Judge Andrew Napolitano vs. Bill O'Reilly on the Oregon Christmas Tree Bomber(Video)

Napolitano argues that the alleged Oregon Christmas tree bomber could not have done what the Feds say he attempted to do and that "wanted to do evil is not a crime, it's a thought, we don't punish thoughts in this country"...O'Reilly fires back hard

John McCain on the Senate Floor: "I Think The Senate Will Be a Much Poorer Place Without Russ Feingold in It" (Video)

(yawn) McCain's tribute to Feingold: "I will sorely miss his presence here, I will miss seeing him everyday, I will miss traveling with him...It was a privilege to fight along side and not against Russ Feingold...I don't think he is replaceable"

Hey John, there's a reason he lost, following a left-wing agenda and refusing to listen to the American people are reasons why Wisconsin is sending Ron Johnson to the Senate and sending Russ Feingold home. If he was so great, why did he get tossed out? This is the McCain that drives people crazy...

Cyber Monday Online Sales Jump 19.4% From Last Year, Sets Traffic Record

Wall Street Journal

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Retailers registered record returns on Cyber Monday, as online sales, order levels and the number of people logging on to stores' websites hit unprecedented levels.

The latest figures further indicate that spending this holiday season remains intense, although worries remain. The data also show how the Internet has developed into a mainstream shopping channel and how much the brick-and-mortar retailers have grown on the Web.

Sales on Cyber Monday, the nickname for the Monday after Thanksgiving, rose 19.4% from last year, according to Coremetrics, which tracks the websites of over 500 online retailers. The number tops last year's 14% growth, which had been the highest in the seven years that Coremetrics has tracked online sales.

"Cyber Monday has turned into its own phenomenon," said John Squire, chief strategy officer at Coremetrics, a unit of International Business Machines Corp.

ChannelAdvisor, a software company that helps retailers sell online, said its more than 3,000 clients sold $28.7 million of merchandise on Cyber Monday, up 36% from last year on a same-store sales basis and a record amount. ChannelAdvisor also said it saw unprecedented volume, processing over 500,000 transactions on Cyber Monday, or six transactions a second

Interpol Issues Arrest Warrant for WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange

foxnews

Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on sex charges.

The Australian is suspected of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion in an investigation that stems from his encounters with two women during a visit to Sweden in August.

Assange has denied the allegations and insisted his sexual relations with the women were consensual.

Court documents filed by the prosecutor show Assange is suspected of raping and sexually molesting a woman in the town of Enkoping, central Sweden. He's suspected of sexual molestation and unlawful coercion of the second woman, in Stockholm.

A police report obtained by The Associated Press shows that both women had met Assange in connection with a seminar he gave in Stockholm on Aug. 14. The report shows the women filed their complaints together six days later.

Mark Stephens, Assange's lawyer in Britain, said both women have declared that they had "consensual sexual relations" with Assange.

Retiring Chris Dodd Delivers Final Senate Speech (Video)

Over 30 years of liberal votes comes to an end, Dodd came in on the Watergate class of '74. DLTDHYOTWO

There are rumors that Chris Dodd will take a job making sandwiches at La Brasserie Restaurant in Washington

Here's a good video from 2007 of O'Reilly laying into Dodd during a segment on the O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly exclaims "you don't know what the hell I said, you're a propagandist senator, I used to respect for you, I don't have any respect for you"

County Council in Missouri Votes To Ban Protests At Funerals

Protests "will be illegal"...The ban is aimed at Military funerals. Barring an injunction, the law will take effect in 30 days. Here's the video
 
kplr11.com

St. Charles, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) — "Even in the crucial and ugly days of Vietnam respect and dignity lived on," says Arch Riggenberg a Vietnam veteran who emotionally spoke before the St. Charles County Council. Riggenberg asked for passage of a controversial bill that aims to regulate anyone who tries to protest at a funeral.

"This is the right thing to do," says Councilmember Joe Brazil. While the ordinance will apply to every funeral it is admittedly designed to protect military funerals from protests by Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas who use military funerals to protest homosexuality.

"This is about the families" says County Executive Steve Ehlmann, "this is about government trying to do something to protect their privacy."

While those who spoke in favor shout their defense of the constitution, that's what ACLU attorneys say they will be doing by challenging this law in court.

Chris Van Hollen: The House May Vote on Tax Cuts Thursday

reuters

The House of Representatives may vote Thursday on a measure to let income tax rates to rise for the wealthiest 2 percent of U.S. households, a top Democrat said Tuesday.

"Things can change but we are talking about Thursday," Representative Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Democratic leadership, said after meeting with other lawmakers.

Lawmakers are scrambling to reach a deal before the end of the year to delay expiration of tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush. Democrats want extension of lower rates for income up to $200,000, while Republicans want lower rates for income above that amount to be extended as well.Earlier Tuesday, congressional leaders met with President Barack Obama, where they agreed to form a working group to resolve the issue.

"It was very positive in the spirit of moving forward and doing so in a way that helps to create jobs, reduce the deficit and lower taxes for the middle class," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the meeting.

Matt Lauer Can't Stop Laughing After Guest Says Retailers "Trying To Shrink the Size of the Package"

From ABC's Today Show

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Republicans Talk About Their Meeting at the White House With Obama (Video)

Cantor comes in at 1:29, He says "I was pleased that the President did recognize that the election meant that the people want to see results"....No young gun, the message from the mid-terms is that they want the Obama agenda STOPPED. And really, who cares what Obama said in the meeting? The man will say whatever he has to based on who his audience is...At this presser today, Republicans simply don't sound like they just won 63 seats in the House

GOP leaders give their take on their meeting with President Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders

Hot Mic Picks Up Discussion on Senate Floor: Lame Duck Session "Is All Rigged"

Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet

dailycaller

A hot mic left on during a Senate vote Tuesday morning on the Food Safety Act caught a senator complaining that process of setting the agenda during the lame-duck session is “rigged.”

