Hackers Target Emma Watson, Threaten to Release Nude Photos

At Telegraph UK, "Emma Watson Targeted by Hackers Who Say They Will Release Naked Photos in Four Days":

The hackers are threatening to publish nude photos of Emma Watson in retaliation for her speech where she announced that she was a feminist.

The actress Emma Watson is being targeted by hackers who are threatening to publish nude photos of her in retaliation for her speech where she announced that she was a feminist.

Although the countdown does not specifically say that naked pictures will be published, the site is believed to have been made by members of the internet forum 4chan, who were behind the recent release of hacked pictures of celebrities such as Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton.

US website Gawker quoted posts, since deleted, that appear to show the timing of the release is no accident and that the publication of pictures would be a direct response to her speech.

One of the comments quoted says: "She makes stupid feminist speeches at UN, and now her nudes will be online."
The hackers say they will leak nude photos of the Harry Potter star in under five days time.

An image of Emma Watson wiping away a tear appears on the site beside a digital timer which is counting down the seconds until the release.

The words: "Never forget, the biggest to come thus far" are written in capital letters on the bottom of the screen.

More.

U.S. Airstrikes in Syria

Folks were tweeting the news a little while ago. And now the developing story at the Los Angeles Times, "U.S. begins airstrikes over Syria."

White House Fence Jumper Omar Gonzalez Had 800 Rounds of Ammunition in His Car

At the Washington Post, "White House fence jumper had ammunition, machete in car, prosecutors say." And at the Hill, "Prosecutors: White House fence jumper had 800 rounds of ammo in car" (via Memeorandum).

Yes, but we should feel sorry for him, because PTSD. At the Los Angeles Times, "White House intruder was an Army vet with PTSD, family says":

The intruder who scaled a White House fence and made it through the front doors was an Army veteran diagnosed with combat trauma, but authorities said Saturday the case was still under investigation.

A family member in California said Omar J. Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Texas, near Ft. Hood, has been homeless and living alone in the wild and in campgrounds with his two pet dogs for the last two years.

“We talked to him on 9/11 and he said he planned to go to a Veterans Administration hospital to seek treatments,” said the family member, who asked that he not be identified pending completion of the Secret Service investigation.

“He’s been depressed for quite some time,” the relative said. “He’d been taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. I suspect he stopped taking it, otherwise this wouldn’t have happened.”

More.

Actually, Barack's not pleased, PTSD or not. At US News, "Obama Concerned Intruder Got in His Family's Home."

People's Climate Demarche

An awesome leader, at today's Wall Street Journal:

Hundreds of thousands of people attended yesterday's People's Climate March in New York: http://t.co/e3cs5dHjeV pic.twitter.com/q9J29qjmZr

— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 22, 2014

Tens of thousands of environmental protestors paraded through New York City on Sunday, in a "people's climate march" designed to lobby world leaders arriving for the latest United Nations climate summit. The march did succeed in messing up traffic, but President Obama won't achieve much more when he speaks Tuesday at this latest pit stop on the global warming grand prix.

Six years after the failure of the Copenhagen summit whose extravagant ambition was to secure a binding global treaty on carbon emissions, Mr. Obama is trying again. The Turtle Bay gathering of world leaders isn't formally a part of the international U.N. climate negotiations that are supposed to climax late next year in Paris, but the venue is meant to be an ice-breaker for more than 125 presidents, prime ministers and heads of state to start to reach consensus.

One not-so-minor problem: The world's largest emitters are declining to show up, even for appearances. The Chinese economy has been the No. 1 global producer of carbon dioxide since 2008, but President Xi Jinping won't be gracing the U.N. with his presence. India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi (No. 3) will be in New York but is skipping the climate parley. Russian President Vladimir Putin (No. 4) has other priorities, while Japan (No. 5) is uncooperative after the Fukushima disaster that has damaged support for nuclear power. Saudi Arabia is dispatching its petroleum minister.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon excused these truancies at a press conference last week: "In any event, we have other means of communications, ways and means of having their leadership demonstrated in the United Nations." In that case, why not do a conference call?

To understand the coldness of this brush off, global CO2 emissions increased to 35.1 billion metric tons in 2013, a new record and a 29% increase over a decade ago. Of the year-over-year carbon climb, China at 358 million metric tons jumped by more than the rest of the world combined and is responsible for 24.8% of emissions over the last five years. Over the same period, developing nations accounted for 57.5%.

What this means is that regardless of what the West does, poorer countries that are reluctant to sign agreements that impede economic progress hold the dominant carbon hand. No matter U.S. exertions to save the planet from atmospheric carbon that may or may not have consequences that may or may not be costly in a century or more, the international result will be more or less the same, though U.S. economic growth will be slower....

So the problem is so dire that we must impose huge new costs on carbon and energy production, but don't worry—you won't feel a thing. The government will create all new energy industries and wealth in a seamless transition. Caveat emptor: Supposedly professional economists who promise that scarce resources can be made scarcer at zero cost have stopped practicing economics. They have become politicians, if not as honest.

Rather than debasing economics, perhaps the climate lobby should return to the climate science and explain the hiatus in warming that has now lasted for 16, 19 or 26 years depending on the data set and which the climate models failed to predict even as global carbon dioxide emissions have climbed by 25%. Their alibi is that the new warming is now hidden in the oceans, an assertion they lack the evidence to prove.

RTWT.

'The modern climate alarmism movement has been hijacked by the remnants of those who still adhere to the defunct tenets of revolutionary Marxism...'

Heh, from Noah Rothman's conclusion, at Hot Air, "Reason Magazine actually asked climate protesters what they want to do, and it’s hilarious."

You gotta watch. And keep in mind these people aren't fringe. They're mainstream leftists, the kind of whacked out weirdos who've ventured out time and again at all the progressive, Democrat Party protests since Obama took office. The loons are the mainstream of today's left, and they have no freakin' clue.

Jessica Chastain at Salomé Screening in London

According to Just Jared:

Salome is a filmed version of the Oscar Wilde‘s controversial play, while Wilde Salome, which also screened that day, is a documentary that chronicles the challenges Al [Pacino] faced while performing in the play and simultaneously directing both features.

Well, check out Ms. Chastain on the carpet, at Egotastic!, "Jessica Chastain Yellow Dress at Salome and Wilde Salome Screening."

Muslims Facing Tomorrow: Rally for Minority Christians and Other Religious Communities in the Middle East and the Muslim World

At Blazing Cat Fur, "Muslims Facing Tomorrow Rally For Persecuted Christians - Professor Salim Mansur's Address - ISIS Is Islam."

Munich Oktoberfest

Heh, looks awesome.

Via EuroNews:

The 181st Oktoberfest is underway in Munich, following its opening amid pouring rain on Saturday.

Long ago, the festival was brought forward to September in the hope of better weather.

But come rain or shine, few care once the beer starts flowing...

Jordan Arrests 11 Islamic State Jihadists

At the Times of Israel:

Security official says suspects admit to plotting attacks in Hashemite Kingdom; Israel has indicated it will act should group reach neighboring state.

Jordan said it arrested 11 members of the Islamic State group suspected of plotting terrorist attacks inside the Hashemite Kingdom

A security source said the suspects were planning to harm high-value interests in the country and admitted to the charges against them, Israel Radio reported.

Earlier this month, Israel told the US that should the extremist group start operating in neighboring Jordan, it will not hesitate to act, according to a Channel 2 TV report which cited diplomatic sources.

The report did not specify what actions Israel might take if Islamic State started impacting upon Jordan, but Israel is wary of its eastern neighbor being challenged by the brutal terror group, and would seek to guard against further inroads that would directly threaten Israel...

More.

Why Poor Students Struggle

An interesting piece from Vicki Madden, at the New York Times.

Seems like a pretty accurate account, and race is not highlighted so much as socioeconomic background. Interesting.

White House May Check Tourists From Afar

Looks like those fence-jumpers have rattled the cage a bit.

