Berman Post

Senator Lee (R) Fights Back Against Obama's Unconstitutional "Recess" Appointments

2012-02-14T23:28:00.001-05:00

Video embedded below.

Justice Breyer Robbed by Machete-Wielding Intruder

2012-02-14T23:21:00.001-05:00

Dude!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/13/justice-breyer-robbed-at-west-indies-vacation-home

"Justice Stephen Breyer was robbed last week by a machete-wielding intruder at his vacation home in the West Indies, a Supreme Court spokeswoman said Monday.

The 73-year-old Breyer, wife Joanna and guests were confronted by the robber around 9 p.m. EST Thursday in the home Breyer owns on the Caribbean island of Nevis, spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said. The intruder took about $1,000 in cash and no one was hurt, Arberg said.

She said the robbery was reported to local authorities, but she did not know if an arrest has been made. The U.S. Marshals Service is assisting local authorities and the Supreme Court Police with the investigation, Marshals Service spokesman Jeff Carter said."

Clinton - 'We Need Assad's Consent to Put Troops in Syria'

2012-02-14T23:12:00.003-05:00

Sounds like a green light to Syria to massacre their own people, not that they seem to need much encouragement.

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/02/13/clinton_no_troops_in_syria_without_assad_s_consent

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had a clear and unified message coming out of their meeting in Washington, D.C. Monday: They are looking for a political solution in Syria and won't consider putting international troops there unless the Syrian regime agrees.

Clinton and Davotoglu spent the afternoon preparing for the upcoming inaugural meeting of the "Friends of Syria" group this weekend in Tunisia. Following the meeting, they both urged the international community to support the Arab League's recommendations for Syria following their Sunday meeting in Cairo, which included a request for a U.N.-Arab peacekeeping force in Syria. But Clinton said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who the State Department accuses of murdering civilians, would have to agree first."

Tough Love or Bad Dad? Father Shoots Daughter's Laptop and Posts Video on Web

2012-02-14T23:03:00.000-05:00

Video embedded below.

Mr. President: When you make a promise, you're expected to keep your promise

2012-02-13T23:52:00.000-05:00

Video embedded below.

Attack Watch Returns as "Truth Team"

2012-02-13T23:47:00.002-05:00

Do they not remember how this has gone down before? Oh well, I am up for another round of ridicule/humor aimed at the administration. What is the over-under on how long this latest reincarnation will survive. I would say it is DOA with no one taking it seriously who is not supporting Obama already with the site likely doing more damage than good.

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/02/13/obamas-attack-watch-returns-as-truth-team

"Last September, AP predicted that the much-derided Attack Watch would remain in place because, as Mary Katherine Ham tweeted at the time, “#AttackWatch is metaphor for Obama 08 vs. 12. Same product, subtract style, sprinkle desperation.” You can still smell the desperation in the new Truth Team effort, which incorporates Attack Watch as one of its components:

President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign announced early Monday that it is launching a new site to enable supporters to promote Obama’s successes and “hold Republicans accountable.”

The new site incorporates the AttackWatch brand, which was met by ridicule from the GOP when it was announced last year, and encourages Obama supporters to “report” attacks from Republicans.

“The goal is to ensure that when Republicans attack President Obama’s record, grassroots supporters can take ownership of the campaign and share the facts with the undecided voters in their lives,” said Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie Cutter in a release.

The campaign is also setting up “truth teams” in swing states this week, receiving help from allied unions.

What a shock! I’m sure those “allied unions” include the SEIU, AFSCME, and the NEA, the three unions that have the most to lose if Republicans make good on their pledges to shrink the actual size and cost of government. Given their level of success (and honesty) in fighting Scott Walker in Wisconsin, at least so far, I’m not sure that this will do the Obama campaign much good anyway."

Moody's Downgrades Nine European Sovereigns

2012-02-13T23:19:00.002-05:00

This is going to make it harder for Europe to clime out of their debt crunch; though the Euro was really already doomed before this move.

http://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-adjusts-ratings-of-9-European-sovereigns-to-capture-downside--PR_237716

"As anticipated in November 2011, Moody's Investors Service has today adjusted the sovereign debt ratings of selected EU countries in order to reflect their susceptibility to the growing financial and macroeconomic risks emanating from the euro area crisis and how these risks exacerbate the affected countries' own specific challenges.

