Good decision.

By Mark Trumbull, Staff writer / February 1, 2013
Republican Scott Brown (click here) won't vie for US Senate seat vacated by John Kerry of Massachusetts, he said Friday. His decision increases the likelihood the seat will stay in Democratic hands.

Oh. Why is it a good decision? He proved he isn't a GOP puppet. You know, Pavlov's dog. Always salivating for the first bone the GOP throws him. I think it is admirable. He put some thought into it. A real move away from extremism. Stop and realize what his last campaign was like. Anyone really want that? At least Brown may be more sane than anyone thought.

I mean he sold out,too. He sold out to big money and I doubt he will have a problem with his future wealth. Why bother? He has a lot of back peddling to do. He has to prove somewhere, somehow he didn't deserve to lose. He lost. Why run again, especially considering the tone and evidence of his time served. Can he hold a candle to the man he replaced? Answer that and then realize who he is looking at in the mirror.

Does anyone actually think Ted Kennedy had no use for Wall Street? His family owned an oil interest. Ted never put any insurance company out of business in Massachusetts when he advocated for the state's responsibility to the citizen. He wasn't interested in destroying Wall Street. He didn't believe they were everything to the country and they aren't, nor should they be, but he did find benefit in having those companies here on USA soil. I am quite sure he was more than miffed at what occurred with the global economic collapse. He would never look the other way and would expect those responsible be held to ridicule.

So, while Mr. Brown took his seat for a short while, it doesn't mean he ever filled those shoes.

Okay, we all know what followed the last time.

I wish there were fitness tests for the banks long about now. I also want the Republicans to take a good look at how successful the Obama Administration has been.

...Dow closes above 14,000 for first time since 2007. (click here)

An encouraging U.S. jobs report propelled blue-chip stocks to their highest level since October 2007 on Friday, closing above the closely watched 14,000 bulwark as investors momentarily sidelined their concerns about the recovery....

President Obama has a plan for the country and I hope he expands on comments during his State of the Union address, he made a few weeks where he alluded to a real strategy for recovery and growth. The country needs to pay attention, the Obama Administration has the country on a strong economic path. The country will pay attention even if the Republicans don't and are caught up in their own dysfunctional politics.

If President Obama provides them proof of past recovery and the path forward the people will pay attention and the confidence issue will disappear. 

It is a diffcult story to read. They are very brave people, a magnificent couple and dedicated to their children.They have every reason to be proud of their parenting. Every reason.

By SUSANNAH MEADOWS
Published: February 1, 2013

...A month after our first appointment,(click here) we went to see Philip Kahn, a pediatric rheumatologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, who gave Shepherd a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (J.I.A.), an autoimmune disease that causes painful swelling in the joints. J.I.A. can lead to stunted growth, disability and, rarely, blindness....

Not all juvenile arthritis is the same. I wish pharmaceutical companies were more involved with universities to facilitate break through. For all the fuss over embryonic tissue and research with stems cells, the benefits of a benevolent society would be solving the problems of the children already here.

...Researchers have identified (click here) changes in several genes that may influence the risk of developing juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Many of these genes belong to a family of genes that provide instructions for making a group of related proteins called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex. The HLA complex helps the immune system distinguish the body's own proteins from proteins made by foreign invaders (such as viruses and bacteria). Each HLA gene has many different normal variations, allowing each person's immune system to react to a wide range of foreign proteins. Certain normal variations of several HLA genes seem to affect the risk of developing juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and the specific type of the condition that a person may have....

I realize sometimes genetic treatment means one treatment and success, so there is not a lot of reason for pharmaceutical companies to invest, but, prices for that one treatment can be bargained for reimbursement with insurance companies. Drugs are expensive and if we are to successfully move into the future the savings for the elimination of pharmaceuticals is astronomical. It is easily justified to pay for treatments that minimize the suffering and return quality of life to any person and family.

Gen. Eric Shinseki from 02.25.03. Did the media not 'GET IT' or what?

The minute I find a personal flaw in my assessment I'll admit to it. Promise. I must not love my country enough either. Fear and killing is so much more comforting.

So why we seek the end of gun violence in the USA, did everyone notice there are reports that Iran is restarting their nuclear program. What an opportunity to bring out the domestic angels and the foreign policy demons to balance the public psychi, isn't it?

In a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency, (click here) Tehran said it would introduce new centrifuges to its main enrichment plant near the central town of Natanz, according to an IAEA communication to member states seen by Reuters.

AHhhhhh, here comes nuclear holocaust right along with the appearance of bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran. Perfect timing.

I think the Boston Globe actually put some thought into it:

...The disclosure came (click here) amid high regional tension, a day after US officials said Israeli warplanes struck deep inside Syrian territory....would add to regional uncertainties...there was no immediate indication that the timing of Iran’s note to the IAEA was related to the events in Syria.

Ya think? I wonder why some came out in criticism of Israel. Hm? I wonder why that was?

...President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran first hinted publicly that Iranian scientists were conducting research to make these machines in 2006. According to news reports, Tehran began testing prototype centrifuges in 2010....

Not exactly earthshaking, is it? It was expected and the letter is a diplomatic formality to the IAEA so other nations have no reason for invasion. I'll be darn. I think a letter like that is called INTENTIONS.

The inflammatory media mess is dangerous. No different than when Iran stated everytime there are inspections of their facilities their scientists are assassinated. Why should Iran cooperate with inspections if afterwards their scientists are killed? No one thinks the scientists have replacements? What is the point in bring about a culture of fear? What are the results and how misinformed are the people of the USA anyway? I think they are considerably misinformed in matters of war and military involvement.

The culture of violence exists in the USA in disproportionate amounts, no different than the country's military budget.

"I wish Bush was back, long skirts that come to the ankle and lots of guns and bomb talk. I felt so much better than with Obama.

The Beyonce issue was MANUFACTURED by the media. I think it can be titled "Spoilers." Everyone is a suspect in plain sight. Get your gun. It started when someone didn't hear the band playing in the same way as before and tweeted the stupid observation. I mean, so what. Boyonce's performance was deceptive? Really? Oh, I know, it was treasonous or some stupid idea of fun.

There are two Americas.

Forbid he didn't prep and perform to media standard.

The entrenchment of fear from the past decade, including as it manifests in gun control is all to obvious.

Pathetic.

The medias timidity is palpable.

Yes or now answers. McCain has the media prowess correct. No complexity, keep it simple. No doubt in my mind.

Unbelievable. Is the American reading level still at the 8th grade or has it deteriorated since Bush?

Senator Hagel was correct when telling Senator Nelson he wanted to speak to McCain's attacks.

There have been many a Senate Committee meeting where hostile questions by one member or another was opened to the floor by yet another member of the committee.

After McCain attacked Senator Hagel yesterday and Senator Nelson provided a window for him to address his service to the country; Senator Hagel was correct to direct the time allowed to answer the hostility leveled at him. It would have been allowed for Senator Nelson to simply ask Senator Hagel if he wanted time to redress previous questions. If the answer was no, then Senator Nelson could have directed the question is ultimately asked. But, the courtesy to extend the nominees remarks usually occurs.

The media is, no doubt, going to back the status quo and treat the answers by Senator Hagel as a social event rather than Military Lobby attack that it was. For bid, Hagel should not have been politically correct in all his verbiage.

What issue divided them? (click here)
The war in Iraq, which Hagel opposed from the get-go, earning himself a place on the "axis of appeasement'' compiled by the neoconservative magazine The Weekly Standard. In 2002, Hagel delivered a thunderous speech on the Senate floor warning that "imposing democracy through force is a roll of the dice." The U.S., he said, did not truly understand the factional divisions among Iraq's Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds. He then voted to authorize military action in Iraq — a vote he attributed to his loyalty to the office of the presidency. As the war spun out of control, Hagel became an ever-fiercer critic of the Bush administration. He voted against extending the Patriot Act in 2005, and led opposition in the Senate to the Iraq surge of 2007, calling it the "most dangerous foreign-policy blunder in this country since Vietnam."

It was and the Republicans continue to focus on it as a bragging point. It isn't. The death rate of innocents and soldiers escalated until enough Iraqis died to dilute their opposition to the USA Occupation. Bush changed his strategy after the Iraq Study Group findings to stay and cement his legacy rather than admit he was "W"rong and redraw troops in a "W"rongful war. Due to the fact Republicans hung their hat on the invasion they focus on The Surge as a real strategy rather than a killing field. Neocons have to be correct in everything the do, you know, otherwise they might have to admit the USA's overwhelming military presence in the world is overkill and nations invaded suffer from American politics and not national security.

