Open thread: ‘Awake and Alive’
Well, the surgery was a success, the surgeon said it could not possibly have gone better, and I am actually home now a couple of days early. I am in pain, tired, and on drugs so there is no way I will be posting for a few days, but I am “Awake and Alive” and will resume posting when I can.
We have talked about media bias in the past and how the media is not in the business of reporting the news but rather in the business of shaping the news. The media is selling a product to the American people and that product is the agenda of that particular media outlet which, with a few exceptions, is a liberal agenda.
But if this story that I found over at Right Scoop is true this is the most blatant example of media bias perhaps in recent history. Over the weekend a drunk driver crashed into a homecoming parade in Oklahoma, killing four people and injuring 30. You might have heard of this story if you watched the news however one newspaper, the Traverse City Record-Eagle, had a totally different take on the story and ran a headline which blamed a shooter for the tragedy. A preventable car accident death may result in compensation for the victim’s family.
Is the IRS using ‘Stingray’ devices to spy on cellphones?
I don’t know if you have heard about this but there is a technology out there called Stingray devices. These devices are used to set up a fake cellphone tower in an area so that when a person gets into range his or her phone will be connected to the Stingray and at that point the metadata, as well as some personal information, can be retrieved from the cellphone unbeknownst to the user. Of course these devices do not hone in on one individual but rather collect information on every single person who comes into range even if they are not the subject of an investigation.
And these devices have been in use, and controversial, for quite awhile now: Back in June of 2014 a Florida police department was facing a FOIA request from the ACLU for allegedly abusing these devices by not getting a proper warrant and just before the ACLU was allowed to view the documents Federal Marshals swept in and confiscated them, which eventually led to a judge throwing out the case.
It is pretty clear that for some reason the Federal government does not want this information to get out, but why? Perhaps it could be because the IRS is also using Stingray devices to gather cellphone information on American citizens.
Here is more:
Hillary Clinton plays the ‘gender card’ on Bernie Sanders over his ‘shouting’ comment
During the Democratic Presidential debate Bernie Sanders made a comment about gun control in which he said “all the shouting in the world” would not stop the wrong people from getting weapons. A desperate Hillary Clinton has decided that this was a sexist comment to make; apparently the word shouting is a dog whistle for misogyny.
Here is more:
“I’m not shouting. It’s just that when women talk, some people think we’re shouting.”
The implication is clear, Bernie Sanders is a closet sexist who just could not contain himself. Of course the former Senator from Vermont denies this is a sexist comment:
“What can I say — that’s just not the case,”
And The New York Times has confirmed that Mr. Sanders has used this term many times in the past without referring to Hillary Clinton. Let’s face it; this was a desperation move by a candidate who feels threatened by a challenger but it is actually quite a lame attempt at smearing an opponent, she must have forgotten that Bernie Sanders is not a Republican because that would be the only way there would even be a chance this could stick.
Malo periculosam libertatem quam quietum servitium
Sunday, October 25th open thread: ‘Faith’
Here is the open thread for Sunday, October 25th. Please feel free to post links to interesting articles and to discuss whatever issues arise during the course of the day. Nothing is off-topic here.
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Well, my surgery is only a few days away and it is funny because after months of making a conscious effort to appreciate every single day and trying not to take any of them for granted I now find myself just wanting to get this whole thing over with as soon as possible. I am sure when Tuesday night rolls around I won’t feel the same way…
Please keep me and my family in your thoughts and prayers.
I thought for the musical selection today I would post my favorite song from my favorite band so I dug around looking for an older live version of the song but could not find one that I was happy with. In the one version I found which I was going to share it appears as if Robert Smith might have forgotten some of the lyrics as he began mumbling a couple of times, so I have decided to go with a newer version.
Here is The Cure performing “Faith” in 2011. The song is not actually about faith but rather about feeling alone, desolate, depressed, and feeling as if you have nowhere to turn in your darkest hour but I just want to say that there is somewhere you can turn but you do have to seek Him.
Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find it, knock and the door will be opened to you–Matthew 7:7
The Department of Justice will not file charges against Lois Lerner for IRS targeting scandal
Today the Department of Injustice announced it would not be pressing charges against Lois Lerner, or any other IRS official for that matter, in the IRS Tea Party targeting scandal despite the fact she admitted to “inappropriately” targeting conservative groups.
Here is more:
No IRS official would face criminal charges arising from the political controversy over the processing of applications for tax-exempt status, the Justice Department announced Friday.
In a letter to members of Congress, the department said that while investigators had found “mismanagement, poor judgment and institutional inertia,” there was no evidence of a crime.
“We found no evidence that any IRS official acted based on political, discriminatory, corrupt or other inappropriate motives that would support a criminal prosecution,” the letter stated.
I am not going to waste any more time on this post this because we all knew this was going to be the end result and it only would have been shocking if charges were filed, after all it was mission accomplished. The fix was in on this one and it has been since the now infamous “hard drive crash” heard ’round the world.
Malo periculosam libertatem quam quietum servitium
The Freedom Caucus to support but not endorse Paul Ryan
Well that did not take long. I no sooner finished my post on the possibility that the Freedom Caucus was poised to end Paul Ryan’s bid to replace John Boehner as the Speaker of the House when the grumblings started that the Freedom Caucus was starting to waver.
In what seems like a very short period of time the Freedom Caucus member support climbed from somewhere around 25% to a super-majority of support after the Chamber of Commerce intervened. Here is more:
Hard-line conservatives cleared a path Wednesday for Rep. Paul Ryan to become House speaker when some of his most disgruntled fellow Republicans signaled that they would support his bid for the top job.
The decision to back Ryan by the House Freedom Caucus, a group of nearly 40 lawmakers that has risen in power and stature since its founding this year, came after the Ways and Means Committee chairman spent much of his day courting its support.
Paul Ryan’s bid to become Speaker of the House might be over before it ever began. Paul Ryan was apparently a reluctant candidate so he decided to try to lay out some rules upon which, and only which, he would agree to run. After setting the groundwork he had a meeting with the Freedom Caucus in an attempt to assuage some of their misgivings with the former vice-presidential candidate.
It did not work. It is now being reported that as many as 75% of the Freedom Caucus members are opposed to Paul Ryan and it seems mainly due to the list of demands he put forth. Without the Freedom Caucus behind him there is no way Paul Ryan will become the Speaker of the House.
Here is more:
Harry Reid endorses Paul Ryan for Speaker of the House
Paul Ryan has earned a notch in his belt, if you can call it that, in his bid (don’t let him sell you on his “reluctance” to take the job) to become John Boehner’s successor as Speaker of the House and it comes from none other than Harry Reid, who apparently endorsed his candidacy last night. While admitting he does not have much in common with Paul Ryan Harry Reid talked about how he has been able to work with him in the past.
Here is more:
The Democratic leader offered his surprise backing for Ryan (R-Wis.) to assume the House speakership, saying he hopes Ryan runs and wins the job because he’s a “Paul Ryan fan.”
“He appears to me to be one of the people over there that would be reasonable. I mean look at some of the other people,” Reid said. “I don’t agree with him on much of what he does. I think what he’s done with Medicare and Medicaid, what he’s wanted to do I disagree with. But generally speaking we’ve been able to work with him.”
Jim Webb might run for President as an Independent
Jim Webb, who cannot gain any traction in an increasingly radicalizing party and who recently complained the Democratic debate was “rigged” for the two front-runners, is now considering a run for the Presidency as an independent according to this story.
Here is more:
Jim Webb, the longshot Democratic presidential candidate, may run as an independent, his campaign said in an email to reporters on Monday evening.
The former Virginia senator, who complained last week about not having enough talking time on the stage during the first Democratic debate in Las Vegas, will hold a press conference in Washington on Tuesday to discuss his options.
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