Top Conservative Websites and Blogs: February 2013 (Links)

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Thanks to Doug Ross @ Journal for compiling the list of the Top Conservative Websites: February 2013!
It's a list that includes many members of the Watcher's Council and on which The Political Commentator came in at #156! (2011 List)

Watcher's Council members:

Rhymes With Right    30NoisyRoom    111Independent Sentinel    117Gay Patriot    121Trevor Loudon    126The Right Planet    154The Political Commentator 156The Mellow Jihadi    158Bookworm Room    160Joshua Pundit    195Great Satan's Girlfriend    197Watchers of Weasels    200 
From Doug Ross @ Journal

Rank	Website	Traffic Rank
1	foxnews.com	146
2	telegraph.co.uk	266
3	wsj.com	285
4	drudgereport.com	448
5	theblaze.com	1070
6	nypost.com	1209
7	breitbart.com	1625
8	realclearpolitics.com	2262
9	zerohedge.com	2298
10	dailycaller.com	2507
11	weeklystandard.com	2619
12	washingtontimes.com	2628
13	townhall.com	3334
14	newsbusters.org	4214
15	nationalreview.com	4459
16	hotair.com	4753
17	freerepublic.com	5192
18	pajamasmedia.com	5801
19	washingtonexaminer.com	6025
20	investors.com	6298
21	cnsnews.com	6422
22	foreignpolicy.com	6445
23	twitchy.com	6817
24	rushlimbaugh.com	8277
25	debka.com	8502
26	reason.com	9438
27	americanthinker.com	9491
28	redstate.com	13696
29	thegatewaypundit.com	14849
30	ace.mu.nu, mypetjawa.mu.nu, rhymeswithright.mu.nu	16359
31	westernjournalism.com	16495
32	heritage.org	16607
33	humanevents.com	17596
34	rasmussenreports.com	17890
35	freebeacon.com	18355
36	powerlineblog.com	18428
37	michellemalkin.com	20170
38	mises.org	22053
39	lifenews.com	22321
40	spectator.org	22762
41	wattsupwiththat.com	24918
42	canadafreepress.com	25034
43	therightscoop.com	27536
44	freedomworks.org	32053
45	weaselzippers.us	33211
46	thenewamerican.com	33621
47	spectator.co.uk	35052
48	legalinsurrection.com	37061
49	whitehousedossier.com	38822
50	althouse.blogspot.com	39488
51	commentarymagazine.com	44605
52	jihadwatch.org	45455
53	marklevinshow.com	46221
54	market-ticker.org	47768
55	the-american-interest.com	51062
56	globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com	52064
57	memeorandum.com	56069
58	ricochet.com	56416
59	boortz.com	61393
60	rightwingnews.com	65416
61	firstthings.com	67645
62	anncoulter.com	68420
63	atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com	72175
64	hannity.com	72237
65	volokh.com	74019
66	theothermccain.com	76609
67	city-journal.org	77851
68	israelhayom.com	78975
69	numbersusa.com	81369
70	mrc.org	81665
71	wizbangblog.com	82375
72	atr.org	82381
73	linkiest.com	83059
74	borderlandbeat.com	86955
75	defensetech.org	93719
76	iowntheworld.com	112276
77	american.com	115445
78	maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com	117460
79	steynonline.com	119190
80	moonbattery.com	124490
81	lonelyconservative.com	128122
82	hillbuzz.org	128146
83	sayanythingblog.com	130007
84	danielpipes.org	130661
85	conservativedailynews.com	133228
86	directorblue.blogspot.com	135030
87	thepeoplescube.com	139945
88	patterico.com	139955
89	gatestoneinstitute.org	141634
90	aei.org	149366
91	jammiewf.com	149960
92	aim.org	152766
93	floppingaces.net	156964
94	punditpress.com	169630
95	frontporchpolitics.com	176132
96	conservatives4palin.com	180522
97	dailypundit.com	186354
98	ihatethemedia.com	192300
99	sultanknish.blogspot.com	200137
100	fireandreamitchell.com	204136
101	datechguyblog.com	205061
102	economicnoise.com	208839
103	cafehayek.com	210083
104	judicialwatch.org	212741
105	radicalislam.org	216058
106	angrywhitedude.com	217097
107	creepingsharia.wordpress.com	217453
108	smalldeadanimals.com	218796
109	dennisprager.com	222595
110	blackfive.net	222802
111	noisyroom.net	224084
112	theblogmocracy.com	224956
113	investigativeproject.org	237578
114	proteinwisdom.com	240334
115	climateaudit.org	251726
116	imao.us	253506
117	independentsentinel.com	257108
118	breitbart.tv	258802
119	freeenterprise.com	260499
120	cato-at-liberty.org	261610
121	gaypatriot.net	270611
122	memri.org	273790
123	americanpowerblog.blogspot.com	277724
124	winteryknight.wordpress.com	285436
125	riehlworldview.com	299100
126	trevorloudon.com	304058
127	americandigest.org	311946
128	justoneminute.typepad.com	314706
129	israelmatzav.blogspot.com	317466
130	maggiesnotebook.com	341148
131	rightpundits.com	348449
132	nicedeb.wordpress.com	352307
133	carolineglick.com	355782
134	tammybruce.com	364635
135	shark-tank.net	365116
136	moelane.com	365412
137	bobmccarty.com	366431
138	michellesmirror.com	379554
139	polipundit.com	385713
140	chicagoboyz.net	390394
141	allamericanblogger.com	402670
142	dougpowers.com	412626
143	chris-floyd.com	417032
144	gatesofvienna.blogspot.com	432143
145	pointsandfigures.com	437357
146	zombietime.com	444351
147	thepiratescove.us	450032
148	newsrealblog.com	459186
149	sweetness-light.com	462502
150	theobjectivestandard.com	463790
151	thecampofthesaints.org	476571
152	curmudgeonlyskeptical.blogspot.com	483105
153	capitalismmagazine.com	484066
154	therightplanet.com	492108
155	varight.com	496653
156	politicsandfinance.blogspot.com	498558
157	yidwithlid.blogspot.com	502254
158	themellowjihadi.com	524398
159	babalublog.com	540827
160	bookwormroom.com	555827
161	scaredmonkeys.com	557302
162	reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com	567612
163	iowahawk.typepad.com	577175
164	cfif.org	583619
165	coldfury.com	597795
166	hyscience.com	624452
167	wyblog.us	638440
168	sundriesshack.com	647567
169	nlpc.org	666499
170	claremont.org	667384
171	the-american-journal.com	685411
172	nakeddc.com	703543
173	punditandpundette.com	712065
174	conservativehideout.com	737684
175	soopermexican.com	746736
176	strata-sphere.com	770771
177	astuteblogger.blogspot.com	779916
178	publiusforum.com	807540
179	americanglob.com	849025
180	sweasel.com	876001
181	badeagle.com	901675
182	sondrakistan.com	952515
183	menrec.com	1022665
184	troglopundit.wordpress.com	1050454
185	qando.net	1122324
186	conservativecommune.com	1144663
187	doubleplusundead.com	1156765
188	nicedoggie.net	1237456
189	faustasblog.com	1252769
190	ashbrook.org	1254039
191	tlinexile.blogspot.com	1260246
192	worldthreats.com	1301639
193	waznmentobe.com	1376696
194	larryelder.com	1450329
195	joshuapundit.blogspot.com	1484443
196	marathonpundit.blogspot.com	1515177
197	greatsatansgirlfriend.blogspot.com	1773662
198	laborunionreport.com	1811844
199	rlc.org	1901858
200	watcherofweasels.org	1982126

