State Dept official: 'I'm a scapegoat' over Benghazi
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A mid-level State Department official sidelined in the aftermath of the Benghazi terror attack is speaking out, publicly accusing his bosses of scapegoating him for the security lapses in eastern Libya. Raymond Maxwell, who was deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, told The Daily Beast he had "no involvement" with decisions on security at the vulnerable diplomatic outpost but was placed on administrative leave anyway along with a few other officials. He claims he was given little explanation and no opportunity to appeal the status since he wasn't technically fired. A review of the attack cited "systemic failures" at the State Department, including the bureau where Maxwell worked. Lawmakers and investigators have alleged that requests for security were ignored. But officials told The Daily Beast that higher-level officials were responsible for security in Libya but not disciplined. Another source, though, told The Daily Beast that Maxwell was punished for "not reading his intel."
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| Fox News: State Department official says he was scapegoated by bosses over Benghazi
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You choose Ralph's top story for the day. Tell Ralph what you want him to talk about by casting your vote for a story below.
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Lerner to take the 5th
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Lois Lerner, the director of the IRS division that singled out conservative groups, is expected to invoke the Fifth Amendment Wednesday when she appears before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. That means Lerner, head of the exempt organizations division, probably won’t answer any questions on what she knew about IRS agents going after Tea Party-related groups, why she sat on the information for so long before it became public, or any other questions. Lerner’s attorney William Taylor III asked committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., in a letter if she could skip Wednesday’s hearing since she would be pleading the Fifth. Taylor argued in the letter that forcing Lerner to appear “would have no purpose other than to embarrass or burden her.” Late Tuesday, the House oversight committee released a statement saying Lerner was still under subpoena and would be required to appear in the morning. Lerner is the official who first acknowledged the IRS program. Since the Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into the IRS scandal, Taylor wrote that his client would be invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The House committee is also scheduled to hear from Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Neal Wolin, among others, as the search for responsibility continues.
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| Fox News: Top IRS official to invoke 5th Amendment, decline to testify at House hearing
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Senate committee grills current, former IRS commissioners
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The outgoing IRS commissioner expressed regret Tuesday for a decision to use a planted question to go public with the agency's practice of targeting conservative groups, calling the move "an incredibly bad idea." Steven Miller, appearing on the Hill for a second hearing in two weeks, acknowledged that the agency was trying to get ahead of a damning investigative report at the time. As was confirmed over the weekend, he admitted the agency had a question planted at a conference two Fridays ago -- a senior IRS official, in response to the question, then confessed to a long-running program that singled out conservative groups for additional scrutiny.
"Obviously the entire thing was an incredibly bad idea," Miller said. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, criticized the IRS for using the planted question to come forward, suggesting it compounded the problems with the agency's trustworthiness. Miller, and former Commissioner Douglas Shulman, took heat also from Sen. John Cornyn and Committee chairman Max Baucux (D-Montana). The hearing followed one by the House oversight committee last week; they are likely just the first of several as committees begin to investigate the IRS program. Ahead of the hearing, Baucus and Hatch sent a letter to the IRS Monday including 41 separate requests for information. They gave the IRS until May 31 to respond. The two senators said the IRS had not been forthcoming about the issue in the past.
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| Fox News: IRS official calls decision to use planted question on scandal 'incredibly bad idea'
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Tea Party crowd protests IRS abuse in Nashville
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More than 100 IRS protestors sent a loud message outside Nashville's Federal Courthouse on Tuesday before being upstaged by gusty winds and rain. "We are not going to let the weather keep us from this and we certainly aren't going to let the IRS scare us," thundered organizer Ben Cunningham, founder of the Nashville Tea Party. Cunningham led the nearly hour long protest against the IRS for targeting Tea Party groups with extra scrutiny as they sought tax exempt status. Several well-known figures attended but did not address the crowd. They included auto dealer Lee Beaman along with state lawmakers Representative Joe Carr and Senator Mike Bell. Speakers included Tea Party leaders and talk show hosts. The crowd contributed hand-made signs and proclaimed such things as "We the people. This is an abuse of power!" One lone policeman watched the proceedings from about 50 feet away. There was no signs of trouble, except from the weather, which changed from sunny to threatening just before I spoke.
