Friday, August 14, 2015
Intelligence community wants Hillary Clinton security clearance suspended
Hillary Clinton emails: Intelligence community wants security clearance suspended - Washington Times
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Thursday, August 13, 2015
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
The Obama Administration's War on the Press
Under Barack Obama, the United States was dropped to 49th place among countries in the World Press Freedom Index
The Obama Administration's War on the Press Could Become a Touch More Literal
The Obama Administration's War on the Press Could Become a Touch More Literal
Monday, August 10, 2015
Guest Column: Democrats' Cauldron of Corruption
By Lowman S. Henry
Bribery,
mail fraud, racketeering, criminal conspiracy, official repression,
conspiracy to commit bribery, money laundering, bank fraud, wire fraud,
obstructing the administration of law - these are just some of the
charges filed against Pennsylvania Democratic elected officials in
recent days. It is clear the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania has a
corruption problem. It is big. It is deep. And it is going to get
worse before it gets better.
Allegations of corruption extend from the national level, with the New York Post
reporting presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton is the target of a
federal criminal investigation; to the state level where Attorney
General Kathleen Kane has now been indicted on criminal charges; to the
local level where officials in Reading and Allentown are ensnared in an
investigation which has already resulted in one guilty plea.
The
Democrats' cauldron of corruption boiled over in recent days with the
indictment of Philadelphia congressman Chaka Fattah on a variety of
federal charges, the long expected Kane indictment, a guilty plea
entered by the President of the Reading City Council, all of this amid
reports the Democratic State Committee belatedly cut ties with a
political consultant who is a central figure in the Allentown/Reading
investigation.
Although
details remain sketchy, it would appear the federal investigation into
corruption in Allentown and Reading are tied to the case against former
state treasurer Rob McCord who stepped down earlier this year and plead
guilty to shaking down treasury vendors for campaign contributions.
Rumors continue to circulate in Harrisburg others may become snared in
that trap as well.
Unlike
past incidents of corruption, like Bonusgate and Computergate which
resulted in the convictions of both Republicans and Democrats, the
current tidal wave of wrong-doing is exclusively a Democratic affair.
With Governor Tom Wolf engaged in a budget stand-off, and statewide
elections for a seat in the U.S. Senate and three constitutional offices
on the ballot next year, Democrats face electoral Armageddon.
The
immediate policy impact is on the state budget process where Wolf and
legislative Republicans are at loggerheads weeks after the
constitutional deadline for having a new spending plan in place. The
governor is fighting for a historic increase in both taxes and spending;
the GOP refuses to comply. Unlike past budget battles, the current
stalemate has attracted little public attention and thus no pressure on
either side to cave.
Governor
Wolf already has the tough sale of building support to raise taxes on
virtually every Pennsylvanian. But, with his party mired in wave after
wave of corruption, voters will be even less willing to entrust him with
more of their tax dollars. Although the indictments do not involve
either Wolf or his administration, they cast all Democrats in a negative
light giving Republicans another advantage in the budget stand-off.
As
2016 approaches the pervasive corruption in the Democratic Party will
give Republicans a ready-made issue. The position of Attorney General
is on the ballot next year and the longer Kathleen Kane clings to power
the greater becomes the GOP's chances of reclaiming an office it has
traditionally held. Even though the Democratic nominee is likely going
to be someone other than Kane, he or she will be handicapped by Kane's
corruption. State Treasurer is also on the ballot in 2016, with Rob
McCord having left office in disgrace the advantage again will tilt to
the eventual Republican nominee.
All
of this, of course, will be affected by the national political
climate. Republicans will have to be competitive in Pennsylvania at the
Presidential level for "row office" candidates to have a chance. At
this early stage, with all the controversy swirling around Hillary
Clinton and a 17-person Republican primary, it is difficult to forecast
what that dynamic might be next Fall.
This
much is certain: Pennsylvania Democrats have the most serious and
wide-ranging corruption problem since the days of the Milton Shapp
Administration back in the 1970s. And that gave rise to the
governorship of Dick Thornburgh and Republican governance in
Harrisburg. If the current drumbeat of corruption continues history may
be about to repeat itself.
Lowman
S. Henry is chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research in Harrisburg and host of the
weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His e-mail address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org)
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Sunday, August 09, 2015
Top Democratic officials ask PA Attorney General Kathleen Kane to resign
Indicted Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane finds herself with few friends as she prepares to defend herself against felony charges.
Gov. Tom Wolf, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody are asking fellow Democrat Kathleen Kane to step down as attorney general.
