Hillary Clinton is Enlisting People for 2016 Run

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Photo Credit: Frederic J. Brown, AFP/Getty ImagesHillary Clinton is beginning to put together the pieces for a likely campaign, tapping two top strategists — including President Barack Obama’s pollster — to work with her in the lead-up toward an ultimate decision.

Robby Mook, who worked on Clinton’s 2008 campaign and is widely expected to be Clinton’s campaign manager, and Joel Benenson, Obama’s pollster who had for months been eyed for a role on her team, have been working with her as she makes a final decision and begins to put together a framework for a staff, according to people close to the former Secretary of State.

But, if he is hired, Benenson’s presence in the campaign would mark a major departure for Clinton, who stayed in her comfort zone in her previous campaigns using Mark Penn, the pollster and message guru who had worked for her husband. After she shook up her campaign in the second half of the 2008 primaries, Clinton made Geoff Garin her main pollster.

Obama’s campaign used Benenson as part of a team of pollsters, an approach Clinton is said to be considering for her next effort. And he would come to her off two successful presidential races.

Mook, who won Obama aides’ respect for the job her did out-organizing them in a string of states in the 2008 primaries, has been holding meetings with people, according to multiple sources, to begin planning for a likely campaign. (Read more on Hillary Clinton enlisting people HERE)

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France: Worst Terror Attack in Recent History (+video)

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By BBC.com. Gunmen have shot dead 12 people at the Paris office of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in an apparent militant Islamist attack.

Four of the magazine’s well-known cartoonists, including its editor, were among those killed, as well as two police officers.

A major police operation is under way to find three gunmen who fled by car.

President Francois Hollande said there was no doubt it had been a terrorist attack “of exceptional barbarity”. . .

Cartoon from Hebdo Satirical French Magazine

The masked attackers opened fire with assault rifles in the office and exchanged shots with police in the street outside before escaping by car. They later abandoned the car in Rue de Meaux, northern Paris, where they hijacked a second car. (Read more about “Worst Terror Attack” HERE)
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Vast Crowds Gather Across Europe to Protest French Massacre

By Stephanie Linning and Sian Boyle. As darkness fell across Europe, tens of thousands took to the streets to show their solidarity with those killed by gunmen at the offices of satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo.

The scenes were replicated across France, in London and around the world with crowds holding placards bearing the slogan #JeSuisCharlie, which means ‘I am Charlie’ in French. Others were seen carrying enlarged versions of the some of the newspaper’s anti-Islamist cartoons.

Meanwhile the website of French newspaper Le Monde last night showed an interactive map of vigils being held across the world in Dublin, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Brussels, Madrid, Rome, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, and as far afield as Tunis, Lima, Rio de Janeiro and Madagascar.

In London, hundreds of people filled Trafalgar Square at a silent vigil for those killed when masked gunmen stormed the newspaper’s headquarters. Many held pens, pencils and notebooks in the air to show their support for the journalists, cartoonists and police officers who lost their lives.

The gatherings were held as French President Francoise Hollande declared tomorrow a day of national mourning tomorrow in respect for the victims of this morning’s attack. (Read more from this story HERE)

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The Real Story on the Paris Massacre

By Steven Crowder. I’m sure that many of you have already read about this morning’s terrorist attack in Paris, killing twelve people. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and the people of France today.

It was carried out by Muslim terrorists against a satirical newspaper. That’s important to know. This wasn’t a senseless act of violence, but a pre-meditated one in the name of Allah. Yet again, this was an attack designed as a form of censorship through violence, carried out to scare all non-Muslims into silence.

No other religion does this.

It also disproves a common myth. As Americans, we’re often blamed for attacks on our own soil.

If American’s didn’t try to police the world, they wouldn’t hate us!

If we just tried to be more tolerant, Muslims wouldn’t have a reason to be mad at the U.S.!

Right. Well, what about France? The EU in general has been a beacon for multi-cultural tolerance across the globe. Sharia law has even slowly crept into many of their legal systems. I mean, how else can you slap your broad around? Granted, while France hasn’t exactly been as open-armed as England, they can hardly be seen as Team America: World Police. They’re certainly not the evil red, white and blue rednecks invading foreign countries, blowing up every brown person in sight. Because you know, that’s our thing.

Yet still, today in France, they die.

To humanity, there’s no possible justification for this. To Islamists, it already is.

The ideology of Islam is the enemy of humanity. Once you wade through the media circus today, that’s what it comes down to. France is not America. France is a tolerant, multicultural nation with an increasing demographic tilt toward Islam. Yet still, they are hated.

