Long before the day I was graciously afforded the opportunity to write on this blog I have been contemptuous of Barack Obama. Time has only heightened that contempt. Two stories that parallel each other demonstrate just how badly Barack Obama will compromise the US for the sake of his hubris.
The jihadista of San Bernardino, Malik Tashfeen, passed three DHS background checks when immigrating to the United States. The Obama administration looks the other way when it comes to social media postings- on the part of immigrants. Tashfeen openly supported violent jihad but in the Obama regime that’s not a disqualifier. The boss at DHS wouldn’t allow it.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson resisted calls last year to allow immigration agents to review visa applicants’ social media activity because of fear of “bad public relations,” according to a former agency official.
“During that time period immigration officials were not allowed to use or view social media as part of the screening process,” John Cohen, a former under-secretary at DHS for intelligence and analysis, told ABC News, where he now works as a national security consultant.
Why the f**k not?
Can’t you just hear Obama blurting out “It’s just not who we are”?
Can’t you just hear Obama spew “It’s contrary to our values”?
Obama and Johnson, however, do approve of monitoring the social media of American citizens.
In its “National Operations Center Media Monitoring Capability Desktop Reference Binder,” published in 2011, DHS encouraged agents to compile reports based upon a list of items of interest (IOI) which included discussions on sites like Twitter and Facebook about “policy directives, debates and implementations related to DHS.”
Ginger McCall, whose group, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, obtained the manual through a Freedom of Information Act request, told The New York Times in 2012 said that DHS was essentially monitoring the Internet “for criticism of the government.”
Apparently that is “who we are.”
I anticipate CAIR objecting to the scrutiny of the social media of Muslims seeking entrance to the US as “racist.”
What do you do if you’ve made a promise to close a prison and begin to realize that the promise you made with such grandeur and pomp is not likely to come to pass and you are staring at a major embarrassment?
You empty the prison. Then there’s no reason to keep it open.
You make up a bullshit story about trading them for a POW who really was a deserter.
Obama traded ten, not five, Taliban for Bowe Bergdahl. The Dream Team of terrorists were the second batch. Obama released five the year before as am “olive branch.” Sixteen American soldiers lost their lives for the deserter.
The cost of stroking Obama’s ego.
Obama sprang Ibrahim Qosi in 2012. Where’d he end up?
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a new video featuring a former Guantanamo detainee, Ibrahim Qosi, who is also known as Sheikh Khubayb al Sudani.
In July 2010, Qosi plead guilty to charges of conspiracy and material support for terrorism before a military commission. His plea was part of a deal in which he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors during his remaining time in US custody. Qosi was transferred to his home country of Sudan two years later, in July 2012.
Qosi joined AQAP in 2014 and became one of its leaders. Qosi and other AQAP commanders discussed their time waging jihad at length in the video, entitled “Guardians of Sharia.”
Qosi was a proponent of “individual jihad”, seen in the Charlie Hebdo attack and yes, in San Bernardino.
More of the cost of soothing Obama’s ego.
Obama is releasing dangerous terrorists and outright lying about it:
President Barack Obama says his administration will continue releasing terrorists from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, so long as those released are less dangerous than the jihadists currently fighting against the U.S. and its interests.
The bizarre argument comes in a new interview with Olivier Knox of Yahoo! News and is one of several comments in their discussion that reinforces the president’s stubborn nonchalance on issues related to jihad. Obama also shrugs off concerns about recidivism of former Guantanamo detainees, suggesting that only a “handful” of former detainees have returned to the fight and claiming that only “low-level” terrorists have been released from the detention facility. Both claims are demonstrably false.
You’ll definitely want to read the whole thing.
Obama’s claim that Gitmo is a recruiting tool for terrorists is pure horse crap. ISIS never mentions Gitmo. Neither does the Taliban. Only Obama. It’s simply a hammer with which to beat those who know better. And as I wrote last month, there would be no better recruiting tool for Islamic radicalism than holding violent Islamic radicals on US soil. These two stories have Obama hubris and ego as the common thread.
Barack Obama’s ego and hubris are costing American lives. Islamists must clearly realize that they have a friend in high places. After all, the future must not belong to those who would embarrass the Obama.
