Tag Archive for: florida

A review of Florida Constitutional Amendment 4 — Solar Devices by James Lampe

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As you consider your vote remember this is a Constitutional Amendment, and once passed the chances of changing it are slim and none.  Before we change the Constitution, shouldn’t the Amendment be clearly beneficial to most Floridians?  Unfortunately, the vast majority of Floridians will be hurt if Amendment 4 is passed.  The Amendment will raise electric rates and ad valorem taxes.  Vote NO on this Amendment.

amendment 4 ballot language

Summary:  This Amendment will exempt solar devices installed on homes or businesses from ad valorem taxes, until 12-31-2037.

First of all, homeowners who install Solar-Electric systems already get a 30% federal tax break!

This financial assistance from the federal government, has been around for years.  Secondly, Florida state government has helped by exempting “solar energy systems or any component thereof” from sales tax.  And now we have this amendment, a third gilded gift to prop-up the failing solar industry.

Nonetheless, let’s see how many people this Amendment will help.  A review of the US Census Fact Finder data on the table below, shows that 30% (2,166,215) of all Floridians live in “Rental Occupied” units, and therefore, no-one in that group would invest in solar-electric systems.  As shown in the “Owner-occupied” category, that leaves 4,986,629 potential customers.

amendment 4 survey

In addition, even if you own a house you may not be able to afford to invest in a solar-electric system.  People who own lower valued housing units valued at $50,000-$150,000, are not likely to invest $30,000 (cost estimate to buy, install, and connect a solar-electric system to the electric grid) for solar system.  So of the 4,986,629 total housing units, we can subtract 1,593,957 for the lower valued houses.  That gives 3,392,697 as the remaining moderate to higher priced housing units that would be the target market for solar-electric systems.

However, there are about 1,000,000 condominiums in Florida, whose owners would also be prevented/impeded from modifying or otherwise changing their common roofs, so the total possible number of housing units for solar falls to 2,392,697, or ~34% of all housing units.

With only ~34% of housing units available for solar-electric systems, how can this Amendment be considered fair?  Worse yet, many snow-birds and residents have mobile homes that are included the housing units, but there is no itemized number for them.  So the 34%, would be even lower if mobile home units were subtracted from the total number of units.

florida solar amendment

In 2015, the Nevada PUC changed the rules for “net metering,” which allows homeowners to sell their excess solar generated electricity to their utility at retail rather than wholesale rates.  But because that arrangement was too costly, the PUC changed the rule.

The Nevada scenario seems like a no brainer, but apparently there was enough grant money to make up for the losses, until one day when the math didn’t work, and the people in Nevada realized that the more electric generated by solar, the less profits the utilities collect.  The utilities need profit to pay staff to restore power after storms, sustain street lighting, and maintain the electric grid, etc.  In addition, utilities work on economies of scale, and their efficiency is reduced when customers convert to solar, because it costs more to generate a KW of electricity.

This Amendment is an obvious attempt by state bureaucrats to boost the heavily subsidized, yet nearly bankrupt solar industry.  It’s not fair or prudent, to let the state pick winners and losers in a free market economy, and we should not let this cronyism go unnoticed.

Vote NO on Amendment 4.

Florida Company Launches First Artificial Intelligence Digital Assistant for Realtors [Video]

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SARASOTA, Fla. /PRNewswire/ — Offrs.com, the leader in Smart Data and Marketing for real estate, launched the first artificial intelligence driven system for real estate brokerages – ROOFAI.com. The official launch event took place at the historic Ritz Theater in Austin, Texas on August 9th, as part during the annual Keller Williams Mega Camp.

The launch party also unveiled, “Raia,” an automated, artificial intelligence assistant that provides marketing automation for real estate brokerages and the agents they serve helping them create the Real estate Office Of the Future (ROOF).

“The genesis of ROOF started with predictive analytics and our ability to marry big data with marketing for real estate agents, but today we are excited to launch the first artificially intelligent real estate assistant for brokers – RAIA. She will help brokerages own the future of Real Estate,” said Offrs.com Co-founder, Rich Swier.

Artificial Intelligence has begun to surface in applications in many industries, but this will be the first artificially intelligent assistant for real estate agents and brokers that will help them execute important tasks need to grow their business. RAIA will be help increase production, improve marketing and be the primary driver for the real estate office of the future.

“We believe we’re solving an enormous business challenge for brokerages by providing data and metric driven business solutions specifically designed to transform our clients into real estate offices of the future. The bleeding edge of technology is where Offrs.com is positioned and the opportunity is here for brokerages, now,” said Offrs.com Co-founder, Mark Dickson.

The ROOF program combines predictive analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to help brokerages identify, target and touch prospective sellers. In addition to providing Smart Data and a robust prospecting platform, the ROOF program also provides automated services that create a systematic approach to lead generation.

“Imagine having a digital assistant leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance fully automated outreach each and every day for a brokerage. We are not just predicting the future, we will be building the future for our customers. The ROOF program is going to ‘wow’ brokerage owners,” said offrs.com VP National Business Development, Frank Chimento.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOFAI.com and talk with RAIA

ABOUT OFFRS.COM

Since 2012, Offrs.com has been a leading provider of Smart Data and Marketing products and services for real estate agents and brokerages. With flagship programs like R.O.O.F. (Real Estate Office of the Future) Offrs.com leverages artificial intelligence to automate lead generation for real estate brokerages and agents.  Offrs.com serves thousands of real estate professionals from all major national franchise brands and large independent real estate brokerages.

DISCLAIMER: One of the principles of ROOFAI.com is the son of the publisher of this e-Magazine.

Why I’m Endorsing Ray Pilon for the Florida Senate in District 23

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The Florida Senate District 23 race has been filled with mud slinging, vitriol and attacks between candidates. And that’s just the Republicans running for the open seat.

Big money, the media, big business and the establishment GOP have worked to put into the District 23 Senate seat anybody but Ray Pilon. Sound familiar?

Ray is not beholding to big donors and has not gotten into the mud slinging pig pen, like some other candidates. Ray Pilon is the only candidate who is talking about and focused on the issues impacting Floridians. That alone is reason enough to cast a vote for Pilon.

But there are other reasons that compel me to vote for Ray Pilon. The reasons fall into four categories: Illegal immigration, law and order, the Florida economy, public education.

IMMIGRATION

George Fuller, an expert on immigration issues, sent me the following in an email:

This afternoon I received a response from Ray Pilon posted below who is running for the [Florida District 23] state senate. I voted for him previously and will again.

Thanks George, if I make it to the Senate you won’t just hear rhetoric from me you will see legislation and a campaign to correct this [immigration] mess. What you have said all along is getting worse. It is a major priority for me and maybe my fellow legislators will finally wake up. I will seek your counsel as we move forward.

Ray [Pilon]

Illegals cost the state of Florida over $5 billion annually according to FAIR. This is a heavy burden on all Florida taxpayers. Andrea Billups from NewsMax reported:

An estimated 925,000 illegal immigrants lived in Florida in 2012, according to data from the Pew Research Center. They made up 4.8 percent of the state’s population.

The annual costs to Florida’s taxpayers were estimated at more than $5.2 billion, according to data from the Federation for American Immigration Reform. This deficit was calculated after state revenue from illegal immigrants totaling $261 million was counted.

FAIR reported the following costs associated with illegal immigration in Florida, broken down as such:

  • $3.34 billion went to education
  • $660 million to healthcare
  • $579 million to justice and law enforcement
  • $317 million to public assistance
  • $568 million to general government services

LAW AND ORDER

Ray Pilon was born in Pontiac, Michigan, and attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 1968. After graduation, he moved to the state of Florida in 1979, where he began working as a police officer.

Perhaps the second most important issue facing Florida is the maintaining of law and order. With the recent killings in Orlando and Fort Myers it is clear that the terrorist and criminal elements are always waiting to strike.

Pilon was part of that thin blue line keeping Floridians safe. He understands that without law enforcement officers there is lawlessness.

THE FLORIDA ECONOMY

A healthy economy depends on low taxes, a skilled workforce, and a regulatory environment that encourages job creation and entrepreneurship. In the Florida legislature, Ray Pilon has worked to remove government-created obstacles to prosperity.

I am confident he will continue to work with Governor Scott to create jobs, cut regulations and increase the chances for entrepreneurs to flourish in the Sunshine state.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Florida Citizens Alliance (FLCA) was working on both a comprehensive bill to restore local K-12 education control and a focused curriculum bill to fix the loopholes in SB 864, passed in 2014 as FS 1006.283.

FLCA in a press release stated:

We are very pleased to report that Senator Alan Hays and Representative Ray Pilon are championing companion bills to fix FS 1006.283 and its loopholes:  SB 1018 and HB 899.

The purpose/intent of the original SB 864 was to assign constitutional responsibility for all instructional materials to school boards, and require a transparent policy/process for school boards and parents to remove objectionable materials. Due to several loopholes in FS 1006.283, the spirit and intent of the original bill are currently being ignored by many school districts in Florida.

FLCA later asked its members, parents and concerned citizen to “send a ‘shout out’ to Senator Hays and Representative Pilon, thanking them for their leadership.”

Ray Pilon has been a champion of moving power to students, parents and teachers in Florida.

Not sure what else I can say other than I urge all voters in Florida Senate District 23 to vote for Ray Pilon.

To learn more about Ray Pilon please click here.

RELATED VIDEO: Candidate Forum – Florida Senate District 23 (Republican primary)

VIDEO: We Expose the real Khizr Khan as Trump meets with 6 Gold Star Families

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We interviewed Dr. Andy Bostom who details the shariah-compliant views of Democratic National Convention speaker, Gold Star Father, Khizr Khan. At the same time Donald Trump met with six Gold Star families in Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016 (see the Military Times story below).

, from the Military Times reports:

… Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump met Wednesday with the families of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan to hear their concerns about the campaign and broader national security issues.

The private conference, which attendees said lasted about 30 minutes before a rally in Florida, included top Trump defense adviser retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and was organized by Karen Vaughn, the mother of a fallen Navy SEAL and a featured speaker at last month’s Republican convention. Ten parents, siblings and spouses of fallen service members were included.

“It was really a chance to tell our stories, but also talk about problems with the rules of engagem ent [for troops in war zones] and the failed policies of the current administration,” Vaughn said. “I walked out feeling like I understood where his heart is, regardless of the comments that he made that may seem insensitive to some.”

[ … ]

Vaughn said she and other families in the Florida meeting sympathize with Khan, but also feel the ensuing media coverage has overshadowed more important issues for their community.

