CIA Confirms: Waterboarding 9/11 Mastermind Led to Info that Aborted 9/11-Style Attack on Los Angeles
The Central Intelligence Agency told CNSNews.com today that it stands by the assertion made in a May 30, 2005 Justice Department memo that the use of “enhanced techniques” of interrogation on al Qaeda leader Khalid Sheik Mohammed (KSM) -- including the use of waterboarding -- caused KSM to reveal information that allowed the U.S. government to thwart a planned attack on Los Angeles.

Obama muddles torture message
President Barack Obama’s attempt to project legal and moral clarity on coercive CIA interrogation methods has instead done the opposite — creating confusion and political vulnerability over an issue that has inflamed both the left and right. ??In the most recent instance, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair acknowledged in a memo to the intelligence community that Bush-era interrogation practices yielded had "high-value information,” then omitted that admission from a public version of his assessment. ??That leaves a top Obama administration official appearing to validate claims by former Vice President Dick Cheney that waterboarding and other techniques the White House regards as torture were effective in preventing terrorist attacks. And the press release created the impression the administration was trying to suppress this conclusion.

OKC bomber part of Islamic, not 'right-wing,' plot
Responding to the Obama administration's attempt to justify a controversial "right-wing extremism" report by citing Timothy McVeigh, a counter-terrorism group has posted a video statement by a prominent Democrat investigator who contends the Oklahoma City bomb plot was hatched not by right-wingers but by Islamic jihadists. David Schippers, the chief counsel for the 1998 impeachment trial of President Clinton, probed the bombing. Former Clinton counter-terrorism official Richard Clarke notes in his book "Against All Enemies" that Nichols was in the Philippines in the same city at the same time as Ramzi Yousef, who was convicted of participation in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. "We do know that Nichols' bombs did not work before his Philippine stay and were deadly when he returned," Clarke writes. Schippers also points out Yossef Bodansky, the director of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, issued a warning two months prior to the Oklahoma City bombing that Iran-sponsored Islamist terrorists had recruited 'two lily whites' – people like McVeigh and Nichols – to carry out the bombing of an American federal building.

12 nations open naval warfare exercises off Florida
Navies from the United States and 11 other countries on Monday launched two weeks of war exercises off Florida's Atlantic coast that will include training in combating piracy and drug smuggling. Several Latin American countries, Canada and Germany are taking part in UNITAS Gold, which is now in its 50th year and is the Navy's longest-running yearly exercise. Hundreds of white-uniformed officers held a starting ceremony before embarking on ships, submarines and aircraft to begin training meant to foster naval cooperation throughout the Americas.

How Members of the 111th Congress Practice Private School Choice
At the same time, many Members of Congress who oppose private-school-choice policies for their fellow citizens exercise school choice in their own lives. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), the chief architect of the language that threatens to end the OSP, for instance, sends his children to private school and attended private school himself. Since 2000, The Heritage Foundation has surveyed Members of Congress to determine whether they had exercised private-school choice by ever sending a child to private school. In 2009, this survey was updated for the new Congress. This survey included a new element--whether members themselves had ever attended private school. The new survey revealed that 38 percent of Members of the 111th Congress sent a child to private school at one time.

Kansas oil and gas producers blast Obama tax plan
Tax policy changes being sought by the Obama administration would wreak havoc on the oil and natural gas industries in Kansas and other states and make the nation even more dependent on foreign oil, according to some Kansas officials. Sen. Sam Brownback and other members of Kansas’ congressional delegation are working with the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association to head off the changes. “I am extremely concerned that the Administration’s budget will be harmful to independent oil and gas producers in Kansas, and lead the nation further from energy security,” Brownback said in a statement Monday.

Government hikes top income tax rate to 50%
The government will increase its top rate of income tax to a higher than expected 50 percent from next year, Chancellor Alistair Darling said on Wednesday as he delivered the government's annual budget. The tax band had originally been due to rise to 45 percent from 40 percent in April 2011 as Britain seeks to claw back lost tax revenue caused by a deep recession. The 50-percent rate will apply to any income above 150,000 pounds.

McCain facing 2010 primary
Social conservatives tolerated John McCain as the party's nominee, but never trusted him, and he now appears to be facing a serious primary from the right in Arizona next year. Chris Simcox, the founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and a prominent figure in the movement to clamp down on illegal immigration, will be announcing tomorrow at an event on the Mexican border that he's resigned from the group to run in the 2010 Senate primary.

Fatties cause global warming
Scientists warned that the increase in big-eaters means more food production a major cause of CO2 gas emissions warming the planet. Overweight people are also more likely to drive, adding to environmental damage. Dr Phil Edwards, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “Moving about in a heavy body is like driving in a gas guzzler.” Each fat person is said to be responsible for emitting a tonne more of climate-warming carbon dioxide per year than a thin one.

