Massachusetts: Man quietly protests Confederate flag decision

SALEM — Gary Egge says he isn’t the kind of guy who likes to make waves or cause trouble.

But when the 71-year-old Vietnam War veteran recently heard about the Confederate flag controversy in South Carolina, he just had to speak out in his own quiet way.

The retired Osram Sylvania executive was upset when he learned that lawmakers in South Carolina decided to remove the rebel flag from the Capitol grounds earlier this summer in response to the firestorm that erupted after nine people — all black — were slain at a church in Charleston.

“I am not a racist, but I like to express my opinions,” Egge said.

Dylann Roof, described as a white racist, has been charged in the deaths. Tolerance of the flag was tested in June when photographs circulated on the Internet showing Roof posing with the Confederate symbol, prompting the state to remove it from its statehouse as well.

Across the country, opposition mounted against flying Confederate flags. Political leaders, including some presidential candidates, called for their removal. 

Egge did just the opposite — he began searching online for a Confederate flag he could fly next to his American and Revolutionary War flags above the veterans memorial display he created in the front yard of his Veronica Avenue home.

“All of a sudden they are taking it down off buildings,” he said. “I was ticked off.”

Egge sympathizes with those affected by the tragedy in South Carolina, but said taking down the flag isn’t the way .

Via: Eagle Tribune

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[VIDEO] Watch What This Group of Marines Does When Obama Enters the Room

Former President George W. Bush and Barack Obama could not be more different when it comes to how they treat our troops, and consequently, how they are viewed by military members. This video clip depicts that fact perfectly. VIDEO LINK

Watch as Bush enters a room full of Marines who offer him uproarious applause and shouts of support. Then, listen to the crickets chirp as Obama enters another room of Marines. Only a few high-ranking military officials could be seen making an effort to clap.

George Bush didn’t just offer our troops his whole-hearted support as Commander in Chief, either. He has made it his life’s mission after leaving office to give thanks to those who put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms, and frequently makes trips to visit the wounded warriors who nearly sacrificed it all.

Share this video if you’re ready for a Commander in Chief who inspires the respect of our military, not who undermines them at every turn.

Via: BuzzPo

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Ravens Coach Jokes About Presidential Run During Political Ramblings After Practice

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh may have been hinting at a 2016 presidential run after remarks made during a Saturday afternoon press conference.

The conversation started about refs and quickly took a turn toward governmental issues.

In a discussion about Thursday night’s game against the Saints, Harbaugh called the officials “rusty” after they apparently missed an intentional grounding call in the preseason opener. He feels they need more time during training camp to be better prepared for the regular season.

“But they only get three days of practice in training camp, so they’re going to be rusty,” he says. “If they got a little bit more practice in training camp, I think they would do a little bit better.”

Harbaugh jokes, saying he’s made that proposal to the NFL.

“It’s interesting because when you ask the league, they’ll say the union won’t let them do it. When you ask the refs, they all say they want to do it. My proposal is that they get together and get on the same page.”

And that’s where the discussion takes a political turn.

“To me both sides want it, maybe they should start talking to one another. Maybe like our government too,” Harbaugh says.

“Maybe talk to one another, solve a problem once in a while, instead of creating a problem. Be more concerned about the country than you are your party. How about we do that? Let’s try to fix things around here, you know, in this country. That’s what made us great.”

After the brief ramble, Harbaugh jokes “I’m going Trump here.”

“Build the wall. It’s not that hard. If you don’t have a border, you don’t have a country. At the same time, we’ve got 12-15 million hard-working people here. Give them a shot! Give them a chance to become a citizen!”

Reporters ask if he’s hinting at a president run and Harbaugh laughs and says,” I might be coming out, I might be running.”

So now we have to ask the question…would you be a Harbaugh 2016 supporter?

Via: CBS Baltimore 

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Cop Pistol-Whipped With Own Gun Didn’t Shoot Attacker For Fear Of Making Headlines

The Alabama police officer who went viral after he was pistol-whipped with his own gun last week said he didn't shoot his attacker because he didn't want to make headlines as the nation's newest vilified cop.

The Birmingham detective, whose name has not yet been released, paused while a suspect attacked him during a traffic stop because he feared the country-wide backlash he might receive for killing a black man, the head of the local police union said Friday.

