as criminals. The group of 30, including Los Angeles Archbishop José Gómez, released a joint letter vowing to work for immigration law reform, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. [SNIP] "The lack of a just, humane and effective reform of immigration laws negatively affects the common good of the United States. We promise to keep working to bring about this change."

Congress cannot accelerate Keystone decision: State DepartmentReuters – 12 hrs ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department warned on Monday that a plan by congressional Republicans to fast track the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL pipeline decision would violate environmental laws and force it to withhold approval. "Should Congress impose an arbitrary deadline for the permit decision ... the department would be unable to make a determination to issue a permit for this project," the State Department said in a statement. **SNIP** Environmentalists say the pipeline would threaten Nebraska's Sand Hills region and lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions, and had...

Today the Islamized State Department will be meeting with the Islamic supremacist Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss strategies and develop action plans in which to impose the restriction of free speech (or blasphemy, as truthful speech about Islam is considered in Islamic law) under the Sharia here in America. Photos accompanying news reports about the upcoming meeting shows Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu at a meeting last summer in Istanbul. Such prominence is given to this totalitarian organization. That photo reminds me of Neville and Adolf.

AG Eric Holder attempts to avoid question about lying to congress. Saying that lying depends on one's state of mind. (December 8, 2011)

Former Speaker of the House is facing questions over whether he broke the law by announcing on Wednesday that he would appoint former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton as his Secretary of State if elected. Gingrich made his remarks at the Republican Jewish Coalition's Candidates Forum, saying he would first get Bolton to agree to change the State Department's culture of "appeasement." But Taegan Goddard at Political Wire notes that Gingrich may have run afoul of federal law barring a candidate from promising a political appointment for the purposes of personal political gain. Here's Title 18, Part I, Chapter 29,...

From time immemorial—from Etienne de la Boitie to David Hume to Ludwig von Mises—political analysts have noted that because the number of those in the ruling elite amounts to only a small fraction of the number in the ruled masses, every regime lives or dies in accordance with “public opinion.” Unless the mass of the people, no matter how objectively abused and plundered they may appear to be, believe that the existing rulers are legitimate, the masses will not tolerate the regime’s continuation in power. Nor need they tolerate it, because they greatly outnumber the

Last summer, Philip J. Crowley stepped down from his post as a State Department spokesman before stepping into a War College fellowship in conjunction with Penn State. What preceded his exit from Foggy Bottom were some undiplomatic comments that he made about the Army’s treatment of Private Bradley Manning, who leaked classified documents to WIkiLeaks. “The unauthorized disclosure of classified information is a serious crime under U.S. law,” Crowley stated in his resignation letter on March 13, 2011. “My recent comments regarding the conditions of the pre-trial detention of Private First Class Bradley Manning were intended to highlight the broader,...

China drift toward more state control "troubling": U.S.By Doug Palmer | Reuters – Wed, Nov 30, 2011 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday criticized China for backing away from free market reforms and moving toward more state control of its economy as Beijing approaches the tenth anniversary of its entry into the World Trade Organization. "China seems to be embracing state capitalism more strongly each year, rather than continuing to move toward the economic reform goals that originally drove its pursuit of WTO membership," U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Michael Punke said in remarks delivered in Geneva and...

EU officials concluded that, following a three-year investigation, there was no evidence to prove the previously undisputed fact. Producers of bottled water are now forbidden by law from making the claim and will face a two-year jail sentence if they defy the edict, which comes into force in the UK next month. Last night, critics claimed the EU was at odds with both science and common sense. Conservative MEP Roger Helmer said: “This is stupidity writ large. “The euro is burning, the EU is falling apart and yet here they are: highly-paid, highly-pensioned officials worrying about the obvious qualities of...

JACKSON, Miss. — Republicans will control the Mississippi House of Representatives for the first time since Reconstruction. Though some counties were still counting absentee and affidavit ballots Monday, Republicans will hold at least 63 of the 122 seats when the Legislature convenes Jan. 3. Totals confirmed Monday show Republican Gene Alday defeated incumbent Democrat John Mayo in House District 25, putting the GOP over the top for control of the House. Also Monday, Perry County officials finished counting votes in House District 105, where Republican Dennis DeBar Jr. beat Democrat Dale Kimble and independent Latricia Cornelson in a seat formerly...

