Monday, June 23, 2014

Mon Jun 23rd Todays News

History changed as a result of one battle, in which 3000 British took out 50000 Bengal and French in 1757. It was before the Annus Mirables (miracle year) in which it would be said that the sun never set on Britain. That would be the year that Nelson was born, Britain secured India and took Quebec. The British position was well fortified and they prudently kept their gunpowder dry during the rain. Yet it is a remarkable victory on numbers alone. 

 In 1794, Russian Empress Catherine gave permission for Jews to settle in Kiev. Today, not many are left. During the war of 1812, Britain gave in to US demands for free trade on this day. In 1942, while Nazis were introducing gas chambers, a german pilot mistakenly landed their brand new aircraft, a Focke-Wulf, on a British airbase. Study is good. In 1958, the Dutch reformed church began accepting female ministers. 1959, German spy Klaus Fuchs was released, having served 9 years for his giving atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. In 1982, idiot auto workers in Michigan lynch a Chinese American student because they thought he had been Japanese. It would not have been right or fair if he had been. The killers were sentenced to three years probation. Killing without a license is wrong, but with a license?  

Ceasarion was born on this day, 47 BC. A good boy, he was too reliant on his dad. The great Alan Turing and June Carter Cash were born on this day, as were Bryan Brown, Clarence Thomas and Joss Whedon. A great day for art. Goodbye to Jonas Salk and Maureen O'Sullivan. It is ok to die old, blessed and loved. 
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For twenty two years I have been responsibly addressing an issue, and I cannot carry on. I am petitioning the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to remedy my distress. I leave it up to him if he chooses to address the issue. Regardless of your opinion of conservative government, the issue is pressing. Please sign my petition at https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/tony-abbott-remedy-the-persecution-of-dd-ball
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Happy birthday and many happy returns Bob Carroll, Joe Hildebrand, Brandon Nguyen, Michael Tuan Le and Lenny Dwoskin. Born on the same day, across the years. On your day, in 1280, Reconquista: Troops of the Emirate of Granada defeated those of the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Leon in the Battle of Moclín. In 1780, American Revolutionary War: The Continental Army victory in the Battle of Springfield effectively put an end to British ambitions in New Jersey. In 1926, The College Board administered the first SAT, a major standardized test for university and college admissions in the United States. In 1956, Gamal Abdel Nasser became President of Egypt, a post he would hold until his death in 1970. In 1991, The video game Sonic the Hedgehog was first released, propelling the Sega Genesis 16-bit console into mass popularity. There are lessons from your day, Battles can be won which have no lasting effect, and it is sometimes best not to fight, although I think British ambitions still include New Jersey. One has to admire the ingenuity of a college board that could let students say they sat a test. And there have been no radio stars since Sonic. Embrace the day and try not get drunk on vapours.
Matches
Hatches
Despatches
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COMPO CALIPHATE

Tim Blair – Monday, June 23, 2014 (5:14am)

Next year’s Anzac Day parades should be colourful affairs, what with the first appearance from our brave fighting boys in the 1st Disability Pension Infantry.
These welfare Wahhabis and their holy bludger brigades are currently sweeping through Iraq, laying waste to civilians and soldiers alike in a bid to create some kind of Islamic purity state.
Good luck with that. Let’s assume, for the sake of it, that ISIS (Impaired and Subsidised Islamic Soldiers) achieves its aim of overthrowing governments in Iraq and Syria. What happens next? Well, nothing. Nothing at all. These blokes can’t work, and they’ve got the official medical documents to prove it.
If post-war welfare systems in Iraq and Syria turn out to be anything like Australia’s, they’ll be flooded with compensation claims from every Tom, Dick and Hudhaifah Karim al-Rashid presently murdering their terrified co-religionists.
It says something about just how low the bar is set for disability payments in Australia that people qualify as unable to work even though they are capable of living – indeed, thriving – in war zones.
These must be the only combat veterans in history who arrived at the war on crutches and were able to walk afterwards. Or perhaps we’re witnessing authentic religious miracles; behold Habib, who defied medical science by rising from his sick bed (his fully sick bed) to slaughter other Muslims.
Unfortunately for the future economy of their great Islamic state, however, killing is about all these chaps can do. Thanks to Facebook, we’re already seeing signs of how things might be under the rule of the bludjahideen. Sure, they’re great at putting bullets in the back of captured Iraqi soldiers’ heads. But they clearly can’t find any laborers to bury the bodies.
Life in the compo caliphate won’t be much fun within a generation or two, once everybody is signed up for free government cash. Welfare only works when there are workers. It’ll be a little like Tasmania, except with a slightly less ridiculous electoral system.
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POLEY BLAIR

Tim Blair – Monday, June 23, 2014 (4:56am)

As a Daily Telegraph columnist, it is crucial that I keep in touch with reader attitudes.
To that end, I frequently conduct rigorous and highly scientific polls at my Daily Telegraph website. These polls have become an invaluable aid to my awareness of community sentiment.

