Someone tell me what exactly is the U.S. value, or interest, in this Obama-doctrine again?   Concessions for Iran and Disparagement for Israel ?    Seriously.

GENEVA – On the eve of a new round of nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers, a U.S. official said Wednesday that the powers want Iran to halt its nuclear program for six months in exchange for temporary sanctions relief.
The American official added that imposing any new sanctions on Iran at this stage would seriously undermine the negotiations.
During the three weeks since the last round of talks in Geneva, Iranian experts have been meeting in Vienna with counterparts from the six powers – the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – to discuss the technical aspects of this first step, including how Iran’s nuclear program will be suspended and which sanctions would be eased.  (read the update)

Meanwhile: (more…)

Images of Pope Francis comforting the ailing worshiper were taken at the end of the general audience Wednesday, when a man covered in neuronal tumors approached the leader of the Catholic Church asking for a blessing.

The man reportedly suffers from a rare and painful disease called neurofibromatosis, which causes boils, impaired vision and in some cases cancer, according to the Catholic News Agency.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

We are American.   We Salute one flag.   We love our country.   We pledge allegiance to one nation, our nation.   No other nation on earth can compare.  Our brothers have died to defend her honor.  We will never waiver.  We are loyal.    We are rightly proud.  

We are American.

(Via Fox News)  Fourteen Marines on their way home from serving in Afghanistan were upgraded to first class on their flight from Chicago to San Diego.

The Marines learned that American Airlines – which has a policy to upgrade servicemen and women in uniform whenever possible – had six empty seats in first class for the group. That gesture was followed by seven first-class passengers who jumped out of their seats for the other Marines so they could sit together. (more…)

(Via Gateway Pundit)  Media Report by KOB New Mexico – On January 2, 2013, David Eckert was leaving Wal-Mart in Deming, NM and reportedly failed to make a complete stop at the stop sign. He was immediately pulled over by police. Law enforcement then asked Eckhert to step out of the vehicle.
According to reports Eckert appeared to be clenching his buttocks so law enforcement concluded that Eckert was hiding narcotics in his anal cavity.  The officers detained Eckert and secured a search warrant allowing for an anal cavity search.

It gets worse.  Much, much worse.  Like, unbelievably, staggeringly worse. (more…)

Nice compilation video by the folks at Washington Free Beacon:

The media and Republican goal now shifts to the historic national election of first female President Hillary Clinton.

With that in mind the media and the GOP “Decepticons” (the Old Guard) will proclaim New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, as the second coming of political Jesus.   The Republican establishment will swoon over Christie’s large victory and proclaim his resounding win as evidence he is the last and only great hope for 2016.
In complete, albeit temporary synergy, the progressive media will reinforce this GOP message (in the *DROOLING extreme) because they too have a vested interest in seeing Governor Chris Christie rise to be the chosen GOP candidate in the same vein as they selected Governor Mitt Romney.

[*if you want a funny exercise: record all of the dreamy, swoony and complimentary things the media will say about Chris Christie over the next 48 hours.  Save them, and then compare them to what happens mid-summer 2016 – from the exact same people]

The media do not want a bold contrast. Bold contrasts are dangerous to progressive advancement. Bold contrasts are scary.  Bold contrasts represent “risk”.   Remember who they called “maverick” in 2007.   No, the progressive media will position to have a candidate who is ideologically closer to oppose their chosen Hillary.
Chris Christie fits that billing perfectly.   White banker, pro-amnesty, pro-Islam, pro-big government, pro-big business, pro-bailouts, anti-state’s rights, Pro-FEMA, Pro-expanding Medicaid, Pro-Obamacare;… the perfectly squishy middle-man to replace perfectly squishy Mitt Romney, who replaced perfectly squishy John McCain, who replaced.. well, you get the picture.
The GOP even groomed him in the optic of his victory speech: (more…)

From inside an article sharing that most of the Obamacare enrollees are much older than anticipated (age glitches) this jumps out:
[…] A White House official said the Obama administration expects most young, healthy enrollees to wait until the last minute to sign up, citing research showing that pattern when Massachusetts embarked on a similar health overhaul in 2007. People have until Dec. 15 to enroll in coverage starting Jan. 1, with open enrollment for coverage during the year lasting through next March.

In states that are running their own marketplaces and have seen smoother rollouts, officials are now also reporting a similar phenomenon, suggesting the economics of the law play a role, too. In Connecticut and Kentucky, which have enrolled more than 4,000 people each in private health plans so far, the largest segments of enrollees in new commercial health-law plans are over age 55, much older than industry actuaries say they had anticipated. Each state ultimately expects to register several hundred thousand people in their exchanges. (read full article)