Well, the Democrat’s health care bill passed.

Roll Call as soon as I get it…if Republicans get their way…

Chanting “Yes we can!”

219-210

I’m willing to bet that the Stupak group was the deciding factor.

It seems that Senate Republicans have found a provision in the current health care bill and in the Congressional Budget Act that makes the current bill ineligible for the reconciliation procedure.

Drudge initially reported:

FLASH: Senate Republicans found a provision in the new House health care bill that likely makes it ineligible for expedited ‘reconciliation’ procedures in the Senate. Dems refused to meet with GOP and Parliamentarian…. Developing….

He then linked here to a document released by Senate Republicans regarding the issue.

It seems that because there is a change to the Social Security Act–under certain legal restrictions–the use of reconciliation can not be used.

What it looks like is that Republicans have called out Democrats regarding the issue, but have been met with silence.

If the link is still dead, here is the text:

Breaking: “Fix” Bill May Not Advance In Senate

Senate Democrats Refuse Bi-partisan Meeting With Parliamentarian Until After House Votes

WASHINGTON DC – Senate Democrats have balked at a bi-partisan meeting with the Senate Parliamentarian to discuss a rule violation that could doom the entire House reconciliation proposal.

DON STEWART, McCONNELL SPOKESMAN: “Republicans have been trying to set up a meeting with Senate Democrats since yesterday to discuss this fatal point of order but have been met with nothing but silence. We suspect Democrats are slow walking us so as to have the House vote first. Since Senate Democrats refuse to meet with us and the Parliamentarian, we’ve informed our colleagues in the House that we believe the bill they’re now considering violates the clear language of Section 310g of the Congressional Budget Act, and the entire reconciliation bill is subject to a point of order and rejection in the Senate should it pass the House.”

BACKGROUND

DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP RELEASE: “The Congressional Budget Office estimate of the health care legislation shows an increase in Social Security revenues… CBO projects that the resulting increase in wages will generate $29 billion in additional FICA contributions to the Social Security Trust Fund.” (“Health Care Reform Update,” Office of Rep. Steny Hoyer, 3/21/10)

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT: “LIMITATION ON CHANGES TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any reconciliation bill or reconciliation resolution reported pursuant to a concurrent resolution on the budget agreed to under section 301 or 304, or a joint resolution pursuant to section 258C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, or any amendment thereto or conference report thereon, that contains recommendations with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act.” (Congressional Budget Act Of 1974, Sec. 310g, P. 31)

UPDATE:  AllahPundit reports:

“The point of this move, of course, isn’t actually to derail the reconciliation bill in the Senate, it’s to frighten House Dems who are voting tonight that they might end up with Reid’s bill without a fix and therefore they should rethink their vote while they still have time.”

The Politico has obtained a memo discussing the Democrats’ plan to introduce legislation later this year–at a $371 Billion price tag–to repeal annual Medicare payment cuts to doctors.

The reason this was left out of the current bill is simple…if it were in this bill, they couldn’t cite it’s deficit neutral nature.

“Most health staff are already aware that our health proposal does not contain a ‘doc fix.’ … The inclusion of a full SGR repeal would undermine reform’s budget neutrality. So again, do not allow yourself (or your boss) to get into a discussion of the details of CBO scores and textual narrative. Instead, focus only on the deficit reduction and number of Americans covered.”

“As most health staff knows, leadership and the White House are working with the AMA to rally physicians for a full SGR repeal later this spring. However, both health and communications staff should understand we do not want that policy discussion discussed at this time, lest (it) complicate the last critical push to pass health reform.”

Developing…

Basically this memo shows that the CBO scores are bunk because the Dems’ intention is to add $371 billion…

Click Here to read the memo.

Read–Politico

Read–Hot Air

UPDATE:  The CBO has stated that the Medicare fix included in previous bills, and that the Democrats have conspired to add later this year, will push it into the red.

The bill would no longer be deficit neutral.

It would be $59 billion in the hole.

Read

The Conservative Political Action Conference is the beginning of a new conservative order–conservatives organized as libertarians, conservatives on the attack, and conservatives offering a common sense approach to the issues America faces.

