The structure of this Blast e-mail is again intended to allow the reader to skim, but also to be exposed

to info not otherwise emphasized; after emphasizing the ongoing strife facing the Kurds, BHOs overall
approach to the Middle East is detailed [encompassing why he disses Israel]. Then, of course, the
political landscape is covered from differing perspectives; Ebola is noted to be an emerging force.
Finally, reprinted are excerpts from the Morning Jolt . . . with Jim Geraghty and Notes composed by
Heritage Action that focus on ObamaDontCare and Taxation.

*

Martin Dempsey and his military counterparts agree that the Islamic State has 'tactical momentum' and
is dangerously effective in its propaganda war; suggested interventions include from Dershowitz [Target
Mosques That Store Weapons] and from other experts [expand America's Military because it is Too
Small for Obama's New War on Terror]. As detailed earlier, Kurds have been gassed, creating a sense of
Dj vu when recalling Chemical Attacks Against Kurds in Halabja, Iraq [1988] and in Koban, Syria
[2014]. Sherkoh is scrambling to muster support for his countrymen and I spoke with the lobbyist who
wrote the WSJ-piece two days ago [and who represents the FSA, having just returned from Iraq]. Also,
illustrative of how Turkey is acting-out is the fact that Danish Journalist Lars Hedegaards Attempted
Assassin was Released by Turkey.

In reaction, perhaps, to intense pressure, U.S.-led forces have dramatically increased
airstrikes against Islamic State militants in the predominantly Kurdish Syrian town of
Koban (Ayn al-Arab), near the Turkish border. On Monday and Tuesday coalition forces
carried out an estimated 21 strikes in the area. The White House said there is evidence
the efforts were succeeding, though they were constrained by lack of ground forces.
Witnesses in Koban reported the strikes seem to have helped push Islamic State
fighters back to a degree, though they are believed to control about half the town.
Obama met with military leaders from 22 countries on Tuesday outside Washington,
where he noted "important successes" though predicted a "long-term campaign" to
counter Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. He particularly expressed concerns over
the situation in Koban and Iraq's Anbar province. On Tuesday, a suicide bomber killed
24 people in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, including a Shiite Member of Parliament,
Ahmed al-Khafaji; the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, implying it was
targeting Khafaji.

This is a succinct summary of BHOs Middle East Foreign Policy; read it and weep.

Michael Doran, former Princeton Professor, and official in the Bush Administration, and
now with Brookings gave a talk for CAMERA in Chicago last night. Doran is outstanding,
and offers insights rarely heard in public, even if murmured privately by some people.
He basically argues that Obama's has made Iran Americas' most important ally now in
the Middle East, since they have the ability to fight in both Syria and Iraq against Sunni
radical groups, so we do not have to. The Obama approach reflects a consensus view
among the foreign policy establishment that began with the Baker Hamilton Iraq study
group in 2006. Outreach to Iran and Syria, pressure on and separation from Israel,
abandon Iraq, and surge in Afghanistan. Obama did the last briefly and has now given up
there as well. He wants out of the business of having to use a military. As for Iranian
nukes, this Administration is fine with a containment approach. They have bought into
Walt-Mearsheimer balance of power realism. Iran will help achieve Sunni-Shiite balance
of power. Iranian nukes balance Israel's.

Doran's articles recall a glaring inconsistency. Before our feint at hitting Syria with cruise
missile air strikes after they crossed Obama's red lines on use of chemical weapons,
Obama said he wanted Congressional approval before authorizing them. He then
summoned AIPAC to do the work, on an uphill, hopeless venture to get that approval,
until the Russian deal seemed to resolve that issue. Now Obama is doing exactly the
same thing in Iraq as was considered with Syria-targeted air strikes. But the
Administration shows no interest in Congressional resolutions. Why do some air strikes
require approval, but others not? The major takeaway from the Doran articles is that
Obama has switched sides. He really is working with our enemies (and Israel's), and has
abandoned America's traditional allies. All of you out there who voted for this guy twice,
or defended him or shilled for him, I hope you are very proud. {References: America's
real ally in Iraq: Iran and Obama has no real intention to prevent an Iranian nuclear
program}.