At the New York Times, "White House May Check Tourists Blocks Away."

And background from the Washington post, "Fence-jumper makes it into the White House."

Sunday Cartoons

At Flopping Aces, "Sunday Funnies."



More at Randy's Roundtable, "Friday Nite Funnies," and Reaganite Republican, "Reaganite's SUNDAY FUNNIES."

Also at Legal Insurrection, "Branco Cartoon – Fakers," and Theo Spark's, "Cartoon Round Up..."

CARTOON CREDIT: William Warren.

Perv-Shaming Your Bottom-Pincher is a Low Blow

Heh, you gotta love that headline, from Radhika Sanghani, at Telegraph UK.

It's about New York bartender Laura Ramadei, who named and shamed the guy who allegedly groped her. See Gothamist, "A NYC Bartender's Powerful Open Letter to the Hedge Funder Who Allegedly Grabbed Her Ass."

The accused, hedge-fund financier Brian Lederman, denies it. At the New York Post, "Hedge-funder’s defense in ‘grope’ case: I never grabbed her."

Awesome! Neocon Robert Kagan Slams Leftist Jane Harmon's Soft Power Narrative to Beat #ISIS (VIDEO)

National Review has the abbreviated clip, "Robert Kagan: Obama Administration Must Prove It’s Willing to Fight ISIS in Order to Gain Allies."

But the whole segment is good, from Face the Nation this morning. Kagan says soft power is fine and dandy, but ISIS doesn't care about soft power. If you want to beat folks like this you need to destroy them on the ground and bolster American respect around the world. Allies will flock to your banner then.

A great panel. Kagan's comments on hard power come at about 6:20 minutes.

Breaking Up with Barack — And His Friends!

Heh, via Legal Insurrection, "Ad implores women to break up with Obama."

Control of the U.S. Senate Hasn't Been This Unsteady Since the Post-Civil War Era

From Ronald Brownstein, at National Journal, "THE VOLATILE SENATE":

Instability is a constant in the modern Senate. After the 1980 election, Republicans controlled the chamber for six years (until 1986); Democrats held it for eight (through 1994); and Republicans regained control for six, until the 2000 election divided the chamber exactly 50-50. The next two years saw the parties trading the gavel (as a GOP defector provided Democrats a temporary majority) before Republicans regained control in the 2002 election. But they held that advantage only until 2006, when Democrats won the majority Republicans are now threatening.

This turbulence contrasts with the 26 years of uninterrupted Democratic Senate control from 1955 through 1980. Earlier in the 20th century, Republicans and Democrats each ran off 14-year streaks of unbroken control. From 1895 through 1912, Republicans posted an 18-year reign.

Control of the Senate hasn't been this unsteady since the decades after the Civil War. It's no coincidence that was another period, like ours, of intense economic and social upheaval as America was reshaped by reinforcing waves of industrialization, immigration, and urbanization. And yet even then, the Senate wasn't unstable for as long as it has been since 1980.

The Senate is now flipping so frequently partly because neither party can amass much of a cushion even when it gains control. From 1959 through 1980, the Democrats held a Senate majority larger than 10 seats in all but one of the 11 sessions; since then, the majority party has accumulated an advantage that large only three times in 17 sessions. These thin margins have left the governing party unable "to sustain their majority ... when things go badly," notes Brookings Institution senior fellow Thomas Mann...

More.

Brownstein should know, by the way. He's the author of The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship Has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America.

Western Survival Requires the End of Islamist Jihadism

Well, QED.

From Professor Michael Curtis, at the Commentator (via Blazing Cat Fur):

What the world needs now may be love, but more urgently it needs the end of Islamist jihadism: the greatest danger to Western civilization and values. The arrest on September 18, 2014 in Sydney, Australia of 15 alleged jihadists, local Islamic State supporters, preparing to kidnap at random innocent persons and behead them in a gruesome spectacle in the streets of Sydney, is another reminder of that urgent need.

No wakeup call is required to realize that the same kind of direct threat exists against the homeland of the U.S. It serves no purpose to minimize, as some spokespersons for the Obama Administration have done, the danger to the U.S. and Western countries of terrorist attacks.

Similarly shortsighted is the view of Daniel Benjamin, former State Department counterterrorism adviser, that public comments about the ISIS threat have been a “farce.”

It is equally pointless to relax one’s guard on the belief that there is no credible information of an impending attack on the West from IS. The world is now full of Jihadist groups, whether al-Qaeda, the Nusra Front, or the Islamic State, some of whose supporters are trained to carry out terrorist attacks in their Western countries of origin. For policy purposes, it is useful to list some of the groups to which attention should be paid.

The groups exist around the world: Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP); Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghrab (Aqim) in Mali; Boko Haram in Nigeria; Al-Shabab in Somalia; Taliban in Afghanistan; Ansar al-Sharia in Libya; Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia; Jemaah Islamiah in Indonesia; Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines; Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis in Egypt.

Above them all is the Islamic State (IS), (formerly ISIS or ISIL), in Iraq and Syria, a ruling state, a Caliphate, as well as a terrorist organization.

It needs to be repeated that IS, a Caliphate with enormous wealth, large quantities of weapons, and an appetite for power, has ambitions to expand its territorial control in the Middle East. Under its ruthless leader the Caliph and Commander in Chief, formerly known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who claims to be descended from the Prophet, the IS is first consolidating its rule, then plans to conquer the bordering Muslim states, and then to “battle against the Crusaders” (the West).

IS has a governing structure and a functioning bureaucracy with two parts, one for Syria and the other for Iraq, each with 12 Governors, an eight-man Shura Council, the religious monitor, and a number of committees, each responsible for specific services.

Along with the ambition of IS in the Middle East, the Western individuals who have joined the ranks of IS really do pose a potential danger to their countries of origin, including the U.S. homeland. Thus, the need for a strong Western response to the threat is urgent. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has reported on his attempts to form a coalition, to enlist allies in the fight, to obtain the support of ten Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and some promises from others...

More.

Oddly enough, even if the Obama administration agreed with the analysis, to actually act on it would repudiate all the President Obama has stood for since running in 2007. He's boxed in by his own "tide of war is receding" stupidity.

Erin Andrews: America's Babe, Now More Than Ever

She's so sweet --- and smokin' hot.

At USA Today, "Erin Andrews reflects on her life in health."

Thank you @usatoday pic.twitter.com/Sxc46rt7Uw

— Erin Andrews (@ErinAndrews) September 19, 2014

BONUS FLASHBACK: "New Erin Andrews Bikini Pics!"

Capitalism vs. the Climate: Anti-Global Warming Idiots for the Revolution

Bogus data and false memes.

These people as sadly behind the times, to say nothing about behind the science. Remember, "Whatever Happened to Global Warming?"

Lolz. Clueless dolts. Literally a joke, like the "indigenous" marchers today in the Big Apple, "LOL! Climate Change March Dressed Up as Indegenious People's 'Social Justice' Protest."



Klein argues that we cannot solve "this problem" (of bogus "climate change") without a profound ideological transformation --- which is another way of saying we need a communist revolution to overthrow capitalism. Great, like that's worked out so well already.

F-king morons.

More, "Naomi Klein on the People's Climate March & the Global Grassroots Movement Fighting Fossil Fuels."

How Many Rape Reports Are False?

From Megan McArdle, at Bloomberg (via Instapundit):

If someone comes into a police station with their face bashed in, you can be pretty much certain that unless they’re a professional boxer, a crime has occurred. If a rape kit shows evidence of sexual intercourse, however, all that tells you is that … something happened. Because this is something that a lot of people do to each other voluntarily, you cannot proceed immediately to the arrest. Usually there are only two witnesses, telling different stories. Often drugs or alcohol were involved, and intoxicated people make lousy witnesses.

We don’t want that to be true. Rape is an especially heinous crime, and heinously unfair -- it is mostly something that stronger men do to weaker women. How can we pile on an extra dose of unfairness -- by failing to prosecute so many of the crimes?

