Republicans, be bold, stay focused, and remain courageous

http://terrellaftermath.com/

Deroy Murdock:  Republicans should repeal and replace Obamacare, and gain Democratic support en route. ..."Republicans should use their hard-won mandate to obliterate Obama’s medical Godzilla. A record 58 percent of registered voters want to junk Obamacare, according to a December 10 Fox News survey. As well they should. Among other recently revealed shortcomings — according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Employer Health Benefits, 2014 Annual Survey (“Employee Cost Sharing” chapter) — the average deductible for individual plans has climbed from $826 in 2009 to $1,217 in 2014. This is an average annual increase of approximately 8.1 percent on Obama’s watch. Also, a Commonwealth Fund survey discovered that 40 percent of working-age adults have skipped medical treatments because they cost too much.

Legislate and let Obama Veto  ... "As in 1995, the GOP will have to work with a Democrat president. Unlike President Clinton, who had the good political sense to realize that success required a right turn, I don't President Obama will do the same.
"My recommendation to the GOP Congress is to read Sunday's Dallas Mornings News editorial:"

Rep. Cole: Challenges To Boehner’s Speakership ‘Unprofessional,’ ‘Disappointing’

New Poll Shows Tepid GOP Support for Boehner in Role of Speaker  ... "When asked whether they agree with the statement, “Speaker Boehner has been ineffective in opposing President Obama’s agenda”, 64 percent agreed, 24 percent disagreed. An entire 29 percent strongly agreed, only 9 percent strongly disagreed." ...

 Louie Gohmert to challenge John Boehner for Speaker

Army disciplines chaplain for mentioning God "..I am not making this up"

 

Red State  ... "I served quite a while in the Army as an infantry officer. Generally I look back on my career with deep feelings of affection for the institution that rescued me from life chopping tobacco or working in a furniture mill, but I will concede that the Army is prone to institutional stupidity. When I commanded a rifle company the Army was all hot on its urinalysis program to catch drug users. The net effect was that it encouraged the use of cocaine (only in the urine for a couple of days) and LSD (not detectable in the urine) instead of marijuana usage (detectable for as much as a month).
"Now my Army has outdone itself.
...
"What makes this incident particularly egregious is that it seems that Colonel Fivecoat’s objection to religious invocations is both selective and newfound. This image from his service in Afghanistan seems to indicate that he didn’t object to the Koran being used in an official event… though telling Muslims to not do something associated with their religion tends to put them off their feed and God knows what happens then:

  

Religious freedom groups back Capt. Joseph Lawhorn; atheist group commends Col. David Fivecoat 

Apparently all this was a reaction to an article in Military Atheists.org

Why Republicans Are Ready for Hillary

 

 Her mistakes have GOP candidates lining up. But beware the pundits' confidence.

Politico  ... "Conservatives do have one thing to be thankful for: The fact is that Hillary Clinton learned so many lessons from her surprising 2008 defeat that she’s repeating each of them all over again. Once more she is running as the overconfident, inevitable nominee with safe speeches filled with mush and a bloated campaign staff that already is leaking against each other in the press." ...
...
"With the GOP field taking shape rather nicely, and so little to make fun of, we are left to train our guffaws on those always vulnerable for good-natured mockery: the D.C. pundit class and their confident delusions and myths about the Republican race. "

Some of the myths discussed in more detail here are:
Myth #1: Mitt Romney will run...
Myth # 2: This race has a frontrunner...
Myth #3: It is the time of the moderates (or the Tea Party is dead)...
Myth #4: Chris Christie was permanently damaged by Bridgegate...
Myth #5: This race will go all the way to the convention...

Read more:

Matt Latimer was a former speechwriter to President George W. Bush.  He is currently a co-partner in Javelin, a literary agency and communications firm based in Alexandria, Va. 

The Great Global Warming Swindle

The film, made by British television producer Martin Durkin, presents scientists, economists, politicians, writers, and others who dispute the scientific consensus regarding anthropogenic global warming.

"The film's basic premise is that the current scientific opinion on the anthropogenic causes of global warming has numerous scientific flaws, and that vested monetary interests in the scientific establishment and the media discourage the public and the scientific community from acknowledging or even debating this. The film asserts that the publicised scientific consensus is the product of a "global warming activist industry" driven by a desire for research funding. Other culprits, according to the film, are Western environmentalists promoting expensive solar and wind power over cheap fossil fuels in Africa, resulting in African countries being held back from industrialising.
....
"Carl Wunsch, professor of oceanography at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was also interviewed but has since said that he strongly disagrees with the film's conclusions and the way his interview material was used." ...*

On this same line comes this commentary from Alan Caruba: White House Climate Lunacy 
"As January 2014 arrived with a blast of cold air ominously dubbed the “polar vortex”, the White House released a video in which the Chief Science Advisor to President Obama, Dr. John Holdren, managed to get on both sides of it, declaring the “extreme cold” to be “a pattern that we expect to see with increasing frequency as global warming continues.” How the Earth is getting both colder and warmer at the same time defies reality, but that is of little concern to Dr. Holdren and, indeed, the entire global warming—now called climate change--hoax."

