This and That...

[Warph]

Politically Obvious – Obama Appointed Judge Will Not Hold Eric Holder in Contempt of Court Even Though Holder Is Defying "HER" Court Order...

By JOSH GERSTEIN | 10/6/14

http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2014/10/judge-declines-to-hold-holder-in-contempt-196650.html

A federal judge has declined a House committee's bid to have Attorney General Eric Holder held in contempt of court — and perhaps even jailed — for failing to turn over documents related to the Justice Department' s response to Operation Fast and Furious.

(You just can't make this stuff up.  A liberal activist judge... forced to follow the law and legal precedent...  tells the DOJ they must turn over Fast and Furious documents.  The DOJ refuse.  The federal judge then gives the DOJ a deadline for producing the documents.  The DOJ ignore the deadline, and again refuse.  The judge is now in a position of having her own court order defied by the entity under her jurisdiction.... so she punts, or, well, 'kicks-the-can' down past the election)

However, in a ruling Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson also denied Holder's request for an indefinite stay of her prior order that the attorney general must turn over any "non-privileged" documents the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed as part of an investigation into the botched gunrunning investigation. The judge previously ruled that Holder must give the panel any documents that are not both predecisional and deliberative in nature.

Jackson called the House contempt motion "entirely unnecessary" and said it was evident that she was considering the government's motion to lift her prior order. "Under those circumstances, the Court finds no basis to hold defendant in contempt," she wrote.

But the judge also said she saw no reason to allow the Justice Department to withhold unprivileged documents until the case was complete. She ordered those records turned over to the committee by Nov. 3, along with a log of the records claimed to be privileged.

"Though the Court has the discretion to grant a stay in the interests of judicial economy and efficiency, pending appeal or otherwise, there is no pending appeal here and the Court has already ruled that defendant has no legal basis to withhold non-deliberative documents. The 'possibility' of an appeal and piecemeal litigation does not satisfy defendant's burden to demonstrative a 'clear case of hardship or inequity' without a stay," she wrote in her decision (posted here).

A Justice Department spokesman welcomed the decision, at least the part rebuffing the motion to hold Holder in contempt. "We are pleased that the court rejected the committee's latest stunt," spokesman Brian Fallon said.

A spokesperson for the House committee said the judge's ruling is a step towards the panel receiving documents it should have been given years ago. "The Oversight Committee is pleased that the Judge in the case has rejected the Department's request to continue illegally withholding documents and its attempt to unnecessarily prolong the proceeding.  This court ruling affirms that Attorney General Holder broke the law in withholding subpoenaed documents, which led the House of Representatives to vote him in criminal contempt," said the spokesperson.

[Warph]

Catholic Bishop: Christians Can Use Lethal Force To Defend Themselves From "Satanist-Driven Islamic Organizations"

(Enough with turning the other cheek, time for some payback)

(CNSNews.com) – "Christians must do everything within their powers to protect their lives from being snuffed off by Satanist-driven Islamic organizations," Bishop Joseph Bagobiri, the Roman Catholic head of Nigeria's Kafanchan Diocese, said Sunday, according to Nigeria's Vanguard newspaper.

Bishop Bagobiri also noted, according to the Vanguard, that Christians have a "grave duty" to use "moderate and proportionate force" to defend their families against Islamic groups such as Boko Haram, which is responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians since 2009.

Boko Haram became internationally known after it staged a mass kidnapping of more than 250 Nigerian schoolgirls in April. Only one has reportedly escaped in nearly five months.

Not fighting back is a "gross act of irresponsibility," the bishop said at a Sunday reception, pointing out that "Christian communities that observe absolute pacifism have all ceased to exist."

Bishop Bagobiri invoked church teaching on "legitimate defense" in his remarks, noting that the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes it as an act of love towards oneself; and carried out out in defense of God's gift to life, [of] which we are merely custodians. The theological authorities of the Church are emphatic: Love towards oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality.

"Therefore, it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow," Bishop Bagobiri said.

[Warph]

Politico: Big Dem Donors Looking For A Hillary Substitute

(Uh Oh... trouble brewing for ol' Pants-suit?)