Source

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A Tale of Two Politicians: Ray Nagin and Mitch Daniels (Video)

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Each left office to begin life after politics but could not have met different fates! One the noble public servant still and the other? Well....

First there's former Democratic New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin who served when Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana, served himself before and after he left office and is now facing the prospect of trial and serving significant jail time.



Then we have former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels who served his constituents well while in office and who plans to continue doing so in his new career as President of Purdue University.

A Tale of Two Politicians (courtesy of a TPC reader)!

Ray Nagin (D-NOLA) 
Remember Ray Nagin? He was the Mayor of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. He was a media favorite and his constituents just adored him. 
So bright! So articulate! So caring! He was everywhere, doing it all. Nothing was ever his fault since the blame was always directed at President Bush, FEMA, and of course, when all else fails, there was always "the race card". 
When help to his embattled city arrived several days or even a week late, he really "let the administration have it". Isn't it amazing that there is no real national outcry now, when Obama's response to "Sandy" is into its 4th month? Think there is a double standard? But term-limits prevented Mayor Nagin from running for a third term, so he had to find another source of income. And did he ever!

Last week, the New Orleans Mayor was indicted on 21 corruption-related charges including bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns! He developed his own "bailout" by receiving cash and gifts in exchange for city contracts. Unfortunately for this ex-mayor, his national political aspirations and his "life after politics" will be taking a different turn. He is facing the next 15-25 years in a federal prison.

Mitch Daniels (R-Indiana)

Remember Indiana's Governor, Mitch Daniels? He didn't have that same dynamic personality or southern charm. But he too was a "two termer" and had national aspirations. 
But that's where the similarities ended. Governor Daniels turned Indiana's $800 million dollar state deficit into a $300 million dollar surplus. 
After decertifying the municipal unions, Indiana was transformed into a much more business friendly state. Companies and their accompanying jobs were heading into Indiana. 
Governor Daniels was the first to introduce a voter photo-ID which was subsequently validated by the U.S. Supreme Court. And to just do the right thing, he provided the photo-ID's free of charge to anyone who could not afford one. I bet you never heard that from The New York Times! 
Privatizing some state-run agencies, cutting expenditures and lowering taxes, basically "turned his State around".

