Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford: I could no longer ‘defend the American policy’

Christiane Amanpour

“ 'I was no longer in a position where I felt I could defend the American policy,” he said. “We have been unable to address either the root causes of the conflict in terms of the fighting on the ground and the balance on the ground, and we have a growing extremism threat.”
...
"The common refrain among people skeptical of deeper involvement in Syria is that with the influx of terrorist groups, America and its allies no longer know who the opposition really is.

"Ford refuted that notion head on.

“ 'We've identified them quite well now. Some people say, well, we don't know them well enough; we can't depend on them. We know them quite well. We've worked with them for years.”...
 

A Defeat for Terrible Teachers in California

The Daily Signal
... "In a Los Angeles Superior Court ruling today, Judge Rolf M. Treu “found five California laws governing teacher tenure, layoffs and dismissals unconstitutional,” reports Politico.

“ 'Treu found,” reporter Stephanie Simon wrote, “that the statutes permit too many grossly incompetent teachers to remain in classrooms across the state —and found that those teachers shortchange their students by putting them months or years behind their peers in math and reading.”

"There’s no doubt that not all teachers are created equal. Some are excellent, of course. But not all of them are, and in California, it’s almost impossible to fire a tenured teacher." ...

But that is not the end of this story...
Union Vows to Appeal Teacher Tenure Ruling as California Braces for Sweeping Change

 

 “When school children start paying union dues, that 's when I'll start representing the interests of school children.”    "That notorious quote was from Albert Shanker, President of the Teachers Union (United Federation of Teachers) from 1964 to 1984 as well as President of the Teachers Union (American Federation of Teachers) from 1974 to 1997."

Read more...

toledoblade.com

You won't believe new campus rules on 'rape'

WND

 

"WND columnist Thomas Sowell recently wrote about the issue of assault.

“ 'There seem to be a dangerously large number of people who think that the law exists to give them whatever they want – even when that means denying other people the same rights that they claim for themselves,” he wrote. “Nowhere is this self-centered attitude more common than on college campuses. And nowhere are such attitudes more encouraged than by the Obama administration’s Justice Department, which is threatening colleges that don’t handle rape issues the politically correct way – that is, by presuming the accused to be guilty and not letting constitutional safeguards get in the way.”

"The New York Times reported that the White House was increasing the pressure on universities to be more aggressive in combating sex assault on campus."

Liberals again. Good spot for this quote, but Rogers should also have mentioned "every time the president meets with someone".

 Hat tip to Walt Stier; Santa Maria, CA

Benedict Obama's Invasion of America

Selwyn Duke  "If millions of soldiers from south of the border were flooding our nation for the purposes of colonizing our land, we would easily recognize the threat. And if some amongst us were aiding and abetting this invasion -- purposely lowering border security to facilitate it -- we’d know what to call them. And we’d know how they should be dealt with.

"This comes to mind when considering the flood of humanity that does continually pour across our border, a phenomenon whose most recent manifestation is the children’s crusade (which includes many teens, some of whom are gang members) currently in the news. Oh, the people trespassing on our land aren’t wearing uniforms; they aren’t wielding cold steel. But this isn’t always necessary. As Muammar Gaddafi once pointed out, some invasions are prosecuted “without sword, without gun, without conquest.” “We don’t need terrorists; we don’t need homicide bombers,” he said. “The 50 plus million Muslims [in Europe] will turn it into the Muslim Continent within a few decades.” Of course, in the waning West, we call this “diversity” and “demographic change.' ”...

 

Political Earthquake as David Brat Handily Defeats Eric Cantor in Primary    ... "The timing of the flood of children across the border, creating severe overload for care facilities and threatening the spread of epidemics, no doubt also hurt Cantor and spurred the Brat turnout. All the talk of legalization and the Dream Act undoubtedly has spurred this flood, and Cantor is at least indirectly implicated in encouraging this."

Those Lerner emails along with some other stuff

Hope n' Change




Add caption

... "Speaking of screw-ups, the IRS is now telling Congressional investigators that they can't supply Lois Lerner's emails about targeted attacks on conservative groups because a computer crash wiped out two years of her email. Mind you, any technical expert will tell you that such computer emails should routinely be backed up elsewhere - and in fact, the government usually requires such a backup by law. Meaning it's very likely that those emails can't really have been wiped out...by accident." ...

"Betrayal in Benghazi" by Colonel Phil Handley-Confirmed Authorship! but Altered!

Truth or Fiction  "Summary of the eRumor:  This appears to be a commentary by Colonel Phil “Hands” Handley, U.S. Air Force (Retired) about the lack of response to the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi.

"The Truth:  Colonel Phil Hadley did write a commentary called "Betrayal in Benghazi" but this version, that went viral on the Internet, was slightly altered by someone who took the liberty to define some colorful acronyms used by the author.

"We found the genuine May 30, 2013 article posted on the Front Page Website.