The day of The Pentagon Papers are gone. The media runs in retreat since the Bush years, so don't expect any media service to do anything except uphold "The Mind Speak" which is the drum beat to war. They beat the drums into Iraq, they are poised to do it again and they will while waving the American flag when they should be waving a white one in surrender of the truth.

The Vietnam war was the Johnson Surge which cost over 50,000 American men their lives. Johnson eventually would state the war was unwinnable after the death of at least one million Vietnamese. But, hey, has know the bottom line of Bell Helicopter was great.

The word unwinnable never appears in the media anymore. The word doesn't exist. I am fairly sure it has been removed from the US media dictionary. All the American people need to know is that Beyonce is legit. That's all and we are great people for healing the wounded warriors and seeing the American flag over coffins in Dover.

by Peter Beinart Feb 1, 2013 4:45 AM EST
The only people (click here) who performed more poorly at Chuck Hagel’s hearing yesterday than Hagel himself were the senators who questioned him. Again and again, they delivered bloviating, tendentious monologues and then cut Hagel off when he tried to reply. “I don’t want to interrupt you,” explained New Hampshire’s Kelly Ayotte, before interrupting him. When Hagel asked if he could respond to Ted Cruz’s lengthy insinuation that he was dishonest, if not corrupt, the newly elected Texas senator said there wasn’t time....

The practice of appeasement continues. Where did I put that American flag anyway? Did it get burned? Oh, well, I think I still have the Bush effigy somewhere though.

The Jewish Lobby is still arguing among themselves. Could the Supreme Court be next?

Center in picture is Steve Rosen
April 26, 2012

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals (click here) issued a ruling this morning upholding the dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) by former employee Steven Rosen, who was fired following his arrest on espionage charges in 2005.

The charges were later dismissed, but Rosen sued AIPAC in District of Columbia Superior Court in 2009, claiming that statements AIPAC made to the press about him were defamatory; AIPAC had said that Rosen's behavior didn't comport with standards the lobbying group expected of employees. A trial judge granted AIPAC summary judgment in early 2011, and Rosen appealed.

In today's opinion (PDF), a three-judge appeals panel agreed with Superior Court Judge Erik Christian's finding that AIPAC's statements weren’t based on facts that could be verified objectively, and as a result couldn’t be "provably false," a standard for defamation claims....

The Israel Lobby gone wild (click here)

AIPAC staffers looking at porn and cruising for sex on Craigslist, according to allegations in court filings

BY JUSTIN ELLIOTT
WEDNESDAY, NOV 17, 2010 07:01 AM EST
The latest shot in a long-running legal battle between AIPAC and Steven Rosen, a former top official at the pro-Israel group, reveals that AIPAC staffers regularly looked at Internet porn in the office, and that the married Rosen allegedly cruised for gay sex on Craigslist, according to new court filings....

...“Q” here is an attorney for AIPAC, and “A” is Rosen.

Q How often would you browse for pornographic websites?

A I thought I answered that earlier. It varied a great deal. There were …

Q Daily?

A There were times where I viewed pornographic images daily. There were other times where I didn’t view them at all for long blocks of time.

Q And you know we have a copy of your hard drive, correct?

A I assumed it. I didn’t really know that.

Q And for how many years did you do this?

A That I really don’t know....

 ...Q When is the first time you viewed pornographic material using the    company computers at work?

    A I don’t know.

    Q You have no idea?

    A No. Mr. McCally, I have no idea. worked there 23 years. I really don’t know....

Rosen should have sued Bush for attempting to get leverage over AIPAC. At the very least it was sloppy prosecution, but, is the shoot from the hip Bush Administration's action any different here than when they justified their wrongful war into Iraq.

AIPAC felt targeted by U.S., new filings show (click here)

Thursday, December 23, 2010

It was a case that transfixed the pro-Israel community: the August 2005 arrest on espionage charges of two senior officials at AIPAC, the most influential pro-Israel group in Washington.

Before the government dropped the case in May 2009 — amid questions of whether the officials actually committed a crime by talking to Israeli officials about classified information one of them had received alleging an Iranian plot against Israelis stationed in Iraq — AIPAC fired the two men: foreign policy chief Steve Rosen and Iran analyst Keith Weissman.

Now the battle is on to clear their names.

