Jill Kelly Hits Back, Demands Investigation Into Leaks

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A Tampa socialite embroiled in the scandal that cost CIA Director David Petraeus his job fought back Tuesday after more than two weeks of silence as her attorneys released emails, telephone recordings and other material that they say show she never tried to exploit her friendship with Petraeus.

Jill Kelley, through her attorneys, went on the attack against a New York businessman who accused her of incompetence in her work trying to set up a deal he was negotiating with South Korean companies; an attorney who accused her of name-dropping and of being a social climber; and the FBI agent who first leaked her name in connection with the Petraeus scandal.

Kelley, 37, became the focus of national media attention earlier this month after it was revealed that she was the recipient of anonymous emails from Paula Broadwell, Petraeus’ biographer and mistress.

Broadwell allegedly told Kelley she should stay away from the former general and Gen. John Allen, who had replaced Petraeus as leader of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Petraeus and Allen had become friends with Kelley and her husband, Scott Kelley, a noted cancer surgeon, when the generals served at U.S. Central Command, which is headquartered at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base. Kelley became an unofficial social ambassador for the base, hosting numerous parties for the officers.

The scandal this week cost Kelley her appointment as an honorary consul for the South Korean government, which she had gotten because of her friendship with Petraeus. The Koreans said she had misused the title in her personal business dealings.

Kelley’s attorneys sent a cease-and-desist letter to New York businessman Adam Victor; a complaint to the Florida bar against Tampa attorney Barry Cohen, and a letter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office demanding that it investigate to find out who in the FBI leaked her name to the news media. Representatives of attorney Abbe Lowell emailed copies of the letters to The Associated Press.

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Video: Shock-Jock Glenn Beck Puts Obama’s Image in … Pee Pee

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On Monday, TheBlaze alerted readers to a new painting that depicts Barack Obama as Jesus Christ crucified, adorned with a crown of thorns. The work, entitled “Truth,” is part of a larger exhibit at the Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery in Boston titled “Artists on the Stump – the Road to the White House 2012.” This, of course, is not the first controversial rendition that has been labeled “artwork,” nor is it the first time President Obama has been likened to Christ, or in general, God.

Now, the creator of “Truth,” Michael D’Antuono, said that his “First Amendment rights should override someone’s hurt feelings” and that “we should celebrate the fact that we live in a country where we are given the freedom to express ourselves.”

After receiving roughly 4,000 angry emails over the painting, D’Antuono also said he respects “their right to express themselves” and hopes they will afford him the same.

With this in mind, Glenn Beck chose to “express himself,” during his Tuesday evening broadcast by featuring a piece of artwork of his own creation.

Watch the clip, sure to make a splash, via TheBlaze TV below:

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Treaty Threatens U.S. Sovereignty

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WASHINGTON – Former Sen. Rick Santorum, a former GOP presidential candidate and the father of a handicapped child, joined Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, in denouncing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, saying it would open a “Pandora’s box” of legal interpretations resulting in a “direct assault on us and our families.”

In a press conference on Capitol Hill Monday, both Santorum and Lee said Articles 4 and 7 of the convention, which reference the rights of disabled children, represent a threat to both national sovereignty and the rights of families to make decisions on how to raise their own children.

“Our concerns with this convention have nothing to do with a lack of concern with the rights of persons with disabilities,” said Lee. “They have everything to do with protecting national sovereignty, protecting the interests of parents … and the interests of families.”

Article 4 of the convention compels member states to embrace “economic, cultural and social rights” that are rooted in the concept that government creates rights, as contrasted with the uniquely American view that rights are inalienable and God-given.

This is, Lee explains, “unknown in our legal system” as it presupposes that the state, not God, is the origin, of our rights.

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Report: US States Are Less Free Than Canadian Provinces

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photo credit: abdallahh

A new study on economic freedom in North America has concluded that some American states are less free than the provinces of our northern neighbor Canada.

“Canadian provinces now lead US states in average economic freedom, with the provincial average at 6.8 compared to 6.7 out of 10 for US states,” claims the new study by the Fraser Institute.

Topping the list of the most economically free subdivisions of North American countries is the Canadian province of Alberta, followed by Delaware, Saskatchewan, Texas and Nevada.

On average, American states lose to Canadian provinces in a number of categories, including regulation of credit, regulation of business, and legal system and property rights. While the average of economically free regions is higher in Canada, it is worth noting they have both the most free state, Alberta, and the least free state, Prince Edward Island, which is located off the coast of Nova Scotia.

The Freedom Index for North America was calculated using ten components in three basic areas: size of government, takings and discriminatory taxation, and labor market freedom. The number one issue affecting U.S. states’ freedom is the amount of government spending.

Read more from this story HERE.

Norquist: Pledge Wavering Republicans Are Democratic Pawns

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The leader of Americans for Tax Reform told Human Events that Republicans should be ashamed to be part of the Democratic media campaign to raise taxes.

“They should be embarrassed,” said Grover G. Norquist, the founder and president of the Washington-based ATR.

