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March 2014

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 26, 2014 8 Comments
The University of Michigan student assembly rejected the anti-Israel divestment resolution pushed by a coalition of student groups. The greatest contrast during the night was that while the pro-divestment speakers lashed out at Israel with great vitriol, the anti-divestment speakers -- many of whom were critical of some Israeli policies -- were even-tempered and rational. This student rejected attempts to pigeonhole black students into an anti-Israel vote: But the stars of the night were the opening guest speakers. The pro-divestment group picked Max Blumenthal, who gave a predictably flame-throwing anti-Israel speech. While anti-Israel advocates on Twitter and in the room were excited by Blumenthal's tongue lashing of Israel, that excitement dimmed when two real professors took to the stage, one in opposition to the resolution and one selected to give a historical overview. First up was Michigan State - James Madison College Associate Professor Yael Aronoff, who responded directly to Blumenthal. She spoke somewhat quickly so as to leave time for other guest speakers against the resolution, but basically destroyed Blumenthal by pointing out the one sided presentation and the resolution:

Posted by New Neo on March 26, 2014 15 Comments
Another day, another Obamacare extension decided by the president himself---thus further justifying the fact that the law is called by his name. The worst thing about this extension of the deadline to April 15 is, once again, the procedural overreach by Obama and the unconstitutionality of his declaration. The actual content of the change makes more sense than the March 31 deadline ever did because, pre-Obamacare, individual health insurance could ordinarily be purchased by the fifteenth of the month effective the first day of the next month. The new Obamacare extension only applies to people who've had trouble signing up on the federal website, so I assume that people in states with functioning state websites still supposedly have to sign up by March 31. I suspect such a distinction would be unconstitutional, but isn't most of what Obama's been doing with Obamacare rule changes unconsitutional (not to mention Obamacare itself, whatever SCOTUS says)? The deadline change is also on the honor system, which would make it almost humorous if this weren't a very serious business indeed. I'm with Boehner here:
“What the hell is this, a joke?” Boehner said at his weekly press conference. ...The Speaker called the move “another deadline made meaningless,” adding it to a litany of unilateral changes that the administration has made to the law.

Posted by Bryan Jacoutot on March 26, 2014 54 Comments
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) appeared on MSNBC this week to discuss her objections to the challenge Hobby Lobby has leveled against the United States government’s contraception mandate in Obamacare. Boxer made several baseless claims during the interview, which deserve to be put into a broader political context. Before discussing Boxer's claims, due credit must be given to the MSNBC anchor, Chris Jansing, who drew attention to the fact that Hobby Lobby provides its employees with all sorts of contraceptives through its health plan (16 to be exact), but that the store’s ownership objects to 4 drugs in particular. Among them, Hobby Lobby objects to pills like Plan B — also known as the Morning After pill— and Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), because they have the potential to be "abortion-inducing." In other words, they can terminate a pregnancy after the egg has been fertilized. In response to this very legitimate distinction, Boxer proclaims, “that’s a distinction without a difference.” Perhaps Boxer knows better than the companies who offer these drugs, but I doubt it. Indeed, while Plan B claims to have no effect on a woman who is already pregnant, it qualifies this by saying “there is no medical evidence that Plan B One-Step would harm a developing baby.” It is important to note that “no medical evidence” does not mean there is no possibility. Moreover, Plan-B does not assert that their position is medically conclusive. Thus, Hobby Lobby’s position that it is an abortifacient (an abortion causing drug) is a reasonable one. Beyond Plan B, however, Hobby Lobby also objects to providing IUDs. Unlike Plan B, there is medical evidence IUDs cause abortion after an egg has been fertilized. Indeed, that’s the exact language used to describe how they function.

Posted by New Neo on March 26, 2014 10 Comments
Sex, drugs, rock and roll. It's a winning combination, along with ignorance, and it may just keep the liberals and left in power, despite a few possible setbacks such as the 2014 midterms. It used to be that ignorant young people didn't much care about voting, so that acted as a natural bar to them exerting too great an influence on elections. But Obama was able to muster a campaign of getting out the vote that was wildly successful in getting enough of them to the polls in 2008 and 2012 to tip the balance in his favor. In 2008, this was done mostly through projecting himself as an inspirational and transformational persona. In 2012 the mechanism was more fear of the Other, those dread Republicans/conservatives bent on taking away the sex, drugs, and rock and roll, as well as the financial governmental largesse (as opposed to prosperity) that might accrue from the left remaining in power. The success of all of these efforts relies in large part on keeping the young voters dumb as well as happy with their pleasures. The "dumb" part apparently isn't all that hard to do if you take over the educational and entertainment systems, weaken the family and other institutions that used to teach values, and control the press. Here's some strong evidence that the efforts to do this have been hugely successful. Read it and weep:

