Dec 2nd, 2011
It's total bullshit...
Friday, December 2, 2011
Journalist Beaten, Arrested & Then... Charged With A Crime
Dec 2nd, 2011
Yes, kids, this happened. In the clip below, you will see professional photo journalist Tyson Zoltan Heder thrown down, for no apparent reason, harder than the average NFL player, by the LAPD, while he was covering the "eviction" of that city's Occupation. What happens next, as he rises to his feet and begins demanding the name of the assaulting officer, is all too typical... total pile on and arrest. It gets even better, though. Mr. Heder has been charged with assault. Yup. Just look at all the assault he is "guilty" of perpetrating.
Yes, kids, this happened. In the clip below, you will see professional photo journalist Tyson Zoltan Heder thrown down, for no apparent reason, harder than the average NFL player, by the LAPD, while he was covering the "eviction" of that city's Occupation. What happens next, as he rises to his feet and begins demanding the name of the assaulting officer, is all too typical... total pile on and arrest. It gets even better, though. Mr. Heder has been charged with assault. Yup. Just look at all the assault he is "guilty" of perpetrating.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
S1867 - An Absurd Addendum
Dec 1st, 2011
The NY Times reports:
"After a passionate debate over a detainee-related provision in a major defense bill, the lawmakers decided not to make clearer the current law about the rights of Americans suspected of being terrorists. Instead, they voted 99 to 1 to say the bill does not affect “existing law” about people arrested inside the United States.
“We make clear that whatever the law is, it is unaffected by this language in our bill,” said Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who helped shape the detainee-related sections of the bill with Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee."
Now, let me state, for the record, that this should fool no one. Unfortunately, it already seems to have done just that. Andrew Sullivan writes, "The law remains, mercifully, as it was."
Excuse me, but that's not exactly accurate. The law is, for the time being, as it was for the simple reason that this bill hasn't been signed into law. Let's be very clear here; this only muddies the water further. The Senate essentially passed a resolution stipulating that S1867 doesn't, in fact, say what it quite clearly says.
This is bullshit. That Sullivan would suggest breathing easier is nuts.
The NY Times reports:
"After a passionate debate over a detainee-related provision in a major defense bill, the lawmakers decided not to make clearer the current law about the rights of Americans suspected of being terrorists. Instead, they voted 99 to 1 to say the bill does not affect “existing law” about people arrested inside the United States.
“We make clear that whatever the law is, it is unaffected by this language in our bill,” said Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who helped shape the detainee-related sections of the bill with Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee."
Now, let me state, for the record, that this should fool no one. Unfortunately, it already seems to have done just that. Andrew Sullivan writes, "The law remains, mercifully, as it was."
Excuse me, but that's not exactly accurate. The law is, for the time being, as it was for the simple reason that this bill hasn't been signed into law. Let's be very clear here; this only muddies the water further. The Senate essentially passed a resolution stipulating that S1867 doesn't, in fact, say what it quite clearly says.
This is bullshit. That Sullivan would suggest breathing easier is nuts.
Only Nine?
Dec 1st, 2011
Green Bay Progressive, doing a roundup of PolitiFact ratings, presents nine reasons not to trust Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
Still... only nine?
Green Bay Progressive, doing a roundup of PolitiFact ratings, presents nine reasons not to trust Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
Still... only nine?
The Looming GOP Tax Hike
Dec 1st, 2011
Well, it's filibuster time again.
Politico reports:
"The Senate blocked a measure Thursday night that would expand the current payroll tax holiday and pay for it by a surtax on millionaires.
With a 51-49 vote, the Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward on the payroll tax cut bill favored by Democrats – legislation that likely never had a chance because of the GOP’s opposition to the additional tax on the rich."
Well, it's filibuster time again.
Politico reports:
"The Senate blocked a measure Thursday night that would expand the current payroll tax holiday and pay for it by a surtax on millionaires.
With a 51-49 vote, the Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward on the payroll tax cut bill favored by Democrats – legislation that likely never had a chance because of the GOP’s opposition to the additional tax on the rich."
Yes, there is a competing Republican plan. That plan is also certifiable nonsense and is beneath discussion. It is worth noting that Republicans are only following the lead of their true master, Grover Norquist...
