Obama's culture of contempt------------Rep. Diane Black on ‘The ICE Shell Game’

Rep. Diane Black on ‘The ICE Shell Game’

In “The ICE Shell Game,” Black covers the on-going struggle to stop the Obama administration from funding an illegal alien lobbyist position at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Rep. Black writes:

At a time when our country is $17 trillion in debt, the last thing we should be doing is using taxpayer dollars to fund a position whose primary purpose is to advocate on behalf of individuals who have entered our country illegally and in some cases broken other laws as well. This is why in the summer of 2012 I introduced an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to defund this public-advocate position; it is why my amendment was passed unopposed by voice vote in the House; and ultimately it is why language to defund the position was passed by the Senate and included in the final Continuing Resolution that President Obama signed into law on March 26, 2013.

Last February, the Obama administration created a “Public Advocate” position for illegal aliens at ICE. The following month, H.R. 933, “The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013,” eliminated the position in Section 567, which stated, “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to provide funding for the position of Public Advocate within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

President Obama signed the appropriations bill on March 26, 2013, but the position was not eliminated as Congress intended. In September, Fox News reported that the administration had simply renamed the position while maintaining the same job description and the same staffer.

Yet, 110% will vote for him and his henchmen in every election. Caint fix what dont want fixin---------Obama’s hometown left behind in War on Poverty?

Obama’s hometown left behind in War on Poverty? | Fox News

As President Obama laid out his "Promise Zones" for economic development, he made a notable omission -- his hometown of Chicago. 

The president's beginnings were on the South Side of that city, first as a community organizer, then as a state senator. 

Today, though, swaths of the city are a powerful reminder that the "War on Poverty" is not over. And some wonder where the federal government is. 

The Englewood neighborhood is probably the most severe example of poverty in Chicago. It is a focal point of the street violence that plagues the South Side. On many streets, the boarded up homes seem to outnumber the occupied ones. 

"This used to be a working-class poor community," state Rep. Mary Flowers said. "There used to be hospitals here, libraries, schools, transportation, stores, theaters. That's all gone now." 

Walking the streets of Englewood, Rev. Jesse Jackson stopped short of accusing the president of abandoning his hometown -- but Jackson noted the lack of attention to the poverty in Chicago. 

"I wish he would do something major like come to Englewood where he was an organizer and bring with him the agencies of government," he said. 

Beck Predicts Massive Changes for Talk Radio: We Have ‘Had It’ With the GOP

Beck Predicts Massive Changes for Talk Radio: We Have ‘Had It’ With the GOP | TheBlaze.com

Glenn Beck on Friday predicted massive changes in talk radio over the coming years, saying that as far as he knows, the titans of the industry have all “had it” with the excuses of the GOP.

The fiery segment was a response to a caller on Beck’s radio program Thursday, who said Beck needs to stop “poisoning the well” for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie because conservatives may have to vote for him in 2016.

“Anyone else who feels this way, I want you to listen carefully,” Beck told his audience. “This isn’t the show for you. Let me tell you what we do on this show. We tell the truth as we know it. It’s not our job to make sure the Republicans get elected at just any cost. We will tell you what we truly believe.”

(Photo: Glenn Beck speaks on his radio program Jan. 10, 2014. (Photo: TheBlaze TV)

Beck said he believes people like Thursday’s caller will be “absolutely shocked” over the next few years, because he is “not the only one who’s had it with the GOP.”

“Sean Hannity has had it with the GOP,” Beck said. “Mark Levin has had it with the GOP. The biggest, quote, ‘shill of the GOP,’ as they have always liked to say, Rush Limbaugh, has had it with the GOP … So if you’re looking for shills for a political party, you’re probably going to have to shake talk radio.”

Shovel ready jobs!---------------DMC launches 'Obamacare' enrollment campaign with 60 participating organizations

Michigan republicans like Sen. Goeff Hansen voted to expand Medicaid with full knowledge there is no money to pay for it.
RINO.
DMC launches 'Obamacare' enrollment campaign with 60 participating organizations | Crain's Detroit Business:
"Most health systems and health insurers in Southeast Michigan have developed programs and campaigns to help enroll people in the nation's new health insurance system or Medicaid expansion in Michigan, which begins April 1.

