For The Cynical And Skeptical Among Us

Back on the contraception front, two stray thoughts vex me.

1.  Did Obama need this fight in order to re-bond with the anti-religious left?  Maybe his evolution on endorsing gay marriage has been deferred until after the election, so he needed to establish his anti-church cred with this.

2.  We write of Missing Persons - in the tick-tock about the decision-making process on the contraception rule and the narrow religious exemption, we hear about Kathleen Sebelius, Melody Barnes, and Valerie Jarrett,all of whom have obvious roles to play based ontheir position in the org chart.

But nowhere do we learn whether a woman who once pulled down $300,000 per year to advise a hospital on public health issues chimed in on this debate.  Given her background, why wouldn't she?  (And does anyone doubt where she would come out?)

Comments

[Clarice]

Maybe she was too busy overseeing our kids' fat behinds and doing the watusi in stadia arounf the country.

[Benjamin Franklin]

"In 1981, she left for Princeton, an overwhelmingly white institution that cherished its genteel traditions. She was one of 94 black freshmen in a class of over 1,100. Catherine Donnelly, a white student from New Orleans, was a roommate. Her mother spent months pleading with Princeton officials to give her daughter a white roommate instead. “Mom just blew a gasket when I described Michelle,” Ms. Donnelly recalled. “It was my secret shame.”"

She's angry? Why? Didn't her studies tell her how to be like Jackie Robinson, and learn to love the hate?

[Appalled]

OK, please do not ding the First Lady for not tangling herself in policy. The idea that, somehow, we need family to help out the person we elect is one of the more obnoxious things to come out of the Clinton administration.

[narciso]

Like with Remnick, the skill at masking
unethical practices, is remarkable, from
that passage;

Like many urban hospitals, the medical center’s emergency room becomes clogged with people who need primary care. So Mrs. Obama trained counselors, mostly local blacks, to hand out referrals to health clinics lest black patients felt they were being shooed away.

She also altered the hospital’s research agenda. When the human papillomavirus vaccine, which can prevent cervical cancer, became available, researchers proposed approaching local school principals about enlisting black teenage girls as research subjects.

[Clarice]

One of fellow Princetonites roomed with another black student and when they invited Michelle and her friends over to dine she was rude and abusive to them all.

There's no date given for the big final meeting, but Daley left on the 10th and the rule was announced on the 20th.

I assume the meeting took place before the 10th--maybe the 9th.

Here is what was up with MO and the WH those two days:
http://www.michellesmirror.com/search?updated-max=2012-01-11T12:34:00-05:00&max-results=4

[narciso]

Appalled, you would think, a socratic exercise
would be something you understood instinctively, yes of course she was involved
in the formulation of policy, and as usual she was wrong,

[narciso]

You know the thing I found most interesting about Jodi's work is how she twisted herself
into knots to rationalize every footfall that
they made, that's a Times talent I suppose.

[Clarice]

Interesting that MOM dug up that quote of Michelle's saying she was fed up with the power of White Irish Catholics in Chicago. Tell me again she kept her big behind out of this one.

[narciso]

Like for example, they compare Michelle's spending sprees to that one instance that the campaign did for Sarah, to which she objected
strenuously, and subsequently blamed her for,

[narciso]

Of course she didn't, and the pattern hold true whether the Kennedy or Curley in Mass,
or Tammany institutionalized in NYC,

[narciso]

Some demotion really, seemed like a nice going away gift;

Jarrett served as Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development from 1992 through 1995, and was Chair of the Chicago Transit Board from 1995 to 2005.[9]

[NK]

TomM -- you're a little naive here. Of course bigg butt Michelle told 'Bam to stick it to the Catholics, the Lutherans, the Mormons and anyone else who has conscience objections to sterilization, the Pill and abortion. BUT!!!! that was no biggie to 'Bam; that's in line with everything's he's heard from his Mom, the fancy pants Honolulu Prep school, Occidental, Columbia, Harvard and the Left-Wing 'minister' on the South side of ChiTown. There was nothing controversial about this, everybody in the echo chamber was saying the same thing. The only question was how to dress it up politically.