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| wkrn.com: 100 IRS protestors send loud message outside Nashville courthouse
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IRS abuse 'breathtaking'
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It’s at least possible if not likely that someone very close the President authorized the use of the most feared agency of the most powerful government on earth to obstruct the formation of legal opposition groups in advance of the 2012 election. It was done in such a way as to inflict actual harm on many of the groups’ leaders, and it was done for the sole purposes of facilitating the reelection of President Obama. It reads like a political mystery novel, but it’s unfolding before your eyes. You are standing in the eye of history – and it’s not a pretty sight. [This Ralph Rant is an expanded and refined version of my short rant at the Tea Party protest against the IRS]
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| ralphbristol.com: IRS abuse is breathtaking
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Sen. Levin attacks Apple's tax 'gimmickry,' needs mirror
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Sen. Carl Levin (D-Michigan) on Tuesday unveiled the results of his months-long investigation into Apple's corporate taxes and accused the American business success of employing "alchemy" and "gimmickry" to lower its tax bill. “What Mr. Levin did not do,” writes the WSJ, “was present any evidence of anything illegal or even inappropriate.” In a lead editorial, the Journal also writes “It's… amazing to behold Democrats who routinely claim that high tax rates don't matter to business behavior denouncing a business for engaging in behavior to avoid paying higher tax rates. Which brings us to the real scandal that Mr. Levin has exposed: the folly of America's corporate tax code.” The Journal wonders if Levin is trying to create a diversion. It concludes “Levin is one of those Senators who wrote the IRS demanding that it inspect the tax-exempt status of Americans for Tax Reform, the Club for Growth and other groups that are his ideological opponents. "Why does the IRS allow 501(c)(4) organizations to self-declare?" he roared in July 2012. The IRS seems to have followed his orders, so no wonder he is trying to change the subject.”
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| Wall Street Journal: The Apple Tax Diversion
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Claim: White House won't let military take Benghazi attackers
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Benghazi is trying hard to claw its way back to the top of the scandal heap. Fox News reports: U.S. military sources serving in North Africa are challenging the latest White House claim that the administration is applying "all the resources" at its disposal to bring the Benghazi attackers to justice, charging instead that the Obama administration knows who is responsible but is not acting. A Fox News source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirms that U.S. forces have tracked the alleged attackers since October but have since lost the trail of some of them, as no one up the chain of command would authorize them to capture or kill the targeted militia members. Sources spoke out after White House Press Secretary Jay Carney repeatedly said at a briefing more than a week ago that the administration was going after the suspects in the Sept. 11 terror attack with “all the resources of this administration.” “That's a big ole negative," said one special operator. Fox News reports: According to well-placed sources, the administration has known where some of the perpetrators are, based on information given to the Pentagon back in January, but no action has been taken to capture or kill them. Further, sources said they are being restricted from any reconnaissance or advanced force operations to go after those responsible in the eastern part of Libya. "We know exactly where the mastermind lives," one U.S. official said. The Associated Press also reported Tuesday that, according to unnamed officials, the U.S. has identified five men who might be behind the attack. The AP reported that the U.S. has enough evidence to justify using military force to seize them as suspected terrorists - but there is not enough proof to try them in civilian court.
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| Fox News: Sources challenge White House claim of all-hands-on-deck pursuit of Benghazi suspects
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State Dept official: 'I'm a scapegoat' over Benghazi
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A mid-level State Department official sidelined in the aftermath of the Benghazi terror attack is speaking out, publicly accusing his bosses of scapegoating him for the security lapses in eastern Libya. Raymond Maxwell, who was deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, told The Daily Beast he had "no involvement" with decisions on security at the vulnerable diplomatic outpost but was placed on administrative leave anyway along with a few other officials. He claims he was given little explanation and no opportunity to appeal the status since he wasn't technically fired. A review of the attack cited "systemic failures" at the State Department, including the bureau where Maxwell worked. Lawmakers and investigators have alleged that requests for security were ignored. But officials told The Daily Beast that higher-level officials were responsible for security in Libya but not disciplined. Another source, though, told The Daily Beast that Maxwell was punished for "not reading his intel."
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| Fox News: State Department official says he was scapegoated by bosses over Benghazi
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CBS News computers hacked, White House suspected
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CBS News investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson says her personal and work computers have been compromised and are under investigation. "There could be some relationship between these things and what's happened to James [Rosen]," Attkisson told WPHT Philadelphia. Rosen is the Fox News reporter who became the subject of a Justice Dept. investigation after reporting on CIA intelligence about North Korea in 2009. Attkisson told WPHT that irregular activity on her computer was first identified in Feb. 2011, when she was reporting on the Fast and Furious gun-walking scandal and on the Obama administration's green energy spending, which she said "the administration was very sensitive about." Attkisson has also been a persistent investigator of the events surrounding last year's attack in Benghazi, and its aftermath. "I can confirm that an intrusion of my computers has been under some investigation on my end for some months but I'm not prepared to make an allegation against a specific entity today as I've been patient and methodical about this matter," Attkisson told POLITICO on Tuesday.
