The Burning States - Reflections of a True Patriot

History Channel: Prophets of Doom

2011-01-06T00:06:00.006-05:00

I have been watching the (alternative) news about the economy, peak oil, and the imminent collapse of the American Empire for a long time. This is why my sisters and I left an urban setting to land in a place in which we have more control over our lives. For many years, the collapse of America has been featured only on conspiracy theory blogs, and, more recently, legitimate alternative news outlets.

Tonight, however, marks a change in the consciousness of America. Tonight, the History Channel featured a program called "Prophets of Doom," in which several of the long-standing "conspiracy theorists," that proclaim the end of America is near finally get their voice in the mainstream media.

No large media outlet would produce that type of show if it felt that there was not a grain of truth to the matter.

The History Channel, thankfully, did not much offer much commentary on the opinions of these six people. Instead, it was an interview format, where they could express their opinions. And that they did.

Michael Ruppert spoke of peak oil, and how that would devastate the economy, the nation, and the lives of everyday people. When the oil runs out, there will be no driving, no construction, little production.

Nathan Hagans, who worked at a hedge fund, related how he believes the entire global economy is a Ponzi scheme. When it collapses, we are all in peril, and we may see Weimar-type circumstances.

John Cronin was far more concerned with our availability of fresh, and safe, drinking water. His priority is pollution, but I feel that the corporate grab of water is also a great concern.

James Kunstler believes that peak oil, a bad economy, and other factors will lead to great civil unrest. We will have to live like we did before the Industrial Revolution. There will be no driving 5 miles or 50 miles to get groceries.

Hugo De Garis believes that we are giving too much power to computers, which is odd because he develops artifical intelligence software. He believes that in the 2040's, computers will have the advantage over humans. We may not last that long.

Robert Gleason believes that nuclear weapons will fall into the hands of terrorists, and reduce our nation into a third-world country. I believe terrorism is over-hyped, and that, again, we may not last long enough as a nation to see that.

Overall, it was a great documentary to watch, and I give significant credit to the History Channel for producing it. The first four speakers were the best, in my opinion, and I think they are right on target. Below is a link to the DVD...

http://shop.history.com/detail.php?p=291023&v=history&ecid=PRF-2103964&pa=PRF-2103964

Of course, the History Channel will also re-run it, unless it ends up in the memory hole like Jesse Ventura's FEMA camp edition of Conspiracy Theory.

NSA agents admit spying on Americans' private calls

2008-10-09T22:28:00.002-04:00

NSA agents admit spying on Americans' private calls

David Murfee Faulk described to ABC's Brian Ross how he had listened to "personal phone calls of American officers, mostly in the Green Zone [in Baghdad], calling home to the United States, talking to their spouses and sometimes their girlfriends."

"Co-workers of mine were ordered to transcribe these calls," Faulk stated. "When one of my co-workers went to a supervisor and said, 'But sir, these are personal calls,' the supervisor said, 'My orders were to transcribe everything.'"

Adrienne Kinne, who like Faulk is an Arab linguist, said she had received the same orders and had listened to hundreds of Americans in the Middle East simply calling home. She emphasized that these were "Americans who are not in any way, shape, or form associated with anything to do with terrorism. It was just personal conversations that really nobody else should have been listening to."

When asked about President Bush's statement that the intercepts were directed only at known al-Qaeda suspects, Kinne stated, "That is completely a lie." She said that military officers, journalists, and Red Cross workers were among the people whose calls she transcribed.

Faulk told ABC that certain calls were even passed around among the intercept operators like office jokes. "I was told, 'Hey, check this out, there's some good phone sex.' ... It was there, stored the way you'd look at songs on your iPod."

Journalists, the Red Cross, and our soldiers. They are the "Terrorists" BushCo is tracking. Those who may dare to have a free thought, an opinion that is not in line with the policies of King George and his criminal empire.

We all knew this was the truth of the NSA spying program...

Further Down The Spiral

2008-10-09T21:48:00.002-04:00

Dow plunges 679 for 6th triple-digit loss in a row

GM shares tumble 31 percent to 58-year low

Banks borrow record amount from Fed

New AIG loan renews concerns over insurer's health

The Dow closed at 8579, down over 39 percent from about a year ago. The largest drop in points ever, the largest drop in percentage points since the crash of 1987. Pelosi started mentioning a second bailout the other day, and the Federal Reserve is bypassing banks to loan directly to corporations. There now seems to be a snowball effect going on...

Get your money out of the large banks... There are sure to be more going down...

The S* is hitting the fan...

2008-10-08T22:41:00.005-04:00

Major banks are failing left and right...

The 700 billion bailout is failing to curb the economic troubles...

The government and the federal reserve are handing out money like candy to keep the corporations afloat...

All around the world, banks are failing, and a coordinated interest rate cut failed to work...

The 3rd infantry 1st brigade, regular army, is now assigned to the streets of the Fascist States of America, under federal control...

The congress was threatened with martial law in America if the bailout did not pass...

FEMA is prepped and ready for martial law...

Beware... Be Safe... Be Armed...

The Raw Story | US residents in military brigs? Govt says its war

2008-05-24T12:33:00.000-04:00

The Raw Story | US residents in military brigs? Govt says its war: "'What you assert is the power of the military to seize a person in the United States, including an American citizen, on suspicion of being an enemy combatant?' Judge William B. Traxler asked.

'Yes, your honor,' Justice Department lawyer Gregory Garre replied."

There it is people, straight from the mouth of the government. If they wish, you can be locked away for years, without charges, without trials, with virtually no hope to be freed, save the government's own pity on you...

Moles Wanted - City Pages (Minneapolis/St. Paul)

2008-05-22T11:36:00.000-04:00

Moles Wanted - City Pages (Minneapolis/St. Paul): "What they were looking for, Carroll says, was an informant—someone to show up at “vegan potlucks” throughout the Twin Cities and rub shoulders with RNC protestors, schmoozing his way into their inner circles, then reporting back to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, a partnership between multiple federal agencies and state and local law enforcement. The effort’s primary mission, according to the Minneapolis division’s website, is to “investigate terrorist acts carried out by groups or organizations which fall within the definition of terrorist groups as set forth in the current United States Attorney General Guidelines.”

Carroll would be compensated for his efforts, but only if his involvement yielded an arrest. No exact dollar figure was offered."

Those violent vegans must be stopped. God forbid they exercise their free speech rights during the Republican National Convention.

Now just remember everyone:

Free Speech = Terrorism
Peaceful Protesting = Inciting A Riot

Carbon nanotubes mimic asbestos in early study - Yahoo! News

2008-05-21T18:11:00.000-04:00

Carbon nanotubes mimic asbestos in early study - Yahoo! News: "Strong, versatile little 'nanotubes' made out of carbon are considered future stars in nanotechnology research in medicine and industry. Now a study finds that longer threads of the stuff mimic the toxic qualities of asbestos, renewing questions about how carbon nanotubes can be used safely."

Soon after the invention of many of these carbon nano-objects, concerns were raised about the possibility of damage to the lungs, and even the possibility that the objects could be small enough to penetrate human cells. Now, this "early" study seems to confirm the potential dangers of these products. Early, however, is not the term I would use when referring to the study, as it is rather late. These carbon products have been experimented with for years now, and they have even made into mass-produced products, such as stain-free khakis. But hey, I guess it is less than the decades it took us to realize that asbestos was dangerous.

Food Crisis Rippling Out Like a “Tsunami” - CommonDreams.org

2008-05-21T17:11:00.000-04:00

Food Crisis Rippling Out Like a “Tsunami” - CommonDreams.org: "UNITED NATIONS - “A rolling tsunami of social unrest is underway as we speak — hungry people are desperate people capable of taking desperate actions. This tsunami is rapidly enveloping the global South, and it won’t take much longer before it knocks at the door of the global North,” warned Vicente Garcia-Delgado, the U.N. representative for CIVICUS, the world alliance for citizen participation.

At a forum on the world food crisis held at the United Nations Friday, civil society groups stressed that over 800 million people are now at risk of starvation, while 100 million have joined the ranks of the extremely poor in just the last few months and are now living on less than a dollar a day.

The food price index of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation rose by 9 percent in 2006 and 23 percent in 2007. As of March this year, wheat and maize prices were 130 and 30 percent higher than a year earlier. Rice prices have more than doubled since late January."

I have seen prices here in the United States rise dramatically over the last year or two. Here, we have food pantries serving record numbers of people, and we are the rich superpower. I cannot imagine how life is in the "third world" countries right now with such significant price increases.

The Raw Story | Journal: US report on Iranian weapons in Iraq 'delayed significantly'

2008-05-21T17:05:00.000-04:00

The Raw Story | Journal: US report on Iranian weapons in Iraq 'delayed significantly': "In a little-noticed story, the Los Angeles Times reported two weeks ago that American promises to offer proof that Iran was arming Iraqi militants had fallen through.

'A plan to show some alleged Iranian-supplied explosives to journalists last week in Karbala and then destroy them was canceled after the United States realized none of them was from Iran,' wrote the Times' Tina Susman. 'A U.S. military spokesman attributed the confusion to a misunderstanding. ... When U.S. explosives experts went to investigate, they discovered they were not Iranian after all.'

Now the Wall Street Journal has added a fresh twist to the mystery of the alleged Iranian arms, writing that 'the U.S. military, in a shift, has postponed the release of a report detailing allegations of Iranian support for Iraqi insurgents, according to people familiar with the matter.'"

The CIA operatives in Iran must have forgotten to write "Made in Iran" on the explosives with a Sharpie before sending them to the Iraq insurgents. So much for the "evidence," not that that will matter a whole lot if Bush decides to bomb Iran...

Clinton may take delegate fight to convention - Yahoo! News

2008-05-21T16:42:00.000-04:00

Clinton may take delegate fight to convention - Yahoo! News: "Hillary Rodham Clinton says she is willing to take her fight to seat Florida and Michigan delegates to the convention if the two states want to go that far. In an interview with The Associated Press, Clinton was asked whether she would support the states if they continue the fight.

The presidential candidate said Wednesday, 'Yes I will. I will, because I feel very strongly about this.'

Clinton is calling for delegates from both states to be seated at the convention based on the primaries. Both states were stripped of their delegates because they voted early, violating national party rules. Clinton won both states; Barack Obama's name wasn't on the Michigan ballot."