The Penn State University sex-abuse scandal certainly seems unique. College-football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky (shown at left) could have been investigated as early as 1995 for abusing young boys, but instead was allowed to commit his crimes for another 10 years. School athletic director Tim Curley and senior vice president for business and finance Gary Schultz face charges of lying to a grand jury investigating Sandusky, and university president Graham Spanier has been fired. And even more headline-grabbing, famed head football coach Joe Paterno has also been discharged. While not accused of any criminally actionable behavior, the gridiron legend is...

John "Never-met-a-bank-that-should-not-be-made-smaller" Huntsman in last night's CNBC debate made a solid case for "properly sized banks." Perry strengthened John-the-Bank-Hunter's plan by saying: "If you are to big to fail, you are just to big." Both Presidential Candidates were borrowing heavily from the Former Head-of-the-Fed, High Poo Bah, Renowned Socialist, and Inventor of the Current Intellectual basis for Banks, and Governments Worldwide, the Ultimate Socialist Safety Net/ Hammock: TO BIG TO FAIL. Yes indeedy! If you stumble we will catch you! If you even "feel" you MIGHT stumble we will give you green pillows stuffed full of a never-ending supply of...

While we were students of the state education apparatus, how many of us had to write research papers where we were asked to "change the world"?I'm sure we can all remember a writing prompt similar to this: "If I could change one thing about the world, it would be …" or "How I can make the world a better place."Often, these writing prompts were given to us when we were not even old enough to think about abstract concepts like war and politics.Were these assignments teaching us to think critically? In some cases, this is possible. For the most part,...

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has ordered that the names of public-pension recipients be disclosed, ruling that the public has a right to know the amount of their retirement-benefit payments. The Union Leader had sought to have the names of the 500 highest-paid recipients publicly disclosed by New the Hampshire Retirement System in early 2010 when the state legislature was considering making changes to the state pension fund.

A  U.S. State Department law enforcement agent from the mainland was arrested for fatally shooting a man in his 20s early this morning on Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki, sources said. Honolulu police identified the alleged shooter as Christopher W. Deedy, 27, and sources who asked to remain anonymous confirmed that he is a federal agent who was off-duty at the time of the shooting. A State Department spokeswoman in Washington, D.C., said only, "We are aware of the incident and we cannot comment on an ongoing investigation." She would not confirm whether he was here for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference...

If raising cash is the first presidential primary, the latest round of campaign filings contains early warning signs for Barack Obama in key states that were crucial to his election in 2008. Though he’s raised almost three times as much as Mitt Romney—the former governor of Massachusetts has brought in $32 million—the president is trailing his GOP rival in a handful of battleground states. In both Florida and Nevada, Romney nearly doubled the president’s haul, despite a crowded field of Republican candidates who are also vacuuming up donations. And Romney, of course, doesn’t enjoy the power of incumbency.

The State Department on Wednesday defended spending tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on books authored by President Obama, while White House spokesman Jay Carney called the book-buying an “embassy-based decision.” The comments followed a report Wednesday by The Washington Times that found the State Department had spent more than $70,000 on books by Mr. Obama. Most of the purchases came in the months after Mr. Obama won the White House, though the embassy in Paris spent more than $8,000 for copies of “Dreams From My Father” as recently as March.

The U.S. Department of State has bought more than $70,000 worth of books authored by President Obama, sending out copies as Christmas gratuities and stocking “key libraries” around the world with “Dreams from My Father” more than a decade after its release. The U.S. embassy in Egypt, for instance, spent $28,636 in August 2009 for copies of Mr. Obama’s bestselling 1995 memoir. Six weeks earlier, the embassy had placed another order with the same book seller, Kalemat Arabia, for more than $9,000 for copies of the same book, federal purchasing records show. Around the same time, halfway around the world,...

