Judicial Watch has been confident for some time that evidence shows political appointees at the Holder Department of Justice (DOJ) were involved in the decision to abandon the DOJ’s own voter intimidation lawsuit against the New Black Panther Party.

In a major victory for Judicial Watch, a federal court seems to agree with that analysis of continuing scandal.

The ruling came courtesy of Judge Reggie B. Walton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in response to Judicial Watch’s effort to obtain attorney’s fees from the DOJ for stonewalling the release of documents pertaining to the Black Panther scandal. Here’s the key quote from Judge Walton’s ruling:

     The documents reveal that political appointees within DOJ were conferring about the status and resolution of the New Black Panther Party case in the days preceding the DOJ’s dismissal of claims in that case, which would appear to contradict Assistant Attorney General Perez’s testimony that political leadership was not involved in that decision. Surely the public has an interest in documents that cast doubt on the accuracy of government officials’ representations regarding the possible politicization of agency decision-making.
 
     In sum, the Court concludes that three of the four fee entitlement factors weigh in favor of awarding fees to Judicial Watch. Therefore, Judicial Watch is both eligible and entitled to fees and costs, and the Court must now consider the reasonableness of Judicial Watch’s requested award.
 
So, in short, this ruling is further confirmation that political appointees at the DOJ did interfere in the Black Panther case. Assistant AG Perez’s testimony was false. And the American people have a right to documents related to the scandal. That’s pretty much a clear-cut victory.

By way of review, this all started on Election Day 2008, when members of the New Black Panther Party stood guard at a polling station in Philadelphia, PA, brandishing weapons and threatening voters. A video of the incident was widely distributed on the Internet – click here to view the video on YouTube. The DOJ filed a civil lawsuit against the Black Panthers, but ultimately overruled members of its own staff and dismissed the majority of the charges.

Click here for more from Breitbart.com. 

J. Christian Adams a former United States Department of Justice official who has accused the DOJ of racial bias in its handling of this voter intimidation case and other racialist activity is the author of the recent book, "Injustice: Exposing the Racial Agenda of the Obama Justice Department," click here to reach Amazon.com for more information. 

Tulsa Today includes Adams’ work as a part of our current affairs library and encourages careful consideration.  In addition, the refusal of Eric Holder to comply with Congressional requests for information and President Obama’s extension of Executive Privilege over DOJ activity in the “Fast and Furious” scandal is, in total, compelling evidence that the Obama Administration does not consider itself bound by the Rule of Law thus becoming, in itself, a threat to America.

As the opening ceremonies get underway in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics, around 400 people gathered in Trafalgar Square Friday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the brutal killing of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the 1972 Games in Munich.
 
The event was organized by the British Israel Coalition and was “a response to the International Olympic Committee’s sustained refusal to include a minute of silence in the opening ceremony due to be held tonight,” according to a statement released by the group early Friday.

An international drive to hold a moment of silence during the opening ceremonies in honor of the slain Israelis was rebuffed by the IOC on numerous occasions, including Wednesday night when two widows of murdered Israeli team members from the 1972 Games met with IOC President Jacques Rogge.
 
“We wanted to do this because it was right to take a public stand,” Ari Soffer, Director of the British Israel Coalition, told The Algemeiner. “The majority were definitely British but there were quite a lot of people involved – Americans, Canadians, a Korean group.  They saw the event and expressed interest.”
 
The BIC is a grassroots movement, which Soffer describes as “a pluralistic group with a pro-Israel initiative.”
 
We’re a  “pan-political, pan-religious [group].  It’s not Jewish, it’s not Christian.  We have membership across the religious and political spectrum and our mission is to fight the delegitimization of Israel in the United Kingdom…and at the same time, basically be the British voice for Israel in a proactive way.”
 
Attendees inside Trafalgar Square recited the Jewish prayer, Kaddish, while the national anthems of Britain and Israel were performed as well. 

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Monday said the White House appears to be responsible for leaking classified national security information.
 
‘‘I think the White House has to understand that some of this is coming from their ranks,’’ Feinstein said at a World Affairs Council forum, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Republicans, such as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), have accused the Obama administration of leaking national security information to win votes. Specifically, McCain mentioned the computer virus program that disabled some of Iran’s nuclear facilities — and other sensitive national security matters.

The uproar intensified when the The New York Times ran a story titled, “Obama order sped up wave of cyberattacks against Iran.” The Times has also published stories on Obama’s “kill lists” with sources that were all affiliated with the Obama administration. TheTimes has denied that the Obama administration leaked information to them.
 
Democrat Pat Caddell has pointed the finger at National Security Adviser Tom Donilon as the primary leaker of sensitive national security information. 

Click here for more from BreitBart.com.

As I continue to read about the terrible tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, I can’t help but think there’s some lessons from my time as a Navy SEAL that I can pass on to the average citizen. So here goes…

Don’t Make Yourself an Easy Target
 
When at sporting events, concerts, and the movies, choose seats that give you a tactical advantage always.  What do I mean? 

Choose seats that allow good and east vantage points and a hasty exit point.  Always stack the odds in your favor. It’s the reason I still combat park (back in to a space) and sit with my back to the wall when I’m eating.
 
Active Shooter Scenario Advice
 
Take cover and not concealment.  Concealment hides, cover hides AND protects.  It’s the difference between hiding behind a movie seat or a concrete wall.
 
Don’t lie there with your eyes closed and get shot. Think and move.  A good decision executed quickly is better than a great one never executed. Violence of action, as we call it in the Spec Ops community, will often change the odds in your favor.
 
