Water Grab

There is no doubt about this one; it is a UN political move solely calculated on how much they can steal or extort from Western nations.

With well-armed troops on the ground the UN couldn't do a thing to protect more than 500,000 Tutsi's from being slaughtered in 1994, but they'll go to the mat for a sardine.

The United Nations has launched a far-reaching initiative that could give U.N.-sponsored authorities sway over the biological resources of the high seas—all the waters that lie outside national territories and economic zones.

Here's the kicker. There's more money at stake here than you can shake a Tutsi at, if you can find one.

This comes on the heels of 11 million documents that were leaked from a Panama law office showing how the world's leaders hide their fortunes that they stole from their constituents. When it comes to murder and larceny, there are no bigger criminals than those who control their governments.

The potential shift in power involves multi-trillion-dollar issues, such as whether large areas—conceivably, as much as 30 percent-- of the world’s international waters should be designated as no-go areas to protect biological diversity; whether and how to require elaborate “environmental impact assessments” for future ocean development projects; and how to divide up the economic benefits from the future development of “marine genetic resources.”

Eden Charles, a diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago who is serving as the chairman for a U.N. preparatory committee that began the discussions this week underlined to Fox News that the talks are at a “very, very preliminary stage.”

Yeah, I'm gonna let some asshole from Tobago determine how much I pay for a can of tuna.

This is all environmental/social justice bullshit. You can read more here from a speech he delivered to the UN in 2014. It's not only about sustainable development, it's also about delivering technology and industrial capacity to under developed nations; you know, those countries where if their leaders don't sell a competing tribe into slavery, they eat them.

Overall, the hoped-for treaty will cover “two-thirds of the oceans, almost half the planet,” says Lisa Speer, a senior official of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which is in turn a lead member of a squadron of 33 environmentalist groups banded together as the High Seas Alliance to lobby for protectionist measures during the talks.

And there you go. Thirty-three groups of self-styled saviors who don't bathe in order to save the planet will dictate policy governing much of the planet's surface.

Putin Punts It?

In 1991 fiscal mismanagement, poor planning and corruption brought down the Soviet Union. Can the same thing happen again to Putin's Russia?

Only one month in and 2016 has already delivered a series of devastating economic blows to Russia. As the price of oil and the value of the ruble plummet, so, too, does the standard of living of the average Russian citizen. Russia’s central bank has been widely praised for not spending the country’s hard-currency reserves to support the ruble — an admittedly losing proposition — yet it has done so on the backs of the Russian people.

The public has responded stoically and largely without panic, even as they see their middle-class aspirations crash. But a whiff of desperation can now be sensed, and it is the Kremlin that appears the most perplexed about what the next steps it should take.

President Vladimir Putin has gone so far as to blame Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin for Russia’s current difficulties. Historical scapegoats, however, do not relieve Putin and his government of responsibility for Russia’s financial mess. As the economic temperature rises, Moscow will likely find itself under increased pressure to re-examine both its domestic policies and its foreign adventures.

I am wondering how long Putin can maintain his expensive military operations in Ukraine and Syria while his economy is tanking. Sure, you can deflect criticism by waving something shiny in front of the public, but only for so long before the bills are due and your checks start bouncing. Threatening Eastern Europe

Government Gone Feral

What good is bad, what's bad is good. Deny benefits to our nation's bravest, open the taxpayers' coffers to law breakers violating our borders and make sure that the people who collect these revenues are not held accountable.

The IRS refused to fire most of its own employees found to be cheating on their taxes — and in some cases even quickly turned around and promoted them within the year, according to a new audit released Wednesday.

In about 60 percent of cases of “willful violations” IRS managers found mitigating circumstances and refused to fire the employees, even though the law calls for that penalty. In some of those cases the managers didn’t even document why they’d overridden the penalty, said Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George.

“Given its critical role in Federal tax administration, the IRS must ensure that its employees comply with the tax law in order to maintain the public’s confidence,” Mr. George said. “Willful violation of the law by IRS employees should not be taken lightly, and the IRS Commissioner should fully document decisions made to retain employees whom management has proposed be terminated.”

During the decade from 2004 to 2013, the IRS identified nearly 130,000 potential cases of tax violations by its own employees, and concluded about 10 percent of those were actual violations.

And let's not forget to target conservative organizations with punative actions while ignoring the administration's politically favored allies.

Gaining Traction?

Just WTH Is It With Feds And Guns?

Just WTH is it with Feds and guns? If this isn't a love/hate relationship I don't know what is. First they try to take them away from law abiding citizens but can't wait to get their hands on them for themselves.