Rosen has filed a defamation lawsuit demanding $20 million from AIPAC, and new court filings last week shed light on a key element of the case: Before firing the two senior staffers, AIPAC prepared a robust defense of them that alleged a conspiracy inside U.S. government agencies to target pro-Israel groups....

Sarah McKinley is a popular person, but, at least she is an honest one.

While the Lawrence O'Donnell show "The Last Word" spoke with Ms. McKinley and she stated, "I don't own an assault weapon and wouldn't use one," was on the Anderson Cooper 360 show in person stating "It was a 12 gauge." Anderson, of course, was building her up to be a pundit and she handed it back to him on a silver platter. I am sure she was happy to speak for herself and I am quite confident if she could relive the moment of the attack in her home over again, she would prefer not to.

This is a Remington 870 pump 12 gauge shotgun. It is considered the choice for THE SENSIBLE SURVIVALIST.

I know something about that gun. 12 gauge shotguns are nothing to play with it. They have a heck of a kick and they are the guns that have 'slugs' which are the shell with one projectile in it rather than 'shot' which are pellets.

No, I don't own a gun and I won't own a gun, but, I do know about what I speak otherwise why write about it.

This is a slug. That is about the exact size of a slug, too. So, they are easy to find in a draw or gun cabinet and these guns load really easily. So, what better than a simple gun that does significant damage at close range.

The video below shows a Remington 12 gauge pump being loaded and unloaded through pump action. No one could put any more shells in the gun, so the idea the gun that honest Sarah McKinley needed was deprived of ammunition in her actions of self defense is a lie.

How to load a shotgun.

Senator Ted Cruz is an islamophobe. Does it show? Bigot!

By what occurred today, Carl Levin may be spending too much time with Ted Cruz and his manipulation of language with dialogue of our military focus. "No it isn't containment, it is prevention." I guess Iran is getting vaccinated.

Ted Cruz is a departure from normal yet alone normal Senate format. The guy is a jerk.

...Departing from the normal format (click here) at Senate hearings, Cruz had the committee staff play a clip of Hagel’’s appearance on an Al Jazeera call-in program, during which a caller suggested that Israel had committed war crimes. During his response to the question, Hagel did not anything to refute the caller’s statement.

“Do you think the nation of Israel has committed war crimes?” Cruz asked Hagel after the clip was played.

“No I do not, senator. I’’d want to look at the full context of the interview, but to answer your question, no,” Hagel said....

It was one of the five things the sane people of Texas believed bizarre about the guy. Someone needs to provide the future Secretary of Defense a copy of the interview.

4) Ted Cruz Is An Islamophobe: (click here) At a campaign event earlier this month, Cruz touted another of the Tea Party’s favorite conspiracy theories, claiming that “Sharia law is an enormous problem” in this country. Although it is common for far right politicians to claim that American law is somehow being replaced with Islamic law, these claims have absolutely no basis in reality. Few American courts have ever even mentioned Sharia or Islamic law, and those that have generally only do so in contracts or similar cases where a party before the court agreed to be bound by Sharia law.

I just can't stand the number of women veiled on the fashion runway in New York City these days, can you? And the number of women thrown out of the university is appalling.

...“In response to questions from attendees, (click here) Cruz said he hoped to see U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder impeached and opposed the law that prohibits tax-exempt churches from endorsing candidates from the pulpit.

When asked about whether he viewed “Sharia Law” as a problem in the United States, Cruz said “Sharia law is an enormous problem.”...

Cruz needs to be impeached. The only reason he was elected is his fancy credentials to Rhenquist. The man has been nothing but bizarre. I doubt if the former Chief Justice would have endorsed him at all. Just another bizarre lawyer playing with words again.

..."In a speech on the floor of the Senate (click here) you referred to Israel's military campaign against the terrorist group Hezbollah as a, quote, 'sickening slaughter,'" said Cruz. "Do you think it's right that Israel was committing, quote, a 'sickening slaughter,' as you said on the floor of the Senate?"

As with so much else today, Hagel was caught short, and tried to explain why "slaughter" might occur if "war crimes" didn't. It was another hit he should have seen coming; the Weekly Standard, in a morning cheat sheet of Hagel quotes, reported that Hagel "accused Israel of carrying out a 'sickening slaughter' in Lebanon."...

