Egypt church bombing one year later - still no answers

A New Year's suicide bombing on a New Year's Eve Mass in the Saints Church in Egypt's Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria left 21 dead as the church was targeted. (Read more here as the riots took place right afterwards)

Now Amira Maurice, a 28-year-old pharmacist, is in Germany undergoing the surgeries to save her leg and deal with her burns. Her fiance was killed that dead and her story was reported by the Associated Press.

Another New Year's has passed since, and there are still no answers in Egypt's most dramatic anti-Christian attack. The investigation was halted 11 months ago and never picked up again. The only suspects ever detained were released, and it's not clear they had any role in it. No new suspects have ever been named. 

"Nothing. Nothing at all has happened with the investigation," said Maurice's father, Nabil Roman. "It is ridiculous." 

Roman suspects that the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of the police, is dragging its feet in going after the case, but he doesn't know why. 

"Something is not clear. All I can say is that God will deal with them," Roman said.

The attacks in Alexandria was soon lost in the news cycle as protests against Hosni Mubarak became headlines from the region. The police who failed during the Mubarak era of thirty years, are even worse after his collapse. (Fear is that it will get even worse for the Coptic Christians in Egypt - more here)

As noted in the AP report:

Police were notorious for doing little investigation of crimes — instead, their modus operandi was usually to detain possible suspects and torture them into confessions, rights groups and former police officials say. After the fall of Mubarak's regime, the police have been in disarray and resisting reform in their ranks.

Meanwhile a bomb ripped through a church that day, changing and ruining and taking lives.

One year later all they have left is their faith...in God, not their country.

Why would Bill Clinton compare Tea Partiers to Timothy McVeigh?

Originally posted at "State of the Nation" at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/whywouldbillclintoncompareteapartierstotimothymcveigh

Bill Clinton commemorated the anniversary of the horrific Oklahoma City Bombing by comparing Tea Party protesters to Timothy McVeigh, blaming advocates of small government for the bombing fifteen years prior.

Clinton is claiming that McVeigh and others:

"...took to the ultimate extreme an idea advocated in the months and years before the bombing by an increasingly vocal minority: the belief that the greatest threat to American freedom is our government, and that public servants do not protect our freedoms, but abuse them."

For the most point, the Tea Party protesters have been non-violent, vocal dissent against big government, endless spending, encouraging the principles of the Constitution and our Founding Fathers. Bill Clinton, along with the extreme left, the mainstream media want to stigmatize the group by associating them with Timothy McVeigh and his ilk.

Unconscionable.

One might jump to the conclusion that President Clinton is truly maligning the Tea Party members, strategizing with the Obama administration in the transparent campaign to marginalize the Tea Parties.

I'll take a different look and assert that Bill Clinton is behaving as Bill Clinton always has and always will, in his best interest.

President Clinton may want us to believe he's naive, but in fact, I believe is using the opportunity to re-write history.

Timothy McVeigh has revealed to the world why he bombed the Federal Office in Oklahoma City and that's the government's action in Waco, Texas two years prior.

"I explain herein why I bombed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. I explain this not for publicity, nor seeking to win an argument of right or wrong. I explain so that the record is clear as to my thinking and motivations in bombing a government installation. I chose to bomb a federal building because such an action served more purposes than other options. Foremost, the bombing was a retaliatory strike; a counter attack, for the cumulative raids (and subsequent violence and damage) that federal agents had participated in over the preceding years (including, but not limited to, Waco.) From the formation of such units as the FBI's "Hostage Rescue" and other assault teams amongst federal agencies during the '80's; culminating in the Waco incident, federal actions grew increasingly militaristic and violent, to the point where at Waco, our government - like the Chinese - was deploying tanks against its own citizens. "

McVeigh equates the bombing to hitting a government location in Serbia NOT a protest against "big government" or massive government spending.

McVeigh's actions are heinous, criminal and deplorable on every level and Clinton's efforts to distort McVeigh's intentions to label Americans practicing their free speech is nearly as deplorable.

The Waco Siege ended on April 19, 1993 and two years later, to the day, Timothy McVeigh enacted his distorted and twisted form of justice. Fifteen years later, a former President attempted to politicize the horrors of that day to re-write and protect his legacy and slander protesters.