[narciso]

Tom's method, is a little like Columbo's 'just one more question, sir,' if the whole thing hadn't blown up in their face, of course
they would be trumpeting her role in it.

[Benjamin Franklin]

" the fancy pants Honolulu Prep school,"

Threadkiller?

[NK]

This fancy pants school, you know the one that charges $20,000/year tuition and fees (NO boarding) has about a $200MILLION endowment; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punahou_School

[Melinda Romanoff]

narciso-

Notice the jump in size of the patronage pool. The ability to deliver both funds and votes would be the real motivator and job history for the switch.

[Benjamin Franklin]

Dat's 'kukai', Brah....

[Porchlight]

TM isn't being naive, nor is he "dinging" Michelle for not being involved. See the post headline (and narciso's 12:12 comment).

[Melinda Romanoff]

kim-

When you next stroll by, check this little gem out.

Another meme-buster data set.

[Sue]

Dick Morris, via Rush Limbaugh, is reminding everyone of the debate where Stephe was grilling Romney about contraceptives. I remember wondering at the time why they were bringing it up. Now we know. Stephe was preparing the ground work for Obama.

[Appalled]

Pardon me for being a little literal, but to assume the First Lady had influence on this decision is not supported by any evidence. And if there was some pillow talk advice -- who has not accepted that in their life from time to time. But, in this case, the First Lady is not out there promoting the position, she is not, a la Hillary, representing herself as a policy advisor on anything besides eating yer vegetables.

In other words, Puhleeez. There are so many obnoxious people who are responsible for this decision. Why drag the First Lady into it. Next thing you know, you'll try to take away her right to bare arms...

[Sue]

you'll try to take away her right to bare arms...

LOL.

[Porchlight]

No, there is no direct evidence that I know of, Appalled. But it't not like everyone here hasn't speculated about this or that at one point or another, yourself included.

Next thing you know, you'll try to take away her right to bare arms...

LOL. Incidentally, you may have noted that we were treated to photos of the "guns" a lot less frequently in calendar year 2011 than we were in 2010 and 2009. Somebody's finally figured out that they are no longer as endearing to the general public as they were once thought to be.

[Rick Ballard]

They've resized the circus tent of invisibility, Porchlight. It's still not working butt they're trying hard.

[Rick Ballard]

They've resized the circus tent of invisibility, Porchlight. It's still not working butt they're trying hard.

[Porchlight]

Heh, Rick. Reminds me I need to get over to MOTUS more often.

[Jack is Back!]

Now she is fed up with the power of White Irish Catholics from St. Louis.

[Frau]

"kukai"?
Cleo needs to check his nest.

[Porchlight]

What with all the feather passing, the nest is looking a bit threadbare, Frau.

[Frau Pariser über alles]

Obama may need to toss a bone to his anti-religious flank, but the religious left was certainly already on board.

[jimmyk]

Now we know. Stephe was preparing the ground work for Obama.

A number of people have suggested this. I'm willing to chalk it up to coincidence, and the never-ending effort of the media to say "Look, a squirrel!" rather than talk about the economy or the Middle East. If Steph wanted to prepare groundwork he wouldn't have framed the question in terms of a state's power to ban contraceptives vs. the right to privacy, which is really at the other end of the issue from the landmine Obama has stepped on.

In other words, in a contest between stupidity and deviousness, I'll opt for the former in this case. There is no end to the supply of idiotic "out from left field" questions from the MSM in the debates, and this one just happened to have the buzz word "contraceptives."

[narciso]

I mean the notion, that she's 'shocked, shocked, that gambling is going on here' about patronage politics, no just their side was on the outs, temporarily,

[narciso]

Morris, on the ball, hey did you here Mubarak was deposed, it happened a while ago

[Jane]

A number of people have suggested this. I'm willing to chalk it up to coincidence

Not me, altho you make perfect sense. I assume Steph was told "we plan to make contraception a big issue" and little more, so he decided to pave the way.

And I'm prepared to demonize him repeatedly for doing so.

[Comanche Voter]

You can spoil my day by the mere mention of Her Highness Queen Moochelle.

[jimmyk]

Jane, I'm content to demonize him for being ridiculous, though admittedly that's old news.

I wonder if they had any idea that this was going to blow up on them the way it did.