She accused those supporting Trump’s rival, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, of exaggerating those comments in an effort to cover her own national security shortfalls. Vaughn also lamented what she see as insensitivity toward the families of several Americans killed in the 2012 terrorist attack on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya. Clinton was secretary of State at that time, and she has come under intense scrutiny for what her critics say was gross miscalculation and inaction as the attack occurred.

Read more.

It appears that not all Gold Star families are interested in scoring political points. Rather they are interested in insuring no other Blue Star families become Gold Star families.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Khan story reminds me of the food stamp fraud stories that so intrigued me

Florida: Three Muslims Charged with Conspiring and Providing Material Support to the Islamic State

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The United States Department of Justice reports:

Three Palm Beach County, Florida, residents were charged with conspiring and attempting to support the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer of the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office and members of the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) made the announcement.

gregory hubbardGregory Hubbard, aka Jibreel, 52, of West Palm Beach, Florida; Darren Arness Jackson, aka Daoud, 50, also of West Palm Beach; and Dayne Atani Christian, aka Shakur, 31, of Lake Park, Florida, were charged by a criminal complaint with knowingly conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIL.  Christian was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The detention hearing will take place on July 27, 2016, and the defendants will be arraigned on Aug. 5, 2016.

“According to the complaint, these defendants conspired and attempted to provide material support to ISIL and one of the defendants was arrested attempting to travel overseas to join and fight for the deadly terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin.  “The National Security Division’s highest priority is countering terrorist threats, and we will continue to work to stem the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bring to justice those who conspire and attempt to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.”

“Individuals seeking to travel and take up arms with ISIL pose a threat to the United States and humanity across the globe,” said U.S. Attorney Ferrer.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force continue to work proactively in order to stifle and disrupt any potential danger posed by the terrorist organizations and their supporters.”

“Terrorism-related arrests such as this serve to remind us of the importance of being vigilant,” said Special Agent in Charge Piro.  “When you see something that doesn’t seem right, report it to law enforcement.  Fighting terrorism is the FBI’s number one priority.  Any information that can put us on the trail of individuals intent on terrorist acts is valuable.”

According to the allegations contained in the complaint, Hubbard expressed support for ISIL and told an FBI confidential human source (CHS) that he wanted to travel to Syria and join ISIL for the purpose of engaging in violent jihad.  Hubbard introduced the CHS to Christian and Jackson, both of whom provided weapons and firearms instruction to Hubbard and the CHS, whom they understood were preparing to travel overseas to join and fight for ISIL.

The complaint further alleges that Jackson and Christian also expressed a desire to join ISIL.  Hubbard purchased an airplane ticket to Germany, where he planned to board a train to Turkey and then head to Syria.  Hubbard was arrested on July 21, 2016, at Miami International Airport prior to the first leg of his overseas trip.  Jackson, who had driven Hubbard to the airport, was arrested after he left the airport premises.  Christian was arrested at his place of work.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the material support charge.  Christian faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted on the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes.  If convicted of any offense, the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI and JTTF investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Transportation Security Administration; Miami International Airport Police Department; Boca Raton, Florida, Police Department; Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office; and City of West Palm Beach Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen E. Gilbert, Brian K. Frazier and Edward C. Nucci and Trial Attorneys Larry Schneider and David Cora of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Britain’s first Muslim mayor is kicked out after being found guilty of blackmailing voters

Germany: Muslim bomber carried powerful explosives, authorities say no evidence of “extremism”

Germany: At least 1 dead, 11 injured in suicide bombing at wine bar

Obama’s Dream of Muslim Outreach Has Become a Nightmare

The FBI Declared Mass Killer Mateen “NOT” a Terrorist

An Open Letter to Florida’s Only Openly Gay Legislator

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Dear Representative Richardson:

Fl politics.pngSince your election to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012 until now, I have always known your reputation as a legislator to be one of nothing but respect for the dignity of the institution, for the legislative process and for your fellow colleagues.  Even those who firmly disagree with you on matters of public policy speak highly of you, of your talents as a legislator and the unique perspective you bring to the process.

However, after the tragic and despicable acts of evil which took place right down the street from my offices in Orlando on June 12, I was shocked to learn of your repeated statements accusing your fellow legislators of creating an environment that gives rise to such horrible violence when they speak out against any LGBT bills as bad public policy in the Legislature.

After the local NPR affiliate interviewed you, WFSU issued this report:

“Florida’s only openly gay legislator says Orlando’s mass shooting is an example of a deranged individual taking anti-gay political rhetoric to the, “next level.” Democratic Representative David Richardson of Miami Beach says attempts by religious conservatives to roll back recent gains in gay civil rights encourages extremists… “[P]eople who are prone to committing violent acts are emboldened by speeches that they hear from policy makers that want to roll back our advances.” 

When I respectfully confronted you on another NPR affiliate radio debate for linking vocal opposition to new LGBT laws with violent acts such as the ones that occurred in Orlando, you initially denied these statements– until I read your words back to you on the air.  Then, instead of retracting or apologizing for these irresponsible remarks, you doubled down and repeated the same very offensive and incorrect argument again.  In that interview you said,

“I absolutely do think that people are emboldened, by the comments of certain lawmakers whether they are reacting in a violent way…”

While I realize the matter of the Orlando shooting and the topic of creating new LGBT rights are still raw, emotional, and highly personal matters for members of the LGBT community, this in no way justifies these inflammatory remarks which do nothing to foster good will, understanding or collegiality among fellow members of the Legislature, much less the general public.  On the contrary, your comments breed divisiveness, sow discord and are an attempt to manipulate and silence robust debate among the other elected leaders of our Legislature on these important policy decisions.