“It’s all rigged. The whole conversation is rigged,” said Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet. “The fact that we don’t get to a discussion before the break about what we’re going to do in the lame duck. It’s just rigged.”

The remark was picked up live on C-SPAN 2, although microphones are usually turned down during voting times. An aide quickly realized the mistake, jumped up and had the sound cut off.

Bennet Chief of Staff Guy Cecil stood by the senator’s comments.

“It’s something he’s been talking about from day one,” Cecil told The Daily Caller in an interview outside the Senate chamber. “The whole process being rigged against having a real conversation about tax cuts, the estate tax and the defense authorization. We’re not having a lot of those conversations. It’s just a symptom of Washington being broken.”

"Christmas" Removed From Plaza in Philadelphia, Will Now Become "Holiday" Village

PC madness...

Crews remove the word "Christmas" from the sign at Dilworth Plaza. VANCE LEHMKUHL / Daily News Staff

philly.com

It's that season again, which means that for the third year in a row, the German Christmas Village has set up a cozy collection of wooden booths and tree vendors in Dilworth Plaza on the west side of City Hall.

But a few shoppers noticed something amiss yesterday on the tall metal archways signaling the entrances to the shops. The archways had just one word on top - "Village."

It turns out that the letters spelling "Christmas" were removed yesterday afternoon from the archways on the north and west sides of the plaza, at the request of Managing Director Richard Negrin. They will be replaced with the word "Holiday."

City spokesman Mark McDonald said Negrin asked for the change after the city received complaints from workers and residents.

Thomas Bauer, of the German American Marketing Inc., which runs the Village, said he was happy to change the sign. He said the brochures and the posters would keep the Christmas Village title.

"People have to go to public buildings. They shouldn't feel offended," Bauer said, stressing that the name was not intended to upset anyone. "It's been very successful the last two years. People like the name. We built it like a German Christmas market. We did not think a lot about it."

So Philly.com has a poll next to the story asking if people were offended by the word "Christmas"

PPP Poll of GOP 2012: Sarah Palin 21%, Newt Gingrich 19%, Mitt Romney 18%

publicpolicypolling

Sarah Palin pulls 21% to Newt Gingrich’s 19%, Mitt Romney’s 18%, Mike Huckabee’s 16%, Ron Paul’s and Tim Pawlenty’s 5%, John Thune’s 3%, and Mitch Daniels’ 2%. To make things even more chaotic, 12%—almost as many as favor the bottom four combined—are either completely unsure or want another candidate to jump in.

If some unnamed contender or one of the less-supported options managed to pick up momentumwith this group, he or she would instantly join the conversation near the top.

There is a sizeable ideological divide. As is typically the case, Romney’s strength is among moderates, with 25% to Huckabee’s 20%, Palin’s 13%, and Gingrich’s 10%.
Unfortunately for Romney, self-proclaimed centrists make up only 28% of the nationwide electorate.

The 71% who call themselves conservative give Palin and Gingrich a huge boost—the two are essentially tied with right-wingers at 24% and 23%, respectively. Romney drops way down to 15%, just nosing out Huckabee’s 14%.

Brit Hume: Don't Get Too Excited About This Bipartisan Meeting at the White House Today

Brit Hume on Fox News says this really about setting a tone and posing afterwards. "Expectations for this meeting may be a little high"

Senate Rejects Proposal to Ban Earmarks

The ban on earmarks only gets 39 votes in the Senate


reuters

The Senate on Tuesday rejected a proposed ban on the pet spending projects known as earmarks that have become a symbol of wasteful spending for many voters.

Momentum to curtail earmarks had been growing in Congress after Republicans won big in the November 2 elections amid widespread concerns about government spending.

But the proposed earmark ban only picked up 39 votes in the Senate, far short of the 67 it needed to advance in the 100-seat chamber. Fifty-six senators voted against the ban.

Republicans in both the House and the Senate have adopted a voluntary earmark ban, but their unity will be tested as eight broke with their party to vote against giving that ban the force of law and several have indicated that they may continue to seek earmarks next year

Christine O'Donnell on Hillary: "I Hope She Runs For Pres....I'd Would Even Be Tempted To Change My Registration To Vote For Her in the Dem Primary"

Christine O'Donnell on ABC News GMA, skip ahead to 3:30, Hillary Clinton has a new cheerleader. I'm trying to think of another conservative woman that would ever say "you go girl" to Hillary Clinton. I can't think of one...


blogs.abcnews

Christine O'Donnell wants Hillary Clinton to challenge President Obama -- and she's willing to help.

“I would love to see her take out Obama in the primary. You know, I would even be tempted to change my registration so that I could vote for her in the Democratic primary,” she told me during "GMA's" Morning Mix.

O’Donnell praised Clinton via Twitter yesterday for her handling of the WikiLeak situation.

“You Go Girl!!” she wrote. “She’s no Reagan yet her verbal lashing against wikileak is tough- watch out Obama!”

So is the former Delaware GOP senate candidate pushing a Clinton candidacy because she thinks Clinton would be easier to beat in the general election?

“No. It’s because right now I think that anybody is better than Obama,” O’Donnell told me.

Christine O'Donnell on twitter yesterday: "You go girl" to Hillary Clinton.

Republican Member Blasts Acting House Speaker "This Is Why The American People Have Thrown You Out of Power"

This is quite an exchange on the House floor, it is between Republican Steve Buyer and the acting Democratic House Speaker who is playing games with the rules. She will not recognize him and there is no one to object...


h/t to freedomslighthouse

Republican Rep. Steve Buyer reading acting House Speaker (Dem Rep. Laura Richardson) the riot act over the power games she was playing by refusing to recognize him to speak even though there was no one else even there to object to him being recognized. As she continued to deny him the right to speak, Buyer even said to her, “This is why the American People have thrown you out of power.” Here is how it all went down:

Mike Pence on CNBC: Limit Federal Spending to 20% of GDP

Pence on with CNBC's Kudlow says the most pro-growth option for tax reform is a flat tax and calls for a constitutional amendment to limit federal spending at 20% of GDP
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) discusses the conclusion he foresees with the ongoing debate on extending Bush tax cuts, with CNBC's Larry Kudlow

Pence: "It's absolutely imperative that we put our fiscal house in order

The House Could Punish Charlie Rangel As Early as Tuesday

Censure resolution has been sent to the House floor

politics.blogs.foxnews

Ethics Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) tells Fox her panel has sent its censure resolution of Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) to the House floor tonight.