Many of the conservative candidates are running on a quasi-libertarian platform because when the pendulum swings too far in one direction, it swings back hard in the other.

“CPAC has become increasingly libertarian and less Republican over the last years,” Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said, “[that’s] one of the reasons I didn’t go this year.”

Texas Rep. Ron Paul–an outspoken libertarian–won the CPAC straw poll with 31% of the vote.  The crowd booed at the announcement; however, cheered wildly at the announcement of the second place winner, Mitt Romney.

President Barack Obama and his elitist Democrat cronies have called the Republicans the party of no.  You bet your ass we’re the party of no!  If standing up for the Constitution and for the American people, and standing against big government means being called the party of no, it’s a small price to pay.

There is a push by many to return to the Constitution as it is written in order to bring about change in the political climate.  This push will undoubtedly resonate with the American people.

“It begins with the principles of our founding documents, principles that recognize that our rights come from God, not from our government,” Marco Rubio said in his opening speech at CPAC.  Rubio is running in the Republican primary for a Florida Senate seat.

Rubio received much applause during his speech, and speakers after him used his name as an applause line.

February 22, 2010, Rasmussen Reports had Rubio ahead of his competitor with 54% of the vote.

CPAC was not just a stop on the conservative campaign train, many bloggers, pundits, researchers, and columnists took the CPAC soap-box to call out Obama; Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; and others.

Referring to Obama’s Executive Order ordering the closing of Guantanamo Bay, Erick Erickson called out Obama.

“Air American is shut down and gitmo is still open,” Erickson, who runs the conservative news website Red State, said.

Some used some controversial laugh lines to get a point across.  Jed Babbin of Human Events, suggested that waterboarding should be used as an interrogation technique.  To make the idea more attractive to liberals, he said, “the CIA will be limited to using Perrier.”

Some people were a bit more restrained in their criticisms.  Tucker Carlson of Fox News said that conservatives should stop referring to the left wing media as the mainstream media because there’s nothing mainstream about framing news stories to fit an ideology.

“Assume you’re mainstream. Assume you really are representing America when you tell the truth–honestly, forthrightly and without fear,” Carlson said.

Others were not as level headed in their criticisms of the media.

Andrew Breitbart accused the mainstream media and salon.com of partaking in the politics of personal destruction.

And still, there were others who offered a common sense approach.  Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said the conservative motto should be “2+2=4.”

This election year and that in 2010 will usher in a new era of Change.  HopeandChange brought the American people more of the same.  And with the Conservative promise of smaller government, lower taxes, and defense of the Constitution, the Conservatives will surely offer change you can believe in.

Editor’s Note: NSFW: “Not Safe for Work” indicates a post contains graphic or offensive subject matter that would not be appropriate in certain settings (i.e. anywhere other than locked in your basement with the doors and windows shuttered). Now you know.

-Your friendly neighborhood Editors

As I sit in the airport waiting to catch my flight home, half of my sophomore year of college done and behind me, I finally have the opportunity to look into the biggest story no one is covering: Kevin Jennings’ reading habits.

Much has been written in the blogosphere over the past few days about ‘Safe School’s Czar’ Kevin Jennings–an individual whom I covered extensively a few months back. While the previous scandal has been since laid to rest, the newest round of craziness from GLSEN founder is just as insane-–if not more so.

Recently GatewayPundit ran a story about Kevin Jennings’ organization GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) and the books that the organization recommends that young children read. The list is broken up into three different categories–books for kids grade K-6, 7-12, and teachers. The list of books contains literature that covers many and varied genres, from non-fiction to poetry. Supposedly the books are meant to support the stated mission of GLSEN, reproduced below.

From GLSEN’s website:

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

We believe that such an atmosphere engenders a positive sense of self, which is the basis of educational achievement and personal growth. Since homophobia and heterosexism undermine a healthy school climate, we work to educate teachers, students and the public at large about the damaging effects these forces have on youth and adults alike. We recognize that forces such as racism and sexism have similarly adverse impacts on communities and we support schools in seeking to redress all such inequities.

GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes in creating a more vibrant and diverse community. We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or occupation, who are committed to seeing this philosophy realized in K-12 schools.