[Benjamin Franklin]

Frau Sheisse;

Get your own house in order... : > D

[Ranger]

Oh my... who could have seen this coming:

Eurozone leaders 'call off Greece crisis talks'

Finance ministers had not received assurances from leaders of Greek political parties on a programme of proposed cuts, Mr Juncker was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

He said that "against this background, I have decided to convene ministers to a conference call tomorrow in order to discuss the outstanding issues".

There is always another shoe to drop in EUroland.

[narciso]

Just like the 'police officer acted stupidly'
,that's just their template.

[daddy]

G'morning.

Just in the from the morning dog walk, and bumped into my Tax Attorney neighbor. He told me that he had spent all last night looking at the new Tax particulars of the Presidents Budget.

My friend said he had concluded 2 things from reading the budget:

1) If you are married and both spouses work, then get divorced. The penalties for both spouses working are terrible.

2) He is now for Gay marriage, because he wants them to get married so they can pay the Tax penalties for being married:)

[narciso]

Does this seem kosher, or what ever the Greek word is for this;

http://hat4uk.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/greek-debt-drama-merkel-ready-to-engineer-default-say-sources/

[narciso]

'Fake but accurate,' has a long history, one only needs to look at the comments

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/14/2639954_p2/the-profound-lies-of-deep-throat.html

[Charlie (Colorado)]

does anyone doubt where she would come out?

If she did come out, it might help Ears on the gay marriage issue.

[jimmyk]

daddy, maybe your (2) is a way to get lefties excited about eliminating the marriage penalty.

[narciso]

some promises he keeps without fail;

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/13/2639896/obama-budget-trims-southcom-funding.html

[Jane]

I wonder if they had any idea that this was going to blow up on them the way it did.

I'm still not convinced it has.

2) He is now for Gay marriage, because he wants them to get married so they can pay the Tax penalties for being married:)

I'll tell Amy.

[pagar]

With the employment figures we've been given, who would even suspect this might happen.

" was the biggest one month drop in retail sales in history. "

LUN

[rse]

LUN is especially for hit and jmh.

Four Year old told turkey sandwich lunch packed by mom was not nutritious enough. Got the cafeteria chicken nuggets instead.

Do not miss the idea that parents will be counseled about the kind of lunched being packed.

Last middle school coffee I went to the principal was talking about the kind of behavior she wanted to see the parents modelling. She did not mean not dysfunctional.

She thought it was appropriate to push the values she wanted parents pushing at home. I am thinking what a presumptuous twit you are. No respect for boundaries.

[rse]

LUN is a story you should read on where MO's campaign had led us.

Missing previous longer comment.

[Cecil Turner]

I'm having a hard time believing there are more anti-religious left motivated by this than Catholics who are irritated by it. (But I suspect the numbers of both are relatively small: the hard lefties were Obama's anyway, and most Catholics don't really care about contraception.) The problem is that a relatively small shift in Catholic votes in battleground states (e.g., PA) could mean the margin of victory. I'm not seeing anything similar for the nutroot base.

[jimmyk]

The problem is that a relatively small shift in Catholic votes in battleground states (e.g., PA) could mean the margin of victory.

I would hope, for the sake of our future, that Catholics aren't the only ones who shift as a result of this.

[daddy]

Clarice, Janet,

Here's a bummer.

Another (Barbara) wins.
I'm second.
You guys come in 3rd.

Hawaii, Alaska, D.C. Lead in Gov't Jobs

"Nearly 3 out of every 10 workers in Hawaii (29.7%), Alaska (29.6%), and the District of Columbia (29.1%) work for federal, state, or local government, at a time when government employment is declining nationally at all levels. Pennsylvania has the lowest percentage of government workers, at 11.8%."

[NK]

Just to summarize how 'Bam has screwed the pouch beyond all recognition (HIS OWN especially), some numbers to ponder: 'Bam won the Catholic Vote 54-45 in 2008 (Catholics are 27% of the electorate); NOW 59% of Catholics negative on 'Bam 40+% STRONGLY Negative. Even if 'Bam gets a bunch of the currently somewhat negative and gets 45% of the Catholic vote, that flip of one voter patern makes it 51%-49% all things being equal as 2008, when conservative turnout was low. Second #: $4+/gal gas coming by Mem Day due to debased US Dollar and anti-drilling/refining policies by 'Bam. Why won' the entire electorate (except for blacks ) look like that 55-45%? -- how bad will 'Bam lose white evangelicals? 'Bam get 46+% in November-- that's still my prediction.