DrJohn has been a health care professional for more than 30 years. In addition to clinical practice he has done extensive research and has published widely with over 70 original articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. DrJohn is well known in his field and has lectured on every continent except for Antarctica. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 30 years and has three kids- two sons, both of whom are attorneys and one daughter on her way into the field of education.
DrJohn was brought up with the concept that one can do well if one is prepared to work hard but nothing in life is guaranteed.
Except for liberals being foolish.
@Greg: I hate it when you are right…dammit
@Richard Wheeler:
Check out that link. Tell me where it says All veterans are eligible, period.
@kitt, #101:
I sometimes hate it myself. There was some selling-out done on both sides.
@Greg: Important spending like this Government agencies spent $8 million to put 12 primates on treadmills in Texas and paid $30,000 in fines for a host of federal violations, including performing a necropsy on a baboon that was still alive.helps my faith in the wise decisions made by agencys trusted with my tax dollar.
@Rich Wheeler: Rich not certain about your VA comment relevant to care, not saying your incorrect but my understanding is that you must have a disability rating to be eligible for care. There are also levels of care depending on your percent disability, I am certain of that part. Whenever these question came up in the call center our immediate referral was to “member services”.
omg Tapping into a $100,000 taxpayer-funded grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Discover Green Conservancy hosted “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.”
The chief prop at this putatively educational activity was — wait for it — “an actual typewriter (that youngsters) are able to see and touch.” Wow! What a contraption!
In a starring role, puppet cows take over the keyboard to type grievances and demands to “Farmer Brown.”
Despite the NEA grant, admission to the show cost $16.50. I am sure it was SRO lol
Today the House also passed a tax cut package. The combined effect of the $66 billion in spending increases and the tax cuts will be an additional $680 billion in deficits over the next decade, added to the $7 trillion already projected.
From Citizens for Tax Justice:
Why Lawmakers Should Reject the Deficit-Financed $680 Billion Tax Cut Deal
Trump’s proposed tax plan would add an estimated $10 trillion to the deficit. The results would actually be worse than the current situation.
None of the candidates is talking about any real solutions. Probably no one who does could be elected. Congressional hopefuls will talk, but once elected they don’t do anything either, because their solutions are all expressions of the partisan ideologies and social agendas that they have to push relentlessly to remain in office.
@kitt:
The collusion between the Washington establishment Democrat and Republican sellouts is what the TEA Party has been all about protesting, but those profiting from and supporting this corruption on both sides have for years been attacking the TEA Party movement.
@Greg:
Yet you can’t understand why Trump has continued to poll so high. Why don’t you get it? Most Americans are fed-up with the corrupt establishment machine in Washington, which is why Trump has so much support. How much support do you think he would get if the establishment media wasn’t continually attacking him? The MSM including FOX is also a part of the establishment machine, and even with their every effort at sinking Trump he continues to stay strong. I seriously think that the actual support for Trump is much higher than the polls show, precisely because of the anti-Trump media blitz. Nor is this the first time that polls don’t show the true picture. With the continual barrage of news and social media activism rabidly bashing Trump, there are a lot of people out there holding their tongue about stating their support because they don’t want to be lambasted or ostracized by the partisan establishment status quo loud-mouthed fanatics.
@Common Sense:
The VA also provides medical services to veterans who are destitute or who have little to no income.
@Ditto: Ditto, much appreciate the feedback. It’s the least that could be done considering we waste so much of our taxpayer dollars on nonsense. I could list those but far to long a list, I’m sure you can identify many yourself. Thanks again and Happy Holidays!!
@Ditto: that’s basically what I said in 100 above.
Rich is now in the Medicare years and should not be using VA at all unless he is destitute and can’t get coverage any other way. Also, if the VA is treating you for something not service related, you have to pay.
I suspect the fact that RW served in Viet Nam and claims something like PTSD or Agent Orange is why he’s eligible. He just doesn’t want to admit he has a medical issue. If he is claiming it is not something like that then he’s paying a good sum for his care that he wouldn’t have to pay under medicare.
I pay $7596 per year for my wife an I and that covers 100% of medical expenses. That’s the cost of Medicare and Medigap coverage. No copays or deductible.
