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Michael Hudson: Obama’s Republican Class War Presidency

DandelionSalad — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:07:10 -0600

"Obama’s Republican Class War Presidency” with financial economist, Michael Hudson, on Obama’s State of the Union Speech and its economic consequences. The reappointment Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke."

Administration's Ineffective Anti-Foreclosure Program Attracts Senator's Attention

SNance — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:52:19 -0600

The feckless and laggard performance of the Obama administration's signature program to keep Americans in their homes has a Democratic senator looking for answers -- and improvement in the face of a continuing U.S. foreclosure crisis.

The Carp of Truth: Jack Straw, Colin Powell and the Smoking Guns of War Crime by Chris Floyd

Sparrows — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:08:45 -0600

Britain's "Chilcot Inquiry" into the origins of the invasion of Iraq has largely faded from the headlines, following Tony Blair's bravura display of pious bluster before the panel of Establishment worthies last month. And in truth, it has been a rather toothless affair, with the already deferential worthies further constrained by the narrow confines placed upon their investigation by the government: chiefly, the cloak of secrecy wrapped around the many documents that detail the deceptions and manipulations of the Bush and Blair regimes as they schemed their way to war. ~~~ And so, to close out its first phase, the Chilcot Inquiry recalled Straw -- who had already given one sweaty, white-knuckle performance on the witness stand a few weeks ago. With the implacable politesse of the true British mandarin, panelist Sir Lawrence Freedman seized the opportunity to suggest to the right honorable minister that the right honorable minister might, perhaps, be lying through his right honorable teeth in denying that Colin Powell had informed him quite clearly that the Americans were going to war, come hell or high water, in March 2003. As the Guardian notes, Freedman's questions "make it clear that [he] has obviously seen some very interesting paperwork. Here is the exchange, from the Guardian: Freedman asked: Can you start by confirming that you knew that military action was planned by the US for the middle of March come what may? You were copied in, presumably, to reports of conversations between the prime minister and the president? Straw replied: Yes, I don't think there was any key document that I should have seen that I didn't. Freedman: Was there any point where [Colin] Powell said to you that even if Iraq complied, president Bush had already made a decision that he intended to go to war? Straw replied: Certainly not to the best of my recollection. Freedman went on: I was going to suggest you might want to look through your conversations and check. Mr Straw at last got the hint: I will go through the records because I think you are trying to tell me something. Yes, Mr Straw. He is trying to tell you, and the world, that he has the paper in his hand documenting your conversation with Colin Powell: a clear admission of the war crime of military aggression, as it reveals that there was not even a pretense of a legally justifiable casus belli among the American and British leaders -- just the cold, pre-determined intention to attack.

Future Shock and Unplanned Obsolescence by David Sirota

Sparrows — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:57:29 -0600

Sirota's thesis in this article appears to be has our ever evolving technology helped or hindered our culture? You decide. Here is his Sunday's article that he has asked you also to read in conjunction with this: http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_14336557

Globalization Is Killing The Globe: Return to Local Economies by Thom Hartmann

Sparrows — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:36:12 -0600

Globalization is killing Europe, just as it's already wiped out much of the American middle class. Spain and Greece are facing immediate crises that many other European nations see on the near horizon: aging boomer workers are retiring with healthy benefit packages, but the younger workers who are paying for those benefits aren't making anything close to the income (or, therefore, paying the taxes) that their parents did. Globalists/corporatists/conservative "free market" and "flat earth" advocates say this is a great opportunity to cut benefits for the old folks (and for the young folks in the future), thus bringing the countries budgets back into balance, and this story is the main corporate media storyline. But it overlooks the real issue (and the real solution): how globalization is killing these nations' economies and what can be done about it.

Bachmann: America ‘cursed’ by God ‘if we reject Israel'

regroce — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:25:54 -0600

"At a Republican Jewish Coalition event in Los Angeles last week, Rep. Michele Bachmann offered a candid view of her positions on Israel: Support for Israel is handed down by God and if the United States pulls back its support, America will cease to exist."

Bachmann: America ‘cursed’ by God ‘if we reject Israel'

regroce — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:25:54 -0600

Nevada Medicaid cuts could lead to diaper rationing

Fiore — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:02:14 -0600

Adult diapers could be rationed and personal care assistants may need to buy their own disposable gloves to help cut $109 million from the state's Medicaid costs, state lawmakers were told Tuesday. Other Medicaid services being targeted in the effort to close Nevada's $881 million budget deficit include ending so-called "optional services," including adult vision, hearing and denture programs. Adult day care programs also could be cut, as well as outpatient programs for people with brain trauma.

