Seventeen encounters of the Soviet kind

Catherine Engelbrecht of True the Vote was interviewed by Mike Huckabee tonight.  She was audited by the IRS after applying for tax exempt status in 2010 for the organization and was asked hundreds of intrusive questions about her personal life plus got investigated by FBI, OSHA, EPA and ATF for a total of 17 encounters with the federal government. She'd had no visits or inquiries (in her business) the previous 20 years.

Liberals complain that big corporations, special interests and lobbyists control election funding, but when the little guy tries to get involved, the government smacks them down with its power to destroy.

Sometimes I feel like we're living in the now defunct Soviet Union which used these tactics. Now that this abuse is in the open, more will be coming forward I'm sure to follow Engelbrecht’s brave example in going public with what has happened to her.

http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2013/05/the-abuse-of-power-by-our-government-on-true-the-vote/

“Know Nothing” Obama

Senior officials in the Treasury Dept. were told in June 2012, in the middle of the campaign, about the targeting and blocking of status of groups with names like Tea Party, 9/12, constitution, patriot, etc. in their name.   According to Obama, he wasn't told.  Benghazi happened on 9/11/2012, late in the campaign, and Obama said he went to bed and knew nothing, and even 2 weeks later was spreading the lie he seemed to accept without question about the video at the United Nations. Why is he surrounding himself with people who tell him about a gay basketball player coming out of the closet, but not important things?  I’m betting he knows nothing about the emerging EPA scandal about granting waivers for public records fees to liberal “green” groups while denying requests for conservative organizations. The full force of the federal government is conspiring against conservatives. And it comes from the top.

“[Steve] Miller only stoked the criticism of many Republicans, who are assailing the administration on a sudden spate of other controversies, as well, even as some Democrats tried to contain the political damage.

The Head of the Treasury Dept. was told in June 2012, in the middle of the campaign, about the targeting and blocking of status of groups with names like Tea Party, 9/12, constitution, patriot, etc. in their name. “

http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_23273115/official-treasury-department-knew-irs-probe-june-2012

Why are Finns falling?

Why are older Finns falling? TBIs among older Finns have increased dramatically since 1970--an increase of 289% among women and 315% in men. Since Finns have always been heavy drinkers and have had a socialist medical system for years, I'm going to guess it's polypharmacy--too many prescription drugs. There are trade-offs for living longer and the pills that help us do that.

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1685851

Book Club selections for 2013-2014

2013-2014 Book Club Schedule--meeting time is 2 PM.  See your member list for details of address and e-mails

               

Sept. 9--The Greater Journey by David McCullough  led by Carolyn A.  at Barb’s home

Oct. 7--Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt led by Letha  at Beechwold Panera

Nov. 4--Shanghai Girls  by Lisa See led by Margie  at Beechwold Panera

Dec. 2--The Play of Isaac   by Margaret Frazer  led by Jean  at Carolyn A's

Jan. 6--There Is No Alternative: Why Margaret Thatcher Matters  by Claire Berlinski led by Peggy at Beechwold Panera

Feb. 3--The Hobbit    by J. R. R. Tolkien led by Justine  at Beechwold Panera

Mar. 3--The Last Runaway   by Tracy Chevalier  led by Carolyn C.   at Beechwold Panera

Apr. 7--Left Neglected   by Lisa Genova  led by Adrienne   at Beechwold Panera

May 5--Maisie Dobbs   by Jacqueline Winspear  led by Rachel  at Carolyn C's

Armed Forces Day, May 18

Benghazi—eye of the beholder

Bubba visits Karen in hospice

       

Karen Krahn of Cudahy, Wisconsin joined the Madison Police Department in 1995 after earning her bachelor's degree in Biology at UW-Whitewater, and in 2002 was promoted to Sgt. In Dec. 2011 she was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that attacked her lungs and bones, but fought back and returned to work in July. On May 9 she retired, and is now in hospice. I am sure this visit from Bubba was thoroughly enjoyed. (info from the Madison Police Blotter concerning an award she was given)

Bubba is an 18.1 hand high 2,000 lb Percheron/Clydesdale who works in the Madison Police Mounted Horse Patrol.  These horses have a small, but mighty volunteer group that posts about their activities on Facebook which is where I got the photo.

http://www.cityofmadison.com/police/blog/?Id=1018

Waiting for the fat lady to sing the last note of Benghazi

The Benghazi scandal still hasn't brought it all to daylight--like the reason Christopher Stevens and the CIA were there (to bring down Muammar Gaddafi) and what about the gun running for Syrian rebels, and how the U.S. has completely lost control to Libyan rebels worse than the dictator they replaced. Obama and Clinton are probably thrilled to have the IRS scandal take our eye off the fact they have miserably failed to protect the world from Muslim fundamentalist terrorists we're militarily supporting.

 http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/55191

Speaking of eyes, I see the Washington Post has a section called "Federal Eye; keeping tabs on the federal government." Someone poked their eyes out, because since 2009 they've hardly been able to find a thing amiss in the most corrupt administration in our brief history.  I don’t know the classification of the woman who cam up with the Bolo system to block conservatives at the IRS who is now doing Obamacare, but she got over $100,000 in bonuses for being such a loyal, outstanding government employee.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/05/17/watchdog-says-awards-for-gsa-executives-were-excessive-system-lacked-transparency/

For three years President Obama publicly suggested that conservative political groups were engaged in nefarious deeds; publicly called out by name political opponents whom he'd like to see harassed; and publicly had his party pressure the IRS to take action.[Kimberly Strassel, WSJ, May 17]. In my memory (don't remember FDR), I don't recall a President who so demeaned the office by ugly remarks about his opponents, not even Nixon, and then had the lapdog media follow behind licking up the garbage he left behind. The AP snooping and the IRS harassment are no surprise--but don't let them cover over the Benghazi cover up just because they are closer to home. It's seamless.