While the federal government grapples with its own enormous deficit, individual states are also facing huge deficits that total an astounding combined $4 trillion. That figure comes from the newly-released annual report on state debt from State Budget Solutions, a nonprofit think tank that cuts through state government accounting tricks to find the true extent of their deficit burdens. For their figures, SBS combined states' outstanding debt and their current year budget shortfalls, and then factored in the projected costs of other liabilities, including pension and retirement costs, that have yet to be paid for. On the high end, SBS...

VACATION: Vacation is earned from the first day of employment, but cannot be used until the employee has six months classified service. Full-time employees earn vacation based on the following table. Less than full-time employees earn vacation on a pro-rated basis. Employee status under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Years of Service Non-Exempt Hours Earned Each Year Exempt* Hours Earned Each Year During first 5 104 120 5+ to 10 144 160 10+ to 15 160 176 15+ to 20 184 200 20+ to 25 200 216 25 and Over 216 216 * Some Exempt employees do not...

As part of its 2012 Diversity Visa program, the U.S. State Department is considering 5,662 applicants from countries deemed ‘State Sponsors of Terrorism’ – Iran, Syria, Sudan and Cuba. In 2011, the State Department awarded 2,427 Diversity Visas to people from Iran, Syria and Sudan -- 1,842 for Iran; 553 for Sudan; and 32 for Syria.

by John HillStand With Arizona Party and ideological divisions are roiling America. Battles over the budget, taxes, jobs and energy have crippled Washington. But there is one issue that people across the political spectrum agree on: they oppose giving in-state tuition to illegal aliens. According to the latest poll numbers, 69% of Americans oppose subsidizing those here illegally with in-state tuitions rates. 73% of Republicans oppose it - as one would expect. An even stronger 74% of Independents oppose it. But the same position resonates across ideological and ethnic lines too. 58% of Democrats oppose it too, as do...

French president Nicolas Sarkozy squarely blames Israel for stalled talks and says the Jewish state's national identity is "silly." According to the oft-controversial French magazine Le Canard Enchaîne, President Nicolas Sarkozy thinks the idea of a Jewish state is "silly." "It is silly to talk about a Jewish state," Sarkozy said in reference to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's assertion no true peace could be made until officials in Ramallah accepted Israel's essential Jewish identity. "It would be like saying that this table is Catholic," he added. "There are two million Arabs in Israel." Sarkozy also placed sole blame for failed...

In his address before the German parliament, Benedict XVI offers ways to renew politics and social life for the world. Positivism is limiting because it marginalises the ethics and culture of politics and society. Berlin (AsiaNews) – “A German pope in the German capital” is the greeting that welcomed Pope Benedict XVI in his first state visit to his native land (the third of his pontificate). The visit began this morning in Berlin and will continue until Sunday, bringing the Pontiff to Erfurt and Freiburg. However, in his addresses the German pope speaks to the entire world and what he...

Largest state unions won't seek recertification by Thursday deadline Madison - By the end of Thursday, the major state employee unions covering tens of thousands of workers will have effectively lost their official status. Top leaders for those unions say they won't seek to meet the high hurdle for keeping that current status laid out in Gov. Scott Walker's union bargaining law. With a deadline set for the close of business Thursday, so far only four smaller state unions have said they'll seek to keep their status by winning a difficult recertification election. Marty Beil, executive director of the 23,000-member...

Even as President Obama's approval rating has plummeted across the nation, it was always sunnier in California. Until now. For the first time since Obama became president in January 2009, fewer than half (46 percent) of California voters approve of his performance as president - a figure that's dropped eight percentage points in three months, according to a Field Poll survey of attitudes toward Obama released today. The poll of 1,001 registered state voters was taken Sept. 1-12. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points. Nationally, 43.9 percent of respondents approve of Obama's job performance, according...

The United States has cleared the names of Israel's billionaire Ofer brothers, accused of dealing with Iran. They have died since the charges were made. The U.S. State Department several months ago shocked Israel with sanctions against Ofer Brothers Group for allegedly docking ships in Iran and selling a tanker to the Islamic Republic, breaking American sanctions against dealing with Tehran. The Israeli company and the Iranian firm that bought the ship denied the charges. The State Department clarified on Tuesday that the Ofers were not targeted, too late for Sammy and Yuli Ofer ever to know because they since...

