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Politics, Video

From his vacation, a “really angry” Bill O’Reilly called into his program Monday night to rip New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and call for his resignation.

“Look, I’m going to walk through this in a very methodical way because I want everybody to hear what I’m saying very clearly because I’m going to send a big message tonight on ‘The Factor,’” O’Reilly said at the outset of the segment.

“You have a mayor that comes in, a man named Bill de Blasio. He is a far left individual, who is incompetent,” O’Reilly said. “He cannot run the city of New York.”

O’Reilly said the murder of two NYPD officers was not de Blasio’s fault, contending “no one else has blood on their hands” except the shooter.

The talk show host, however, argued that the NYC mayor has a history of being anti-police and will never regain the trust of the NYPD.

“Who’s his best friend? Al Sharpton. Al Sharpton. A racial provocateur and anti-cop individual is de Blasio’s best friend. That says it all,” O’Reilly said.

“This is an individual who should resign today,” he added. “He cannot run this city, he’s lost the control of the police department, and their respect.”

“They will never come back, no matter what he says, because he sided with the protesters … and he has disgraced the office of mayor of New York City,” O’Reilly concluded. “He should resign.”

From his vacation, a “really angry” Bill

US, Video

(Warning: Content contains disturbing language with expletives): Just hours after two NYPD officers were gunned down execution style while sitting in their patrol car Saturday, Ferguson protesters took to the streets in St. Louis and caught on video taunting officers with a phrase the cop killer used on Instagram just before committing the murders.

”Pigs in a blanket! Fry ‘em like bacon!” the protestors shouted as police officers stood in a line.

Prominent radical pro-Palestinian activist Bassem Masri helped lead the chant. Masri has been live-streaming demonstrations in and around Ferguson, Missouri. Masri’s UStream video account features several video clips that were recorded Saturday night, with at least two of them containing the ”Pigs in a blanket! Fry ‘em like bacon!” chant.

Similarly, in the days leading up to the NYPD killings, protestors organized and marching with Al Sharpton were caught on video chanting “What Do We Want? Dead Cops!”

”Pigs in a blanket! Fry ‘em like

Economy

(Photo: REUTERS)

Existing home sales fell to a six-month low in November after two straight months of gains, underscoring the underlaying weakness of the housing market recovery.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on Monday existing home sales dropped 6.1 percent to an annual rate of 4.93 million units, the lowest level since May.

“Fewer people bought homes last month despite interest rates being at their lowest levels of the year,” Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist said. “The stock market swings in October may have impacted some consumers’ psyches and therefore led to fewer November closings. Furthermore, rising home values are causing more investors to retreat from the market.”

Economists polled by Reuters had expected sales to fall only to a 5.20-million unit pace.

October’s sales pace was revised to 5.25 million units, down from 5.26 million units, while November’s decline may signal a weakening trend fueled by low inventories.

The housing market has struggled in the second half of 2013 in the wake of a small increase in mortgage rates, which have since pulled back from their peaks. Even with increased government involvement, which once again is artificially injecting risk into the market, it is barely propping up sales.

The National Mortgage Risk Index (NMRI) for Agency purchase loans rose in November to 11.69 percent, up from the average of 11.29 percent for the prior three months (revised). The risk indices for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the FHA, and the VA all hit series highs in November

Housing has been hurt badly by slow-to-zero wage growth in the U.S. economy, as well as a shortage of properties available for sale at affordable rates and higher home prices are sidelined first-time buyers.

“Lagging homebuilding activity continues to hamstring overall housing supply and is still too low in relation to this year’s promising job growth,” said Yun. “Much faster price and rent appreciation – easily exceeding wage growth – will occur next year unless new construction picks up measurably.”

Existing home sales fell to a six-month

US

russell-simmons

Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons gives an interview to CNN.

Without the Twitter aggregator site Twitchy, one might be fooled by the latest attempt by hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons to present himself as a decent advocate for meaningful change. Simmons, a known leftist and previous supporter of the anarchist Occupy Wall Street movement, tweeted out his condolences following the execution-style shooting of two NYPD officers by a black gunman claiming “revenge” for Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

Simmons later followed up with another tweet claiming he loves the police. Except, the man who wrote a book advocating meditation as a means to calm ourselves before making rash decisions, deleted a tweet that stated ‘F*** THE POLICE UNION’ that he sent out commenting on police protests in New York City and nationwide.

russell-simmons-tweet-nypd

Tweet from Russell Simmons, which is now deleted. (Image: Twitchy)

Well, if you bought that book, then it’s safe to say you wasted your money. Either this man doesn’t practice what he preaches, or he is flat-out full of it. I’m going with option two.

