Fwd: Morning Bell: New START, New Slogan ... Trust But Don't Verify

07/23/2010 New START, New Slogan ... Trust But Don't Verify In 1987, at the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), President Ronald Reagan summarized his approach to arms-control by citing an old Russian proverb: "doveryai, no proveryai." Translation: trust, but verify. When Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev noted, "You say that at every meeting," Reagan shot back, "I like it." Like everything else the Obama administration does, their approach to arms control is the exact opposite of President Reagan. As the following exchange from this Tuesday's Senate Armed Services Committee New START hearing shows, the Obama administration approach to arms control might as well be, "trust, but don't bother to verify." Here is the crucial exchange between Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and U.S. Strategic Command Commander, Air Force General Kevin Chilton:

Fwd: Morning Bell: The Obama Tax Tsunami is Here

07/22/2010 The Obama Tax Tsunami is Here The American people are already well aware of President Barack Obama's historic expansion of government spending: his $862 billion economic stimulus that has completely failed to keep unemployment below 8% as promised; his still-expanding health care law which the Congressional Budget Office now admits will cost more than $1 trillion; and an Obama budget that increases government spending by $12,000 per household. But all that spending is just the first half of President Obama's game plan. The second half of Obama's attempted transformation began last night when the Senate rejected Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-SC) effort to end the Death Tax. This year is actually the first year since 1916 that Americans do not have to pay any federal taxes when a family member dies. But thanks to the way Congress had to pass the legislation that phased out the Death Tax in 2001, it is set to go from zero percent to 55 percent at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2010. The Death Tax is but one of many government taxes on capital and entrepreneurship, and its reinstatement will be yet another job killer from the Obama administration. It rewards estate tax lawyers, insurance companies and big businesses at the expense of small family-owned enterprises. According to a study by the American Family Business Foundation, a full repeal of the death tax, like the one rejected by the Senate last night, would create 1.5 million jobs. Before the vote, Sen. DeMint described the tax as an "unfair, immoral double tax on property and assets that folks have already paid taxes on throughout their lives." He added: "The Obama death tax is just the latest example of this administration's assault on small businesses."

Fwd: Obamacare Is Not Entitlement Reform

Obamacare Is Not Entitlement Reform   The United States faces financial collapse due to out-of-control government spending, and entitlement programs have a lot to do with it. Washington has promised more than it could ever possibly deliver. Medicare in particular puts the government on the hook for $38 trillion in long-term unfunded liabilities, and reform to address this is sorely needed. The Scoop In Pictures: Entitlements Will Consume All Tax Revenues by 2052   Federal Bailouts of Medicaid Encourage the Unsustainable Status Quo   Obamacare: Impact on States   Video: ObamaCare Impact on States Change must address not only spending but also the system by which the program operates, which currently encourages inefficient use of health services. This trend has penetrated the health care system at large. According to the Obama Administration, the health care overhaul passed in March addressed the need for entitlement reform. However, at a recent event hosted by the Galen Institute, expert James Capretta introduced his research that shows that this is not the case. Peter Orszag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, identified the main driver of increased spending in Medicare as soaring costs in the health care system at large. This argument was used to claim that Obamacare would "bend the cost curve," reducing federal commitments and overall health spending. But Capretta points out that the Administration was incorrect in this assessment. He writes that "CBO's long-term budget projections from last year show that before enactment of the health law, population aging would be responsible for at least 56 percent of the spending growth for the major entitlement programs between now and 2035, and rising health care costs would account for just 32 percent of the cost growth." Obamacare ignores the issue at the heart of growing Medicare expenses: an increasing population of senior citizens eligible for Medicare's benefits. What's more, the new law will not even really address the problem that it sought to solve. The main issues with Medicare's high costs arise from its fee-for-service payment system, which gives doctors and patients little incentive to control cost. Obamacare addresses this through top-down delivery system reform, which will have dubious effects on controlling costs. Capretta explains that "there is nearly half a century of experience with the Medicare program indicating that confidence in 'government-engineered' efficiency improvement is entirely misplaced. Efforts to control costs from the top-down have always devolved into price setting and across-the-board payment-rate reductions, which is detrimental to the quality of American medicine. Price controls drive out willing suppliers of services, after which the only way to balance supply and demand is with waiting lists." Instead, Congress should reform Medicare by overhauling the current system and replacing it with one where cost control works from the bottom up. Congressman Paul Ryan's (R–WI) "Roadmap for America's Future" provides an example where consumers would make choices that rewarded providers for offering better quality care at lower prices. This would encourage greater productivity that would extend throughout the entire health care system. The good news is that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have displayed awareness that it is not high costs in health care that make Medicare so costly but rather Medicare itself, which drives cost trends within the overall health care system. The next step is to repeal the top-down approach taken in Obamacare and replace it with a consumer-driven approach that provides better value at a lower price. forward message   or visit our website   The White House has launched a taxpayer-funded Web site to "reality check" credible criticisms and arguments. Problem is the Obama administration's videos "debunking" each "myth" are low on facts. Click here to see our response.   Facebook Twitter YouTube The Heritage Foundation - 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC Call us at 202-546-4400

