'Obamacare Surcharge' Could Go National, Business Federation Warns

CNS News  " The five percent "Obamacare surcharge" levied by a Florida restaurant chain boss could catch on nationally, a spokesman for the 350,000 member National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) says.
"John Mertz, who "runs approximately 40 Denny's and owns the Hurricane Grill & Wings franchise" made news today in an article reporting the new surcharge:
" 'With Obamacare due to be fully implemented in January 2014, Metz has justified his move by claiming it is 'the only alternative. I've got to pass on the cost to the customer.'' "

Obama Consults With MSNBC Host Al Sharpton, and Other 'Civil Rights Leaders,' on Fiscal Talks

Still no indication that he has talked with people who are actually IN business. You know... the ones that Sharpton and Jackson shake down for contributions.

Weekly Standard  "This afternoon, President Barack Obama consulted with MSNBC host Al Sharpton, who's also assicated with the National Action Network ..., about the fiscal talks between the White House and Congress. At the same meeting, Obama also consulted with other "leaders of civil rights and civic organizations.""

....
"Per the White House, expected attendees included:
* Peter Berns, The Arc
* Sister Simone Campbell, NETWORK
* Chad Griffin, Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
* Wade Henderson, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR)
* Deepa Iyer National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA)
* Ben Jealous, NAACP
* Marc Morial, National Urban League
* Janet Murguia, National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
* Barry Rand, AARP
* Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, MomsRising.org
* Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network (NAN)
* Aaron Smith, Young Invincibles
* Rev. Jim Wallis, Sojourners

Barack of Arabia stands tall against murderers in defense of civilization

Jennifer Rubin; BREAKING: The president knew the truth about Benghazi  "In a blockbuster report, John Solomon, the former Associated Press and Post reporter, has ferreted out the president’s daily brief that informed him within 72 hours of the Sept. 11 attack that the Benghazi attack was a jihadist operation." The following article quotes from Rubin's piece:

Rick Moran;  President's Daily Brief after Benghazi called the attack 'terrorism'  "This is a case when the administration believed what it wanted to believe both for political and diplomatic reasons. But there's never a good reason to lie to the American people - especially when the deaths of 4 of our countrymen are being discussed. The PDB proves that the Obama administration has not been forthcoming in explaining how they arrived at the conclusion that the anti-Muslim film was to blame for the attack and not well armed terrorists.
"The issue will not go away anytime soon."

Conservative Daily News; Go After Obama  "Former CIA Director David Petraeus testified Friday that “Al Qaeda involvement” references were removed from the CIA’s original talking points, which had indicated that the CIA knew immediately that an Al Qaeda linked group was responsible for the 9/11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, which led to the brutal murder of four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens.
...."Since objecting to the policies and/or behavior of any “progressive” is instantly trumpeted as “sexist”, “racist” ..., such declarations should be summarily ignored.  ...  Criticizing Rice has been declared “sexist” and “racist”.  Logically, going after Obama will only be deemed “racist.”
"In their ongoing efforts to uncover the ugly truth, Senate and House investigators should go after Obama.  After all, in Thursday’s press conference he asked for it."

Laughingstock: Taliban Official Mocks Petraeus Affair

Now let's check in on those who advise President Obama:

Debbie Schlussel; Petraeus Opposed Drone Strikes Because They Offend Muslims, Nixed Hits on Several Terrorists  "For those who don’t get it, “diplomatic sensitivities” means: “I don’t wanna upset Muslims in power by killing Islamic terrorists, so I think I’ll let them live to kill more Americans.” In case you doubt that, remember that “diplomatic sensitivities” was the reason America didn’t kill Osama Bin Laden when we saw him hunting with some princes from the United Arab Emirates (which also would have spared many American lives lost)."

Max Boot writes about Petraeus’s Phony Critics  "The most unseemly aspect of the scandal surrounding David Petraeus is the gleeful Schadenfreude being exhibited by so many who are eager to kick a great man when he is temporarily down. One of the most egregious and nauseating examples is this New York Times op-ed by Lucian Truscott IV entitled “A Phony Hero for a Phony War.” It is insulting not only to Petraeus but to all those men and women who have served valiantly and at great risk in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Alan Caruba; California is Destroying Itself. The U.S. is Next.

Warning Signs  "For some thirty years the author has been helping corporations and local government agencies cope with California’s regulatory jungle. As he puts it, “Crazifornia reveals a state that has become so misdirected, ungovernable and untenable that the primary driver of change has become the catastrophe.” Following the recent elections a recent Wall Street Journal editorial opined, “So now Californians will experience the joys of one-party, union-run progressive governance.”

