Thursday, January 23, 2014

So......you couldn't make it into work because of the snow.......

Well....some people did.

Thank God that we have such men.




Go to
Ms. Markert's Flikr account. 
Great pics.

H/t to the Armorer.

|

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Its Bravo Sierra and Retribution


10 QUICK THOUGHTS ON U.S. v. McDONNELL

Chris Ashby, a very well respected DC area attorney, provides a great summation of the incredibly weak indictment filed by the federal government against Governor Bob McDonnell.  
If you care about due process and fairness under the law, take the time to read his excellent thoughts on this false indictment built upon a discredited witness. 
The Restoration Fund


First Take: U.S. v. McDonnell
Ten Quick Thoughts on the Case Against Bob McDonnell
The indictment of Bob McDonnell is a gut punch to all who knew him, worked for him, admired and believed in him and his leadership style. Earlier today, on Twitter, I posted these ten quick thoughts on the law and politics of the case against him:
1. I was struck by the outburst of snark and schadenfreude from the chattering class on Twitter as news of the indictment broke. Whatever your policy disputes with him, Bob McDonnell played politics in a different way - thoughtful, respectful, fair - even with his opponents. The political chattering class would do well to learn to play Twitter that way, too. There but for the grace of God go we.
2. There has been much focus on the sensational facts of the indictment, but little if any focus on the law.
3. Bob McDonnell was the Governor of Virginia, elected by people of Virginia, exercising authority granted to him by the Constitution and laws of Virginia. And the conduct Bob McDonnell is accused of was entirely legal under Virginia law. For years, the Virginia General Assembly has determined that, without an express quid pro quo, no gift in any amount can corrupt or appear to corrupt a public official. Now, however, the Department of Justice apparently regards Virginia's law as insufficient to protect the people of Virginia from the man they elected to lead them, so it's indicting Bob McDonnell under federal law. In so doing, DOJ is substituting its policy preferences for will of the people of Virginia's elected representatives - charging Bob McDonnell federally for legal state conduct.
4. And where is that quid pro quo? DOJ has Jonnie Williams, so if there was a quid pro quo, wouldn't he have given it to them? But the indictment of Bob McDonnell pleads no facts proving any express quid pro quo.
5. Of course, the law on the requirement of a quid pro quo in Honest Services and Hobbs Act cases is all over the map. In some cases, it must be express. In other cases, it may be explicit, meaning it can be implied from the facts and circumstances. In campaign contribution cases, the quid pro quo generally must be express - because the underlying act is legal. In gift cases, the quid pro quo generally may be explicit (i.e., inferred) - because the underlying act usually is illegal. The McDonnell case is a gift case, but it's more akin to a contribution case, because unlimited gifts were expressly legal under Virginia law. DOJ clearly believes it doesn't need an express quid pro quo to convict Bob McDonnell. Expect this to be a central issue in the case.
6. Speaking of quid pro quos, how about DOJ's deal with Jonnie Williams? And what about the former Bob McDonnell staffer who Williams actually may have offered a six-figure private sector salary to in exchange for her help? Does she have a deal with DOJ too?
7. I don't know a single fair-minded Virginian who thinks Bob McDonnell deprived us of his "honest services," whatever that even means. And I also don't know anyone who thinks Bob McDonnell used his official position to EXTORT Jonnie Williams, as the Hobbs Act requires. As for the cover-up counts, I don't think the government should be able to imprison people for covering up crimes they are acquitted of.
8. Everybody's asking, "Is prosecution of Bob McDonnell political?" Of course it is. That's not the right question. The question is, "Is this prosecution fair?" From the beginning, the prosecution of Bob McDonnell has been conducted unfairly. Government agents leaking info to Washington Post reporters obtained in course of supposedly confidential law enforcement investigation of presumedly innocent man? DOJ cutting deals with the alleged briber, and possibly his co-conspirator, charging Bob McDonnell's wife as an accessory instead? Withholding evidence that is clearly exculpatory of Bob McDonnell?
9. For yrs, DOJ has said that public corruption is the federal government's #1 domestic law enforcement priority. I get that. Corrupt politics strikes at the very foundation of our democracy & undermines the legitimacy of its government. Dishonest politicians stretch the law and push the envelope, so DOJ and the Public Integrity Section must push and stretch to keep them in check. But poor personal and political judgment are not federal crimes. The facts alleged in Bob McDonnell's indictment reflect poorly on his personal and political judgment, but were expressly legal under Virginia law. DOJ was right to investigate this matter, but given legal state law conduct and the absence of an express quid pro quo, it should not have indicted Bob McDonnell. He has paid and will continue to pay very high price for his mistakes - shamed, disgraced, and flat broke by end of this case. He should not lose his freedom too.
10. Our adversarial justice system depends on defendants having the will and resources necessary to fight the relatively limitless will and resources of the government. Bob McDonnell faces a long, costly, draining fight versus a merciless adversary. I pray he'll have the resolve and funding he needs to see it through.