Since when is "sickening slaughter" not a part of the American dialogue. How does anyone believe White Phosphorus was identified as a cruel instrument of war, by remaining silent? Where was Cruz in Vietnam when defoliants were deployed? Sickening slaughter is sickening slaughter and it needs to be dealt with. At least Senator Chuck Hagel is willing to speak the words and see the wrong doing.

The entire Republican questioning was misleading. They were trying to set him up as an idiot. He hardly was. He was the most decent man in the room and it was refreshing to hear someone with backbone to finally address those idiots.

But it's misleading. Hagel's full speech is available on C-SPAN, and here's the larger context of the quote.

How do we realistically believe that a continuation of the systematic destruction of an American friend, the country and people of Lebanon, is going to enhance America's image and give us the trust and credibility to lead a lasting and sustained peace effort in the Middle East?

The sickening slaughter on both sides must end, and it must end now. President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop. The Middle East today is more combustible and complex than it has ever been. Uncertain popular support for regime legitimacy continues to weaken governments in the Middle East. Economic stagnation, persistent unemployment, deepening despair, and wider unrest enhance the ability of terrorists to recruit and succeed....

These are the domestic violence statistics from the State of New Jersey.

I do believe New Jersey is doing a good job as the most densely populated state in the country. Help can only happen when women report. Same with rape.

Reporting is a good thing. Women in New Jersey report domestic violence and seek the assistance of police. I am sure there are some instances where police were met with bad news, but, when one looks at the increase in of the arrests made when the abused is protected by court order there is empowerment. When the abused meet the authority they receive counseling to seek a court order for protection. This is good work by women's shelters to seek empowerment of the abused when police are called to the scene.

Highlights of the 2010 domestic violence statistics are listed below: (click here)

• There were 74,244 domestic violence offenses reported by the police in 2010, a 1 percent increase compared to the 73,709 reported in 2009.

• Murders decreased 3 percent in 2010 (38) when compared to 2009 (39). 

• Assaults accounted for 42 percent (31,234) and harassment accounted for 44 percent (32,598) of the reported offenses in 2010.

• Arrests were made in 31 percent (22,738) of the offenses reported for 2010, an increase of 2 percent when compared to arrests made in 2009.

• The most frequent day of domestic violence occurrences was Sunday (12,721).

• For the twenty-eighth consecutive year, the most frequent hours of domestic violence incidents were between 8:00 p.m. and midnight, when 26 percent (19455) of the offenses were reported.

• Children were involved or present during 31 percent of all domestic violence offenses occurring in 2010.  Specifically, 4 percent (3,129) were involved and 27 percent (19,842) were present.

• Wives were the victims in 18 percent (13,371) and ex-wives were the victims in 3 percent (2,438) of the reported domestic violence offenses in 2010.  Overall, females were victims in 75 percent (55,919) of all domestic violence offenses.

• The number of domestic violence complaints that had prior court orders issued against the offender increased from 13,821 in 2009 to 14,245 in 2010.  This is an increase of three percent.

• Alcohol and/or drugs were involved in 26 percent (19,298) of the reported offenses occurring in 2010.  Alcohol involvement alone accounted for 23 percent (17,393) of the total domestic violence offenses reported....

Guns and alcohol don't mix. Needless to say, alcohol rehab would improve these statistics immensely, but, the state can only require such behavior changes in a court of law.


• Persons age 60 or over were victims in 4 percent (2,806) of all reported domestic violence offenses that occurred in 2010. Elderly were the victims in 21 percent (8) of the domestic violence murders (38).

• Domestic violence does not occur at a regular frequency, but when viewed as a ratio of its occurrence to a fixed time interval, one act of domestic violence would occur every 7  minutes and 5 seconds.

• Domestic violence offenses arising from a dating relationship accounted for 15 percent (11,104) of the state total.  

• There were 3,246 total arrests involving domestic violence restraining orders reported by police in 2010.  Of these, 1,906 were arrests for violations of a restraining order only, while 1,304 were arrests for violations of a restraining order with an offense arrest.

The gun laws in New Jersey help prevent domestic violence deaths.

- Long guns and hand guns require state permits to purchase.

A lifetime purchaser identification card is required for any firearm purchase. An additional permit is required for each handgun purchase.

Firearm registration is not required.

The police maintain a record of all handgun transfers.

There are no owner license required. Carry permits are required for handguns only.

