In a speech touting Texas' (and his own) achievements during the longest governorship in Texas history, Perry called Texas "the New Frontier" and underlined the fact that 30% of all jobs created in America are created in Texas.

Breitbart has an AP story sketching his career. He also, apparently, "ruled out" a run for the Presidency.

The 63-year-old ruled out another try for the White House in 2016, but Perry's decision not to run again for his current post likely clears the way for longtime Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to make a serious run at the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the March primary.

Perry had initially promised to divulge his future plans by July 1 but was forced to push that back following a rare political victory by state Democrats -- a filibuster of abortion restrictions during the first 30-day special legislative session.

But, look, everyone says that.

"Any Future Plans I Will Announce in Due Time:" more...

Posted by: Ace at 10:36 AM | Comments (324)
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One of the most contested points in the trial is who was heard screaming that night, Zimmerman or Martin. Trayvon's family says it was Trayvon; Zimmerman's family says it was Zimmerman. But Zimmerman has called eight witnesses saying it's his voice.

The defense called a veteran, Joe Donnelly, a friend of Zimmerman's, to testify that it was his friend's voice screaming on the call. He's further asserting that his experience in combat -- he was a combat medic during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam -- make him qualified to know what a man in pain and fear for his life sounds like.

[Updated at 11:35 a.m. ET]

O'Mara [defense lawyer] asked Donnelly to describe his experience as a combat medic in Vietnam. [Bernie] De La Rionda [prosecutor, often called "BLDR" in tweets and short dispatches] objected as to the relevance of the question, and now the attorneys are at a sidebar with the judge.

[Updated at 11:40 a.m ET]

Donnelly is talking about his experience with his company of soldiers in Vietnam.

[Updated at 11:43 a.m. ET]

O'Mara is asking Donnelly about his duties as a medic in combat. Donnelly said he had to attend to people injured in combat, and appeared to be choking back tears. The attorneys are now at a sidebar with the judge.

[Updated at 11:47 a.m. ET]

"In the midst of combating, there are a lot people yelling and screaming," said Donnelly. "Sometimes they are screaming for help."

[Updated at 11:49 a.m. ET]

Appearing to choke back tears, Donnelly said he did not want to listen to the 911 call with the screams in the background, because it can be "distressing" to hear a friend cry for help. O'Mara is now playing the 911 call with the screams in the background for Donnelly.

[Updated at 11:52 a.m. ET]

Donnelly said he has no doubt in his mind that the person screaming on the 911 call was Zimmerman, and he wishes to God he did not have the ability to understand who was screaming on the 911 call.

Bob Owens (Confederate Yankee) found Donnelly's testimony especially authoritative and moving:

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail admits what is obvious to everyone.

Will George Zimmerman walk? Growing belief Trayvon shooter will escape jail over killing teen as 'prosecution case crumbles'

Experts say prosecutors failed to prove murder 'beyond reasonable doubt'
Ex Sentencing Commission economist: 'It should never have gone to court'
Speculation mounts as defence begin their presentation to court

by Matt Blake

Speculation is growing that George Zimmerman will walk free over the shooting of Trayvon Martin amid claims the prosecution's case has 'crumbled'.

Experts say that lawyers acting on behalf of the State of Miami have failed to show that Zimmerman did not reasonably believe the gunshot was 'necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm' to himself.

Even the media's favorite experts think this is a sham:

ABC News' legal expert Dan Abrams said while parts of Zimmerman's account lack credibility, the prosecution has not done enough to convince a jury.

He wrote: 'Now that the prosecution's case against Zimmerman is in, as a legal matter, it is difficult to see how jurors find proof beyond a reasonable doubt that it wasn't self defense'.

He told ABC News: 'I just don't see how a jury convicts him of second degree murder or even manslaughter in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.'

He continued: 'Now no matter how it started, if Zimmerman shot Martin because he reasonably believed it was the only way to protect himself from "great bodily harm" then he is not guilty. That's the law.'

The media's role in this has been shameful. It is obvious now as it was obvious then that this was a racial prosecution, pure and simple, and yet they cheerleaded for it just the same.

Posted by: Ace at 09:36 AM | Comments (477)
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Third rate burglary?

The offices of a Dallas law firm representing a high-profile State Department whistleblower were broken into last weekend. Burglars stole three computers and broke into the firmÂ’s file cabinets. But silver bars, video equipment and other valuables were left untouched, according to local Fox affiliate KDFW, which aired security camera footage of the suspected burglars entering and leaving the offices around the time of the incident.

The firm Schulman & Mathias represents Aurelia Fedenisn, a former investigator at the State DepartmentÂ’s Office of the Inspector General. In recent weeks, she raised a slew of explosive allegations against the department and its contractors ranging from illicit drug use, soliciting sexual favors from minors and prostitutes and sexual harassment.

“It’s a crazy, strange and suspicious situation,” attorney Cary Schulman told The Cable. “It’s clear to me that it was somebody looking for information and not money. My most high-profile case right now is the Aurelia Fedenisn case, and I can’t think of any other case where someone would go to these great lengths to get our information.”