*...Yet despite the untoward liberties taken by the documentary producers, there is little at dispute of substance. Here, in detail, is the documentary's sole misrepresentation of fact involving Dr. Wunsch.
In a discussion about the nature of computer models that attempt to predict Earth's climate, the narrator introduced his views by saying "there is a danger, according to Prof. Carl Wunsch, that modellers will be less concerned in producing a forecast that is accurate than one that is interesting." From Unsettled science

 

2014: The Year of Peak Stupidity

Let this be my explanation to the one or two out there who may care as to why I am a global warming denier, a newly-minted Redskins fan, an eater of meat, a tolerator of Republicans, a supporter of the police and Israel, a flag saluter, and an advocate of a tight border (and a writer of really long sentences).

How can one see the caliber of those on the left and the silly effects of their causes; the oppressive rules they make that we must all live under, the fear of doing or saying anything that they can use to destroy our careers and finances and not want to resist them?  We want to rebel against them but are restrained by fear of what they can and wish to do to us.

Silliness permeates our culture from the schoolyard up through adult and children's entertainment, college campuses, and every level of government. We must as a nation speak out against it and not appear to be its advocates.    

Now to await the knock at my door. The Tunnel Dweller

lockergnom

Clarice Feldman   "The year just ended saw one leftist narrative after another collapse under the weight of reality, and the Republicans still sucking their thumbs, turning the other cheek, and failing to effectively respond.

"My online friend, hit and run, characterized the usual political dialogue:

Prog[ressive]s: "We need a national conversation on race!"
Conservatives: "No, we don't."
Progs: "See? That just proves you're racist!"
MSM [Mainstream Media]: "Race. Race, race. Race, race, race. Also, race."
Conservatives: "Fine. Let's have a conversation. Looking at the stats, it is worth noting that in the black community......"
Progs: "How dare you talk about race, you racist!" ...  Read more:

... "At some point you have to stop defending cowardly behavior as high-minded civilized turn-the-other-cheek behavior, and start telling the unvarnished truth about the attacks and attackers: to refuse to defend your colleagues against base, unproven or overblown charges is just plain pusillanimous. Stop it."

yubanet.com

Dear Officer, I See You.

Saturday Smile Pic Of The Day: Family Leaves Heartwarming Note On Windshield Of Police Car

 A police officer's wife writes: Dear America – We Are Better Than This.

 policelivesmatter   "Dear America, Stop it.  We are better than this.  We are better than hate.  We are better than segregation.  We are better than racism.  Over the past few months, I have spent a substantial amount of time reading the comments under news articles or Facebook posts.
...
... " We are settling for mediocrity.  We are allowing ourselves to not expect more from one another.  In fact, we are blatantly setting ourselves up to expect less.  I’m not saying that we shouldn’t embrace our cultures.  I’m not saying anyone should be ashamed of their skin color or deny their history.  I’m saying that you can’t hold an entire group of people accountable for the actions of one.  You can’t assume that all Priests are pediphiles.  You can’t assume all teachers are uninvested.  You can’t assume that all black teenagers are going to rob you in the parking lot.  It’s unfair to label every police officer a racist.  It’s even more unfair to label a black officer an Uncle Tom.  Why are we persecuting people who are signing up to make the world better?  Why are we criticising those who are trying to make their lives better?

 

...
..."There are people calling for his death.  There are people calling for me to be raped.  There are people calling for the murder of my husband.  And it’s not just my family specifically, it is the families of the entire police community. "

"We see you.  We need you.  We love you.  Thank you for your service.  Thank you for your sacrifice.  Thank you for getting up again today to protect my family.  You are undeniably my heroes.  I love you all."  Via  Weasel Zippers

U.S. Capitol dome undergoing repairs

"The historic dome is scheduled for a two-year $60-million renovation project that will see curved rows of scaffolds encircle the monument."

The cracks in the dome



Take a tour of the dome's innards

Cracked and peeling paint visible during a media tour of the Capitol dome

Retreating of the Queen's Guard: End of an era as palace sentries fall back in face of mounting fears of new 'lone wolf' terrorist attack

UK Daily Mail "Security chiefs have taken the dramatic step of withdrawing Royal Guards from their high-profile posts outside palaces amid mounting fears of ‘lone wolf’ terrorist attacks.