Evading the real issue at hand in the name of political correctness does a great disservice to not only those deceased, but to humanity.

Anytime we see a terrorist attack carried out in the name of Allah and we immediately ask their true motives… Muhammad did it first.

To read more, please visit Steven Crowder’s website HERE.

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Ruling Class Gives Boehner 3rd Term; Glenn Beck Unloads on GOP; Here are the 25 Patriots Who Voted Against Boehner

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By Melissa Quinn. Today, members of the U.S. House of Representatives elected Ohio Republican John Boehner to his third term as speaker of the House. . .

Of the Republicans casting votes, 24 did not vote for Boehner — the most “no” votes against a speaker in the last century. One voted “present.” Republicans needed 29 defectors to prevent Boehner from getting reelected. . .

Leading up to the start of the 114th Congress, Boehner was expected to be elected to his third term as the House’s No. 1 Republican. However, a late bid from Webster garnered support from conservative lawmakers. . .

Other lawmakers who earned votes were: Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio — who received two votes — Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, Kevin McCarthy of California. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Jeff Sessions of Alabama received nods, as did former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Two years ago, a dozen conservatives protested Boehner as speaker and voted against him. However, this year showed a more coordinated effort as speaker-hopefuls formally declared. (Read more from “Boehner Re-Elected” HERE)

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Here are 25 Republicans Who Did Not Bow to the Ruling Class and Vote for Boehner

By Melissa Quin. Here are the 24 GOP lawmakers who did not vote for Boehner, as well as Babin [who voted “present”].

1. Rep. Justin Amash, Mich.
2. Rep. Rod Blum, Iowa
3. Rep. Dave Brat, Va.
4. Rep. Jim Bridenstine, Okla.
5. Rep. Curt Clawson, Fla.
6. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, Tenn.
7. Rep. Jeff Duncan, S.C.
8. Rep. Scott Garrett, N.J.
9. Rep. Chris Gibson, N.Y.
10. Rep. Louie Gohmert, Texas
11. Rep. Paul Gosar, Ariz.
12. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, Kan.
13. Rep. Walter Jones, N.C.
14. Rep. Steve King, Iowa
15. Rep. Thoma Massie, Ky.
16. Rep. Mark Meadows, N.C.
17. Rep. Rich Nugent, Fla.
18. Rep. Gary Palmer, Ala.
19. Rep. Bill Posey, Fla.
20. Rep. Scott Rigell, Va.
21. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, Ind.
22. Rep. Randy Weber, Texas
23. Rep. Daniel Webster, Fla.
24. Rep. Ted Yoho, Fla.
25. Rep. Brian Babin, Texas

(Read more from this story HERE)
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Glenn Beck Unloads on GOP Who Voted for Boehner

By Red Flag. Glenn Beck on Tuesday tore into Congressman Chris Stewart (R-Utah) over his decision to vote for John Boehner as speaker of the House, saying he believes Stewart — who has been his friend for years — is losing his soul.

Beck asked the congressman whether it was Boehner’s decision to fund Obamacare, his support of the CRomnibus bill, or his decision to continually delay any action in opposing President Barack Obama’s agenda that garnered his support. . .

“You told, us, Chris, to come down on you like a bag of bricks if we ever felt you were losing your soul. This is bag of bricks time. We think you’re losing your soul” . . .

“You don’t think we can do better, Chris?” Beck’s co-host Stu Burguiere added. “You don’t think we can do better than John Boehner?”

. . .Beck told Stewart that people are “done” with the kind of games he is playing, and that he will not be re-elected if he continues playing politics against the interests of the American people. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Mom Facing Child Abuse Charges for Showing Kids Pro-Life Video

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Photo Credit: Life News By Amanda Read. A few days before Christmas, a U.K. mother of two reached out to Christian radio show program Stand Up For Truth with a plea for prayers and support. She had been notified that Child Protection Services would be contacting her because she had permitted her children to watch the pro-life documentary 180.

The controversy began when the mother (who wishes to remain anonymous) included Gospel tracts and a card advertising the 180 movie in party favor jars for a Christmas fair. She distributed these favors at the Church of England Primary School her children attend, and where she was employed at the time. The U.K. mother noted in her letter to the radio program:

I was immediately suspended and told not to reveal any of the details to anyone. I was made to attend an investigative meeting with strict instructions that no legal representation was allowed. The school leadership and the HR representative were pressing…that the film “180” was horrific, had it been watched by a child, even a child who is 10 to 11.