Fwd: CNSNews.com E-Brief

Today's Headlines Friday, February 5, 2010

Advertisement - Immigration Reform… Should the U.S. follow Arizona's lead? PersonalLiberty.com, America's #1 news site for independent-minded individuals is conducting an urgent immigration poll. We want to know if you think America should follow Arizona's lead when it comes to immigration reform. The results of the poll will be available to you after you submit your vote and we'll also share the poll results with major media outlets across the country. Thousands will vote, so take a moment right now to stand up and be counted... your opinion matters! Cast Your Vote! Hoyer: 'I Don't Think TEA Party Is Racist'; But House Dem Leader Not Sure 'Who the TEA Party Is' (CNSNews.com) - House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday that he does not think that the Tea Party is racist, but admitted that he also does not know "who the Tea Party is."... Brownback: Obama's Pick to Run Medicare, Medicaid 'Not a Person Who Should Be Appointed to This Job' (CNSNews.com) - Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) told CNSNews.com that Dr. Donald Berwick, who President Barack Obama recess-appointed to run the Center for Medicare and Medicaid, is "not a person who should be appointed" to the job... Obama Administration's Actions in Auto Bailout Added to Unemployment, Audit Says Washington (CNSNews.com) – The Obama administration's policies in steering the auto bailout drove unemployment up, according to an audit by the Office of Special Inspector General for the Troubled Assets Relief Program (SIGTARP)... Ban Ki-Moon in the Firing Line Over Leadership, Reforms (CNSNews.com) – The question of whether Ban Ki-moon will serve a second term as U.N. secretary-general is set to generate new debate, after the second leak of an internal document scathingly critical of the South Korean diplomat in less than a year... British PM Doesn't Plan Full Inquiry of Lockerbie Bomber Release or Alleged BP Connection Washington (CNSNews.com) – British Prime Minister David Cameron does not think there should be an inquiry into the release of the Lockerbie bomber and also does not believe that BP Global played a role in lobbying Scottish officials to free the terrorist... CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO Hatch: 'All Kinds of Pressure' by Democrats Not to Hold Hearings on Berwick Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), a member of the Finance Committee, said there is "all kinds of pressure" by the Democratic Caucus on Finance Chairman Max Baucus not to call in President Obama's recess-appointee to run Medicare and Medicaid, Dr. Donald Berwick, for hearings, which are constitutionally mandated.   OTHER CNSNEWS.COM HEADLINES A Lockerbie Timeline: From the Murder of 270 People in the Flight 103 Bombing through the Release of the Killer on 'Compassionate' Grounds Obama Job Approval Lowest Among 'Conservative' States Hatch: There's 'All Kinds of Pressure' by Democratic Caucus Not to Have Hearings on Berwick Supreme Court Police Told School Teacher It's 'Definitely Contrary to the Law' to Pray on Supreme Court Steps, Says Alliance Defense Fund Census Officials in New York Instructed Workers to Falsify Questionnaires, Says Inspector General Donate Today! Please help CNSNews.com keep bringing you 'The Right News - Right Now!' Make a contribution to CNSNews.com today. It's fast, simple and secure. Help CNSNews.com and Donate Today!  COMMENTARY How Financial Reform Discriminates -- Unless Your Daughter Goes to Wellesley By Terence P. Jeffrey If your child is the correct gender and has the right grades, and you are poor enough to get financial aid or rich enough to pay the $49,898 in annual fees, your daughter can attend Hillary Clinton's alma mater of Wellesley and put herself in position to capitalize on a special provision in the financial reform bill that just passed Congress that mandates that the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve banks and all other federal financial regulatory agencies recruit people like her as workers... Making Americans Sick By Walter E. Williams Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius promised, "The U.S. government plans to increase funding to battle obesity and views healthcare reform as an opportunity to encourage better eating habits." Rather than spending money and attacking the food industry, the secretary and others concerned with the health of Americans ought to go after the U.S. Congress. Let's look at it... Dealergate: Destroying Jobs in the Name of 'Shared Sacrifice' By Michelle Malkin Everything you need to know about the nightmare of government-controlled businesses can be found in a damning new inspector general's report on Dealergate...

