Production of legendary Gibson guitars halted as company is investigated for using illegally imported wood

UK Daily Mail  ; Guitar maker accused of making instruments from endangered plants. 

"Federal agents have now raided Gibson facilities in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, seizing wood imported from India, and workers were sent home.

"Mr Juszkiewicz said in a statement yesterday that the company has worked with environmental groups such as the Rainforest Alliance to ensure its wood imports are from sustainable sources."

....

(The government) has suggested that the use of wood from India that is not finished by Indian workers is illegal, not because of U.S. law, but because it is the Justice Department’s interpretation of a law in India.'

"...all, it seems, in reference to some byzantine INTERNATIONAL law."

This action was taken without the support and consent of the government in India. "Press Release from Gibson:

The Federal Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. has suggested that the use of wood from India that is not finished by Indian workers is illegal, not because of U.S. law, but because it is the Justice Department’s interpretation of a law in India. (If the same wood from the same tree was finished by Indian workers, the material would be legal.)" 

Terrorism of this sort will not be condoned.

 Not about illegal logging, not about conservation, not about the environment  "Yet, the Federal Government raided Gibson's facilities on August 24, 2011, without warning or communication of any kind. Had the Government simply communicated with Gibson, Gibson would have cooperated without having to stop its production and send workers home."

Update on Obama's Raid on Gibson Guitar  "So this breaks down to three issues:"

• The Obama DOJ is enforcing Gibson to comply with what they believe to be Madagascarian law
• The Obama DOJ is actually wrong about the law in Madagascar and Gibson has affidavits to prove it.
• The Obama DOJ would seemingly prefer to have Gibson finish its products overseas by non-American workers

Arrogance. Stupidity. Overreaching regulation. Anti-business. ....

 Somewhere in the bowels of the DOJ, something about Gibson set this vendetta off, even though we feel this company is fully in sync with the Obama Administration. We are very interested to see what were the origins of all this. TD

Father Schall on the Fragility of Islam

Fr. Schall

David P. Goldman   "Fr. James V. Schall S.J. remains at the age of 83 an indispensable voice in foreign policy, combining theological depth and strategic acuity. “The Fragility of Islam” is the subject of his latest pronouncement at the Catholic Thing blog. Western analysts tend to accept the narrative of Muslim triumphalism, the assertion that the strong faith of the Islamic world will overwhelm the temporizing and vacillating West. Not so, Fr. Schall argues: Islam itself is “as fragile as communism.” He writes:"...

 Ahmadinejad Reminds Everyone He Hates Israel

"Islam Will Dominate the World" broadcast   "You'll note that the first speaker is convicted terrorist Omar Bakri Mohammad. They're even so kind as to give you his phone number! I might just give the ol' boy a ring: 011-961-7095-7759"

Lawsuit Accuses Iran Of Complicity in 9/11 Attacks

zappatrust

Joshuapundit  "The attorneys in the case claim to have taken sworn testimony former Iranian intelligence operatives describing the direct participation of top government officials of Iran in the planning of, and preparation for, the 9/11 attacks. These witnesses also describe the roles of top Iranian officials in assisting al Qaeda leadership and operatives to escape from Afghanistan after the U.S.-led invasion in the wake of 9/11.Iran then provided safe haven and support for these al Qaeda members inside Iran.

" "There is an I-Spy aspect to all this," Dennis Pantazis, a partner at Wiggins Childs said. "But the information the defectors provided is direct and their documentation is direct." "

Court Filings Assert Iran Had Link to 9/11 Attacks

Political Mirage has this.

So it appears it's up to the 9/11 families to hold Iran accountable.

From Imprimus; The Right to Work: A Fundamental Freedom; plus Thomas Sowell on the "Free Choice Act"

politicalcartoons.com

Hillsdale College  "The general counsel of the NLRB, on behalf of the International Association of Machinists union, has issued a complaint against Boeing, which, if successful, would require it to move its South Carolina operation back to Washington State. This would represent an unprecedented act of intervention by the federal government that appears, on its face, un-American. But it is an act long in the making, and boils down to a fundamental misunderstanding of freedom.

"Where does this story begin?"...

Thomas Sowell: Union Myths; "Nothing shows the utter cynicism of the unions and the politicians who do their bidding like the so-called "Employee Free Choice Act" that the Obama administration tried to push through Congress. Employees' free choice as to whether or not to join a union is precisely what that legislation would destroy."

Senator Marco Rubio at The Reagan Library

Rubio gives us hope in an age of weak leadership. Our leaders have been weakened by political correctness and easy living. They have relied on the goodwill and treasure generated by previous generations and have stopped growing. Rubio somehow broke through that wall of confusion and understands Freedom and Responsibility. The Constitution provided the framework for success by setting the people free and putting them in charge of their government. 