I do not like either Democratic candidate, but I would much rather see Obama win the nomination than Hillary. Hillary seems like she will be continuing some of the current administration's war-mongering efforts, and a war with Iran is really the last thing we need right now. Hopefully, the delegate saga in Michigan and Florida will not skew the results in Hillary's favor.

NSA Destroyed Evidence of Domestic Spying

2008-05-21T16:37:00.000-04:00

NSA Destroyed Evidence of Domestic Spying: "The National Security Agency, the top-secret spy shop that has been secretly eavesdropping on Americans under a plan authorized by President Bush seven years ago, destroyed the names of thousands of Americans and US companies it collected after 9/11 because the agency feared it would come under fire by lawmakers for conducting unlawful surveillance on United States citizens without authorization from a court, according to a little known report published in October 2001.

NSA lawyers advised the agency to immediately destroy the names of thousands of American citizens and businesses it collected shortly after 9/11 in its quest to target alleged terrorists in this country. NSA lawyers told the agency that the surveillance was illegal and that it could not share the data it collected with the CIA or other intelligence agencies.

The lawyers said the surveillance could result in numerous lawsuits from people identified in the surveillance reports, two former US officials told the Houston Chronicle in an October 27, 2001, report, and was illegal despite any terrorist threat that existed in the days following 9/11."

This really does not surprise me at all. Call me paranoid, but I assumed there was, and is, much more domestic surveillance going on than anyone would like to admit. Let's not forget, that some parts of Bush's spy program, like Email monitoring, have been show to have started even before the terror attacks on 9/11. This administration is simply out of control, and is bent on destroying the America that we once knew.

The Raw Story | Oil prices pass $133 after report of supply drop

2008-05-21T16:22:00.000-04:00

The Raw Story | Oil prices pass $133 after report of supply drop: "Runaway oil prices blew past $130 a barrel for the first time Wednesday and kept going, while gasoline prices persisted in their own relentless climb, rising above $3.80 a gallon. Supply worries, rising demand and a slumping dollar are conspiring to make filling up the car — and paying for just about everything else — a growing burden for Americans."

I read another report that put the price up near 140 a barrel at one point today. It will not be long until the next psychological barrier of $200 is passed. Here in west Texas, our gas prices recently broke the equally scary psychological border of $4.00 a gallon, and are heading up fast. Over the span of two weeks, we have paid $3.937/gallon, $4.034, and the last time, a few days ago, we paid $4.109. The economy is in a midst of a downward spiral, and despite the government's assertions to the contrary, it is getting worse.

The Raw Story | US: Ex-Guantanamo prisoner carried out Iraq suicide attack

2008-05-07T15:39:00.000-04:00

The Raw Story | US: Ex-Guantanamo prisoner carried out Iraq suicide attack: "'It is unknown what motivated him to leave Kuwait and go to Iraq,' Rye said. 'His family members reportedly were shocked to hear he had conducted a suicide bombing.'

Three suicide car bombers targeted Iraqi security forces, killing at least seven people and wounding 28 in the northern city of Mosul, local officials said. It was not yet known which involved al-Ajmi.

Military documents previously released to AP show that al-Ajmi was 'constantly in trouble' while in Guantanamo and held in disciplinary blocks during his detention. He also allegedly told officials in August 2004 that 'he now is a jihadist, an enemy combatant, and that he will kill as many Americans as he possibly can.'

Tom Wilner, a lawyer who represented Kuwaiti prisoners at Guantanamo, said al-Ajmi had a broken arm during one of their meetings at the base in Cuba and that he alleged he had been injured by guards who interrupted him while he prayed.

Wilner called the alleged suicide attack a 'tragedy' that could have been avoided with court hearings for prisoners held at Guananamo, where the U.S. now holds about 270 men."

The blowback from gitmo begins...

The Raw Story | Journalist released from Gitmo calls it 'most heinous mankind has ever known'

2008-05-06T11:41:00.000-04:00

The Raw Story | Journalist released from Gitmo calls it 'most heinous mankind has ever known': "An Al Jazeera cameraman who returned yesterday to his home of Sudan from Guantánamo Bay and delivered a speech broadcast live on Sudanese television described the US facility as 'heinous.'

His speech was broadcast live on Sudanese television. He was held at Guantanamo for seven years, and was never charged.

'After 2,340 days spent in the most heinous prison mankind has ever known, we are honored to be here. Thank you, and thank all those defended us and of our right in freedom,' said Sami al Hajj, who spoke at an event organized by his family.

Hajj is the only major mainstream news journalist ever to be held at the prison. His supporters claimed that he was being held in retaliation for US anger over the Arabic television network."

7 years, of his life gone, and he was never convicted of a crime, or even formally charged... Welcome to the new America...

A Quick Look at Recent Headlines...

2008-05-02T02:46:00.002-04:00

Rice raises new doubts about Iran's nuclear program
Iran complains to UN over Clinton's attack threat
Pentagon plays down report of new Iran war planning
US Military Chief Slams Iran's 'Irresponsible Influence'
Iran remains most active state sponsor of terrorism: US
Gates: Carrier sent to 'remind' Iran
Iran dumps U.S. dollar for oil trades

Well we sure are stepping up the rhetoric about Iran again, aren't we? All of these stories are from within the last 2 days...

Just before we bombed Iraq, Iraq dumped the dollar as well. Without the world's oil traded in U.S. dollars almost exclusively, the dollar would have been nearly worthless years ago. Propping up the dollar is sure a good reason to bomb a country, at least in the twisted minds of this administration. Let's not forget that the United States is the world's largest consumer of oil, as well. Killing two birds with one stone...

I will leave it at Iran stories for tonight, more will come tomorrow...

Back from Never-Never Land

2008-05-01T20:17:00.004-04:00

It has been several months since I have posted anything on this blog, but there is a good reason. On little more than a few moments of thought, a great deal of hope, and even a few prayers, I decided to join my two sisters and take a wild ride from Schenectady New York to the deserts of West Texas, where we now permanently live.

I had a little more than a month to prepare for the journey, once I decided that I was in. Essentially, I dumped everything I owned in New York, and loaded a Toyota Camry station wagon with a few of my essential belongings, my two Greyhounds, and headed west.

I joined my sisters, and their 6 kids, 9 great Danes, 1 pit bull mix, 4 cats, 2 birds, and a turtle. As one might imagine, it was quite the trip. We landed here in the middle of February, where, unlike New York, the days required only a t-shirt and there was not a single flake of snow on the ground.

Because of the remoteness of the area, and the local bureaucracy, it took us until just recently to secure an internet connection, via satellite.

So why did I do it? A quick list is in order...

-I have wanted to leave the filth, noise, and insanity of the city for a very long time.
-I realized that I did not need 90% of the junk that I had, nor the huge house to store it all in.
-With energy prices on the rise, the cold New York winters were becoming ever more expensive.
-I hated the local gestapo, in the form of the city government and the police, as well as the neighbors who have nothing better to do than report on your business.
-I have always wanted to live in the desert.
-My Family was the only real reason I was still in New York.

And of course, let's not forget the bigger picture...

-The United States is starting to look more and more like a country straight from Orwell's imagination, and should the military ever be turned against the citizens, the city is not the place to be.

-The economy of the United States is teetering on the edge of a complete meltdown, along with the dollar itself. If, as many believe, the country goes into another depression, once again, the city is not the place to be.

-Global food prices are on the rise, and there have already been food riots in other nations, and corporations right here in the United States have begun rationing the supply of key food ingredients, such as rice and flour. The city is not the place to be when food shortages happen.

-Oil prices continue to skyrocket, and the future will be sustainable energy. Unfortunately, code enforcement in the city would likely frown upon windmills, and perhaps even solar panels.

-And let's not forget that the city is not the place to be if another country, such as Russia or China, decides to step in and protect small countries around the world from the military might of the United States.

So here we are on a large chunk of land in west Texas, where the closest "city" is 60 miles away, with a staggering population of 4,700 people. The "corner store" is 13 miles away.

Life is not easy in a desert. We have little more than what we came down here with. Electricity is supplied with a generator, internet with a satellite, and we have to haul our own water for the moment. Compared to our lives in Schenectady, however, we are much happier, and we are on the way to a smarter, self-sustainable way of living that is somewhat insulated from the troubles of the outside world.

I have a new definition of freedom now...

Think Progress » No Questions On Global Warming Asked At CNN’s Coal Industry-Sponsored Presidential Debates

2008-01-23T11:25:00.000-05:00

Think Progress » No Questions On Global Warming Asked At CNN’s Coal Industry-Sponsored Presidential Debates: "In Democratic presidential debate last night, CNN once again failed to ask any questions about global warming. Perhaps not surprisingly, last night’s debate was sponsored by the coal front group Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC)."

Yes, keep putting your full faith and trust in the corporate-owned media, they deliver all the facts... [The ones that are lucratively paid for anyway...]

The Raw Story | Contempt citations on hold as Dems, Bush craft stimulus plan

2008-01-23T11:10:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Contempt citations on hold as Dems, Bush craft stimulus plan: "The planned citations now appear to be on hold as Congress and the White House work on a bipartisan economic stimulus package, the central tenet of which involves cutting virtually everyone an $800 check.

Democratic leaders and aides tell The Politico that pursuing the contempt citations in conjunction with the stimulus package would 'step on their message' of bipartisanship.

The contempt citations against former White House counsel Harriet Miers and Chief of Staff Josh Bolten were approved by the House Judiciary Committee in July after the two ignored subpoenas requiring their testimony on the US Attorney firing scandal."

That's ok, justice is on hold so that they can look good. What a freaking joke.

The Raw Story | Stock markets plunge worldwide

2008-01-21T13:09:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Stock markets plunge worldwide: "Stocks fell sharply worldwide Monday following declines on Wall Street last week amid investor pessimism over the U.S. government's stimulus plan to prevent a recession.

U.S. markets were closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but the downbeat mood from last week's market declines there circled through Europe, Asia and the Americas. Britain's benchmark FTSE-100 slumped 5.5 percent to 5,578.20, France's CAC-40 Index tumbled 6.8 percent to 4,744.15, and Germany's blue-chip DAX 30 plunged 7.2 percent to 6,790.19.

