Northrop-Airbus Dropping from Air Tanker Bid

One year ago I wrote about an air tanker bid that was awarded to Northrop and Airbus (technically EADS- Paris-based European Aeronautic Defence & Space).  The new tanker was to be built on the Airbus 330, a French aircraft.   Northrop was basically going to build the tanker boom and some avionics and Airbus was building the aircraft.  

My problem with the deal was that Boeing had submitted a lower bid that complied with the terms listed.  My bigger problem though was huge number of jobs and the money that would be going to France (Airbus/EADS), instead of to Americans (Boeing).  Also at that time, France had objected to EU Defense contracts being open to American companies.

There was a political uproar over the deal.  The GAO investigated and the USAF re-bid the contract.

Now, one year later, it finally looks like there will be a resolution favorable to American workers.  Northrop announced this week they are dropping from the tanker bid.   This appears to leave Boeing as the only bidder and the default winner of the contract

According to the Boeing bid, the new tanker will be built on the Boeing 767 airframe.   This is assembled in Wichita and Seattle. 

So, sometime this spring or early summer, the USAF will finally award the contract.  Hopefully this time, the new USAF tanker will be the KC-767 and will finally create American jobs instead of new jobs for France.

Boeing currently builds the KC-767 for both the Japanese Air Defense Force and the Italian Air Force in Wichita, Kansas.

Northrop-Airbus Dropping from Air Tanker Bid

Breaking: Actor Corey Haim Dead at 38

This was just on Fox News...Actor Corey Haim, of The Lost Boys died...appears to be accidental... there are also reports that the "accidental" part may be a drug overdose...

UPDATE:
LAPD is saying the death does appear to be from an accidental overdose and there will be an autopsy.  Haim was 38.

Breaking: Actor Corey Haim Dead at 38

Chief Justice Says State of Union 'very troubling'

Chief Justice Roberts, responding to a student's question today at the University of Alabama School of Law, said that people DO have the right to criticize the Court, but...

"On the other hand, there is the issue of the setting, the circumstances and the decorum.

"The image of having the members of one branch of government standing up, literally surrounding the Supreme Court, cheering and hollering while the court—according the requirements of protocol—has to sit there expressionless, I think is very troubling."

This was of course in response to this year's State of the Union, where Obama publically and incorrectly rebuked the court.

Chief Justice Says State of Union 'very troubling'

Believing Massa about Rahm Emanuel

UPDATE- after watching Glenn Beck's interview- and Beck was correct, it was a waste of time- I will say that there seems a lot more to this story that will come out soon.  I am NOT saying I totally believe former Rep. Eric Massa.   However, I will also state the shower scene that was described, still comes across like it was real.


ORIGINAL POST-
The shower scene, as told by Rep Eric Massa, definitely sounds like something out of a movie- or a certain White House Based Television Series. Maybe that is because a character in a White House Based Television Series was based on Rahm Emanuel. Perhaps the pure chutzpah of Emanuel confronting Massa naked in the shower is what leads me to believe that Massa may very well be telling the truth.

Let's take a look at Rahm Emanuel- aka Rahmbo (which Josh Lyman was called also- after telling a Senator he could shove his "legislative agenda up his ass")

He is a trained ballet dancer (by the way, West Wing fans will remember Josh Lyman also saying when he was four he wanted to be a ballet dancer).

He is short- somewhere between 5'5" and 5'7" and in my personal opinion probably suffers from Short Man Syndrome or Napoleon Complex.

He is a devoted Jew and served as a civilian volunteer the Israeli Defense Forces during the first- half of the Gulf War (i.e. 1991- there was NO Second Gulf War- the "First" War ended in cease fire that was violated by Iraq- therefore, the "second" war was just the war restarting). This is one thing I actually respect about Emanuel.

Rahm Emanuel's father Benjamin was a member of the Irgun. The fact that his father was a member of Irgun -and not the Haganah- I believe to be significant. The Irgun was a militant break-off of the Haganah, and is known for the bombing of the King David Hotel on July 22, 1946. Rahm was raised by an active militant- that some called terrorist.

