Obama MIA

As ABC News’ Tahman Bradley reported : President Obama just could not wait for spring weather to arrive. For the second week in a row, the most powerful man in the world stepped away from the White House to hit the golf course. Even as his administration and the U.S. military help Japan recover from a devastating earthquake, and as the world worries about Fukushima’s nuclear reactor, the president could not resist taking advantage of the 48-degree weather in the Washington, D.C., area. “Obama is largely notable by his absence,” Sean fumed, “Which is itself the result of not only not knowing what to do but also apparently thinking it’s better for the world for him to remain a minor player. Obama’s defiant unwillingness to take measure of the world’s crises and to act as a world leader indicates a fundamental disconnect in the Oval Office. (Hannity.com)

URGENT: Qaddafi’s Air Defenses Suffer Big Blow From Military Strikes

Update: Cruise Missile attacks reported by Steve Harrigan in Tripoli, Libya.

Military strikes by the U.S. and its allies against targets in Libya Saturday have “severely disabled” Libyan leader’s Muammar al-Qaddafi’s air defenses, a U.S. official confirms to Fox News.

The official also warns they do not know what Qaddafi will do next following the military strikes. (FoxNews.com)

Hundreds Confirmed Dead in Japan as Aftershocks, Meltdown Fears Hamper Search Efforts

IWAKI, Japan – A blast at a Japanese power station Saturday leveled a building housing its reactor and stoked fears of a nuclear meltdown, as officials searched for thousands of people missing more than a day after a devastating earthquake and tsunami.

Details of a death toll are sketchy, with hundreds confirmed dead, and the number is expected to rise. Devastation stretched hundreds of miles along the coast, where thousands of hungry survivors huddled in darkened emergency centers cut off from rescuers and aid. (FoxNews-AP)

Third Japanese reactor goes critical after cooling system fails

The Japanese can’t catch a break at the Fukushia Daiichi plant:

Technicians are battling to stabilise a third reactor at a quake-stricken Japanese nuclear plant, after it was rocked by a second blast in three days.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant’s operators said they could not rule out a fuel rod meltdown, after a cooling system broke.

They are injecting seawater into reactor 2 after its fuel rods became almost fully exposed. (HotAir.com)

Gallup poll shows global-warming fears losing steam

Or maybe the results from Gallup’s latest poll are all part of a natural cycle. Every seven years or so, the bottom appears to fall out of the global-warming market. In 2000, for instance, 72% of Gallup responders said they worried a great deal or fair amount about global warming, a peak result over the last 22 years Gallup has polled on the question. In 2004, that number plunged to 51%, after a relatively mild recession had people worrying more about their pocketbooks. In 2008, the number rose again to a decade-long peak of 66% as America searched for a President whose mere visage would force the oceans to retreat and the Earth to cool. (HotAir.com)

GOP Eyes Senate Majority in 2012

Last fall, Republicans rode a wave of anti-Democratic public sentiment and achieved historic gains in the midterm elections. The GOP seized the House of Representatives with a net pickup of 63 seats, but fell four votes shy of a majority in the Senate. Given the nonstop nature of modern American politics, operatives from both parties are already gaming out scenarios for the 2012 election cycle. The political topography heavily favors Republicans, who appear well positioned to secure at least a bare majority next year if they competently manage their strong hand. (Townhall.com)

Report: Internet Usage Transforming News Industry

NEW YORK (AP) – The rapid growth of smartphones and electronic tablets is making the Internet the destination of choice for consumers looking for news, a report released Monday said.

Local, network and cable television news, newspapers, radio and magazines all lost audience last year, according to the Project for Excellence in Journalism, a research organization that evaluates and studies the performance of the press. News consumption online increased 17 percent last year from the year before, the project said in its eighth annual State of the News Media survey. (BigJournalism.com)

WaPo/ABC poll shows nothing much changing in public perception of Washington

As Congress continues to fumble on the budget and the President refuses to lead on it, one might presume that the American electorate confidence in Washington to solve the problems might be declining. The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll makes that argument, but the numbers themselves don’t really support their claims. In fact, there is as much evidence of erosion in Barack Obama’s standing as there is for that of Congress: (HotAir.com)

Petraeus to Sound Upbeat Note on Afghan War Progress in Testimony on Capitol Hill

FoxNews.com

Associated Press

Published March 14, 2011

AP March 7: Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, right, walks with Gen. David Petreaus upon his arrival in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Gen. David Petraeus, in his first appearance in Washington since taking over as the top war commander in Afghanistan, is laying out a mostly upbeat assessment of military progress that should allow the United States to begin withdrawing forces this summer, despite predictions that the wounded Taliban insurgency will mount an especially bloody fight this spring.

No one is calling it the Taliban’s last stand, but U.S. officials say this is the year that the insurgency will be tamed on the battlefield and at the bargaining table.

Petraeus met privately with Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday, the start of a full week of testimony and other events.