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| Politico: Sharyl Attkisson's computers compromised
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Gang of 8 bill approved by Judiciary Committee
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The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a sweeping reworking of immigration laws on Tuesday evening, giving Gang of 8 bill its first formal stamp of approval in Congress. After five days reviewing the more than 800 pages of the bill and accepting 100-plus amendments, the committee voted 13-5 to send the legislation to the full Senate, which is expected to take it up in early June. Three Republicans voted with all Democrats on the committee to approve the bill, including Orrin Hatch of Utah, not a member of the gang of eight. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas voted no, along with GOP Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa, John Cornyn of Texas, Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Mike Lee of Utah. The bill sets out a path for millions of people now in the country illegally to become permanent legal residents and eventually citizens, and it sets new annual caps and rules for visas awarded to high-skill and low-skill temporary workers. It also would provide new resources and goals for tightening border security and would require all employers to use a federal database to check the legal status of employees. None of the amendments significantly changed the key features of the bill.
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| Wall Street Journal: Broad Immigration Overhaul Heads to Senate
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Rand Paul accuses Corker of arming friends of al Qaeda
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Sen. Rand Paul accused his colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday of voting to arm the allies of al Qaeda. His target was a bill co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, along with Democrat Robert Menendez of New Jersey to arm elements of the Syrian opposition. The committee approved the bill overwhelmingly, 15-3. The legislation would authorize the shipment of arms and military training to rebels "that have gone through a thorough vetting process." The dispute centers on whether the United States could properly vet Syrian rebels so that weapons and body armor would not fall into the hands of extremist groups, such as the al Qaeda-aligned al-Nusra Front. The Pentagon's top brass has vacillated about whether it's possible to keep track of weapons as they enter a conflict involving a complex mix of opposition groups, as the new bill would require. Corker argued that not arming rebel groups such as the more moderate Free Syrian Army would ensure the dominance of the better-equipped al-Nusra Front. Paul responded, "It's impossible to know who our friends are ... I know everyone here wants to do the right thing, but I think it's a rush to war."
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| foreignpolicy.com: Rand Paul: My colleagues just voted to arm the allies of al Qaeda
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9th Circuit court strikes down Arizona's 20-week abortion law
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A federal court in San Francisco Tuesday struck down Arizona's ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law violates a string of U.S. Supreme Court rulings starting with Roe v. Wade that guarantees a woman's right to an abortion before a fetus is able to survive outside the womb. That's generally considered to be about 24 weeks, even though fetuses have survived younger than that. Several states have enacted similar bans starting at 20 weeks. But the 9th Circuit's ruling is binding only in the nine Western states under the court's jurisdiction. Idaho is the only other state in the region covered by the 9th Circuit with a similar ban. Other rulings will be forthcoming from other circuits, and this may eventually produce another major Supreme Court ruling on abortion.
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| Fox News: Federal court strikes down Arizona's 20-week abortion ban
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Ralph Rant: Get to the 'top' of this
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May 22, 2013 - To preserve the Republic, Republicans in Congress cannot stop until they get, not "to the bottom of this," but "to the top of this."
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ABC Analyst: IRS decision goes close to Obama
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May 21, 2013 - ABC political analyst Trey Hardin talks about his blunt assestment of the origin of the IRS scandal. “I can say with a very strong degree of certainty that people very close to the president not only knew but authorized that,” said Hardin, and much more.
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Ralph's Steeplechase experience - part one
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May 13, 2013 - Here's the first of my two-part report on my first Steeplechase experience, and what may be the best steeplechase rase in the nation.
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Ralph's Steeplechase experience - part two
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May 13, 2013 - This report includes interviews with the track announcer, the veteranarian, a horse owner and the man in charge of logistics for the race.
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Opponents rise against BRT
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May 15, 2013 - In this premeditated Ralph Rant, I break the news of a new group that has formed to oppose Nashvill'e planned Bus Rapid Transit on West End Ave.