Moreover, hundreds of trained certified application counselors and navigators at dozens of nonprofit agencies in Michigan are assisting the uninsured enroll in a health care plan."

We know it's gonna happen! Why are we just sitting around waiting?---------------Why America Is Headed Toward Bankruptcy In 13 Terrifying Quotes

Read them all and weep for the children...... or yourselves if you're under 90 years old.
Why America Is Headed Toward Bankruptcy In 13 Terrifying Quotes - John Hawkins - Page 2:
1) "What would you think of a person who earned $24,000 a year but spent $35,000?
Suppose on top of that, he was already $170,000 in debt.
You'd tell him to get his act together -- stop spending so much or he'd destroy his family, impoverish his kids and wreck their future.
Of course, no individual could live so irresponsibly for long. 
But tack on eight more zeroes to that budget and you have the checkbook for our out-of-control, big-spending federal government. -- John Stossel"

Their strategy is clear. "Baby steps"--------California Democrats will push background checks for ammunition

California Democrats will push background checks for ammunition:
"SACRAMENTO — Following passage last year of some of the strongest gun-control laws in the nation in the wake of the school shooting in Newton, Conn., leading California Democrats will open a new front in the fight against gun violence this year with a proposal to conduct background checks on people who purchase ammunition.
State Senate Democrats will push to require a comprehensive background check on anyone seeking to purchase ammunition, and to require a one-year permit for ammunition purchases.
“Anyone can walk into any gun store, a bait and tackle store, and purchase all the ammunition they want to, no questions asked,” Sen. Kevin de Leon (D), the bill’s lead sponsor, said in an interview. “The ammunition is the fuel that feeds the violence. The gun itself, the hand gun or the long gun or the high-powered weapon is the delivery device. The gas, the fuel, is the ammunition, and no one knows who buys it.”"

Soooo, the "solution" is to allow a merger, reduce competition. And raise prices?----------------Time Warner Cable loses 215,000 viewers

Time Warner Cable loses 215,000 viewers - Neowin:
"United States-based television provider Time Warner Cable lost 215,000 subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to reports.
The company, which is one of the largest television service providers in the U.S, has reported these losses amidst a potential bid for takeover by other service providers including Charter Communications, which according to Bloomberg may announce a $62 billion dollar bid for ownership of the company.

While Time Warner is still the second largest organization in the industry, these reported losses may only mean bad news - in the entirety of 2013 Time Warner lost around 825,000 subscribers, up almost 300,000 from 2012. "

Why don't we dump NASA and hire these guys?----------Virgin Galactic's supersonic space ship in 71,000-ft record smash

Virgin Galactic's supersonic space ship in 71,000-ft record smash • The Register:
"The "feather mechanism" to which Whitesides refers is SpaceShipTwo's unique reentry system, in which the twin tails of the craft tilt upward by 65 degrees to allow a stable, hands-free descent that doesn't generate excessive heat from friction."

China surpasses US as world's largest trading nation

China surpasses US as world's largest trading nation | Business | The Guardian:
"Beijing describes 2013 figures as 'a landmark milestone' as annual trade in goods passes the $4tn mark for the first time"

"Miracle drug" makes ya crazy! Who'd of guessed--------------Daily pot tied to age of first psychotic episode

Daily pot tied to age of first psychotic episode - Yahoo News Canada

In a study of adults who experienced psychosis for the first time, having smoked marijuana daily was linked to an earlier age of onset of the disorder, according to UK researchers.

"This is not a study about the association between cannabis and psychosis, but about the association between specific patterns of cannabis use . . . and an earlier onset of psychotic disorders," Dr. Marta Di Forti, who led the research at the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College, said in an email.

Obamacare Hasn’t Slowed The Growth of Health Care Costs - It’s The Economy, Stupid!