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Explosion at Troubled Japanese Nuclear Plant Raises New Fears of Radiation Leaks

FoxNews.com

Associated Press

Published March 14, 2011

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An explosion Tuesday morning at a Japanese nuclear plant damaged by the country’s devastating earthquake and tsunami has elevated the risk of more radiation leaks to “very high,” as the country struggles to respond to the mounting human disaster.

The Fukushima Dai-ichi facility’s precarious state was underscored by the details trickling out in the wake of the blast at the Unit 2 reactor. It was the third explosion in four days at the nuclear plant, and the condition of the Unit 2 reactor is of greatest concern to authorities.

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Beck Accuses NYT of Hypocrisy in Slams at Him

Newsmax.com

Monday, 14 Mar 2011 05:06 PM

By Hiram Reisner

Forward Article

Glenn Beck contends that The New York Times should look at its own coverage before it accuses him of opining gloom and doom. Responding Monday to an article speculating that Fox News would dismiss Beck soon, he noted during his radio and his TV show that, while the Times and other media outlets are calling his show too pessimistic, they are reporting stories with the same negative tones.

“The New York Times and others saw no irony in their ‘Mr. Gloomy Pants’ critique while at the same time they would run these stories and provide no real insight or answers to these major catastrophes,” Beck said on his radio program.

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Obama Trip Planned to Reinforce Latin American Economic Ties, Crime Concerns

WASHINGTON – A nuclear crisis in Japan, fighting in Libya, turmoil in the Mideast and the threat of a government shutdown at home. It’s a tough time for President Barack Obama to leave on a foreign trip — to Latin America.

Over the next five days, Obama is to travel to Brazil, Chile and El Salvador in what the White House is casting as a mission to build job-creating opportunities for the United States and to address regional security concerns. (FoxNews-AP)

Survivor Found in Wrecked Home Eight Days After Japan’s Earthquake, Tsunami

The Japanese military Saturday found a survivor from the country’s massive earthquake and tsunami eight days after the twin disasters, broadcaster NHK reported.

Self-Defense Forces rescuers pulled the young man from the rubble of a partially destroyed house in Kesennuma, a city located in the extreme northeast of the hard-hit Miyagi prefecture. (FoxNews.com)

Obama Budget Underestimates Deficits by $2 Trillion

SANAA, Yemen – The U.S.-backed president of Yemen suffered a devastating political blow on Sunday when his own powerful tribe demanded his resignation, joining religious leaders, young people and the country’s traditional opposition in calls for an end to his three decades in power.

Massive crowds flooded cities and towns around the impoverished and volatile nation, screaming in grief and anger as they mourned dozens of protesters killed Friday when President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s security forces opened fire from rooftops on a demonstration in the capital. (FoxNews-AP)

Bill Gates Supports Socialized Medicine: ‘I’d Take Any Rich Country’s Medical System Over Ours’

BigGovernment.com

Posted Mar 20th 2011 at 1:50 pm

by Charles C. Johnson

[Editor: Either Bill Gates got a bad diagnosis from a U. S. doctor he didn't like, or Mr. Macrohard has been drinking some of that Socialist cool aid! If he like Germany or Swiss medicine, he should move there. As for me and my family, we're optimistic about American Health Care; not socialist or single payer, but GOOD AMERICAN HEALTH CARE.]

Bill Gates of Microsoft fame (or infamy) visited the Claremont Colleges this past week. You can watch that visit here. What follows is a transcript typed by one of my associates of that event.

Gates, after discussing his foundation’s work, had harsh words for America’s health care system.Our health care system has huge problems. It’s got equity problems where the poorest in the country of all the rich countries our poorest quarter get the worst health care so the accessibility is a huge problem.

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Qaddafi Compound Demolished as Coalition Sees ‘Significant Success’ in Libya

FoxNews.com

Associated Press

Published March 20, 2011

The 4-story compound in downtown Tripoli that was home to Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi was demolished by missile attacks, according to reporters near the area.

There was no known injuries at it remains unclear where the leader has been living since the no-fly zone was ordered.

There were two circular holes in the roof, which is consistent with a missile strike, and rubble littered the street. It remains unclear when the strike occurred, reported Fox News’ Steve Harrigan.

Top Dem Strategist: Soaring Prices Will Sink Obama in 2012

President Barack Obama’s re-election chances are imperiled by the combination of rising food and gas prices, Democratic political analyst Doug Schoen tells Newsmax.TV.

Regarding another volatile issue, Schoen said the public opinion battle over collective-bargaining rights in Wisconsin is in a stalemate but could break for Republicans.

“The combination of rising food and gas prices could pose grave peril to President Obama’s re-election,” Schoen said in an exclusive Newsmax.TV interview. “Not only would it be inflationary, it literally hits people where they live. And we saw with Jimmy Carter in the late ’70s the impact of stagflation. If we had a period of stagnant economic growth, inflation and potentially increasing interest rates it could be particularly perilous for our president.” (Newsmax.com)

Progressives: Don’t blame Gov. Walker!

