Anti-Police “Protesters” Release A List Of Demands

By William Teach January 3, 2015 – 7:52 am

It’s great that people who have been engaged in violence, arson, threats, blocking traffic (which caused problems with emergency responses), and calling for the “dead cops” have a list of demands

(Daily Caller) There have been marches in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, and elsewhere demanding “justice” of some sort — or else there would be no “peace.” They’ve been invited to meet with President Barack Obama in the White House, been praised by the Mayor of New York and countless other Democrats. But what do they want, aside from “justice”? And what exactly constitutes “justice” in the minds of those laying down in traffic and in malls has always remained nebulous, but no more – they’ve been kind enough to put their “demands” down on paper.

On fliers handed out at the New York City protest on New Year’s Eve, the “#BlackLivesMatter” movement spelled out what they “demand.”

One such demand is essentially an end to access to the court system for police officers charged with a crime:

We demand a total independent investigative body that has full and total investigative powers, and unhindered access to any scene and full access to all evidence,” they write. “This investigative body will have full prosecuting power, and the authority to mete out punishment. This agency will have the power to immediately sequester any and all officers that are involved and/or on the scene.

The full list is here. I particularly like the first demand,

1) We demand an independent all elected Civilian Complaint Review Board.

Of course they do. And who do you think will be on this board in deep Liberal areas?

4) We the people demand that any and every officer accused of misconduct, abuse of authority, or the use of excess force be suspended immediately without pay, pending the outcome of the independent investigation.

Interesting. I wonder how they would feel if we substituted “teacher” for “officer”? Anyhow, these folks seem unfamiliar with the tenants of neither the Constitution nor the criminal justice system.

13) We demand funding to establish independent community policing agencies.

Wait, what? Am I right in assuming that they want government funding to create their own community policing force, made up of the same people who rioted, looted, assaulted, arsoned, and threatened? The same people who end the “demands” with

FREEDOM JUSTICE AND EQUALITY OR DEATH

That sounds rather threatening. Based on their actions these past months, and how the flier reads, it sounds less like “give me liberty or give me death” and more like a threat to murder.

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Washington Post Very Upset That GOP Controls So Much Of State Government

By William Teach January 3, 2015 – 7:30 am

And that they might look to pass Republican/Conservative policy agendas!

(WP) Legislators in the 24 states where Republicans now hold total control plan to push a series of aggressive policy initiatives in the coming year aimed at limiting the power of the federal government and rekindling the culture wars.

The unprecedented breadth of the Republican majority — the party now controls 31 governorships and 68 of 98 partisan legislative chambers — all but guarantees a new tide of conservative laws. Republicans plan to launch a fresh assault on the Common Core education standards, press abortion regulations, cut personal and corporate income taxes and take up dozens of measures challenging the power of labor unions and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Before Election Day, the GOP controlled 59 partisan legislative chambers across the country. The increase to 68 gives Republicans six more chambers than their previous record in the modern era, set after special elections in 2011 and 2012.

How horrible for Democrats! The GOP might actually propagate a Conservative legislative agenda at the state level, just like they were elected to do. At the state level, it’s quite clear that the voters have tired of the hardcore leftism that is destroying our country and states. This is also quite apparent by the number of Liberals moving out of deep Democrat states and to Republican states, due to the actual horrible results of the Democratic policies in those Democrat states.

The GOP has plans to expand right to work laws within multiple states, to join the 24 that are already right to work. Dems do not like this, because being forced to join a union is totally like freedom or something. Nor is the Washington Post, along with other Dems, happy that GOP controlled states may require abortion providers to actually have proper medical standards. And restricting late term abortion? Oh, brother, that also drives liberals nuts.

Democrats and union officials warn Republicans against going too far, just a few years after bills targeting public-sector employee unions sparked protests in Wisconsin and Ohio. “These bills have proven time and time again to decrease wages and safety standards in all workplaces,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, secretary-treasurer of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.

Huh. Interestingly, Scott Walker and virtually every targeted Wisconsin Republican survived all the challenges, sometimes multiple challenges.

Republicans also are likely to take up measures diluting the power of the EPA, which has proposed state-by-state targets for reducing carbon emissions. A dozen states have challenged proposed EPA regulations on power plants in federal court.

The EPA is, in my opinion, a good and necessary agency, however, they have severely lost their way, allowing mission creep to grow to amazing levels, along with allowing massive partisanship and activism to replace legislated duties and responsibilities. Democrats have no room to complain about properly elected State governments voting to restrict the EPA in their states, nor if a governor acts with “executive action”.

Certainly, many voters were voting against the Democratic Party, rather than for the GOP. Voters were tired of the hard-left fanaticism and agenda at the State level, and some votes were even against Obama. Now it’s time for the GOP to offer their vision.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

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FDA Diet Guidelines Might Consider “Climate Change”

By William Teach January 2, 2015 – 4:30 pm

Why? Because *mumble mumble garble*, and if you’re asking, you must be one of those icky skeptics (sneer)

(AP)  For years, the government has been issuing guidelines about healthy eating choices. Now, a panel that advises the Agriculture Department is ready to recommend that you be told not only what foods are better for your own health, but for the environment as well.

That means that when the latest version of the government’s dietary guidelines comes out, it may push even harder than it has in recent years for people to choose more fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and other plant-based foods — at the expense of meat. (snip)

The study said that compared with other popular animal proteins, beef produces more heat-trapping gases per calorie, puts out more water-polluting nitrogen, takes more water for irrigation and uses more land.

Anyone think the people at the FDA are going to give up their own meat intake? Yeah, me neither.

Interestingly, the same people who want to control our meat and other foods intake are A-OK with legalizing marijuana. Speaking of marijuana, apparently many restaurants are having trouble with stoned people passing out from having too much THC beforehand, to the point of having to call medical professionals.

Read: FDA Diet Guidelines Might Consider “Climate Change” »

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Hooray! Obamacare Employer Mandate Takes Effect

By William Teach January 2, 2015 – 3:20 pm

What will the effects be? Time will tell (via The Right Scoop)

(Washington Times) Starting in 2015, companies with 100 or more workers have to provide affordable insurance to at least 70 percent of their employees or pay heavy fines under the “employer mandate,” which was supposed to take effect at the start of this year, alongside the health care law’s other key provisions.

Employers with 50-100 workers will have to comply starting in 2016, at which point all affected employers must insure at least 95 percent of their employees.

Employers with fewer than 50 workers are exempt from the mandate.

Most big companies provide health insurance. Of course, what might Team Obama/HHS deem “affordable”? Anyhow

But human resources departments will grapple with IRS reporting requirements from day one to document their compliance and avoid tax penalties, a task that can get Byzantine and expensive for companies with lots of part-time workers and seasonal workers, who add up to full-time “equivalents.”

Really, most moves by companies have probably been made already. We will see if any drop coverage, increase the number of part timers, or something else.

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If All You See…

By William Teach January 2, 2015 – 1:00 pm

…is snow created by too much warmth, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Legal Insurrection, with a post on liberals back to pushing gun control.

Read: If All You See… »

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Dissatisfaction With Government Tops List Of American Concerns

By William Teach January 2, 2015 – 8:39 am

I’m not going to make this post about “climate change”, but, can you guess what’s missing?

(Washington Times) Dissatisfaction with government topped the list for Americans of most important problems facing the country last year for the first time in Gallup records, also marking the first year since 2007 that the economy was not the top ranking issue.

Complaints about government leadership led the list at 18 percent, followed by the economy in general at 17 percent, unemployment or jobs at 15 percent, and healthcare at 10 percent, Gallup said.

This is based on the yearly readouts from Gallup polls. Gallup notes

The dispersion of public concern seen in 2014 may also have implications for the 2016 presidential election. Should it persist, the lack of a single defining public issue could make candidates’ task of honing a message for the election more complex.

Many typical left wing (manufactured) concerns polled low. Many typical Republican concerns also polled low. Of course, we have two years to go before the 2016 presidential election. But, the end of 2015 will see the start of the runup to the elections, with candidates declaring, debates happening, issues being run up the flagpole.

But, yeah, “climate change” not only isn’t next to last or last, it fails to even materialize on the list. Huh.

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NC Sea Rise Doom: A Lesson In A Warmist Narrative

By William Teach January 2, 2015 – 7:41 am

When Conservatives talk about media bias, we note that one of the methods is to simply leave relevant information out of articles. They attempt to create a narrative, and since people will often only read that article, they may fail to know about said relevant information. Here’s WRAL

Sea level report shows increasing pace of change along coast

A report released on Dec. 31 shows the climate is changing along the North Carolina coast, and the sea level is rising faster in some areas than in others. (snip)

If sea levels continue to rise at their current rate, scientists predict the ocean could be nearly 5 1/2 inches higher on the northern Outer Banks in 30 years, and 2 1/2 inches around Wilmington.

But the report endorses the theory that climate change will hasten the rates of rising sea levels. It predicts a boost of just over a foot at Duck, on the northern coast, and four inches at Southport, near Wilmington, by 2045.

So, there you have it, “climate change” is too blame, right? And will make it worse. Something seems to be missing. Here’s the Raleigh News and Observer

30-year sea-level rise will vary along NC coast, scientists say

A new scientific report warns that the sea is rising at widely varying rates along the North Carolina shore – ranging by 2045 from a possible low of 4 inches at Southport to as much as 12.1 inches on the northern Outer Banks. (snip)

North Carolina becomes the first state with a comprehensive forecast that shows the sea rising at different rates along its coast. Scientists have known for years about big differences – shaped by forces in the ocean and deep in the earth – between the northern Outer Banks and North Carolina’s southern shoreline.