Feminists would like to rectify that unfairness by treating rape accusations as presumptively true, making it easier for victims to come forward. That’s understandable. But there’s a risk that this makes it easier for false accusations to get through the system, resulting in destroyed lives for men such as Brian Banks. Men’s-rights activists would like to make it harder for innocent men to get caught in a web of lies, so they want rape accusations to be interrogated with deep suspicion. But treating rape victims as possible or likely liars may make it harder for them to go forward, leaving rapists free to stalk their next victim.

Yeah, but Glenn adds:

Thing is, all the rape-talk isn’t about getting justice for victims. It’s about stirring up female voters for Hillary, while demonizing, marginalizing, and silencing men, and about justifying policies that generate employment and self-esteem for “social justice warriors.” Given that these are generally execrable people, any policy that enlarges their power or perks should be viewed with deep suspicion.

Word.

Ambassador Samantha Power Is a Bleedin' Moron

I can hardly bear to watch this, man.

And this woman was once one of the greatest voices speaking out against Western inaction in the face of genocide.

Face it, if you're about to be ethnically cleansed by ISIS right now, you're screwed.

Samantha Power sounds like a bleeding idiot calling the Islamic State "issel." Hey don't count on Obama admin. if you're about to be killed.

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) September 21, 2014

Face it, if you're about to be ethnically cleansed by ISIS right now, you're screwed. #IslamicState

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) September 21, 2014

California Drought Causes East Porterville Children to Go to School Unbathed

Now this is a bummer.

California, with the 8th largest economy in the world, and one of highest per capita income levels of the 50 states, can't even ensure that Central Valley residents have enough water.

At the Los Angeles Times, "'HI, DO YOU HAVE WATER?' IN A CENTRAL CALIF. TOWN, ANSWER IS OFTEN NO."

LOL! Climate Change March Dressed Up as Indegenious People's 'Social Justice' Protest

The New York Times reports on New York's climate change protest today, what the whacked out leftists have turned into a "people's climate" campaign. Yeah, that oughta work, lol.

Here: "Climate Change March Begins in New York City." (Via Memeorandum.)

A People’s Climate Movement: Indigenous, Labor, Faith Groups Prepare for Historic March http://t.co/hdrEyA4lBS pic.twitter.com/yGdn81HM0z

— Democracy Now! (@democracynow) September 20, 2014

.@KatiePavlich Well, they've turned it into an "indigenous people's" march. They're oppressed and exploited by iPhones and shoes, lol.

— Donald Douglas (@AmPowerBlog) September 21, 2014

Obviously, some freaky leftist hangers-on attending, who don't look very oppressed.

Pretty RT "@tylerhunter23: Chewbacca pits 🙊 pic.twitter.com/KXGQYy6PeQ"

— LittleMissRightie (@LilMissRightie) September 21, 2014

See, even Leo DiCaprio is down with the little people, lol. (Remember, DiCaprio is working on bringing space travel to the masses as well, so we can forgive that he's got one of the largest carbon footprints on the planet.)

F-king morons.

Leonardo DiCaprio marches at #PeoplesClimateMarch in NYC http://t.co/J1DfrVsLgc pic.twitter.com/mu5AT0knJN

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) September 21, 2014

Joe Green, President Mark Zuckerberg's Pro-Amnesty Lobbying Group, Ousted After 'Lack of Movement' on Immigration Reform

At Re/Code, "Joe Green Pushed Out at FWD.us."

Edged out by more innovative, energetic & cheaper worker? "Pres. of Zuckerberg Pro-Amnesty Group Resigns http://t.co/8N5Rciq3kK

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) September 21, 2014

'People had better wake the hell up' — Robert Stacy McCain on Radical Feminism

Robert's basically been writing a book on radical feminism.

And seriously, these essays demand publication to a wide readership in book format.

Outstanding.

Here: "Essential Feminist Quotes: ‘Most Women Have to Be Coerced into Heterosexuality’."

Texas Hot Momma Blocks Stalking Hate-Troll Walter James Casper III

That's the way to do it.

Disgusting Repsac's beaten down, again resorting to his pathetic cries of "racism."

Flashback: "Obsessed Hate-Troll Walter James Casper Attacks Mad Jewess with Despicable 'Racist' Smear."

And, "Bwahaha! Walter James Casper III Shouts 'Bigotry' and 'Racism' to Silence the Opposition and Claim Victory!"

Here's Texas Hot Mama:

@AmPowerBlog @rsmccain Blocked him.

— TexasHotMomma (@TexasHotMomma) September 18, 2014

She's got small children. Good on her for blocking the trolling stalker asshat, no doubt she's keeping 'em safe from Walter James "Sweety Man" Casper.

PREVIOUSLY: "Ban, Block and Report Walter James Casper III in 2013," and "Enough! Stand Up to Harassment and Stalking — Block and Report Walter James Casper in 2014."

Cowardly Obama Vows to 'Rally the World' Against Islamic State

All this multilateralism is simply a cover for appeasement and cowardice.

Here's the president's address yesterday, at the White House YouTube page: "Weekly Address: The World is United in the Fight Against ISIL."

And commentary at Truth Revolt, "'Obama: 'The World is United Against ISIL, but Calling on America' But "This isn’t America vs. ISIL'."

Anais Zanotti Bikini Snorkeling in Miami Beach

Hey, it's still summertime.

At Egotastic!, "Anais Zanotti Bikini Snorkeling Blow Holes of Intense Wet Booty Hotness."

Amid Controversy, David Cameron Plans New Powers for Scotland After Referendum

Paul Routledge writes, at the Mirror UK, "Cynical David Cameron plot behind pledge for new powers after Scottish referendum":

It woz Gordon wot won it, mobilising the hearts and minds of his fellow Scots to remain within the United Kingdom.

He halted the Nationalist juggernaut in its tracks when defeat for the Better Together campaign seemed all too possible. Thanks, Big Gordie.

Naturally, David Cameron couldn’t even bring himself to mention his predecessor’s role.

The contrast was too embarrassing Every time the Tory premier crossed the border, he lost votes.

And now he’s plotting to exploit the “No” vote to bring about eternal Tory rule in England by splitting off Scottish – mostly Labour - MPs at Westminster, handing the Conservative Party a virtually unassailable parliamentary majority.

That’s the cynical reality behind his Downing Street declaration to create a new constitutional settlement for the United Kingdom.

And that’s the challenge facing Ed Miliband as Labour’s conference delegates gather in Manchester: how to sustain and benefit from the astonishing democratic momentum set in motion by the independence referendum.

It’s impossible to know how many of the “Yes” votes were solely for divorce from the UK, and how many were against the Tories’ relentless austerity and job cuts.

Some unquestionably were a protest vote against the Coalition, in much the same way that votes for Ukip in England are a cry of defiance against the main political parties at Westminster.

In a general election, this protest will return to more normal political channels. But Ed Miliband can’t bank on it happening just like that.

In Glasgow particularly, Labour’s home ground, the 53% “Yes” for separation has to be turned into a “Yes” to getting the Tories out.

It will take a long time for Scotland to settle down. It was a different place before the referendum, and it’s even more different now.

Also from Anthony Seldon, at Telegraph UK, "Scottish referendum: Funding pledge to Scotland leaves David Cameron with the hangover from hell":

The pledge now leaves Mr Cameron with the hangover from hell. Many of his MPs have been vocal in their decrying of the pledge, and even Lord Barnett, now 90, has called his formula a “terrible mistake”, intended only as an interim measure in the run-up to planned political devolution in the late Seventies.

To some Conservative backbenchers, Mr Cameron was typically bounced into reactive decisions in promising too much to Scotland – a decision that has been called “reckless” by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. They believe that if the Prime Minister had fought a better campaign, he would never have had to make these concessions.