Additionally, you have also stunningly stated:

“It doesn’t help when they go to Tallahassee and spew hatred and rhetoric that is harmful to our community. I really wish we could get to a place where everyone can get along and respect the rights of everybody.”

I personally know many of the members of the Legislature who are known to be the most vocal and the most actively opposed to these bad gay-rights bills.

I have been in some of their homes.

I know their families.

None of them, even in private or casual conversation, make comments that “spew hatred” toward the LGBT community.  On the contrary, these are truly some of the finest, most loving and charitable people you could ever know.  Do you have specific examples of Florida legislators “spewing hatred” when debating in opposition to the creation of new LGBT rights?

The primary push by gay-rights activists after the Orlando tragedy, as you know, is the so-called “Competitive Workforce Act” (CWA) which seeks to create a new legal protected class for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.  These laws are being used all across the country as weapons to punish Christians who want to live out their constitutionally protected right to free exercise of religion in public life without government interference.  Even more egregiously, this CWA bill would also allow fully biological men to freely use women’s locker rooms and showers in any facility declared a public accommodation like YMCA’s, camps, LA Fitness & health clubs and domestic violence shelters.  This is a gross invasion of privacy, safety and security for women.  The more serious problem created with the CWA has not so much to do with transgendered persons themselves, as it does with actual criminals (voyeurs, sex offenders and pedophiles) who are looking for excuses to go into women’s intimate spaces, which the latest version of this bill would unquestionably allow.

These are just a few of the many legitimate and compelling public policy and constitutional problems which compel legislators to speak out publicly and strongly oppose the CWA.  For you to argue that when any legislator speaks out in debate against this dangerous bill they are “spewing hatred,” “encouraging extremism” and “make people prone to violent acts” is simply beyond the pale of decency for a member of the legislative branch of government.

Rep. Richardson, this sir– is not your finest moment.

Is there a way to disagree on these policies and not be judged as hateful or contributing to creating an environment of terror?  If we cannot disagree in civility without being slimmed with such accusations, then our civil society has a real problem.

Unless you can provide real examples of such “hateful” behavior, rather than talking about it in generalities, you should stop making these assertions. It is not helpful to this important debate, it is manipulative and pollutes the work we are hopefully both committed to, namely building a better Florida, even in the midst of our disagreements.

You have correctly stated that, “it does not help when [people] go to Tallahassee and spew rhetoric that is harmful.”  If you really mean that, please start by reexamining and reconsidering your own harmful words directed to your own colleagues and do not confuse “robust debate” with “hateful rhetoric” just because you disagree.

John Stemberger

Published at FloridaPolitics.com

Florida: Anti-Marijuana ‘Vote No On 2’ releases new video ‘Budtenders’

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The “Vote No On 2” Campaign has released a new TV ad titled “Budtenders.” The ad “demonstrates the complete sham that Amendment 2 is by visually showing that there are no Pharmacists or Pharmacies involved in ‘medical marijuana,’” according to a Vote No On 2 email.

You can view our new ad “Budtenders”:

Budtender Mason Davila from Ontario, Oregon

Budtender Mason Davila from Ontario, Oregon.

StonerDays.com defines Budtender as:

noun 1. a person who weighs out portions of medical marijuana and provides information about the suggested use of each product to his or her patient/members 2. a volunteer at a medical marijuana collective.

ABOUT VOTE NO ON 2

Vote No on 2 is a grassroots campaign bringing the truth about Amendment 2 to the voters of Florida.Our coalition includes members of law enforcement, business leaders, Constitutional law attorneys,doctors, other medical professionals, parents and Floridians from all walks of life. We know that Amendment 2 is simply a guise to legalize pot smoking in Florida and our goal is to point out the loopholes and explain why this Amendment is bad for Florida.

Click here to learn more about Vote No On 2.

RELATED VIDEO: Three things…

EDITORS NOTE: The featured image is of Budtender Jason McDaniel behind the counter at Sticky Medz in Los Angeles, California.

VIDEO: GOP Congressman to House Democrats during sit-in: ‘Radical Islam killed these people’

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The unnamed man who took hostages in a theater in Germany today had no problem getting a gun, despite Germany’s draconian gun laws. The House Democrats are perpetuating the prevailing willful ignorance about the real threat of jihad terror.

“GOP Congressman to House Democrats during sit-in: ‘Radical Islam killed these people,’” AOL News, June 23, 2016:

Tensions between Democrats and Republicans reached a boiling point , with one Republican lawmaker getting into a shouting match over a sit-in aimed at forcing votes on gun control measures.

Representative Louie Gohmert staging his own protest yelling at the Democrats saying, “We’re talking about radical Islam”. While also proclaiming, “Radical Islam killed these people.”

The Congressman waving his finger at posters featuring photos of the victims of the recent mass shooting in Orlando that left 49 people dead.

Gohmert’s own protests were then drowned out by the Democratics [sic] shouting, “Don’t let terrorists have a gun!”

The Democrats began their sit-in because of the Senate’s rejection of four purposed gun bills. Congressman John Lewis is leading the charge saying Congress has a moral obligation to speak up and speak out to address gun violence….