 

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Colonel Phil "Hands" Handley is credited with the highest speed, air- to-air gun kill in the history of aerial combat. He flew operationally for all but 11 months of his 26-year career, in aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre, F-15 Eagle, and the C-130A  Hercules. Additionally, he flew 275 combat missions during two tours in Southeast Asia in the F-4D and F-4E. His awards include 21 Air Medals, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Silver Star. Here is what Col. Handley wrote in response to Panetta and Dempsey's claims there was no time to send help to Benghazi. Betrayal in Benghazi... by Phil "Hands" Handley Colonel, USAF (Ret.) The combat code of the US Military is that we don't abandon our dead or wounded on the battlefield. In US Air Force lingo, fighter pilots don't run off and leave their wingmen. If one of our own is shot down, still alive and not yet in enemy captivity, we will either come to get him or die trying. Among America 's fighting forces, the calm, sure knowledge that such an irrevocable bond exists is priceless. Along with individual faith and personal grit, it is a sacred trust that has often sustained hope in the face of terribly long odds. The disgraceful abandonment of our Ambassador and those brave ex-SEAL's who fought to their deaths to save others in that compound is nothing short of dereliction-of-duty. Additionally, the patently absurd cover-up scenario that was fabricated in the aftermath was an outright lie in an attempt to shield the President and the Secretary of State from responsibility. It has been over eight months since the attack on our compound in Benghazi . The White House strategy, with the aid of a "lap dog" press, has been to run out the clock before the truth is forthcoming. The recent testimonies of the three "whistle blowers" have reopened the subject and hopefully will lead to exposure and disgrace of those responsible for this embarrassing debacle. It would appear that the most recent firewall which the Administration is counting on is the contention, "that there were simply no military assets that could be brought to bear in time to make a difference" mainly due to the unavailability of tanker support for fighter aircraft. This is simply Bull Shit, regardless how many supposed "experts" the Administration trot out to make such an assertion. The bottom line is that even if the closest asset capable of response was half-way around the world, you don't just sit on your penguin ass and do nothing. The fact is that the closest asset was not half-way around the world, but as near as Aviano Air Base, Italy where two squadrons of F-16Cs are based. Consider the following scenario (all times Benghazi local): When Hicks in Tripoli receives a call at 9:40 PM from Ambassador Stevens informing him "Greg, we are under attack!" (his last words), Hicks immediately notifies all agencies and prepares for the immediate initiation of an existing "Emergency Response Plan." At AFRICON, General Carter Ham attempts to mount a rescue effort, but is told to "stand down." By 10:30 PM an unarmed drone is overhead the compound and streaming live feed to various "Command and Control Agencies" so everyone watching that feed knew damn well what was going on. At 11:30 PM Woods, Doherty and five others leave Tripoli, arriving in Benghazi at 1:30 AM on Wednesday morning, where they hold off the attacking mob from the roof of the compound until they are killed by a mortar direct hit at 4:00 AM. So nothing could have been done, eh? Nonsense. If one assumes that tanker support really "was not available" what about this: When at 10:00 PM AFRICON alerts the 31st TFW Command Post on Aviano Air Base, Italy of the attack, the Wing Commander orders preparation for the launch of two F-16s and advises the Command Post at NAS Sigonella to prepare for hot pit refueling and quick turn of the jets. By 11:30 PM, two F-16Cs with drop tanks and each armed with five hundred 20 MM rounds are airborne. Flying at 0.92 mach they will cover the 522 nautical miles directly to NAS Sigonella in 1.08 hours. While in-route, the flight lead is informed of the tactical situation, rules of engagement, and radio frequencies to use. The jets then depart Sigonella at 1:10 AM with full fuel load and cover the 377 nautical miles directly to Benghazi in 0.8 hours, arriving at 1:50 AM which would be 20 minutes after the arrival of Woods, Doherty and their team. Providing that the two F-16s initial pass over the mob, in full afterburner at 200 feet and 550 knots did not stop the attack in its tracks, a few well placed strafing runs on targets of opportunity would assuredly do the trick. Were the F-16s fuel state insufficient to return to Sigonella after jettisoning their external drop tanks, they could easily do so at Tripoli International Airport, only one-half hour away. As for those hand-wringing naysayers who would worry about IFR clearances, border crossing authority, collateral damage, landing rights, political correctness and dozens of other reasons not to act -- screw them. It is time our "leadership" get its priorities straight and put America's interests first. The end result would be that Woods and Doherty would be alive. Dozens in the attacking rabble would be rendezvousing with "72 virgins" and a clear message would have been sent to the next worthlessP.O.S. terrorist contemplating an attack on Americans that it is not really a good idea to "tug" on Superman's cape. Of course all this depends upon a Commander In Chief more concerned with saving the lives of those he put in harm's way than getting his crew rested for a campaign fund raising event in Las Vegas the next day. It also depends upon a Secretary of State who actually understood, "What difference does it make?", and a Secretary of Defense who was watching the feed from the drone and understood what the attack consisted of instead of making an immediate response that "One of the military tenants is that you don't commit assets until you fully understand the tactical situation." YGBSM! (You Gotta Be Shittin' Me) Ultimately it comes down to the question of who gave that order to stand down? Whoever that coward turns out to be should be exposed, removed from office, and face criminal charges for dereliction of duty. The combat forces of the United States of America deserve leadership that really does "have their back" when the chips are down. Comments in The Liberal Forum on this "Gentlemen "I would say every US fighter pilot, retired or on active duty, knows that Panetta and Dempsey both are full of crap when they said there was no time to send help to Benghazi. They claim it was a problem of "time/space." All my friends and I said, "Bullshat." We know they could have gotten F-16s there from Aviano. " 'Hands" Handley is a well-respected USAF fighter pilot. Here is his short resume and what he just wrote about Benghazi below that. If anything, Handley is pessimistic in his timeline of when F-16s could have reached Benghazi . I think they could have been airborne even sooner and turned quicker at Sig. The decision to not try was not based on capability. We had the operational capability in every way. "I hope Handley's taxes are in order. His IRS audit is forthcoming. Much more at this site.

Hat tip to Paul Van Alstine

Hey, this is way better than taking the fifth!

http://terrellaftermath.com/

A No-Action Figure

http://legalinsurrection.com/tag/a-f-branco/

Kathleen Willey blasts Hillary's 'dead broke' claim

Bob Unruh

 

... "Fox News reported that the year the Clintons left the White House and were “dead broke” they actually earned nearly $12 million.

"The report said the Clintons technically were in debt when they left the White House, with liabilities between $2.3 million and $10.6 million and assets between $781,000 and almost $1.8 million. The liabilities were mostly legal expenses for the defense of Bill Clinton over the various scandals he triggered while in office.

"Hillary Clinton entered the Senate and began earning a $145,000 salary when they left the White House, and her husband’s pension was more than $150,000, Fox News said.

"Within a year, their assets were listed at between $6 million and $30 million. Liabilities were between $1.3 million and $5.6 million." ...

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/06/kathleen-willey-blasts-hillarys-dead-broke-claim/#fkVhQTX2U3gecvF7.99

Dissing Christian prof costs college $700,000

World Net Daily

Mike Adams

 

... "A former atheist, Adams frequently received praise from his colleagues after the university hired him as an assistant professor in 1993 and promoted him to associate professor in 1998.

"But some of his views on political and social issues soon reflected his adoption of Christianity in 2000. Subsequently, his advocates said, the university subjected Adams to a campaign of academic persecution, including intrusive investigations, baseless accusations and other actions that culminated in his denial of promotion to full professor, despite an award-winning record of teaching, research and service.

"In his lawsuit against the university, attorneys argued that officials denied him a deserved promotion because they disagreed with the content of his nationally syndicated opinion columns that espoused religious and political views contrary to the opinions held by university officials."...

Mike Adams writes columns for Townhall and this is one example: Horton Hears the Who

Two years ago, I wrote an article about UNCW gay activist Brice Horton. This was after he tried to ban Chick fil-A from campus (all in the name of tolerance and diversity). I satirically responded by writing that he should be expelled from campus for his own intolerance. Now, just two years later, he's a proud UNCW graduate. I know this because he recently wrote me two emails. The content of the first email was pretty straightforward:

 Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2014 5:49 PM
 To: Adams, Mike   I hope you rot in Hell you piece of $h*t.

 

..".Of course, a major difference between the 60s and today is that these kids' future employers have access to the Internet. This means that when Brice Horton applies for a job, his prospective boss can run a Google search. When he types in Brice Horton, this column will likely be the first thing that pops up. " ...

Big Labor Makes Millions Off VA While Veterans Wait for Medical Care

independentsentinel.com.

.. "While our veterans are put on long waiting lists and while some die waiting for medical care in what appears to be a corrupt system, hundreds of union members were getting paid to do union business.

"In addition to giving bonuses to workers, we also pay labor union officials to push Big Labor’s leftist agenda during work hours.

“ 'Official Time” is the euphemistic term for union officials using work time and tax dollars to coerce more government workers into paying dues.

"The VA isn’t the only government agency that uses “Official Time: but they were by far the largest user of “Official Time.”

"The Washington Examiner reported:" ...

Radical Feminists Embrace #EndFathersDay

Downtrend 

 "It started as a joke, but the Twitter hashtag #EndFathersDay is being picked up by intolerant, sexist feminists and is now trending worldwide.

"The hashtag was a prank by “4chan,” an imageboard website, but it has been picked up as a rallying cry.

"First, the original post on 4chan:

Almost all cases of domestic violence, domestic rape, child abuse, adultery, and discontent in the home are caused by men, i.e. fathers. A holiday that celebrates this is another symptom of the disease known as the patriarchy, and has no place in a progressive society.... More...