Vet Group Hosting Trump Lost Nonprofit Status

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Donald TrumpThe Internal Revenue Service revoked the nonprofit status of the veterans benefit organization that hosted and sold tickets to a foreign policy speech by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump aboard a retired U.S. battleship, The Associated Press has learned. The group’s endorsement of Trump at the event also could raise legal problems under campaign finance laws.

Trump’s campaign did not respond to questions from the AP about whether it was aware that the IRS had revoked the nonprofit status of the Veterans for a Strong America, which sold tickets to Trump’s event for up to $1,000 as a fundraiser. The IRS issued its decision Aug. 10, citing the group’s failure to file any tax returns for three consecutive years, according to IRS records reviewed by the AP.

The group’s chairman, Joel Arends of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said the organization was appealing the IRS decision. He would not provide AP with copies of any tax returns, which would show how much money the group has collected over the years and how it spends its money. By law, such records are supposed to be available to the general public for inspection. (Read more from “Vet Group Hosting Trump Lost Nonprofit Status” HERE)

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Republican Candidates Prepare to Hit Trump at Second Debate

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<> on August 6, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio.The Republicans’ second presidential debate is shaping up to have all the hallmarks of a Hollywood blockbuster: drama, high-speed collisions and, of course, the fiery explosions. Donald Trump, of course, is getting the star billing at the CNN production.

The White House hopefuls are set to clash—and maybe crash—Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Los Angeles for a pair of back-to-back forums, split among those who are polling atop the field and the also-rans. As with their first forums, all eyes will be focused on Trump, the brash billionaire who is leading polls and in potshots aimed at his rivals.

Inside rival campaigns, advisers are all trying to come up with a plan to deflate Trump. During the first debate, most tried to keep Trump at arm’s length and, with the exception of Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, none tried to confront Trump on his thin record as a Republican. That approach worked for the first session, but it’s not a winning strategy going forward, especially with Trump outpacing more serious candidates in the polls by factors of three or four.

“We kept waiting for him to do himself in. That hasn’t happened, so it’s time to help that process along,” one adviser to a Trump rival said. Added a second campaign’s strategist: “If we don’t as a party change our posture, we’re looking at another President Clinton. Hillary will beat Donald Trump in 49 states if he’s our nominee. And I’m not sure she doesn’t pick up Texas, too.”

Ahead of the debate, to be held beside Reagan’s retired presidential airliner, candidates were already trying out their attacks. “If you don’t know the answer to these questions, then you are not going to be able to serve as commander and chief,” Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said, pointing to Trump’s struggle to answer questions about foreign policy. “There’s nothing behind the curtain,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says of Trump. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was even more direct, calling Trump a “madman.” (Read more from “Republican Candidates Prepare to Hit Trump at Second Debate” HERE)

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Texas Nationalists Reportedly Try to Get Secession Question Onto GOP Primary Ballot

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balloA group calling for Texas to secede from the United States and become an independent nation has launched an effort to get a question about independence onto next year’s Republican presidential primary ballot.

The Texas Tribune reports that the Texas Nationalist Movement has begun circulating a petition with the goal of getting 75,000 signatures by December 1, over 8,000 more than what the Texas Secretary of State’s office requires to put the question on the ballot.

The vote on whether Texas “should reassert its status as an independent nation”, in the words of the petition, would be non-binding and the state Republican party has already distanced itself from the group.

“Historically the executive committee of the Republican Party has chosen what goes on this,” spokesman Aaron Whitehead told the Tribune, “and it’s party preference that it stays that way.”

Texas was a Republic for nine years after gaining independence from Mexico before it was admitted to the Union in 1845. The state voted to secede in 1861 to join the Confederate States of America prior to the Civil War. Scholars told the Tribune that under the auspices of an 1869 Supreme Court ruling, Texas would not be able to secede from the U.S. again even if voters gave the go-ahead. (Read more from “Texas Nationalists Reportedly Try to Get Secession Question Onto GOP Primary Ballot” HERE)

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Poll: Illegal Aliens a Serious Problem

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immigration_5A poll conducted just ahead of the Labor Day weekend finds that the overwhelming majority of Americans view illegal immigration as a serious problem.

The poll, conducted by YouGov, surveyed 1,000 adult Americans asking them their opinions on issues surrounding the illegal immigration problem.

Despite ongoing media favoritism towards illegals 77% said illegal immigration was a problem, with 51% calling it very serious and 26% somewhat serious. Just 4% said illegal immigration was not a problem at all.

The poll saw no difference between men and women. Looking along racial lines, whites were most likely to call illegal immigration a serious problem at 80% compared to 74% of black Americans, but even 64% of Hispanic Americans called illegal immigration a serious problem for the country. (Read more from “Poll: Illegal Aliens a Serious Problem” HERE)

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This Is the Huge Name That’ll Replace the Donald- Here’s What Trump Had to Say

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donald-trump-better-thumb1According to Entertainment Weekly, NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice will not die with the exit of its larger-than-life host. Donald Trump, who left the lucrative gig to pursue the Republican presidential nomination, took a break from the campaign trail to congratulate his successor.

NBC executive Paul Telegdy announced actor-turned-politico Arnold Schwarzenegger’s addition to the popular franchise as a “powerful new chapter” for Apprentice fans. “Arnold Schwarzenegger is the epitome of a global brand in entertainment and business,” he continued, “and his accomplishments in the political arena speak for themselves.” Telegdy noted that the action star is excited to continue in the tradition established by Trump and Mark Burnett, the series’ executive producer. Burnett explained that Trump “made it clear” he wanted the show to continue in his absence, particularly for the charitable donations it has facilitated. “Gov. Schwarzenegger,” he concluded, “will use his vast and highly successful business, political and media experience to drive this hit franchise to new heights.” The new host released a statement, explaining that he has “always been a huge fan” of the program. “I am thrilled to bring my experience to the boardroom and to continue to raise millions for charity,” he said. “Let’s get started!” The topic was a popular one on Twitter, where users speculated on issues such as the new host’s catchphrase. Trump’s iconic send-off – “You’re fired!” – has transcended the series to become a recurring theme of his surging presidential bid.

(Read more from “This Is the Huge Name That’ll Replace the Donald- Here’s What Trump Had to Say” HERE)

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Kentucky County Clerk Continues to Defy Supreme Court on First Day Back at Work

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kimdavis090115By MICHELE RICHINICK. After being jailed for refusing to issue gay marriage licenses, Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis returned to work on Monday morning with the same message: She won’t authorize the legal documents to same-sex couples.

Speaking before 8 a.m. ET, Davis said she will continue to defy the U.S. Supreme Court by not issuing gay marriage licenses, because otherwise she would be going against her religious beliefs. “For me, this would be an act of disobedience to my god,” she told reporters.

She did, however, leave it open for her deputies to continue issuing the legal documents to same-sex couples, as long as her name and title don’t appear on the licenses. None of the licenses, Davis said, “will be authorized by me.” Instead, the documents will read, “pursuant to a federal court order,” she said. (Read more about Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis’s defiance HERE)
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Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis Goes Back to Work

By Tribune News Service. A Kentucky county clerk announced Monday that she would not interfere with her office granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples, ending, for now, a confrontation that put her behind bars for five days for defying a federal judge.

As she returning to her office Monday, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis read a statement saying she would not interfere with her deputies issuing the licenses, but would not personally authorize any marriage licenses to any same-sex couples.

“I don’t want to have this conflict. I don’t want to be in the spotlight. And I certainly don’t want to be a whipping post,” Davis said during televised remarks. “I am no hero. I’m just a person that’s been transformed by the grace of God, who wants to work, be with my family. I just want to serve my neighbors quietly without violating my conscience.”

District Judge David L. Bunning earlier this month surprised many by sending Davis to jail for contempt after she failed to follow his order to issue marriage licenses to all couples, including gays.

On Sept. 8, the judge found that her deputies had issued the licenses, so the contempt citation was cleared and Davis was let out of jail with a sharp warning that if she interfered in the issuance of the licenses, she would be returned to a cell. (Read more from “Kentucky County Clerk Goes Back to Work for the First Time Since Jail” HERE)

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Kentucky-Cop Killer Was Huge Obama Supporter, Attended Mike Brown’s Funeral

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KY-Trooper-Shot-640x480The Facebook page of Joseph Thompson Johnson-Shanks — the man who killed a Kentucky State Trooper Sunday night — shows that he was an Obama and Black Lives Matter supporter who attended Mike Brown’s funeral.

Kentucky trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder was murdered by Johnson-Shanks after a traffic stop. Following an all-night manhunt, Johnson-Shanks was killed by the police after he refused to drop his weapon.

Johnson-Shanks ’s Facebook page is posted under the name Jay MileHigh and the header image features pictures of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Mike Brown. A previous cover photo was a photo of Pres. Obama depicting him as Superman.

Originally from Florissant, near Ferguson, Missouri, Johnson-Shanks’s Facebook account shared numerous news stories, images and videos discussing race, police brutality and the Mike Brown shooting, as well as articles like “Weed Protects You From Ebola.” (Read more from “Kentucky-Cop Killer Was Huge Obama Supporter, Attended Mike Brown’s Funeral” HERE)

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$2,883,250,000,000: Federal Taxes Set Record Through August

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money-ap_photo-j_scott_applewhite-2The federal government raked in a record of approximately $2,883,250,000,000 in tax revenues through the first eleven months of fiscal 2015 (Oct. 1, 2014 through the end of August), according to the Monthly Treasury Statement released Friday.

That equaled approximately $19,346 for every person in the country who had either a full-time or part-time job in August.

It is also up about $198,425,330,000 in constant 2015 dollars from the $2,684,824,670,000 in revenue (in inflation-adjusted 2015 dollars) that the Treasury raked in during the first eleven months of fiscal 2014.

Despite the record tax revenues of $2,883,250,000,000 in the first eleven months of this fiscal year, the government spent $3,413,210,000,000 in those eleven months, and, thus, ran up a deficit of $529,960,000,000 during the period.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, total seasonally adjusted employment in the United States in August (including both full and part-time workers) was 149,036,000. That means that the federal tax haul so far this fiscal year has equaled $19,345.99 for every person in the United States with a job. (Read more from “$2,883,250,000,000: Federal Taxes Set Record Through August” HERE)

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Air Force Pilot Brutally Attacked for Having This Flag on Motorcycle

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olympia-hate-crime[Last week], masked men rioted in front of City Hall in Olympia, Washington. The they blocked traffic and smashed the windows of city hall.

The violence culminated in a brutal mob attack on a biker, who also happens to be a US Air Force pilot. The man was apparently targeted because he had a Confederate flag on his motorcycle.

The victim was hit in the shoulder with a baseball bat, sprayed with mace, and hit with other weapons. The mob tried to push him off his motorcycle, but he miraculously got away. Surveillance video of the mob shows people throwing projectiles and wielding clubs.

Olympia’s FOX affiliate comically described the events as “a peaceful protest turned violent.” They is no indication that any attempt was ever made to have a “peaceful” protest. The rioters arrived with baseball bats, golf clubs, and bottles full of red paint. They all wore masks and matching black clothes, which is designed to make it harder for police to prove which perpetrators committed which crimes. (Read more from “Air Force Pilot Brutally Attacked for Having This Flag on Motorcycle” HERE)

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Yale Establishes Islamic Law Center Thanks to $10M From Saudi-Sharia Banker, Alleged Bin Laden Financer

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Saleh-Abdullah-Kamel-Reuters-640x480Saleh Abdullah Kamel, a Saudi banker who is now worth billions of dollars thanks to his success with Sharia-compliant financing, has donated $10 million to Yale University as part of a successful effort to build an Islamic Law Center at the Ivy League school.

“Mr. Kamel’s extraordinary generosity will open up exciting new opportunities for Yale Law School and for the entire university, said Yale President Peter Salovey. “The Abdullah S. Kamel Center for the Study of Islamic Law and Civilization will enhance research opportunities for our students and other scholars and enable us to disseminate knowledge and insights for the benefit of scholars and leaders all over the world.”

Professor Anthony Kronman, a new co-director of the Islamic Law Center, said of the school’s new addition:

“The contemporary challenges of Islamic law are broadly relevant to political events throughout the entire Islamic world and those are developments that are watched by a much larger audience of people who in many cases have not much knowledge at all of the history and traditions of Islamic law.”

“It’s the responsibility of universities to teach and instruct and that obligation applies with particular force where an issue or a subject tends to be viewed in an incomplete or inadequate or even caricatured way. There the responsibility to teach and enlighten is even stronger,” he added. (Read more from “Yale Establishes Islamic Law Center Thanks to $10M From Saudi-Sharia Banker, Alleged Bin Laden Financer” HERE)

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