Tide gauges show that the ocean has risen faster in recent decades at Duck, north of Nags Head (about 4.5 millimeters per year) than farther south at Wilmington and Southport (about 2 mm per year – close to the average annual global rate of 1.7 mm).

The northern Outer Banks are sinking slowly. This corner of the state lies in a part of the North American continent that is subsiding in response to geological forces dating from the last Ice Age, about 200 centuries ago.

In addition, oceanographers have spotted a link between fluctuations in the Gulf Stream – its strength and position offshore – and different rates of flooding and sea-level rise along the U.S. coast. This great ocean current is weakening and slowing down, and scientists say the change is pushing the seas higher along the mid-Atlantic coast north of Cape Hatteras.

The article itself, further down, still pushes the “climate change” narrative a bit, but at least it mentions natural geological forces, a major component of the report, which is completely missing from the WRAL article. Back to WRAL

“We have a history of change,” (Dr. Stan) Riggs said. “We better realize those piles of sand are moving.”

Why are the Outer Banks moving? That’s not mentioned, either. Barrier islands will always see lots of change from natural forces. The Outer Banks have gone through great changes. Inlets are created, moved, and destroyed by nature. Vegetation can do wild things to the land, particularly in limiting erosion and shifting (yes, some of the vegetation can be pointed at mankind’s intervention).

I won’t get into the whole debate about mostly/solely natural vs. mostly/solely anthropogenic causation, that’s a debate that we’ve had and will continue to have (though Warmists refuse to modify their own behavior to match their beliefs). What we have above is media bias and an attempt to create a narrative friendly to Leftist beliefs.

It should be noted that this is the draft report, so, lots more money will be spent putting it through peer review, revision, and public comment over the next year and a half, all to tell us that changes occur along the coastline.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

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We’re Saved: Warmists Jump In Frigid Water To Save Us From “Climate Change”

By William Teach January 1, 2015 – 2:00 pm

And then they all go back in their fossil fueled vehicles and cranked the heat up to high, seeing as how the water temps are in the upper 30’s to lower 40’s

(WCSH) Some very brave souls ventured into the waters of Casco Bay this afternoon for the annual Polar Bear Dip and 5-k Race.

This is the 7th year for the event that raises money for the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s work on climate change and pollution.

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If All You See…

By William Teach January 1, 2015 – 1:00 pm

…is coffee which will be decimated by climate change, but, that’s OK, because alcohol will be decimated as well, meaning fewer hangovers and more time to spread awareness, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Dr. Roy Spencer, with a post on the top 10 climate discoveries of 2014.

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NY Times: To Heck With What The Law Says About Subsidies

By William Teach January 1, 2015 – 9:04 am

There’s an old saying about America being a Nation of Law, not of Men, which derives from John Adams’ 7th Letter To Novanglus, which came further from the ancient Greeks, in which he mentioned a “government of law, and not of men”. He goes on to mention that a Republic should be “bound by fixed laws which the people have a voice in making, and a right to defend.” Of course, in Liberal World, laws are flexible, and the written text should be ignored if it doesn’t help the narrative

Health Plan Enrollment Numbers Show Importance of Coming Supreme Court Case

A new report from the Obama administration highlights the very high stakes for a challenge to the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court. The subsidies that the court may eradicate are helping a large majority of HealthCare.gov customers pay for their health insurance.

The report is the first time that the Department of Health and Human Services has delivered some numbers on exactly who is signing up for health insurance for 2015, since the open enrollment period began in mid-November. (snip)

Over all, it found, customers who were using HealthCare.gov to pick insurance plans — some new customers, and some renewing customers — were overwhelmingly likely to qualify for federal subsidies to help them pay their premiums. On average, the report found that 87 percent of these customers were eligible for subsidies, with higher percentages in some states — up to a high of 95 percent in Mississippi.

But, see, there’s a sticky wicket, the actual text of Obamacare, namely that citizens are only eligible for subsidies in Exchanges run by states, not the federal government.

The plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case, called King v. Burwell, argue that the law does not allow the subsidies to help insurance customers in the states letting the federal government run individual insurance marketplaces. And if the court agrees, all those people would lose their subsidies, and many would be priced out of the market.

We’ve written before about the disruptions such a ruling would cause. But as more people sign up for health insurance — and more of them are relying on federal subsidies — the potential impact of the decision grows.

The situation is one made entirely by Democrats, who wrote the law and voted for the law without any regards to Republicans, none of whom voted for the bill, passed in the dead of night using parliamentary shenanigans. It was massive and few who voted in the affirmative for it actually read it or knew what was in it. And the intention of the phrasing was to entice States to run their own health insurance exchanges. If the plaintiffs win the case, the subsidies go away. Would that cause disruption? Yes. But the law must be obeyed. Words have meaning. Laws must be fixed, not flexible, otherwise they are no longer laws, but whims. Democrats could have changed it. They chose not to. Even after the loss of the House, Senate Democrats could have passed legislation changing the wording. They did not even attempt this.

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