RELATED ARTICLES:

Saudis kept 2 jihad groups with ties to Huma Abedin off US terror list

UK Muslim stabs girlfriend: mother disapproved of his relationship with non-Muslim

Arrest the Widow, Investigate the Family

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The Orlando jihad mass murderer was anything but a “lone wolf.” My latest in FrontPage:

Noor Salman, the wife of Omar Mateen, the Orlando gay nightclub jihad mass murderer, has gone missing, and with good reason: she explodes the idea that Mateen was a “lone wolf” terrorist. She should be arrested – but now she is gone.

Salman witnessed him selling his house to his brother-in-law for $10 – a clear indication that the couple knew jihad was in the offing. She has admitted to law enforcement authorities that she and her husband had recently been “scouting Downtown Disney and Pulse [the nightclub where the jihad massacre took place] for attacks.” Mateen texted her during his massacre, asking if she had seen the news; she responded that she loved him.

As authorities deliberated over whether or not to arrest her, Salman herself showed more dispatch. Last Wednesday, the killer’s father, Seddique Mir Mateen, told reporters that Salman was “no longer here.”

No one seems to have asked Seddique Mateen himself where she has gone, but he probably knows. There are, after all, numerous indications that he may not be as upset about his son’s jihad massacre as he has claimed: he is an open supporter of the Taliban, and the morning after the murders, he posted online a video in which he claims that he was “not aware what motivated” Omar to “go into a gay club and kill 50 people,” but then he adds: “God will punish those involved in homosexuality,” as it is “not an issue that humans should deal with.”

Despite Seddique Mateen’s professed puzzlement over his son’s actions and denial that Omar had been “radicalized,” is it really any wonder that a man who grew up in a household in which the Taliban were held up as positive role models would turn out to be a jihad terrorist? Omar Mateen is known to have cheered at school when al-Qaeda flew planes into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001; is it likely that his father, a supporter of al-Qaeda’s allies and collaborators the Taliban, rebuked him for doing so?

While not revealing where Noor Salman is, the family issued a statement saying: “Noor is completely innocent and [was] unaware of the attacks.” It added the claim that she is unable to comprehend “cause and effect.” The mainstream media, always anxious to exonerate Islam from responsibility for the crimes done in its name and in accord with its teachings, even dragged out Salman’s middle school teacher to say: “Noor had difficulty with retention, she had difficulty with conceptualizing, understanding, all challenges to her. She tried hard. She was very sweet.”

All that may be so, but Noor Salman is an adult now, and her difficulty in middle school is irrelevant to whether or not she aided her husband in preparing for his jihad massacre. She should have been arrested, and the whole family needs to be investigated. Former Department of Homeland Security official Philip Haney responded trenchantly to common media claims that Mateen was “self-radicalized”: “As though nobody knew anything – that’s completely preposterous. If you know anything about the Islamic worldview, family and community is ultimately central to everything they do. The concept of operating alone is anathema to the Islamic worldview. They just don’t do it. So, self-radicalization – what does that even mean any more? Nobody is self-anythingin this world we live in.”

Yet the feds let Noor Salman slip through their fingers – and whatever Muslim community in which she is hiding now isn’t calling the police to alert them of her whereabouts. Was the FBI too complacent in its politically correct dogma that Muslims in America all hold to a benign, peaceful form of the faith, and that any Muslim in the U.S. who becomes a jihad murderer must have been “radicalized on the Internet,” to be too concerned about the possibility that Omar Mateen’s family was complicit in his attack? How long will it be before Seddique Mateen and the rest of the family absconds, as did Noor Salman?

The Orlando jihad massacre was eminently preventable: the FBI questioned Omar Mateen but deemed him unworthy of close scrutiny, even after a gun shop owner reported him; agents didn’t even bother to visit the shop. This was after Mateen bragged to coworkers about jihad ties, but the FBI called off investigation, dismissing the coworkers as “Islamophobic,” and after Mateen threatened to kill a sheriff and his family, and the FBI dismissed the threat. Now they have let Noor Salman slip through their fingers. Would it have been “Islamophobic” to arrest her? And how many more Americans have to die before the politically correct fantasies that hamstring law enforcement today are discarded?

RELATED ARTICLES:

Islamic State jihadi: “Do you think you’re at war with a small group of Mujahedeen in Iraq, Syria, Libya and other places?”

Report: “A Peaceful Muslim Majority in the U.S. Tarred by Acts of a Few.” Huh?

VIDEO: Florida Candidate for U.S. Senate Wilcox “Eliminating the Islamic State”

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ORLANDO – Todd Wilcox, combat veteran, former CIA case officer and businessman today released his first ad, “Eliminating ISIS,” a web spot highlighting his strategic approach to combating radical Islamic terrorists.

“Terrorists have brought this fight to American soil and it’s time we get serious about eliminating ISIS once and for all,” said Wilcox. “ISIS can be defeated, but it’s going to require American leadership and a real strategy to win.”

“Eliminating ISIS” Transcript:

Arab Sunni Muslim Terrorism is a threat to all of Western society. If we don’t take the fight to ISIS now, we’ll be fighting them here at home. We should use every pillar of American power to destroy ISIS – diplomacy to create an Arab coalition, Special Operations Forces to lead, equip, train and advise them and NATO to provide close air support, intelligence, and logistics. Our cyber power can shut down the ISIS social media machine and use our economic power to cut off their revenue. ISIS can be defeated, but it requires American leadership and a real strategy to win.