New Jersey is a "may-issue" state for concealed carry. (click here) Permit applicants must "specify in detail the urgent necessity for self-protection, as evidenced by specific threats or previous attacks which demonstrate a special danger to the applicant's life that cannot be avoided by means other than by issuance of a permit to carry a handgun."

Not everyone is issued a concealed carry permit just for the asking. It prevents casual use of Concealed Carry. The brevity of Concealed Carry is considered serious in New Jersey. The NRA wants interstate recognize of Concealed Carry Permits. What? Concealed Carry is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly. Why should anyone from one state be allowed to transport weapons across state lines?

There is no regulation of open carry for long guns. Hunting, okay? I mean what else do you do with hunting shot guns? 

If I recall correctly, hunting is limited to shot guns in New Jersey. There are many communities and homes in New Jersey. It is believed rifles would send the bullet to far and penetrate walls during hunting. So, bullets are not permitted to hunt. Shotguns are allowed and hunting permits issued. 

I also remember, in order to get a hunting permit the demonstration of a class on handling the gun is required. One class, once in a lifetime. After the initial class and submission of proof for the first permit, consecutive permits are issues when the expired permits are provided as proof. It works. A permit holder has their name on it. ID.

"Shot" are pellets. They generally don't penetrate the walls of homes. Pellets will disperse over distance, so hunting occurs fairly near the game. There are shotgun shells with one large pellet in them, but, they are usually only used for deer; they will blow birds apart. Pellet shells work well in hunting. I have witnessed family hunters being successful in New Jersey and having enjoyed their accomplishment.

There is regulation regarding handguns when it comes to open carry.

Open carry is allowed only with a concealed carry permit, and is generally not practiced.

The State of New Jersey does not preempt local restrictions on long guns or hand guns, except with an occasional provision. They allow local ordinance to regulate the presence of guns in the community. Who better to understand the community than the local mayor and council? 

There are assault weapon laws on long guns and handguns.

New Jersey prohibits the possession of "assault firearms", and of magazines that can hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition. Firearms and magazines acquired before May 1, 1990 and registered with the state are grandfathered in.

NFA (National Firearms Act) weapons are restricted.

Possession of automatic firearms is prohibited without a state license, which is generally not granted.

These weapons are ridiculous and not necessary. 

The new regulations the Congress will pass has to be sure not to impinge upon state gun laws that work. There should be no pressure on the people of New Jersey to change their success in preventing death among their citizens. Please. The focus in cases where regulations work, should be to prevent migration of weapons into the state from other states. Thank you.

It is a rather incredible video. DHS is correct, run and run fast; even if you carry a gun. Heroes don't always succeed.

The video is correct to be released. There are too many dead Americans daily. Adults don't think about these issues in their lives.

The video is also correct in that the events leading up to gunmen where they don't belong is unpredictable. I would think people would begin to discuss their strategy and know where their exits are in the work place.

We have seen gunmen with body armor and tear gas enter our lives unexpectedly, there is no defending from it. The only real way to prevent these events is to work and play in secure buildings or areas. Turning the American Landscape into the OK Corral is the worst idea for this country.

We have a national emergency. There are too many guns on the street in the hands of the wrong people we cannot predict or understand and the necessity for this video proves it.

The Sequester. The law passed to reduce the National Debt hangs in the balance until March.

The Republicans hope to weezil out of the military cuts. Someone needs to monitor the military contracts now that the debt ceiling has been suspended. There are shenanigans, has to be. Suspending the debt ceiling will encourage overruns, especially the the F35.
This is what the Republican Party is doing for the country. The borrowing of the USA will be suspended May 15, 2013 according to this bill. There can be a lot of damage done to the country with military overruns until then. That is three and a half months. Someone needs to sit on the military budget before the Republicans blow up the domestic budget.
On the other side the Democrats should take this opportunity to structure the domestic cuts which will take effect on May 15. But, I find it more than interesting the last few bills that have passed the Congress were not met with cuts to fund them. Hee-haw.
By Lisa Mascaro

January 31, 2013, 1:06 p.m.

...The final bill was approved 64-34. (click here)

Obama is expected to swiftly sign the legislation as lawmakers gear up for the next budget showdown: deep automatic spending cuts that will begin to hit the economy on March 1 if nothing is done to stop them.

The $1.2 trillion in cuts had once been considered so severe they would force Congress to the negotiating table to devise an alternative deficit-reduction strategy.

