The scandal du jour on Thursday - the U.S. Marshall’s Service losing a couple terrorists in the witness protection program – would be laughable if it wasn’t downright maddening.

How in the hell could a government agency lose track of people who were assigned Social Security Numbers by that agency.  Those numbers are required for everything, including CREDIT CARDS, bank accounts, the purchase of cars which all have GPS now. It’s all totally traceable.

HEL-LO!!!!!

We ordinary Americans get that, and have been uneasy about it for years, since we value our right to privacy, especially about financial and medical issues.  Computer systems record everything.  And this doesn’t even include the surveillance cameras everywhere that confirm what the credit card records say.  GPS is in not just cars, but smart phones and computers.  Regular cell phones can be generally located through triangulation.

The only way to escape all this is to go totally off the grid.  Wouldn’t it cross the minds of a few U.S. Marshalls that individuals who surface as “suspected terrorists” would know how to do this?

(Even if it didn’t, haven’t any of them read The Pelican Brief, or at least seen the movie?  I mean Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts….)

And Obummer’s AG didn’t know anything about it?

What exactly do these people know?  What teams are left in the NBA playoffs?

Why are potential terrorists allowed to run loose and patriotic groups not allowed to have non-profit status when liberal groups’ applications are approved so quickly, they cannot possibly have been reviewed?

It’s all so counter to the way competent people operate, it’s not even funny.

And the buck stopper is violating protocol and the chain of command to have Marines, men of honor who VOLUNTEER to serve us, hold an umbrella over his head during a light shower as if he was going to melt as the rain pelted him.

(It’s not like the man puts relaxer on his hair.  African-American women actually have a problem in this regard.)

And that’s not even getting into today’s email revelations on Benghazi, ANYTHING having to do with ObamaCare, OR the Justice Department tapping not just the AP phone lines, but the Congressional Cloak Room.

Any one of these would be enough to submarine a Republican.

ARGH!

Barack, Barack,
please, go away,
and don’t come back any other day.

Speaking with CNN’s Piers Morgan (not exactly a harsh critic of Barack Obama), Jay Carney not only said: “I dismiss the idea that these are scandals,” but that he actually enjoys being skewered by the press.

“Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve kind of enjoyed it,” Carney said, as Morgan asked him how his week has been. Carney reportedly also enjoys walking on hot coals barefoot and having needles plunged under his fingernails.

Morgan also asked Carney if he had ever thought he would have to deal with three scandals at the same time, to which the visibly-flustered propaganda minister replied:

“I dismiss the premise, the idea that these are scandals. One is a total concoction by Republicans. And the other … the IRS issue … absolutely … inappropriate behavior, wrong activity by personnel by the IRS … and action needs to be taken, is being taken and will be taken.”

Of course, as is the case with all three scandals (yes, Jay, they’re scandals) the “action” that “needs to taken” to which Carney refers is always about the future. His boss responds the same way. Seems to me that if they didn’t have anything to hide, they’d actually respond to questions being asked.

Moreover, I wonder which part of Benghazi Carney thinks is a “total concoction by Republicans”? The order for military units to “stand down” as Ambassador Stevens and Deputy Chief Gregory Hicks repeatedly pleaded for help? Or, maybe the scrubbing of the talking points at the direction of the State Department?

Then again, it could be Obama’s claim that he called the attack “terrorism” within hours, but showed up on David Letterman and before the UN General Assembly two weeks later and blamed the YouTube video.

Carney’s continued buffoonery would be funny — if the controversies were not so serious. Can’t wait till next week.

President Obama and his progressive allies have recently told us that even the most draconian of gun laws must be passed because: “If we save even one life from gun violence, it’s worth it.” While that’s an amazingly ignorant, infantile, and even downright silly statement, it does neatly sum up the nanny-state philosophy that is fueling a nationwide assault on the second “shall not be infringed” amendment as well as law-abiding gun owners across the nation.

By such simplistic liberal logic, the printed word is far too dangerous to be allowed outside the hands of a privileged few or the auspices of government control. In fact, entire cultures, nations, and peoples have been persuaded to commit atrocious acts of aggression and even genocide by simple concepts spread by the printed word and other mass message distribution devices. If you are going to start banning guns, then you better start banning ideas and the ways they are disseminated. And remember, if only one life is saved by such extreme actions, “at least we did something.”

