tagged w/ American Politics
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The Public as Public Enemy
In trying to explain why our political paralysis seems to have gotten so much worse over the past year, analysts have rounded up a plausible collection of reasons including: President Barack Obama's tactical missteps; the obstinacy of congressional Republicans; rising partisanship in Washington; the blustering idiocracy of the cable-news stations; and the Senate filibuster, which has devolved into a super-majority threshold for any important legislation.
These are all large factors, to be sure, but that list neglects what may be the biggest culprit in our current predicament: the childishness, ignorance and growing incoherence of the public at large.
Anybody who says you can't have it both ways clearly hasn't been spending much time reading polls lately. One year ago, 59 percent of the American public liked the stimulus plan, according to Gallup. A few months later, with the economy still deeply mired in recession, a majority of the same size said Obama was spending too much money on it.
There's nothing wrong with changing your mind, of course, but polls over the last year reflect something altogether more troubling: a country that simultaneously demands and rejects action on unemployment, deficits, health care, climate change and a whole host of other major problems. Sixty percent of Americans want stricter regulations of financial institutions. But nearly the same proportion says we're suffering from too much regulation on business. That kind of illogic – or, if you prefer, susceptibility to rhetorical manipulation – is what locks the status quo in place.
At the root of this kind of self-contradiction is our historical, nationally characterological ambivalence about government.
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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/viewpoints/stories/DN-weisberg_14edi.State.Edition1.281f516.html
http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/characteristics-of-good-governance.gifThe Public as Public Enemy
In trying to explain why our political paralysis seems... more
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This is an exclusive by DN - The father of the youngest Blackwater/ XE victim, 9 y/o Ali Kinani, who was shot in the head while sitting in his car with his father, cousins and Aunt. These people undermine any "progress"/goodwill we have in these areas and destabilize military structure.
"I start to scream, THEY KILLED MY SON, THEY KILLED MY SON..."
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100215/scahill
I posted this under another article but due to the lack of insight and information on Blackwater, I think it deserves it's own place. Watch it if you can but it is VERY disturbing.
Plant a garden for AliThis is an exclusive by DN - The father of the youngest Blackwater/ XE victim, 9 y/o... more
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the homogenization of mental illness can't all be a bad thing can it? it might give rise to methods and modes of increased success with the illnesses we already have instead of lending themselves to future untreatable dis-eases.
Maybe, but, perhaps not, perhaps such mental illnesses play a role in our perspective and understanding of the natural world surrounding us. it may be that these afflictions can shed light on another side of humanity. Does everything happen for a reason? you decide.the homogenization of mental illness can't all be a bad thing can it? it might... more
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It can be seen that the oil cartel has everything well in hand. There may be global warming and there may be an artic meltdown but the oil industry will continue to control the industrial world and the politics of the world even if it does snuff out life. The CO2 they continue to worry about is from Carbon fuels, but it don't mean a thing. Contaminated atmosphere is not a worry of the wealthy industrialists. Their distructive tools will continue to create an unhealthy atmosphere all over the world. Acid rain is not only a byproduct of fissil fuels but any and all gases that enter the atmosphere. The oil people are in control and will lead this country to ruin and blame it on the people. There is another dark side of this longer life. There will be no troops coming home soon except in body bags and coffins. Yes its all about oil, the weallthy bankers and the oil magnates. They will hold our country and youth hostage to the oil fields of Eurasia.It can be seen that the oil cartel has everything well in hand. There may be global... more
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Ragan
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2 years ago
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The Justice Department reported Thursday that 12 percent of incarcerated juveniles, or more than 3,200 young people, had been raped or sexually abused in the past year by fellow inmates or prison staff, quantifying for the first time a problem that has long troubled lawmakers and human rights advocates.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/07/AR2010010703849.htmlThe Justice Department reported Thursday that 12 percent of incarcerated juveniles, or... more
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jubal
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2 years ago
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http://www.russellmeansfreedom.com/2009/the-united-states-continues-to-steal-land-from-indians/
During the course of this long-running, class-action litigation, it has been documented that the United States owes Indian people more than $137 billion for mismanagement of trust accounts. That was established just by the documents that were presented.
The original federal judge on this case was Royce Lamberth, who held at least three secretaries of the Interior in contempt for not producing thousands of additional documents. Also, during the course of this case, hundreds of relevant documents were found in the trash by Interior Department employees, who reported this to the court and to Interior Department officials.