Nothing to Toast in California's Proposed 'Dime a Drink' Tax
California's taxes just aren't high enough yet. So Assemblyman Jim Beall Jr., D-San Jose, has introduced a bill that would raise alcohol taxes by a dime a drink. The government figures it can raise $1.2 billion a year by taxing every drink you choose to have. In a press release, Mr. Beall explained why you need to pay more taxes: "The alcohol industry creates devastating problems – traffic accidents, alcoholism – and walks away with money stuffed in its pockets while the public – including nondrinkers – are left to pay billions for the mess."

High-Speed Rail: Going Nowhere Fast
David Freddeso has an excellent analysis of the pitfalls of high-speed rail at the National Review. As usual, the Obama administration is promoting the rail system with all the flair of high-minded rhetoric and viritually ignoring the costs of building the system. But, as Freddeso points out, any high-speed rail system is going to be very, very expensive while generating very little net social gain. It sounds lovely, but before you go to sleep with visions of bullet trains dancing in your head, it’s worth examining the numbers more closely. Any real-life high-speed rail system on the scale Obama is promising would be vastly more expensive than the $13 billion he has committed; in fact, it would require close to half of the $787 billion contained in his recently passed stimulus package.

Greenhouse taxes to raise cost of 'everything'
A spokesman for the Institute for Energy Research says greenhouse gas taxes that are going to be implemented by the Obama administration – with or without help from Congress – will raise the cost of "everything." Dan Kish, vice president for policy at the organization, said Obama talked about his plans already on the campaign trail before he took office. "The question is would they do that knowing it would increase the price of everything and export jobs?" he said. The answer? Yes.

CBS to air movie on 'courageous' Polish Catholic who rescued Jewish children
On Sunday evening CBS will broadcast a movie about the heroic efforts and “courageous heart” of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker who created and led an underground group that rescued Jewish children from Nazi persecution. Sendler created and led a conspiracy of women who moved in and out of Warsaw’s Jewish Ghetto disguised as nurses. While saying that they were simply to prevent and contain the spread of Typhus and Spotted Fever, Sendler and her companions helped the children of consenting Jewish parents escape imminent deportation to death camps, CBS' website says.

Miss America Candidate Stands Up for Marriage
Mix an almost-anachronistic beauty contest with an outspoken gay liberal blogger, and you get … a classically awkward moment. I’ve gotten a lot of e-mail about Miss California’s response to Perez Hilton about her stance on gay marriage, all of it cheering her defense of traditional values.

Miss California: I oppose bailouts and welfare
She’s one of us. Hotness is often inversely proportional to sweetness, but this kid is somehow off the charts on both. Good work, mom and dad. Watch Cavuto try to recruit her for Fox News at the very end. Blonde, beautiful, and conservative: I’d be surprised if Ailes hasn’t signed her already.

House GOP: Napolitano must go
House Republicans are calling on Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to step down or be fired in the wake of a controversial department memo that has sparked indignant battle cries from conservatives and some veterans. “Singling out political opponents for working against the ruling party is precisely the tactic of every tyrannical government from Red China to Venezuela,” said Texas Rep. John Carter, a member of the party’s elected leadership who has organized an hour of floor speeches Wednesday night to call for Napolitano’s ouster. “The first step in the process is creating unfounded public suspicion of political opponents, followed by arresting and jailing any who continue speaking against the regime.”

GE CEO Confronted at Shareholder Meeting About Garofalo Comments!
"Factor" producer (and GE shareholder) Jesse Watters attended the annual GE shareholder meeting on April 21 in Orlando, Florida. During the Q&A period, Watters asked Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt about the recent ugly comments by Janeane Garofalo on MSNBC. Here is how Immelt - and the room full of stockholders - responded to the confrontation.

Obama’a FDA Approves “Morning-After” Pill with No Prescription for Minors
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced late on April 22 that it has expanded over-the-counter access to the morning-after pill, Levonorgestrel or “Plan B,” for 17-year-old minors as well as to adults. Deirdre McQuade, Assistant Director for Policy and Communications at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, objected to the move in the following statement: “The FDA’s court-driven decision to make Plan B available without a prescription to 17-year-old minors – as well as to adults – flies in the face of common sense. Levonorgestrel is a powerful drug, taken in two doses over a 12-hour period. It is 40 times more potent than comparable progestin-only birth control pills (Ovrette) for which a prescription is required.

