The EPA loses another court case, badly.
The Obama administration’s EPA loses another court case, badly.
The Obama administration’s EPA loses another court case, badly.
Tag: government
The EPA loses another court case, badly.
The Obama administration today announced strict new limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
We’re here to help you: The Obama administration today announced strict new limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
See this post for some perspective and context.
We’re here to help you: The Obama administration today announced strict new limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.
See this post for some perspective and context.
“a train wreck for the Obama administration.”
“A train wreck for the Obama administration.”
Trying to determine what the Supreme Court will rule on any issue by analyzing the questions they ask beforehand has generally been a poor predictor of their final decision. Sadly, we really won’t know what the Supreme Court will do until they do it.
Moreover, from my perspective it would be far better for Congress to repeal the law rather than have the court rule it unconstitutional. In the former it will be done by legislative action, backed by the voters. In the latter it would be the decision of nine unelected individuals, essentially expressing their personal opinions. In a true democracy the former is definitely preferred.
“A train wreck for the Obama administration.”
Trying to determine what the Supreme Court will rule on any issue by analyzing the questions they ask beforehand has generally been a poor predictor of their final decision. Sadly, we really won’t know what the Supreme Court will do until they do it.
Moreover, from my perspective it would be far better for Congress to repeal the law rather than have the court rule it unconstitutional. In the former it will be done by legislative action, backed by the voters. In the latter it would be the decision of nine unelected individuals, essentially expressing their personal opinions. In a true democracy the former is definitely preferred.
Pick a destination already!
A report issued today illustrates once again to me that those running our space program in both Congress and the Obama administration have a profound lack of common sense or basic intelligence:
The NASA Advisory Council (NAC) – a body that provides the NASA Administrator with counsel and advice on programs and issues of importance to the Agency – has insisted a human exploration plan, or at least a destination, should be selected as soon as possible.
This request specifically applies to the Space Launch System (SLS), the heavy-lift rocket mandated by Congress that will use the Orion capsule. SLS is also the same rocket system that is costing the taxpayers $3 billion per year, and is expected to cost between $18 to $60 billion total by the time it flies its first operational mission in about nine years. The advisory council also noted that
While the vehicle hardware development is now moving forward at full speed, specific destinations – or a roadmap – is still lacking from NASA’s exploration plan.
It took nine different committees plus a central committee formed from the original nine committees to come to this Earth-shattering conclusion.
To put it in plain English, Congress and the Obama administration have committed billions of taxpayer dollars to the construction of a rocket and manned capsule without ever putting much thought into the specific mission they want to send that rocket and capsule on.
» Read more
Liveblogging the Supreme Court’s Obamacare hearings.
Liveblogging the Supreme Court’s Obamacare hearings.
You can read the transcript of the hearing or listen to the audio here.
Liveblogging the Supreme Court’s Obamacare hearings.
You can read the transcript of the hearing or listen to the audio here.
The four best legal arguments against Obamacare.
The four best legal arguments against Obamacare.
The fourth is probably the most devastating to Obamacare. No contract can be enforced if you are forced to sign it.
American contract law rests on the principle of mutual assent. If I hold a gun to your head and force you to sign a contract, no court of law will honor that document since I coerced you into signing it. Mutual assent must be present in order for a contract to be valid and binding.
Once again, we are skirting around that forgotten word called freedom. Obamacare has nothing to do with freedom. It requires participation, something that is fundamentally hostile to this country’s culture and law.
The four best legal arguments against Obamacare.
The fourth is probably the most devastating to Obamacare. No contract can be enforced if you are forced to sign it.
American contract law rests on the principle of mutual assent. If I hold a gun to your head and force you to sign a contract, no court of law will honor that document since I coerced you into signing it. Mutual assent must be present in order for a contract to be valid and binding.
Once again, we are skirting around that forgotten word called freedom. Obamacare has nothing to do with freedom. It requires participation, something that is fundamentally hostile to this country’s culture and law.
“This is a stunning power for an agency to arrogate to itself when there is absolutely no mention of it in the statute.”
The agency is the EPA, and the words were written by an Obama-appointed judge in her ruling that told the EPA it had no right to unilaterally cancel already approved permits.