But with a month to go before the cuts begin, Congress appears unable to reach a compromise over tax and spending alternatives....

Republicans make a very fatal assumption.

The assume the people of this country would approve of war when they state "Everything is on the table." The Republicans have no authority to even state that. Everything on the table is a political dialogue for the GOP, but, there is a lot that has to happen before the USA will ever enter into a war with boots on the ground again. We have been through a hideous war in Iraq and won't repeat it. To return to the Middle East with troops would be a commitment to a forever war and the country won't do it.

As a matter of fact, the Democrats need to make "Everything on the Table" an election issue for 2014.

With the Middle East experiencing so much disarray there is no way the USA is  going to declare war on Iran and CONTAINMENT by bombing of nuclear and/or military facilities of any country is as far as our military involvement goes. We are not going to war with Iran with troops, it won't happen and if Iran ever thinks they will invade Israel, they need to think again. They'll be stopped before they reach their own border.

If Republicans believe entering the word prevention into the dialogue with the country will automatically TRIGGER another war in the Middle East they are completely "W"rong.

McCain's best opportunity to forever war in the Middle East is only 90 days without the intimidation of Congress to approve a War Powers Act. McCain wants another Rumsfeld that will do anything to push the Congress in THEIR BELIEF war is necessary to protect the national defense of the USA. So, to McCain, he doesn't want Hagel because he might actually have something to say to Congress that would never justify a forever war. And quite frankly, that is the absolute truth. While Hagel would never blink to defend the country he also won't be manipulative to put unreasonable pressure on the nation to go to war.

Prevention is bullshit, it has no place in the national dialogue. Forbid McCain should be disappointed because the country has committed to containment, but, not war. Too bad.

Cut the military budget and get on with the sequester. The Republicans have until March to ADJUST where the cuts are happening. They should get on with it, March is around the corner, especially considering the House is never in session. The House has turned the work week into a four day weekend. They need to pass a bill for the entire country reflecting their pathetic calender so we can all have the same time off to spend the fabulous salaries we all make.

This is such a joke, Lindsay Graham assaulted Hagel today after he backed a woman who testified to fantasy at the Senate hearing on guns yesterday.

There is a lot to be out of the mainstream about. Containment is a valid defense of the USA.

By TIM MAK | 1/31/13 1:26 PM EST

Chuck Hagel stumbled (click here) Thursday during questioning on Iran, inadvertently saying the Obama administration supports “containment” and calling the country an “elected legitimate government.”

"I support the president's strong position on containment, as I have said," the former Republican senator from Nebraska told the Senate Armed Services Committee considering his nomination for Defense secretary....

He didn't stumble. He knows the policies. The answers to the questions by the Senate Committee are not yes and no answers. Because they aren't yes or no answers that is stumbling? That is nonsense.

The Obama administration supports preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, rather than containing it.

Playing with semantics. Containment IS preventing. I don't care if it was Hillary, okay? People are playing with words.

“As you know, our policy is prevention, not containment,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Fox News on Tuesday. “We have, through the hard work we’ve undertaken with the international community, imposed the toughest set of sanctions — international and bilateral — on any country.

The question is WHAT IS PREVENTING? War? Bombs? What does preventing mean? Oh, it might mean containment, gee whiz.”

"I misspoke and said I supported the president's position on containment. If I said that, I meant to say we don't have a position on containment," Hagel said.

Lawyers. He said President Obama instead of WE (meaning the USA). Lawyers, the pickers of nits. We do or we don't is not the issue, the issue is will he go to war if containment fails. Sanctions are containment, I hate to tell the Senate Committee that.

"We do have a position on containment, and that is we do not favor containment," Levin said. "I just wanted to clarify the clarify."

Prevention is a bullshit word. Either there is containment of the building of the nuclear capacity through diplomatic engagement or there is bombing. I don't care if Levin has trouble with CONTAINMENT. The current strategy of the USA is containment. Prevention is not a strategy. "Everything is on the table." Containment is not prevention? The USA has containment and if that is unsuccessful then there is a military solution. There is prevention! It is black and white and the use of the word prevention is a nice sounding word for bombing and/or boots on the ground.

Using the word prevention is a methodology to lie to the American people.

