Former Virginia Gov. Gilmore joins 520 vying for presidency


You probably lost track, but political columnist Salena Zito has been counting all the people running for president:
To date, 124 Republicans, 78 Democrats and 319 other candidates — under
party names ranging from Libertarian to the Ace Party — have filed the
FEC's Form 2, a "Statement of Candidacy," for the 2016 race, Zito writes in The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Former Virginia Governor Gilmore joins 520 vying for presidency

Newspaper Demands Democratic Congressman Resign

The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of the most liberal newspapers in the country, but give its editorial board credit for calling for the immediate resignation of Democratic US Rep. Chakah Fattah after he was indicted on racketeering charges this week.

From the editorial published Thursday calling for Fattah's resignation:
Such grave allegations, along with the pleas that preceded them, are a blot on what seemed to be a distinguished political career, and the latest in a long line for Philadelphia Democrats. Fattah is entitled to be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. But he is not entitled to his office.
Editorial: Congressman should resign

Meet Jon Stewart, Loyal Obama Minion


From Investor's Business Daily:
As for any pretense of Stewart as an "objective" observer of daily events, well, forget about that too. Turns out he's just another left arm of the mainstream media.
No surprise that Stewart is, as the New York Post put it, a "partisan hack." On his show, conservatives and Republicans are routinely ridiculed for their beliefs, while liberals are derided for not being liberal enough.
Stewart has long had an aw-shucks attitude about his own influence, claiming to be disappointed that so many young people seem to get their news from him.
On that, he's right. The comedian and others like him — Stephen Colbert comes to mind — have replaced an earlier generation of journalists who, while also liberal, at least tried to play it down the middle.
Read the full editorial, Stewart Just Another Dishonest Liberal Seeking Obama's Approval at the newspaper's website.

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Conflict of Interest for Democrat Katie McGinty?

It appears a Democratic Party insider planning to challenge US Sen. Pat Toomey, R-PA, has some explaining to do about her business ties ...

Dem Senate Recruit Advised Federal Energy Regulators While Employed by Green Energy Firms

Bozell Slams Media Protection of Hillary Clinton

If the corrupt liberal media won't cover Hillary Clinton scandals today, imagine how much she will get away with if she's elected president.

MRC's Brent Bozell Slams Media Protection of Hillary Clinton

Corporate Sponsors Dropping Support of Planned Parenthood

Thanks to a strong outpouring of disgust by Americans on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook about the undercover videos showing a Planned Parenthood official selling aborted baby parts, the nation's largest abortion factory is losing some big-name corporate donors.

Coca-Cola, Ford and Xerox: We No Longer Donate to Planned Parenthood Abortion Business

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

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Awful Numbers: Planned Parenthood Collects $528M From Taxpayers; Performs 327,000 Abortions

Planned Parenthood, which performed 327,653 abortions in one year, received $528 million in taxpayer dollars from the Obama Administration. What's wrong with this picture?

Planned Parenthood: We Got $528.4 Million in Taxpayer Funds in One Year

AHEPA Marks 41st Anniversary of Invasion, Occupation of Cyprus

AHEPA Marks Somber 41st Anniversary of Invasion, 
Occupation of Cyprus

Once Again, AHEPA Calls for Removal of Turkish Troops from Cyprus;
Urges Their Placement on Turkey's Porous Border with Syria

WASHINGTON (July 20, 2015) -- John W. Galanis, supreme president, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading membership-based association for the nation's millions of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes, issued the following statement on the 41st anniversary of the illegal invasion and subsequent occupation of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey that occurred July 20, 1974:

"Today we mark a somber day--the 41st anniversary of the illegal invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus by the Republic of Turkey.  This was, and remains to this very day, an intolerable act; one that is a gross violation of the rule of law, human rights, and democratic ideals. We pause to remember the innocent civilians who lost their lives and the thousands who went missing, including four American citizens whose investigations remain incomplete.  The illegal invasion and occupation caused the displacement of 170,000 Greek Cypriot refugees who to this day are unable to return to their homes which is also a violation of human rights as determined by the European Commission on Human Rights. Moreover, Turkey's restrictions upon religious freedom and destruction of Cyprus' cultural and religious heritage in Turkish-occupied Cyprus have been well-documented by the U.S. Helsinki Commission, the Law Library of Congress, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and several media publications.