That’s all well and good, except some of the books GLSEN recommends are pornographic. The book list is intended to [sic] “furthers our (GLSEN’s) mission to ensure safe schools for all students.”; ostensibly implying that children who identify themselves as homosexual should read these books as a way to empower themselves, and straight children and teachers should also read the books to come to a deeper understanding and develop a respect for their homosexual peers. On its face that is a responsible, well-intentioned goal. However, if one examines even a small sampling of the books on the list, the real goal of the suggested readings become readily apparent. GLESN is not trying to empower anyone, or raise awareness, rather they are using the facade of awareness and concern to promote their twisted hypersexualized agenda, what I can only assume is a twisted aberration of the goals that reasonable that gay men and women aspire to. As an aside, I do not think, nor am I implying that the poison that GLESN is peddling is representative of the entire gay community, rather this is a reflection on Kevin Jennings and the fanatics that staff his loony organization.

The books and the list can be accessed though a portal on their site called “BookLink“, which provides an all-in-one system for parusing and even purchasing in bulk books that teachers are encouraged to make mandatory classroom reading.

Just a few of the books on the list:

Queer 13

Being Different

Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian

The Order of the Poison Oak

Love & Sex: Ten Stories of Truth

Thus far I have been slightly obtuse in my explanation of exactly what the books contain, after the jump there will be an excerpt from one of the selected books, Queer 13. WARNING: THE FOLLOWING IS EXTREMELY GRAPHIC. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Read–BigGovernment

Read–GatewayPundit

Read–GLESN

Continue Reading

Michelle Malkin and others are reporting about Major Hasan’s business card…

Apparently, this Jihadist was handing out copies of the Koran and this card to infidels in the days before his shooting spree.

In fact, the day of the shooting, he handed his neighbor a Koran and said, “I’m going to do good work for God.”

Read

He also did not snap.  They are reporting that he told his landlord he was moving out, emptied his apartment, and gave some frozen broccoli to his neighbor.

Does that sound like someone who snapped?

But let’s analyze this Jihadist’s business card…

SoA.  Soldier of Allah.  Followed by SWT.  Meaning, “Glory to Him, the Almighty Exalted Crazy guy.”  –rough translation.

Read–About.com

Read–Atlas Shrugs

Read–Michelle Malkin

Also, it turns out that officials knew that Hasan was trying to contact Al Qaeda…

Read

Rep. Peter Hoekstra sent a letter to National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair asking for an explanation.

Read the Letter Here.

Not to mention his mosque was also attended by a 9-11 hijacker…

So…with all this, how much do you want to bet that someone will sue the Army?

UPDATE:  Hasan is awake and talking…

Read

UPDATE:  The Washington Post has posted a powerpoint Hasan presented a few years ago about Muslims in the military…

Watch it.

The most damning quotes:

“We love death more than you love life!”

“Fighting to establish an Islamic state to please God, even by force, is condoned by the Islam.”

“Muslims Soldiers should not serve in any capacity that renders them at risk to hurting/killing believers unjustly.”

That’s the key, ladies and gentlemen!

He was pissed that he would have to go kill is Islamic brothers in some basket-case country, so, he jihaded himself into 72 Virginians.

Someone ought to sue the Army.  End the PC bullshit that sent 13 people to their death.

UPDATE:  Bami continues to dither about this.  Indecisiveness is a mark of a poor leader.

ABC’s Jake Tapper asked, “Philosophically, what separates an act of violence from an act of terrorism?

Bami Responded:

“Well, look, we — we have seen, in the past, rampages of this sort. And in a country of 300 million people, there are going to be acts of violence that are inexplicable. Even within the extraordinary military that we have — and I think everybody understands how outstanding the young men and women in uniform are under the most severe stress — there are going to be instances in which an individual cracks. I think the questions that we’re asking now and we don’t have yet complete answers to is, is this an individual who’s acting in this way or is it some larger set of actors? You know, what are the motivations? Those are all questions that I think we have to ask ourselves. Until we have these answers buttoned down, I’d rather not comment on it.”

Are you serious?  Crack?!