Emanuel has a foul mouth- YouTube has a compilation of his use of the "F" word on various TV shows.

He has been reported to have a Bugsy Siegel style when it comes to fund raising- insulting and embarrassing contributors and hanging up on them. The contributors call back and donate more.

He "cautioned" (one report says "threatened") PM Tony Blair at one point, telling him not to "f--- it up" as Blair was walking out to make a statement with Clinton.

After the 1992 Clinton Election, Emanuel was witnessed sitting at a dinner table with George Stephanopoulos and others, screaming a list of Clinton enemies names and stabbing a steak knife into the table and saying "Dead! Dead! Dead!"

He sent a wrapped dead, rotting fish to a pollster who irritated him.  (This also was part of a West Wing Episode with Josh Lyman sending the dead fish).

So, with this kind of history- and I am only scratching the surface here- I would tend to believe the story Massa tells- at least about Emanuel.

This is who we have running the operations of the White House- a guy who probably would have done well in the Chicago Mafia and who has no problem forcing his will on whoever and however he wants.

(I know, based site reports, that I have readers both in Congress and the White House- or at least readers on those networks- I look forward to any obscene call I may personally get from Mr. Emanuel. I will report it to you all if I do.)

Believing Massa about Rahm Emanuel

Back to Writing

Today I am returning to writing. I have been ill, and unfortunately, this has caused my psoriatic-arthritis to flair and typing has been painful.

However, I am feeling better and, God willing, I will be able to keep writing without further interruption.

By the way- If you have Psoriasis- or a family history of Psoriasis, and have joint pain PLEASE see a rheumatologist right away. Psoriasis, with joint pain could be Psoriatic Arthritis. This condition should always be taken seriously as it can cause permanent joint damage as well as ongoing pain. The Psoriasis Foundation is a great resource on Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA).

Back to Writing

The Case- McDonald v. Chicago

The case of the decade was heard today, McDonald v. Chicago.  The importance of this case is that this case will determine if the Second Amendment applies to the states as well as to the federal government.

Unfortunately, I have been fighting a cold today, so I did not get to listen to the arguments.   However, the transcript of the case arguments can be found here.

I will be reviewing the case later tomorrow and provide my thoughts and opinion on it as time allows.

The Case- McDonald v. Chicago

Biggest Threat to Civil Rights- Poll- The US Government

In a CNN/Opinion Research poll- 56% believe that the US Government is the greatest threat to Civil Rights.  Go figure....

What ever happened to the oath that Federal Office holders are supposed to take- that they will "support and defend the Constitution?" 

The breakdown of the poll was interesting as well.. 37% of Democrats and 63% of Independents, as well as 70% of Republicans all think the Government- the organization that is supposed to guarantee our rights, is the biggest threat to them.

Perhaps it is time to re-evaluate the idea that it is only the "right-wing" nut jobs that feel the government is a threat...  Seems to me that it is your average Joe on the street that feels that way...

By the way, I feel that way as well.

Biggest Threat to Civil Rights- Poll- The US Government

Job Cuts Coming- Because of Obama Budget

For all the jobs that Obama claims to be creating, there are 23,000 minimum that he will directly be getting rid of, because of his budget.

These are not low-end, minimum wage jobs.  Many of these are very high end engineering jobs.  These are jobs at NASA.

Thanks to Obama's budget- cutting the Constellation Program- and the end of the Shuttle program, thousands of jobs at NASA are gone- or going.  Additionally there are a large number of contracting jobs as well as support jobs that are going as well.

This is just the job impact.   There is no way to calculate the damage to the economy or to discovery and invention that will take place, now that Obama is ending manned space flight.

Of course, I am sure this is just part of our Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet's President's plan-- after all, those people made too much money. I am sure he just wants to make sure that their wealth is redistributed to others...

If you want to understand more about Chairman Barack Hussein Obama's plan for managing the country, may I suggest reading the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx.

Job Cuts Coming- Because of Obama Budget

Coming Down from the High- People Snapping from Obama Disillusion?

Earlier today I read a very good article that asked the question, Is Disillusionment With Media-Created Obama Causing People to Snap?

