[CARTOON] Equal Treatment

Via: California Political Review

Will California Become Detroit on the Pacific?

Environmentalists have used the allusion of the canary in the mineshaft when describing the importance of protecting the endangered Desert Sand Fly, Stephens Kangaroo Rat or the infamous Delta Smelt. By placing these insignificant creatures on the Endangered Species List, they were able to stop construction of hospitals, schools, roads and homes. And in the case of the Delta Smelt, they turned off water to countless farms in the fertile Central Valley of California.

Long ago, the death of a canary in a mineshaft signaled the presence of poisonous gases that would imperil miners. Today, environmentalists argue that the loss of the slightest of creatures is a signal of man’s impending doom. Policies like the Endangered Species Act worked — not to save species, but to slow or stop development. Countless jobs were lost by the imposition of such noble logic. Initially created to protect the American Bald Eagle, according to the Scientific American, only 1 percent of species (20 out of 2,000) under the protection of ESA have recovered to qualify for being taken off the endangered list.

It is time to use this same allusion to analyze the aggressive policies of the Progressive Movement in America as they seek to create their vision of a Blue Utopia in America. One must study the impact of their policies, not on canaries, but to the plight of hard-working American families. Will the canary warn us of the poisonous economic gases of Progressive policies? Or has the canary already died? Look no further than Detroit as a city and California as a state before entering the economic future mine shaft of our nation.

Detroit: A Model City in Blue Utopia

In the 1950ss and 60s, Detroit was the fourth largest city in the United States, with arguably the highest median income, the highest percentage of home ownership and the highest standard of living in the country. The industrial capacity of Japan, Germany, France and England had been decimated by war. America, the “arsenal of democracy” protected by oceans, stood alone with an untouched industrial capacity able to supply the Baby Boom population with the new suburban homes, appliances and cars they wanted.

Detroit’s workers had plenty of good-paying jobs thanks to the dominance of the auto industry. Detroit had modern skyscrapers, mass-transit trolley cars and great public services — water, sewer, roads, public schools and libraries. It had museums, parks, a symphony orchestra and a world-class zoo. Its sports teams included Lions, Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings. Detroit worked. Its weather was not great, but no worse than Cleveland, Philadelphia, New York or Boston. This was Detroit’s Golden Era.

Via: California Political Review

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Pentagon Can’t Afford Syria Operation; Must Seek Additional Funds

The U.S. military, struggling after defense cuts of tens of billions of dollars, will be unable to pay for attacks on Syria from current operating funds and must seek additional money from Congress, according to congressional aides.

President Barack Obama, meanwhile, said on Friday he has not made a final decision on a military strike against Syria. He sought to play down both the scope and duration of the anticipated punitive missile and bombing campaign.

“As you’ve seen, today we’ve released our unclassified assessment detailing with high confidence that the Syrian regime carried out a chemical weapons attack that killed well over a thousand people, including hundreds of children,” Obama said.

The president said the use of the deadly weapons had violated international “norms” and that action was needed to prevent the further use of the arms.

A future military operation would not involve troops on the ground as part of a long-term campaign, Obama said. “But we are looking at the possibility of a limited, narrow act that would help make sure that not only Syria but others around the world understands that the international community cares about maintaining this chemical weapons ban and norm,” he said.

The White House on Friday released an intelligence assessment that concluded with “high confidence” the Bashar al-Assad regime conducted a deadly poison gas attack using a nerve agent. It stated, “Our high confidence assessment is the strongest position that the U.S. intelligence community can take short of confirmation.”

Via: WFB

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Obama’s war-game on Syria a publicity stunt?

If there’s anything Barack Obama loves as much as himself it’s publicity.

Obama wants his name on the lips of all citizens of the world’s nations, his image flashing on every big screen television; his identity mixed with that of Jesus Christ; to channeling whatever American president suits his convenience at the time; his picture ad infinitum.

Like the thrill that comes from spending other people’s money, he just can’t get enough of it.

While some shudder in disgust at the got-rich-on-publicity Kardashians, Obama and his Mrs. get off on publicity overkill.  In reality, they’re Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga on steroids.

What better way for Obama to force publicity on himself than to threaten an attack on powder-keg Syria?