Significant doubts also remain over whether the proposals for further Scottish devolution will ever get through Parliament. Many voices on both Left and Right believe it is an error for such major constitutional change to be introduced with such haste. They favour the establishment of a constitutional convention to thrash out, once and for all, the appropriate powers to be granted to Scotland, as well as to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It should also pronounce on the issue of devolution to the regions such as Cornwall, Yorkshire and the North West; and to London, which has a bigger population and a larger GDP than Scotland. The problem with such conventions is that they rarely secure agreement, and certainly not in the short-term framework that domestic politics is demanding.

And the New York Times, "A Kingdom Still Whole, but Far From United":

EDINBURGH — Scotland chose decisively against independence on Thursday, but it was not a vote for the status quo in Britain.

The debate over regional and national autonomy that was set off by the Scots has just begun, and it promises a constitutional shake-up in the United Kingdom, which remains intact but by no means fixed or unchallenged.

While the outcome of the vote was met with tremendous relief from Downing Street and Buckingham Palace to Brussels and Washington, Britain was also awakening to the realization on Friday that it had agreed to grant the Scots considerable new powers to run their own affairs. Prime Minister David Cameron now faces a broader debate over the centralization of power in London, uncertainty over Britain’s place in Europe, intense budget pressures, and fissures within his own Conservative Party as he heads toward a general election campaign in the spring.

More.

Hostage Alan Henning's Family and Friends Beg for Mercy

A lot of good it's going to do. As always, I'd be surprised if Henning was still alive.

CNN reports:

VIDEO: U.S. Navy Jets Conduct Missions Against #ISIS Jihadists in Iraq

This is wicked.

From the Navy, "ARABIAN GULF (Sept. 18 and 19, 2014) F/A-18 Hornets and EA-6B Prowlers launch from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) supporting strike, surveillance and reconnaissance missions over Iraq. These missions help increase U.S. capacity to target ISIL, and coordinate the activities of the U.S. military across Iraq."

Commack High School 'Rape Prank' Goes Predictably Wrong

Mocking rape? And someone thought it was a good idea to post these photos to Twitter?

At CBS News New York:

#ISIS Offered to Exchange U.S. Hostages for Pakistani Neuroscientist and al-Qaeda Gun Moll Aafia Siddiqui

At the Los Angeles Times, "Islamic State has offered to trade hostages for imprisoned 'superstar'":

For months, Islamic State militants have engaged in a high-stakes game of deadly extortion, threatening to behead American captives they are holding in the Middle East unless their demands are met, including an end to U.S. airstrikes targeting their strongholds in Iraq.

But the price tag for the hostages' freedom has also included another prize: a diminutive, 90-pound Pakistani neuroscientist who studied at MIT before launching into a two-decade relationship with some of the best-known terrorists in the world.

The figure at the top of Islamic State's want list is Aafia Siddiqui, the wife of a key facilitator of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and a former employee of the Al Qaeda mastermind who planned them. Siddiqui is serving an 86-year sentence at a federal prison in Texas on her conviction four years ago of attempted murder for grabbing an unsecured rifle and firing on U.S. agents who were interrogating her in Afghanistan.

Siddiqui was arrested in the town of Ghazni in July 2008, having made her way onto the U.S. most-wanted list for her work with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, identified by the 9/11 Commission as the principal architect of the 2001 hijackings.

But it was her activism with Islamist groups in the United States in the 1990s that first brought her to the attention of U.S. agents. Siddiqui was active with the Muslim Students Assn. and a Muslim charity linked to fundraising for Osama bin Laden while she was studying biology at MIT, later earning her doctorate in behavioral neuroscience at Brandeis University.

Siddiqui's name as a potential trade for U.S. captives first emerged in back-channel negotiations that led to the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in May, said Joe Kasper, deputy chief of staff for Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), who sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

"On several occasions, both the Taliban and Islamic State have asked for either the release or extradition of Dr. Siddiqui in exchange for U.S. captives," said Kasper, who has been privy to communications with the militant networks.

More.

'Feeling hot in the desert!': Heidi Klum Flashback Photo on Instagram

At London's Daily Mail, "'Feeling hot in the desert!': Heidi Klum reminds her Instagram followers yet again that she's gorgeous with shirt-free flashback photo."

WATCH: 'Flames of War' — New #ISIS Propaganda Video Features Masked American Jihadist

The background's at London's Daily Mail, "Masked man with AMERICAN accent appears in latest ISIS propaganda film 'Flames of War'."

And at Pamela Geller's, "WATCH VIDEO *GRAPHIC* Islamic State Releases Gruesome Full-Length Film directed at America; Jihadist with AMERICAN accent appears, Hostages Seen Digging Their Own Graves."

YouTube pulled the video at Pamela's, but you can watch here at the Dutch website GrenStijl, "Flames of War - ISIS The Movie."

A slick production, considerably audacious, according to this report from CNN.

Read for Wellness

I love this.

At WSJ, "Read Slowly to Benefit Your Brain and Cut Stress: At Least 30 Minutes of Uninterrupted Reading With a Book or E-Book Helps."

Libertarians Give Rand Paul a Pass

At Politico:

Rand Paul insists he’s not an isolationist. Luckily for him, many in his libertarian base are willing to let him keep saying that.

A movement that often demands ideological purity is, for now, largely giving the potential 2016 presidential contender a pass, even as he appears to take some foreign policy positions well beyond traditional libertarian limits.

Libertarians say they’re willing to look the other way because the Kentucky Republican — the son of isolationist iconoclast Ron Paul — is their best hope for taking their views into the mainstream and all the way to the White House. In more than a dozen interviews at a libertarian conference this week in Alexandria, Virginia, many attendees said they understand if Paul, who recently came out in favor of airstrikes against militants in Iraq, has to hedge on some issues to gain broader appeal — but that they still believe he’s one of them at heart.

“He’s playing two games,” said John Walsh, a former professor of physiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. “He’s trying to position himself so he doesn’t get tripped up and ruled out [of 2016], and at the same time, maintain his anti-interventionism.”

Paul already faces deep skepticism from many establishment Republicans. They are quick to note that he once espoused isolationist-leaning views, including arguing for ending all foreign aid, including to Israel; reining in defense spending and expressing deep reluctance to intervene in the Middle East. He has since distanced himself from some of those positions — saying, for instance, that he would not support ending aid to Israel anytime soon — but hawkish members of the GOP donor class remain unconvinced.

“When people meet Sen. Paul in person, they’re impressed by him, and he exceeds the expectations they have based upon the rantings of his father,” said one Republican who works closely with hawkish GOP donors. “He can change his positions now and come across as friendly in one-on-one meetings, but he still, at some point, is going to have to explain for his previous positions. And by the way, if he actually flips to a pro-Israel or more interventionist foreign policy, he’s going to lose a lot of his base libertarian isolationist supporters.”

More.

I just can't keep up with Rand Paul's foreign policy. He's like Obama. Tryna track closely with public opinion, which is lame.

Letting in the Wrong Refugees

From Michelle Malkin:

Fresh terror busts in Australia expose a common Achilles’ heel of the West: Indiscriminate refugee policies turn free countries into breeding grounds for jihad. It’s the same game in America. Soldiers of Islam have weaponized our blind generosity against us.

In Sydney this week, authorities detained a half-dozen Muslim plotters and arrested a top collaborator in an alleged conspiracy to kidnap and behead a random Australian citizen. The accused mastermind? Afghan refugee turned Aussie Islamic State recruiter Mohammad Ali Baryalei. He and his aristocratic family were welcomed Down Under decades ago. Baryalei returned the favor by taking to the streets of Sydney to recruit and radicalize dozens of fellow Muslim immigrants or their children.

Baryalei’s minions include Australian jihadist Khaled Sharrouf, the homicidal son of Lebanese immigrants. Sharrouf is now based in Syria, where he infamously tweeted a photo of his elementary school-age son brandishing a severed human head.

