August 28, 2015

'Creeping Sharia' Conspiracy Group Set To Sponsor Joint Cruz-Trump Rally In DC

A think tank founded by a notorious anti-Muslim activist is planning to co-sponsor an upcoming rally against the Iran deal headlined by Republican presidential candidates Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Donald Trump.

Cruz and Trump announced Thursday that they were planning the joint event to voice their opposition to a landmark agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program. Tea Party Patriots, the Center for Security Policy and the far-right Zionist Organization of America were expected to sponsor the rally, which is scheduled for Sept. 9 on Capitol Hill, according to The Washington Post.

The Center for Security Policy is an anti-Muslim think tank founded by former Reagan administration official Frank Gaffney, who often speaks about the threat of creeping Sharia law and has accused Republican and Democratic officials alike of being Muslim Brotherhood plants in the U.S. Cruz spoke via video link to an event Gaffney's organization put on last month in the first-in-the-nation primary state, the New Hampshire National Security Action Summit.

Gaffney also endorsed Trump's hardline immigration platform last week on the Center for Security Policy's blog.

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/frank-gaffney-cruz-trump-iran-rally

August 28, 2015

Young black man jailed since April for alleged $5 theft found dead in cell

Source: The Guardian

A young black man arrested by police in Portsmouth, Virginia, on the same day that one of the city’s officers fatally shot an unarmed black 18-year-old, has been found dead in jail after spending almost four months behind bars without bail for stealing groceries worth $5.

Jamycheal Mitchell , who had mental health problems, was discovered lying on the floor of his cell by guards early last Wednesday, according to authorities. While his body is still awaiting an autopsy, senior prison officials said his death was not being treated as suspicious.

“As of right now it is deemed ‘natural causes’,” Natasha Perry, the master jail officer at the Hampton Roads regional jail in Portsmouth, said of his death in an interview. Perry said there were no obvious outward signs of injury to the 24-year-old’s body.

Mitchell’s family said they believed he starved to death after refusing meals and medication at the jail, where he was being held on misdemeanour charges of petty larceny and trespassing. A clerk at Portsmouth district court said Mitchell was accused of stealing a bottle of Mountain Dew, a Snickers bar and a Zebra Cake worth a total of $5 from a 7-Eleven.

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Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/young-black-man-jailed-since-april-for-alleged-5-theft-found-dead-in-cell/

August 28, 2015

Anti-LGBT activist who was ditched for another woman wants $25,000 to promote ‘pastor protection law

Anti-LGBT activist who was ditched for another woman wants $25,000 to promote ‘pastor protection law’

The head of an evangelical activist group in Texas is asking supporters to donate $25,000 so he can promote a law that has already been passed, Towleroad reported.

“America today is occupied territory,” Texas Values head Jonathan Saenz wrote in a fundraising email. “The enemies of religious freedom occupy every power center from government to academia. Everyone (sic) except its spiritual core.”

Saenz is seeking the money in order to inform more clergy members about Senate Bill 1065, which was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) this past June. As the Texas Tribune reported at the time, the law allows pastors to opt out of marrying same-sex couples, and will go into effect on Sept. 1.

In his email, Saenz said pastors were “leaders of the resistance” in the state, and warned that the LGBT “occupying army” was out to identify “resistance leaders” and break their spirit. The funds would be used to inform state clergy of their right under the new law.

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http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/anti-lgbt-activist-who-was-ditched-for-another-woman-wants-25000-to-promote-pastor-protection-law/

August 28, 2015

‘Furious’ family members lash out at Josh Duggar: ‘I hope he gets broken in rehab’

Two family members spoke out about Josh Duggar’s ongoing sex scandals.

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“We are all shocked and broken and furious,” a family member told Entertainment Tonight. “Who did we spend Christmases with? Who have we grown up with? Who is this person? This is supposed to be a happy time, and there is a dark cloud over our family.”

“Josh’s integrity is gone,” the family member added. “It’s scary. You never know who can have a double life. You really think you know someone. Josh was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and I hope he gets broken in rehab and gets the help he needs. I hope Anna finds the strength to make some changes.”