"Though it may defy belief, Californians voted to let the state tax them more to 13.3% and they gave Democrats a supermajority in both houses while killing a ballot initiative that would have barred unions from automatically withholding money from worker paychecks for political spending. The public service and other unions own California. Add that to a history of progressive politics and you have a recipe for the total disaster that confronts the state and the nation these days."

http://www.calwatchdog.com/2012/11/14/liberal-nightmare/

Hurricane Sandy's aftermath

UK Daily Mail  "As the superstorm passed over the region, startling before-and-after pictures revealed what was left of the East Coast.
"At first glance, New Jersey's Mantoloking Bridge appeared to be completely different highways - until it becomes clear that just one solitary house was left standing."

Below: After the storm.

Many more photos and videos at the link

Hat tip to John Paul Curnutt, Washington. Former Garibaldi, Oregon classmate from back in the day.

Israel’s Defensible Position

Craig Andresen  "As rockets fly, launched from Gaza into Israel, at Tel Aviv, at Jerusalem and elsewhere, the near future seems clear and I will Stand With Israel.
"Israel will soon be at full on war with Hamas.
"I don’t quite know where to start.
"Perhaps with Egypt.
"Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood president is condemning Israel for their offensive.
"Offensive?
"Yes, for that is exactly how those bent on the destruction of Israel view Israel defending itself. An offensive.
"Rockets, hundreds and hundreds of them, launched by Hama from Gaza and raining death and destruction from the shy in Israel has drawn the response OF Israel and for putting up a defense, for firing into Gaza as a response, Islamists deem Israel as being on the offensive."
...."On the night of the election, less than 2 weeks ago, Obama supporters showed their hatred for Israel. Be warned, not only are they moronic, they speak a disgusting language."

Arizona Gun Store: No Obama Voters Allowed

Talking Points Memo  "A gun shop in Arizona has a clear message to would-be customers who happened to vote for President Barack Obama: take your business elsewhere.
....Their ad in the paper said:
" "If you voted for Barack Obama your business is not welcome at
Southwest Shooting Authority," the ad reads. "You have proven that you are not responsible enough to own a firearm."

....We will try to demonstrate once again that the bottom line for our business is principle, not money.
Yes, it has been damaging at times but our values are intact.
Effective immediately, if you voted for Obama, your money is no good here. You have proven beyond a doubt that you are not responsible enough to own a firearm. We have just put a sign up on the front door to save you the trouble of walking all the way in here...
I took this ad out in our local paper. It will come out in the White Mountain Independent tomorrow, 9 November.
Sincerely,

Cope Reynolds

The local TV station as expected is disdainful

Barack Obama's Persuasion Army; The president has finally made the permanent campaign a reality.

Daniel Henninger in the Wall Street Journal  "Two days after the election, a friend told me that because he has an Asian surname, he was inundated for months with emails from liberal Asian groups urging him to vote for Barack Obama. I asked what reason the emails gave for Asians to support Mr. Obama. Their main message: Barack Obama is "better for minorities."

"It is always useful for Republicans to revisit their "message model" to single white women and the various Americans designated as minorities. Should the GOP kowtow to the Buffett Tax and conform to Roe v. Wade? But before the party reinvents the wheel, it should have a clearer understanding of the implications of the methods Barack Obama used to deliver his own message."

Hostess Brands and America versus the unions

Thomas Lifson at American Thinker;  "The only saving grace might be the possibility that some unions, or their members, will better appreciate that their livelihoods depend on the viability of their employers. But I wouldn't bet on it."

Obama's Thank You to Labor Unions  "If you will recall, Dear Ruler met with union leaders earlier this week. Their discussion was focused primarily on the fiscal cliff, and it was duly noted that Obama met with union leaders on the issue before he met with business leaders. But what do you expect? Labor unions take full credit for Obama’s victory last week, and now it is time for their payback.
"Top goonions admit that their chances of getting card check passed are still slim, considering those evil Republicans managed to hang on to the House. Because of this pesky fact, Obama is going to have to use other means in order to help boost union power.
"Enter, the National Labor Relations Board."  Neal Boortz
Blatant corrupting of government offices to keep Democrats in power, but Obama voters are happy with that. They will gloat for the next two years while not having a clue as to the damage they have caused this nation.

       http://www.nationalreview.com/

Obama Economy, Idiotic Union Kill the Delicious Twinkie  "Twas moronic, retrograde unions that killed the delicious beast.

Hostess, the makers of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread, is going out of business after striking workers failed to heed a Thursday deadline to return to work, the company said....

The serpent that chopped itself to bits

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2012/11/16/105128

Iran's Agenda in the Gaza Offensive

STRATFOR  "Summary: To begin to make sense of the escalating conflict in Gaza, we need to go back to the night of Oct. 23 in Khartoum. Around 11 p.m. that night, the Yarmouk weapons facility in the Sudanese capital was attacked, presumably by the Israeli air force. There were indications that Iran had been using this facility to stockpile and possibly assemble weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles, guided anti-tank missiles and long-range Fajr-5 rockets capable of reaching Tel Aviv and Jerusalem from Gaza."
....
" The result is an Israeli military campaign in Gaza that places Hamas' credibility in question and could create more space for a group like the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which has close ties to Iran. The conflict will also likely create tension in Hamas' relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Syria, since the Brotherhood, particularly in Egypt, is not prepared or willing to confront Israel beyond rhetoric and does not want to face the public backlash for not doing enough to defend the Palestinians from Israel Defense Forces. All in all, this may turn out to be a relatively low-cost, high payoff maneuver by Iran."

Jerusalem Post

DEBKAfile; Palestinian rockets strike Jerusalem, Tel Aviv. Reserves call-up expanded-
"Signs of an approaching full-scale war increased Friday afternoon, Nov. 16. The IDF obtained government approval to call up reserves in addition to the 30,000 already approved. Hospitals across the country were placed on emergency footing and patients not needing urgent treatment were sent home. The security cabinet meets urgently after 550 Palestinian rockets fired in three days. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv were targeted Friday by Hamas which reported firing two “homemade M-75” missiles each at Israel’s capital and commercial hub. There were no casualties in either town."

So in the near future, the following discussion of the Iran-Obama relationship may become relevant:  Reactions In Iran To President Obama's Reelection
"Tehran's official position is that is has no preference for either Republicans or Democrats in the U.S., and that Washington must essentially change its positions vis-à-vis Iran.[1] Indeed, in its first reaction to the election outcome, the regime mouthpiece Kayhan, which is close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was dismissive, claiming that President Obama's reelection heralds no change in U.S. policy.
"At the same time, reformist circles not represented in the regime published articles both prior to and following the election indicating that they wanted Obama to win.
"Nonetheless, cautious initial reactions by senior Iranian regime officials indicate that Tehran is considering its steps vis-à-vis Obama's declared desire and intent to launch direct negotiations with Tehran.
"The following are excerpts from initial reactions in Iran to Obama's reelection. "...

A November 6, 2012 op-ed in the reformist daily Etemaad listed the advantages to Iran of an Obama reelection, noting that "Romney emits a scent of war, [while] from Obama there arises a melody of paying attention to the economic agenda." The op-ed went on to state: "The [re]election of Obama will be a nightmare for the right-wingers in Israel, particularly for Netanyahu... [because] Obama has had the worst relationship in recent years with the occupying regime." Praising Obama's policy vis-à-vis the Arab Spring, it noted: "It was the talent of the Democrats that they adapted to the changes in North Africa, particularly in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya," and added that "Had the Republicans been in the White House, their strategy regarding these changes in the Arab [world] would have been different." The op-ed also noted Obama's "wise strategy" in his two-pronged policy in managing the Syrian crisis – while he opposed the Syrian regime, it said, he did not act firmly against it, as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey demanded, due to his fear of a rise of Salafi circles.[

Academic Malpractice; Grover Furr, Ann Coulter and forbidden objects

Ron Radosh; PJ Media  "I was not going to write about Prof. Grover Furr of Montclair State University. I did not want to call more attention to him, which he obviously craves. But now that the video of his speech at a recent forum has gone viral on the internet, thanks to the Washington Examiner, and is being featured on other sites as well, I have decided it is time to speak out about this particularly imbecilic member of the Academy.
...."What has now created the storm that has made Furr visible are his statements at the recent forum at Montclair, where he called it a “big lie” that Stalin killed millions of people. “I have yet to find one crime — yet to find one crime — that Stalin committed,” Furr said. “I know they all say he killed 20, 30, 40 million people — it is bullshit. … [Nazi propagandist] Goebbels said that the Big Lie is successful and this is the Big Lie: that the Communists — that Stalin killed millions of people and that socialism is no good.” "

While we're on the subject of academic malpractice, here is something from College Insurrection, companion site to Legal Insurrection:
Fordham welcomes infanticide advocate Peter Singer after attacking Ann Coulter invite
"Fordham University is in a bit of a bind.
"After loudly proclaiming his “disgust” with the “hate speech” of conservative pundit Ann Coulter in an email to all students, in the process slamming the Fordham College Republicans—his own students—as immature bigots who lack character, Fordham President Joseph McShane, S.J., is now faced with defending his administration’s invitation to philosopher and infanticide advocate Peter Singer to participate in a panel on “animal ethics.” "