This and That...

[Warph]

CBO Projects Obamacare Will Cause A Reduction In Employment Labor of Two Million Full-Time Job Equivalencies

February 5, 2014
http://freebeacon.com/obamacare-to-cut-work-hours-by-equivalent-of-two-million-jobs/

2.5 Million Full Time Equivalent Jobs = 100 million hours of productivity removed from the economy.    

As a consequence, @ $15/hr, that's a $1.5 billion removal of positive production value from the economy and replaced with $1.5 billion dependency entitlement under the guise of a subsidy.

In very direct essence – This shifts $1.5 billion in additional taxation to the remaining productive class.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama's healthcare law will reduce American workforce participation by the equivalent of 2 million full-time jobs in 2017, the Congressional Budget Office said on Tuesday in a report that could fuel Republican efforts to paint the law as a job killer.

In its latest U.S. fiscal outlook, the nonpartisan CBO said the health law would prompt some lower-income workers to limit their hours to avoid losing federal subsidies that are available under the law to help pay for health insurance.

The CBO said the biggest impact on work hours from the health law would begin in 2017 because major provisions of the law will be well under way by then. The CBO said there would be smaller declines in work hours that would occur before then.

Work hours would be reduced by the equivalent of 2.5 million jobs in 2024, the agency said.
Republicans have long argued that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a job killer that would discourage employers from hiring full-time workers.

"The ACA also will exert conflicting pressures on the quantity of labor that employers demand, primarily during the next few years," the agency said.

But CBO said the expected drop in work hours between 2017 and 2024 would result largely from worker decisions not to participate in the labor force, rather than from higher unemployment or the inability of part-time workers to find full-time hours.

"The estimated reduction stems almost entirely from a net decline in the amount of labor that workers choose to supply, rather than from a net drop in businesses' demand for labor," CBO said.

According to the report, federal subsidies can be substantial, particularly for lower-wage workers who receive more under the law's sliding income scale. But that also means the benefits can be phased out as a worker's income rises.

"The phaseout effectively raises people's marginal tax rates (the tax rates applying to their last dollar of income), thus discouraging work," CBO said.

The agency also said that if higher taxes were required to pay for subsidies, the effect would also be to discourage work and create other economic distortions.

The CBO said the healthcare law is not expected to reach its initial goal of enrolling 7 million uninsured Americans in health insurance this year, due to its botched rollout.

In a fresh forecast for 2014, the CBO estimated that only 6 million people would sign up for private coverage through new health insurance marketplaces. Technical problems that largely paralyzed the website HealthCare.gov after its initial rollout discouraged many Americans from enrolling.

[Warph]

Explosive Device, Gasoline Found In Burned Student's Apartment

Charred mattress outside Georgia Tech student's apartment.

(I'm sure he was just studying Advanced Molotov Cocktail 201, but sounds like he failed)

Via Atlanta Journal Constitution:
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/1-severely-burned-in-10th-street-home/ndC9z/?icmp=ajc_internallink_textlink_homepage

A suspected Molotov cocktail and several plastic bottles filled with gasoline and kerosene were found in the Midtown apartment of a Georgia Tech graduate student severely burned, police said Wednesday.

Saamer Akhshabi remains in Grady Memorial Hospital with third-degree burns over 90 percent of his body from the fire started in his apartment Tuesday afternoon in the 200 block of 10th Street, police said.

Late Tuesday night, it wasn't known what caused the fire. But an FBI spokesman said the man's burns were possibly from an incendiary device.

"At this time, we are assisting in furthering the investigation to determine how the male received the injuries and how the fire started," Officer John Chafee with Atlanta police said.

[...]

Update to this story:

Is GA Tech Iranian Grad Student Who Appears To Have Burnt Himself With Incendiery Device An Obama Fan?

Georgia Tech graduate student Saamer Akhshab was injured in an explosion/fire Tuesday afternoon that burnt over 90% of his body. Police said the fire was possibly due to an incendiery device, that at least one molotov cocktails and bottles of gas and kerosene were found at the grad student's apartment. The FBI is investigating.

Here is what appears to be Saamer's twitter account and the four tweets from it:

How do we know that this account is his?
It has tweets prior to today, and is followed and follows what looks like a relative, possibly a brother, as well as Georgia Tech-related twitter accounts including other computer scientists he follows and is followed by. The picture is also the same as on Akhshabi's Google Scholar account.

The account also follows Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.

[Warph]

Kerry To Israeli Critics: I'm Not Afraid of You, I've Been Attacked By "Real Bullets"

(Settle down, Lurch)

Via Daily Caller:
. . . CNN's Jake Tapper presented Kerry with an opportunity to respond to Bennett and other Israeli critics during an interview Wednesday.

[...]