Another family member said the situation was heartbreaking.

“I hope and pray Josh gets the help he needs,” the second family member said. “I believe he is getting that help. We had no idea about any of this. We love our family and we are praying for Josh. Thank you for all the prayers and support of all the friends and fans.”

It’s not clear from the report which family members made the statements.

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http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/furious-family-members-lash-at-josh-duggar-i-hope-he-gets-broken-in-rehab/

August 28, 2015

Virginia teen gets 11 years for supporting Islamic State

Source: Reuters

A Virginia teenager who used social media to support the militant group Islamic State was sentenced to just over 11 years in federal prison on Friday, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Ali Amin, 17, of Manassas, was the first minor prosecuted by the United States in such a case. U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton handed down a 136-month sentence in a hearing in Alexandria, Virginia, the department said in a statement.

“Today’s sentencing demonstrates that those who use social media as a tool to provide support and resources to ISIL will be identified and prosecuted with no less vigilance than those who travel to take up arms with ISIL,” U.S. Attorney Dana Boente said, using an acronym for the militant group.

Amin, who used the Twitter handle @Amreekiwitness, pleaded guilty in June to using Twitter and his blog to show how to use the virtual currency Bitcoin to send funds to the militants.

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Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/virginia-teen-gets-11-years-for-supporting-islamic-state/

August 28, 2015

Katrina’s ‘Heckuva Job, Brownie’ absolves self from disaster — and you won’t believe who he blames

Ten years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Michael Brown — former FEMA head during President George W. Bush’s administration — is defending his actions during the disaster, saying the most he can be blamed for is “mishandling” press relations.

Brown, who was widely mocked for his ineffectiveness in dealing with the disaster after the president complimented him with “Heckuva job, Brownie,” claims he shouldered the blame at the time, but that it was unwarranted and that it was the “worst part” about Katrina for him.

Writing in Politico, Brown pointed fingers in all directions — except for back at himself — as he explained, “There were many dark moments in those three weeks on the Gulf Coast, and FEMA and the federal government certainly made some mistakes, but perhaps the worst part was being held responsible for the things that I didn’t control at all.”

Brown, who resigned in the wake of the Katrina disaster after being replaced at the scene by Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad W. Allen, now hosts a radio show in Denver. He believes he was unfairly saddled with the blame after the agency he headed failed to evacuate residents ahead of the storm and afterward was incapable of taking care of them.

more
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/katrinas-heckuva-job-brownie-absolves-self-from-disaster-and-you-wont-believe-who-he-blames/

August 28, 2015

Zimmerman brags about killing Trayvon Martin: ‘We all know how it ended for the last moron....'

Source: RawStory

Zimmerman brags about killing Trayvon Martin: ‘We all know how it ended for the last moron that hit me’

George Zimmerman, the man acquitted in the shooting death of unarmed Florida teen Trayvon Martin, has apparently perfected the art of tough guy tweeting.

The killer-cum-Twitter troll on Thursday threatened someone by raising the specter of Trayvon Martin’s death and insulting the slain teenager in the process.

“I’m sorry I’m a day late for your slapping,” someone tweeted at Zimmerman with a meme labeled “It’s slap-an-idiot Wednesday.”

“We all know how it ended for the last moron that hit me. Give it a whirl cupcake,” Zimmerman responded.

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Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/zimmerman-brags-about-killing-trayvon-martin-we-all-know-how-it-ended-for-the-last-moron-that-hit-me/

August 28, 2015

Does Biden Have an Opening?

Rick Klein: “It’s a version of speed dating, except one party is already sort of engaged. And it wouldn’t take Ashley Madison to find another just-maybe willing prospect outside the room. The Democratic National Committee is converging in Minneapolis just in time to take some private frustrations over Hillary Clinton’s candidacy public. But as Clinton herself and her announced rivals zip through the room, making condensed versions of their pitches, all eyes of course remain on Vice President Joe Biden and a team that’s actively drumming up interest in that third Biden run.”