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Rick Williams, BRT opponent, speaks out
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May 15, 2013 - Rick Williams is a member of the steering committee for TNResponsibleTransit, the group opposing the planned Nashville Bus Rapid Transit on West End Avenue. You can reach him at TNResponsibleTransit@gmail.com. This is the group's debut media interview - in its new campaign to stop BRT.
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Tennessee Tea Party leaders respond to IRS scandal
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May 13, 2013 - Ben Cunningham, founder of the Nashville Tea Party and Mark West, President of the Chattanooga Tea Party, respond to the IG report that busts the IRS for targeting Tea Party Groups for harassment in 2011, prior to the 2012 election.
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Legislative Townhall Meeting in Franklin - part 1
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April 27, 2013 - First half of the state legislative townhall meeting in Franklin with the Williamson County delegation - Sen. Jack Johnson, Rep. Charles Sargent, Rep. Glen Casada and Rep. Jeremy Durham.
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Legislative townhall meeting in Franklin - part 2
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April 27, 2013 - Second half of the legislative townhall meeting in Franklin, covering the 2013 legislative session with Sen. Jack Johnson, Rep. Charles Sargent, Rep. Glen Casada and Rep. Jeremy Durham.
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Sen. Rand Paul on guns, immigration, taxes
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April 18, 2013 - U.S. Sen. Rand Paul discusses the failed gun bill, the immigration reform bill ahead, and the right strategy on taxes.
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Leahy launches 'The Real Conservative National Committee'
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April 4, 2014 - Author, Breitbart correspondent and tea party activist Michal Patrick Leahy discusses a new organization formed to improve the ground game needed to help elect more conserative candidates to Congress, starting in 2014 with the GOP primary for U.S. Senate
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Corker sees positive signs in Obama outreach
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March 6, 2013 - Sen. Bob Corker discusses spending reforms on which Republicans and Obama might agree, and should, he says, be working on. Corker is one of a handful of Republicans to which the president has reached out with phone calls and dinner meetings to try to seek common ground on fiscal reforms.
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Ralph Rant - Woodward v. Obama
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March 4, 2013 - Anatomy of the sequester - the closing arguments in Woodward v. Obama.
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WEB EXCLUSIVE: EEOC Commissioner slams new guideline on criminal BG checks
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Feb. 23, 2012 - An EEOC commissioner levels damning charges against her fellow commissioners' action to issue updated guidelines that pose the threat of lawsuits against private businesses that conduct criminal background checks on employee prospects - even if state law demands it. This is a major challenge to the 10th Amendment by a seemingly rogue group of federal regulators.
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Duet: Fudge and Obama
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Jan. 22. 2013 - Enjoy (and share) this short montage featuring Rep. Marcia Fudge, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus and President Barack Obama. Fudge was participating in a Washington University Panel discussion and Obama is delivering his 2nd inaugural address.
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Analysis: Obama's 2nd inaurugal
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Jan. 22, 2013 - Here's my analysis of President Obama's 2nd inaugural address. George Washington, he ain't. High marks for the poetry - the "music" if you will, but the message, the "lyrics" didn't match the music.
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PARODY ALERT - The future of Day to Pray
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Jan 17, 2013 - The inventor of the time machine offered me a ride to the future. I chose Jan. 17, 2060 to see what kind of world my grandchildren would be living in when they're my age. Please don't tell Mike Huckabee what I found.
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Sen. Jack Johnson suggests local control of wine in grocery stores
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Jan. 15, 2013 - Among other things, Sen. Jack Johnson of Franklin discusses a new wrinkle in the wine in grocery store debate. He also reacts to the news that a $125 million state investment in a solar company is in jeopardy.
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Rep. Carr announces 10th amendment caucus
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Jan. 15,2013 - Rep. Joe Carr discusses the 2nd amendment debate through a 10th amendment prism and announcec the formation of a 10th Amendment Caucus.
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Age highlights economic freedom
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Jan 12, 2013 - Things start happening to people in their late 50s and early 60s that are fairly remarkable. This premeditated Ralph Rant just might be the prologue to my (eventual) audio book.
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Sen. Jack Johnson opposes open meetings move
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Jan. 9, 2013 - State Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Williamson Co.) calls "foul" on a Democrat colleague over the question of the General Assembly exception to the Open Meetings law.
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Rep. Joe Carr opposes bill sponsor limit
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Jan. 9, 2013 - Rep. Joe Carr (R-Rutherford Co.) explains his opposition to the proposed 15-bill sponsor limit for House members.