RELATED ARTICLE: Meet sniper, CIA officer, Green Beret millionaire Todd Wilcox, a candidate for Florida’s open Senate seat

EDITORS NOTE: To learn more about Todd Wilcox and his strategic plan to eliminate the Islamic State, may visit his website by CLICKING HERE.

A Crisis of Confidence: Obama’s Gay Agenda and Muslims in America

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In a column titled Western Civilization: Crisis of Confidence Stephen W. Browne writes:

We’re caught in an awful contradiction when we welcome into our midst members of a culture that accepts chattel slavery, the brutal subjugation of women, the murder of apostates, honor killings, murdering homosexuals, and killing those who insult their religion.

Tom Trento from The United West, reporting for Breitbart News, interviewed Florida Senator Bill Nelson (D) about Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, a Muslim who slaughtered 50 homosexuals in the Pulse, a gay bar in Orlando. The Pulse Gay Club was founded to “promote awareness of the area’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community” according to USA Today. Here is the Trento video interview:

President Obama in his comments about the shooting said:

I just finished a meeting with FBI Director Comey and my homeland security and national security advisors. The FBI is on the scene and leading the investigation, in partnership with local law enforcement. I’ve directed that the full resources of the federal government be made available for this investigation.

We are still learning all the facts. This is an open investigation. We’ve reached no definitive judgment on the precise motivations of the killer. The FBI is appropriately investigating this as an act of terrorism.

President Obama and Senator Nelson appear to be caught in a crisis of confidence.

Nelson calls Omar Mateen a “lone wolf” and says he cannot confirm “with certainty” that Islamic jihadist ideology led the shooter to perform his crime. Obama stated, “We’ve reached no definitive judgement on the precise motivations of the killer.”

“It is a fact that Muslims communities are extremely homophobic,” Sohail Ahmed, an anti-Islamism campaigner and openly gay Muslim told the Clarion Project. “According to traditionalist Islam, homosexuality is one of the worst sins one can commit. In addition, it is a mainstream view that the punishment for homosexuality is death. Given all this, it is not in the least bit surprising that this attack has occurred, so soon after an ISIS spokesman called for lone-wolf attacks during the holy month of Ramadan.”

Jamie Schram and Tina Moore from the New York Post reported:

Mateen “made a pledge of allegiance to ISIS,” California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, told CNN.

Schiff said the timing and target of the attack can’t be a coincidence.

[ … ]

Mateen was licensed to work as an armed security guard in the state of Florida, federal law enforcement sources said.

Read more.

President Obama has made it a point to further the “gay agenda” most recently via his Department of Education’s edict requiring schools to allow transgenders to use the bathroom of their choice in public schools or lose federal funding.  At the same time President Obama has embraced the Islamic community (ummah) and has repeatedly called Islam the “religion of peace.” As we reported Mateen was registered as a Democrat.

Have Obama’s social policies lead to a crisis of confidence within the Democratic Party and the United States?

President Obama and the Democratic Party have created a clash of cultures within America. This clash of cultures is the proximate cause of the slaughter in Orlando. You cannot have it both ways, as is seen by those who follow Mohammed and those who violate the Quran on homosexuality. The Democratic Party has two tribes that are at war with one another. Orlando is just one manifestation of that war. The Islamic holy war (jihad) is against any non-believer, just one of which are homosexuals, and the war for gay rights, understanding that homosexuality is a life style choice and not race based.

The Muslims who are registered as Democrats are conflicted as are the homosexuals registered as Democrats. Muslims do not tolerate homosexuality, homosexuals do not  tolerate religion in general.

Perhaps it is time for cultural clarity and time to end this crisis of confidence?

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If you aren’t an Islamophobe today you are very naive

Has ISIS Infiltrated Homeland Security? Orlando Terrorist Worked for Major DHS Contractor

EDITORS NOTE: The Counter Jihad Report published the following:

Officials say Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, an Afghan-American who held two firearms licenses and a security officer license, was employed by the security firm G4S Secure Solutions USA Inc. since Sept. 10, 2007. The Jupiter, Fla.-based company merged with the Wackenhut Corp. after 9/11 and assumed federal contracts.

“G4S supports the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CPB), with its operations at the U.S. ­ Mexico border and with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to transport illegal immigrants in selected urban areas,” the company says in a brochure, titled “Providing Manpower Solutions for Government Services.”

Orlando Muslim shooter: A registered Democrat who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State

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fatawa Islamiyah book coverThe Fatawa Islamiyah (Islamic Verdicts) provides the Islamic ruling regarding homosexuality in Volume 6, p. 199. The Ruling on Sodomy and the Punishment Thereof states:

“What is the ruling on sodomy in Islam and what is the punishment?

“The shameful act of sodomy is one of the most repugnant of shameful acts and we seek refuge with Allah (from it). Because of it, Allah destroyed the people of Lut, peace be upon him, and punished them with a terrible punishment, turning their homes upside down and raining stones of baked clay upon them, layer upon layer, (as Allah said): “marked from your Lord and they are not ever far from the wrongdoers.”

“It has been reported from the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, that the punishment for one who does that or allows it to be done to him is that he be killed. Or, tobe burnt or to be stoned. Or, to be thrown from the highest point (mountain, tower, lofty building etc.), then to follow it with stoning.

“This is because of its corruption of morals, customs, and because of its violation of the natural human state, and because the abandonment of lawful marriage by those who practice.

“Ibn Jibreen” [Emphasis added]

More information is coming out about Omar Seddique Mateen who entered the Orlando Pulse club then slaughtered 50 homosexuals and wounded 53 others, some in critical condition.

According to records (screen shot below) from St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections, Omar Mir Seddique Mateen was a registered Democrat who listed his race as “other.”

omar mateen democrat registration

On April 6, 2016, Tom Trento from The United West (TUW) posted a warning about a speaker at a mosque in Orlando, Florida. The Muslim speaker stated, “Death is the sentence [for gays]. We know. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about this. Death is the sentence.” TUW then posted the video below on YouTube to warn the general public:

On June 12, 2016 Patrick Poole reported:

Sources are telling the Daily Beast that suspected killer Omar Mateen had previously been investigated by the FBI in 2013 and 2014, making this yet another “known wolf” terror attack:

Omar Mateen of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, came to the attention of federal authorities twice prior to being identified as the gunman in the Orlando nightclub mass shooting, a senior law enforcement source told The Daily Beast.

Mateen 53 people and shot more than 100 in total at the Pulse gay nightclub early Sunday morning, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.The senior law enforcement source reports that Mateen became a person of interest in 2013 and again in 2014. The Federal Bureau of Investigation at one point opened an investigation into Mateen but subsequently closed the case when it produced nothing that appeared to warrant further investigation.

“He’s a known quantity,” the source said. “He’s been on the radar before.”

Mateen was a U.S. citizen; his parents are from Afghanistan, CBS News reports.

In the article Florida Pulse Gay Bar Mass Shooting was in a Gun Free Zone, Dean Weingarten reports:

It is clear that Florida law prohibits people from legally carrying guns into:

florida concealed carrry law

Bars are one of a long list of places that Florida establishes as gun free zones.

Read more.

This is the most deadly attack by a follower of Mohammed in Florida and perhaps in the United States, to date. Some news outlets are calling Mateen homophobic. Others call him a devout Muslim.

We report, you decide.

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RELATED VIDEO: Imam Musri Mosque in Orlando Funds HAMAS. Islamic Faith Based Adviser to former Florida Governor Charlie Crist in 2009 is caught funding terrorism via George Galloway, a self-admitted Hamas fundraiser, and Imam Mahdi Bray, a public Hamas supporter.

Ramadan in Florida: Muslim slaughters 50, wounds 53 at Orlando gay nightclub

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omar mateen

Suspected shooter 29-year old Omar H. Mateen from Port St. Lucie, FL.

“Police said the gunman was believed to be in his 20s was not a local man, and the FBI believe he may have ‘leanings to radical Islamic terrorism.’”

We tried to sound a warning on this, and were vilified for doing so. When AFDI ran ads highlighting the mistreatment of gays in Islamic law, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which is its city council, issued a resolution condemning not that mistreatment, but our ads.

Gay advocates such as Theresa Sparks and Chris Stedman attacked us for daring to call attention to the institutionalized mistreatment of gays under Islamic law. Their gay advocacy doesn’t extend to standing up to Sharia oppression of gays, even though that oppression is far more virulent and violent than anything from “right-wing extremists” in the U.S. And you can’t blame them: given the Leftist/jihadist alliance, it’s clear that if they spoke out against Sharia mistreatment of gays, they would no longer be invited to the best parties, and might even be branded as “right-wing.” Their moral cowardice and duplicity, however, are obvious, and monstrous in the light of what has just happened in Orlando.

Pulse club Orlando Florida

“‘We consider this an act of terrorism’: Suspected Islamic extremist shoots dead at least 20 dead at Florida gay club after bursting in ‘wearing a suicide vest’ and taking hostages – injuring a further 42,” by Matt Hunter and Jenny Stanton, Dailymail.com, June 12, 2016:

A suspected Islamic extremist [Omar Mateen] wielding an assault rifle and a handgun has killed about 20 people after taking party-goers hostage inside a gay nightclub in Orlando.

The gunman was carrying a suspicious device, possibly a suicide vest, when he opened fire inside Pulse in the early hours of this morning.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said authorities have not determined the exact number of people killed, but that ‘approximately 20’ have died. Another 42 people were taken to hospital.

An FBI spokesman said the mass shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism. He explained authorities are looking into whether this was an act of domestic or international terror, and if the shooter was a lone wolf.

Police said the gunman was believed to be in his 20s was not a local man, and the FBI believe he may have ‘leanings to radical Islamic terrorism’.

The killings took place less than four miles from where The Voice singer and YouTube star Christina Grimmie, 22, was shot dead at The Plaza Live in Orlando on Friday.

Party-goers were urged to ‘get out and keep running’ as bullets started flying at around 2am local time.

Eyewitnesses described the gunman having a bomb strapped to himself when he started shooting today.

At around 6.00 local time (11am GMT) police said on Twitter: ‘Pulse Shooting: The shooter inside the club is dead.’ Officers described it as a ‘mass shooting’.

One man who said he was inside the club posted that the shooting broke out around 2 a.m. and that he heard about 40 shots being fired.

Police earlier carried out an controlled explosion at 5.15 local time (10.15am GMT today). but it is not yet clear whether that was linked with the gunman’s death.