The mother turned in her resignation, but that did not end the investigation. The school’s Board of Directors allegedly equated the parental discretion of showing the pro-life film – which displays nothing more graphic than what one would see on the History Channel – with potential child abuse. (Read more about the pro-life video story HERE)

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Church Hosting Planned Parenthood Event Celebrating 42 Years in Service

By Steven Ertelt. An Episcopal Church in Wichita, Kansas is hosting an event sponsored by the Planned Parenthood abortion business to celebrate 42 years of legalized abortion. The United States marks the grim anniversary on January 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand.

Why would a church support the nation’s largest abortion business?

One pro-life person called the church and a representative said Planned Parenthood doesn’t do abortions.

The abortion giant Planned Parenthood has released its 2013 annual report and the new numbers indicate it did more abortions than the year before — killing 327,653 babies in abortions while taking in millions in taxpayer funds. (Read more from this story HERE)

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State Forces Teen to Undergo Chemotherapy

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Photo Credit: CBS Connecticut
A 17-year-old girl with cancer is in an unprecedented legal battle with the state of Connecticut as the Department of Children and Families removed her from her home and forced the teen to receive chemotherapy.

The girl being identified as “Cassandra C.” in court papers was diagnosed with cancer in September, with doctors recommending she receive chemotherapy for the rare condition of Hodgkins Lymphoma. However, the teen refused treatment and her mother supported her daughter’s decision, causing Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families to step in and force the teen to receive treatment, WTIC-TV reports.

In November, the DCF successfully petitioned for an order of temporary custody of the girl and ordered her mother to cooperate with medical care administered to her daughter under DCF supervision. After two chemo treatments, Cassandra ran away from home before subsequently returning to refuse treatment altogether.

“Following a hearing at which Cassandra’s doctors testified, the trial court ordered that she be removed from her home and that she remain in DCF’s care and custody,” read court documents. “The court also authorized DCF to make all necessary medical decisions on Cassandra’s behalf.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, side effects of chemotherapy can include nausea, hair loss, vomiting, fatigue and diarrhea. (Read more from “State Forces Teen into Chemotherapy” HERE)

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Religious Freedom Violated When a Teacher Bans Student from Using Bible

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By Billy Hallowell. Parents are accusing a teacher of violating their child’s First Amendment rights by allegedly refusing to allow him to read his Bible in school.

They claim that their son, Loyal Grandstaff, a middle school student at Bueker Middle School in Marshall, Missouri, was told by his teacher that he couldn’t read the book after he brought the Bible in and silently studied it during free time.

“I feel like it violated his freedom of religion but also his freedom of speech,” Justin Grandstaff, the 12 year old’s father said.

Loyal said that he wasn’t being loud and that he wasn’t sharing the book with his peers at the time.

“I like to read my Bible because it’s a good book,” the 7th grader told the outlet. “I was just reading, just reading because I had free time. A time to do what I wanted to, so I just broke it out and read.” (Read more about “Religious Freedom Violated” HERE)

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EEOC Says School is Wrong for Firing Teacher Who Gave Student Bible

By Todd Starnes. A New Jersey school district violated the law when it fired a teacher who handed a Bible to a student, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled on December 15, 2014. The ruling was made public Tuesday.

The EEOC determined there was reasonable cause to believe the Phillipsburg School District discriminated against Walt Tutka, a substitute teacher. The EEOC also said religion and retaliation played a factor in Tutka’s firing.

“This is a great indication the EEOC is taking religious liberty seriously and they are going to enforce the law — and in this case make sure Walt’s rights are protected,” Liberty Institute attorney Hiram Sasser told me.

“This sends a message to school districts that their natural allergic reaction to religion is misplaced, and not only is it wrong — but it’s also an egregious violation of the law,” Sasser said. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Prince Andrew Plans no Legal Action Against Woman Who Claimed Sex Abuse

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By Laura Smith-Spark, Max Foster and Greg Botelho. Britain’s Prince Andrew does not have plans to take legal action against a woman who has named him in a sex abuse lawsuit in Florida, CNN learned Tuesday.

The allegation that he had sex with an underage girl, made in a federal court filing in Florida last week, has been firmly rejected by Buckingham Palace.

“It is emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts. Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation,” the palace said in a statement Monday. (Read more about Prince Andrew plans HERE)

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Father of Underage “Sex Slave” is Claiming She was Introduced to the Queen

By Zachary Davies Boren. The teenager at the center of a Royal sex abuse scandal was introduced to the Queen in London, her father has claimed.