From the comments to this video.

Hat tip to Harley Standlee, Placerville, Ca

Clueless Joe

Biden's Obsequious* Bow to Beijing "He then hailed Sichuan's late graduate Zhu De as "one of the most illustrious figures and a founding father of the republic."

"Zhu De, in fact, was the commander of the People's Liberation Army and a full partner with Chairman Mao​ in transforming the world's most populous nation into a communist dictatorship. "Zhu De was one of the most important members of the CPC's first generation of leading collective with Mao Zedong​ at the core," says the Communist Party of China Encyclopedia.

"This "founding father of the republic," as Biden called him, was a key figure in a regime that outlawed the Roman Catholic Church to which Biden himself belongs.

"While lauding Chinese communists in China, Biden was tongue-tied in trying to explain the greatness of America and our people.

" "It's hard to define what an American is," Biden said in his speech at Sichuan. And apparently it is too hard for Biden."

Man without a clue  "Why can the Chinese become American but Americans can’t become Chinese? Now don’t go popping off again until you can do better than you did in Sichuan. You’re embarrassing your fellow countrymen.

"As Biden’s boss likes to say, let there be no mistake. Here is a man with nothing to say, but the ability to say it — to advertise it — at great length."

Biden says more stimulus needed

http://conservativedailynews.com/2011/08/cracked-head-club/

*ob·se·qui·ous  [uhb-see-kwee-uhs] adjective :  Dictionary.com

1. characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning: an obsequious bow.

2. servilely compliant or deferential: obsequious servants.

3. obedient; dutiful

One Absolutely Gutsy Jew

Joshuapundit  "Boy would I like to know whom this was, so I could give him proper credit. Here he takes on a bunch of anti-Israel goons at Harvard Square and makes them look as stupid and hypocritical as they are...and their only response is to rev up the slogans to try and drown him out. Well done, sir."

About Republicans and 2012

Ron Radosh:  Why the Advocates of a Third-Party Presidential Candidate in 2012 Are Wrong"Whatever occurs, a third party could crack apart before it even gets to nominate a candidate. Even Michael Bloomberg’s endless funds, I predict, would not be enough to push Democratic-leaning and Republican-leaning voters to cast their ballot for the third party. Sometimes, it is best to simply ignore the enthusiastic bromides of pundits like Tom Friedman."

Ron Paul's Hotbeds of Financial Support: New Hampshire, Nevada, Wyoming, and Alaska  "With Ron Paul netting $1.8 million in a 24-hour money bomb on his birthday last weekend, the Texas U.S. Representative and Republican presidential candidate appears poised to rank in the upper echelons for fundraising in the large GOP field by the end of the third quarter."  And this: 77% of Democrats (and Ron Paul) Voted Against Rules Of Engagement That Protect Our Troops

donkeyhotey

Attacks on Republicans like Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, and Sarah Palin that compare them to the Three Stooges are just a sign that the liberal media is getting worried that their champion Barack Obama stands a good shot of losing next year's election.

Huntsman: I Wouldn't Hesitate To Call On Rich To Sacrifice  "He sounds a lot like Barack Obama in just about every video clip I've seen. He starts out with "shared sacrifice" in the first sentence." Via Boortz. 

Jon Huntsman: The Democrat’s Republican  Huntsman endorsed by

Mother Jones Magazine, which states: "This is why liberals in South Carolina love Jon Huntsman...He hates Republicans just as much as we do."

“Centrist” Jon Huntsman Isn’t Really All That Moderate After All

"Huntsman has emerged as the Democrats' favorite Republican -- taking stands in favor of evolution and expressing his belief in climate change.

Before that, he was known as the guy who supported civil unions, an equally foreign position to much of the 2012 field. Huntsman's viewed as such a moderate that the first ads run on his behalf of the cycle are being paid for by a Democrat."

Jon Huntsman's Coded Swipe at Rick Perry on Climate Change, Science

I Met a Huntsman Supporter!   "Allow me to assure you based on this experience that Huntsman sympathizers are nice, thoughtful people — good company and excellent bikers. They’re apparently just not Republicans." Rich Lowry

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/photos/republicans-cartoon-gallery/33

Roger L Simon : Is Rick Perry a Dope?  "So if Rick Perry is a dope, he’s the kind of dope we need. But obviously, he’s not. It’s all projection and wish fulfillment."

Perry and Global Warming  "Do the warmists questioning Governor Perry really believe in science and math?"

Romney and Global Warming "The candidate faces allegations of inconsistency."