Of course, Simmons might have been a bit aggravated that day for having to defend his precious peaceful protestors, who had just been caught on video screaming “What Do We Want? Dead Cops!” Still, I, like Twitchy, am a bit unclear on what about that story constitutes propaganda, unlike say, perpetuating the “hands up, don’t shoot” lie that forensic evidence and witness testimony prove never even happened.

Second, if Simmons didn’t make a typo, or actually mean to say “start policing themselves” rather than “stop policing themselves,” then he should be asked who it is he is suggesting police the police, if not themselves.

Occupy Wall Street? Eric Holder and the Justice Department, perhaps? Or, some other vigilante group without authority or oversight?

Nevertheless, the “propaganda” that Mr. Simmons is talking about was pretty prophetic in hindsight.

Recently, NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley made headlines for criticizing the media, so-called black leaders and other role models, specifically Russell Simmons, for jumping to conclusions over the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Barkley defended the police — and, of Simmons in particular — said he is part of a larger culture that demonize black Americans who try to get ahead.

“There’s a perception among some black people that if you’re not a thug, a hood rat or you don’t wear your pants around your ass, then you’re not black enough,” Barkley said of Simmons and others. “And they’re always holding us back, plain and simple.”

Yup, sounds like Russell. In fact, it sounds like a typical radical leftist, who preys on the ignorant and angry on the fringe of society, and to hell with the consequences. Simmons, like other useful idiots, sadly always lack the courage to even defend themselves when their true colors are exposed.

Shameful.

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons was caught by

Politics

Elizabeth Blaine, a 10-year-old student from New Jersey, received a standing ovation for speaking out against Common Core at a meeting for the Board of Education. Elizabeth appeared on Fox and Friends on Monday to discuss the reasons she chose to speak out against the national Common Core standards, stating she was “honored” every one gave her such “respect” and a positive response.

According to a recent PPD report, Common Core is losing both the public opinion and policy wars, as more and more teachers, public school parents and, perhaps most important the children, all are increasing their support for repeal.

“It would seem that the more parents learn about Common Core, the less they like it,” said PPD’s senior political analyst Richard D. Baris, who conducted the prior report. “Opponents of Common Core have long alleged that they were up to the challenge of defeating a federal government takeover of education. They come from all ranks of the education system and all political parties.”

Although 46 states initially signed on to all or part of Common Core in return for stimulus money, which critics say amounted to a federal bribe, states such as Indiana, Oklahoma and South Carolina have repealed it. Now, various other states, including Tennessee, Missouri, North Carolina, and Louisiana are headed down the same road, while Alaska, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia never signed on in the first place.

“Their movement [opponents] has always had the advantage of Americans’ deep cynicism toward federal involvement in education,” Baris added. “For now, at least, opponents of Common Core are enjoying the momentum in both the policy and public opinion wars.”

(Video: H/T RightSightings)

Elizabeth Blaine, a 10-year-old student from New

World

beji-caid-essebsi

Beji Caid Essebsi, head of the Tunisian movement ‘Nidaa Tounes’ and the party’s presidential candidate, addresses supporters during a presidential electoral campaign rally in Monastir. (Photo: Vox)

Beji Caid Essebsi, the 88-year-old former speaker of parliament under the government of fallen dictator Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, claimed victory in Tunisia’s first democratic presidential election. According to one unofficial poll, Essebsi enjoys a lead of 55 percent, while the secular Nida Tunis party controls the parliament.

Still, Moncef Marzouki, the other candidate in the runoff and the current interim president, has refused to concede defeat in the election. Final results will be announced later Monday.

Supporters hope and believe that Essebsi will bring the country stability, but already clashed broke out as thousands gathered to celebrate the election results in Tunis. The southern city of Hamma was filled with young critics who believe that his election is a setback for the revolution due to his affiliation with the Ben Ali regime.

The presidential runoff brings an end to four years of democratic transition in Tunisia.