Pathetic day in history on every level.

http://www.digital-exp.com/doco/TimothyMcVeigh.html

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/19/ED5I1D1191.DTL

Republicans reveal their Big Government side for political gain

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.deskofbrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/republicansrevealtheirbiggovernmentsideforpoliticalgain

Attention all you Tea Party members, Tea Baggers if you watch MSNBC, this is an update for all of the naive FOX watchers and Republican loyalists -- they are lying to you.

President Obama spoke again this week to support financial regulatory reform. Blaming "lobbyists" and corruption is always at the core of his lectures while proclaiming we can't allow "history to repeat itself"

You may have heard tough language of opposition, especially from Scott Brown: "Shame on the president" as Brown "complained that President Barack Obama was derailing bipartisan negotiations on Wall
Street reform for short-term political gain." (Politico article, see below)



I heard and saw clips as I surfed through the news. Of course, the Republicans hot air will fill a room if it will benefit their political gains.

Because the Massachusetts Senator said this:

"The bottom line is, where there are problems [on Wall Street], we
should fix them. I’m not
going to vote on anything or make any statements until I read the
bills,” (adding he'd take a hard look at the proposals and get up to speed)

Where's all of Scott Brown's Ronald Reagan language about "government being the problem, not the solution"?

All we have to do is look to the former Republican Presidential nominee John McCain, who

"... formed an unlikely alliance with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to
propose reinstating the Depression-era Glass-Steagall Act, which
separated commercial banking from investment banking. That law was
repealed in the late 1990s, and many critics say it allowed for the
growth of mammoth and risky
investment banks. Fully reinstating the law would be further
than the Obama administration has proposed."
-Politico

One aide said McCain's vote on Financial Regulatory Reform will "will depend entirely on his analysis of how it plays among Arizona
primary voters"


Politics...Politics...Politics.



“I’m looking at everything. I have not made any decisions.” - Olympia Snowe


“We need to prevent large financial firms from holding taxpayers hostage. I’m still looking at issues.”
- Susan Collins



“I think we all want to see financial regulation take place; I really do. These things
are very solvable. It just takes a little grind-it-out work.” - Bob Corker



The letter to Harry Reid from the Republicans stated:

"As currently constructed this bill allows for
endless taxpayer bailouts of Wall Street and establishes new and
unlimited regulatory powers that will stifle small businesses and
community banks."

In Senator Richard Shelby's letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner we read how this is a slush fund for the Treasury to use as
they see fit, would encourage bailout over bankruptcy and explain how
this is the government running financial interests.



That is what the Tea Party and many motivated individuals are fighting to stop. Unfortunately, the Republicans are no different that their socialist counterparts on the far Left - power is more important and they don't care what we think.


Do NOT be fooled by the liars on the right. Look at their voting records, read between the lines and find the Constitutionalists that will fight to save this country.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/gop-leaders-echo-luntz-democrats-wall-street-reform-bill.php



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/16/AR2010041603436.html



http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20100416/pl_politico/35887



http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2010/04/sen-richard-shelby-r-al-lays-out-his-objections-to-dems-wall-street-reform-proposal.php?page=2

Happy Birthday James Madison

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.DeskofBrian.com: http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/happybirthdayjamesmadisonfatheroftheconstitution

259 years later we have completely forgotten one of the greatest minds in our history. James Madison, our fourth President, is regarded as the "Father of the Constitution" as he worked closely with George Washington in those early days to organize our federal government.

Some people only see the name James Madison and wonder if they are referring to the NCAA tournament and the "Dukes"

Never escaping the shadow of Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin, the shy Madison present his Virginia Plan draft at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. It was a truly revolutionary three-branch federal system and the backbone for the American Constitution of today.

Celebrating a Presidential birthday in March rather than February has furthered lack of honor, recognition and publicity. Andrew Jackson, Grover Cleveland and John Tyler join Madison as March Presidential birthdays, but it's Madison that should be reverred.

"It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage, and such only as he believes to be acceptable to him. This duty is precedent both in order of time and degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe." - Madison's "Remembrance"

His language, absent of Christian reference, is a point of favor amongst atheists who misrepresent his beliefs and wrongly interpret the goal of mixing church and state:

The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources not adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities impressed with it. - letter to Frederick Beasley in 1825

At only 24 years old, while the Declaration of Independance was signed, Madison drew up the Virginia Declaration of Rights. He is a shining example of how the founders believe we are a "Godly Nation" which should be run by a secular approach to governing. The right belongs to the individual to determine in their own conscience how best to exercise their duty to the Creator and NOT the State.