EXCLUSIVE: The director of the Federal Air Marshal Service is retiring after being investigated for his role in an alleged operation to acquire guns for officials' personal use, FoxNews.com has learned.

Director Robert Bray's home was raided in December in connection with the ongoing probe, according to sources and documents. Law enforcement and congressional sources told FoxNews.com that Bray's recently announced retirement, which is effective in June, is directly related to the investigation.

Transportation Security Administration officials say no such raid ever happened.

But Bray allegedly is among several officials who were obtaining weapons through this operation.

The probe stems from whistleblower accusations involving federal Air Marshal supervisor Danny Poulos. Sources say the Department of Homeland Security inspector general is involved, and possibly the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. TSA officials disputed that those agencies are involved, but acknowledged that there is an internal review underway by the TSA Office of Inspection into the supervisor's alleged activity.

The supervisor, a TSA official confirmed to FoxNews.com, is "on administrative leave."

Poulos is accused of using the agency's federal firearms license and his relationship with gun manufacturer Sig Sauer to obtain discounted and free guns. He then provided them to high-up agency officials for their personal use, according to whistleblower documents obtained by FoxNews.com and interviews with multiple officials with knowledge of the ongoing probe.

There's big bucks involved in equipping an agency with handguns. These weapons are not cheap.

The Air Marshal Service, as part of their expansion following the 9/11 terror attacks, adopted the SIG P229 handgun and has used the system across its ranks, which swelled to nearly 5,000 agents. Bray accepted the position of director of the agency in 2008. The following year the AMS announced a switch to the SIG P250 despite the fact that other federal law enforcement agencies rejected the gun after it failed performance testing.

The P250 is a subcompact that may not meet rigid government requirements for any number of reasons. Sig makes a very decent, high quality handgun but that particular configuration may only be suitable for air marshals concealed carry. IMHO as an undercover or off-duty weapon, it would be ok, but that's just me. I carry a .357 or .45, nothing less.

More here and here.

Thieves, Knaves and Traitors

That just about covers the complete range of personality traits that occupy positions of leadership in the US government today. Seems every time you turn around some POS is cutting out off another slab of America and giving it away. There's no doubt about it; this is a pressure play to extort money from American businessmen only to see if they can out bid Russian bribes.

WASHINGTON — In the view of America’s spy services, the next potential threat from Russia may not come from a nefarious cyberweapon or secrets gleaned from the files of Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor now in Moscow.

Instead, this menace may come in the form of a seemingly innocuous dome-topped antenna perched atop an electronics-packed building surrounded by a security fence somewhere in the United States.

In recent months, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Pentagon have been quietly waging a campaign to stop the State Department from allowing Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, to build about half a dozen of these structures, known as monitor stations, on United States soil, several American officials said.

[...] Russia’s efforts have also stirred concerns on Capitol Hill, where members of the intelligence and armed services committees view Moscow’s global positioning network — known as Glonass, for Global Navigation Satellite System — with deep suspicion and are demanding answers from the administration.

“I would like to understand why the United States would be interested in enabling a GPS competitor, like Russian Glonass, when the world’s reliance on GPS is a clear advantage to the United States on multiple levels,” said Representative Mike D. Rogers, Republican of Alabama, the chairman of a House Armed Services subcommittee.

That catsup chooming son of a traitorous bitch we have as SecState needs to have a GPS satellite shoved up his ass. Then we throw both his ass and his bullshit medals into prison.

It's The Washington Way

The US military is preparing a "world viewer" to get instant detailed information for any place where troops might be dispatched.

From USA Today:

Future military operations may use a constantly updated digital "image skin" for a comprehensive map of the world under development by the Pentagon's National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

This week, the NGA sought information from potential contractors to help develop the "orthorectified image skin" that would provide the base layer for the world map. Such a map would give the military a clearer picture of any potential trouble spot where troops would have to operate.

The U.S. Geological Survey defines orthoimagery as "high resolution aerial images that combine the visual attributes of an aerial photograph with the spatial accuracy and reliability" of a traditional map.

"A key element necessary to support global readiness is the availability of a current and accurate worldwide image base to ensure a common operational picture for all users," the NGA document says.

Years ago I might have said "Bravo" and followed this story with great interest, particularly as my daughter was starting the first of her deployments. Real time tactical assessments for any place on the planet is an exciting concept. But with the recent debacle of ObamaCare software I'm wondering who, or rather which Obama buddy will get this multimillion dollar contract (they all are multimillion) and screw it up beyond all hope.