Via Truth Revolt:
http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/politico-big-dem-donors-looking-hillary-substitute

The 2016 Presidential Candidate selection process for the Democratic Party may not be the coronation of Hillary Clinton that most pundits are projecting. Kenneth Vogel of Politico is reporting that some big Democratic Party donors are eager for a candidate (or candidates) to challenge Clinton, if only to force her to the left on key progressive issues.

Clinton is seen by some liberals as too hawkish, too close to Wall Street and insufficiently aggressive on fighting climate change, income inequality and the role of money in politics. Those are animating causes for many rich Democrats, and some are eager for a candidate or candidates to challenge Clinton on those issues, if only to force her to the left.

According to the report some of the big money donors are trying to get Elizabeth Warren to reconsider her pledge not to run; others are looking to support Joe Biden, Martin O'Malley, Jim Webb, and even Vermont socialist Bernie Sanders.

"I have talked to large donors who are not happy with what Hillary represents," said Guy Saperstein, a San Francisco lawyer and part owner of the Oakland A's. "But they're not going to stick their heads up above the ramparts right now and get shot at."

Saperstein provided seed funding to a super PAC launched this summer to try to draft Warren into the presidential race and pledged $1 million if the Massachusetts senator decides to run. The super PAC is hiring staffers in key primary states and recently enlisted a fundraising firm to solicit donors.

[Warph]

Kansas Senate "Independent" Says He Could "Absolutely" Switch Parties If He Wins

(No way... Wow... Jeepers... Really?... uh huh... S'pose so)

Via NBC News:
Independent Greg Orman says he could change parties even after he has allied himself with Democrats or Republicans if he wins the Kansas Senate election in November.

In an exclusive interview with NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, Orman says he would initially caucus with whichever party has majority control in the Senate, because "it's in the best interests of the voters of Kansas that they have a senator in the majority."

But, he added, he wouldn't limit himself to an alliance with one party over the other, especially if the Senate is evenly split.

"If four or five months goes by, and it's clear they're engaged in the same old partisan politics, we'll be able to change our allegiances and work with the other side," he said. "And I think that's a really strong and important tool, to hold the Senate accountable for actually getting something done."

Asked by O'Donnell if he can envision switching parties once he arrives in Washington, Orman responded that he "absolutely" can.

"Ultimately, this is about solving problems. This is about the voters of Kansas saying – the status quo doesn't work anymore," he said.

If he wins the November election, Orman can keep the label of independent, but he must choose to caucus with one party to carry out the day-to-day duties — like service on Senate committees — that make senators effective as they seek to serve their constituents.

[Warph]

20% Of U.S. Residents Abandon English At Home

Via Washington Times:

One-fifth of people in the U.S. speak a foreign language at home, according to a report being released Monday by the Center for Immigration Studies, which found Arabic and Urdu — the national language of Pakistan — among the fastest-growing.

The report found that nearly half of all California school-age children speak a language other than English at home, as do a third of Texans and Nevadans, according to the report, which is based on Census Bureau numbers.

Three decades ago, 10 percent of residents spoke a foreign language at home, but a surge of immigration and changing cultural patterns have sent the percentage skyrocketing. More than 40 percent of those who spoke a foreign language at home said they speak English less than proficiently.

The report found that nearly half of all California school-age children speak a language other than English at home, as do a third of Texans and Nevadans, according to the report, which is based on Census Bureau numbers.

[Warph]

15 Best Political Photos  Of The Day

ARIZONA CARDINALS CHEERLEADERS

The 15 Best Cheerleading Squads in the NFL

http://www.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/collection/15-hottest-NFL-cheerleaders/?page=2

[Warph]

Axis of Idiots

The purpose of this page is to answer the never ending inquiries about a commentary I wrote in June 2006, which I titled On Your Hands. It has been renamed by anonymous Internet editors. The most prevalent re-titling is Axis of Idiots. That is why I have titled this page Axis of Idiots.

In June 2006, I sent an email to a private mailing list with the following commentary. The only thing that differs from the original is that some broken links were removed. I also posted it at Free Republic.

Since that original posting this email has been around the net more times than probably can be calculated. It has been edited by Internet nitwits, given new titles, the most popular of which appears to be Axis of Idiots and some of the edits refer to me as a Retired Marine Sergeant Major, which I am not and have never claimed to be. This is just another Internet nitwit's fabrication. I honor my Marine Corps brothers, but I am proud to be a retired Army Command Sergeant Major. There is also a version out there with a picture of some bald guy standing behind a podium – not me either.

