Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Henricus Sixtus Rex Ora Pro Nobis 


Yesterday was my first service ever at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, and it was a special one, Choral Evensong concluded with a commemoration of Henry the Sixth on the Eve of the Anniversary of his Death.

The choir was excellent.  It is smaller than some foundations, with 10 boys (and a probationer this service) and I think 8 men.  One could pick out individual voices a bit more than with larger choirs, but their singing was nonetheless exemplary.  It let me know that I missed English choral worship more than I knew!

At the conclusion of the Choral Evensong portion, there was a procession to the grave of King Henry to the right of the altar rail.  There two youths from Eton placed a yellow rose and a yellow lily on the grave.  And an official from Kings read a prayer.

I think it was immediately afterward that the choir sang Ley’s Prayer of King Henry.  It was beautiful and moving.  And it was the first time I had even heard that composition.  I need to find if a good recording is available somewhere.

After the service, I went over to the grave and prayed chiefly for two intentions.

This morning, I will go to a brief memorial service at Eton.

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Housekeeping and a Personal Note 


Just a note to keep readers from becoming befuddled or alarmed.  My schedule may temporarily reduce my ability to post, particularly on political matters.  I know, bad timing!  But I do actually have a life outside of politics and this blog.

I will say I am still amazed by the revelations that are coming out day after day on the various facets of Obamagate.  At this time, I do not know what is more appalling – the conduct of the Federal government, particularly under Obama, or that so many are still fine with it.

Perhaps one problem is that the conduct is so egregious that the reality and gravity of it takes a while to sink in.  For the sake of freedom in this country, I pray it sinks in and soon.

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

The IRS, Hugo Obama, and Political Fair Play 


An important aspect of the IRS targeting that is beginning to get some attention, from Rush and IBD among others, is how it tilted the political playing field in 2012.

While lefty organizations were getting easy passes from the IRS, any number (Over 500 is one estimate now.) of tea party organizations and other organizations unfavored by the Obama regime, were being delayed, surveilled, threatened, and harassed by the IRS.

This served to make it more difficult for tea partiers to be involved in the 2012 elections in an organized manner.  Time and effort was wasted dealing with the IRS.  Some contributions were more difficult to get and even lost without the requested 501(c)(4) designations.  (I’m not expert on current advertising regs and policies, but perhaps it also made it more difficult to get ads out there?)  Some tea party organizers were so stressed and intimidated by the harassment that they gave up and lowered their profile.  One example:

Jennifer Stefano of Philadelphia was so intimidated by the IRS that she closed her Tea Party down:
"In the documents that were sent to me, if you did not tell the whole truth by not putting all your personal information out there by Facebook, by Twitter, of your personal relationship with candidates and parties ... it could be considered perjury and perjury carried jail time," Stefano, 39, told ABC News.
"That was frightening and that's why I shut it down. I shut my group down."

These effects were compounded by the fact that many tea party groups were and are led by those getting more politically involved in 2009 or later.  These are concerned citizens, not political veterans.  And they don’t have a phalanx of lawyers on call like more established political organizations.  They hardly have the resources and experience to do battle with predatory Feds. 

And that makes the predations that much more despicable.  I’ve tweeted that I want people in prison, high-up people.  And I meant it.

The way the IRS and the Obama regime has acted in this is not unlike how tyrants such as Hugo Chavez (R.I.H.) act.  They use government, through bureaucracy, threats, intimidation, and more, as a weapon to make it difficult for opposition to act in the political sphere.  They tilt the political playing field (and then use election fraud if needed, but don’t get me started on that).

Our Founders put the First Amendment in the Constitution in part to prevent such government abuses.  And what the IRS and the Obama regime has done in targeting tea party groups among others is an egregious violation of the First Amendment.  And, by the way, it did no doubt affect the 2012 elections . . . as intended.

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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

BREAKING: Something Triggered IRS Targeting in Early 2010 ... and the Obama Regime is Hiding It. 