Despite the best efforts of those promoting the BDS movement, Israel is not Ostracized; also, it seems
more people are seeking Forgiveness for having Voted for Our Current President. This is a summary of
the Daily Alert selection of articles; its difficult to ID anything allowing surcease [except the last ones]:

U.S.-Led Coalition Targeting Islamic State Is Beset by Strategic Differences
ISIS Used Chemical Weapons on Kurds
U.S. Intensifies Airstrikes on Islamic State in Koban
The Secret Casualties of Iraq's Abandoned Chemical Weapons
The Broader Nature of the Conflict in Iraq and Syria
ISIS Boasts about Conquering the Vatican and Rome
Defense Minister Ya'alon: Syrian Rebels Adjacent to Golan Border Are Moderates

Which Palestine Do Europeans Recognize?
Israel: The Road to Peace Does Not Pass through the UN, the House of Commons, or Stockholm
Nasrallah: Border Attack on Israel Was Revenge for Slain Hizbullah Operative
Recruiting and Building Rockets, Hamas Determined to Retain Gaza Grip
How the Donors Saved Hamas
Building Supplies Flow into Gaza from Israel
Israeli Soldier Wounded by Explosive Device near Rachel's Tomb

Oil Prices Fall Sharply
Oil Prices Could Fall Below $80
Druse to Head Israeli Hospital

Support Allies, Not Terrorists
By Shoshana Bryen
October 15, 2014 at 4:00 am

Kerry's international party should be trying to aid the Kurdsour friends and the mortal enemy of the
Islamic Stateinstead of trying to lavish more international funds on Hamas and Fatah, two sides of a
movement dedicated to destruction. {Read entire article, for it is replete with key-info.}


Can anyone spare some change for the Kurds?

This is Richard Vigueries Action-Agenda:

Obama's Lies
The Republican Party leadership's inexplicable refusal to recognize and embrace the common
sense concept that border security is national security, especially in the face of the deadly Ebola
and Enterovirus 68 epidemics, shows that new leadership in the GOP is necessary and that Ted
Cruz is one of the few people on the national scene capable of providing it.
URGE CRUZ to SAVE R's
TELL GOP LEADERS to NATIONALIZE the ELECTION
No Blank Checks for Obama's War
STOP SPENDING ON ILLEGALS!
STOP BORDER CROSSINGS!
NO AMNESTY
FIRE BOEHNER!
Recent surveys showing the North Carolina Senate race tightening is great news for
conservatives hoping to wrest control of the Senate from the Democrats and shows the shift in
Thom Tillis' campaign toward issues that matter is resonating with real voters.

The Daily Caller compiled an alphabetized list of reasons why Dems feel everything-is-about-race-and-
youre-a-racist; that criterion notwithstanding, it seems the Supreme Court left its mark on midterms,
despite the fact that its actions are less about broad voting rights principles. Although the focus has
been on the Senate, House Dems are in retreat, shifting cash from blue-chip recruits to prop up
teetering incumbents. Nate Silver concluded The Polls Might Be Skewed Against either party, as Trouble
Looms for Obama and Dems with Election Day 2014 Approaching. Regarding the Senatorial Race, Cotton
and Pryor got rough in last debate; regarding Dem-panic, Latino groups are training their fire on their
closest ally: the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

You can look-up any US or State incumbent or candidate, see his/her views and voting
record, and review sources of campaign funds that may reflect to which people, PACs,
or corporate sector contributors they may feel indebted.
http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/58360/thomas-murt#.VD3bx2fD9dg
http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/5225/stewart-
greenleaf#.VD3ch2fD9dg
http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/119487/dee-adcock#.VD3c92fD9dg
http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/47357/brendan-
boyle#.VD3dTGfD9dg
http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/102598/todd-
stephens#.VD3do2fD9dg
http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/47315/catherine-harper#
http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/2541/bob-casey-jr#.VD3evGfD9dg
http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/24096/pat-toomey#.VD3e8mfD9dg
http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/47340/tom-corbett#.VD5pw2B0zcs

The Florida gubernatorial race is tied; Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger and former Gov. Charlie
Crist both have the support of 44% of likely voters, while Libertarian Adrian Wyllie pulls a significant
share (9%) of the vote. With the race so close, Wyllie's support sets the stage for a potential Libertarian
spoiler. Also [although this is viewed fortunately as a long-shot], Jeb Bush said his Wife Would Back a
Presidential Run. Overall, U.S. Voters Give GOP Edge vs. Dems on Handling Top Issues on a scattergram
c/o Gallop.