ABSTRACT The United States has begun a diplomatic campaign to prevent a confrontation this month over a Palestinian plan to seek recognition as a state at the United Nations. FULL TEXT.....

In the aftermath of the Glenn Beck “Restoring Courage” rally, questions have emerged about a U.S. State Department message released the day of the event that warned Americans to stay away. The timing and specifics of the event warning have led some to claim that ideological opposition to the Beck event– not just concerns for American safety– could have influenced the decision. The “Emergency Message” addressed to U.S. Government Employees and visiting citizens in Jerusalem is available on the Consulate’s website. The message posted to the site on August 24th stated the following: “The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem notes...

A congressman from Ohio had cops grab the cameras of constituents during a town hall meeting. Steve Chabot, a Republican, had cell phones and cameras confiscated in order to “prevent an embarrassing Youtube video from making the rounds,” according to Carlos Miller, who runs a blog documenting efforts by the state to stifle the First Amendment rights of photographers. Police said the cameras were taken “to protect the constituents.” A local television station, however, was allowed to videotape the meeting and the brazen move by Chabot and the cops.

Moving rapidly to criminalize telling the truth about how Islamic jihadists use the texts and teachings of Islam to encourage violence and supremacism. Free Speech Death Watch Alert, and an update on this story: "OIC/Islamophobia: OIC Observatory warned since 2009 against the growth of the extreme right in Europe, Washington plans to host a meeting on resolution opposing defamation of religions," from the International Islamic News Agency, August 1 (thanks to all who sent this in): JEDDAH, Ramadan 1/Aug 1 (IINA)-During the next few months, Washington plans to host a coordination meeting to discuss with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation...

Illinois State Trooper Steve Steckenrider looks back on his partner's career as K9 Ace, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, nears retirement next year.

INDIANAPOLIS - A stage has collapsed at a concert at the Indiana State Fair. The stage was set up for the Sugarland concert at the state fairgrounds. Rigging for the stage lighting reportedly fell around 8:50 p.m., before the main act took the stage. Police and fire crews believe they have everyone moved from the grandstand. A triage unit has been set up near the Hoosier Lottery exhibit at the fair. Other victims are also being transported to at least two area hospitals. Several ambulances can be seen entering and leaving the area. Fair and emergency officials are planning a...

Stage rigging collapsed after a storm gust Saturday night, trapping and injuring at least a dozen people at a concert at the Indiana State Fair, NBC station WTHR reported. The outdoor stage was set up for the Sugarland concert at the state fairgrounds. Medics and rescue crews throughout Indianapolis were converging on the State Fairgrounds after Hoosier Lottery Grandstand stage rigging fell. Dave Lindquist, music journalist for The Indianapolis Star, reported on Twitter, "Tragedy at fair concert. Entire stage collapses on track." He also wrote that "perhaps a dozen injured people have been removed from track on stretcher-type boards."

The majority of Russians remain dissatisfied with the progress of democratization in Russia, a new poll has found. The Moscow Times reports that 62 percent of people recently polled in an All-Russia Public Opinion Research Centre survey answered that they are “dissatisfied with the development of democracy in Russia.” This number, however, is down marginally from the 73 percent who were dissatisfied with domestic conditions twenty years ago. Meanwhile, those who believe the country is showing progress are largely supporters of the ruling "United Russia" party, are under 45 years of age, and generally active Internet users. [Editors’ Note: Given...

Rather than a Constitutional Amendment, a Simple 1or 2 page Law could inspire much of our Government's needed change in fiscal outlook. The “Sunset Clause, with TEETH” is what makes it! EXAMPLE: A Bill to link the Pensions of elected Federal Office holders to this Nation's “Debt Ceiling” NO elected Federal Office Holder may draw a pension for that Service UNLESS our Nation's “Debt Limit” and actual “National Debt” went DOWN during that term of Service {was lower at the End of said Service, than on the Day of his/her swearing in.} ANY future Bill, or other attempt,to alter, amend...