Simple words printed on pieces of paper have indeed proven themselves to be far more dangerous than the mere possession of firearms by a certain percentage of a population.

The advent of the printing press, and the technologies that evolved from it, facilitated the widespread distribution of controversial, violent, and often hateful concepts and ideologies. In the last century alone, approximately 170 million people were killed because of the ideas outlined within just three books.* The contents of Mao’s “Little Red Book,” Hitler’s Mein Kamph, and Marx and Engel’s The Communist Manifesto have been responsible for more repression, massacres, genocide, and cataclysmic warfare than all other theologies and ideologies from the beginning of time until now.

In addition to the poison spread by the likes of Marx and Hitler, many other books and writings have also contributed to the deaths of countless human beings and to the rise of a myriad of twisted cults and movements. The plethora of the gullible, uneducated, mentally ill, opportunistic, and extremist among the general population has shown us that average citizens cannot be trusted with the often dangerous ideas that a book can provide without strict government regulation and control.

One has to wonder if the time has come to call for the registration of books deemed potentially dangerous and perhaps even the banning of exceptional powerful ones like the Bible that, when misused, could theoretically cause harm to innocents. Book buybacks, book-free zones, waiting periods, restrictions on internet book purchases, and requiring doctors to report to authorities the existence of such possibly mind-damaging materials in the home should all be explored.  The safety of the public at large, no matter what the cost, must trump any outdated notions of personal liberty or constitutional “rights.”

Book registration and book-free zones make about as much sense as gun registration and gun-free zones. Both are equally ineffective deterrents when it comes to stopping psychopaths, violent criminals, and mass murderers. But such policies have shown themselves to be powerful weapons for governments to use against civilian populations. Especially when a government decides to start massively increasing its own power and control while at the same time restricting previously protected natural and constitutional rights. Registration inevitably leads to confiscation and that formula has been played out time after time in nation after nation. To pretend otherwise is mere historical ignorance or purposeful misdirection.

For, in the end, if it’s truly just about “saving lives” with no consideration for liberty and individual rights then we might as well start by banning books as well as guns. For the 1^st and 2^nd amendments go hand in hand. The contents of each are equally potentially dangerous, and at the same time equally precious and important. And each relies upon the other for its existence in a truly free society. Such was the design incorporated into the foundation of our nation by the Founding Fathers.

It is absolutely no business of the government which constitutionally-protected rights a citizen chooses to engage in. That’s part of the beauty of being a free and sovereign citizen in a Constitutional Republic. You have the right to be left alone and to live your life free from undue government interference and regulation. Infringing on those rights is not the proper role of government. Instead, it is the government’s role to protect and preserve those rights.

Perhaps Noah Webster said it best:

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.”

*source: http://www.scottmanning.com/content/communist-body-count/

Nancy Pelosi, like Joe Biden, is the gift that keeps on giving. Thursday, she offered up more brilliant analysis; this time, as to why Republicans are “making so much” of the scandals: because Barack Obama is “such a great president.”

“They make so much of these issues, because this president is such a great president. He’s a visionary – you’ve heard me say this so many times.

This is a great president. He’s a visionary. He has a knowledge of our country, concerns of the American people that give him judgment as to what plan we should have to go forward to strengthen the middle class.

And he has an eloquence to convey that message. They fear that, and so any issue that comes up, they will try to exploit.”

What planet does this woman live on? Correct me if I’m wrong, but if Barack Obama is such a “visionary,” how on earth did he get himself into such a mess? He’s either in these scandals up to his eyeballs – or he’s the most uninformed, out-of the-loop president in modern history. Either way, not exactly the stuff vision and greatness are made of, is it?

Oh, and that “fear” thing? The only people afraid right now are Obama and the Democrats – as they see O’s world crashing down around them. Thankfully, the always-hysterical Pelosi keeps us reminded of just how afraid they really are.

MSNBC’s twelve zombified audience members might have blinked twice before going back into their news comas when they heard this come out on Morning Shmo.

NBC’s Lisa Myers reported this morning that the IRS deliberately hid that it wrongly targeted conservative groups until after the 2012 presidential election:

The IRS commissioner “has known for at least a year that this was going on,” said Myers, “and that this had happened. And did he share any of that information with the White House? But even more importantly, Congress is going to ask him, why did you mislead us for an entire year? Members of Congress were saying conservatives are being targeted. What’s going on here? The IRS denied it. Then when — after these officials are briefed by the IG that this is going on, they don’t disclose it. In fact, the commissioner sent a letter to Congress in September on this subject and did not reveal this. Imagine if we — if you can — what would have happened if this fact came out in September 2012, in the middle of a presidential election? The terrain would have looked very different.”

Both Joe Scarborough and Mike Brzezinski nodded in agreement on Myers’ points. But didn’t both of them know that the Obama administration had gone after more whistleblowers than all previous administrations combined? That the lack of transparency and the deception over numerous practices (like meeting lobbyists off White House grounds) were for a reason?

It boggles the mind that the election’s in the bag for Obama, and these two yucks are chin-wagging to reports of rampant corruption. Well, bully for you, but we’ve got four more years of this.

Furthermore, Myers doubted that the lady at the IRS tax-exempt division who is now heading ObamaCare enforcement (you read that right) will be there for much longer. Even on the edge of shocking, Myers scolded an administration where whistleblowers would not come forward and she expressed concern over a government culture where no one had the integrity to put a stop to the abusive practice.

Rat’s two cents: Not only does the liberal media continue its epic meltdown over the community organizer’s burgeoning crisis; many of its “journalists” are becoming downright schizophrenic. From pretend-Republican Joe Scarborough to Andrea Mitchell to Tingles Matthews, they blame Republicans one day and the Regime the next. Times like these must be rough when you have no principles.

Another story that could’ve been from SNL’s Weekend Update with Seth Meyers: The IRS official in charge of the unit responsible for tax-exempt organizations when it targeted the Tea Party and other conservative groups now runs the IRS office responsible for ObamaCare enforcement.

“Stunning, just stunning,” was all Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell could say upon learning about the revelation. From ABC News:

Sarah Hall Ingram served as commissioner of the office responsible for tax-exempt organizations between 2009 and 2012. But Ingram has since left that part of the IRS and is now the director of the IRS’ Affordable Care Act office, the IRS confirmed to ABC News today.

Her successor, Joseph Grant, is taking the fall for misdeeds at the scandal-plagued unit between 2010 and 2012. During at least part of that time, Grant served as deputy commissioner of the tax-exempt unit.

Grant announced Thursday that he would retire June 3, despite being appointed as commissioner of the tax-exempt office May 8, a week ago.

After the House voted for the third time to fully repeal ObamaCare Thursday night, Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) said:

“ObamaCare empowers the agency that just violated the public’s trust by secretly targeting conservative groups. Even by Washington’s standards, that’s unacceptable.”

Stutzman was right. Moreover, the IRS official who oversaw the very unit that has destroyed the public’s trust in the IRS is now running the agency’s unit responsible for enforcing ObamaCare compliance. As McConnell said, this revelation is stunning indeed.

For a beleaguered administration frantically trying to gain control of the ever-growing IRS scandal – along with Benghazi and DOJ/AP – this troubling disclosure will only serve to pour more gas on its already out-of-control fire.

You can’t make this stuff up, folks.

In an appearance before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the IRS scandal Wednesday, embattled Attorney General Eric “My People” Holder (or is that “Withholder”?) said “I don’t know” and “I’m not sure” so many times it was ridiculous – which obviously called for a hysterical video edit.

This one speaks for itself, folks.

While waiting for Obama to address the IRS scandal last night, Tingles opined that many conservatives want Obama’s scandals to add an “asterisk” to his presidency. Why? Racism, of course. 

“There are people in this country … who want this president to have an asterisk next to his name in the history books. Like he really wasn’t president – like a guy in baseball who used drugs. They wanna say: ‘He really didn’t have that batting average; he really wasn’t the first African American president; he really didn’t do healthcare; he really didn’t kill bin Laden.’

They have been fighting for that …. since day one. They can’t stand the idea that he’s president. And a piece of it is racism. It’s the sense that the white race must rule. That’s what racism is … and they can’t stand the idea that a man who is not white is president. That sense of racial superiority and rule is in the hearts of some people in this country.”

Matthews sees a racist boogeyman around every corner, but this was one his “best” rants to date. Obviously not content with his regular daily habit of calling anything and everything “racist” that conservatives oppose about Obama and his policies, he now apparent feels the need to kick up a notch and bust out the “white supremacy” blast.

Looks like Tingles is as stressed out about the scandals as is his savior.

To set the mood, take a listen to the Dead Swan in the tavern scene from Carl Orff’s incredibly pagan and sacrilegious Carmina Burana.  (The text is by a 13th century Benedictine monk who was laicized.)

Once I lived on lakes; Once I looked beautiful; When I was a swan.
Misery me!  Now black and roasting fiercely.
The servant is turning me on the spit; I am burning fiercely on the pyre; the steward serves me up.
Now I lie on a plate; and I cannot fly anymore; and I see bared teeth!

For those who were claiming this morning, that the Occupier of the Oval Office’s goose was cooked – yeah, it’s not good to count them chickens before they’ve hatched.

The goose – or swan, in this case, ugly duckling effect and all – isn’t done and there’s no feast yet, because, at this point, the bird is still trying to fly, and the plucking isn’t finished, let alone it being dead and roasting over an open fire.

In fact, the peacock is still showing his tail feathers.  (Sorry, I don’t buy that this particular bird can swim.)

For some reason, patience not being a great American virtue and all, those who have talons bared want to flash grill the turkey and his yard-mates with all their feathers still attached.  Burnt feathers smell awful, are not tasty, and will not slay the bird.  What’s the friggin’ hurry?  Are we not all entertained by the squawking coming out of the rest of the squatter’s flock?  I mean, seriously, a blow torch is not going to finish off this bunch – and that seems to be the weapon of choice.

The heat and pressure needs to build, as if being boiled in an airtight container (without any explosives, of course).  A quick ending would be entirely too merciful.

Besides, every good cook out there knows that for succulent, juicy, tender meat, careful slow roasting over a low fire is the way to go, like the dead swan in Carl Orff’s 13th century tavern.  That’s the way to be sure that the meat is cooked all the way through to the bone, so that there is no pheonix effect or chance of food poisoning when the fire goes out.

(For those not into metaphors, that means BE PATIENT and let the truth come out gradually, like it did during Watergate.)

But, that’s after the plucking and clucking to get to the truth, which in this case we should all savor.  And a few media members, like Steve Hayes, should save some of those tail feathers as souviners.

Seriously, pass the popcorn.  Oh, wait.  I’ve gone paleo.  Pass the wings and drumsticks.

BTW, his administration threw a sacrificial lamb under the bus yesterday.  I don’t know who they think they’re fooling, but the acting head of the IRS is not the meat the vultures are circling.

Is the Regime in full-blown panic mode over the IRS scandal? The urgency of the release of the following statement – at 8:30 last night – would suggest so. This scandal is quickly getting away from Obama.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2013

Statement by the President: I have now had the opportunity to review the Treasury Department watchdog’s report on its investigation of IRS personnel who improperly targeted conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status.  And the report’s findings are intolerable and inexcusable.  The federal government must conduct itself in a way that’s worthy of the public’s trust, and that’s especially true for the IRS.  The IRS must apply the law in a fair and impartial way, and its employees must act with utmost integrity.  This report shows that some of its employees failed that test.

I’ve directed Secretary Lew to hold those responsible for these failures accountable, and to make sure that each of the Inspector General’s recommendations are implemented quickly, so that such conduct never happens again.  But regardless of how this conduct was allowed to take place, the bottom line is, it was wrong.  Public service is a solemn privilege.  I expect everyone who serves in the federal government to hold themselves to the highest ethical and moral standards.  So do the American people.  And as President, I intend to make sure our public servants live up to those standards every day.

Couldn’t happen to a more arrogant condescending nicer guy. Fasten your seat belts, folks; it’s gonna be a fascinating ride.