To this day, I still get emails wanting me to verify that I wrote what they forward to me, which is most often some edited version. It even earned a Snopes entry. I have also been cursed out and called every name imaginable by people who apparently support the views and disgraceful words and conduct of the named politicians. Just for the record, Ted Kennedy and Jack Murtha were alive and in character when this was written.Here is the unedited original as it went out to my email list in June 2006, with the exception of the removal of broken links.

******************

Our God and soldiers we alike adore,

Ev'n at the brink of danger; not before;

After deliverance, both alike requited,

Our God's forgotten, and our soldiers slighted. 

---Frances Quarles, 1632

******************

*** On Your Hands ***

By J. D. Pendry

Jimmy Carter, you're the father of the Islamic Nazi movement. You threw the Shah under the bus, welcomed the Ayatollah home and then lacked the spine to confront the terrorists when they took our embassy and our people hostage. You're the runner-in-chief.

Bill Clinton, you played ring around the Lewinsky while the terrorists were at war with us. You got us into a fight with them in Somalia, and then you ran from it. Your weak-willed responses emboldened the killers. Each time you failed to respond adequately they grew bolder, until 9/11.

John Kerry, dishonesty is your most prominent attribute. You lied about American Soldiers in Vietnam. Your military service, like your life, is more fiction than fact. You've accused our Soldiers of terrorizing women and children in Iraq. You called Iraq the wrong war, wrong place, wrong time, the same words you used to describe Vietnam. You're a fake. You want to run from Iraq and abandon the Iraqis to murderers just as you did the Vietnamese. Iraq, like Vietnam is another war that you were for, before you were against it.

John Murtha, you said our military was broken. You said we can't win militarily in Iraq. You accused United States Marines of cold-blooded murder without proof. And said we should redeploy to Okinawa. Okinawa John? And the Democrats call you their military expert. Are you sure you didn't suffer a traumatic brain injury while you were off building your war hero resume? You're a sad, pitiable, corrupt and washed up politician. You're not a Marine sir. You wouldn't amount to a pimple on a real Marines butt. You're a phony and a disgrace. Run away John.

Dick Durbin, you accused our Soldiers at Guantanimo of being Nazis, tenders of Soviet style gulags and as bad as the regime of Pol Pot who murdered two million of his own people after your party abandoned South East Asia to the Communists. Now you want to abandon the Iraqis to the same fate. History was not a good teacher for you, was it? See Dick run.

Ted Kennedy, for days on end you held poster sized pictures from Abu Grhaib in front of any available television camera. Al Jazeera quoted you saying that Iraq's torture chambers were open under new management. Did you see the news this week Teddy? The Islamic Nazis demonstrated real torture for you again. If you truly supported our troops, you'd show the world poster-sized pictures of that atrocity and demand the annihilation of the perpetrators of it. Your legislation stripping support from the South Vietnamese led to a communist victory there. You're a bloated fool bent on repeating the same historical blunder that turned freedom-seeking people over to homicidal, genocidal maniacs. To paraphrase John Murtha, all while sitting on your wide, gin-soaked rear-end in Washington.

Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Carl Levine, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Russ Feingold, Hillary Clinton, Pat Leahy, Chuck Schumer et al ad nauseam. Every time you stand in front of television cameras and broadcast to the Islamic Nazis that we went to war because our President lied. That the war is wrong and our Soldiers are torturers. That we should leave Iraq, you give the Islamic butchers – the same ones that tortured and mutilated American Soldiers – cause to think that we'll run away again and all they have to do is hang on a little longer.

American news media, the New York Times particularly. Each time you publish stories about national defense secrets and our intelligence gathering methods, you become one with the sub-human pieces of camel dung that torture and mutilate the bodies of American Soldiers. You can't strike up the courage to publish cartoons, but you can help Al Qaeda destroy my country. Actually, you are more dangerous to us than Al Qaeda is. Think about that each time you face Mecca to admire your Pulitzer.

