New Emissions Standards (A New Stealth Tax), Israel and Obama, 'Extremists' Can't Have Guns?

1) Obama to tap consumers for emission, mpg standards WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama plans to propose the first-ever national emission limits for cars and trucks as well as average mileage requirements of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 — all costing consumers an extra $1,300 per vehicle.  …Administration officials said consumers were going to pay an extra $700 for mileage standards that had already been approved. The comprehensive Obama plan would add another $600 to the price of a vehicle, a senior administration official said. The extra miles would come at roughly a 5 percent increase each year. By the time the plan takes full effect, at the end of 2016, new vehicles would cost an extra $1,300. See: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090519/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_autos 2) Obama prods Netanyahu, Iran in Mideast foray …Obama and Netanyahu spoke highly of their hopes for progress in the Mideast after a lengthy private meeting in the Israeli's first visit to the White House since Obama became president and Netanyahu began his second stint as prime minister. Yet the new president was firm in insisting the Israelis move toward peace with the Palestinians, and Netanyahu stuck to his stance that Israel cannot negotiate with people who deny its right to exist. …Netanyahu said he was ready to resume peace talks with the Palestinians immediately but he also said any agreement depended on their acceptance of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. It was not immediately clear in the way he phrased the response whether Netanyahu was demanding that as a precondition for talks. See: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090518/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_israel And: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/18/AR2009051800825.html 2a) TWO HOURS AT THE WHITE HOUSE: Was progress made? The President unsuccessfully pressed Netanyahu to commit to a “two state solution.” Netanyahu reiterated that Israel does not want to govern the Palestinians but would not commit to agreeing that they have full sovereignty, something that would allow the Palestinians to build strategic military alliances with Iran, Syria and other dangerous regimes, as well as build an air force and navy, all of which would endanger the Jewish States.  The President did not commit to putting to put a time limit on diplomacy with Iran.  …Reuters is also reporting that “Obama said after the meeting he saw no reasons to set an artificial deadline for diplomacy with Iran, but the United States would like to see progress with Tehran by the end of the year.” See: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/ 2b) D-Day For Israel's Future? Decisions that may determine the eventual demise or survival of Israel as a state will be set in motion in the tense meetings between President Barak Obama and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday. Despite the fact that the Palestinians have not kept one agreement that was part of the Oslo Accords and later the Road Map to Peace plan, the Obama Administration is set to apply maximum pressure upon Netanyahu to agree to a Palestinian state that includes all land within the Pre June-1967 borders. The Palestinians were given a perfect opportunity to prove that they could live side by side in peace with Israel when they were given possession of Gaza and the freedom to govern it. Hundreds of millions of dollars were contributed to them to build an economic infra-structure so that their people would have work. But just look at the historic record of how they used the opportunity: Their leaders used the money for themselves and to smuggle weapons and terrorist fighters into Gaza. They sent suicide bombers in with their workers who had to work in Israel because they were incapable of building their own industries. They bought and smuggled in rockets and missiles with which they continually bombarded the entire civilian Israeli population that are within range. They overwhelmingly elected Hamas, a terrorist regime, to be their government. All Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza refuse to recognize Israel has a right to exist and that it is a Jewish State. See: http://www.hallindsey.com/watchman-warning/ 3) Critics Deride Bill Designed to Keep Weapons Out of Terrorists' Hands: While nobody wants domestic terrorists to have easy access to guns, some critics say a bill proposed by Rep. Peter King could be treading a thin line constitutionally. A bill designed to keep weapons out of the hands of terrorists is drawing fire from gun rights advocates who say it could infringe upon regular citizens' constitutional right to bear arms. The Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2009 would authorize Attorney General Eric Holder to deny the sale or transfer of firearms to known or suspected terrorists -- a list that could extend beyond groups such as radical Islamists and other groups connected to international terror organizations. Critics say the names of suspected terrorists could be drawn from existing government watch lists that cover such broad categories as animal rights extremists, Christian identity extremists, black separatists, anti-abortion extremists, anti-immigration extremists and anti-technology extremists. "It doesn't say anything about trials and due process," said Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America. "This is one of the most outrageous pieces of legislation to come along in some time. It's basically saying, 'I suspect you, so your rights are toast.'" Terrorist watch lists came under fire last month after a Department of Homeland Security report warned that right wing extremist groups may be expanding their membership in the midst of current economic upheaval. While the report stated that such groups were not believed to be planning any terrorist attacks, it went on to state they might do so in the name of issues like abortion, immigration and gun control. See: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/13/critics-deride-designed-weapons-terrorists-hands/ 4) Biden Reveals Location of Secret VP Bunker Vice President Joe Biden, well-known for his verbal gaffes, may have finally outdone himself, divulging potentially classified information meant to save the life of a sitting vice president. …According to Clift's report on the Newsweek blog, Biden "said a young naval officer giving him a tour of the residence showed him the hideaway, which is behind a massive steel door secured by an elaborate lock with a narrow connecting hallway lined with shelves filled with communications equipment."  Clift continued: "The officer explained that when Cheney was in lock down, this was where his most trusted aides were stationed, an image that Biden conveyed in a way that suggested we shouldn't be surprised that the policies that emerged were off the wall." See: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/17/oops-biden-reveals-location-secret-vp-bunker/ 5) Former fundamentalist 'debunks' Bible …In Ehrman's latest book, "Jesus, Interrupted," he concludes: Doctrines such as the divinity of Jesus and heaven and hell are not based on anything Jesus or his earlier followers said.   (REALLY???? Try: John 8:21-24: Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come." This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?" But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.") At least 19 of the 27 books in the New Testament are forgeries. Believing the Bible is infallible is not a condition for being a Christian. See: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/05/15/bible.critic/index.html