Perry Criticizes Romneycare and U.S. Trade Policy 

EPA Green Regulations

http://terrellaftermath.com/

The Pink Slip President

Big Government  "It’s only now that America is slowly coming to realize that Barack Obama might not have been the best choice for the job. After filling the position, one of the President’s responsibilities was to institute policies that stimulate the creation of new jobs, and he claimed to have a laser-like focus on doing just that. Yet, over the past three years, the only thing Barack Obama has successfully done is break the all time record for the number of golf games played by a sitting president."

From Jonathan Alter: You Think Obama’s Been a Bad President? Prove It   From the comments to this post:

"Here is a list for you:

1. Stole shareholder property and placed most of American auto industry in government hands simply to pay off his union cronies - that money, both government and what the shareholders would get as proceeds of bankruptcy, would've gone directly to job creation

2. Allowed regulatory system to stifle business expansion

3. Created a hostile business climate with constant class warfare rhetoric

4. Presided over health care law that destroys american health care, and creates monumental obstacles to business, particularly small business that would otherwise grow with the 50 employee threshold

5. Created investment uncertainty and outright hostility with constant attempts to raise taxes.

6. Enlarged American budget deficit to average 1.5 billion

7. Enlarged American debt to 14 trillion, both deficit and debt with spending that amounted to nothing more than spoils systems for favored and friendly constituencies

And as you say all that before we consider the total absence of leadership which is THE primary job of a president.

Face it, the man is a total and abject failure."

Obama, Democrats and their love for regulations (Updated)

Obama Creates Office Of Diversity, Inclusion  We can only begin to comprehend the burden of regulation this will cause.

"The president’s new plan will force agencies to identify and remove barriers to equal employment opportunities that may exist in the federal government’s recruitment, hiring, promotion, retention, professional development and training policies and practices."

Picture this: the military will not only be told to allow cross-dressers in combat units, but will be told to actively pursue them. No fact; just knowing how liberals work, and that they generally loathe the military.

"The goal is to eliminate demographic group imbalances in targeted occupations and improve workforce diversity. To attain this, special initiatives have been created targeting specific groups, including Hispanics, African Americans, American Indians, women and gays and lesbians. The idea is to create a workforce that truly reflects America’s diversity, according to the Obama Administration."  Via Neal Boortz as is this next article:

Update: Obama and the Regulators "That is why Republicans are gearing up to challenge President Obama, who will supposedly unveil — in speech format, no less — a “very specific” jobs plan when Congress returns in September, on the issue of government overregulation and its damaging impact on jobs. “Speeches and editorials are not enough to help real job creators in America — small business owners — create middle-class jobs,” Cantor said in a statement following the release of the regulatory review. “Action is needed — which is why we must remove onerous federal regulations that are redundant, harmful to small businesses, and impede private sector investment and job creation.” "  Andrew Stiles

From Legal Insurrection:  Economic destruction by Commerce Clause – farm equipment edition

"One of the great unwritten stories of the damage to the economy from team Obama is the relentless attempt to regulate areas that have not previously been regulated.

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/robertariail

"The health care mandate received a lot of attention and breaks new ground, but there are countless other areas that mostly fly under the popular radar."  More here: Proposed road rules for farmers anger some

Illinois increases taxes, loses jobs   "Aren’t Democrat tax policies inspiring? I sure do hope that Obama looks to his own state of Illinois for guidance on how best to create jobs and grow the economy .. don’t you?"

6 Pages of Obamacare Equals 429 Pages of Regulations

http://legalinsurrection.com/2011/08/we-shore-waz/

Tort reform

Texas Tames the Dogs of Tort  "All the above explains one aspect of why the economy of Texas is performing so much better in this recession than that of the rest of the country. That is why Texas is now home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state. That is why doctors and medical manufacturing corporations are now flocking to Texas. And that, boys and girls, in a nutshell, is why trial lawyers hate and fear a Rick Perry presidency. Under his leadership, Texas has shown that tort reform not only stops the unjust enrichment of a few litigators, it also makes solid economic sense for the rest of us."

More here:  Governor Signs Comprehensive Tort Reform Bill into Law

And here: Texas House passes ‘loser pays’ tort reform

This attorney's commercial is from Texas: 

Tort reform bill takes fire from right  "NCSL says restrictions on malpractice suits should be left to the states. The House bill would set a limit of $250,000 on noneconomic damages and preempt state laws that have established higher caps. Some state constitutions also block the type of changes the bill would make. They would also be overridden." So their position is that no politician should campaign for office on a platform of tort reform. And don't buy into it when they do.

The 10 Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of All Time  This from a personal injury lawyer site, of all places.