Obama: Transforming America ; From energy to foreign policy to the presidency itself, Obama’s agenda rolls along.

Victor Davis Hanson "There certainly is no question that Barack Obama wants to change the United States. And there clearly is no doubt that such fundamental transformation is difficult, given our tripartite system of
government — even though Obama entered office with large Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, an enthralled media, and a closely divided Supreme Court.

"So to what degree, after nearly five years in office, has Obama succeeded in changing the United States?"   Full article here.

If you disliked anything and everything about America, this politician is just the man for you.

Do overweight soldiers have anything to do with political correctness in this government?

Does this have anything to do with the Democrat policy against discrimination based on, er, weightism? As stated elsewhere, liberal policies create mediocrity in everything they touch. And who do you see anyone in the Obama Administration that cares about the quality of our military?

Fat Soldiers "What’s the deal with so many fat Soldiers? It Seems that year after year they just keep getting fatter and fatter...."

I noticed in the crowd at a recent Texas A&M  game, many military students in uniform who had protruding stomachs. Just sayin'.

Why are soldiers so fat and Marines not?

I'm a Marine poolee and I do PT everyday with my 2 recruiters and some other poolees. Next to our Marine office there is an Army office, and these people look so out of shape compared to the Marine I've seen and met. This can't be coincidence because over the past year I have met enough soldiers and Marines to know this is not just coincidence. And I will not talk about Airmen because I've seen some crazy ****, but I guess they're smarter so I don't really care. 
This is all from MY personal experience.

One respondent's opinion:

Marines are quality over quantity by a LONG SHOT. They'd rather have less people that can perform better than have more people that can't do s***. The Army has significantly lowered it's standards to recruit more people. That's why.

 Pentagon Says More Than Half Of The US Military Is Overweight  ..."Not because muscle-bound troops ware any less fit, but because an average male grunt can't drag a 250-pound buddy from the kill zone, regardless of whether that weight is from fat or from muscle."

CNN: Military leaders: We're still too fat to fight  "Childhood obesity isn't just a health issue, according to a group of retired military leaders. It's also a national security issue."

This song is politically incorrect in the extreme.

U.S. and Iranian Realities

STRATFOR   "U.S. President Barack Obama called Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last week in the first such conversation in the 34 years since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. The phone call followed tweets and public statements on both sides indicating a willingness to talk. Though far from an accommodation between the two countries, there are reasons to take this opening seriously -- not only because it is occurring at such a high level, but also because there is now a geopolitical logic to these moves. Many things could go wrong, and given that this is the Middle East, the odds of failure are high. But Iran is weak and the United States is avoiding conflict, and there are worse bases for a deal.".... Read more...
George Friedman
U.S. and Iranian Realities is republished with permission of Stratfor.

COMMON CORE: What Does “College and Career Ready” Standards Mean?

The Free Patriot   "What exactly does “College and Career Ready” mean? Many have argued that these standards represent a “dumbing down” of American education. Proponents argue the recent Common Core standards are more rigorous, although there is little evidence to support that argument. Part of the problem may be in the interpretation of “College and Career.” There are many colleges and many different careers, and there is some degree of variation in the skill associated with them.
"But what is meant by “College and Career” ready? What kind of careers? What kind of college?" 

 

...."Prior to the common core state standards, Massachusetts had one of the finest education systems in the world. Test scores of Massachusetts students were among the highest in the world, when ranked separately from the rest of the United States. College readiness began in 8th grade with the completion of Algebra 1. Students typically made it through pre-calculus to attend college. The idea that the state would sacrifice that level of preparation for a lesser outcome was quite shocking."

Emphasis added. Liberalism's big government policies bring mediocrity in everything they touch

Spread the misery

http://terrellaftermath.com/

Airmen say Air Force is punishing evangelical Christians

Fox News   "Evangelical Christian airmen at Lackland Air Force Base are facing severe threats and retribution for their religious beliefs and some personnel have been ordered to publicly express their position on gay marriage.
“ 'There is an atmosphere of intimidation at Lackland Air Force Base,” said Steve Branson, the pastor of Village Parkway Baptist Church in San Antonio. “Gay commanders and officers are pushing their agenda on the airmen. There is a culture of fear in the military and it’s gone to a new level with the issue of homosexuality.”
"Branson tells me at least 80 airmen attended a private meeting at the church where he heard them voice their concerns about religious hostilities at the Air Force base. It was a standing-room only crowd."....
....
"One member of the military was written up for having his Bible out – while a Muslim was allowed to publicly display a prayer rug.
"A colonel told the pastor that officers are being ordered to publicly affirm and promote homosexuality."....

Forum for debate: Lackland AFB causing problems for Christians?
Point:

Christians aren't being denied any rights, homosexuals are.

The whole Christians crying persecution is disturbing. There is NO place in the world it is easier to be a Christian than the US. By crying persecution, you insult the Christians in other parts of the world who are facing persecution (Christians in Pakistan, China, Egypt, etc.). 

Counterpoint:

...Attempting to force their views on others. It isn't enough to just skip going to services, they don't want anyone else to be able to go. It isn't enough to skip a concert/event that may have a religious performer/speaker, they want to ban it for everyone else. It isn't enough to avoid an aisle in the book section of the PX that contains religious publications, they want them banned from the PX. 

Get ready for more shutdown rhetoric

National Review Online  "Several hours remain until government funding expires, and if Congress cannot agree on a resolution to continue that funding before midnight, the government will shut down. If that happens, Democrats will be ready with countless horror stories about the consequences of extremist Republican obstructionism, so it’s worth examining the details of what will and will not occur during a government shutdown."

