Pelosi, More on Statesman Cheney, Fines for Holding Home Bible Study?

1) Pelosi refuses queries on CIA dispute In her first news conference since accusing the CIA of lying to her about the use of harsh interrogation techniques, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday refused to answer questions on the controversy, telling reporters only that she stands by her earlier statements. …"She has had more than a week to produce evidence supporting her allegation that the CIA deliberately lied to Congress and does so 'all the time.' She still has not done so, and House Democrats are now stonewalling a bipartisan investigation to determine the facts," Mr. Boehner said.  "Claiming that the CIA engaged in a pattern of deception without either backing it up with evidence or retracting her statement and apologizing is an affront to the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our country," he added. See: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/23/pelosi-shuts-down-questions-on-cia-dispute-republi/ 2) Don't call ex-Vice President Cheney a has-been WASHINGTON (AP) - Dick Cheney refuses to be a has-been.  The former vice president's voice appears to carry even more weight than it did in the waning days of the Bush administration. When Obama released memos detailing Bush-era interrogation techniques and wouldn't completely rule out prosecuting or disciplining former Bush administration officials, Cheney couldn't stay silent.  "It wasn't like on Jan. 21, he planned that he was going to speak out in this way," said Cheney's daughter, Liz, a former State Department official who has traveled extensively with her father. "It was driven by events and I think he will continue to do it if he feels it's important to the public debate." "You just have to know the way he works," she said. "He was watching what was going on. He knew it was wrong and he knew he had an obligation to say it was wrong." See: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98COGL01&show_article=1 3) GOP senator: Court nominee could incite filibuster WASHINGTON – The Senate's No. 2 Republican on Sunday refused to rule out a filibuster if President Barack Obama seeks a Supreme Court justice who decides cases based on "emotions or feelings or preconceived ideas." Sen. Jon Kyl made clear he would use the procedural delay if Obama follows through on his pledge to nominate someone who takes into account human suffering and employs empathy from the bench. The Arizona Republican acknowledged that his party likely does not have enough votes to sustain a filibuster, but he said nonetheless he would try to delay or derail the nomination if Obama ventures outside what Kyl called the mainstream. See: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090525/ap_on_go_su_co/us_obama_supreme_court 4) 'Shooting Back' author talks to Mancow Describes attack on church congregation by terrorists Author Charl van Wyk told the Mancow radio show his story of shooting back at terrorists who lobbed grenades and fired automatic assault weapons at a church congregation in South Africa. Police later told van Wyk the terrorists confessed their plan was to kill everyone in the church, possibly 1,000 people or more, and his armed response is credited with saving many lives. …"To create a safe nation, arm the population," van Wyk told WND in a recent interview. Referring to the recently much-publicized massacre of more than a dozen immigrants in New York, he added, "An armed citizen could have made a difference at Binghamton." See: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=97985 5) Camera grid to log number plates in UK The BBC has learned a national network of cameras monitoring Britain's roads will be in place within months. A national network of cameras and computers automatically logging car number plates will be in place within months, the BBC has learned. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/whos_watching_you/8064333.stm 6) Home: No place for Bible study County demands pastor obtain $10,000 permit to host friends A San Diego pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a county official and warned they will face escalating fines if they continue to hold Bible studies in their home. The couple, whose names are being withheld until a demand letter can be filed on their behalf, told their attorney a county government employee knocked on their door on Good Friday, asking a litany of questions about their Tuesday night Bible studies, which are attended by approximately 15 people …She says she was then told, however, that she must stop holding "religious assemblies" until she and her husband obtain a Major Use Permit from the county, a permit that often involves traffic and environmental studies, compliance with parking and sidewalk regulations and costs that top tens of thousands of dollars.  And if they fail to pay for the MUP, the county official reportedly warned, the couple will be charged escalating fines beginning at $100, then $200, $500, $1000, "and then it will get ugly." …Broyles confirmed the county official followed through on his threat. The pastor and his wife received a written warning ordering the couple to "cease/stop religious assembly on parcel or obtain a major use permit." ,,,Broyles also explained to WND that oppressive governments, such as communist China or Nazi Germany, worked to repress home fellowships, labeling them the "underground church" or "subversive groups," legally compelling Christians to meet only in sanctioned, government-controlled "official" churches. See: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=98895