WASHINGTON: Military’s top general offers grim outlook on nation’s defense | National | McClatchy DC

WASHINGTON: Military’s top general offers grim outlook on nation’s defense | National | McClatchy DC:

WASHINGTON — The nation’s top military commander painted a dark picture Tuesday of future U.S. defense capabilities clouded by shrinking Pentagon budgets and adversaries’ technological advances that he said would erode American battlefield superiority.

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided his sobering views as part of the Quadrennial Defense Review, a congressionally mandated evaluation of U.S. military strength issued every four years.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/03/04/220134/militarys-top-general-offers-grim.html#storylink=cpy

Code Chaos | The Weekly Standard

 The Weekly Standard: "Code Chaos
Another nightmare for doctors, courtesy of the federal government"

Ever considered suicide by jellyfish? Have you ended up in the hospital after being injured during the forced landing of your spacecraft? Or been hurt when you were sucked into the engine of an airplane or when your horse-drawn carriage collided with a trolley?

Hillary Clinton compares Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine to Adolf Hitler’s in Nazi Germany

Hillary Clinton compares Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine to Adolf Hitler’s in Nazi Germany:

By Karen Robes Meeks, Long Beach Press Telegram

POSTED: 03/04/14, 9:25 PM PST | UPDATED: 4 HRS AGO

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton enters the courtyard at the Union Bank Building where she spoke at the annual Boys and Girls Club fundraiser luncheon in Long Beach, Calif., on March 4, 2014. (Photo by Brittany Murray/Long Beach Press Telegram) 

LONG BEACH >> Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday compared recent actions by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine to those implemented by Adolf Hitler in the late 1930s.

Putin’s desire to protect minority Russians in Ukraine is reminiscent of Hitler’s actions to protect ethnic Germans outside Germany, she said.

Putin has been on a campaign to give Russian passports to anyone who has Russian connections, Clinton said.

‘The Romeikes Can Stay!!!’: Shocking 180 in the Case of German Home-Schooling Family | TheBlaze.com

‘The Romeikes Can Stay!!!’: Shocking 180 in the Case of German Home-Schooling Family | TheBlaze.com:

"On Tuesday, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) announced a drastic turnaround on the part of the federal government: The German Romeike family, which sought asylum in the United States to home-school their children, will now be allowed to stay in America.

“The Romeikes can stay!!!” the HSLDA announced on its Facebook page.

Just one day ago, the Romeikes thought they would be forced to return to Germany, where the state could take custody of their children because of their decision to home-school. At a minimum, they would face increasingly harsh fines for violating Germany’s compulsory attendance law."

Five Questions and Answers That Tell you Everything You Need To Know About US Response to the Ukraine Crisis | TheBlaze.com

Five Questions and Answers That Tell you Everything You Need To Know About US Response to the Ukraine Crisis | TheBlaze.com:

"The question of long-term impact on U.S. national security and global stability, however, requires a more complicated if not contentious answer.

An America whose word isn’t trusted and whose influence is waning leaves the world more open to conflict. Obama’s much derided “Leading from Behind” in Libya has transformed into “observing from behind” in Eurasia.

The President of the United States – and the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful military in history – promised grave consequences on Friday afternoon if Putin did exactly what he chose to do mere hours later with his non-lethal invasion of Crimea. Nothing happened. Such brazen slaps in the face to the world’s lone superpower are an indicator of grave troubles down the road."

Obamacare Architect: ‘Be Prepared to Kiss Your Insurance Company Good-Bye Forever’ | TheBlaze.com

Obamacare Architect: ‘Be Prepared to Kiss Your Insurance Company Good-Bye Forever’ | TheBlaze.com:

"Once the health systems “make the jump to offering coverage in the exchanges, the health insurance companies will only have a few options if they want to survive, according to Emanuel.

“First, they can refuse to change, in which case they will eventually go out of business,” he writes.

“Second, they can shift their business to focus on offering services they have expertise in, particularly analytics, actuarial modeling, risk management, and other management services.”

 Finally, the “third evolutionary path is that health insurance companies may transform themselves into integrated delivery systems.”

 “So be prepared to kiss your insurance company good-bye forever,” Emanuel concludes."