Icon Arrow Continue reading 'POLEY BLAIR'
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BIGGER, FASTER AND SLASHIER, PLEASE

Tim Blair – Monday, June 23, 2014 (4:08am)

Progress, but not enough: 
The Abbott government is planning to strip an additional $40 million-$50m from the ABC’s budget, following recommendations from an independent efficiency review of the taxpayer-funded national broadcaster.
Last month’s federal budget cut $43.5m from the budget of the ABC and SBS over four years through a 1 per cent annual efficiency dividend, representing what Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull described as a “down payment” on further savings to be identified by the Lewis efficiency review.
It is understood that having seen the review, which was conducted by former Seven West Media’s chief financial officer Peter Lewis, the government will now seek to implement a “second wave” of cuts that would amount to a 4 per cent hit to the broadcaster’s annual budget of $1.28 billion. 
Prepare for the delightful screaming.
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DRIVE ON

Tim Blair – Monday, June 23, 2014 (3:53am)

Learner drivers in NSW no longer need be alert to bulbs and blossoms: 
A warning in the official NSW government handbook for learner drivers, stating that climate change could cause dangerous road conditions due to heatwaves, storms, flooding and bushfires, is set to be removed.
The NSW Road Users’ Handbook, produced by Roads and Maritime Services, tells motorists that changes to climate “due to greenhouse gas emissions” are expected to cause “unpredictable weather events” and driving should be avoided in extreme conditions.
But after The Daily Telegraph brought the climate change reference to the attention of the state government, roads minister Duncan Gay signalled that the “political” reference would be cut when the next edition of the handbook was printed. Mr Gay blamed the previous Labor government for the climate change warning being included in a chapter on road safety.
“(The handbook) was produced during the term of the previous government when making political statements was more important than actually addressing real issues affecting motorists,” Mr Gay said. 
Great line from Sydney dad Scott Ferguson, who happened upon the climate change warning while teaching16-year-old daughter Riley how to drive: “I haven’t been this annoyed since Riley’s old primary school made her sit in scripture class.”
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BUSH AHEAD OF OBAMA

Tim Blair – Monday, June 23, 2014 (3:30am)

The Big O is in decline: 
Good news for President Bush: a new Gallup poll shows that the former president has a 53 percent favorability rate. In fact, all living former presidents enjoy more than 50 percent popularity, while President Barack Obama has a 47 percent favorability rating. 
Obama’s rating is even lower with the Clintons.
(Via Instapundit)
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Socialising the losses

Andrew Bolt June 23 2014 (3:58pm)

The answer, of course, should be no:
Former political staffer James Ashby is set to pursue the Commonwealth government for more than $1 million in legal costs from his aborted sexual harassment suit against former parliamentary speaker Peter Slipper.
In a Federal Court hearing on Monday, the bitter legal stoush - in which Mr Ashby accused his former boss of “unwelcome sexual advances” - was formally discontinued following Mr Ashby’s decision to withdraw from the case last week.
However, Mr Ashby’s barrister, Tom Blackburn, SC, asked that his client be given the option of making an application for costs from the Commonwealth government.
When you go for the cash, you can’t pass the bill back to the Government when you get cold feet. 
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Out of control:  ABC issues a third apology for vilifying conservatives

Andrew Bolt June 23 2014 (1:03pm)

Media

In the past couple of months the ABC has had to apologise on-air to:
- me, a conservative, for calling me a racist
- Chris Kenny, a conservative, for portraying him having sex with a dog
- Cardinal George Pell, a conservative, for making false claims about his alleged cover up of child abuse.
Notice a pattern here?
The ABC is dangerously out of control. It is using its vast state-funded power to intimidate and vilify conservatives.
And note: I do not recall the last time the ABC had to apologise for vilifying anyone of the Left.
That latest apology:
Local Radio, Canberra. On 10 June, 2014 666 ABC Canberra Breakfast presenter Philip Clark made comments in relation to Cardinal George Pell in an interview with Mr Francis Sullivan, CEO of the Truth Justice and Healing Council.
On 18th June, Philip Clark read the following apology on air:
“On 10 June 2014 I made comments during this program which were critical of Cardinal George Pell and his role in the handling of child sexual abuse claims by the Catholic Church and also his subsequent appointment to a role in the Vatican. My comments about these matters were inaccurate and defamatory and I wish to retract them. The ABC and I apologise to Cardinal Pell for the harm caused to him.”
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Nielsen: Labor ahead 53 to 47. UPDATE: But Labor restless

Andrew Bolt June 23 2014 (8:53am)