Read

Here’s the video…

UPDATE:  Remember the Hoekstra preservation request letter from the other day?  Yeah, well here’s more of what he had to say…

“President Obama said people should not jump to conclusions about what happened at Fort Hood, but the administration is in possession of critical information related to the attack that they are refusing to release to Congress or the American people.  I intend to push for intense review of this and other issues related to the performance of the intelligence community and whether or not information necessary for military, state and local officials to provide for the security of the post was provided to them.”

Wow.  Those are some charged words…

He went on to say:

“At some point, it becomes necessary for us as a nation to address the uncomfortable threat of homegrown terrorism and radicalism, and Congress has an obligation to review how federal agencies are handling and disseminating information related to the threat.  The horrific shootings at Fort Hood are a tragic reminder of the potential deadly consequences of the threat posed by homegrown jihadism and the failure of the government to adequately respond to it.”

Woah!  The “J” word!

Read

UPDATE:  The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Hasan may have wired money to Pakistan.

“Authorities have been examining whether Fort Hood massacre suspect Nidal Malik Hasan wired money to Pakistan in recent months, an action that one senior lawmaker said would raise serious questions about Hasan’s possible connections to militant Islamic groups.

Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., said sources “outside of the [intelligence] community” learned about Hasan’s possible connections to the Asian country, which faces a massive Islamist insurgency and is widely believed to be Osama bin Laden’s hiding place.

The story says he makes +$90,000 a year, but lives in a $300 a month one bedroom apartment…

So… if this indeed is true, can we get a treason charge against him?

Mr. President, may I jump to a conclusion now?

This is sounding more and more like a planned terrorist attack.

Read

UPDATE: November 12, 2009:  Hasan Charged with Murder.

The AP is reporting that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan has been charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder.

There may be additional charges…

Developing…

Read

(Picture from BigGovernment.com)

The Louisiana Attorney General’s office has executed a search warrant at ACORN’s office on Canal Street in New Orleans.

BigGovernment reports…

Read

Developing…

UPDATE:  Paper records, computers, and “other electronic items” are being seized.

Read–NOLA

MSNBC is reporting that 7 people are dead and 12 injured after a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas.

Reports are saying one gunman is in custody and one remains on the loose.

Check back for updates…

Developing…

Refresh for updates…

Read

UPDATE: The shooting occurred at the Soldier Readiness building…
View Larger Map

Military Police have locked down the base.

Schools in the area are also on lockdown.

The shooting happened in the Soldier Readiness Center.

Read–My Fox DFW

FoxNews is reporting that the FBI is en route and that the number of victims is unclear.

FoxNews is interviewing Hillary Shine–Director of Public Information for Killeen TX–and she said that at a third gunman just began firing in a second location.

FoxNews.com is reporting that “The men were reportedly dressed in Army fatigues, but military officials couldn’t confirm that they were Army personnel.”

Read

Chuck Todd tweeted that Robert Gibbs said the President has been briefed.

KCEN is reporting that a policeman is among those who were shot.

Read

UPDATE: FoxNews is reporting that there are 20 wounded.

MSNBC is reporting that one of the locations of the shooting is at the 42006 building on Fort Hood.

The shooting could have been at a graduation ceremony. MSNBC reports:

“Greg Schannep, an aide to U.S. Rep. John Carter, told the Austin American-Statesman that he was on the Army post to attend a graduation service. He said that as he neared the entrance of a building where the service was being held, a soldier with blood on his uniform ran past him and said a man was shooting.”

FoxNews is reporting that the FBI has said that their number one priority is that no one else is killed.

“to make sure there is no further killing.”

Read

UPDATE: FoxNews: Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson says one of the shooters is injured and in custody.

CNN is reporting:

“At least one person is “neutralized” in connection with the incident, and a second is “cornered,” retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore told CNN, citing “unofficial, unconfirmed reports” from two sources.”

I’m going to assume “neutralized” means wounded…

Local Newspaper Austin Statesman has set up a twitter account for updates…

They recently tweeted:

RT (from Fort Hood resident) @irish_beauty83: locked in my post housing. scared. dont know where the shooters are

McClatchy is reporting:

“Details of the events were sketchy, but officials said the shooting involved two men with M-16 rifles and began about 1:30 p.m. Central time at Howze Theater on the base, then moved to the sports complex, where the graduation ceremony was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. It was not immediately clear who the ceremony was honoring.”