Fed-Up Navy Veteran Forewarned Conn. Lawmakers on Gun Registration: ‘I’m Telling You Right Now, I Will Not Comply’ | Video | TheBlaze.com

Fed-Up Navy Veteran Forewarned Conn. Lawmakers on Gun Registration: ‘I’m Telling You Right Now, I Will Not Comply’ | Video | TheBlaze.com: "

“I’m a 30-year public servant, 20-year career fireman, OK? United States Navy veteran, upstanding citizen all my life, three children — and with the stroke of a pen from the ivory tower with the gold top, you’ve decided to create me to be a felon. A class D felony for doing absolutely nothing wrong.”

He also warned lawmakers that gun control advocates would not simply stop at gun registration.

“You people really think they’re going to stop? I’m telling you right now, I’m will never vote for any of you again, I’m done,” he added.

History for March 5

History for March 5 - On-This-Day.com

Birth anniversary of cartographer-geographer Gerhardus Mercator (1512-94).

On Mar 5, 1940, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin ordered the killings of more than 21,000 Polish prisoners of war. In early April, the killings began at sites across Russia, with the largest mass graves in Katyn Forest. The USSR denied the massacre until 1990.

In 1946, at Westminster College, Fulton, MO, Winston Churchill gave his famous “Iron Curtain” speech that defined Cold War boundaries.

Happy Birthday! Samantha Eggar, Penn Jillette, Dean Stockwell

1623 - The first alcohol temperance law in the colonies was enacted in Virginia. 



1624 - In the American colony of Virginia, the upper class was exempted from whipping by legislation. 


1770 - "The Boston Massacre" took place when British troops fired on a crowd in Boston killing five people. Two British troops were later convicted of manslaughter. 



1845 - The U.S. Congress appropriated $30,000 to ship camels to the western U.S. 



1922 - "Annie Oakley" (Phoebe Ann Moses) broke all existing records for women's trap shooting. She hit 98 out of 100 targets. 


1933 - The Nazi Party won 44 percent of the vote in German parliamentary elections. 


1940 - Soviet leader Joseph Stalin ordered the killings of more than 21,000 Polish prisoners of war. In early April, the killings began at sites across Russia, with the largest mass graves in Katyn Forest. The USSR denied the massacre until 1990.


1984 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that cities had the right to display the Nativity scene as part of their Christmas display. 


1993 - Cuban President Fidel Castro said that Hillary Clinton was "a beautiful woman." 

Facebook Wants to Build 11,000 Drones to Bring Internet to Africa | Betabeat

Facebook Wants to Build 11,000 Drones to Bring Internet to Africa | Betabeat:

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nope — it’s a Facebook drone.

The social media site reportedly wants to use drones to bring Internet connection to the two thirds of the world that still lack connectivity, starting with parts of Africa. The initiative is part of the internet.org project, which Facebook backs.

To do so, Facebook could have bought some individual drones. Instead, overachievers that they are, they bought a drone company. According to TechCrunch, Facebook is shelling out $60 million to acquire Titan Aerospace, a company that makes “atmospheric satellites” — basically, solar-powered drones capable of staying in the sky for up to five years.

Iranian general: Obama's threats are 'the joke of the year' | The Times of Israel

Iranian general: Obama's threats are 'the joke of the year' | The Times of Israel:’Masoud Jazayeri says the ‘low-IQ’ president’s ‘all options are on the table’ remarks are a farce; warns against US strike"

RELATED TOPICS

• MASOUD JAZAYERI
• MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF
• IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

President Barack Obama is a “low-IQ US president,” whose threat to launch a military offensive should nuclear talks fail is an oft-cited punchline in the Islamic Republic, particularly among children, an Iranian general said on Tuesday

Texans vote in primaries shaken by Tea Party influence - Yahoo News

Texans vote in primaries shaken by Tea Party influence - Yahoo News:

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Texans went to the polls on Tuesday in primary elections where the top candidates for governor were expected to post easy wins and favorites of the conservative Tea Party movement are trying to topple established Republicans in several races.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn, a Republican, will win his race easily, opinion polls show. Attorney General Greg Abbott, the leading Republican candidate for governor, and state Senator Wendy Davis, the top Democratic Party candidate, were also expected to win by wide margins.

DRUDGE REPORT 2014®

DRUDGE REPORT 2014®: "PUTIN FIRES WARNING SHOTS AT WEST"

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said it had successfully test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on Tuesday, with tensions running high over its military intervention in Ukraine's Crimea region.

