Monthly Archives: September 2013

CBO report 2013 Long Term Budget Outlook, September 17, 2013, Debt trend unsustainable, Between 2009 and 2012 largest budget deficits since 1946, Federal debt 73 percent of GDP higher than any point in US history except World War II

CBO report 2013 Long Term Budget Outlook, September 17, 2013, Debt trend unsustainable, Between 2009 and 2012 largest budget deficits since 1946, Federal debt 73 percent of GDP higher than any point in US history except World War II

“What do you think a stimulus is? It’s spending – that’s the whole point! Seriously.”…Barack Obama

“…and Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They [socialists] always run out of other people’s money. It’s quite a characteristic of them.”…Margaret Thatcher

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

From the CBO September 17, 2013.

“The 2013 Long-Term Budget Outlook”

“Between 2009 and 2012, the federal government recorded the largest budget deficits relative to the size of the economy since 1946, causing federal debt to soar. Federal debt held by the public is now about 73 percent of the economy’s annual output, or gross domestic product (GDP). That percentage is higher than at any point in U.S. history except a brief period around World War II, and it is twice the percentage at the end of 2007. If current laws generally remained in place, federal debt held by the public would decline slightly relative to GDP over the next several years, CBO projects. After that, however, growing deficits would ultimately push debt back above its current high level. CBO projects that federal debt held by the public would reach 100 percent of GDP in 2038, 25 years from now, even without accounting for the harmful effects that growing debt would have on the economy (see the figure below). Moreover, debt would be on an upward path relative to the size of the economy, a trend that could not be sustained indefinitely.

Federal Debt Held by the Public Under CBO's Extended Baseline

Budget Projections For The Next 10 Years

The economy’s gradual recovery from the 2007–2009 recession, the waning budgetary effects of policies enacted in response to the weak economy, and other changes to tax and spending policies have caused the deficit to shrink this year to its smallest size since 2008: roughly 4 percent of GDP, compared with a peak of almost 10 percent in 2009. If current laws governing taxes and spending were generally unchanged—an assumption that underlies CBO’s 10-year baseline budget projections—the deficit would continue to drop over the next few years, falling to 2 percent of GDP by 2015. As a result, by 2018, federal debt held by the public would decline to 68 percent of GDP.

However, budget deficits would gradually rise again under current law, CBO projects, mainly because of increasing interest costs and growing spending for Social Security and the government’s major health care programs (Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and subsidies to be provided through health insurance exchanges). CBO expects interest rates to rebound in coming years from their current unusually low levels, sharply raising the government’s cost of borrowing. In addition, the pressures of an aging population, rising health care costs, and an expansion of federal subsidies for health insurance would cause spending for some of the largest federal programs to increase relative to GDP. By 2023, CBO projects, the budget deficit would grow to almost 3½ percent of GDP under current law, and federal debt held by the public would equal 71 percent of GDP and would be on an upward trajectory.”

“Looking beyond the 10-year period covered by its regular baseline projections, CBO produced an extended baseline for this report that extrapolates those projections through 2038 (and, with even greater uncertainty, through later decades). Under the extended baseline, budget deficits would rise steadily and, by 2038, would push federal debt held by the public close to the percentage of GDP seen just after World War II—even without factoring in the harm that growing debt would cause to the economy.

By 2038, CBO projects, federal spending would increase to 26 percent of GDP under the assumptions of the extended baseline, compared with 22 percent in 2012 and an average of 20½ percent over the past 40 years. That increase reflects the following projected paths for various types of federal spending if current laws generally remain in place (see the figure below):

  • Federal spending for the major health care programs and Social Security would increase to a total of 14 percent of GDP by 2038, twice the 7 percent average of the past 40 years.
  • In contrast, total spending on everything other than the major health care programs, Social Security, and net interest payments would decline to 7 percent of GDP, well below the 11 percent average of the past 40 years and a smaller share of the economy than at any time since the late 1930s.
  • The federal government’s net interest payments would grow to 5 percent of GDP, compared with an average of 2 percent over the past 40 years, mainly because federal debt would be much larger.”

Read more:

http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44521

Entire report:

http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/44521-LTBO_0.pdf

Blagojevich appeal delay helps Obama, One of many problems for Obama hidden by Syria crisis and domestic issues, Blagojevich legal scrutiny has lasted 10 years

Blagojevich appeal delay helps Obama, One of many problems for Obama hidden by Syria crisis and domestic issues, Blagojevich legal scrutiny has lasted 10 years

“Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?”…Citizen Wells
“Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?”…Citizen Wells
“Regardless of how this plays out, it benefits Obama. If there is no appeal or the appeal is denied, Blagojevich will be sequestered. If the appeal proceeds, it could drag out beyond impacting the 2012 election cycle. The intent is obvious.”…Citizen Wells, July 19, 2011

From the US Court of Appeals 2012 statistics.

“The median time from filing a notice of appeal or docket date to final disposition decreased from 11 months to 9.8 months.”

http://www.uscourts.gov/Statistics/JudicialBusiness/2012/us-courts-of-appeals.aspx

The Rod Blagojevich Notice of appeal was filed on December 22, 2011.

Almost 2 years later we are nowhere near disposition.

But in the legal scrutiny of Rod Blagojevich, this is a short span considering the fact that the wiretapping of his associates began in late 2003.

“The following facts make the argument that Rod Blagojevich should have been arrested long before December 8, 2008 and before Tony Rezko.