Is anyone else curious why the FBI is getting involved? UPDATE:  Here’s why…

Chuck Todd is reporting:

TX Sen. Hutchison on #MSNBC right now, confirms there were TWO shooters, not three. Also says this was @ processing center.

Matt Drudge is reporting that 4 SWAT officers are injured.

MSNBC reports:

“The shooting happened “near the soldier readiness processing center, where soldiers cycle through as they prepare to deploy,” according to Sgt. Major Jamie Posten from the Fort Hood public affairs office.

He said this is where the soldiers go, up to 60 days before deployment, to begin the process of vaccinations and other preparation.”

MSNBC is reporting that all of the wounded are military personnel.

Read

AP confirms: 1 in custody.

Dave Miller from Killeen Daily Herald is reporting on FoxNews that the man in custody is around 40 years old.

Read

UPDATE: Drudge is reporting that 2 are in custody…

CNN is reporting that the death toll is 9.

MSNBC is reporting that 2 suspects are in custody.

Read

Chuck Todd:

“More from NBC’s Pete Williams: US official says early reports are the man in custody is in the military, late 30s, with officer rank.”

FoxNews TV is reporting 27 dead.

UPDATE: Army: Shooter dead. Was soldier. Two more soldiers in custody.

UPDATE: ABC:

The suspected gunman was identified by ABC News as Major Malik Nadal Hasan.

Read

I don’t want to make any prejudgements, but this is sounding like Fort Dix…

UPDATE:  FoxNews is reporting that Hasan is still alive.

UPDATE:

12 people killed, 31 injured.

The two others who were apprehended have been released.  FoxNews says it is believed that this was the work of a lone gunman: Major Malik Nadal Hasan who is now in custody.

The AP has released a statement saying that Obama “Hope” artist Shepard Fairey admitted to the AP that he destroyed and fabricated evidence “in an effort to bolster his fair use case and cover up his previous lies and omissions.”

Also, Shep’s lawyer “informed the AP that they intended to seek the Court’s permission to withdraw as counsel for Fairey and his related entities.”

Developing…

Read

Check out the full Press Release and updates after the jump…INCLUDING FAIREY’S RESPONSE!

Continue Reading

This is a strange story, folks.

Apparently, A six year old boy climbed into a large helium balloon craft and took off.

For over two hours, the craft floated over Colorado–near Denver.

The balloon slowly lost its helium and crashed in a field.

No boy.

KMGH and CNN are reporting that no one was inside the craft.

Developing…

Read–CNN

UPDATE:  CNN is reporting that officials are concerned that the child may have fallen out of the craft.

According to 9News–an NBC affiliate–says that sheriffs are sure the boy was inside at one point.

Read

It is reported that the child’s brother saw him get into the craft before it floated away…the rest of the family was inside their house.

Hot Air is reporting that the child–if he fell out–must have fallen out near the home–before the news coverage began.

Read

Neil Cavuto is reporting that his producer placed a call to the family’s spokesperson and asked if they knew where the boy is.  ”You no more than I do,” the spokesperson said.

Hot Air reports:

Commenters are speculating that that maybe the kid accidentally untied the balloon and ran away for fear of being punished, but if so, then his brother’s covering for him for an awfully long time amid a lot of police and parental pressure.

Also, The Huffington Post is reporting that this family was on the television show “Wife Swap.”

Read

Update:  This is an International story…

The Guardian has picked up the story.

Read

UPDATE:  There is a report on the twittersphere that the Sheriffs are now saying that they don’t think the boy was ever on the craft…

@justkarl: Radio: Sheriff says they now “believe” #balloonboy was never in the basket, are searching near home.

@calebhowe: Neighbor says brothers were on the roof “with a camera” when the balloon launched.

UPDATE:  October 15, 2009:

Just got back from work (6:20 PM) and found out the boy was found in his attic safe.

Wolf Blitzer asked Falcom Heene why he hid and Falcon responded, “We did this for the show.”

And here is Blitzer asking for clarification.