Posted by Mandy Nagy on March 25, 2014 23 Comments
Police in Roseville, Michigan say a man suspected of trying to steal a drill from a local Home Depot repeatedly stabbed a store guard with a dirty syringe Monday until a customer with a concealed firearm license intervened and ordered the man to stop, according to an Associated Press report (via Michigan’s FOX 32 News). 26 year old Joshua J. Silva was arrested after the incident Monday, which began in the store parking lot. [Video news report after the jump]. The Detroit Free Press has the details:
Roseville Police Chief James Berlin said that Silva claimed he is addicted to heroin, but it is not believed he was on the drug at the time of the assault. Berlin said Silva began to fight with store loss prevention officers in the parking lot when they tried to apprehend him for stuffing a $179 battery-powered drill under his coat. Silva pulled a concealed syringe from his jacket and used it as a weapon, swinging it around in a slashing motion, police said. They said he stabbed one of the officers several times with the contaminated needle. Berlin said the victim had more than five puncture wounds on the top of his hand. A customer with a concealed pistol license saw the fight, pulled out his handgun and told Silva to drop the syringe and get on the ground. Silva stopped fighting and sat down in the parking lot, police said, but jumped up and ran when he heard approaching police sirens. The loss prevention officers allowed him to run and police officers arrested him without further incident. The citizen told police he got involved because the suspect was so violent and appeared to “be getting the best of” the loss prevention officers. He said he feared if he didn’t get involved, the suspect was going to kill one of the store officers, police said.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 25, 2014 7 Comments
UPDATE 3-26-2014: After several hours of statements and debate lasting well past midnight, the student assembly agreed to consider the divestment resolution -- but then rejected it on the merits by an overwhelming 25-9 margin. ----------------------- A vote several days ago by the U. Michigan Central Student Government Assembly (CSGA) tabled indefinitely an anti-Israel divestment resolution brought by the usual coalition of Israel haters, using the misleading name Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE). The basis for tabling the resolution was that it was not properly within the purview of the CSGU. Then the proponents of the resolution took over the offices of the student government, and refused to leave until the divestment resolution was brought up for a vote. And the Michigan administration played right along, while pretending to be neutral, and deflecting acts of physical and verbal intimidation directed at pro-Israel and Jewish students on campus. And the student government caved in too, its president issuing a lengthy statement, including numerous apologies, including this one:
I apologize to any student who has been personally affected by this issue. The issues raised in the resolution extend thousands of miles beyond Ann Arbor, MI, and no student government resolution can bring about any sort of solution. But for thousands of students on this campus, the issues raised are intensely personal and hit close to home. We can, and should, do more so that students can voice their concerns and be listened to, even and especially by those who disagree with them. We should do more so that students feel safe describing their views and sharing their experiences.
Translation: The divestment motion will be brought up again tonight, starting at 7:30 p.m. The viciously anti-Israel Max Blumenthal and Ali Abunimah apparently are making special appearances to argue in favor of divestment. We'll track what happens and let you know.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 25, 2014 37 Comments
What do you think? Joni Ernst, running for Senate in Iowa, threatens Washington, D.C.'s manhood (or what passes for manhood in D.C.): I don't know anything about Joni Ernst, but the image of her pinning Harry Reid to the ground and, well, you know, should get her some attention. Does that ad top Dale Peterson's 2010 ad for Alabama Agricultural Commissioner?

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 25, 2014 24 Comments
All eyes today are focused on the Hobby Lobby case, argued in the Supreme Court. Michael F. Cannon from CATO argues that Hobby Lobby isn't the most important case being argued today:
Tuesday, all eyes will be on a high-profile Obamacare case before the Supreme Court. But just a few blocks away, a lower court will hear a lesser-known Obamacare case that could have a far greater impact on the future of the law. The Supreme Court hears oral arguments Tuesday in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby, a case challenging the Obama administration's attempt to force private companies to purchase contraceptives for their employees contrary to the owners' religious beliefs. A ruling for Hobby Lobby would restore the religious freedom of potentially millions of employers and workers. Just down the street, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will hear oral arguments in Halbig v. Sebelius. Obamacare supporters call Halbig "the greatest existential litigation threat to the Affordable Care Act." That description, while colorful, is not quite accurate. Halbig does not ask the courts to strike down any part of the law. It merely asks the court to force the administration to implement the law as Congress intended, a prospect that absolutely terrifies Obamacare supporters.
The issue is whether the IRS can issue subsidies for people who sign up for Obamacare through federally run exchanges, which would seem to be contrary to the plain language of the statute.  Prof. Jonathan Adler at Volokh Conspiracy analyzed the issues yesterday:

