Category: Politics

Congress, Politics, Society

Health Care Passes On Promise of Obama To Block Public Spending on Abortion

The health bill passed with 219 votes last night, but not until President Barack Obama issued an executive order that blocks federal funding of abortion — a move that unleashed a torrent of criticism from women’s groups who say that he broke his campaign promise and principles on the issue for passage. In the meantime, the package of “fixes” may be in jeopardy in the Senate — potentially leaving the original Senate bill in the same unpopular state.

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Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Saudi Arabian Court Re-Sentences Television Host to Death for Sorcery

It appears that Lebanese talk show host Ali Hussain Sibat is again facing death for sorcery in Saudi Arabia. A court in Medina reaffirmed his conviction despite being reversed earlier by the court of appeals. He was convicted of claiming to be able to predict the future on his show, which is treated as a form of witchcraft in the Kingdom.

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Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Pope: The Real Threat is the Scourge of Secularism

In the midst of apologizing for abuses of children by Catholic priests, Pope Benedict XVI used his public comments to blame liberal secularism for threatening the Church and society. The Pope appears to be joining former Prime Minister Tony Blair and other leaders (here and here) campaigning against the scourge of seclurism — even as he apologizes for the widespread abuses of his church. It is astonishing to watch the expanding campaign against secularists, a rather unlikely group for villification. It appears that the scandal of pedophilic priests is only a distraction from the real threat to society — people who want society guided by civic rather than religious principles.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, International, Military, Politics, Society

General Sheehan: Srebrenica Massacre Due in Part To Gays In Dutch Military

Dutch officials have expressed outrage at the statements by retired U.S. General John J. Sheehan blaming the Srebrenica massacre on the presence of gay soldiers in their Army. The former NATO Commander testified that he was told that the presence of the gay soldiers was a significant contributor to the troops being captured without a serious fight.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Blind But Not Hooded Justice: Court Dismisses Imperial Wizard From Jury Duty

A recent decision by Indiana Judge Roland Chamblee Jr. may have citizens lining up in white robes to get out of jury duty. Chamblee excused Railton Loy from jury duty after he told the court that he is the Imperial Wizard of the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and could only be fair to white folks.

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Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Coercion to Commit Sin: Dubai Arrests Couple for Sending Explicit Text Messages

We learned recently that you had to be careful how you say goodbye in Dubai (here) after a couple was arrested for kissing on the streets. It appears that you cannot even opt for texting your desires without ending up in the Dubai hoosegow. Two Emirates airlines cabin crew have been ordered jailed for three months over sexually explicit text messages. The Indian flight attendant and her cabin services supervisor were convicted of “coercion to commit sin.”

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Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

Obama Threatens to Veto Intelligence Oversight Reforms — House Passes Watered Down Version With Few Reforms

The Obama Administration has succeeded in watering down any reform of the intelligence oversight system — fighting to retain the same powers based on the same rationales as the Bush Administration.

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Bizarre, Congress, Politics, Society

Deem and Pass: Pelosi Indicates That She May Pass Health Bill Under a Controversial Self-Executing Rule

It appears that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is contemplating the use of a “deem and pass” tactic to secure passage of the health-care bill. The procedural tactic is designed to allow members to avoid accountability for their votes and would reflect a conclusion that, in an up or down vote, the bill for fail.

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Bizarre, Politics, Society

New California Assembly Speaker Gives Aide $65,000 Raise for $190,008 Salary

New Assembly Speaker John A. Perez is under attack this week after he gave his chief of staff, Sara Ramirez, an annual pay increase of nearly $65,000 for an annual salary of $190,008. That is $80,424 higher than that of Perez or Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg.

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Bizarre, Environment, International, Politics, Society

A Dish Best Served Cold: Restaurant Apologizes For Sale of Whale Meat

The parent company for Hump Restaurant effectively pleaded guilty today in public with an apology for selling whale meat at the Los Angeles establishment. Not only is the apology itself less than redeeming for environmentalists, but it also effectively throws chef Kiyoshiro Yamamoto, 45, under the bus.
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Bizarre, Politics, Society

Wife of Clarence Thomas Organizes Tea Party Group

Virginia Thomas, wife of Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, forms tea party group. Virginia Thomas told a recent panel “I am an ordinary citizen from Omaha, Neb., who just may have the chance to preserve liberty along with you and other people like you.” She specifically went on to say that she was going to work against Obama’s “hard-left agenda.” It is an association that will likely add to a further patina of politics surrounding the Court, which just ruled in favor of conservative groups in the Citizens United case. I will be discussing this story tonight on Countdown.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

What Inquiring Prosecutors Want To Know: Rielle Hunter Offers Details on Edwards Affair — And A Potential Criminal Prosecution

With reports of an expected indictment of former presidential candidate John Edwards for use of campaign funds on his mistress, it would not exactly be the time for a tell-all interview from the mistress. However, Rielle Hunter gives a highly damaging account to Gentleman’s Quarterly that could play a role in any prosecution. Nevertheless, Edwards has reportedly proposed to marry Hunter, who appears in a series of somewhat seductive poses in the magazine.

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Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Until Nothing Remains: Scientology Accused To Trying To Block Film on Church Abuses

Bis Nichts Mehr Bleibt, or Until Nothing Remains, is a movie based on an account of how a German family was ripped apart by its associations with Scientology, which is depicted as authoritarian, abusive, and cult-like. The Church is being accused of campaigning to block the airing of the film on German television and has charged that it should be blocked as fostering “intolerance and discrimination against a religious community.” It appears to be the latest version of a blasphemy claim in the West, here.
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