So basically, now, the U.S. government is saying that it has identified the thief of Indian royalties and resources as itself. It has allowed the thief to determine the value of the settlement and mostly has allowed the thief to keep what has been stolen.
Only in America if you steal something and hold onto it long enough does it becomes yours.http://www.russellmeansfreedom.com/2009/the-united-states-continues-to-steal-land-from-... more
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On Dec 1, Pres. Obama will announce his decision on troop levels and the way forward in Afghanistan. Reports indicate that he will approve something less than, but close to, the optimal 40,000 troops that General Stanley McChrystal requested. Unless Obama is fullly committed to victory, however, our prospects for winning in Afghanistan aren't good.On Dec 1, Pres. Obama will announce his decision on troop levels and the way forward... more
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EWRoss
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2 years ago
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WASHINGTON – Moderate Senate Democrats threatened Sunday to scuttle health-care legislation if their demands aren't met, while more liberal members warned their party leaders not to bend.
The dispute among Democrats foretells of a rowdy floor debate next month on legislation that would extend health care coverage to roughly 31 million Americans. Republicans have already made clear they aren't supporting the bill.
Final passage is in jeopardy, even after the chamber's historic 60-39 vote Saturday night to begin debate.
Nelson and three other moderates — Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Connecticut independent Joe Lieberman — agreed to open debate despite expressing reservations on the measure. Each of them has warned that they might not support the final bill.
One major sticking point is a provision that would allow Americans to buy a federal-run insurance plan if their state allows it. Moderates say they worry the so-called public option will become a huge and costly entitlement program and that other requirements in the bill could cripple businesses. "I don't want to fix the problems in our health care system in a way that creates more of an economic crisis," said Lieberman.
The sway held by such a small group of senators has annoyed their more liberal colleagues, who could vote against a final bill if it becomes too watered down.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said he didn't think rank-and-file Democrats would feel compelled to go that far. At the same time, Brown warned Democratic leaders not to make too many concessions.
"I don't want four Democratic senators dictating to the other 56 of us and to the rest of the country — when the public option has this much support — that (a public option is) not going to be in it," said Brown.
The Senate bill would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide subsidies to those who couldn't afford it. Large companies could incur costs if they did not provide coverage to their work force. The insurance industry would come under significant new regulation under the bill, which would first ease and then ban the practice of denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions.
More on the story from Associated Press
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091122/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaulWASHINGTON – Moderate Senate Democrats threatened Sunday to scuttle health-care... more
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click link for more info and video
http://getwititmagazine.com/news/10/
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click link for more info
http://getwititmagazine.com/news/9/
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Newsweek has boiled down the the first decade of this millennium into a seven minute video, highlighting the good, the bad and the unforgettable. From Bush V. Gore, to 9/11, to the iPod, to Borat, to the Iraq war, to Twitter and much, much more. Watch and marvel at this busy decade.
It really makes you remember about all that has changed about that last 10 years around the worldNewsweek has boiled down the the first decade of this millennium into a seven minute... more
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The Billion Dollar Gram | Information Is Beautiful
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Fort Hood massacre suspect Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan had business cards that identified him as a "soldier of Allah," and federal investigators are looking at whether he wired money to Pakistan militants.
Hasan also communicated by e-mail with a radical imam who called the Fort Hood gunman a hero.
He also told colleagues that non-Muslims should be beheaded and have boiling oil poured down their throats.
He also shouted Allah Akbhar while killing the "infidels."
So why isn't the President calling this domestic radical Islamic terrorist a terrorist?
Is it because the killer wasn't dressed like the guys above in the photo?
Do you have to be wearing terrorist clothing?Fort Hood massacre suspect Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan had business cards that... more
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dabne
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2 years ago
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http://rawstory.com/2009/11/palin-speech-abortion-opponents-mocked-describes-weighty-topics-bogus-awesome/
It now seems clear why the staff to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin didn't want anyone to bring recording devices or cell phones to her speech Friday night.
Even news outlets like Politico -- which have prominently featured Dick Cheney's terror jeremiads -- would have been likely to lampoon her.
But the ban on recording devices didn't stop them. Politico says they bought three tickets to Palin's Wisconsin speech and then penned a write-up. Their review was somewhat grim, taking aim at Palin's frequent use of the words "bogus" and "awesome" and delivering a strange anecdote about dollar coins.
"Palin had remarks prepared but frequently wandered off-script to make a point, offering audience members a casual “awesome” or “bogus” in discussing otherwise weighty topics," Politico's Jonathan Martin wrote in his review.