Shunning Howard Zinn's History by William Blum

Sparrows — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:01:06 -0600

This disregard of progressive thought is tantamount to a definition of the mainstream media. It doesn't have to be a conspiracy; it's a matter of who owns the mainstream media and the type of journalists they hire — men and women who would like to keep their jobs; so it's more insidious than a conspiracy, it's what's built into the system, it's how the system works. The disregard of the progressive world is of course not total; at times some of that world makes too good copy to ignore, and, on rare occasions, progressive ideas, when they threaten to become very popular, have to be countered. So it was with Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. Here's Barry Gewen an editor at the New York Times Book Review, June 5, 2005 writing of Zinn's book and others like it: ~~~ Those like Zinn who questioned the basic suppositions of the Cold War abroad, and capitalism at home, were regarded as polemicists. One of my favorite Howard Zinn quotes: "The chief problem in historical honesty is not outright lying. It is omission or de-emphasis of important data. The definition of 'important', of course, depends on one's values." [See Failure to Quit: Reflections of an Optimistic Historian, (1993), p.30.] A People's History and his other writings can be seen as an attempt to make up for the omissions and under-emphases of America's dark side in American history books and media.

Did a soldier waterboard his 4 year old daughter?

Fiore — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:56:09 -0600

Police told reporters that Tabor sat her on the edge of the bathroom sink and dunked her head when she failed to recite the alphabet. As if Tabor was channeling Cheney, he explained to police that after her dunk in the water, "She said her letters after that." Well, then. There you go. It’s just a dunk in the water, after all. The police apparently had to coax the terrified girl out of the bathroom. She was covered with bruises.

Dennis Kucinich and Glenn Greenwald discuss SCOTUS decision on 'Citizens United" case

Fiore — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:51:38 -0600

Kucinich and Greenwald discuss the SCOTUS decision which opens the floodgates on corporate influence of electioneering. Continuation of the interview which started on subject of assassinations (so there are a couple of references to that, too.)

Kucinich and Greenwald discuss assassination of US citizens

Fiore — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:44:05 -0600

Dennis Kucinich and Glenn Greenwald talk about the extrajudicial killing of US citizens on Democracy Now!

Rich Lowry's brain - Glenn Greenwald

Fiore — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:38:48 -0600

I know it's not news that Rich Lowry is an intellectually dishonest hack. And I also know it's not news that the brain of right-wing authoritarians allows its host to blithely accuse others of exactly that which they do. Still, as common as it is, there are times when I'm amazed at how compartmentalized and self-blinding the human brain can be

Obama's First Year

stopblockingO — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:55:15 -0600

Despite what you may have heard, Barack Obama's first year in office has been a tremendous success. Yes, I said it. Contrary to what many have said, his time in office has been a giant step forward. When the inherited eight-year storm settles...

National Day of Action on Unemployment Insurance, February 10th

Laudyms — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:50:49 -0600

More than 8 million jobs have been lost in the US since 2007. This week will be a critical one for millions of Americans on Unemployment Insurance (UI). Although job loss is slowing, the economy is still not producing any new jobs and UI benefits will end for one million Americans on February 28th if Congress does not take immediate action. Four million more Americans will lose the benefits in the months that follow. The impact will be devastating on families and communities, as foreclosures driven by unemployment accelerate and as small businesses lose billions in revenue from paying customers. That’s because every $1 of unemployment insurance benefits that is spent results in $1.69 in economic stimulus in the community. Wednesday, February 10th will be a National Day of Action to Save the UI program. Tell Congress to extend UI benefits until the end of 2010.

Is the criminal justice system "The New Jim Crow?'

RestoreFairness — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:17:19 -0600

Jarvious Cotton’s great-great-grandfather could not vote as a slave. His great-grandfather was beaten to death by the Klu Klux Klan for attempting to vote. His grandfather was prevented from voting by Klan intimidation; his father was barred by poll taxes and literacy tests. Today, Cotton cannot vote because he, like many black men in the United States, has been labeled a felon and is currently on parole. – From ‘The New Jim Crow’.

Yellowstone Update For February 2010

justanothercoverup — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:05:16 -0600

The recent earthquake swarms at Yellowstone’s “Super Volcano” are the longest spate of these swarms to hit Yellowstone in recent memory. The USGS is downplaying these earthquake swarms as “normal,” and it’s possible they are. The truth is that our knowledge of Super Volcanoes is extremely limited; there has not been an eruption of a Super Volcano in recorded history, and as dangerous as this phenomena is (Super Volcanoes), there is no established scientific record that scientists can use to properly evaluate whether or not an eruption is eminent.