The whole world is not just talking about what might happen in Syria this Labor Day weekend or shortly thereafter,  but is aquiver about the results that would follow a solo Obama attack.

Is even Bashar Assad taking seriously a hinted solo hit from Obama that first warns him it will be over in just a couple of days; “will come from offshore warships, perhaps a bomber or two, they’ll use cruise missiles.  The purpose is for punishment not regime change.”

Via: Canada Free Press

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President Obama turns to Congress to OK strike against Syria

President Obama announced Saturday that he has concluded the United States should take military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his regime for using chemical weapons on civilians, but will first seek authorization from Congress.

“This menace must be confronted,” Obama said of the Assad regime’s alleged strike, speaking from the Rose Garden.

The announcement, though, sets up a timetable for debate that could drag on for weeks.

Obama said he would wait for Congress to return from recess; members are not scheduled to return until Sept. 9. Yet the president claimed any military response to Syria is “not time sensitive” and would be effective even one month from now.

The decision to seek congressional authorization is a departure from the administration’s decision to intervene in Libya in 2011. Though the president said he thinks he has the authority to order a military strike, he made clear he will ask Congress to vote on the issue.

“I have decided that the United States should take military action against Syrian regime targets,” the president said. He added: “I’m also mindful that I’m president of the world’s oldest constitutional democracy

Via: Fox News

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The Country Needs Help

It used to be said that Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Now that’s been rereleased as Girls Just Want to Be Dumb. They’ve come a long way, from Ms. Cyndi Lauper to Mlle. Miley Cyrus. We expect the former Hannah Montana will now cluck her tongue at us for daring to argue against exposure. My, what a wicked smile she has. Not bad for someone who is regularly carded.

Ms. Janet Napolitano sure dodged a bullet there. Once the spitting image of the young Ms. Cyrus, she swallowed her vanity and chose a more productive form of public performance. Indeed, some would say she went on to become the nation’s leading problem solver. Her crowning moment came the other day in what was advertised as her farewell address as Secretary of Homeland Security. (Why it wasn’t delivered before a joint session of Congress we’ll leave for another occasion.) In dead seriousness, or maybe simply out of a deep Romantic sensibility, she said she’d welcomed the many disasters she faced during her tenure, including hurricanes, oil spills, prostitution scandals, terrorist plots, and the Boston bombing. Responding to these kept her department “flexible and agile,” she teased, and then delivered her full spiel about how these events “presented new opportunities for us to learn, grow, and get better at what we do as a department and a nation.” As Ann Landers and Dear Abby used to advise most of their readers, this woman needs to seek professional help. And we can be sure she’s going to the right place to do just that. Dr. Napolitano (we presume) is moving on to become president of the University of California. Miss Cyrus will have to finish high school before she can dream of doing that.

Via: American Spectator

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Obama Releases 2 Prisoners from Guantanamo

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Two Algerians held at Guantanamo Bay prison for more than a decade have returned to their homeland where they were interrogated by judicial authorities pendin

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Two Algerians held at Guantanamo Bay prison for more than a decade have returned to their homeland, where they were interrogated by judicial authorities pending an investigation, the Algiers Court said Thursday.

Their release, the first from Guantanamo in nearly a year, followed a pledge by President Barack Obama to renew efforts to close the prison on the U.S. base in Cuba, an initiative that has been thwarted by Congress.

The men, identified as Nabil Hadjarab and Mutia Sadiq Ahmad Sayyab, arrived late Wednesday, the court said. The Pentagon said their release reduces the prisoner population at the U.S. base in Cuba to 164 men.

"The men underwent a preliminary investigation by judicial police and were placed in detention until they appear before a prosecutor," said the Algerian court statement. Detention without charge can last for up to 15 days.

Their treatment follows the pattern for other Algerians released from the U.S. maximum security prison of being interviewed by a judge on arrival to determine what, if any, charges they would face in a criminal court, said Farouk Ksentini, president of Algeria's official National Human Rights Commission. The process usually takes a month, he said.

Via: CNS News

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Government Spending Is Ruining Families

The economic picture in the United States gets worse with each passing day of the Obama administration, and families are especially hard-hit.  While the damage is already devastating, the ramifications will continue wreaking havoc on today's children when they are adults starting their own families.