  • Blagojevich began scheming as soon as he entered office. From the Blagojevich arrest press release. “The charges include historical allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with others – including previously convicted defendants Antoin Rezko, Stuart Levine, Ali Ata and others – since becoming governor in 2002 to obtain and attempt to obtain financial benefits for himself, his family and third parties, including his campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds.”
  • Pamela Meyer Davis began wearing a secret FBI wiretap  in late 2003 to record conversations involving state health planning board.
  • Most of the corruption in the Tony Rezko, Stuart Levine and Rod Blagojevich indictments took place between 2003 and 2005. Counts 1, 2 and 4 in the Blagojevich Indictment were eventualy dropped. Those counts covered that time period and represented approximately half of the indictment.
  • “FBI Special Agent Daniel Cain, the primary case agent on the investigation into Levine and Rezko, is on the stand now in testimony that is laying the foundation for entering the wiretaps into evidence. Cain said the investigation, dubbed Operation Board Games by the federal agents, began in December 2003 and was prompted by information gleaned from an informant whom he did not identify. That witness, he said, took part in meetings with two other individuals who were in contact with Levine by phone at his home. Cain said Levine had three phone lines in his North Shore home. Federal agents recorded conversations on those lines April 8-May 21, 2004. Those dates span the time when Levine, Rezko and others allegedly were working to rig the hospital board vote on a Mercy Health System hospital proposal for Crystal Lake and other kickback schemes prosecutors claim they were engaged in.” Rezko trial March 12, 2008″

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/blagojevich-prosecution-delays-protect-obama-part-1-blagojevich-arrest-delayed-after-2008-election-patrick-fitzgerald-usdoj-had-key-witness-and-crimes/

Why wasn’t Rod Blagojevich, Governor of IL, prosecuted before Tony Rezko, a businessman?

Why did Patrick Fitzgerald and the US Justice Department wait until December 2008 to arrest Rod Blagojevich?

What were Obama and Blagojevich discussing just after the 2008 election and just before Blagojevich was arrested?

ObamaBlagoNov2008

I told you this would happen over 2 years ago.

From Citizen Wells July 19, 2011.

“Regardless of how this plays out, it benefits Obama. If there is no appeal or the appeal is denied, Blagojevich will be sequestered. If the appeal proceeds, it could drag out beyond impacting the 2012 election cycle. The intent is obvious.”

Read more:

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/blagojevich-appeal-strategy-will-reveal-more-about-setup-protecting-obama-crucify-blagojevich-or-off-the-hook/

Obama Syria actions explained by Obama beholden to Saudis, Manchurian Candidate, Obama allegiance to Muslims, Syrian crisis diverts attention from Obama domestic problems

Obama Syria actions explained by Obama beholden to Saudis, Manchurian Candidate, Obama allegiance to Muslims, Syrian crisis diverts attention from Obama domestic problems

“The Central Intelligence Agency has been training rebels in Jordan under a covert program, and weapons that are to be sent to the opposition by the United States are expected to be funneled through Jordan, both of which might heighten the risk of Syrian retaliation, including against possible training areas.”

“Britain and France have also said there is convincing evidence that Syria has used chemical weapons, but neither they nor the United States have made their evidence public.”…NY Times June 15, 2013

“Khalid Al-Mansour was “raising money” for Obama.”

“Khalid Al-Mansour was trying to help Obama get into Harvard Law School.”…Percy Sutton

“Al Mansour said that he was determined to keep a low profile to avoid embarrassing Obama.”…NewsMax September 23, 2008

 

 

One thing is certain. Regardless of whether or not attention devoted to Syria and alleged chemical weapon use by the Assad regime was a designed diversion or not, it is diverting attention away from the American economy, job crisis and Obamacare problems.

A bigger issue at stake is what many of us began being concerned about in 2008 with Obama’s eligibility issues, natural born citizen deficiencies and allegiances.

Obama is definitely no Christian and whether or not he considers himself a Muslim, that is where most of his influence has come from.

Consider this straight from Obama’s mouth.

“I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”…Barack Obama

The possibility of Obama being a Manchurian Candidate was also raised in 2008.

Exchange picked up by microphones between Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev Monday, March 26, 2012.

Obama: “On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved but it’s important for him to give me space.”

Medvedev: “Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for ”

Obama: “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”

Medvedev: “I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladimir.”

Apparently Obama is beholden to Saudis for getting into Harvard and educational expenses.

ObamaBowsSaudiKing

From WND September 14, 2013.

“SAUDI TAIL WAGGING U.S. INTO WAR?”
“Powerful U.S. ally Saudi Arabia has been a driving force behind the scenes, pushing for the U.S. to act militarily in Syria.

The Saudis already have been secretly helping to fuel the insurgency to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the two years that the uprising has been going on. And it was reportedly the Saudi security services that alerted the U.S. to the first claim last February of a sarin gas attack by Assad’s regime.

And WND reported in October 2012 that Saudi Arabia was working with Qatar and Turkey to send weapons to the Syrian rebels.

Further, WND reported at the time that murdered U.S. ambassador Christopher Stevens served as a key contact with the Saudis to coordinate the recruitment by Saudi Arabia of Islamic fighters from North Africa and Libya. The jihadists were sent to Syria via Turkey to attack Assad’s forces, according to informed Middle Eastern security officials.

In a hearing last week, Secretary of State John Kerry said Arab countries have offered to pay for any U.S. military intervention in Syria.

Now the Wall Street Journal has detailed a massive Saudi lobbying effort to push the U.S. to act in Syria.

The Journal fingered Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Washington, Adel al-Jubeir, as leading a campaign to convince Congress and the White House to expand the U.S. role in Syria.

The newspaper reported an original Saudi goal was to secure U.S. support to train the Syrian rebels at camps in Jordan.

The Saudis were apparently successful.”

 

“Is this what Syria war really about?

Is the reported willingness of Arab Gulf states to fund a U.S. military campaign in Syria really about major oil and gas interests that run through the country?

The potential for trillions of dollars of energy revenue in deals that snake through Syrian territory may be a motivating factor for the U.S., Russia, Turkey and Arab states in the current Syria crisis.