Obamacare Hasn’t Slowed The Growth of Health Care Costs - It’s The Economy, Stupid!
The problem is the report does not say what Furman suggests it says.  
In fact, the report actually acknowledged that the main driver of the temporary slowdown in the rate of health care growth was not Obamacare, but an economy shaken by the Great Recession.  
Since World War II, the historical pattern is that the annual increase in the rate of health care spending slows a bit during periods of economic turmoil or recession, as consumers lose their health coverage or have fewer dollars to spend on care.

Jimmy Carter style---People Not In Labor Force Soar To Record 91.8 Million; Participation Rate Plunges To 1978 Levels

People Not In Labor Force Soar To Record 91.8 Million; Participation Rate Plunges To 1978 Levels | Zero Hedge:
"Curious why despite the huge miss in payrolls the unemployment rate tumbled from 7.0% to 6.7%?
The reason is because in December the civilian labor force did what it usually does in the New Normal: it dropped from 155.3 million to 154.9 million, which means the labor participation rate just dropped to a fresh 35 year low, hitting levels not seen since 1978, at 62.8% down from 63.0%."

Here's the WeMOG info-Join up and get fit... or fitter ..... or at least have some fun!

All about the WeMOG!  -  West Michigan Outdoor Group

So, we hope this helps you know more about us.  To join us, send a message to WeMOG.Central@Gmail.com with your name and  contact information, and come join in our fun!"

"During the winter of 2004-05, several folks of the Muskegon area (many from the old Muskegon Hiking Club) often talked about the need for a meeting place for people interested in participating in outdoor activities.  They needed a place to "meet-up" with like-minded people and to share their love of enjoying the many outdoor activities that are available to us here in our wonderful state.  They wanted to have available a support system and safety in numbers for their outings.

In March of 2005, their dream came true.  The YMCA of Muskegon graciously donated the use of one of their rooms to meet.  Between 15 - 20 people showed up to discuss how to continually connect up with each other... how to keep the word going, how to share information about area events, and how to support each other.

As we are not an official club, having no officers or newsletter, we devised a plan using the wonderful world of "communicating with computers."  We communicate about gatherings, ideas and plans in a "round-robin" system, sending and sharing information to each other through our e-mails.  (We do have some members who do not have computers; they make arrangements to get their information from another member who does.)

Interested people can join us by sending a message to our shared e-mail ID (wemog.central@gmail.com) with their name and contact information.  They are added to the WeMOG Central e-mail list maintained for members' use.  They watch their computer mailings for all the "scoop."  Then it is up to them to become as involved as they want to be.  

Meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month, with a notification about the time, place, and other details sent to members by e-mail within a week of the meeting. During the summer we have been meeting at parks so we can have a potluck supper followed by a short meeting. Summer meeting times commonly start at 6:30pm and, often, some come earlier to participate in their activity before the meeting. (around 3:00 or 3:30pm).  Kayaking and hiking are now the most popular meeting activities. During the winter we meet at 6:00 pm at area restaurants for dinner and a meeting to schedule events for the coming month.

The group is a very loose knit group.  No by-laws, no commitments, no fees, and no elected officers.  We are a gathering place to share outdoor interests and activities.  (To be considerate of others participating, we ask that children and pets be left at home.)  Special organized events to include families and their 4-legged friends can be planned.  :)  

We have opted to call ourselves the West Michigan Outdoor Group (WeMOG), with smaller-interest groups within it.

The Bike Group currently meets on Monday mornings.  Each week, they bike between 15 to 35 miles, depending on their selected route. They bike at about 10 mph, often stop to enjoy the sights, and bring lunch/drinks to have along the way. 

The purpose is to "support ride" in case of a break down, etc.  If you want to participate and not go the entire ride, bring a friend who can turn back with you.  It's a buddy system for safety....(the whole purpose of participating in the group)... always two people biking together.  Each week someone sends the details of the next ride around to the e-mail list of friends.

