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Poll: Voters Beginning to Turn Against Obama Admin

McPartland — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:25:43 +0000

Rasmussen: Voters Beginning to Turn Against Obama Admin

by William Bigelow

According to Rasmussen Reports, although Barack Obama’s approval ratings are remaining steady, the scandals around the White House are beginning to shift the American public’s attitude toward the Obama Administration. Obama’s personal approval is at 47%, roughly the same as they were during his first term, but there are other numbers that show a growing disaffection, such as:

39% of those polled think that the IRS targeting of conservative groups was prompted by someone at the White House; as opposed to 26% who believe it came from the IRS itself and 20% who think some low-level IRS employees. And only 19% of those polled believe that the IRS normally goes after presidents’ opponents.

Jon Stewart Rips Obama For Prosecuting Whistleblowers And Not Bankers

McPartland — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:22:04 +0000

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

Daily Show: The Obama administration believes in freedom of the press -- just not freedom of speech for people who might talk to the press.

Krauthammer: There’s A Fly In My Soup

McPartland — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:18:15 +0000

There’s a fly in my soup

By Charles Krauthammer

“Horrible customer service.” That’s what the newly fired IRS commissioner averred was the agency’s only sin in singling out conservative political groups for discriminatory treatment.

In such grim proceedings one should be grateful for unintended humor. Horrible customer service is when every patron in a restaurant finds a fly in his soup. But when the maitre d’ screens patrons for their politics and only conservatives find flies paddlewheeling through their consomme, the problem is not poor service. It is harassment and invidious discrimination.

GOP, Immigration Agents Blast President For Ignoring Officials

McPartland — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:10:45 +0000

Misplaced Priorities

GOP, immigration agents blast president for ignoring federal law enforcement officials

BY: Lachlan Markay

Lawmakers heading the Republican push for immigration reform blasted President Barack Obama on Thursday for failing to meet with federal law enforcement officials even as his administration meets with illegal immigrants.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R., Ala.) and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R., Va.) sent a letter to the president on Thursday expressing concern that the White House has so far failed to respond to requests for a sit-down from the National ICE Council, which represents more than 7,000 U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers.

Poll: 67 Percent Of Americans Think Economy Still in Bad Shape

McPartland — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:06:55 +0000

Poll: 67 Percent of Americans Think Economy Still in Bad Shape

By Dan Weil

More than two-thirds of Americans still believe economic conditions in the country are poor, according to a new CNN/ORC International survey released Friday.

The poll of 923 adults conducted May 17-18 found that 67 percent of those surveyed aren't pleased with how the economy is doing, compared to 33 percent who described the nation's economy as good.

Overall, the survey found attitudes a little improved over last year, when 74 percent of respondents said economic conditions were bad and 26 percent said things were fine.

Did Holder Mislead Congress About Targeting Reporters Like James Rosen?

McPartland — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:03:59 +0000

Did Holder mislead Congress about targeting reporters like James Rosen?

By Karl Rove

In his speech at the National Defense University Thursday, President Obama said, “Journalists should not be at legal risk for doing their jobs. Our focus must be on those who break the law.”

Maybe it’s time for the president to have a heart-to-heart with his attorney general, Eric Holder.

NBC News is reporting that Mr. Holder “signed off on a controversial search warrant that identified Fox News reporter James Rosen as a ‘possible co-conspirator’ in violations of the Espionage Act and authorized seizure of his private emails,” per NBC conversations with a law enforcement official.

In the case of the government’s subpoena for the phone records of as many as 100 Associated Press editors and writers, Mr. Holder left the decision for a deputy to make after he recused himself.

But if NBC News is right, then the attorney general himself green-lighted the FBI to seek a subpoena for Mr. Rosen’s private emails in the spring of 2010.

If true, then Mr. Holder has a difficulty. He might have recently misled Congress in a profound way. Some might even say he lied.

On May 15, before the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) asked the attorney general, “We also have an old law that would allow for prosecution of anyone who published the classified information, isn’t that correct?”

In the course of a rambling answer, Mr. Holder said, “You've got a long way to go to try to prosecute people—the press for the publication of that material. This has...not fared well in American history."

So far, so good: Mr. Obama and Mr. Holder apparently agree. "The focus should be on those people who break their oath and put the American people at risk, not reporters who gather this information. That should not be the focus...of these investigations," the attorney general went on to say.