Beji Caid Essebsi claimed victory in Tunisia’s

World

France-terror-attack

Dec. 21, 2014: This photo provided by local newspaper Le Bien Public shows rescue workers tending at victims after a driver deliberately slammed into passersby in several spots in Dijon, central France. (AP Photo/Christian Guileminot; Le Bien Public)

French officials confirmed that 13 people were injured Sunday when a driver deliberately ran down crowds of pedestrians in the city of Dijon in eastern France. Witnesses told police that the driver was heard shouting “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is great!” in Arabic.

Sky News also reported that witnesses heard the driver shouting that he was doing it for “the children of Palestine” as he drove into people in various locations throughout the city. The ordeal lasted approximately 30 minutes, and two of the injuries were described as serious.

The Interior Ministry said the driver in Sunday’s car attack was a 40-year-old in a Renault Clio and is known by police for committing minor offenses in the 1990s. Eric Delzant, a local police official, told Europe 1 radio the driver, who was detained, suffered from psychological problems.

French officials Monday cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the attacker or his motives, an approach critics say has allowed Islamic radicalism to fester in French communities. France, a nation that has both the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe, has seen a significant increase in anti-Semitic acts this year. During the 50-day war over the summer between the terror organization Hamas and the Israeli state, the country was the scene of some of the most anti-Semitic protests in the world.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that the investigation in Dijon was just beginning, and that the government has stepped up security measures for police and other authorities.

The Sunday night rampage comes just one a day after a 20-year-old attacker took a knife to police in the town of Joue-les-Tours, which is located in central France. Counter-terrorist police are still investigating the attack that seriously injured two police officers,  but police believe the now-deceased attacker was motivated by radical Islam.

Yet, Cazeneuve would only describe the station attack as “very unstable” during an interview with TF1.

While the Islamic State group and other terrorist organizations have repeatedly called for attacks against France, notably because of the French military’s participation in U.S.-led airstrikes in Iraq, other “lone wolf” attackers have a healthy anti-Semetic sentiment in the country to draw on already. Islamic extremists specifically said that those attacking the French government could use weapons easily at hand — such as cars or knives — to stage “lone wolf” attacks.

Despite the leader’s downplaying nature regarding radical Islamic in the past, Cazeneuve was actually doing to Dijon on Monday.

Officials in France confirmed that the driver

Politics

cop-killer-joanne-chesimard

This is an undated picture provided by the New Jersey State Police showing Assata Shakur – the former Joanne Chesimard. (Photo: NJ State Police)

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is calling on President Obama to demand that Cuba return convicted cop-killer Joanne Chesimard before normalizing diplomatic relations with that country.

Chesimard was found guilty of killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973 before she escaped from prison and fled to Cuba, where notorious socialist dictator President Fidel Castro gave her asylum. Fidel’s brother Raul, an equally oppressive tyrant, now leads the still-communist country.

The 67-year-old Chesimard, who now goes by the name of Assata Shakur in Cuba, has been given safe haven by the Cuban government ever since.

“Cuba’s provision of safe harbor to Chesimard by providing political asylum to a convicted cop killer … is an affront to every resident of our state, our country, and in particular, the men and women of the New Jersey State Police,” Christie wrote in a letter. “I urge you to demand the immediate return of Chesimard before any further consideration of restoration of diplomatic relations with the Cuban government.”

Christie sent the letter to Obama on Friday, which was just two days after the president announced he plans to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba with communist Cuba and end the roughly 50 years of economic embargoes and travel restrictions. President Obama claims the policy change will influence generational change in the country, but the outcome of the policy is certainly debatable, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have slammed the decision, particularly Cuban-American Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

“President Obama’s actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government,” Sen. Menedez, the outgoing Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman said in a statement. “This asymmetrical trade will invite further belligerence toward Cuba’s opposition movement and the hardening of the government’s dictatorial hold on its people.”

In the letter, Christie makes perfectly clear he doesn’t agree with the president’s decision, and comes down on the side of Sens. Rubio and Menendez, the latter of which hails from his home state.

“Despite my profound disagreement with the decision, I believe there is an opportunity for Cuba and its government to show the American people it is serious about change,” the New Jersey governor wrote.

Christie also said the families of Chesimard’s victims “like so many of those who have, and continue to suffer under the Castro regime, deserve this basic decency before further steps toward Cuba are taken by this government.”

Unsurprisingly, the governor has the full support of the New Jersey State Police, who along with the FBI, are offering $2 million for information leading to her capture.

“We view any changes in relations with Cuba as an opportunity to bring her back to the United States to finish her sentence for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper in 1973,” State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes said in a statement.