 

 

Fwd: Morning Bell: The Special Relationship Beyond BP

07/21/2010 The Special Relationship Beyond BP British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the White House for the first time as Prime Minister yesterday. At a time when the United States is engaged in a war in Afghanistan, when Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons, and while the world economy is teetering through a weak recovery, one would hope our press corps would focus on lasting issues of physical and economic security. Unfortunately the press conference and the media coverage focused exclusively on the Scottish government's release of the 1988 Lockerbie bomber and whether BP was involved in the decision. This must have been especially galling to Cameron, since as leader of the opposition party in Britain at the time, Cameron objected to the terrorist's release when it happened. As Cameron said yesterday, there is "violent agreement" between him and President Barack Obama on the issue, adding: "It was the biggest murder in British history, and there was no business letting him out of prison." Unfortunately Cameron parroted President Obama on another key issue as well, telling BBC News about Afghanistan: "People in Britain should understand we're not going to be there in five years' time, in 2015, with combat troops or large numbers because I think it's important to give people an end date by which we won't be continuing in that way." This echoes President Obama's mistaken decision to identify July 2011 as the beginning of U.S. withdrawal from the region. As long as we are being frank, we ought to acknowledge that the biggest problem with the President's entire strategy was setting that artificial timeline for withdrawal. That led our military leaders to question the strategy in Afghanistan and put tremendous, unnecessary pressure on our armed forces to accomplish the task at hand. It also gave a psychological advantage to the Taliban, who will convince their recruits that the American will is lacking and thus they can just "wait us out."