[NK]

Cecil Turner-- very good point about Catholic vote in Pa., I would add Ohio and NJ to that-- yes, there may be hope in NJ.
JimmyK-- I think white evagelicals, and Lutherans, even observant Jews, are just as appalled by the Obamacare mandate fiasco. This is a freedom issue not just the Bishops' self-insurance policies. The non-political are learning that we conservatives were right about the sinister anti-freedoam nature of Obamacare.

[daddy]

From NPR:

Study: 1.8 Million Dead People Still Registered To Vote

[pagar]

More Mortgage Excutive summary stuff or why we have a Statue of Frauds.

"That, my friends, is why we have a law called the Statute of Frauds, which requires that certain types of agreements be in writing or they are invalid and unenforceable."

Do State AG's do frauds?

LUN

[Rick Ballard]

Pagar,

That was a good ZeroHedge piece. Here's another one and here is some backup for the contraction followed by an examination of the tussle between LEI and ECRI.

I give the edge to ECRI, with BOzo taking the brunt of the loss. NK's 46% for BOzo is really very optimistic. 42% is more likely and I believe the level of incompetence demonstrated continuously by the President may well be rewarded with 40%.

[Frau Waffenschein]

daddy, do you roll in the snow after listening to NPR political reports?

[(Another) Barbara]

Another (Barbara) wins.

Oh lovely! I hardly ever win anything.

Just mentally walked through our neighborhood. Fellow next door (renter) is an unmarried military officer. The Fed pays $3,000 of his $3,300 monthly rent, he told me. Next to him, a federal administrator. Across the street, a school teacher married to a state-employed nurse. Up the block, a lawyer for state government. My own husband, a retired department head for government. Etc., etc. Nearly every household I think about has at least one fed, state or county employee or retiree in residence.

I've never worked for a government agency, but rse's link makes me wonder whether I shouldn't think about becoming a school lunchbox inspector. Sounds like I'd have lots of power over others -- always desirable -- plus likely a good retirement plan. It's the perfect job for an English major, otherwise unemployable.

[NK]

Rick-- I don't see 42% for 'Bam because he will get 95% of the black vote (11+%), that gives him 10+% to start with, of the remaining 90% of the electorate -- he will win 40% that gives him the 46+% total. BTW this also shows why dems are permanently screwed. Blacks turned out big for 'Bam in 2008 (12% of electorate), fewer will turn out in 2012 and as long as conservatives turn out stronger than 2008 -- it's over. Blacks are the most reliable Dem voters, and 'Bam has ruined the Black liberal POTUS brand for a generation.

[Dana]

I call voter suppression.........lol

Danyoob; Doesn't he live in La Jolla?

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/06/did-mitt-romney-commit-voter-fraud

"Did Mitt Romney commit voter fraud when he cast a ballot for Scott Brown in last year's special election in Massachusetts? On Monday, one of his lesser known opponents for the GOP presidential nomination, Fred Karger, filed a complaint with Massachusetts state election officials alleging that he voted for Brown, as well as in other Massachusetts elections, when he was not in fact a resident of the Bay State."

[Neo]

Missouri Synod president says church remains ‘deeply concerned’ about health plan mandate despite White House statement

“We see President Obama’s action Friday as significant, in that it appears to have been prompted by the many voices united in concern over an infringement of our religious liberties. But the ‘accommodation’ did not expand the exemption for religious employers, nor did it restrict the mandate in any way. It simply described a temporary enforcement delay and a possible future change—a change that, unfortunately, would not adequately protect religious freedom or unborn lives.

[pagar]

Thanks, Rick B.

[Dana]

BTW; FYI

Since Danyoobs sclerosis is causing him some confusion over name usage, when I address his posts, I am making my comment more user friendly.

To the rest of you, I'm still good ol' Ben Franklin.

