The latest report via The Huffington Post co-authored by Glenn Greenwald suggests that NSA was watching an activity of suspected Muslim "radicalizers" online -- and got an eyefull. The agency was following their online porn-viewing activity, in the hopes to discredit them: The National Security Agency has been gathering records of online sexual activity and evidence of … [Read more...] about Report: NSA tracked online porn habits of suspected Muslim “radicalizers”
Angst With Historic Precedent
David Runciman traces our current political angst back to de Tocqueville in the Chronicle of Higher Education (h/t Andrew Sullivan). The history of modern democracy is a tale of steady success accompanied by the constant drumbeat of anticipated failure. The intellectual commentator who first spotted this distinctive feature of democratic life (and who did most to explain it) … [Read more...] about Angst With Historic Precedent
Dinesh D’Souza: Thankful America Will Survive ‘Grown-Up Trayvon’ in White House
commentator and author of "2016: Obama's America" Dinesh D'Souza tweeted his thankfulness that America will recover from having who he considers as the adult version of the late Trayvon Martin in the White House. “I am thankful this week when I remember that America is big enough and great enough to survive Grown-Up Trayvon in the White House!” Never mind the fact that … [Read more...] about Dinesh D’Souza: Thankful America Will Survive ‘Grown-Up Trayvon’ in White House
Why the N.S.A. May Know More Than You Think
If you thought your search history, text messages or anything else on your devices was private, think again. Recent reports suggest the N.S.A. could know virtually everything about us — especially things that can be found out from our activity online and on our phones. This may not come as a surprise to some of us. With ramped up airport security and invasive T.S.A. screenings, … [Read more...] about Why the N.S.A. May Know More Than You Think
Obama Administration Seeks to Rein in ‘Dark Money’ Groups Like Crossroads GPS
The Obama administration is seeking to rein in the 'dark money' groups that spend millions in political campaigns without divulging their donor information. It's about time. In draft guidance to be issued by Treasury and the IRS, the administration proposes new standards for tax-exempt groups like the Karl Rove-linked Crossroads GPS and Organizing for Action, the offshoot of … [Read more...] about Obama Administration Seeks to Rein in ‘Dark Money’ Groups Like Crossroads GPS
“Wag the Dog” Revival Over Iran Talks
Devious is the new normal in Washington, which is replaying a movie satire with a straight face over the Iran talks. In 1997 Hollywood made the hilarious “Wag the Dog,” about its own spin doctors trumping up a fake war to save a real President from scandal. Now the clowns in DC are redoing the script with a nuclear future at stake instead of a phony confrontation with … [Read more...] about “Wag the Dog” Revival Over Iran Talks
Revisiting Presidential Succession
This is a topic I have been posting on over the last few years and I thought it time to one again revisit the issue since it has still not been resolved. Specifically the concept of Presidential succession and the need to reflect the reality of the post 9/11 era Under the terms of the 1947 act if there is no President or Vice President the office next passes to the Speaker … [Read more...] about Revisiting Presidential Succession
Sea Level Likely To Rise One Meter By 2100, Threatening Coastal Cities (Largest Ocean Science Survey Ever)
Sea Level Likely To Rise One Meter By 2100, Threatening Coastal Cities (Largest Ocean Science Survey Ever) (via Planetsave) If greenhouse gas emissions remain at current levels, global sea-level rise will by 70 to 120 centimeters by 2100, according to the results of a new survey of 90 of the world’s most active ocean and climate scientists. The survey was conducted by… … [Read more...] about Sea Level Likely To Rise One Meter By 2100, Threatening Coastal Cities (Largest Ocean Science Survey Ever)
Who’s The Driver? Benghazi, Laura Logan, Woodward & Bernstein [Guest Voice]
Opinion By J. Gordon Mills [a/k/a commenter from TMV] : I blame Woodward and Bernstein. Well, almost. Since those two intrepid reporters latched onto a story – a real story – about corruption at the highest levels that led to the unprecedented resignation of a President, journalistic hacks have been attempting to duplicate their success. If you could find a story … [Read more...] about Who’s The Driver? Benghazi, Laura Logan, Woodward & Bernstein [Guest Voice]
Obama’s foreign forays: risky but worth it
In measured steps, President Barack Obama is taking big foreign policy risks that could literally change the world and America’s position in it -- if navigated to safe harbor. The first risk was Secretary of State John Kerry’s seemingly unrewarding entry into the Israel-Palestine hornet’s nest. The second was the reopening of conversation with Teheran after over three … [Read more...] about Obama’s foreign forays: risky but worth it
Pope Francis Calls Unfettered Capitalism ‘Tyranny’ (Guest Voice)
Pope Francis Calls Unfettered Capitalism ‘Tyranny’ (via Moyers & Company) Earlier this month, Laurie Goodstein reported for The New York Times that Pope Francis’ softer rhetoric on hot-button social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage were causing conservative Catholics no small amount of chagrin. It looks like they… … [Read more...] about Pope Francis Calls Unfettered Capitalism ‘Tyranny’ (Guest Voice)
Benghazi Fallout: CBS News’ Lara Logan Taking Leave Of Absence Over Discredited ’60 Minutes’ Report
There's fallout of Benghazi, but not the kind that Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsay Graham had in mind: in what is clearly the result of a corporate decision after an inquiry and some soul searching, CBS News' Lara Logan is taking a leave of absence over the "60 Minutes" report touted by conservative critics of the Obama administration -- a report that fizzled. … [Read more...] about Benghazi Fallout: CBS News’ Lara Logan Taking Leave Of Absence Over Discredited ’60 Minutes’ Report
Obamacare Debacle Revives Single-Payer Hope
Insurance is fraud. If it weren’t, how could an industry make bets against the certainties of human life—-illness, accidents and death—-and profit so much from them? In my thirties, I wanted to protect a wife and young children and decided that, with self-discipline, I could buy the simplest and cheapest term insurance at each stage of life, reducing it as I went along, … [Read more...] about Obamacare Debacle Revives Single-Payer Hope
The Real Reason The Other Gulf States Like Sanctions
Matt Yglesias has an excellent analysis as to why Israel and Saudi Arabia dislike the recent agreement with Iran, it might actually work. Consider: Saudi Arabia has about 30 million residents compared with Iran's 77 million. The population of Saudi Arabia's Gulf Cooperation Council allies is trivial. Iran hardly needs a nuclear weapon to become the dominant military power in … [Read more...] about The Real Reason The Other Gulf States Like Sanctions
CO2 is not the only greenhouse gas
Carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas that tends to get the most press when it comes to contributing to Anthropogenic Global Warming. But it isn't the only one. Methane gas is actually a much stronger greenhouse gas but it doesn't remain in the atmosphere nearly as long as CO2. However, a pair of studies would seem to provide two pieces of bad news concerning methane. If they … [Read more...] about CO2 is not the only greenhouse gas
Tweets, media and rape
A particularly questionable tweet from the Washington Post raises the question: what makes a tweet go bad? The problem is that media organizations are looking for numbers - clicks - because they are easily measured. So social media teams are rewarded for behavior that leads to shares and click-throughs. But to do that, the tweet or status has to tease. If it actually … [Read more...] about Tweets, media and rape
Ronald Reagan’s Message To The GOP
Chris Matthews has recently published a new book about Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill in which he discusses how the two worked together. I hope to get and read (and review the book) in the future but for now thought I'd offer a few thoughts on how the GOP might look to one their icons for guidance. Of all the things people can say about him the one truth is he was a firm … [Read more...] about Ronald Reagan’s Message To The GOP
The benefits of a deal
WASHINGTON -- The U.S.-led deal to freeze Iran's nuclear program is a great accomplishment on many levels. Begin with the most basic: What if the talks in Geneva had failed? If Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had gone home empty-handed, we would likely be drifting toward war. Iran's uranium-enrichment centrifuges would … [Read more...] about The benefits of a deal
Suggested theme song for the Republican Party (Video)
On so many issues, whatever Barack Obama advocates or supports, conservative Republicans (like on the administration's proposed Iran deal) automatically oppose it. So here's a proposed theme song for today's GOP: This clip is of Groucho Marx singing the song from the 1932 film "Horse Feathers." … [Read more...] about Suggested theme song for the Republican Party (Video)
No motive found in Newtown Sandy Hook school massacre, investigators find
No motive found in Newtown shooting: US investigators (via AFP) US investigators said Monday they failed to find a motive for last year's Newtown school massacre, but said the killer had "significant" mental troubles and was obsessed with mass murders. The official report into the December 14 killings at Sandy Hook… … [Read more...] about No motive found in Newtown Sandy Hook school massacre, investigators find