Fwd: Why We Honor the Tea Party Movement

New Common Sense Applying First Principles to the Issues of Today At Heritage How do Heritage experts apply First Principles to economic policy? Let's ask William Beach, Heritage's Director of the Center for Data Analysis. What makes America Exceptional? Around the Country Does science give us definitive policy solutions? What is the future of American Free Enterprise? Is ordered liberty possible in Haiti? Check Out Houston Baptist University's The City, a free journal on faith, learning, and the critical issues of the times. Who is America's Ruling Class? Angelo Codevilla, a Senior Fellow at the Claremont Institute, explains its unique origin and influences. Quick Thoughts The Senate Judiciary Committee votes today on the latest nomination to the Supreme Court. Tony Blankley asks who they will choose: Abraham Lincoln or Elena Kagan? America is not in the heyday of the Progressives and the New Dealers. Michael Barone argues that we are a republic of property owners. What We're Reading: Decline and Fall: Europe's Slow Motion Suicide by Bruce S. Thornton. Watch his Heritage lecture.   Reclaiming America: Why We Honor the Tea Party Movement Remember when Conservatism was supposed to be dead, and America was primed for a New New Deal? Well, a funny thing happened on the road to the latest iteration of progressive liberalism—The Tea Party Movement. The Tea Party Movement has been one of the most significant citizen efforts in our times to revive America's founding principles. Across the country, people who had before never been engaged in politics—people like Billie Tucker of The First Coast Tea Party—began to attend rallies with homemade signs begging for fiscal common sense and a return to constitutional government. These individuals were not organized by one person or group. Their motive was not one policy issue or partisan agenda. Instead, it was a deepening commitment and advocacy of the truths of the Declaration of Independence and the basic principles of the United States Constitution. The Tea Party Movement has been much maligned and rarely honored for their activities. Until now. At The Heritage Foundation's 2010 Resource Bank, the Tea Party Movement received the Henry Salvatori Prize for American Citizenship, which is annually given to American citizens who uphold and advance America's principles, embody the virtues of character and mind that animated America's Founders, and exemplify the spirit of independence and entrepreneurial citizenship in the United States. The funding from the Salvatori Prize has been used to help meet the tremendous demand for educational materials from tea party organizations across the country. So far, 265 Tea Party Movement leaders from every state and the District of Columbia have received a collection of First Principles resources, monographs, and books: including copies of We Still Hold These Truths: Rediscovering Our Principles, Reclaiming Our Future, The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, and How to Read the Federalist Papers. An even greater number of groups has received bulk copies of the pocket Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and Heritage fact sheets to distribute at their events. Like their 18th century brethren, today's Tea Party Movement faces an impetuous vortex of government that everywhere extends its sphere of activity. But, as Matthew Spalding reminds us in his address, "Reclaiming America: Why We Honor the Tea Party Movement," there is a key difference between those early patriots and the movement today: "Those early patriots had to establish their independence and to start anew. Our task is different. It is not about fixed bayonets but fixed principles; not about bullets but ballots. Our task is not to overthrow; it is not revolution; it is renewal and restoration of those self-evident truths of constitutional government at the heart of America." Keep Reading about Why Heritage Honors the Tea Party Movement                        Forward this message to a Friend!   Quote of the Week                            Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country; he should lisp the praise of liberty, and of those illustrious heroes and statesmen, who have wrought a revolution in her favor. ~ Noah Webster, On the Education of Youth in America For more quotes, visit westillholdthesetruths.org About The Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute -- a think tank -- whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400

Fwd: Morning Bell: White House Admits Obamacare's Individual Mandate is a Tax

07/20/2010 White House Admits Obamacare's Individual Mandate is a Tax Throughout his presidential campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama promised the American people: "If you're a family that's making $250,000 a year or less, you will see no increase in your taxes." After he became President, Barack Obama reiterated that pledge, promising the American people in his September 9th health care press conference: "The middle-class will realize greater security, not higher taxes." But Obamacare does contain tax hikes. Tons of them. From taxes on tanning beds to taxes on employment and investments, Obamacare is a certified job-killing machine. None of these taxes touches the lives of every American as closely as the individual mandate to purchase health insurance. For the first time in American history, Obamacare forces all Americans to purchase a product or face sanction from the Internal Revenue Service. This is clearly a tax, as pointed out by ABC News' George Stephanopoulos during a September 20th interview with the President himself. In an exchange that can only be described as "Clintonesque" Stephanopoulos pressed President Obama to admit his individual mandate was a tax. But President Obama refused to acknowledge reality and denied it. Stephanopoulos was forced to read the definition of "tax" straight from Merriam Webster's Dictionary. But even then Obama refused to come clean: "George, the fact that you looked up Merriam's Dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that you're stretching a little bit right now. … Nobody considers that a tax increase." Well nobody but President Barack Obama's Justice Department.

