The President’s “Debt Reduction”: $1.6 Trillion in Tax Hikes, Almost No Net Spending Reductions
During his Rose Garden speech Monday, the President claimed that his new “debt reduction” plan would provide $2 of spending cuts for every $1 of tax increases. A closer look at the administration’s own numbers, however, suggests the President, well, exaggerated. A realistic assessment—based mainly on table S-6 of the Administration’s plan—shows that his $1.57 […]
al Qaeda Delivers New Message from Bin-Laden Claiming Credit for “Arab Spring” Uprisings
He may be dead, but he won’t stop talking: Osama Bin Laden’s latest message, apparently recorded shortly before his death, was released by Al Qaeda on Tuesday, two days after the U.S. commemorated the 9/11 attacks. In the message, Bin Laden urged Americans to “rise up” against the large corporations – and Israel -which control the […]
Hamas Against PA Statehood Bid: Hamas will never recognize Israel
The Hamas terror group, which rules the Gaza Strip, was quick to condemn on Friday the speech by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in which he confirmed that he intends to turn to the United Nations and ask for recognition of a Palestinian state. In a statement it released on Friday and which was quoted by […]
Polish Finance Minister Warns of War if EU Collapses
Poland holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, but as the major issue confronting the union is the stability of the euro to which Poland has not switched (for the moment it is quite content with its zloty), it is Berlin rather than Warsaw that has been setting the tone. Even so, Poland’s finance minister Jacek Rostowski, who […]
NTC Given Libya’s UN Seat
The UN General Assembly voted Friday to give Libya’s seat in the UN to the National Transitional Council which led the rebellion that ousted former strongman Muammar Qaddafi. The Associated Press reported that the resolution was approved by a vote of 114-17 with 15 abstentions. The vote means that a senior council official will be […]
Palestinian Authority May Lack Security Council Support
The Palestinian Authority so far is two votes short of the number needed in the Security Council for a bid to be accepted as a full member. If it fails, the United States won’t have to cast a veto. Bosnia and Nigeria have not stated how they will vote. The PA also cannot depend on […]
Solyndra Execs Renege, Will Take the Fifth at Oversight Hearing
Two Solyndra executives slated to testify before a House committee Friday have announced they will invoke their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and refuse to answer any of the committee’s questions. The two had previously told the committee they would not plead the Fifth if they could push back the date of their testimony. Jan […]
PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCES $1.5 TRILLION TAX HIKE, INCLUDING WARREN “BUFFETT RULE” TO RAISE TAXES ON MILLIONAIRES
President Barack Obama provided a broad outline of his deficit reduction plan Sunday that includes $1.5 trillion in new taxes through a new tax rate for millionaires and repeal of the Bush tax cuts for Americans couples making more than $250,000 per year. The millionaire’s tax proposal, dubbed the “Buffett Rule” by the White House, […]
$1.5 Trillion in New Taxes
Two years ago, as the United States was coming out of the last recession, President Obama was asked how raising taxes on anyone would help with the economy. The President’s answer? “Normally you don’t raise taxes in a recession, which is why we haven’t, and why we’ve instead cut taxes.” Fast forward to today, as […]
‘Green Jobs’ Proponents Continue to Tout Solyndra Program as Success
ABC’s political blog The Note included a comment from yours truly in a recent piece on the Solyndra scandal. We appreciate the folks at ABC reaching out, of course, but I’d just like to provide some context for my remarks. Here’s what ABC’s Amy Bingham wrote: “What Solyndra really speaks to is the large issue […]
HR Comment: Turkey Tantrum Burying Palmer Report
Only weeks after its release, the Palmer Report into the 2010 Gaza flotilla incident appears to have been consigned to the dustbin of history. Despite leveling criticism at Israel for “excessive force”, the report could and should have been a major prize for Israel public diplomacy. How often, and particularly at a time of precious […]