ThinkProgress reports:
"Norquist met with Republican members today to let them know that opposing the extension of the payroll tax cut — which would provide many families an extra $1,000 a year — would not amount to supporting a tax increase, National Journal’s Billy House reported today."
ThinkProgress reports:
"Norquist met with Republican members today to let them know that opposing the extension of the payroll tax cut — which would provide many families an extra $1,000 a year — would not amount to supporting a tax increase, National Journal’s Billy House reported today."
Remember, over the course of the last year Norquist has been quite clear:
Allowing this tax credit to expire is not a tax increase.
Allowing the top quintile rates under the still effective Bush 2 policies to expire is a tax increase.
In other news, down is up if Norquist says it is, so there.
By the way, should the credit not be extended, well over $250 BILLION dollars will be taken out of the demand economy, potentially dropping GDP growth next year by as much as .5% and costing our country 400 thousand jobs.
Oh well.
S1867 - Assaulting Liberty & Codifying Permawar
Dec 1st, 2011
UPDATE: 8:45PM CST - The bill has passed the Senate with the Levin/Mccain provisions intact
A short time ago, a second attempt to counter a dramatic expansion of military power over U.S. citizens here at home was rebuffed. An amendment to the contentious National Defense Appropriations Act (S 1867) proposed by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) failed in a 45 to 55 vote. The threat to long established freedoms continues.
As I wrote earlier this week, when the the first effort to block this un-Constitutional expansion of power failed, there were other proposals to do so. I also wrote that they were no more likely to succeed. With today's renewed fighting, it's time to look this arch redefinition of our system squarely in the eye.
UPDATE: 8:45PM CST - The bill has passed the Senate with the Levin/Mccain provisions intact
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| Image via |
As I wrote earlier this week, when the the first effort to block this un-Constitutional expansion of power failed, there were other proposals to do so. I also wrote that they were no more likely to succeed. With today's renewed fighting, it's time to look this arch redefinition of our system squarely in the eye.
Some VERY NSFW Advice For Herman Cain
Dec 1st, 2011
No, we mean it. If you put this on at work, with the volume on, you're probably going home with your stuff in a box.
No, we mean it. If you put this on at work, with the volume on, you're probably going home with your stuff in a box.
Colbert Takes On Siri
Dec 1st, 2011
By now, you have likely heard that the very popular iPhone app, Siri, seems to have some some interesting social engineering woven into its code. Well, Stephen Colbert has given it the treatment, so to speak...
By now, you have likely heard that the very popular iPhone app, Siri, seems to have some some interesting social engineering woven into its code. Well, Stephen Colbert has given it the treatment, so to speak...
The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
Bailing Out The Euro?
Dec 1st, 2011
It is certainly beginning to look that way. RT reports:
"The Obama administration always denied such speculations. But after a Monday meeting this week with the two top European officials, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, US President Barack Obama said the European debt crisis is of“huge importance”to the United States, and that Americais“ready to do our part”in keeping the economy overseas afloat.
No further details of what he meant by"our part"were offered — probably because any attempt by the administration to hand out taxpayers' money to overseas banks would meet furious opposition in Congress and across the country.
But only two days later, the Fed, which is not accountable neither to Congress nor . . . basically anybody else, announced this deal.
Under the agreement, the FED lends dollars to the ECB, which has to transfer the money to European banks. Now it will be two times cheaper: the central banks must now pay the Fed a private-sector overnight lending rate plus 0.5 percentage point; they previously paid plus 1 percentage point. And there's no doubt that European banks that lost money on junk debt obligations of European governments will line up for almost free American cash."
Yes, this seems remarkably bad. That said, we've allowed the globalists to create so interwoven a collection weaknesses that we really might not have a choice.
It is certainly beginning to look that way. RT reports:
"The Obama administration always denied such speculations. But after a Monday meeting this week with the two top European officials, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, US President Barack Obama said the European debt crisis is of“huge importance”to the United States, and that Americais“ready to do our part”in keeping the economy overseas afloat.
No further details of what he meant by"our part"were offered — probably because any attempt by the administration to hand out taxpayers' money to overseas banks would meet furious opposition in Congress and across the country.
But only two days later, the Fed, which is not accountable neither to Congress nor . . . basically anybody else, announced this deal.