Syria is a key energy transit route to Europe. A number of countries appear to be seeking dominance of the energy market that runs through Syria.

Beside the prospect of its own gas field, Syria is also one of the most strategic locations for natural gas pipelines to flow to Europe.”

Read more:

http://www.wnd.com/2013/09/saudi-tail-wagging-u-s-into-war/

 

 

Secret Assad Forces have hidden chemical weapons throughout Syria, September 13, 2013, Elite Unit 450, 1000 metric tons of chemical and biological agents

Secret Assad Forces have hidden chemical weapons throughout Syria, September 13, 2013, Elite Unit 450, 1000 metric tons of chemical and biological agents

“I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States. This is not a political issue. It is a matter of his judgement, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty, and trust–all absolute tenets of command.”…REAR ADMIRAL ROY F. HOFFMAN, USN (RETIRED)

“I didn’t like Obama from the beginning, I thought he was a hustler and I think he still is.”…Bartle Bull, long time Democrat and civil rights attorney

“And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed
–if all records told the same tale–then the lie passed into
history and became truth. “Who controls the past,” ran the
Party slogan, “controls the future: who controls the present
controls the past.”…George Orwell, “1984″

From Newsmax September 13, 2013.

“Secret Assad Forces Hiding Chemical Weapons”

“A secretive Syrian military unit has been moving stocks of poison gases and munitions to as many as 50 sites to make them harder for the U.S. to track, American and Middle Eastern officials said on Thursday.

The movements of chemical weapons by Syria’s elite Unit 450 could complicate any U.S. bombing campaign in Syria over its chemical attacks, the officials told The Wall Street Journal .

Further, the activity raises questions about the implementation of a Russian proposal that calls for the regime to surrender control of its stockpiles, they said.

The U.S. estimates Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime has 1,000 metric tons of chemical and biological agents.

“That is what we know about,” a senior U.S. official told the Journal. “There might be more.”

U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies said they still believe they know where most of the chemical weapons are located, but with less confidence than six months ago.”

“A division of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center, Unit 450 manages the regime’s overall chemicals weapons program, according to the Journal. It has been moving the stocks around for months, officials and lawmakers briefed on the intelligence said.

Movements occurred as recently as last week, the officials told the Journal, after President Barack Obama said he was preparing to launch strikes.

The unit is in charge of mixing and deploying chemical munitions, and it provides security at chemical sites, according to U.S. and European intelligence agencies. It consists of officers from Assad’s Alawite sect.

One diplomat briefed on the unit told the Journal that it was Alawite from “janitor to commander.”

Meanwhile, U.S. military officials have investigated whether to gain influence over members of Unit 450 via inducements or threats.

“In a perfect world, you would actually like to co-opt that unit,” a senior U.S. military official told the Journal. “Who cares who pays them, as long as they sit on the chemical weapons?””

Read more:

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/assad-forces-hide-weapons/2013/09/12/id/525448

HHS 2012 report on Obamacare savings, Market Watch Orwellian spin Obamacare saved consumers $1.2 billion in 2012 premiums, HHS Obama Ministry of Obamacare Truth

HHS 2012 report on Obamacare savings, Market Watch Orwellian spin Obamacare saved consumers $1.2 billion in 2012 premiums, HHS Obama Ministry of Obamacare Truth

 
“If you’ve got health insurance we’re going to work with you to lower your premiums by $2,500 per family per year.”…Barack Obama

 
“In the individual market, the average rate request increase dropped by 12 percent (from 8.1 percent to 7.1 percent) after rate review, saving consumers an estimated $311 million.”…HHS Rate Review Annual Report September 2013

“He was alone. The past was dead, the future was unimaginable. What certainty had he that a single human creature now living was on his side? And what way of knowing that the dominion of the Party would not endure for ever? Like an answer, the three slogans on the white face of the Ministry of Truth came back to him:

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”…George Orwell, “1984”

Obamacare has been nothing but bad news for Obama and Americans. That is why many of us believe that he wants attention focused on Syria.

Report after report from credible sources such as major corporations as well as state and local governments tells of rising health care costs, layoffs, increased part time hours and delayed hiring plans.

Here are some of the news headlines and facts regarding Obamacare’s impact on Americans and health care costs.

“The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)[1] imposes numerous tax hikes that transfer more than $500 billion over 10 years—and more in the future—from hardworking American families and businesses to Congress for spending on new entitlements and subsidies. In addition, higher tax rates on working and investing will discourage economic growth both now and in the future, further lowering the standard of living.”…Heritage Foundation

“Rising medical costs, “combined with the costs associated with the Affordable Care Act, have made it increasingly difficult to continue providing the same level of health care benefits to our employees at an affordable cost,” UPS said in a memo to employees.”

“While acknowledging that overall health spending continues to rise, the company also blamed cost increases on the Affordable Care Act’s research fee (initially $1 per health plan member, then rising to $2) and an a temporary fee of $63 per member to stabilize new online marketplaces for consumers buying directly from insurers.”…Kaiser Health News August 21, 2013

“However … health insurance rates and benefit coverage plan costs have continued to increase. As a result of those increases, county employees have experienced a pay decrease that has grown larger each year.”…Guilford County Interim Manager Sharisse Fuller

“Rate Shock: In California, Obamacare To Increase Individual Health Insurance Premiums By 64-146%”…Forbes May 30, 2013

“The State University of New York in Plattsburgh raised their premium from $440 per student to between $1,300 and $1,600;

Lenoir-Rhyne University (Hickory, NC) raised theirs from $245 to $2,507; and
· The University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA) raised theirs from $165 to between $1,500 and $2,000” …CNS News August 27, 2012

ObamaInsuranceRatesClimb

Naturally, HHS, AKA Obama’s Ministry of Obamacare Truth and Obama’s minions at Market Watch had to rectify all of these negative news stories and facts.