The last Nielsen poll struck me as a rogue one, so the Liberal recovery is smaller than suggested on the numbers:
On a two-party-preferred basis, Labor maintained a strong lead of 53-47 over the Coalition but has lost some ground since the May survey, when it peaked at 56-44 in Labor’s favour.
I think the Government can grind this out, but it will require more discipline and better communications than we’ve seen.
UPDATE

The polls flatter Labor, and it seems some in Labor agree:

DEFEATED Labor leadership candidate Anthony Albanese has been accused by senior Labor figures of undermining Bill Shorten with frequent criticism of his performance.
Several Labor frontbenchers, union and party figures have told The Australian Mr Albanese was bitterly disappointed he failed to be elected leader last October and is often privately critical of the ­Opposition Leader’s handling of strategy, policy, communications and internal party reform…
Labor figures have implic­ated Mr Albanese in the leaking of material to undermine Mr Shorten, including the claim that he warned about preselecting union leader Joe Bullock for the rerun West Australian Senate election. 
Well, there is actually plenty for Albanese to be critical about. Don’t complain, but change, is my advice.
(Thanks to reader Peter of Bellevue Hill.) 
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Islamic immigration exposes us to danger

Andrew Bolt June 23 2014 (8:45am)

WHO let these jihadists into our country? Must we run this danger, just to boast our immigration system isn’t racist?
“We will always have, a non-discriminatory immigration policy,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared three years ago.
Admirable in principle. But how wise in this Age of Terror?
Consider. More than 150 Australians, many of Lebanese descent, have joined jihadists fighting in Iraq and Syria, and will pose a danger to us on their return.
One, Khaled Sharrouf, lived on a disability pension in Sydney but was last week pictured apparently in Iraq, waving the flag of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, whose Sunni jihadists are shooting and beheading countless unarmed Shia Iraqis.
In another Facebook photo, believed posted by fellow Australian jihadist Mohamed Elomar, Sharrouf poses with a gun next to slaughtered Iraqi civilians.
(Read full article here.) 
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How the IPCC hid the good news

Andrew Bolt June 23 2014 (8:40am)

Global warming - propaganda

Climate scientist Nic Lewis and science writer Marcel Crok, both expert reviewers on the latest IPCC report, have written A SENSITIVE MATTER How the IPCC buried evidence showing good news about global warming, a paper endorsed by Professor Judith Curry.
Some highlights:
The scientific part (WGI) of the fifth IPCC assessment report (AR5), published
in final form in January 2014, contains some really encouraging information.
The best observational evidence indicates our climate is considerably less sen-
sitive to greenhouse gases than climate scientists had previously thought. The
clues and the relevant scientific papers are all mentioned in the full IPCC re-
port. However, this important conclusion is not drawn in the full report – it
is only mentioned as a possibility – and is ignored in the Summary for Policy-
makers (SPM).
Until AR5, for 30 years the scientific establishment’s best estimate and their
uncertainty range for climate sensitivity had hardly changed. The best esti-
mate for equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) started and ended at 3C and
the uncertainty range generally had a lower bound of 1.5C and an upper bound of 4.5C.
However, several recent studies give best estimates of be-
tween 1.5C and 2C, substantially lower than most earlier studies indicated…

Since the last IPCC report was prepared greenhouse gas concentrations
have continued to increase, yet global temperatures have not risen; more im-
portantly, estimates of the cooling efficacy of aerosol pollution have been cut.
This combination of factors is indicative of the climate system being less sen-
sitive to greenhouse gases than previously appeared to be the case. But the
new evidence about aerosol cooling is not reflected in the computer climate
models.

In our view, the IPCC WGI scientists were saddled with a dilemma. How
should they deal with the discrepancy between climate sensitivity estimates
based on models and sound observational estimates that are consistent with
the new evidence about aerosol cooling? In conjunction with governments –
who have the last say on the wording of the SPM – they appear to have decided
to resolve this dilemma in the following way. First, they changed the ‘likely’
range for climate sensitivity slightly. It was 2–4.5C in AR4 in 2007. They have
now reduced the lower bound to 1.5C, making the range 1.5–4.5C. ..
They also decided not to give a best estimate for climate sensitivity…
In this report we suggest that the new observationally-based ‘likely’ range
could be1.25–3.0C,with a best estimate of 1.75C.

