From Eric Dondero:

Libertarian anti-Islamist radio talk show host Fred Grandy is getting major web news buzz for breaking a story on Delta Airlines new partnership with Saudi Arabia Airlines. Seems Saudi Air is dictating to Delta that passengers flying on their airlines must meet certain requirements.

The restrictions could include clothing requirements for women and banning passengers from "carrying and reading religious literature of their choice."
"This includes, but is not limited to, both Christian and Jewish sacred texts, such as the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as any objects that reflect their religion, such as a cross necklace," Lovitky said.

Catherine Grandy, the former congressman's wife commented on air:

"It looks like Delta will be the first Shariah-compliant airline in the United States."

See a copy of a letter by Kathy Johnson, Coordinator for Delta Customer Care at USADotCom.blogspot, where Ms. Johnson concedes that Delta will comply with the policy set forth by Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Editor's comment - Of course, businesses should have the right to discriminate, including Delta. And airline passengers in the US who support American values and culture have the right to be discriminatory in their purchasing habits when flying. Bottom line: If you're Pro-America, don't fly Delta.

by Clifford Thies

The National Coalition, a conservative party, has formed a six-party, Left-Right coalition, drawing on parties across the entire political spectrum, in order to free out the True Finns. The new government will have three parties of the right or center-right (the Swedish Peoples Party and the Christian Democrats, in addition to the National Coalition) and three parties of the left or center-left (the Social Democrats, Left Alliance and Greens), each bloc having about half the seats needed for a majority. In opposition will be Center Party and the True Finns.

It was originally thought that the National Coalition, which finished first in the election, would form a three-party coalition involving it, the Social Democrats and the True Finns. But, talks broke down. At that point, alternatives for the National Coalition included a Center-right government involving it, the Center Party and the True Finns; and, a Left-Right government involving something like the six-party that was put together.

In Finland, as in Ireland earlier this year, a shift to the right by the people has strangely resulted in an incremental shift to the left in the government.

Photo h/t LondonPatriots.org

by Clifford F. Thies

Good news from Connecticut, one of the few remaining all-Blue States: after 77 tax increases, the state government is still facing a fiscal crisis. The mess described as a budget containing the 77 tax increases assumed $1.6 billion in concessions from the state's union workers. But, the union workers rejected the concession package.

The union worker deal mainly involved: (1) suspension of pay increases previously bargained, (2) raising the retirement age for sate workers by three years, (3) requiring state workers to contribute to their retirement health benefit plans, (4) raising deductibles and co-pays in the state's health benefits plans, and (5) a no layoff pledge by the state. The deal was negotiated with union leaders and required a large majority of bargaining units for approval.

Rejection of the deal appears to put the state government with no option by to start sending out layoff notices, perhaps 10 percent of its work force. It is said that state workers with up to ten years seniority will be laid off; and, that the state's unemployment rate will increase by 0.3 points, to 9.4 percent. Also, don't think even think about what will happen to state services in Connecticut. At least in Somalia, where there is anarchy, you don't have to pay any taxes.

Reference CT Mirror story

From Eric Dondero:

19-year-old Riham Osman was hired by the Temp Agency Aerotek to serve as a gate teller for Air France. During her initial training session, a supervisor told her she'd have to conform to the company's uniform policy and take off her hijab. She refused, and ran to CAIR to file a complaint.

From NBCWashington:

Refusing to take it off, Osman left the airport in tears. Soon after, she contacted the Council on American-Islamic Relations for help. Noting the ongoing controversy in France about the legality of wearing a hijab, CAIR filed a complaint and sent a letter to Air France saying in part, “It is clear that a discriminatory dress code implemented in France would not supersede American laws protecting the religious rights of employees. Air France must follow American law and grant reasonable religious accommodations for its employees.”

Aerotek pushed for her to be re-hired. But Air France has not buckled.

Now predictably:

Osman hopes travelers will boycott Air France until she gets an apology.

Editor's comment - Perhaps those of us who support free enterprise and the rights of businesses to hire employees as they see fit, should boycott Aerotek? What's next? Hijab-wearing Muslim woman demanding the right to work at Hooters?

Beltway Sniper John Muhammed Redux?

From Eric Dondero:

Back in 2003, the Beltway Sniper John Muhammed shot 20 people in southern Maryland, northern Virginia, and earlier in Arizona. The shootings held the country's attention for a few weeks. The media was captivated by the story. But they soon lost interest when it was found out that the Sniper was a Muslim male motivated by Islam, and not a southern white possibly motivated by racism, as they had strongly anticipated.

Now this from the AP via Army Times "Officials: Marine linked to military shootings":

WASHINGTON — A Marine reservist who was detained during a security scare near the Pentagon last week has been linked to the shootings last year at the Marine Corps museum in Quantico and several D.C.-area military recruitment stations, officials said Wednesday.

Ballistics evidence appears to link Yonathan Melaku, 22, of Alexandria, Va., to the shootings, one official said. The two officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Melaku is being held on unrelated larceny charges. He has not been charged in last week’s incident or the building shootings.

Media except Fox, ignores Muslim affiliation

Scott Starnes of Politically Incorrect blog points out - "Muslim Marine Reservist Detained Near Pentagon…Linked to DC Militay Building Shootings":

Hey Democrats. This is the reason we need to investigate and profile those who follow that ever-so peaceful religion called Islam. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX)unavailable for comment.

And columnist Mollie at GetReligion.org notes the blatant media bias - "So is he a Muslim or not?":

I live not far from the Pentagon, I followed the changing reports throughout the day and the week that followed. Yonathan Melaku, an immigrant from Ethiopia, was the man taken into custody.

There are quite a few Ethiopian immigrants in this area...

I did a search of CNN, ABC, the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, NBC, CBS and FOX News sites for “Yonathan Melaku Muslim.” Only Fox showed any hits.

Like the Muhammed case, the media suddenly seems un-interested in this latest Beltway Sniper story.

From Eric Dondero:

Republican Liberty Caucus National Chairman Dave Nalle has a long report on redistricting nationwide and how it affects libertarian Republican candidates at RLC.org. Specifically Dave alerts - "Michigan Redistricting Puts Standout Freshman Congressman Justin Amash at Risk":

In his short term in office Amash has won even more support from his constituents by making himself unusually accessible, sponsoring innovative legislation including a new constitutional amendment to balance the budget, and even posting explanations of every vote he makes to his Facebook page. Amash has been singled out as one of the best new congressmen by conservative groups and even received praise from the libertarian press. He’s also angered Democrats in his district who have launched several recall petitions against him, another sign he is doing what his radical supporters want. He is in many ways the model of the kind of new political leader which the reawakened base of the political right wants to see in Washington.

Yet Amash’s popularity and success are apparently of little interest to party leaders in Michigan. When the state’s House Redistricting Committee met this week the redistricting map which they were given for approval by the state Senate would make it very difficult for Amash to win reelection while protecting and strengthening the districts of other more establishment-friendly legislators like Thaddeus McCotter, Bill Huizinga, Fred Upton and Dave Camp. It even helps solidify the districts of some Democrat incumbents like John Dingell.

But there may be a bit of a silver-lining. The proposed new district for Amash is far less Republican, however:

The reasoning behind this may be that the libertarian-leaning Amash has the ability to win more independent and crossover votes than an establishment Republican...

Submitted by Dan Sheill, former Michigan RLC Chairman, now living in Texas.

Hillary Clinton pledged not "to abandon" Afghan women

Report from WomensViewsonNews.org "Afghan women fear for the future after US troops pulled out":

As President Barack Obama announces the withdrawal of US troops tonight, Afghan women are demanding a place at the table to make sure that their rights are not negotiated away in peace talks.

The announcement comes after departing US Defence Secretary Robert Gates confirmed that peace talks are taking place with members of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Despite Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s pledge to Afghan women last May that “we will not abandon you, we will stand with you always,” there are concerns that Afghan women could pay the price for peace with loss of the freedoms they have gained.

Further:

Maryam Hashimi, a 49-year-old office worker who had witnessed women being beaten for “crimes” that included allowing a glimpse of their ankle under their covering told King that she feared things would return to the way they were before the Taliban were ousted in 2001.

“They don’t change — if the Taliban had power, things would be just as they were before, when we could not work, or leave our houses, or even imagine a place like this, where we can walk freely.”

Photo credit - AllVoices.com

Leftist accuses Texas Governor of hyper Individualism

Excerpted from The Hill, Pundit's Blog, by Brent Budowsky, "Rick Perry and Ayn Rand versus Democrats and Jesus"

While Rick Perry savages aid to education and sells short the young people of Texas, has talked of Texas seceding from the union in his imitation of the segregationists of the 1850s, champions policies that will export more jobs to China and causes gargantuan budget deficits that would make George W. Bush proud, let’s talk some Bible.

Jesus taught we should sell our possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, not fight for tax cuts for the rich and call it the politics of values. Jesus taught we should honor and love the children, not cut programs that help poor kids and cut schools that teach all kids and call it the politics of faith.

No, the politics of the Rick Perry right are not the politics of Jesus, but the politics of Ayn Rand, a proud atheist who believed John F. Kennedy was a fascist. Do Rand's Republican disciples agree with, or disagree with, her fervent atheism?

Photo credit - RoycraftReport.com

"Let's not just say we want youth in the party. Let's put experienced youth in leadership."

From Eric Dondero:

The Republican Party of El Paso County, Colorado (Colorado Springs), elected Sarah Marie Anderson as Party Secretary last February. And she's a libertarian Republican.

From the Colorado Springs Independent, cover story, "Anarchy in the GOP" June 23:

She spent her formative years reading a series of books that explain the free-market theory to teens. She will gleefully argue the superiority of the market-based Austrian School economic model of F.A. Hayek and Ludwig von Mises over the Keynesian mixed-economy version. On her Facebook page, she describes her political views as "a beautiful blend of Anarcho-Capitalism and Minarchism."

Another thing: Anderson is a born campaigner. Home-schooled, with college on hold, she says she's worked on more than 60 campaigns over the past seven years. She started at age 9, after pleading with her mother, by volunteering at county headquarters while Bill Owens was running for governor. Six years later, she went door-to-door for Douglas Bruce, then a party hero who wanted a seat on the county commission. From 2004 to 2007, she worked at the state Capitol for legislators including Sen. Kent Lambert of Colorado Springs.

She beat the "wife of a party stalwart" for the position. Further:

Feisty, ambitious, intelligent and pretty, Anderson's exactly the kind of person that the aging GOP is eager to draw into the fold. Except that, as she happily offers, "My beliefs aren't popular with the majority of the powerholders of the Republican Party."

by Clifford F. Thies

The race has the feel of not being real.

The President's net approval rating is negative and he loses to Generic Republican. His fundamentals are very bad. The Misery Index looks Cateresque. Three wars. Who knew we had 100,000 troops in Afghanistan? Or 700 casualties per year? These numbers will not be lost to the American people when it comes time to focus on the election. Obama has owned the economy since 2010 and he will own the wars in 2012.

Looking at the GOP field:

Romney continues to be the front-runner; but, he's like a default setting. His total experience in government is 1 term? And, what did he actually accomplish?

Pawlenty? Talk about a weak jaw.

Can anybody else who is in the race even be conisdered to be a serious candidate?

Among the non-serious candidates, Herman Cain's role is to splinter the Tea Party vote so as to deny the nomination to Michele Bachmann; Ron Paul's role is to splinter the Libertarian vote so as to deny the nomination to Gary Johnson; newcomer Jon Huntsman's role is to splinter the Mormon vote so as to deny the nomination to Romney; and, Rick Santorum's role is to put himself out there long enough so he denies the nomination to himself.

Newt Gingrich, like Fred thompson before him, is using the Presidential contest to impress his young wife, so at least he's accomplishing something.

Waiting on the sidelines is Sarah Palin, now joined by Rudy Giuliani and Rick Perry, each one imagining him or herself to be the savior of the party, when we all know that General David Petraeus will be the savior.

"I drink Tequila. This is California"

From Eric Dondero:

California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher quoted in Politico this morning, on his Cali-esque congressional office decor:

“Americans identify themselves with different parts of American culture,” said Rohrabacher. “Some people think of themselves as cowboys. Some think of themselves as policemen or sportsmen or something like that. … I’m a surfer. And I identify with the surf culture. I grew up with it and feel at home at the beach. I don’t drink bourbon; I drink tequila. This is California. So, yeah, it’s different.”

Rep. Rohrabacher, a longtime Advisory Board member of the Republican Liberty Caucus, going back to the mid-1990s, represents a portion of Orange County, Huntington Beach up to Long Beach, including Catalina Island.

Photos from his congressional office.

"Perceived strength of Rep. Flake..."

From Eric Dondero:

It now appears that Gabrielle Giffords, due to her tragic injuries, will not be running for US Senate as a Democrat after all. Dems had hoped that the Tucson area congresswoman would recover enough to give the Republicans a strong challenge.

Now this from Goggle News via AP:

Privately, some Democrats are pessimistic that her recovery will progress to the point she will run for the Senate. They view a run for her congressional seat as a more likely alternative.

Some Democrats said the lack of an alternative at this stage is a worrisome sign that Democrats won't field a strong challenger against the GOP nominee, most likely to be Republican Rep. Jeff Flake. Incumbent Republican Jon Kyl is retiring after three terms in the Senate.

"We're stumbling around with names nobody knows," said Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. "We're left with second tiers, and that's too bad, because I don't think Flake should have a free ride and he's beatable."

"I think it's the perceived strength of Representative Flake. It's also very difficult to raise money in this economic environment," [fmr. AZ Democrat Chair] Pederson said.

Grijalva has ruled out a run.

Photo from Flake's congressional office of his solo trip two years ago to a deserted island in the Pacific.

From Eric Dondero:

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, on coming Defense cutbacks, and potential loss of America's superpower status due to a "dramatic transformation," in military spending under Obama. Quoted by J-Post:

“To tell you the truth, that’s one of the many reasons it’s time for me to retire, because frankly I can’t imagine being part of a nation, part of a government . . . that’s being forced to dramatically scale back our engagement with the rest of the world.”

Editor's comment - Gates returning to his Republican roots, perhaps? Looking at the latest poll numbers and seeing a coming Republican win in 2012. Highly unusual for a Cabinet official to take such a jab at his own administration.

H/t Weasel Z...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2011 Contact: Oscar Gibson Phone : 574-264-6741   Moore gains another challenger ELKHART – Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore will have 2 opponents on the November ballot instead of just one. Local businessman Oscar Gibson was nominated at the Elkhart County Libertarian Party’s convention held in late April.  He will join [...]

From Eric Dondero:

We all remember this hit TV commercial from the late 1980s. And some 25 years later, the Russians are getting their revenge.

From Adage.com:

Turns out Wendy in Russia is a little sexier than Wendy in the states.

The Moscow Times reports that a Wendy's in Moscow -- the first stand-alone location in Russia -- featured two girls outside the restaurant dressed as Wendy during the location's opening. Sure, the girls had the signature pigtails and ribbons, but they wore short dresses, striped knee-high socks and stiletto heels -- which, now that we think about it, sounds kind of like a "sexy" Halloween costume.

Wendy's/Arby's Group Chief Operating Officer Andrew Skehan told the Moscow Times that he had not been aware of the of the franchise group's decision to sex up the icon...

Editor's comment - We can only imagine what the models at a new Wendy's franchise in Riyad, Saudi Arabia would look like?

Breitbart's BigPeace.com has the photo of the women.

by Clifford F. Thies

No doubt about it, everyone believes that what he believes is correct and what others believe is wrong. And, when it comes to religious beliefs, this means heresy. Latest in the accusations of heresy is that Governor Rick Perry of Texas, an evangelical Christian, is a heretic as his politics “are not the politics of Jesus, but the politics of Ayn Rand.”

Jesus, we are told, taught we should sell our possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, not fight for tax cuts for the rich. And, Jesus taught we should honor and love the children, not cut programs that help poor kids and cut schools that teach all kids.

These accusations reflect the progressive movement’s influence on the church. One of the leaders of the Social Gospel Movement among protestant Christianity, at the turn of the 19th into the 20th Century, Richard T. Ely, said “Christianity is primarily concerned with this world.” He said:

“God works through the State in carrying out his purposes more universally than through any other institution … The Protestant Reformation meant the exaltation of the state … The distinction of ecclesiastical and profane laws can find no place among Christians … The main purpose of the State is the religious purpose. Religious laws are the only laws which ought to be enacted.”

Mixed into the message of a theocratic and socialistic state were the supposedly scientific doctrines of population control, eugenics, natural aristocracy, race and nation. The Social Gospel’ers taught that inferior people were to be segregated, placed in labor colonies, and – above all else – prevented from reproducing.

The Catholics mostly resisted the evil that was brewing within the Protestant community; but, by mid century, even they succumbed, endorsing the Mussolini’s fascist form of socialism. To be sure, this form of socialism was not as corrupt as Hitler’s Nazi form of socialism insofar as it did not engage in race genocide, but it was plenty enough evil.

And, so, after WWII revealed just how evil were the doctrines of the all-powerful state and the denigration of some people as inferior, the decent people who had embraced the Social Gospel pulled back from their more extreme positions. Today, hardly anybody even knows what church leaders such as Richard T. Ely stood for. And, in their haughtiness, contemporary liberal Protestants attack Ayn Rand because she rejected religion along with rejecting the evil that their predecessors had associated with Christianity.

I will now interject a few words from the Bible. Jesus said:

“My kingdom is not of the world.”

Those who say otherwise are following themselves, not Jesus. Jesus said:

“Suffer the children not to come unto me.”

How, then, do we reconcile the education of children with the disestablishment of religion? Jesus performed a miracle for the payment of the Temple tax of merely two days’ wages. What kind of miracle is it today when we pay taxes amounting to more than 40 percent of our income and can live at all decently?

Jesus had this to say about those who taught against the commandments, he said they “shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.”

Why is teaching against God’s Law so strongly denounced? It is because Jesus came to save everybody. He is described as a blessing to the nations. And, the angel who proclaimed his birth proclaimed it to all men of good will. But who has undermined God’s will to save everybody: those who mix into the commandments stuff like socialism and racism?

Dr. Thies is of the Messianic Jewish faith. He resides in Virginia.

From Eric Dondero:

The glaring top-of-the-fold headline in the print version of the liberal-leaning Seattle Times, read:

Alleged terror plotter "looked like everyday guy"

That quote has since been scrubbed from the on-line version.

What is known from videos the two men posted, DVDs and literature found by the FBI, they were admirers of Osama bin Laden, were inspired by Major Nidal Hasan who murdered 13 soldiers at Ft. Hood Texas in 2009, and were vehement critics of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

From the Seattle Times, "Two men arrested in plot to attack Seattle military processing facility":

There was a point in the alleged conspiracy to maim and kill recruits and workers at a Military Entrance Processing Station in South Seattle when one of the plotters predicted they would be making headlines.

Both men are U.S. citizens and converts to Islam... The men are charged with conspiracy to murder U.S. officers, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction (a grenade) and other firearms-related counts.

Abdul-Latif said the attack was inspired by the murderous shooting spree at Fort Hood in 2009, where a Muslim Army psychiatrist, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, killed 13 people and wounded 29 others.

The men planned to storm the building, kill the security guards, order everyone to the floor and kill as many military recruits as possible, according to the federal complaint.

His wife is quoted:

He is a very good person. He worked hard and then he come home and watch TV," she said. "I don't even know how this could happen."

Photo of generic MEP, not Seattle MEP Center

"Laws of the Hijab"

From the Seattle Times "Man arrested in plot to attack military center posted his beliefs on YouTube":

The SeaTac man accused of conspiring to kill military recruits in Seattle decries the wanton killing of innocent people in a self-recorded YouTube video.

Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif speaks into a camera at what appears to be his apartment and explains that Muslim belief may require jihad...

In another video, he explains the "laws of hijab" — which means "to cover" in Arabic, as his wife, who is completely covered except for her face and hands, smiles at the camera. Then he reads from the Quran, "Tell the women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty."

Photo credit - ShabbySheikReview

NANNY-STATE WATCH!

First they enacted the Seat Belt laws; then they required Bicycle Helmets; and then, they came for the River Tube floaters

From Eric Dondero:

Who knew? A river tubing inflatable does not offer sufficient protection from drowning on King County rivers.

From the Seattle Times Editorials - "King County's new life-vest rule will save lives":

UNUSUALLY heavy snowmelt this year presents life-threatening conditions on King County rivers. An emphasis on life vests is a proper public-safety response.

The Metropolitan King County Council took a measured step by adopting a summerlong life-vest rule. Swimmers, floaters and boaters on waterways in unincorporated King County will be warned the first time they are caught without a personal flotation device. Subsequent infractions invite fines of up to $86.

Tubers were not exempted, leading some to wonder why not. But rescue workers who have to pluck them out of the water say including tubing in the life-vest rule is a natural. People can fall off inner tubes and find themselves unable to get back on.

Always anxious to promote a bigger and more encompassing Nanny-State the good liberals at the Times reminds Washingtonians:

Public mindsets ought to begin viewing life jackets as necessary on water as helmets are for cyclists and seat belts for drivers.

Photo credit - LadiesLoop.com

Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Gary Johnson left out

From Eric Dondero:

A staunch Sarah Palin-ite Robert Eugene Simmons, Jr. penned this piece over at American Thinker, "Why Palin Can Win" (excerpted):

If Palin doesn't run it will be a disaster for the Republican Party and quite possibly the country.

Aside from the fact that there isn't another libertarian-conservative in the race, at least not another one who isn't an international isolationist. If Palin doesn't run, it will represent an enormous victory for the Republican beltway establishment and the big players in the left-wing-dominated media.

On the issues, Palin's conservatism combined with her small-government libertarianism will make a stark contrast to Obama who will now be forced to defend his policies rather than run on emotion ad-hominem attacks and catchy phrases.

When the political calculus is done, it is clear that Palin is the only real conservative with libertarian leanings that can possibly be elected in the country.

Editor's comment - I'm about as hardcore Palinista as they come. But to say she's the only libertarian-conservative in the race, does a great disservice to Bachmann, Cain, and Johnson. All four are nearly identical on the issues.