Moody's actions can be summarised as follows:

- Austria: outlook on Aaa rating changed to negative

- France: outlook on Aaa rating changed to negative

- Italy: downgraded to A3 from A2, negative outlook

- Malta: downgraded to A3 from A2, negative outlook

- Portugal: downgraded to Ba3 from Ba2, negative outlook

- Slovakia: downgraded to A2 from A1, negative outlook

- Slovenia: downgraded to A2 from A1, negative outlook

- Spain: downgraded to A3 from A1, negative outlook

- United Kingdom: outlook on Aaa rating changed to negative

Please see the individual country specific statements below for more detailed information relating to the rating rationale and the sensitivity analysis for each affected sovereign issuer."

Israel Struck by Simultaneous Embassy Attack

2012-02-13T23:10:00.002-05:00

Make no mistake, Israel and Iran are in an undeclared state of war. That may be nothing new, but the cold war has been heating up for a while. This is just the latest biol over. Still, an attack on an embassy should be roundly condemned.

http://news.yahoo.com/israel-says-bombs-target-embassies-india-georgia-115811231.html

"Israel accused arch-enemies Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah of being behind twin bomb attacks that targeted Israeli embassy staff in India and Georgia on Monday, wounding four people.

Tehran denied involvement in the attacks, which amplified tensions between two countries already at loggerheads over Iran's nuclear program, and accused Israel of carrying out the attacks itself. Hezbollah made no comment.

In the Indian capital New Delhi, a bomb wrecked a car taking an Israeli embassy official to pick up her children from school, police said. The woman needed surgery to remove shrapnel but her life was not in danger.

Her driver and two passers-by suffered lesser injuries.

Israeli officials said an attempt to bomb an embassy car in the Georgian capital Tbilisi failed, and the device was defused."

Markets Not Capitalism

2012-02-13T23:01:00.000-05:00

Video embedded below.

The Inside And Outside of CPAC 2012

2012-02-12T23:37:00.002-05:00

Video embedded below.

Speaking of ~~AstroTurf~~ Occupy Protesters;

http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/10/occupy-cpac-protesters-paid-60-for-the-day

"Protesters at Friday’s “Occupy CPAC” event, organized by AFL-CIO and the Occupy DC movement, told The Daily Caller that they were paid “sixty bucks a head” to protest outside the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

One protester told TheDC that all the “Occupy” activists were being paid to protest, and that his union, Sheet Metal Workers Local 100, approached him about the money-making opportunity.

“I have nothing nice to say about Local 100. … They just told me ‘you wanna make sixty bucks? So c’mon,’” the protester said."

Pelosi (D) Violates Campaign Finance Laws?

2012-02-12T23:24:00.002-05:00

Laws apparently are for the little people...

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/02/10/did-nancy-pelosi-just-violate-campaign-finance-laws

"CNN is reporting that, during remarks to reporters on the Hill, Nancy Pelosi suddenly tossed out an unscripted comment which could, in theory, land her in some hot water.

Did House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi inadvertently cross a legal line by asking for political contributions while on federal property?

At a Capitol Hill press conference Thursday, Pelosi was making the case for campaign finance reform and said Democrats will disclose donors to their political groups, even when the law doesn’t require it.

During her comments, she said “by the way we’re asking people to contribute to us if they want to elect more reformers to Congress so we can do away with super PACs – we can do away with secret contributions.”

So technically, asking for donations or doing any sort of fundraising on federal property is a pretty big Bozo No-No. But it’s also not something that frequently winds up being punished in a serious way for some reason. You may remember way back in 1997 that Al Gore was found to have made numerous fundraising phone calls to donors from his office in the White House. What happened to him? He had to write a check for $24.20 to cover the cost of the long distance calls."

Head to the source for her explanation/excuse, though I doubt you will buy it.

US Working Around UN to Organize 'Friends of Syria' Meeting

2012-02-12T23:11:00.003-05:00

China and Russia vetoed our efforts through the UN; another great example of the 'smart power' this administration has show. Now, noted Nobel Peace Prize winner and opponent of unilateral action could be gearing up for another go it alone 'kinetic military action' against a Muslim-Arab nation. You would think a Republican was in office or something. That and liberals do not care about military action as long as a Democrat is at the helm.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/09/us-working-around-united-nations-to-organize-friends-syria-meeting

"The Obama administration is working to help organize a so-called "friends of Syria" meeting as part of what the State Department says is a push to work "outside the U.N. system," after the Security Council shot down a resolution against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Russia and China vetoed the anti-Assad measure despite a new wave of violence in Syria, including a massacre in the city of Homs in which hundreds reportedly were killed. The disappointing weekend session has left the United States and other countries mulling their options to prevent the bloodshed from spreading further."