In Asia, India's benchmark stock index tumbled 7.4 percent, while Hong Kong's blue-chip Hang Seng index plummeted 5.5 percent to 23,818.86, its biggest percentage drop since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks."

Uh-oh, the stuff is starting to hit the fan...

The Canadian Press: Torture awareness manual 'wrongly' lists Cdn allies, to be rewritten: Bernier

2008-01-21T11:44:00.000-05:00

The Canadian Press: Torture awareness manual 'wrongly' lists Cdn allies, to be rewritten: Bernier: "Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier found himself backtracking Saturday over his department's training manual that lists the U.S. and Guantanamo Bay as sites of possible torture - alongside such countries as Iran and Syria."

And for a few days, we actually thought that Canada had a pair and was willing to speak out against the evil empire...

The Raw Story | British media confirms FBI whistleblower Edmonds' account of secret file

2008-01-21T11:40:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | British media confirms FBI whistleblower Edmonds' account of secret file: "The Sunday Times has obtained a document that confirms that a file, which the FBI denied existed, could contain information about American officials stealing nuclear secrets for Turkish and Israeli spies, who would then sell the secrets to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds, 37, approached the Times about 'explosive' communications she discovered between high-up American officials and Turkish and Israeli spies. A FOIA request to the FBI, for case number 203A-WF-210023, was answered with a claim that the case number did not exist.

'I can tell you that that file and the operations it refers to did exist from 1996 to February 2002,' says Edmonds."

Isn't it interesting that the British media is reporting this, but I have found no mention of it in our mainstream media.

The Raw Story | Email missing from Cheney's office on day White House told to preserve documents in CIA leak

2008-01-21T11:29:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Email missing from Cheney's office on day White House told to preserve documents in CIA leak: "Among the sixteen days for which email are missing from Vice President Cheney's office is Sept. 30, 2003, the same day the day the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced they were investigating who outed former CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson.

That morning, then-White House counsel Alberto Gonzales ordered the president and the vice president's staff to 'preserve all materials that might be relevant' to an inchoate Justice Department probe."

Sure, there is no cover-up here...

The Raw Story | Anti-war veterans' group: War crimes are 'encouraged'

2008-01-21T10:54:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Anti-war veterans' group: War crimes are 'encouraged': "At an event in Watertown, New York on Saturday, members of Iraq Veterans Against War charged that war crimes against civilians were encouraged by unit commanders.

'The killing of innocent civilians is policy,' said veteran Mike Blake. 'It's unit policy and it's Army policy. It's not official policy, but it's what's happens on the ground everyday. It's what unit commanders individually encourage.'

Veteran Matt Howard concurred: 'These decisions are coming from the top down,' Howard said. 'The tactics that we use, the policies that the military engages, will create situations, create dynamics, create -- ultimately -- atrocity.'

Blake and Howard were among four veterans speaking at Watertown's Different Drummer Cafe, in a preliminary event to the 'Winter Soldier' gathering scheduled in Washington, D.C. in March. Named after the 1971 event in which John Kerry read testimony from soldiers on atrocities they had committed, this year's Winter Soldier will feature Iraq War veterans speaking about war crimes they committed or witnessed.

In Watertown, veteran Jon Turner blamed himself as well as the orders he was given. 'It was my decision,' Turner said. 'I made it. Now I have to live with the fact I see someone's eyes screaming at me after I shot them.'"

This is not the first time I have heard such claims...

Common-cents choice - - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

2008-01-18T15:27:00.000-05:00

Common-cents choice - - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "'I really was tired of being poor,' Mr. Napolitano said in an interview this month from the Fox News studio in New York City. 'I was very young, and I had a lot of energy. ... It was a pretty banal reason for the leaving the bench.'

'Poor,' of course, is relative. On the bench in New Jersey's Superior Court, Mr. Napolitano made $100,000 a year. But compared with what lawyers who appeared in his courtroom were making or what he could have been rolling in doing other work, $100,000 was pittance."

Now this is enough to make my blood pressure spike into the red zone, near heart attack territory. His yearly salary could support a "poor" person for at least 5 years... Is "poor" being without a Mercedes or BMW? A plasma TV? A vacation home? Diamond cuff links?

What an A--hole...

Bush calls for $145 billion economy plan - Yahoo! News

2008-01-18T11:58:00.000-05:00

Bush calls for $145 billion economy plan - Yahoo! News: "'Letting Americans keep more of their money should increase consumer spending,' he said.

Bush said that Congress should work as soon as possible to send him legislation to 'keep our economy growing and creating jobs.'"

Yes, spend more Americans, go further into debt, because that is the only problem, we are not spending enough. Let's forget about the fact that we no longer manufacture the majority of the items we consume, thus there are fewer decent jobs in America, and decreasing pay rates. Isn't spending more than we make a huge part of the problem here?

I still laugh that on 9/11, one of Bush's major pieces of advice was also to keep spending.

The Raw Story | Ex-lawmaker charged in terror conspiracy

2008-01-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Ex-lawmaker charged in terror conspiracy: "A former congressman and delegate to the United Nations was indicted Wednesday on charges of being part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to a supporter of al-Qaida and the Taliban who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan.

Mark Deli Siljander, a Michigan Republican when he was in the House, was charged with money laundering, conspiracy and obstructing justice for allegedly lying about lobbying senators on behalf of an Islamic charity that authorities said was secretly sending funds to terrorists."

This story, from the Associated Press, is a good example of my less-than stellar faith in the mainstream media and the administration. I have to question what the truth really is.

Did this guy actually knowingly support Al-Qaida?

Is the "Islamic Charity" really funneling money to Al-Qaida, or is it a victim of anti-Islamic sentiment from 9/11?

Did this guy anger the administration somehow, and thus, being targeted politically?

Is this guy being targeted by the Democrats for election reasons?

Is this guy a scapegoat for someone higher up the food chain?

It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and how all of the parties in the government, and outside of the government, choose to spin this...

Catherine Crump: Unconstitutional Acts to Protect the President from Protestors - Politics on The Huffington Post

2008-01-16T18:19:00.000-05:00

Catherine Crump: Unconstitutional Acts to Protect the President from Protestors - Politics on The Huffington Post: "In the waning days of this administration's tenure, President Bush's lack of interest in opinions contrary to his own is as striking as ever. Most recently in New Mexico, a group of peaceful demonstrators was removed from the president's sight, continuing the administration's long-held tradition that dissenters should be neither seen nor heard. Sound undemocratic? Indeed.

Last August, President Bush attended an exclusive, high-priced fundraiser for New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici. Local activists opposed to the president's policies were, of course, not invited. To let the president know that not everyone agreed with him, they planned to stand along his motorcade route holding up signs expressing their views, especially their opposition to the war in Iraq."

Another case of the "Free Speech Zone."

Forget oil, the new global crisis is food

2008-01-16T18:15:00.000-05:00

Forget oil, the new global crisis is food: "The impact of tighter food supply is already evident in raw food prices, which have risen 22% in the past year.

Mr. Coxe said in an interview that this surge would begin to show in the prices of consumer foods in the next six months. Consumers already paid 6.5% more for food in the past year.

Wheat prices alone have risen 92% in the past year, and yesterday closed at US$9.45 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade.

At the centre of the imminent food catastrophe is corn - the main staple of the ethanol industry. The price of corn has risen about 44% over the past 15 months, closing at US$4.66 a bushel on the CBOT yesterday - its best finish since June 1996."

These figures are not good, and they happen to be quite a bit higher than the "official figures." Meanwhile, wages are actually falling...

The Raw Story | Huckabee: Amend Constitution to be in 'God's standards'

2008-01-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Huckabee: Amend Constitution to be in 'God's standards': "'I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution,' Huckabee told a Michigan audience on Monday. 'But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view.'"

Just with that statement, this guy has shown himself to be the most dangerous Presidential candidate in the current race. The Bible has no business in the Constitution, and Huckabee is crazy to suggest such a thing.

Could you imagine how bad the middle east would look then? The new Crusades would be going full-force, eliminating those who do not believe in the Christian bible...

Bush Delivers Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia - World on The Huffington Post

2008-01-14T12:06:00.000-05:00

Bush Delivers Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia - World on The Huffington Post: "President Bush, on his first visit to this oil-rich kingdom, delivered a major arms sale Monday to a major ally in a region where the U.S. casts neighboring Iran as a menace to stability."

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words...

Protesters Demand Guantanamo Close: 80 Arrested

2008-01-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Protesters Demand Guantanamo Close: 80 Arrested: "They were charged with violating an ordinance that prohibits demonstrations of any kind on court grounds. Those arrested inside the building also were charged under a provision that makes it a crime to give 'a harangue or oration' in the Supreme Court building."

How convenient that free speech is not allowed near the Supreme court, especially since they are deliberating on one of the most important cases of our time...

In Voiding Suit, Appellate Court Says Torture is to be Expected - CommonDreams.org

2008-01-14T11:55:00.000-05:00

In Voiding Suit, Appellate Court Says Torture is to be Expected - CommonDreams.org: "The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the detainees captured in Afghanistan aren’t recognized as “persons” under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act because they were aliens held outside the United States. The Religious Freedom Act prohibits the government from “substantially burdening a person’s religion.”"

A person in GitMo is not a Person. Got it. Well then, throw out all the rules banning torture, because if they are not people, then it obviously cannot be considered torture.

Wow...

New From Taser: Torture and Tunes at the same time!!!

2008-01-12T20:58:00.000-05:00

Bit Player : Los Angeles Times : CES Video: Gadget of the day: "You know what a bother it is to carry both your MP3 music player and your Taser gun?

Worry no more.

Today at CES, Taser International introduced the Taser MPH -- the first combination hand-held music player and Taser.

The player, which has a 1-GB capacity that can hold about 150 songs, is embedded in a holster that slips on your belt. Feel the need to zap someone and you can unholster the Taser, use the built-in laser pointer to aim, and blam -- a couple of darts carrying 50,000 volts hits your victim.

And you don't have to miss a beat.

The Taser MPH is not just a gadget, it's a fashion statement. The company is releasing it in several cover motifs, including leopard.

'It's fashion, with a bite,' said Taser International spokesman Stephen Tuttle."

If this were April 1st, I may have considered this an April Fool's joke... So what will your soundtrack be as you Tase someone? (possibly to their death...)

