Four lost leaders of the first permanent English settlement in the Americas have been identified, thanks to chemical analysis of their skeletons, as well as historical documents.
The settlement leaders were mostly high-status men who were buried at the 1608 Jamestown church in Virginia. And all played pivotal roles in the early colony.
“They’re very much at the heart of the foundation of the America that we know today,” said Douglas Owsley, a forensic anthropologist at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., who helped identify the bodies . . .
One of the men was Ferdinando Weyman, who died in 1610 at around age 34. He was the uncle of Sir Thomas West, the governor of Virginia. Weyman was also related to another of the men identified, Captain William West. This man perished in 1610 after a fight with the Powhatan Indians. . . Both West and Weyman were buried in human-shaped coffins with a distinctive pattern of nails. . .
Another of the newly identified men was Captain Gabriel Archer, who died during the starving time in 1609 at the age of 34. . .The last man of the group was Reverend Robert Hunt. Unlike the more affluent men, he was buried in a simple shroud, facing west, toward the congregation he headed. Hunt died in 1608 around the age of 39. (Read more from “Mystery Solved: Identities of Mysterious Jamestown Settlers Identified” HERE)
Syria’s bloody civil war has brought the country’s largest number of refugees and asylum-seekers to the United States in a decade, and thousands more are expected in 2016.
But with the influx comes mounting concerns over whether the Obama administration can properly vet them, and keep out those with terror ties seeking to exploit the system. Lawmakers are worried that not only is Syria the headquarters of the Islamic State, but that the country’s state of chaos makes screening refugees that much harder.
“I agree that the vast majority of Syrian refugees do not have ties to terror groups,” [RINO] Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who chairs the Homeland Security Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee, said at a recent hearing. “However, we have been reviewing the current security vetting procedures for a number of months, and I have a number of concerns, not the least of which is the lack of on-the-ground intelligence necessary to identify terror links.”
According to the State Department, 968 Syrian refugees have been resettled in the United States this year alone — with the goal of bringing upwards of 2,000 in by the end of 2015. Before the start of the civil war, the number of Syrian refugees entering the U.S. each year typically was under 30.
In addition, as of March, more than 1,500 Syrians have been granted asylum in the U.S. since the start of the war, according to the latest figures provided to FoxNews.com by the Department of Homeland Security. By contrast, the number granted asylum in 2009 was 11.
(Read more from “Terror Threat? Surge of Syrian Refugees Into US Raising Security Concerns” HERE)
https://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.png00Joe Millerhttps://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.pngJoe Miller2015-07-29 01:30:022016-04-11 10:58:23Terror Threat? Surge of Syrian Refugees Into US Raising Security Concerns
In what has been a back and forth story that first suggested Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had a chance to stop Planned Parenthood but refused to put the matter to a vote, it now appears the facts have changed or been incorrect. The Majority Leader now says he is planning to hold a vote on a Republican bill that would end federal funding of Planned Parenthood, following the release of videos involving use of aborted fetal tissue for medical research.
“The leader is working with his members to address this horrific issue and intends to have a vote before we leave” for a five-week summer recess, said McConnell spokesman Michael Brumas. Source.
https://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.png00Byron Nelsonhttps://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.pngByron Nelson2015-07-28 12:59:432016-04-11 10:58:25McConnell: Senate Will Vote To Defund Planned Parenthood After All
When Donald Trump uttered the words “I like people who weren’t captured” in response to a question about Sen. John McCain’s service in Vietnam, there was a universal sentiment among both admirers and detractors that he would sink like a rock in the polls. His meteoric rise was destined for a swift collapse. Except – that collapse never occurred. Why not?
Trump Maintains his Lead in the Polls
According to a new CNN-ORC International poll, which was conducted a week after Trump’s major gaffe, Trump is leading the field nationally with 18% of the vote, followed by Jeb Bush and Scott Walker. As Breitbart observes, Cruz is now beginning to surpass Rubio for 4th place. In addition, a new NBC News/Marist poll shows Trump with a commanding lead in New Hampshire, leading his closest rival 21%-14%.
When was the last time a Republican survived such a widely circulated career-ending gaffe?
In order to understand this unprecedented stubbornness of the GOP base in coalescing around a protest vote like Trump, look no further than the circus on display in the GOP-led Senate this past Sunday.
The Sunday Massacre in the Senate
What was the emergency impetus for this rare Sunday session in middle of the summer? Were the senators meeting to overturn Obama’s Iran alliance? Were they preparing a package of bills to “comprehensively” address the imminent problem of criminal illegal aliens? Were they holding a crisis session over the Supreme Court’s coup against our Constitution and the impending disaster of anti-religious bigotry unfolding in a number of states? Were they concocting a response to the growing homegrown Islamic terror attacks on our soil? Did they finally decide that our military bases, which have become prime targets for terror attacks, should be populated by armed soldiers instead of unarmed soldiers?
Nope – none of the above. They met on Sunday to renew the corporate welfare Export-Import Bank, the one government agency conservatives have successfully closed down for the first time in years. They met to rush through a massive $300 billion highway bill, in which McConnell blocked all amendments addressing some of the aforementioned issues so that the amendment process can be reserved for the crony Export-Import Bank.
The Senate voted 67-26 to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank and attach it to the “must-pass” highway bill. This amendment was supported by 24 Republicans. Accordingly, McConnell has now followed through with his private commitment to attach Ex-Im to the highway bill, in contravention to what he told GOP members privately. Yet, instead of exhibiting outrage over McConnell’s lie, Sens. Hatch, Alexander, and Cornyn – three allies of McConnell – took to the Senate floor to condemn Cruz for calling him a liar. If only they cared as much about our Constitution and the existential national security and sovereignty threats as they did “Senate decorum.”
Yes to Corporate Welfare, No to Conservative Priorities
Next, Cruz attempted to force a vote on an amendment prohibiting the lifting of sanctions on Iran until they recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and release the four U.S. hostages. Although his amendment was ruled out of order, any senator can force a vote overruling the decision of the chair if 10 other senators (for a total of one-fifth of the 51 quorum) join to “second” the request for a vote. Yet, for the first time in recent memory, GOP senators refused to second the motion, thereby saving Democrats, once again, from having to vote on Iran and Israel. McConnell and Corker had already blocked such amendments in May when they originally passed the unconstitutional Corker-Cardin Iran bill.
John Cornyn had the nerve to argue Sunday that the Corker-Cardin process has already granted the Senate sufficient oversight over the Iran deal and that there was no need for Cruz’s amendment. Evidently, he’s not up on the news that Obama has already abrogated that process.
Finally, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) attempted to offer an amendment to defund Planned Parenthood. Once again, he was rebuffed by the chair and he could not muster even 10 colleagues to force a vote on defunding Planned Parenthood.
Hence, corporate welfare is in; fighting Iran and Planned Parenthood is out. Is this what the American people thought they were getting when they voted for a GOP Senate last November?
The American people, and the GOP base in particular, are tired of liars. They are tired of Obama fundamentally transforming every value, principle, and tradition of this country before their very eyes while the Republican majority they elected stands by idly and focuses on liberal, petty, or trivial priorities – or downright helps Obama implement his policies.
This is exactly why the polls are continuing to show strong support for Trump. He is a protest vote through which voters are declaring their independence from the failed and corrupt Republican Party.
Over the weekend, Ted Cruz has shown a willingness to fight this corrupt political cartel like nobody else in recent history. Obviously, Trump’s persona as a pop culture figure has overshadowed Cruz’s work in the Senate, especially given the “inside baseball” nature of this fight. But if he continues to bring this sort of fighting spirit to the campaign trail, he will be well positioned to reap the windfall from the wave Trump has created if and when The Donald implodes. Unfortunately, that cannot be said of most of the other contenders running in the field. (Published with permission from the author, “Sunday’s Circus in the Senate Is Exactly Why Trump Is Surging”, originally appeared HERE)
https://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.png00Joe Millerhttps://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.pngJoe Miller2015-07-28 02:12:332016-04-11 10:58:25Sunday’s Circus in the Senate Is Exactly Why Trump Is Surging
Earlier this year, Western Journalism reported that one of Bill Clinton’s alleged sexual assault victims transitioned into a vocal opponent of his wife’s current presidential campaign.
In April, Kathleen Willey said of Hillary Clinton: “I haven’t seen one single accomplishment that would give her the credentials to be president of the United States.”
The scathing critique went further, as Willey called Clinton a “serial liar” who would attract scandals daily as the 2016 campaign drags on.
“Women should pay attention to what she’s done to other women,” Willey concluded, “and not just the women who were unfortunate to cross paths with her husband.”
According to a recent BizPac Review article, Willey has compounded her anti-Clinton stance by launching a new website to solicit accusations from other potential sexual assault victims.
“I think it’s time for people to start coming forward,” she said of those she believes were victimized by the former president. “I know I’m not the only one.” (Read more from “What Bill’s Sex Accuser Just Did Has the Potential to Cripple the Clintons for Good” HERE)
https://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.png00Joe Millerhttps://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.pngJoe Miller2015-07-28 02:12:262016-04-11 10:58:26What Bill’s Sex Accuser Just Did Has the Potential to Cripple the Clintons for Good
The head of the top House investigative panel Monday called for the firing of IRS chief John Koskinen, arguing he has repeatedly “obstructed” congressional probes into the agency’s political targeting of taxpayers.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Affairs, made his request Monday in a letter to President Obama, arguing the president vowed in 2013 to “work hand-in-hand with Congress to fix the problem.”
However, Chaffetz argued that Koskinen, during his roughly two-and-a-half-year tenure, has obstructed such efforts by failing to testify truthfully, comply with subpoenas and preserve as many as 24,000 emails related to congressional investigations.
“Mr. Koskinen should no longer be the IRS commissioner,” Chaffetz said in prepared remarks for a Capitol Hill press conference announcing his request. “At best, Commissioner Koskinen was derelict in his duties to preserve agency records. At worst, he and the IRS engaged in an orchestrated plan to hide information from Congress.”
“The record is clear that the IRS and Commissioner Koskinen have been cooperative and truthful with the numerous investigations underway,” the IRS said in a statement. “The agency has produced more than one million pages of documents in support of the investigations, provided 52 current and former employees for interviews and participated in more than 30 Congressional hearings on these issues.” (Read more from “Chaffetz Asks Obama to Fire IRS Chief Koskinen for ‘Obstruction’ of Congressional Probes” HERE)
https://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.png00Joe Millerhttps://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.pngJoe Miller2015-07-28 02:11:552016-04-11 10:58:26Chaffetz Asks Obama to Fire IRS Chief Koskinen for ‘Obstruction’ of Congressional Probes
The birthplace and final resting place of George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson—and once one of the most reliably-red of red states—is being rapidly turned into a progressive stronghold.
These changes are not the result of an inside agency, or a natural evolution in political thinking, but rather the result of one of the most impactful yet least-discussed policies of the federal government.
Each year the federal government prints millions of visas and distributes these admission tickets to the poorest and least-developed nations in the world.
A middle-aged person living in parts of Virginia today will have witnessed more demographic change in the span of her life than many societies have experienced in millennia.
A census study entitled “Immigrants in Virginia,” released by University of Virginia (UVA) researchers, documented the phenomenon: “Until 1970, only 1 in 100 Virginians was born outside of the United States; by 2012, 1 in every 9 Virginians is foreign-born.” (Read more from “New California: Mass Immigration Turning Virginia Blue” HERE)
https://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.png00Joe Millerhttps://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.pngJoe Miller2015-07-28 02:07:202016-04-11 10:58:26New California: Mass Immigration Turning Virginia Blue
It started with a wrong turn and ended with a World War II veteran being absolutely embraced by the residents of one New Jersey township.
Lost while driving nearly three hours from his home in Pennsylvania, 92-year-old Oscar Ehrhart was returning from a veteran’s convention when he ended up in Bob Shea’s driveway . . .
He then had one request:
“Oscar asked if it would be O.K. for him to sleep in his car overnight since he was not the best driver in night low light conditions. Without blinking an eye Bob offered his home to Oscar and told him he could spend the night in a spare room.”
Refusing to impose, Oscar politely declined. [So, several police] officers took Oscar to the local Hampton Inn and Suites. (Read more from “Lost WWII Vet Asks to Sleep in His Car for a Night, This Town Made Sure He Wouldn’t Have to Do That” HERE)
https://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.png00Joe Millerhttps://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.pngJoe Miller2015-07-28 02:06:532016-04-11 10:58:27Lost WWII Vet Asks to Sleep in His Car for a Night, This Town Made Sure He Wouldn’t Have to Do That
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has tied the Senate in knots into the weekend with his parliamentary maneuvers on a bill funding highway programs. The U.S. Senate is embroiled in a battle between leadership and conservatives that is getting ugly and personal.
Sen. Cruz has offered something called a “Third Degree Amendment.” That means nothing to most people. In plain English – Senator Cruz is digging in to lead the fight against the Senate Republican leadership to end the Export Import Bank and the Third Degree Amendment is his tool to fight.
New fronts in the battle are expected to be opened up on the highway bill this weekend over the issues of repealing Obamacare, Planned Parenthood funding and President Obama’s Iran deal. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) are expected to join the fight. The leadership will be using allies in the media to fire away at Cruz and his band of Senate conservatives.
How did we get here?
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is in the process of trying to check off two items on his to-do list for the year. First, he wants to pass a long-term highway bill. Second, he wants to help extend the life of the crony Export Import Bank – a bank that is anathema to conservatives. These are both leadership priorities. Senator Ted Cruz is using Senate procedure to fight the Export Import Bank extension that has been added as an amendment to the highway language in the bill. It is that simple.
The House has passed a short-term highway bill and they are insisting that the Senate just take up and pass a bill that will only last for a few months. That bill does not contain any extension for the Export Import Bank (EX-IM). The option remains for the Senate to take up the House passed highway bill without EX-IM if this fight results in a stalemate.
Procedurally this bill is getting complicated. It is important to note that many times, procedure is king because if a Senator can use procedure to gum up the works, all too often that Senator can use the procedure in the Senate to kill legislation. Here, the goal is to kill the EX-IM amendment to the highway bill and to get the Majority Leader to make the calculation that he wants a long-term highway bill more than he wants EX-IM.
McConnell has avoided one procedural blockade. The Senate Majority Leader has attached the highway bill to an unrelated bill from the House to make sure that he does not violate the Constitution.
Leader McConnell called up a House passed bill and added the text of the highway bill to it, then he called up an amendment that allows the Export-Import Bank to continue. This married an unrelated House bill to the highway bill and EX-IM. But then Senator McConnell did something that was unexpected.
Next, Senator McConnell offered an amendment for a full repeal of Obamacare. This seemed to be an attempt to intimidate the Tea Party faction in the Senate to take the vote on a full repeal of Obamacare and walk away from the fight over EX-IM. The problem is that nobody believes the Obamacare amendment to be anything other than meaningless vote.
McConnell then proceeded to use a parliamentary maneuver, abhorred by many conservatives and Senate procedure strict constructionists, to block all other amendments to the bill. This tactic, known as “Filling the Amendment Tree,” enraged many members of the Republican caucus who wanted to offer their own amendments to the bill. When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) ran the Senate he frequently filled the amendment tree as a way to block Republicans from ever offering amendments. This obstructionist tactic still rubs many conservatives the wrong way and is still considered by many to be an abuse of power.
Enter Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz took to the floor and offered an amendment to condition the Iran deal on Iran recognizing the right of Israel to exist and calling on Iran to release Americans held hostage. The Cruz amendment violates the Senate’s rules, because, under the current scenario, only certain amendments are allowed.
Senator Cruz’s amendment relating to Iran is out of order and not allowed by Senate precedent. Yet, the great thing about the Senate precedents is that they can be voted on and determined by the full Senate. That is, every voting member of the Senate gets to decide if Senator Cruz gets to offer the amendment on the Iran deal, or on anything else. This option is open to every member of the Senate.
Senator Rand Paul has vetted the idea of offering an amendment to defund Planned Parenthood – that could be the next third degree amendment. Senator Mike Lee might also get into the act with another third degree amendment. The full Senate will get to decide if their colleagues – Senator Cruz, Senator Paul, Senator Lee and potentially others – should be able to add their amendments to the underlying bill. If there is any question as to where Senators stand on defunding Planned Parenthood, recognizing Israel, and forcing Iran to release American hostages, the votes this weekend will make their positions clear.
Senator Cruz is going into parliamentary war with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
This weekend’s Senate skirmish translates directly to the epic fight we are expecting in the Presidential nomination contest between the Tea Party faction, most loudly led by Donald Trump these days, and the establishment faction, led by the establishment poster boy Jeb Bush. Senator Cruz’s fight with Majority Leader McConnell typifies the struggle of the Republican Party to define itself and what it will stand for. Will the Republican Party prioritize handouts to big corporations over defunding an organization that traffics baby body parts? Thanks to the efforts of courageous Senators like Ted Cruz, we will soon find out. (Published with permission from the author, “Ted Cruz Declares Parliamentary War in the Senate”, originally appeared HERE)
https://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.png00Joe Millerhttps://joemiller.us/wp-content/uploads/logotext.pngJoe Miller2015-07-27 01:41:112016-04-11 10:58:27Ted Cruz Declares Parliamentary War in the Senate [+video]
The state of Kentucky has begun imposing a religious test on volunteer pastor counselors in its youth division, insisting that they refrain from calling homosexuality “sinful” and dismissing those who cannot bend their religious faith to accommodate the state requirements.
The policy was uncovered by Liberty Counsel, which has sent a letter to Bob Hayter, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, demanding that the state religious test be dropped and that a dismissed counselor be reinstated.
“Liberty Counsel writes regarding the blatantly unconstitutional revocation of volunteer prison minister status of ordained Christian minister David Wells, who has provided voluntary spiritual counseling and mentorship to juvenile inmates under the control of the Department of Juvenile Justice. … This revocation was issued by Warren County Regional Juvenile Detention Center on the basis of the April 4, 2014, DJJ Policy 912, which mandates full DJJ support of homosexuality and transvestism.
“With no evidence of any violation of DJJ policy on Mr. Wells’ part, his volunteer status was revoked by the Warren RJDC superintendent because he could not sign a state-mandated statement that homosexuality was not ‘sinful,’ among other things,” the letter said.
The policy states that DJJ staff, volunteers and others “shall not imply or tell LGBTQI juveniles that they are abnormal, deviant, sinful or that they can or should change their sexual orientation or gender identity.” (Read more from “State Forbids Pastors Calling Homosexuals ‘Sinful'” HERE)