The resolution is "privileged." That means it skips to the front of the legislative line. The House either considers the resolution right away, or can wait no more than two days to debate it.

The House is finished with legislative business now, which means it could consider the Rangel resolution as early as Tuesday.

Rangel tells Fox he hasn't been briefed on when the resolution will come up."It's up to the chairman," said Rangel, referring to Lofgren. "I've been told that she calls the shots."

Censure is a punishment just below expulsion. It's sometimes described as a reprimand on steroids.

If lawmakers vote to censure Rangel, he would stand in the well of the chamber as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) delivers a verbal rebuke.

Charlie and his allies say censure is too harsh

O'Reilly: "There are Traitors in America...Whoever Leaked Docs To the Wikileaks Website is a Traitor and Should Be Executed or Put In Prison For Life"

O'Reilly: "Every American should be outraged by this situation. Once again, the President is not extending any sense of urgency to the public about it, it's amazing, why doesn't Mr. Obama just express some outrage? Why is he ignoring it?

Jimmy Carter on Sarah Palin: She's Gonna Be a Formidable Candidate in 2012, She Could Get the Nomination (Video)

CARTER: "She's one of the most dynamic and attractive speakers we've ever seen. She knows how to appeal to a crowd, she's very eloquent..She does have the capability in my opinion as an extreme outsider maybe to get the nomination"

Carter on C-SPAN's booktv with Douglas Brinkley

Buffalo Bill's WR Who Dropped Game Winning Touchdown Has Change of Heart: "No I Did Not Blame God People! Seriously"

Sunday's tweet from Buffalo Bill's WR Steve Johnson, he blamed God after he dropped the pass that would have been the game winning touchdown:


Tonight on twitter he says he was just asking "why"


Here's video of the dropped game winning touchdown Sunday

Oregon Bomber Suspect Had Date Rape Accusation in 2009

Mohamed O. Mohamud, One year prior to alleged Christmas tree bombing plot, was investigated for sexual assualt

cbsnews.com

Mohamed O. Mohamud, arrested Friday for plotting to attack Portland's Christmas tree lighting ceremony with a van full of explosives, was investigated by Oregon State Police for an alleged date rape in 2009 on the Oregon State University campus.

Mohamud, 19, avoided charges after a woman filed a sexual assault complaint against him claiming she drank something that caused her to black out before having sex with Mohamud in an OSU dormitory room in October 2009, reports the daily Oregonian

More at oregonlive.com

Sarah Palin: Serious Questions about the Obama Administration's Incompetence in the Wikileaks Fiasco

Assange is an "anti-American operative with blood on his hands"


facebook.com Sarah Palin

PALIN: "The latest round of publications of leaked classified U.S. documents through the shady organization called Wikileaks raises serious questions about the Obama administration’s incompetent handling of this whole fiasco.

First and foremost, what steps were taken to stop Wikileaks director Julian Assange from distributing this highly sensitive classified material especially after he had already published material not once but twice in the previous months?

Assange is not a “journalist,” any more than the “editor” of al Qaeda’s new English-language magazine Inspire is a “journalist.” He is an anti-American operative with blood on his hands. His past posting of classified documents revealed the identity of more than 100 Afghan sources to the Taliban. Why was he not pursued with the same urgency we pursue al Qaeda and Taliban leaders"

Most importantly, serious questions must also be asked of the U.S. intelligence system. How was it possible that a 22-year-old Private First Class could get unrestricted access to so much highly sensitive information? And how was it possible that he could copy and distribute these files without anyone noticing that security was compromised?

Read the rest at facebook

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Denounces Wikileaks

CLINTON: "I want to set the record straight, there is nothing laudable about endangering innocent people and there is nothing brave about sabotaging the peaceful relations between nations on which our common security depends"


nydailynews

Secretary of State Clinton on Monday led the Obama administration's attempts to label the WikiLeaks document dumps attacks on the U.S. that threatened world order.

"This disclosure is not just an attack on America's foreign-policy interests," Clinton said at the State Department. "It is an attack on the international community, the alliances and partnerships, the conversations and negotiations that safeguard global security and advance economic prosperity."

Joining in the administration's pushback, Attorney General Eric Holder said he was pursuing possible criminal charges against the online whistle-blower group and its founder, Australian Julian Assange.

"I look at the law as it exists," Holder told reporters, and "there is a real basis to believe that crimes have been committed here." Holder said that "to the extent that we can find anybody breaking U.S. law, they will be held responsible."

Rush Limbaugh on Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange

RUSH: "Back in the old days when men were men and countries were countries, this guy would die from lead poisoning from a bullet in the brain and nobody would know who put it there. We've known this stuff is coming and yet it keeps coming"

Viral Video: Unreal Interception During College Football Game

Ball is going way out of bounds but the other team's player deflects it back onto the field where it is caught..Slow-motion comes in at :27. Notice how high this guy leaps...This was Saturday

1.5 million hits in less than 2 days

Obama Proposes Two-Year Pay Freeze for Civilian Federal Workers As Means of Cutting The Deficit

Would require congressional approval...

If you're serious about the deficit, why not go back and freeze them at 2008 or 2006 levels?

reuters

President Barack Obama on Monday will propose a two-year freeze on the pay of federal workers, as he seeks to show he is committed to reining in the ballooning U.S. budget deficit.

The freeze would save $2 billion in the current 2011 fiscal year, $28 billion over the next five years, and more than $60 billion over 10 years, according to the White House. It would apply only to civilian workers.