Labels: , , , ,

|

Monday, January 13, 2014

Megyn Kelly | The Kelly File | Fox News

Megyn Kelly | The Kelly File | Fox News

One of my heros on with one of my fantasies. SSGT David Bellavia sounds off on the current situation in Iraq.


|

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Levin: Boehner, Cantor, Ryan Expanding Welfare State by Pushing Amnesty

Levin: Boehner, Cantor, Ryan Expanding Welfare State by Pushing Amnesty
I guess we've all seen the email from Cantor begging for help to survive one more election. He called out David Brat as a "liberal economics professor" to set the stage. He mentioned Peter Greenwald, a retired Navy Commander, in passing. Cantor has a problem. He's a RINO running as a Republican. He's fooled a lot of people. A lot of people are fools. The Republican machine in VA had better figure out if they're working for the citizens of Virginia or the elites in their own party. We're not going to stand for anymore of the Bravo Sierra coming from the RPV's useful idiots. Get rid of VA-07's RINO and put a conservative in Congress for a change.

Labels: , , , ,

|

Thursday, January 09, 2014

Susan Katz Keating: Are You Ready to Go ENLISTED? Spot the Errors, Win a Coin!

Susan Katz Keating: Are You Ready to Go ENLISTED? Spot the Errors, Win a Coin!
My BFF SKK received a pre-release DVD for review. She says the show is hilarious and the characters are well portrayed, especially the SSGT played by @AngeliqueCabral. I'll be watching tomorrow night.

|

‘They Portray the Guys Brilliantly’: Marcus Luttrell Praises ‘Lone Survivor’ Film Out in Theaters This Weekend | TheBlaze.com

‘They Portray the Guys Brilliantly’: Marcus Luttrell Praises ‘Lone Survivor’ Film Out in Theaters This Weekend | TheBlaze.com

Having met Marcus several times and owning an autographed copy of "Lone Survivor", I can't wait to see this film. I highly encourage everyone to go see it.

|

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Benghazi Mom: If Hillary Wants to Be President She Has to Answer for My Son's Death

Benghazi Mom: If Hillary Wants to Be President She Has to Answer for My Son's Death

She has more than one to answer for, but we can start there.

Edit: Removed an autostart, unrelated video. Edit: THAT didn't work.

|

Obamacare Transparency Bill Set for Friday Vote

Obamacare Transparency Bill Set for Friday Vote
The Exchange Information Disclosure Act (H.R. 3362) would require Sebelius to regularly report the number of paying Obamacare enrollees, Healthcare.gov metrics, Medicaid enrollments, and basic demographic data to monitor Obamacare's problems and viability. Senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) authored the bill.
A noble gesture no doubt, but totally useless on the current regime which will obfuscate and inviegle without compunction.

|

Letter from Benghazi Victims' Relatives: What Did Speaker Boehner Know?

Letter from Benghazi Victims' Relatives: What Did Speaker Boehner Know?
Specifically, it suggests he may have known about the Obama administration's alleged gun-running "from Libya via Turkey, to Syrian rebels."

As revealed in an excerpt from the letter, provided by Fox News, the family members of Benghazi victims press Boehner for an explanation: "Some analysts believe your inaction and passivity towards getting to the truth concerning Benghazi is because you were briefed on the intelligence and special operations in Libya."
and what did OUR congressman, Eric Cantor know? Was he part of the briefing? Why is he blocking HR36?

|

Monday, January 06, 2014

Exclusive--Benghazi Victims' Families, Conservative Leaders to Boehner: Install Select Committee Now

Its PAST time to demand the truth. 4 Americans serving their country died in the sands of North Africa and the pretender to the throne asks "What difference....does it make?"

Exclusive--Benghazi Victims' Families, Conservative Leaders to Boehner: Install Select Committee Now
Specifically, a House select committee on Benghazi would be similar to the Watergate select committee formed in the U.S. Senate during the scandal that took down President Richard Nixon. It would be a focused committee with members from both the Democrat and Republican parties and staffed with the proper resources to conduct a thorough investigation of the matter. Thus far, Boehner has had five separate House committees investigating the matter that have not succeeded. He has also publicly opposed the creation of a select committee, saying he does not think it is necessary.

There is currently a bill in the House of Representatives, H. Res 36 from Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), that would create such a committee. It has, including Wolf, 179 cosponsors according to the Library of Congress, well more than the majority of the House GOP majority--which is 232 Republican members strong. Yet, despite the overwhelming support from the House GOP conference, Boehner continues to refuse to allow a vote on the installation of a select committee to investigate the Benghazi scandal and continues to block efforts to bring the bill forward.

|

Friday, January 03, 2014

Susan Katz Keating: Why Did I Find Evidence of Al-Qaeda in Benghazi, When New York Times Did Not?

Susan Katz Keating: Why Did I Find Evidence of Al-Qaeda in Benghazi, When New York Times Did Not?
SKK will be on California radio Saturday 4 January (thats tomorrow) at 1800 Eastern 1500 Pacific.
There's a link after the jump.

|

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Knockout: Victims of brutal Downtown Mall assault want arrests, and answers from policeC-Ville Weekly

Knockout: Victims of brutal Downtown Mall assault want arrests, and answers from policeC-Ville Weekly

In the Land of Open Carry, incidents such as this should be handled onsite. Center mass and police your brass.
Meanwhile, if you recognize any of the racist thugs pictured in the article, how about calling the C'ville PD and telling them?

No justice, no peace.

Knockout: Victims of brutal Downtown Mall assault want arrests, and answers from police

|

Ted Cruz’s Response about Gov’t Shutdown ‘Mistake’ Annoys Interviewer — But Senator Seems to Relish the Friction | Video | TheBlaze.com

|