Dan Cleary

Enterprising Journalist Takes One for the Team, Downs a Shot of Breast Milk

Aw, dude.

You know you're supposed to make ice cream out of that, right?

Only seasoned veterans actually drink the stuff - and they prefer it straight from the tap.

Breast milk is sickly sweet and stays on the back of your throat for hours. I am aware of this knowledge because I just drank some.

I’ll get to the why in a moment, but first, the results: It smelled like nothing. Taking a whiff of it was like taking a whiff of air. So far, so good. Then I took a healthy gulp. It had the consistency of thick-ish sugar water, with maybe a hint of vanilla, something almost caramel-like. It was, in a word, good.

But like many rich foods, a little bit is sometimes even too much. My palate rejected it within moments, and I couldn’t get the taste and sensation of it out of my gullet.

I definitely see a Pulitzer in this guy's future.

Via the Trentonian.

Cross-posted at JWF.

Hmmm: Obama Suddenly Willing to Give States 'Flexibility' to Opt Out of Individual Mandate

Never mind the fact that Obamacare's individual mandate was ruled unconstitutional several weeks ago by not one but two federal district court judges. That hasn't stopped the administration from proceeding apace with implementing the law, in clear contempt of court. Appeals are for suckers, anyway. Why bother, right?

But wait! King Obama is now generously considering allowing states to have the 'flexibility' to opt out of Obamacare's bipartisanly loathed individual mandate. The only catch: They must hop on the fast track to single-payer, the Socialist Holy Grail that Obama wanted all along but never had the votes in Congress to pass, despite huge Democrat supermajorities in both Houses.

Oh, goodie.

Seeking to appease disgruntled governors, President Obama announced Monday that he supported amending the 2010 health care law to allow states to opt out of its most burdensome requirements three years earlier than currently permitted.

In remarks to the National Governors Association, Mr. Obama said he backed legislation that would enable states to request federal permission to withdraw from the law’s mandates in 2014 rather than in 2017 as long as they could prove that they could find other ways to cover as many people as the original law would and at the same cost. The earlier date is when many of the act’s central provisions take effect, including requirements that most individuals obtain health insurance and that employers of a certain size offer coverage to workers or pay a penalty.

“I think that’s a reasonable proposal; I support it,” Mr. Obama told the governors, who were gathered in the State Dining Room of the White House.

“It will give you flexibility more quickly while still guaranteeing the American people reform.”

The announcement is the first time Mr. Obama has called for changing a central component of his signature health care law, although he has backed removing a specific tax provision that both parties regard as onerous on business. The shift comes as the law is under fierce attack in the courts and from Republicans on Capitol Hill and in statehouses around the country.

The bipartisan amendment that Mr. Obama is now embracing was first proposed in November, eight months after enactment of the Affordable Care Act, by Senators Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, and Scott Brown, Republican of Massachusetts. Senator Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana, a Democrat, is now a co-sponsor.

Quick side note to Scott Brown: I'd like my stinkin' twenty bucks back now, Senator. With interest.

Continuing...

The legislation would allow states to opt out earlier from various requirements if they could demonstrate that other methods would allow them to cover as many people, with insurance that is as comprehensive and affordable, as provided by the new law. The changes also must not increase the federal deficit.

Well, of course - Obama is a real stickler when it comes to the deficit.

h/t: Weasel Zippers. Cross-posted at JWF.

Old and Busted: Civilized Democracy. The New Hotness: Boxing Matches With This Guy

Here we have yet another hyper-enlightened union protestor who we can rest assured won't be getting much face time on the cables.

If only he was a tea partier.

So confident is this lunatic that Republicans are white supremacists!!!1! that he proclaims it on a Big Fancy Sign and is even prepared to fork over a million dollars* to anyone who dares to prove him wrong.

*In I.O.U's, natch.

Via Breitbart. Cross-posted at JWF.

Public Sector Unions: Winning Hearts and Minds With...Vuvuzelas?

Because it never hurts to bleat on one of the world's most annoying thingamabobs when trying to get your point across in politics.

Governors with cojones do not fear the mighty vuvuzela.

Photo via Wall Street Journal. Cross-posted at JWF.

Obama's Plan to Coast To Reelection Using Slogan Lifted From a Newt Gingrich Book Failing Miserably

Good grief, even Politico is growing tired of Obama's 'Winning the Future' mumbo jumbp.

Could it be that empty rhetoric and a functioning pair of teleprompters just won't be enough this time around for Obama?

Doesn't look like it right now, does it?

The White House’s theme for this week — and the week before, and the one before that — has been all about “winning the future.” President Obama has mentioned his new favorite catch phrase so often in the last month that you’d think he was being paid for each reference.

In fact, when Obama now makes a speech, he’ll do so in front of a small backdrop with the words “winning the future” streaming across it. Talk about message discipline:

At Penn State, on Feb. 3: “These are places where the future will be won.”

In Cleveland, on Tuesday: “Winning the future involves out-educating, out-innovating, out-building, out-hustling everybody else.”

At a Baltimore middle school, on Valentine’s Day: “Over the last few weeks, I’ve traveled the country, talking about what we need to do to win the future.”

By our count, Obama has sung his battle cry — or some variation of it — nearly 40 times since his State of the Union address on Jan. 25. (By the way, in that speech, he mentioned in 10 times.)

But is the message getting through? We decided to ask the prominent linguist and neuroscience expert George Lakoff, a liberal by any measure, whether he thought the ad nauseam repetition has proven effective in a month’s time. His diagnosis: Not so much.

The problem, Lakoff determined, is that while a repetition of ideas can work — like the notion of “change” in the 2008 campaign to tap into voters’ emotional desires, or Republicans’ consistent message on less intrusive government — simply saying a slogan over and over is less tangible, and therefore more difficult for voters to recognize as meaningful.

“Nobody cares about winning the future,” he said. “It doesn’t mean much to anybody.”

Cross-posted at JWF.

New Tone Alert: Union Hothead Threatens Sodomy, Drops F-Bombs, Hurls Gay Slur at Cameraman

The action begins at the 7:32 mark.

If you are a Fan of Disruptors™ like Nancy Pelosi, you might want to get out your oversized foam finger for this one.

Just don't hold your breath waiting for MSNBC to play the clip.

Michelle Malkin has more. Cross-posted at JWF.

Tennessee State Senator Proposes Bill Making Practice of Any Aspect of Shariah Law a Felony

Maybe I am missing something here - always a distinct possibility - but I think this one misses the mark.

Don't get me wrong, I am vehemently opposed to butchering infidels, honor killings, and beheadings. Never been a fan, really. But those activities are already felonies in this country.

I'm not sure we need (or want) to be criminalizing things like feet-washing and praying in the fight against creeping Sharia in America.

Do we?

A proposed new state law would make following the Islamic legal code known as Shariah law a felony, punishable by 15 years in jail.

State Senator Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, introduced the bill, known as Senate Bill 1028, last week. A House version of the bill, House Bill 1353, was introduced by House Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma.

The bill claims that Shariah law is a danger to homeland security.

“The threat from Shariah-based jihad and terrorism presents a real and present danger to the lawful governance of this state and to the peaceful enjoyment of citizenship by the residents of this state,” the bill reads.

The bill exempts any peaceful practice of Islam.

But it also claims that any adherence to Shariah law – which includes religious practices like feet-washing and prayers – is treasonous.

It would require the state attorney general to investigate Shariah-compliant groups.

The Attorney General’s Office had no comment on the bill.

Bad Idea: CAIR Stooge Blows Sunshine Up Allen West's Butt

Here we have Rep. Allen West (Real Man-FL) administering an ice-cold, methodical smackdown to CAIR Executive Director Nezar Hamze. Hamze really thought he had a "gotcha!" question for the Congressman at this town hall meeting in Pompano Beach.

Be patient with the sound on this. The relevant parts are audible, and the money sound bite is clear as a bell.

For more comically bad ideas, click here.

h/t: Ace. Cross-posted at JWF.

Indiana Democrats Consider High-Tailing It To Deny GOP Quorum. UPDATE: Indeed, They Skedaddled.

Looks like the Democrats in Wisconsin have possibly inspired their Indiana comrades by exploiting that handy loophole in the democratic process known as "grabbing the ball and going home."

Of course, the Wisconsin Democrats didn't technically go home.

But you get the idea.

In Indiana, a House committee on Monday approved legislation to change state law so that private-sector workers no longer would be required to pay dues or belong to a union that bargains on their behalf. Unions say this would erode union membership, and eventually their finances and political clout, if workers decided not to join or pay dues. Supporters say the change would make the state more competitive and attract employers.

Imagine that - workers deciding to act in their own best interests, by not joining a union!

We can't have that now, can we?

Democratic representatives in Indiana caucused into the night Monday, discussing a possible walkout to deny Republicans a quorum. They plan to meet again Tuesday morning. Rep. David Niezgodski of South Bend said Monday night that some Democrats are considering a walkout, contending the majority "are waging a war on the middle class now, in a way we've never seen before."

Just a Grunt has more here.

h/t: Blue Collar Muse.

PRICELESS: Doctors Give Andrew Breitbart a "Sick" Note at Wisconsin Rabble Fest. UPDATE: He Has "Walker Pneumonia"

How easy was that?

Maybe he should have tried to pull it off wearing a Groucho Marx glasses and nose disguise.

Via Big Government. Cross-posted at JWF.

UPDATE: The plot thickens! Breitbart has been diagnosed with "Walker Pneumonia" - an affliction for which the only known cure is to go back to work and quit moanin'.

Unfortunately, the doctors do not appear to be prescribing the antidote.