The Kayaking Group currently meets Wednesday mornings.  Each week is different, depending on the location - lake or river and time available. Each week, someone sends the details around about where to meet, time, etc.

Each year we have also organized and held a few two-day to week-long events held at more distant locations in Michigan or other states. Attending members each take the responsibility for researching, planning, and making reservations for the event. The shared planning has made for pleasant and fruitful enjoyment of national parks and other interesting areas of the country.

There are responsibilities to making this a success.  When there is a need, someone "volunteers" to fill that need.  Volunteers are:  making arrangements for our monthly meeting places, taking notes at meetings, and recapping the monthly meetings and happenings.  Volunteers keep everyone informed on these events.  Volunteers put together information sheets, resource lists, and member lists.  Several have helped with organization contacts, meeting arrangements and programs.  If you see a need, please volunteer.

We maintain activity interest lists for bicycling, hiking, kayaking, downhill skiing, cultural events, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.  We encourage anyone and everyone to organize or suggest events and outings at a time and place they choose. We can only benefit from the knowledge and experience of folks that might enjoy the outdoors in little-known locations. One can lead the group or just suggest a new place to gather and explore together.  It can be as informal or formal as one wants it to be. 

Just organize an event, place, date, time, directions, equipment list if needed, etc., and list a contact person and number to call.  Type up a short message and send it to the appropriate activity group(s).  And let the fun begin!

When attending an activity, we request that you call ahead to the contact person.  This will give the person heads-up on who to count on and also so they can let you know if the event needs to be canceled.  It will also give you the opportunity to recheck all the important information.

We also encourage folks to suggest and organize monthly meeting programs.  One can invite a business to come and demonstrate, share tales and pictures of one of their own adventures, or bring in a knowledgeable person on a specific topic. This will be especially helpful for those winter months when we're not so busy.  However, winter brings time to ski and snowshoe!

Several in our group are members of Michigan outdoor organizations.  They often will list and share information with others so they can attend their events.  Most notable are:

1)  Sierra Club;  2)  North Country Trail Association;  3)  Ottawa County Parks and Recreation;  4)  WMCKA West Michigan Coastal Kayaking Association;  5)  Adopt a Beach Program - Lake Michigan Federation  

These are great organizations for you to join also.  We make available a resource list with web sites, etc. for these organizations and other places of interests.  

So, we hope this helps you know more about us.  To join us, send a message to WeMOG.Central@Gmail.com with your name and  contact information, and come join in our fun!"

                   (Sorry, we don't have a web site.)

Hope To See You On The Trail!!  

Sessions: 'For Every One Job Added, Nearly 5 People Left the Workforce'

Sessions: 'For Every One Job Added, Nearly 5 People Left the Workforce' | The Weekly Standard: ""Today’s jobs report underscores a deeper problem facing our economy: a large and growing block of people who are chronically jobless and completely outside the workforce.
In December, the economy added only 74,000 jobs – not nearly enough to keep up with population growth –and 347,000 left the workforce.
That means for every one job added, nearly 5 people left the workforce entirely. 
There are now nearly 92 million Americans outside the workforce, resulting in the lowest participation rate in 36 years. 
The President’s immigration plan will only make things dramatically worse – and no amount of ‘promise zones’ will be a sufficient remedy for the millions of displaced workers."

History for January 11 -Founding Father, Cobra Father, Birds man, Why?, pre-Mitten, Victory!, Better as a department store, Wonderful!, Blub, Now they tell us.....

History for January 11 - On-This-Day.com

Birth anniversary of Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), American founding father, coauthor of The Federalist papers, first secretary of the Treasury.

Birth anniversary of  auto racer/sports car designer Carroll Shelby (1923-2012).

Happy Birthday! Rod Taylor

1770 - The first shipment of rhubarb was sent to the United States from London.


1805 - The Michigan Territory was created.


1815 - U.S. General Andrew Jackson achieved victory at the Battle of New Orleans. The War of 1812 had officially ended on December 24, 1814, with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. The news of the signing had not reached British troops in time to prevent their attack on New Orleans.