But Steve Miller wouldn’t call it targeting the IRS customers

“In May 2010, the Determinations Unit [of the IRS] began developing a spreadsheet that would become known as the “Be On the Look Out” listing (hereafter referred to as the BOLO listing), which included the emerging issue of Tea Party applications. In June 2010, the Determinations Unit began training its specialists on issues to be aware of, including Tea Party cases. By July 2010, Determinations Unit management stated that it had requested its specialists to be on the lookout for Tea Party applications.” (Treasury Inspector General report)

In 27 months, not a single Tea Party group got status.  During that time, many progressive/liberal/socialist type groups, including the “Barack H. Obama Foundation” were cleared with no problem.  Ironically, the hearings were held on the 40th anniversary of the Watergate hearings.  Another case of an over reaching president going after his enemies.

http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/14/irs-official-lerner-approved-exemption-for-obama-brothers-charity/

http://60plus.org/irs-target-60-plus-association-steve-miller-testimony-shameful/

 

All the scandals are linked to the First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

All the scandals—the HHS Mandate, Benghazi, IRS targeting conservatives, Department of Justice snooping on the press--swirling around the President right now involve the First Amendment. Even Benghazi--he tried to lie about it for weeks and blame it on one person's 1st amendment right to make a derogatory film--which wasn't even true, but he cast aspersions on that right, never the less. He has no respect for us or our founding documents.

It’s against the rules

When I saw this yesterday something looked very wrong—like toy soldiers holding umbrellas.  I’d never seen it before.  Apparently, it’s another mistake our President made with the military.  It’s just not done.  He has plenty of aides.  Couldn’t they have just step back a bit and been in shelter? Bush held his own umbrella.

Erdogan comes with a set of his own problems.

http://world.time.com/2013/05/16/turkeys-erdogan-visits-the-u-s-four-problems-that-wont-be-solved/

Roe v. Wade

IRS: 'Please Detail the Content of Your Members' Prayers.'

Yikes.  The Internal Revenue Service, the folks who will have charge of your medical care under Obama’s new invasive health care law, asked an Iowa group this who were applying for 501c3 status.  Pro-life groups were asked what they were doing to present the other side!  What? 

I watched the hearings today.  The acting IRS commissioner, Steven Miller, said that he believes the IRS’s targeting of conservative groups was “absolutely not illegal,” but he did acknowledge that it was inappropriate.  Inappropriate is the 5 syllable word for sin, wrong and bad.  It sounds like they are all talking to pre-schoolers who have just taken away a toy.  If there were ever a reason for conservative patriot groups to feel they are being targeted for vindictive treatment by the Obama administration, this Miller guy would be it. Arrogant, snotty, blind to what his agency has done, and oblivious to the laws that have been broken.  (He objected to the word “target.”)  And he’s resigning early, will get a golden parachute, and probably go to work for a Democrat think tank or law firm at a higher salary.

http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-miller-irs-testimony-scandal-conservatives-tea-party-2013-5

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/17/irs-scandal-steven-miller_n_3292408.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/irs-hearing-steven-miller-91552.html

http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/17/irs-official-on-targeting-tea-party-it-is-absolutely-not-illegal/

Friday family photo

Guess which one has a convertible?

Mother’s Day brunch, May 12, 2013

What is the thread connecting all the scandals?

Down memory lane

You can’t make these things up

ABC broke this story.

“The Internal Revenue Service official in charge of the tax-exempt organizations at the time when the unit targeted tea party groups now runs the IRS office responsible for the health care legislation.

Sarah Hall Ingram served as commissioner of the office responsible for tax-exempt organizations between 2009 and 2012 (the current scandal). But Ingram has since left that part of the IRS and is now the director of the IRS’ Affordable Care Act office, the IRS confirmed to ABC News today.

Her successor, Joseph Grant, is taking the fall for misdeeds at the scandal-plagued unit between 2010 and 2012. During at least part of that time, Grant served as deputy commissioner of the tax-exempt unit.”

Michele Bachmann asks

Who ordered the political witch hunt by the IRS against Tea Party groups, Pro-Israel, Conservative, and Christian organizations? Who ordered no military response in Benghazi? Who ordered journalist phone lines to be tapped? Who ordered the EPA to provide more waivers to green-leaning groups over conservative ones?

Comparing Nixon and Obama

No need to clone humans

There have been no medical break through using stem cells from human embryos, only from using adult stem cells. And those are considerable and expanding every day. So why are they cloning human embryos? Because they can and we've lost our moral compass.

Scientists at the Oregon Health and Science University accomplished in humans what has been done over the past 15 years in sheep, mice, cattle and several other species. The achievement is likely to, at least temporarily, reawaken worries about “reproductive cloning” — the production of one-parent duplicate humans.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/oregon-scientists-get-stem-cells-from-cloned-human-embryos/2013/05/15/dc011cbc-bdac-11e2-9b09-1638acc3942e_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/260584.php