Culture wars – War on religion
No Deal! Bishops to Administration: You Can’t Force Lay Catholics to Act Against Faith
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Well, you aren’t supposed to.  But talk to the administrators of, say Henry VIII or Elizabeth I and see how THEY forced Catholics to act against their faith.  Do such things as burning at the stake, drawing and quartering, and just plain executions bring any thoughts?  As in the 1500s and 1600s, Catholics have brought this on themselves by cooperating for too long with government for their own power, and then suddenly realizing their necks were in the noose.

Theft by government
Fed Has Bought More U.S. Gov’t Debt This Year Than Treasury Has Issued
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Sounds impossible until you remember all the old debt.

Mama’s Note: Eating the seed corn…

Theft by government
CBO: Federal Revenue to Set Record in 2013
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: But it can’t keep up with spending.  Picture a water bucket turned upside down.  Even if the entire bottom of the bucket is torn out, because of the shape of the bucket, water can flow out faster than you can pour it in.  Especially when you have spray nozzles on the sides pumping “borrowed” water in as well.

Congress in Action – Hoploclasts
Rep. Sarbanes: Some Gun Makers Build Sales Models on Assumption 20% ‘Will Get Sold Illegally’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: This claim seems highly unlikely to be true: what on earth difference would it make to the manufacturer?  And WHY would they do this given the current state of gun politics?

Mama’s Note: I hadn’t heard that one before, but it’s possible. Lots of nutty stuff going on right now. What these manufacturers need to remember is that a lot of serious gun owners – read CUSTOMERS – are taking note of those businesses which cooperate with or cater to the gun grabbers. And when the smoke clears, a fair number of these cowardly collaborators will find themselves facing the wrath of their former customers, and stiff competition from all of the new players in the game… including the 3D printers.

Home front – The “messiah’s” minions
Mold? Roofing Problems? Clutter? Obama Administration Launches ‘Healthy Housing Strategy’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Seems to me that this is a personal problem – or perhaps might involve some local agency when the landlord and tenant can’t agree or when a seller or Realtor does not provide the truth during the sales process.

African collapse – Islamic wars: Arab street revolt (2 stories)
Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chair: Obama Talked to Them Only Once on Night of Benghazi Attack
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: I am surprised there was a need or desire to talk even once.  It is now obvious that this was all planned out in advance.  Same for the next story.

Clinton and Panetta Never Talked During Benghazi Terror Attacks
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Of course not – the decision had already been made that the military would not be involved.

The “messiah’s” minions – Stupid map
Is Waterboarding Torture? Brennan: ‘I’m Not a Lawyer’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Not much of a bureaucrat or “leader” either, if he takes this out.  Doesn’t take a law degree to know what is theft or murder or self-defense; torture is pretty clearly determined “by causal observation” as well.

World wars – The “messiah’s” minions (wannabe division)
Brennan: Al-Qaeda and Associates the Only Terrorists Currently in ‘Armed Conflict’ With U.S.
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Well, that is a relief, I thought that Chuck Baldwin and the Family Research Council and all the various militias – to say nothing of this rogue cop Dornan – were all involved in “armed conflict.”  Whew!

Politics 2013
White House: GOP Cuts Harm ‘Seniors, Middle Class, Disabled Kids’ to Benefit Oil Companies
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: More bogus (and perhaps desperate) propaganda from the “messiah” and his minions.  The GOP really doesn’t care about benefiting anyone but themselves: augmenting their own power and wealth.  It doesn’t matter whether it is oil companies or windfarm companies or pot-growers.

Mama’s Note: And, of course, in the long run such “cuts” only hurt those who are firmly attached to entitlements, gladly living off stolen goods. Otherwise, substantial cuts might free them to live their own lives. Unfortunately, I suspect few would choose that route.

The “messiah” (2 stories)
Obama: Everything Discussed at Prayer Breakfast ‘Forgotten on the Same Day’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: To me, this seems to be a tacit admission that he does not believe in God – at least not in an active and providential god.  If he means forgotten by other men and women – duh, what is new?

Mama’s Note: The very idea of this liar and murderer daring to conduct a “prayer meeting’ is an abomination. Such hypocrisy would be incredible if it didn’t happen so often.

Obama:‘I Often Search Scripture to Figure Out How I Can Be a Better Man as Well as Better President’
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: Soothing and popular words: all the fence sitters and those who claim to support him because of their religious beliefs must be applauding and crying “Praise Jesus” (or perhaps, “Praise O****”?).  My question is, (and I’m being nasty) WHICH Scriptures?  Mein Kampf?  Das Kapital?  the “holy Koran?”  the Tanakh?  the Bible? the collected speeches of MLKJr?