Hope that helps...

[Jane]

"Did Mitt Romney commit voter fraud when he cast a ballot for Scott Brown in last year's special election in Massachusetts?

The administration really wants to run against Santorum.

[daddy]

Well another Barb, if any of your neighbors (govt employ's or otherwise) are married, tell them to get divorced.

As for the Govt lunch Inspector guys. I know I can't fight City Hall, but If my daughter (allergic to milk) drinks milk mandated by the Fed's, can I then fight City Hall-Monitors?

Apologies Frau for the NPR link, but I just think of them as National Palestinian Radio and it makes it easier to stomach. BTW, did you guys see that on a day when Islamic Terrorists in Thailand blew their own legs off trying to kill Jews, that Oliver Stone's son just converted to the Religion O' Peace?

And in a big Valentine Day Surprise for King Solomon, his girlfriends Gold Mine just got discovered: Archaeologists strike Biblical gold with discovery of the Queen of Sheba's fabled mines.

[NK]

More #s-- here's a link to a chart Zero Hedge posted. Gas prices. The US enjoyed a 25 year run of strong economic performance (1982-2007) during a time of first declining (1982-1987) gas prices and then steady prices up until to 2002. Prices have TRIPLED since then and MPG has only improved marginally. Hence, young families' budgets are crushed -- several thousand dollars/year are lost to higher gas and heating costs. Gas/heating prices are causing STAGFLATION hire costs simultaneously suppressing demand and slowing economic growth. THIS is why non-political independents will go strongly against 'Bam. BTW-- since 'Bam was inaugurated, gas prices have DOUBLED. Best part -- 'Bam isn't primarily responsible for this. Bernanke and his QE debased Dollar and prior to that Greenspan's easy money policy are) 'Bam's deficit spending debacle and anti-drilling jihad made it worse, but he'll pay the whole price politically. The link:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/january-gas-prices-all-time-highs

[Clarice]

And,daddy, the best part--Stone fils converted to Islam in Iran.

[Rick Ballard]

NK,

I believe your turnout model for those who vote for a living is way too high. It will be very clear that BOzo has no chance fairly early and the amount of walking around money with which to purchase votes is going to be commensurate with BOzo's chances. I would also note that BOzo has done nothing for the Hispanic bloc (aside from nominating a Witless Latina) and I believe that we can anticipate repayment in full for his focus on "my people".

[matt]

the price per bbl is @ $101 on the spot market today and ranges from the low $80's to up to $118 or so for Brent.

If there has been no extreme volatility and in fact the US is developing even more reserves, what gives? Oil products now represent the largest single export, which is a part of the problem.

However, it doesn't stand to logic. There must be other factors at work.

[daddy]

Well Clarice,

I always thought that Oliver Stone was full of Shiite.

Sue, Porch,

How old are you gals?

[Clarice]

OT In 1947 there was a huge blizzard in Milwaukee. Someone unearthed old films from that event. In case you care to watch, the snow moving machines in use then are something to see.
http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/video/?bcpid=13960335001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAG_pBMo~,kVIkQYQQ-Izddbc0Nq6XRmPVrIwPcM7m&bctid=775324870001

[Sue]

18, why do you ask? ::grin::

[Rocco]

Wasn't Michelle employed by the University of Chicago Medical Center when she wrote her Partial Birth Abortion Letter in 2004? Why can't we put a little heat on her too? Who's running the show here?

http://www.lifenews.com/2008/05/21/nat-3935/

[NK]

Matt-- it's quite simple DOLLAR DEBASEMENT. Oil/Barrel is the same today as 1990 -- IN SILVER terms, and much cheaper in GOLD terms. The price has tripled in Dollar terms because of Dollar debasement starting in 2002, and going into hyper debasement in 2009 with QE (look at the chart in that ZH link). There are some speculative factors because of the Mad Mullahs and 'Bam' anti-drilling jihad. But the fundemental reason for Oil inflation is the FED--- the freakin' US Fed enabling the obscene increase of US debt by Dollar debasement. Ron Paul is everyone's crazy uncle, but he's right about this.

[Jack is Back!]