From Market Watch September 12, 2013.

“Obamacare saved consumers $1.2 billion in 2012 premiums, HHS says”

“With all the Obamacare broadsides being traded back and forth, here’s another salvo the Department of Health and Human Services launched Thursday: the controversial health-care overhaul saved consumers at least $1.2 billion in premiums last year.

The savings came via the “rate review” portion of President Obama’s signature legislative achievement and affected 6.8 million policyholders, or roughly $176 per consumer. Obamacare’s “rate review” calls for no more than a 10% increase in premiums during a fiscal year.

In a 16-page report, HHS says that the average rate went up 7.1% for individual market policyholders in 39 states during 2012, saving them $311 million from the requested 8.1% hikes. For the small-group market last year, rate increases averaged 4.7%, down from the 5.8% requested in 35 states. That resulted in a savings of $866 million.”

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/health-exchange/2013/09/12/obamacare-saved-consumers-1-2-billion-in-2012-premiums-hhs-says/?mod=MW_home_latest_news

The astute commenters at Market Watch saw through the Orwellian spin.

“PATRICK MCMANUS2 minutes ago

Are Americans this dumb? Really? An increase of less than what it theoretically could have been IS NOT SAVING! Your costs still went up, didn’t they? You paid more, didn’t you? So tell me again, HOW MUCH did you SAVE?

1Dennis KoesterLikeReply

Steve Po2 minutes ago

Here come all the critics!!!!!   Excuse after excuse after excuse….

LikeReply

Randy Merrell2 minutes ago

Offset by hundreds of billions in tax increases. WTF?!?!?!!?!?!?!

LikeReply

Jum Multher3 minutes ago

Since the insurance premiums could have gone up 10% and they only went up 7.1% this is a savings?  Talk about government accounting.  Foney.  I saved $100 today by not buying that new golf club.  SAY WHAT!!!!??

2Dennis KoesterW GrooverLikeReply

Dennis Koester5 minutes ago

Bull  Common sense telsl you that when you add requirements to a policy, the money has to come from somewhere. That somewhere is the Premium. This Rodeo Clown has cost our company thousand more per year! We have less than 20 and we provide insurance because we want good people.

Thanks to Sen. Joe Donnelly (IN) who as a congressman blindly voted in Obamacare and now is “surprised” by what was actually in that bill. What a moron!. I told him he needs to have a better Attention Span when they start talking about Syria. But he’s a Democrat, so that attention span will last for these few words “Good morning Senators, free coffee and donuts are in the corner” he will then spend the rest of the day trying to find the corner in a round room!

1Josh GroveLikeReply

Dave Zickefoose8 minutes ago

When you appraise your own performance anything is possible…..yet, it is just rhetorical rhetoric that Obamacare has anything to do with health.

It is all about Leftist centralized control of $5.1 trillion in Gross Domestic Product from the Insurance and Health industries, formerly under the control of the private sector, and control of the citizens.  When Leftist centralized government controls your health it controls you.

Defund it now!

3Yooper DooperW GrooverJum MultherLikeReply

Darin Pope8 minutes ago

With a population of 300 million in the US, $1.2 billion is equal to $4 per American.  And in July, it was announced that the government was going to spend more than half of these “savings”, $684 million, to hire celebrities to promote Obamacare…even bad non-profits don’t spend half of what they raise for marketing!

2W GrooverJosh GroveLikeReply

fritz baier9 minutes ago

im still paying the same amount for coverage , didn’t Obama say the rates would come down ?

1Josh GroveLikeReply

Josh Grove3 minutes ago

@fritz baier I’m paying more for mine!

LikeReply

Lah Onep13 minutes ago

Hey if HHS says so then it must be true.”

HHS Report.

Click to access ratereview_rpt.pdf

No proof Bashar Assad approved chemical attacks in Syria, US intelligence can’t prove Assad directly ordered, Rogue generals and rebels may control

No proof Bashar Assad approved chemical attacks in Syria, US intelligence can’t prove Assad directly ordered, Rogue generals and rebels may control

“I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States. This is not a political issue. It is a matter of his judgement, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty, and trust–all absolute tenets of command.”…REAR ADMIRAL ROY F. HOFFMAN, USN (RETIRED)

“Testimony from victims strongly suggests it was the rebels, not the Syrian government, that used Sarin nerve gas during a recent incident in the revolution-wracked nation, a senior U.N. diplomat said Monday.

Carla del Ponte, a member of the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, told Swiss TV there were “strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof,” that rebels seeking to oust Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad had used the nerve agent.

But she said her panel had not yet seen any evidence of Syrian government forces using chemical weapons, according to the BBC, but she added that more investigation was needed.”…Washington Times, May 6, 2013

 
“I didn’t like Obama from the beginning, I thought he was a hustler and I think he still is.”…Bartle Bull, long time Democrat and civil rights attorney

Barack Obama and John Kerry have been pushing for an attack on Syria with no proof that the Assad Regime was behind the chemical attacks.

There is compelling evidence that the rebels have used chemical weapons.

Now we are negotiating with Bashar Assad to remove chemical weapons when in fact he may not control them and after any alleged chemical weapons are removed, they may remain in the hands of rogue generals and rebels.

From the Washington Times September 11, 2013.

“U.S. can’t prove Bashar Assad approved chemical attacks in Syria
Control of deadly weapons in question”

“U.S. intelligence has yet to uncover evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad directly ordered the chemical attacks last month on civilians in a suburb of Damascus, though the consensus inside U.S. agencies and Congress is that members of Mr. Assad’s inner circle likely gave the command, officials tell The Washington Times.