Aurelia Fedenisn had come forward as a whistleblower, and says she was then subject to an intimidation campaign.

Last week's leaks by Aurelia Fedenisn, a former State Department inspector general investigator, shined a light on alleged wrongdoing by U.S. officials around the globe. But her attorney Cary Schulman tells The Cable that Fedenisn has paid a steep price: "They had law enforcement officers camp out in front of her house, harass her children and attempt to incriminate herself."

Fedenisn's life changed dramatically last Monday after she handed over documents and statements to CBS News alleging that senior State Department officials "influenced, manipulated, or simply called off" several investigations into misconduct. The suppression of investigations was noted in an early draft of an Inspector General report, but softened in the final version.

But don't worry about it:

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said last week that "we hold all employees to the highest standards. We take allegations of misconduct seriously and we investigate thoroughly."

Now, in the current case, with a break-in at the firm representing Fedenisn, Jen Psaki also wants you to not worry about it, and that the President and the former Secretary of State are not crooks:

“Any allegation that the Department of State authorized someone to break into Mr. Schulman’s law firm is false and baseless,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

State Department officer has been accused of selling visas for sex and money in what may have been a massive human trafficking operation, The Daily Caller has learned.

The State Department acknowledged last week that one of its officials is the target of a probe over “allegations of improprieties relating to a Consular Officer formerly assigned to Georgetown, Guyana” without providing further details. Local media are also claiming the official, who was recently withdrawn from normal duties pending completion of an official investigation, associated with drug lords as part of his visa scam.

Posted by: Ace at 08:28 AM | Comments (276)
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You know, it's almost as if this was a set-up to make the GOP look bad with Hispanics all along. Heck of a job by Marco Rubio to push a bill that everyone knew would fail in the House.

Well, unless Boehner caves.

What they need is, they need something to sort of force Boehner like at the last minute bring it to the floor the same way the fiscal cliff deal happened. The problem is there is no trigger at the end of the year, there isn't the end of this Congress there isn't this.

Meanwhile, Eric Cantor isn't giving up on it.

“The House may begin consideration of the border security measures that have been passed by the Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees and begin reviewing other immigration proposals,” Cantor wrote to fellow House Republicans.

The missive from Cantor is among the first official indications that an immigration reform measure could come to the House floor this month. The Senate passed its comprehensive bill June 27, and the focus now turns to the House.

The danger is the House can pass an enforcement only bill, go to conference with the Senate and come out with the Senate's pathway to citizenship nonsense back in.

The House GOP is going to have a caucus meeting this Wednesday to take the tempeture of members on immigration.

Here's my suggestion...skip it entirely.

If nothing happens on immigration in July before the August recess nothing will happen. Once they come back from their summer vacation it will be time to do budget/CR/debt ceiling hike. After the blood on the floor from that, no one is going to want to tackle immigration for awhile and then we're into 2014 and elections.

So instead of screwing around with immigration bills that won't go anywhere, why not start building political anger against ObamaCare, which in case you missed it on Friday is going to be nothing but an expensive fraud.

Posted by: DrewM at 08:07 AM | Comments (92)
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After 18 months of investigation, the criminal probe against Jon Corzine has been dropped. He will not be facing criminal charges for the misuse of investors' funds at MF Global. Civil charges have been filed against Corzine.

The Justice Department’s decision to drop the case is sure to come as a relief to Corzine, who has been widely blamed for MFG’s bankruptcy — as well as the misuse of some $1.6 billion in customers’ funds.

Last week, Corzine was hit with civil charges by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission in connection with the illegal tapping of the funds, which were improperly co-mingled with the MFGÂ’s house money in the firmÂ’s final days.

The regulator also charged Edith OÂ’Brien, MFGÂ’s former assistant treasurer, for carrying out the illegal transfers in a desperate bid to keep the troubled company afloat.

Both Corzine and OÂ’Brien have denied the allegations.

Criminal investigators, including federal prosecutors and the FBI, have been probing the breach since shortly after it was uncovered with its Halloween 2011 bankruptcy.

*Minor correction made to this article. Apparently Corzine spells his first name without an "H" like Jon Huntsman.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 07:13 AM | Comments (259)
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• Many IRS Seizures Are Illegal, Government Report Reveals
  
• HHS Gives Up On Obamacare's Anti-Fraud Measures
  
• The Forgotten Voting Block, The Third Amendment Supporters
  
• One Of The Plane Victims May Have Been Run Over By Emergency Response Services
  
• George Will: 'What Obamacare Requires For It To Work -- Mass Irrationality
  
• Morsi Supporters Rally In Chicago
  
• Who's A Journalist
  
• NY Post's Spitzer Cover
  
• The Airbrushing Of Egypt's Mohamed El Baradei
  
• EPA Set To Unveil Host Of New Regulations
  
• 514 Colleges Have Higher Default Rates Than Graduation Rates
  
• Chicago Celebrates Decline In Shootings With Only 74 Since Wednesday
  
• Cameras Catch Break-In At A Law Firm That Represents A State Department Whistleblower
  
• Media Frets Over Fading Obama Agenda
  
• NYC Cases Show Cops Abused FBI Database
  
• Andy Murray Becomes First British Man To Win Wimbledon In Nearly 80 Years
  
• Pictures From the Boeing 777 Crash
  
• Theresa Heinz Kerry In Critical Condition
  
• California Prisons Were Illegally Sterilizing Female Inmates
  
• The Lone Ranger Bombs
  

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Posted by: Pixy Misa at 05:06 AM | Comments (373)
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Happy Monday.