The only thing Gov. Walker is guilty of is not explaining in a clear fashion, through all the media, what his intentions were and why he was doing what he did. Scott Walker is a man of his word. He promised Wisconsin voters that he would cut spending without raising taxes. That is what he promised, and that is what he is doing. Those who say that he gave tax breaks to big corporations don’t realize that he has merely offered “tax incentives” to get corporations to come to Wisconsin to create more jobs.

The focus on the protester and exterior events is what the progressive want. The primary focus in Wisconsin should be on the dereliction of duty of the 14 Democrat legislators that fled the State Capitol to the state of Illinois. The only word that clearly depicts this action by these law makers is “cowardice.” (CWNews)

Hundreds Killed by Massive Tsunami After 8.9-Magnitude Quake Rocks Japan

FoxNews.com

Associated Press

Published March 11, 2011

AP 2011 – March 11: Smoke billows from houses in Natori, northern Japan, after the area was hit by a powerful earthquake and a tsunami.

TOKYO — A ferocious tsunami unleashed by Japan’s biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday, killing hundreds of people as it carried away ships, cars and homes, and triggered widespread fires that burned out of control.

Hours later, the waves washed ashore the U.S. West Coast, where evacuations were ordered from California to Washington but little damage was sustained. The entire Pacific had been put on alert — including coastal areas of South America, Canada and Alaska — but waves were not as bad as expected.

In northeastern Japan, the area around a nuclear power plant was evacuated after the reactor’s cooling system failed and pressure began building inside.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Pass Anti-Union Bill as Police Remove Protesters

FoxNews.com

Published March 10, 2011

AP – Police try to secure a door during a protest at the Wisconsin state Capitol March 10 in Madison.

In a decisive blow to union power, Wisconsin lawmakers voted Thursday to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from the state’s public workers.

The state’s Assembly passed Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s explosive proposal 53-42 Thursday. The state’s Senate approved it the night before after using a procedural move to bypass its AWOL Democrats.

Walker says he’ll sign the legislation as quickly as possible.

“I applaud all members of the Assembly for showing up, debating the legislation and participating in democracy,” Walker said in a statement. “Their action will save jobs, protect taxpayers, reform government and help balance the budget.”

Cantor Supports King’s Radical Islam Hearing

FoxNews.com

by Chad Pergram | March 08, 2011

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) is defending a House Homeland Security hearing on Thursday studying the radicalization of American Muslims.Committee Chairman Pete King (R-NY) scheduled the hearing. The Long Island Republican is drawing fire from members of both parties and civil liberties groups who suggest King is being unfair to Muslims. Some have accused King of “McCarthyism.”

But Cantor believes King is on solid ground in calling the hearing.

“It’s obvious where there have been problems with terrorist activity,” said Cantor. “We in this country are threatened by the spread of radical Islam.”

Protesters Removed, Wisconsin Capitol Reopens

Demonstrators were carried out of the Assembly by police Thursday as Gov. Scott Walker’s administration again closed and then reopened the building to the public.

About 11:30 a.m., the statehouse was opened after police cleared the Assembly so the body could vote on Walker’s bill on union bargaining.

After protesters said they were willing to risk arrest to block a vote, police began escorting or dragging some of them out. (BigGovernment.com)

Witnesses at King Hearing Say America ‘Failing’ to Confront Radical Islam

Witnesses at a high-profile congressional hearing on Islamic radicalization said Thursday that America is “failing” to confront the threat posed by homegrown extremism, as lawmakers traded accusations over whether the inquiry unfairly singled out Muslims.

Zuhdi Jasser, president of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, said “paralysis” over the issue has seized the nation’s leaders and he urged the Muslim community to confront what he called an “exponential increase” in the number of Muslim radicals in the United States. (FoxNews-AP)

Bachmann Exclusive: Obama, Reid and Pelosi ‘Deceitfully’ Hid $105 Billion in Obamacare

HAD ENOUGH OF THE DECEIT? THE LIES? OBAMA’S SOCIALIST AGENDA?

Rep. Michele Bachmann tells Newsmax that President Barack Obama, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi should apologize to the American people for the $105 billion appropriation they “deceitfully” hid in the healthcare reform legislation.

The Minnesota Republican declares that the “stunning revelation” of the expenditure points to “one of the biggest lies we have ever seen.” (Newsmax.com)

NPR ‘appalled’ by former exec’s comments [Shocking Video]

Outgoing NPR executive Ron Schiller slams Republicans and the tea party movement and suggests that NPR would be better off without any federal funding in a hidden-camera video released Tuesday by conservative filmmaker James O’Keefe.

Schiller, president of the NPR Foundation and a senior vice president for development until just last week, appears on the tape at Georgetown’s Café Milano with NPR director of institutional giving Betsy Liley and two men–Shaughn Adeleye and Simon Templar–posing as executives from a fake Islamic organization considering a $5 million donation to the network. (See update: Schiller, expected to depart in May, is now on administrative leave).

The Daily Caller posted the 11-minute video Tuesday, as did O’Keefe’s Project Veritas—a site that also includes hidden-camera investigations of other conservative targets, including teacher’s unions and ACORN. (YahooNews-Cutline)