Off the top of my head, I guess it would have to be Skinlab, Know Your Enemies...

The Raw Story | Police abandoned security posts before Bhutto assassination

2007-12-28T11:14:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Police abandoned security posts before Bhutto assassination: "Police abandoned their security posts shortly before Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's assassination Thursday, according to a journalist present at the time, and unanswerable questions remain about the cause of her death, because an autopsy was never performed."

I knew that details like this were going to start coming out. The whole thing just seems fishy.

The End of The World as We Know it

2007-12-28T10:26:00.000-05:00

Decline in Iraq news may have boosted U.S. opinion | Reuters

2007-12-28T09:31:00.000-05:00

Decline in Iraq news may have boosted U.S. opinion | Reuters: "A recent decline in U.S. news coverage from Iraq coincides with improved public opinion about the war just as the 2008 presidential campaign heads to an early showdown, a study released on Wednesday said.

The study by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism said the volume of coverage from Iraq fell from 8 percent of all news stories in the first six months of 2007 to 5 percent between June and October due mainly to a decline in news accounts of daily attacks.

The falloff coincided with a 14 percentage point climb -- from 34 to 48 percent -- in the number of Americans who believe the U.S. military effort in Iraq is going either fairly or very well, according to Pew."

Out of sight, out of mind. This article shows how easy it is for the mass media to influence public opinion. Last night, my jaw dropped during an MSNBC report about the current unrest in Pakistan. The comment made was comparing Pakistan's attempts to return to democracy to the Democracy in Afghanistan. The anchor actually said that in Afghanistan, democracy is working, and that Pakistan should strive for that kind of progress. Meanwhile, warlords are taking back Afghanistan, including groups led by the Taliban. In addition, coalition forces are actually trying to negotiate with the Taliban. The government has almost no money for reconstruction, and other countries are not really helping in that regard. There is a lack of electricity, safe water, and sanitation facilities. Children are going to school in bombed-out buildings. Yeah, Democracy is working, according to MSNBC.

Pirates and Emperors

2007-12-26T12:19:00.000-05:00

The Legend Of HercuBush!

2007-12-26T12:10:00.001-05:00

The Raw Story | New government-transparency database will decrease available info about intel agencies

2007-12-26T11:01:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | New government-transparency database will decrease available info about intel agencies: "A new online government spending database -- designed to increase transparency as to how taxpayer dollars are spent -- will actually allow intelligence agencies to keep more secrets about their private contracts than before."

Orwell is slapping his forehead... Transparency=Secrecy

Police academy class slogan: Cause PTSD - Yahoo! News

2007-12-26T10:26:00.000-05:00

Police academy class slogan: Cause PTSD - Yahoo! News: "A state police academy leader has disavowed the slogan of the most recent graduating class urging one another to 'go out and cause' post-traumatic stress disorder.

Each class at the Idaho Police Officer Standards and Training Academy is allowed to choose a slogan that is printed on its graduation programs, and the class of 43 graduates came up with 'Don't suffer from PTSD, go out and cause it.'"

To protect and serve...

My Christmas message...

2007-12-25T20:28:00.000-05:00

I do not believe that Christmas should be celebrated as the birth of Christ. It should be a day of mourning for all of the people for which the desire to spread Christianity to has resulted in their premature deaths, in the past, present, and future.

When you start to open your presents that support the corporate-controlled government of the United States, think of the Native Americans, the Mayans, the Africans, and all others who have died in the name of spreading Christianity.

Think of the Right-Wing, Christian Fundamentalists who have started a war on Islam in Afghanistan and Iraq, for the simple reasons that we need their oil, and that they are brown people in a far-away place that do not worship Christ.

Think of the fact that these same Neo-Cons have eliminated nearly all of the remaining rights we Americans take for granted in the United States.

Think of the corporations that are sending your jobs overseas.

Think of the future of the United States, in which the dollar will be worth nothing, and our children will be responsible for a debt they can never repay.

Finally, think of the fact that revolution is the only way out of this miserable crisis.

Merry Christmas...

U.S. Officials See Waste in Pakistan Aid - New York Times

2007-12-24T09:21:00.000-05:00

U.S. Officials See Waste in Pakistan Aid - New York Times: "After the United States has spent more than $5 billion in a largely failed effort to bolster the Pakistani military effort against Al Qaeda and the Taliban, some American officials now acknowledge that there were too few controls over the money. The strategy to improve the Pakistani military, they said, needs to be completely revamped."

That is what happens when Bushco trusts a dictatorship...

Iraq, Afghanistan War Costs Top Vietnam - Yahoo! News

2007-12-20T22:44:00.000-05:00

Iraq, Afghanistan War Costs Top Vietnam - Yahoo! News: "California (OneWorld) � Congress' approval Wednesday of $70 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan mean the twin conflicts are now more costly to American taxpayers than the war in Vietnam.

According to a study by the Washington-based Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Congress has now approved nearly $700 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

'Using inflation-adjusted dollars, the total cost of those wars has now surpassed the total cost of the Vietnam war (which ran to $670 billion),' the group�s Travis Sharp told OneWorld. 'It's also more than seven times larger than the Persian Gulf War ($94 billion) and more than twice the cost of the Korean war ($295 billion).'

As a result of Wednesday�s vote, Sharp said, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will become the second costliest conflict in American history, trailing only World War II."

And Damn what a success it is...

Is Your Cash Safe at the Banks? (Consumer Action: Personal Finance) | SmartMoney.com

2007-12-20T22:26:00.000-05:00

Is Your Cash Safe at the Banks? (Consumer Action: Personal Finance) | SmartMoney.com: "For consumers who just want to park their savings somewhere, it seems perfectly rational to have a case of the jitters. Not only that, but the whole situation can be extremely confusing. Are the typically safe choices — money-market mutual funds, bond funds and bank savings accounts — really safe? Or are you better off leaving your cash stashed under the mattress?

The good news: Your savings or investments are most likely secure (savings accounts, for example, are FDIC-insured). But that doesn't mean you should blindly stow your money in one of these accounts without taking some precautions first. Here's what you need to know:

Bank savings, money-market savings and CDs
Bank savings and money-market accounts are the safest places to stow your cash for one simple reason: Through FDIC insurance, the government guarantees your money."

Yes, the Government insurance may protect us when a few banks fail... But if/when massive bank runs start happening, we may as well consider money stored in banks to be gone...

The Raw Story | DHS finalizing plans for domestic spy satellite program

2007-12-20T21:53:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | DHS finalizing plans for domestic spy satellite program: "Civil liberties concerns delayed the program after lawmakers and outside activists wondered how the program would be structured to protect Americans from unconstitutional surveillance from the powerful satellites, which can see through cloud cover, trees and even concrete buildings.

The program's charter remains unfinalized, but Chertoff said it will use clear language to explain legal restrictions on the data's use. Warrants will be obtained when required before collecting satellite intelligence, and the program won't use technology to intercept verbal communications, according to the Journal."

Ah yes, the spy satellite program is back on the table. I find it disturbing that they can see through concrete, or can even possibly record audio. I am so sure that the government will get the required warrants... Time to paint F**K YOU on our rooftops.

Police State America - A Look Back And Ahead

2007-12-19T11:55:00.000-05:00

Police State America -: "It's not with jackboots in the streets but by a steady 'process of erosion' with the public largely unaware and distracted by media mind manipulators. It's happening today, and Wolf sounds the alarm with the words of James Madison saying 'The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands....is the definition of tyranny,' and that's the condition now in America. This article reviews the record for the past seven years. It's not pretty."

This is an excellent article that depicts the grim details of the Administration's unchallenged, and illegal, power grab that has taken place since 9/11. When you add up all of the executive orders, signing statements, illegal programs, and congress-backed legislation, as this article does, it paints a very grim picture of the future of the United States.

Preemptive Terror Trials: Strike Two - Yahoo! News

2007-12-15T11:41:00.000-05:00

Preemptive Terror Trials: Strike Two - Yahoo! News: "The entire situation was concocted by the government. The warehouse was paid for by the FBI, and the defendants moved their operations there at the suggestion of an undercover informant who was also paid by the FBI. The swearing-in ceremony was led by the informant - who at another point also suggested a plan to bomb FBI offices in Miami. 'The case was written, produced and directed by the FBI,' defense attorney Albert Levin said in his closing arguments.

Since 9/11, the FBI has begun using legions of Muslim or Arabic informants in hopes of rooting out radicals before they strike. The main informant in this case was a Middle Eastern man named Elie Assad. He had worked for the FBI for years before he approached Batiste, posing as an al-Qaeda operative named 'Brother Mohammad.' He earned about $80,000 for his services."

Can you say entrapment??? 80,000 dollars is a lot of good reasons to encourage people to turn against the U.S. When I was in high school, sometimes I was amazed at the willingness of younger students to follow my every lead. Some people are just eager to be part of a group, and will follow any suggestion made. It seems to me that many of the "terror" cases in the United States, since 9/11, have been just that. A paid government informant, probably getting a deal for his or her crimes, finds a group of disorganized people with a vague dislike of the U.S., and then organizes them.

War funding bill heads to Bush - Capitol Hill- msnbc.com

2007-12-15T11:14:00.000-05:00

War funding bill heads to Bush - Capitol Hill- msnbc.com: "The Democratic-led Congress authorized more Iraq war spending on Friday, sending President Bush a defense bill requiring no change in strategy after failing again to impose a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawals.

The defense policy bill, approved 90-3 by the Senate, also expanded the size of the U.S. Army and set conditions on the Bush administration’s plan to build a missile defense system in Europe."

Good job congress!!! You have proven once again that you will do exactly the opposite of what the majority desires...

The Associated Press: GOP Seeks to Restore Harsh Interrogation

2007-12-15T11:10:00.000-05:00

The Associated Press: GOP Seeks to Restore Harsh Interrogation: "Senate Republicans blocked a bill Friday that would restrict the interrogation methods the CIA can use against terrorism suspects.

The legislation, part of a measure authorizing the government's intelligence activities for 2008, had been approved a day earlier by the House and sent to the Senate for what was supposed to be final action. The bill would require the CIA to adhere to the Army's field manual on interrogation, which bans waterboarding, mock executions and other harsh interrogation methods."

No big surprise there...