You are America's axis of idiots. Your Collective Stupidity will destroy us. Self-serving politics and terrorist abetting news scoops are more important to you than our national security or the lives of innocent civilians and Soldiers. It bothers you that defending ourselves gets in the way of your elitist sport of politics and your ignorant editorializing. There is as much blood on your hands as is on the hands of murdering terrorists. Don't ever doubt that. Your frolics will only serve to extend this war as they extended Vietnam. If you want our Soldiers home, as you claim, knock off the crap and try supporting your country ahead of supporting your silly political aims and aiding our enemies. Yes, I'm questioning your patriotism. Your loyalty ends with self. I'm also questioning why you're stealing air that decent Americans could be breathing. You don't deserve the protection of our men and women in uniform. You need to run away from this war – this country. Leave the war to the people who have the will to see it through and the country to people who are willing to defend it.

No Commander in Chief, you don't get off the hook either. Our country has two enemies. Those who want to destroy us from the outside and those who attempt it from within. Your Soldiers are dealing with the outside force. It's your obligation to support them by confronting the axis of idiots. America must hear it from you that these people are harming our country, abetting the enemy and endangering our safety. Well up a little anger please, and channel it toward the appropriate target. You must prosecute those who leak national security secrets to the media. You must prosecute those in the media who knowingly publish those secrets. Our Soldiers need you to confront the enemy that they cannot.

They need you to do it now.

[Warph]

Rip Van Whitey

Part 4

Mr. Van Whitey

As Rip and his companion approached them, they suddenly desisted from their play, and stared at him with such fixed statue-like gaze, and such strange, uncouth, lack-luster countenances, that his heart turned within him, and his knees smote together. His companion now emptied the contents of the keg into large flagons, and made signs to him to wait upon the company. He obeyed with fear and trembling; they quaffed the liquor in profound silence, and then returned to their game.

By degrees Rip's awe and apprehension subsided. He even ventured, when no eye was fixed upon him, to taste the beverage, which he found had much of the flavor of excellent gin. He was naturally a thirsty soul, and was soon tempted to repeat the draught. One taste provoked another; and he reiterated his visits to the flagon so often that at length his fear was overpowered, and he decided to converse with his company.

"My name is Rip Van Whitey," he slurred, "And it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

The games ceased and once again the crowed looked at him with an uninviting glower. The awkward silence was too much for poor Rip to bear, so he gulped his beverage nervously.

The men looked away, some returning their attention to their game. The commander apparent took a step toward Rip, revealing a slight limp steadied by the use of a cane. He plucked the cigarette holder from his mouth and cracked a polite smile at Rip.

"My dear fellow, do you know who we are?"

Rip shook his head, a sense of shame coming over him.

"We are the beginning of the end. We are revelers between two awful and pointless racial civil wars. We are the heroes who seeded a generation of traitors. We are the creators and enablers of the beast that would crush our kith and kin. We are the men who built an empire so powerful it took the entire world a century to destroy it. But destroy it they did."

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about," Rip admitted, thoroughly befuddled.

"But of course you don't, kind sir, for what has been hidden from you since birth may as well have never existed. But I assure you: It did exist.

"They will lie to you when they say there was no such thing as the "good old days", that there was no "golden age" in this nation.

"For if you knew what has been lost, you would revolt tomorrow.

"Those who have engineered your subjugation have profited royally from it. They sit perched atop Glitterati Hills, looking down from their gated compounds with nothing but contempt for you and vicious glee over your suffering. All the while, you remain blissfully unaware that your situation could be much improved if only you had the nerve to question what has been forced upon you—and why."

Rip's eyes began to swim in his head. He had only one recourse, which was another trip to the flagon. The distinguished gentleman limped after him.

"There are unpleasant realities no one wishes to hear, Rip Van Whitey, but no man should ignore. The fact is your beloved paradise below has been destroyed, and intentionally so. How do you fail to see it? Do you think that the random savagery to which you are so woefully accustomed is normal? Do you think the constant disturbances of the peace, the endless streams of profanity, the stupidity, the idleness, the violence, the thuggery, the thievery, the squalor, the filth—do you think these are elements inherent to civil society? If so, what, exactly, makes it so "civil"?