If the IPCC had made that
change – which would have been in line with the best quality scientific evi-
dence available – it would have been picked up by all the major news outlets
in the world as one of the major, if not the major, outcomes of the report. And
rightly so.
Is that why the IPCC refused to be frank? Because the media coverage would rightly focus on a near halving of the predictions of a temperature rise?
Because the coverage would have then noted that the climate models used to predict a hot future couldn’t even correctly model the past?
So models overestimate the warming of the real climate in the last 35 years
by 50%. 
UPDATE
Maurice Newman says there are many signs the global warming alarmism was built on dodgy evidence, now being exposed:
...the world is wearying of catastrophism and is noticing the mounting contrary evidence. Not least, it has observed there has been no global warming since September 1996…

Slowly, but surely, the truth comes out. The Stern review of the economics of climate change, promoted globally in 2006 to boost action on climate change, has been found to have grossly under­estimated the cost of reducing greenhouse gases.
We learn from a voluntary independent auditor, Ken Stewart, that after analysing 84 out of 104 Bureau of Meteorology sites, the effect of adjustments made to create the official Australian temper­ature record is an increase in the warming trend for minima of 66.6 per cent and 13 per cent for maxima. This revelation is consistent with the leaked Climategate programmer’s log, which read: “Getting seriously fed-up with the state of the Australian data, so many false references, so many changes … bewildering."…
The same bias is found in the computer models that are the bedrock of climate change. Roy Spencer, a climatologist at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, updated comparisons of 90 computer models and found 95 per cent of them had over-forecast the warming trend since 1979.
(Thanks to reader James.) 
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Polls put Tim Blair ahead

Andrew Bolt June 23 2014 (8:15am)


Tim Blair receives valuable reader feedback from his polls which make him more in-touch than most:
For example, a poll at my site recently asked: “Which bulldozer should be used to clear Leard State Forest?” Obviously, I was almost certain that readers would choose the Komatsu D575A. But no. Overwhelmingly, they selected the Caterpillar D11! I know, right? It just goes to show that we in the media aren’t always the experts.
In another shock result, NSW Labor actually received nearly 2.7 per cent of the vote when readers were asked to choose between the party and Satanism. So there’s at least something for John Robertson to work with ahead of next year’s election.
Last Tuesday readers were polled on another vital question. Noting a surge in perpetually hysterical female commentators online and in the media, I asked this simple question: “Who is Australia’s craziest left-wing frightbat?”
There, of course, the results were less surprising - although more forcefully expressed. 
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Did Kernohan change his story? Meanwhile, the commission digs away

Andrew Bolt June 23 2014 (7:33am)

Leave aside Mark Latham’s abuse, conspiracy theories and selective blindness, and you still have this apparent problem with the evidence of Bob Kernohan, the former AWU state president who told the royal commission into union corruption he was told by Bill Shorten not to probe the AWU slush fund scandal:

A big part of Kernohan’s public persona has been to portray himself as a whistleblower, the only honest man in the Victorian AWU 20 years ago.
At the height of attempts to silence him, he claims to have been bashed by union thugs in July 1999. In his sworn statement to the royal commission, Kernohan said that three men had set upon him in the outer Melbourne town of Melton, telling him to keep his “mouth shut” and to “stop talking to the press, you grub”. Counsel assisting the commission Jeremy Stoljar seemed sympathetic to Kernohan’s plight, complaining of how he had been “marginalised and victimised” as part of “the mistreatment of whistleblowers”.
There’s just one problem with this account. In an addendum to his witness statement, Kernohan attached his sworn statement to the Victorian Police tendered the day after the Melton bashing. In this version, two men attacked him, screaming out “give us your wallet, you prick” and “where is your money?” According to Kernohan, “they yelled this out several times”. There was no mention of union intimidation. The incident was purely a robbery. The statement was signed off as “true and correct”, acknowledging that any falsehood was “liable to the penalties of perjury”.
So far, so reasonable.
But Mark Latham once again cannot help himself. He implies the royal commission was blind to this contradiction, and even hushed it up:
[Royal commissioner counsel Jeremy] Stoljar and the royal commissioner, John Dyson Heydon, had an advance copy of his witness statement, from which it was clear he was about to give seriously flawed evidence. Anyone of average IQ would have seen the contradiction between Kernohan’s 1999 police statement and his 2014 affidavit.
I believe an element of exploitation was involved. In their determination to fulfil their charter of uncovering problems in the Labor movement, Heydon and Stoljar appear to be willing to hear from anyone brandishing anti-Labor allegations, no matter how disreputable or unstable they might be. 
In fact, here is Kernohan being questioned in the royal commission on that contradiction and giving his reason for it - sheer fear:
3 Q.  So your statement has been done not 24 hours after the
4 incident, and you don’t say anywhere in your statement
5 anything about people saying to you something about not
6 talking to the media or anything like that, do you?
7 A.  No, I don’t.  No.
8
9 Q.  And you just said to me that you knew that it was
10 connected with the victimisation that you perceived to be
11 occurring at the union because of things that they said.
12 Surely the statement you gave to the police not 24 hours
13 after the incident represents your best recollection of
14 what happened on that incident?
15 A.  Yes.  I’m acutely aware of the differences.  There’s
16 been quite a number of different versions of that bashing.
17
18 Q.  Wouldn’t this represent your best memory of what
19 occurred, the statement given --
20 A.  Oh, no.  No.  I had not seen a doctor at that stage.
21 I was badly bruised.  When I finally made my way to the
22 police station, I had not seen a doctor.  When I finally
23 saw a doctor, they rushed me - well, I had to go straight
24 to hospital.  They thought I had a cracked skull.  I was
25 heavily concussed and as I was about to say earlier, to
26 this day I still cannot get clear in my mind precisely what
27 happened.  But in terms of the Melton Police Station
28 statement, the one immediately after the bashing, I was
29 also acutely aware, notwithstanding the fact that my mind
30 was not functioning, I knew I had to report it to police
31 but - the bashing at least.
32
33 I was acutely aware that if I attracted more attention
34 to myself at that time - I had no support back then, I was
35 on my own - I was only going to attract more attention;
36 for what?  An invitation for more of that kind of
37 treatment, so I was conscious of that.  I was not conscious
38 of deliberately making something up because that didn’t
39 happen.
40
41 What I told the Melton Police was exactly what
42 I thought had happened, other than - the only thing that
43 was in the back of my mind was opening myself up for
44 further treatment if this was to make the newspapers or
45 what have you.
46
47 Q.  You indicated that you had thought there was
1 a connection between the events of the AWU and the attack
2 on 30 July 1999 in Melton.  Were you influenced, in part,
3 by the evidence or the matters that you’ve described in
4 paragraphs 161 and 162?
5 A.  Yeah.  Yeah.  Bullets in the mail, two bullets on one
6 occasion, a cartridge on a second occasion, all designed in
7 my opinion - I’ve got no idea where they came from, I can’t
8 prove it’s related to the AWU, but I know of nobody else
9 that may have had any reason at all to intimidate me like
10 that.  I also received hate mail, not handwritten hate mail
11 or typed hate mail, the old glue and paste cuttings out of
12 magazines, I received some of that, and abusive phone
13 calls.
I never trust Mark Latham to fairly report anything to do with the AWU slush fund scandal or Julia Gillard. Nor do I trust what he says about me. Today I’m “the Prime Minister’s lickspittle”. Two years ago Latham had a very different assessment.  Whatever it takes, I guess....
UPDATE
The royal commission will this week examine the TWU’s alleged use of slush funds. Michael Smith has this fascinating preview of TWU money politics. 
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More cuts to come for the ABC