“The challenge for them is to be clear about the circumstances: disappointment and even anger at Camp Clinton is not necessarily the same as a groundswell for the vice president. Biden insiders think they’ve gotten President Obama’s go-ahead this week, yet that’s not an endorsement. It’s also not a replacement for the grassroots eruption Biden would have to position himself to tap into if a late-starting candidacy will go anywhere. Clinton may well be vulnerable, and those in the room in Minneapolis may want her to face a more substantial challenge. That’s not the same, though, as wanting to break up with Clinton in favor of Biden.”

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http://politicalwire.com/2015/08/28/does-biden-have-an-opening/

August 28, 2015

Cheney’s staggering Iran hypocrisy: Why we need to ignore his sinister war games at all costs

Dick Cheney’s staggering Iran hypocrisy: Why we need to ignore his sinister war games at all costs

The former vice president is saying whatever he can to torpedo negotiations with Iran. Here's what he's not saying

MARCY WHEELER

The photo accompanying a Washington Post article published yesterday, which reported on a letter signed by nearly 200 Generals and Admirals opposing the Iran deal, showed Lt. General William “Jerry” Boykin. This matters because Boykin took part in Operation Eagle Claw, the failed 1980 attempt to rescue the Americans taken hostage in the embassy in Iran. More recently, Boykin played key roles running the Bush Administration’s covert operations, ultimately serving as one of DOD’s top intelligence officials. He’s best known for a 2003 speech he gave in uniform, pitching the War on Terror as a crusade against Satan. “We’re a Christian nation, because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christians. … And the enemy is a guy named Satan.” Boykin’s inclusion on the letter associates the opposition to the Iran deal with his Islamophobia, though the vast majority of those who signed the letter have no such stain on their record.

Two other signatories — John Poindexter and Richard Secord — offer perhaps a more troubling indicator of how familiar the propaganda campaign against a nuclear deal with Iran is. Both men were key players in — and then National Security Advisor Poindexter was tried for — the Iran-Contra scandal. Thus, these two men, who claim that an agreement to forestall nuclear weapons would “enable Iran to become far more dangerous (and) render the Mideast still more unstable,” were key players in doing just that, back when they armed Iran in the 1980s.

Again, most signers of the letters aren’t notorious for their extra-legal efforts to sow chaos in the Middle East for fun and — in Secord’s case — profit, but the involvement of Poindexter and Secord taint the effort nonetheless.

Above and beyond the involvement of these unscrupulous figures, there is one attempt to defeat the Iran deal that actually does discredit all others: former Vice President Dick Cheney’s plan to give a speech at American Enterprise Institute on September 8, one week before Congress will vote on the deal.

Before joining the Bush Administration, Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney opposed sanctions against Iran because American businesses would be “cut out of the action” (Halliburton is still one of the biggest likely beneficiaries of the easing of Iran sanctions).

more
http://www.salon.com/2015/08/28/dick_cheneys_staggering_iran_hypocrisy_why_we_need_to_ignore_his_sinister_war_games_at_all_costs/

August 28, 2015

Paul Krugman: “Talking nonsense” is job requirement for GOP presidential nomination

When it comes to money, Republicans would rather "embrace fantasy" than deal with hard truths

SCOTT ERIC KAUFMAN

Paul Krugman unloaded on the Republican Party’s “deep bench” in his New York Times column Friday, excoriating the presidential hopefuls for their nonsensical views on all matters economic.

“How would the men and women who would be president respond if crisis struck on their watch?” he asked, answering that on the GOP side, the answer is all “bluster and China-bashing.” He singles out Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who said that he if he were president, he’d “solve” the China-problem by telling its leader, Xi Jinping, to cancel his planned visit to the United States. “That would fix things!” he added.

Donald Trump’s non-solution is no better, Krugman argued. He constantly says that he wouldn’t let China “dictate the agenda,” but no one — not even Trump — knows precisely what that means. It is, however, an almost perfect talking point, playing as it does both to the GOP delusion that Obama’s a weak president and the party’s rampant xenophobia. “Not only can Obama not stop the Chinese, but they’re Chinese!” is the general impression they’re attempting to create.



more
http://www.salon.com/2015/08/28/paul_krugman_talking_nonsense_is_job_requirement_for_gop_presidential_nomination/