REPUBLICANS LOOKING GOOD IN KEY SENATE RACES
[c/o the Republican Jewish Coalition]

* In Kansas, troubling clues about the agenda of "independent" candidate Greg Orman
continue to trickle out:

Kansas Senate hopeful Greg Orman insists that he is not beholden to
the Democratic Party, but a major Democratic donor is hosting a
fundraiser for his campaign to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Pat
Roberts.

Jonathan Soros, son of billionaire Democratic donor George Soros, will
host a New York City fundraiser this week for Orman, who is running as
an independent candidate...

* Cory Gardner has a 4-point lead in the Colorado Senate race, according to CNN
Politics and was just endorsed by the editorial board of the Denver Post. His latest ad,
Fix It, illustrates what's resonating with voters in that race. In it, Gardner says his
opponent's partisanship has kept us from "fixing Obama's failures... When something is
broken, I'll fix it."

* In North Carolina, Republican Thom Tillis has pulled even with Democrat Kay Hagan,
who used her substantial financial advantage to run vicious attacks on Tillis early in the
race. Now Tillis is gaining ground by reminding voters of Hagan's support for Obama and
Harry Reid.

* In Alaska, Republican challenger Dan Sullivan holds a 6-point lead over Democrat
incumbent Mark Begich in the most recent CNN poll. Sullivan even leads Begich by five
points in Anchorage, the city where Begich served two terms as mayor.

* The respected Rothenberg Political Report has moved the Arkansas race from the
Toss-Up to the Lean Republican column. Republican Tom Cotton holds a stable single-
digit lead in most current polls. The challenger now has a clear advantage, says
Rothenberg.

* New Hampshire voters are coming to appreciate Republican Scott Brown. He was
down by 13 points in March, but is now only 2 points away from the incumbent,
Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. Boston Herald political commentator Jennifer C. Braceras
explains why Brown is the best choice:

In this election cycle, Republicans need as many GOP senators as possible. President
Obama rightly notes that his agenda is at stake in these mid-term elections. A vote for
Shaheen is a vote for Obama's failed policies. And that's a bad deal, wherever you live.

* Republican Joni Ernst and Democrat Bruce Braley are neck and neck in the pivotal
Iowa Senate race, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.

Some feel Ebola is 2014 October surprise, but an ABC Poll found that a Majority Want Ebola Travel
Restrictions *but BHO doesnt+; this suggests that the sudden burst of expressed-leadership wont work.
Indeed, the Second Hospitalized Ebola Patient Flew on an Airplane Hours Before Showing Symptoms,
reflecting again governmental slip-ups and, indeed, OFFICIALS KNEW TX EBOLA PATIENT FLEW, BUT
DIDNT TELL MEDIA. Overall, now recognizing that Ebola Spreads Through Droplets in the Air, the CDC
has said it missed opportunities to contain Ebola.

After the Keystone pipelines rise to the top of D.C.s energy agenda, it has been
shrinking and the oil industry has moved on. CNN Canceled 'Crossfire,' Again, and it was
verified that Mobile-Phone flashlights can be hacked.


Morning Jolt . . . with Jim Geraghty
October 15, 2014


Second Health-Care Worker in Dallas Contracts Ebola

Urgh.

A second person involved in the care of Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan has
contracted the disease, the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a
statement early Wednesday.

The health-care worker, who wasn't identified, reported a fever Tuesday and was
immediately isolated at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

The statement said a preliminary Ebola test was conducted late Tuesday at a state
public health lab in Austin.

A test to confirm the result will be conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention in Atlanta.

Expect to hear a LOT about stopping flights and more intense screenings at airports in the final few
weeks of the midterm campaigns.