Hot Topic: Who Will Blink First in Budget Showdown?  "Eventually — days, weeks, or even months from now — the federal government is going to be funded. In the end, one side or the other is going to have to cave in completely to the other side. There is no compromise that either side would accept, no deal possible as long as both sides insist on getting their way."

The big question of the week? Who Will Blink in Budget Showdown? 
The House passed a continuing resolution last night that delays the implementation of Obamacare’s individual mandate for a year while funding the federal government’s operations through December.
The party line vote virtually assures a government shutdown at midnight on Monday.

 "The CR also contains a repeal of the medical device tax that most Democrats support. But Harry Reid has indicated it doesn’t matter, as the Senate will only consider a “clean” bill without any Obamacare riders."

 

Chuck Schumer considers any negotiations to be extortion

Liberal “shutdown” rhetoric ignores the irresponsibility of Democrats.
"For three consecutive years — 2010, 2011, and 2012 — the Democrat-controlled Senate did not pass a budget bill because Reid knew that it would be a political liability to do so. Passing a budget that detailed the Democrats’ plans for spending and revenue as official policy would have exposed the “something for nothing” swindle that Reid and his colleagues are perpetrating on the American people."

Brit Hume: People Think Republicans to Blame for Shutdowns Because Media Keep Telling Them That 

 

Obama: Shutdown Will ‘Throw Wrench Into Economy’  "The blame- shifter-in-chief will have a made to order excuse for his miserable performance as president."

Alan Caruba asks, Are Americans Stupid?

"The late comedian, George Carlin, once said, “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” I thought of that when I heard that Barack Obama had been reelected."

Warning Signs  ..."Let me say that I have long regarded Barack Obama as stupid. His incompetence manifests itself daily. He cannot speak without the assistance of a Tele-Prompter. He has zero experience with the way people make a living or run a business. He has zero experience regarding military affairs and appears to have no knowledge of history. His lack of knowledge about economics has left the nation with the highest debt and deficit in its history, and millions unemployed."...

The difference between Islam and other religions

Bookworm Room  "Libby, a Bookworm Room friend, came up with one of the most accurate statements I’ve ever seen distinguishing Islam from other religions.  I have to share it with you:

The difference between Islam and other religions is that while other religions inspire their followers to control themselves to avoid sin, the followers of Islam seek to control their environment to avoid sin.

 

Muslim Behavior/Terrorism Correlated With Population Size

A Crash Course In Islamic Ideology    Muslims destroy cemetery for British soldiers killed in North Africa during WW2.

  "Do you want to get mad? Just watch this video. These people are animals. They are filled with pure hate."....

Obamacare Website Quietly Deletes Reference to 'Free Health Care'

Weekly Standard   "Even as President Obama and his administration are making a last minute push to encourage enrollment in Obamacare, a quiet change was made on the Healthcare.gov website regarding those who will still not be able to afford coverage after the program kicks in. From at least June 26, 2013 to as recently as September 15, under the topic, "Where can I get free or low-cost care in my community?" the following statement appeared: "If you can't afford any health plan, you can get free or low-cost health and dental care at a nearby community health center." Here is how the page in question appeared:

 

"However, sometime between September 16 and September 23, the reference to "free" care was dropped. The title of the topic was changed as well, and now reads: "Where can I get low-cost care in my community?" Here is how the page currently appears:"

"The page in question is not a new one, as the webpage's Internet address remains the same, still containing the word "free": www.healthcare.gov/where-can-i-get-free-or-low-cost-care/.  However, there is no notation anywhere on the page that it was revised; the change just appeared unannounced."

Full article

 

 Rush Limbaugh quoted this article today.

Will Congress Stop Obamacare?

Heritage  "Less than 24 hours from now, the government takeover of health care will begin implementation—unless Congress acts to stop Obamacare.

"Over the weekend, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to delay the unpopular law’s implementation by one year. Although the plan falls short of defunding Obamacare, Heritage Action for America called the delay “a step towards preventing the law’s entitlements from taking root.”

"Lawmakers also approved a measure to repeal Obamacare’s tax on medical devices and ensure that the U.S. military would continue to get paid in the event of a government shutdown tomorrow."

You Won’t Believe What Common Core Testing Looks Like on Long Island

cagle.com

independentsentinel.com  "One school district in Suffolk County, Long Island had a parent-teacher conference in which every teacher said the same thing. ‘We are no longer teachers, we are your child’s guides.’
"Under the new regulations, they said, they cannot be referred to as teachers any longer, they are only the child’s guide. The child is no longer an individual either, only part of a team, they explained.
"Collectivism at its best!"

As usual, the program is promoted by those who want the federal government taking over more and more of state functions.

A case can be made for Common Core;  Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice   "According to a recent analysis of the Common Core standards there are two justifications for states adopting the standards (Brookings Study of Common Core):"....

'Common Core' In Jeopardy As More States Withdraw   "According to Politico, now that the new math and language tests that are tied to the Common Core national academic standards are almost ready, state officials have found that the exams are too long, too expensive, and require a higher level of computer technology than is often available. Perhaps first and foremost, however, states are fighting back against the standards as a federal intrusion into an area that has historically been reserved for them."
....
"In addition, the House has just passed the Student Success Act (SSA), a proposal sponsored by GOP Reps. John Kline (MN) and Todd Rokita (IN), to rewrite the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law.
"The Heritage Foundation reports that the SSA would eliminate the federal mandate known as Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for reading and math proficiency, and thereby allow states to design their own accountability systems."

Newsday; McShane: Implementation of Common Core is a recipe for disaster

Yoki Lin, left, 9, and Juliana Rios, 8, work together as a team during a

 common core math lesson at JFK Intermediate School in Deer Park.