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Posting to be Light

Posted by Defend America on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 10:54:51 AM
Posting will be light for the next 10 or so days because I will be out of the country traveling. I will try to post any major stories if possible.
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Dodd Cut Aviation Security Funding in Exchange for Votes

Posted by Defend America on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:26:54 AM

Sen. Dodd, D-Conn., slashed aviation security funding for pet constituency

By: Mark Hemingway
Commentary Staff Writer
12/28/09 12:24 PM EST

Now that our attention is focused on airline security measures thanks to the failed airline attack on Christmas Day, it's worth mentioning that one Senator took money away from aviation security to line the pockets of constituency that supported his presidential campaign in a big way.

Back in July, Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., proposed an amendment reducing aviation security appropriations by $4.5 million in favor of firefighter grants -- a notoriously inneffective program. In fact, the money was specifically "for screening operations and the amount for explosives detection systems." The amendment was also sponsored by Sen. Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen. Carper, D-Del., but Dodd deserves to be singled out here because the firefighters union is a pet constituency of his. In 2007 he campaigned all through Iowa with the firefighters union. It was one of the few distinguishable features of Dodd's ill-fated presidential bid.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Sen-Dodd-D-Conn-slashed-aviation-security-funding-for-pet-constituency-80209967.html
Tags: Dodd  
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First Time Plurality Believe Stimulus Hurt the Economy

Posted by Defend America on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:24:45 AM
For First Time, Plurality Believes Stimulus Plan Hurt the Economy

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 30% of voters nationwide believe the $787-billion economic stimulus plan has helped the economy. However, 38% believe that the stimulus plan has hurt the economy. This is the first time since the legislation passed that a plurality has held a negative view of its impact.

The number who believe that the stimulus plan has hurt the economy rose from 28% in September, to 31% in October, and 34% in November before jumping to 38% this month. The week after the president signed the bill, 34% said it would help the economy, while 32% said it would hurt.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/economic_stimulus_package/december_2009/for_first_time_plurality_believes_stimulus_plan_hurt_the_economy


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Merkel Can Speak Out Against Iran's Regime, But Not Obama

Posted by Defend America on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:23:33 AM

German and European leaders condemn Iran crackdown

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle are among those who have spoken out against Tehran's crackdown on anti-government protesters.

In a strong statement to the press on Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the actions of Iran's state security services “unacceptable.”

She called on them to “avoid any further escalation of the violence and to pursue political dialogue to peacefully settle internally disputed matters,” and also to respect their commitment to the International Pact on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to peaceful protest.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5064447,00.html


Tags: Merkel   obama  
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Scream Jihad and You Get Out on Bail in Memphis, Tennessee

Posted by Defend America on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:21:29 AM

Memphis Man Arrested: Accused of Making Bomb Threats & Threatening to Start “Holy War”



MEMPHIS, TN – Tonight, Mohamed Ibrahim is out after posting $100 bond. Earlier in the day, he was arrested after police say he walked into several Memphis businesses and threatened to blow them up.

Court records show Ibrahim was also telling people he was Muslim, and wanted to start a jihad, or holy war, in Memphis.

Police say when they arrested him, he had a butcher knife hidden in one of his jacket sleeves.

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Memphis-Man-Arrested-Accused-of-Making-Bomb/nf1gzpL3mkKJE6QRnwdVXw.cspx
Tags: Terrorism  
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Filibuster is Still Very Important

Posted by Defend America on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 9:20:02 AM

Why the Filibuster Is More Essential Now Than Ever


By Jay Cost

Ezra Klein had a provocative column in Sunday's Washington Post, arguing that it's time to eliminate or substantially weaken the filibuster in the United States Senate. He writes:

The modern Senate is a radically different institution than the Senate of the 1960s, and the dysfunction exhibited in its debate over health care -- the absence of bipartisanship, the use of the filibuster to obstruct progress rather than protect debate, the ability of any given senator to hold the bill hostage to his or her demands -- has convinced many, both inside and outside the chamber, that it needs to be fixed.

Klein cites a study from Barbara Sinclair showing that the filibuster is used much more frequently now - up from 8% of "major bills" to 70%. This is as sure a sign as any that reform is needed, that the two parties can't be allowed to succeed by using the politics of obstruction anymore.

Yet Klein's reasoning is imprecise. After all, the legislative process has not become "broken." It is largely the same process as it was decades ago. The real change has occurred within the two Senate parties. They are using the filibuster more aggressively in their quest for political success. This raises an important question that Klein leaves unaddressed: if the parties are more unrelentingly partisan now than in ages past, is it prudent to lower the barriers that prevent them from enacting sweeping policy changes?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2009/12/why_the_filibuster_is_more_ess_1.html
Tags: senate  
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'Top 10 Conservatives of the Year'

Posted by Defend America on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 8:59:02 AM
The Top 10 Conservatives Of 2009
by John Hawkins

Let's face it: if you're conservative, you're not going to get your proper due from the mainstream media for your accomplishments. Case in point: Barbara Walters named Michelle Obama the most fascinating person of 2009. Really? Based on what? Her big arms? Her terrible fashion sense? The fact that she's married to the worst President in American history? I mean, you could understand if Walters named Michelle's husband the most fascinating person of 2009. He is at least the President and it is fascinating to wonder if there's anything going on in his head beyond clichés about hope and "must read teleprompter" repeated over and over. Of course, Barack Obama was Barbara Walters’ most fascinating person of 2008. Wonder who'll be next in 2010? Joe or Jill Biden? In any case, just in case no one else does it, I want to give a little credit where credit is due to some of the conservatives who made a real difference in 2009.

The Honorary Mentions

10) Andrew Breitbart: Andrew Breitbart has really come into his own this year. He now has two huge successful blogs: Big Hollywood and Big Government -- with Big Journalism soon to come. Breitbart was also instrumental in getting James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles' outstanding reporting about ACORN into the hands of the public. Conservatives could use another dozen media entrepreneurs like Breitbart.

9) Marco Rubio: When the establishment Republicans at the NRSC coronated Charlie Crist with their endorsement, many people figured it was over for Marco Rubio. Crist was a popular, ideologically ambiguous Florida governor with a penchant for fundraising while Rubio was merely a young, charismatic conservative leader who was reaching out to conservatives. A few months later, after some aggressive campaigning by Rubio, he's done the cover of National Review, he's headlining CPAC, and he's already tied with Crist. This race in Florida isn't just about Rubio and Crist; it's about who runs things in the Republican Party: the conservative base or the sort of elitists in charge at the NRSC. Rubio's waving the banner for the base and he's going to win.

http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnHawkins/2009/12/29/the_top_10_conservatives_of_2009

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