This is definitely a question worth asking. After all, the Obama-mania crowd was sure by now that Gitmo would be closed (and I am sure some were thinking that the Bush Administration would be charged with crimes), the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would be ended, and none of us (on the right at least) will forget the "giddy" women who said Obama would pay her gas and mortgage.

Now we are a year and a month down the road, the mid-term election season is starting and we are nowhere near where Obama promised we would be.

Obama is still blaming the Bush Administration for all problems and claiming successes that are not his (such as Iraq). Gitmo is still in operation. NATO is fighting tough battles in Afghanistan. Unemployment is higher than it was last year.

Amy Bishop was one of these Obama-maniacs. She lost her job and then shot up the Biology Department at UAH. Joseph Stack when to his death angry at GM and the Catholic Church and promoting Communism -- he is NOT a right wing "tea-bagger" like the MSM would like us to believe.

Now is Obama to blame? I don't know. He had an entire year of a Super-Majority in the Senate and majority in the House and he got nothing done. Is the "hype" the MSM created to blame? Probably not. But we can say for sure, that both Bishop and Stack have brought attention to this disillusionment.

Just my thoughts...

Coming Down from the High- People Snapping from Obama Disillusion?

Angrier and Angrier Over Reid's Comments- But Still Not Abusive

The more I have thought about Harry Reid's comment- "Men when they are out of work, tend to become abusive," the angrier I have become (but I have yet to become abusive).

This statement SCREAMS of PROFILING and BIGOTRY - by sex and economic status... "If you are a man, and unemployed, you tend to be an abuser." Ok, now replace the word "man" with any ethnicity and tell me how long Reid would still be Majority Leader.

This statement SCREAMS of SEXISM - ... "If you are a man, and unemployed, you tend to be an abuser." Ok, AGAIN replace the word "man" with "woman" and tell me how long Reid would still be Majority Leader.

This statement SCREAMS of a new GUN CONTROL PUSH - Why you ask? Simple, domestic abuse or domestic violence, even as a Misdemeanor, automatically means that the abuser cannot purchase or posses a firearm. So, "If you are a man, and unemployed," you should be required to surrender any firearms you own when you apply for unemployment, because, "you tend to be an abuser."

I am furious that Reid has not apologized and will not apologize.

I am also furious about the double standard- Try this one...

"If you are a man, and unemployed, you tend to be an abuser." - Senator Harry Reid- NV (D)

Replace the (D) with an (R) and he already would have been forced to resign....

But since he is a (D) I guess he gets a pass...

Readers in Nevada- PLEASE help Harry Reid understand what it is like to be a man an unemployed- Vote for ANY of his opponents this Novemeber.

Angrier and Angrier Over Reid's Comments- But Still Not Abusive

Men Get Abusive When Out of Work?

Senator Harry Reid- today: "'Men, when they're out of work, tend to become abusive,'"

Hmmm... Senator Reid, do you have a study to show this? I know lots of men how are or have been out of work, and I don't know of any of them that have been abusive because of it.

Now, yes, men can get depressed when they loose their jobs, but I don't think you can make the blanket statement that men "tend to become abusive" when they loose their jobs...

Senator, are you trying to prepare us? This November, when the voters of Nevada fire you from your job, are you going to become abusive?

Men Get Abusive When Out of Work?

Constitutionality of Healthcare Reform

Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights, Article X- The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The language of the Tenth Amendment seems pretty clear to me. The powers not granted to the Federal Government IN THE CONSTITUION are reserved to the States or to the People.

Now where in the Constitution does it grant the Federal Government the authority to regulate Health Care?

Yes, Congress has the authority to encourage the sciences- but ONLY by creating the patent system. This is directly spelled out within the Constitution. (Article 1- Section 8)

Yes, Congress has the authority to regulate interstate commerce (Article 1 Section 8)- but healthcare is NOT interstate commerce. With the exception of Tele-medicine which is NOT the methodology used by most people to see a doctor, the patient and the doctor are in the same location and that location resides within an individual state.