It's looking a lot like pilot error. NTSB isn't saying for sure yet, but there's no reported or observed mechanical failure and the pilot only had 43 hours of flying time on the 777. "The plane was travelling 'significantly below' its intended speed and its crew tried to abort the landing just seconds before it hit the seawall in front of the runway."

Cash-strapped cities are seeing Obamacare as way to unload retiree health costs on the U.S. taxpayer.

Islamists attempted to storm the army barracks where former president Morsi is being held. Some people are dead (the number keeps changing), and the Muslim Brotherhood is calling for an uprising. The Muslim Brotherhood, as is classic for this type of thing, claims that they were engaged merely in peaceful prayer when they were shot at by the army.

Eliot Spitzer is running for NYC comptroller . . . against his former madam. What is it with these people? Is there seriously nothing else the Spitzers and Weiners of the world can do except run for office?

Animated sequel Despicable Me 2 beat the stuffing out of Gore Verbinski's the Lone Ranger at the box office this weekend. The masked vigilante's $48.9 million haul doesn't seem so bad except that the film cost over $250 million to make, not including promoting costs.

The Hill joins the chorus of Beltway media outlets noting that Obama has to turn things around or his second term is gonna be a big fat failure. National Journal's Josh Kraushaar had perhaps the best of these pieces so far, "Obama's Crisis of Competence."

Speaker Boehner continues to rake in big bucks for the GOP.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 02:48 AM | Comments (233)
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Where is the Middle of Nowhere?

Well here is a heat map showing the average distance to a major road, highway, or interstate. Red is far and dark blue is close.

And based on this Nevada (or Idaho depending on how you measure) has the most nowhere. On the other hand Ohio and some of the smaller New England states are probably the most connected states.

Posted by: Maetenloch at 06:07 PM | Comments (512)
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Yesterday I was convinced the cause had to be mechanical. It was inconceivable to me that an Airline Transport Pilot could manage an approach that badly.

Alas....

While stopping short of pinpointing pilot error as the likely cause of the fiery crash that killed two teenage passengers and injured dozens of others, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman indicated Sunday that investigators already are focused primarily on understanding why the crew allowed speed to decay to such an extent—and failed to take decisive action until the wide-body jet was less than two seconds from impact.

In the first on-scene briefing by the NTSB, Ms. Hersman said a preliminary readout of the plane’s flight-data and cockpit-voice recorders indicates that everything was normal—with no discussion of any onboard problems or concerns about the visual approach in good weather—until just seven seconds before impact.

At that point, she told reporters, the crew realized the plane arriving on an overnight flight from Seoul was flying too slowly. “The speed was significantly below” the designated approach speed of roughly 130 miles an hour.

According to some math I saw yesterday the jetty the jet struck is about 1,300 feet short of the landing zone. In other words, this guy was aiming nearly a quarter of a mile short of where he should have been.

The winds were reported to be about 8 miles an hour from the southwest (they were landing to the west) and skies were clear. There was no reason for this guy not to have realized he was going to be well short.

You may hear about the runway Glide Slope Indicator being out of service. This is a non-factor. According to the NTSB the flight was cleared for "a visual approach". This means neither the glide slope or localizer were required to be used. There was something called a PAPI available and that's more than he would have needed.

I really can't express how shocked I am that an ATP could butcher an approach this badly. From what the NTSB said today this guy essentially took a perfectly good airplane and flew it into the ground.

He's going to need a good lawyer to stay out of jail.

Video of the crash is starting to come out (see below the fold). You'll hear a lot of talk about what's going on in those last few seconds but these are just the effects of decisions that were made and not made many seconds or minutes prior to the crash. Yes, he tried to go around. No, the engines didn't spool up soon enough to save him and he didn't push the nose down when they did start to kick in. And yes, the right wing stalls. those are the immediate events leading to the impact. The real causes happened 30 seconds or more sooner when they didn't realize they were not properly set up or on speed.
more...

Posted by: DrewM at 03:30 PM | Comments (323)
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Interesting stuff. For the most part, anything related to actually doing the job effectively has very little impact on job approval

What matters most? "Shares your values" correlates to approval at a 5.96 level.

What matters least? "Puts country's interests ahead of political interests". That only earned a 1.19

It all makes sense now, right?

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 02:50 PM | Comments (152)
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