Daily Headlines
Why did Democratic voter turnout come up short in North Carolina and send right-wing Republican Thom Tillis to the Senate? After the GOP seized control of the state in the 2010 and 2012 elections, they pushed through the nation's most restrictive new voting laws. These efforts to block the vote made it harder for core Democratic constituencies to cast ballots, including African-Americans, low income voters, and students.
The revolutionist is a curious hybrid of the practical and the impractical. He or she is aware of facing nearly impossible odds. The revolutionist has at once a lucid understanding of power, along with the vagaries of human nature, and a commitment to overthrowing power. And it is the revolutionist alone who can save us from corporate tyranny.
For the wealthy stock owners, a stronger franc would reduce Swiss exports, and less exports would reduce stock prices and the wealth of the wealthy. The vote is clearly a vote about income shares between the rich and the poor. The Swiss establishment opposes the gold-backed franc, as does Washington.
By Tom Engelhardt
Andrew Bacevich: Daydream Believers
Inside the Beltway, policymakers, politicians, and pundits take Iraq's existence for granted. Many can even locate it on a map. They also take for granted the proposition that it is incumbent upon the United States to preserve that existence. To paraphrase Chris Hedges, for a certain group of Americans, Iraq is the cause that gives life meaning. For the military-industrial complex, it's the gift that keeps on giving.
Andrew Bacevich: Daydream Believers
Inside the Beltway, policymakers, politicians, and pundits take Iraq's existence for granted. Many can even locate it on a map. They also take for granted the proposition that it is incumbent upon the United States to preserve that existence. To paraphrase Chris Hedges, for a certain group of Americans, Iraq is the cause that gives life meaning. For the military-industrial complex, it's the gift that keeps on giving.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is stepping down under pressure, the first cabinet-level casualty of the collapse of President Obama's Democratic majority in the Senate and the struggles of his national security team amid an onslaught of global crises. "The next couple of years will demand a different kind of focus," one administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He insisted that Mr. Hagel was not fired, saying that he initiated discussions about his future two weeks ago with the president, and that the two men mutually agreed that it was time for him to leave.
In every case where Washington took a hand in events, the outcome has been catastrophe, chaos, repression and -- terror. Yes, once again, in Egypt as elsewhere, the chickens have come home, the blowback has arrived, and it's time to pay the piper.
the reason I invited David back on the show is he recently wrote an article in response to my series of articles about sociopaths and psychopaths. His article was titled, Can We Really Blame Sociopaths?, and he challenges me on some things. So...and I really enjoyed the article. It was really helpful to me to think some things through. He hits some of the weak points of where I've been on the course of this journey...
Asking American college students of limited means to face a decade or more of debt just to have the education necessary to be competitive in today's job market while the wealthiest 0.1 percent and billion-dollar multinational corporations get so many handouts from the government is obscene. It's past time to make a public college education free for all Americans.
House Republicans just passed a bill forbidding scientists from advising the EPA on their own research
The "reform" measure makes room for industry-funded experts on the EPA's advisory board. Speaking on the House floor Tuesday, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., summed up what was going on: "I get it, you don't like science," he told bill sponsor Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah. "And you don't like science that interferes with the interests of your corporate clients. But we need science to protect public health and the environment."
The "reform" measure makes room for industry-funded experts on the EPA's advisory board. Speaking on the House floor Tuesday, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., summed up what was going on: "I get it, you don't like science," he told bill sponsor Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah. "And you don't like science that interferes with the interests of your corporate clients. But we need science to protect public health and the environment."
Remembering and embracing our melting pot morality.
Church in US and worldwide still does all it can to get away with doing only what it has to, kicking priests and bishops upstairs even to Vatican instead of defrocking them, refusing to establish policy of referring priests and bishops to legal authorities for prosecution, and abusing "bankruptcy" as legal tool to avoid payments -- while just talking about how bad it is as their "action".
By Scott Harris
Facing the Reality of Extinction and Doom: Techno-Utopianism and the Fate of the Earth
Facing the Reality of Extinction and Doom: Techno-Utopianism and the Fate of the Earth
A Summary of, and commentary on last month's "Techno-Utopianism and the Fate of the Earth" conference in New York City.
Uber claims that its access to data analytics is what makes it the future of urban logistics. But in truth, the data tricks to little or nothing -- Uber is no more than a "mechanical turk," relying on the willing labor of underpaid workers for the "miracle" of its service.
A number of high profile TV news anchors quietly met with Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson in hopes of securing an interview with him, CNN's Brian Stelter reported Sunday. Wilson fatally shot Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, in August, sparking months of protests. A grand jury in the St. Louis suburb is currently deliberating whether to indict Wilson over Brown's death, and is expected to issue a decision in the near future. Wilson has not given any interviews since the August shooting, and has not publicly commented on Brown's death.