The Coming Attempt to Persuade You that You Really Like Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton is already making a preemptive strike against any critical media coverage in the coming
years:
Hillary Clinton, eyeing a second presidential bid and constantly at the center of intense
press coverage, lamented Tuesday that modern media scrutiny has made it more
difficult to be a leader today.
We have created very difficult hurdles for people who want to serve, who believe they
can lead, to do be able to do so. And the media has intensified that, the former
secretary of state said at the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, sponsored by the
tech company Salesforce.
Clinton said she had watched Ken Burns documentary on the Roosevelt family, noting
that reporters kept hidden Franklin Delano Roosevelts handicap. Roosevelt was
diagnosed with polio at age 39 in 1921 and was largely confined to a wheelchair as
president.
Instead of, in a democracy, doing what we should to be doing, which is giving people
information so they can be decision makers, Clinton said reporters today are only
interested in the best angle, quickest hit, the biggest embarrassment.
@Drawandstrike offers a series of Tweets, preparing us for the two years of the media build*ing+ Hillary
up into the Awesome Special Champion You Can Trust With Ever-Growing Government Power.
Every presidential campaign tries to build a heroic narrative around the life story of their candidate.
Sometimes the material is there think John McCain enduring the years of torture as a POW in
Vietnam, and not coming out embittered or enraged or broken with despair. Sometimes the campaign
has to stretch. I tried to lay out a heroic narrative for Mitt Romney back in August 2012; I think his
campaign really didnt try particularly hard in this area, other than some portions of his convention
speech. (He was a young barefoot street-brawling vigilante who later in life gave away his inheritance,
physically grabbed state officials who tried to skip out on hearings after accidents, and rescued
drowning people on his jet ski. Hes Ward Cleaver crossed with Bruce Wayne.)
The media tends to do this in a rather ham-handed way. Sometimes it comes in cookie-cutter this
Democrat in a red state smashes all the stereotypes profiles. Sometimes it comes in increasingly heavy-
handed attempts to persuade you that the offspring of the Chosen Messiah Candidate is particularly
special and admirable:


