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Dagny gets painted!
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Hillary also paints - paints herself into a corner. Why? Because she opened her mouth again. (See 1 below.)
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Punish Israel and reward Iran? (See 2 and 2a below.)
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Our son, Daniel, proposed to his wife, Tamara, on Pearl Harbor Day and this is what he posted on Face Book today: "Today is a day to commemorate and honor two surprise attacks. 12/7/1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and 12/7/2003, my surprise attack on Tamara with a marriage proposal. its been a wild ride and i wouldn't have wanted to take it with anyone else. love ya pahdner'.
And Stella is the by-product:
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This from my long and dear friend responding to my previous comments about the election, specific to Georgia and the Benghazi Report:
"This is true about those who say that the 2014 elections meant nothing in Georgia. The county-by-county breakdown in Georgia numbers were lower, but the percentages were essentially the same as in 2012 -- the low turnout did not make any difference.
That is true when the Benghazi report categorically states untruths -- it says that no one was told to stand down, when the persons who were told to stand down have gone on national TV and testified that they were told to stand down. That report was presented by some D staffer who persuaded an R staffer on the intelligence committee -- not known for its investigative prowess -- that things would be easier if they just finished the report before Thanksgiving. Pictures of some holiday party may have been involved. Who knows? anyway, as several have pointed out, the report is palpably dishonest.
The same will be true for the intelligence report coming out from the same committee -- in fact something in this new report may have been a quid pro quo for something in the Benghazi report . Hard to know. but DiFI remembers the "Church Report" and how it made Frank Church immortal (as the last Democrat liar to destroy our ability to defend ourselves while pretending to be in favor of national defense), and she wants, like Caesar's wife, to be immortal. So she will issue the Feinstein report, the intelligence agencies of several partners will stop all intel sharing, spies and former spies all over the world will be exposed, but DiFI will be immortal. Kind of makes one wish she really was a dumb as her Boxer-of-Rocks colleague from the declining state of California. "
All the best,
R-----
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1) Hillary hammered for 'smart power' comment
By Chad Groening
During a speech at Georgetown University last week, Hillary Clinton made the following statement: "This is what we call 'smart power' – using every possible tool and partner to advance peace and security, leaving no one on the sidelines, showing respect even for one's enemies, trying to understand and insofar as psychologically possible, empathize with their perspective and point of view."
Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis (USA-Ret.), senior fellow for national security at the Family Research Council, reacts to the statement by the presidential hopeful and former secretary of state.
"What do we need to empathize with?" he asks. "ISIS – they've been cutting of the heads of our young people and displaying them on YouTube. What do we need to be empathetic about with regard to Vladimir Putin's charge into Ukraine? What do we need to be empathetic about with regards to the in-your-face, tough-guy Chinese?"
The Pentagon advisor believes Clinton's comment doesn't bode well in regard to her being perceived as a tough person or instill confidence about her ability to one day be the leader of the free world. "If she wants to be a candidate for president, she better get a spine and be willing to make tough decisions," he states.
Former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North concurs. "I can't think of a presidential candidate who would have said those kinds of things," said the Fox News host. "If you're going to run for president of the United States, you cannot talk that way about the people who intend to kill us. Who are dying to kill us .... This is capitulation."
Fellow Fox host Greta Van Susteren agrees, promising that if ever given the opportunity to moderate a presidential debate involving Mrs. Clinton "I would ask her about this statement and I'd ask her about Boko Haram and I'd ask her about the president of Sudan, [Omar al-] Bashir, who is under indictment for genocide. I have a whole list and ask her to explain it."
Conservative columnist Ed Morrissey labels the comments "nonsense," and conservative lawyer John Hinderaker says the remarks "remind us how vapid her thinking is."
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2)-- OBAMA THREATENS TO PUNISH ISRAEL FOR BUILDING IN JERUSALEM, WHILE EASING SANCTIONS ON IRAN
A report revealed by Ha’aretz newspaper indicates that the Obama administration is going to impose sanctions on Israel because of its building plans in Jerusalem, and Congress is demanding clarification on the issue.
Republican Congressmen came together and dispatched a harsh letter to President Barack Obama, demanding that he provide explanations regarding the report.
“We urge you and your Administration to clarify these reports immediately,” 47 republican Congressmen demanded of the Obama administration. “Israel is one of our strongest allies, and the mere notion that the Administration would unilaterally impose sanctions against Israel is not only unwise, but is extremely worrisome. Such reports send a clear message to our friends and enemies alike that such alliances with the United States government can no longer be unquestionably trusted.”
“Further, at no point in time has Congress given the Administration the authority to sanction Israel… any attempts to undermine the U.S.’s support of Israel will only further diminish the Administration’s ability to get Congressional support for any potential agreement with Iran,” the letter warned.
Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC), who authored the letter, tweeted,“The White House is negotiating sanctions with Iran, but is unwilling to give a definitive ‘NO’ on sanctions against Israel. Appalling.”
Meadows further stated: “What message does it send to the world for the U.S. to impose sanctions against Israel while easing sanctions against Iran—a state-sponsor of terror with an abysmal human rights record?”
Penalizing Israel for Building in its Capital
Israeli building in Jerusalem. (Photo: Flash90)
Israeli building in Jerusalem. (Photo: Flash90)
Israel’s Ha’aretz first reported that following Obama’s growing frustration with Israel the Obama administration held secret internal meetings to discuss taking action against Israel for its ongoing building in Jerusalem. The meetings were attended by officials from both the State Department and White House.
The report has since generated much controversy.
When asked about the report Thursday, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf refused to answer questions. Harf simply replied: “I’m obviously not going to comment one way or another on reported internal deliberations. We’ve made clear our position on settlement activity publicly and that hasn’t changed.”
