Obama authorizes direct military support to Syrian rebels

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com:

The United States has concluded that the Syrian government used chemical weapons in its fight against opposition forces, and President Obama has authorized direct U.S. military support to the rebels, the White House said Thursday.

“The president has said that the use of chemical weapons would change his calculus, and it has,” said Benjamin J. Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser. Rhodes said U.S. intelligence had determined with “high certainty” that Syrian government forces have “used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin, on a small scale against the opposition multiple times in the last year.”

There are no details as to what expanded military support means. President Obama has not committed ground troops.  According to one poll, 24% of Americans do not want American involvement.

Syria’s outgunned rebels have issued urgent appeals this week for antitank and antiaircraft weaponry to counter a government offensive that is backed by Hezbollah fighters and Iranian militia forces.

“Suffice it to say this is going to be different in both scope and scale,” Rhodes said of the new assistance. Obama said last year that confirmation of chemical weapons use would cross a “red line” for the United States.

Voting rights issue or school safety?

MoonHowler

December, 2012  at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Strasburg, Virginia.

 Fast forward to yesterday, June 11, 2013:

nvdaily.com:

Christopher Gerrit Johnson found his plans to vote in Tuesday’s primary temporarily stymied at the Strasburg Police Department before authorities agreed he had a right to cast his ballot and allowed him to do so.

Johnson’s initial trouble in voting at Strasburg High School, his designated polling place, stemmed from a “no trespassing” order banning him from Shenandoah County Public Schools property. The order was issued after an incident in mid-December when Johnson entered Sandy Hook Elementary School with a board bearing the words “high powered rifle.”

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Faux News and Ingraham lie again about Plan B

MoonHowler

These folks have told one lie after the other. As a matter of fact, many of the women’s reproductive rights groups were hotting mad at Kathleen Sebelius and President Obama because girls under 15 had to have parental permission to get the morning after pill.

According to mediaite.com:

The Fox News watchdogs over at Media Matters have flagged another clip of conservative commentator Laura Ingraham saying something “outrageous,” which is a bit like flagging a clip of the sky being blue, but in the process, they missed the big, fat lie that Fox and Friends‘ Steve Doocy told about President Obama‘s policy on Plan B emergency contraception. The Justice Department has dropped its appeal of a judge’s ruling that the drug be made available over-the-counter, without age restrictions, which Ingraham called a “good deal for pedophiles” and statutory rapists.

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Northam, Herring win Va Democratic primary

MoonHowler

The Democratic ticket for this fall’s election has been finalized.  Terry McAuliffe will run for governor.  Senator Ralph Northam will run for Lt. Governor, and  state Senator State Mark Herring from Loudoun County will run for Attorney General.

These Democrats are a stark contrast to the Republican ticket which is one of the most conservative tickets in the history of the Old Dominion.

Voter turn out was very light.  Only about 140,000 voters turned out to cast their ballot.  Time to turn up the heat now.

 

Open Thread………..Class of 2013…………….Tuesday, June 11, 2013

MoonHowler

 

 

grad cap     Congratulations to the class of 2013!  You hold the future.  Whether you are gong to work, going to college, or doing a little of both, take the time to assess what you want.  Don’t live for the moment.  Stupid decisions are often hard to undo.

On the other hand, no one expects you to know your life course at 18.  You are young enough to poke around in life and see what appeals to you.   This is also a time to explore.  Just keep goals in mind and don’t lose your focus.

Make sure life and your new freedom isn’t just about the next party or some special hottie du jour.  There is  a lot more to each person than their appearance.  Not everyone is “cute.”  Remember to chose close friends carefully.  Don’t be too quick to apply ‘give everyone the benefit of the doubt.’  Why should you give anyone the benefit of the doubt?  Trust your own instincts and your gut.  If you feel ewwwwy about someone, there is probably a reason. Distance yourself.  Making good people choices now is critical.  Mom and Dad aren’t going to always be there to arrange your play dates.  Rely on their wisdom.

Ahhhhhhh too much pontificating, Moon.  Anyone else have some advice for the graduating class of 2013?  I have a special person graduating tonight.  Congratulations, Courtney and everyone else too!!!  Carpe Diem.

 

Blogging: A higher standard– it’s a matter of principle

MoonHowler

A post was made yesterday on Moonhowlings that shamed me into a long over-due response:

The problems with PWC operations began ten years ago – mostly the same republican officials and a different CXO. Peacor has made great changes in the three years with the same republican officials, two democrats and one republican who sits in meeting with an earpiece repeating what is fed into his ear by a group of hypocritical political and moral failures with severely limited interests of the community as a whole.

She is far from perfect but neither she nor Mr Nohe are deserving of the vitriol spewed from that group.

Some smart guy said this – Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

I believe we are called upon as human beings to deliver our criticism with a tempered tongue.  The hatefulness and targeting is out of hand. I can only apologize for any welcome hand I once extended to a fellow blogger.  I cannot support any behavior that targets individuals with such cruelty.

Tearing down another  really should have no place in politics or the public arena, regardless of the political goals.  If someone is behaving in a way that people don’t like, it makes the most sense to describe the behavior rather than  demonize the person.  A critic can then back up their point of view with verifiable data and facts rather than spin, inaccuracies and gossip.

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Federal Grand Jury to convene over McDonnell, Star Scientific, the wedding and the chef

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com:

A Virginia state delegate has confirmed that he’s been called to appear next month as a witness before a federal grand jury as part of an investigation related to Gov. Robert F. McDonnell.

Del. David Ramadan (R-Loudoun) declined to comment further, saying that the federal subpoena prohibits him from disclosing its details, which might reveal what authorities are seeking from the first-term legislator.