The gap in the intelligence has raised debate in some corners of the wider intelligence community about whether Mr. Assad has full control of his war-weary Army and their arsenal of chemical missiles, which most likely would be treasured by terrorist groups known to be operating in Syria, said officials, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because they were discussing intelligence matters.

“If there was a rogue general that did it on his own accord, that would be a bigger problem for Assad, because that would imply that he does not have control of his own weapons,” said one senior congressional source familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments on Syria.

Apart from concerns about weapons falling into the hands of such Sunni extremist and al Qaeda-linked groups as the al-Nusra Front, there are also concerns about serious hurdles now likely to lie ahead for the international community trying to assemble a special team to work with Mr. Assad on securing his chemical arsenal.

Some foreign policy insiders, meanwhile, said the lack of specific intelligence about who ordered the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack is the main reason why top Obama administration officials — including the president himself — have in recent days carefully assigned blame to “Assad’s regime” rather than the Syrian leader personally.”

““As far as I know, there’s no intelligence that links [Mr. Assad] directly to the operation, so that does raise the question of command and control,” said Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer who heads the Intelligence Project at the Brookings Institution in Washington.”

“What’s worse, he said, is that as international pressure mounts on Mr. Assad to comply with international specialists, there could be “Syrian military units and generals who believe keeping chemical weapons is their trump card and key to their survival.””

Read more:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/11/us-cant-prove-bashar-assad-approved-chemical-attac/

Charlie Rose Bashar Assad interview, Assad claims faulty US intelligence, War will support Al Qaeda, Present what you have as evidence to the public Be transparent

Charlie Rose Bashar Assad interview, Assad claims faulty US intelligence, War will support Al Qaeda, Present what you have as evidence to the public Be transparent

“I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States. This is not a political issue. It is a matter of his judgement, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty, and trust–all absolute tenets of command.”…REAR ADMIRAL ROY F. HOFFMAN, USN (RETIRED)

“I don’t oppose all wars,” “What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.”…Obama, antiwar rally downtown Chicago October 2002

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

From CBS News September 9, 2013.

“Assad says any U.S. strike on Syria “is going to support al Qaeda”‘
“In an exclusive interview with CBS News’ Charlie Rose, President Bashar Assad said he is “disappointed” in the Obama administration for pursuing a strike against Syria, claiming faulty intelligence and a foreign policy comparable with the policy of former President George W. Bush. He also said any U.S. involvement in Syria’s two-year-old civil war would only embolden America’s enemies.

At first offering a more tempered argument against a U.S. strike, Assad explained it would not serve U.S. security interests.

“The first question that they should ask [themselves], what do wars give America?…Nothing. No political gain, no economic gain, no good reputation. United States’ credibility is at…[an] all-time low. So this war is against the interests of the United States,” Assad said. “Why?”

Assad: I’m no “butcher,” I’m like a doctor who saves lives
Assad: U.S. does not have “a single shred of evidence” of chemical weapons attack
Bashar Assad tells Charlie Rose U.S. should “expect every action” in response to Syria strikes
Complete CBSNews.com coverage: Syria crisis

The Syrian president again called on the U.S. and Congress to present hard evidence proving a chemical attack was launched within Syria and warned that a strike against Syria would only foster the growth of al Qaeda within his borders.

“First of all, because this is the war that is going to support Al Qaeda and the same people that kill Americans in the 11 of September. The second thing that we all want to tell to the Congress, that they should ask and that what we expect, we expect them to ask this administration about the evidence that they have regarding the chemical story and the allegations that they presented,” Assad said.

President Assad said he and the Syrian people are “disappointed” by President Obama’s behavior, and compared his foreign policy to that of former President George W. Bush.”

Read more:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57601934/assad-says-any-u.s-strike-on-syria-is-going-to-support-al-qaeda/

Watch full interview:

http://charlierose.com/watch/60263639

Syria Obama economic diversion, September 9, 2013, Food stamp use soars, Labor force participation rate at 35 year low, Long term unemployed worse than 1970’s 80’s recessions

Syria Obama economic diversion, September 9, 2013, Food stamp use soars, Labor force participation rate at 35 year low, Long term unemployed worse than 1970’s 80’s recessions

“I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States. This is not a political issue. It is a matter of his judgement, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty, and trust–all absolute tenets of command.”…REAR ADMIRAL ROY F. HOFFMAN, USN (RETIRED)

“Over the last six months, of the net job creation, 97 percent of that is part-time work,”…Keith Hall, former BLS chief

 

“I don’t oppose all wars,” “What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.”…Obama, antiwar rally downtown Chicago October 2002

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

So why would Obama want us constantly thinking about a possible attack on Syria and chemical threats there?

From Zero Hedge September 8, 2013.

“Households On Foodstamps Rise To New Record High: More Americans Live In Poverty Than The Population Of Spain”

“There was much discussion of Friday’s “disappointing” non-farm payrolls goal-seeked, seasonally adjusted, X-13-ARIMA conceived jobs “number.” The conclusion was that it showed an economy which one year after the start of QEternity was growing nowhere near where the Fed has projected and hoped it would be at this time. But in addition to the BLS jobs number, there was another just as important number that was released on Friday: the monthly foodstamp (SNAP) participation update. There was no discussion of this particular number and for good reason. If the NFP number was at least meant to show some economic stability, if subpar, the monthly foodstamp update shows month after month that the greatest depression is nowhere near ending for millions of American living in poverty (83% of SNAP households have gross income at or below 100% of the poverty guideline ($19,530 for a family of 3 in 2013), and these households receive about 91% of all benefits. 61% of SNAP households have gross income at or below 75% of the poverty guideline or $14,648 for a family of 3 in 2013).

To wit: in June, the number of households receiving foodstamps rose to 23.117 million, an increase of 45.9k in one month, and also a new record high. As for the average monthly benefit per household: $274.55, just off record lows.”

Food StampSept2013

Read more:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-09-08/households-foodstamps-rise-new-record-high-more-americans-live-poverty-population-sp

Another hard hitting article from the Greensboro News Record September 7, 2013.
“Just how sturdy is the U.S. job market?

That’s the key question the Federal Reserve will face when it decides later this month whether to reduce its economic stimulus.
The answer depends on where you look.

The economy has added jobs for 35 straight months. Unemployment has reached a 4 1/2-year low of 7.3 percent. Layoffs are dwindling.
Yet other barometers of the job market point to chronic weakness:

The pace of hiring remains tepid. Job growth is concentrated in lower-paying industries. The economy is 1.9 million jobs shy of its pre-recession level – and that’s not counting the additional jobs needed to meet population growth. Nearly 4.3 million people have been unemployed at least six months.

What’s more, employers have little incentive to raise pay. Many unhappy employees have nowhere else to go.

Still, when it meets Sept. 17-18, the Fed is expected to reduce its $85 billion a month in bond purchases by perhaps $10 billion. Its purchases have helped keep home-loan and other borrowing rates low to try to encourage consumers and businesses to borrow and spend more.

Here’s a look at the job market’s vital signs as the Fed’s decision nears:

UNEMPLOYMENT

The unemployment rate slid in August to 7.3 percent, its lowest level since December 2008. Unemployment had peaked in October 2009 at 10 percent and has since fallen more or less steadily. Since then, the number of people who say they have jobs has risen by 5.7 million. And the number of those who say they’re unemployed has dropped by nearly 4.1 million.

That’s the good news behind the tumbling unemployment rate.

But the rate has been falling, in part, for a bad reason: People are dropping out of the labor force. Once people without a job stop looking for one, the government no longer counts them as unemployed.

Some are retiring. Some are young adults who have chosen to go to college rather than brave a tough job market. Some have gone on disability. And some have given up the job search, discouraged by repeated rejections.

The percentage of people either working or looking for work – the so-called labor force participation rate – fell last month to a 35-year low: 63.2 percent. If the participation rate were at the pre-recession level of 66 percent, up to 6.8 million more people could be counted as unemployed. And the unemployment rate could be as high as 11.2 percent.

The 4 million-plus Americans who have been unemployed for six months or more are down from a peak of 6.7 million in April 2010. Yet before 2009, the United States had never seen long-term unemployment surpass 2.9 million, even during the deep recessions of the mid-1970s and early 1980s.”

Read more:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_JOB_MARKET_VITAL_SIGNS?SITE=NCGRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

The above problems are motivation enough for Obama to divert our attention using a Syrian manufactured crisis.

Of course we know that Obama has many more reasons.

Obama uses Youtube evidence again for Syria attack, Syria UN investigation request March 2013, Russian inquiry names rebels, Obama obeying Saudis or diverting attention away from domestic problems

Obama uses Youtube evidence again for Syria attack, Syria UN investigation request March 2013, Russian inquiry names rebels, Obama obeying Saudis or diverting attention away from domestic problems

“I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States. This is not a political issue. It is a matter of his judgement, truthfulness, reliability, loyalty, and trust–all absolute tenets of command.”…REAR ADMIRAL ROY F. HOFFMAN, USN (RETIRED)

“Testimony from victims strongly suggests it was the rebels, not the Syrian government, that used Sarin nerve gas during a recent incident in the revolution-wracked nation, a senior U.N. diplomat said Monday.

Carla del Ponte, a member of the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, told Swiss TV there were “strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof,” that rebels seeking to oust Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad had used the nerve agent.

But she said her panel had not yet seen any evidence of Syrian government forces using chemical weapons, according to the BBC, but she added that more investigation was needed.”…Washington Times, May 6, 2013

“And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed
–if all records told the same tale–then the lie passed into
history and became truth. “Who controls the past,” ran the
Party slogan, “controls the future: who controls the present
controls the past.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

 

Obama and John Kerry are trying to make the case for a US attack on Syria.

They are both documented liars.

From Zero Hedge September 7, 2013.

“While one can speculate if the sarin gas attack on August 22 was ordered and orchestrated by Saudi/Qatari petrodollar interests, with the assistance of the CIA and the funding of al Qaeda, and executed by the Syrian “rebels” (there is much circumstantial evidence pointing in the false flag direction: herehere, here and here), the reality is that since the narrative behind Obama’s offensive Syrian air strikes has been staged as punishment for Assad, the onus is on the affirmative proof, namely clear and unequivocal evidence that it was Assad who ordered the attack. So far, despite repeated vows and promises that such proof exists, none has been presented, aside from numerous YouTube clips which show an attack did take place (and even that is in question). When it comes to the actual perpetrator, John Kerry and company are reduced to emotional pleadings to the audience to look at pictures of dead children redirecting from the most important question of all: did Assad actually do it. The reason for such Copperfieldian tactics is that there simply is no link – Reuters reports that  “No direct link to President Bashar al-Assad or his inner circle has been publicly demonstrated, and some U.S. sources say intelligence experts are not sure whether the Syrian leader knew of the attack before it was launched or was only informed about it afterward.” And yet Obama’s entire publicly stated motive is to punish Assad… for something there is zero evidence he did.

The excerpt below from Reuters is how far the mainstream media will go of accusing Obama of conducting a false flag without actually “accusing” him.

While U.S. officials say Assad is responsible for the chemical weapons strike even if he did not directly order it, they have not been able to fully describe a chain of command for the August 21 attack in the Ghouta area east of the Syrian capital.

 

It is one of the biggest gaps in U.S. understanding of the incident, even as Congress debates whether to launch limited strikes on Assad’s forces in retaliation.