1913 - The first sedan-type car was unveiled at the National Automobile Show in New York City. The car was manufactured by the Hudson Motor Company.



1922 - At Toronto General Hospital, Leonard Thompson became the first person to be successfully treated with insulin.


1958 - "Seahunt" debuted on CBS-TV. The show was aired on the network for four years.


1964 - U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released a report that said that smoking cigarettes was a definite health hazard.

TaxProf Blog: The IRS Scandal, Day 246

TaxProf Blog: The IRS Scandal, Day 246

The IRS Scandal, Day 246

By Paul Caron

 Share

• The Blaze:  Why This Congressman Says the IRS Investigation Is ‘Compromised’ by the Justice Department
• CBN News:  Obama Supporter Heads IRS Probe, GOP Cries Foul
• Fox 19:  New IRS Commissioner's Visit to Cincinnati
• Fox News:  Republicans Call for Removal of Obama Supporter Leading IRS Targeting Probe
• Government Executive:  House Republicans Clash with Justice Over Pick to Head IRS Probe

Deny, deny, deny----Pelosi Chides Reporter: Call It the Affordable Care Act, Not Obamacare

Pelosi Chides Reporter: Call It the Affordable Care Act, Not Obamacare | The Weekly Standard

Stephen Dinan reports at the Washington Times: 

On Thursday, at her weekly press conference, Mrs. Pelosi was asked by a reporter whether Democrats would vote with Republicans to impose new privacy safeguards in health care, and if so, whether that would be a signal Democrats are worried about the politics of the law.

“Absolutely not,” Mrs. Pelosi said. “First of all, it’s called the ‘Affordable Care Act.’ If that’s what you’re referencing, yeah, they are going after the Affordable Care Act.”

As you can see in the this video compiled by David Rutz at the Washington Free Beacon, Pelosi, President Obama, and other top Democrats used to refer to the health care law as Obamacare:

As recently as Nov. 8, Obama predicted to a laughing crowd in New Orleans that his political opponents would stop using the term once the law became popular.

“I know health care is controversial, so there’s only going to be so much support we get on that on a bipartisan basis — until it’s working really well, and then they’re going to stop calling it Obamacare,” he said. “They’re going to call it something else.”

Do stickers cause climate whatever?---------Climate change warning stickers on gasoline pumps?

Fuel Fix » Climate change warning stickers on gasoline pumps?:
"SAN FRANCISCO — Buy a pack of cigarettes, and a printed warning from the surgeon general will remind you that smoking causes cancer.

Obviously, you’ve chosen to smoke anyway. But maybe one day you’ll look at that message, printed on the pack, and resolve to change your ways.

Now, apply that idea to global warming.

Oil CEO: Humans are involved with climate change

A group of Bay Area environmentalists wants to slap warning stickers on gasoline pumps, telling drivers that the fuel they’re buying is cooking the planet. The stickers would constantly remind consumers of the link between driving and climate change.

“Human beings are not really wired for seeing the cause and effect of climate change,” said Jamie Brooks, with the Bay Area chapter of 350.org. “The cause is burning fossil fuels, but we’re not going to feel the effects until well into the future. There’s no immediate signal to a consumer of gasoline to show their effects on climate.”

That’s where the labels would come in."

Minimum Wage, Minimum Employment

Minimum Wage, Minimum Employment [Mackinac Center]:
"If the government mandates a higher price for employing workers, fewer of them will be demanded.
If simply commanding higher wages helped more than it hurt, why wouldn’t advocates just demand a mandate of $100 an hour?
The answer may be all too easy: supporters know they might price themselves out of a job.
Indeed, in the state of Washington, the recent “SeaTac” ballot proposal for a minimum wage hike to $15 an hour conveniently exempted the very unions who supported the hike. 

The law of demand is a very simple but powerful concept. "
Theory and evidence very clearly point to minimum wage policies doing great economic harm, including minimizing employment opportunities.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Urges Welfare Name Change: “Transitional Living Fund”

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Urges Welfare Name Change: “Transitional Living Fund” - Freedom Outpost | Freedom Outpost:
"The Texas Congresswoman who once urged a Congressional oversight panel to study how Christian militants and other radicals might bring down the country has some new progressive ideas she’d like House members to begin implementing.
In a brief speech on the House floor about safety nets that touches on all manner of government assistance, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee suggested that the term “welfare” is no longer politically correct, and like all masters of doublespeak, wants Congress to change its name to a “transitional living fund.”"

OMG, they've lost MSNBC: December Jobs Report Is 'Awful,' 'Very Bad,' and 'Ugly'

MSNBC: December Jobs Report Is 'Awful,' 'Very Bad,' and 'Ugly' | Washington Free Beacon:
"MSNBC admitted that the December jobs report was dismal Friday.

CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera announced the newly released report number. Only 74,000 jobs were created in December, a number that fell significantly short of the 200,000 anticipated created jobs.

Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough commented “That’s a horrific number” and said that the newly added jobs number is the lowest seen in years.

Caruso-Cabrera confirmed Scarborough’s statement, saying that the newly added jobs number is in fact the lowest since January of 2011 and the number was “very, very bad.”"

Trust them?---------------Ford exec apologizes for saying company tracks customers with GPS

Ford exec apologizes for saying company tracks customers with GPS | The Detroit News:
"Ford Motor Co. marketing chief Jim Farley on Thursday apologized for a remark he made Wednesday saying the Dearborn automaker tracks customers through in-car navigation devices.
Farley, the headliner at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, said Ford knows where and when customers drive their vehicles, but does not sell that information to third parties.
“We know everyone who breaks the law, we know when you’re doing it,” Farley said, according to a report in Business Insider. 
“We have GPS in your car, so we know what you’re doing. 
By the way, we don’t supply that data to anyone.”
Ford on Thursday denounced those comments."

Hillary's protection racketeers--TV gives 'Bridgegate' 17 times more coverage in 1 day than IRS scandal in 6 months

TV gives 'Bridgegate' 17 times more coverage in 1 day than IRS scandal in 6 months | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"The Big Three networks, in a frenzy over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's traffic headache dubbed “Bridgegate,” have devoted a whopping 34 minutes and 28 seconds of coverage to the affair in just the last 24 hours.
By comparison, that's 17 times the two minutes, eight seconds devoted to President Obama's IRS scandal in the last six months, according to an analysis by the Media Research Center."

HowStuffWorks "5 States with Unusually High Auto Insurance Rates"

HowStuffWorks "5 States with Unusually High Auto Insurance Rates"

3

Michigan

|

Image Gallery: Car Safety

There are many factors that go into determining your auto insurance premium, including driving record, age and vehicle safety features. But one of the most important factors that goes into the calculation is your location. See more car safety pictures.

Hemera/Thinkstock

If you watch any amount of television in America these days, chances are you've viewed countless car insurance ads. They feature talking geckos, cavemen, perky sales people and "mayhem" personified as a car-wrecking villain. Ad spending by the insurance industry now tops $4 billion, andauto insurance makes up a big part of it. Insurance companies are getting aggressive with their ad campaigns because of increasing competition in the field, and because they want to attract new clients who, perhaps dissatisfied with escalating premiums, are increasingly taking to the Web to search for insurance quotes [source: Schultz].

There are many factors that go into determining your auto insurance premium, including driving record, age and vehicle safety features, but one of the most important factors that goes into the calculation is your location. Insurance companies tend to view some places as higher risk than others, and as a result, they require drivers in those places to pay more -- sometimes significantly more -- for insurance.

But isn't that undemocratic? Shouldn't everyone pay the same rate for the same service? Well, that's not how the insurance companies see it, as shown by the great disparity between the costs of car insurance in different parts of the country. For example, the average driver in Maine pays just $889 per year for car insurance, while a driver in Detroit, the nation's priciest city, pays a whopping $5,941 per year. But Detroit isn't the only place in the U.S. where people need to empty their wallets to cover their cars. Keep reading to see five states with unusually high auto insurance.

