Is The Washington Post Suggesting Christie’s Firing Of Key Advisors Was A Bad Thing?

Here’s the headline of the article

Firing of Stepien deprives Christie of a key counselor

Like many of you, I’ve watched and been involved in politics for a long time. I’ve watched the media let their biases loose. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact time. Some say it was when Walter Cronkite declared the Vietnam War “unwinnable”. Some say during the Reagan years. There was definitely a huge turn during the Clinton/Lewinsky affair, which carried through the Bush years, and has continued to get worse during the Obama years, as most in the media are simply lapdogs. In the headline and the story, it almost appears as if the WP writers, Matea Gold and Robert Costa, are making a case that firing top aides and people in an administration is a Bad Idea, because …..drum roll…. Obama has not fired anyone over his scandals, which are considerably worse than “Bridgegate”.

The removal of Stepien, in particular, stunned some New Jersey political insiders, who said the strategist has provided important counsel to Christie on both politics and policy. (snip)

“Bill Stepien was more than just another adviser,” Kean said. “He was the key person who carried out what the governor wanted. He spoke with Christie’s authority, and anyone who has dealt with him knows that.”

There’s certainly some writing that adds context to the firings and Christie’s mental makeup, and might slightly contradict my theory that the article is meant to protect Obama

Christie’s abrupt dismissal of top aides was praised Wednesday by some Republicans, who said his decisiveness stood in contrast to President Obama’s handling of controversies such as the botched rollout of his health-care Web site and the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of nonprofit groups for extra scrutiny.

“This will be, at the end of the day, a political benefit to Chris Christie,” said GOP strategist Steve Schmidt. “This sends a very clear signal: If you screw up, you violate the public trust, there’s not going to be an exercise in wagon-circling — there’s going to be an exercise in accountability.”

Noticed these quotes are from Republicans, not Democrats. The Democrats quoted in the article talk about Christie as being vindictive and a bully, and creating an atmosphere of the same, where there is also a fear of retaliation.

Later in the article we are treated to the notion that Stepien was really, really knowledgeable of national politics, was an insider, had lots of experience, had connections, so this was a Big Loss. I still maintain this is more about protecting Obama and how no one has been fired, and not even really punished in any way, over all his scandals. Let’s look at those scandals (White House Dossier has a nice list and explanation)

  • IRS targets Obama enemies/Conservative groups
  • Benghazi, which is actually 3 scandals in 1
  • Spying on the Associated Press
  • Spying on James Rosen, his family, then simply dropping the charges
  • Eric Holder perjury to Congress at least twice
  • Fast and Furious – let’s not forget, at least 2 US federal agents have been killed, along with hundreds of Mexican citizens, plus the Mexicans wounded
  • Sebelius violates the Hatch Act
  • Holder’s refusal to prosecute the New Black Panthers
  • Possible violations of the Constitution

The list goes on and on. Until the media gives a damn about these issues, which go beyond the typical dirty tricks in politics, which is what “Bridgegate” was (remember, this was New Jersey), I don’t care what happened.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Is The Washington Post Suggesting Christie’s Firing Of Key Advisors Was A Bad Thing? »

Liberals Upset Over Virginia Bill Which Would Teach Alternatives To Climate Change And Evolution

Really upset

(Think Progress) A new bill, up for consideration this year in the Virginia General Assembly, would give Virginia’s public school teachers permission to teach about the “scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses” of “scientific theories” like evolution and global climate change. The bill is part of a national trend of legislative proposals, led by creationist organizations like the Discovery Institute and climate-change deniers such as the Heartland Institute.

Virginia State Delegate Richard “Dickie” Bell (R) pre-filed House Bill 207 over the holidays for consideration by the House of Delegates when it reconvenes this week. His proposal would require Virginia elementary and secondary schools to teach about “scientific controversies” in science classes. It would require:

The Board [of Education] and each local school board, division superintendent, and school board employee shall create an environment in public elementary and secondary schools that encourages students to explore scientific questions, learn about scientific evidence, develop critical thinking skills, and respond appropriately and respectfully to differences of opinion about scientific controversies in science classes..

My goodness, how awful to expose children to alternate points of view to make them think, to provide them with knowledge rather than indoctrination. If “climate change” and evolution are true, then they should be able to stand on their own.

More significantly, it creates a right for teachers to teach kids to be skeptical of “scientific theories” — even when overwhelming scientific consensus exists:

My goodness, isn’t that what science is all about, being skeptical? It’s surely not about consensus, which is not science.

Read: Liberals Upset Over Virginia Bill Which Would Teach Alternatives To Climate Change And Evolution »

If All You See…

…is Bad Weather that occurred unexpectedly (and horrible duck lips), you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Victory Girls Blog, with a post stating that Joe Biden is not a statesman.

