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Saturday, June 01, 2013

Report: Government conducted vendetta against conservatives

Excerpt:

"...the information that has already been received and reported paints a disturbing picture of how the federal government viewed and treated conservative and evangelical groups, particularly after the 2008 presidential election and in some cases before that.

"For example, a pro-life group seeking tax exempt status was told by the IRS that they must promise not to picket outside any office of Planned Parenthood. Citizens in Texas were subjected to audits after a group they joined, a voting rights organization, had applied for tax exempt status. A retired military veteran who joined various conservative activist groups was told by the IRS that his church donations were going to be challenged by the agency."

Read the entire article at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.

Friday, May 31, 2013

"I Dreamed a Dream"

Hello, friends. And welcome.

From time to time I write about the modern culture, the arts, music, etc., although I admit my time devoted to such musings is limited by my attention to more important matters.

But I could not pass this one up.

Several months back I ventured out to the movie theater to see the remake of the classic "Les Miserables." I had heard from trusted sources that this was something very special and that I needed to see it. They were right.

I said at the time that if this is not the finest musical ever made in the history of film, it is awfully close to it. I was blown away by it, to put it bluntly. It is one of the most moving stories and performances I have ever seen in any movie genre, not just musicals.

A highlight of the film is Anne Hathaway. Here she exhibits not only her exceptional talent as an actress but as a singer as well. It is to be remembered that in this version of Les Miserables, the actors sing their songs live as they perform for the camera. There is no lip-sync.

And this is what I loved about Les Miserables. The actors acted while they sang, and let me tell you as one who knows, that ain't easy.

Back to Anne Hathaway's role. Rarely have I ever witnessed such emotion, such pathos, in a musical or movie of any kind. Her voice itself conveys all of the depth of emotion that is conjured by the subject matter, and that subject matter is a dark one.

Even as a young woman, Hathaway is at the end of her life, having been betrayed by countless persons in her past. She had hopes and dreams, she had experienced laughter and joy as she fulfilled those dreams, or so she thought, until one day suddenly it all came to naught. Nothing was as it seemed. And sadly, as was the case in France prior to the French Revolution, people, women in particular, were consigned to a life of virtual slavery to kings, queens, and their henchmen. Many young women were forced into prostitution.

And this was only a tiny portion of the horrors of human life under tyranny, whether that tyranny be by a monarchy, a dictator, a consortium of powerful people, or even tyranny by majority rule. It all works out the same. Only the tiny handful of rich and powerful can lead "the good life." Everyone else is a slave.

As Hathaway realizes that her dreams have faded and her hopes gone, she sings this song at the end of her life as an ode to loss, the grief that overwhelms when one is aware that all they based their life upon would go unfulfilled, making life basically not worth living. Life, she said, had killed her dream. And now there was nothing left for her but for her body to die.

Yes, it is an overwhelmingly sad story. But it is based on harsh reality, the world the way it was, and the world the way much of it remains today, with the rare exception of those areas where human liberty is valued, encouraged, and protected.

The place at which we connect with Hathaway in the film is her stark description of having lost her dreams. At some point during life all of us, without exception, are faced with the same loss. For some it is a mere sidetrack to other things. For others it is life-altering, so severe that one never recovers and is never the same. Dreams can be so powerful that when they go unfulfilled they can be devastating, sometimes lifelong.

I won't go into the ways in which I connect with Hathaway's character at this point other than to say that I understand dreams, hopes, and the dashing of those dreams and hopes by forces beyond one's control. And, although those losses did not result in my death, each time a dream was shattered, a hope lost, something inside me died...except for hope itself, an endless capacity to dream dreams and to hope when it seems hopeless.

I have been in a meditative mood of late, contemplating those losses, and pondering over the pull in two opposite directions -- one that says too many hopes and dreams have been dashed to recover from and that life is no longer worth the living, and the other that says somehow one finds a way to keep hoping, to keep dreaming a little longer.

The performance by Anne Hathaway below does not contain scenes from Les Miserables, for I found that to be a bit distracting from the main purpose, to focus on the words, the emotion, the depth of feeling, as she sings this most poignant and moving song. I hope you will listen and read in the right frame of mind. This is not child's play. It is not to be made fun of. It is not to be dismissed with some curt or snide remark. This is life, and it is serious, and for most, deadly and sad, very very sad. But life is in part about sadness, and to dismiss it or try to ignore it will only intensify it in one's unconscious.