WHO PAYS THE LEAST?

Maine consistently ranks as one of the nation's least expensive states to insure a car, at just $889 annually because the population is relatively spread out, which creates fewer opportunities for accidents, and it hasn't suffered from many major natural disasters in recent years [source:Marquand]. It's followed by Iowa ($985), Wisconsin ($987), Idaho ($1,011) and North Carolina ($1,022).

The first entry to our little list of states with unusually highauto insurance isn't a state at all -- it's the District of Columbia. But as D.C. residents will tell you, The District functions like a state, with its own governance and a Department of Motor Vehicles that is separate from Virginia and Maryland. Washington, D.C. has a lot going for it -- great museums, history and the Cherry Blossom Festival -- but affordable auto insurance isn't one of them. Those corporate lobbyists must be to blame!

As far as cities are concerned, Washington, D.C. actually isn't in that bad shape; it hasn't cracked the top 10 of most expensive cities in recent years, and it's nowhere near Detroit, the country's most expensive city for car insurance. But at an average of $1,866 per year in 2012, the nation's capital is still pretty pricey.

The main reason that car insurance costs so much in D.C. is that it's generally more expensive to insure a car in a city than it is in a small town or rural area, and the entire district happens to be urban. Why do the insurance companies have against city-dwellers? For one thing, cities tend to have higher rates of theft and accidents, so they view them as higher risks. Also, cities and nearby suburbs tend to be the places where wealth is concentrated, and because of that, city dwellers often buy pricier cars than people who live in the country. The more expensive the car is, the more expensive it is to insure.

If having high car insurance rates were a contest, West Virginia would be the Cinderella story, climbing from the middle of the pack to become one of the top five most expensive states in America. From 2010 to 2012, West Virginia shot up in the rankings from No. 19 in 2010 to No. 14 in 2011, and all the way up to No. 4 in 2012. But of course, skyrocketing auto insurance isn't a contest that any state wants to win, and West Virginia residents have been feeling the pain.

Insurance premiums always result from a combination of factors. Like some of the other states that made Insure.com's top five list, West Virginia has experienced more than its fair share of natural disasters in recent years, including floods, mudslides, snow storms and tornadoes. That alone probably doesn't account for why rates are on the rise in West Virginia, but it's almost certainly a factor. The other factor that is sure to contribute to the escalating rates is the number of uninsured drivers on the road. In 2011, roughly one in seven West Virginia drivers was uninsured. When tens of thousands of people are driving with no auto insurance, those who do buy insurance end up pulling more than their own weight [source: Mothershead].

DETROIT DOESN'T ROCK

There are lots of reasons why auto insurance costs so much in the great state of Michigan, but the single biggest thing driving up the statewide average is Detroit. The average annual premium in the Motor City in 2012 was an obscene $5,941, which is caused by high rates of unemployment, uninsured drivers and crime. All of which probably lead to high rates of outrage when Detroit residents receive their monthly insurance bill [source: Loose].

Michigan is the state that is most closely identified with automobiles, and the car's impact can be felt at all corners of the state. The roads are wider in Detroit than most cities to encourage driving, and many Michigan residents work at Ford and GM plants. So, you might assume that in a place with such a doting relationship to the automobile auto insurancewould be fairly affordable, right? Wrong. Michigan consistently ranks among the top five states in the nation for high auto insurance, and in recent years the average price for car insurance in Michigan has remained more than $2,000 per year.

Part of the reason for Michigan's pricey auto insurance is a state law that provides unlimited medical benefits to accident victims for life. That's great for victims of car accidents, but for the average driver, it can take a hit on your wallet. Additionally, Michigan car owners are required to buy personal injury protection coverage as part of their policy, which cost $145 per vehicle in 2012.