"My comments need to be properly represented, not distorted. I did not do anything except cite what other people are talking about as a problem," Kerry said. "But I also have always opposed boycotts. I have 100 percent voting record in support of Israel for 29 years in the United States Senate. Unfortunately, there are some people in Israel and in Palestine and in the Arab World and around the world that don't support the peace process."

"Israel needs to understand we will always stand by its security needs," he continued. "But no one should distort what we're doing or saying because they're opposed to the peace process or don't like two states or whatever. And, you know, words — I have to tell you, my friend, I've been, quote, attacked before by people using real bullets,   not words, and I am not going to be intimidated. I am not going to stand down with respect to President Obama's commitment to trying to find peace in the Middle East."

[Warph]

Report: ObuttHead Orders Secretaries To Act Like Mini-Dictators, "Expects His Cabinet To Be Forceful And To Act" Without Congress

The Clownie Gang-Bangers

(This *Clownie Jester thinks he runs this country like it's his own personal fiefdom.

*Clownies: (Urban Definiton)

Also known as Ratkids. Refers to a small group of anti social town dwellers that dress in a way which slightly resembles that of a clown. They take other peoples unique qualitys and take them as their own, claiming to be "scene kids" when that just proves that they are stealing other peoples scenes and identities.

How to spot them: They usually flock around public family places such as; clock towers, parks, shopping centers, toyshops, canals and drive the nice familys away.

They love cheap hair dye, cheap hard cider, cheap cigarettes and basically anything cheap.

They also infest social networking sites such as myspace, facebook and bebo usuing what they deem to be clever names that involve aliteration or rhymes)

Via CNS:
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/melanie-hunter/vilsack-obama-expects-his-cabinet-be-forceful-and-act-climate-change

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday the establishment of "climate change hubs" in seven states – and three sub-hubs – that will assess and come up with a plan to help rural America deal with climate risks – all without congressional approval.

"The president's been quite insistent in cabinet meetings and in private meetings that he expects his cabinet to be forceful and to act. We can't wait for congressional action. So pursuant to his climate action plan, we established a number of climate change hubs," Vilsack said during the White House press briefing.

[Warph]

U.S. Intelligence: At Least 50 Americans Fighting Alongside Al-Qaeda In Syria

WASHINGTON —
http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-american-fighters-in-syria-20140204,0,5986766.story#axzz2sUcZBNP9

At least 50 Americans have joined the mix of extremist groups that are fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, and some could try to mount terrorist attacks at home, U.S. intelligence officials said Tuesday.

Intelligence officials say the Syrian civil war has become one of the biggest magnets for Islamic extremists around the globe since CIA-backed militants fought to oust Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the 1980s, a war that ultimately gave rise to Al Qaeda.

James Clapper, the U.S. director of national intelligence, told the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that "7,500 or so" foreign fighters are in Syria from 50 countries. Clapper had cited an estimate of 7,000 at a Senate hearing last week.

A U.S. intelligence official told The Times that the total includes at least 50 Americans, a more concrete estimate than authorities have given previously. He declined to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the figure publicly.

A report in January by the Israel-based Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center estimated that as many as 1,800 people from European countries have also fought in Syria.

CIA Director John Brennan said Tuesday that Al Qaeda is training foreign fighters at camps in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

[Ross]

Perhaps our policing forces could take a lesson from this!
Our Police and Sheriff's our National Guard, our Military if called upon to take action against peaceful people instead of inciting a riot.

[Ross]

I received this today from a great-great niece via e-mail. She can't believe what she is reading.
I ask you to read what Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia had to say about internment camps yesterday?
When is the future?
                    Is it tomorrow?
                             Is it next month?
                                      Is it next year?
                                                   And why would we need internment camps?
                            My niece is now praying that it doesn't happen and I join her in that prayer!

First what I received by e-mail:

Paul Nelson:

Watching what's unfolding is one of the most terrifying feelings I've ever known. I just hope you have the grit to stomach all of this. Obama is on the verge of... Carrying out a horrific chain of events leading to him becoming a DICTATOR. He said so in his State of the Union address the other night.

With his signature smirk he told American citizens that this is the "Year of Executive Action." He plans to abuse executive orders to blow by Congress and the Constitution to carry out his agenda.

Obama's Executive Order Czar, John Podesta made a mockery of America and our Founding Fathers when he told us that Obama's just getting warmed up. When he believes "he has the authority" to "make progress" without action by Congress, he'll do it, Podesta boasted.

This is flat-out full assault on America that's advancing Obama sick and twisted agenda for New World Order.

Obama, Podesta, Holder—they're all spitting in the face of America.

Everything we've worked for—and our military has valiantly fought for and DIED FOR—over the course of history is at stake: our sovereignty, our freedom, our military power and our right to liberty and justice.

Indeed this is Obama's idea of fundamentally changing America.

It's so bad that the producer of Schindler's List has said he "never feared my government until now." What does that tell you?

You should fear Obama's every action now. He's getting bolder...cockier. We're already three quarters of the way into Martial Law, living in a police state.

When you put all of his vile actions together it spells grave danger. All you have to do is connect the dots. Look at the deeply disturbing chain of events that have been taking place. Already Obama has been:

He's fired our military's finest—200 since he took office. It's unprecedented. Obama is deliberately weakening out military and replacing them with loyalists who have promised to "pry the guns from our cold, dead hands" for starters.

If a military officer speaks out, he's fired or stripped of a promotion. The "king" does not allow anyone to speak out against him. It's so bad that Obama is now being watched by our military.

Obama and his administration have already put the gun-grab into motion. If the "king" gets his way, guns will be taken away from people being treated for even the slightest mental health issue.

Our own veterans have had their guns confiscated under the false pretense of mental health issues. Gun grabs are being made all over the nation. What's more, through the use of propaganda and lies they're demonizing gun owners.

There's a vicious plan underway right now to place US sovereignty in foreign hands. Under a new free trade agreement even our US Supreme Court with have no authority and hold no power.

Obama wants to give away control of our oceans and land, too. Those plans have already been set into motion. He's opening America up to attack to allow the extremists and terrorists to take control.

Clearly Obama wants to know who's with him and who's against him. He's gone so far as to place innocent Americans such as veterans, Christians and patriotic Americans on watch lists, labeling them as "extremists."

Think about the gun owners and the national registry he's demanding. There's no question he wants to know who is armed. They're expecting an uprising against the tyranny.

Unprecedented ammo buys have been carried out—hallow points no less, the very ammo our own military is forbidden to use. What's more, the DHS has purchased tanks and weapons. All of it points to Martial Law and Obama taking his seat as a dictator.

A long time ago I told you it would get very ugly—even downright dangerous or deadly. That time is here.

Democrats are pushing for a third term. Can you imagine what would happen if that becomes a reality? All Obama has to do is sign an executive order to change the election laws so he can take a third term. Remember, "he's just getting warmed up" according to his own people.

What's worse, he could change our laws so that there are NO term limits in the presidency. The thought makes me ill.

He must be stopped, before our country is destroyed.

If you have ever seen the Hall of Presidents located in the magic kingdom of Disney World; you may recall President Lincoln's original speech. I understand it has been changed to reflect more on racial issue.
Lincoln: This government must be preserved in spite of the acts of any man or set of men. Nowhere in the world is presented a government of so much liberty and equality. To the humblest and poorest among us are held the highest privileges and positions. What constitutes the bulwark of our liberty and independence? It is not the frowning battlements, or bristling seacoast, our army and navy. These are not our reliance against tyranny. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is in the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism at your own doors.

At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined could not, by force, take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up among us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we ourselves, must be its author and its finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite to exist only for a day. No . . . No . . . Man was made for immortality.

This Country has faced many challenges, beginning before we had a country, some like the attacks suffered on 9/11. Now the troubles facing this county are from within. Our president seems to be doing everything he can to destroy this great nation. This is happening every day and most people disagree with what is happening but very few people are standing up and speaking out in protest. You can check out their web site by searching National Liberty Federation. They are asking for money, I did not want to add that part to my post but will share their request.

Think about what'll happen if we don't stop this dangerous man.

It's an all-out war now. Will you stand with us?

Everett "Dirksen" Wilkinson
Chairman
National Liberty Federation

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Scalia: You're 'Kidding Yourself' if You Think Future SCOTUS Won't Uphold Internment Camps

By Josh Feldman | 3:07 PM, February 5th, 2014

Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia painted a grim picture of the future when he told students at the University of Hawaii on Monday that a future Supreme Court could very easily uphold the legality of internment camps during wartime. Scalia was talking to a group of law students for a Q&A when he brought up the Supreme Court decision in the case of Korematsu v. United States, which ruled that internment camps set up by the U.S. Government during World War II were constitutional.

Scalia said the decision was obviously wrong, but people shouldn't just assume that the Supreme Court would never dare attempt that kind of decision again.

"Well of course Korematsu was wrong. And I think we have repudiated in a later case. But you are kidding yourself if you think the same thing will not happen again... That's what was going on – the panic about the war and the invasion of the Pacific and whatnot. That's what happens. It was wrong, but I would not be surprised to see it happen again, in time of war. It's no justification, but it is the reality."

Scalia also spoke about the Supreme Court defending the rights of the people from the government, saying, "We do need a court that sometimes will say there are individual or group rights that are not being adequately protected by the democratic process."

http://www.mediaite.com/online/scalia-youre-kidding-yourself-if-you-think-future-scotus-wont-uphold-internment-camps/

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Didn't the Russians say they would destroy us from with-in?