"After Turkey's encroachment of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone during a seven-month period stymied settlement talks, the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot community resumed talks in May.  We are encouraged by the resumption of settlement talks and the effort by each side's leadership to promote reconciliation between the communities, which should pave the way for just and viable agreement. We also recall Vice President Joe Biden's words of encouragement for a settlement that he conveyed on his historic visit to Cyprus last year and call on high-level U.S. government officials to re-engage with the Republic of Cyprus and lend their attention to the goal of reunifying Cyprus now that talks have resumed.

"However, the key to a successful settlement rests in Ankara. We once again call on the U.S. government, as we do every year at this time, to convey a strong message to Turkey that it must provide the Turkish Cypriot community with the necessary freedom to negotiate a solution within the United Nations framework. Equally important, Turkey must play a constructive role in the movement of confidence-building measures and facilitate the removal of 40,000 of its troops from the island.  Thus, on this somber anniversary, we again call on Turkey to begin the removal of its troops from Cyprus. We contend these troops would serve a better purpose, especially to NATO, in another theatre or perhaps along Turkey's porous border where aspiring jihadists flock to Syria to join ISIS, as opposed to Cyprus where there have been more than 18 million incident-free crossings by Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

"Therefore, we restate our call for a reunified Cyprus with a single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship; and with its independence and territorial integrity safeguarded as described in the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions.  We contend that such a solution is in the best interest of all Cypriots, and must emanate from Cypriots themselves without arbitrary timetables.

"We call for these actions in the best interests of the United States.  A just and viable solution to the division of Cyprus will strengthen the eastern Mediterranean and bring peace and security to the region.  This is especially important with the discovery and potential exploitation of hydrocarbon reserves within the exclusive economic zones of the Republic of Cyprus and Israel by energy firms, including an American one, that could provide the EU and other United States allies in the region with energy security.  Furthermore, a just and viable solution will aid Turkey's candidacy to become a member of the European Union.

"Today, we say 41 years is too long.  Our hope is that we will no longer need to observe this 'black anniversary,' but instead, celebrate the anniversary of a settlement.  AHEPA remains committed to doing all within its power, and pledges to continue to work with all organizations, to keep the Cyprus issue in the public eye until a just and viable solution that benefits all Cypriots is realized."

        
# # #

Founded in 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia, to protect individuals from the evils of bigotry and discrimination, AHEPA is the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage and Philhellenes with more than 400 chapters across the United States, Canada, Greece and Cyprus.   

The mission of AHEPA is to promote the ancient Greek ideals of Education,Philanthropy, Civic Responsibility, and Family and Individual Excellence through community service and volunteerism.  

The West's War Against Jihadi Terrorism Is Just Beginning

Thanks to Obama's unwillingness to destroy the enemy abroad, we are all threatened by Muslim fanatics on the home front.
The West's War Against Jihadi Terrorism Is Just Beginning

Judicial Watch: Illegal Alien Crime Crisis Under Obama

From a scathing new report by the watchdog group Judicial Watch: Sanctuary cities are only part of the problem behind the deadly illegal alien crisis. Barack Obama's administration has instituted "sanctuary" as a national policy.

Illegal Alien Crime Crisis

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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GUEST COLUMN: Gov. Wolf irresponsible in vetoing historic pension reform

By State Rep. Warren Kampf & State Rep. Tom Quigley

While we are proud of our work to pass a serious, sensible pension reform bill, we are saddened to report that Gov. Tom Wolf has just vetoed that bill.