Something happened in early 2010 to trigger the beginning of the IRS targeting of tea party groups and of God knows who else (Emphasis mine.):

In February 2010, the Champaign Tea Party in Illinois received approval of its tax-exempt status from the IRS in 90 days, no questions asked. That was the month before the Internal Revenue Service started singling out Tea Party groups for special treatment. There wouldn't be another Tea Party application approved for 27 months. In that time, the IRS approved perhaps dozens of applications from similar liberal and progressive groups, a USA TODAY review of IRS data shows. As applications from conservative groups sat in limbo, groups with liberal-sounding names had their applications approved in as little as nine months. With names including words like "Progress" or "Progressive," the liberal groups applied for the same tax status and were engaged in the same kinds of activities as the conservative groups.

As Ace notes, something happened early in 2010 to begin the “special treatment.”  And the Treasury Inspector General’s report acknowledges something happened on February 25th, 2010.  What is that something?  We don’t know.  Because the IG report redacts that event.  See for yourself.  Something is being hidden from us, and it may be stinking important.  It’s certainly important enough to be on the IG’s timeline if in  redacted form.

Even as more and more comes out, the Obamagate IRS cover-up continues.

(Yes, I am now calling all the various scandals together “Obamagate”.  The Obama regime has earned it.)

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Scandal of the Day Already: IRS Asked for Facebook Posts 


I hardly have the sleep out of my eyes early this morning when I am confronted by something that makes me shake my head to make sure I am not still having a weird dream. . . .

The IRS asked tea party groups for Facebook posts.  You read that right.  I am not kidding.  And that's not all.  IRS as Big Brother.

And, yes, this is an extension of the IRS scandal.  But it is so outrageous in its own right, it merits its own scandal designation.

And if you are not outraged, you are more asleep than I am.

By the way, you can add J. Christian Adams to the long list of those politically targeted by the IRS.

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Scandal of the Day: EPA Sweetheart Fee Waivers 


I have real life stuff to do, but first I have to hand it to the Ace of Spades guys.  They are good sometimes.  This morning, Andy there had some fun with this short post:

New Obama administration scandal by noon? I'll take the under.

Well, sure enough, another scandal broke this morning.  The EPA has been giving information fee waivers to favored groups, but not to evil conservative groups, of course.

Hey, some people are more equal than others, don’tcha know.

IRS Leaked Confidential Records of Conservatives 


I had a very pleasant day yesterday.  I took some boys to the beach; they had a great time; and I somehow was able to keep up with them somewhat although I was not 100%.

Since I was not 100% (and the water was still cold from a freakishly cool Spring) I did not swim.

But when I finally got home and caught up on the day’s news, my head swam with the new revelations about Obama Administration misconduct (in addition to the Gosnell verdict.   Kudos to the jury.).  I am reminded of a brilliant comment I read the other day: “Can we concentrate on one impeachable offense at a time please?”

So I will concentrate on what I find the most egregious of the revelations yesterday.  The IRS leaked confidential records of conservative groups, including donor lists, to political adversaries.  One case:

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today renewed its demand that the Internal Revenue Service reveal the identity of the employee or employees responsible for stealing the organization’s confidential Form 990 tax return and leaking it to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). At the time of the theft, the HRC had long-sought to know the identity of NOM’s major donors and its chief executive was a co-chair of President Obama’s reelection campaign. The Form 990 that was leaked to the HRC contained the identity of numerous major donors to the organization.

Given the demonstrated willingness of activists directly to make life difficult for those who oppose gay marriage, the IRS with its leak practically invited attacks on NOM donors.  Send in the brownshirts!

Other groups exposed to attacks of various sorts by IRS leaks to political enemies include the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Crossroads, and Lord knows who else.

Again, the IRS is Obama’s responsibility at the very least.  And these are the tactics of thuggish regimes . . . which is exactly what we have in the Washington at the moment.

But I’m one of those voices warning of tyranny.  So pay no attention.

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