But Mr. Holder also proclaimed, "With regard to the potential prosecution of the press for the disclosure of material, that is not something I've ever been involved in, heard of, or would think would be wise policy."

Aide Involved In Benghazi Talking Points Scrubbing Promoted By Obama

McPartland — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00:36 +0000

Aide involved in Benghazi talking points scrubbing promoted by Obama

By Susan Crabtree

In a bold move that demonstrates his commitment to an inner circle of close advisers — even those caught up in controversies, President Obama plans to nominate Victoria Nuland to assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, the White House said Thursday.

Ms. Nuland is the State Department spokeswoman who, emails revealed last week, expressed deep concerns about the implications of early versions of the “talking points” being prepared for the attack on the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya. at one point asking that references to al Qaeda and previous CIA warnings about threats in Libya be deleted from the document. She said members of Congress might use them to criticize the State Department for not providing beefed-up security at Benghazi, where U.S. Amb. J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed.

WH Silent About Holder Approving Fox News Probe

McPartland — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:56:45 +0000

White House silent about Holder approving Fox News probe

Brian Hughes

The White House on Friday didn’t respond to a report that Attorney General Eric Holder authorized the seizure a Fox News reporter’s phone and email records — and with no daily press briefing scheduled Friday that could mean silence from the administration through the Memorial Day weekend.

NBC News reported Thursday that Holder approved the search of Fox News reporter James Rosen’s private emails and phone records in a probe of leaked government information. That revelation came just as the president ordered Holder to reviewJustice Department’s guidelines for investigating reporters.

Wounded Vets Invited to President Bush’s Ranch for 100K Bike Ride

McPartland — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:50:41 +0000

by Fox News Insider

Former President George W. Bush invited a number of wounded veterans to his Texas ranch for the Warrior 100K bike ride.

Dr. Marc Siegel is along for the ride and filled Martha MacCallum in on all of the details from Texas.

MUST READ: Team Obama Fostered Culture of Intimidation Dating Back to '08

sorourke — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:37:53 +0000

Strassel: Conservatives Became Targets in 2008

The Obama campaign played a big role in a liberal onslaught that far pre-dated Citizens United.

By KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL | Wall Street Journal

The White House insists President Obama is "outraged" by the "inappropriate" targeting and harassment of conservative groups. If true, it's a remarkable turnaround for a man who helped pioneer those tactics.

On Aug. 21, 2008, the conservative American Issues Project ran an ad highlighting ties between candidate Obama and Bill Ayers, formerly of the Weather Underground. The Obama campaign and supporters were furious, and they pressured TV stations to pull the ad—a common-enough tactic in such ad spats.

What came next was not common. Bob Bauer, general counsel for the campaign (and later general counsel for the White House), on the same day wrote to the criminal division of the Justice Department, demanding an investigation into AIP, "its officers and directors," and its "anonymous donors." Mr. Bauer claimed that the nonprofit, as a 501(c)(4), was committing a "knowing and willful violation" of election law, and wanted "action to enforce against criminal violations."

AIP gave Justice a full explanation as to why it was not in violation. It said that it operated exactly as liberal groups like Naral Pro-Choice did. It noted that it had disclosed its donor, Texas businessman Harold Simmons. Mr. Bauer's response was a second letter to Justice calling for the prosecution of Mr. Simmons. He sent a third letter on Sept. 8, again smearing the "sham" AIP's "illegal electoral purpose."

Also on Sept. 8, Mr. Bauer complained to the Federal Election Commission about AIP and Mr. Simmons. He demanded that AIP turn over certain tax documents to his campaign (his right under IRS law), then sent a letter to AIP further hounding it for confidential information (to which he had no legal right).

The Bauer onslaught was a big part of a new liberal strategy to thwart the rise of conservative groups. In early August 2008, the New York Times trumpeted the creation of a left-wing group (a 501(c)4) called Accountable America. Founded by Obama supporter and liberal activist Tom Mattzie, the group—as the story explained—would start by sending "warning" letters to 10,000 GOP donors, "hoping to create a chilling effect that will dry up contributions." The letters would alert "right-wing groups to a variety of potential dangers, including legal trouble, public exposure and watchdog groups digging through their lives." As Mr. Mattzie told Mother Jones: "We're going to put them at risk." ...