“We continue to work closely with the FBI towards the capture of Joanne Chesimard, a convicted felon and fugitive who escaped from jail in 1979 and remains on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List, as well as New Jersey’s Most Wanted List,” Fuentes added. “We stand by the reward money and hope that the total of two million dollars will prompt fresh information in the light of the altered relationship.”

The FBI designated Chesimard (aka Assata Shakur) a domestic terrorist and she is the first woman to be placed on the agency’s Most Wanted Terrorist List.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is calling

Politics

John-McCain-Egypt

FILE: Aug. 6, 2013: GOP Arizona Sen.John McCain talks at a press conference in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo: AP)

Top Republicans Sunday slammed President Obama for downplaying North Korea’s cyber attacks on Sony Pictures Entertainment (NYSE:SNE), saying he is once again slow to respond. They took issue with the president calling it “cybervandalism,” warning that the weakness could set a dangerous precedent.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” that Obama should have responded to the Sony cyber attack already, rather than only issuing empty vows to respond.

On Friday, after Sony canceled the release of its new comedy “The Interview,” the FBI finally officially blamed North Korea for the act that GOP lawmakers say amounts to “a new form of warfare.”

Further, though Obama acknowledged the attacks were damaging, he said only that “we will respond,” which came after White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said there are a “range of options,” yet named none.

“We need a proportional response,” Earnest said.

Rep. Rogers said that Obama’s response was lacking before “saying aloha” and taking off to Hawaii.

“I don’t think that’s enough,” he said. “The press conference should have been: Here are the actions. Unfortunately, he’s laid out a little of the playbook.”

The outrage comes from comments Obama made on CNN’s “State of the Union,” which aired on Sunday but was taped on Friday. Obama said that the United States is still deciding how to respond to acts of “cybervandalism” against an American company, but also said the U.S. is reviewing whether to put North Korea back on its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

He echoed the sentiment that the U.S. would  respond “proportionately” and wouldn’t be “intimidated by some cyber hackers,” but offered no sense of urgency or details.

That’s just not enough for House and Senate lawmakers, who say they have been ringing the alarm on the urgency of cyber warfare for years, but found a president unwilling to act.

“It is a new form of warfare, and we have to counter that form of warfare with a better form of warfare,” Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain told CNN.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Sunday the Sony cyber attack was “an act of terrorism” and at least proposed re-imposing harsher, Bush-era sanctions on North Korea that have worked in the past, as well as putting the country back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

“Make it so hard on the North Koreans that they don’t want to do this in the future,” he said on CBS’s “Face the Nation. “The president calls this an act of vandalism. That just really bothers me greatly. It is an act of terrorism. And I hope he will respond forcefully.”

North Korea spent two decades on the list until the Bush administration removed it in 2008 during nuclear negotiations, but only after previously imposed sanctions began to bring the regime to its knees. Now, just Iran, Sudan, Syria and Cuba remain on the list, which means required sanctions are imposed that limit U.S. aid, defense exports and various different financial transactions.

But Republicans argue there is a more fundamental problem with the administration’s approach.

Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, said the Obama administration has been reluctant to define in no uncertain terms what constitutes a cyber attack, whether it is an act of war and, if so, what the consequences of such an attack will be. Rep. Meehan notes that the House bill dealing with cyber security already passed both houses of Congress and has awaited President Obama’s signature for quite some time.

Meanwhile, North Korea threatened to strike back at the United States if Obama retaliated or re-added the regime to the list of state sponsors of terror. The National Defense Commission issued the threat in a statement via the country’s official Korean Central News Agency, but like Obama, offered no details of a possible response.

Sony argues it canceled the cinema release of the movie not because they were bullied, but because distributors were refusing to show it. The company has pledged to find a way to get the film out.

Further, during the CNN interview, Obama again criticized Sony’s decision, despite Sony’s CEO has disputing that the company never reached out, claiming he spoke to a senior White House adviser about the situation before the company announced the decision.

The president said during his end of the year press conference that “I wish they would have called me first,” which prompted the head of Sony to say in an interview that they did.

“You know, had they talked to me directly about this decision, I might have called the movie theater chains and distributors and asked them what that story was,” he said.

White House officials said Sony did discuss cyber security with the federal government, but that the White House was never consulted on the decision not to distribute the film.

Top Republicans Sunday slammed President Obama for

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