 

After wrongly claiming that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction before the 2003 U.S. invasion, the U.S. intelligence community, along with the Obama administration, are trying to build as solid a case as they can about what it says was a sarin nerve gas attack that killed over 1,400 people.

 

The Syrian government, backed by Russia, blames Sunni rebels for the gas attack. Russia says Washington has not provided convincing proof that Assad’s troops carried out the attack and called it a “provocation” by rebel forces hoping to encourage a military response by the United States.

 

Identifying Syrian commanders or leaders as those who gave an order to fire rockets into the Sunni Muslim areas could help Obama convince a war-weary American public and skeptical members of Congress to back limited strikes against Assad.

 

But penetrating the secretive Syrian government is tough, especially as it fights a chaotic civil war for its survival.

But isn’t that what the NSA is for: after all Obama had an extended tangent during his G-20 press conference explaining precisely that the role of the NSA is to keep America breast on non-public developments. And the whole “access to everything” should mean not a single Syrian communication was left unintercepted. Or maybe, just maybe, the NSA was meant solely to spy on America’s citizens, while ignoring what happens in Damascus, instead forcing the administration to come up with made up stories?”

“So what if any evidence is there, aside from YouTube clips of course?

Much of the U.S. claim that Assad is responsible was initially based on reports from witnesses, non-governmental groups and hours of YouTube videos.

 

U.S. officials have not presented any evidence to the public of scientific samples or intelligence information proving that sarin gas was used or that the Syrian government used it.”

Read More:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-09-07/obamas-missing-link-no-direct-connection-between-assad-and-gas-attack

From the UN March 21, 2013.
“Opening remarks to journalists on Syrian Government request to investigate alleged use of chemical weapons

Good morning. Thank you for coming at this early hour and with such short notice. Thank you very much again.

As you know, there have been disturbing reports about the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The two-year long conflict has plunged the country into extreme chaos with terrible consequences for the Syrian people.

As the situation worsens, the international community’s concern about the safety and security of chemical weapons stockpiles as well as possible use of by all parties has increased.

I have repeatedly stated that use of chemical weapons by any side under any circumstances would constitute an outrageous crime. Anyone responsible must be held accountable.

I have emphasized the primary responsibility of the Syrian Government to ensure the safety and security of any such weapons or materials.

I have spoken out on this many times and sent letters to President Assad twice to remind him of this solemn duty.

Against this backdrop, yesterday I received a formal request from the Syrian authorities requesting a specialized, impartial and independent mission to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons.

If requested by a Member State, I have a mandate to consider conducting an investigation on alleged uses of chemical, biological and toxin weapons pursuant to General Assembly resolution 42/37 C of 1987 and reaffirm by Security Council resolution 620 of 1988.

With this in mind, I would like to announce that I have decided to conduct a United Nations investigation on the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria.

My senior advisers are working on the modalities in close consultation with the relevant bodies, including the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

These include detailed issues such as: overall mandate, mission composition, and operational conditions including safety and security.

I have also been in close contact with OPCW Director-General Mr. Ahmet Uzumcu and WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. They have both assured me of their full support and cooperation.

It is my hope that the mission would contribute to ensuring the safety and security of chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria.

The investigation mission is to look into the specific incident brought to my attention by the Syrian Government. I am, of course, aware that there are other allegations of similar cases involving the reported use of chemical weapons.

In discharging its mandate of an investigation mission, full cooperation from all parties will be essential. I stress that this includes unfettered access.

I will reiterate this point in my communication with the Syrian authorities.

I will also communicate my decision to the Security Council.

There is much work to do and this will not happen overnight. It is obviously a difficult mission. I intend for this investigation to start as soon as practically possible.

Again my announcement should serve as an unequivocal reminder that the use of chemical weapons is a crime against humanity.

The international community needs full assurance that chemical weapons stockpiles are verifiably safeguarded.

Finally, let me repeat that the horrors of the last months and years prove beyond doubt: the military solution in Syria is leading to the dissolution of Syria.

I call on the regional and international community to find unity and support the efforts of Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi to help the Syrian people reach a political solution.

Thank you very much.”

From The Blaze September 5, 2013.

From The Blaze September 5, 2013.

“RUSSIA DELIVERS 100-PAGE REPORT TO U.N. SAYING SYRIAN REBELS BEHIND SARIN GAS ATTACK IN MARCH”
“Russia has delivered a 100-page report to the United Nations that claims Syrian rebels are responsible for a sarin gas attack in March 2013 — an overlooked incident, it says, in the wake the alleged sarin attack in August that the United States and other nations say the Syrian government is behind, McClatchy news reports.

According to a statement posted to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s site late Wednesday, the March 19, incident in Khan al Asal, a town outside the city of Aleppo, was the reason U.N. investigators were in Syria when the Aug. 21 attack took place.

“Unfortunately, that investigation still essentially has not begun,” the statement said.

In addition, the Russian report on the March attack — in which 26 people died and 86 were injured — says it contains scientific detail that’s lacking in the much-shorter intelligence summaries the United States, Britain, and France delivered as evidence that the Syrian government launched chemical weapons against Damascus suburbs on Aug. 21.

The Russian report, apparently delivered to the U.N. in July but not released, asserts that each of the three nations’ summaries regarding the August attack relies primarily on circumstantial evidence to make its case, and details in each report differ, most notably the number of people who died.

More from McClatchy:

Russia said its investigation of the March 19 incident was conducted under strict protocols established by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the international agency that governs adherence to treaties prohibiting the use of chemical weapons. It said samples that Russian technicians had collected had been sent to OPCW-certified laboratories in Europe.

The Russian statement warned the United States and its allies not to conduct a military strike against Syria until the United Nations had completed a similarly detailed scientific study into the Aug. 21 attack. It warned that what it called the current “hysteria” about a possible military strike in the West was similar to the false claims and poor intelligence that preceded the United States invasion of Iraq.

