The mystery surrounding U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s leave of absence deepened Thursday as his office disclosed a few more vague details about his medical condition, saying his ailments were "more serious" than previously thought and he needs extended inpatient treatment.
But his staff gave no hint of the congressman's whereabouts or exactly what he was suffering from, saying only that he has grappled with physical and emotional problems "privately for a long period of time" and was at an inpatient facility.
The nine-term Chicago Democrat has come under intense scrutiny in recent years for ties to imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and an extramarital affair. Despite a pending U.S. House ethics investigation connected to Blagojevich, he has been widely expected to win re-election in November.
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Friday, July 06, 2012
Obama Administration to Spend $20 Million on Green Energy Plan – For Africa
The U.S. government is spending $20 million to “help clean energy
projects in Africa get started,” such as wind farms and solar panels,
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced at the recent Rio +20
Conference in Brazil, a step the government watchdog Judicial Watch
criticized as wasteful given the administration’s track record in
trying to pick green energy winners.
“The U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative will help clean energy projects in Africa get started,” said Clinton in her June 22 speech. “This is an innovative partnership between three United States Government entities – the State Department, OPIC, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. We want to drive private sector investment into the energy sector.”
“We plan to use an initial $20 million grant fund to leverage much larger investment flows from OPIC,” she said. “That will open the door then for hundreds of millions of dollars of OPIC financing, plus hundreds of millions of more dollars from the private sector for projects that otherwise would never get off the drawing board.”
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“The U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative will help clean energy projects in Africa get started,” said Clinton in her June 22 speech. “This is an innovative partnership between three United States Government entities – the State Department, OPIC, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. We want to drive private sector investment into the energy sector.”
“We plan to use an initial $20 million grant fund to leverage much larger investment flows from OPIC,” she said. “That will open the door then for hundreds of millions of dollars of OPIC financing, plus hundreds of millions of more dollars from the private sector for projects that otherwise would never get off the drawing board.”
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As U.N. Finalizes Arms Trade Treaty, Opponents Warn of Global Gun Grab
Amid energetic lobbying from both sides, the Obama administration is
taking part in month-long negotiations at United Nations headquarters
aimed at finalizing a conventional arms trade treaty, which supporters
say will save millions of lives but opponents fear threatens to
restrict Second Amendment rights at home and U.S. arms sales policies
abroad.
U.N. bureaucrats insist that the U.N. Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will have no impact on civilian gun ownership, saying that it will deal only with the arms trade across borders. They also stress that its outcome will not be imposed on any country, noting it will only be binding on countries that ratify it.
In a letter to Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the eve of the conference, 130 Republican lawmakers outlined their concerns that the treaty being negotiated could negatively affect U.S. security, foreign policy and economic interests – as well as Americans’ constitutional rights.
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U.N. bureaucrats insist that the U.N. Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will have no impact on civilian gun ownership, saying that it will deal only with the arms trade across borders. They also stress that its outcome will not be imposed on any country, noting it will only be binding on countries that ratify it.
In a letter to Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the eve of the conference, 130 Republican lawmakers outlined their concerns that the treaty being negotiated could negatively affect U.S. security, foreign policy and economic interests – as well as Americans’ constitutional rights.
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Occupy-Linked Protesters Toss $5,000 in Bills Off Seattle Building
Occupy-linked activists rained $5,000 in bills off a downtown Seattle building Wednesday to protest money in politics.
#MicCheckWallSt, an affiliate of Occupy Seattle, held its “4th of July Money Drop” to “[declare] independence from Citizens United,” the landmark Supreme Court ruling lifting restrictions on corporate and union campaign spending.
Video posted online shows stacks of bills emblazoned with the words “Money as speech silences us all” and “End Citizens United” being unloaded from a duffel bag and set up beside a window. A voice says “Go” and two people begin hurling the money out the window, the bills fluttering toward the ground. According to the Guardian, the bills thrown were mostly ones and fives.
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#MicCheckWallSt, an affiliate of Occupy Seattle, held its “4th of July Money Drop” to “[declare] independence from Citizens United,” the landmark Supreme Court ruling lifting restrictions on corporate and union campaign spending.