[Warph]

Conservative Activist Files "Abuse of Power" Complaint Against Dem Rep. Elijah Cummings For Trying To Intimidate Her "True The Vote" Group

← Beyond The "Smidgens" – Testimony On The IRS Scandal Continues....Jay Sekulow – The IRS Targeting – Congressional Testimony and Talking To Media (two videos) →The Weaponization Of Government – Unbelievable Congressional Testimony on IRS Targeting
Posted on February 6, 2014 

I hope EVERYONE watches the accompanying videos.  It is imperative that EVERYONE understands the full-throated attack currently underway by our own government.   Only by fully understanding the scope of the issue can you fully absorb the danger in front of us.

The testimony today on capitol hill was blood boiling to say the least.

During hearings about IRS targeting of conservative groups, which unlike President Obama's claim appears fraught with political scandal, some of the victims began to lay out the details of the attacks they have endured.

One of those victims is Mrs. Catherine Engelbrecht. Catherine Eghelbrecht is a conservative activist, Tea Party member and founder of True the Vote. Mrs. Engelbrecht, outlined how she has been the specific target of FOUR federal agencies (The FBI, IRS, ATF and OSHA) along with one Texas State agency (EPA).

Prior to her founding of True The Vote, as a simple business person, she was never on the federal radar. However, as soon as she engaged in advocacy for her beliefs she was targeted by the "weaponization of government". 14 IRS audits of personal and business finances, 4 times visited by the FBI as a 'domestic risk', 3 times visited by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and two audits by The Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
In addition Mrs. Enghelbrecht received four threatening letters and three subpoenas for documents from Congressional Black Caucus member Elijah Cummings.

The threats and intimidation by Cummings reaching such a level that today Engelbrecht formerly filed a complaint accusing Democrat Rep Elijah Cummings of specific harassment and specific intimidation (report below... must watch video).

(Clearly a racist)

[...]

Via Fox News:
A conservative activist targeted by the IRS and other agencies claimed Thursday that Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings also tried to intimidate her, filing a formal complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics alleging an "abuse of power."

Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of True the Vote and the King Street Patriots, aired the allegations during a hearing hosted by the committee on which Cummings sits. An attorney working with her also questioned whether Cummings might have encouraged the IRS and other agencies to target her groups.

Cummings, though, adamantly denied wrongdoing and said he can "assure" Engelbrecht that he did not direct anyone at the IRS to scrutinize her.

At issue are letters Cummings sent out voicing concerns about True the Vote, which advocates for strict voter ID requirements and other measures which Democratic lawmakers, including Cummings, oppose.

"Congressman Cummings on three separate occasions sent letters on letterhead from this committee, stating that he had concerns and felt it necessary to open an investigation on True the Vote," Engelbrecht said during the hearing, where she and other witnesses were otherwise testifying on IRS targeting.

She also said that after she applied for tax-exempt status, "an assortment of federal entities including law enforcement agencies, and Congressman Cummings came knocking at my door."

[...]

WASHINGTON DC - A conservative activist targeted by the IRS and other agencies claimed Thursday that Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings also tried to intimidate her, filing a formal complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics alleging an "abuse of power."

Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of True the Vote and the King Street Patriots, aired the allegations during a hearing hosted by the committee on which Cummings sits. An attorney working with her also questioned whether Cummings might have encouraged the IRS and other agencies to target her groups.

Cummings, though, adamantly denied wrongdoing and said he can "assure" Engelbrecht that he did not direct anyone at the IRS to scrutinize her.

At issue are letters Cummings sent out voicing concerns about True the Vote, which advocates for strict voter ID requirements and other measures which Democratic lawmakers, including Cummings, oppose.

"Congressman Cummings on three separate occasions sent letters on letterhead from this committee, stating that he had concerns and felt it necessary to open an investigation on True the Vote," Engelbrecht said during the hearing, where she and other witnesses were otherwise testifying on IRS targeting.

She also said that after she applied for tax-exempt status, "an assortment of federal entities including law enforcement agencies, and Congressman Cummings came knocking at my door." 
(continue reading)

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/06/conservative-activist-claims-rep-cummings-tried-to-intimidate-her-files/

[Warph]

Executive Lawlessness: Obama's Weapons of Political Intimidation

Trifecta's Bill Whittle looks at Obama's conversion of the federal government into a weapon of political intimidation.  Hear how Obama ignores the U.S. Constitution and passes laws without congressional authority.  Is tyranny alive and well in America?  Hear the answer.

[Warph]

Take a Look at One of the Most Disturbing Moments from the Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony

This photo came across Twitter today, thanks to Jonah Goldberg. It's from the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Sochi, Russia....

The best thing this could be is an acknowledgement that Communism is a major part of Russia's history. That's still bad, of course, unless it's accompanied with facts about the old USSR's brutality (not likely). It could also be a hint at where Putin wants to take Russia again.

Update: But wait, there's more...

Update: And more. Look who's applauding. (See the following update.)