Read: If All You See… »

Now White House Blames Polar Vortex On Climate Change

(Fox News) The Obama administration is pushing back against skeptics who claim this week’s “polar vortex” of cold weather is proof global warming is a myth, saying weather patterns such as these are actually a result of climate change.

In a post on the official White House blog Wednesday, the administration starts by saying no single weather event proves or disproves climate change.

“If you’ve been hearing that extreme cold spells, like the one we’re having in the United States now, disproves global warming, don’t believe it,” Dr. John Holdren, President Obama’s science adviser, says in a video included in the blog post.

However, the White House says extreme cold spells can actually be attributed to global warming, and that such weather patterns will likely appear with more frequency as climate change continues.

“…This week’s cold spell is of a type there’s reason to believe may become more frequent in a world that’s getting warmer, on average, because of greenhouse-gas pollution,” the blog states.

This is the same Holdren who was a disciple of Paul Ehrlich and his “population bomb” idiocy, and still wants population control.

Then there’s this guy, who takes lots of fossil fueled flights across the country

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) delivered a fiery speech Wednesday urging action to combat global warming and blasting Republicans for their climate change denial.

DeFazio accused Republicans and conservative media figures of mistaking the polar vortex currently chilling much of America for proof that global warming is not occurring.

Here’s a fun thing to do: ask Warmists what conditions disprove their little hypothesis of man-induced global warming/climate change. What weather events are not consistent with their hypothesis. Because, really, they have created a non-falsifiable hypothesis. Everything proves “climate change”, therefore it is not science, but politics.

The only people who are idiots are those blaming massive cold snaps on greenhouse gases.

Oh, and ask them when they’ll give up their own fossil fuels usage.

Read: Now White House Blames Polar Vortex On Climate Change »

Happy 3,000th Day Since The Last Major Hurricane!

It’s party time! A big milestone has been hit, it has been 3000 days, including today, since the last major hurricane made landfall on the United States! We go all the way back to October 24, 2005, when Hurricane Wilma made landfall in Cape Romero, Florida as a category 3 hurricane, with wind speeds of 120mph.

We haven’t quite hit the longest period on record, which stretched 3,316 days, from August 11, 1860 to September 8, 1869. But we’re closing in! Set your calendar for November 22nd, 2014. Till, then, let’s dance!

Read: Happy 3,000th Day Since The Last Major Hurricane! »

Conservative Group Tells Obama Comprehensive Immigration Bill Is An “Awful Idea”

The schizophrenic president, who bounces from subject to subject as of The Utmost Importance daily, is making a push to get the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform, ie, a giant bill which most haven’t read and don’t understand and will make all sorts of unexpected changes, passed

(Fox News) A group of House Republicans is rejecting President Obama’s call for members to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

In a letter to the White House, the group calls the legislation, already passed by the Senate, an “awful deal” for American workers and questions how Obama could champion higher wages for them while backing a law that allows millions of low-skilled workers into the U.S. labor force.

“We write to you today on behalf of the 21 million Americans who can’t find a full-time job,” writes Alabama GOP Rep. Mo Brooks and 15 other largely conservative House members. “Comprehensive immigration reform may be a good deal for big businesses that want to reduce labor costs. And it may be a good deal for progressive labor unions seeking new workers from abroad. But it’s an awful deal for U.S. workers.”

There does need to be immigration reform, there is no doubt about that. It needs to start with reform the legal immigration system, in part finding ways to make sure that people do not end up as illegals. Approximately 35-40% of the illegals in the US are people who came to the US legally and overstayed their visas. Then we can provide carrots and sticks, mostly sticks, for all illegals. We should not be rewarding them for Bad Behavior. Otherwise, let’s just throw the rule of law out the window and we can make the system about feelings.

The letter to Obama argues “the White House has entertained a parade of high-powered business executives to discuss immigration policy, all while shutting out the concerns of everyday wage-earners who overwhelmingly oppose these measures.”

“Job number one for Congress should be to reduce the unemployment rolls, get families and communities out of poverty and government dependency, rebuild our deteriorating communities and collapsing middle class, and increase wages for American citizens,” the letter concludes. “Your immigration proposals do the exact opposite on every count.”

But the immigration reform is more about politics, and getting Hispanics to vote Democrat, and, yes, legalizing the illegals on a fast track and getting them the ability to vote. Along with some other notions, like firing up the unhinged liberal base and getting more people on the federal dole.

Read: Conservative Group Tells Obama Comprehensive Immigration Bill Is An “Awful Idea” »

Unshockingly, Democrats Blame Big Business For Obamacare Rollout

I’d like to say this is a 100% idiotic attempt to deflect blame, but there are enough business haters out there for it to partly work

(Politico) Democrats taking heat back home for Obamacare’s rocky online rollout say don’t blame them — blame Big Business.