The longer she clings to office, the more damage she does to the Democratic Party.
My prediction is Kane will resign in the next couple of weeks if she can work out a plea deal with the Montgomery County District Attorney to avoid jail time on the five felony counts filed against Kane last Thursday.
Calls mount for Attorney General Kathleen Kane to resign
Gov. Tom Wolf, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody are asking fellow Democrat Kathleen Kane to step down as attorney general.
The longer she clings to office, the more damage she does to the Democratic Party.
My prediction is Kane will resign in the next couple of weeks if she can work out a plea deal with the Montgomery County District Attorney to avoid jail time on the five felony counts filed against Kane last Thursday.
Calls mount for Attorney General Kathleen Kane to resign
More Pa. newspapers call for resignation of Attorney General Kathleen Kane
In addition to the 8 newspapers I cited in a previous post, several more Pennsylvania newspapers are calling for the resignation of indicted Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, the first woman and the first Democrat ever elected to the post in state history.
The calls to step down include the very liberal Harrisburg Patriot News: For the Good of the Commonwealth, Kathleen Kane Must Resign
Because honoring her oath to protect uphold the law demands no less. She cannot be a defender of the law and also hold herself above it by remaining in office.Norristown Times Herald: Pennsylvania Attorney General Kane Should Resign
She must resign.
But for the sake of her office, and for the sake of the commonwealth, she should heed Gov. Tom Wolf’s call for her to resign. It just doesn’t look good that the state’s chief law enforcement officer is doing her job while facing criminal charges herself.Easton Express-Times: Kathleen Kane Case Troubling on Many Levels
In the meantime, Kane must relinquish her office. There's simply no way she can maintain public confidence in her abilities and professionalism until this is resolved.Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice: Kathleen Kane Should Resign
"Kane, regardless of whether she is criminally liable, has forfeited her credibility. She should resign to focus on her own defense and to put the Office of Attorney General on a steadier, more professional course."Sunbury Daily Item: Kane's Troubles Too Much To Overcome
As Wolf said, Kane is entitled to her day in court. However, she must understand continuing as the state’s top prosecutor with this dark cloud looming over her and the office creates an unlikely scenario in which Kane must balance appropriately serving those who elected her while defending herself against criminal charges. In that context, the only move for Kane and taxpayers is for Kane to walk away.
Saturday, August 08, 2015
D.A. releases booking mugshot of PA AG Kathleen Kane
The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office has released the booking mugshot of Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, the first woman and first Democrat elected to the post in state history. The photo was taken Saturday in Norristown, Pa., where Kane turned herself in to county detectives. She was released on $10,000 bail after arraignment and is scheduled to return to Montgomery County on August 24 for a preliminary hearing on the charges. Kane has been charged with five felonies, including perjury and obstruction, for allegedly leaking secret grand jury material to embarrass political rivals and then lying about it under oath.The 49-year-old Kane has refused repeated calls to resign but has lost most of her political allies, including fellow Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf, who urged her to resign after charges were announced Thursday.
Kathleen Kane's hometown newspaper: She should resign for sake of office
You know it's over when your hometown newspaper is calling for your political head. From an editorial in the Scranton Times-Tribune:
Attorney General Kathleen Kane has maneuvered herself into a tragic position where resigning is the best thing she can do for the commonwealth and the Office of Attorney General.Editorial: Kane should resign for sake of office - Opinion - The Times-Tribune
Ms. Kane, regardless of whether she is criminally liable, has forfeited her credibility. She should resign to focus on her own defense and to put the Office of Attorney General on a steadier, more professional course.
Pennsylvania newspapers demand Kathleen Kane's resignation
Regardless of political leanings, liberal and conservative newspapers throughout Pennsylvania are calling for the immediate resignation of embattled Democratic Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who was indicted this week on five felony charges.
Here's a sampling of recent newspaper editorials:
The Philadelphia Inquirer : If Kane Won't Quit, Impeach Her
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: The Kane Charges: Step Aside, Madam AG
Lancaster Newspapers: If Kathleen Kane Wants To 'Clean Up Harrisburg,' She Should Resign Now
Reading Eagle: Kathleen Kane Must Resign
Scranton Times-Tribune: Kane Should Resign For Sake Of Office
Bucks County Courier Times: Kane Should Step Down
York Daily Record: Attorney General Kathleen Kane Should Resign
Philadelphia Daily News: Off to Court? Quit Office
Friday, August 07, 2015
Thursday, August 06, 2015
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Wednesday, August 05, 2015
Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Monday, August 03, 2015
Sunday, August 02, 2015
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