"Elite soldiers of the Queen’s Guard have pulled back from public positions at many landmarks in response to possible threats from Islamic extremists.

"For the first time since the height of the IRA’s terror campaign, the soldiers are also no longer allowed on sentry duty alone, and are now accompanied by armed police.

"Scroll down for video "Read more:

Krauthammer On Falling Gas Prices: Oil Production Increase Happening ‘In Spite Of Obama’

Daily Caller  "In what he calls “the biggest story of the year,” syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer said that the United States’ increase in oil production, which has aided the drastic decrease in gas prices, has happened “in spite” of President Barack Obama’s actions.

“It’s the biggest story of the year,” Krauthammer said on Fox News’ “Special Report” Friday night. “It’s damaged our enemies, the Russians, the Venezuelans, the Iranians, and, of course, it’s propelling our economy.”

“When Obama says that we of been increasing oil production, think of this,” Krauthammer continued, “oil production on federal lands has declined by 16% since 2010.”

“This has happened in spite of Obama and not because of Obama,”... “It’s occurred entirely on state owned and private lands.”  (Emphasis added, TD)

The emerging intolerance of enforced homo-orthodoxy

 Joseph Farah interprets recent Rhode Island court decision on 'gay' parade

 

 Who wouldn't want their kids to see this?

Joseph Farah "If you even think homosexuality, lesbianism and “transgenderism” might be sinful, you are a modern-day heretic – worthy of scorn, ridicule, fines, abuse, even loss of your business or job.
...

"And now, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has joined the witch hunt against Christians who take their Scriptures and faith seriously by throwing out lawsuits brought by two Providence firefighters who said their constitutional rights were violated when they were ordered to drive a truck in a gay pride parade despite their religious objections.

"The firefighters, Theodore Fabrizio and Stephen Deninno, argued that they are Roman Catholics and, therefore, do not and cannot support or condone homosexuality.

"Seemed like a reasonable request given the First Amendment."
 ..

Not so, ruled Justice William Robinson, writing for all five members of the state high court in December...

How To Turn A Red State Blue: California Edition

 

NPR  "Democrats who hope to turn Texas from red to blue are looking to California for inspiration.
Golden State Democrats now hold every single statewide office and big majorities in both houses of the Legislature. In the state that gave us Ronald Reagan, Republican registration has fallen below 30 percent. And California hasn't voted for a Republican for president since 1988.

"Where did the Republicans go wrong?

" Here's a look at how a state can go from red to blue in five simple steps:" ......
...

 

"As tough as things are for Republicans in California right now, it could be a long time before anything similar happens in Texas, says Sonenshein at the Pat Brown Institute.

" 'There's a huge lag between demographic change and political change," he says. Turning a red state blue "could [take] 20 years or more."

"Texas Republicans have time, Sonenshein says, to figure out how to keep the Texas GOP from suffering the same disastrous fate as Republicans in California."

 

comicallyincorrect.com

2015: the fruits of a Democrat-controlled government

 

Coal Mine Closings in Kentucky Kill Hundreds of Jobs   "Happy New Year from Obama and the EPA!"
"The Obama administration has made no effort to hide its disdain for the coal industry, so this report from John Ruberry of Marathon Pundit shouldn’t surprise anyone: " ...

The next Obamacare controversy is right around the corner.  "Obamacare enrollees who received subsidies to help pay for coverage will soon have to reconcile how much they actually earned in 2014 with how much they estimated when they applied many, many months ago."

"This will likely lead to some very unhappy Americans. Those who underestimated their income either will receive smaller tax refunds or will owe the IRS money."



California opens driver's license applications to illegal immigrants ..." Law enforcement officials say the program will improve road safety because licensed drivers must be tested and insured. A DMV study of 23 years of crash data found that unlicensed drivers were more likely to cause a fatal collision than licensed drivers." ...

Snow-bound Californians now paying “Global Warming” gas tax hike

…Starting January 1st, though, those declining gas prices aren’t expected to go any lower. The beginning of 2015 also brings with it what some are calling California’s new hidden gas tax, which could range from 15 cents per gallon to up to 75 cents. Some in the Central Valley aren’t happy about the extra cost at the pump. JoAnne Childers of Fresno said, “I don’t like it. It’s just something else to gouge us for.”

 ... In California, we don’t really need nature to wreak havoc — our state is the quintessential example of a “man-made economic disaster.' ”.  Thanks to liberals and their hand-puppet Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger