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Obama Hopes ‘Climate of Fear’ Will Boost Cyber Security Push

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President Obama is banking that a spate of high-profile hacks at major American companies will help his new cybersecurity standards succeed where others failed.

The president called Monday for separate bills that would require companies to notify customers within 30 days if their personal information had been compromised and prohibit the selling of student data to third parties for non-education purposes.

But for Obama to leverage the panic over data breaches at Sony Pictures Entertainment, Target and Home Depot, he’ll have to navigate between governmental and business bureaucracies and find a solution amenable to both sides.

As the president laid out his recommendations, the extent of the cyber problem was made even clearer, when hackers tied to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria took over the U.S. Central Command Twitter feed.

The broader challenge for the White House now is determining how to address concerns among private companies about the extent of information they would have to turn over to the federal government in warding off cyber attacks. And government agencies already under fire for cyber snooping would also have to consent to sharing a greater level of data with private businesses, a development that makes some in the intelligence community uneasy. (Read more about Obama’s cyber security push HERE)

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Obama May Get Congress to Cooperate After All, When They Vote to Override His Keystone XL Veto

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Photo Credit: TownHallSenator John Hoeven (R-ND) told Fox News’ Chris Wallace on Sunday that only 4 more votes are needed in order to override the veto on the Keystone XL pipeline that the Obama administration has promised.

He said this about the current vote count and what they’re doing about it:

“Right now we’ve got about 63, but we’re going to the floor with an open amendment process trying to foster more bipartisanship, getting the Senate to work the way it’s supposed to work so that we can pass this measure and other measures and either override the veto or attach the bill to other legislation either that will get 67 votes.”

Obviously, there is no question that it will pass, just as it did in the House — with 28 Democrat votes in support of the measure — on Friday.

Joe Manchin (D-WV) is a the co-sponsor of the bill and would be the frontman on any Democrat-corraling efforts. New Majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has said that it’s passage will be the first order of business for the Senate. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Obama, Top US Officials Fail to Attend Unity March Against Islamic Extremism

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Photo Credit: Fox News By Fox News. Attorney General Eric Holder is in Paris to attend a meeting on fighting terrorism, but did not participate in a march with world leaders Sunday to honor the 17 people killed last week in France.

More than 40 world leaders marched arm in arm through Paris to rally for unity and freedom of expression and to honor the victims of the three days of terrorist attacks.

The leaders headed a demonstration of at least tens of thousands of people who converged on the capital after three gunmen last week attacked a newspaper office, kosher supermarket and police.

Among the world leaders attending the event, under extremely tight security, are French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Holder is the top Obama administration official to attend the terrorism meeting. Secretary of State Kerry is in India attending an international investment conference and push to trade ties with the giant South Asian nation ahead of visit by President Obama later this month. (Read more about the top US official failing to attend HERE)

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Obama Fails to Attend Unity March as Well

By Newsmax. As many as 1.6 million people marched through Paris on Sunday in a massive show of unity and defiance in the face of terrorism that killed 17 people in France’s bleakest moment in half a century.

The march ended without major incident by 9 p.m. Sunday, Paris police said.

Their arms linked, more than 40 world leaders headed the somber procession, setting aside their differences for a manifestation that French President Francois Hollande said turned the city into “the capital of the world” . . .

Notable for his absence was President Barack Obama. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Critics Say Obama’s Math Doesn’t Add Up on Free Tuition

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Photo Credit: Pete SouzaBy Brian Hughes. President Obama’s plan to provide free tuition to community college students has landed with a thud among number crunchers, who argue that overburdened states cannot afford to fund the White House idea.

As a political strategy, “free tuition” is as appealing a message as Obama could devise heading into his final two years in office. But when pressed on funding the measure, it gets messier for the White House.

Even if Obama had the backing of Republicans to spend $60 billion in federal funds on the education program — he doesn’t — the White House still would have a money problem.

States would be on the hook for $20 billion over the next decade to send students to community college, even at a time when statehouses are funding a shrinking share of their higher education programs.

“I don’t know how states would pay for this,” said Neal McCluskey, associate director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom. “The assumption is states are willing to shell out more money if they can get additional federal dollars. But they’ll either have to raise taxes or slash spending somewhere else.” (Read more about how the free tuition won’t work HERE)

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Deciphering Obama’s Chemistry with Congress, or Lack of it

By Associated Press. He hardly ever calls. When he does, it’s all business.

And that’s President Barack Obama’s vibe with top Democrats on Capitol Hill.

With Republicans, there’s even less chemistry.

But GOP congressional leaders don’t show much inclination to buddy up to the president, either.

When the president sits down with eight top legislators — four from each party — at the White House on Tuesday, there’s little expectation it will usher in a new era of comity and cooperation. (Read more from this story HERE)

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UPDATE: French Police Kill Paris Massacre Suspects (+video)

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By Fox News. Near-simultaneous raids by French police Friday evening at locations 25 miles apart took out the Islamist brothers behind Wednesday’s massacre at a Paris satirical magazine and a cop-killing crony who had seized hostages at a Paris grocery on their behalf, but also left at least four hostages dead, according to authorities and reports from the scene.

The lightning-quick strikes ended two tense, hours-long standoffs, one at a printing plant north of the city and the other at a kosher supermarket on Paris’ east side, where four hostages were killed, as many as 15 were freed. A hostage held north of the city by the brothers, who killed 12 in a commando-style attack at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, was reportedly freed. The fast-moving developments, signaled by explosions and gunfire at a printing plant in Dammartin-en-Goele, followed by similar sounds at Hypercacher (Hyper Kosher), a Jewish supermarket in eastern Paris, brought to a climax a three-day terror ordeal and manhunt involving nearly 90,000 police and military personnel.

Cherif and Said Kouachi, the radicalized French-born slackers whose attack on Charlie Hebdo left two police officers among the dozen dead, were both killed in the first raid. The brothers, 32 and 34, respectively, are believed to have ties to Al Qaeda in Yemen, and military experts who viewed footage of their bloody, late-morning raid on Wednesday said they appeared to be well-trained terrorists. Charlie Hebdo had long angered Muslim radicals with its penchant for publishing cartoon images of Prophet Muhammed.

In Paris, police said Amedy Coulibaly, who is believed to have know the brothers and was suspected of killing Paris Police Officer Clarissa Jean-Philippe Thursday, as she attended to a routine traffic accident in the city, was killed in a raid moments later, ending his supermarket siege. Police had identified him and his longtime girlfriend, Hayat Boumeddiene, as suspects in the police killing, but her whereabouts were not immediately known. Police were searching for another possible suspect who may have escaped the grovery store siege, but it was not clear if that person was Boumeddiene. (Read more about the Paris massacre suspects HERE)

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Excellent Video Synopsis of How the Islamic Jihadists Were Taken Out


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Obama on France Attacks: ‘We’re Hopeful That the Immediate Threat Is Resolved’

By Fred Lucas. President Barack Obama said he hopes the immediate threat in Paris is over, while cautioning that the situation is still shifting.

Speaking after French police undertook twin operations to break sieges where the gunmen in the Charlie Hebdo massacre were holed up and where hostages were being held in a kosher supermarket, Obama said the U.S. and France are united in their values, calling France “our oldest ally.”

“We’re hopeful that the immediate threat is resolved,” Obama said. “The French government continues to face terrorism and has remained vigilant.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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Obama Proposes More Free Stuff from the Feds; this time, Community College

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Photo Credit: Daily CallerThe White House on Thursday announced a proposal that President Barack Obama said would make community college “free for everybody who is willing to work for it.” But administration officials provided no details about the program’s costs or where the money would come to pay for it.

Obama planned to formally announce the plan Friday at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee. He gave a preview in a videotaped message shot aboard Air Force One and posted on Facebook.

“It’s not just for kids,” Obama said. “We also have to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to constantly train themselves for better jobs, better wages, better benefits.”

Obama provided few specifics, and White House and Education Department officials on a conference call with reporters Thursday evening said the funding details would come out later with the president’s budget.

The White House did say that if all states participated, that nine million students could benefit — saving on average $3,800 in tuition per year for a full-time student. That means the program could cost in the billions of dollars. In a Republican-led Congress, the proposal likely faces a tough legislative fight to be passed. (Read more about the free community college program HERE)

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“He Doesn’t Care”: Obama Fails to Visit Phoenix Veterans Affair

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President Obama’s motorcade drove by a troubled Phoenix Veterans Affairs hospital but did not stop during his swing through the city touting the nation’s housing recovery.

The drive-by had reporters traveling with the president wondering whether he might stop by the hospital during his visit to Phoenix, but the motorcade continued straight to the high school where Obama delivered remarks about his latest executive action to cut mortgage insurance costs for borrowers using Federal Housing Administration loans.

It also spurred new criticism from Republicans, who along with vets groups, had called on Obama to visit the hospital located a mile from the school where he spoke.

“It is a testament to this president’s misplaced priorities that he would choose a photo op for his next executive action over visiting the VA hospital where veterans died on secret government waiting lists instead of getting care,” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., early this week had urged Obama to make a stop at the VA hospital, and vet groups have been equally vocal in urging the president to visit. (Read more about Obama failing to visit Phoenix Veterans Affair HERE)

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Obama Refuses to Call Paris Attack ‘Islamic’ and Rush Limbaugh Brings Up President’s Birth Certificate

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By Jerome R. Corsi. In response to the attack on the Paris magazine that published editorial cartoons mocking Islam, President Obama reluctantly classified it as an act of terrorism while refusing to associate it with Islam.

“I strongly condemn the horrific shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris that has reportedly killed 12 people,” Obama said in a carefully worded statement released by the White House press office.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this terrorist attack and the people of France at this difficult time. France is America’s oldest ally and has stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States in the fight against terrorists who threaten our shared security and the world.”

Speaking in both French and English, Secretary of State John Kerry expressed U.S. solidarity with France against the “extremism” reflected in the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo. He also took care to characterize the attack as terrorism without specifically characterizing it as “Islamic terrorism.” (Read more from “Obama Refuses to Call Paris Attack ‘Islamic'” HERE)

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Rush Limbaugh Brings Up Obama’s Birth Certificate

By Joe Kovacs. Historians are still buzzing about the 1795 Boston time capsule that was buried by American patriots Paul Revere and Samuel Adams.

Among them is radio host and U.S. history author Rush Limbaugh, who said on Wednesday’s broadcast:

Because of our children’s book series, ‘Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims,’ the fact that a time capsule that was planted, if you will, by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams was opened yesterday in Boston … is uncanny news to us!

Paul Revere and Samuel Adams left a time capsule. It was found, and it was opened yesterday. It did not contain Obama’s birth certificate. Many people were thinking that it might. But it didn’t.

(Read more from this story HERE)

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White House Advisers Recommending Veto of Keystone Bill

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By Reuters. President Barack Obama’s advisers will recommend he veto a House bill approving construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline if the legislation reaches his desk, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday.

Republican senators started the new U.S. Congress on Tuesday with legislation to approve TransCanada Corp’s pipeline from Canada to the United States and White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama would not sign it. (Read more about the threatened veto of Keystone Bill HERE)

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Obama Blasted for Veto Threat on Keystone

By Fox News. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted President Obama on Wednesday for vowing to veto the first bill of the new, Republican-controlled Senate — legislation to approve the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline.

In his first major floor speech as majority leader, the Kentucky Republican pushed for bipartisan cooperation on major issues but said it could “only be achieved if, if, President Obama is interested in it.”

He added: “And I assure you, threatening to veto a jobs and infrastructure bill within minutes of a new Congress taking the oath of office — a bill with strong bipartisan support — is anything but productive.”

McConnell’s top lieutenants echoed his concerns, with Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, calling the “premature” veto threats “deeply irresponsible and troubling.”

The White House on Tuesday threatened to veto two pieces of legislation being produced by the new Congress — one related to ObamaCare and the economy, and the other on the Keystone pipeline. On Wednesday, the White House issued formal statements vowing to veto the bills. (Read more about this story HERE)

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Obama is Killing Young America’s Future

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Photo Credit: Personal Liberty President Barack Obama was able to sail into the Oval Office twice thanks largely to his campaign efforts to woe young, idealistic voters into believing that “hope,” “change” and, of course, massive student loan forgiveness and basically free insurance were on the horizon. Now, young people are paying for having been fooled twice as Young America’s Foundation reports that its Youth Misery Index numbers for 2014 reached a record high.

The YMI is calculated by compiling information on youth unemployment, average graduating student debt (in thousands), and national debt per capita (in thousands). For 2014, the foundation reports that the YMI hit 106.5, up from 98.6 in 2013.

The increase is attributed to youth unemployment hovering around 18.1 percent last year as nearly 6 million young Americans between 16 and 24 were unable to find jobs. Making the problem worse, college graduates shouldered an average student loan debt burden of $30,000 for 2014, according to the index.

National debt per capita, meanwhile, was the highest ever for 2014 at $58,400. (Read more on how Obama is killing young America’s future HERE)

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