A U.S. official said the United States had received proper notification from Russia ahead of the test and that the initial notification pre-dated the crisis in Crimea. The Russian Defence Ministry could not be reached for comment

All 50 governors battle proposed National Guard cuts, ahead of budget release | Fox News

All 50 governors battle proposed National Guard cuts, ahead of budget release | Fox News:

"The concerns about National Guard cuts come on top of widespread concerns about the Pentagon's controversial plan to shrink the active-duty Army. As Republican and Democratic lawmakers prepare to challenge these and other cuts on Capitol Hill, the governors are taking an early stand over the National Guard.
They argued the cuts will reduce the Guard's ranks to pre-2001 levels -- reducing its capacity as an active combat force and ability to respond to natural disasters and emergencies, while acknowledging the country's "economic realities." "

One in Three Say They've Been Personally Hurt by Obamacare | National Review Online

One in Three Say They've Been Personally Hurt by Obamacare | National Review Online:

"One-third of Americans say the Affordable Care Act has had a negative impact on them personally, while 14 percent say the law has helped them, according to a new Rasmussen survey. The poll finds that public dissatisfaction with Obamcare remains nearly as high as it was during the height of the website’s problems last year."

Supreme Court sends homeschoolers packing

Supreme Court sends homeschoolers packing:

"The penalties are based on a Hitler-era law that the German government still enforces against homeschooling. The Romeikes said they chose homeschooling because of anti-Christian and cult beliefs being taught in the public schools.

The Obama administration successfully fought to overturn the federal judge’s decision that would have given the family permission to remain in the U.S.

According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, the Romeike family was granted asylum in 2010 by a federal immigration judge who found that “Germany’s treatment of the family amounted to persecution.”

“As evidence he cited state officials’ threats against homeschoolers in general to levy crushing fines, file criminal charges and take away children, and against the Romeikes in particular for their sincere religious beliefs.”

But on the request of the Obama administration, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided against the family, saying Germany was just enforcing its law."

Democratic National Committee Makes Glaring Historical Error While Invoking Reagan | TheBlaze.com

Democratic National Committee Makes Glaring Historical Error While Invoking Reagan | TheBlaze.com:

"The Democratic National Committee apparently thinks former President Ronald Reagan once served in Congress.

In a tweet sent out by the group’s official Twitter account Friday evening, the committee said, “‘It’s time to raise a minimum wage that’s worth less than it was when Ronald Reagan was in Congress.’”

"It's time to raise a minimum wage that's worth less than it was when Ronald Reagan was in Congress"

Only problem? Reagan never served in Congress."

History for March 4

History for March 4 - On-This-Day.com 

Birth anniversary of Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski (1747-79).

Birth anniversary of Knute Rockne (1888-1931).

Happy Birthday! Chaz Bono, Rick Perry, Mary Wilson

1766 - The British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, which had caused bitter and violent opposition in the U.S. colonies. 


1789 - The first Congress of the United States met in New York and declared that the U.S. Constitution was in effect. 


1794 - The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by the U.S. Congress. The Amendment limited the jurisdiction of the federal courts to automatically hear cases brought against a state by the citizens of another state. Later interpretations expanded this to include citizens of the state being sued, as well. 












1908 - The New York board of education banned the act of whipping students in school. 


1930 - Emma Fahning became the first woman bowler to bowl a perfect game in competition run by the Women’s International Bowling Congress in Buffalo, NY. 


1933 - U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt gave his inauguration speech in which he said "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself." 


1974 -  the first issue of People magazine was officially launched. It featured a cover photo of Mia Farrow.


1997 - U.S. President Clinton barred federal spending on human cloning. 


1998 - The U.S. Supreme Court said that federal law banned on-the-job sexual harassment even when both parties are the same sex. 

The real problem with a woman president - The Week

 "The real problem with a woman president Hillary Clinton is tough enough. But could she overdo it?"



B

ill O'Reilly's segment from last Wednesday — the one in which he asks Kirsten Powers and Kate Obenshain to expound on some mysterious quality that makes women somehow less qualified than men to be president — has to be the most awkward moment of television since…oh I don't know, a few months ago on another Fox News show.