The Raw Story | New Attorney General stonewalls Senate over CIA tapes

2007-12-15T11:07:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | New Attorney General stonewalls Senate over CIA tapes: "Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy said Friday he is disappointed at the Justice Department for its outright refusal to hand over any information about the interrogation videotapes destroyed by the CIA two years ago.

Leahy, and the Judiciary Committee's top Republican Arlen Specter, wrote to Attorney General Michael Mukasey after news broke last week that the CIA destroyed several hundred hours of recordings depicting harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists."

Yes, this is what happens when the Attorney General cannot decide if water boarding is torture. More torture cover-ups...

Judge urged not to ask about CIA tapes - Yahoo! News

2007-12-15T11:03:00.000-05:00

Judge urged not to ask about CIA tapes - Yahoo! News: "The Bush administration told a federal judge it was not obligated to preserve videotapes of CIA interrogations of suspected terrorists and urged the court not to look into the tapes' destruction.

In court documents filed Friday night, government lawyers told U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy that demanding information about the tapes would interfere with current investigations by Congress and the Justice Department.

It was the first time the government had addressed the issue of the videotapes in court.

Kennedy ordered the administration in June 2005 to safeguard 'all evidence and information regarding the torture, mistreatment, and abuse of detainees now at the United States Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay.'

Five months later, the CIA destroyed the interrogation videos. The recordings involved suspected terrorists Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri"

"Move on, Nothing to see here..."

Junk Media

2007-12-14T12:36:00.000-05:00

"w00t" crowned word of year by U.S. dictionary - Yahoo! News

2007-12-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

"w00t" crowned word of year by U.S. dictionary - Yahoo! News: "Massachusetts-based Merriam-Webster Inc. said 'w00t' -- typically spelled with two zeros -- reflects a new direction in the American language led by a generation raised on video games and cell phone text-messaging."

And the dumbing-down of the American people continues...

Talking Points Memo | Waterboarding = Swimming

2007-12-12T13:41:00.000-05:00

Talking Points Memo | Waterboarding = Swimming: "GWEN IFILL: I just would like to -- but do you think that waterboarding, as I described it, constitutes torture?

SEN. KIT BOND: There are different ways of doing it. It's like swimming, freestyle, backstroke. The waterboarding could be used almost to define some of the techniques that our trainees are put through, but that's beside the point. It's not being used."

It's like swimming, when you are handcuffed and shackled, with some dude holding your head underwater, until you are nearly drowning.

The Raw Story | MSNBC examines how Bush became 'a government unto himself'

2007-12-12T13:38:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | MSNBC examines how Bush became 'a government unto himself': "Bush has issued 1100 signing statements -- almost twice as many as all previous presidents put together -- often completely reversing the intended effect of legislation. For example, when Congress voted overwhelmingly to ban torture, Bush announced that this would 'make it clear to the world that this government does not torture.' Two weeks later, he added a signing statement to the bill that allowed him to ignore it. Similarly, when a bill required the Justice Department to report to Congress on the use of the Patriot Act, Bush added a proviso that he could override this requirement any time he thought necessary."

Checks and Balances? Not in Amerika...

ABC News: Bush Candidly Discusses Quitting Whiskey

2007-12-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

ABC News: Bush Candidly Discusses Quitting Whiskey: "'I doubt I'd be standing here if I hadn't quit drinking whiskey, and beer and wine and all that,' the president disclosed Tuesday to ABC News' Martha Raddatz during an exclusive tour of the White House residence."

Ok, let's all send the moron a bottle of whiskey for Christmas then, and pray he gives in to temptation...

The Raw Story | Spy court wont release US wiretap docs

2007-12-12T10:30:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Spy court wont release US wiretap docs: "The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, in a rare on-the-record opinion, said the public has no right to view the documents because they deal with the clandestine workings of national security agencies. The American Civil Liberties Union asked the court to release the records in August. Specifically, the organization asked for the government's legal briefs and the court's opinions on the wiretapping program. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates, who sits on the national security court, refused. Releasing the documents would reveal closely guarded secrets that enemies could used to evade detection or disrupt intelligence activities, he said. Sources could be outed, targets could be tipped off and diplomatic relations could be damaged."

Interesting, even their opinions on whether or not the program is legal are guarded secrets. Where is the accountability to the public? There is none.

Truthdig - Reports - Waterboarding Our Democracy

2007-12-12T10:25:00.000-05:00

Truthdig - Reports - Waterboarding Our Democracy: "When the CIA destroyed those prisoner interrogation videotapes, was it also destroying the truth about 9/11? After all, according to the 9/11 Commission Report, the basic narrative of what happened on that day—and the definition of the enemy in this war on terror that George W. Bush launched in response to the tragedy—comes from the CIA’s account of what those prisoners told their torturers. The commission was never allowed to interview the prisoners, or speak with those who did, and was instead forced to rely on what the CIA was willing to relay."

Ah yes, we relied on the CIA for the official story... No red flags there.

The Raw Story | Intel report: Iran halted nuclear weapons work in 2003

2007-12-03T15:26:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Intel report: Iran halted nuclear weapons work in 2003: "A new US intelligence report indicates that Iran halted its nuclear weapons development program four years ago -- but the White House on Monday nevertheless urged global powers to 'turn up the pressure' on the country. Newly declassified portions of the National Intelligence Estimate find that Iran abandoned its nuclear program in the fall of 2003 and does not currently possess a nuclear weapon. The country is still enriching uranium, however, and could still develop a weapon between 2010 and 2015, according to senior intelligence officials."

Big surprise, the administration has been pushing more false intelligence.

Tasers a form of torture, says UN | The Daily Telegraph

2007-11-25T14:55:00.000-05:00

Tasers a form of torture, says UN | The Daily Telegraph: "'The use of these weapons causes acute pain, constituting a form of torture,'' the UN's Committee against Torture said.

'In certain cases, they can even cause death, as has been shown by reliable studies and recent real-life events,'' the committee of 10 experts said.

Three men, all in their early 20s, were reported to have died in the United States this week, days after a Polish man died at Vancouver airport after being Tasered by Canadian police."

The verdict is in, the UN considers Tasers torture, and therefore, US citizens are being tortured everyday. It is just too bad that the United States chooses when, and when it will not, listen to advice from the UN.

AP IMPACT: Firefighter help on terrorism - Yahoo! News

2007-11-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

AP IMPACT: Firefighter help on terrorism - Yahoo! News: "Firefighters in major cities are being trained to take on a new role as lookouts for terrorism, raising concerns of eroding their standing as American icons and infringing on people's privacy.

Unlike police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel don't need warrants to access hundreds of thousands of homes and buildings each year, putting them in a position to spot behavior that could indicate terrorist activity or planning.

But there are fears that they could lose the faith of a skeptical public by becoming the eyes of the government, looking for suspicious items such as building blueprints or bomb-making manuals or materials.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Americans have given up some of their privacy rights in an effort to prevent future strikes. The government monitors phone calls and e-mails; people who fly have their belongings searched before boarding and are limited in what they can carry; and some people have trouble traveling because their names are similar to those on terrorist watch lists.

The American Civil Liberties Union says using firefighters to gather intelligence is another step in that direction. Mike German, a former FBI agent who is now national security policy counsel to the ACLU, said the concept is dangerously close to the Bush administration's 2002 proposal to have workers with access to private homes — such as postal carriers and telephone repairmen — report suspicious behavior to the FBI.

'Americans universally abhorred that idea,' German said.

The Homeland Security Department is testing a program with the New York City fire department to share intelligence information so firefighters are better prepared when they respond to emergency calls. Homeland Security also trains the New York City fire service in how to identify material or behavior that may indicate terrorist activities. If it's successful, the government intends to expand the program to other major metropolitan areas.

As part of the program, which started last December, Homeland Security gave secret clearances to nine New York fire chiefs, according to reports obtained by The Associated Press.

'They're really doing technical inspections, and if perchance they find something like, you know, a bunch of RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) rounds in somebody's basement, I think it's a no-brainer,' said Jack Tomarchio, a senior official in Homeland Security's intelligence division. 'The police ought to know about that; the fire service ought to know about that; and potentially maybe somebody in the intelligence community should know about that.'

Even before the federal program began, New York firefighters and inspectors had been training to recognize materials and behavior the government identifies as 'signs of planning and support for terrorism.'

When going to private residences, for example, they are told to be alert for a person who is hostile, uncooperative or expressing hate or discontent with the United States; unusual chemicals or other materials that seem out of place; ammunition, firearms or weapons boxes; surveillance equipment; still and video cameras; night-vision goggles; maps, photos, blueprints; police manuals, training manuals, flight manuals; and little or no furniture other than a bed or mattress.

The trial program with Homeland Security opens a clear information-sharing channel — which did not exist before — between the fire service and Homeland Security's intelligence division.

'We're there to help people, and by discovering these type of events, we're helping people,' said New York City Fire Chief Salvatore Cassano. 'There are many things that firefighters do that other law enforcement or other agents aren't able to do." He added, 'A normal person that doesn't have this training wouldn't be looking for it.'

Cassano would not discuss specifics, but he did say that some terrorism-related information has been passed along to law enforcement since firefighters and officers began the training three years ago. 'They've had some hits,' Cassano said. 'It's working.'"

Hate or discontent for the United States? I hate what the US is now, a police state. And now we have government agents searching your house when you call 911. I have my elderly father living with me. The last time he had a stroke, I called 911, and let them in my house, because I could not get him down the stairs by myself. Do I need to reconsider that now? That is the thing, when someone is having a medical emergency, you will not think twice about letting these spies into your house. And you sure will not think about taking down anything that can be construed as anti-American. This is a DIRECT ASSAULT on the constitution. This is ABSOLUTE PROOF for those that do not believe we are a police state. This is an attack on not only the 4th amendment, that protects against unreasonable searches, but it is a direct attach on the 1st amendment, freedom of speech. Don't you dare be anti-American in your own home. This is another incantation of the THOUGHT POLICE.

The Raw Story | Honey, I doomed the universe

2007-11-22T14:32:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Honey, I doomed the universe: "'Incredible as it seems, our detection of the dark energy may have reduced the life expectancy of the universe,' said Mr. Krauss.

'We may have snatched away the possibility of long-term survival for our universe and made it more likely it will decay.'"