Samuel L. Jackson - "I Voted For Barack Because he Was Black"

2012-02-12T22:59:00.002-05:00

Voting for someone just because of the color of their skin is the same as not voting someone because of their skin color; unquestionably racist. If a famous actor has said they voted for McCain because he was the white candidate there would he a firestorm of controversy. I have a feeling Jackson is going to more or less get a pass on this.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/02/11/barack-obama-samuel-l-jackson

"Barack Obama's politics meant nothing to Samuel L. Jackson because the "Pulp Fiction" star only voted for the president for one reason and one reason only ... because he's black.

In an interview with Ebony magazine, Jackson explained, "I voted for Barack because he was black. 'Cuz that's why other folks vote for other people — because they look like them ... That's American politics, pure and simple. [Obama's] message didn't mean [bleep] to me."

Jackson then went on to drop the N-word several times when discussing Obama"

Romney Wins CPAC Straw Poll And Maine Caucuses

2012-02-11T23:42:00.000-05:00

With those victories, Romney snaps any momentum Santorum was building with his earlier sweep.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/11/romney-wins-washington-timescpac-straw-poll

"Mitt Romney won The Washington Times/CPAC Presidential Straw Poll on Saturday, and also nipped Rick Santorum as the top choice of conservatives nationwide, according to a new version of the poll conducted for the first time this year that suggests Mr. Romney retains strong support among self-identified conservatives.

Mr. Romney won 38 percent of the straw poll, which counted the votes of 3,408 activists gathered for the Conservative Political Action Conference, which ran from Thursday through Saturday at a hotel in Washington.

Mr. Santorum was second with 31 percent, Newt Gingrich was third with 15 percent and Rep. Ron Paul was fourth with 12 percent — far below his showing the last two years, when he won with 31 in 2010 and 30 percent in 2011."

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-11/politics/politics_pol-maine-wrap_1_maine-caucuses-straw-poll-mitt-romney

"Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney ended what had been the worst week of his campaign with a quick one-two Saturday -- winning the Maine caucuses hours after placing first in a closely watched straw poll of conservative leaders and activists.

In Maine, Romney squeaked out a tight win over Texas Rep. Ron Paul in that state's Republican presidential caucuses, taking 39% of the vote to Paul's 36%. He had gone 0-for-3 in Tuesday's contests in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri, which all went to former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum."

Whitney Houston Dies at the Age of 48

2012-02-11T23:28:00.002-05:00

She died well before her time and she will be missed.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBIT_WHITNEY_HOUSTON

"Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died Saturday. She was 48.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told reporters outside the Beverly Hilton that Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. in her room on the fourth floor of the hotel. Her body remained there and Beverly Hills detectives were investigating.

"There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent," Rosen said.

Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said the cause of death was unknown.

Rosen said police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at 3:43 p.m. Saturday. Paramedics who were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, he said."

Jobs Return to the US Thanks to Falling Wages and a Weaker Dollar

2012-02-11T23:20:00.000-05:00

Video embedded below.

Satellite Spots Tanks in Syrian City

2012-02-11T23:12:00.002-05:00

They are preparing for a massacre, one that is likely already going on. Time to ask ourselves once again if we are going to sit by and watch or try and stop it.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SYRIA_SATELLITE_PHOTOS

"Satellite image provider DigitalGlobe Inc. released photos Friday that appear to show Syrian army tanks and other armored vehicles in the city of Homs.

DigitalGlobe said the images were taken late Friday morning Syrian time by the company's WorldView 2 satellite from about 480 miles above the Earth.

Stephen Wood, director of DigitalGlobe's analysis center, said the photos show tanks, armored personnel carriers and other armored vehicles in the southern part of the city, some of them near apartment buildings.

The satellite images show an increase in the level of army activity in and around Homs from the previous 24 hours, Wood said."

Economic Warfare: The Battle between Wealth Takers and the Wealth Creators

2012-02-11T23:02:00.000-05:00

Video embedded below.

Whiter Than White?!? The White People at MSNBC Play Race Card on Romney

2012-02-10T23:43:00.000-05:00

Video embedded below.

NRC Approves Construction of New Nuclear Power Reactors

2012-02-10T23:26:00.002-05:00

It is the first in more then three decades and long overdue.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/nrc-approves-construction-of-new-nuclear-power-reactors-in-georgia/2012/02/09/gIQA36wv1Q_story.html

"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Thursday approved a construction and operating license for new nuclear power reactors for the first time since 1978, giving Southern Co. the green light to build two new units at its existing Vogtle site in Georgia.

The commission voted 4-1 in favor, with NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko casting the sole vote against granting the license. Jaczko said later that he wanted binding assurances that the new reactors would be modified to meet recommendations made by the agency’s task force on the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant last year.
...
Southern, which filed its license application in March 2008, said it expects the project to cost about $14 billion. It will use Toshiba’s AP1000 reactors, the design of which the NRC certified in December, and it hopes to bring them online in 2016 and 2017.