"Local law enforcement officers are walking on egg shells because they're so hesitant of how to interact because of what's taking place in the media," police Sgt. Heath Boackle, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, told the Daily News.

"They're losing these confrontations," he added. "He who hesitates is lost."

Images of the bloodied officer lying limp and face-down on the ground quickly went viral after witnesses dispersed them on social media, where the wounded deputy was heavily mocked by cop critics.

"Pistol whipped his ass to sleep," one Facebook user wrote.

The plainclothes Birmingham cop was investigating a string of burglaries when he stopped a GMC Yukon and was attacked by the driver who immediately got out of his vehicle, authorities said.

The suspect, 34-year-old Janard Cunningham, allegedly stole the detective's gun during the struggle and clubbed him repeatedly with it.

Via: Daily News

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ARE REAGAN DEMOCRATS BECOMING TRUMP DEMOCRATS?

The Gallup poll. December, 1979.

President Jimmy Carter — 60%. Former California Governor Ronald Reagan — 36%. So confident was Carter White House Chief of Staff Hamilton Jordan of the coming year’s presidential election that he boasted: “The American people are not going to elect a seventy-year-old, right-wing, ex-movie actor to be president.” Hamilton Jordan was a smart guy — and he was also wildly wrong. A little less than a year later the American people — ignoring that Gallup poll — elected Ronald Reagan to the presidency in a landslide — in a three-way race. Reagan won 50.8% of the vote to Carter’s 41%. Third party candidate John Anderson, a liberal Republican who had been defeated by Reagan in the GOP primaries, won a mere 6.6% of the vote. Reagan carried 44 states to Carter’s six plus the District of Columbia.

What happened? How could Reagan go from losing a Gallup poll to Carter by 24 points — then winning the actual election by almost 10 points? Answer? The emergence of what would become known to political history as “the Reagan Democrats.” Who were they? Blue collar, working class, largely Catholic and ethnic, they originally emerged in Richard Nixon’s 1968 and 1972 elections. In which Nixon referred to them as the “Silent Majority.” In 1980, angered by Carter’s handling of the economy, the feckless handling of the Iran hostage crisis, and the left-wing tilt of the Democrats, these voters — many of whom had voted for John F. Kennedy twenty years earlier — returned with a vengeance. Famously, Macomb County, Michigan, which cast 63% of its vote for JFK in 1960, turned around in 1980 and voted 66% for Reagan.

On Tuesday night of this week, Donald Trump appeared in Birch Run, Michigan in Saginaw County. Here’s the headline from the Detroit Free Press:

A lovefest for Donald Trump in Birch Run

The story begins:

BIRCH RUN, Mich. — Addressing about 2,000 very enthusiastic people at the Birch Run Expo Center, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump touched on everything from immigration, China, the military, Obamacare and his Republican opponents. 

The crowd, some coming from outside of Michigan, ate it up, giving him frequent standing ovations and breaking into chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump!” and “U.S.A, U.S.A.”

The obvious question. Are Reagan Democrats returning to the center of the American political scene — this time known as Trump Democrats?

A new CNN poll in Iowa has some very revealing stats. The poll notes:

Donald Trump has a significant lead in the race to win over likely Iowa caucus-goers, according to the first CNN/ORC poll in the state this cycle. Overall, Trump tops the field with 22% and is the candidate seen as best able to handle top issues including the economy, illegal immigration and terrorism. He’s most cited as the one with the best chance of winning the general election, and, by a wide margin, as the candidate most likely to change the way things work in Washington.

Via: The American Spectator

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[Commentary] How to settle the A-10 retirement standoff

The best way to resolve the A-10 retirement debate is to satisfy both sides with a solution that eliminates the operational and economic arguments driving it.

The primary vocal critics of the Air Force decision to retire the A-10 close-support aircraft are Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and freshman Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz. All three have strong ties to the A-10. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, is home to the largest A-10 base. Closure of the base would have serious economic impact. Ayotte’s husband is a former A-10 pilot. McSally flew A-10s in the Air Force.

The Air Force has presented strong operational arguments defending the retirement of the A-10: Other aircraft perform the A-10’s close-support mission today with the same effectiveness, and more survivability. The A-10 can only perform close support whereas other aircraft can perform close support and other missions, thus offering more value in a smaller Air Force. And with today’s precision weapons and automation, pilots can train for both close support and other roles without sacrificing effectiveness.