The move is part of an effort by Obama to push back against opposition Republicans, who have labeled the president and his Democrats as big spenders while taking aim at his policies such as an $814 billion stimulus package and healthcare reform.

"Just as families and businesses around the nations are tightening their belts in this economy, so must the government," said White House spokesman Dan Pfeiffer.

Republicans have tried to put Obama on the defensive about the budget deficit, which hit $1.3 trillion in the fiscal year that ended in September

Democratic Rep. Ben Chandler Blames Pelosi for Party's Losses

"It baffles me that you can suffer the largest defeat since 1938 and still maintain the leadership of your caucus"


politicsdaily

Rep. Ben Chandler of Kentucky, a Blue Dog Democrat who narrowly won reelection earlier this month, says blame for his party's losses lie squarely at the feet of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"It baffles me that you can suffer the largest defeat since 1938 and still maintain the leadership of your caucus," Chandler told McClatchy News Service. ". . . You're talking about the loss of 60 or something seats held by capable public servants. There had to be something going on at a level above them."

"I think it was a serious strategic error on the part of the administration to take on health care when the public was agitated about the economy," he said.

"People will tell you the economy was their first concern. And I actually told people with the administration this at the time that they were making a mistake and that they should focus on the economy."

Chandler voted against Pelosi to be Democratic minority leader, casting his support behind Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.).Chandler said President Obama, whom he endorsed in 2008, is also responsible for Democratic losses.

John Bolton on Wikileaks: "This Is An Anti-American Organization...Any American Involved in Leaking This Information Ought to Be Charged With Treason"

BOLTON: From what you can see of the reaction already, we will simply not get that important insight into the thinking of foreign governments and that was exactly what Wikileaks intent was here, this is an anti-American organization"

Howard Dean: Government Should Pick Guests on Fox & MSNBC Because Ignorant Americans Don’t Know What’s Going On

DEAN: "What would I do about the media? I'd bring back the Fairness Doctrine...Americans don't know what's going on therefore the media can have their way with them intellectually"...Dean call Fox News a "propaganda outlet"

theblaze

Republican Peter King Wants Wikileaks Labeled As a Terrorist Group

"I am calling on the attorney general and supporting his efforts to fully prosecute Wikileaks and its founder for violating the Espionage Act"


thehill

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should review whether Wikileaks can be declared a terrorist organization, according to a senior Republican.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the incoming chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, called for U.S. officials to get aggressive against Wikileaks after the website published highly-sensitive, classified diplomatic cables that reveal frank assessments of foreign leaders and the war on terror.

"I am calling on the attorney general and supporting his efforts to fully prosecute Wikileaks and its founder for violating the Espionage Act. And I'm also calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to declare Wikileaks a foreign terrorist organization," King said on WNIS radio on Sunday evening.

"By doing that, we will be able to seize their funds and go after anyone who provides them help or contributions or assistance whatsoever," he said. "To me, they are a clear and present danger to America."

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Will Crank Up Christmas Music For His 8,000 Inmates

Inmates at the Maricopa County jail will hear Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty, Bing Crosby, the Mormon Tabrenacle Choir and Alvin and the Chipmunks for 12 hours a day. 6 different inmates lawsuits have have all failed to stop the Christmas music from being played

You gotta love this guy...

washingtontimes

The self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff" in America, Phoenix's Joe Arpaio, who has survived six separate inmate lawsuits trying to stop him from playing Christmas music, will begin playing the tunes again this year - starting Monday with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,""Frosty the Snowman" and "Feliz Navidad."

The 8,000 inmates also will hear, among others, "A Christmas Kwanzaa Solstice," "Over the Skies of Israel," "Ramadan," "Llego a La Ciudad," "Let it Snow" and "Rodolpho El Reno de la Nariz Rojita."

"Maybe the holiday music can help lift the spirits of the men and women who are away from friends and family during the holidays, not just the inmates, but the dedicated men and women who work in the Maricopa County Jails," the sheriff said in an announcement Sunday.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has played the holiday songs all day, every day, during previous seasons. Sheriff Arpaio has long expressed his fondness for Christmas music, especially "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and anything by Alvin and the Chipmunks

Inmates have sued six times claiming that being forced to listen to the Christmas songs 12 hours a day was in violation of their civil and religious rights and a cruel and unusual punishment, but U.S. District Judge Roz Silver disagreed, dismissing the case and denying claims for $250,000 in damages.

He told The Washington Times that in addition to tunes by Alvin and the Chipmunks, the music included the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Bing Crosby and Doctor Demento.

Legendary Funny Man Leslie Nielsen Dies at Age 84

Lt. Frank Drebin


nbc news

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Actor Leslie Nielsen, star of such comedies as "Airplane" and the "Naked Gun" series, died Sunday of complications from pneumonia, a nephew told a Canadian radio station. Nielsen was 84.

Nielsen died in hospital near his home in Fort Lauderdale with family and friends by his side, nephew Doug Nielsen told CJOB radio in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Nielsen, a native of Regina, Saskatchewan, had been hospitalized for nearly two weeks, his nephew told CJOB. Nielsen's agent, John S. Kelly, confirmed his death.

Nielsen came to Hollywood in the mid-1950s after performing in 150 live television dramas in New York. With a craggily handsome face, blond hair and 6-foot-2 height, he seemed ideal for a movie leading man.

He quickly became known as a serious actor, although behind the camera he was a prankster. That was an aspect of his personality never exploited, however, until "Airplane"

Claire McCaskill: Stimulus, TARP and Auto Bailouts Were “Wildly Successful”

What a mistake voters made in 2006 when they elected her over Republican Jim Talent by less than 50K votes. Here's Claire McCaskill talking about TARP, stimulus and the bailouts being wildly successful. From Fox News Sunday

gatewaypundit video

Fire Set at Mosque Where Oregon Terror Suspect Worshipped

"It was arson"


Associated Press

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Anger over a Somali-born teen's failed plan to blow up a van full of explosives during Portland's Christmas tree lighting ceremony erupted in arson on Sunday when a fire damaged an Islamic center frequented by the suspect, authorities said.