@Redteam: Actually your not correct on VA eligibility for care. It depends on what percent military disability you have as to if your eligible for care. For example if you are 30% disabled then your care is limited to the disability created by the military. If your 70% disabled your eligible for 100% medical care regardless, except dental and you need to be 100% disabled to be eligible. With respect to Medicare, doesn’t matter to the VA. If you have private insurance plus VA then your private becomes the secondary insurance for billing purposes and the VA will bill them. I am a 70% disabled Viet Nam Veteran and have 100% VA care, Medicare, and am covered under my wife’s policy. I deeply resent anyone who has an issue with this. Also Rich is not obligated to share any of his medical conditions, maybe if you go first this would encourage him to do so as well. Believe me, Rich sits on the other side of the fence on most topics I comment on but none the less I respect his service and ability to receive care.
@Common Sense: It is a shame every Vet even if 0% disabled cant get basic healthcare or wellness checks for themselves at the VA. Anyone that would not like to see any vet get care is an asshole.
@Ditto:
I don’t believe it’s because he has proposed credible fixes to much anything, because his proposed fixes are vague and don’t hold up to close inspection. I think it’s because he’s consciously reflecting an attitude that many people relate to. His great skill is reading his audience. The difference is a critical one.
He and Vladimir Putin have expressed their mutual admiration for one other. It might be worth remembering that this is not without historical precedent.
@Common Sense: Thanks for your response CS, but I think you totally misunderstood me. I am a vet with an honorable discharge and I am not eligible of ANY VA care. I was told that if I could not get any health care any other way, then I might get basic VA care. I was told this by the VA. I am eligible for medicare, so I am 100% not qualified for any VA medical care. (and I don’t need it, thank goodness) My argument is with RW’s statement that all veterans are eligible for VA medical care, and I say they’re not. And I provided a link to a check list. Basically you have to have some condition that requires medical care that is service related. I do not have. Rich says he has always had VA care and I said he has to have a reason that he is qualified and I’m not. I suspect he claims some condition such as PTSD or being exposed to agent orange or some reason that he can claim it. He has not said that he does not have any of those situations. And I don’t care if he ‘admits’ it or not. I just don’t think he should lie about why he’s eligible when others aren’t. He is clearly eligible for medicare, which should knock him off VA med care. I have plenty of medical conditions, having had a heart attack back in 93, but I’m relatively healthy now but I was never eligible for VA care. I suspect it is because my service was 57-61 when there were NO wars. I certainly respect all veterans for their military service, if they served it honorably (this excludes Bergdahl) I hope this clears the situation up, I notice RW won’t comment and therefore suspect there is a reason.
@RedteamCommon Sense: Of course I’m covered under medicare and have been since I was 65 -I.ve had group/ private insurance over the years when I was working for people like Merrill lynch and Cushman and Wakefield-There are other times when covered by my spouse’s insurance.
The reason I can get VA coverage is because of the area– I CORPS–and time 67-68 with potential exposure to agent orange that also waives income requirements or I’d be too high–I Have no disability and have requested none—my health is great–I’ve used V.A on occasion for basic annual physical –that’s it. Thanks for your concern.
Actually I agree with Kitt’s 113
@Greg:
Silly troll. You have to step back from Daily Kos, Huffington Post, away from the talking head misreporting, and the other leftist talking post sites, and make the effort to go to Trump’s campaign site and read what Trump’s campaign has put out, to be able to fashion a credible opinion on trump’s solutions. As you have continually shown us, even on the very rare occasion when you actually follow a provided link, you are incapable of looking at anything without wearing your partisan smudged leftist-colored glasses. Your opinion on any Republican candidate is not worth a tinkers damn.
@Greg: Cutting taxes for the middle class, encouraging economic growth, securing the border, taking radical Islamic terrorism seriously (for a change) and proposing determined action against ISIS is all much more credible than “Hope and Change”.
What does Hillary propose besides more leftist spending fantasies, “understanding” enemies (except for Republicans and the NRA) and an assured concentrated effort to continuing to try and erase the evidence of her failures and scandals from history?
@Redteam: I did misunderstand and my apologies regarding your VA status. Thank you for your service and best of Holidays!!
@Rich Wheeler: Rich, thanks four your service and thanks for your clarification.
@Common Sense: You’re the best Doc. Enjoy the holidays in Carlsbad—a great village. Richard
RT I’ve noticed you are always so quick to accuse me of lying. Kind of an ugly trait you have RT. At least 05 called it “untruths” lol
Kitt#113–Absolutely right.