It was thought that at least one hostage had been locked in a bathroom with gunshot wounds.

Around 100 officers were involved in the hostage situation before the gunman was killed.

During the gunfire, an officer was shot, but he was saved by his helmet.

Local TV reporter Stewart Moore said that more than 20 people had been shot with an assault rifle.

Jon Alamo said he was at the back of one of the club’s rooms when a man holding a weapon came into the front of the room.

‘I heard 20, 40, 50 shots,’ Alamo said. ‘The music stopped.’

Club-goer Rob Rick said it happened around, 2 a.m., just before closing time. ‘Everybody was drinking their last sip,’ he said.

He estimated more than 100 people were still inside when he heard shots, got on the ground and crawled toward a DJ booth.

A bouncer knocked down a partition between the club area and an area in the back where only workers are allowed. People inside were able to then escape through the back of the club.

Christopher Hansen said he was in the VIP lounge when he started hearing gunshots.

‘I was thinking, are you kidding me? So I just dropped down. I just said please, please, please, I want to make it out,’ he said. ‘And when I did, I saw people shot. I saw blood. You hope and pray you don’t get shot.’

He continued to hear shooting even after he emerged, where police were telling people to back away from the club. He saw injured people being tended to across the street.

Mina Justice was outside the club trying to contact her 30-year-old son Eddie, who texted her when the shooting happened and asked her to call police.

He told her he ran into a bathroom with other club patrons to hide. He then texted her: ‘He’s coming.’

‘The next text said: `He has us, and he’s in here with us,” she said. ‘That was the last conversation.’

Ricardo Almodovar was in the nightclub. He said: ‘Shooter opened fire at around 2.00am. People on the dance floor and bar got down on the floor and some of us who were near the bar and back exit managed to go out through the outdoor area and just ran.

‘I am safely home and hoping everyone gets home safely as well.’ Juan Rivera said on Twitter: ‘Never seen so many dead bodies on the floor, God is good that my friends and I didn’t get shot’.

Anthony Torres heard people screaming that others in the nightclub were dead.

Rosie Feba was in the club with her girlfriend and described the moment the shooting happened to the Orlando Sentinal.

She said: ‘Everyone was getting on the floor.I told her [girlfriend] I didn’t think it was real, I thought it was just part of the music, until I saw fire coming out of his gun.’

A police dispatcher described the incident as an ‘active shooting’. Officers are advising locals to stay away from the area.

He said: ‘There are injuries. I am not sure if there are any deceased at this time.’

‘Officers are going in to search the building and to get people out,’ the dispatcher said.

The police department posted on their official Twitter account: ‘Multiple injuries. Stay away from the area.’

Pulse nightclub said on its Facebook account: ‘Everyone get out of Pulse and keep running.’

Dozens of officers and medics are at the scene including Orlando Fire Department’s bomb squad and hazardous material team.

Police have not given any further updates on the hostage situation or the gunman….

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EDITORS NOTE: The suspected shooter is 29-year old Omar Mateen, a U.S. citizen from Port St. Lucie, Florida. Mateen was born to Afghan parents. Mateen is related to Mariam Seddique and Sabrina Seddique.

The Islamic State has hailed the slaughter in the below Facebook post:

dr-faisla-shaman-anzi-575x560

The two faces of Ken Sukhia, candidate for Congressional permanence

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sukhiaIt is an old, old story.

A politician or wannabe politician announces he is a staunch supporter of term limits in general, as he knows the lion’s share of voters are. But he will quibble about some detail that allows him to be a opponent of any specific term limit proposal.

Thus, the politician can nod to his pro-term limits constituents and simultaneously wink at the anti-term limits lobbyists.

The latest exhibit in this dusty pantheon is former federal prosecutor Ken Sukhia who is running in the Republican primary for Florida’s 2nd Congressional district.

Here is Sukhia, captured on YouTube, dissembling before a would-be constituent.

Kudos to the voter who asked him the question about term limits. Let’s keep popping the question to candidates at public meetings — and posting the results. We need to hold these candidates accountable.

Anarchist Meets Governor at Starbucks, Demands Medicaid

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GAINESVILLE, FL – Poverty-stricken anarchist Cara Jennings received a healthy dose of government oppression yesterday when wealthy Florida Governor Rick Scott strode into the Starbucks she was patronizing and began yelling at her about jobs.

Video footage [below] of the incident shows a wild and frantic Scott standing over Jennings and screaming about the “million jobs” he helped create since being elected in 2011. As beggared victim Jennings calmly tried to explain that the Governor “cut Medicaid so [she] couldn’t get Obamacare,” Scott unleashed a barrage of profanities.

The video goes on to show the governor rummaging through Jennings’ purse searching for birth control pills to steal, while Jennings helplessly points out that Scott “stripped women of access to public health care,” referencing the bill he signed days ago defunding Planned Parenthood. Her noble plea for sanity was met with flying spittle and sexist conservative talking points as the governor, who is wealthy because Jennings is penniless, threw Jennings’ Starbucks latte to the floor.

Jennings chose to leave the café rather than face continued abuse from Scott. She later posted on her Facebook page “This is why I’m an anarchist. Government needs to just give everyone medical care and abortions, and some other things I’ve had my eye on, and leave us alone.”

EDITORS NOTE: This political satire by Kilroy originally appeared on The Peoples Cube.