Culture of Corruption

Power Line

In 2006, the Democrats made the Republican “culture of corruption” a central campaign theme, with some success. This was jarring inasmuch as the GOP has historically been the party of clean government. While the Democrats haven’t cornered the market on corruption, I don’t think any serious observer would question that they are its foremost practitioners. So, with the news that Charlie Rangel, former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and the fourth most senior House member, has been charged with ethics violations, the Sun is back to rising in the East:

A House investigative committee on Thursday charged New York Rep. Charles Rangel with multiple ethics violations, a blow to the former Ways and Means chairman and an election-year headache for Democrats.

The committee did not immediately specify the charges against the Democrat, but sources who could not discuss the allegations publicly said they include Rangel’s misuse of official stationery, his use of rent-subsidized New York apartments and failure to publicly disclose financial information as required.

These issues have been in the public domain for a while now, but the timing of the Ethics Committee’s action is bad for the Democrats. Polls indicate that corruption is one area, perhaps the last, where the Democrats are still running even with the Republicans. Publicity about the charges against Rangel could change that, especially since public approval of Congress is at a historic low of 11 percent.

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The Case for Impeachment

Fox Nation

Eleven years ago, like every citizen elected to serve in Congress or any person appointed to any federal position, I swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

I’ve always thought it significant that the Founders included domestic enemies in that oath of office. They thought liberty was as much at risk from threats within our borders as from outside, and French political thinker and historian Alexis de Tocqueville agreed with that warning.

Pay Czar: 17 Bailed-Out Banks Overpaid Executives

Mr. Obama was the one who appointed these boneheads to do the job that he couldn’t or wouldn’t do because it interfered with his golf game or vacation or whatever it is that he does besides reading speeches from his teleprompter. These Czars did not get the approval of Congress or the people, they are not elected officals. They are part of the Obama Goon Squad. So, this is Obama’s fault. Plain and Simple. Seems to me that Barry should have to pay back this money. Hey Barry, maybe you and John Kerry could share a ride to the bank together. One more thing, don’t try blaming Bush for this one.

1 Dragon

NewsMax

The Treasury Department’s pay czar said Friday that 17 banks gave their top executives $1.6 billion in lavish payments while they were receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailouts.

Kenneth Feinberg said he did not have the authority to ask the firms to repay the money that was handed out during the financial crisis. But he said they should develop new rules on compensation that would allow them to slash compensation payments in future crises.

“If the company’s board of directors has identified that the firm is in a crisis situation, the compensation committee would have the authority to restructure, reduce or cancel pending payments to executives,” according to a fact sheet Feinberg released.

Feinberg reviewed 419 companies that received bailout money before pay curbs were enacted by Congress in February 2009.

The review covered the period from October 2008 to February 2009. The starting point was when banks began receiving bailout money from the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program. The ending point was when Congress enacted pay curbs on institutions receiving government support.

He determined that a total of $1.7 billion in payments were made during that period that would have violated the guidelines adopted later. And $1.6 billion of that amount was paid out by 17 of the country’s largest financial institutions.

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Coffee from cat droppings clean enough for Muslims

I don’t know, do you think this will be the next the newest item on the menu at Starbucks? I don’t care how many times they wash the beans. These are the same people who think pigs are dirty. Glad I don’t drink coffee.

1 Dragon

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) – Indonesia’s top Islamic body declared Tuesday that Muslims can drink civet coffee—the world’s most expensive coffee, which is extracted from the dung of civet cats.

A preacher recently suggested the beverage might not be “halal”—or religiously approved—because its unusual provenance makes it unclean. But after a long discussion Tuesday, the influential Indonesian Ulema Council said that the coffee, known locally as Kopi Luwak, could be consumed as long as the beans were washed.

States’ Inherent Authority to Enforce Immigration Law

Pajamas Media

By working together, local and federal officers can better identify and remove criminal aliens — which is a tremendous benefit to public safety. — Immigration Customs and Enforcement

Last month, I met Arizona state Senator Russell Pearce, who drafted the state’s common-sense immigration enforcement law. He stressed that the nation needs immigration enforcement not just on the border, but in the interior as well. Over half the country’s illegal aliens entered through the Arizona border. Senator Pearce said he has listened to stories about families living on the border threatened by drug runners and gangs trespassing on their land. Some of these bold thugs even threatened to return and kill the families of anyone who calls the police. Earlier this year, an illegal alien murdered Arizona cattle rancher Robert Krentz on his property.

Arizona is one of 20 states that currently participates in the Immigration and Nationality Act’s 287(g) federal training program. Signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1995, the provision permits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enter into a written Memorandum of Agreement with state and local agencies to train and to deputize law enforcement officers to identify and detain illegal aliens.

Ground Zero Mosque: Liberty Veiled Forever Under Islamism?

Family Security Matters

In Greek mythology, Circe was a beautiful sorceress who turned Odysseus’ men into swine. With help from the god Hermes, Odysseus resisted Circe’s charms, freed his men, and lived with her for a year. The story of Circe and Odysseus had a happy ending. Their union was passionate. Their parting was amicable.

In America, the Statue of Liberty is our Circe, holding aloft the torch of freedom for those who flee servitude and degradation to live their lives unimpeded by tyrants and mobs.

In Islam, Circe (or woman) is an innately corrupting creature, the equal of dogs and monkeys, who must be covered from head to toe lest her charms lead Muslim men astray from the path of purity and righteousness and release the beast in them. It is a version of Christianity’s original sin.

Obamas will vacation on Gulf Coast

People are out of work, trying to make ends meet, the economy is in the tank, and all we hear is how we need to tighten our belts. So this is Obama’s plan, take another vacation. This will make number 8 in a year and a half. Can anyone tell me when he works?

1 Dragon

MSNBC

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is taking his own advice and taking his family to the Gulf Coast on vacation next month, something he and first lady Michelle Obama have been urging others to do to help the area’s suffering economy.

The White House said the Obamas will visit an undisclosed section of Florida’s coast the weekend of Aug. 14.

Obama has made four trips to the Gulf region, including an overnight stay, since an underwater well failed in April and began spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico. First lady Michelle Obama was scheduled to make her second visit the area on Friday.

On their trips to the region, both the president and Mrs. Obama have made a point of encouraging people to visit Gulf Coast beaches that are open and oil-free to help boost an area economy battered by the sharp decline in tourism that followed the spill.

“One of the best ways that fellow Americans can help is to come on down here and spend some money,” Mrs. Obama said this month in Panama City Beach, Fla., where she strolled barefoot in the sand and bought a cup of chocolate ice cream.

Since the deadly well explosion, the Obamas — sometimes without daughters Malia and Sasha — have escaped Washington for brief vacations in Asheville, N.C., their home in Chicago, and Bar Harbor, Maine, last weekend.

The White House did not say where in Florida the Obamas would be spending their time.

But wherever the family ends up, it will just be three Obamas — the president, the first lady and 9-year-old Sasha — instead of the usual foursome. Sister Malia, 12, will be away at camp for the first time — also at a location not disclosed.

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Farewell Blue Sky – America’s Wall is Rising