Police don't know who started the blaze or exactly why, but they believe the Islamic center in Corvallis was targeted because terror suspect Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 19, occasionally worshipped there.

Yosof Wanly, the imam at the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center, said he was advised by friends to take his family out of their home because of the potential threat of hate crime, and members decried the alleged arson attack. No one was injured, and the fire was contained to one room

Office where a fire was set at the Salman Al-Farisi Islamic Center in Corvallis, Ore. Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Corvallis, Oregon (AP Photo)

Charlie Rangel to Ask House to Reject Censure Ruling

Chuck wants his punishment for ethics violations downgraded to a reprimand


foxnews.com

WASHINGTON-Rep. Charles Rangel is ready to make a last stand to salvage his reputation and tell the House that a censure should be reserved for crooked politicians.

He will argue that he's not one of them.

The 80-year-old Democrat from New York's Harlem neighborhood wants his punishment for ethics violations downgraded to a reprimand, according to congressional and nongovernment sources who are in touch with Rangel but are not authorized to be quoted by name.

Rangel will ask the House ethics committee chairman, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., for time to plead his case on the floor of the House, where he has served for 40 years, including a stint as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

The ethics committee voted 9-1 on Nov. 18 that Rangel should be censured for committing 11 counts of fundraising and financial misdeeds that violated House rules.

Rangel plans to argue that censure has been imposed for violations including bribery, accepting improper gifts, personal use of campaign funds and sexual misconduct; none is present in his case

Ben Stein: Charlie Rangel is still a hero to me

China Seeks Emergency Meeting To Ease Tensions Between North and South Korea

ITN video: China proposes to convene an emergency meeting with members of the six-party talks


latimes.com

Chinese leaders, stung by accusations that they haven't done enough to rein in North Korea, call for an international summit, but U.S. and South Korea remain noncommittal. China called Sunday for an emergency international meeting to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula, but the United States and South Korea, engaged in large-scale war games nearby, appeared initially cool to the idea.

The proposal followed a rare burst of shuttle diplomacy by the Chinese, who have been stung by accusations that they have failed to rein in their North Korean ally.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, flew to Seoul over the weekend to meet with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, while Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi spoke by telephone with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and to the foreign ministers of Russia and Japan. The U.S. ambassador to Beijing, Jon Huntsman, was spotted Sunday afternoon leaving the Foreign Ministry building in Beijing. A North Korean official, Choe Tae Bak, has been called to Beijing on Tuesday for meetings.

'Celebrate Reason’: New Atheist Billboard Calls Christmas a Myth (Video)

Outside the Lincoln tunnel in NJ

theblaze

A group called the American Atheists has paid for a huge billboard on Route 495 outside the Lincoln Tunnel in North Bergen, N.J., that is raising some eyebrows.

The billboard shows a silhouette of the Three Wise Men approaching the Nativity, with the words: “You KNOW it’s a Myth / This Season, Celebrate REASON!”

The group says the billboard is not designed to convert Christians to atheism. Rather, Dave Silverman, a spokesman for the American Atheists, says the sign is designed to encourage existing atheists who are going through the motions of celebrating Christmas to stop

President Obama: "It's The Norm" To Lose Congress in the Mid-Terms

Michelle Obama: "My understanding is that number one, every president in history has lost Congress at the midterms. Maybe that's overstating it, but it's happened for every president in my lifetime." Barack Obama: "It's the norm"

63 seats in the House and Obama says it's the norm. No Barack and Michelle, it's not 'the norm'

newsbusters

Just exactly who "lost" congress during their presidency?The Republicans never controlled either chamber of Congress during Richard Nixon's one-plus terms. As such, he never lost Congress. Same for Gerald Ford.

Although Jimmy Carter lost some seats in the 1978 midterms, he still maintained significant majorities of 58 seats in the Senate and 277 in the House.

Ronald Reagan's midterm record was actually one that has been widely misrepresented in recent weeks.

He came into office in 1981 with Republicans controlling the Senate for the first time in many years. Although he lost seats in the House during the 1982 midterms, he ended up gaining two seats in the Senate. He didn't lose the Senate back to the Democrats until the 1986 midterms.

With this in mind, as George H. W. Bush never had control of either chamber, he didn't lose Congress in his only midterm elections in 1990.

For his part, Bill Clinton fared very poorly in both of his midterms, while George W. Bush did well in 2002 only to get clobbered in 2006.

Liz Cheney on North Korea: "What We've Seen There Is How Provocative American Weakness Can Be"

After Liz speaks, Juan Williams accuses her of warmongering and wanting to go to war with China

From Fox News Sunday

Cheney: "I do think that what we've seen there is how provocative American weakness can be...What they've learned in fact is that their belligerence yields from us capitulation and concessions, I think that it's time to put them back on the terrorist list and I think it's time to be very direct with China...I think our message has to be much stronger than it has been and ...This is about saying to them if you don't step up to the plate you are gonna end up with nuclear proliferation throughout your neighborhood"

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki: No Need for U.S. Troops Post-2011

Iraqi PM believes their forces will be capable of maintaining security

I wonder where Iraq would be if the 'war is lost' crowd had their way? What about 'there is no military solution?' And didn't Joe Biden says the only way out was to divide Iraq up into 3 sections? Then Senator Obama said the surge 'would make things worse' in 2007. They have been wrong on Iraq at every step

cbsnews

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday that an agreement requiring U.S. troops to leave by the end of 2011 will stand because Iraqi forces are capable of taking care of the country's security.

The comments are his first on the subject since being tasked with forming a new government following eight months of political deadlock, and some of his strongest to date on what is expected to be a key issued faced by the next government.

"The security agreement with what it included of dates and commitments will remain valid, and I do not feel the need for the presence of any other international forces to help Iraqis control the security situation," al-Maliki told reporters during his first news conference since getting the formal request on Thursday to form the new government.