The governor is claiming everything from not enough savings to being unfair to public employees as his reasoning for the veto, but each of his claims rings hollow.

This legislation — Senate Bill 1 — would save taxpayers $10 billion, would preserve the benefits of current employees, and provide new employees a fair hybrid retirement plan much like the 401(k) plans of the private sector. This legislation would also be a major step forward in helping to control property taxes across the state.

This common sense pension reform was to be a turning point in securing Pennsylvania's economic future. It would help stop the ever-growing pension liability burdening state government and school districts while still providing a fair retirement benefit for new employees and keeping our promise to current enrollees and retirees. But Governor Wolf says, "no."

Employer contributions into the pension system have been driving the increases in school district costs — which have led to increases in school property taxes for homeowners. Without changes, an amount equal to or greater than 30 percent of the salaries of teachers and other school employees will go to funding these looming pension costs.

That’s money that cannot go to books, infrastructure or classroom instruction.

The two public pension systems have a combined "unfunded liability" — the difference between the amount of benefits due enrollees and assets available — of at least $53 billion. The estimated cost of this liability is more than $30,000 for every Pennsylvania working resident.

The House has taken the right and responsible action in addressing this pension crisis. This legislation would save taxpayers approximately $10 billion while providing a more predictable, sustainable cost structure for the future.

Under Senate Bill 1, future state employees first hired on or after Jan. 1, 2016, and future school employees first hired on or after July 1, 2016, would be assigned to a defined contribution/cash balance hybrid plan, similar to the 401(k) plans offered by the private sector.

By moving future employees to a defined contribution/cash balance plan, Senate Bill 1 would shift risks associated with volatile markets and benefit enhancements away from taxpayers; it also would enhance the portability of future state and school employee retirement benefits.

The bill would stop the creation of new unfunded liabilities associated with adding new members to the defined benefit plan. Quite simply, we are forcing the state to stop digging the hole that taxpayers are in.

Legislators are also included in this change as they, too, would either switch to the new system upon their re-election (for current legislators in the pension system), or simply start in the new system for newly elected legislators.

How could the governor oppose this?

We urge the governor to join us in setting a sustainable, responsible fiscal path that saves taxpayers billions of dollars.

We urge him to reconsider his decision.

State Rep. Warren Kampf is a Republican who represents the 157th House District in parts of Chester and Montgomery County. He was first elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2010. State Rep. Tom Quigley is a Republican who represents the 146th House District in parts of Montgomery County. He was first elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2004.

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Obama Continues to Weaken US Armed Forces

With Russian bombers flying off our coast, ISIS threatening attacks on U.S. soil, with our borders left unsecured and Iran about to secure nuclear weapons, what perfect time to reduce the size of the Army. It all makes sense in Obama's bizarro world. What's that they say about "the enemy within"?

Army Plans to Cut 40K Troops, Lay Off 17K Civilian Employees Over Next Two Years

Study: Pa. ranks 41st in fiscal health among states

A new study ranks Pennsylvania No. 41 out of the 50 states in fiscal solvency. So explain to me again why we have one of the most expensive state legislatures in the country and the highest-paid governor in the country? The permanent political class continues to destroy the lives of working people. 

Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition | Mercatus

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Sunday, July 05, 2015

Hillary Clinton Humiliates News Media


Did you see how Hillary Clinton roped off the news media during a campaign stop in New Hampshire? She might as well put them on a leash. This is how pathetic the media has become today ... allowing a political hack like Hillary Clinton to humiliate them. Imagine how tame the media will be when Hillary gets into the White House.

Women Still Short-Changed in Obama White House

Women working in President Barack Obama’s White House make just 84.2
cents for each dollar earned by men, according to an American Enterprise
Institute analysis of 2015 salary data.

