Nation’s Intelligence Chiefs (DIA.Mil photo)
THERE THEY WERE, the nation’s five top intelligence officials, Clapper (DNI), Brennan (CIA), Flynn (DIA), Comey (FBI), and Olsen (NCC), sitting before the House Intelligence Committee hearing yesterday. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL) asks, “Can anybody at the table tell us when somebody will be held responsible for the murders in Benghazi?” For seven, silent, interminable seconds they squirmed and looked at each other, seemingly hoping the other guy would try to answer the question, when FBI Director Comey finally said, “What I can tell you, Congressman, is that this is a top priority of the FBI,” but indicated he wasn’t at liberty to talk about the details. Remember, as the bodies of the four Americans were honored, it was the president who said, “To you – their families and colleagues – to all Americans, know this. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. We will bring to justice those who took them from us. That was Sept. 14, 2012.
Nancy Pelosi (ABCNews.go.com photo)
OBAMACARE AND JOB LOSSES – ObamaCare will cause some 2.3 million people to lose full-time jobs and add $10 trillion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years, according to a not so surprising announcement by the Congressional Budget Office yesterday. In 2010 and 2011, I began writing about ObamaCare being a job killer. Four years ago, then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “This legislation is about creating jobs and strengthening the middle class and reducing the deficit. Four million jobs will be created by the legislation when it is fully in effect … $1.3 trillion will be saved in the life of this legislation.” During the February 2010 health care conference at the Blair House, she said 400,000 jobs would be added almost immediately.
Jay Carney (Politico photo)
THE WHITE HOUSE SPIN from Press Secretary Jay Carney is that those who give up income in order to get ObamaCare benefits “will be empowered to make choices about their own lives and livelihoods,” perhaps to pursue some entrepreneurial venture. Last March, Pelosi said, “the health care law fulfills the promises of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness because it allows people to leave jobs that include health insurance as a benefit. I’ve always said that the Affordable Health Care Act is something that is transformative.” Another disincentive to work.
John Koskinen (BostonGlobe.com photo)
THERE’S MORE BAD NEWS coming from the newly appointed IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. Last month he mentioned that more funds were needed for him to run the agency even though the IRS spent $1.7 billion less in 2013 than the $12.9 billion requested for 2014 by the president. With the targeting of conservative groups still unresolved, Koskinen has the chutzpah to ask that employee bonuses be restored.
DID YOU KNOW that our armed forces veterans are waiting an average of 125 days for responses from the VA, while food stamp enrollees can get urgently needed food in one week and be fully enrolled in 30 days? Which group is more likely to vote for big government candidates?
First Global Warming (Xbradic.com art)
JUST WHAT WE NEEDED – In support of his “year of action” commitment, aka “going around the legislature,” the president is about to create seven Climate Hubs that will supposedly help farmers and ranchers handle risks, like fires, pests, floods and droughts that are exacerbated by global warming. Unbelievable. You just can’t make this stuff up.