Former A-10 pilots argue from an emotional point of view citing personal experiences. With the strong support of McCain, Ayotte and McSally, they have organized a support group and congressional contingent advocating retention.

But they have been unable to shoot down the rationale the Air Force puts forth in defense of retiring the A-10. Their arguments are laden with shrill, emotional points of view, but are mostly anecdotal and unpersuasive when measured against objective, logical reasoning.

Moreover, this impasse is having adverse impacts on Air Force plans to field the F-35. To continue to operate the fleet of A-10s, it is necessary to forgo building up the maintenance force necessary to field the F-35. This slows the development of proficiency in Air Force F-35 pilots and, consequently, the operational readiness and competence of F-35 squadrons.

It also forces the Air Force to alter its rhythm to balance training, operational readiness and deployment commitments, creating a problem for combatant commanders who depend on having the F-35 in overseas theaters.

But there is a way to resolve this annual fight between the Air Force and A-10 advocates in the Army and Congress.

The Army likes the A-10 not just because of its attack capabilities but even more so because it is totally dedicated to close support of Army forces. The Army fears that without the A-10, and even though other aircraft can perform close support satisfactorily, the Air Force will not be there when needed.

To ensure the Army can depend on Air Force close support, the Air Force and Army should agree to negotiate a formal compact to team Air Force squadrons and controllers with Army brigades. Squadrons of F-16s, B-52s, B-1s and, soon, F-35s would be required to allocate a portion of their training to exercise and deploy with specific Army units. This teaming concept is not new but has not been enforced to the extent of this proposal.

An added benefit would be the close, symbiotic relationship that would bond the units, boosting team esprit and combat effectiveness, potentially more than exists today with the A-10.

To satisfy economic issues motivating opponents, the Air Force needs to ensure that Davis-Monthan — the A-10’s master base with more than 80 A-10s and 4,000 jobs — remains a major Air Force installation and economic engine in Arizona. It must, therefore, replace the A-10s with another operational mission at the base and at smaller Air National Guard A-10 locations.

Because the Air Force will likely retain its existing bombers, it will need at least one other big base with large ramps, a long runway and modern facilities for its new stealth bomber, the Long Range Strike Bomber. Dispersal of bombers, particularly nuclear bombers, is also necessary for nuclear deterrence to work. There is no bomber base in the southwest. Davis-Monthan would be an excellent choice.

Davis-Monthan could also be a home for the KC-46A tanker, or the upcoming T-X trainer. Since Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix is already a new F-35 training base, Arizona would then retain its two large bases with new, important Air Force missions, thus mitigating economic concerns.

For smaller Air National Guard A-10 units, the Air Force can find new missions as it does routinely during drawdowns and equipment changes.

The standoff between the Air Force and congressional opponents has become debilitating. Both sides need to work together for an amicable solution. Teaming Army and Air Force units for close support and replacing A-10s with new aircraft at Davis-Monthan are win-win for both. 

Retired Gen. John Michael Loh is a former Air Force vice chief of staff and former commander of Air Combat Command.

Via: Air Force Times

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[OPINION] Stories such as Ferguson are difficult to discuss as news, not opinion

By far the story I’ve spoken with readers about the most this week was the centerpiece of the Sunday print edition. It was a look at how the U.S. has changed in the year since the death of Michael Brown in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson.

It included a variety of voices and data, and explored such uneasy topics as attitudes toward law enforcement among different racial groups. Some of those quoted were positive, and others negative.

The most common complaint was voiced by one emailer today:

“To say that Michael Brown was ‘…the unarmed black 18-year-old shot by white police officer Darren Wilson...’ is like saying Donald Trump is running for president. There is an awful lot that is unsaid. The facts of the Michael Brown shooting should not be ignored.”

I can’t argue with that though Brown’s death was really the taking-off point for the story. It didn’t attempt to recount the incident, which has been done ad nauseum over the past year.

But that goes two ways. Many of the readers I spoke to wanted the story to underline that Michael Brown had been seen on security footage strong-arming a convenience store clerk, and that he had alleged, but unproven, juvenile criminal records.

None of this information is new of course. But on the other hand, telling the “whole story” also means that facts about Darren Wilson that his supporters may be uncomfortable with as well should be included, including details about his attitudes on race from a recent New Yorker interview that many critics have found troubling.