Under the agreement, the FED lends dollars to the ECB, which has to transfer the money to European banks. Now it will be two times cheaper: the central banks must now pay the Fed a private-sector overnight lending rate plus 0.5 percentage point; they previously paid plus 1 percentage point. And there's no doubt that European banks that lost money on junk debt obligations of European governments will line up for almost free American cash."
Yes, this seems remarkably bad. That said, we've allowed the globalists to create so interwoven a collection weaknesses that we really might not have a choice.
Bad Analogies...
Dec 1st, 2011
Here is a delightful collection of truly terrible analogies written by high school students. Some examples:
"He was as tall as a 6′3″ tree."
"She grew on him like she was a colony of E. coli and he was room-temperature Canadian beef."
"Her lips were red and full, like tubes of blood drawn by an inattentive phlebotomist."
Here is a delightful collection of truly terrible analogies written by high school students. Some examples:
"He was as tall as a 6′3″ tree."
"She grew on him like she was a colony of E. coli and he was room-temperature Canadian beef."
"Her lips were red and full, like tubes of blood drawn by an inattentive phlebotomist."
The Push To Repeal Citizen's United
Dec 1st, 2011
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MASS) and John Bonifaz of Free Speech For People appeared on the Dylan Ratigan Show recently to promote a Constitutional amendment designed to repeal the Citizen's United decision. I support this but, let's be honest, amending the Constitution is a serious long-shot.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MASS) and John Bonifaz of Free Speech For People appeared on the Dylan Ratigan Show recently to promote a Constitutional amendment designed to repeal the Citizen's United decision. I support this but, let's be honest, amending the Constitution is a serious long-shot.
Bachmann Watch - Iranian Embassy Edition
Dec 1st, 2011
Despite the fact that we have embassy in Tehran, much less formal relations of any kind in over 3 decades, candidate Bachmann has declared that she will close said embassy. So there...
Her team is doing its best to spin this as an incidence of misreporting, stipulating that Rep. Bachmann was speaking in a "hypothetical" way. The problem with that is we now have the exact quote. While discussin England's decision to pull out its diplomatic team following recent student violence dirtected at their embassy, Bachmann said, "That’s exactly what I would do [if I were president]. We wouldn’t have an embassy in Iran. I wouldn’t allow that to be there."
Coverage of this very amazing gaffe is HERE, HERE and HERE.
Note to the GOP... Jon Huntsman is a very intelligent man and actually knows some stuff. Just sayin'.
Despite the fact that we have embassy in Tehran, much less formal relations of any kind in over 3 decades, candidate Bachmann has declared that she will close said embassy. So there...
Her team is doing its best to spin this as an incidence of misreporting, stipulating that Rep. Bachmann was speaking in a "hypothetical" way. The problem with that is we now have the exact quote. While discussin England's decision to pull out its diplomatic team following recent student violence dirtected at their embassy, Bachmann said, "That’s exactly what I would do [if I were president]. We wouldn’t have an embassy in Iran. I wouldn’t allow that to be there."
Coverage of this very amazing gaffe is HERE, HERE and HERE.
Note to the GOP... Jon Huntsman is a very intelligent man and actually knows some stuff. Just sayin'.
Romney Watch - Immigration Confusion Edition
Dec 1st, 2011
In the (still) fairly friendly confines of a Fox News interview, Romney simply can't make a coherent argument on this red button issue.
Newt Watch - Torture Edition
Dec 1st, 2011
A few days ago, Newt Gingrich assured his followers that, as President, he would torture. To great applause, he declared that "waterboarding is by every technical rule not torture." Watch the clip below. It is a typically greasy appearance by Newt, full of red meat about a "ticking time bomb" scenario and complete with a dig at the ACLU.
Ben Arbruster fires back:
"Not only is the so-called “ticking time bomb” scenario Gingrich refers to a red herring, waterboarding actually is illegal under international law because it is considered a torture technique. Last year, the U.N.’s Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez said waterboarding is “immoral and illegal,” and his predecessor agrees."
Sullivan is justifiably enraged:
"The problem is not caprice. The problem is torture. Waterboarding by every conceivable rule is torture. No court has ever found otherwise in any country that adheres to the Geneva Conventions or the UN Coinvention on Torture signed by Ronald Reagan. Several federal court opinions define waterboarding as torture. The US government executed Japanese military leaders following World War II for waterboarding. It was judged torture in the 1926 Mississippi Supreme Court case, which Gingrich as a "historian" should know by now. It is featured in Cambodia's Museum of Torture to commemorate the abuses of the Khmer Rouge. As the UN Rapporteur on torture has said:
A few days ago, Newt Gingrich assured his followers that, as President, he would torture. To great applause, he declared that "waterboarding is by every technical rule not torture." Watch the clip below. It is a typically greasy appearance by Newt, full of red meat about a "ticking time bomb" scenario and complete with a dig at the ACLU.
Ben Arbruster fires back:
"Not only is the so-called “ticking time bomb” scenario Gingrich refers to a red herring, waterboarding actually is illegal under international law because it is considered a torture technique. Last year, the U.N.’s Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez said waterboarding is “immoral and illegal,” and his predecessor agrees."
Sullivan is justifiably enraged:
"The problem is not caprice. The problem is torture. Waterboarding by every conceivable rule is torture. No court has ever found otherwise in any country that adheres to the Geneva Conventions or the UN Coinvention on Torture signed by Ronald Reagan. Several federal court opinions define waterboarding as torture. The US government executed Japanese military leaders following World War II for waterboarding. It was judged torture in the 1926 Mississippi Supreme Court case, which Gingrich as a "historian" should know by now. It is featured in Cambodia's Museum of Torture to commemorate the abuses of the Khmer Rouge. As the UN Rapporteur on torture has said:
I don’t think there is any question, any serious question. I mean it’s a question of severity. If you think that waterboarding is not severe mistreatment you don’t really know what waterboarding is. … I mean if you then redefine upwards the severity standard to say that it’s only severe if it’s organ failure or death, then you know you’re really very clearly distorting the sense of the words and you know words have to be interpreted in treaty language, they have to be interpreted in their plain meaning and their plain meaning couldn’t be more clear in the case of waterboarding.This is not an opinion. It is a fact. What Gingrich has said is untrue. It cannot stand. What the last president authorized was torture, a war crime under domestic and international law."
Will Obama Veto S1867? cont...
Dec 1st, 2011
William Rivers Pitt wonders is not confident and wonders if we've simply gone too far to turn back and if any President could possibly be principled enough in this climate to do the right thing:
"The dreary fact of the matter is that the slash-and-burn attitude taken towards the US Constitution by the Bush administration did such tremendous damage to the most basic underpinnings of this society that it was widely feared there would be no going back. After all, any politician who has gotten to the point where the office of the President is even a possibility is a politician absolutely drenched in hubris, ego, and a desire for personal power. It cannot be any other way; there are no angels flying in that rarefied atmosphere of American politics, and my rule of thumb for many years now has been that a politician most people have heard of is, to one degree or another, an utter and complete bastard, for only utter and complete bastards have the will and ruthlessness to achieve such heights...and when it comes to presidents and serious presidential contenders, multiply that by a factor of ten. I've met a great many of them on too many campaign trails, and trust me, almost none of them are people you'd like to be stuck in an elevator with, much less allow them to run the country."
William Rivers Pitt wonders is not confident and wonders if we've simply gone too far to turn back and if any President could possibly be principled enough in this climate to do the right thing:
"The dreary fact of the matter is that the slash-and-burn attitude taken towards the US Constitution by the Bush administration did such tremendous damage to the most basic underpinnings of this society that it was widely feared there would be no going back. After all, any politician who has gotten to the point where the office of the President is even a possibility is a politician absolutely drenched in hubris, ego, and a desire for personal power. It cannot be any other way; there are no angels flying in that rarefied atmosphere of American politics, and my rule of thumb for many years now has been that a politician most people have heard of is, to one degree or another, an utter and complete bastard, for only utter and complete bastards have the will and ruthlessness to achieve such heights...and when it comes to presidents and serious presidential contenders, multiply that by a factor of ten. I've met a great many of them on too many campaign trails, and trust me, almost none of them are people you'd like to be stuck in an elevator with, much less allow them to run the country."
Quote Of The Day
Dec 1st, 2011
"The real and lasting victories are those of peace, and not of war."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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