Louis Proyect: Howard Zinn and the myth of the “People’s War”

nasrudin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:55:42 -0600

...This discussion led me to thinking about Zinn’s approach to WWII in chapter sixteen of “People’s History of the United States”, titled appropriately enough “A People’s War?” (The entire book can be read online here.) Written in 1980, the book adopts a “revisionist” perspective that was associated with a number of younger New Left historians such as Gar Alperovitz whose 1965 book “Atomic Diplomacy: Hiroshima and Potsdam” revealed U.S. war aims as setting the stage for the Cold War. Along with many other “revisionists”, Alperovitz studied history at the University of Wisconsin under William Appleman Williams who was a seminal figure of the New Left. Williams was born in 1920 and could be seen as a contemporary of Zinn. His 1959 “The Tragedy of American Diplomacy” was a highly influential work, arguing that the U.S. had imperial ambitions from the days of Thomas Jefferson.

Republican Proposals Show the Lunacy of "Bi-Partisanship"

RDemocrat — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:33:59 -0600

Instead of fighting for real healthcare reform it seems as if long ago President Obama has settled in on a strategy of "reaching out" to Republicans and Corporate Democrats. This will include a televised debate on Feb. 25 between the two parties. Now, reaching out would not be such a bad thing, if it weren't for the Republicans simply not wanting any real reform in the system and doing all they can to slow and stop the process. Just a look at some Republican ideas lets you know this is yet again another practice in futility.

Dennis Kucinich: Medicare for All, the Idea Whose Time Has Come

DandelionSalad — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:21:11 -0600

"Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today sent a letter to President Obama commending him for calling for new ideas and a renewed discussion about health care reform. Kucinich requested that supporters of Medicare for All be represented at the upcoming February 25 health care summit."

China’s hawks demand cold war on the US - Times Online

Stryker_CV — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:32 -0600

MORE than half of Chinese people questioned in a poll believe China and America are heading for a new “cold war”.

FOX's Gretchen Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Dick Morris Give "Palin the Telepalmer" a Pass

whynowwhyme — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:58:16 -0600

Almost as if on cue, the conservative-dominated pundits of FOX News responded to Sarah Palin's telepalmer gaffe by doing the only thing a "balanced" network could do -- defending her inept actions with implausible rationales.

Republicans lie again about healthcare reform

MDR — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:56:51 -0600

Republicans are saying they may not attend the televised healthcare summit proposed by Obama unless Democrats agree to abandon the proposals in the two bills because they say they have been rejected by a large majority of the American people.But all the polls show that a large majority support a public option, leaving Republicans to lie again to try and push their agenda

China PLA officers urge economic punch against U.S.

Stryker_CV — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:54:53 -0600

Well, you know it had to happen sooner or later. All that debt we've incurred from China is about to cripple our already fragile economy.

Protectionism Worries Indian Outsourcers

PHred42 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:46:09 -0600

India's leading software trade body said on Tuesday that protectionism in key markets could affect the growth prospects of the country's outsourcing industry.

Will Californians Even Use the High Speed Rail System?

capolitics — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:45:04 -0600

A lot of recent hype has surrounded the $2.25 billion in Federal stimulus money that the Obama administration has granted California for a high speed rail system from LA to San Francisco. But are enough people going to use it?

American Family Association Can't Stop Thinking About Naked Homosexuals Showering With Your Children

meg — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:38:32 -0600

The appearance of factiness is just a vehicle to irritate the latent sexual confusion and reinforce the repression already in the psyches of the devotees of the religious right. This fixation on the showering habits of buff soldiers may be an indication of certain discomforts on the part of conflicted conservatives, but that's not even the worst of it. The arguments against allowing gays to serve openly in the military should also be offensive to anyone who serves the country with dignity, regardless of sexual orientation. I don't want to believe that the proud men and women of the American military (yes, even the "straights" as Tim calls them) are so bigoted and blind that they can't function in the modern world without reacting violently to people who don't look or act like they do. That's what we have military contractors for!

MarketWatch - How to invest for the debt-bomb explosion

PHred42 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:47:48 -0600

Prepare for an apocalyptic anarchy ending Wall Street’s toxic capitalism --- Wake up investors. Are you prepared for the economic anarchy coming after a global-debt time bomb explodes? Are you thinking outside the box? Investing differently? Act now — tomorrow will be too late.

Sez It All : Homescholers [Sic] for Perry [Sicker]

tdreyer — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:21:20 -0600

Image -- Tea Bagger sign tells it all. [The much awaited Perry-Palin rally (with extra special guest Ted Nugent) visited the Rick Berry Center in Cypress on Sunday afternoon, February 7, but made sure to wrap things up before the Big Game. Football trumps politics in Texas, of course, even if Sarah Palin comes to town.]

India puts on hold first GM food crop on safety grounds

PHred42 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:20:51 -0600

India has deferred the commercial cultivation of what would have been its first genetically modified (GM) vegetable crop due to safety concerns.