Clinton, the “great achiever” at State, cold-heartedly lies in front of Benghazi coffins.

While we watch the Benghazi hearings finally unfold today in Congress, it is worthwhile to recall the confidence demonstrated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (the virtually anointed successor to Barack Obama) as she lies to the families of victims and the entire country. Skip over to minute 6 in the video for the climax.

Public education is the definition of monopoly thinking: more cost, less achievement. #40 years

Sad commentary on the long term effects of endless spending under the government school monopoly over the last four decades. The blue line represents what we have spent, at the behest of the Teachers Unions and education power base in the Democrat Party; the flat lines at the bottom, red, green, purple, are student achievement – and the dotted line represents steady (not increasing) enrollment. Thanks to the Cato Institute for creating this picture that is louder than words.

For Boston bombers, it wasn’t about unemployment or racism or lack of parking spaces; it was Islam.

A Tribal War in Boston, posted by Daniel Greenfield @Sultan Knish blog

Terrorism, like urban crime, is one of those things that you’re not supposed to think about too much. It’s fine to talk about your emotions after a bombing or a mugging. You can even share stories and eventually learn to laugh about it. What you cannot do is talk about where it comes from except in the vaguest terms of social conditions. Like pollution from industry or corruption from government, it’s one of those toxic spinoffs of our modern society. It’s just there and we don’t much talk about it.

Islamic terrorism is considered a social problem in Europe. Ask an expert and they’ll talk your ear off about unemployment, racism, overcrowded housing and the same long list of reasons used to explain urban crime. The United States is slowly coming around to that same point of view.

Forget the great debate between whether people kill people or guns kill people. The conclusion reached by most governments before your grandfather was born is that social conditions kill people.

The Tsarneav brothers are being talked about in the same way that most serial killers are. “They were so nice. What made them do it?” It’s the empty repetition of a question to which no one really wants to hear the answer. “What could have made them do it?” isn’t a genuine question, it’s a ceremonial washing of the hands. A ritualistic statement that we couldn’t have known anything was wrong. How could we? They were so nice.

What God requires of Chistians – then and now.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian, a prophet and, eventually a spy and conspirator to assassinate Hitler. He visited America as Hitler was gaining power in the German republic and was transformed by the true faith expressed in a church in Harlem. His story touches us now.

Guns (and especially AR15s) are scary only to those who don’t know them. #getinformation

CNBC aired an even-handed documentary last night on the AR15 rifle, the weapon that has gotten perhaps the most bad publicity since its use by (probably insane) murderer/shooters in Colorado and Sandy Hook. If you watch the show, you would learn that the AR15 is just a rifle – when it’s stripped of its multiple handles, gun sights, extensions and magazine holders, there’s nothing scary there. Take way the crazy shooters, and there is nothing to show that banning this one popular weapon would change the vulnerability of people in crowded, open places.

It’s also not just the “preppers” who are wondering what the Obama administration is up to with gun control.

In fiscal year 2012, DHS purchased more than 103 million rounds of ammunition, to be used by about 70,000 DHS officers who are currently authorized to use weapons. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said Thursday that “the math” didn’t make sense, pointing out that this means an average 1300-1600 rounds per DHS officer – some 1000 rounds more than the average for an officer in the Army.”

Those of us who indulge in reading history understand what the early American colonists liked about the liberty to own guns, as witnessed by their placing it second in the Bill of Rights. Congress is getting some information in hearings on activities of the Homeland Security folks. Read more here.

Having a laugh with Barry Obama over gun control legislative loss.

Sen. Mark Kirk adds fuel to the rumor that he will resign soon if uber-moderate Bob Dold is the replacement.

Updated Tuesday

Although most of Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, Northfield and Kenilworth now are the 9th Congressional District, many North Shore voters are continuing to receive fundraising requests from the Bob Dold (not quite yet) for Congress campaign – in the 10th District to the north and west of us. Now Senator Mark Kirk has joined that bandwagon, and we can only wonder if there is some truth to the rumor that Kirk is thinking about resigning from the Senate sooner rather than later.

Although IL Governor “Marshmallow” Quinn (D) has the legal right to appoint a successor to fill out the next four years of Kirk’s term, rumor has it that there was a meeting between the heads of the Republican and Democrat parties in Illinois last weekend to make a deal concerning the succession. Why would Quinn consider appointing a “Republican” like Bob Dold? It might be just what the Illinois Democrats want – a moderate (working across the aisle/compromising) who votes reliably with Harry Reid’s program. That breed of Republican is on the wane, and Mark Kirk might want to resign only on the promise that Sen. Susan Collins et al have a friend in the Senate. Just speculating . . .

Here’s the letter from Mark Kirk, in case you missed it:

The 10th District needs Bob Dold. Bob has shown time and time again his willingness to put partisanship aside and work with Democrats, Republicans and Independents to move our country forward. Bob and I have worked to strengthen the security of Israel and to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. We worked together to introduce the Great Lakes Water Protection Act to ban sewage dumping in the Great Lakes. We have both been strong advocates for protecting access to women’s health care. Bob remains focused and committed to getting our neighbors back to work and reining in out of control spending  Since becoming the Congressman of the 10th District, Bob has demonstrated our community’s longstanding tradition of thoughtful, independent leadership, making him the obvious choice in this election. Please join me in strongly supporting Bob Dold.”

And here’s how Senator Kirk describes the process that led to his compromise on gun legislation.