US Politics

"A new report by the Government Accountability Office inadvertently discredits a claim often made by 9/11 truth debunkers – that bombs could not have been smuggled into the twin towers or Building 7 without being noticed by security. “In the past year, investigators successfully smuggled bomb-making materials into ten high-security federal buildings, constructed bombs and walked around the buildings undetected,” reports the Washington Post. The GAO said that Federal Protective Service security at the offices of Homeland Security, the Justice Department and the State Department amongst others was easily penetrated by investigators carrying liquid explosives and low-yield detonators. “In one instance, the GAO obtained a building security tape showing an investigator walking through a security checkpoint with bomb making materials,” according to the Post." - Michael Forian from Bookmarklet

you still have to keep within reality tho, WTC may have been an inside job, but it was not brought down by explosives. Apply a bit of fundamental logic to the events of that day and you realise that. Evidence supports exactly what we saw unfolding on our TV's - a plane with gallons of air fuel caused fires to rage on many floors. The conditions were right to weaken the main support... more... - alphaxion

"On MSNBC this afternoon, Firedoglake’s Jane Hamsher engaged in a spirited exchange with Townhall’s Jillian Bandes about health care reform. After Hamsher mentioned that she was speaking out in favor of the public option as “a sixteen-year cancer survivor,” Bandes replied, “I’m sorry I’m not a cancer survivor, but that doesn’t mean I can’t criticize a public plan.” When Hamsher argued that access to health care should be a human right, Bandes interrupted her and threw up her arm, asking “should food be a basic human right?”" - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

It is starting Andrew and loss of services and technology for smaller system care centers. Gov stepped in when we tried to join up with another hospital to provide a better service plan for the community at large and denied the larger institution's request to co-exist with us. Here is another sign on the wall: http://capwiz.com/asecho... - jlt-Janet

He would know ;) - /Users/genieyclo

"But what we didn't know then and what would probably have ended Jefferson's political career immediately was another thing he kept in that freezer of his: veggie burgers. The incriminating evidence emerged yesterday in Jefferson's corruption trial (we have more pictures here): It's a culinary scandal! You can't live in Louisiana, with the most deliciously rich and complex cuisine in the country, and stock up on Boca Burgers." - Andrew C from Bookmarklet

"It's not just the act of eating veggie burgers which is such a disgrace, but to make room in your freezer requires tossing out things like gumbo, shrimp, speckled trout, crawfish and all the other delicacies that overflow from a Louisiana freezer (which, I should note, are conspicuously absent in these pictures of Jefferson's freezer). " - Andrew C

I love it when the Foods group and US Politics group come together! - Katy S

"If you've been following the money in the public health care debate with us for the last month, you've probably got a pretty good sense now where it leads. As Congress continues debating the issue, we're making it even easier for you to keep track of the money by comparing the views of the big industries involved and some of the key players in each industry. Check out how much money they've spent on lobbying expenditures in 2008 and in the first three months of 2009, the total they've given to lawmakers' candidate committees and leadership political action committees since the start of the 2008 election cycle and which party they're bankrolling. (Note: Because PACs may file either on a monthly or semi-annual basis in 2009, many PACs will be reporting for the first time on July 31st, so these figures are subject to change.)" - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

"It's natural for us to flock towards the do-gooders of society. Whether we, as standard persons of society, use our time on earth to contribute to it's enlightened evolution or not, we feel as if we are a part of particular movements when we support the celebrity Souls who are out there getting their hands dirty to clean the world's wounds. And even though we aren't the ones who are traveling to troubled nations and underprivileged communities, we are able to contribute to the strength of celebrity's efforts through our collective support of their saintly services." - Brad Williamson

"The ombudsman explains: when other countries do it, it's torture; when the US does it, because we're not doing it for political repression, it isn't torture. Even if the techniques are identical. This is the policy of the entire MSM. Again: it isn't journalism. It's government propaganda. And they revel in it." - Sean McBride from Bookmarklet

What do NPR, NYT, etc say about torture carried out by other countries _on behalf of the US_? Cause there was a 7-8 year period of using extraordinary renditions... - Andrew C

"The world McNamara has departed could soon be convulsed by attempts to modify Iran's behavior. Since a variety of incentives have been unavailing, more muscular measures -- perhaps "surgical strikes," a phrase redolent of the McNamara mentality -- are contemplated." - Sean McBride from Bookmarklet

"David Gratzer is from the conservative Manhattan Institute, one of the organizations designed to obstruct progressive change in America. In this case, he gets confronted on statistics about Canada’s health care and conservative FUD about waiting lines and rationing, etc." - Vox from Bookmarklet