Andrew Bolt June 23 2014 (7:10am)

I think Malcolm Turnbull and I could be better friends, after all:

The Abbott government is planning to strip an additional $40 million-$50m from the ABC’s budget, following recommendations from an independent efficiency review of the taxpayer-funded national broadcaster.
Last month’s federal budget cut $43.5m from the budget of the ABC and SBS over four years through a 1 per cent annual efficiency dividend, representing what Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull described as a “down payment” on further savings to be identified by the Lewis efficiency review.
It is understood that having seen the review, which was conducted by former Seven West Media’s chief financial officer Peter Lewis, the government will now seek to implement a “second wave” of cuts that would amount to a 4 per cent hit to the broadcaster’s annual budget of $1.28 billion.
That said, efficiency is just one of the three big challenges for the ABC, and the least - although I accept I have not yet seen how the review defines “efficiency”.
The other two challenges are:
- the dangerous size of the ABC, which must addressed by cutting its functions.
- the overwhelming bias of the ABC, which must be addressed by forcing it to observe its charter duty to be balanced.
But note: Tony Abbott did promise the night before the election there would be “no cuts to the ABC”. These cuts then seem to represent a broken promise, even if Treasurer Joe Hockey before the election also gave a caveat - there would be efficiency savings:
Labor and the ABC insist Tony Abbott before the election made this unambiguous promise:
No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST and no cuts to the ABC or SBS…
But wait....  The full quote is this:

I trust everyone actually listened to what Joe Hockey has said last week and again this week. No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST and no cuts to the ABC or SBS.
A small difference, you might argue. But Abbott referenced the guarantee Joe Hockey gave, and Hockey three weeks earlier made plain on the ABC’s Q&A that the guarantee did not apply to trimming waste - say, through the usual efficiency dividend:

TONY JONES: Well, while you are on the subject - while you are on the subject, is the ABC immune from cuts? Because the Howard government, when they first came in, cut the ABC 10 and then 2% in two years?…
JOE HOCKEY: I’d just say to you is there any waste in the ABC at all, Tony?
TONY JONES: Say that again?
JOE HOCKEY: Is there any waste? ...
TONY JONES:  We’ll just get a quick response from Chris Bowen on this before we move on.
CHRIS BOWEN: Look, I accept that Joe is not going to privatise the ABC. I accept that that’s his position and he will honour that. I do think the ABC, though, has a fair bit to worry about when it comes to funding. As you said, it is what they cut in the Howard Government. We have not cut ABC funding, contrary to your assertion. I think the ABC and the SBS are both very important national institutions and they shouldn’t have their funding cut and you won’t promise not to.
TONY JONES: Well, a quick response to that, Joe Hockey?
JOE HOCKEY: Well, if there is waste, we will cut it. 
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Labor’s product was the problem, not its sales pitch