For close quarter combat drills we’d draw a gun with someone over 20 feet away running at us.  In most cases you can be on someone before they can draw and take a shot.  I’m not advocating running straight at someone but if you have the tactical advantage (jam, re-loading, distraction or the shooter isn’t paying attention) then take the shooter down or get the hell out of there.  Deal with the situation with your eyes wide open.
 
In Aurora, the shooter was severely weighted down with armor and his helmet would have also limited his vision. You can use all this to your advantage.
 
Flashlight anyone?  I have one for daily carry and take it everywhere with me.  It’s become another extension of me and has diffused at least two potentially violent confrontations in a non-lethal way. I recommend 200+ lumens.
 
How to use it in this situation?
 
I would have pulled my high lumens pocket flashlight and blinded this guy. The high powered beam would have taken away his vision for 3-4 seconds, which is an eternity and enough time to flight or fight. There’s also no shame in surviving and getting you and your loved ones out of harm – especially little ones. Be a Hero to your kids and family for surviving, nobody can expect more of you than that. Like we say in Survival Escape Evasion Resistance (SERE) school, “Survive with Honor.”

To read more click here.  
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a member of the Senate General Aviation Caucus and certified flight instructor with more than 10,000 flight hours, yesterday hailed U.S. House passage of his bill, the Pilot’s Bill of Rights (S.1335). Inhofe has worked to pass the legislation for the past year.  In the Senate where the bill enjoyed co-sponsorship by 65 other Senators, the measure passed by unanimous consent in June.
 
Last October, the bill garnered the endorsement of pilot and actor Harrison Ford.  The next month, the bill crossed an important milestone gaining its 60thco-sponsor in the Senate.

House passage of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights means the measure now goes to the President’s desk to become law.
 
“This is the biggest news for General Aviation pilots in recent years,” said Inhofe.  “I am grateful that the House has seen the merits of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights.  Now that it has passed both the House and the Senate, I look forward to this becoming law with the President’s signature.  I am most appreciative of the House leadership and Rep. Sam Graves for their hard work in passing this in the House.
 
“Thanks to the efforts of so many pilots, and organizations like AOPA and EAA, we are just one step away from this becoming law.  Over the course of my years in Congress, I have helped an untold number of pilots facing the pressure of dealing with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This bill remedies many of the most serious deficiencies in the relationship between general aviation and the FAA, and ensures that pilots are, like everyone else, treated in a fair and equitable manner by the justice system.”
 
When the bill passed the Senate, Rod Hightower, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) President/CEO said,“This is a very important win for GA and protecting aviators’ rights.  We especially appreciate the bipartisan support in the Senate for the measure and Sen. Inhofe’s dedicated efforts to move this bill forward.”
 
On Senate passage, Craig Fuller, Aircraft Owners Pilots Association (AOPA) President said, “A year ago, Sen. Inhofe made a bold decision to introduce legislation in support of pilots’ rights when general aviation seemed to be under attack in Washington, D.C. His willingness to take a stand on behalf of pilots, and his success in bringing this measure through the Senate at a time when so much legislation is at a standstill, are powerful testaments to his commitment to protecting the freedom to fly. We applaud Sen. Inhofe’s ongoing work on behalf of general aviation so it can continue to play an important role in fostering economic development, providing personal and business transportation, and delivering services to millions of Americans.” 
 
DETAILS ABOUT THE PILOT’S BILL OF RIGHTS

Makes FAA Enforcement Proceedings and NTSB Review Fair for Pilots

•   Requires NTSB review of FAA enforcement actions to conform, to the extent practicable, with the Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
•   Requires the FAA to provide timely notice to a pilot who is the subject of an investigation, and that any response by the pilot can be used as evidence against him.
•   Requires that in an FAA enforcement action against a pilot, the FAA must grant the pilot all relevant evidence 30 days prior to a decision to proceed with an enforcement action. This is currently not done and often leaves the pilot grossly uninformed of his violation and recourse.
•   Makes contractor-run flight service station and contract tower communications available to airmen. Currently, if a request is made for flight service station information under FOIA, it is denied to the requestor because the contractor is not the government, per se. However, the contractor is performing an inherently governmental function and this information should be available to pilots who need it to defend themselves in an enforcement proceeding.
•   Removes the special statutory deference as it relates to National Transportation Safety Board reviews of FAA actions. Too often the NTSB rubber stamps a decision of the FAA, giving wide latitude to the FAA and making the appeals process meaningless. This returns NTSB’s deference to the FAA to general administrative law principles, just like every other government agency.
•   Allows for Federal district court review of appeals from the NTSB, at the election of the appellant. This is important because a review by the Federal district court is de novo, meaning the pilot gets a new trial with the ability to introduce evidence and a new review of the facts. 

 
NOTAM Improvement Program

•   Requires that the FAA undertake a NOTAM Improvement Program, requiring simplification and archival of NOTAMs in a central location. The process by which Notices to Airmen are provided by the FAA has long needed revision. This will ensure that the most relevant information reaches the pilot. Currently, FAA makes pilots responsible for knowledge of pre-flight conditions. Non-profit general aviation groups will make up an advisory panel.

 
Medical Certification Review

•   The FAA’s medical certification process has long been known to present a multitude of problems for pilots seeking an airman certificate. The bill requires a GAO review of the FAA’s medical certification process and forms, with the goal of demonstrating how the FAA can provide greater clarity in the questions and reduce the instances of misinterpretation that have, in the past, lead to allegations of intentional falsification against pilots. Non-profit general aviation groups will make up an advisory panel, which will give advice to the FAA on how the medical certification process can be improved. The FAA is required to take appropriate action on the GAO recommendations within one year.