Just got an email from Pete Hegseth, Veterans for Freedom, saying he is home in Minnesota, mustered out of active duty and back from Afghanistan. He is considering running for Senate against Amy Klobuchar. If he gets in this will be a interesting primary and he wins that an even far more interesting general election. Pete is a Princeton grad and on leave of absence from his Master's in Public Policy from JFK School at Harvard.

[Neo]

After attacking hedge funds and their managers during her tenure in the Obama administration, Anita Dunn is now working as a public relations consultant to improve the industry’s image, according to a secret proposal obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

Dunn, formerly the interim White House communications director for the Obama administration and currently a managing director at the Democratic consulting firm SKDKnickerbocker (SKDK), is being promoted by the public relations firm McLean/Clark LLC as a director of “paid media” for a pro-hedge-fund campaign. The project is described by promotional material as a “comprehensive public affairs operation” to “raise awareness about the positive role hedge funds play in the American economy” and to “eliminate the need for politicians to take aim at hedge funds.”

As White House communications director, Dunn helped President Obama criticize hedge funds as a key factor of the financial collapse—and she has continued that criticism, at least in public, ever since.

An industry outsider who was pitched on Dunn’s proposal told the Washington Free Beacon that he was surprised to see the former Obama official involved in the effort. “First we see Dunn attack us on television,” he said, “and then she tells us to hire her to head off the exact attacks that she herself is hurling at us. The entire thing begins to stink like a protection racket.”

[Jack is Back!]

daddy,

The other amazing coincidence is that last Sunday's first reading at mass was the Book of Kings story of the Queen of Sheba. Sort of like the way Steph pre-empted the current debate with his question on contraception.

[NK]

Clarice- fantastic video from Milwaukee 1947. The Trolley Track plow and snow thrower were way cool. Modern versions of that equipment can be found today in places like Montreal, where within a couple of hours of a 5" snowfall all major streets are clear.

[matt]

daddy; that article was somewhat short on specifics, perhaps for good reason, but is sounded more like King Solomon's Mines if you ever read that one.

I was looking for the photo of Stewart Granger with his pith helmet and whip, which I never understood to be an archaeologist's tool.

[Clarice]

I think so, too, nK.

That was the biggest blizzard in the city's history BTW.

[daddy]

Tough times for Oprah.

Her $250 Million OWN TV channel is doing awful.

Her secret weapon, Rosie O'Donnell's ratings are doing even awfuller(?).

Even more awfuller(?), "Oprah's best friend Gayle King is leaving the network and moving to CBS"

And now most awfullest(?), Oprah has been caught begging her Twitter followers with a Nielsen box to tune into OWN in botched attempt to boost her Networks ratings.

The good news for Oprah tho' is that it's only being reported in the Brit Media.

[Porchlight]

Why doesn't Oprah just retire? At a certain point, she's made enough money.

[fdcol63]

If only Stanley Ann had availed herself of some of Planned Parenthood's services, the world would be a better place.

[daddy]

Yeah Matt,

but did you see in the pic who they had playing Queen Of Sheba?

Gina Lollobrigida!

[Clarice]

I'm old enough to remember that movie. It was great.

[fdcol63]

Speaking of Rosie, this pic is hilarious!

[fdcol63]

Sorry

[Dana]

Plus it helps with the plausible deniability, y'see, for when my raging antisemitism and penchant for shitting on the memory of dead commenters flare up.

[fdcol63]

Link to the photo I tried to insert (I swear I tried to include height and width parameters ... LOL):

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422182_321874371192142_142868065759441_926574_141519496_n.jpg

[bgates]

Did Mitt Romney commit voter fraud

No. I've been told repeatedly that nobody has ever committed voter fraud.

[Captain Hate]

That voter fraud complaint was filed last summer.

[Extraneus]

While I'm jealous that we don't have our own Media Matters, does anyone know what it takes to challenge their 501(c)(3) designation? Can a citizen raise issue with the IRS? Do we need congressional hearings?

Btw, I'm betting that they can skate due to not supporting particular candidates, or other technicalities in the Code. I just want to see them dragged through the mud.

Exemption Requirements - Section 501(c)(3) Organizations

To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.

The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.

