State Dept. To Reject Keystone Pipeline

Controverial my hiney, it's a no brainer for clear thinking Americans.

The controversial Keystone Pipeline will reportedly be denied by President Obama, according to Fox News.

The State Department is expected to vote against the pipeline this afternoon. Transcanada will however be allowed to reapply with an alternate route going through Nebraska

Gingrich Shines in Debate

I watched the debate and Gingrich was just plain outstanding!

Newt Gingrich's fluent, policy-rich performances in the early debates, laced with derision for the media's attempts to question the Republican candidates, propelled him to the front of the GOP pack in early December.

His command of the stage here in Myrtle Beach for the 16th (yep, there have been that many, and the next is in Charleston on Thursday) could just be the lifeline he needs to achieve the task he has set himself - overcoming Mitt Romney's clear lead in the South Carolina polls to win the state on Saturday.

Romney was under pressure over releasing his tax returns (he eventually said that he would "probably" do so in April), on why he had not objected as Massachusetts governor to felons on parole having the right to vote and he gave an awkward, fumbling response to a softball about whether he had been hunting since 2007, even mixing up moose and elk.

Gingrich, however, ... scored quite a few points against Romney and the former Speaker's fluency with policy and ability to dissect questions and make a big-picture conservative case against Obama made him the night's big winner.

Indiana Senate Committee Passes Right-to-Work Bill

Loooooooong overdue.

INDIANAPOLIS — After nearly six hours of testimony and debate, the Indiana state Senate Pensions and Labor Committee approved Senate Bill 269 by a 6-to-4 vote. Commonly referred to as a "right-to-work" law, SB 269 would make it a Class A misdemeanor to require an individual to join or remain in a union or to pay any dues, fees or other charges to that same labor organization. The bill now goes to the full state Senate, despite the continued absence of a House quorum in the intended joint committee meeting between the House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee.

No amendments were allowed in the hearing.

The House and Senate will be called back into session again on Monday. Republican proponents intend to pass the bill in the Senate by the end of next week, but await boycotting Democratic House members for the progression of the bill’s discussion.

All those who voted in favor of the bill were Republicans; all those who voted against the bill were Democrats save Republican Sen. Brent Waltz. In 2004, Sen. Waltz defeated Senate Finance Chairman Larry Borst, whose campaign was partially funded by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber testified in favor of right-to-work today.

Sunday Funny

Thanks RR.

Budget/Debt Analysis for Dummies

Supreme Court delivers a knockout punch to the White House

SWWWWAAAAACK!

Wednesday the United States Supreme Court delivered a knockout blow to the White House in the cause of religious liberty.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for a unanimous court swatted away the government’s claim that the Lutheran Church did not have the right to fire a “minister of religion” who, after six years of Lutheran religious training had been commissioned as a minister, upon election by her congregation.

The fired minister -- who also taught secular subjects -- claimed discrimination in employment. The Obama administration, always looking for opportunities to undermine the bedrock of First Amendment religious liberty, eagerly agreed.

There was just one big problem standing in the way of the government's plan: the U.S. Constitution. For a long time American courts have recognized the existence of a "ministerial exemption" which keeps government’s hands off the employment relationship between a religious institution and its ministers or clergy.

South Carolina AG to fight feds over voter ID law

There is absolutely no legitimate reason that someone can't reasonably excercise a minimal effort to obtain a voter ID. The only reasons would be they're just too damn lazy or they are complicit in the attempt to commit voter fraud.

Three of South Carolina’s top political leaders announced Tuesday their plans to file a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision to block the state’s controversial voter ID law.

Attorney General Alan Wilson said he will file a lawsuit within the next two weeks against the Justice Department in Washington D.C. district court.

It’s necessary, Wilson said, to protect the integrity of South Carolina elections.

“Our intent of the office is to look at this legislation through the litigation process and to ensure that no voter is suppressed in the right to vote and that the integrity of the electoral process is protected,” he said “That is of paramount importance that we protect the electoral process and ensure that voter irregularities and potential voter fraud is curtailed, curbed or prevented.”

Obama's Numbers Down Even Among his Most Stalwart Supporters

Starting to stink it up even among the minority rank and file.

Remember just two weeks ago when the media and even many conservative pundits flatly proclaimed Obama’s BIG victory in the payroll tax cut showdown had handed him a BIG edge going into an election year? If you do you are in the minority. The American people were not fooled.

New Gallup survey numbers tell us a Georgia State Judge’s ruling that Barack Obama is not legible to be president as per Georgia law, may end up being a merciful death to his reelection plans.

In early December Obama’s Gallup survey approve/disapprove numbers were 43/50. His BIG victory just before Christmas got him to 45/47. Immediately after the BIG victory he’s back down to 42/49.

Not only are these numbers bad, they become still worse when broken down into individual voter categories. Obama’s approval among his “MUST have” core groups is dangerously low. Blacks give him an 83% rating and Hispanics, just 46%.

These numbers are made far worse in light of Gallup’s own recent survey of enthusiasm that set “non-White” enthusiasm at just 31%.

Keep in mind Obama got 65% of Blacks to vote 97% for him in 2008.

Is God Telling Us Something?

Tebow continues to inspire.

The game peaked with a rating/share of 31.6/46 (8:00-8:15 PM, ET).

1. Peak rating/share: 31.6

2. Passing yardage: 316

3. Yards per completion: 31.6

4. Steelers' possession time 31:06

5. Only interception of the game Broncos pick it off on a 3rd and 16.

6. John 3:16.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s New $425 GOOP Cleanse ‘A Waste Of Time And Money,’ Say Doctors

Another liberal Hollywood nimrod spewing lies for personal or professional gain at the expense of the public, who'd a thunk it.

Don’t spend your money or your effort subjecting yourself to actress Gwyneth Paltrow‘s “cleanse” or anyone else’s, say top NYC doctors.

“‘Cleansing’ is the equivalent of ’snake oil,’” says NYC internist, Dr. Robert Bos.

He adds that “there is no scientific proof” that a cleanse will help give your digestive system a break, eliminate toxins, rebuild beneficial bacteria or give you more energy, as Gwyneth promises in her GOOP newsletter.

Gwyneth’s cleanse program instructs you to drink her protein shake for breakfast, have a solid meal for lunch, another shake for dinner and take her GOOP “clean” supplements (which aren’t explained) throughout the day.

BARACK OBAMA UNABLE TO REGISTER FOR STATE PRIMARY AS ALABAMAREVIEWS HIS ELIGIBILITY

They'll be at least a few more of these.

An Alabama Court has announced that it will hear arguments as to whether Barack Hussein Obama II is in fact eligible to appear on the State Presidential Primary Ballot.

Several Alabama citizens have filed a lawsuit within the Alabama Circuit Court to "prevent certification of President Barack Obama for 2012 Alabama ballot access pending final hearing based on factual evidentiary hearings."

Sunday Funny

Thanks RR.

7 teens charged with beating classmate unconscious

I'll guarantee if my 13 year old boys would have been on the bus this would have never happened, or they'd have gotten their a$$ kicked stopping it.

MIAMI (AP) — Seven central Florida teenagers were arrested after authorities said they punched and kicked a 13-year-old until she was unconscious while on a school bus.

The victim told authorities that Friday was her first time riding the bus and no one would let her sit down. About 75 children were riding the bus bound for a middle school in Ocala, a rural city north of Orlando. The victim said someone threw a shoe at her and she threw one back, according to an arrest report.

One girl allegedly asked students if they wanted to hit the victim, then instructed the teens to form a circle and began hitting and kicking the victim. Several witnesses said they saw the girl fall to the floor and "appear to have a seizure and pass out," according to the arrest report.

The victim, who is not being identified, was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a concussion, severe bruising on her head and muscle spasms.

Grassley: New docs prove Admin knew about gun walking

As if there wasn't enough evidence already.

New documents obtained from the Justice Department Thursday prove that the administration knew that guns had been walked as part of Operation Wide Receiver, Senator Charles Grassley said in a press release, and then he reiterated his call for Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer to resign.

The documents include e-mails and copies of letters sent to Grassley by Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich, including a Feb. 4, 2011 letter that insisted that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had never “sanctioned or otherwise knowingly allowed the sale of assault weapons to a straw purchaser who then transported them into Mexico…” That letter has been “withdrawn” because facts uncovered over the past 11 months clearly show that guns were walked, and the ATF let it happen.

GM to call back 8,000 electric Chevy Volts

For those unfamiliar with the situation, that's all of them.

General Motors plans to ask Volt owners to bring their electric cars into dealers to strengthen the structure around the batteries.

The automaker said Thursday it plans enhancements to the vehicle’s structure and battery coolant system to further protect the 400-pound lithium-ion battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe crash.

The enhancements come in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Preliminary Evaluation to examine post-severe crash battery performance.

Iowa Results and Commentary

Romney: 24.6%

Santorum: 24.5%

Paul 21.4%

Gingrich 13.3%

Perry: 10.3%

It's all about electability and a scant majority of Iowans believe that Mitt Romney, warts and all, has the best chance of beating Obama.

I happen to believe it's flawed logic but bottom line, the person who can best convince the Republican primary electorate that he can do this will win the nomination.

Newt Gingrich had, with his debate performances, accomplished this but after a relentless onslaught by the MSM, Romney and a few others lost that confidence.

Chevy Volt Gets "Worst Product" Award

All the more infuriating condidering it cost us taxpayers $235,000 per vehicle.

General Motors' much-hyped Chevy Volt has yet another distinction to add to its long list of commendations. We had all heard repeatedly about Motor Trends' Car of the Year award, Consumer Reports' recommendation and Jay Leno's love affair with the car, but the Volt now gets a less publicized, more deserved distinction from Yahoo Finance's 24/7 Wall Street site. The Volt has made the list of "The Worst Product Flops of 2011" and apologists for the vehicle are sure to, once again, attack the credibility of those issuing the opinion.

Iowa Caucus Predictions

Romney: 21%

Santorum: 20%

Gingrich 19%

Paul 17%

Perry 17%

Rest: Fuhgetaboutit

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Sunday Funny

Thanks RR.