Fwd: Ahead of Key Kabul Meeting, Clinton Woos Pakistan With Aid, But Wants More Counter-Terror Measures

Today's Headlines Monday, July 19, 2010

Ahead of Key Kabul Meeting, Clinton Woos Pakistan With Aid, But Wants More Counter-Terror Measures (CNSNews.com) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai's plans to reconcile with elements among the Taliban will take center stage in Kabul Tuesday, when the world's foreign ministers meet to discuss the country's future... Maryland Becomes Second State to Offer Federally Funded Abortions under Obamacare (CNSNews.com) - Maryland will join Pennsylvania as the second state to use federal tax dollars to pay for abortions under the new health care law signed by President Barack Obama in March, according to information released by Maryland's State Health Insurance Plan... New Regulations Outline Content, Transmission Standards for Every Americans' Electronic Health Records (CNSNews.com) – New regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Tuesday outline federal standards for the electronic health records that every American must have by 2014... Obama to GOP: Restore Unemployment Benefits Now Washington (AP) - President Barack Obama took aim at Republican lawmakers Monday, accusing them of holding the public hostage to Washington politics by blocking extended unemployment benefits for millions of out of work Americans... Pro-Lifers Win a Round in Health Care Overhaul Washington (AP) - Abortion foes have scored a victory and traditional allies of the Obama administration are grumbling about a decision to ban most abortion coverage in insurance pools for those unable to purchase health care on their own... CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO Mikulski Says Senators Will Question Recess-Appointed Berwick at His Confirmation Hearings Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D.-Md.) told CNSNews.com that senators will question Dr. Donald Berwick during his confirmation hearings--even though Berwick was given a recess appointment by President Obama... OTHER CNSNEWS.COM HEADLINES GOP Lawmakers Say US Is Backing Draft Kenyan Constitution That Expands Access to Abortion Accusing US of Backing Terror Group, Ahmadinejad Says He Will File Int'l Complaint Over Bombing Judge Extends Order Blocking Oklahoma Abortion Law Islamic Revolutionary Guard Firm Pulls Out of Gas Deal Surprise SC Senate Candidate Makes First Speech Donate Today! Please help CNSNews.com keep bringing you 'The Right News - Right Now!' Make a contribution to CNSNews.com today. It's fast, simple and secure. Help CNSNews.com and Donate Today!  COMMENTARY Gitmo, Free Markets and Red Tape By Rich Tucker It's all downhill from here for fans of irony. We've already enjoyed the most ironic news story of the year... A Libertarian's Misplaced Attack on the Constitution By Ken Connor American conservatives are generally associated with a "strict constructionist" view of the U.S. Constitution. They believe America's founding legal document should be interpreted in accordance with the original intent of the Framers when the document was ratified by the original States...

Fwd: National Security Update – Government Contracting for National Security: Tapping Into “The Most Vibrant, Exciting, Capable Private Sector in History”