"Look around you now. Do you fear for your life? Do you fear for your pride? Do you have any concern at all that you will be treated in anything but a decent and respectable manner by us perfect strangers? No, of course you don't. This—this—is the nation which once was. And this is the nation we, our children, and our children's children, forfeited.

"Why did we forfeit it? Because we were naïve. Because we were credulous. Because we were lazy. Because we were compliant. Year after year, law after law, generation after generation, we became more ensnared by the Leviathan we created, failing to heed the warnings of the Cassandras, or, more often, dutifully following orders to tar and feather them for daring to utter heresies against the Utopia "diversity", "multiculturalism", "equality", "democracy", and total government was certain to bring.

"But in the end we saw the error of our ways, and took up the struggle against our fate. After all, we were warriors.

"But you, dear Rip, joined the chorus of voices who denounced us, vilified us, ridiculed us, marginalized us. Like our children, you preferred to worship the idiocy of youthful fantasies than respect the wisdom of the aged. You allowed yourself to be emasculated by a shrew of a wife, then demonized those who chose to remain men.

"What is it, Rip, that compels you to such deplorable behavior? Is it cowardice? Is it envy? Is it foolishness? Certainly it can be no respectable quality that makes for such shameful ways.

"We forged the closest thing to heaven on earth humanity had ever seen, and then we let it be destroyed by an ungrateful, ridiculous generation. But when I see so-called men such as you, I wonder whether you don't deserve everything that has been visited upon you.

"So drink up, Rip Van Whitey, and enjoy the game. And as you immerse yourself in the entertainment, consider whether you will continue to ignore reality, or choose to take arms against a sea of troubles. Just know that we don't care. You have forsaken us, and we have moved on. It is your world now. Make of it what you will."

With that, the distinguished gentleman limped back to the crowd who resumed their attentiveness to the game. Rip stared off into space, unsure of what he just heard and exactly what to make of it. So, feeling queasy, he poured himself another beverage.

And with a few more sips, he fell into a deep sleep.

To be continued...

[Warph]

Not A Joke:
NBC Wanted To Hire Jon Stewart As Host Of Meet The Press

(Your eyes are not deceiving you, this is legit)

Via NY Mag:
This Sunday marks Chuck Todd's one-month anniversary in the anchor chair at Meet the Press. Despite an opening-week ratings spike from his exclusive sit-down interview with President Obama, the Todd-helmed show has settled back into third place behind ABC's This Week and CBS's Face the Nation. This has been frustrating to NBC News executives, who at one point had considered going in a radically different direction with the show.

Before choosing Todd, NBC News president Deborah Turness held negotiations with Jon Stewart about hosting Meet the Press, according to three senior television sources with knowledge of the talks. One source explained that NBC was prepared to offer Stewart virtually "anything" to bring him over. "They were ready to back the Brinks truck up," the source said. A spokesperson for NBC declined to comment. James Dixon, Stewart's agent, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

It makes sense that NBC would make a run at Stewart. The comedian-cum-media-critic possesses something that broadcast executives covet: a loyal, young audience. And it's not the first time NBC tried recruiting him. According to sources, NBC Entertainment courted Stewart several years ago for a 10 p.m. variety show (the slot ultimately went to Jay Leno).

This April, CBS announced Stewart's Comedy Central colleague Stephen Colbert will replace David Letterman next year.

[Warph]

Wonderful: Biden to Head 'Law and Order: SVU' Marathon to Fight Domestic Violence

(A heads up to all 'Law and Order' fans, you're in for this on Sunday)

Via Truth Revolt:
On Sunday, Vice President Joe Biden will be co-hosting a Law and Order: SVU marathon on USA Network with star Mariska Hargitay in order to raise awareness regarding domestic violence. The marathon will include public service announcements about domestic violence and sexual assault, according to Jezebel.com, connected with the White House's new public relations campaign on the issues.

The marathon will run for 14 hours, and is designed to mark National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Hargitay's Joyful Heart Foundation and the NO MORE Campaign will partner with Biden on the project.

Hargitay announced:
Despite the progress we as a nation have made in the movement to end domestic violence and sexual assault, much work remains. Society continues to misplace blame and shame on survivors — both women and men. That has to end. I am so profoundly grateful to the vice president, who continues to use his voice — and office — to speak boldly about these issues and stand up for survivors.