The Sydney Beheading Bust comes on the heels of a separate outbreak of violence by Afghan refugees aligned with the terror group Hezbollah. In late August, Aussie police broke up a bloody riot involving members of the “420 gang” — Muslim teenage boys and young men who post sword-wielding, AK-47-toting selfies on social media. The self-described “Shia soldiers” quote Hezbollah militant imam Hassan Nasrallah online, while wreaking havoc in Sydney slums offline.

International “human rights” wags have attacked Australian officials for trying to crack down on unfettered immigration from terror-sponsoring states. Now, many of those ungrateful imports are crying “Islamophobia” as law enforcement authorities try to stop the head-choppers from spilling blood on their soil.

Australia, we feel your pain. America’s unselective and desultory asylum and refugee policies have also enabled jihadists of all stripes and blades to recruit, convert, plot, pillage, rape and kill...

Continue reading.

'Red Band Society' Ads Pulled from Los Angeles Buses After Complaints of Racism and Sexism

I saw these "Red Band Society" ads running on TV over the summer. They looked hard-edged and risque, although not something that ought to have been banned.

But then, leftist political correctness is destroying basic decency and common sense in this society, and folks can't express disagreement without being tried in the progressive court of public opinion (an Inquisition).

So this is no surprise, at the Los Angeles Times, "Metro yanks Fox TV show bus ads branded as racist, offensive to women":

An advertisement for the new Fox television show “Red Band Society” was abruptly pulled from Los Angeles Metro buses Thursday after activists complained it was racist and offensive.

The ads for the series that premiered this week show actress Octavia Spencer next to the words “Scary Bitch.” Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Marc Littman said the agency decided to remove the ad because that label “denigrates women.”

“That speaks for itself,” Littman said. “That was not acceptable.”

The ads, which have been up for five weeks, will be removed from 190 Metro buses as soon as possible, said Metro spokesman Dave Sotero.

The announcement was made Thursday at a Metro committee meeting where a few dozen protesters showed up to speak against the ads. Among them was Jasmyne Cannick, who said the nickname perpetuates negative stereotypes about black women.

“I don’t know if I find it more offensive because I’m black, or more offensive because I’m a woman,” said Cannick, 36. “I sometimes think our city forgets that there are black people that still live here and call Los Angeles home.”

 The woman is perpetually aggrieved, and milkin' it for all it's worth.

Angels 'Erupted' After Clinching AL West Title, Celebrate on Field

Awesome.

At the Los Angeles Times:

The Angels’ 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners had been over for several minutes, and as the Oakland Athletics began unraveling in the ninth inning of their game, the screams from the Angels’ clubhouse could be heard through the concrete walls in a tunnel.

“I wish you guys could’ve been there to see it,” Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker said. “Everybody just erupted.”

At that point, the score was tied, and the Angels would have to wait longer. First there was a long video review, then the Rangers tacked on some more runs, and then there were some pitching changes. All the while, the Angels prepared for a celebration.

“It was just a lot of fun watching that happen,” Shoemaker said...

More.

Plus, "Photos: Angels clinch AL West title."

Alex Salmond Resigns as First Minister of Scotland After Independence Vote Fails

The bugger gave it his all.

At the Telegraph UK, "Alex Salmond resigns: Scotland will 'benefit from new leadership'":

Alex Salmond tells a press conference that he will be standing down as Scotland's First Minister and Scottish National Party leader.

After the referendum defeat, Alex Salmond said it was time for a new leader who could now take the devolution process forward.

Mr Salmond said he believed party, parliament and country would "benefit from new leadership".

"Therefore I have told the National Secretary of the SNP that I will not accept nomination to be a candidate for leader at the Annual Conference in Perth on November 13-15.

"After the membership ballot I will stand down as First Minister to allow the new leader to be elected by due Parliamentary process.

"Until then I will continue to serve as First Minister. After that I will continue to offer to serve as member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire East.

More.

Does Obama Really Believe Islam is Peaceful?

Via Theo Spark, "Zo: Obama Says ISIS Isn't Islamic?!? Does he Really Believe Islam is Peaceful?"

Fit Sports Ladies: 30 Photos

At Toasted on the Inside, "Sports Bra Looks Hot on Fit Girls: 30 images."

Kelly Brook in Blue Bikini on Mykonos Beach

At London's Daily Mail, "PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Kelly Brook turns heads in plunging blue bikini before cosying up to fiancé David McIntosh on Mykonos beach."

Also, at GCeleb, "Kelly Brook Bikini Photos in Greece."

France Launches Airstrikes on #ISIS

At Legal Insurrection, "Overnight: France launches first airstrikes against ISIS."

And at Twitchy, "Sacré bombs away! France – yes, France – launches its first airstrikes against ISIS."

How to Stay Protected from Ebola

Via Theo Spark.



And at NYT, "What You Need to Know About the Ebola Outbreak."

VIDEO: Colombian Women's Cycling Team 'Not Ashamed' of Wearing Flesh-Colored Uniforms

At the Telegraph UK, "Colombian women's cycling team 'not ashamed' of 'vagina-like' team kit."

Islamic State Video of British Hostage John Cantlie

At the New York Times, "New ISIS Video Features British Hostage, John Cantlie, as Spokesman."

Scotland Rejects Referendum on Independence

At the Telegraph UK, "UK safe as Scotland rejects independence":

05.29: And this is tomorrow's Daily Telegraph 5am edition - The United Kingdom is safe.

Also at the Guardian UK, "Alex Salmond stays away from Scottish referendum count."

Video at Sky News, "Alex Salmond's Final Push for Votes."

Scottish Referendum Live Results

At Telegraph UK.

And background at London's Daily Mail, "Britain holds its breath: Counting begins in Scottish independence vote as polls close... so is the sun about to set on the Union?"

First result of the night from Clackmannanshire: YES 16,350 NO 19,036 88.6% turnout http://t.co/6fsRq5ewCz #indyref

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 19, 2014

First blood to 'No' as opening count declared in Clackmannanshire. #indyref http://t.co/kezJhD9VM6 pic.twitter.com/FlehHZljke

— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 19, 2014

"Very healthy margin for the NO campaign in our first result" #BetterTogether #indyref

— Louise Mensch (@LouiseMensch) September 19, 2014

Expect updates.

Sara Malakul Lane

Beautiful.

At Egotastic!, "Sara Malakul Poses in See-Through Bodysuit for Photoshoot."

No Matter What, Repsac3 Will Attack You as Racist!

I'll be teaching all day.

In light of stalking hate-troll Walter James Casper's pathetic allegations of "bigotry" and "racism," here's Harry Stein's, "No Matter What...They'll Call This Book Racist: How our Fear of Talking Honestly About Race Hurts Us All."

Lolz. More blogging tonight!

A Strategy to Defeat the Islamic State

The U.S. needs to deploy at least 25,000 ground troops to effectively contain --- much less defeat --- the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, according to the new study from Kimberly Kagan, Frederick Kagan, and Jessica Lewis at the Institute for the Study of War:

Success against ISIS requires more than effective military operations. Political accord in Baghdad and the emergence of meaningful inclusive politics in Syria are necessary but not sufficient conditions for securing U.S. vital national security interests in the region. The U.S. must use the expanding leverage increased military support will give us in Baghdad to continue to shape the emerging Iraqi government to be as inclusive and non-sectarian as possible. The U.S. and its allies must meanwhile engage directly and energetically with Sunni leaders in Iraq outside of Baghdad to determine who represents (or might represent) Sunnis willing to re-engage with the government in Baghdad.

The U.S. must also engage much more vigorously in efforts to develop an inclusive government-in-waiting in Syria. We must do more than trying to unify what is left of the moderate opposition. We must also reach out to the ‘Alawite community and to Syria’s other minority groups in search of potential leaders who could join forces with moderate Sunni leaders to oppose extremists on all sides.

The deployment of U.S. forces into Syria and Iraq is as important to these political efforts as it is to our military efforts. We must not fall again into the trap of relying on leaders in Baghdad, Damascus, Amman, or Turkey to inform us of the situation on the ground, still less to rally their people from afar. Populations under attack respect most the leaders who stay with them and fight. Those are the leaders we must seek out for the benefit of the political settlement as much as for their military capabilities.

This phase of the strategy will require a significant commitment of U.S. forces — perhaps as many as 25,000 ground troops in all in Iraq and Syria — although in roles very different from those they played in Iraq between 2003 and 2011. The decisive effort will belong to teams of Special Forces and special mission units deployed in a dispersed footprint throughout the Sunni lands, as well as advising the Iraqi Security Forces and the moderate Syrian opposition. Those forces will likely number in the low thousands.

The dispersed footprint from which they will have to operate requires the support of at least a U.S. Army Combat Aviation Brigade (about 3,300 soldiers) to operate transport, reconnaissance, and attack helicopters. These special operators will be at high risk of locally-overwhelming enemy force, as well as attacks by ISIS operatives infiltrating the tribes and even the security forces among whom they will be living. They must have access to a large and responsive quick reaction force (QRF) that can get to threatened units rapidly and with dominating force. We estimate that two battalion-sized QRFs will need to be available at
all times, one in Iraq and one in Syria. Sustaining the availability of two battalions requires the deployment of two brigades, perhaps 7,000 soldiers in all. Additional forces will be required to secure temporary bases, provide MEDEVAC coverage, and support necessary enablers. Flight times and the MEDEVAC requirements to get wounded soldiers to help within the “golden hour” dictate that the U.S. will have to establish temporary bases inside Iraq and Syria. Bases in Kurdistan, Turkey, and Jordan are simply too far away from the core ISIS safe-havens along the Euphrates.

RTWT.

Scott Wiener, of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Takes Truvada to Prevent Contracting AIDS

From homosexual Josh Barro, at the New York Times, "San Francisco Official Says He Takes Truvada to Prevent H.I.V., and More Gay Men Should, Too":

Scott Wiener, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, made an unusual public announcement on Wednesday: He takes Truvada, a daily antiviral pill, to greatly reduce his risk of contracting H.I.V.

Taking the pills is a practice known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and some researchers believe it may reduce the risk of infection by 99 percent if patients take their medication daily as prescribed. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012, PrEP has increasingly been embraced by public health authorities and is one of three planks of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan in New York to sharply cut new H.I.V. infections.

But it carries a stigma in some parts of the gay population, and Mr. Wiener appears to be the first public official to disclose that he’s personally on it.

“A much larger segment of gay men should be taking a close look at PrEP,” Mr. Wiener, who represents the same Castro-based district once held by Harvey Milk, said in an interview on Wednesday. “I hope that my being public about my use of PrEP can help people take a second look at it.”

Oh, preventing HIV carries a "stigma" in the homosexual population, you know, among the bare-backing rim-station demographic, folks who Walter James Casper thinks are just swell.

It's not a healthy lifestyle. Indeed, young homosexual men of color are the most likely demographic cohort to contract and die from AIDS. But hey, wouldn't want to discourage that kind of bare-backing promiscuity, because bigotry!!!

More at the link.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown Calls on 'No Voters' to 'Stand Up and Be Counted'

The referendum's today.

I don't think it'll pass. Perhaps it'll be a close vote, but voters won't approve Scottish devolution. It's just hunch. I haven't looked at a single poll. Great Britain isn't great without Scotland. And both countries will be diminished, to say nothing of dangerously weakened in international politics.

Below, the former prime minister "begging" a no vote.

At at the Telegraph U.K., "Gordon Brown calls on No voters to 'stand up and be counted'":

Former Prime Minister delivers barnstorming speech at final Better Together rally before vote urging Unionists to 'hold your head high' and be confident of victory.

Gordon Brown has urged Unionists to "stand up and be counted" in a barnstorming speech to pro-UK activists on the eve of the Scottish independence vote.

The former prime minister told No voters to "hold your head high" and be "confident" that the majority of Scots will reject Alex Salmond's separatist pitch.

Mr Brown said his rejection of independence was not for himself but for "my children" and "Scotland's children", reminding Scot the vote is "a decision for all time".

The tub-thumping address was delivered to boisterous No activists as Better Together held a final rally before polls open at 7am on Thursday.

It was judged by many commentators as Mr Brown's best and most emotive intervention during a campaign which has seen him become the pro-UK camp's star speaker.

More.

Bwahaha! Walter James Casper III Shouts 'Bigotry' and 'Racism' to Silence the Opposition and Claim Victory!

Poor Repsac3.

Proved wrong from the get go, all he can do is cry bigotry like a typical leftist loser who's lost the debate. As I indicated yesterday, "When all you've got are lies and allegations of "racism," naturally all you can do is respond desperately with more lies and pathetic allegations."

And drum roll please!!!! Ta-da, Repsac's allegation of bigotry: "Making an accusation just because the murderer (& his victim) are Muslim & the victim is a member of his family is bigotry."


Are you losing the debate? Check! Call your opponent a "bigot," like Repsac3! Bwahahahaa!!

More, "According to Repsac3, Accusing Any Muslim of Honor Killing, No Matter the Circumstances, Makes You Guilty of 'Bigotry'."

Pathetic fascist stalker hate-troll Walter James Casper III, universally repudiated across the 'sphere, lol!

How the Left Gave U.K. Girls to Muslim Rape Gangs

At FrontPage Magazine.

Click through for the videos.

And see the Other McCain, "Rotherham Update."

PREVIOUSLY: "Political Correctness [Like Repsac's] Helped Cover Up Child Sexual Exploitation in #Rotherham."

Secretary John Kerry Takes on Code Pink During Senate Testimony on #ISIS Threat

Heh, at Hot Air, "John Kerry to Code Pink: If you care about women, you should want to fight ISIS."

Video at that link.

They're all commies, lol.

The Left's Secret Weapon! First Lady Michelle Obama to Stump for Democrat Candidates

The First Lady is hitting the campaign trail on behalf of fellow Democrats, via CNN, "Michelle Obama hits the campaign trail."

Word has it that she'll be taking the muzzle off to get down and dirty on the trail!



IMAGE CREDIT: Big Fur Hat.

This is What the Left Thinks of Women

Mind-boggling leftist misogyny.

Right up Walter James Casper's alley.

You know, those "compassionate" progressives, at Twitchy, "Elisabeth Hasselbeck makes devastating Benghazi point; HuffPo lies, libs spew foul misogyny."

HASSELBECK is FUCKING DIPSHIT FAUX NOISE BIMBO! Jokes about Domestic Abuse! FUCK AILES & her loser husband! #p2 @DavidSchantz @ehasselbeck

— WY Vet (@WYVeteran) September 17, 2014

So pathetic, she doesn't even make it into my hate-fuck column. http://t.co/lkFbK7EqM2

— SwimCharlieSwim (@swimcharlieswim) September 16, 2014

The U.N. Has Become a Global Platform for Anti-Semitism and the Destruction of Israel

From Anne Bayefsky, for Prager University, "Is the UN Fair to Israel?"



RELATED: From Danny Ayalon, "The Truth About the U.N."

The Islamic State of Sexual Violence

From Aki Peritz and Tara Maller, at Foreign Policy:

Of the many terrifying stories emerging from Islamic State-occupied Iraq and Syria, the violence directed toward women is perhaps the most difficult to contemplate.

The Islamic State's (IS) fighters are committing horrific sexual violence on a seemingly industrial scale: For example, the United Nations last month estimated that IS has forced some 1,500 women, teenage girls, and boys into sexual slavery. Amnesty International released a blistering document noting that IS abducts whole families in northern Iraq for sexual assault and worse. Even in the first few days following the fall of Mosul in June, women's rights activists reported multiple incidents of IS fighters going door to door, kidnapping and raping Mosul's women.

IS claims to be a religious organization, dedicated to re-establishing the caliphate and enforcing codes of modesty and behavior from the time of Muhammad and his followers. But this is rape, not religious conservatism. IS may dress up its sexual violence in religious justifications, saying its victims violated Islamic law, or were infidels, but their leaders are not fools. This is just another form of warfare.

Why isn't this crime against humanity getting more consistent attention in the West? It seems this society-destroying mass sexual violence is merely part of the laundry list for decrying IS behavior. Compare this to IS's recent spate of execution videos, and the industrial scale of the group's sexual assaults seems to fade into the background. Rarely do they seem to be the focal point of politicians' remarks, intelligence assessments, or justification for counterterrorism actions against the group. In his Sept. 10 speech laying out his plan for fighting IS, President Obama devoted just eight words to the issue: "They enslave, rape, and force women into marriage."

We both worked as CIA analysts focused on Iraq's insurgency and counterterrorism during much of the war. We lived and breathed the Iraq conflict for years, yet we don't recall reading internal or external intelligence products that exclusively focused upon the sexual violence that occurred in Iraq during that time, despite evidence that it was rampant as an instrument of war during the vicious sectarian reprisals of the mid-2000s.

Nor do we remember attempts to track this type of violence in the same way other types of attacks were tracked. We even asked some of our former and current CIA colleagues and they couldn't recall seeing anything specific either. While these memories are admittedly anecdotal, it suggests that there did not seem to be a particular focus on this topic. And that seems to be equally true right now...

More.

The Making of a Conservative Superstar

It's a Tom Cotton profile, from Molly Ball, at the Atlantic.

Democrats Have Lost Confidence in Butt-Ugly Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Man, this disgusting battle-axe getting canned is going to make my political year.

At Politico, "Democrats turn on Debbie Wasserman Schultz" (via Memeorandum).

A truly vile piece of human refuse:

Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz is in a behind-the-scenes struggle with the White House, congressional Democrats and Washington insiders who have lost confidence in her as both a unifying leader and reliable party spokesperson at a time when they need her most.

Long-simmering doubts about her have reached a peak after two recent public flubs: criticizing the White House’s handling of the border crisis and comparing the tea party to wife beaters.

The perception of critics is that Wasserman Schultz spends more energy tending to her own political ambitions than helping Democrats win. This includes using meetings with DNC donors to solicit contributions for her own PAC and campaign committee, traveling to uncompetitive districts to court House colleagues for her potential leadership bid and having DNC-paid staff focus on her personal political agenda.

She’s become a liability to the DNC, and even to her own prospects, critics say.

“I guess the best way to describe it is, it’s not that she’s losing a duel anywhere, it’s that she seems to keep shooting herself in the foot before she even gets the gun out of the holster,” said John Morgan, a major donor in Wasserman Schultz’s home state of Florida.

The stakes are high. Wasserman Schultz is a high-profile national figure who helped raise millions of dollars and served as a Democratic messenger to female voters during a presidential election in which Obama needed to exploit the gender gap to win, but November’s already difficult midterms are looming.

One example that sources point to as particularly troubling: Wasserman Schultz repeatedly trying to get the DNC to cover the costs of her wardrobe.

In 2012, Wasserman Schultz attempted to get the DNC to pay for her clothing at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, multiple sources say, but was blocked by staff in the committee’s Capitol Hill headquarters and at President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign headquarters in Chicago.

She asked again around Obama’s inauguration in 2013, pushing so hard that Obama senior adviser — and one-time Wasserman Schultz booster — Valerie Jarrett had to call her directly to get her to stop. (Jarrett said she does not recall that conversation.) One more time, according to independent sources with direct knowledge of the conversations, she tried again, asking for the DNC to buy clothing for the 2013 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.?

Wasserman Schultz denies that she ever tried to get the DNC to pick up her clothing tab. “I think that would be a totally inappropriate use of DNC funds,” she said in a statement. “I never asked someone to do that for me, I would hope that no one would seek that on my behalf, and I’m not aware that anyone did.”

Tracie Pough, Wasserman Schultz’s chief of staff at the DNC and her congressional office, was also involved in making inquiries about buying the clothing, according to sources. Pough denies making, directing or being aware of any inquiries.

But sources with knowledge of the discussions say Wasserman Schultz’s efforts couldn’t have been clearer. “She felt firmly that it should happen,” said a then-DNC staffer of the clothing request. “Even after it was explained that it couldn’t, she remained indignant.”

This story is based on interviews with three dozen current and former DNC staffers, committee officers, elected officials, state party leaders and top Democratic operatives in Washington and across the country.

Many expect a nascent Clinton campaign will engineer her ouster. Hurt feelings go back to spring 2008, when while serving as a co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, Wasserman Schultz secretly reached out to the Obama campaign to pledge her support once the primary was over, sources say.

Meanwhile, the Obama team was so serious about replacing her after 2012 that they found a replacement candidate to back before deciding against it, according to people familiar with those discussions.

Obama and Wasserman Schultz have rarely even talked since 2011. They don’t meet about strategy or messaging. They don’t talk much on the phone.

Instead, the DNC chair stakes out the president of the United States at the end of photo lines at events and fundraisers.

“You need another picture, Debbie?” Obama tends to say, according to people who’ve been there for the encounters.

Chairing the DNC should be a political stepping stone — Ed Rendell, Terry McAuliffe and Tim Kaine all went onto bigger things, and even Howard Dean used the post to rehabilitate himself from the man who yelped his way out of a presidential campaign.

And without a doubt, the Florida congresswoman has had plenty of successes. She has overseen the integration of key elements of the Obama campaigns, including its voter file and data programs. After being left with $25 million in bills from the Obama campaign, the DNC enters the fall with the debt cleared and over $7 million on hand. She’s started new efforts to build relationships with labor and small business leaders and prioritized the DNC’s outreach to women voters.

“My tenure here is not about me,” Wasserman Schultz said in an interview with POLITICO at DNC headquarters. “I like to help build this party. That’s what I love and that’s what I focused on.”

She rejects the idea she is over-extended.

“I have always taken on a lot. It’s what I love to do. I don’t do anything half way,” she said, dismissing any worries that she’s overextended. “In some cases, it’s sniping, in other cases people are worried about me. I have a lot of Jewish mothers out there that I think very kindly say, ‘My god, she’s doing so much.’ It’s OK.”

More.

Saint Lucia-Based Flogg Blog Taken Down by Google

Well, Google's taken down individual blog posts at American Power. I won't be surprised if they take down my whole damn blog for some bogus "violation" of the terms of service (no doubt after complaints from leftist totalitarians).

And the Flogg Blog? Must have pissed someone off royally.

At Blazing Cat Fur, "Was a popular Saint Lucia blog taken down by Google hateful or just outspoken?"

And at Flogg Blog, "WHO SHUT DOWN THE FLOGG BLOG? A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON A CONTINUING INVESTIGATION."

Lovely Joey Fisher in Tight Jeans and Top

A lovely lady.

At Egotastic!, "Humpday Huzzah! Joey Fisher Strips Down to Bra and Jeans in Bodacious Photoshoot."

Bluest of Blue State Blues: California's Declining Quality of Life Under Democrat Party Rule

A devastating piece, from Andrew Puzder, at the O.C. Register, "Are Things Good Enough in California?":

California has become a very blue state. Democrats control both the governor’s office and the Legislature. With that power comes the responsibility to confront the problems facing the people of our state. In particular, Democrats are responsible for confronting our state’s increasing poverty, declining opportunity and significant income inequality – in other words, the problems Neel Kashkari is talking about. When Neel spends time as an unemployed 40-year-old looking for a job in Fresno, his point is that, despite all the gushing about a California comeback, our state government is failing to improve economic opportunities for those most in need.

The International Business Times recently noted that while California has the world’s eighth largest economy, it nonetheless has our nation’s highest poverty rate. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), for the three year period from 2009-11 (the bureau recommends the use of three-year averages to compare estimates across states), California had both the nation’s highest number (8.8 million) and percentage (23.5 percent) of people living in poverty. In the most recent report for 2010-12, the numbers were worse. While California still had both the nation’s highest number and percent of people living in poverty, there were more people (9 million) at a higher percentage (23.8 percent).

Gov. Brown refers to California’s poverty epidemic as “the flip side of California’s incredible attractiveness.” But, these are more than mere statistics. Behind these numbers are real Californians consumed by anxiety. Will there be jobs for them or their children? Will those jobs pay enough? Will they spend the rest of their lives dependent on government benefits? They struggle searching for jobs that offer dignity and self-respect, wondering whether their children will ever be able to support themselves or start families.

In July, California had the fourth-worst unemployment rate in the nation, at 7.4 percent. While that’s bad, it’s actually an improvement. Unfortunately, the big improvements have come in the wealthiest areas, particularly those affected by Silicon Valley’s high tech boom. July’s unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in the San Jose area and 4.9 percent in the San Francisco area.

Outside this enclave, it gets ugly. In Fresno, July’s unemployment rate was 10.8 percent; in Stockton, it was 11.1 percent; and, in Bakersfield, 10.4 percent. Once a beacon of opportunity, Los Angeles came in at a dismal 8.7 percent, which includes the low unemployment of the more affluent Westside.

Wealthy Californians in Silicon Valley and along our beautiful coast are prospering. For those less fortunate, those living in the other California, our state’s anti-business policies are depriving them of the jobs that could meaningfully improve their lives.

In Chief Executive Magazine’s 2014 survey of CEOs’ views on the best and worst states for business, California came in 50th for the 10th year in a row. It’s no surprise that Toyota moved its U.S. headquarters from Torrance to Texas or that even California-based Tesla Motors is locating its planned giant battery factory in Nevada rather than in California.

Small businesses fare no better. The Legislature just sent another round of bills for Gov. Brown’s signature that will further escalate California’s status as our nation’s most anti-business state and affirm the well-deserved “F” Thumbtack.com’s 2014 Small Business Friendliness Survey gave California for both small-businesses friendliness and overall regulation. Already struggling in the nation’s worst regulatory environment, California businesses, and those who desperately need the jobs they create, have little hope of assistance by way of veto from Gov. Brown.

Government regulations come at a cost. Noneconomic benefits may justify those costs but there are still costs. Rational governance would view regulations as investments in social benefits and resist regulations that fail to produce enough of such benefits or unnecessarily increase costs. California’s current leadership has failed to do so, resulting in poverty and income inequality.

According to an analysis by 24/7 Wall St. of Census Bureau data, California has our nation’s seventh-largest gap between rich and poor, the seventh-highest proportion of households earning more than $200,000 per year and the highest number of households earning less than $10,000 per year.

How can this be in a state dominated by Democrats, who proclaim their concern about income equality? It’s because California’s government has become so focused on regulating businesses and redistributing wealth that it’s forgotten that you can only redistribute wealth if you have it...

More.

California, the once-Golden State, getting even less golden under Democrat Party rule.

RELATED: A blast from the past, from Joel Kotkin, "The Golden State Is Crumbling."

Flash Flood Warnings Compound Southern California Heat Wave Dangers

Another day of heat, with flash floods.

At LAT, "L.A. heat wave: Add lightning, heavy rain to today's extreme weather."

Also at CBS Los Angeles, "Floods Cause Fears of Mudslides In Silverado," and "Southern Calif. Edison Crews Focus On Power Outages."

Cory Rasmus Racks Up Four Solid Innings Before Angels' Bullpen Falls Apart in 13-2 Loss to Mariners

Boy, things got ugly last night after Rasmus came out.

From Mike DiGiovanna, at LAT:

Cory Rasmus was "cruising" through four scoreless, one-hit innings. So why not let #Angels RHP take the fifth? http://t.co/wsUg4bJIOK
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) September 17, 2014

The Angels need any combination of 3 wins or Athletics losses to clinch the American League West Division.

Republicans Gaining Strength Ahead of November Midterm Elections

At the New York Times, "G.O.P. Gains Strength and Obama Gets Low Marks, Poll Finds":

A New York Times/CBS News poll shows that President Obama’s approval ratings are similar to those of President George W. Bush in 2006 when Democrats swept both houses of Congress in the midterm elections.

A deeply unpopular Republican Party is nonetheless gaining strength heading into the midterms, as the American public’s frustration with Mr. Obama has manifested itself in low ratings for his handling of foreign policy and terrorism.

"Deeply unpopular." The Times had to throw that part in. Althouse notices as well:

I'm thinking that the NYT loathes the GOP so much — the GOP is "deeply unpopular" at the NYT — that even when the poll numbers show the unpopularity of the Democratic Party, it feels compelled to say that the GOP is deeply unpopular, even though saying that raises the inference that the Democratic Party must be really unpopular to be more unpopular than the deeply unpopular GOP.

Via Memorandum.

Muslims Slice Off the Breasts of Kidnapped Christian Girls in Syria and Iraq

Oh, but they're not really Muslims!

At Atlas Shrugs:

The unspeakable savagery to those of us left with a soul is too much to bear — but the media yawns, Obama wrings his hands in frustration that Americans might associate the Islamic state with Islam.

Those of us that who warned for years of the growing Islamic global menace – savagery on an incomprehensible scale — were viciously attacked led by a media hellbent on norming sanction and vilifying anyone that disagreed. And even now, as journalists get their heads sawed off with six inch knives, the media hits bottom and keeps digging.

Here are nuns and a mother superiors slamming the media for their refusal to report on these monstrous war crimes – for fear of offending Islam...

More.

And at NewsBusters, "Nuns Slam Media Silence on Middle East Christian Persecution."

Code Pink Crashes Senate Hearing on #ISIS Threat

These idiots are the biggest communist losers.



PREVIOUSLY: "VIDEO: Code Pink Communist Medea Benjamin Denounces U.S. Combat Operations Against #ISIS."

Bwahaha! Lying Hate-Troll Now Says He Claimed Aasiya Hassan Murder Would Be Honor Killing All Along!

When all you've got are lies and allegations of "racism," naturally all you can do is respond desperately with more lies and pathetic allegations.

For quoting his very own unequivocal words, "In fact, you are telling a fairy story...," Walter James Casper calls me a liar and claims that he said Mrs. Hassan's murder by beheading would be an honor killing all along.

The very quote that that blog uses to indict me proves that the blogger is lying. See for yourself: @StopHonourKill pic.twitter.com/svCHue8fvG
— W. James Casper (@repsac3) September 16, 2014

Denouncing any claims of Mrs. Hassan's honor killing as a "fairy story?" or saying it could turn out to be one? pic.twitter.com/FPopQcH2GZ
— W. James Casper (@repsac3) September 16, 2014

Now that's dishonesty.

The remark that "In fact, you are telling a fairy story..." is a stand-alone statement. Hate-troll Repsac's comment about "This may turn out to be an honor killing" was a throwaway line, a rhetorical sop. After denouncing me, claiming "you might just as well be telling a fairy story," Repsac can't be more clear: He's completely unequivocal with this statement, "In fact, you are telling a fairy story..."

When you state a fact there's no wiggle room. He denounced me and those who I cited at the blog as bigots and racists for spreading allegedly false "hatred" to smear Mo Hassan as some stereotypical Muslim.

Well, here's a harsh fact: Mo Hassan beheaded his wife in a ritual Islamic slaughter, a religious honor killing, and he was convicted at trial, and experts were proved right from the beginning.

Pathetic little Repsac's still playing the same old games he always does. He denies his own words, which are there for everyone to see. It's the old, "I'll let readers judge for themselves" ploy, attempting to cast doubt on the fact that lying Walter James Capser is indeed a liar.

What a dirtball, sleezebag and loser.

Typical, that's for sure.

Heh, Putting a Copy of the Constitution in Your Pocket is Way Cool

At the Washington Post, "On Constitution Day, putting We the People in your pocket."

Today is Constitution Day.

And take WaPo's Constitution quiz. I scored 12/13.