Andrew Bolt June 23 2014 (12:01am)

LABOR’S official review of last year’s election campaign proves how right the party was to dump Julia Gillard for Kevin Rudd.
But Labor still won’t admit why Gillard had to go — and what lessons new Labor leader Bill Shorten must learn.
The 25-page report, presented last week to Labor’s national executive, admits Prime Minister Gillard looked like winning just 40 of the 150 House of Representative seats. Switching to Rudd saved 15 more seats.
So Rudd’s return was a success, even if Labor did not win the election — and even if, as the report notes, his micro-managing crippled the campaign.
The report also savages Rudd indirectly by criticising the “debilitating leadership instability” in the Gillard-Rudd years, and concludes “Labor’s defeat in 2013 ... was self-inflicted”.
But claiming instability and poor campaigning wrecked Labor misses the point entirely.
(Read full article here.) 
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Obama: “Michelle would make a great presidential candidate, too”

Andrew Bolt June 22 2014 (9:06pm)

Mr Nobel Peace Prize knows how to hate - and is hated right back by the Clintons:
IN HIS new book, “Blood Feud,” journalist Edward Klein gets inside the dysfunctional, jealous relationship between Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barack and Michelle Obama — and how it could explode in 2016…
“I hate that man Obama more than any man I’ve ever met, more than any man who ever lived,” Bill Clinton said to friends on one occasion, adding he would never forgive Obama for suggesting he was a racist during the 2008 campaign.
The feeling is mutual…
On most evenings, Michelle Obama and her trusted adviser, Valerie Jarrett, met in a quiet corner of the White House residence. They’d usually open a bottle of Chardonnay, catch up on news about Sasha and Malia, and gossip about people who gave them heartburn.
Their favourite bête noire was Hillary Clinton, whom they nicknamed “Hildebeest,” after the menacing and shaggy-maned gnu that roams the Serengeti…
“I really can’t stand the way Obama ­always seems to be hectoring when he talks to me,” Clinton added, according to someone who was present at the gathering and spoke on the condition of anonymity....
During the golf game, Clinton didn’t waste any time reminding Obama that as president he had presided over eight years of prosperity, while Obama had been unable to dig the country out of the longest financial ­doldrums since the Great Depression.
“Bill got into it right away,” said a Clinton family friend. “He told Obama, ‘Hillary and I are gearing up for a run in 2016.’ He said Hillary would be ‘the most qualified, most experienced candidate, perhaps in history.’ His reference to Hillary’s experience made Obama wince, since it was clearly a shot at his lack of experience when he ran for president.
“And so Bill continued to talk about Hillary’s qualifications ... and the coming campaign in 2016. But Barack didn’t bite. He changed the subject several times. Then suddenly, Barack said something that took Bill by complete surprise. He said, ‘You know, Michelle would make a great presidential candidate, too.’..”
She would? She has even less experience than did her husband when he became president, and look how that’s showed.
Scenes from the dinner party from hell:
As Bill Clinton went on about his managerial experience, Obama began playing with his BlackBerry under the table, making it plain that he wasn’t paying attention to anything Clinton had to say. He was intentionally snubbing Clinton. Others around the table noticed Obama thumbing his BlackBerry, and the atmosphere turned even colder than before.
Hillary changed the subject again.
“Are you glad you won’t have to campaign again?” she asked Obama. “You don’t seem to ­enjoy it.”
“For a guy who doesn’t like it,” Obama replied tartly, “I’ve done pretty well."…
After the dinner, and once the Clintons had been ushered out of the family quarters, Obama shook his head and said, “That’s why I never invite that guy over.”
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=== Posts from last year ===
4 her, so she can see how I see her




I just hold my arms out and God finds me. - ed



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#RoadRageNinja strikes again
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Anthropomorphism .. actually, the Dinosaurs who saw it had a similar response to it as chickens today view astronomical events. But I think it is poignant for what it implies about today .. A gamma ray burst from a poorly placed local exploding star may have been responsible for extinction events before and could happen again. And we have no defence against it, partly because anti intellectual hucksters like Greenpeace oppose research and promote AGW alarmism. - ed
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Holly Sarah Nguyen
Whatever you're chasing, if it isn't Jesus, when you catch it you still won't be satisfied...
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Eric Kalemen
Don't want to join the gym?
Bored of doing the same old gym routine?
Sick and tired of mundane gym machines?
Intimated to train by yourself?
Don't know what to do to reach your goals?

