In looking at this from a legal standpoint, because sexual assault is such a terrible crime, the false accusation of same must be treated as equally horrible.  Additionally, there needs to be some commonly accepted, clear demarcation of what constitutes assault.  Many institutions have been broadening the scope of the definition, leaving uncertainty.  I do not have an opinion on what these limits should be, only that there needs to be certainty so that the caught perpetrators are guilty of bad intentions, not confusion and mixed-signals. 

On the practical side, be aware of the risks you take and take responsibility for your actions.  The world is not a perfect place and there is evil in it.  Do the best you can to protect yourself through your actions and signals.  This applies equally to both ends of the spectrum.  Not only is it unwise to stumble drunk and alone through a sketchy part of town at night, but it is also foolish to get into the sack without getting to know the person beforehand.  Learn to control lust so that it does not cause damage to yourself and others. 

...to the Congressman soberly, yet forcefully, questioning the perps. 

In a sane world each of these scandals -- Ben Ghazi, IRS, AP wire-tap, Congress wire-tap -- would topple the Administration.  We would be able to be non-partisan and sober and serious.  However, we live in a highly polticized world, so it is neither sane, nor non-partisan, nor sober.  Therefore, we need to be smart and strategic.  These messes will never be cleaned up without retaking Congress in 2014 and the Presidency in 2016.  Therefore, we have to look at how these scandals work on the low-information voters who sway modern elections.   Use the Left as a foil, don't try to change their minds.  This will legitimately unify and energize our side, demoralize and split the other side, and can sway the "middle" to us.  But it requires a multi-faceted, non-stop attack plan, that raises the noise level to where the scandals cannot be ignored by the ignorant.  That means some who are aggressive fire-spewers, and some who are calm, sober and judicious.  There's a role for all here.

If we maintain the House and recover the Senate a demoralized Obama may be pushable.   Especially, if we get close to the 60 seat hurdle in the Senate.  Obama is lazy and careless.  If he is defeated in 2014 he will also be demoralized.  I suspect he will only be interested in getting as much links time, party time and vacation time in as he can.  Congress, in such a scenario, can drive the agenda. 

For example, while he will never accept repeal of Obamacare, he could be forced to accept a defacto neutering of it.

Some interesting ideas, but I doubt we can get them to all the way and kill the IRS.  That's too much of a stake through the heart of Big Government.  We need to neuter and humiliate the IRS.  Make them afraid of their own shadows, while we prepare the battlefield for 2014 and 2016. 

Yes, this is a litmus-test that will unit SoCons and Libertarians. 

Good.  Keep the pressure on.  Supposedly, a number of Congressional staffers read Ricochet regularly.  Hopefully they are taking note.  This is a target-rich environment for many career-making opportunities.

Thank you. 

Yes, this is why I hide behind my Brietbart avatar

The jaw-dropper I got after a fairly even-keeled discursion on Socialism's defects as an economic model: "so you're a Conservative.  That's funny, you seem so calm and intelligent."  I was stunned, so it was too late when I thought of the appropriate retort: "well, it's obvious you are a liberal."  I just ignored their comment at the time. 

Except set up for 2016 nicely...

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Yeah.  dereliction of duty, swaying the results of an election, pretty strong stuff. 

I think this fecal storm finally getting to the  dinosaur press may have had some prompting by the Biden camp.  Ol' Joe's not the brightest bulb in the box, but he's cunning.  Biden is very unlikely to have any fingerprints on any of these scandals, as the WH keeps him in a golden cage and only lets him out for entertainment.  The trajectory of these scandals is heading toward impeachment.  I'm not jumping the gun and saying impeachment will happen, but as a group, this strongly mimics Nixon. 

Potentially, Biden could become President and run for re-election in 2016.,  Regardless, he's also putting serious dings on his chief rival, Hillary.  He's made no secret he wants to be Prez...

Very cool, Thanks.  As a space and Bowie fan, I really enjoyed it.  Although, according to DB Space Oddity was about a junkie strung out on heroin.  Neverthless...

Well, beautiful women make men stupid (or at least do stupid things).  I'm willing to bet guys would have problems with higher math questions if they were looking at a video of Kate Upton.

I agree with you, James.  However, I also fault Romney and the GOP too.  There was never a better time than the election to attack on this matter.  If they hadn't been so weak-kneed they could have made serious headway against the Empty Won.  The RNC made this powerful video, but never ran it.  This timidity is why I've stopped donating to any organization whose name begins with "Republican National ..." .  I still max out my donations, but they are to candidates.  Until I see an RNC with some real Lee Atwater fight in it, it's a waste of time and money to bother with them.   Reince is right to deal with the mechanics, but it's a waste of effort if our aside is unwilling to attack like we mean it. 

It would be good for all (especially welfare recipients) if government was removed from charity and welfare programs, but it is, unfortunately, not likely to happen absent a major economic crash. 

In thinking about welfare, it's interesting to note that in traditional rural New England you had the town farm model.  The town owned a farm which housed all those unable to support themselves, or without family to aid them.  The town paid a local citizen to oversee it, make sure upkeep was maintained, and make sure the occupants had the tools to farm and support themselves.  The occupants were otherwise expected to support themselves on the land through their own labor.  The overseer was responsible to make sure they didn't starve, but largely the Town Farm was expected to be self-sufficient. 

The price the town farm occupants paid was having to live all in one building with each other, instead of in their own home.  But they were there because they were unable to support their own home and didn't have family support.