Author Archives: Admin

Sen. Graham alleges Libya cover-up

A senior Republican senator Sunday accused President Barack Obama’s aides of deliberately covering up the details of the Sept. 11 attack in Libya that killed a U.S. ambassador so voters wouldn’t question Obama’s handling of the war on terror.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a long-time point man for the GOP
on national security issues, said he believes the administration knew
within 24 hours of the assault that it was a coordinated militia attack
and was not tied to other anti-U.S. protests across the Middle East.
According to Graham– who is investigating the attack– the administration
suggested otherwise so voters wouldn’t think Obama’s foreign policy in
the Middle East has failed.

He explained:

    “They’re trying to sell a narrative, quite frankly, that the Mid-East– the wars are receding and that al-Qaeda has been dismantled.  And to admit that our embassy was attacked by al-Qaida operatives, and [in] Libya leading from behind didn’t work, I think undercuts that narrative.  They never believed the media would investigate, Congress was out of session, and this caught up with them.  I think they’ve been misleading us, but it finally caught up with them.”

After Bob Schieffer said it was a “very serious charge” for the senator to level, Graham continued:

    “Either they’re misleading the American people, or incredibly incompetent.  There was no way with anybody looking at all that you could believe five days after the attack that it was based on a riot that never occurred… This is the same administration that leaks every detail of classified operations that are successful… When something goes bad, they deny, they deceive, and they delay.  And the truth is, we’re not safer.  Al-Qaeda is alive– Bin Laden may be dead–Al-Qaeda is alive, and they’re counter-attacking throughout the entire region.

Though many have been voicing similar opinions for weeks, Graham’s allegations are drawing particular attention to what has become a major national security issue for both candidates.  The attack on a U.S. Consulate in Benghazi– which killed four Americans including Ambassador Chris Stevens– has raised questions about whether the State Department denied its embassy staff adequate security, and why the White House was so slow to label the assault a “terrorist attack.”

Click here for more from The Blaze/AP.

Catholic Bishops call Biden’s contraception claim ‘Not a Fact’

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican contender Paul Ryan clashed over abortion and religious freedom during their debate and of the statements, Biden defended the administration against claims that the government is forcing Catholic organizations to violate conscience with the enforcement of the controversial contraception mandate.

On Friday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a statement, fact-checking Biden’s commentary and railing against the notion that institutions will be free and clear from the mandate’s clauses.

In a statement published on the bishops’ web site, church leaders sought to clarify Biden’s words about the regulation and its impact on faith-based institutions. Contrary to what Catholic leaders have been fighting against — even taking to the courts to try and prevent — Biden said during the debate that hospitals, schools and other religiously-affiliated groups — won’t have “to pay for contraception.”

“With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide,” he said. “That is a fact. That is a fact.”

The USCCB has come out strongly against Biden’s statements, claiming that they are not based on “fact.” Here’s the statement that the church put out in response to his proclamation:

    "This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain “religious employers.” That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to “Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital,” or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.

    "HHS has proposed an additional “accommodation” for religious organizations like these, which HHS itself describes as “non-exempt.” That proposal does not even potentially relieve these organizations from the obligation “to pay for contraception” and “to be a vehicle to get contraception.” They will have to serve as a vehicle, because they will still be forced to provide their employees with health coverage, and that coverage will still have to include sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients. They will have to pay for these things, because the premiums that the organizations (and their employees) are required to pay will still be applied, along with other funds, to cover the cost of these drugs and surgeries.

    "USCCB continues to urge HHS, in the strongest possible terms, actually to eliminate the various infringements on religious freedom imposed by the mandate."

Click here for video and more from The Blaze.

Warming stopped 16 years ago

The world stopped getting warmer almost 16 years ago, according to new data released last week and as reported by the UK’s Daily Mail.

The figures, which have triggered debate among climate scientists, reveal that from the beginning of 1997 until August 2012, there was no discernible rise in aggregate global temperatures.

This means that the ‘plateau’ or ‘pause’ in global warming has now lasted for about the same time as the previous period when temperatures rose, 1980 to 1996. Before that, temperatures had been stable or declining for about 40 years.

The new data, compiled from more than 3,000 measuring points on land and sea, was issued  quietly on the internet without any media fanfare.  Until The Daily Mail story; it had not been reported.

This stands in sharp contrast  to the release of the previous  figures six months ago, which went only to the end of 2010 – a very warm year.

Ending the data then means it is possible to show a slight warming trend since 1997, but 2011 and the first eight months of 2012 were much cooler, and thus this trend is erased.

 

Click here to read more from The Daily Mail.

Yes, Senator James M. Inhofe from Oklahoma was right on the facts from the beginning

Warming stopped 16 years ago

The world stopped getting warmer almost 16 years ago, according to new data released last week and as reported by the UK’s Daily Mail.

The figures, which have triggered debate among climate scientists,
reveal that from the beginning of 1997 until August 2012, there was no
discernible rise in aggregate global temperatures.

This means that the ‘plateau’ or ‘pause’ in global warming has now lasted for about the same time as the previous period when temperatures rose, 1980 to 1996. Before that, temperatures had been stable or declining for about 40 years.

The new data, compiled from more than 3,000 measuring points on land and sea, was issued  quietly on the internet without any media fanfare.  Until The Daily Mail story; it had not been reported.

This stands in sharp contrast  to the release of the previous  figures six months ago, which went only to the end of 2010 – a very warm year.

Ending the data then means it is possible to show a slight warming trend since 1997, but 2011 and the first eight months of 2012 were much cooler, and thus this trend is erased.

 

Click here to read more from The Daily Mail.

Yes, Senator James M. Inhofe from Oklahoma was right on the facts from the beginning

Auditor to investigate OKC corruption, cover-up

The Oklahoman is reporting that the state auditor and inspector’s office is preparing an investigation into an Oklahoma City police captain’s whistle-blower complaint that a city employee misappropriated funds for personal gain and his superiors sought to keep it quiet, but top city officials flatly deny any corruption or cover-up took place.

At a meeting earlier this month, the Oklahoma City Council voted unanimously with no discussion to request a state audit of “certain city contracts regarding implementation of various public safety systems.” Mayor Mick Cornett formally requested the audit in a letter received Oct. 4 by State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones.

City Manager Jim Couch and Assistant City Manager M.T. Berry acknowledged that a complaint filed by a city employee was related to the audit request, but said they couldn’t comment on the complaint or the investigation because it was a personnel matter. City attorneys cited state laws protecting the release of information “part of a confidential personnel investigation” in refusing to release the complaint.

The Oklahoman later obtained the complaint through a source who provided it on condition of anonymity. In it, Oklahoma City police Capt. Bradd Brown alleges a city employee misappropriated funds related to a project to create a new public safety communications and records system, and efforts to “hide or minimize information given to” the city council about the problems reached as high as Couch’s office.

Brown declined to comment when reached by telephone.

Couch had a simple answer, “No,” when asked whether there was any financial impropriety related to the project or whether anyone participated in an effort to hide information from the city council.

“Why would I do that? What purpose would there be for me to do that?” Couch asked rhetorically and with exasperation in his voice. He went on to note instances when his staff had to present an unforeseen problem that required more city spending, and a full report was made to the council for their consideration and approval.

Click here to read more from the Oklahoman