As I’ve said, the law is such an inconvenient thing for this administration.
The agency is the EPA, and the words were written by an Obama-appointed judge in her ruling that told the EPA it had no right to unilaterally cancel already approved permits.
As I’ve said, the law is such an inconvenient thing for this administration.
“We have to be prepared to go to jail.”
“We have to be prepared to go to jail. Are we prepared?”
The crowd responded with a boisterous, “Yes!”
“We have to be prepared to go to jail. Are we prepared?”
The crowd responded with a boisterous, “Yes!”
Now we know: Jon Corzine gave “direct instructions” to illegally transfer customer funds to pay off MF Global’s debt.
Now we know: Jon Corzine gave “direct instructions” to illegally transfer customer funds to pay off MF Global’s debt.
In a different world behavior like this was called embezzlement. But Corzine is a Democrat and the go-to guy on economic matters for the Obama administration, which is why he still remains free with no criminal charges against him. Moreover, because he is so closely tied to the Obama administration we all know that any accusations or evidence against him must be racist.
Now we know: Jon Corzine gave “direct instructions” to illegally transfer customer funds to pay off MF Global’s debt.
In a different world behavior like this was called embezzlement. But Corzine is a Democrat and the go-to guy on economic matters for the Obama administration, which is why he still remains free with no criminal charges against him. Moreover, because he is so closely tied to the Obama administration we all know that any accusations or evidence against him must be racist.
“The only thing the Democrats misjudged about Obamacare was everything.”
“The only thing the Democrats misjudged about Obamacare was everything.”
And speaking of the Democrats political misjudgment: At noon today there will be demonstrations in 140 cities across the U.S. against the Obama administration’s contraception mandate, imposed under Obamacare.
“The only thing the Democrats misjudged about Obamacare was everything.”
And speaking of the Democrats political misjudgment: At noon today there will be demonstrations in 140 cities across the U.S. against the Obama administration’s contraception mandate, imposed under Obamacare.
The reckoning
Today, it’s the Catholic Church whose free-exercise powers are under assault from this cascade of diktats sanctioned by — indeed required by — Obamacare. Tomorrow it will be the turn of other institutions of civil society that dare stand between unfettered state and atomized citizen.
Rarely has one law so exemplified the worst of the Leviathan state — grotesque cost, questionable constitutionality and arbitrary bureaucratic coerciveness. Little wonder the president barely mentioned it in his latest State of the Union address. He wants to be reelected. He’d rather talk about other things.
Remember, the power of the state is not always wielded by those you agree with. From the right or the left, fear that power, because it will come after you both when it finally has the ability to do so.
Today, it’s the Catholic Church whose free-exercise powers are under assault from this cascade of diktats sanctioned by — indeed required by — Obamacare. Tomorrow it will be the turn of other institutions of civil society that dare stand between unfettered state and atomized citizen.
Rarely has one law so exemplified the worst of the Leviathan state — grotesque cost, questionable constitutionality and arbitrary bureaucratic coerciveness. Little wonder the president barely mentioned it in his latest State of the Union address. He wants to be reelected. He’d rather talk about other things.
Remember, the power of the state is not always wielded by those you agree with. From the right or the left, fear that power, because it will come after you both when it finally has the ability to do so.
Chicago freedom: “Your first amendment rights can be terminated.”
Chicago freedom: “Your first amendment rights can be terminated.” With video.
Chicago freedom: “Your first amendment rights can be terminated.” With video.
The Supreme Court today ruled unanimously in favor of the landowners whose property was essentially stolen by the EPA because the agency had declared it contained a wetland.
A small victory against the EPA: The Supreme Court today ruled unanimously in favor of the landowners whose property was essentially stolen by the EPA because the agency had unilaterally declared it contained a wetland.
A small victory against the EPA: The Supreme Court today ruled unanimously in favor of the landowners whose property was essentially stolen by the EPA because the agency had unilaterally declared it contained a wetland.
“Like them or not, they’re not going away, no matter who wins in November.”
In testimony before Congress today, the Eisenhower family expressed strong opposition to the design of the Dwight Eisenhower monument.
In testimony before Congress today, the Eisenhower family expressed strong opposition to the design of the Dwight Eisenhower monument.
Although the memorial design was unveiled a year ago, the opposition to it grew louder this winter after grandson David Eisenhower resigned from the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, which selected Gehry for the design in March 2010.
The National Civic Art Society, which has set up an alternative website to the memorial group’s website, outlines its opposition in direct terms. It calls the “tapestry” a “rat’s nest of tangled steel, a true maintenance nightmare.”
[Granddaughter Susan] Eisenhower said the tapestry would collect trash and suggested the design concept is part of the “communist world” of art, adding her grandfather likely “wouldn’t understand it.”
In testimony before Congress today, the Eisenhower family expressed strong opposition to the design of the Dwight Eisenhower monument.
Although the memorial design was unveiled a year ago, the opposition to it grew louder this winter after grandson David Eisenhower resigned from the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, which selected Gehry for the design in March 2010.
The National Civic Art Society, which has set up an alternative website to the memorial group’s website, outlines its opposition in direct terms. It calls the “tapestry” a “rat’s nest of tangled steel, a true maintenance nightmare.”
[Granddaughter Susan] Eisenhower said the tapestry would collect trash and suggested the design concept is part of the “communist world” of art, adding her grandfather likely “wouldn’t understand it.”
“If you’re looking for free stuff you don’t have to pay for, vote for the other guy.”
The Met Office in the UK has issued an updated temperature record for the past 150 years, suggesting that the climate has warmed 0.75 degrees Celsius since 1900.
The Met Office in the UK has issued an updated temperature record for the past 150 years, suggesting that the climate has warmed 0.75 degrees Celsius since 1900.
I remain suspicious of this announcement, as the scientists issuing this report are the same scientists who participated in climategate, including Phil Jones of the Climate Research Unit of East Anglia University. With that in mind, before I will believe these numbers I will wait for some vetting of this new data by those who have shown themselves to be a bit more skeptical, a bit more open-minded, and a lot more honest.
One more point: to really understand the importance of an increase of 0.75 degrees Celsius over 112 years, we would need some context, something this news article does not give us. For example, how do these numbers compare with the numbers predicted by the various climate models? Also, this is the overall change. How have things changed from year to year? Is there any evidence in this data for a cooling during the past decade, as indicated by other climate measurements?
The Met Office in the UK has issued an updated temperature record for the past 150 years, suggesting that the climate has warmed 0.75 degrees Celsius since 1900.
I remain suspicious of this announcement, as the scientists issuing this report are the same scientists who participated in climategate, including Phil Jones of the Climate Research Unit of East Anglia University. With that in mind, before I will believe these numbers I will wait for some vetting of this new data by those who have shown themselves to be a bit more skeptical, a bit more open-minded, and a lot more honest.
One more point: to really understand the importance of an increase of 0.75 degrees Celsius over 112 years, we would need some context, something this news article does not give us. For example, how do these numbers compare with the numbers predicted by the various climate models? Also, this is the overall change. How have things changed from year to year? Is there any evidence in this data for a cooling during the past decade, as indicated by other climate measurements?
The boycott by scientists of Elsevier, the publisher of science journals, has paid off.
The boycott by scientists of Elsevier, the publisher of science journals, has paid off.
The boycott by scientists of Elsevier, the publisher of science journals, has paid off.
A business in Missouri has become the first secular and private company to bring a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration’s contraception mandate.
Bring it on! A business in Missouri has become the first secular and private company to bring a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration’s contraception mandate.
Most of the discussion about the Obama administration’s mandate has revolved around whether specific religious organizations, such as the Catholic Church, should be exempted from it. To me, that misses the point. In a free society, anyone who objects to this mandate on the basis of personal belief should have the freedom to ignore it. Or to put it another way, the government has no right to order free citizens to buy contraceptives for others.
Bring it on! A business in Missouri has become the first secular and private company to bring a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration’s contraception mandate.
Most of the discussion about the Obama administration’s mandate has revolved around whether specific religious organizations, such as the Catholic Church, should be exempted from it. To me, that misses the point. In a free society, anyone who objects to this mandate on the basis of personal belief should have the freedom to ignore it. Or to put it another way, the government has no right to order free citizens to buy contraceptives for others.
The TSA at work
A toddler in a wheelchair is stopped by the TSA at ORD (O’Hare Airport in Chicago) and forced to into a sequestered area. On his way to a family vacation in Disney, this 3 year old boy is in a body cast for a broken leg. Despite assurances from his father that “everything is ok”, he is physically trembling with fear while he watches his two siblings, mother, father, grandfather and grandmother pass through along with everyone else…only to be singled out.
Here’s the video. You decide whether this makes any sense in the real world.
A toddler in a wheelchair is stopped by the TSA at ORD (O’Hare Airport in Chicago) and forced to into a sequestered area. On his way to a family vacation in Disney, this 3 year old boy is in a body cast for a broken leg. Despite assurances from his father that “everything is ok”, he is physically trembling with fear while he watches his two siblings, mother, father, grandfather and grandmother pass through along with everyone else…only to be singled out.
Here’s the video. You decide whether this makes any sense in the real world.
Environmentalist organizations have once again petitioned the EPA to ban ammunition using lead.
Environmentalist organizations have once again petitioned the EPA to ban ammunition using lead.
The ban sought by environmental groups would not apply to ammunition used by law enforcement and the military. In addition to bullets and pellets used in hunting and recreational activity like range shooting, the petition seeks to limit the use of the metal in fishing tackle and weights.
Government agencies get a pass, but not private gun ranges, eh? These petty dictators have really only one goal, and it has nothing to do with protecting wildlife. They want to prevent private citizens from having access to ammunition, which in turn will prevent them from having access to guns.
Environmentalist organizations have once again petitioned the EPA to ban ammunition using lead.
The ban sought by environmental groups would not apply to ammunition used by law enforcement and the military. In addition to bullets and pellets used in hunting and recreational activity like range shooting, the petition seeks to limit the use of the metal in fishing tackle and weights.
Government agencies get a pass, but not private gun ranges, eh? These petty dictators have really only one goal, and it has nothing to do with protecting wildlife. They want to prevent private citizens from having access to ammunition, which in turn will prevent them from having access to guns.
Breitbart is here
The three big network nightly news shows all failed to mention the Congressional Budget Office report that says the cost of Obamacare will be twice what was predicted, and that millions will lose their healthplans because of it.
News you can’t use: All three network nightly news shows last night failed to mention the Congressional Budget Office report that says the cost of Obamacare will be twice what was predicted, and that millions will lose their health plans because of it.
This is a good example of why I’ve said for years that if you depend on television for your news, you are not only uninformed, you are misinformed.
News you can’t use: All three network nightly news shows last night failed to mention the Congressional Budget Office report that says the cost of Obamacare will be twice what was predicted, and that millions will lose their health plans because of it.
This is a good example of why I’ve said for years that if you depend on television for your news, you are not only uninformed, you are misinformed.
It appears that the reason the head of Russia’s space agency was hospitalized last week was because he got into a fight at a party over a woman.
You can’t make this stuff up: It appears that the reason Vladimir Popovkin, the head of Russia’s space agency, was hospitalized last week was because he got into a fight at a party over a woman.
The woman in question was apparently General Popovkin’s press secretary, Anna Vedischeva, 28. Vedischeva was appointed despite criticism when it was revealed that she was an ex-glamour model who, by her own admission, knew nothing about space or public relations. The party where the incident allegedly took place was to celebrate International Woman’s Day on 8 March.
You can’t make this stuff up: It appears that the reason Vladimir Popovkin, the head of Russia’s space agency, was hospitalized last week was because he got into a fight at a party over a woman.
The woman in question was apparently General Popovkin’s press secretary, Anna Vedischeva, 28. Vedischeva was appointed despite criticism when it was revealed that she was an ex-glamour model who, by her own admission, knew nothing about space or public relations. The party where the incident allegedly took place was to celebrate International Woman’s Day on 8 March.
SpaceX has now set April 30 as the target launch date for its Falcon 9/Dragon capsule test flight to ISS.
SpaceX has now set April 30 as the target launch date for its Falcon 9/Dragon capsule test flight to ISS.
SpaceX has now set April 30 as the target launch date for its Falcon 9/Dragon capsule test flight to ISS.
The judge in the JPL intelligent design lawsuit has ruled against JPL and that the press will be allowed to observe and report on the testimony.
The judge in the JPL intelligent design lawsuit has ruled against JPL. The press will be allowed to observe and report on the testimony.
David Coppedge, the man JPL fired, testified yesterday, outlining his belief in intelligent design. From the quotes included in the article, he certainly didn’t put forth a convincing case. He also didn’t say anything that justified firing him.
The judge in the JPL intelligent design lawsuit has ruled against JPL. The press will be allowed to observe and report on the testimony.
David Coppedge, the man JPL fired, testified yesterday, outlining his belief in intelligent design. From the quotes included in the article, he certainly didn’t put forth a convincing case. He also didn’t say anything that justified firing him.
ObamaCare: If Possible, The News Is Getting Worse
“Obamacare: If possible, the news Is getting worse.”
Here’s a new little tidbit:
When the House of Representatives votes next week on repealing Obamacare’s unaccountable, unelected IPAB board, at least some Democrats are likely to support repeal. The IPAB repeal bill, sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN), received bi-partisan support as it made its way through House committees, showing that Democrats are equally worried about the power of the board to usurp the job of the people’s elected representatives.
Maybe these idiotic Democrats should have read the bill before they passed it. That they obviously didn’t is further proof that they should be fired.
“Obamacare: If possible, the news Is getting worse.”
Here’s a new little tidbit:
When the House of Representatives votes next week on repealing Obamacare’s unaccountable, unelected IPAB board, at least some Democrats are likely to support repeal. The IPAB repeal bill, sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN), received bi-partisan support as it made its way through House committees, showing that Democrats are equally worried about the power of the board to usurp the job of the people’s elected representatives.
Maybe these idiotic Democrats should have read the bill before they passed it. That they obviously didn’t is further proof that they should be fired.
A federal appeals court has rejected a lawsuit from various environmental groups that was trying to overturn Congressional legislation that removed the wolf from the endangered species list.
A federal appeals court has rejected a lawsuit from various environmental groups that was trying to overturn Congressional legislation that removed the wolf from the endangered species list.
The ruling from a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Congress had the right to intervene when it stripped protections from wolves last spring.
Lawmakers stepped in after court rulings kept wolves on the endangered list for years after they reached recovery goals. [emphasis mine]
I emphasis the last sentence because it once again illustrates how completely irrelevant reality is to these environmental laws and to those who defend them.
A federal appeals court has rejected a lawsuit from various environmental groups that was trying to overturn Congressional legislation that removed the wolf from the endangered species list.
The ruling from a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Congress had the right to intervene when it stripped protections from wolves last spring.
Lawmakers stepped in after court rulings kept wolves on the endangered list for years after they reached recovery goals. [emphasis mine]
I emphasis the last sentence because it once again illustrates how completely irrelevant reality is to these environmental laws and to those who defend them.
Rather than investigate the potential voter fraud exposed by James O’Keefe, the Vermont Secretary of State wants to investigate James O’Keefe for exposing the fraud.
Killing the messenger: Rather than investigate the potential voter fraud exposed by James O’Keefe, Vermont elected officials, all Democrats, want to investigate James O’Keefe for exposing the fraud.
Killing the messenger: Rather than investigate the potential voter fraud exposed by James O’Keefe, Vermont elected officials, all Democrats, want to investigate James O’Keefe for exposing the fraud.
The report by the Congressional Budget Office, released earlier this week, states that by 2016 Obamacare will cause 4 million people to lose their employer health insurance coverage.
Finding out what’s in it: The Congressional Budget Office, in a report released this week, says that by 2016 Obamacare will cause 4 million people to lose their employer health insurance coverage.
Finding out what’s in it: The Congressional Budget Office, in a report released this week, says that by 2016 Obamacare will cause 4 million people to lose their employer health insurance coverage.