The new reactors, however, are no longer seen as the start of what the industry once predicted would be a nuclear renaissance. Virtually all of the 31 plants that had been proposed by 2009 have been shelved as a result of cheap natural gas, high construction costs, weak electricity demand and safety concerns following the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in Japan.

Ten anti-nuclear groups have vowed to file suit against the NRC if it approves the license as expected. The groups said they would argue that the agency broke the law by failing to consider the full lessons of the Fukushima disaster, in which a string of four reactors were badly damaged in an earthquake and tsunami."

Why we Suck

2012-02-10T23:19:00.000-05:00

Video embedded below.

Obama Budget to Miss Deficit Goal

2012-02-10T23:11:00.001-05:00

This is just the projected miss, the reality will unfortunately likely be worse.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/02/obama-budget-to-miss-deficit-goal/1

"President Obama's proposed 2013 budget will forecast a $901 billion deficit for next year, falling far short of his goal to halve the deficit in four years.

The budget, an outline of which was released by the White House Friday night, will show a higher deficit this year than in 2011, up from $1.3 trillion to $1.33 trillion.

In addition, the projected decline to $901 billion in 2013 is dependent on enactment of the president's policies, including spending reductions agreed to last summer and ending George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy at the end of this year."

The Obama Fairness Quiz

2012-02-10T23:02:00.000-05:00

Video embedded below.

FBI Issues Warning About 'Right Wing Extremists'

2012-02-09T23:29:00.002-05:00

Can you believe that there are people who actually think the government should not control every aspect of your life, that taxes are to high, and that Global Warming people may have no idea what they are talking about. Forget about terrorists, these people are the real threat.

Way to keep your eye on the ball...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/us-usa-fbi-extremists-idUSTRE81600V20120207

"Anti-government extremists opposed to taxes and regulations pose a growing threat to local law enforcement officers in the United States, the FBI warned on Monday.

These extremists, sometimes known as "sovereign citizens," believe they can live outside any type of government authority, FBI agents said at a news conference.

The extremists may refuse to pay taxes, defy government environmental regulations and believe the United States went bankrupt by going off the gold standard."

http://blogcritics.org/politics/article/fbi-warns-that-americans-are-now2

"Following the pattern of other provocative statements about potential domestic terrorist threats from the Obama Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a statement exposing the threat of "hundreds of thousands" of "sovereign citizens" who can turn violent "at the drop of a hat" during encounters with the police.

Citing three specific cases in three years and a trend of an increase in arrests of believers in individual sovereignty from 10 to 18 cases per year, mostly for non-violent crimes, the FBI declared law enforcement to be "inundated" with threats.

This may be the most exaggerated and offensive example of specious fearmongering to come out of an administration which has been promoting irrational fear of generally harmless groups of citizens for three years. The FBI is taking aim at a huge body of citizens who are increasingly angry about government abuse of power and irresponsibility and attempting to turn them into a movement of dangerous potential terrorists.

These dangerous "extremists" hold such horrific views as "outrage at tax collection," defying environmental regulations and believing that "the United States went bankrupt by going off the gold standard." The FBI is identifying them as "sovereign citizens" and is defining them as a members of a movement, though they provide no evidence of organized or coordinated activity beyond just being angry with the government, a characteristic shared by about half the nation's population."

Canada And China Reach Deal on Oil And Uranium

2012-02-09T23:11:00.003-05:00

Obama blocked the US from buying it by scudding the pipeline. Did anyone really believe that the Canadians would just not bother selling because we were not the buyers. This is a real strategic blunder by the Obama administration. Forget 'Smart Power' this was 'just don't say no and we win power' that the administration managed to botch.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/China+Canada+reach+deals+uranium+travel/6125940/story.html

"The development came as China and Canada declared Thursday that bilateral relations have reached "a new level" following a series of multibillion-dollar trade and business agreements to ship additional Canadian petroleum, uranium and other products to the Asian superpower.

The two countries have agreed that a joint economic study being conducted will be completed by May 2012, "after which Canada and China will proceed to exploratory discussions on deepening trade and economic relations."
...
Harper and the Chinese leadership said Thursday the economic co-operation agreements — and billions of dollars in new private-sector deals — signed by the two countries over the past few days are unprecedented and will open the door to additional trade and investment.

The new deals further solidify a "strategic" partnership between the countries, particularly in terms of natural resources, with China's top political leaders calling for "more large-scale co-operation" with Canada on oil and gas to feed China's seemingly insatiable energy appetite.

Harper announced Thursday, following meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, that the countries have struck an agreement that will allow Canadian uranium companies to "substantially increase exports to China.""