The narrative was part of the Nov. 27 remarks on the Senate floor by Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.).

“For nearly three decades, a right-wing Washington lobbyist has exerted a stranglehold on mainstream Republicans over the issue of taxes, threatening political retaliation against any lawmaker who dared vote for any fiscal solution that asked the wealthy to pay their fair share,” Schumer said.

“Both sides are still far apart, and the discussions over the next few weeks will be difficult, but with each new Republican disavowing Grover Norquist, the chances of a deal rise sharply,” he said.

Read more from this story HERE.

Senators ‘More Disturbed’ After Meeting With Rice About Libya Attack (+video)

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A meeting between U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice and three of her most vocal critics in the Senate, Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Kelly Ayotte, ended poorly, with the senators saying many questions remain.

“The bottom line is that I’m more disturbed than I was before … about how four Americans died in Benghazi, Libya,” Graham said, and USA Today reported.

“It is clear the information she gave the American people was incorrect when she said that it was a spontaneous demonstration triggered by a hateful video,” McCain said. “It was not, and there was compelling evidence at the time that that was certainly not the case.”

Rice has drawn criticism for her statements on the Sunday shows following the attacks, when she said that the September 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens was the result of a spontaneous demonstration against an anti-Muslim video, and not terrorism.

Gen. David Petraeus, who was director of the CIA at the time of the attacks, told the House and Senate Intelligence committees last week that intelligence officials had, in fact, known it was a terrorist attack shortly after it took place.

Watch Senators interviewed by Associated Press below:

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Video: Senator Coburn Says ‘Whole Government’s Out of Control!’

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photo credit: senate democrats

Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn recently authored a book entitled ‘The Debt Bomb,’ and is known as a fiscal hawk in the United States Senate. He also releases an annual report on government waste, this year outlining $68 Billion in wasteful spending that could be cut from the Defense Department’s budget.

In an appearance on The Blaze TV, Coburn talked about Congresses spending problem, stating that it is ‘usurping the power of the States’ . . . and ‘undermining . . . liberty of the people of this country.’

His conclusion? ‘The whole government’s out of control.’

See the interview below:

Read more from The Blaze HERE.

Director of Alaska Native Corporation Suspected in Rape, Alleged Victim Reportedly Dies of Suicide

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A woman who allegedly was sexually assaulted has killed herself, her family said.

The woman shot herself in Naknek over the weekend, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

Prosecutors now are evaluating their case against Sergie Andrew Chukwak, who authorities say assaulted a woman Nov. 5 after a night of drinking. Chukwak could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday and it was unclear if he had an attorney.

The state had planned to seek an indictment on a felony rape charge against Chukwak, 45, who is a commercial fisherman and a director for the Bristol Bay Native Corp., one of 13 regional Alaska Native corporations.

Prosecutors now are trying to determine if there is enough evidence to pursue the case without victim testimony, according to assistant District Attorney Marianna Carpeneti. She said police are talking to witnesses.

Read more from this story HERE.

Obama-Crucifix Painting Removed from NYC for Outrage in 2008, Now on Display in Boston Without Complaint

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A painting that depicts President Barack Obama as Jesus Christ on the cross is on display in Boston. The artwork, titled ‘Truth,’ was due to debut four years ago in New York’s Union Square but the exhibition was cancelled due to public outrage.

It is now finally gracing the walls of a community college art gallery as part of a larger exhibit called ‘Artists on the Stump – the Road to the White House 2012’ and hasn’t had even one complaint.

In the piece, by Michael D’Antuono, the President is shown wearing a suit and red tie with his arms outstretched. But instead of actually being nailed to a cross like Jesus, Mr Obama’s arms are extended drawing back a blue curtain. He has a crown of thorns resting on his head.

The painting is on display at the Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery until December 15th and has so far had no complaints.

[Read/See Glenn Beck’s response to this outrageous painting HERE]

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U.S. Treasury Declines to Name China Currency Manipulator

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China isn’t a currency manipulator under U.S. law, though the yuan “remains significantly undervalued” and needs to rise further, the Treasury Department said.

China “has substantially reduced the level of official intervention in exchange markets since the third quarter of 2011,” the Treasury said in a statement accompanying its semi- annual currency report to Congress yesterday. The yuan has gained 9.3 percent in nominal terms and 12.6 percent in real terms against the dollar since June 2010, the Treasury said.

“It appears that the strategy of the last two administrations to use diplomacy rather than confrontation in dealing with the yuan’s value is having some positive results,” William Reinsch, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, a Washington-based business group, said in an e-mail after the report. “There is clearly room for further appreciation, however.”

In declining to brand China a manipulator, the Treasury cited the reduced intervention and “steps to liberalize controls on capital movements, as part of a broader plan to move to a more flexible exchange-rate regime.” The U.S. hasn’t designated another nation since 1994, when it named China.

Critics of China’s exchange-rate policies, including former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, say the nation deliberately suppresses the value of its currency, making its goods cheaper in overseas markets and costing jobs in the U.S.

Read more from this story HERE.