Not only are the United States and the Earth on the verge of spontaneous destruction, but, as it turns out, the universe may be as well. Physics is an interesting realm of science, because the truth is, in reality, we still do not understand the basic underpinnings of our universe and our lives. Much of the study is based on theories, and if something is not understood, an imaginary thing, such as dark matter or dark energy, is invented to explain the inconsistencies in the theory.

The Raw Story | Dems bill on Iraq wouldnt end war

2007-11-22T14:06:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Dems bill on Iraq wouldnt end war: "This reality — readily acknowledged by Democrats who say it's still their best shot at curbing the nearly five-year war — has drawn the ire of anti-war groups and bolstered President Bush's prediction that the United States will most likely wind up maintaining a hefty long-term presence in Iraq, much like in South Korea.

For those who want troops out, 'you've got more holes in here than Swiss cheese,' said Tom Andrews, national director of the war protest group Win Without War and a former congressman from Maine.

The Democratic proposal would order troops to begin leaving Iraq within 30 days, a requirement Bush is already on track to meet as he begins reversing this year's 30,000 troop buildup. The proposal also sets a goal of ending combat by Dec. 15, 2008.

After that, troops remaining in Iraq would be restricted to three missions: counterterrorism, training Iraqi security forces and protecting U.S. assets, including diplomats."

What a surprise, the bill will not really do anything, even if it passes. Go Democrats!

For Thanksgiving...

2007-11-22T11:57:00.001-05:00

This video is on the long side, nearly an hour, but it is well worth the watch. The speaker, Naomi Wolf, explains exactly how the country is being transformed into a fascist state. I know this, and have known this, but when someone puts it all together in such a way, I always get a renewed feeling of dread. It truly is amazing exactly how much the US, in its current state, resembles Germany before the rise of Hitler, or any other country just before a dictator took over.

Then think about the recent advice from the TSA, informing air travelers how to avoid delays: They actually advised people to pack their bags in an orderly way, to make the luggage searches easier and quicker... Welcome to the Fascist States of America...

[This is the link to the video on YouTube]

Wounded soldiers asked to return signing bonuses - The Carpetbagger Report

2007-11-20T16:36:00.000-05:00

Wounded soldiers asked to return signing bonuses - The Carpetbagger Report: "Last week, the Pentagon sent him a bill: Fox owed the government nearly $3,000 of his signing bonus.

'I tried to do my best and serve my country. I was unfortunately hurt in the process. Now they’re telling me they want their money back,' Fox said.

Look, if a soldier signed a contract, collected a signing bonus, and then quit, I can understand the military asking for the signing bonus back.

But we’re talking about troops who volunteered, served, and were seriously injured. It’s not their fault they got hurt.

How on earth is the Pentagon justified in asking for a refund?

In Jordan Fox’s case, he doesn’t have $3,000 lying around to give the government, and his injuries are such that he had to give up on his goal of becoming a police officer."

Only the government would be capable of this... I think the only thing that is worse is when the military bills soldiers for items lost or cut off them when they are shot or bombed...

That's right, support the troops.

The Raw Story | Boston cops seek invites to search homes

2007-11-18T13:33:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Boston cops seek invites to search homes: "Boston police will ask parents in high-crime areas to let detectives search their children's bedrooms for guns without warrants in a new anti-crime program.

Police believe parents are so worried their teenagers will be caught up in gun violence that they'll be willing to allow police into their homes. If the parents say no, the police will leave.

'They don't know what to do when faced with the problem of dealing with a teenage boy in possession of a firearm,' police Commissioner Edward Davis said of parents. We're giving them an option in that case.'

Davis announced the program Friday in a meeting with community leaders.

During the next two weeks, teams of three plainclothes officers assigned to schools will go to homes where they believe teens have guns and ask their parents or legal guardians for permission to search."

I hope that the residents of Boston have the courage to say no to these searches... Otherwise, it will not be long before this program spreads to other cities...

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Dollars no good for the Taj Mahal

2007-11-17T11:47:00.000-05:00

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Dollars no good for the Taj Mahal: "Foreign tourists to many of India's most famous landmarks will no longer be able to pay the entrance fee in dollars, the government says. The ruling is aimed at safeguarding tourism revenues following the recent falls in the dollar. Until now, foreign tourists to sites such at the Taj Mahal have had the option of paying in dollars or rupees. The ruling will affect nearly 120 sites of interest run by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Of these, at least 27 are World Heritage sites, including the Taj Mahal."

India is running from the dollar as well...

Al Jazeera English turns one

2007-11-17T11:36:00.000-05:00

Al Jazeera has been broadcasting in English for a year now, and it still is not offered by most American cable outlets. I guess our American propaganda outlets, especially Fox news, cannot take the competition...

BBC NEWS | UK | England | West Yorkshire | Terror police 'shot' man in coma

2007-11-17T11:28:00.000-05:00

BBC NEWS | UK | England | West Yorkshire | Terror police 'shot' man in coma: "Mr Gaubert said he was on his way to meet friends when he suffered a fit on the bus and slipped into a coma which left him slumped on his seat clutching his rucksack.

Armed police were called to the bus depot in Headingley and when he failed to respond to their challenges he was shot with the Taser.

He said as this was happening, another officer was pointing a real gun at his head. He was restrained and eventually came round in the police van.

He said it was only then that the officers realised it was a medical emergency, despite him wearing a medical tag round his neck to warn of his condition, and took him to hospital.

Mr Gaubert said he was told the police believed he looked 'Egyptian'."

And then we have this guy, who was passed out in a diabetic coma and got tasered. I am betting that he is very thankful the cops had tasers, otherwise he may have been shot to death, and for "looking" Egyptian, no less.

Video of Taser Death in Canada Sparks Probe - CommonDreams.org

2007-11-17T10:38:00.000-05:00

Video of Taser Death in Canada Sparks Probe - CommonDreams.org: "A video of a Polish man dying while being restrained with a taser by Canadian policemen sparked a diplomatic protest and controversy on Thursday over the use of stun guns. Canada’s public safety minister ordered a review of Taser stun guns one day after the release of a tourist’s video of the death of Robert Dziekanski.

The 40-year-old immigrant died on October 14 about 10 hours after he arrived at western Canada’s biggest airport here.

Dziekanski, who had traveled to Canada to live with his mother, died after a bizarre series of events that culminated in police approaching him and, in less than one minute, zapping him repeatedly with a Taser stun gun."

This is a good example of why I hate to see unnecessary use of tasers... They can and do kill people. In the recent case of Meyers at the Kerry rally, there was absolutely no reason to use the taser, when there were several cops surrounding the kid already. The police view it as a non-lethal device, so they use it more than it is really necessary. I am sure it puts a smile on their faces to see someone writhing around on the ground, in intense pain...

Dump the Dollar: Chinese State TV - Economy * US * News * Story - CNBC.com

2007-11-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

Dump the Dollar: Chinese State TV - Economy * US * News * Story - CNBC.com: "Chinese lunchtime television on Friday gave ordinary people a basic tip on how to play the currency markets: sell the dollar! A state news program, quoting unnamed 'wealth management experts,' told residents with dollar accounts on the mainland to convert their holdings into yuan or a range of other foreign currencies, including the pound and the euro."

More trouble for the failing economy of the United States...

Meanwhile, the Government just raided the Liberty Dollar offices, stealing all the gold, silver, and other metals that back their currency. Think of this as foreshadowing. During the great depression, the government seized all the gold from private citizens, and made it illegal to own gold.

Court Deals Blow to Wiretapping Case

2007-11-17T09:47:00.000-05:00

Court Deals Blow to Wiretapping Case: "A federal appeals court dealt a near-fatal blow Friday to an Islamic charity's lawsuit alleging federal investigators illegally wiretapped it, saying a key piece of evidence the charity planned to use is a protected state secret.

A top secret call log that the Treasury Department accidentally turned over to the now-defunct U.S. arm of the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation's lawyers can't be used as evidence, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.

Al-Haramain, which the U.S. government labeled a terrorist organization, alleged it had been wiretapped by the Bush administration without a warrant. But without the call log, the court said, the foundation has little proof it was wiretapped."

Sorry, you cannot use the secret evidence we accidentally turned over to you in your defense...

State secrets, secret evidence, warrantless wiretapping... Welcome to America...

The Raw Story | House to telecoms: Fight your own lawsuits

2007-11-17T09:26:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | House to telecoms: Fight your own lawsuits: "On a 227-189 vote, the House passed its FISA update, known as the RESTORE Act, which reinstates judicial oversight that was eliminated from a temporary update passed in August and pointedly does not include language granting immunity to telecommunications companies.

Thursday also saw the Senate Judiciary Committee consider companion legislation. Although an amendment offered by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) to strip an immunity provision from that bill failed on a 12-7 vote (with three Democrats voting with Republicans), the panel's chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) avoided that setback by moving to discharge from the committee only the part of the bill that did not include immunity. That vote passed along party lines.

To be sure, the fight over immunity is far from over, as activists expect Senate Republicans to try to re-insert an immunity provision during the Senate floor debate over the FISA update."

Wow, I am surprised that the congress made it that far. There is still a good chance, however, that immunity will still make it into the bill...

Iran wants Western apology after IAEA report | International | Reuters

2007-11-16T18:48:00.000-05:00

Iran wants Western apology after IAEA report | International | Reuters: "Iran called on its Western foes on Friday to apologize to the Islamic Republic after the release of a U.N. nuclear agency report which Tehran said showed it had been telling the truth about its atomic plans, according to state media.

The United States, which accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear bombs, said Thursday's report showed Tehran still defying the international community and that Washington would proceed with allies to draft broader United Nations sanctions against it."

In other words, the Bush administration really does not care if Iran's nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, it is just a great excuse to bomb the hell out of them. Forget the apology, Iran, only bunker-busters are coming your way...

The Raw Story | Senate blocks Iraq war money

2007-11-16T18:28:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Senate blocks Iraq war money: "The Senate on Friday blocked a Democratic proposal to pay for the Iraq war but require that troops start coming home. The 53-45 vote was seven votes short of the 60 needed to advance. It came minutes after the Senate rejected a Republican proposal to pay for the Iraq war without strings attached. The Republican measure failed 45-53, 15 short of the number of votes needed to go forward."