Video posted online shows stacks of bills emblazoned with the words “Money as speech silences us all” and “End Citizens United” being unloaded from a duffel bag and set up beside a window. A voice says “Go” and two people begin hurling the money out the window, the bills fluttering toward the ground. According to the Guardian, the bills thrown were mostly ones and fives.
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California Bill Could Create Sanctuary State for Non-felon Illegal Immigrants
California lawmakers are considering a new bill that could create a
sanctuary state for illegal immigrants seeking protection from Arizona’s
strict immigration law.
The Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools, or TRUST Act, which is currently making its way through the California legislature, would prohibit local law enforcement from turning over illegal immigrants for deportation except for those with serious felony convictions.
Debate over the bill comes after the nation's highest court last month upheld the most controversial provision of the Arizona immigration law -- requiring local police to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. Federal immigration officials have said they will be selective in responding to those calls and have already moved to shield some categories of illegal immigrants nationwide from deportation, but the provision is still on the books in Arizona.
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The Transparency and Responsibility Using State Tools, or TRUST Act, which is currently making its way through the California legislature, would prohibit local law enforcement from turning over illegal immigrants for deportation except for those with serious felony convictions.
Debate over the bill comes after the nation's highest court last month upheld the most controversial provision of the Arizona immigration law -- requiring local police to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally. Federal immigration officials have said they will be selective in responding to those calls and have already moved to shield some categories of illegal immigrants nationwide from deportation, but the provision is still on the books in Arizona.
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Alberta, Canada Recruiting U.S. Veterans for 114,000 Jobs
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and VetJobs.com announced this week a
new employment initiative with the Edmonton Economic Development
Corporation in Alberta, Canada that could employ thousands of U.S.
veterans to help build new infrastructure in Canada.
While the initiative had initially been misreported by some media as an opportunity for U.S. veterans to land jobs on the Canada-side of the Keystone XL pipeline – a project delayed in America by the Obama administration – many veterans were already on the short list for those potential jobs and could be hired if (or when) the pipeline is approved.
In the meantime, there is an expected shortfall of 114,000 jobs in Alberta over the next decade, and the arrangement among the VFW, VetJobs.com, and the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation should help to place thousands of Americans into those positions.
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While the initiative had initially been misreported by some media as an opportunity for U.S. veterans to land jobs on the Canada-side of the Keystone XL pipeline – a project delayed in America by the Obama administration – many veterans were already on the short list for those potential jobs and could be hired if (or when) the pipeline is approved.
In the meantime, there is an expected shortfall of 114,000 jobs in Alberta over the next decade, and the arrangement among the VFW, VetJobs.com, and the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation should help to place thousands of Americans into those positions.
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Outside Review of Massacre at Fort Hood to be Filed Soon, Calling for Change at FBI
The final independent report on the 2009 Fort Hood massacre will
include 18 formal recommendations for change at the FBI, Fox News has
learned.
In a July 3 letter to Republican Rep. Frank Wolf, chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees FBI funding, Judge William Webster, who led the independent review, said it would be on FBI Director Robert Mueller's desk no later than July 13.
"The Final Report will exceed 150 single-spaced pages in length and include eighteen (18) formal recommendations for corrective and enhancing measures on matters ranging from FBI policies and operations to information systems infrastructure, review protocols and training."
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In a July 3 letter to Republican Rep. Frank Wolf, chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees FBI funding, Judge William Webster, who led the independent review, said it would be on FBI Director Robert Mueller's desk no later than July 13.
"The Final Report will exceed 150 single-spaced pages in length and include eighteen (18) formal recommendations for corrective and enhancing measures on matters ranging from FBI policies and operations to information systems infrastructure, review protocols and training."
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Is Jesus Christ Reaching Out to Muslims Through Their Dreams?
Is Jesus Christ reaching out to Muslims through their dreams and
encouraging them to embrace his teachings? This is exactly the
phenomenon that some former Islamic adherents claim they have personally
experienced. Numerous stories about Muslims, among others, who see the
Christian savior in their dreams and convert as a result are streaming
out of the Middle East.
While skeptics would certainly scoff at such a notion — and Muslims, themselves, may become incensed at proclamations affirming this dynamic, those who have experienced it swear by its authenticity.
Take, for instance, Ali, a man whose journey is documented in a recent Charisma News article. A few years ago, he was slated to go on the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca known as Hajj. But, he claims something transformational happened along the way — something so pivotal that it stripped away the very faith he was attempting to affirm.
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While skeptics would certainly scoff at such a notion — and Muslims, themselves, may become incensed at proclamations affirming this dynamic, those who have experienced it swear by its authenticity.
Take, for instance, Ali, a man whose journey is documented in a recent Charisma News article. A few years ago, he was slated to go on the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca known as Hajj. But, he claims something transformational happened along the way — something so pivotal that it stripped away the very faith he was attempting to affirm.
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Justice Used Research by Dem 'Agent' to Build Case Against Texas Voter Law, Rep Claims
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday accused the
Justice Department of using data from an “agent of the Democratic
Party” to bolster its case for blocking Texas' controversial voter ID
law.
Republican Rep. Lamar Smith, who represents Texas, said he’s "disappointed" and concerned by the "unacceptable" move, demanding an explanation in a letter sent to Attorney General Eric Holder.
The letter notes that the Justice Department is using data compiled by a company whose client list has included President Obama’s own election campaign.
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Republican Rep. Lamar Smith, who represents Texas, said he’s "disappointed" and concerned by the "unacceptable" move, demanding an explanation in a letter sent to Attorney General Eric Holder.
The letter notes that the Justice Department is using data compiled by a company whose client list has included President Obama’s own election campaign.
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‘Rednecks Resort,‘ ’Redneck Games,’ & ‘Redneck Olympics’: These Exist, and We Have the Video
It’s summer. And in honor of summer’s premiere holiday, 4th of July, yesterday we brought you the 76 quintessential staples of Americana. But one we may have missed is the American “Redneck.” Luckily, CNN is there to remind us.
This week, CNN noticed a variety of Redneck news reports hitting the airwaves. But they weren’t just any Redneck videos — they were videos of Rednecks having, as they say, “a good ol’ time.” After we saw them, we just had to include them below.
First up is a news report about a new “Redneck resort” that opened in Tennessee. In short, it’s a backyard, mud-filled theme park. And it’s quite the site to behold. Take a look (and bonus points if you can figure out what the man at about the 10-second mark is saying):
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This week, CNN noticed a variety of Redneck news reports hitting the airwaves. But they weren’t just any Redneck videos — they were videos of Rednecks having, as they say, “a good ol’ time.” After we saw them, we just had to include them below.
First up is a news report about a new “Redneck resort” that opened in Tennessee. In short, it’s a backyard, mud-filled theme park. And it’s quite the site to behold. Take a look (and bonus points if you can figure out what the man at about the 10-second mark is saying):
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Obama Admin Sends $395K to Tennessee Planned Parenthood
The Obama administration has sent a family planning grant of $395,000
to a Planned Parenthood abortion business in Memphis, Tennessee. The
move is drawing strong condemnation from pro-life advocates in the
Volunteer State who are unhappy taxpayer funds are going to the nation’s
biggest abortion business.
Congressman Steve Cohen today announced that Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR) has received $395,000 for the Title X Family Planning Services Program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Grants Management.
“Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region has been helping Memphis and Shelby County residents get the health care they need to lead happier, healthier lives for years,” said Congressman Cohen. “These new federal funds will help ensure the Title X Family Planning Program reaches those who need help the most in underserved communities.”
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Congressman Steve Cohen today announced that Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR) has received $395,000 for the Title X Family Planning Services Program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Grants Management.
“Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region has been helping Memphis and Shelby County residents get the health care they need to lead happier, healthier lives for years,” said Congressman Cohen. “These new federal funds will help ensure the Title X Family Planning Program reaches those who need help the most in underserved communities.”
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Atheist Files Discrimination Complaint Over PA Restaurant’s 10% Sunday Discount for People With Church Bulletins
An atheist has filed a discrimination complaint against
a Columbia, Pennsylvania-based restaurant. The offense? The
establishment has been offering a 10 percent discount
for individuals who bring in a church bulletin on Sundays. John Wolff,
who has officially issued his grievance with the Pennsylvania Human
Relations Commission, is hoping that Prudhomme’s Lost Cajun Kitchen is held accountable for its diner discount.
“I did this not out of spite, but out of a feeling against the prevailing self-righteousness that stems from religion, particularly in Lancaster County,” Wolff, a retired electrical engineer, said of his decision to go toe-to-toe with the restaurant. “I don’t consider it an earthshaking affair, but in this area in particular, we seem to have so many self-righteous religious people, so it just annoys me.”
But one of the co-owners of the restaurant, Sharon Prudhomme, isn‘t backing down to Wolff’s challenge. She claims that Lost Cajun Kitchen technically doesn’t discriminate, because people don’t actually have to be believers — or even attend church for that matter — to get the discount. Anyone, she claims, can walk into a church and take a bulletin.
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“I did this not out of spite, but out of a feeling against the prevailing self-righteousness that stems from religion, particularly in Lancaster County,” Wolff, a retired electrical engineer, said of his decision to go toe-to-toe with the restaurant. “I don’t consider it an earthshaking affair, but in this area in particular, we seem to have so many self-righteous religious people, so it just annoys me.”
But one of the co-owners of the restaurant, Sharon Prudhomme, isn‘t backing down to Wolff’s challenge. She claims that Lost Cajun Kitchen technically doesn’t discriminate, because people don’t actually have to be believers — or even attend church for that matter — to get the discount. Anyone, she claims, can walk into a church and take a bulletin.
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Has The Normalizing of Pedophilia Begun?
Do people who rape children, or fantasize about sexually abusing them, deserve sympathy – because they were born with the brains of pedophiles?
That’s the question a prominent scientist and a well-known anchor at CNN have asked in the wake of the recent Jerry Sandusky scandal.
CNN recently featured a story by James Cantor, a homosexual psychologist and scientist at the Sexual Behaviors Clinic of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health who serves as associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
“It appears that one can be born with a brain predisposed to experience sexual arousal in response to children,” he wrote in his CNN piece.
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That’s the question a prominent scientist and a well-known anchor at CNN have asked in the wake of the recent Jerry Sandusky scandal.
CNN recently featured a story by James Cantor, a homosexual psychologist and scientist at the Sexual Behaviors Clinic of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health who serves as associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
“It appears that one can be born with a brain predisposed to experience sexual arousal in response to children,” he wrote in his CNN piece.
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Muslim Congressman: Model America‘s Schools After ’Madrasas’
Those with a functioning memory of the years during which George W.
Bush was President will recall only too well the constant furor on the
Left over the administration’s supposed obsession with the idea of
bringing theocracy to bear in America. This complaint was especially
shrill in regards to the idea of voucherizing education, an idea that
made many a progressive sit bolt upright in bed, sweating and shaking at
the idea that someone, somewhere might hear the word “God” in an
educational context. “Why,” they complained, “if we let him get away
with it, the President would probably model all our schools after
seminaries!”
Fortunately for us, those nightmarish days of theocratic overreach are past. No legislator in Barack Obama’s Democratic party would ever be so backwards, so barbaric as to suggest that America should ever model its educational institutions after religious schools.
Oh. Well, never mind, then.
For those who are wondering, the video posted above depicts Muslim Congressman Andre Carson, of the 7th District of Indiana, voicing his belief that America’s school system would be improved if schools were modeled after “madrasas.” For those that don’t know, madrasas are Islamic religious schools – schools that, according to at least one State Department report, have been accused of fostering anti-American, terrorist sympathies. Specifically, the report singled out the Pakistani educational system, where madrasas are common:
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Fortunately for us, those nightmarish days of theocratic overreach are past. No legislator in Barack Obama’s Democratic party would ever be so backwards, so barbaric as to suggest that America should ever model its educational institutions after religious schools.
Oh. Well, never mind, then.
For those who are wondering, the video posted above depicts Muslim Congressman Andre Carson, of the 7th District of Indiana, voicing his belief that America’s school system would be improved if schools were modeled after “madrasas.” For those that don’t know, madrasas are Islamic religious schools – schools that, according to at least one State Department report, have been accused of fostering anti-American, terrorist sympathies. Specifically, the report singled out the Pakistani educational system, where madrasas are common:
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‘Just Sickening’: Video Shows St. Louis Mother Encouraging Small Children to Brawl While They Cry and Scream
The Missouri Department of Social Services won‘t confirm or deny if
it’s investigating a heartbreaking video that shows two small children
fist fighting viciously while the mother of at least one of the kids
encourages them, never once stepping in to break them up. The video was
posted on Facebook by an unidentified woman on Sunday, KTVI reports.
“Got some action! Got some action!” the mother is heard yelling as she records the fight. “Y’all better ball up some fists!”
The children can be heard crying loudly, obviously wanting the fighting to stop, but she tells them to go on.
At one point, it looks as if one of the children is slamming the other’s head on the floor before punching her in the head while she is on the ground. Still, the mother tells them to fight harder.
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“Got some action! Got some action!” the mother is heard yelling as she records the fight. “Y’all better ball up some fists!”
The children can be heard crying loudly, obviously wanting the fighting to stop, but she tells them to go on.
At one point, it looks as if one of the children is slamming the other’s head on the floor before punching her in the head while she is on the ground. Still, the mother tells them to fight harder.
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Navy Plans Mandatory Anti-Sexual Assault Training For Every Sailor
Each sailor will be required to take a new round of training by the end of this year. Courses will emphasize the need for "bystander" servicemembers to intervene when they see activities that could foreshadow sexual assault.
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Strong Auto Sales Reported in June: Here Are the 10 Cars That Sold the Most
Following June’s impressive boost in auto sales, we thought it timely and appropriate to bring you a “top whatever” list ranking last month’s bestselling cars.
“Sales for major automakers improved more than 20 percent,” according to Cars.com, “Toyota gained 60.3%; Honda picked up 48.8%, and Nissan added 28.2% … Ford sales improved 7.0% last month, while GM and Chrysler both piled on double-digit gains of 15.5% and 20.3%, respectively.”
June’s big winners include Chrysler, which reported its best June since before the recession (2007), family cars, and luxury vehicles. In fact, luxury vehicles have been doing so well that they might actually be “pulling the tide of overall car prices higher.”
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“Sales for major automakers improved more than 20 percent,” according to Cars.com, “Toyota gained 60.3%; Honda picked up 48.8%, and Nissan added 28.2% … Ford sales improved 7.0% last month, while GM and Chrysler both piled on double-digit gains of 15.5% and 20.3%, respectively.”
June’s big winners include Chrysler, which reported its best June since before the recession (2007), family cars, and luxury vehicles. In fact, luxury vehicles have been doing so well that they might actually be “pulling the tide of overall car prices higher.”
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Report: Bankruptcies Dropping Toward Pre-Crash Levels
We're nearing the All-Star break for baseball, which means it's time to enjoy the annual tradition of looking at the American Bankruptcy Institute's half-year stats. The bad news is that a butt-ton of people and businesses in the U.S. are still filing for bankruptcy, but on the up side, that number continues to show a downward trend after its most recent peak in 2010.
Egypt's Sex-Slave Marriage
"When I want a sex-slave," [I] should be able to go "to the market and pick out whichever female I desire and marry her." — Sheikh HuwainiEgypt's "first sex-slave marriage" took place mere days after the Muslim Brotherhood's Muhammad Morsi was made president.
Last Monday, on the Egyptian TV show Al Haqiqa ("the Truth"), journalist Wael al-Ibrashi showed a video-clip of a man, Abd al-Rauf Awn, "marrying" his slave. Before making the woman, who has a non-Egyptian accent, repeat after him the Koran's Surat al-Ikhlas, instead of saying the usual "I marry myself to you," the woman said "I enslave myself to you," kissing him in front of an applauding audience.
Then, even though she was wearing a hijab, her owner-husband declared that she is forbidden from such trappings and commanded her to be stripped of them, so as "not to break Allah's laws." She took her veil and abaya off, revealing, by Muslim standards, a seductive red dress (all the other women present were veiled). The man claps for her and the video-clip (which can be seen here) ends.
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