He quotes Palin as saying, “It is so bogus that society is sending a message right now and has been for probably the last 40 years that a woman isn’t strong enough or smart enough to be able to pursue an education, a career and her rights and still let her baby live.”
"Other Palin touchstones included: praise for the military, jeers for the “the liberal media” and a general manner of speaking that often veered into rhetorical culs-de-sac," he continued.
Palin didn't draw supporters to their feet: "While she drew applause during her remarks, Palin’s extemporaneous and frequently discursive style was such that she never truly roused a true-believing crowd as passionate about the issue at hand as she. Not once during her address did they rise to their feet."
They did stand at the end, however.
She then got a standing ovation from most of the crowd, but a few had begun to leave before she even finished and within seconds of her concluding, scores more got up and put on their jackets as they walked away.
In addition to the suggestion that government officials would consider hastening the death of the infirm or handicapped, she began her remarks with a puzzling commentary on the design of newly minted dollar coins.
Noting that there had been a lot of “change” of late, Palin recalled a recent conversation with a friend about how the phrase “In God We Trust” had been moved to the edge of the new coins.
“Who calls a shot like that?” she demanded. “Who makes a decision like that?”
She added: “It’s a disturbing trend.”
The decision to put "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the edges of presidential dollar coins has received little attention from the press, but was reversed in 2007, before President Barack Obama took office. Sens. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Robert Byrd (D-WV) sponsored legislation to move the motto back to the front face of the coins.
"It is important that our national motto, 'In God We Trust,' is prominently displayed on all of our currency," Brownback said. "We should not relegate our heritage to the side."
Some of Palin's recent speeches have also received lackluster reviews. At a recent speech in Hong Kong (which also banned the press) some delegates purportedly "walked out in disgust."http://rawstory.com/2009/11/palin-speech-abortion-opponents-mocked-describes-weighty-to... more
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Philip Spooner, an 86 year old veteran and life long republican gives his point of view for Maine's marriage equality bill on April 22, 2009. Nearly 4,000 people attended the hearing, with marriage equality supporters out-numbering the opposition 4 to 1.
Every person is equal and dissevers the same rights.Philip Spooner, an 86 year old veteran and life long republican gives his point of... more
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White House officials are confident the President will be able to convince the wildfire to stop incinerating large swaths of land and American homes.White House officials are confident the President will be able to convince the... more
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Nil705
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2 years ago
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Canadian Captures the Sentiment of The American People with "Angry Eagle"
Veteran songwriter and recording artist Dan Hill, who has three times enjoyed songs ranked in the top three on the American charts and twice had # 1 hits in Canada, comments on Tia McGraff's hot new song, "Angry Eagle," It captures the times that we're living in perfectly! It is so wrenchingly topical that it's impossible not to relate to every word."Canadian Captures the Sentiment of The American People with "Angry Eagle"... more
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The U.S. terror war as seen through the eyes of a prisoner
When we first began corresponding with Khalid Awan in 2007, we had no idea why he was serving time in U.S. federal prison. We soon discovered Awan was one of the first of thousands of Muslims taken prisoner in the post-9/11 U.S. “terror war.” As the story began unfolding in our letters, we began to realize that this honest, humble and sincere man was not only innocent, but the ongoing injustice being done to him provides critical insight into the mindless, meanspirited, bureaucratic-yes-men idiocy fueling the illegal U.S. “war on terror” (and just about everything else that is going wrong in this country). At our insistence, Awan wrote his story and supplied us with whatever documents we requested. And now, after three months of cooperative efforts, the story of Khalid Awan can be told. We have come to know Awan as a peaceful man engaged in peaceful work who has been wrongfully accused, detained and repeatedly convicted of crimes he did not commit because he was a Muslim with international connections and an office in New York on 9/11. We present this to you in faith that you will realize a deeper understanding of the levels of complicity necessary for the “land of the free” to tolerate the phony war on terror year after year and in hope that Awan—and all the other million or more political prisoners being held by this country—will one day be reunited with their families.
Khalid Awan # 50959-054
USP Marion
P.O.BOX : 1000
Marion, IL 62959
USA
http://www.freekhalidawan.com/,
http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk/blogs_entry.asp?eid=3759,
http://awankhalid.com/,
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60600467317The U.S. terror war as seen through the eyes of a prisoner
When we first began... more
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There's JOY in her voice, JOY in the song and JOY in the election of President Obama. This was made the week before the election and proved the promise of America is still alive.There's JOY in her voice, JOY in the song and JOY in the election of President... more
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