On Friday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest failed to give a definitive yes or no answer when asked about the Administration’s position during the White House press briefing.
Tough on Israel, Weak on Iran
The Free Beacon points out that the possibility of sanctioning Israel for its ongoing construction sends a signal that the Obama administration is willing to go further in its denunciations of Israel than any previous White House. At the same time, the Obama administration is working hard to relax the existing sanctions leveled against Iran, and to stop Congress from leveling further sanctions.
One senior congressional aide expressed shock about the possibility of sanctions against Israel while talking to the Free Beacon:
“If these reports are true, this would mark a new era of unprecedented hostility from the White House against our strongest ally in the Middle East. It’s impossible not to notice the irony of the administration mulling sanctions on Israel while threatening to veto new sanctions against Iran.”
“The Obama administration is against sanctions on Iran, but for them on Israel,” reiterated Noah Pollak, executive director of the pro-Israel organization Emergency Committee for Israel, to the Free Beacon. “Is [White House deputy national security adviser] Ben Rhodes wearing a green headband to work these days?”
2a) Congress Demands Obama Explain Rumored Sanctions Against Israel
2a) Congress Demands Obama Explain Rumored Sanctions Against Israel
White House, State Department reportedly met in secret to strategize about imposing sanctions on Israel
Members of Congress are demanding that President Obama come clean about controversial reports that he is considering leveling sanctions on Israel, according to a letter sent Friday afternoon by lawmakers to the White House.
The Obama administration has found itself engulfed in controversy since reports emerged Thursday that the White House and State Department had met in secret to strategize about imposing sanctions on Israel for its continued building of houses in contested Jerusalem neighborhoods.
State Department and White House officials have continued to dodge questions from reporters on the matter, maintaining that they will neither confirm nor deny the reports.
The administration’s evasive position has prompted outrage among pro-Israel leaders and prompted Congress to demand that Obama start answering questions about the delicate issue.
“We urge you and your administration to clarify these reports immediately,” Rep. Mark Meadows (R., N.C.) and nearly 50 other House lawmakers wrote Friday afternoon, according to a copy of the letter obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
“Israel is one of our strongest allies, and the mere notion that the administration would unilaterally impose sanctions against Israel is not only unwise, but is extremely worrisome,” they state. “Such reports send a clear message to our friends and enemies alike that such alliances with the United States government can no longer be unquestionably trusted.”
Congress, which traditionally has purview over such measures, has never given the White House permission to sanction Israel.
“At no point in time has Congress given the administration the authority to sanction Israel,” they wrote. “In fact, Congress has continued to show its unwavering support for Israel and has recently taken steps to increase our economic and military cooperation.”
As the White House leaves the door open to sanctions on Israel, it is lobbying Congress against leveling more sanctions on Iran.
“At a time when you have requested an additional seven months to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear weapons program, any attempts to undermine the U.S.’s support of Israel will only further diminish the administration’s ability to get congressional support for any potential agreement with Iran,” the lawmakers wrote.
When faced with questions about these reports—which state that classified meetings were held between the White House and State Department about possibly sanctioning Israel over the settlement issue—Obama administration officials have refused to provide a clear answer.
“I’m not going to talk about any sort of internal deliberations inside the administration and certainly not inside the White House,” Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Friday, a refrain also echoed by State Department spokesmen.
Earnest went on to condemn Israel for continuing to build Jewish homes in Jerusalem neighborhoods the Palestinian claim as their own.
“We believe settlements are illegitimate, and we have deep concerns about highly contentious planning and construction activities that the government is pursuing in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, he said.
When pressed on the possibility that sanctions will be leveled, Earnest again declined to give a clear answer, stating that he’s “not willing to talk about those kinds of conversations.”
State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf offered a similar line on Friday afternoon when faced with questions
“I’m obviously not going to respond to unidentified anonymous sources’ reports about alleged internal deliberations,” Harf told reporters.
She provided the same evasive answer on Thursday.
“I’m obviously not going to comment one way or another on reported internal deliberations,” she told reporters. “We’ve made clear our position on settlement activity publicly and that hasn’t changed.”
A White House National Security Council (NSC) official also would not comment on the report when contacted Thursday by the Free Beacon.
The administration’s refusal to provide a clear answer about the reports sends a troubling message and could damage America’s already fragile relationship with Israel.
“The fact that your administration has failed to denounce or clarify them is deeply troubling,” the lawmakers write to Obama. “The United States must stand firm in its commitments to Israel, or we risk fracturing our relationship with Israel and other key partners across the globe. We urge you to quickly and sharply address these concerns, as well as take the steps necessary to demonstrate America’s unwavering support for Israel.”
Other signers include: Reps. Mike Pompeo (R., Kan.), Pete Sessions (R., Texas), Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), Peter King (R., N.Y.), Jeff Duncan (R., S.C.), Ron DeSantis (R., Fla.), and Marsha Blackburn (R., Tenn.), among many others.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R., N.H.) released a statement late Friday voicing her concern over possible Israel sanctions, saying the threat of sanctions could damage the U.S.-Israel relationship.
“I am deeply disturbed by reports that the Administration could be contemplating sanctions against Israel,” Ayotte said. “Any suggestion of sanctions against Israel by the United States is absurd.”
Sen. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) also voiced opposition to sanctions on Israel in a statement released Friday.
“Not only is the administration rejecting new sanctions to end Iran’s nuclear threat, it’s now reportedly developing sanctions against our closest ally, Israel,” Kirk said. “This move only worsens perceptions that the administration treats our friends like enemies and our enemies like friends.”
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