Incredible: KU to Pay Athletic Director’s Taxes
Kansas Athletics will be on the hook for more than $1.5 million to cover Lew Perkins’ personal income taxes in addition to his $2.05 million bonus if Perkins remains as athletic director through June 30, according to estimates from a certified public accountant. Using a formula outlined in his contract and taking into account Perkins’ current salary and existing tax rates, Kansas University would write Perkins a $3.59 million check in gross earnings from athletics funds so that he can take home $2.05 million in net bonus pay, according to an estimate from Randy Renfro, a CPA with Roark & Associates, PA, who agreed to assist the Lawrence Journal-World and 6News with the calculation Perkins’ contract includes a stipulation for a tax-free retention payment of $2.05 million if he stays with KU for six years a time period set to end on June 30 of this year. KU added $750,000 to that amount in 2006 after Perkins rejected an offer from the University of Iowa to become its athletic director. Perkins makes an annual salary of $800,000 plus an additional $100,000 for media relations work.

A Rousing Standing Ovation for Jack Cashill’s “Thine Eyes”!
We know without doubt that prolife entities and events such as the March for Life cannot rely on mainstream media coverage that might otherwise show the world their important, lifesaving and life changing events, programs etc. We know that the prolife movement as a whole is constantly in need of vital resources, financial as well as time and talent.?We know that the tide is turning with young people in the United States who more and more espouse prolife views and beliefs. We know that the many thousands of individuals who work tirelessly to end abortion, many of whom were first inspired by participating in the March for Life, need recognition, praise and support for their efforts as a means to inspire and push them and others onward to a day when abortion is illegal and unthinkable.

Divided Senate panel approves HHS nominee Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius won Senate committee approval as health secretary over Republican opposition Tuesday, putting her on track for a final Senate vote in coming days. The Senate Finance Committee voted 15 to 8 in favor of sending the nomination of Kansas' two-term Democratic governor to the full Senate. Just two of 10 committee Republicans joined majority Democrats in voting "yes," signaling GOP concerns over Sebelius' ties to a Kansas abortion doctor, as well as some broader skepticism about Obama's health care plans. The committee vote came after several Republicans voiced concerns in recent days about Sebelius' initial failure to disclose to senators the full extent of campaign donations she got from Dr. George Tiller, a late-term abortion doctor who is under investigation by the Kansas medical board. After the discrepancy became public, Sebelius called it an unintentional oversight and corrected the error. The only senator to speak about Sebelius at Tuesday's committee meeting raised a different concern. Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., questioned Sebelius' commitment to ensuring that the government doesn't try to interfere in Americans' health care choices. "I believe in the right of every American to choose the doctor, the hospital, the health plan of his or her choice," Kyl said. He contended that Sebelius had displayed "insufficient commitment to these principles." The two Republicans who voted "yes" on Sebelius were Sen. Pat Roberts from her home state of Kansas, and moderate Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine.

"Sebelius' "Omission" of Money From Abortion Practitioner Called Intentional
When she failed to disclose to a Senate committee voting on her nomination for Health Secretary tomorrow that she received tens of thousands of dollars from an abortion practitioner, Kathleen Sebelius called it an "oversight." Now, one pro-life group says that can't be true. Sebelius wrongly claimed she received three times less money from late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller than she originally told Congress. "There was an oversight in the initial answer provided to the committee," HHS spokesman Nick Papas told the Associated Press last week in response. But, now Kansans for Life says Sebelius should have known the full information because it was presented to her in the local diocesan newspaper, to which she subscribes, that featured a huge photo of her and a front-page story on her connection with Tiller. The $26,000 Governor Kathleen Sebelius omitted from her answer to Senator Kyle about Tiller's donations to her or her PAC, was not only a matter of public record, it was in her mailbox a week before her confirmation hearings, KFL tells LifeNews.com.

Firm receiving funding from Sebelius makes nearly $1 million in property improvements
Community Living Opportunities (CLO) was recently highlighted for their unusual protest and subsequent Medicaid reimbursement from the state of Kansas. The Board of Directors for the non-profit include Lew Perkins, athletic director for the University of Kansas and Larry Gates, chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party and former law partner of the newest Kansas Supreme Court Justice, Dan Biles. It further raises questions as to how the non-profit was able to secure extra state funding while expanding operations. Was the ability of CLO to fund nearly $1 million in improvements taken into account by the Sebelius administration before authorizing more funding, or did the administration simply rubber stamp the extra money because of CLO’s connections?

