After all that indignation over “government spying,” there are signs that a true public airing of the tradeoffs is coming. For a start, Pew finds “56 percent of Americans regard “NSA Phone Tracking as Acceptable Anti-terror Tactic...Even If It Intrudes on Privacy,” a snap judgment that will no doubt be modified as details emerge but a promising openness to hearing argument … [Read more...] about Security vs. Privacy: The Real Debate Begins
Edward Snowden Tells South China Morning Post He Chose Hong Kong to Expose Criminality
BREAKING: NSA leaker Edward Snowden, who fled to Hong Kong after disclosing classified information to the Guardian's Glenn Greenwald, is still talking. This time he spoke to South China Morning Post. “People who think I made a mistake in picking HK as a location misunderstand my intentions. I am not here to hide from justice; I am here to reveal criminality,” said Snowden … [Read more...] about Edward Snowden Tells South China Morning Post He Chose Hong Kong to Expose Criminality
Why All the Fuss Over a DNA Databank?
With the recent outcry over phone and email surveillance, Americans concerned with privacy issues have become increasingly worried. They see “Big Brother,” ie: the federal government, as watching us closely to make sure we behave ourselves and do not engage in activities that could be damaging to the government. On top of this is the issue of the IRS scrutiny of Tea Party and … [Read more...] about Why All the Fuss Over a DNA Databank?
NSA Leaks: Rep. Peter King Says Journalists Who Report on Leaks Should Be Punished
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) told Anderson Cooper during an appearance on CNN that journalists who report on classified information, like Glenn Greenwald recently did on behalf of NSA leaker Edward Snowden, should be punished, along with their sources. Talking Points Memo: “Actually, if they willingly knew that this was classified information, I think action should be taken, … [Read more...] about NSA Leaks: Rep. Peter King Says Journalists Who Report on Leaks Should Be Punished
Ten million children work as domestic servants: ILO
Ten million children work as domestic servants: ILO (via AFP) As many as 10.5 million children worldwide work as domestic servants, in what can be hazardous and even slave-like conditions, the International Labour Organization said Wednesday. The UN labour agency said almost three quarters of such youngsters are girls, and that 6.5 million child servants are… … [Read more...] about Ten million children work as domestic servants: ILO
Will America Regret Snowden’s Intelligence Leaks?
A popular graphic making the rounds on the Internet shows Boston Marathon bombing terrorist brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with the caption: "Apparently Not Verizon Customers." It refers to news reports that under a secret court order in April, the National Security Agency was collecting the telephone records of tens of millions of American customers of Verizon. P.S. … [Read more...] about Will America Regret Snowden’s Intelligence Leaks?
Can George Zimmerman get a fair trial?
Can George Zimmerman get a fair trial in the Trayvon Martin murder case? The Week's Harold Maas: Jury selection began Monday in George Zimmerman's second-degree murder trial for the killing of Trayvon Martin in February 2012. Zimmerman, who is white and Latino, says he shot Martin, an unarmed black teen, in self-defense. The racially charged case has been splashed in the … [Read more...] about Can George Zimmerman get a fair trial?
British ‘Superman’ eyes soaring franchise future
British 'Superman' eyes soaring franchise future (via AFP) Briton Henry Cavill becomes the latest actor to don Superman's famous red cape as "Man of Steel" hits theaters this week -- and hopes it's just the start of a rebooted blockbuster franchise. The heart-throb actor co-stars with Amy Adams as plucky reporter Lois Lane and Australian Russell Crowe as his… … [Read more...] about British ‘Superman’ eyes soaring franchise future
Gallup Poll: America’s Image of Former President George W. Bush Improves
Who says there aren't second acts in imagery in American politics? A new Gallup Poll sees a major improvement in former President George W. Bush's image: Americans' views of former president George W. Bush have improved, with 49% now viewing him favorably and 46% unfavorably. That is the first time since 2005 that opinions of him have been more positive than … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: America’s Image of Former President George W. Bush Improves
Jennings Randolph The Last New Dealer In Congress, With Achievements Overlooked
Historic Quote: "Problems are truly wonderful because we have the opportunity to solve them." West Virginia Senator Jennings Randolph. Over the years, Robert Byrd has sucked up so much oxygen in West Virginia politics that it is easy to forget that a good part of his tenure in the Senate was accompanied by another man. In that vein, it defies credulity to imagine anyone … [Read more...] about Jennings Randolph The Last New Dealer In Congress, With Achievements Overlooked
Kent Hance Beat Bush For Congress in 1978
Ordinarily, a Congressional race in West Texas wouldn’t be grounds for a footnote in history. But when one of the candidates involved a future President of the United States who turned out to be the loser in that election, the winner is still worthy of more than a small footnote in history. Hance in Congress (Wiki Photo) The scene was west Texas and House … [Read more...] about Kent Hance Beat Bush For Congress in 1978
Turkey Protests: the Start of Turkey’s “Arab Spring?”
As the demonstrations grow in Istanbul, the question is now being raised. Is Turkey -- a country vital to President Barack Obama's foreign policy, just as it has been vital to the foreign policy of many earlier administrations -- heading into it's version of the "Arab Spring?" Some use the comparison, some reject it. Events are unfolding quickly. Cable networks are now … [Read more...] about Turkey Protests: the Start of Turkey’s “Arab Spring?”
Immigration (Cartoon)
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Immigration (Cartoon)
Thousands throng Istanbul protest square after police clashes
Thousands throng Istanbul protest square after police clashes (via AFP) Thousands of demonstrators squared off against riot police on Tuesday and defiantly packed an Istanbul square after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned he had "no more tolerance" for the mass protests against his Islamic-rooted government. Hundreds of police stormed Taksim Square, … [Read more...] about Thousands throng Istanbul protest square after police clashes
U.S. Disrupts Al Qaeda’s “Inspire” Online Magazine
Leakers, leakers everywhere -- including among those who don't like to be leaked. But it is news about a successful U.S. operation aimed at Inspire, the Al Qaeda online magazine: U.S. intelligence operatives covertly sabotaged a prominent al-Qaeda online magazine last month in an apparent attempt to sow confusion among the group’s followers, according to officials. The … [Read more...] about U.S. Disrupts Al Qaeda’s “Inspire” Online Magazine
Vladimir Putin on NSA Leaks: Data Surveillance Acceptable If It’s Within the Law
As if he's a fine one to talk, Russian president Vladimir Putin reportedly said government surveillance shouldn't break the law. If Russia's secret surveillance program was leaked, I am pretty sure Vladimir Putin wouldn't be singing this tune. Data surveillance is an acceptable measure if done within the law, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin told RT while visiting the channel … [Read more...] about Vladimir Putin on NSA Leaks: Data Surveillance Acceptable If It’s Within the Law
Hit-and-Run Whistle Blower is No Hero
When no one trusts anyone, paranoia sells and produces “heroes” like 29-year-old Edward Snowden, who is being hailed by the self-selected morally superior for revealing, in the words of his sponsor Glenn Greenwald, that the “US government is building this massive spying apparatus aimed at its own population.” That this is not even remotely true seems to matter not at all, as … [Read more...] about Hit-and-Run Whistle Blower is No Hero
Those Pew/WaPo Headlines? Black and White In A Very Gray World
Corporate headline writers went to town on Monday and the tweets and bloggers followed. Don't believe those headlines. They grossly overstate support and opposition and foment inappropriate partisan rancor. [View the story "Pew/WaPost headlines overstate partisan opinion over NSA eavesdropping" on Storify] :: @kegill … [Read more...] about Those Pew/WaPo Headlines? Black and White In A Very Gray World
VIDEO ANIMATION: Edward Snowden says NSA’s PRISM spying on Americans
Another great ripped-from-the-headlines video animation from Taiwan's Next Media Animation -- this time on Edward Snowden saying NSA's PRISM is spying on Americans right now: … [Read more...] about VIDEO ANIMATION: Edward Snowden says NSA’s PRISM spying on Americans
We still need this debate
WASHINGTON -- The important thing right now isn't whether Edward Snowden should be labeled hero or villain. First, let's have the debate he sparked over surveillance and privacy. Then we can decide how history should remember him. Snowden is the 29-year-old intelligence analyst and computer geek who has been leaking some of the National Security Agency's most precious … [Read more...] about We still need this debate