The Raw Story | US/E.U. plan to database airline passengers' personal information raises deep privacy concerns

The Raw Story | US/E.U. plan to database airline passengers' personal information raises deep privacy concerns: "In addition to data such as name, address, flight itineraries, and credit card information, the United States will now database more intimate details about passengers as provided by airlines, such as race, political opinions, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation."

This is completely outrageous. According to the article, the information will be compiled on all inbound travelers, so I would suspect that if an American were to travel out of the country, the information would be compiled before reentry. All of the details are scary, but I think the most telling is the fact that they will be gathering political opinions.

Rowe Arrested Despite Honorable Discharge Papers

Rowe Arrested Despite Honorable Discharge Papers: "Korey Rowe, the Afghanistan and Iraq combat veteran and producer of Loose Change, who was arrested on Monday under charges of desertion, presented his honorable discharge papers to the arresting officers and yet was grabbed after a sophisticated operation where police staked out his house from the woods and cut his phone lines."

The Gestapo must not like his film that is against the official story of 9/11. Amazing.

CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Flag-defiling charge ends in fight, arrests

CITIZEN-TIMES.com: Flag-defiling charge ends in fight, arrests: "State law prohibits anyone from knowingly mutilating, defiling, defacing or trampling the U.S. or North Carolina flags. Lt. Randy Sorrells of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said the Kuhns desecrated the flag by pinning signs to it, not by flying it upside down.

An upside-down flag typically is flown as a distress signal. The Kuhns said they flew it this way not out of disrespect but to symbolize the state of the country.

Deborah Kuhn said the signs pinned to the flag included an explanation on the meaning of an upside-down flag and asked to “help our country.” One of the signs was a photo of President Bush with “Out Now” written on it, they said."

Sure, this is not a political issue... Don't cops, and neighbors, have anything better to do with their time?

The Raw Story | Romney and Giuliani have yet to agree to YouTube debate

The Raw Story | Romney and Giuliani have yet to agree to YouTube debate: "Romney told a New Hampshire paper he's not a fan of the CNN/YouTube format.

'Referring to the video of a snowman asking the Democratic candidates about global warming, Romney quipped, 'I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman.''

Roughly 400 video questions have been upload to the popular video-sharing site."

I am not a fan of the debate format either. The idea is good up to the point that CNN cherry-picks the videos to be shown. I say they should be voted on by the YouTube users, and CNN should display them accordingly. But, anyway, it just goes to show that Giuliani and Romney are not open to answering questions from the public, only the canned questions that a traditional debate would bring to the table.

Bush appoints top industry lobbyist as counselor | Press Esc

Bush appoints top industry lobbyist as counselor | Press Esc: "President Bush today appointed a top industry lobbyist who lobbied on behalf of America's biggest businesses and interest groups as his counselor, replacing Dan Bartlett who left the White House recently.

DaimlerChrysler, Microsoft, PricewaterhouseCoopers, SBC Communications, TysonFoods, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Viacom are just some of the clients of Ed Gillespie, who served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) between 2003 and 2005."

Politics/business as usual... All of the politicians in Washington are simply corporate slaves... We should rename our country to the United Corporations of America.

Gingrich Rips ‘Dysfunctional’ Administration : TruthEra.com - Uncover the Truth

Gingrich Rips ‘Dysfunctional’ Administration : TruthEra.com - Uncover the Truth: "Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who is considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, said Sunday that President George W. Bush is leading an administration that “is not functioning. It’s not getting the job done.”"

Oh yes, and Newt Gingrich would be so much better, I am sure. A large portion of his own party cannot stand him. And let's not forget his troubled ethics and the extra-marital affair he had while Clinton was undergoing impeachment hearings for his affair. (Wikipedia)