Why Wrigley Field Is Suddenly So Empty

Well, it's not because of the tarp gaffe the other night.

Turns out the new ownership is all about winning. Management has a long-term plan to make the Cubs competitive, and strategic trades, etc., have weakened the ball club's standings in the short-term.

An interesting piece, at the Wall Street Journal, "The Cubs Are Trying Harder to Win, But Is That Hurting Attendance?"

Jennifer Nicole Lee Mighty Bikini in Miami

This lady's great for blogging. Check the link for previous iterations.

And at Egotastic!, "Jennifer Nicole Lee Bikini Booty Show Poolside in Miami."

BONUS: Also at Egotastic!, "Stacey Poole Poses for Some Bath Time Fun."

Bank of America Agrees to Pay Record $16.65 Billion in Obama-Holder Housing Settlement Shakedown

Look, we know what happened.

Many analysts, including Gretchen Morgenson of the New York Times, in Reckless Endangerment: How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led to Economic Armageddon, indicated that Democrat-leftist policies pushed government-backed financial institutions, such Fannie Mae, to issue sub-prime home loans to unqualified minorities. This dates back to the Clinton years. Democrats called for "partnerships" between government and the private sector, which ultimately removed all limits on mortgage lending, feeding an unchecked real-estate bubble and ultimately the worst financial collapse since the Great Depression.

But now here comes Barack Obama's shakedown Attorney General, who strong-armed B of A into this record shakedown payout.

The announcement is at the corrupt DOJ website, "Bank of America to Pay $16.65 Billion in Historic Justice Department Settlement for Financial Fraud Leading up to and During the Financial Crisis" (via Memeorandum).

And at the Wall Street Journal, "Record Bank of America Settlement Latest in Government CrusadeBank Agrees to Pay $16.65 Billion in Cash and Consumer Aid":

On Thursday, the bank agreed to pay $16.65 billion to settle the government's accusations it sold flawed mortgage securities in the run up to the 2008 crisis, the largest settlement ever reached between the U.S. and a single company.

For the U.S. government, the deal is a chance to put an exclamation point on a string of crisis-era enforcement actions and lawsuits that have cost big U.S. banks tens of billions of dollars. The Charlotte, N.C. lender will have to pay $9.65 billion in cash to the Justice Department, six states and other government agencies. The bank also will provide $7 billion in consumer aid by modifying mortgages for borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth, demolishing derelict properties or other relief.

For Bank of America, the settlement is a bitter coda to its decision in 2008 to buy two companies, Countrywide Financial Corp. and Merrill Lynch & Co., as they teetered during the housing crisis. Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan, who has spent his 41/2 years as CEO wading through litigation, has told investors this is the last of the big crisis-era problems. His next challenge: proving the bank has the mettle to make money in an era of weak loan demand and low interest rates.

In a statement, Mr. Moynihan said the settlement "is in the best interests of our shareholders, and allows us to continue to focus on the future." Giant legal charges have depressed the bank's earnings for years, frustrating some investors. The bank said the settlement will cut third-quarter pretax earnings by $5.3 billion, or 43 cents a share after tax.

Shares in the company rocketed more than 4%, to close at $16.16, as investors welcomed the resolution of a long-running legal headache.

The Justice Department's case against Bank of America provides perhaps the clearest window yet into the behavior that fueled the 2008 financial crisis: Lenders knowingly providing credit to borrowers who couldn't afford the loans and selling those mortgages to unwitting investors. Borrowers ultimately defaulted, sending them into foreclosure and saddling investors with hefty losses.

Many of the mortgage securities in question were made by Countrywide and Merrill Lynch. But the government found problems with Bank of America's own mortgage securities as well, including efforts to circumvent underwriting standards by changing applicants' financial information.

In at least one instance, an underwriter at Bank of America made more than 40 attempts to win an "accept" rating from an internal Countrywide system—known as CLUES—that would allow Bank of America to make a loan, according to a statement of facts signed by the U.S. and Bank of America.

"One underwriter characterized what she was doing as trying to 'trick' the CLUES system into giving an 'accept' rating," according to the document.

The ramifications of originating weak loans was predicted by former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo, who warned in an Aug. 1, 2005 email to other executives that real-estate developers were anticipating a condo-market collapse in areas like South Florida and Las Vegas, and said the firm should avoid putting certain loans on its own balance sheet. Mr. Mozilo was worried the large increase in monthly payments required by many of the Countrywide-issued mortgages ultimately would cause borrowers to default.

"The simple reason is that when the loan resets in five years there will be enormous payment shock and the borrower is not sufficiently sophisticated to truly understand the consequences then the bank will be dealing with foreclosure in potentially a deflated real estate market. This would be both a financial and reputational catastrophe," Mr. Mozilo wrote, according to Justice Department documents.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles are preparing to file civil charges against Mr. Mozilo and other former Countrywide executives, according to a person familiar with the situation. Mr. Mozilo's lawyer, David Siegel, said, "There is no sound or fair basis, in law or in fact, to pursue any claims against Angelo Mozilo."

Countrywide, in particular, has morphed from trophy to albatross for Bank of America. The bank had a history of gobbling up competitors when it bought Countrywide in 2008 and the deal launched it to the top of the mortgage world.

The purchase, though, has brought legal headaches and regulatory scrutiny, including a multistate settlement over alleged predatory lending practices just months after Bank of America bought the lender. The bank's mortgage unit hasn't turned a profit in years.

The settlement comes on the heels of similar, but smaller, deals over precrisis mortgage-related conduct with Citigroup Inc. C +2.55%  for $7 billion and J.P. Morgan Chase JPM +1.49%  & Co for $13 billion. The Justice Department is expected to turn its attention next to other banks accused of selling flawed mortgage securities, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. GS +0.64%  and Wells Fargo& Co., according to people familiar with the matter. Those cases are expected to be smaller than the previous three settlements.

GlobalPost CEO Philip Balboni: James Foley Murder, #ISIS Threat, 'Cannot Go Unanswered...' (VIDEO)

Amazingly calm and rational statement. Simply, this threat "cannot go unanswered."

At National Review, "GlobalPost CEO: U.S. Must Respond to James Foley’s Murder, ‘Cannot Go Unanswered’."



And at the Global Post, "Foley beheading video followed prior threat," and "Full text of the last email the Islamic State sent to the Foley family."

REPORT: James Foley Rescue Mission Failed Because Obama 'Dragged His Feet' — #IslamicState

This has been the big news all day,

And now at Atlas Shrugs, "Report: U.S. Special Forces Rescue Attempt Of James Foley Failed Because Obama Kept “Dragging His Feet”."

Listen to the audio here, "Retired Intel Officer Tony Shaffer: Foley Rescue Attempt Failed Because Obama ‘Dragged His Feet’." (Via Free Beacon.)

Unless we get "ahead of the curve" we're going to see people being killed "on a level not seen since World War II."

Pamela Geller: 'Obama Has Constantly Denied the Jihad Threat...' #JamesFoley #ISIS #Appeasement

America has virtually disarmed in the face of savagery.

Here's Pamela Geller, "VIDEO: Pamela Geller on The Rick Amato Show, One America News, Discussing the Islamic State and the Beheading of James Foley."



More, "Obama Uses Jihad Beheading of American Journalist to Proselytize for Islam."

Mo'ne Davis!

I'm just tryin' to keep up with the pennant race in the American League West Division.

But this young lady is getting a lot of attention, at the New York Times, for example, "Mo’ne Davis: A Woman Among Boys at the Little League World Series."

And she'll be on the cover of Sports Illustrated:

Mo'ne Davis just landed the cover of Sports Illustrated http://t.co/mBw1At8LUq pic.twitter.com/eXYf7SZQ1R

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 21, 2014

It wasn't Mo'ne Davis's night, but her story is far from over: http://t.co/IMTCdPrp7a pic.twitter.com/3EYDGVq1OU

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) August 21, 2014

Miss Colombia Paola Builes Stripped of Beauty Crown Because of Racy Bikini Photos

Seriously? In this day and age?

She was stripped of the Miss Antioquia title.

At the Mirror UK, "Miss Colombia favourite kicked out of contest because bikini was 'too revealing'," and the New York Post, "Colombian pageant queen kicked out of competition over 'inappropriate' bikini pics."

More photos at the Lad Bible, "Miss Colombia Contestant Banned From Pageant Because Her Bikini Is 'Too Revealing'."

UPDATE! The Daley Gator does Ms. Paola some justice: "INJUSTICE! BEAUTY QUEEN STRIPPED OF CROWN BY BIKINIPHOBES! (PHOTOS!)"

Paola Builes de 20 años, quien fue nombrada señorita Antioquia, fue descalificada por polémicas fotos. pic.twitter.com/UGHDk7dhLd
— Q'hubo Barranquilla (@QhuboQuilla) August 12, 2014

This is so mean!

Obama's golf war gets Althouse riled: "Poor Obama!"

Obama blasted for golfing after speech: http://t.co/hwdD5DtiAh Editorial: Obama’s duty to act: http://t.co/2oNOndaTh6 pic.twitter.com/IBGhqqKnxF

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 21, 2014

British Prime Minister David Cameron cut short his holiday to deal with the crisis. Obama, phones it in from Massachusetts.

And from the Daily News' editorial:

Americans can only pray that President Obama was as serious as a drone strike when he vowed the United States would “see that justice is done” for the beheading of American journalist James Foley.

While his anger was palpable, Obama’s resolve to rain death on the savages of ISIS was far from clear. Worse, he signaled disdain for the gravity of the moment by going from the presidential podium straight to a vacation round of golf.

The country deserved better from its reluctant-warrior commander in chief. So, too, Foley’s family. So, too, the family of Steven Sotloff, a second American journalist held by ISIS. So, too, the tens of thousands of Iraqis and Syrians facing murderous barbarity.

Well, we need a different president. I think the terrorists have a cakewalk of carnage until January 2017, and possible longer, if a Democrat is elected.

Ace Pitcher Garrett Richards Injures Knee in #Angels 8-3 Win Over Red Sox

Looks like he'll need surgery and will be out for six months.

At LAT:

The Angels huddled around first base Wednesday night as medical personnel tended to Garrett Richards, who lay on his back, writhing in so much pain that first baseman Albert Pujols, on one knee, held the pitcher's hand to comfort him.

Richards, the hard-throwing right-hander who has emerged as one of baseball's best pitchers in his first full season as a starter, suffered what Manager Mike Scioscia called a "significant" left knee injury while covering first base on a potential double-play grounder in the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Richards spent eight minutes on the ground before being wheeled out on a stretcher. His 2014 season appears finished, and he will likely need surgery on the patellar tendon, a procedure that would require at least a six-month recovery.

No doubt, fans and followers of this star-crossed franchise were wondering: Did the team's World Series hopes get carted off with Richards?

"To have something like that happen is a crushing blow to any team," Angels right-hander Jered Weaver said. "I heard him screaming down there, so you knew something wasn't right. It doesn't look too good for him. He's been our guy all year, one you could count on to get deep into games and pull out a victory."

More.

The Angels will call up Wade LeBlanc, per Mike DiGiovanna:

#Angels will recall LHP Wade LeBlanc from triple-A Salt Lake today. Will be in pen tonight, probably start Monday night vs. MIA.

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) August 21, 2014

Lt. Col. Ralph Peters Slams Obama Administration: 'Doesn't Know History ... Doesn't Want to Deal with Reality...'

A must-see video.

The reality is that we must kill the terrorists before the kill us. We must "kill them, keep on killing them until [we] kill the last one. Then, [we] kill his pet goat."

At Red Alert Politics, "Fox News analyst Ralph Peters on ISIS terrorists: ‘Hammer those suckers’."

CBS News Los Angeles Broadcasts Segments of #ISIS James Foley Propaganda Video

It's not distasteful, although it's hardly toeing the line with the left's #ISISMediaBlackout.

CNN's report, for example, by national security correspondent Barbara Starr, showed screencaps from the video, but no actual footage. Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of the left's cultural censors ---- or God forbid, take too firm a stand against religious terrorism.

As I always say, it's better to spread the word about the evil of Islamic jihad.

Kidnapping of Western Journalists, Tourists, and Aid Workers Has Become Multimillion-Dollar Business

Somalian terrorists take hostages for money. The Islamic State just wants to murder them for propaganda purposes.

See USA Today, "Kidnapping Westerners is big business."

State Department's Marie Harf 'Won't Rule Anything In or Out' on Policy Responses to #ISIS Terrorism

We'll probably see a few more tactical airstrikes and that'll be it. In a few weeks the U.S. will be well into the post-Labor Day election campaign, and the Obama White House will have long forgotten about James Foley.

Video: Police Shoot and Kill Knife-Wielding Suspect Kajieme Powell in St. Louis

The main story is at St. Louis Public Radio and Memeorandum, "St. Louis Police Release Video, Calls From City Shooting."

Actually, there are two videos. One shows shows Kajieme Powel allegedly shoplifting donuts and energy drinks from a convenience store (and clearly somebody is shoplifting in the video), and a second video, captured by mobile phone, shows the shooting.

Watch: "Powell Shooting (Security Camera)," and "Powell Shooting (Cell Phone Camera)."

More at KSDK Newschannel 5‎ St. Louis, "Police name man who died in officer-involved shooting."

At at NewsMax, "Knife-Wielding Man Shot to Death by Police in St. Louis":

A knife-wielding man was shot to death Tuesday after allegedly shoplifting from a St. Louis convenience store. The incident took place just 2.6 miles from the protests in Ferguson.

According to local news reports, the 23-year-old suspect entered the store and stole two energy drinks, left the store, and returned to take a pastry.

The store owner followed the man from the store and police were called.

KMOV.com quotes police as saying that whens officers arrived, the man was acting erratically, yelling at officers, "Shoot me now, kill me now."

Fox2now.com reports that the man was warned repeatedly by the two officers on the scene to drop his knife, but he refused, instead charging at the officers. Both officers then shot the man, and he was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police Chief Sam Dotson told Fox 2 that the man was two or three feet from the officers in an attack posture when he was shot. The officers were not injured.

Asked about the incident by KMOV, Dotson said police officers have a right to defend themselves.

The incident occurred about 1 p.m. Central Time.

VIDEO: #ISIS 'Collecting' Hostages — 'Almost All Foreign Hostages' in Syria Held by Islamic State

It's NBC's Richard Engel reporting from the Turkey-Syria border. And remember, in 2012, Engel himself was taken hostage by Syrian forces loyal to Assad.

Here's his report from the Today Show this morning, at the link: "NBC: ISIL 'Collecting' Foreign Hostages."

He mentions "between 30 and 40" foreign hostages, including journalists and aid workers. It's dangerous over there, and public opinion is disinclined toward a renewed ground presence. So after this outrage cools off in the coming weeks, we'll be back to Obama's "realist" approach to the Islamic State threat.

New York Post: 'Time to Bomb #ISIS'

From the editors at the Post:

The time for games is over.

On Tuesday, America got a horrific wake-up call: Islamic State terrorists released a gruesome video that shows them beheading James Wright Foley, an American photojournalist held in Syria since 2012. The group also showed another US journalist held hostage, Steven Joel Sotloff, and threatened to murder him as well.

“The life of this American citizen, Obama, depends on your next decision,” declares the masked terrorist as he holds Sotloff by the neck.

True, that puts President Obama in a difficult spot. But the president must do whatever it takes to counter this vicious savagery: that is, launch full-throttled airstrikes against ISIS and its “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria — until the threat is gone.

With American lives now being taken and even more at risk, America is now directly involved. No more playing footsie with butchers....

ISIS has now sent what it called “A Message to America.” It’s time for America to send a more pointed message back.

PREVIOUSLY: "New York Post Runs Graphic Cover Photo of James Foley #ISIS Beheading."

Pro-Israel Hollywood Speaks Out

From Mark Tapson, at FrontPage Magazine:

RT if you can't wait for the wknd to start... Have a great wknd everyone & a happy summer!! xoxo #YOLO #LOVE pic.twitter.com/ygIboRcDju

— Gal Gadot (@GalGadot) June 21, 2013

Another superhero – Gal Gadot, who will play Wonder Woman in the upcoming Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice – spoke out as well via social media, posting this on Facebook:

I am sending my love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens. Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children…We shall overcome!!! Shabbat Shalom!

Gadot is a former Miss Israel who served two years in the Israeli Defense Forces. In a 2011 interview, she stated that:

I don’t feel like I’m an ambassador for my country, but I do talk about Israel a lot – I enjoy telling people about where I come from and my religion. I find that people in the U.S., especially in Hollywood, tend to have positive opinions on Israel – both Jewish and non-Jewish people alike. But when I travel to Europe, people often don’t know as much about Israel, and sadly a lot of them have a negative impression of the country.

Perhaps she should be an ambassador, because she handled that last sentence very diplomatically.

James Foley, Far Left-Wing Journalist, Supported Islamic Jihad Against Bashar al-Assad in Syria

From Daniel Greenfield, at FrontPage Magazine:

James Foley Went Looking to Support Terrorists in Syria, Instead They Cut Off His Head | FrontPage Magazine http://t.co/uicv8uvVXw

— Daniel Greenfield (@Sultanknish) August 20, 2014

Any human life lost is tragic, but a moral individual would have much more empathy for the Syrian Christians who suffered at the hands of Foley’s favorite Jihadists than one of their pet propagandists.

Foley came to Syria to support the Sunni Islamist rebels against the Syrian government.

He cheered on the Sunni Muslim terrorists fighting to ethnically cleanse the Christians of Aleppo. In the conflict between Israel and Hamas, his tweets and retweets were chock full of pro-terrorist propaganda.

But Foley ran afoul of at least some of the Sunni Jihadists in Syria. His twitter feed was filled with references to the FSA. And the FSA was going to be eclipsed by the Al Qaeda affiliates. And that was where he ended up.

When Austin Tice, an actual freelance journalist was kidnapped by Jihadists, Foley ridiculed the idea that Jihadists had kidnapped him. Surely Syrian Jihadists wouldn’t do that sort of thing.

Except they did.

When Newsweek’s Muslim Rage cover story came out, Foley mocked it too. Raging Muslims. How silly and Islamophobic.

Foley was fanatically anti-Israel and was even willing to echo Iranian propaganda.

RTWT.

Prime Minister David Cameron: 'Increasingly Likely' Foley's Murderer British (VIDEO)

At the Telegraph UK:

David Cameron cut short his holiday to return to Downing Street and oversee the response after the horrific video was posted online.
Speaking to reporters in Number 10, Mr Cameron said it seemed "increasingly likely" that a British citizen was the killer.

"Let me condemn the barbaric and brutal act that has taken place and let's be clear what this act is - it is an act of murder, and murder without any justification," he said.

"We have not identified the individual responsible, but from what we have seen it looks increasingly likely that it is a British citizen.

"This is deeply shocking. But we know that far too many British citizens have travelled to Iraq and travelled to Syria to take part in extremism and violence. And what we must do is redouble all our efforts to stop people from going. To take away the passports of those contemplating travel, arrest and prosecute those who take part in this extremism and violence. To take extremist material off the internet and do everything we can to keep our people safe. And that is what this Government will do."