Under an agreement between Iraq and the U.S., all American troops are to leave the country by the end of 2011. The U.S. currently has a little less than 50,000 troops in Iraq, down from a one-time high of 170,000.

In 2006, President Bush said our goal is an Iraq "that can govern itself, defend itself and sustain itself." They are inching closer to that day...

Tammy Bruce Goes Off on Obama: "We've Been Getting the Elbow and We've Had Stitches Every Single Day Since This Freak Took Office"

BRUCE: "Will you talk about how the American people have been elbowed in the face every morning when they get up by this b*stard? Are you gonna discuss how we've been getting the elbow and we've had stitches every single day since this freak took office?" This is right after the report of Obama being elbowed Saturday afternoon

From the Tammy Bruce Show

One Day After Getting Elbowed and Receiving 12 Stitches, Obama Heads Out To Watch a Basketball Game (Video + Photos)

Obama and family at Howard University in Washington today

One day after suffering a busted lip during a basketball game, President Obama went back to the hard court, but this time as a spectator. He and his family watched his brother-in-law coach Oregon State against Howard University. (Nov. 27)

Here's some photos just posted by Reuters





U.S. President Barack Obama, recovering from 12-stitch lip injury, is seen watching a basketball game at the Howard University in Washington, November 27, 2010. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Says Russia Gave Him a $4 Billion Credit To Buy Weapons When He Visited Moscow Last Month

CHAVEZ: "We are simply doing the task of defending the fatherland from the threat of empire and its allies"


reuters.com

CARACAS, Nov 27 - Russia gave Venezuela a $4 billion credit to buy weapons when President Hugo Chavez visited Moscow last month, adding to billions the socialist leader has already spent on re-equipping the army.

Venezuela and Russia have forged deep ties in energy and defense, with Russian investment flowing into the OPEC member's oil fields at the same time as Chavez has become one of Moscow's most important weapons customers.

Washington views with suspicion Chavez's purchases of tanks, fighter jets and air defense systems in the last few years but the soldier-turned-president says he is merely modernizing Venezuela's aging kit.

"We were in Russia not long ago and the Russian government has now given us a $4 billion credit to help us with defense equipment," Chavez said on Saturday at a ceremony to celebrate 90 years of Venezuela's air force.

"We are simply doing the task of defending the fatherland from the threat of empire and its allies."

NPR: Obama's Fat Lip Could Give Him Some Street Cred

weaselzippers

NPR's Scott Simon: "Just three weeks after getting a shellacking in the midterm elections, President Obama got a fat lip.

The president played basketball yesterday with some friends in the gym of the Fort McNair Army Base, and reportedly took an elbow in the mouth from an opposing player who went up for a shot.

It took 12 stitches to close The First Fat Lip, if you please. I’m not sure that Joe Frazier needed 12 stitches after the Thrilla in Manila, though the White House stressed that a smaller filament was used, which increases the number of stitches, but leaves a smaller scar.

I wonder if having a larger scar wouldn’t actually fortify President Obama’s profile, as he contends with Kim Jong Il, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or Vladimir Putin.

Imagine a president with a gnarly, vivid scar telling the rulers of China, “Nice country ya’ got here. I’d hate to see something happen to it if you didn’t stop foolin’ around with the value of your currency. Know what I mean?”

Online Sales See 16 Percent Spike on Black Friday

Thanksgiving day online sales spiked a whopping 33%. The average online order is up to $190 and we're still a couple days away from Cyber Monday


Associated Press

NEW YORK – Shoppers who skipped the crowds on Black Friday gave online merchants a 16 percent spike in revenue, according to data released Saturday. That's spurring optimism for spending the rest of season.

That increase came partly from shoppers who spent more per online purchase during the traditional opening day of the holiday shopping season, according to Web research company Coremetrics. The average order rose to $190.80. That's a 12 percent increase over $170.19 on the same day last year.

The solid increase adds to a 33 percent online spending spike on Thanksgiving day, and signs of bigger-than-expected crowds in stores.

"The season's off to a great start," said John Squire, Coremetrics vice president of strategy. "It really shows really strong consumer sentiment for buying and for going online."

Shopping on smart phones remained a small, though growing, piece of the pie. Coremetrics said about 5.6 percent of people logged onto a retailer's website using a mobile device. That compares with less than 1 percent on last year's Black Friday, Squire said.

South Korean Protesters Clash With Police at a Rally in Seoul (Video)

There are demanding that the South Korean government take a tougher stance against the North, this gets out of hand. The police use tear gas, the protesters have sticks and are pushing back. At the beginning, they burn pictures of Kim Jong 'Mentally' Ill

South Korean protesters have clashed with police during a rally in Seoul to show their anger at their country's response to its confrontation with the North. Demonstrators called on the South Korean government to take a harder line against North Korea following Tuesday's attack on Yeonpyeong Island.

At another protest against the North held in Seoul at the same time, more than a thousand retired-marines also called on for a tougher stance against the North. Tension between the Koreas is running high as the U.S. and the South prepare for large-scale military drills, set to begin on Sunday

Barbara Walters to Obama: "Why Do You Think It Is So Many People Think You're a Muslim?"

Obama: "The internet has a powerful effect these days"

Somali-born Teenager Who Plotted Car-Bombing in Oregon Had Been Thinking About Plan For 4 Years

The 19 year old says "Since I was 15 I thought about all of this." According to prosecutors he was trying to kick agents and police after being taken into custody while screaming "allahu akbar"

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. – Federal agents in a sting operation arrested a Somali-born teenager just as he tried blowing up a van he believed was loaded with explosives at a crowded Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Portland, authorities said.

The bomb was an elaborate fake supplied by the agents and the public was never in danger, authorities said.

Mohamed Osman Mohamud, 19, was arrested at 5:40 p.m. Friday just after he dialed a cell phone that he thought would set off the blast but instead brought federal agents and police swooping down on him.