Well... ScarE-ric is now offering 1 on 1 personalised outdoor sessions

PM me for more information
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A woman's detailed list of reasons why she broke up with her boyfriend has gone viral. HILARIOUS!http://bit.ly/19s9asT
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US STARTS BUILDING FIRST NUCLEAR REACTORS IN YEARS.

The USA is building 4 new nuclear reactors to add to the current 104 operating in the USA, which provide about 18% of their electricity. In USA, Coal provides 43%, natural gas 25% and Hydro 7% of their electricity generation.

In addition China is currently building another 28 nuclear reactors.

Of course, these nuclear reactors generate electricity WITHOUT emitting carbon dioxide.

So those that seek to demonise coal, and run around screaming “dangerous global warming” and that the world “must take action” perhaps need a rethink ...........

Is this the outcome they want - a mass role out of nuclear power stations around the world to “moving away from fossil fuels in order to address climate change” ?
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From the archives. This is what ya do when you get sick of looking around ancient cathedrals in Scottish cities. This one is beside the sea in St. Andrews. Wonderful buildering opportunities abound in places like this.
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Larry Pickering
GILLARD CAN CHOOSE HER OWN POISON

First she needs to accept her salad days of socialism are over, terminally banished to supersede Whitlam in shameful pages of school history books.

Julia could readily choose a number of humane methods for her demise:

First, she could simply stand down and save Australia the pain of another three months of empty unfunded hoaxes and divisive gender invective.

She could choose to sit tight, unaware of when the blade might strike, or from whom. Julia thrives on that sort of excitement.

Maybe she could again slay the potential assassins before their weapons can be unsheathed. The trouble is other potential assassins are now regrouping.

Perhaps she could choose to present herself to the people and suffer ignominious death by ballot. Most of her subjects prefer this option.

Then again she could hand herself into the Victorian Fraud Squad and plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the AWU of millions in members funds, money laundering and deceiving the Commissioner of Corporate Affairs. Hmmm, 20 years is a pretty uncomfortable death.

It’s possible she could choose death by flagellation where 50 ALP members, now bereft of their seats, are locked in a room with her.
Nasty!

She could of course opt to die of shame. Yes, she could stay in bed strenuously denying her evil deeds until a priest eventually arrives and she grudgingly embraces God, confesses her sins, and peruses a last-meal menu.

None of the above if I know Julia.

When death looks her in the eye she will do a deal with the devil. A little bloke with a wandering appendage will offer her a way out... she will accept Bill Shorten’s offer and live happily thereafter.

A grand portrait of her will hang in Parliament House (with a full-time attendant to wipe the marks from it), grateful taxpayers will supplement her CBA bank account with six thousand bucks every week, she’ll have a car, a driver and secretarial staff.

She will be able to look down with pride on all those she said she would help and no longer will she need to turn up at functions with an embarrassing idiot.

My guess is she will hook up with Bruce Wilson and Ralph Blewitt, get smashed on a dry Riesling, and plot another political escapade with John McTernan.

Oh Gawd, the Welsh have much to answer for.
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Trolltunga, Norway ~ Edge of the earth
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Graphic Quotes: John Wayne on Free Speech

http://independentfilmnewsandmedia.com/graphic-quotes-john-wayne-on-free-speech/

“We were just good Americans, and we demanded the right to speak our minds. After all, the Communists in Hollywood were speaking theirs.” John Wayne
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Belalang, Bali, Indonesia
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Don't Trust the IRS Tee $15: http://bit.ly/196oLhz
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Portrait Made of 2.1 Million Ink Dots!! 

Must Read An Inspirational Story Behind This Portrait : http://www.unbelievable-facts.com/2013/05/portrait-made-of-21-million-ink-dots.html
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I don't worry about rude critical or argumentative people. I just ask myself "Why did they ever trust me?" - ed
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“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” 
― Confucius, Confucius: The Analects
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Saddest Star Trek encounter ever...http://bit.ly/11RflAs
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June 23: Victory Day in Estonia; Jāņi in Latvia; Grand Duke's Official Birthday in Luxembourg; 100th anniversary of the death of Bhaktivinoda Thakur (pictured)
Bhaktivinoda Thakur
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“The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8 NIV
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Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