Michigan has been hit harder than most places by the recent economic recession, and one possible consequence of Michigan's high car insurance costs is people who can't afford to pay the rates. For example, in 2011, 17 percent of drivers in Michigan had no insurance. That puts a pinch on insurance companies, because they have to absorb the losses when uninsured drivers get in accidents, and possibly results in a negative feedback loop that makes a bad situation worse.

What if you could restore veterans' pensions, fund jobless benefits, and stop illegal immigrant fraud, all at once? Democrats would block it.

What if you could restore veterans' pensions, fund jobless benefits, and stop illegal immigrant fraud, all at once? Democrats would block it. | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"Two of the most pressing concerns on Capitol Hill are 1) finding a way to restore cuts in veterans' pensions that were included in the budget deal brokered by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Paul Ryan; and 2) figuring out a plan to pay for extended emergency unemployment insurance for 1.3 million Americans whose benefits have run out.

They are vexing problems, but Republicans, led by Sen. Kelly Ayotte, came up with a proposal to solve them. The only difficulty was, the solution -- finding billions to pay for the restored pensions and unemployment insurance -- involved cracking down on a tax credit program in which illegal immigrants have fraudulently collected billions of dollars in improper payments. 
Stop the fraud, Ayotte argued, and then use the money saved to pay for pensions and unemployment insurance. It seemed like an elegant solution."
...Except that Democrats would have none of it. Putting an end to the fraudulent collection of tax credits by illegal immigrants would hurt the most vulnerable, they argued. "This idea of going after children is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard," Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer said in floor debate Thursday. "I am shocked — I am shocked. You're going to hurt children. You're going to take away food out of their mouths."

The Unbelievable High Cost of Maintaining Michelle Obama’s Dignity as First Lady

The Unbelievable High Cost of Maintaining Michelle Obama’s Dignity as First Lady - A Sheep No More

“In my own life, in my own small way, I have tried to give back to this country that has given me so much,” she said. 

“See, that’s why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service,” says Michelle Obama. 

Mrs. Obama’s license to practice law was rendered “voluntarily inactive” due to a court order in a Insurance malpractice case. 

Since the First Lady holds no official “public office” nor does she receive any kind of salary, I find her statement quite puzzling.

Here is a list of staff members to help the First Lady in “maintaining the dignity of her office” and their salaries:

• Natalie F. Bookey Baker, executive assistant to the chief of staff to the first lady, $45,000;

• Alan O. Fitts, deputy director of advance and trip director for the first lady, $61,200;

• Jocelyn C. Frey, deputy assistant to the president and director of policy and projects for the first lady, $140,000;

• Jennifer Goodman, deputy director of scheduling and events coordinator for the first lady, $63,240;

• Deilia A.L. Jackson, deputy associate director of correspondence for the first lady, $42,000;

• Kristen E. Jarvis, special assistant for scheduling and traveling aide to the first lady, $51,000;

• Camille Y. Johnston, special assistant to the president and director of communications for the first lady, $102,000

• And this list goes on and on.....

So, to sum it all up, let’s imagine just for a moment that you had in your possession, an EBT card, one with no spending limit, and whatever you did spend, you’d never have to pay back. Then you’d know what it was like to walk a mile in Michelle Obama’s designer shoes.

Crooks, murderers, thieves, sexual perverts, drowners of young women all OK unless they're GOPers-----24 Underreported Democrat Scandals That Make News Media's 'Bridgegate Mania' Look Like a Joke

24 Underreported Democrat Scandals That Make News Media's 'Bridgegate Mania' Look Like a Joke | Independent Journal Review:
"Whatever happened in New Jersey under Governor Chris Christie in regards to the already-infamous “bridgegate,” the open gloating by the media over the unacceptable behavior of the Republican governor’s staffers is extremely revealing.

Regardless of one’s views on Governor Chris Christie, this coordinated political feeding frenzy is liberal hypocrisy at its finest. Take a look at some of these over-the-top headlines:"

Here are 25 underreported stories that most news media barely reported on, or blew by as quickly as possible because Democrats are involved.

1. Fast & Furious