Big surprise, the impotent Democrats failed to get their non-binding withdrawal version of the bill through the senate. I guess the only real surprise is that the withdrawal version got more votes than the non-withdrawal version. Too bad it will never make it past the king.

The Raw Story | US, Israel refuse to cooperate with inquest into Syria strike

2007-11-15T10:11:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | US, Israel refuse to cooperate with inquest into Syria strike: "The International Atomic Energy Agency - the United Nations nuclear watchdog - has not been able to conduct an investigation into the events surrounding the Sept. 6 Israeli bombing of a Syrian military installation because neither the Bush administration nor Israel are cooperating.

A diplomatic source close to the Vienna based IAEA told Raw Story that both the United States and Israel have been approached by the organization requesting supporting evidence of a nuclear reactor which media sources have cited, based on anonymous sources in both governments, as the reason for the Israeli strike.

The source also explained that the satellite footage, which the IAEA obtained through commercial channels for lack of any “credible evidence,” does not show a nuclear reactor in the early construction phase.

Another source, close to the IAEA, who wished to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the topic, told RAW STORY last week that based on satellite imagery, evidence that 'it was nuclear related is shaky' and pointed out that even basic security for such a facility - such as 'security fences' - is missing."

You have to wonder what they are hiding here... A prelude to war?

CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker New Attorney General opposes changes to wiretap law «

2007-11-15T09:47:00.000-05:00

CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker New Attorney General opposes changes to wiretap law «: "In his second day on the job, Attorney General Michael Mukasey leaped into the political fray, telling a key Democratic senator he opposes his electronic surveillance plan and would recommend the president veto it if it is passed.

In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., on the eve of crucial committee votes to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), Mukasey was adamant in opposing Leahy's plan for changing the law."

Big surprise, Mukasey supports the administration's spying program... Thanks again Democrats for confirming this guy who cannot decide if waterboarding is torture(can you say red flag?). It is too bad the power to impeach lies solely in the congress, because the entire administration, congress included, should be impeached, found guilty, and thrown in jail. Congress has failed again, and they will continue to fail us when the FISA and the war funding bills come up for a vote. But then again, that is their plan, now isn't it? Show enough opposition to the administration to say "we tried."

Harris County's adjusted votes stir security worry | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

2007-11-14T11:51:00.000-05:00

Harris County's adjusted votes stir security worry | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "Behrman said he was shocked when he saw German use a series of passwords and an 'encryption key' — a series of numbers on a nail file-size computer memory storage device — to reach a computer program that said 'Adjustment.'

'A hundred percent of precincts reporting, and everything had been distributed to the press,' he said. 'Then and only then did I see how they were going to do this, and frankly I never thought it was possible.

'Basically it turns out, without regard to any ballots that have been cast, you can enter arbitrary numbers in there and report them out in such a way that, unless you go back to these giant (computer) logs and interpret the logs, you wouldn't know it has been done.'"

Yeah, I just cannot wait until the presidential "election." I am sure they will have all the problems fixed by then...

AlterNet: Health and Wellness: Moody Is the New Bipolar

2007-11-14T11:26:00.000-05:00

AlterNet: Health and Wellness: Moody Is the New Bipolar: "The reality is that when patients report Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft as 'working,' it is not because these drugs are correcting any kind of chemical imbalance. These drugs can temporarily 'take the edge off' -- as is the case with many psychotropic drugs, legal or illegal. But for a significant number of people, these drugs produce extremely unpleasant side effects, while for many others, these drugs have little or no effect. So, overall, the difference in effectiveness between antidepressants and a sugar-pill placebo is 'clinically negligible.' This was the conclusion of University of Connecticut professor of psychology Irving Kirsch, who used the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to 47 antidepressant studies sponsored by drug companies on Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor, Celexa, and Serzone that had been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (but many of which had not been published). Kirsch discovered that in the majority of the trials, the antidepressant failed to outperform a sugar-pill placebo."

A very good article about the farce we call "Mental Health Care." Millions of people are getting doped up with drugs that are no better than a sugar pill, and the pharmaceutical industries, Government policy makers, and metal health "professionals" are laughing all the way to the bank... Meanwhile, they are working feverishly to manufacture new diseases and drugs to sell to the unwitting public.

When did we become like Syria? | Salon.com

2007-11-14T11:16:00.000-05:00

When did we become like Syria? | Salon.com: "Arar's story is chilling. A Syrian-born Canadian citizen and high-tech worker, Arar was detained in 2002 at JFK Airport while he was on his way back to Canada after a vacation. He was questioned about alleged links to al-Qaida. He was denied access to counsel and access to a court. Twelve days later he was sent in chains and shackles to Syria. There he was tortured for nearly a year and coerced into making a false confession, before being released after the tireless campaigning of his wife.

Under pressure from Canadian human rights organizations and citizens, Canada announced a commission of inquiry into Arar's case, which cleared Arar of all terrorism allegations. Now Arar seeks damages from the U.S. government for its role.

The story is already disturbing, surreal, Kafkaesque. It also left me with this realization: The sharp line I had drawn as a child -- between what could happen to a person under a dictatorship like Syria's and what could never happen to a person under a constitutional democracy like that of the U.S. -- seemed to be disappearing."

This account is written by a Syrian-American... Very telling.

Police kill unarmed man who was holding hairbrush - CNN.com

2007-11-13T13:31:00.000-05:00

Police kill unarmed man who was holding hairbrush - CNN.com: "After officers arrived at the mother's Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment, the teen refused to stop as he approached police with a black object in his hand hidden under his shirt, Browne said. Police then fired 20 shots at the teen, killing him, said Browne. But he said Coppin was found unarmed and only carrying a black hairbrush."

To protect and serve. With our gung-ho, militarized police in this nation, you must be absolutely sure that you have nothing in your hands and make no sudden moves as the cops are barking orders at you. Otherwise, you will end up looking like swiss cheese before you can get two words out of your mouth...

Vets' Suicide Rate "Stunning", Armen Keteyian: Analysis Reveals What Some Are Calling "Hidden Epidemic" - CBS News

2007-11-13T13:18:00.000-05:00

Vets' Suicide Rate "Stunning", Armen Keteyian: Analysis Reveals What Some Are Calling "Hidden Epidemic" - CBS News: "The five-month CBS News probe, based upon a detailed analysis of data obtained from death records from 2004 and 2005, found that veterans were more than twice as likely to commit suicide in 2005 as non-vets.

A recent Veteran Affairs Department estimate says some 5,000 ex-servicemen and women will commit suicide this year, largely as a result of mental health issues, and Keteyian says, 'Our numbers are much higher than that, overall.'

He says the numbers in the CBS News study shocked everyone from Sen. Patty Murray (D, Wash.) to veterans' rights advocate Paul Sullivan."

Disgusting... How much is oil worth? Even if our soldiers make it back to the states with no physical injuries, they may have serious mental injuries that will last forever.

Here is a very sad story from the LA Times about the way the war changed one soldier's life...

Kelpie Wilson | Energy Bill to Sacrifice Renewables

2007-11-13T12:56:00.000-05:00

Kelpie Wilson | Energy Bill to Sacrifice Renewables: "Last Thursday, Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid said that they would jettison the renewable energy provisions in both the House and Senate versions of the 2007 energy bill in the interest of passing a bill before the Thanksgiving recess begins on November 17."

Another vacation is coming, and the democrats are already starting to fold to the republicans. Can't wait to see what happens to the FISA bill over this holiday season. Continued domestic spying, with full immunity for the telecoms will surely be the result...

When Flags Attack...

2007-11-13T12:10:00.000-05:00

You could call this video symbolic...

The Raw Story | Hitler's globe goes under hammer, 62 years on

2007-11-12T14:03:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Hitler's globe goes under hammer, 62 years on: "For more than 60 years, one of Adolf Hitler's most prized possessions has been gathering dust in the attic of John Barsamian's home in a sleepy suburb overlooking San Francisco Bay. On Tuesday, however, Barsamian will part company with the unique World War II relic taken from Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest' retreat 62 years ago, a desktop globe upon which the Fuhrer may well have once plotted world domination."

Sounds like the perfect present for either Bush or Cheney...

The Raw Story | Intel official: Say goodbye to privacy

2007-11-12T13:33:00.000-05:00

The Raw Story | Intel official: Say goodbye to privacy: "As Congress debates new rules for government eavesdropping, a top intelligence official says it is time that people in the United States changed their definition of privacy. Privacy no longer can mean anonymity, says Donald Kerr, the principal deputy director of national intelligence. Instead, it should mean that government and businesses properly safeguards people's private communications and financial information."

Yes, they already have a great track record of safeguarding our information... Forget all of the spying, just think about what happens when some moron from some big corporation leaves a laptop in plain view in their car... Thousands of social security numbers stolen... Yes, let's trust the government and the corporations with our privacy...

U.S. Digs In to Guard Iraq Oil Exports - WSJ.com

2007-11-12T12:33:00.000-05:00

U.S. Digs In to Guard Iraq Oil Exports - WSJ.com: "KHAWR AL AMAYA OIL TERMINAL, Iraq -- The U.S. Navy is building a military installation atop this petroleum-export platform as the U.S. establishes a more lasting military mission in the oil-rich north Persian Gulf."

Sure, the Iraq war is not about the oil... Meanwhile we are turning the oil terminal into a U.S. military base...

TPMmuckraker | Talking Points Memo | U.S. Plan Envisioned Nuking Iran, Syria, Libya

2007-11-06T15:54:00.000-05:00

TPMmuckraker | Talking Points Memo | U.S. Plan Envisioned Nuking Iran, Syria, Libya: "Despite years of denials, a secret planning document issued by the U.S. military's nuclear-weapons command in 2003 ordered preparations for nuclear strikes on countries seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction, including Iran, Saddam Hussein-era Iraq, Libya and Syria."

You want nukes? We'll show you what nukes can do...

I guess oil is oil, irradiated or not...

FBI reviewing Tasering of sleeping man; no charges file - News - PennLive.com

2007-11-05T11:51:00.000-05:00

FBI reviewing Tasering of sleeping man; no charges file - News - PennLive.com: "Two North Braddock police officers won't face criminal charges for Tasering a man who was asleep at home. But the FBI will review the incident for possible civil rights violations.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. says county police determined Officers Gerard Kraly and Lukas Laeuricia (loo-REE'-see-uh) didn't commit a crime when they Tasered Shawn Hicks, who was sleeping on his couch. Police came to Hicks home because they were alerted by a silent security alarm at his home about 2 a.m.

