Washington Examiner      sc  Franchisors warn Obamacare will halve profits   The International Franchise Association held a convention in Washington this week where most of the Radio Shack, Dunkin Donuts, Curves and other franchisers were grumbling about new federal regulations, especially the impact of Obamacare. -- Most, said Atlanta Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken franchiser David Barr, presumed that the reports about how hard Obamacare will hit them were overblown...

Politico    All-knowing Obama regime denies premeditation report in Libya attack   The Obama administration is flatly denying a blaring British newspaper report that the U.S. diplomats in Libya were killed as a result of a "continuing security breach," and that "credible information" about possible attacks had been ignored. -- A U.S. official told POLITICO: "There's no intelligence indicating that the attack in Benghazi was premeditated." -- The newspaper, The Independent, plastered its cover with the headline...

Chuck Baldwin     The age of despotism   On August 7, 2012, The Washington Times ran an editorial entitled, "The Civil War of 2016." It begins, "Imagine Tea Party extremists seizing control of a South Carolina town and the Army being sent in to crush the rebellion. This farcical vision is now part of the discussion in professional military circles. -- "At issue is an article in the respected Small Wars Journal titled 'Full Spectrum Operations in the Homeland: A "Vision" of the Future.'

Reuters     Al Qaeda in Yemen urges Muslims to kill U.S. diplomats over film   Dubai -- The Yemen-based branch of al Qaeda urged Muslims to step up protests and kill more U.S. diplomats in Muslim countries after a U.S.-made film mocking the Prophet Mohammad which it said was another chapter in the "crusader wars" against Islam. -- "Whoever comes across America's ambassadors or emissaries should follow the example of Omar al-Mukhtar's descendants (Libyans), who killed the American ambassador..."

Breitbart.tv   Obama's Food Cop: Obesity 'absolutely' greatest threat to national security   Obama's taxpayer fund-squandering and constantly-vacationing wife spews more ridiculous hooey on the Dr. Oz Show. -- Here's the REAL "greatest threat to national security"...

Jim Galloway -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution    Ethnic hustlers demand slice of voting power for Latinos in Gainesville   The state's most active Latino organization has served notice that it intends to challenge the electoral system of the city of Gainesville, home to both the governor and lieutenant governor, for allegedly shutting Hispanics and other minorities out of local politics. -- The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials has sent a letter to Gainesville City Attorney James Palmour, informing him that it had retained legal counsel...

Breitbart    Obama proposes $129M cut from 'embassy security, construction, and maintenance' Today, President Obama released the long-awaited "sequestration report," detailing the cuts the White House would make to the budget under last year's Budget Control Act if no deal is reached in Congress. -- And there, buried on page 136, is the White House's proposed cuts to "Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance." $129 million. That's a full 8.2 percent of the possible sequestrable amount...

Melissa Borjas -- US Election News    Bachmann terms Obama the worst president in history    Former GOP presidential candidate, Re. Michele Bachmann in passionate remarks at the Values Voters Summit in Washington on Friday, criticized President Obama on foreign policy by calling him the most dangerous president we have ever had and directly tying his policies to the recent violence in Libya and Egypt. -- In the remarks given at the Omni Shoreham hotel of Washington accused the Obama administration of ...

Rick Tucker -- Heritage Foundation     Limits on free speech? A dangerous message   Diplomats abroad represent the government of the United States. They must, therefore, speak with tact, but also with honesty. After all, most of the people they're speaking to have no firsthand experience with the U.S. Our diplomats are teaching foreigners about America. In fact, the "primary purpose of United States public diplomacy is to explain, promote, and defend American principles to audiences abroad."

Wall Street Journal     Illegal immigration emerges as new crisis for Greece... and EU    It is early in the afternoon at this important port 125 miles from Athens and two Greek navy officers are patrolling the docks, each wielding sticks with mirrors to peek under trucks. They have seen nothing so far. -- Suddenly, three young men burst from behind a massive container and take off down a dock. The officers begin a chase, but the drama is over before it starts...

Associated Press     Washington can't access fed immigration program for voting    Washington state won't be able to access a federal database of legal immigrants to examine voting eligibility, The Secretary of State's office announced Tuesday. -- Election officials said because the state doesn't require proof of legal status during the process of obtaining a driver's license, there is missing information that would be needed to access Homeland Security's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program...

KLTV -- Tyler, Texas     DPS rounds up 50 illegal alien sex fiends, criminals in sweep   The Texas Department of Public Safety assisted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a recent five day, joint federal and state law enforcement operation across Texas, in which officers with ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations arrested 50 [illegal alien] sex offenders and other violators. -- "DPS is proud to have worked together with ICE in this successful operation to target and apprehend ruthless criminals..."

Daily Caller     SPLC repeats 'hate group' claim about Family Research Council Ahead of this weekend's Values Voter Summit, a liberal organization is once again labeling the conservative Family Research Council (FRC) a "hate group." -- Earlier this week, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) announced that it had sent letters to fifteen high-profile conservative politicians slated to speak at FRC's Values Voter Summit...

Foreign Policy     Yet another Obama blunder?   President Barack Obama didn't intend to signal any change in the U.S.-Egypt relationship last night when he said Egypt is not an "ally," the White House told The Cable today. -- In an interview with Telemundo Wednesday night, Obama said that the U.S. relationship with the new Egyptian government was a "work in progress," and emphasized that the United States is counting on the government of Egypt...

Daily Caller    Sebelius likely to go unpunished for Hatch Act violation   The Obama White House appears to be offering special treatment to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in the wake of the news Wednesday afternoon that President Barack Obama's cabinet official violated the Hatch Act --- activity that is illegal and normally results in the offender's termination from government employment. -- "These were extemporaneous remarks..."