It is hard to imagine the impact of boyish looking 36 year old helping craft this amazing document. Specifically, the national government would be made potent in its limited scope of authority, given "few and defined" powers. Meanwhile, the states would retain their "numerous and indefinite" powers, except in the realm of federal authority.

How far America has drifted away from these ideals.

James Madison's joint efforts with John Jay and Alexander Hamiltion to produce the "Federalist Papers" which, more than any other initiative, helped explain and defend the Constitution, and turned public sentiment from skepticism to support.

Madison transitioned from his work in Congress under Washington to Thomas Jefferson's Secretary of State garnering more and more respect and credibility. With Jefferson's endorsement, Madison was elected President in 1809.

France and England refused to respect America’s commercial rights in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars and Madison's ineffective Secretary of State threw Madison into a role he was never best suited: pressuring Congress for results.

Better suited to be a Representative rather than the Commander, Madison's errors in handling the oppressions from England and France led to the War of 1812.

The Congress didn't react to finance a military and while there were successes, the British victory to occupy Washington DC, burn the White House, was the pinnacle of shame for a Madison presidency.

Ridiculed as "Madison's War" Madison left a sour legacy of a chaotic and expensive war. After leaving office, Madison retired to Montepelier and later founded the University of Virginia with his longtime friend Thomas Jefferson.


Another stigma is Madison's failure to stop Alexander Hamilton's Federalists from creating the central bank. From Wikipedia:

Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton built a nationwide network
of supporters that became the Federalist Party and promoted a strong
central government with a national bank. To oppose the Federalists,
Madison and Jefferson organized the Democratic-Republican Party. Madison
led the unsuccessful attempt to block Hamilton's proposed Bank of the United States,
arguing the new Constitution did not explicitly allow the federal
government to form a bank.

Late in life he spoke against secession and how to perpetuate the Union.

On James Madison I'll turn to George Will who wrote in 1981:

If we really believe the pen is mightier, or even more dignified than the sword, the nation’s capital would be named not for the soldier who wielded the revolutionary sword, but for the thinker that was ablest with a pen. It would be Madison, D.C.

James Madison was certainly the most prepared of all delegates. James Madison may never be viewed as a great leader in American history, due in large part to his inadequacy as our nation's Fourth President. The case may also be made, that same inadequacy is directly attributable to many of the problems we face today.

Similar links of interest on DOB:

James Madison Famous Quotes(40)

George Washington: The First & Greatest US President

Famous Quotes: George Washington (32)

When did the US President become a "king"? What happened to "checks and balances"?

Most Overrated Presidents

John Adams Famous Quotes (45)

Thomas Paine Famous Quotes (28)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs lowers the bar further to mock Sarah Palin

Originally posted at The Desk of Brian, www.DeskofBrian.com

After Sarah Palin stumbled over her own by writing shallow talking points on her hand to survive a post Tea Party Q&A, our Press Secretary decided to lower the standards even further.

Instead of leaving the jokes to Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel, Gibbs mocked Palin with a grocery list on his hand.

"Eggs, milk and bread," Gibbs read from the black ink stains on his palm, claiming he was going to “make pancakes” for his son Ethan.

"But I crossed out bread,” he added, pointing to the line that showed the word bread with a line through it.

 "Then I wrote down hope and change just in case I forgot them,” quipped Gibbs.

 The details (chronicled by Chattahbox) illustrates the divisive, juvenile behavior that politicians and their administration feel are appropriate.

So this is high brow politics of the Obama administration.

http://chattahbox.com/us/2010/02/09/gibbs-adopts-palins-hand-prompter-hope-and-change-grocery-list/

Geithner lies to America over Bank fees

Follow "State Of the Nation" original posts at Desk of Brian:

http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/geithnermisleadsamericaonbankfeesplantorecoupaigloss

Taxpayers from top to bottom will get a proverbial rear-ending as the government attempts to recoup losses from their bad decisions.

Attempting to save AIG is the latest debacle revisited in Washington

Reuters reports how the White House will spin penalizing large banking and finance firms as Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner speaks out:

"Those contracts were outrageous. They should never have been permitted," Geithner said in testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee.

Geithner and the administration fail to acknowledge that these "outrageous contracts" were approved when the "bailout funds" were agreed upon. In fact, most of the executives at AIG were hired to work for a dollar with a bonus plan attached.

"Now, if you join with us in passing this proposed fee on our largest financial institutions, then you'll be able to say, as we do, that the American taxpayer will not pay a penny for what happened at AIG," Geithner said

Most egregious is how the taxpayers will be covering their horrible decisions. These "bank fees" and penalties will be passed on to the consumer. Building up their slush fund by highjacking money from these firms will start the whole cycle over again.

Again, we are treated like morons.

Americans need to grapple with the hard realization that recovering from this financial disaster is a long, painful process and government intervention is not the solution and in fact, deepens the pain for all of us.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100204/bs_nm/us_usa_geithner_aig_2

President vs. Supreme Court & Constitution?

Originally posted on The Desk of Brian, www.DeskofBrian.com at

http://sites.google.com/site/thedeskofbrian/state-of-the-nation/presidentvssupremecourtconstitution

 

"With all due deference to separation of powers, last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections."¹

Justice Alito mouthing "Not True" met criticisms from Democrats.

"I can't ever recall a president taking a swipe at the Supreme Court like that," said Lucas A. Powe Jr., a Supreme Court expert at the University of Texas law school.²

What should concern us is the flippant comment about circumventing the Constitution:

"This can't be one of those Washington gimmicks that lets us pretend we solved a problem. The commission will have to provide a specific set of solutions by a certain deadline. Now, yesterday, the Senate blocked a bill that would have created this commission. So I'll issue an executive order that will allow us to go forward, because I refuse to pass this problem on to another generation of Americans."¹

 It's not a question of if, it's already put together as Bloomberg reports. If an executive order gets the President what he wants, then an executive order it shall be.

 The language of the two branches are poignantly opposed to one another.

 President Obama: "With its ruling today, the Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics. It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans... We are going to talk with bipartisan congressional leaders to develop a forceful response to this decision."

"The text and purpose of the First Amendment point in the same direction: Congress may not prohibit political speech, even if the speaker is a corporation or union." - Chief Justice John Roberts

This dispute carries across party lines, blurring the intent of Free Speech under the guise of corruption and evil big business. Likewise, the dissenters pretend that the current landscape shields corporations from funding political parties, candidates or ads, but in fact, these entities muddle the process by creating faux foundations to funnel funds to endorse their political preference.

 The Supreme Court's decision upheld some of our most basic principles, principles about the freedom to engage in political speech that are incorporated into the Constitution, a document that the critics of this decision seem all to willing to ignore when its requirements don’t fit their political objectives.

 Of course, as with Nancy Pelosi, the President seems to think we are "kidding" when we demand our politicians abide by the limits of the Constitution. (see below for Pelosi exchange)

Frankly Mr. President, I'm NOT kidding.

1. Read the entire SOU transcript: Barack Obama - 2010 State of Union address

2. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/28/AR2010012802893.html

3. http://www.fresnobee.com/news/national-politics/story/1791007.html?storylink=mirelated

Source of image: http://startthinkingright.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/why-obamas-supreme-court-selection-will-be-a-disgrace-to-the-constitution/

Pelosi exhange on health care
CNSNews.com: "Madam Speaker, where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?"


Pelosi: "Are you serious? Are you serious?"


CNSNews.com: "Yes, yes I am."


Pelosi then shook her head before taking a question from another reporter.

http://www.jeremiahfilms.com/released/Congress/910231230

Indoctrinating Political Worship

Read regular postings of "State of the Nation" at  www.DeskofBrian.com

One of the most disturbing videos I've ever seen came from B. Bernice Young Elementary in New Jersey. The Obama worship has reached political brainwashing with this chilling video which same claimed dates back to June 19, 2009; while other accounts claim it was presented as part of Black History Celebrations in February of this year -- this has NOW been confirmed by the school district. (see bottom of post)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aqMTD5UFmU&feature=related

The video was reported a month ago by Prison Planet, but was dismissed as it was erroneously associated with a school in Arkansas. The BBY Elementary teacher retired at the end of the school year, so calls for "her firing" and "investigations" are irrelevant.