That particular cover story in Fast Company tried to dance around its obvious mission of glamorizing a
young woman whose adult life consists mostly of stepping through doors opened by her parents power
and meandering through the highest levels of high society without actually doing much.
Over on NRO this morning, I look at the intensely depressed national mood and point out that the
country could use someone with a bit of a heroic shine these days.
Have the Comedy World and Pop Culture Moved On from Saturday Night Live?
Christian Toto compiles 5 Reasons Saturday Night Live No Longer Matters. He hits this obvious point .
. .
In the 1990s Phil Hartmans Bill Clinton was reason enough to tune in every week. The same
held true for Dana Carveys President Bush. Will Ferrells take on Dubya proved equally
memorable, its cutting humor served up with boyish charm. That bipartisan tradition
evaporated when President Barack Obama came into office. At first, Fred Armisen offered up a
tentative Obama portrait, a sheepish attempt to keep politics in the mix. Later, Jay Pharoah
delivered a more nuanced impression, but the writers refused to play along. Like the rest of the
comedy world, SNL made the decision to protect, not tweak, the presidents image. Audiences
took notice. They no longer consider the show the signature source for political humor.
Lest this be construed as predictable conservative whining, Mollie Hemingway watched the season
opener so the rest of us wouldnt have to, and she summarizes the shows current thinking of what
constitutes political humor:
The Weekend Update crew joined with Kenan Thompson to give President Obama a pep
talk. A pep talk. Not an are-you-freaking-kidding-me-you-are-a-bad-president
evisceration. But a pep talk. A pep talk that and again, Im totally serious here
went after President George W. Bush, who left office so long ago that it was from an era
when comedy shows knew how to make fun of presidents.
My husband and I looked at each other with confusion and disgust as the Weekend
Update crowd told President Obama to cheer up and that things would get better. There
were lines like, Benghazi used to be a huge deal, now its just John McCains safe
word, and suggestions that he go on the road with the real first family, Beyonce and
Jay-Z. Jost said that Bush had wrecked the economy, bombed every country with sand
and that all he had to do was paint one ok picture of a dog to get back in the countrys
good graces. Ha ha! All so funny and fresh!
But on a broader point, it feels like Saturday Night Live doesnt do nearly as much topical comedy as
during the late 80searly 90s golden years. A lot of it feels like cast members saying Look, Ive created
this annoying character whos so annoying hes hilarious! The show always had a mix of news or
current-events based humor and evergreen sketches and comedy, but it seems strange to have a live
television show and not make the material seem very fresh. Or has the instantaneous snarking on
Twitter pre-mocked every news event by Saturday night?
To prepare for a coming trip to Portland, Ive been watching the IFC sketch comedy series Portlandia. It
has more funny concepts than genuinely funny sketches. For example, two store owners are convinced
that putting a bird on something automatically makes it art and promptly put it on every object
imaginable. All is well until an actual bird gets into the store, and the pair freak out and panic,
accidentally smashing all their merchandise as they desperately try to get the bird out of the store. You
can see it as a bit of poking at armchair environmentalists who dont actually like nature.
The recurring Feminist Bookstore sketch depicts two feminist bookstore owners who are so
determined to strike out at any perceived slight or expression of patriarchy that they chase every
customer out of the store. Ive mentioned the recycling gone amok sketch, where Portland residents are
reminded to sort their trash into increasingly-more-specific recycling bins. This isnt a conservative show,
but it does mock, with affection, the green, crunchy, oh-so-precious Portland lifestyle.
This little anecdote about comedy-writer Jack Handley explains what were dealing with when it comes
to a show like Portlandia:
Maria Semple, a writer for S.N.L. and Arrested Development and the author of the
novel Whered You Go, Bernadette, spent a long time on the phone with me trying to
explain what it is about Handeys comedy that makes him different from almost anyone
else writing comedy today. In the rewrite room, she finally said, we used to say, It
smells like a joke. Thats the scourge of comedy these days. It smells like a joke, but
theres no actual joke there. Im not the comedy police, but you watch a movie, and
everyones laughing, and then you shake it out and you realize, Theres no joke there!
But in Handeys novel, she said, I dont think four lines go by without a killer joke.
These are real jokes, man. They dont just smell like jokes.


Call Notes for 10/14 & Tax Extenders Brief
By Matthew Lauer [Sentinel Coordinator, Heritage Action for America]


We continue analysis of upcoming lame duck issues: Internet Sales Tax, Obamacare, and tax extenders.

Lame Duck: In its September session, Congress voted to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the
government through December 11, 2014 (319108 in the House; 7822 in the Senate). As the bill only
extended funding for two months, it requires a post-election lame duck session during which defeated
politicians can attempt to address any number of liberal agenda items. Conservatives must be on guard
during this session, as there is already a loud cry from both parties to clear the deck and pass bad
legislation either while liberal votes are still available or to avoid the need to address politically
controversial issues in the new year.

Obamacare: A recent Politico article begins, "Deep down, Republicans who know health care know the
truth: Obamacare isnt about to be repealed." This is the meme being propelled by the Establishment DC
bubble. The bad news about Obamacare continues to avalanche on top of the American people, and
with more conservatives in the Senate, there will be an opportunity to reignite the repeal fight.

If Republicans continue to pass the buck and focus on fighting only small ball elements of the health
insurance takeover, the prophecy will be self-fulfilled and Obamacare will stay put. If a new Congress
resolves to use the budgeting process (also known as reconciliation) to halt further implementation,
however, the President and the country at large will once again be forced to debate the merits of the
disastrous law. We cannot let those who do not want to fight convince us that the fight cannot be won.
Full repeal is not only possible, it is the only way out.

Tax Extenders: The tax extenders package is a group of more than 50 tax policies that require periodic
reauthorization. Instead of setting permanent tax policies that provide taxpayers long-term certainty,
Congress prefers the tradition of short-term extensions. These extenders last expired at the end of the
2013 tax year (though they are largely considered to still be in effect, since they are often extended
retroactively). With the looming lame duck session facing serious pressure from the tax lobbyists on K-
Street, Congress is likely to try to jam this package through during this window.