This is one of those news events where I’ve felt readers really end up discussing their feelings about the case, rather than the journalism surrounding it. We all tend to impose good guy/bad guy thinking on these stories, where the truth often is that both sides bore at least some culpability in the outcome.

The one knock against this story and others like it is one I haven’t heard from readers, but I’ve thought myself: People on all sides of the issue are making some pretty big leaps in lumping too many incidents together when they really share very little in common.

The death of Trayvon Martin at the hands of a civilian has very little relationship to the question of others who have died in altercations with police officers. Those are matters of public policy and safety, while Martin’s death — while undeniably tragic — was caused by a private citizen, and really never should have become international news.

And further, the individual cases of other black people while in fights with police or under arrest are themselves disparate. I’ve argued many times that news events aren’t fiction, and there’s no such thing as symbolism or other narratives techniques there. It cheapens each of these people’s stories to weave them into an imaginary storyline, and journalists should be careful about drawing any parallels.

Via: Kansas City Star

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Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/public-editor/article31136117.html#storylink=cpy

[VIDEO] Facts Are Facts: This Is The Best Case Against Hillary You'll Hear, Hands Down

When it comes to Hillary Clinton’s crimes, she thinks it’s a big joke. What’s more, she told a group at the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding Friday that all of this talk over her emails and private servers and Benghazi is a bunch of hogwash. Republicans are just “playing politics,” and she refuses to sink so low.

“And you know what, it’s not about emails or servers, either,” she said. “It’s about politics.”

“I won’t play politics with national security or dishonor the memories of those we’ve lost. I won’t pretend that that is anything other than what it is — the same old partisan games we’ve seen so many times before.”

And she would know ALL about oldness. And playing partisan games.

Cue Judge Jeanine Pirro.

On Saturday night, Pirro slammed Hillary and explained the legal case against her in detail, fact by fact. She goes as far as listing off the statutes that Hillary may have violated, including the one that prosecuted Gen. David Petraeus.

Hear her case below. It’s pretty compelling to anyone with a brain.

“I’ve got news for you. We don’t need intent,” she said. “It is a federal crime to negligently handle classified information.”

We can't let Hillary NEAR the White House. She’s a terrible human being and unfit for the presidency. Fact. 

Via: Chicks on the Right

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[CARTOON] McClatchy cartoons for the week of Aug. 9, 2015

Via: McClatchy

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Ben Carson: People Are Beginning To Realzie That "Same Old, Same Old" Will Take Us To The Same Place

Via: RealClearPolitics

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Hotel for President Obama's Ethiopia Visit Cost $412K

President Obama visited Kenya and Ethiopia during his recent trip to Africa, and the hotel bill for the president and his entourage totaled approximately $412,390.86 for the Ethiopia stay alone. A contract with the Hilton in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa was posted online recently:

 

The president arrived in Addis Ababa on Sunday, July 26 and departed on July 28. The government also spent $7,540 for cell phones for the president's Ethiopia visit. The White House did not respond to a request for an explanation.

Via: Weekly Standard

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De Blasio is padding City Hall with jobs for all of his friends

Mayor de Blasio’s patronage mill is churning out junk jobs funded with taxpayer money for longtime pals, campaign grunts and acolytes.

In addition to creating a $150,000 post for Stephanie Yazgi — the longtime girlfriend of his top strategist, Emma Wolfe — de Blasio has created positions to amp up his progressive agenda and national profile and spread propaganda touting his “transcendent” accomplishments.

The city’s television station — led by de Blasio buddy Janet Choi — devotes much of its taxpayer-funded $5.7 million budget to broadcasting his ribbon-cuttings, announcements and features about his friends, including his wedding singer.

His $105,000 digital director, Jessica Singleton, shapes his social-media image while his $69,000 media analyst, Mahen Gunaratna, measures the influence of his messages.

But the bulk of his buddies land jobs at City Hall in the mayor’s Community Affairs Unit.

The CAU traditionally had staffers represent the mayor at community-board and civic-group meetings across the city, reporting back to the administration on neighborhood concerns.

“The CAU has now turned into a four-year organizing arm of the de Blasio campaign,” said a former liaison with the unit.

Stephanie Yazgi, Emma Wolfe, Janet Choi and Jessica Singleton

Photo: Facebook ; Rob Bennett for the Office of Mayor Bill de Blasio (2) ; Assoc. Commissioner at New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment

The unit now employs Pinny Ringel, a $65,000-a-year liaison to the Jewish community and a former Public Advocate’s Office staffer under de Blasio.

