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Blogs and Opinion
Will Health Care Reform Kill the Tea Party? by Stephanie Mencimer, Mother Jones | March 18, 2010
During the Tea Party protests on Capitol Hill this week, conservative activists warned that if Congress manages to pass health care legislation, their movement would become more formidable than ever. But far from fueling the tea partiers' cause, a sweeping new health care law could suck the air right out of their movement. Many tea party activists have a lot to gain from reform — because their ranks are dominated by aging baby boomers. This makes the movement's opposition to the health care bill one of its most enduring paradoxes. read more »Conservatives in Denial Over Health Care Reform by Tim Fernholz, The Guardian | March 18, 2010
Republicans are in denial. They're desperate to convince Democrats that passing comprehensive health care reform legislation will be the worst possible move they could make. It is time for everyone to recognise that for all the spin, misinformation and outright lies, Democrats intend to band together in an almost unprecedented display of party unity to pass this legislation. If they do, setting aside the benefits of reducing the deficit, giving 31 million Americans health coverage and lowering costs, their decision will have major political consequences. read more »Tea Partiers: The (Distorted, Screaming) Face of Conservatism by Terrance Heath, OurFuture.org | March 18, 2010
This is one of those things you just have to see to believe. Chances are you've seen it posted elsewhere, but it bears replaying over and over and over again. Here's the face of conservatism today, for ya — mocking and screaming at a man with Parkinson's disease. read more »8 Steps the Department of Justice Could Take to Reform Farming by Robyn O'Brien, alternet.org | March 16, 2010
"...On Friday in an unprecedented move with the USDA, the Department of Justice will launch an investigation into the farm business. The investigation begins a 7-state probe into how Monsanto treats its customers, our nation's farmers..." This is so important, not just for the farmers but also consumers on many different levels. Setting aside the dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms in our food chain, Monsanto's business practices alone have caused hardship, distress and anger. read more »Top 10 Reasons For Democrats To Vote Yes on Health Care Reform by Robert Creamer, Huffington Post | March 16, 2010
Reason # 10 — Consider the source. Who are the major advocates of the theory that it is bad politics for Democrats to vote for health care reform? None other than Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner. If they recommend that Democrats vote no, then any Democrat with half his wits should fall all over himself to vote yes. read more »The End of an Illusion by Robert Kuttner, Huffington Post | March 15, 2010
Are we at a turning point in the Obama presidency? It took far too long, but the president has belatedly grasped that when the other party is out to destroy you, the search for common ground is a fool's errand. For over a year, Obama believed that reform required him to govern as a post-ideological bipartisan. Now, mercifully, he has learned that progressive leadership demands taking on the Republicans, just as it requires taking on the insurance and banking industries. There is little common ground on those fronts either. read more »The New McCarthyism by Joe Conason, Truthout | March 15, 2010
Today, Joe McCarthy's heirs are more slick and glib than he ever was, yet their fundamental methods are the same. When Elizabeth Cheney, William Kristol and their media friends slander Justice Department attorneys as the "al-Qaida 7" and malign the "Department of Jihad," they are engaging in the smear tactics that became synonymous with McCarthy. What is different now is the cynical hypocrisy of the new McCarthyites, who know that the flimsy accusations they level against Democrats in the Obama administration could just as easily be turned on Republicans who served President Bush. read more »Glenn Beck: Conservatism's Snake Oil Salesman, Pt. 1 by Terrance Heath, OurFuture.org | March 15, 2010
(Or "CPAC: Sideshow and Snake Oil, Pt. 2") read more »The Most Powerful Destructive Corporate US Business Club by David DeGraw, alternet.org | March 13, 2010
Editor's Note: The following is Part III of David DeGraw's report, "The Economic Elite vs. People of the USA." AlterNet previously ran Part I and Part II. DeGraw writes in the introduction to his report: "It has now become evident to a critical mass that the Republican and Democratic parties, along with all three branches of our government, have been bought off by a well-organized Economic Elite who are tactically destroying our way of life. The harsh truth is that 99% of the US population no longer has political representation. The US economy, government and tax system is now blatantly rigged against us.Current statistical societal indicators clearly demonstrate that a strategic attack has been launched and an analysis of current governmental policies prove that conditions for 99% of Americans will continue to deteriorate. The Economic Elite have engineered a financial coup and have brought war to our doorstep. . . and make no mistake, they have launched a war to eliminate the US middle class." *** read more »Chief Whiner by Ruth Marcus, Truthout | March 12, 2010
To listen to John Roberts, you'd think that mobs of pitchfork-waving Democrats had accosted a handful of trembling justices and demanded that they reverse themselves on the spot — or else. Speaking to law students at the University of Alabama, Roberts said anyone is free to criticize the court. Except, apparently, not to the justices' faces. read more »
The Latest
The video that will put Geithner behind bars, smirkingchimp.com | March 14, 2010
Summary:"You gotta see this! If this doesn't convince you that the Timothy Geithner knew about the securities shenanigans that were going on at Lehman, then I don't know what will."
"You gotta see this! If this doesn't convince you that the Timothy Geithner knew about the securities shenanigans that were going on at Lehman, then I don't know what will." more »
Inconvenient Spoof: UN's climate link to hurricanes in doubt, timesonline.co.uk | March 5, 2010
Summary:"...The claims attracted worldwide attention but Landsea pointed out there was no science to substantiate them and was so angry that he resigned his post as a senior IPCC author in January 2005, issuing a letter accusing the IPCC of having become “politicised”. .."
"...The claims attracted worldwide attention but Landsea pointed out there was no science to substantiate them and was so angry that he resigned his post as a senior IPCC author in January 2005, issuing a letter accusing the IPCC of having become “politicised”. .."
Climate scientists withdraw journal claims of rising sea levels, The Guardian | February 22, 2010
Summary:"...Study claimed in 2009 that sea levels would rise by up to 82cm by the end of century – but the report's author now says true estimate is still unknown..."
"Scientists have been forced to withdraw a study on projected sea level rise due to global warming after finding mistakes that undermined the findings..."
TAG as voodoo science con job
"...Study claimed in 2009 that sea levels would rise by up to 82cm by the end of century – but the report's author now says true estimate is still unknown..."
"Scientists have been forced to withdraw a study on projected sea level rise due to global warming after finding mistakes that undermined the findings..."
TAG as zombie science retraction inconvenient spoof having a laugh
The torture memos show how illegal wars turn even the nicest people bad, The Guardian | February 11, 2010
Summary:The so-called war on terror saw a politically weak American president seek popularity in redefining a criminal act as a "war between states". Tony Blair agreed. His assertion to the Chilcot inquiry that "9/11 changed everything" was self-serving. The attack was just the latest in a line of attempted terrorist atrocities by Islamist extremists, alb
An article on the Smirking Chimp website described the Chilcot inquiry as redundant to American Politics. Well just for the record or anyone out there with an abiding sense of right and wrong....... more »
How Goldman Sachs Helped Greece to Mask its True Debt, spiegel.de | February 10, 2010
Summary:Goldman Sachs helped the Greek government to mask the true extent of its deficit with the help of a derivatives deal that legally circumvented the EU Maastricht deficit rules. At some point the so-called cross currency swaps will mature, and swell the country's already bloated deficit.
Goldman Sachs helped the Greek government to mask the true extent of its deficit with the help of a derivatives deal that legally circumvented the EU Maastricht deficit rules. At some point the so-called cross currency swaps will mature, and swell the country's already bloated deficit.
Iraq War: Clare Short savages Tony Blair's 'lies', mirror.co.uk | February 3, 2010
Summary:"...In a ferocious attack on Blair's government, Ms Short made a series of explosive remarks. She accused the former Prime Minister of misleading Parliament and claimed law chief Lord Goldsmith conned the Cabinet that the invasion was legal..."
Monstrous: What Have They Done In Our Name?
"...The ex-International Development Secretary told how a "deceitful" Mr Blair silenced Cabinet colleagues who questioned his plans for the 2003 invasion. She said she was jeered by Mr Blair and his pro-war "mates" when she raised objections. more »
UK Iraq inquiry: senior Government lawyers thought war unlawful, telegraph.co.uk | January 26, 2010
Summary:The voices drowned out by the clamour for war are speaking aloud once more.
Sir Michael Wood, the Foreign Office's chief legal adviser at the time of the 2003 invasion, and his then deputy, Elizabeth Wilmshurst, are reportedly planning to tell the inquiry that the conflict was not lawful without a second United Nations resolution.
Voices drowned out by the clamour for war are speaking aloud once more. Their accusing echoes will be America bound. Soon. more »
Obama Finally Gets His Victory For Bipartisanship, Huffington Post | January 20, 2010
Summary:I like the Huffington Post.
The story is an appraisal of Obama's ability to turn victory in 2008 into defeat in the Kennedy heartland in 2010. You really do have to ask yourself whether the 'change' mantra of his election victory should have been 'no change'.
Who is Obama?
The story is an appraisal of Obama's ability to turn victory in 2008 into defeat in the Kennedy heartland in 2010. You really do have to ask yourself whether the 'change' mantra of his election victory should have been 'no change'.
Who is Obama? more »Illegal, inevitable – Chilcot inquiry casts new doubts on Iraq war, The Guardian | January 13, 2010
Summary:It seems Bush and Blair had regime change on their minds long before the coalition of the willing, gathered together on falshoods, launched the first bomb or the first foot of the liberation/invasion force set fot into Iraq.
I cannot help but remember Colin Powell's decisive UN meeting at which he displayed 'evidence' of WMD'S and turned peace in
It seems Bush and Blair had regime change on their minds long before the coalition of the willing, gathered together on falsehoods, launched the first bomb or put the first foot of the liberation/invasion force into Iraq.
I cannot help but remember Colin Powell's decisive UN assembly meeting at which he displayed 'evidence' of weapons of mass destruction (WMD'S) and turned peace into war. more »
The Unfrozen North , enn.com | December 29, 2009
Summary:The Arctic was a very different place 3,000,000 years ago, between 10 to 18 degrees warmer, sea level 35 Metres higher, with the average temperature of the Earth only 3 deg warmer, and all without human help..
"We have been here before" and we will be again.
Source URL:The Arctic was a very different place 3,000,000 years ago, between 10 to 18 degrees warmer, sea level 35 Metres higher, with the average temperature of the Earth only 3 deg warmer, and all without human help..
"We have been here before" and we will be again. more »