What did Governor Daniels do with his own "life after politics"? He accepted the job of President of Purdue University. So, what's so unusual about that? Wait till you hear about the actual contract that Governor Daniels insisted on signing.

Purdue University had run up a $67.4 million dollar deficit and over the last 11 years, the number of Purdue "administrators" jumped 62% while the number of "professors" increased by a mere 8%. Unbelievable! So what did this new college president insist on?

1- his base pay would be almost $100,000 less than his predecessor (did you ever hear of anything like that before?) ) and ( get this one!) his base compensation was equal to the average of all the other Big Ten Presidents. WOW ! And, even more spectacular,

2- he could only earn additional compensation if his new administration would improve the following:

a- student graduation rates

b-faculty hiring and achievement

c- student affordability, and

d- philanthropic support.

What a "strange" concept? Actually linking your pay to your own performance. Unheard of!
The moral is that the media darling had evil in his heart, while the effective and dedicated legislator who had, and still has, the peoples best interests at the core of his actions receives media silence.
If I were a cynical man I might compare that to the current situation in Washington!

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Small Spaces etc. - One by One by One

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In a beach community accessory units are no surprise.  And, it is important to survival for many that these homes remain a part of the shadow economy because local, state and national laws emphatically impose constraints that do more harm than good for actual people, especially the most vulnerable of the working class and middle class.  This is a look at the great need that these small spaces satisfy and leave the legal constraints for another day. From Grist a quick peek at a couple of options, but the original post shows a whole range for living large in small houses.

Jon and Ryah Dietzen moved from their 1,500-square-foot home to a 400-square-foot cottage with two toddlers. They made the move for its financial freedom, but the benefits didn’t stop there. “We realized after a few months how much time, freedom, and peace we were gaining by not collecting and spending our time taking care of more ‘stuff,’” Jon Dietzen told me. By choosing a smaller house, they found a better balance between work and home life.

Here is the “before” shot.

A lot in a small space: kitchen island, living room, and a bedroom behind a curtain.

Small homes combat neighborhood decline brought on by shrinking household sizes. Adding people can revitalize a neighborhood, allowing schools to stay open, giving neighborhood businesses more customers, making transit service cost-effective, and saving on infrastructure costs. Infilling neighborhoods with backyard cottages helps add more people to a neighborhood, without altering its character. 

As homeowners build small dwellings, they provide lower-cost housing within the existing fabric of their neighborhood, with no government support necessary. Vancouver’s planning director, Brent Toderian, sees this as the essential value of the trend towards small homes: “[It’s] about ordinary people. Thousands of individual homeowners can do it, one by one by one. It’s publicly propelled, not corporate-propelled, densification. It’s gradual. It’s discreet. It’s green.” [ed.emphasis]

Now that many cities have figured out backyard cottage rules, they face a new challenge: dealing with homes even tinier than the typical accessory dwelling. Some cities’ regulations set minimum size requirements for dwellings. Others say a recreational vehicle can’t count as an accessory dwelling unit, which means “you can camp in your little house, but not live in it,” writes Dee Williams. Tiny houser Lina Menard suggests that “people should have the right to a tiny house as long as it accommodates their needs and desires.” But for people to exercise that right, cities will have to rethink the zoning rules that stand in the way of tiny homes.

Dee Williams is well known to many since the uploading of the following video clip in 2008 and shown in the corporate media many times since.

Dee Williams decided to rethink her American Dream after building a school in Guatemala and having a close friend get cancer made her reevaluate her priorities. “He was getting sicker and sicker, and I didn’t have the time or the money to really throw myself into helping him. I was spending a lot of time and money on my house. So the house was the easiest thing to try to get rid of,” Williams told Yes! magazine. So she sold her 1,500-square-foot Portland home and built an 84-square-foot tiny home for $10,000. Now she lives without a mortgage, giving her the time and money to invest in her friends and community.

Via Grist

Whoops! this became a 2 for 1 post day by accident. Accidentally got some posting dates wrong. Enjoy.

Small Spaces Etc. - Life Edited

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Graham Hill, editor of Treehugger, held a contest. Through crowdsourcing  he received 300 design entries for this "life edited" apartment. Two Romanian architecture students' design were selected and this final design is based largely on their entry.

Top of the line, latest technology, spare no expense for the best features make this an inspired space.

 Gizmodo on Vimeo.

Here are some of the features:

• A moving shelf that divides the room into bedroom and guest room.
• Fold-down bunk beds for guests.
• A Murphy bed that, when folded up, is a functional shelf.
• A telescoping dinner table that can seat 10.
• Refrigerator, freezer, and induction stovetop hidden neatly away in drawers.
• More closet space than you’d get in a much larger apartment.

Here is the Life Edited concept: