It's a beautiful thing. Hawks win big tonight, up two heading to Philly.AnnaTarkov Hahaha, LOVE this: RT @ESPNChiHawks Niemi's agent just sent this to me. Hilarious. http://twitpic.com/1rabsd #ONEGOAL (via @Suntimes)
Interestingly, the Union of Good may not only be tied to Hamas. Included in the Israeli list of 36 designees was the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO). In 2006, both the U.S. government and the United Nations designated the IIRO branch offices in Indonesia and the Philippines for financing al Qaeda. French magistrate Jean-Louis Brougiere also testified that IHH had an "important role" in Ahmed Ressam's failed "millennium plot" to bomb the Los Angeles airport in late 1999.Note that Hamas is also a mass murderer of fellow Palestinians when they took over Gaza, those from rival Fatah who could took shelter in Israel. Video.
jstrevino We may now definitively say the #flotilla was a pro-terrorist undertaking. WATCH: http://bit.ly/afBZaIMore. Via Powerline, Melanie Phillips--'Peace Convoy'? This was an Islamist terror ambush:
More. Gateway Pundit:Gaza’s markets are full of produce, thousands of tons of supplies are travelling into Gaza every week through the Israeli-controlled border crossings, and there is no starvation or humanitarian crisis. It was always obvious that the flotilla was not the humanitarian exercise it was said to be. Here is footage of the IDF offering to dock the Marmara -- the main flotilla ship -- at Ashdod and transfer its supplies and being told ‘Negative, negative, our destination is Gaza’.
And now we can see that the real purpose of this invasion -- backed by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), a radical Islamic organization outlawed by Israel in 2008 for allegedly serving as a major component in Hamas’s global fund-raising machine -- was to incite a violent uprising in the Middle East and across the Islamic world. As I write, reports are coming in of Arab rioting in Jerusalem.
Barack Obama’s close family friends, terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, and top campaign bundler Jodie Evans from Code Pink are top activists with the Gaza flotilla group that attacked the IDF today.And so we come full circle. Unrepentant. Terrorist. The America haters and the anti-Semites.
The world will blame Israel for this, but the blockade exists to keep weapons out of the hands of Hamas, which continually attacks Israel despite the latter’s withdrawal from Gaza years ago. It’s a legitimate and necessary military response to Hamas’ terrorism, and the flotilla knowingly sailed itself into a military conflict — and carried arms into it as well. That makes them legitimate antagonists in the conflict and fair game for Israeli’s military.And Cubachi on the group behind the flotilla: IHH has a history of supporting terrorism and anti-Western sentiment
rsmccain Liberals wondering: Why aren't Israelis cooperating with Hamas plans for another Holocaust? Don't they want peace?More.
MelissaTweets RT @allahpundit: Has the Security Council held any meetings yet about North Korea's sinking of the South Korean ship?
jstrevino Were I Jewish, or Israeli, I believe I would use the word "Quisling" when discussing J Street: http://bit.ly/dv7ku1 #flotilla
jstrevino #Flotilla fanatics try to beat him to death with metal rods. Go to 0:40 here: http://bit.ly/bDRiMT
StandWithUs StandWithUs Denounces Anti-Israel #Flotilla Goals and Lynching Attempt #gaza #israel #palestine http://tinyurl.com/2bn4n3mMore.
The BBC has provided space on its website for readers to complain that the Israeli naval raid off Gaza was "piracy" because it took place in international waters. A rather better use of the page would have been a piece informing its readers of the position in international law.
I am no expert in this field and I know that international law is open to interpretation. But here's an account posted anonymously in response to this excellent piece. I have retained the US spellings, perhaps the only clue to the identity of the author, "George".
1. A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. Such blockade has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, which has repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have been smuggled into Gaza via the sea.
2. Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea. (Examples: USA blockaded Cuba, UK blockaded The Falklands, the EU blockaded Yugoslavia)
3. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral States.
Read on.
More.
yidwithlid @RJCHQ wont see truth in MSM AMBUSH! A Videologue -How Turkish Terrorists Caused Israeli Navy/Gaza Flotilla Viol http://bit.ly/cMdI82More.
directorblue Denmark: Jews being hunted down in Copenhagen in retaliation for Gaza Flotilla violence http://ow.ly/1SarR #tcot
The Saturday Night Massacre was the term given by political commentators[1] to U.S. President Richard Nixon's executive dismissal of independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox, and the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus on October 20, 1973 during the Watergate scandal.[2]Our President Barack Obama brought in yet another Chicago Way minion as his White House counsel. His insularity--and culpability? is complete.
It's also not believable that Bill Clinton held a conversation that lasted less than one minute....
Sestak now says all Clinton offered him was a cigar.Previous posts: Sestak, Rahm, Bubba, I can see a gusher from my house, Say it ain't so Joe Sestak, Obama's Blushing Chicago Way Bribe, We knew we could trust Barack after all, Tom Roeser Translates Rahmbo to Sestak, Axelrod Spins Out, JobsGate and ObamaRahmbo Omerta
NY Times goes to Portugal. Home of port. I can't resist this gorgeous photo.
...A less expensive Portugal. The upside of the PIGS crisis. I'm sure California is just as expensive.
Talkmaster What have I been telling you folks? NUKE the damn thing! http://tinyurl.com/2f86rl9And in case you missed it, screw environmental chic.
I was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy Reserve in 1989. I have now served 21 years. For the last 10 years, as a Member of Congress, I served without pay because I love the Navy, her duty, honor, country. In uniform, I served during conflicts with Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and Bosnia. I am proud of my service – it is the honor of my life to work with Americans who keep America safe.
Last week, I found that I misidentified a military award and corrected my biography. According to the Washington Post, their reporter worked with Alexi Giannoulias' campaign to write a story that turned out to be imprecise about the title of an award included in that biography.
The error was discovered last week by my staff. Going through my Fitness Reports for 1999/2000, we recognized that referring to an award as “Intelligence Officer of the Year” was not precise – so we corrected my biography with the official name of a very distinguished award that I am honored to have received.
My corrected biography accurately shows I received the United States Navy Rufus L. Taylor Intelligence Award – as the leader of an ad-hoc intelligence effort supporting four EA-6B Prowler electronic attack squadrons as part of Operation Allied Force – instead of Intelligence Officer of the Year. I accepted the Taylor Intelligence Award (named after the head of navy intelligence in World War II) as the leader of an intelligence section that I assembled and led. There is no hierarchy between these awards as the Taylor Intelligence Award is equally distinguished.
I knew Alexi Giannoulias would focus on a negative campaign – in fact, he and his consultants announced that in the New York Times. I corrected the record, but I will not let my 21 years of service in uniform be denigrated by Alexi Giannoulias, a man who chose not to serve.
Frankly, I thought it took some nerve when he ran a television ad claiming credit for what amounted to tens of millions in investment losses from the college savings of thousands of working families under Illinois Bright Start – or to follow it up with a second ad looking for sympathy after so many of his decisions ran his bank into the ground, costing the FDIC $394 million. But coming after my 21-year Navy service record just might top those.
In November, Illinois voters have a choice – so let us look at my opponent’s record – here it is. Because of that record he has made a strategic decision to attack my military service record. I understand politics is a tough business – but this attack orchestrated by Alexi Giannoulias is a disgrace.
My official Navy records speak for themselves – read them here.
Our state and nation face serious problems - and having a veteran's military record challenged by a politician who never served and was anointed by the media as a "mob banker" is absurd.
I look forward to the contest and laying out the choice. If Alexi wants to make this race about my military record, I'm happy to have the debate. Thank you for your continued support.
Very truly yours,
Mark Kirk
Member of Congress
***
Fact Check: “Mob Banker” Who Never Served Attacks Decorated Naval Officer’s Distinguished Service Record
On Saturday, a Washington Post reporter noted that the Alexi Giannoulias campaign was involved in a story entitled “Illinois Senate candidate admits claim about military award was inaccurate.” The Giannoulias-provided story and some follow-up stories were inaccurate and merit correction.
Fact Checks on the Giannoulias-Provided Story:
#1: Giannoulias Provided Story Diminishes Kirk’s Outstanding Service
First, the Giannoulias-provided story diminishes Kirk’s Kosovo service by describing him only as “the intelligence officer for a single squadron at Aviano.” In fact, Kirk took charge of four squadrons and served as the lead officer for a combined intelligence team – the largest EA-6B intelligence shop in the history of naval aviation. (Source: Officer Fitness Reports; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Citation)
#2: Giannoulias Provided Story Diminishes Kirk’s Distinguished Award
Second, the Giannoulias-provided story incorrectly suggests that the Rufus Taylor Intelligence Award is a non-Navy award. In fact, the “United States Navy Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Intelligence Award” is nominated and selected by the Navy, and then presented by the National Military Intelligence Association. (Source: Navy Reserve Intelligence Command Award Manual)
#3: Giannoulias Provided Story Presents False Award Comparison
Third, the Giannoulias-provided story and other news outlets have incorrectly suggested that the Rufus Taylor Intelligence Award is less distinguished than a different award called the “Junior Officer of the Year Award.” In fact, both awards are nominated and selected by top Navy Reserve Intelligence Command officials. You cannot be accused of exaggerating something when there’s nothing to exaggerate. The two awards in question are equal in stature. (Source: Navy Reserve Intelligence Command Award Manual)
#4: Giannoulias Provided Story Suggests Kirk Did Not Earn Award
Fourth, the Giannoulias-provided story inaccurately suggests that Kirk did not personally earn the Rufus Taylor award since it was presented to a unit. In fact, the “unit” that received the award was an ad-hoc intelligence team that Mark Kirk established and ran to support Electronic Attack air combat operations during Kosovo. Kirk was presented with the award at the National Military Intelligence Association’s annual awards banquet. (Sources: Award Ceremony Photo; Officer Fitness Reports; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Citation)
The Real Facts Are Clear
In 1999, Mark Kirk was the Intelligence Team Leader for Electronic Attack Wing Aviano during Operation Allied Force. In December of that year, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his service.
In 2000, Kirk and his team were recipients of the Rufus Taylor Intelligence Award - a distinguished national award for which the Navy selects one winner every year – which “commemorates the exceptional achievements of an outstanding Naval Intelligence career professional.”
As leader of the team that received an annual Navy intelligence professional award, Kirk incorrectly referred to himself as the “Intelligence Officer of the Year,” a term which can be associated with the Navy Reserve Intelligence “Junior Officer of the Year Award.” Since both awards carry equal distinction, this is a case of misidentification and not exaggeration. You can learn more about the awards here.
Mark Kirk and his team rightly earned the Rufus Taylor Award and their service should not be diminished. Kirk’s former Commanding Officer says he was “proud to nominate Mark Kirk” for the award – and called Kirk “the best intelligence officer” he ever served with. See statement.
How Does Alexi Giannoulias Compare to Mark Kirk?
While Mark Kirk has served in the Navy Reserve for 20 years, Alexi Giannoulias never served in the military.
While Mark Kirk was running intelligence support for electronic attack combat missions in Operation Allied Force (Kosovo), Alexi Giannoulias was playing basketball in Greece. (Washington Post WhoRunsGov.com). In brief, while Mark Kirk wore a U.S. Navy uniform, Alexi Giannoulias wore a basketball uniform in Greece.
While Mark Kirk was supporting electronic attack missions over Iraq, Alexi Giannoulias was partying in New Orleans at Tulane Law School. (Washington Post WhoRunsGov.com)
While Mark Kirk was serving in the National Military Command
While Mark Kirk was serving in Afghanistan, Alexi Giannoulias was covering up the millions of dollars he wiped out in the Bright Start college savings program. (Chicago Tribune, 12/23/2009)
Mark Kirk’s military service should not be denigrated by a 34-year-old media-dubbed “mob banker” who has never served our country in uniform, whose reckless lending practices cost the FDIC $394 million when they closed his family bank (FDIC, 4/23/2010), and whose risky investments cost Illinois families tens of millions in losses from the state’s college savings fund. (Chicago Tribune, 12/23/2010)
Too often it feels as though Barry is watching from a balcony, reluctant to enter the fray until the clamor of the crowd forces him to come down. The pattern is perverse. The man whose presidency is rooted in his ability to inspire withholds that inspiration when it is most needed.The president has only ever been inspired by himself. And all he knows is campaigning.
At that point, the Secret Service was badly outnumbered by the Fruit of Islam, who apparently believed that some sort of “security breach” had occurred. Were Farrakhan’s men armed? Were there more on the way? The Secret Service agent called for backup. From Calmes:
9:20 local time and our agent got reinforcements from three Secret Service agents. One shook hands with one of the 22 Fruit members we now can count from the van. After a short discussion the three Secret Service agents walked away again.
No word on when we get to leave. We’re guessing POTUS is watching the Blackhawks game at the Nesbitts’ home.
Sing that song one more time. All we needed was one more. Yeah, it was like a baseball score. Sun Times. Tribune. CBS2. Chicago Blackhawks!!!WaPo here. [earlier WaPo story here] Dem Sun Times here. Tribune. From Kirk for Senate:
It would appear that Alexi Giannoulias provided a poorly researched story to the Washington Post to distort Congressman Mark Kirk's military service.
Mark Kirk served in Operation Allied Force and was decorated for that service. You can read his Navy and Marine Corps Commendation official citation and his Officer Fitness Reports detailing that distinguished service to our country.
Mark Kirk’s military service should not be denigrated by a failed mob banker whose reckless lending practices cost the FDIC $394 million when they closed his family bank and also cost Illinois families tens of millions in losses from the state’s college savings fund.
The Giannoulias provided story inaccurately portrays then-LCDR Kirk as just one intelligence officer attached to one Navy squadron. In fact, as the official citation for Mr. Kirk’s Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal clearly states: “…while serving as aviation intelligence officer for Electronic Attack Squadron Two Zero Nine from 10 April to 6 June 1999…He took charge of four deployed squadron's intelligence assets and personnel and forged them into an outstanding intelligence shop.” It was this work that won the nomination and selection of the United States Navy Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Intelligence Award.
Furthermore, the story inaccurately portrays the Rufus Taylor award as a non-Navy award. In fact, the United States Navy Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Intelligence Award is nominated and selected by the U.S. Navy. It is named after the legendary head of Navy Intelligence during World War II. It is then awarded by the National Military Intelligence Association.
If there is any doubt about Mark Kirk’s service record, the following statement was issued this evening by CAPT Clay Fearnow, United States Navy (Retired), Former Commanding Officer, VAQ-209: “As his Commanding Officer at the time, I was proud to nominate Mark Kirk for the Rufus Taylor Award and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his outstanding service in Operation Allied Force. Mark was the best intelligence officer I ever worked with.”
There will be a crystal clear choice in this election between a public servant with a distinguished record of military service who fought British Petroleum to keep Lake Michigan clean and a failed banker who made loans to organized crime, wiped out college savings for Illinois kids and pushed risky banking schemes that cost the FDIC more than $390 million.
Help us turn the page from Rod Blagojevich and Alexi Giannoulias – and start a new day of integrity for Illinois.
Hill and Bill's ragin' Cajun James Carville snarled at the Barackstar, we're about to die down here.I don't see how the president's position and popularity can survive the oil spill. This is his third political disaster in his first 18 months in office. And they were all, as they say, unforced errors, meaning they were shaped by the president's political judgment and instincts.
There was the tearing and unnecessary war over his health-care proposal and its cost. There was his day-to-day indifference to the views and hopes of the majority of voters regarding illegal immigration. And now the past almost 40 days of dodging and dithering in the face of an environmental calamity. I don't see how you politically survive this.
The president, in my view, continues to govern in a way that suggests he is chronically detached from the central and immediate concerns of his countrymen.
Any FDR comparisons lately?I don’t have the slightest doubt that the President has been working hard on this crisis from the beginning. It’ll be a while before a judgment can be made about the totality of the Administration’s response, but at the moment it looks like they’ve done a reasonably good job under unreasonably difficult logistical conditions. The comparisons to Bush and Katrina are absurd, but the fact that they are getting any credence at all beyond the Fox News/talk-radio bubble show how poorly the White House has handled the “optics” of it all.
When Chris Matthews and I were speechwriters in the Carter White House, trying to put the best face on intractable inflation, chronic unemployment, and unbudgeable hostage-holding Iranians, our boss used to make frequent reference to how hard he was working and the many meetings he was holding. “If you can’t measure output,” Chris would observe sagely, “measure input.” But that’s only when you don’t really have any other options.
"The messenger is huge," as one Republican tells Byron York of the White House's deployment of Clinton, "and the message is puny."Here was White House counsel Bauer in action before as Obama's campaign lawyer--just to give you a flavor of this guy:
The Obama campaign tries to impugn Kurtz's professional integrity by changing the subject to policy debates and quoting partisan hacks in their attack. The Obama campaign lawyer comes out threatening retribution and attempting to silence by intimidation:There ya go.Obama campaign lawyer Robert F. Bauer replied: "If someone rides up to a convenience store with a sawed-off shotgun and a prior record, I'm not intimidating anybody by calling the cops. . . . If this [Republican] campaign is going to be run in McCarthyite fashion by lawbreakers in an illegal way, they are going to pay a price.Employing fascist measures to defend Barack Obama's long political alliance with a confessed terrorist bomber who targeted our troops, cops, and civil servants in the United States of America is a despicable act.
Bill Clinton will fall on the sword for Obama. Bill has been impeached before so he knows how to handle it if he is impeached again.Well, and he already lost his law license, but still makes the big bucks. That must have been some lunch. Maybe he got Obama to promise not to run again (Hey Bill--his promises are about as good as yours, but even so). Hillary's been making noises.
Previous: Is Feingold Toast?, Potemkin on the Potomac: Feingold Bolts, Obama to the left of FeingoldAn Oshkosh businessman with no political experience, Johnson has often been mentioned as a Tea Party candidate. And his resume does seem to appeal to those looking for outsider candidates. But while he welcomes their support, Johnson said he considers himself a Republican who simply believes in holding the line on spending.
"Unlike anytime in my life, people are feeling the collective burden of our debt," he said. "The politicians have created this problem and they are really doing nothing to fix it."
Ramirez. (There's probably room for Blago under that dress. Yuk.)US News & World Report: Why the Sestak Job Offer Is a Big DealWell, it looks like we have an answer now to the question raised in that Monday Ticket item here: Obama White House probe of Obama White House finds no Obama White House impropriety on Sestak.
This Joe Sestak/Obama White House job mess does have legs. The public and the media are not buying the White House's self-cleansing, self-serving explanation that everything was appropriate, just move along.
It's not just a matter of states' challenging unfunded mandates. It's not just a matter of individual liberty. It has profound implications for the survival of the backbone of the American economy.In January, Joel broke the story of Rep. Jan Schakowsky's mysterious attempt to bail out ShoreBank using Illinois taxpayers' money. This week, Joel uncovered major new evidence that suggests Rep. Schakowsky has a conflict of interest in the ShoreBank affair.Watch Joel TODAY (Thursday) on FOX Business Network's Happy Hour (4-5 p.m. Chicago time) as he discusses his major new find, what it reveals about government corruption, and how the ShoreBank bailout threatens our economy.
In the month since the drilling-rig explosion that led to a catastrophic failure in a BP well, the Obama Administration and Congress have wasted no opportunity to berate BP for not plugging the leak and cleaning up the damage. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who wouldn't know an oil drill from a dental drill, once again rolled out his charming "boot on the neck" of BP metaphor to deflect blame. As if BP wants the leak to continue so it can keep getting trashed by the likes of Mr. Salazar and sued by more trial lawyers.
Congress is midway through some 20 planned show-trials, er, hearings, in which such chemical and drilling experts as Edward Markey of Massachusetts have rapped BP for its inadequate response. Mr. Salazar griped this week that "we are 33 days into this effort, and deadline after deadline has been missed." He then threatened to push BP "out of the way" if it didn't move faster.
Be our guest, Mr. Secretary. Show us what you've got. As Admiral Allen put it succinctly, this disaster is an "unprecedented, anomalous event" for which there is no easy solution.
You already know the story of the protest but I want to make sure you know that Easton’s now being smeared for reporting on it. Of course.Hey Mr. President--are your SEIU friends acting stupidly?
According to remarks made by Harrisburg mayor Thompson in April, the city spends roughly 70 percent of its annual budget on labor.Get a clue.
President Barack Obama, at an exclusive fundraiser last night in San Francisco for Senator Barbara Boxer:Daniel Halper, TWS.Let's face it this has been the toughest year and a half since any year and a half since the 1930s.
I believe the Obama administration's perilous approach to terror is driving most normal people crazy.But hope is on the horizon. The fashion denizens have anointed 70's style in vogue again (awk my college era)--a "brave new wave":
It has been dismissed by opinion makers as “the decade that taste forgot” — the era of bell-bottom pants, glam rock glitter, clammy polyester, shrunken sweaters and a palette of orange, brown and avocado. [snip]Maybe he'll succeed as Jimmy Carter.
“The 1970s suffers from being discredited — but the reality is entirely different,” claims Olivier Saillard...
Dubious allegiance.
TWS: Keep America Safe.Spinning the Gitmo Task Force's Report. The Risks of Gitmo Transfers.