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Today: 80 articles and 163 comments as of 11:09.
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Two men arrested over 'al-Qaeda inspired' plan to attack a Via Rail train in Toronto area
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
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Page 4: Opinion
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Home Front: Politix
Sequester Finally Hurts - Air Traffic Slowed
As TV crews panned across anxious and angry passengers in New York terminals, the debate revived in Washington over whether the controller furloughs announced last week were necessary or a White House ploy to dramatize the effects of sequestration.

"Our aviation system should not be used as a pawn in budget debate," said Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association. "The livelihood of our economy is dependent on air commerce, and the financial strength of our airlines and the people they employ are at risk."
What happens if there is an accident related to the controllers being overloaded? Blame Bush?
Posted by: Bobby || 04/23/2013 05:38 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The last sentence should be yellow highlight.
Fixed.

First, PIMF.

Second, IE always puts the at the very beginning of the article. Usually, I remember to move it to where it was supposed to go. Firefox causes no such issues, BTW.
Posted by: Bobby || 04/23/2013 5:54 Comments || Top||

#2  More tax revenue than ever before. Lying, manipulating, extortion minded, party freak of a President is selectively attempting to punish the American people for refusing to hand over thier money.
Posted by: Thaique Squank4053 || 04/23/2013 6:56 Comments || Top||

#3  Yet we pour billions of precious tax payer dollars into Mooslim, muddle eastern crap holes, Dutch windmill energy, student loans, pay farmers not to plant, tribal African misadventures, presidential golf, and duck penis studies.

Sure makes good sense to me.

Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2013 7:05 Comments || Top||

#4  The livelihood of our economy is dependent on air commerce Really? I will grant some economic benefits are related to air commerce, but not as much as the speaker indicates. The US economy did not collapse in the period after 9/11 when there was almost no air commerce.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 04/23/2013 7:10 Comments || Top||

#5  There are plenty of other cuts the FAA could have made, like grants to airports for "parking improvements". But nooo, they dont cut the fat, they go straight to something essential. If we had an honest president, the Sec Transport would lose his job over this.

Sounds like they would rather keep the funds flowing to certain contractors/buddies than keep the air transport system functioning well and safely.
Posted by: OldSpook || 04/23/2013 8:26 Comments || Top||

#6  Plenty of food on the shelves of the supermarket.
Posted by: Perfesser || 04/23/2013 8:27 Comments || Top||

#7  Sequester was Obama's idea.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/23/2013 8:28 Comments || Top||

#8  The sec transport is probably just following Bumbles orders. You notice the partying and vacations and hobnobbing with our celebrity betters for Michelle Antonette and her spawn hasn't been cut - not even a sliver.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 04/23/2013 9:04 Comments || Top||

#9  Flight Delays as Political Strategy - WSJ
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2013 9:14 Comments || Top||

#10  This would be a good time for the airports to boot TSA and replace it with private security. A double whammy! We lose the TSA Nazis and make a significant point about public vs private services. Thank you Champ!

It will never happen, but I can dream...
Posted by: Iblis || 04/23/2013 11:29 Comments || Top||

#11  Wanna bet "diversity training" and other such BS is untouched? THAT is what this "government" thinks its purpose is.
Posted by: Rob Crawford || 04/23/2013 11:36 Comments || Top||

#12  Do not forget accidents due to no traffic controllers; when they were rattling the change purse the call was for the removal of all air traffic controllers from a number of smaller airports. Out here, it means Life Flights are affected - highway wrecks, snake bites, olde age stuff, work accidents, tornado/weather victims. They are taken by helo to the nearest airport, then by prop if they need big time help.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/23/2013 13:45 Comments || Top||

#13  You just need towers at higher traffic airports. Otherwise, fly the pattern in the Supplement, monitor the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency published in charts or Supplement, announce 10 miles out, downwind, base, and final, and keep your head on a swivel, like you should always do.

Little more tougher in LAX, though.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 04/23/2013 15:16 Comments || Top||

#14  "Out here, it means Life Flights are affected"

Silly swksvolFF - that's a feature to the D.C. idiots.

The better to get rid of the yokels in flyover country who weren't going to vote for the bastards anyway. :-(
Posted by: Barbara || 04/23/2013 15:30 Comments || Top||

#15  Along with the EPA, its crossed peoples' minds. If Life Flights are disrupted, people will die, its just that not fit for news like late n'yorkers or sweet adeline off to paleoland with a $250million purse on his shoulder and a blank check in his back pocket off to make him some j-o-b-s.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/23/2013 17:40 Comments || Top||


Saving Soldiers From Good Intentions
An interesting article on the cyclicals of military basic training....
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 04/23/2013 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Can't figure these Breitlings out. Perhaps a few more raps with this roofing hammer and it will start running once again.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2013 7:41 Comments || Top||

#2  Josephus, explains of the Romans that ‘their drills are bloodless battles, their battles bloody drills.’
Si vis pacem, para bellum

The ever repeated lesson [and ever unlearned] of not being prepared for combat.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/23/2013 8:42 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Chris Matthews On Bombers: "What Difference Does It Make Why They Did It?"
"Die, infidels! Die! Die! Die!" pretty well sums it up, doesn't it.
Posted by: tipper || 04/23/2013 09:46 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  He doesn't want anyone to know the reason why they did it. The reason doesn't fit the left's narrative of "if they knew us better and we could get them to like us, they wouldn't do this."

OR

"If mean old George Bush had not done what he did, none of this would happen."

OR

"Islam is a religion of peace, this is not religious fanaticism."
Posted by: Bill Clinton || 04/23/2013 10:19 Comments || Top||

#2  "If mean old George Bush had not done what he did, none of this would happen."

Ignoring the first Trade Center bombing, the Khobar Tower bombing, the bombing of our East African embassies, the Cole bombing...just ended it all, NOT.

Maybe Chris can pick up an Honorarium Doctorate in Information Dissemination from Kim Il-sung University. He's earned it.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/23/2013 10:43 Comments || Top||

#3  "What Difference Does It Make Why They Did It?"

We can focus on those more likely to do something similar.
We are more likely to be able to prevent another attack.
We do not need to waste resources looking at those much less likely to be terrorists.
When unknown people arrive we can estimate their threat based on how similar they are to known terrorists.

Whatever happened to "If it saves one life it's worth it?"
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/23/2013 11:17 Comments || Top||

#4  It made a lot of difference when they thought they could blame it on the Tea Party.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 04/23/2013 11:19 Comments || Top||

#5  If we know why they did it we know how to restore deterrence by retaliating effectively and efficiently.

This is of extreme importance because deterrence and preemption are the only viable counter-terrorism strategies.

Genuine defense and fortification of potential targets is not possible because there are far too many of these targets.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 || 04/23/2013 11:37 Comments || Top||

#6  I'm quite certain that all the attornies involved are interested in the why; even the tingler is interested as it determines a number of circumstances, such as enemy combatant status. In fact, with a certain kind of why, the tingler has tipped he would play the domestic drone strike.

Probably makes a difference to the victims and responders. Sure seems to have made a difference to those at Fenway Park, and the Bruin Nation, and at one point mr. tinglee yourself.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/23/2013 12:13 Comments || Top||

#7  Translation:

"It wasn't the tea party or a white guy... so... SQUIRREL! GUNS! SEQUESTER!!"
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/23/2013 12:17 Comments || Top||

#8  Is he repudiating Hate Crime Legislation?
Posted by: bigjim-CA || 04/23/2013 12:27 Comments || Top||

#9  No one e-v-a-r! suspects the Squirrels.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/23/2013 19:53 Comments || Top||

#10  A pox on this tingling runt !
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2013 19:57 Comments || Top||


Government
Tax-free Internet shopping jeopardized by bill
[NEWS.YAHOO] Tax-free shopping on the Internet could be in jeopardy under a bill making its way through the Senate.

The bill would empower states to require online retailers to collect state and local sales taxes for purchases made over the Internet. The sales taxes would be sent to the states where a shopper lives.

Under current law, states can only require stores to collect sales taxes if the store has a physical presence in the state. As a result, many online sales are essentially tax-free, giving Internet retailers a big advantage over brick-and-mortar stores.

The Senate voted 74 to 20 Monday to take up the bill. If that level of support continues, the Senate could pass the bill as early as this week.

Supporters say the bill is about fairness for businesses and lost revenue for states. Opponents say it would impose complicated regulations on retailers and doesn't have enough protections for small businesses. Businesses with less than $1 million a year in online sales would be exempt.

"While local, community-based stores and shops compete for customers on many levels, including service and selection, they cannot compete on sales tax," said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation. "Congress needs to address this disparity."

And, he added, "Despite what the opponents say this is not a new tax."

In many states, shoppers are required to pay unpaid sales tax when they file their state income tax returns. However,
you can observe a lot just by watching...
states complain that few people comply.

"I do know about three people that comply with that," said Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., the bill's main sponsor.

President Barack Obama
Republicans can come along for the ride, but they've got to sit in the back...
supports the bill. His administration says it would help restore needed funding for education, police and firefighters, roads and bridges and health care.
Posted by: Fred || 04/23/2013 13:18 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  As a result, many online sales are essentially tax-free, giving Internet retailers a big advantage over brick-and-mortar stores.

Is a half truth a lie? This went on during the paper catalog era.

The out of state dealer has inventory. When local merchants say 'I can order that for you' - well, so can I. The internet makes it so much easier and UPS delivers right to my doorstep. I don't have to wait on some half ass inventory system or clerk in the store to send an order out, particularly when the merchant waits till he/she gets enough orders to 'make it worth his/her while' or 'that time of the month' to submit an order. I've shopped and tried to give locals the business if they're a couple dollars within the on line price regardless of tax. However, in the majority of cases they don't compete any where near the price and they don't have inventory. Why wait two weeks or more when it arrives here in a couple of days.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/23/2013 15:31 Comments || Top||

#2  Maybe....

You should stop hampering brick-and-mortar stores!

Rather than the Diana Moon-Glampers approach...
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/23/2013 15:44 Comments || Top||

#3  They'd better watch out for the unintended consequences - or in their little pea-brain case, probably intended.

I have a shop on Etsy. I don't make a ton of money, but I enjoy the creative outlet, make a few bucks profit on which I pay state and federal income taxes, and fulfill a need for my customers. And I collect taxes for sales made to customers in my state.

Handling taxes is a PITA, and the state Tax Dept. just sent out new rules to make it more so. However, I live here, and the customer lives here, so the taxes make sense.

Now, multiply the amount of time I spend dealing with sales tax by 50 - it changes from a PITA to a NIGHTMARE. And what benefit do I get from the other 56 49 states for being their tax collector? Precisely NOTHING.

At least my state gives me a "dealer's discount" on the state portion of the taxes; it's just pennies, but around Christmas time and big sales, those pennies add up. And of course I live here, so I benefit from the taxes collected.

If the powers that be are stupid enough think I'm going to spend the time collecting and submitting taxes to all 50 states, which requires me to understand the sales tax rules of 50 (not 1) states, they're crazy. It would turn me from a merchant of hand-made items into a free tax collector for a bunch of states I've never even visited, and open me up to all kinds of liability if I misunderstand some of the states' rules. And not being a lawyer, or being able to afford a lawyer, I'm sure I and most other small operators will.

So I'll go out of business. People will no longer be able to purchase hand-made items (except perhaps locally). Amazon can afford to pay tax lawyers; I can't.

So in the end I'll make less money each year, which means I'll pay less income tax to the federal AND state gummints.

Did you think about that, you greedy Beltway idiots?
Posted by: Barbara || 04/23/2013 16:01 Comments || Top||

#4  Your internets business exploits the people via a pagan, religious holiday. Our tax scheme was designed to end such exploitation and level the playing field. Any "hand made items" needed by the people will be provided by the government via The Lighthouse for the Blind FEMA camps. Turn yourself in now!
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2013 16:23 Comments || Top||

#5  LOL, B.

I'll quit sewing my for-sale items when you pry my sewing machine from my cold, dead hands (along with my .357).
Posted by: Barbara || 04/23/2013 17:50 Comments || Top||

#6  education, police, and firefighters - the three whoresmen of the excise man's lips.

Hilarious, its how smaller businesses compete, and how I get a number of my neat items. I guess the next logical step would be carding who comes in my store and charging their city/county/state tax rates. "Where are you from citizen? New York City. New York City! Get'a tax form ROPE4-U...and slowly place the big gulp and mortan's on counter."
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/23/2013 18:22 Comments || Top||

#7  I'll quit sewing my for-sale items when you pry my sewing machine from my cold, dead hands (along with my .357).

The deadly Singer .357 with the ZigZagger attachment, no doubt.

Now, multiply the amount of time I spend dealing with sales tax by 50

Actually a factor of some 200, if memory serves. A lot of states have sales tax based on some local/municipal district. Dealing with this will be a friggin' nightmare. Lots of work for the IT department, though. Assuming you have one...
Posted by: SteveS || 04/23/2013 21:27 Comments || Top||

#8  I hear amazon offers a service to figure it all out for you for a fee. Oh and they support this for some reason ...
Posted by: CrazyFool || 04/23/2013 23:42 Comments || Top||


Obama's crony capitalism posts more pitiful results
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/23/2013 12:28 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Pitiful results from a pitiful little man.
Posted by: Besoeker || 04/23/2013 19:57 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2013-04-23
  Two men arrested over 'al-Qaeda inspired' plan to attack a Via Rail train in Toronto area
Mon 2013-04-22
  Al Qaeda intelligence chief reported killed in drone strike
Sun 2013-04-21
  Egypt Police Arrest 39 in Cairo Clashes
Sat 2013-04-20
  Got him! Dzhokhar in custody
Fri 2013-04-19
  Boston: 1 suspect dead, 2nd on loose jugged
Thu 2013-04-18
  Pakistan's Musharraf flees court to avoid arrest
Wed 2013-04-17
  Boston Bombing Suspect Identified, Arrest Made
Tue 2013-04-16
  Feds seek suspects, motive in Boston bombings
Mon 2013-04-15
  Pair of Explosions Hit Boston Marathon
Sun 2013-04-14
  16 killed in attack on Somali Supreme Court
Sat 2013-04-13
  Bomb Near Iraq Mosque Kills Seven
Fri 2013-04-12
  Saleh’s son removed from military posts
Thu 2013-04-11
  Germany: 4 charged in assassination plot
Wed 2013-04-10
  Al-Nusra Syria Rebels pledge allegiance to leader of al-Qaeda
Tue 2013-04-09
  N.Korea Pulls Workers Out of Kaesong Complex


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