The Messianic association with President Obama that disturbs so many opponents has prompted claims of "racism" and "part of the right-wing fear mongering" but this reminds me of Castro or Korean worship videos.

Here the children are taught "Jesus Loves the Little Children" with Obama "saving the world"

Compare:

"Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red, yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight…" to these lyrics:

"He said we must be fair today! Equal work means equal pay! Barack Hussein Obama! He said, red yellow, black or white, all are equal in his sight! Barack Hussein Obama!"

There are references to his "great plans" to "make this country's economy #1 again"

Can you imagine kids singing in 2003 of the glory of President Bush toppling Saddam Hussein or giving us tax cuts?

Oh wait, we did have accusations of Christian brainwashing under George W. Bush. This video from a Christian Camp didn't focus on their religion or beliefs, but was used as an example of how Republicans are brainwashed. At the 7:08 point in this video, a cardboard cutout of Bush is brought out and the kids are asked to pray of "him" - it, whatever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNvnLFgH5BU

Before the election was had this video: "Sing for Change" which was dismissed as "a song of hope" and how can hope be a bad thing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTBq_ybkBmI&feature=related

So months later, New Jersey kids are chanting the Obama version of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"-- "Mr. President, We Honor You Today."

"Jesus" and "God" is being substituted by the use of the President's name. The Messianic message is loud and clear.

Now we have a parent who has spoken out:

Andrea Ciemnolonski, the parent of another one of the students in the video, said the song was part of a second-grade project on a variety of topics related to the month of February, such as Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day and Presidents Day.

"They did songs about President Washington, Lincoln, and they did do one about President Obama," Ciemnolonski said. "My daughter was in the class that did the songs about Obama. It was black history month. ... It was something for the kids to celebrate."

Ciemnolonski said she "just can't look at it as indoctrination," though she added, "The comparisons made were a little exuberant."

Exuberant? Does she mean exuberance as in unrestrained enthusiam, joy and praise? Sounds like worship.

This is NOT respect for a President, the office or otherwise, this is worship. This is indoctrinating individuals, children in particular, to glorify and praise their politicians. I'm not surprised by society's lack of knowledge of Nazi Germany, and other regimes, which brainwashed youth to mindless obedience to its leaders.

What I'm surprised by is the dismissive attitude by Democrats and Obama supporters. If we combine this story with the unprecedented Obama speech to public school kids and the Department of Education's lesson planning; add in the National Endowment of the Arts colluding with the White House to fund develop of propaganda to support the President's policies.



Letter from the school District released today 09/25/09
Dear Burlington Township Families:
Today we became aware of a video that was placed on the Internet which has been reported in the media. The video is of a class of students singing a song about President Obama. The activity took place during Black History Month in 2009, which is recognized each February to honor the contributions of African Americans to our country. Our curriculum studies, honors and recognizes those who serve our country. The recording and distribution of the class activity were unauthorized.If you have any further questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me or Dr. King, Principal of B. Bernice Young School, directly.
Sincerely,Dr. Christopher M. Manno,Superintendent of Schools


Lyrics to both Obama songs:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/24/lyrics-songs-president-obama/
Footnote:
Where did this all come from?
FOXNEWS posted:
Alteredbeat," the YouTube user who posted the video on the Internet, told FOXNews.com that the video was first put online by Charisse Carney-Nunes, an activist and author of the children's book "I Am Barack Obama," which her Web site says "allows children to see themselves through the inspirational story of President Obama."
Carney-Nunes has been promoting the book during visits to schools on the east coast.
A poster for the book can been seen near the stage of the auditorium in the video of Bernice Young Elementary, but it is unclear whether Carney-Nunes had visited the school or was present during the filming.

"Alteredbeat" told FOXNews.com that he reached out to Carney-Nunes, who insisted that the program had been filmed in June as part of a Father's Day tribute to President Obama. "The kids made up the songs on their own," she wrote, according to the YouTube user.

"Alteredbeat" originally posted the video Sept. 6, two days before Obama made an address to the nation's schoolchildren in which he praised the American education system as the best in the world and urged students to stay in school.

"At the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world," Obama said.