Virginia Roberts, the alleged underage “sex slave” of Prince Andrew’s billionaire friend Jeffrey Epstein, was “so excited” to meet the Queen, her father told The Sun.

Sky Roberts, 58, said: “Virginia told me a few years back that she met Prince Andrew when she went to London.

“She also said while they were there she met the Queen.

“She had been flown to London by Jeffrey [Epstein]. He would fly her all over the world and she would give him massages on his private jet.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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Mystery Surrounding the Remaining Political Prisoners in Cuba

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Photo Credit: Sharon MollerusAn air of secrecy surrounds the fate of 53 political prisoners whom Cuba agreed to free in its historic deal with the United States last month, as Washington and Havana’s refusal to publicly identify the dissidents is fueling suspicion over Cuba’s intentions.

Almost three weeks after the agreement, neither dissidents on the island nor leaders in the Cuban exile community know how many have been let out or whether any of the prisoners they are aware of are among those scheduled to be freed.

Both the White House and the State Department refuse to publicly name the prisoners included on a list U.S. negotiators provided their Cuban counterparts amid negotiations to normalize relations, although officials said a prisoner release was not a precondition for renewing diplomatic ties. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday that not everyone on the list has been set free yet, but it was always understood that they would be released “in stages.”

“Well, we know who’s on there. And the Cuban government knows who’s on there,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, expressing doubts that the list would be made public.

The lack of transparency is contributing to a growing sense of concern that Havana will not follow through on its promises. Francisco Hernandez, president of the Miami-based Cuban American National Foundation, cited the Cuban government’s track record of slipping in unwanted common criminals with legitimate political prisoners headed for refuge in other countries. (Read more about the political prisoners in Cuba HERE)

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Former Governor Bob McDonnell Gets Two Years in Prison

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Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is vowing to keep fighting the bribery accusations that on Tuesday landed him a two-year prison sentence.

Outside the federal courthouse in Richmond, the Republican said he was “deeply, deeply sorry” for the actions that led to his conviction on 11 felony public corruption charges, but that he “never, ever betrayed my sacred oath of office.”

McDonnell and his attorneys vowed to appeal the convictions immediately.

The two years was a much shorter sentence than the 10 to 12 years that prosecutors had started the day asking for. But it was enough to rock McDonnell’s children, family and friends, many of whom gasped as it was read and were left wiping away tears. When McDonnell left, his wife, Maureen McDonnell, who could face a similar sentence herself, remained in the courtroom, sobbing.

His sentencing was the culmination of the dramatic downfall of the Republican governor once heralded as a rising star — tapped to give the party’s 2010 rebuttal to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union, and a fixture on short lists for national office. (Read more about former Governor Bob McDonnell HERE)

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Obama Administration Pushed Through $181.5 Billion in Regulations Last Year

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Photo Credit: WNDBy Fox News. The Obama administration pushed through $181.5 billion in regulations last year, according to a new report from a conservative think tank that claimed the rules will lead to higher energy bills, more expensive consumer goods and fewer jobs.

The new rules mostly focus on clean energy and vehicle regulations, said the American Action Forum, which issued the report Monday. The state that was hit the hardest by new regulations was California, which was slapped with $7.9 billion in new rules, followed by Texas ($6.5 billion) and Ohio ($3.4 billion).

“What do these huge sums mean for individuals? Higher energy prices, pricier household goods, a more expensive mortgage, and the promise of yet another year of unrelenting regulatory growth,” concludes the report, which was authored by Sam Batkins, the group’s director of regulatory policy. “No one can accuse the president of abandoning his promises on regulation in 2014.” (Read more about the money Obama Administration used HERE)

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Obama has Threatened to Veto Keystone Pipeline Approval

By The Wall Street Journal. The Obama administration said Tuesday it would veto legislation that would authorize the Keystone XL pipeline or make a change Republicans want to the Affordable Care Act, hardening battle lines on top GOP priorities the day the party took control of both chambers of Congress.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said President Barack Obama would veto legislation approving TransCanada Corp. ’s proposed pipeline, which would send up to 830,000 barrels of oil a day from Canada’s oil sands to refineries on the Gulf Coast. Mr. Earnest also said the president wouldn’t sign a potential tweak to the health law to alter its definition of a full-time worker, a move that would allow businesses to cover fewer workers.

Congressional Republicans consider Keystone XL’s approval one of their top legislative goals and placed it at the front of their agenda as the 114th Congress opened on Tuesday. (Read more from this story HERE)

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