Some provisions in the current Senate version of the extenders (S. 2260) are worthy in their own right
and should be made permanent, while most are problematic in that they show favoritism or are simply
not conducive to economic growth. These types of extenders should be allowed to expire and be
replaced with policies that every American and business can benefit from. Congress should stop
artificially sunsetting a few pro-growth tax provisions in order to preserve an annual vehicle for K-Street
to shower campaign contributions on lawmakers and for lobbyists to attach their own priorities.

Tax Extenders Package

Background: The tax extenders package is a group of more than 50 tax policies that require periodic
reauthorization. Instead of setting permanent tax policies that provide taxpayers long-term certainty,
Congress prefers the tradition of short-term extensions. These extenders last expired at the end of the
2013 tax year (though they are largely considered to still be in effect, since they are often extended
retroactively). With the looming lame duck session after the November elections facing serious
pressure from the tax lobbyists on K-Street, Congress is likely to try to jam this package through during
this window.

Some of the provisions in the current Senate version of the extenders (S. 2260) are worthy in their own
right and should be made permanent, while most are problematic in that they show favoritism or are
simply not conducive to economic growth. These types of extenders should be allowed to expire and be
replaced with policies that every American and business can benefit from. Congress should stop
artificially sunsetting a few pro-growth tax provisions in order to preserve an annual vehicle for K-Street
to shower campaign contributions on lawmakers and for lobbyists to attach their own priorities.

Bonus Depreciation. This provision moves the tax code toward the proper, neutral treatment of business
investments. Allowing businesses to deduct 100 percent of the cost of capital expenditures in the first
year (sometimes referred to as expensing) is a key pillar of a neutral, consumption-based tax code.
Bonus depreciation moves the tax code half way there, allowing business to deduct 50% of expenses in
the first year. This is a worthy policy that does not favor one type or size of business over another, and
should be extended permanently.

Wind Production Tax Credit (PTC). The wind PTC amounts to little more than corporate welfare for a
narrow segment of the energy industry. The government favoritism distorts consumer investments and
energy prices alike, while transferring wealth from states that dont use wind technology to those that
do. As Heritage Foundations Katie Tubb explains:

The wind industry complains that lapses in the PTC disrupt investments, and theyre
right. So why not permanently end the PTC? That would free up $12 billion for Congress
to make pro-growth changes to the tax code. And not only does this provide the
certainty the industry so desires; it also protects taxpayers and helps inform energy
investments with what makes most sense for consumers rather than for politicians.

Energy Market and Renewable Resources. There are at least 10 provisions in this package that boast
special rules and crony exceptions for private actors in the renewable energy market. These include, but
are not limited to, tax credits for energy efficient homes, efficient commercial building deductions,
credits for nonbusiness energy property, incentives for alternative fuel usage, and special allowances for
biofuel production. These policies are designed to artificially tilt the market in the direction of specific
renewable sources and reward certain taxpayers for behaving how the government would like them to.
If the practices and technologies these provisions encourage are truly good for consumers, there will be
a market for them, and they need not be forced on the public through manipulation of the tax code.

Cronyism. Even arguably decent policies are narrowly administered to the benefit of certain industries.
This cherry-picking goes to benefit politically-connected industries at the expense of all taxpayers who
would otherwise benefit from broad, comprehensive tax reform. The extenders package, for example,
would allow shorter depreciation schedules for NASCAR, the horseracing industry, railroad track
maintenance, mass transit and certain film and television productions. Lawmakers whose districts cater
to these interests have fought to embed these provisions in the extenders package.

Congress should pursue fundamental tax reform that moves all businesss capital expenditures closer to
full expensing without picking winners and losers among certain well-connected industries.

Call to Action: The Senates tax extendersand indeed the entire process surrounding the extension of
expiring tax provisionsis an egregious example of Washington using its powers to prop up well
connected interests and ensure its own continued relevance. Rather than jam a new package through
when the American people have already elected a new body of representatives, the next Congress
should seek to make permanent the worthy provisions that are being distorted by the attachment of
unworthy ones. Bad tax policy should be allowed to expire for good and be replaced with reforms to our
tax code that are truly broad-based and pro-growth.