Yelling "Allahu Akbar!" — Arabic for "God is great!" — Mohamud tried to kick agents and police after he was taken into custody, according to prosecutors.

"The threat was very real," said Arthur Balizan, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon. "Our investigation shows that Mohamud was absolutely committed to carrying out an attack on a very grand scale,"

The FBI affidavit that outlined the investigation alleges that Mohamud planned the attack for months, at one point mailing bomb components to FBI operatives, whom he believed were assembling the device.

It said Mohamud was warned several times about the seriousness of his plan, that women and children could be killed, and that he could back out, but he told agents: "Since I was 15 I thought about all this;" and "It's gonna be a fireworks show ... a spectacular show."

Charles Krauthammer Rips Liberal Media for Being Obsessed with Sarah Palin

PBS's Inside Washingon

newsbusters NS

Charles Krauthammer on Friday tore into the liberal media for being obsessed with former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

After Krauthammer scolded the "editorial judgment" of the producers of PBS's "Inside Washington" for week after week prominently displaying her as the "only representative of conservatism of any importance" in this nation, the Washington Post's Colby King proved his point

Portland: Feds Arrest Somali-Born Teen in Car Bomb Plot

What an absolute surprise, the teenager's name is Mohamed Mohamud. The teen plotted to detonate a car bomb at the Portland, Oregon Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. The attempted man caused disaster was thwarted by undercover Federal agents


foxnews.com

PORTLAND, Oregon -- Federal prosecutors say a Somali-born teenager plotted to carry out a car bomb attack at a crowded Christmas tree lighting ceremony in downtown Portland on Friday but the bomb turned out to be a dud supplied by undercover agents as part of a sting.

Mohamed Osman Mohamud was arrested at about 5:45 p.m. local time just after he dialed a mobile phone that he thought would blow up a van laden with explosives but instead brought federal agents and local police swooping in to take him into custody.

Federal court documents show the sting operation began in June after an undercover agent learned that Mohamud had been in contact with an "unindicted associate" in Pakistan's Northwest Frontier region.

Mohamud is a naturalized U.S. citize

South Korea Marines Commander Vows 'Thousand-Fold' Retaliation For Attack By North

South Korean marines carry two flag-draped caskets during a funeral service Saturday in Seongnam, South Korea. Two marines were killed Tuesday in North Korea's bombardment of the island of Yeonpyeong. (Ahn Young-joon / AP)

nbc news

YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea — South Korea's marines commander Saturday vowed up to a "thousand-fold" retaliation for the North Korea artillery attack that killed four just days earlier.

The threat came as efforts to halt violence in the region continued even as South Korea and the U.S. prepared to launch joint military maneuvers Sunday.

At a funeral in Seongnam, near Seoul, dignitaries and relatives placed white chrysanthemums at an alter for the two marines killed in Tuesday's attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong. The attack was one of the worst bombardments of South Korea's territory since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The attack also killed two civilians.

About 600 mourners including Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and the marine commander Maj. Gen. You Nak-jun attended the funeral for the two marines at a packed gymnasium in a military hospital as somber music sounded.

"Our marine corps ... will carry out a hundred- or thousand-fold," retaliation against North Korea for launching Tuesday's attack, You said, without elaborating

Raw Video: Couple Thwarts Carjacker's Attempt To Steal Car With 6-Month Old Baby Inside

Kansas City, Missouri, AP reports that the father jumped through the window and kicked the man in the head thrwarting the carjacking

Associated Press
Kansas City police say a couple thwarted a man's attempt to steal their car with their 6-month-old baby inside. Police say the mother ran to the car and smashed the window. The father jumped through the window and kicked the man in the head. (Nov. 26)

David Brooks: Republican Primary Voters Won't Vote For Sarah Palin (Video)

BROOKS: "I assume Republican primary voters can read the polls that Mark referenced, even if she did run, I still think even among Republican primary voters they'd say we like her but we don't think she could win so we're not gonna vote for her"

Shields and Brooks on the PBS Newshour this evening

Police Uncover a Second Drug Smuggling Tunnel on the U.S.-Mexico Border

San Diego area and Tijuana, this half-mile tunnel linked two warehouses. It was equipped with advanced rail, electrical and ventilation systems. This is the second tunnel uncovered in that area in the last 30 days

ICE photo via 10news, does that not look like rock that was dug through for this tunnel?

10news.com

SAN DIEGO -- Eight people were arrested and more than 20 tons of marijuana was seized in connection with the discovery of the second drug-smuggling tunnel crossing the U.S.-Mexico border this month, federal authorities announced Friday.
The half-mile passageway linking two U.S. warehouses in Otay Mesa with a stucco residence in Tijuana was located Thursday morning by the San Diego Tunnel Task Force.

Tijuana residence where the tunnel ended had a garage large enough to accommodate deliveries from tractor trailer trucks, authorities said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents along with Border Patrol agents swarmed a warehouse on Via de la Amistad in Otay Mesa Thanksgiving morning.

Federal agents said they found marijuana in a tractor trailer on the U.S. side and inside the warehouse.

This tunnel was outfitted with advanced rail, electrical and ventilation systems and was "more sophisticated" than the 600-yard-long tunnel linking warehouses in Otay Mesa and Tijuana discovered Nov. 2, according to the task force.

The task force found the tunnel after agents conducting surveillance in Otay Mesa noticed suspicious activity involving a truck leaving one of the warehouses.

Video update: DEA Agents calling this tunnel very sophisticated. They show video of inside the tunnel

AP: In Interviews With 51 RNC Committee Members, 39 Want Michael Steele To Step Aside

There are a total of 168 members, AP talked to 51 of them

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A significant bloc of Republican National Committee members wants embattled chairman Michael Steele to step aside, but the rank and file have failed to settle on a clear alternative, according to Associated Press interviews with committee members.

While most agree that Steele's time has been rough — and costly — the members also recognize that a leadership fight could overshadow gains that Republicans made in the midterm elections.

With balloting set to take place in just two months, many just want Steele to go.