Brownback Co-Sponsors Fuel Mandates
Republican Sen. Sam Brownback today endorsed the introduction of legislation that would require 50 percent of new cars to have the capability to operate on gasoline, ethanol and methanol or diesel or biodiesel. The Open Fuel Standards Act would be set in motion 2012, and by 2015 the required percentage of flex fuel vehicles would be increased to 80 percent. “The Open Fuel Standards Act is an important step toward making our nation energy independent," said Brownback in a statement. "Giving drivers more choices at the gas pump will ultimately increase the supply of available transportation fuels, while at the same time lowering the overall cost to consumers."
Brownback is cosponsoring the bill and serves as the ranking minority member on the Water and Power Subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
State Rep. Larry Powell, R-Garden City, and chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, said he had some concerns with the legislation placing additional government regulations on citizens. “I don’t think we should be mandating what people drive or what fuel people use,” Powell told Kansas Liberty. “We should instead support more of a free market, and stop having all of these government mandates."

KC Committee pushes ahead with jail deal
The Kansas City Council's Public Safety and Neighborhoods committee unanimously approved an ordinance that solidifies the plan to move city inmates to Jackson County. The committee vote authorizes city staff to push ahead with the regional jail concept, committing the city to $3.1 million annually to house 150 prisoners a day, as well as up-front construction costs estimated at $2.1 million. The public safety committee chose to move ahead with the Jackson County deal after hearing Wednesday from representatives of a private jail near Holden, Mo., and a facility in Pattonsburg, Mo., that is operated jointly by two north Missouri counties. Both offered to house inmates for daily rates at least $20 less than the county will charge. “We could save the city a considerable amount of money,” said Bernie Zarda of Integrity Correctional Center, located about 50 miles away near Holden. Zarda suggested that if the city opts to join in a Jackson County regional facility that his private jail also be considered for any overflow housing. But council members said that they savings was not the sole consideration. Keeping inmates, which they noted are Kansas City citizens, near their families and near providers of mental health and other social services must also be key priorities, they said.

Revenue: Red-Light Cameras Go Up in KC
Red-light cameras will go live May 4 at five more Kansas City intersections even as violations mount at the first targeted intersection, 39th Street and Southwest Trafficway. Since Feb. 21, the city has issued about 900 citations to red-light runners there, said Sgt. Kevin Murray of the Kansas City Police Department’s special operations division. The fine is $100 and $13.50 for court costs.

City officials say police budget can be cut, but police concerned about safety
The Kansas City Police Department could cut lobbying costs, reduce the number of take-home cars and make other administrative adjustments to meet budget constraints while still preserving public safety. That is the view from City Council members and city staff as the department strives to address a $15 million shortfall before the start of the new budget year May 1.

New Kansas Gov’t Ethics Commissioner: Former Democratic Party Executive Director & Morrison campaign manager
Simpson was listed in the Democratic National Committee Membership Roster, 2004-2008 (p. 14), as the Executive Director of the Kansas Democratic Party. As Executive Director Simpson’s job was to be the spokesman for the Democratic Party. This often meant attacking Republicans and promoting Democrats whenever possible. The July 2005 Demo-Memo said that Mike Gaughan replaced Mark Simpson as the Executive Director of the KDP when Simpson left to go to law school. In 2006 Mark Simpson was Paul Morrison’s campaign manager after Morrison switched from Republican to Democrat to run against Attorney General Phill Kline. Simpson was quite partisan in his criticism of Phill Kline on a number of occasions, both while party executive director, and Morrison’s campaign manager. State Law (KSA 25-4119d) only prohibits a Party Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer from serving on the Ethics Commission. But because of the highly partisan nature of the job of a Party’s Executive Director, shouldn’t someone serving that role also be ineligible to serve on the Commission?

"This happened for a reason. By having to answer that question in front of a national audience, God was testing my character and faith," Prejean said. "I'm glad I stayed true to myself."

- Miss California Carrie Prejean, speaking of her answer on Gay Marriage that cost her the crown.

From Proverbs 16:6
“By kindness and piety guilt is expiated, and by the fear of the LORD man avoids evil.”

Gospel of John 3:31-36

31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all.
32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony;
33 he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit;
35 the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.

Obama Should Withdraw Sebelius Nomination

Significant questions remain about Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' evolving relationship with a late-term abortion doctor as well as about her position on the practice of late-term abortions. The Senate should not vote, nor should Gov. Sebelius be confirmed, until these questions are answered fully and completely.

Gov. Sebelius has not been forthcoming about her relationship with Dr. Tiller, a late-term abortion doctor who is currently under investigation. She admitted the full extent of the political contributions she received from Dr. Tiller only after press reports contradicted her previous financial statements.

Gov. Sebelius must also make her position on the extremist and heinous practice of late-term abortions known to the American people. The vast majority of Americans do not support the concept of late-term abortions. They deserve to know whether President Obama's choice to be the nation's top health official supports these indefensible procedures.

Until Gov. Sebelius provides the American people with clear and complete answers to these questions, the U.S. Senate should not vote to confirm her nomination. If Gov. Sebelius and the Obama Administration are unwilling to answer these questions, President Obama should withdraw her nomination.