So, for what it is worth, here is Anne Hathaway's "I Dreamed a Dream." Those who can connect will understand my words here and understand what the song is about. If you cannot access the video below, click here to go straight to the YouTube site.


White House connection to corruption expands

As the scope of the IRS scandal continues to grow, the extent to which the White House engaged in corruption in multiple government agencies expands. Not only is it becoming apparent that IRS illegal targeting of conservatives goes much deeper than initially reported, but a multiplicity of cabinet level agencies within the executive branch had a direct connection with political operatives in the White House whose sole purpose was to get Obama reelected.

The Examiner has already reported thoroughly on the dubious relationship between IRS commissioner Lois Lerner and White House harassment of Tea Party  and other conservative groups. But other key figures are emerging...

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

IRS Lois Lerner has long history of conservative harassment

Breaking news today indicates that the key figure in the current IRS scandal has a long history of harassing conservatives, going all the way back to 1996. Lois Lerner refused to answer questions before Congress last week regarding the targeting of hundreds of conservative, Tea Party, and Christian groups by the IRS.

Strong evidence has been presented to members of Congress showing that Lerner is the point-person at the IRS when it comes to conducting witch hunts against conservatives. Evidence also strongly indicates that the harassment of the Tea Party in 2012 contributed to Barack Obama's reelection to the presidency.

But new evidence uncovered today...

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.

The Gun Rights and Liberty News Roundup for 5/30/2013


Stand Up America reports that NBC News, of all people, now says that "higher ups" in the Obama administration asked for IRS scrutiny of conservative groups. Could NBC actually be reporting news now? Maybe when Obama's henchmen throw a few of them in jail for painting the Fuhrer in a negative light, they will finally see the need of getting back to the task of real journalism rather than advocacy.

Traction Control drops bombshell breaking news that Obama was crafting his cover story on Benghazi even while Chris Stevens and others were being attacked!

From Around O-Town: "Save yourselves if you care for your own skin." A must-read.

Roberta X has the latest on the news story that someone sent a letter containing ricin to The Bastard.

1 With a Bullet discusses a transparent Glock frame that he found on display at the NRA convention.

Mike Vanderboegh is headed to Texas for a big rally of the Three Percenters in the area.

David Codrea castigates a major "moms against gun violence" group for their lack of transparency in openly stating their real objective.

Kurt Hofmann says that bowhunters and gun owners are hanging together so we don't hang separately.

WRSA informs us that he built an AK-47 all on his own, from scratch, and it's 100% untraceable. You see, this is why in the new world of citizen empowerment, gun control and bans are futile. Citizens will either build their own or buy them on the black market. And none can be traced. I know this news causes hysterical anti-gun bigots to go somewhere and hurl from acute nausea, but they had better get used to it due to their insistence on robbing citizens of their firearms rights.

Way Up North has an on-the-scene report and photos of a 30-mile long ice jam that lifted homes off of their foundations in Alaska.

Brigid posts a most important read for the newbie who is just getting started with firearms. There's also some good stuff there for veteran firearms enthusiasts.

The Stiletto presents, "The Other Shoe Drops"--a roundup of news of importance to conservatives. Take a look.

CLO provides an important video titled, "The Real War on Women." Watch it all.

Days of our Trailers has news from California on the attempt to enact "ammunition control" in addition to the state's assault on gun rights.

Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer go straight for the jugular and the carotid in their fight against the Jihad. Here is their latest.

Welcome to the world according to Obama and the jack-wagons who run liberal states. Alphecca reports that in New Jersey prison inmates receive unemployment benefits. You read that right.

Michelle Malkin calls our attention to the fact that a school district in Florida conducted iris scans of students without their permission or the permission of their parents. Do you understand yet that we are now living under tyranny?????

Gateway Pundit has the latest from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who is now demanding that the ethically challenged liar, Eric Holder, step down as Attorney General.

Karl Denninger declares that it's time to jail the prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case in Florida for withholding key evidence in the trial of George Zimmerman.