Comedians refer back to President Obama's 2008 campaign theme, "Hope and Change," declaring that most of us can only hope to have some change left after paying bills.  A survey of 1,100 Americans taken in October 2012 showed that 41 percent of respondents did not have more than $500 in savings at the time of the survey, which included "dual-income earners with ... big mortgages and big credit card bills."  Further, 54 percent had no savings plan, and 45 percent thought they would never be able to save money. 

The picture did not look any better in June 2013, when a survey of 1,000 adults found that 76 percent are living paycheck-to-paycheck.  Half of those surveyed had less than a three-month cushion in savings, and 27 percent had no savings at all.

It's even worse for the federal government.  Just click on the Debt Clock to see profligate spending in real time.  The U.S. national debt is just shy of $17 trillion!  That amounts to a debt per citizen of $53,431 -- that means every man, woman and child who is a United States citizen would need to pay that much money each to retire our current national debt.  The debt per taxpayer is a whopping $148,091.

What was the national debt when President Obama took office?  According to Mark Knoller, White House correspondent for CBS News, it was $10.626 trillion.  Mr. Knoller pointed out in March 2012, "The Debt rose $4.899 trillion during the two terms of the Bush presidency. It has now gone up $4.939 trillion since President Obama took office."  In the first three years and two months of Obama's presidency, he increased the debt more than the entire eight years of President Bush's presidency.  In March 2012, it was $15.566 trillion, and it now stands at $16.901 trillion and is estimated to top $20 trillion by the time Obama leaves office in 2016 -- an 87-percent increase in his two terms.

Via: American Thinker

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Thursday Cable News Ratings: MSNBC’s Ed Schultz #3 in Demo At New Time

Thursday night, during his first week back on weekdays at 5pm, MSNBC’s Ed Schultz was #3 in the 25-54 demo with 130K viewers. Fox’s The Five was #1 at 5pm with 327K and CNN’s The Situation Room withWolf Blitzer was #2 with 143K.

In total viewers, The Five was #1 with 1.883M, Schultz was second with 613K and Blitzer was third with 546K.

Here are the rest of your Thursday ratings:

TV NEWS RATINGS: 25-54 DEMOGRAPHIC (L +SD)
6 – 9 am	Fox & Friends  235	New Day  119	Morning Joe  150	Express  90
5 pm	The Five  327	Blitzer  143	Schultz  130	Express  35
6 pm	Baier  293	Blitzer  140	Sharpton  146	Express  51
7 pm	Smith  280	Burnett  122	Matthews  163	Velez-Mitchell  49
8 pm	O’Reilly  416	Cooper  163	Hayes  178	Grace  96
9 pm	Hannity  376	Morgan  147	Maddow  207	Dr. Drew  125
10 pm	Van Susteren  262	Cooper  151	O’Donnell  195	Velez-Mitchell  117
11 pm	O’Reilly  253	Burnett  137	Hayes  123	Showbiz  95
PRIME TIME	351	154	193	112
Data by Nielsen Media Research. Live and same day (DVR) data.

TV NEWS RATINGS: TOTAL VIEWERS (L +SD)
6 – 9 am	Fox & Friends  1.089	New Day  362	Morning Joe  418	Express  209
5 pm	The Five  1.883	Blitzer  546	Schultz  613	Express  184
6 pm	Baier  1.804	Blitzer  482	Sharpton  624	Express  161
7 pm	Smith  1.544	Burnett  416	Matthews  799	Velez-Mitchell  149
8 pm	O’Reilly  2.583	Cooper  575	Hayes  678	Grace  221
9 pm	Hannity  1.887	Morgan  723	Maddow  727	Dr. Drew  338
10 pm	Van Susteren  1.470	Cooper  551	O’Donnell  555	Velez-Mitchell  245
11 pm	O’Reilly  1.180	Burnett  429	Hayes  361	Showbiz  215
PRIME TIME	1.983	616	653	268
Data by Nielsen Media Research. Live and same day (DVR) data

*Please note that the daily ratings report now contains figures for the 6-9am morning shows.

Via: Mediaite.com

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