Had always been suspicious of the Manhattan Institute, but I didn't realize they were so obviously jackasses. I guess the numbers can only be twisted so far, though. - Andrew C

Thought about this some more - his pissy attitude was at least half undeserved. Kucinich interrupted him because he was trying to avoid the initial questions. When asked about median waits in Canada, Gratzer tried to answer with stats about Ontario. Imagine if someone tried to talk about national trends in the US by talking only about California + NY + Texas. - Andrew C

“...in a move the ACLU describes as ‘bad citizenship,’ several major television stations - including NBC, ABC, and FOX affiliates in Los Angeles and San Francisco - have refused to air it, citing management's ‘comfort’ and ‘standards’.” - Anthony Citrano

How is it that Rahm has such a hard-nosed reputation when selling out progressive principles is his first instinct? - Andrew C from Bookmarklet

"Sarah Palin's manic, rambling, completely incoherent resignation speech the other day was just the latest of her many naked processions through town. Yet for reasons I can't begin to fathom, a large number of people, in both Republican circles and the mainstream media, continue to insist that she's wearing a beautiful new suit." - Vox from Bookmarklet

"Now that Sen. Coburn (R-OK) has said he will not answer any questions about his conversations with Sen. Ensign (R-NV) because he was acting as his physician (and spiritual counselor), TPM Reader DE reminds us that Dr. Coburn is an OB/Gyn. A deeper scandal than we'd ever imagined?" - Anika Malone from Bookmarklet

ya just can't make this stuff up! - MikeAmundsen

You know, no one will ever accuse Coburn of being one of the sharpest senators, but come on man...give us *something* that sounds plausible. - Anika Malone

"Baghdad survives now as a city defined not by its thousands of years of history, but rather segregation brought on by policies of deliberate ethnic cleansing. The city is now a checkerboard of neighborhoods walled off from one another by giant concrete-block dividers installed by American troops in an effort to keep Iraqis from killing one another, a phenomenon born from ethnic and religious differences which have violently come to a head in the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003. Once we get beyond the pageantry and spectacle of the deception that is taking place in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities “formerly” occupied by U.S. troops, the pretense of progress is difficult to sustain." - Sean McBride from Bookmarklet

"The number of Iraqi refugees has more than quadrupled since the invasion. Some 500,000 Iraqis had fled the abuses of the Saddam regime, while today more than 2 million Iraqis have been compelled to leave the country as a direct result of the U.S.-led invasion and subsequent occupation. Another 2 million have been forced from their homes and are internally displaced." - Sean McBride

"WASHINGTON -- Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon E. Panetta has told lawmakers that the agency "concealed significant actions" from Congress, according to a letter released Wednesday from seven Democratic lawmakers. The letter also contends that Mr. Panetta said CIA officials have misled Congress since 2001. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes sent a separate letter on Tuesday to the top Republican on his committee saying that Mr. Panetta's appearance led him to conclude that the CIA had "affirmatively lied" to the committee. Mr. Reyes, a Texas Democrat, said the issues Mr. Panetta disclosed to the committee may lead to a full committee investigation." - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

If the lies were about torture or WMDs, then I think the getting caught pales next to the lying. - Andrew C

"Congressman Ron Paul has vowed that he will not be stopped in his effort to audit the Federal Reserve, as he slammed Senate authorities for blocking the bill earlier this week. Appearing on Fox News’ Freedom Watch with Judge Napolitano Paul referred to Senate authorities blocking Jim DeMint’s attempt to attach the legislation, which already has 250 co-sponsors in the House, as a provision to a spending bill as a “facade”. The amendment was blocked by Senate authorities on Monday after they claimed that it violated rules for provisions attached to spending bills. “Technicalities are always ignored for things they want – this means they don’t want it and this is their organized effort now to stop us, but we’re not going to be stopped, it’s just going to energize everybody at the grass roots,” said the Congressman." - Michael Forian from Bookmarklet

Sean: Rumors are irrelevant; rumors are not common knowledge. China, India, Russia and others know what's up, though, they will not explicitly say it; they can't... We're attached at the hip. #TheEmperorHasNoClothes - Jason Nelson

"Inspectors found that 27 laptops, worth $55,000 were missing out of a sample of 334 from four State Department bureaus. "Because the content and the encryption status of the missing laptop computers are unknown, there is a risk that PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and other sensitive Department information may be susceptible to unauthorized access and use," it says. While no security breaches were confirmed, the report is critical of the State Department's system for tracking its laptop computers, and recommends changes to improve it." - MikeAmundsen from Bookmarklet

Libraries that circulate laptops have better tracking than this. - The Archangel ωαřмaiden

"Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both." - Sean McBride from Bookmarklet

I have been cyber stalked... It has been covered with a simple restraining order.... so that either in RL or Cyber, should the person continue.... They get arrested... simple cut and dry... I see no need to restrict FREE Speech in any manner, shape or form... whether or not I agree with it, it is a right as an American. - The Catz Meow

"Last week, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) claimed that Judge Sotomayor may not be fit for the Supreme Court because she served on the board of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (now known as “LatinoJustice PRLDEF”), a highly regarded civil rights organization. On Monday, a group of 25 leading Latino organizations, including the Hispanic National Bar Association, the National Council of La Raza, and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, sent a letter to Sessions slamming his questionable attacks on LatinoJustice PRLDEF: LatinoJustice PRLDEF is a strong and vibrant institution and its work serves not only the Latino community, but the nation as a whole because it advances the basic American principles of equal opportunity and equal access to justice for all in our society. While we each have the right to disagree on specific issues, LatinoJustice PRLDEF’s body of work deserves our respect and yours. Attacks on Latino advocacy and civil rights organizations are not... more... - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

What an idiot. - Ladybug Heather

"Fox & Friends’ Brian Kilmeade made a terrible buffoon of himself on the television this morning! You know why the Olds get Dementia and Alzheimer’s, in America? This is why: “We are — we keep marrying other species and other ethnics and other … See, the problem is the Swedes have pure genes. Because they marry other Swedes …. Fins marry other Fins, so they have a pure society.”" - Darryl from Bookmarklet

wait, "other species". That comes across as really racist. - Ethan

"See, the problem is the Swedes have pure genes. Because they marry other Swedes .... Finns marry other Finns, so they have a pure society." - tehKenny from Bookmarklet

Batshit insane. - Tad, Anti-Immanentizer

"Rep. Steve King (R-IA) was the only congressman to vote against a resolution yesterday that acknowledges the role that slaves played in the construction of the U.S. Capitol Building, reports Ryan Grim of the Huffington Post. According to the text of the resolution, which passed 399-1, its simple goal is to recognize those who constructed the Capitol with a marker: “Whereas enslaved African-Americans performed the backbreaking work of quarrying the stone which comprised many of the floors, walls, and columns of the Capitol… Whereas recognition of the contributions of enslaved African-Americans brings to all Americans an understanding of the continuing evolution of our representative democracy; and Whereas a marker dedicated to the enslaved African-Americans who helped to build the Capitol will reflect the charge of the Capitol Visitor Center to teach visitors about Congress and its development…”" - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

Yikes... - Denise Alvarado-Wirtz

"The Minnesota Republican Party [sent] Democratic Sen. Al Franken's campaign a check for almost $96,000 that was owed to him by Republican former Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign. This had been the result of a trial-court judgement in early June, finding Coleman liable under the state's loser-pays provision for a small portion of the legal fees that Franken had piled up in the course of the election litigation." - Andrew C from Bookmarklet

"WASHINGTON (CNN) – Emmy Award winner Alec Baldwin is eyeing a post-acting career that could take him off a Hollywood soundstage into the halls of Congress. Baldwin, who currently stars in the NBC comedy "30 Rock," told Playboy magazine that he is seriously considering running for Congress. But he acknowledged his opponents would have plenty of fodder to use against him. "I'll put it this way," he told the magazine. "The desire is there; that's one component. The other component is opportunity."" - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

Steven ++ for the Reagan crack. - Andrew C

And somewhere, Bill O'Reilly's head explodes. - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

There's a big difference! Mark Twain was folksy. Al Franken eats lutefisk... and likes it. - Bill Sodeman

This guy knows what he's talking about. Support H.R 676 - Ethan from Bookmarklet

For a moment, I thought I was reading about single PRAYER health care. Whew! - Bill Sodeman

"Scott Roeder, the anti-abortion zealot charged with killing Dr. George Tiller, has been busy. He called the Associated Press from the Sedgwick County Jail in Kansas, saying, “I know there are many other similar events planned around the country as long as abortion remains legal.” Charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault, he is expected to be arraigned July 28. AP recently reported that Roeder has been proclaiming from his jail cell that the killing of abortion providers is justified. According to the report, the Rev. Donald Spitz of the Virginia-based Army of God sent Roeder seven pamphlets defending “defensive action,” or killing of abortion clinic workers. [...] " - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

"Juxtapose Roeder’s advocacy from jail with the conditions of Fahad Hashmi. [...} Fahad Hashmi was extradited to New York, where he has been held in pretrial detention for more than two years. His brother Faisal described the conditions: “He is kept in solitary confinement for two straight years, 23- to 24-hours lockdown. ... Within his own cell, he’s restricted in the movements he’s... more... - Steven Perez