Women Still Short-Changed in Obama White House

GUEST COLUMN: Wolf's 'My Way Or The Highway' Approach Blocks Progress

By Matthew J. Brouillette

In his 2015 budget address, Gov. Tom Wolf urged dissenters, “If you don’t agree with my ideas, here is my request: please come with your own ideas. It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” Talk is one thing — action is another.

Wolf’s recent veto of a responsible budget that shields working families from massive tax hikes reveals a “my way or the highway’” response — the equivalent of just saying “no.” Even after the House resoundingly defeated his tax-raising plan by a 193-0 vote, Wolf insists that legislative leaders to drop Pennsylvanians’ priorities to focus on his own extreme agenda — one that, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers, would increase taxes in our state higher than the other 49 states combined!

Consider that Wolf’s budget, while dramatically increasing funds for school districts, includes harsh cuts to public charter schools, slashing funding for cyber charter schools to less than half of the state’s per-pupil average. He’s also proven hostile to giving parents and children more educational options in struggling school districts in Philadelphia and York.

Wolf vetoed historic liquor privatization passed by the General Assembly. Though a majority of voters — Democrats, Republicans and Independents — want to end the government monopoly of wine and spirit sales, Wolf says it’s his way or the highway.

 On pension reform now sitting on his desk, Wolf has also threatened a veto, despite the fact that the legislation mirrors a transition his own company made from defined benefit to defined contribution, or 401(k)-type, plans.

No matter the issue and no matter public opinion, Wolf is strictly adhering to the agenda of his largest campaign contributors — public-sector unions — at taxpayers’ expense.

Sadly, that’s hardly surprising. During his campaign for governor, Wolf received $3.4 million in campaign contributions from government unions. He also received indirect support from at least three government unions that funneled $1.6 million in union dues to PA Families First, a Super PAC established by the Democratic Governors’ Association, which aided his election as governor.

Another group called “America Works USA” has been sending out mailers attacking Republicans for voting against Wolf’s tax increases, although every single Democrat representative voted against them as well. It’s no surprise that this group is also affiliated with the Democratic Governors’ Association and received $1.1 million from union dues as recently as 2012.

And while Wolf recently said he hopes to restart budget negotiations, his spokesman called one legislative leader “delusional” and another “the reason people don’t like Harrisburg.” The administration has called organizations that question its policy proposals “dishonest” and accused others of putting special interests “over the interests of children.” That’s not how to win friends and influence people.

While harsh rhetoric may not be unusual in Harrisburg, it is unexpected from someone who campaigned as “a new kind of governor.”

In the midst of budget negotiations, Wolf even took the unprecedented step of forming a political action committee (PAC). This new PAC, “Rebuild Pennsylvania” was registered earlier this month by one of Wolf’s campaign staffers, and will be run by another of his political advisors. Wolf himself is reportedly the first contributor. This new group will support candidates of Wolf’s choosing and bring political pressure to advance his agenda.

In practice, Wolf never stopped campaigning, even sending out fundraising emails “to help pass his budget.” But while his campaign is still swinging, he’s yet to get around to governing.

On the campaign trail, candidate Wolf promised a middle class tax cut. But his budget will cost the middle class and every other income group in Pennsylvania — including low income families — more of their hard-earned money, all to meet the demands of his largest campaign supporters.

Given Wolf’s extreme positions, it may take months to convince him he needs to reach across the aisle and work with lawmakers. Historic opportunities to reform public pensions, privatize state liquor stores, and improve public education are too critical to simply reject.

Gov. Wolf is right that the “same old same old” is no longer good enough. Unfortunately, the only thing standing in the way of progress is Wolf himself.

Matthew J. Brouillette is president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation (CommonwealthFoundation.org), Pennsylvania’s free market think tank.

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Despite Denials, White House Aides Knew About Hillary's Private E-Mail Account

There's nothing to see here folks. Just more lies from Hillary Clinton and Obama Administration officials. Just business as usual for the Democrats.
Proof: Despite Denials, White House Aides Knew about Hillary's Private E-Mail Account