The Washington Post has previously reported that the FBI has been conducting interviews about the relationship between McDonnell (R) and his wife and the chief executive of a dietary supplement company who paid for the catering at the 2011 wedding of the governor’s daughter. The agents are exploring whether McDonnell assisted the company in exchange for gifts.

Ramadan’s subpoena, however, is the first public indication of the impaneling of a grand jury to review evidence in the McDonnells’ case — a significant escalation in the investigation.

Dave Ramadan is a friend of the Governor and was also a guest at the McDonnell daughter’s wedding.  He says he did not give a cash gift to the bride and groom.

Office holders must report all gifts over $50.  However, there is no such restriction on gifts to children or spouses.  Perhaps Virginia might shore up this loophole immediately.  The current law allows for abuse.  and favoritism.  I suggest the legislature start working on this problem immediately rather than devoting so much attention to women’s reproductive rights and other social issues.

 

Another heart-breaking gun story…

MoonHowler

Foxnews.com:

Authorities in northern Arizona say a 4-year-old boy accidentally shot and  killed his father at a Prescott Valley home.

Prescott Valley police say the shooting occurred just after noon Friday.

The 35-year-old man, identified as Justin Stanfield Thomas, and his young son  were visiting from Phoenix and were at a friend’s house.

Police say the boy somehow found a gun in the home’s living room and  accidentally fired it and a bullet hit his father, who was rushed to a hospital  where he died.

The friend was reportedly Thomas’ former roommate and it may have been a  surprise visit to the home, MyFoxPhoenix.com reported.

The boy was taken to a police substation to undergo interviews, and did not  appear to realize what he did, MyFoxPhoenix.com reported. The boy is now with  his mother.

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Here we go again…another sick bastard shooter

MoonHowler

Washingtonpost.com:

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A gunman with an assault-style rifle killed at least six people in Santa Monica on Friday before police shot him to death in a gunfight in the Santa Monica College library, authorities said.

Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks told reporters the rampage began at a house in the coastal city before the gunman, dressed all in black, made his way to Santa Monica College.

Seabrooks said he killed two people in the house, which caught fire, two more people as he moved several blocks toward the campus, and then two more on campus.

He entered the library and fired on other people but didn’t hit them, Seabrooks said.Read More

The Tri-County Parkway: McDonnell’s Folly or just pure bullcrap?

MoonHowler

triCounty2

Washingtonpost.com:

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s administration has only itself to blame for arousing a major political and popular backlash against its effort to ram a new north-south highway through Prince William County along the western edge of the Manassas Civil War battlefield.

The Richmond authorities have seriously harmed one of their own pet projects — the Bi-County Parkway, which would link Prince William and Loudoun County southwest of Dulles Airport. They haven’t talked straight to the public about why they think the road is needed and what the full consequences would be.

They’ve gone back and forth on whether the road is necessary mainly to help Dulles Airport increase its cargo capacity. Back and forth on whether parts of it could be tolled. Back and forth on whether the plan is to open the road in seven years or 20.

“The rationale for this road changes week to week depending on who’s telling the story. I think that’s incredibly problematic,” said Del. Tim Hugo (R-Centreville), who’s helping to lead the opposition, which has mushroomed this spring.

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The Daily Character Assassination: Where is that Golden Rule?

MoonHowler

golden rule

Logo-gate, Silver Lake, and Yorkshire.

I just ran over to a local blog to see whose character was being assassinated today.  I expected it to be a three-fer.  It exceeded my expectations.

Let’s see….Grant, Kaczmarek, Peacor and Nohe, the usual suspects.  They were basically mimicked, called liars,  stooges, stupid and disgusting.  Give it a rest, bloggers.  Handle the issues without the smug air of superiority, the demeaning tones, and the name calling.

I don’t mind governmental transparency or the questioning of govt actions.  I mind the name calling and lack of professionalism by the bloggers.  If history repeats itself, there will be some bull crap printed about Moonhowler and the woodshed.  Please don’t.  Just improve, develop some professionalism, and stop name calling.

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D-Day Tribute June 6, 1944

MoonHowler

D-Day was truly a miracle. To think, that many troops across so many branches of service, from so many countries made it across the English Channel! Many didn’t make it across those beaches. Some drowned, some were mowed down in the water, some were slaughtered on the beaches. Of those who parachuted in, many didn’t make it. There are countless graves in Normandy that are the final resting place of those brave troops who gave all.

Bobby Kennedy: 9/20/25–6/6/68

MoonHowler

Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by an assailant in Los Angeles on June 5, 1968. He died June 6.

Bobby Kennedy wrote his own speech to announce the death of Dr. Martin Luther King. His speech is considered one of the all time greatest American speeches. Everyone went home at the end of the speech and there was no violence in Indianapolis that night.

Today I have to wonder “what if….” What if Bobby Kennedy had lived and had won the presidential election in 1968. Hubert Humphrey didn’t lose by much over Richard Nixon. A strong argument could be made that Bobby Kennedy would have won, become presiden. How different of a course would the United States have taken?  Maybe things would pretty much be the same…or would they?

As an aside, Sirhan Sirhan, convicted killer of Kennedy is still in prison today in California.

Star Scientific, Jonnie Williams, the FBI, the Gov, and Snake Oil

MoonHowler

 

star scientific

Would you buy this stock?  Check the side bar  dollar amounts.  This stock looks like a roller coaster and is now worth, as of June 4, 2013,  $1.46 a share.  What could be causing this stock so much pain, in a cycle where stocks have normally done real well?  Why is this stock technically a penny stock?  This is a graph of Star Scientific.

Perhaps an FBI investigation surrounding this stock, its CEO, the Governor of Virginia and the GOP Wannabe Governor isn’t the healthiest environment for a stock tied to the tobacco industry and dietary supplements to be in.

 

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