Oleg Volk, photographer extraordinaire, shares a couple of his incredible shots that depict one of the best things a parent can do for their children -- give them a firearm and teach them to shoot it using all of the rules of safety.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Bob Dole interview replete with inaccuracies

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., who also served as Gerald Ford's running mate in the 1976 presidential election and the Republican standard bearer in the 1996 presidential election, gave a rare interview Tuesday which was replete with half-truths and inaccuracies.

Dole's long career in the U.S. Senate is distinguished, for sure. And he managed to stake out a conservative stance on numerous issues which, at the time, were unpopular, much more so than at present. In addition, no one can fault Dole for his military record, having nearly died on the battlefield and consequently suffering his whole life thereafter with severe wounds of war. He is to be thanked for his courageous service to his country.

However, Dole's career is also characterized by a suicidal adherence to the "moderate" position on many issues, a stance that cost him two national elections...

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Gun Rights and Liberty News Roundup for 5/28/2013


Kurt Hofmann says that the latest round of attacks on gun rights is coming from none other than so-called "gun owners." Wonder how much they are paid to pose as people on our side?

CLO reports that The Bastard has launched a $350,000 campaign against a senator who voted against expanded background checks.

Pamela Geller notes that our hammerheaded president has threatened the UK if they leave the European Union. Well heck, since the EU is going under, why would ANY SANE nation wish to stay in it???

David Codrea has a most interesting story about the University of North Carolina, a bastion of liberalism in what is otherwise a conservative area of the country. UNC is overtly anti-gun, but an activist group has launched an ad campaign against them. Good!

Tam serves up some well deserved snark aimed at that Democrat in Republican clothing, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. And no, I would NEVER vote for him for president. He is worse than McCain or Romney. That pretty much says it all.

Mike Vanderboegh reminds us that tyranny is alive and growing in America. Be sure to read this news report on what happened in New Jersey!

Way Up North presents an interesting video that could be titled, "Never, EVER mess with a girl's purse!" Take a look!

Stand Up America has an expose showing that the Obama/leftwing dirty tricks attack on conservative groups goes all the way back to 2008.

For those who still think FDR was good for America and a great president, despite overwhelming historical evidence to the contrary, be sure to read WRSA's overview of "The Revolution Was." As a sidenote, despite the common perception, FDR did NOTHING to stop the Great Depression! In fact, his policies prolonged it. It was WWII that finally got the nation out of the economic slime pits. Calvin Coolidge and Warren Harding showed the nation how to stop a depression in 1921. It was every bit as bad as The Great Depression of the 30s but in less than 2 years it was over due to a few basic simple principles that guided Coolidge and Harding. Compare/contrast--FDR was unable to stop the Depression even within 10 years. Coolidge stopped a Depression in less than 2 years. Somebody has been LYING TO YOU trying to create a FALSE image of how great FDR was.

Karl Denninger has a so-called "gun crime" news story out of Anchorage that should give thinking people pause.

John Jacob H reports the anti-gun bigots in North Carolina have conducted another one of their shameless blood dances. Take a look.

Days of our Trailers says that Chicago, that bastion of restrictive gun control laws, exploded like a war zone over the holiday weekend.

Around O-Town calls our attention to two peas in a pod.

Alphecca declares that rumors of the NRA's demise are greatly exaggerated.

Gateway Pundit has breaking news that the House Judiciary Committee will investigate Eric Holder on possible perjury charges.


Major blowback on gun control

Several stories that are developing in the mainstream and alternative media indicate that gun control proponents in Congress and in state legislatures are facing major blowback for their stance on passing new restrictions on the gun rights of American citizens.

Fox News is reporting that one of the states where there is significant blowback is Colorado. Many rank and file citizens in the state are outraged that a Democratic controlled legislature and governor's office succeeded in passing some of the most restrictive new laws in the nation, in spite of the overwhelming disapproval of citizens. Legislators who voted in favor of such laws face recall elections.

Further, state legislators in Illinois have disclosed to the Examiner that were it not for the dominating influence of the Chicago machine, the state would never have succeeded in passing restrictive gun control laws. In response to the overreach of gun control forces, the state legislature, thus, has voted to approve concealed carry for gun owners.

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.