"You can't keep spending the kind of money they're spending every month just to operate the RNC," said committee member Ada Fisher of North Carolina. "I would hope he would step aside."

In interviews with 51 committee members, 39 said they preferred Steele not be on the ballot when they meet near Washington in mid-January to pick their leader.

For his part, Steele hasn't said whether he will pursue the 85-vote majority needed for a second term. Already, members have been hearing from others interested in that quest

President Obama Receives 12 Stitches After Being Elbowed During Basketball Game at Ft. McNair

AP video: Obama leaving after the injury, Obama emerges holding gauze on his lip in the middle of the video


foxnews.com

WASHINGTON -- The White House says President Barack Obama has received 12 stitches in his lip after being hit during a pick up basketball game.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says the president was inadvertently struck by someone's elbow Friday.

The president received the stitches in the doctor's office on the ground floor of the White House. Obama had traveled to Fort McNair with a group of family and friends for an early morning game of basketball.

Shoppers Nearly Trampled After Doors Open at Buffalo Target Store (Video)

At the start of the video, it appears as if this Target employess is trying to make sure the shoppers walk into the store


But once the doors open, the shoppers take off into a full sprint


Mayhem...Here's the video

China Raises 'Concern' Over U.S. Plan to Hold Joint Military Exercises With South Korea

foxnews.com

DANDONG China made its first official protest over plans by the U.S. and South Korea to hold joint military exercises involving the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the Yellow Sea on Sunday.

But Beijing's protest, in a statement from the Foreign Ministry Friday, was noticeably more restrained than when the U.S. announced similar plans, involving the same aircraft carrier, in July.

The statement also appeared to offer all sides a face-saving compromise, by implying China did not oppose exercises outside its "exclusive economic zone," a term of international maritime law that generally extends 200 nautical miles from a country's coast.

The restrained language, and the apparent diplomatic get-out, could reflect China's concern that the North Korean crisis will overshadow a planned trip to Washington in January by President Hu Jintao.

"We hold a consistent and clear-cut stance on the issue," the statement quoted Hong Lei, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, as saying. "We oppose any party to take any military actions in our exclusive economic zone without permission."

At a routine briefing on Thursday, Mr. Hong had said only that China was "concerned" over reports about the joint exercises

Black Friday Madness: Hundreds Waiting in Line at Toys R Us After The Store Opened (Video)

This is 40 minutes after the store opened, the line stretches all the way around to the back of the building. via youtube

Alan Simpson Calls Seniors 'The Greediest Generation'

Simpson says he's taking flak for his proposals to reduce the debt

SIMPSON: "People I know say 'you son of a b*tch, how could you do this.' Simpson also call Rush Limbaugh "Rush babe" once again and Rachel Maddow "Rachel Minnow." Simpson says they're "entertainers"

trib.com

CHEYENNE--During Al Simpson's nearly 50 years in government, he hasn't been afraid to take on critics and naysayers of his work in the U.S. Senate or on a variety of high-profile commissions and committees.

But as the co-chair of President Obama's debt commission, the Wyoming Republican said he's been taking an unprecedented amount of flak for the commission's draft proposals to help erase the nation's $13.8 trillion debt.

"I've never had any nastier mail or [been in a] more difficult position in my life," said the 79-year-old Simpson. "Just vicious. People I've known, relatives [saying], "'You son of a bitch. How could you do this?'"

Simpson said that while every interest group that testified before his committee agreed that the mounting federal debt is a national tragedy, they would then talk about why government funding to their area of interest shouldn't be touched.

"We had the greatest generation -- I think this is the greediest generation," he said.

All this hubbub isn't a surprise to Simpson, given how politically polarized the country is these days.

"You don't want to listen to the right and the left -- the extremes," he said. "You don't want to listen to Keith Olbermann and Rush Babe [Limbaugh] and Rachel Minnow [sic] or whatever that is, and Glenn Beck. They're entertainers. They couldn't govern their way out of a paper sack -- from the right or the left. But they get paid a lot of money from you and advertisers -- thirty, fifty million a year -- to work you over and get you juiced up with emotion, fear, guilt, and racism. Emotion, fear, guilt, and racism.

"Time to go for facts. Everybody's entitled to their own opinion, but nobody's entitled to their own facts,"

Charlie Cook: "Barack Obama Has to Pray Every Night for the Economy to Come Back, Afghan Surge to Work and for Republicans to Nominate Sarah Palin"

COOK: "Her numbers among independents are horrific, she may be popular among Republicans, but independents, that's where you get your mojo in these elections and she's a no-fly zone"

freedomslighthouse video

John Bolton: "I Don't Buy The North Korean Threat, This Again is Part of Their Pattern"

"It's intended to set up a return to the negotiating table"

BOLTON: "I don't buy the North Korean threat, this again is part of their pattern, they bluster and they undertake actually military activity like the shelling of that island. But it's intended to set up a return to the negotiating table where we try to provide them assistance, it's a form of extortion. From the North Korean point of view, it has worked very well"

North Korean military power


New amateur video of the North Korean attack on Yeonpyeong

Going Shopping? American Family Association Releases List Of Christmas Friendly/Not Friendly Retailers For The Shopping Season

AmFamily

Based on current advertising, below is a list of companies that avoid, ban, or use the term "Christmas" in their advertising.

Criteria - AFA reviewed up to four areas to determine if a company was "Christmas-friendly" in their advertising: print media (newspaper inserts), broadcast media (radio/television), website and/or personal visits to the store. If a company's ad has references to items associated with Christmas (trees, wreaths, lights, etc.), it was considered as an attempt to reach "Christmas" shoppers

GREEN: (Companies for Christmas) Company uses the term "Christmas" on a regular basis, we consider that company Christmas-friendly


YELLOW: (Companies Marginalizing Christmas) Company refers to Christmas infrequently, or in a single advertising medium, but not in others.


RED: (Companies against Christmas) Company may use "Christmas" sparingly in a single or unique product description, but as a company, does not recognize it.