The software for ObamaCare was developed by a single source contract that went to the company of the husband of one of Michelle's college classmates. Single source means that there was no bid.

First Lady Michelle Obama’s Princeton classmate is a top executive at the company that earned the contract to build the failed Obamacare website.

Toni Townes-Whitley, Princeton class of ’85, is senior vice president at CGI Federal, which earned the no-bid contract to build the $678 million ObamaCare enrollment website at Healthcare.gov. CGI Federal is the U.S. arm of a Canadian company.

Townes-Whitley and her Princeton classmate Michelle Obama are both members of the Association of Black Princeton Alumni.

From the Daily Caller:

George Schindler, the president for U.S. and Canada of the Canadian-based CGI Group, CGI Federal’s parent company, became an Obama 2012 campaign donor after his company gained the Obamacare website contract.

As reported by the Washington Examiner in early October, the Department of Health and Human Services reviewed only CGI’s bid for the Obamacare account. CGI was one of 16 companies qualified under the Bush administration to provide certain tech services to the federal government. A senior vice president for the company testified this week before The House Committee on Energy and Commerce that four companies submitted bids, but did not name those companies or explain why only CGI’s bid was considered.

I have worked with federal contracts and dealt with federal auditors and the IG's office for the DOJ. Right now, any contract that involves over $5,000 in federal funds must be bid out. Single source federal contracts are usually awarded under a limited set of circumstances.

• Where the compatibility of equipment, components, accessories, computer software, replacement parts or service is the paramount consideration.
• Where a sole supplier’s item is needed for trial use or testing.
• Where the purchase of mass-produced movie or video films or written publications distributed or sold primarily by the publisher is needed.
• Where the purchase of property for which it is determined there is no functional equivalent is needed.

The contract that CGI Federal has to develop this software is conservatively estimated at about $100 million.

It's nice to have classmates.

Getting By

I sometimes wonder if this country is falling apart at the seams. Everything good I believed our nation once stood for has been ridiculed; our people have abandoned common sense and morality; industrious, hard working souls are mocked by those whose sole contribution to society is breeding and scamming. Modesty and humility have been replaced by self aggrandizement. Half the country pays no federal taxes yet still demands a handout while the other half struggles to get by.

And the amateur clown show that is the Obama Administration just keeps on dancing and cavorting across the world stage. There seems to be no end to the red rubber beep-beep noses, squirting flowers and farting bladders that the our government presents as sound domestic and foreign policy. Few are amused.

NSA monitored calls of 35 world leaders after US official handed over contacts

• Agency given more than 200 numbers by government official
• NSA encourages departments to share their 'Rolodexes'
• Surveillance produced 'little intelligence', memo acknowledges

European Politicians React Fiercely to U.S. Spying Allegations

Some politicians say it would be "unacceptable" if U.S. intelligence agencies had spied on Angela Merkel's cellphone, as the continent's leaders gathered in Brussels for a two-day summit.

We once had one of the finest healthcare systems in the world. That also is a thing of the past. And if we're not careful, we may be facing the same kind of medical system that the Chinese "enjoy."

China trying to stop patients from killing doctors

China plans to beef up security in its hospitals to prevent the deaths of doctors and nurses in attacks by patients' relatives who become violent in their anger over the cost and quality of care.

The Department of Homeland Security may have had this in mind when they bought all those armored vehicles and ammo.

And where would the criminal element be without the assistance of government? Every form of government assistance you can think of is plagued by crime and corruption. Workers Comp, Medicaid, Medicare, Unemployment Insurance - you name it and there's a scam going to defraud the taxpayer of billions. But does that stop the do gooders in government?

States already battling/warning against imposter ObamaCare websites, fraud

The creation of just about any gigantic welfare program has a reliable potential for creating a correspondingly gigantic opportunity for fraudsters — and ObamaCare is looking like no exception, with a vengeance. Federal and state officials as well as private advocacy groups have been warning for months about the coming deluge of scammers going on the prowl for people’s sensitive personal and financial information...

Already there are over 700 sites that are trying to scam the unwary by imitating the government site and getting people to give them confidential information. Obamacare is a godsend for the unscrupulous.

Lock The Son Of A Bitch Up!

The President of the United States just openly aided and abetted terrorists by warning them that a warrant has been authorized for their arrest as the result of a federal sealed indictment. They are already crawling under a rock somewhere in some God-forsaken shithole. Good luck finding them...

