U of Maine bans Santa Claus, 'trees with presents,' candy canes, and menorahs - cites 'diversity'

Please have an enjoyable non-denominational secular giving season and winter celebration.

Gruber, Feinstein and the consequences of deceit

After years of deception and cover-up, the American people, through the hard work of their congressional representatives, finally learned the ugly truth this week about terrible acts done in their name but without their knowledge. While many of those responsible continue to defend their handiwork, the revelations are sure to leave a permanent stain on those in government who played any role in the atrocities revealed.

NIGERIA: Young Child's Terrible Encounter with Boko Haram

Sources: Voice of the Christian Martyrs Nigeria, VOM Australia After a brutal attack was perpetrated against Christian worshippers on Sunday, November 22nd in Attagara, a little three-year-old child by the name of "Joel" was running back home holding onto his Children's Bible when three Islamic insurgents grabbed him and forcibly sat him down.

Prosecutor Cuts Deal With Killer After Penalizing Law-Abiding Gun Owners

BELLEVUE, WA – The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is both astonished and disappointed that King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg’s office yesterday announced a plea bargain with a two-time killer that involved dropping a serious gun charge, only weeks after helping pass a gun control measure that penalizes law-abiding firearms owners.

Dianne Feinstein and CIA Interrogation tactics

Sheriffs: Obama's Amnesty Creates 'Insurgence of Heroin,' 'Saloon-Door' Border Mentality

Dodge Journey and Honda CR-V: very different takes on the Crossover theme

The Dodge Journey and Honda CR-V are both good examples of the SUV/Crossover beast, though executed in very different ways. And after a week with each, I came away thinking that despite the good things about both models, I think I'd look elsewhere were I to be shopping.

BlueDriver gives car owners insight into their autos' innards

Wouldn't it be great if you had access to the same type of vehicle diagnostics that your car's technician uses to find problems with your beloved wheels? Well you can - at least somewhat.

The Gaza Strip: What Can Israel Do to Postpone – or Even Prevent – the Next Round of Violence?

This article examines three options for Israel regarding the reconstruction of Gaza. None of these options are optimal for Israel, as they do not guarantee a long term lull in hostilities – although two have the advantage of including a political initiative, which could extricate Israel from its international isolation and facilitate a breakthrough in the political deadlock. Nonetheless, it seems that at this stage, the option of Israeli efforts to help rebuild the Gaza Strip and improve the living conditions of the population is the most aligned with Israeli interests. This analysis draws on an assessment of the Israeli leadership and the slim prospect of a successful resumption of the negotiations with the PA under Abbas; certainly this is the case over the next six months, while the Israeli elections maintain the political deadlock. However, there is tension in this option between the need to rein in Hamas and the fact that the Israeli assistance will lead to a strengthening of Hamas’ rule in the Gaza Strip and the rehabilitation of its legitimacy. In addition, this result is not consistent with Egypt's interests, and it can weaken the PA.

Doing No Real Good

The Democrats have slipped another shiny object into the mix for the Republicans and the Press to fixate on. Diane Feinstein (D-California), Chairwoman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has exposed to the world the inner workings of the CIA as it pertains to their alleged use of torture in gaining intelligence after 9/11. This in itself is an example of the Democrats’ cynicism, because, with only a month until the turn-over of the reins of government to the Republican Party, Feinstein feels the need to neuter a government agency ticked her off by hacking her computer systems against the law. This issuance of the report should have been in private or had names redacted and identities of foreign operatives shielded to ensure their safety. It’s blown apart the trust and faith our individual covert, allies had we’d keep their identities secret to prevent their deaths; NOT Senatorial sanctions, but the death of their families and them personally.

So-called torture report is Democrats' distraction from these six unpleasant issues

You have to ask: If it's such a serious issue for the Bush Administration to have "tortured" detained terrorists back when we still had a president who cared about fighting terror, why did Senate Democrats wait seven years to release their report on this purported atrocity?

Senate GOP forces all staff to use ObamaCare - dares reluctant Democrats to do the same

Dems love 'closing loopholes', right?

Liberal college president apologizes to liberal activists for saying 'all lives matter'

Because that's not the approved slogan, and you will learn to speak correctly.

Time for “I can’t live”, “I can’t survive” T-shirts

Given the dangers of our times, the ubiquitous “I can’t breathe’ T-shirt sported by football and basketball stars could be replaced with the more meaningful “I can’t live”; “I can’t survive” ones.

9/11: Does The End Justify The Means?

Can anyone NOT remember where they were or what they were doing on September 11, 2001, the day the two planes hit the twin towers in New York? Will we ever be able to forget the images of innocent civilians jumping hundreds of floors to their death to avoid being consumed by flames?

Crybaby academics lead to weak-kneed government

Choking back tears over hyped-up social strife to demand a reprieve from the hardship of sitting for college exams is just the latest chapter in over-emotionalizing politics. Most university instructors have pretty much heard it all when it comes to excuses for dodging assignments or tests. The old "the-dog-ate-my-homework" grew up to be Monday flu (hangover), monthly incapacitation (cramps) or temporary crippling (sprained/broken limbs resulting from stupid acts like jumping off a roof into a swimming pool).

The Expert's Cloudy Crystal Balls

In late October I wrote a commentary “Is America in Decline?” based on a book by James MacDonald, “When Globalism Fails: The Rise and Fall of Pax Americana”, due for sale in January from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Mark Kessler - The "Screw" Turns Part 3

On December 2, 2014, Chief Mark Kessler came "out of the closet" as an FBI informant, or infiltrator. His exact status with the FBI is uncertain, though there is little doubt that he is cooperating with them to expose patriots to criminal prosecution, even to the point of entrapment.

George Lansbury – a European politician in today’s mold

In 1929, George Lansbury became a member of the second Labour government in Great Britain. As the most senior surviving minister after the electoral defeat of 1931 he became Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition. George Lansbury served as Chairman of the No More War Movement. Dick Sheppard, founder of the Peace Pledge Union, of which Lansbury was President at the time of his death, called him 'Public Pacifist Number One'.

Where do you stand?

Fellow Veterans and Friends of Veterans One thing we know for sure, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Justice and US Attorneys, Veterans Park Conservancy, Senator Feinstein, Congressman Waxman and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals are not "Friends of Veterans."