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 25, 2014 40 Comments
Oh, how I miss my formerly home State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. A State run by the best and the brightest -- and the indicted and the investigated and the Democrats and the Unions. Just a few days ago the feds and State Police raided the office and home of the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives -- who has since resigned as Speaker. Among other things, there is a huge legislative push for more gun control legislation, as reported by ABC6:
Some Rhode Island lawmakers...are again taking aim at gun control. No fewer that nine bills are now being considered - from banning assault style weapons; to boosting sales tax on ammunition; and, limiting gun clips to no more than ten rounds. "People do have the right to own a gun. I believe in that. But I think there's also a new type of responsibility that has to come with controlling a gun and the guns that go out into the street," said State Rep. Joe Almeida (D) Providence, who sponsored three of the bills. Gun owner's rights advocates are already firing back. "We're in an election year and there is an element of this that is obviously election year antics," said State Rep. Mike Chippendale (R) Foster.
The arrogance of the politically powerful is demonstrated in this response by Democratic State Senator Josh Miller and an unidentified compatriot (added -- apparently a photographer accompanying Miller) to a question regarding the pending legislation. Miller describes himself as "[o]ne of the true "left of center" Democrats of the R.I. State Senate." The questioner, Dan Bidondi, has a radio show and is affilated with Alex Jones' InfoWars. Here's the video:

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 25, 2014 9 Comments

We previously reported how Roger Waters, formerly of Pink Floyd, is spearheading the movement to prevent musicians from appearing in Israel, even using a fake Gandhi quote as justification. One of the groups subject to boycott pressure is the Rolling Stones. In a blow to the boycott...

Posted by Mandy Nagy on March 24, 2014 28 Comments

The Malaysian Prime Minister announced in a news conference Monday that new analysis showed Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went down in the southern Indian Ocean, which answered some questions about the missing plane but left many others still unanswered. From CNN: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went down...

Posted by Bryan Jacoutot on March 24, 2014 46 Comments
A shocking new report out of Great Britain has revealed that thousands upon thousands of aborted and miscarried babies have been incinerated at a number of British hospitals, some even being used to heat the hospitals themselves.
Ten NHS trusts have admitted burning foetal remains alongside other rubbish while two others used the bodies in ‘waste-to-energy’ plants which generate power for heat. Last night the Department of Health issued an instant ban on the practice which health minister Dr Dan Poulter branded ‘totally unacceptable.’ At least 15,500 foetal remains were incinerated by 27 NHS trusts over the last two years alone, Channel 4’s Dispatches discovered. The programme, which will air tonight, found that parents who lose children in early pregnancy were often treated without compassion and were not consulted about what they wanted to happen to the remains.
If the investigation turns out to be verified, which appears likely given the response by the National Health Service, the treatment of unborn children has reached a new level of atrocity in the "civilized" world. These are not isolated incidents in some of the UK's most destitute health service providers. To the contrary, some of these hospitals are the National Health Service's standard bearers.

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 24, 2014 45 Comments
As recently as last summer, the Tomahawk missile was being reported as a key to U.S. military plans, particularly in Syria.  New and improved versions were reported just weeks ago. This 2012 Raytheon video demonstrates the Tomahawk's flight path: Unless something changes, however, the Tomahawk is on the chopping block. In late February Chuck Hagel announced the administration's more butter, fewer guns budget, and the Tomahawk missile was chopped, along with many other programs, as reported at the time by Defense News:
Most of the US Navy’s aviation programs take significant hits in the 2015 budget, including the P-8A Poseidon, F-35C Joint Strike Fighter, and MH-60R helicopter, and plans to buy the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned shipboard aircraft have been shelved for now. The budget also takes a big bite out of weapons procurement, notably the elimination of Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile procurement after this year.... Weapons procurement showed striking reductions from last year’s plans. Then, the Navy planned to buy 980 Tactical Tomahawks, the primary cruise missile in use throughout the fleet. The new plan shows only 100 missiles in 2015 and none thereafter. The reduction reflects shifting investment to a new next-generation land attack weapon, said Lt. Caroline Hutcheson, a Navy spokeswoman at the Pentagon, who also noted that the current inventory of Block IV Tactical Tomahawks exceeds combat requirements.
Adam Kredo at The Washington Free Beacon calls attention to this development today, Obama to Kill Tomahawk, Hellfire Missile Programs:

Posted by William A. Jacobson on March 24, 2014 19 Comments

Was Edward Snowden just protecting the privacy -- of Russian and Chinese intelligence services?...

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