So the question remains, where do the Obama administration and the democrats in Congress get the authority to regulate Health Care?

Bottom line- I don't think they have the authority, and I personally believe there will be legal action taken to question the Constitutionality of any Health Care Reform legislation- especially the newly proposed Federal Commission to regulate insurance premiums- That is what the States have Insurance Commissioners' for!

Barack Hussein Obama is supposedly a Professor of Constitutional Law. Perhaps he just views the Constitution as something that is a guideline or a document to ignore when he feels like it- that is certainly what his proposal seems to indicate.

Constitutionality of Healthcare Reform

Israel Introduces New Pilotless Aircraft that Can Reach Iran

Israel today revealed a new fleet of pilotless aircraft that can reach Iran.

The aircraft have a range of 20 hours and can fly far enough to reach the Persian Gulf. Each of the aircraft, known as the Heron TP have a 86 foot wing span and can reach over 40,000 feet in altitude. Basically it is reported they have the wingspan of a 737.

Apparently they have a variety of missions- including spy missions and electronic jamming missions. There was no mention if the aircraft could carry weapons.

The aircraft was build by Israeli Aerospace Industries.

Israel Introduces New Pilotless Aircraft that Can Reach Iran

Former Sec State, Gen. Alexander Haig Dies

Former Presidential Adviser Alexander Haig has died. He was 85. In addition to being a former Secretary of State under President Reagan, he was also a former Supreme Commander NATO Allied Forces Europe (which is probably the coolest job title in the world).

Haig is probably best remembered for his misquote of the Presidential succession order shortly after the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan. Haig stated that Secretary of State was third in line- which it had been, until the 25th Amendment had been passed.

Haig servered as Secretary of State for 17 months under President Reagan before resigning.

Former Sec State, Gen. Alexander Haig Dies

On the 2nd Amendment, Bill O'Reilly is a Pinhead

Normally I am not one to jump all over another conservative, but Bill O'Reilly has crossed the line.

On Thursday the 18th, O'Reilly was conducting an interview when the subject of confiscation of firearms during a state of emergency (such as in Katarina) came up. When Bill was told that such confiscations were unconstitutional, Bill stated, “That’s a pretty extreme position.”

Extreme? A government official, such as the Police Chief of New Orleans, having the power to suspend the Constitution and seized people's legally owned firearms in CLEAR violation of the Second Amendment?

Extreme? A minor government official having the power to suspend the Constitution and deprive people of their GOD GIVEN RIGHT or NATURAL RIGHT of Self-Defense which is Constitutionally protected by the Ninth Amendment?

I am sorry Bill. You are the one with the "extreme" viewpoint. Our Constitutional protections are sacred and believing that our GOD GIVEN and NATURAL RIGHTS as well as our Constitutional Rights should be protected at ALL COSTS is NOT EXTREME.

A the belief that gross violations of the Second and Ninth Amendments are WRONG is NOT Extreme.

Sorry, Bill, YOU are the one with the extreme position here.

Maybe YOU should be named a Pinhead because you are certainly NOT a Patriot on this issue.

On the 2nd Amendment, Bill O'Reilly is a Pinhead

1980's Again? - Falklands War II

Argentina is apparently thinking that "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Or that is what it looks like. Despite the fact that the UK put them in their place in the 1982 war, Argentina has decided to attempt to re-assert sovereignty over the islands.

The reason this time? Oil. What could be lots of oil.

The latest moves by Argentina involve declaring a maritime exclusion zone- a step short of blockade. The have started requiring permits for any and all vessels that wish to sail in the waters of the Falklands.

They have also started boarding vessels that are carrying anything that can be used for oil drilling and detaining them. This includes stopping the British Flagged Thor Leader, which was stopped and detained for carrying a load of pipes.

There are also reports that the Argentine Air Force is shadowing the movements of the US owned, but Panama Flagged oil rig Ocean Guardian as it is being moved to the Falklands to begin drilling. Currently (as of the time of this writing) the Ocean Guardian is still listed as enroute to the Falklands.

Estimates are that there could be an oil field of 60 billion barrels around the Falklands. The North Sea field  so far has produced 40 billion barrels.