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Attorney Ross Booher argues case for Charter School "state authorizer"
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Jan. 7, 2013 - Ross Booher, the attorney for a charter school who battled the Metro Nashville School Board, makes the case that the state would make a more objective judge of charter school applications.
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Bonfire anyone?
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Jan. 7, 2013 - In this premeditated Ralph Rant, I invite Tea Party groups to join me at a bonfire April 15th. Let's all pour some fuel on to the grassroots fire it will take to eliminate the corruption in the federal income tax system. Symbolically burn your own rewards to let Congress know we want them to eliminate deductions and credits - and lower rates accordingly.
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School Security Roundbatle
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Dec. 20, 2012 - This is the "raw" tape of the roundtable we broadcast in seven parts on Nashville's Morning News. (It's 38 minutes long, so it will take a while to load)
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Tennessee to consider Texas 'armed teacher' plan
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Dec. 18, 2012 - Rep. Joe Carr of Lascassas says he will pursue a plan in the next session of the general assembly to allow local school district to train and arm teachers if they so choose. Texas already does this, and at least one Texas district is taking advantage of the local control.
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New monster a 'committee' production
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Dec. 18, 2012 - There is a growing population of a new menace walking among us, and he may be a unique product of the "village" it supposedly takes to raise our children.
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Parents, wake up! Your children are killing your children
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Dec. 17, 2012 - The Connecticut massacre of first-graders turned up the spotlight on a relatively new menace unleashed on society, and regardless of who or what created it, only parents can stop it.
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Johson warns: Medicaid is going to expand
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Dec. 13, 2013 - State Sen. Jack Johnson warns Medicaid is going to expand in Tennessee, through the "woodwork effect" when Obamacare chases reluctanct people (alaready qualified) into the program - regardless of whether Gov. Haslam accepts the expansion of Medicaid prescribed by Obamacare. I sneak in some analysis of the legislature's posture on the issue.
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Sen. Jack Johnson opposes, but holds out final judgment on Medicaid expansion
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Dec. 12, 2012 - State Sen. Jack Johnson has all the reasons - including one no one else has discussed before - to turn down President Obama's "offer" to expand Medicaid, but he's leaving his powder dry in respect for Gov. Haslam's perceived predicament on the issue.
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Tennessee needs 10th Amendment Caucus
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Dec. 5, 2012 - Ralph challenges State Rep. Joe Carr to instigate a 10th Amendment Caucus in the legislature.
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Ralph Rant: Bipartisan gang attacks producers
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Dec. 14th, 2012 - This fiscal cliff negotiation may be the second worst performance in modern Republican history.
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Ralph Rant: Corker crowned King of means testing
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Nov. 30, 2012 - The headline pretty much speaks for itself.
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Medicaid expansion more than budget issue
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Nov. 1, 2012 - I respectfully disagree with Gov. Bill Haslam that the decision whether Tennessee should accept the expansion of Medicaid prescribed in Obamacare is "largely a budget issue."
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Alexander on coal regs - Round 2 |
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June 14, 2012 - Sen. Alexander returns to respond to some of the reaction to his stand on new coal plant regulations.
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Alexander defends coal regulations, says he will run again |
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June 13, 2012 - Sen. Lamar Alexander defends his stand in favor of new coal plant regulations - explains why he belives Medicaid is to blame for higher college tuition - and says he intends to run for reelection in 2014.
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Exclusive: The first hand account of "The Last Man to Die" |
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May 11, 2012 - A 92-year-old Cookeville, TN WWII veteran solves a 67-year secret behind one of the most famous WWII photographs.
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Click here to see view the albums in Ralph's photo gallery.
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 Ralph Bristol is a 30-year veteran of radio and TV broadcasting. He is a US Air Force veteran and holds a BS degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Ralph was a radio and TV reporter, anchor and news director in Missouri and Illinois before joining WORD Radio in Greenville/Spartanburg, SC in 1995.
In the spring of 2007, Supertalk 99.7 WWTN beckoned Ralph to Nashville. Ralph defies political labels, and has no partisan loyalties, but can best be described as a libertarian/conservative. Ralph writes and speaks extensively on education, tax and economic issues. In his spare time, Ralph terrorizes golf courses, invents useful things with sharp tools and dead wood, and entertains audiences with irreverent humor and contrarian insight. Invite him to speak to your group at your own risk. |
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