Section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. For a detailed discussion, see Political and Lobbying Activities. For more information about lobbying activities by charities, see the article Lobbying Issues; for more information about political activities of charities, see the FY-2002 CPE topic Election Year Issues.

[Janet]

And,daddy, the best part--Stone fils converted to Islam in Iran.

Here is DoT's post from the last thread -

"How trendy:

ISFAHAN, Iran - US filmmaker Sean Stone, the son of Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone, said Tuesday that he converted to Islam in Iran, where he is making a documentary. "The conversion to Islam is not abandoning Christianity or Judaism, which I was born with. It means I have accepted Muhammad and other prophets," he said in a brief telephone call from the central Iranian city of Isfahan, where he underwent the ceremony. Sean Stone's famous father is Jewish, while his mother is Christian. The 27-year-old filmmaker did not say why he converted.

Posted by: Danube of Thought | February 14, 2012 at 12:18 PM"

bold mine. Nobody is born a Christian. A person can be raised in a Christian home...but they personally must choose themselves.
Oliver's son should go write for "On Faith" at the WaPo. He can use a lot of religious terms, but he doesn't need to know what the hell he's talking about. perfect fit.

[Jack is Back!]

In case this hasn't been posted, an update from Dolan in Rome:

Obama's revised HHS mandate won't solve problems, USCCB president says

"We bishops are pastors, we're not politicians, and you can't compromise on principle," said Cardinal-designate Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "And the goal posts haven't moved and I don't think there's a 50-yard line compromise here," he added.

"We're in the business of reconciliation, so it's not that we hold fast, that we're stubborn ideologues, no. But we don't see much sign of any compromise," he said.

"What (Obama) offered was next to nothing. There's no change, for instance, in these terribly restrictive mandates and this grossly restrictive definition of what constitutes a religious entity," he said. "The principle wasn't touched at all."

Hmmmmm. Okay, lawyers out there, can the Church file an amicus brief for the ObamaCare opponents with the SCOTUS? If this doesn't get overturned, the whole stinking mess, then as I understand Clarice's point, the Church will have to wait until the regulations are "ripe" which is actually 2 years off for that, right?

[centralcal]

LOL, Janet. He was born with Christianity or Judaism. (or stubby toes, or wide nostrils, or knobby knees, or a lame brain)

[Jack is Back!]

You become a Christian at baptism not at birth even if both parent's are Christian.

Clarice, a great video of the '47 blizzard in Brats&Beer Town.

Seeing the electric street cares reminded me of how Wisconsin Electric got started. Old client of mine.

WEPCO's original business model was to supply electrictiy for the street cars only. They purposedly designed their corporate office building on W. Michigan to be easily converted to a hotel if this new thing called electricity never panned out:)

[jimmyk]

Even the AP manages to have a good laugh at the expense of the Obama "budget":

http://news.yahoo.com/fact-check-budget-phantoms-room-081227181.html

But they include this tidbit: "President George W. Bush kept the cost of the wars out of his budgets." I've heard that claim before, but is there any truth to it? How would he have done that?

[daddy]

On the Media Matters/White House/Stephanopolis collusion front.

I recall linking this story in late January and thinking it odd at the time: Abortion safer than giving birth, study says. This one's a FOX link, but the story was in a number of lefty papers and blogs, and this report says about the 2 authors:

1) “Grimes was described by the Los Angeles Times in 1990 as “North America’s best-known researcher on RU-486,

2) “Raymond works for Gynuity Health Projects, which states that it “works globally to ensure that reproductive health technologies are available at reasonable cost.” Raymond’s bio notes that she considers abortion to be a “centerpiece of health issues for women,’”

Was that part of the pro-Abortion, pro Birth Control campaign? You got me, but sure seems coincidental.

Another question that struck me as odd in the debates was the questioning of Rick Santorum about was he opposed to Puerto Rican statehood.

Where did that one come from? Is there some pending Presidential move to push for PR Statehood in order to somehow appeal to Hispanics? I sure wouldn't put that, nor a proposal for DC Statehood far from Obama. Couch it in terms of Left wing Fairness and right Wing unfairness and simply let Media Matters do it's thing.

[Dana]

" How would he have done that?"

Go begging to China.