Morning

"He shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory."
Zechariah 6:13
Christ himself is the builder of his spiritual temple, and he has built it on the mountains of his unchangeable affection, his omnipotent grace, and his infallible truthfulness. But as it was in Solomon's temple, so in this; the materials need making ready. There are the "Cedars of Lebanon," but they are not framed for the building; they are not cut down, and shaped, and made into those planks of cedar, whose odoriferous beauty shall make glad the courts of the Lord's house in Paradise. There are also the rough stones still in the quarry, they must be hewn thence, and squared. All this is Christ's own work. Each individual believer is being prepared, and polished, and made ready for his place in the temple; but Christ's own hand performs the preparation-work. Afflictions cannot sanctify, excepting as they are used by him to this end. Our prayers and efforts cannot make us ready for heaven, apart from the hand of Jesus, who fashioneth our hearts aright.
As in the building of Solomon's temple, "there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house," because all was brought perfectly ready for the exact spot it was to occupy--so is it with the temple which Jesus builds; the making ready is all done on earth. When we reach heaven, there will be no sanctifying us there, no squaring us with affliction, no planing us with suffering. No, we must be made meet here--all that Christ will do beforehand; and when he has done it, we shall be ferried by a loving hand across the stream of death, and brought to the heavenly Jerusalem, to abide as eternal pillars in the temple of our Lord.
"Beneath his eye and care,
The edifice shall rise,
Majestic, strong, and fair,
And shine above the skies."

Evening

"That those things which cannot be shaken may remain."
Hebrews 12:27
We have many things in our possession at the present moment which can be shaken, and it ill becomes a Christian man to set much store by them, for there is nothing stable beneath these rolling skies; change is written upon all things. Yet, we have certain "things which cannot be shaken," and I invite you this evening to think of them, that if the things which can be shaken should all be taken away, you may derive real comfort from the things that cannot be shaken, which will remain. Whatever your losses have been, or may be, you enjoy present salvation. You are standing at the foot of his cross, trusting alone in the merit of Jesus' precious blood, and no rise or fall of the markets can interfere with your salvation in him; no breaking of banks, no failures and bankruptcies can touch that. Then you are a child of God this evening. God is your Father. No change of circumstances can ever rob you of that. Although by losses brought to poverty, and stripped bare, you can say, "He is my Father still. In my Father's house are many mansions; therefore will I not be troubled." You have another permanent blessing, namely, the love of Jesus Christ. He who is God and Man loves you with all the strength of his affectionate nature--nothing can affect that. The fig tree may not blossom, and the flocks may cease from the field, it matters not to the man who can sing, "My Beloved is mine, and I am his." Our best portion and richest heritage we cannot lose. Whatever troubles come, let us play the man; let us show that we are not such little children as to be cast down by what may happen in this poor fleeting state of time. Our country is Immanuel's land, our hope is above the sky, and therefore, calm as the summer's ocean; we will see the wreck of everything earthborn, and yet rejoice in the God of our salvation.
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Malachi

 [Măl'achī] - messenger of jehovah ormy messenger.
1. The last of the Old Testament prophets, and author of the last book of The Minor Prophets.

The Man Who Believed in God's Electing Love

Nothing is known of Malachi save what his prophecy tells us. Ancient writers looked upon him as an angel incarnate, while a great number of Jews believed him to be Ezra the Scribe. It would seem as if he was connected with Nehemiah's work. Perhaps he prepared the way for it, helped in it and followed it up. Compare Malachi 1:8 withNehemiah 5:15, 18, where it seems clear that he prophesied either during Nehemiah's absence in Persia (Neh. 13:6) or after Nehemiah assumed governorship. As the last of the prophets, he was the seal of all the goodly fellowship of prophets.
While Malachi's prominent message was the rebuke of the remnant and the announcement of future purging and blessing, the keynote of his book appears to be the unchangeableness of God, and His unceasing love ( Mal. 1:2; 3:6). The tone of his message is expostulation blended with judgment. Yet gracious promises and assurances are interspersed like pearls gleaming against a dark background.
Features to note are the whereins repeated by Malachi's hearers. Against such the prophet amplifies and enforces his original charge (Mal. 1:2, 6, 7; 2:17; 3:7-9). We have:
I. The charge made against God involving an utter disregard of Him (Mal. 1:1, 2).
II. The rejection of the worship of God ( Mal. 1:6-14).
III. The intense oration of His law (Mal. 2:1-9).
IV. Social wrongs and disorder in the home (Mal. 2:10, 16).
V. The blatant perversion of judgment (Mal. 2:17).
VI. Gross immorality and degradation (Mal. 3:5).
VII. Robbery in the service of the Temple ( Mal. 3:7-9).
Other features to develop are:
Priestly qualifications - holiness, communion with God, usefulness and knowledge (Mal. 2:6, 7).
Ritual may be valuable. Only our capacity limits God's gifts (Mal. 3:10). Give and get (Mal. 3:12).
An ideal picture of the true gospel ministry (Mal. 2:5, 6).
The Lord's care for and interest in His people (Mal. 3:16, 18).
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Today's reading: Esther 6-8, Acts 6 (NIV)

View today's reading on Bible Gateway

Today's Old Testament reading: Esther 6-8

Mordecai Honored
1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
3 "What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked.
"Nothing has been done for him," his attendants answered.
4 The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him....

Today's New Testament reading: Acts 6

The Choosing of the Seven
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
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