heritage.org | Heritage research | Blog |                         July 19, 2010 Issue in Depth: Private Contracting Contracts are at the center of our nation, after all the U.S. Constitution is a contract between the government and its people. In the midst of two wars, government contracting into the private sector now serves vital roles. They provide our troops with the most innovative technologies as well as supply extra manpower on the ground both at home and abroad. Responsible contracting will require the government to maintain experienced, fully equipped, and trained contracting officers to effectively carry out their jobs. Nevertheless, the continuous push for increased regulations and oversight of the contracting process are having undesired effects. These efforts are doing nothing but adding more bureaucracy while creating a risk-averse environment that stifles creativity and innovation. Making sure that contracting is done right goes to the heart of our democracy. The purpose of a budget is to serve the people. If the government is not being a careful steward of taxpayer dollars through contracting than democracy is at risk. Please see our most recent research on responsible contracting in this week's National Security Update. Latest Research: The Heritage Foundation: Responsible Contracting: Modernizing the Business of Government for National Security Getting contracting right is a fundamental responsibility of good governance—essential to the practice of limited government and fiscal responsibility. It is particularly important in regard to contracting in support of national security activities. Our men and women in uniform who enter harm's way to protect our liberties and freedom deserve the best support we can give them. The Heritage Foundation: Defense Spending Fraud, Waste, and Abuse: Hype, Reality, and Real Solutions Eliminating misspent defense dollars is frequently cited as a remedy for reducing military spending. Such proposals ignore the fact that eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse has historically proven to be a relatively modest source of savings compared to the overall defense budget. In addition, substantial programs already exist to root out unnecessary spending. The Heritage Foundation: Congressional Restraint is Key to Successful Defense Acquisition Reform Everybody concerned should focus on the single most important goal of defense acquisition reform: providing U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines with the most effective weapons and equipment as soon as possible. During this time of war, they are putting their lives on the line for the security of the nation every day. Government leaders in both the executive and legislative branches have a duty to them to give them the best possible chance of surviving the battlefield while fulfilling their assigned missions. The Heritage Foundation: New START: Beyond the Rhetoric In the wake of controversy over private military contracting, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 established the Commission on Wartime Contracting to investigate the issue. The commission is expected to issue an interim report The recently inked United States-Russia Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) has ignited the op-ed pages of prominent newspapers and Web sites across the country over the last few days. The Senate much now reflect on the value of the arms control pact - which that legislative body musy decide to ratify or not - to American national security. More Blogs and Commentary: The Heritage Foundation: Contracting in Combat: Advice for the Commission on Wartime Contracting In the wake of controversy over private military contracting, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 established the Commission on Wartime Contracting to investigate the issue. The commission is expected to issue an interim report in 2009 and a final report in 2010. The commission should promote recommendations to improve the government's capacity to make and oversee contracts in an "expeditionary" wartime environment, advocate a more robust and capable contracting force, and propose better doctrine and management processes for deciding when hiring contractors to support military operations is most useful. The Foundry: Towards a More Efficient Military If you've ever waited in line at the DMV or tried to contact the IRS for help with your taxes, you're no doubt aware that government bureaucracies tend to be inefficient. Well, the same thing holds true in the military. The Foundry: New START's Many Problems: What the Experts Say Compiled below are comments made by various experts regarding the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Be sure to follow our continuing coverage of the New START and the impact it will have on America's security.   More Events: July 19, 2010, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Location: Washington, DC The Heritage Foundation: Will Obama's Arms Control Agenda Stop With New START? Join us as Henry D. Sokolski shares his findings from his just completed Council on Foreign Relations Working Paper, Controlling the Further Spread of Nuclear Weapons, which offers a critique of our current arms control strategy. July 20, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Location: Washington, DC The Heritage Foundation: Stopping Terrorists at the Front Door: How the Visa Waiver Program Enhances U.S. Security Join us as panelists Marc Frey and C. Stewart Verdery, Jr. discuss the security benefits as well as the future of the Visa Waiver Program. July 28, 2010, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location: Washington, DC The Heritage Foundation: Keeping America Free, Safe, and Prosperous: Counterterrorism in the Obama Administration Join us as Representative Peter King (R-NY) addresses counterterrorism in the Obama Administration and the future of homeland security.  Copyright All Rights Reserved © 2009, The Heritage Foundation The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400

Fwd: Morning Bell: What's Attorney General Holder Hiding?

07/19/2010 What's Attorney General Holder Hiding? Imagine arriving at your neighborhood polling place on Election Day and seeing two men guarding the entrance, dressed in paramilitary uniforms, wielding a deadly billy club, shouting racial epitaphs and menacing voters. Would you walk through the door? Now imagine political appointees in the Department of Justice (DOJ) refusing to pursue the case, the U.S. Attorney General stonewalling and refusing to enforce lawful subpoenas in the face of questions about that decision, and the mainstream media remaining silent on the story for a year. This isn't a case of pure imagination. This is, in a nutshell, the true story of the New Black Panther (NBPP) voter intimidation case, and it's one dramatic example of the increased politicization of the Department of Justice under Attorney General Eric Holder and President Barack Obama's administration. The story begins on Election Day 2008 in Philadelphia, when two Panthers engaged in a "textbook case of voter intimidation" in violation of the 1965 Voter Rights Act. Their actions were caught on video, and witnesses offered sworn statements that one of the Panthers called poll watchers a "white devil" and a "cracker" who would be "ruled by the black man." Enter the DOJ in early January 2009, which sued the two Panthers, the head of the national NBPP and the party itself (on the grounds that it endorsed the intimidation in Philadelphia and planned to deploy 300 of its members on Election Day, as The Weekly Standard reports). The defendants didn't respond to the lawsuit, the DOJ won a default judgment against them, and it appeared to be an open and shut case - until Obama's political appointees got their hands on it.