Funding vote for NPR

House Democrats keep pressure on Obama on NPR funding bill

House bill H.R.1076—To prohibit Federal funding of National Public Radio and the use of Federal funds to acquire radio content—passed with all 192 Democrat members voting against.

After the vote, the idea was expressed of the importance of NPR to underserved rural areas:

A Democratic leadership aide said that, on the NPR vote, Republicans underestimated "the importance of public radio in rural areas, where there's not a lot of coverage."

"This senseless bill would have a devastating impact on Western North Carolina and other rural areas, where funding for public radio is already scarce and stations depend on federal funding to stay on air," [Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.)] said in a statement shortly after Thursday's vote.

It is true that rural areas tend to be under served but the main point is the biased viewpoint coloring NPR's reportage which makes reform of NPR all the more critical. And, until NPR reforms its programming to remove the blatant Progressive/leftist bias, the taxpayers should not be expected to fund them.

Yet more global warming alarmism

El Nino seen triggering next world warmth record

NASA Research Finds 2010 Tied for Warmest Year on Record

Okay, there they go again. Can we take their report to heart this time? I checked to see which organizations and people are behind the lead article.

The lead article references the U.N. World Meteorological Organization and the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in Britain; both are suspect sources because of their partisan nature regarding the earth's climate which was adequately demonstrated through their involvement with the now discredited U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and subsequent reports, and, the latter, with Climate-gate.

The NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) is also referenced in the lead article and is the source for the second article. This article quotes Jim Hansen, director of the GISS who is also known to be an advocate for AGW (see, e.g., The Threat to the Planet).

So, the bottom line is, there is nothing new here; just more global warming/climate change alarmism from the AGW cabal and their water-carriers, the MSM.

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Update: Why Is NASA Hiding James Hansen’s Ethics Records?

The climate change fanatic has plenty of outside income. Did he obtain the proper waivers from NASA as he must according to the law?

Glenn Beck's challenge to Americans

In the aftermath of the Arizona shooting—and, I think, in response to the rhetoric that followed—Glenn Beck has issued a challenge to all Americans.

Glenn Beck:

I challenge all Americans, left or right, regardless if you’re a politician, pundit, painter, priest, parishioner, poet or porn star to agree with all of the following.

I denounce violence, regardless of ideological motivation.
I denounce anyone, from the Left, the Right or middle, who believes physical violence is the answer to whatever they feel is wrong with our country.
I denounce those who wish to tear down our system and rebuild it in their own image, whatever that image may be.
I denounce those from the Left, the Right or middle, who call for riots and violence as an opportunity to bring down and reconstruct our system.
I denounce violent threats and calls for the destruction of our system – regardless of their underlying ideology – whether they come from the Hutaree Militia or Frances Fox Piven.
I hold those responsible for the violence, responsible for the violence. I denounce those who attempt to blame political opponents for the acts of madmen.
I denounce those from the Left, the Right or middle that sees violence as a viable alternative to our long established system of change made within the constraints of our constitutional Republic.
I will stand with anyone willing to sign that pledge. Today I make a personal choice. I urge leaders of both sides and all walks of life to join me as all Americans joined hands on 9.12.2001.

I believe that we must change ourselves to hold on to our republic. That’s why I have been talking about e4. Enlightenment. Education. Empowerment. Entrepreneurship. It’s a personal solution for all of us to become the people we were born to be, not the people we’ve allowed ourselves to become. I have called for a personal revolution; change ourselves in order to change the world. Those who live with honor and are responsible to themselves and their families will be the key to the future of our Republic, not those playing political games.

While everyone seems to be focused on politics, I instead choose to focus on Christina Green, the nine year old victim killed Saturday. Born on 9.11.2001, she is now a victim of another case of horrific violence. I hope we can all remember Christina by acting the way we did when she was one day old: To focus on values and principles, to use common sense and stop playing politics.

Thank you, Glenn Beck.

Ending the Lame Duck

With all the wailing and gnashing of teeth over the bills rammed through in the lame duck session, you should know Lynn Jenkins (R-KS2) has introduced a bill (H.R.5842) to end lame duck sessions except in case of national emergency. Push for it to be brought up for a vote.