I sympathize with the urge to respond to the clip with mockery. But sometimes a glimmer of truth can be found even in the tawdriest of settings — and it's Powers who deserves credit for uttering it here. Wracking her brain for something to say in response to O'Reilly's flippantly sexist provocation, Powers volunteers that a female president might be more easily goaded than a male president into military muscle-flexing as a way of demonstrating her toughness. Her example is support for the Iraq War, which is an obvious dig at Hillary Clinton

Will Hillary Clinton be damaged by the fallout from Ukraine? - The Week

Will Hillary Clinton be damaged by the fallout from Ukraine? - The Week:



Here's Hillary Clinton happily offering Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a symbolic "reset button" for American-Russian relations:

The event was viewed as bungled at the time because the Russian word imprinted on the button meant "overcharge" instead of "reset." But the longer-term implications of the "reset button," particularly in the wake of the Russian invasion of Crimea, may be far more damaging for Clinton than a translation gaffe.

Gay and lesbian troops perform in drag on American military base - The Week

Gay and lesbian troops perform in drag on American military base - The Week:

Troops based at the Kadena Air Base in Japan know how to party. On Saturday, six gay and straight service members applied some of their finest makeup and lip synced to "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" in what is believed to be first drag queen and king show on an American military base. The show was thrown in support for the base's recently formed OutServe-SLDN chapter, a nonprofit advocacy group for the army's LGBT community.

Navy Lt. Marissa Greene told Stars and Stripes she only expected to sell 75 tickets for the variety show, but ended up selling more than 400 in ten days. The event went through the same approval process as other on-base fundraisers go through, with the only caveat being that it was not allowed to be labeled a "drag show" in its publicity materials. The show was warmly received by spectators, who rocked out to performances by the likes of Manny Nuff and Chocolate Sunrise ("a crowd favorite," the website notes.)

Just a few years ago, performances like these would have been grounds for a possible discharge. The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell has made it possible for events like this to occur. --Jordan Valinsky

Gay and lesbian troops perform in drag on American military base - The Week

 "Michelle Obama and her daughters are visiting China later this month"

The White House announced today that Michelle Obama will travel to two cities in China (Beijing and Chengdu) in late March. The first lady will visit cultural and historical landmarks and promote her education initiatives by visiting high schools and universities in the cities.

The first lady's daughters, Sasha and Malia, as well as Mrs. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, will join her on the trip. This is the third time in recent years that Mrs. Obama has traveled without her husband. In 2010, she went to Haiti to survey damage following a devastating earthquake, and in 2011, Mrs. Obama visited Botswana and South Africa to promote youth leadership.

Crimean authorities to cut power, water to Ukrainian troops: Russian ex-lawmaker - Yahoo News

Crimean authorities to cut power, water to Ukrainian troops: Russian ex-lawmaker - Yahoo News:



SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) - Pro-Russian authorities in Crimea will cut off water and electricity to Ukrainian soldiers in bases surrounded by Russian forces on Monday night, a Russian former lawmaker loyal to President Vladimir Putin said.

Putin Playing Chess, Obama Playing Marbles: Rep. Mike Rogers on U.S.-Russian Diplomacy | Video | TheBlaze.com

Putin Playing Chess, Obama Playing Marbles: Rep. Mike Rogers on U.S.-Russian Diplomacy | Video | TheBlaze.com:

 "U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been emboldened by the Obama administration’s diplomatic strategy of containment, which has given room to Putin’s push for geopolitical dominance.

Rep. Mike Rogers, “I think Putin is playing chess and I think we’re playing marbles,” the House Intelligence Committee Chairman told Fox News Sunday’s Chris Wallace. “And I don’t think it’s even close.”"

Kerry Grilled On ABC: ‘Any Indication At All That President Putin Is Taking Heed of What President Obama Is Saying?’ | Video | TheBlaze.com

Kerry Grilled On ABC: ‘Any Indication At All That President Putin Is Taking Heed of What President Obama Is Saying?’ | Video | TheBlaze.com:

"Secretary of State John Kerry said repeatedly Sunday morning that “all options are on the table” as the U.S. determines how to respond to Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.

“The United States is currently considering all options,” Kerry told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos while appearing on “This Week.”"

G-7 Nations Suspend Planning for Russia Summit, Condemn Russia’s Military Action in Ukraine | TheBlaze.com

G-7 Nations Suspend Planning for Russia Summit, Condemn Russia’s Military Action in Ukraine | TheBlaze.com:

"The U.S. and six other nations — condemning Russia’s “clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine” — say they are suspending participation in the planning for an international summit in Russia this summer."