Argentina is having financial difficulties. They have $13 billion of foreign loans due. Argentina "tore up" an agreement to share oil finds off the Falklands with the UK. For Argentina they want all, and for the UK to have nothing.

1980's Again? - Falklands War II

Report: UK Knew of Dubai Hit In Advance

I have been wondering for days now, why the UK has been "screaming" about this Dubai terrorist hit.

Is it to deflect attention from themselves? According to a report in the Daily Mail (via YNet) the UK knew in advance that the hit was taking place- and that UK passports were being used.

The Daily Mail reported that MI6 was tipped off that Israeli agents were going to carry out an 'overseas operation' using fake British passports. The newspaper quoted a member of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, as saying that the Foreign Office was also told hours before the Hamas terrorist chief was assassinated in Dubai, although the tip-off did not say who the target would be or even where the hit squad would be in action.

A British security source, who met the Mossad agent and has a track record of providing reliable information, told the Daily Mail: "This is a serving member of Israeli intelligence. He says the British government was told very, very briefly before the operation what was going to happen.

"There was no British involvement and they didn't know the name of the target. But they were told these people were travelling on UK passports," he added.

The security source said the tip-off was not a request for permission to use British passports but more a "courtesy call" to let the security services know "a situation" might blow up. The Mossad man said Israeli intelligence chiefs understand British authorities will have to "slap them on the wrist".

Me thinks the lady doth protest too much. [sic]
.

Report: UK Knew of Dubai Hit In Advance

Something I Missed- Capt. Phil Harris of F/V Cornelia Marie Dies

Somehow I missed this bit of news--

Capt. Phil Harris , 53, Master of the F/V Cornelia Marie died on Feb. 9, 2010 after having a stroke while off-loading crab in St. Paul harbour.

Capt. Phil and his sons were a regular part of "The Deadliest Catch."

Discovery Channel says the show will continue to air for this season.

The F/V Northwestern website has been re-done in honor of Capt. Phil.

More can also be found at the Cornelia Marie website.

Something I Missed- Capt. Phil Harris of F/V Cornelia Marie Dies

Report: Five Muslim Soldiers Arrested at Fort Jackson in South Carolina

CBN Exclusive: Five Muslim Soldiers Arrested at Fort Jackson in South Carolina:
"CBN News has learned exclusively that five Muslim soldiers at Fort Jackson in South Carolina were arrested just before Christmas. It is unclear whether the men are still in custody. The five were part of the Arabic Translation program at the base.
The men are suspected of trying to poison the food supply at Fort Jackson.

A source with intimate knowledge of the investigation, which is ongoing, told CBN News investigators suspect the 'Fort Jackson Five' may have been in contact with the group of five Washington, DC area Muslims that traveled to Pakistan to wage jihad against U.S. troops in December. That group was arrested by Pakistani authorities, also just before Christmas"

However, according to other sources, the military is still investigating and Army CID is saying "there is no credible information to support the allegations."
I agree that this could be very disturbing, and after Ft. Hood, I wonder if there is a trend developing-- is there a terrorist cell in the US Army?

Report: Five Muslim Soldiers Arrested at Fort Jackson in South Carolina

Still to Come- From My Notes File

There are a couple of things on my radar. One or two I have been following for a while and another is new, but I thought I would give out a preview of what is in my notes file...

Meir Dagan- Head of Mossad is saying he won't quit- doesn't see the need too, while Dubai is saying they are 99% sure it was Mossad-- I am re-looking at the footage- there are some things that are bothering me, but I can't put my finger on it directly. The door being locked from the inside is still an issue.

Falklands War II?- Argentina is declaring maritime exclusion zones, the Brits aren't happy, and Argentina is boarding ships.

Air France is restarting the investigation of AF 447 and starting a new search for the aircraft. This was an Airbus that went down over the Atlantic on a flight from Brazil last year... There were reports of sudden decompression. Did the plane actually go down from a terrorist bomb?

And of course, the IAEA announcement that Iran is pursuing nukes...

More to follow...

Still to Come- From My Notes File