Facing an onslaught of constituent frustration over problems with online exchanges, several Democrats have started pointing fingers at the companies and senior executives in their home states that have contracts to get the health care websites up and running.

Democrats have made a version of the argument in Washington in recent months, defending the health care law not only from Republican attacks that it’s a failure — but from the line that government itself can’t do big things.

Now that rhetoric — blame the contractors — is hitting local events.

One of the instances mentioned is Sen. Jeff Merkley blaming Oracle for the Cover Oregon debacle, and even went as far as singling out Oracles president Safra Catz (hey, that sounds a bit like a war on women /sic).

In North Carolina, Hagan, who faces one of the Senate’s toughest reelection races, has asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate the HealthCare.gov rollout, with several pointed questions for the contractors’ roles.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said Wednesday that she is considering suing CGI over its work on the state’s exchange. Gov. Deval Patrick wouldn’t say whether he wants to sue but made it clear that he’s upset with the company.

There’s no doubt many of the contractors did a piss poor job, especially CGI. Let’s not forget, though, that many were picked in no-bid contracts, including CGI, and CGI already had a history of poor results, and that’s being charitable.

However, who was responsible for making sure the work was done? There’s a saying in business “inspect what you expect”. This doesn’t mean micromanage, it means check in now and then to make sure the work is proceeding. If you assign a task to your underling and never bother to make sure it’s being done, and done correctly, and it’s a mess, who gets blamed? You do. Your boss will hold you responsible. In the same way, it is still the fault of the government, particularly HHS, HHS head Kathleen Sebelius, and President Obama. And every Democrat who supports this law, especially those who voted for the mess.

PS: On that note, I could care less about the Chris Christie “lane closure” issue. Until Team Obama is held responsible for all their messes, such as IRS targeting, Benghazi, Fast and Furious, Obamacare, and so much more, I don’t care. I do predict, and it is an easy prediction, that the media will go all Abu Ghraid on Christie, breathless reports daily, unlike with Obama, or had Christie been a Democrat.

Crossed at Right Wing News.

Read: Unshockingly, Democrats Blame Big Business For Obamacare Rollout »

Satanic Group Provides Rendering For Display In Oklahoma State Capitol

I wonder if the ACLU and/or atheists will whine about this

(The Blaze) A satanic group has unveiled designs for a 7-foot-tall, goat-headed deity it wants at the Oklahoma state Capitol.

The New York-based Satanic Temple released an artist’s rendering of the monument Monday. A spokesman says the group has formally submitted its application to a panel that oversees the Capitol grounds.

They want to do this because Oklahoma plans on putting a 10 Commandments display at the capitol. Here’s what it looks like

(Photo from Associated Press)

How cute, such wonderful smiling kids smiling back at a smiling devil.

Anyhow, I don’t have a problem with this per say, if one group wants a religious display on government grounds, others should have the same ability. However, I do have a problem with a New York group butting in on a Oklahoma affair. If this was a group of Oklahoman Satanists, sure. New York? Mind your own business.

That said, at least they’re trying to compete, rather than shut the 10 Commandments display down.

Read: Satanic Group Provides Rendering For Display In Oklahoma State Capitol »

If All You See…

…is an evil fossil fuels convenience store enabling fossil fueled vehicles, which also contains foods that are fatty, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Bookworm Room, with a post on solidarity with nuns.

Read: If All You See… »

Good News: Obamacare To Now Ruin Olympics

Of course, NBC does a pretty fine job of ruining the Games with their constant focus on yapping and human interest stories rather than showing the actual events. This is just the icing on the cake

(Politico) The Obama administration is planning an Olympic-size ad blitz to push health coverage during the winter games next month.

HHS confirmed Tuesday that it has bought advertising time in markets with high rates of uninsured people to air during the Winter Olympics, which run Feb. 7-23.

Sigh. But, there is a silver lining here in North Carolina

The ads immediately became attack fodder in the fiercely contested Senate race in North Carolina, where endangered Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan has been hammered for supporting the law.

“It just reinforces the reality that Kay Hagan repeatedly broke promises she made about Obamacare to North Carolina voters and will not be able to hide from the unpopular law,” said NRSC spokesman Brad Dayspring. “Mary Landrieu said the 2014 elections are a referendum on Obamacare, and this suggests that the administration believes that.”

Obviously, Hagan is attempting to run away from her links to Obama and Obamacare. Her spokesweasel even said “This election isn’t about the Affordable Care Act.” That might be news to Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

Anyhow, now Obamacare will make the Winter Games even more unwatchable.

Read: Good News: Obamacare To Now Ruin Olympics »

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