Sunlight answers a question – Last week the New York Times and the New York Post ran articles based on a classified congressional hearing.
In essence Massachusetts Democrat Congressman Stephen Lynch, who was present for the hearing, was used to push a story centered around his proposal to Congress to pass a resolution asking President Obama to declassify an entire 2002 report, “Joint Inquiry Into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001.”
The context of Lynch’s request centers around this newly identified intelligence community report which, according to non-specific leaks, outlines Saudi Arabia’s involvement in supporting the 911 hijackers.
The question we had at the time was “why now”? Obviously someone is seeking to gain some form of benefit from this discussion – it would be intellectually dishonest to think such a conversation would happen in a political vacuum.
The answer to the “why” question can be found in an article published a few days ago in the Wall Street Journal. Within the Journal article you discover how much current anxiety and tension exists between the current Obama administration and the Saudi government against the backdrop of Obama’s failed Syria “Red Line”, and the Iranian Nuclear goals. (more…)
A video of HHS Kathleen Sebelius is making the rounds on social media and blogs. In the video she admits that “some will pay more” for health insurance under the ObamaCare program.
Cut to chase. Get down to brass tacks. Stop the BS. Say what is. She says “some”.
Here’s what is taking place – If you had insurance prior to ObamaCare you will pay more, period. (more…)
FYI – I’m looking for the actual written ruling to share.
Federal judge rules that NSA's program of gathering data on all telephone calls made in the US is unconstitutional – @PeteWilliamsNBC
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 16, 2013
WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled Monday that the National Security Agency’s controversial surveillance program that collects millions of Americans’ telephone records may be unconstitutional.
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon ruled in a lawsuit brought by conservative activist Larry Klayman that the legal challenge to the massive surveillance program — disclosed in full earlier this year by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden — would likely succeed.
Leon, appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush, issued a preliminary injunction against the program but suspended the order to allow an appeal by the Justice Department, which said it was reviewing the decision. (more…)
WASHINGTON DC – […] The congressman explained that the lack of air support was clear to all CIA employees working in Libya because of a 2011 CIA memorandum sent to employees after NATO forces ended their mission in support of the Libyan revolution.
“It basically told people in Benghazi…if you are attacked, you get your ‘package’ (the personnel they are charged with protecting) and you get out,” he said.
There's been NO justice for this woman yet. #Benghazi scandal doesn't seem "phony" to her. #JusticeForBenghazi4 #tcot pic.twitter.com/mPGNKbhBgi
— Michael Nöthem (@mikandynothem) December 15, 2013
A senior intelligence official confirmed that the CIA officers on the ground in Benghazi responded to the diplomats’ call for help by trying “to rally local support for the rescue effort and secure heavier weapons.” When it became “clear that this additional support could not be rapidly obtained,” the team moved toward the diplomatic compound. The intelligence official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the attack publicly by name. (more…)
(Via Forbes) Of all of the last-minute delays, website bungles, and Presidential whims that have marred the roll-out of Obamacare’s subsidized insurance exchanges, what happened on Thursday, December 12 will stand as one of the most lawless acts yet committed by this administration.

The White House—having canceled Americans’ old health plans, and having botched the system for enrolling people in new ones—knows that millions of Americans will enter the new year without health coverage. So instead of actually fixing the problem, the administration is retroactively attempting to force insurers to hand out free health care—at a loss—to those whom the White House has rendered uninsured. If Obamacare wasn’t a government takeover of the health insurance industry, then what is it now?
On Wednesday afternoon, health policy reporters found in their inboxes a friendly e-mail from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announcing “steps to ensure Americans signing up through the Marketplace have coverage and access to the care they need on January 1.” Basically, the “steps” involve muscling insurers to provide free or discounted care to those who have become uninsured because of the problems with healthcare.gov. (more…)
May I ask why this is such a controversy ? We all knew the impetus for OBL’s hatred of The United States was driven, in part, by his anger about being ostracized in Saudi Arabia for his vocal opposition to Saudi asking the U.S. for help when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and visibly threatened to drive his Republican Guard South into Saudi Arabia.
OBL was angry with the kingdom’s decision to align with the U.S. for protection – OBL was a Saudi National with massive internal support within the region. So why would it be a shock that those OBL aligned elements within the house of Saud would be part of the 911 attacks?
The bigger question is: who, or what, benefits from this public discussion being injected into our body politic at this specific moment?
(New York Post) After the 9/11 attacks, the public was told al Qaeda acted alone, with no state sponsors.
But the White House never let it see an entire section of Congress’ investigative report on 9/11 dealing with “specific sources of foreign support” for the 19 hijackers, 15 of whom were Saudi nationals.
It was kept secret and remains so today. (more…)
Glitchy Madness – Registering for ObamaCare is like playing Lotto with your life…
(Via Daily Caller) Nearly 15,000 enrollment records from Americans trying to sign up for Obamacare never made it to insurers — but the federal government does not know which records never made it to which insurer.

The federal analysis merely compares the number of times Obamacare enrollees clicked “enroll” to the number of plans HealthCare.gov sent to insurers, according to The Washington Post. Consumers who send the vanishing enrollments, or “orphan files,” are not notified that their information has not been processed and an insurer did not receive sensitive financial and health-related data, meaning that they could be in for an unpleasant surprise when the Dec. 23 deadline — the last day for customers to sign up for health insurance — comes and goes. (more…)
Amnesty Legislation – Mitch McConnell supports it, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports it, The Republican Party Supports it, every single Democrat supports it, and you are going to get it whether you want it or not.
WASHINGTON DC – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she spoke with Speaker John Boehner on Tuesday and asked when an overhaul to immigration laws could be considered in the House.
“He told me yes, we have to wait until next year,” Pelosi told reporters on Wednesday morning.
Democrats have been pushing House Republicans to hold a vote on a landmark immigration reform bill that was passed in June, or try to work on their own immigration legislation. But Republicans have been apprehensive, with the most conservative members opposed to anything that could provide a pathway to citizenship or legalization for undocumented immigrants. (continue reading)
They have a literary agent? Out of an abundance of caution, and under the advice of physicians, I will refrain from commentary. FOR NOW. However, I would like to know your thoughts on what their book should be titled.
(NEW YORK) The parents of Trayvon Martin met with publishers this week to shop a book about their son, the unarmed black teenager who was shot and killed in Florida in 2012.

According to two publishing executives who participated in meetings, Mr. Martin’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, said they intended to write a book that gives the full picture of their son while tracing their own experience of shock and sorrow.
The meetings were described as somber and moving by publishers who were present. Ms. Fulton and Mr. Martin were accompanied by Jan Miller, their Dallas-based literary agent. (more…)