Sarah Sayeed is a liaison who specializes in the Muslim community. And Jonathan Soto is senior community liaison to the Clergy Advisory Council, another de Blasio creation.

Kicy Motley, a de Blasio campaign worker who tweeted “F- -k. The. Police.” in 2012, found a home in the CAU office as $55,000-a-year Brooklyn borough director.

And Rebecca Lynch, a Teamsters union lobbyist who backed de Blasio’s campaign, landed a gig as an $85,000-a-year special assistant in the CAU before taking a leave of absence to launch a bid for City Council in Queens.

De Blasio’s politicized CAU failed him in the Legionnaire’s disease outbreak, when there was a disconnect between City Hall and South Bronx community leaders.

“The CAU is supposed to know everything happening in the boroughs in every community,” said political consultant George Arzt. “There should have been briefings on what is going on and what they hear on the ground.”

Via: New York Post

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[VIDEO] Donald Trump Releases Immigration Plan, Including Ending Birthright Citizenship

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump Sunday released his campaign’s immigration plan, which includes ending birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants.

“This remains the biggest magnet for illegal immigration,” Trump says in the plan posted on his website.

“We are the only country in the world whose immigration system puts the needs of other nations ahead of our own,” Trump also said. “That must change.”

Here is how Trump describes the three principles of his plan:

A nation without borders is not a nation. There must be a wall across the southern border.

A nation without laws is not a nation. Laws passed in accordance with our Constitutional system of government must be enforced.

A nation that does not serve its own citizens is not a nation. Any immigration plan must improve jobs, wages and security for all Americans.

Trump’s plan includes his frequent call to make Mexico pay for a wall across the southern border. “For many years, Mexico’s leaders have been taking advantage of the United States by using illegal immigration to export the crime and poverty in their own country (as well is in other Latin American countries),” Trump says.

Says Trump: “We will not be taken advantage of anymore.”

Trump is also calling for the government to triple the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, mandate nationwide e-verify systems for employers, deport criminal illegal immigrants, end catch-and-release of people caught trying to enter the country illegaly, defund sanctuary cities and implement harsher penalties for immigrants overstaying visas.

Via: Daily Caller

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Coulter: I Don’t Care If Donald Trump Performs Abortions in the White House

Conservative author Ann Coulter tweeted Sunday that Donald Trump’s immigration policy is so awesome, she doesn’t care if he performs abortions in the White House.

The tweet comes after Trump admitted in a Meet the Press interview that it’s possible he donated to Planned Parenthood in the past. Coulter has said that she believes abortion is murder.

She continued to praise Trump’s new policy paper, even comparing him to Ronald Reagan and his plan to the Magna Carta.

 

Ann CoulterVerified account‏@AnnCoulter

I don't care if @realDonaldTrump wants to perform abortions in White House after this immigration policy paper. http://bit.ly/1EvT3Ja 

• RETWEETS350
• FAVORITES436
• 

9:36 AM - 16 Aug 2015

Via: Mediaite

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[VIDEO] Gowdy: Clinton server 'sure as Hell' inconvenienced others

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said on Sunday that Hillary Clinton was only helping herself by using a private email server during her tenure as secretary of State.

“The notion she did this for convenience raises the question: ‘Convenient for who?’ ” he asked host Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.”

“It may have been convenient for her, but it certainly wasn’t convenient for anyone else,” Gowdy added of the Democratic presidential candidate. “It sure as Hell hasn’t been convenient for the American people and the intelligence community.”

Clinton announced last week she is turning over her personal email server and its backup thumb drive to Justice Department investigators.

Gowdy, the House Benghazi Committee chairman, argued on Sunday that the probe of her server is not a partisan one.

“The Inspector General is not partisan,” he said. “The FBI is not partisan. She need not blame House Republicans for having her own private server.”

“I get she is frustrated,” Gowdy added. “Her poll numbers are tanking and people she never expected to enter the race are entering the race.”

The South Carolina lawmaker additionally criticized Clinton’s persistent reluctance toward relinquishing the device.

“I wish she had done this in March,” Gowdy said. “We would be much further down this road at this time.”

“Perhaps there was something on there she didn’t really want us to see,” he added. “Had she not had this email arrangement with herself, I would not be on your show this morning.”

Via: The Hill

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