Charlie Chatter

District Judge Declares National Day of Prayer Unconstitutional

            From the story:  U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote that the government can no more enact laws supporting a day of prayer than it can encourage citizens to fast during Ramadan, attend a synagogue or practice magic.  An appeal is on the way (USA Today).  She was appointed by Jimmy Carter (Judgepedia). 

Obama: Tea Party Members Should Thank Me

            Because so few people pay taxes.  He still doesn’t get it (FOX News).  Americans do get it, with the majority knowing their taxes are about to go up (Gallup).  It might help Obama to read the Contract from America (The Contract).  From Larry Kudlow:  What’s so significant to me about this tea-party Contract from America is the strong emphasis on constitutional limits and restraints on legislation, spending, taxing, and government control of the economy. Undoubtedly, the emphasis is there because no one trusts Washington (Townhall). 

Obama Orders Hospitals to Give Gays Marital Visitation Rights

            And if they don’t, no Medicare or Medicaid money.

            LA Times

Biden Charitable Giving for 2009:  $4,820

            A paltry 1.44 percent of his income.  Unfortunately, the story doesn’t say where the money went (Washington Times).  But this is not unusual for Biden, who gave less than $4,000 over a ten year period (NRO). 

Democrats Eye Vote on Cap and Trade

            From the story:   A long-awaited compromise bill to reduce U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming will be unveiled by a group of senators on April 26, sources said on Thursday.  Later:  The White House is also eager to show the rest of the world the United States is ready to take a leadership role on global warming, including to help kick-start stalled international efforts to tackle the problem.  Despite vocal climate change skeptics in the United States, leading scientific groups have been hoping the United States, the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China, would take action.

            Reuters

Wrong Twin Baby Aborted

            Dr. Albert Mohler explains:  A doctor in the city has lost his license because he aborted what is now described as the “wrong” baby. Back in 2006, Dr. Matthew Kachinas had been asked to perform an abortion on a baby that had been identified as having Down syndrome and other congenital defects. Instead, the doctor aborted that baby’s healthy twin.  Later:  The situation with Dr. Kachinas reveals the horribly confused morality that marks modern America and, in far too many cases, the practice of medicine.

            Albert Mohler

Crash the Tea Party Founder Under Investigation

            The story explains “The investigation by Oregon’s teacher licensing agency comes in response to a public outcry over Jason Levin’s public statements that he’ll do anything short of throwing rocks to bring down the Tea Party.”  Here’s the great irony/hypocrisy:  At the moment, the Beaverton School District is officially defending Levin’s actions as the district’s public information officer, Maureen Wheeler, told FoxNews.com “What this teacher does in his private time is his private personal business. So when he’s not in school, that’s his personal time and there’s just not a lot we can do.”  Yet they’re telling their teachers not to talk to the press about Levin’s actions.

            FOX News

ACLU Helps Man Profit by Flipping Cop the Bird

            The man did so in front of his kids.  The ACLU believes flipping off cops is your right.  They sued and the city settled.

            NBC

CBO Head:  US Debt Unsustainable

            Doug Elmendorf said it “cannot be solved through minor tinkering.”  And the story notes he was echoing “the recent sentiments of a pair of Federal Reserve chiefs — the current head, Ben Bernanke, and former Chairman Paul Volcker.”

            Politico

Netanyahu Cancels Trip to Washington

            From Reuters:  He made the decision after learning Egypt and Turkey intended to raise the issue of Israel’s assumed atomic arsenal at the meeting (Reuters).  According to AP, he feared “Israel would be singled out over its own nuclear program” (FOX News).  From the Jerusalem Post:  Army Radio reported that US sources informed Israel that a group of participating Arab countries led by Turkey and Egypt plan to use the summit to demand that Israel sign the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) and allow its alleged nuclear capabilities to be placed under international inspection (Jerusalem Post).  One story notes “Obama won 78 percent of Jews in 2008, more than John Kerry before him. In fact, despite a string of stories hinting otherwise, Obama was never really at risk of losing Jews in 2008. No Republican has won Jews since 1920 (and that was due to a third-party candidate). Only blacks are a more loyal bloc of the Democratic Party.”  Later:  Most US Jews don’t view Israel as a top issue partly because of America’s strong support, despite periodic flare-ups, of the Jewish state. Western Europe tells another story. In recent decades, the rise of considerable anti-Israeli sentiment on the European left pushed many Jews rightward.  Finally:  Obama attempts to thread the needle: pressure Israel for diplomatic gain without risking significant domestic political loss. Obama is gambling that the ends might justify the means. But he is also unlikely to dramatically escalate those means and risk too much political cost. After all, like so many before him, the ends will likely escape this president as well (RCP). 

Obama: “Last I Checked, Sarah Palin’s Not Much of an Expert on Nuclear Issues”

            The president gave that attack-the-accuser response to ABC News when informed of criticism of his nuclear policy (ABC News). Video (RCP).  From Charles Krauthammer:  A nuclear posture is just that — a declaratory policy designed to make the other guy think twice.  Our policies did. The result was called deterrence. For half a century, it held. The Soviets never invaded. We never used nukes. That’s why nuclear doctrine is important.  Later:  Under President Obama’s new policy, however, if the state that has just attacked us with biological or chemical weapons is “in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),” explained Gates, then “the U.S. pledges not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against it.”  Imagine the scenario: Hundreds of thousands are lying dead in the streets of Boston after a massive anthrax or nerve gas attack. The president immediately calls in the lawyers to determine whether the attacking state is in compliance with the NPT. If it turns out that the attacker is up-to-date with its latest IAEA inspections, well, it gets immunity from nuclear retaliation (Townhall).  From Linda Chavez:  Obama has made the critical mistake of signaling to our enemies our willingness to hold back if we are attacked by a weapon of mass destruction. And you can bet they’ve taken notice (Townhall).  From Senators Jon Kyl and John McCain: “Under the treaty, Russia and the United States have reduced the number of warheads and verification procedures significantly. Both of these changes will have ramifications on our force structure and intelligence that we will need to evaluate” (Townhall).  Once again, Obama is going against the wishes of Americans (Rasmussen). 

Poll:  Democrat Party Favorable Ratings Hit Record Low

            Down to 41 percent.  GOP, traditionally below Dems, is up to 42 (Gallup).  And the public anger about the force feeding of Obamacare has Democrats dodging the issue (AP).  Democrats fear they could lose a congressional seat in a special election in Hawaii, one that seemed very secure pre-Obamacare (US News). 

Goldberg:  As We Become Europe, Who Will Be America?

            From Jonah Goldberg:  We can’t become Europe unless someone else is willing to become America.  He later makes the point:  Europe is a free-rider. It can only afford to be Europe because we can afford to be America.  The most obvious illustration of this fact is national defense. Europe’s defense budgets have been miniscule because Europeans can count on Uncle Sam to protect them (Townhall).  Newt Gingrich said Obama is “The most radical president in American history has now thrown down the gauntlet to the American people: ‘I run a machine. I own Washington and there’s nothing you can do about it”‘ (FOX News).

NY Times:  Economy “Gaining Strength” “Accelerating”

            9.7 percent unemployment suddenly looks good to the Times (NY Times).  Jobless claims saw an unexpected rise last week (FT). 

Now Cows Might Actually be Good for Environment

            From the story: “…a new study found that cattle grazed on the grasslands of China actually reduce another greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide.”  Who’ll be the first to create the bumper sticker:  Save the Planet, Eat Beef. 

            Telegraph

Animal Rights Activists Upset over Donkey Basketball

            Among other things, the activists worry donkeys will find the game “confusing.”  That takes donkey chess off the table.

            KOMO

Obama Cuts Religious Terms from National Security Strategy Document

            So key factual phrases like “Islamic extremism” are axed due to political correctness.

            FOX News

GOP Continues Strength Against Democrats

            A New Gallup poll notes “While it is too early to predict voter turnout by party this November, Republicans continue to show much greater enthusiasm than Democrats about voting in the 2010 elections” (Gallup).  Rasmussen has the GOP up by nine (Rasmussen).  Arkansas Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln is in big trouble with deep double-digit deficits against any Republican candidate (Rasmussen).  Despite all this, a story from The Hill claims “Democrats feel they have grabbed political momentum.”  Then the story notes “Democratic strategists and independent political experts identify roughly five stumbling blocks that the party must overcome to avert big losses: history, jobs and the economy, an apathetic base, ethics and anti-Washington sentiment” (The Hill).  While some worry the Republicans are peaking too early, Dick Morris argues that isn’t the case (Townhall). 

Black Tea Party Members Catching Heat

            For not following the rest of the crowd.  It doesn’t help that this FOX News/AP story, like so many others, refers to  the Tea Party as “mostly white,” a label they wouldn’t dare pin on themselves or network news anchors (FOX News).  Meanwhile, Thomas Sowell continues his series on race and politics (Townhall). 

Obama Economic Advisor Suggests VAT Tax

            To help pay for Obama’s out of control spending.

            NY Post

Nebraska Bill Could Challenge Roe v Wade

            From the story:  If the legislation passes, Nebraska will be the first state to ban abortions based on the controversial notion that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks. State law now has a post-viability ban on abortion but defines viability on a case-by-case basis.

            ABC News

LA Times Deems Questionable Shows “Family Friendly”

            And that caught the attention of the Parents Television Council.  The Editor-in-Chief of TV Guide claims “it all depends how you define family, and each family can define that on their own. Family television has changed, just as the notion of ‘the family’ has changed.” (FOX News).  The LA Times article (LA Times). 

Danger as Co-Ed Dorms Spread

            From Dr. Mohler:  The rise of co-ed dorms is the inevitable result of a breakdown in all rationality about sex, gender, and sexuality. In this case, the movement is being pushed by activists who are all too clear about their agenda.  Later:  All of this adds up to a perfect jumble of moral confusion. Consider all that is mixed-up here. First, we have schools collapsing under the logic of gender rebellion. Instead of respecting boundaries, they remove them as a gesture of supposed tolerance and sensitivity. Second, we have students insisting that there is nothing remotely odd or sexualized about two heterosexual students of opposite genders living in the same small space. That is both unbelievable and deeply sad. Third, we have activists and administrators lecturing parents that they have no right to resist all this. When Jeffrey Chang insists that college students are adults who “have every single right to choose the person they feel most comfortable living with,” he assumes, probably rightly, that many parents will just accept that argument at face value.

            Albert Mohler

Obesity Activists Latest Target:  Ronald McDonald

            According to the story they say “the venerable spokes-clown… has hooked kids on unhealthy food, spurring an epidemic of diet-related diseases.”  But he makes great fries.

            ABC News

Obama to Limit US Nuclear Defense

            Remarkably, even in self defense (NY Times).  Rich Lowry looks at Obama’s disastrous game with Iran (NY Post).  And another story looks at the man Obama nominated as associate director of national security and international affairs in the Office of Science and Technology Policy (Politico). 

US Debt has Nation Flirting with Disaster

            From the story:  Lost amid last month’s passage of the new health care law, the Congressional Budget Office issued a report showing that within this decade, President Obama’s own budget sends the U.S. government to a potential tipping point where the debt reaches 90 percent of gross domestic product.  UC Berkeley economist Alan Auerbach explained “The real problem is not just current deficits but where we’re heading.  We’re on a trajectory where the deficit’s going to go down a little and then go up again. And we have no solution for that” (San Francisco Chronicle).  The Washington Times called Obama “the most fiscally irresponsible president in American history” (Washington Times). 

54 Percent Still Want Repeal of Obamacare

            Including 57 percent of unaffiliated voters (Rasmussen).  Byron York examines the dangerous Obamacare concept of redistributing wealth (Townhall).  Hugh Hewitt looks at Obama’s plummeting popularity (Washington Examiner).  And Harry Reid continues to be despised back home (LA Times).  Victor Davis Hanson calls Obama a postmodern president and explains:  For 14 months we have tried to use abstract benchmarks like “did Obama contradict himself?,” “did Obama break another promise?,” “did Obama really think borrowing another $2 trillion won’t help to bankrupt us?,” “did Obama indeed think another entitlement ’saves’ money?,” “did Obama snub another ally and court another enemy?,” “did Obama apologize again?” — when, in fact, such linear thinking, such artificially constructed “norms,” such “facts” are nothing of the sort at all. To Obama, our first postmodern president, such facts and truth are mere signatures of privilege, and so he is offering us another — a postmodern — way of looking at the world (Pajamas Media). 

Tennessee Democrat Compares Tea Party to KKK

            Steve Cohen said they show a “hardcore angry side” of the country, only “without robes and hoods.“  He was also shockingly disrespectful to John McCain and his service to America (FOX News)

Los Angeles Four Weeks from Being Unable to Pay Bills

            From the story:  City Controller Wendy Greuel declared an “urgent financial crisis” and said the only way to continue paying bills in the short term was to begin to drain the city’s already limited emergency reserve (LA Times).  In one city, the mayor cut trash pickup to every other week and the garbage is piling up (Examiner). 

Obamacare Forbids Doctors from Owning Hospitals

            One of the many favors in exchange for support.  The story notes “A group of lawyers can own a hospital. A group of hedge fund managers can own one. But doctors, who would presumably know the most about starting a hospital, won’t be able to after this year when the bill kicks in” (Forbes).  Another story explains that under Obamacare, you are forced to buy health care or your tax refund could be confiscated (Daily Caller). 

Woods at Masters, Apologies to Fellow Golfers

            So far, the fans seem to be forgiving (AP).  Audio of his press conference (SONnetwork).

Women in Portland March Topless, “Enraged” by Men Watching

            They were protesting the topless “double standard.”  The what-were-you-expecting moment from the story:  Ty McDowell, who organized the march, said she was “enraged” by the turnout of men attracted to the demonstration. The purpose, she said, was for society to have the same reaction to a woman walking around topless as it does to men without shirts on.  However, McDowell said she plans to organize similar demonstrations in the future and said she would be more “aggressive” in discouraging oglers.

            Press Herald

CBS Poll Shows Obama Approval at New Low

            Down to 44 percent.  The story also notes “When it comes to health care, the President’s approval rating is even lower — and is also a new all-time low. Only 34 percent approved, while 55 percent said they disapproved” (CBS News).  From Hot Air:  Small wonder Obama has taken to campaigning again for health care; he’s getting buried by it.  Obama might do better to change the subject, but the next most pressing issue is another which Americans don’t like the job he’s doing.  He only gets 42% approval on the economy, sinking closer to his all-time low of 41% in January (Hot Air). 

White House:  Economic Recover Kinda Slow After All

            From the story:  Obama’s chief economic adviser Lawrence Summers said on a pair of talk shows that a year after the passage of the stimulus bill, the U.S. economy still has “a long way to go.”  Summers said pushing the unemployment rate down from its current 9.7 percent level won’t be easy (FOX News).  Michael Barone notes “a nation with an ever-larger public sector and an inhibited-growth private sector is a nation with fewer openings for people who want work that will benefit others. Fewer opportunities for young people who want to choose their future, just as they choose their iPod playlists and Facebook friends. Change, maybe, but not much hope” (Townhall).  Meanwhile, Obama meandered for 17 minutes when asked if it’s a “wise decision to add more taxes to us with the health care” package when “we are over-taxed as it is” (Washington Post). 

Greenspan Asks what Media Refuses:  What if CBO Numbers are Wrong on Obamacare?

            As he notes “our buffer between our capacity to borrow and our actual debt is narrowing, for the first time, I think, in the American history, there’s a question, supposing we are wrong on the cost estimates, and, indeed, they are actually much higher than the best estimates can generate, the consequences are very severe,…” (ABC News).  Scott Brown has vowed to continue the fight against Obamacare (FOX News). 

Polls Show Tea Party has Independents and Democrats, Too

            The story notes “The national breakdown of the Tea Party composition is 57 percent Republican, 28 percent Independent and 13 percent Democratic” (The Hill).  And another poll, with the Indy/Dem makeup 43/8, reveals they aren’t undereducated and poor, as those on the left want you to believe (Gallup).  A close-up of some of the Americans who call themselves Tea Partiers (FOX News).  The Tea Party is outpolling Obama (Rasmussen). 

7.2 Quake Strikes Baja California

            Few deaths or injuries reported as of early this morning (ABC News).  One group which assists victims isn’t far from the quake (Team Rubicon).  Data on the quake and aftershocks (USGS)

78 Percent Believe Jesus Rose from the Dead

            A pivotal moment in Christian history (Rasmussen).  Dr. Albert Mohler notes “The cross and the empty tomb stand at the center of the Christian faith. Without these, there is no good news — no salvation” (Albert Mohler). 

Gore Turns Away Media at Duke Speaking Engagement

            The former VP only allows recording for the first 5 minutes of his 45 minute speech.  The media seem okay with this.

            WRAL

School Suspends Girl for Touching Pill

            She turned down the drug, but the school stuck to its policy of considering this drug possession and suspended her for five days.

            NBC

Gallup:  Republicans Surge Ahead in Generic Ballot

            Though Rasmussen has had this for quite some time, this is a rare finding for Gallup.  The story notes “The shift toward Republicans raises the possibility that the healthcare bill had a slightly negative impact on the Democrats’ political fortunes in the short run” (Gallup).  From the LA Times:  According to Gallup’s interpretation, this new finding would indicate an even stronger GOP outcome if November’s midterm elections were held now because Republicans tend to vote at higher rates than members of the president’s party (LA Times).  From the Wall Street Journal:  …the current edition of the Democratic Party has disconnected itself from the average American’s sense of political modesty. The party’s members and theorists now defend expanding government authority with the same arrogance that brought Progressive Era reforms down upon untethered industrial interests.  In such times, this country has an honored tradition of changing direction. That time may be arriving (WSJ).  Meanwhile, a poll shows voters put the economy ahead of environmental concerns.  And once again, Independents are on the side of the GOP (CNN). 

            Poll:  Americans Increasingly Blame Obama for Economic Trouble

            And a year and a half into his first term, the majority says he doesn’t deserve reelection (USA Today).  His approval track looks a lot like Jimmy Carter’s (USA Today). 

Some Democrats Working to Sell Obamacare at Home

            While one story claims key Democrats are avoiding the discussion of Obamacare (Reuters) another says some are pushing it hard (USA Today).  Obama is still trying to convince voters it’s something they want and need (CNS News). 

Catholic Actor Rejects Sex Scene, is Fired

            Neal McDonough was allegedly tossed from the new series Scoundrels for rejecting a sex scene.  Will SAG do anything about it?

            Deadline

From the story:  Maybe instead of a public health option, we’ll next get a “public salary”— a fair and reasonable amount of money every America should earn to alleviate income envy and unfairness?  The president and his administration spend an inordinate amount of time attacking the rich and, by extension, achievement.  But it’s rare for Mr. Obama to promote  “economic success” or “wealth creation.” 

            Weekly Standard

Vatican Blisters the NY Times over Attack on Pope

            From the story:  Cardinal William J. Levada, the former Archbishop of San Francisco and a close aide to the pope, attacked the newspaper’s main story on the abuse scandal last week and an editorial as “deficient by any reasonable standards of fairness” and defended the way the Church and the Vatican had handled the Murphy case.  “I ask the Times to reconsider its attack mode about Pope Benedict XVI and give the world a more balanced view of a leader it can and should count on,” said a 20-paragraph statement written by Levada (FOX News).  Hugh Hewitt spoke with the priest in charge of the Church’s prosecution (Townhall). 

            Pence:  Obama Drilling Talk a “Smokescreen”

            The Indiana congressman explained “As usual the devil is in the details.  Only in Washington, D.C., can you ban more areas to oil and gas exploration than you open up, delay the date of your new leases and claim you’re going to increase production.”

             Washington Times