@Rich Wheeler:
Exactly as I said and kinda points out that THERE IS A REASON you get VA coverage and that it really is not a situation where ALL veterans with an honorable discharge are eligible. Thanks for conceding that you were wrong RW.
For those interested, I agree with Kitt above that all vets with Honorable or General discharges should be eligible for VA health care. My only argument was that RW was not right when he said ALL vets were eligible.
@Rich Wheeler:
So you think people should obscure and deceive instead of calling a spade what it is. You knew all along that there was a specific reason (potential exposure to Agent orange) that you were eligible for VA care and that it was not just because you had served. So you were lying and I have no problem saying someone is lying if it is obvious that is what they are doing, as in this case. I don’t think that’s an ugly trait at all. Honesty is not usually ugly.
@Redteam: I didn’t know all Vets were not eligible–I have friends that I believe get basic coverage without disability or V.N. service—never questioned them. As I’ve UNDERSTOOD it 67-68- ICorps -merely waives my income requirement not my right to basic coverage.
I assumed all VETS. got coverage if they wanted it—they damn well should.
@Rich Wheeler: So I think you may be guilty of making the assumption I did originally, that all vets with honorable service were eligible. But I quickly found out that it was only a ‘last resort’ insurance for me and since I always had coverage by my employers, I was never eligible. I have no problem with the policy the way it is. I do think all vets without other insurance should get VA care. I absolutely think that all vets that served in combat zones should have coverage. So now I think we are basically in agreement on VA health coverage.
@Bill, #118:
For the most part he’s saying what his target audience wants to hear, without worrying much about what he might have said previously. He seems to get a pass on any contradictions.
@Greg:
Bullcrap. Trump hasn’t been given a pass on anything. The Democrats, GOPe and MSM examine every word he says to find ways to use them against him.
I totally agree with Trump that the invasion of Iraq was one of the worst blunders in U.S. history, and that we would have been enormously better off had we spent the $2 trillion or so it cost on modernization of the U.S. infrastructure. My impression is that the right gives him a pass on that opinion. They seem to pretend he never said any such thing. They don’t seem to be especially bothered by his generally positive attitude toward unions. He’s a member of the Screen Actors’ Guild, and receives an annual union pension. I think he gets a pass from the right on that, too. He asserts that his plan to close tax loopholes will shift more of the tax burden to the wealthy. While I have my doubts, that certainly does seem contrary to republican philosophy. He seems to approve of bombing as an effective approach to ISIS, so long as it isn’t pointed out that this is what the Obama administration has been doing for over a year now. Trump would do more of it.
I can’t believe the guy said we need to take out terrorists’ families. Trump, on Fox and Friends December 2, 2015:
His supporters hardly reacted. It’s as if he never even said it, or, worse yet, as if it were more evidence that he knows how to deal with ISIS.
@Greg: Hind sight is 20/20 Greg. Most people would agree at this time. What is just as bad is pulling out like to quickly and allowing that investment and those live’s sacrificed to be for less than nothing. Obola told America that Iraq was stable which was a lie, he told us ISIS was a JV team of farmers and teachers which was a lie, told us ISIS is contained another lie, Al Qaeda is on their heels another lie, told us if your like your health insurance and/or doctor you can keep them “period” a lie, and now he tells us climate change is our greatest challenge which is a lie. He accuses Republicans getting all spun up about terrorism but climate change the wackos are doing the same. Obola fails to even acknowledge that radical islamic terrorists even exist!!
@Greg:
And you find this somehow unacceptable (assuming you are talking about Trump and not Obama)? Anyone that works for a living would like to hear about tax cuts. Most likely, liberals running for office don’t speak to masses of those types often, so THEY promise free college, free healthcare, free housing, free phones and free food. Everything but freeDOM.
Also, many of those in Trump’s audience are sick and tired of illegal immigrants flooding into our nation and having to foot the bill, so speaking to securing the border and curtailing illegal immigration appeals to them, as well. Liberal audiences see them as fellow votes which THEY can watch the working American pay for, so they care not so much about curtailing illegal immigration.
Do you have evidence of Trump telling one audience one thing and then telling another audience something different?