“The Russian report is specific,” the ministry statement said. “It is a scientific and technical document.””

Read more:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/05/russia-delivers-report-to-u-n-saying-syrian-rebels-behind-sarin-gas-attack-in-march/

 

 

Jobs unemployment part time workers recap September 7, 2013, Media reports labor force participation rate, Obama falling from grace?, More people quit work searches

Jobs unemployment part time workers recap September 7, 2013, Media reports labor force participation rate, Obama falling from grace?, More people quit work searches

“Over the last six months, of the net job creation, 97 percent of that is part-time work,”…Keith Hall, former BLS chief

“11.4%: What the U.S. unemployment rate would be if labor force participation were back to January 2008 levels.” …James Pethokoukis, American Enterprise Institute, June 2013

“Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

 

If you have been following Citizen Wells you are aware of the real and scary employment situation in this country.

Record droves of people dropping out of the labor force and part time jobs.

Much to my amazement, early yesterday morning I read the following.

From Market Watch September 6, 2013.

“Unemployment rate falls to 7.3% as more people quit work searches”

“The U.S. added a modest 169,000 new jobs in August, the number of positions created in July was slashed and more workers dropped out of a labor force in a sign that hiring conditions worsened toward the end of the summer.

The unemployment rate, meanwhile, ticked down to 7.3% from 7.4%, but that was because fewer people were searching for work, according to new figures released by the Labor Department Friday.”

“The increase in jobs last month only fell a touch short of Wall Street’s forecast calling for a 173,000 increase. What gave the report a darker tone was the downward revisions in the prior two months and a sharp decline in the number of people looking for a job.

Employment gains for July and June were lowered by a combined 74,000, with the biggest revision taking place in July, the Labor Department said. The number of new jobs created in July was slashed to 104,000 from 162,000 — the smallest gain since June 2012.

And June’s job gains were trimmed to 172,000 from 188,000.

What’s more, the labor force participation rate fell to 63.2%, the lowest level since the summer of 1978. The participation rate measures how many healthy, working-age people 16 and older are looking for jobs.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-economy-adds-169000-jobs-in-august-2013-09-06?dist=beforebell

Rush Limbaugh noticed and reported this change in reporting tone from the media.

Rush Limbaugh transcript September 6, 2013.

“RUSH: You know, folks, even the Drive-By Media is starting to turn on Obama on the economy. The economic news, the unemployment news, it went down 7.3 from seven-point whatever it was, but the media knows that that’s not because jobs are being created.
A couple of them — I’ve got it here in the Stack — are telling the truth about it.

Reuters: “US Job Growth Misses Expectations, Offers Cautionary Note for Fed.” Now, what they’re doing, the Federal Reserve, if you’ve noticed, the stock market is — let me check. Even as we speak here, let me check the stock market. Well, it’s up right now, but not much. It was down a lot yesterday, trickling down, because the Federal Reserve is talking about no more quantitative easing, which is no more stimulus. And the people in the markets know that the only reason the stock market’s been going through the roof is because the Fed has been buying stock, not people. Short version of the truth. That’s the simplified version here. And if the Fed starts talking about no more of that, panic sets in.”

“If the same number of jobs that existed in 2009 existed today, the unemployment rate would be 10.8%. It’s not 10.8%; it’s 7.3 because those jobs are gone. They don’t exist. They’re not even available to be filled. It’s called the labor force participation rate. You add that people, when they stop looking, they are no longer counted as unemployed. Go figure. They have looked and looked and looked. They’ve been on unemployment 99 weeks or more. They finally have given up. They’re no longer counted.

The unemployment rate that’s reported only includes people actively trying to find a job. Those who have given up, which numbers in the millions now, don’t get counted, so the rate goes down. And so the media is afraid that the people at the Fed will not know what I just told you and that they’ll see the unemployment rate going down and believe they have fixed it and stop priming the pump, stop spending, printing money. Obama and the Democrats and their minions are scared to death of this. And the Democrats know — we’re talking a serious amount of money — the Democrats know that if the Fed stops printing, it’s actual digital transfers, folks, they’re not actually printing hard currency for all of this. They’re just digitizing, just adding money to a computer spreadsheet, essentially.”

Read more:

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2013/09/06/drive_bys_turn_on_obama_economy

Do not be fooled by Obama protectors in the media. The part time jobs component is also affecting households and the economy.

From Guggenheim September 5, 2013.

“The Growth Mirage”

“Despite disappointing economic data, there continues to be widespread expectations of a period of stronger economic growth just ahead. This growth mirage draws thirsty investors and increases the likelihood that interest rates will continue rising over the near-term.”

“Part-Time Jobs Driving Employment Growth

Growth in part-time jobs has been the main contributor in overall employment increases since the start of 2013. Over the past seven months, the average monthly growth in full-time jobs has been 32,000, while the average number of new part-time jobs was 104,000. After falling from the recession peak of 20 percent, the share of total jobs which are part-time has recently rebounded to 19.6 percent. The increase in part-time jobs may be partially attributable to the upcoming change in healthcare laws, requiring employers to provide health insurance to full-time employees but not for part-time workers. If the trend continues, the increasing share of part-time workers may add downward pressure to aggregate labor earnings and reduce consumption growth.”

PartTimeJobs

Read more:

http://guggenheimpartners.com/perspectives/macroview/the-growth-mirage

From the US Labor Dept. BLS.

From January of 2009 when Obama took control of the White House to August 2013.

________________________Jan 2009        Aug 2013

Labor Force Participation Rate               65.7                  63.2

Could only find part time work    1,676,000       2,719,000

The labor force participation rate plummeted 2.5 percent under Obama.

1,043,000 more people can only find part time work under Obama.