It is very interesting what comes out in these hearings, isn't it? The word prevention is being used to temper the dialogue with Neocons, like McCain with the public. Oh, McCain is such a nice old guy, isn't he, he wants to prevent the nuclear capacity of Iran. Forbid the public should know he is not preventing squat, he is 'Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.'

Prevention is a political word to work around the question, "Will and when will the USA bomb Iran's nuclear facility?" It is nonsense and if I were Chuck Hagel and I was picked on about the word prevention I would be as confused as he was. 

There is no such thing as prevention unless you get a flu shot!

"Doc Popcorn" is a start up franchise with some success. The franchise is three years old. OBAMA.

Yes, Seriously! (click here) The Doc Popcorn Franchise Concept is fun, will 

make you smile and is one of the fastest growing snack franchises on the 
planet. But don’t take our word for it—listen to what our POPrietors have to 
say about the serious fun of owning a Doc Popcorn Franchise.

I am always somewhat skeptical about franchises. Publicity campaigns to 
bring awareness is fine for new franchises, but, there needs to be plenty of 
market research and market share for new franchise holders. 


The franchise provides ads and all that stuff that builds reputation, but, the 
franchise owners are the ones that are the backbone of the company. The new franchise owners pay a significant up front investment and then a share of the profits to their franchise to promote the company. 

Popcorn is popular and this franchise concentrates on quality of ingredients as natural with many varieties. So, it may be popular for new franchise owners. But, every new owner needs to know the potential for market share before launching into the investment. I would think the franchise would provide help with that if not at least insight.

Why not cut the budget when it makes sense.

The President's Jobs Panel were all Wall Street. They don't have answers. The States are setting up their own jobs panel. Maine, New York have focused on their specific needs.

The Jobs Council ideas were lacking. Their ? new ? ideas were no brainers. I don't blame President Obama for disbanding them.

Obama jobs panel pushes tax reform, domestic drilling (click here)

By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON | Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:02pm EST

...The panel, a who's who of corporate titans, has generated dozens of mostly modest proposals since it was created last February. Obama has acted on many of them through use of executive powers.

But some of their bolder ideas have lagged and the overall benefit to the still-sluggish job market remains uncertain. Despite that, Obama said "those small, incremental steps, they add up."...
Maine

January 23 

The Associated Press

AUGUSTA — Maine business leaders (click here) will join legislative leaders in announcing the members of a special committee that will look for ways to create jobs and improve the state's economy.

Maine State Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors will join Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland and House Speaker Mark Eves of North Berwick for Wednesday's announcement at the State House. The Democratic leaders in December announced the formation of the 15-member Joint Select Committee on Maine's Workforce and Economic Future.

Its mission is to report out legislation to strengthen Maine's work force and help Maine's small businesses thrive.

The committee chairs are Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall of Richmond and House Majority Leader Seth Berry of Bowdoinham, both Democrats.

New York sought to find where there was potential for more jobs, economy and investment. Every state is unique. While the federal government helped for awhile, the particulars of LOCAL ECONOMIES are the expertise of the state. 

Nov. 13, 2012

N.Y. yogurt industry creates jobs, panel concludes (click here)

By Krishna Ramanujan

A boom to the New York dairy industry -- partly due to yogurt production that has more than doubled since 2005 -- means more jobs in the state and a growing sector in an otherwise sluggish economy. And Cornell plays a major role in new product innovation and dairy workforce training.

Such were the conclusions of a panel of Cornell experts and state and industry leaders who spoke at an open forum, "The yogurt revolution: How can New York support and expand this economic boom?" Nov. 8 on campus.

The event also included a tour of the $105 million renovation to Stocking Hall, which will include a pilot plant where industries can develop new products, and a 12,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art dairy processing plant, where students and industry professionals can get hands-on training and dairy products will be processed for use on campus. The facilities are slated to open in spring 2013....

The new educational facility is an investment made to increase the opportunities to local economies. I wish New Jersey did the same thing with the old American Cyanamid research facility in West Windsor. It is a ready made facility for research of all kinds with ready to use agricultural facilities. New Jersey should have expanded their state university to that facility. The place was not that expensive to purchase and the teaching faculty already exists within the NJ university system.

But, every state should be carrying out their own jobs council and now with more stable budgets there is no reason not to convene one. The state needs to be able to make the investment at the findings of the panel, but, those investments will be returned in time. 

Expanded job base means expanded tax base. Win-win investment.