Hicks says the officers Tasered him again after he woke up and showed them ID to prove he lived at the home. Hicks' attorney says he will pursue civil action."

You are not even safe from the police when sleeping in your own home...

No email privacy rights under Constitution, US gov claims [printer-friendly] | The Register

2007-11-05T11:48:00.000-05:00

No email privacy rights under Constitution, US gov claims| The Register: "This appears to be more than a mere argument in support of the constitutionality of a Congressional email privacy and access scheme. It represents what may be the fundamental governmental position on Constitutional email and electronic privacy - that there isn't any. What is important in this case is not the ultimate resolution of that narrow issue, but the position that the United States government is taking on the entire issue of electronic privacy. That position, if accepted, may mean that the government can read anybody's email at any time without a warrant."

Just lovely. I am sure the court will be swayed to the government's side...

Glenn Greenwald - Political Blogs and Opinions - Salon

2007-11-05T10:49:00.000-05:00

Glenn Greenwald - Political Blogs and Opinions - Salon: "Only America-hating traitors believe in due process for journalists In 2001, Sami al-Haj was working as a camerman for Al Jazeera when he was detained by the U.S. military in Afghanistan and then transferred to Guantanamo, where he has remained for the last six years without ever being accused of any involvement in terrorism. Instead, as Washington Monthly editor Rachel Morris detailed in her superb cover story in Columbia Journalism Review a few months ago, virtually all of al-Haj's interrogations focused on Al Jazeera and his detention was fueled at least in part by the Bush administration's contempt for Al Jazeera's reporting. I wrote about Morris' story and al-Haj's plight here.

For obvious reasons, it is highly disturbing that the U.S. Government imprisons journalists for years without bothering to charge them with any crime. The U.S. is doing the same with A.P. photojournalist Bilal Hussein. These aren't 'prisoners of war' captured fighting on a battlefield, but rather, accredited journalists taking pictures and filming events that the U.S. Government dislikes."

Think of this case, and the other journalists locked up in GitMo, as we look in shock at what is going on in Pakistan, ignorantly thinking that it cannot happen here. Halliburton has already built the detention camps in the southern US, our police are militarized and ready to roll, the Posse Commitus act has been gutted to allow soldiers on our streets, habeas corpus has been nearly eliminated, and Bush already has given himself the ability to very easily declare martial law. I see Pakistan as an eerie vision of what may come to pass here.

And I am not the only one....

Martial Law in Pakistan: Could it Happen Here?

500 Pakistani activists arrested - Focus on Pakistan - MSNBC.com

2007-11-04T22:32:00.000-05:00

500 Pakistani activists arrested - Focus on Pakistan - MSNBC.com: "ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Police rounded up hundreds of opposition leaders and rights activists Sunday after Pakistan’s military ruler suspended the constitution, ousted the top judge and deployed troops to fight what he called rising Islamic extremism."

This is a bad turn for the middle east. How this works out could mean the difference between a semi-stable middle east (unlikely) or World War 3. Keep in mind that Pakistan has the only nuclear weapons in the middle east.

My Way News - Bush Tells Dems War Denial Is Dangerous

2007-11-01T21:06:00.000-04:00

My Way News - Bush Tells Dems War Denial Is Dangerous: "President Bush compared Congress' Democratic leaders Thursday to people who ignored the rise of Lenin and Hitler early in the last century, saying 'the world paid a terrible price' then and risks similar consequences for inaction today.

Bush accused Congress of stalling important pieces of the fight to prevent new terrorist attacks by: dragging out and possibly jeopardizing confirmation of Michael Mukasey as attorney general, a key part of his national security team; failing to act on a bill governing eavesdropping on terrorist suspects; and moving too slowly to approve spending measures for the Iraq war, Pentagon and veterans programs."

WOW!!! Right on Bush, congress is ignoring the rise of a Hitler-like person, as you re-create America to resemble the 4th Reich. Wiretapping, torture, kidnapping, punishment of political enemies, quelling of public dissent, and let's not forget imperialism.

The Raw Story | US courts routinely shackle teens accused of minor crimes

2007-11-01T20:02:00.000-04:00

The Raw Story | US courts routinely shackle teens accused of minor crimes: "Many US juvenile courts routinely shackle teens accused of minor crimes and deny them adequate access to a lawyer, a study released Wednesday has found.

Most teens in the study did not get to meet with a lawyer before a hearing to determine whether they should be held in jail prior to trial. They also rarely got to adequately discuss their case with a lawyer prior to the trial date.

Anywhere from 70 to 100 percent of the teens ended up pleading guilty, many at their first court appearance."

Somehow this does not surprise me at all. It was not that long ago that the courts determined that a case cannot be thrown out simply because the "Miranda rights" were not read. This leads me to believe that the minors probably did not even know what their rights were, and even if they did, the totalitarian way things are done now probably scared the kids into doing whatever was told to them, without question.

From the Desk of Donald Rumsfeld . . . - washingtonpost.com

2007-11-01T12:24:00.000-04:00

From the Desk of Donald Rumsfeld . . . - washingtonpost.com: "In a series of internal musings and memos to his staff, then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld argued that Muslims avoid 'physical labor' and wrote of the need to 'keep elevating the threat,' 'link Iraq to Iran' and develop 'bumper sticker statements' to rally public support for an increasingly unpopular war.

The memos, often referred to as 'snowflakes,' shed light on Rumsfeld's brusque management style and on his efforts to address key challenges during his tenure as Pentagon chief. Spanning from 2002 to shortly after his resignation following the 2006 congressional elections, a sampling of his trademark missives obtained yesterday reveals a defense secretary disdainful of media criticism and driven to reshape public opinion of the Iraq war.

Rumsfeld, whose sometimes abrasive approach often alienated other Cabinet members and White House staff members, produced 20 to 60 snowflakes a day and regularly poured out his thoughts in writing as the basis for developing policy, aides said. The memos are not classified but are marked 'for official use only.'

In a 2004 memo on the deteriorating situation in Iraq, Rumsfeld concluded that the challenges there are 'not unusual.' Pessimistic news reports -- 'our publics risk falling prey to the argument that all is lost' -- simply result from the wrong standards being applied, he wrote in one of the memos obtained by The Washington Post.

Under siege in April 2006, when a series of retired generals denounced him and called for his resignation in newspaper op-ed pieces, Rumsfeld produced a memo after a conference call with military analysts. 'Talk about Somalia, the Philippines, etc. Make the American people realize they are surrounded in the world by violent extremists,' he wrote.

People will 'rally' to sacrifice, he noted after the meeting. 'They are looking for leadership. Sacrifice = Victory.'"

Here we have prime examples of the propaganda the administration uses to try and sway the people. Long before Bushco started openly linking Iran to Iraq violence, Rummy was ordering such evidence to be "found." Sounds a lot like the evidence that was "found" before we attacked Iraq, does it not?

SACRIFICE = VICTORY

Nov. 1 - Begin the Consumer Parade

2007-11-01T11:02:00.000-04:00

Halloween is over...

Merry Xmas... Corporate America thanks you in advance... (And so does China)

Officials: Boy With Matches Started Fire - Politics on The Huffington Post

2007-10-31T11:31:00.000-04:00

Officials: Boy With Matches Started Fire - Politics on The Huffington Post: "Officials blamed a wildfire that consumed more than 38,000 acres and destroyed 21 homes last week on a boy playing with matches, and said they would ask a prosecutor to consider the case. The boy, whose name and age were not released, admitted to sparking the fire on Oct. 21, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Diane Hecht said Tuesday. Ferocious winds helped it quickly spread. 'He admitted to playing with matches and accidentally starting the fire,' Hecht said in a statement."

Well, FOX news, it was not Al Qaeda after all. Just a little boy who obviously ignored Smokey's advice. Then again, who knows, perhaps FOX will find (aka invent) some evidence that shows the boy regularly went to extremist mosques and discussed world domination with other little kids in their weekly sandbox meetings.

Free Speech? Probable Cause for Arrest?

2007-10-31T11:04:00.000-04:00

And you thought you had free speech in America, and that there must be probable cause to arrest you? Think again. Here is another example of the police arresting peaceful protesters, and yet another example of the police fabricating charges and altering police reports in order to justify the arrests. Two words - Police State. Video from Hightower Lowdown.

UN: Try or Release Enemy Combatants - CommonDreams.org

2007-10-30T23:00:00.000-04:00

UN: Try or Release Enemy Combatants - CommonDreams.org: "UNITED NATIONS - A U.N. human rights expert is calling on the United States to prosecute or release suspects detained as 'unlawful enemy combatants' and to move quickly to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.

Martin Scheinin, the U.N.’s independent investigator on human rights in the fight against terrorism, said in a report released Monday that he’s concerned about U.S. detention practices, military courts and interrogation techniques.

He urged the U.S. government to end the CIA practice of extraordinary rendition, in which terrorism suspects are taken to foreign countries for interrogation.

Scheinin said he was also concerned about what he termed 'enhanced interrogation techniques reportedly used by the CIA,' saying that under international law 'there are no circumstances in which cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment may be justified.'

The U.S. military defended the current process. 'Unlawful enemy combatants held at Guantanamo are afforded more due process than any other captured enemy fighters in the history of warfare,' U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon, a Defense Department spokesman on Guantanamo, told The Associated Press. 'We will enforce the law as spelled out in the Military Commissions Act of 2006.'"

The Administration will continue to ignore the U.N., while it expects other countries to follow through with any U.N. recommendations. Another example of the rampant hypocrisy in the white house.

Think Progress » Bush: ‘I Know I Would Respond’ If Iran Were To Attack Israel

2007-10-30T22:29:00.000-04:00

Think Progress » Bush: ‘I Know I Would Respond’ If Iran Were To Attack Israel: "Before his press conference today, President Bush met exclusively with a group of GOP congressional leaders. According to Fox News, which spoke with some of the members at that discussion, Bush unequivocally promised that he would attack Iran if Iran 'were ever to attack Israel.'"

President Bush must have heard about the poll favoring the bombing of Iran, as he is getting bolder with his statements. Here comes the next quagmire....