Mama’s Note: Remember that we are told Satan can quote every scripture. Puts me in mind of the “Screwtape Letters,” by C. S. Lewis

The “messiah’s” minions (wannabe)
Interior Secretary Nominee ‘Not Proud’ of ‘Commuting Footprint’ of REI Employees
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: This nominee sends a very clear signal that the management of the nation’s public lands will take a complete “recreation” and “conservation” orientation, and that such “evil” things as mining, logging, grazing, and water/oil/gas production will be even MORE restricted or outright banned.  And the recreation will certainly NOT be anything to do with hunting or off-road vehicles or anything like that:  the only thing that REI sells that has to do with “hunting” are knives; the only things they sell for “off-road vehicles” are shoes (SERIOUSLY!!! ) and a couple of “jump starters.”  All recreation will be limited to hiking, biking (and by that I mean “bicycles” and not Harleys or Victory bikes), fishing, photography, and (I suppose) navel gazing.  Expect most national parks to become “access by foot, bike, or bus only” – private vehicles discouraged or not permitted at all.  Expect more and more prohibitions of motorized traffic – roadless areas, even if the roads existing have to be ripped out.

Home front – Polls
Pew: 53% of Americans Now Say Government Threatens Their Rights and Freedoms
(CNSNews.com)

Nathan: But I suspect that not more than 3% are willing to do anything about it other than whinge – maybe another useless letter or petition or call to DC, but no action to prepare for what is now inevitable.

Mama’s Note: Well… we just don’t really know. I suspect there are at least that many, but there is a good possibility there are a lot more of us who simply have kept their mouths shut and stayed under the radar. In any case, 3% of 310 million people is a serious number…

Home front
Liberal Ex-Cop Rampages Across Southern California: Regional LEOs Panic
(Godfather Politics) – A good summary of what is going on and what is singularly lacking from the mainstream media reports.

Nathan:  What a soap opera!!!  At the same time, if you have time to read 11,000 words, read this guy’s manifesto at http://www.legitgov.org/Uncensored-copy-rogue-LAPD-officers-manifesto-0 to see into the mind of a truly mad and evil man, who cannot see the inconsistency of his own thoughts: a truly modern American man.  I can see WHY the MSM is censoring his manifesto and why the LAPD WANTS them to: it is not just all the things that he states (and gives names and dates and details) about LAPD, it is because if they cut out all his tirade about guns and manufacturers who kill people and all his praise of the First Citizen and the First Citizen’s Wife and all the other Tranzi politicos – what is left is yet ANOTHER poster child for Tranzi gun control: a rogue cop, Naval Reserve officer, insane or unstable, with “assault weapons” and other nasty stuff (even a .50-cal!!!).  WITH all the details, he becomes a much more sinister example of a vicious hoploclast and Transi elite: someone who is so hateful of, and fearful of, guns in anyone’s hands but his own and an elite, that he is willing to go out and kill without any real justification with the intent of forcing the gun bans into effect.  Right now, I see him as a sick and tragic figure and yet another very strong argument for personal self-defense with every possible weapon.  Personal self-defense especially against the occupation force (police forces) that are so dysfunctional that they create monsters like him.

Home front
Winter Storm Nemo: Why Is It Named That
(SCRIBD)

Nathan: The Weather Channel (TWC) is a daily feature of life for millions of Americans, and is (together with many competitors) showing that the National Weather Service (NWS) is a worthless government monopoly like virtually everything else they do.  This naming of storms is an example of how private business can and does do better than government.  And – surprise, surprise – the government agency doesn’t like it.  And neither do a lot of meteorologists who would, apparently rather get their data free from NWS and so continue to lick their boots, than pay what a service is worth.  Private weather services make their money in several ways: TWC is an example of advertising revenues coupled with making weather entertaining, including their documentaries and rapid-fire information covering the whole world.  Most TV/radio meteorologists are also paid with advertising revenues, but their employers are firm statists and wedded to the idea of NWS as a “free” government agency paid for out of general taxes: that is, theft and no fees for service in a voluntary exchange.  I don’t necessarily like TWC and its politics (particularly its adherence to the religion of global warming) but I applaud their willingness to do what they think will generate revenue for them and tell the government to stuff it.