President Obama, who’s taken heat for his administration’s crackdown on national security leaks, Friday acknowledged a sealed indictment in the Benghazi attack case and its disclosure to the press.

Obama probably won’t spend his vacation next week worrying about a contempt citation, but it was a notable slip for the ex-law professor.

This week CNN broke news of sealed indictments in the September 11, 2012 attack on U.S. outposts in Libya that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens, foreign service officer Sean Smith and ex-Navy SEALs Ty Woods and Glen Doherty.

The report was attributed to anonymous officials briefed on the case, and CNN noted the looming anniversary of the attacks.

During Friday’s White House press conference Fox News’ Ed Henry likewise cited the passage of 11 months since the attack and asked whether the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

“Well, the -- I also said that we'd get bin Laden and I didn't get him in 11 months. So we have informed, I think, the public that there's a sealed indictment,” Obama said.

Under federal criminal rules posted online by the Cornell University Law School, “no person may disclose the (sealed) indictment's existence except as necessary to issue or execute a warrant or summons.”

Disclosure of the existence of a sealed grand jury document “may be punished as a contempt of court.”

The Justice Department, along with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI’s New York Field Office -- officially responsible for the Benghazi investigation at its outset -- each declined to comment on the reports earlier this week.

Story here.

Tie The Media Down, Sport

Tan me hide when I'm dead, Fred,

Tan me hide when I'm dead.

So we tanned his hide

When he died, Clyde,

And that's it

Hanging on the shed.

All together now!

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport

Tie Me Kangaroo Down

Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport

Tie Me Kangaroo Down

Apparently there are powerful influences, people in the know, who are trying to hang Obugger's hide on the shed for that messed up operation in Benghazi. It turns out that everyone was in Benghazi for some reason (illegal arms deals with Islamic terrorists for $1000, Alex)  and that the CIA is squirreling their people away like nuts before winter.

For his part, Obugger and his crew are dancing around this turd ala Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers after a bath salts binge. I wonder just how long the media can sit on this before it blows up in their faces.

From Gateway Pundit:

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) was on with Greta Van Susteren Thursday to discuss the Obama scandals.

This came after Jake Tapper at CNN broke the news that there were “dozens” of CIA operatives on the ground in Benghazi on 9-11 when the consulate came under attack and the agency is going to great lengths to make sure whatever it was doing, remains a secret.

Gowdy told Greta the Obama Administration is hiding the survivors, dispersing them around the country, AND changing their names.

“Including changing names, creating aliases. Stop and think what things are most calculated to get at the truth? Talk to people with first-hand knowledge. What creates the appearance and perhaps the reality of a cover-up? Not letting us talk with people who have the most amount of information, dispersing them around the country and changing their names.”

And, at the same time Obama is hiding the survivors around the country he’s calling Benghazi a ‘phony’ scandal.

More here.
I believe Obugger is self medicating right now, so let's sing him a new verse:

Keep Benghazi under wraps, Piaps,

Keep Benghazi under wraps.

So we blew the cover off the deal, Neal,

And now it's landed in his lap.

All together now!

Tie the media down Sport,

Tie the media down.

Tie the media down Sport,

Tie the media down.

All the news that fits the narrative, they print

MSM Sitting Out Eleanor Holmes Norton Scandal
by Ron Futwell - Big Journalism

They are still virtual no-shows. The activist old media is putting itself on the sidelines with a Democrat Congresswoman who was caught on tape squeezing a lobbyist for cash.

They will be pulled kicking and screaming into this story by the people Dan Rather called “pajama journalists.” I think we’ve seen this story before.

Andrew Breitbart broke the story on Big Government because it shows everything that is wrong with government. Politicians who use their power to shake down lobbyists for cash so they can keep their power– usually the media love these stories, especially when there’s audio! But so far, nothing in the New York Times, nothing in Holmes’ hometown newspaper, the Washington Post. Only the Wall Street Journal has done its job. Writes John Fund:

Ms. Norton’s office didn’t respond to several requests for comment yesterday, leaving open the question of whether she crossed ethical lines that prohibit members from linking contributions to the performance of their official duties. At least one House member I spoke with says Ms. Norton is in clear violation of House rules and should be hauled up before the Ethics Committee.

The sleazy scramble for cash initiated by Speaker Pelosi is a far cry from her pledge to run the “most ethical and honest Congress in history” when Democrats won control in 2006. Just last February, when asked at a news conference about that quote, she interrupted a reporter and said “And we are.”

Thankfully, voters will have the final say this November on whether or not they believe the accuracy of that statement.

(More...)