Darwin 2.0: New theory on speciation, diversity -- ScienceDaily
It has long been thought that dramatic changes in a landscape like the formation of the Andes Mountain range or the Amazon River is the main driver that initiates species to diverge. However, a recent study shows that speciation occurred much later than these dramatic geographical changes. Researchers have found that time and a species' ability to move play greater parts in the process of speciation.
It has long been thought that dramatic changes in a landscape like the formation of the Andes Mountain range or the Amazon River is the main driver that initiates species to diverge. However, a recent study shows that speciation occurred much later than these dramatic geographical changes. Researchers have found that time and a species' ability to move play greater parts in the process of speciation.
By Eric Zuesse
U.S. Among Only 3 Countries at U.N. Officially Backing Nazism & Holocaust-Denial; Israel Parts Company from Them; German
Obama has gone all-out nazi on this.
U.S. Among Only 3 Countries at U.N. Officially Backing Nazism & Holocaust-Denial; Israel Parts Company from Them; German
Obama has gone all-out nazi on this.
Sen. John McCain is prodding one of his closest allies in the Senate to consider a run for the White House -- Sen. Lindsey Graham. "I think he is looking at it, and I am strongly encouraging him to take a look at it," McCain told ABC News. "I know of no one who is better versed and more important on national security policy and defense than Lindsey Graham, and I don't think these challenges to our security are going away."
Iran and six powers failed for a second time this year on Monday to resolve their 12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions and gave themselves seven more months to overcome the deadlock that has prevented them from clinching an historic deal. "We have had to conclude it is not possible to get to an agreement by the deadline that was set for today and therefore we will extend the JPOA to June 30, 2015," British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told reporters at the end of the talks.
Putin told the state-run TASS news agency that Russia was aware of the fatality of a new 'Iron Curtain', referring to the ideological and physical boundary that divided Europe from the end of World War II until the end of the Cold War. Earlier the West warned Moscow of "catastrophic consequences" over Ukraine. "We will not go down this [Iron Curtain] path in any case and no one will build a wall around us. That is impossible!" said Putin. His comments came a day after Russian foreign minister accused the West of seeking "regime change" in Moscow.
Six years ago the Federal Reserve hit rock bottom. It had been cutting the federal funds rate, the interest rate it uses to steer the economy, more or less frantically in an unsuccessful attempt to get ahead of the recession and financial crisis. The fact that we've spent six years at the so-called zero lower bound is amazing and depressing. What's even more amazing and depressing, if you ask me, is how slow our economic discourse has been to catch up with the new reality. Everything changes when the economy is at rock bottom. But for the longest time, nobody with the power to shape policy would believe it.
Kucinich: Weary Nation 'Must Not Cede to Forces of Destruction'
If Americans can look beyond the political theater of the current lame-duck Congress and the uneasy prospect of Republicans taking over Capitol Hill come January, they could begin to restore a badly broken democracy, says former congressman and two-time presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. "When you go across the country and talk to people, there's reason to be hopeful," Kucinich told Common Dreams this week. "But the hope is not in a partisan solution. That's a demonstrated fallacy of our national experience in the last few decades."
If Americans can look beyond the political theater of the current lame-duck Congress and the uneasy prospect of Republicans taking over Capitol Hill come January, they could begin to restore a badly broken democracy, says former congressman and two-time presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. "When you go across the country and talk to people, there's reason to be hopeful," Kucinich told Common Dreams this week. "But the hope is not in a partisan solution. That's a demonstrated fallacy of our national experience in the last few decades."
Jeff Flake Urges Republicans To Move On From Benghazi
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) thinks it's probably time for Republicans to drop their fixation on Benghazi. "I always thought the biggest problem with Benghazi is how it was cast by the administration, and the remarks of Susan Rice just really flew in the face of what we knew was going on," he said. "But with regard to other things that were addressed by this report, yes, I've thought that for a long time we ought to move beyond that."
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) thinks it's probably time for Republicans to drop their fixation on Benghazi. "I always thought the biggest problem with Benghazi is how it was cast by the administration, and the remarks of Susan Rice just really flew in the face of what we knew was going on," he said. "But with regard to other things that were addressed by this report, yes, I've thought that for a long time we ought to move beyond that."
In a city like Jerusalem, contested by three major faiths, religion has always been at the forefront of conflict. Murder in the act of prayer -- as has happened this week -- certainly provides a chilling symbolism of the rifts. But religion colors many aspects of everyday life and identity in Jerusalem.
If the US pursues leadership not out of a false perception that it has a God-given burden to take responsibility for everybody, but by developing the skill to form a consensus, Moscow would be the first to back Washington. But now Washington is bullying other nations into toeing their line, and few dare to object publicly out of fear of reprisal, while complaining in private.
The Russian government has done all it can to encourage Europe to maintain profitable and peaceful relations with Russia. However, it seems that Europeans are too firmly under Washington's control to act in their own interest. Europe's vassalage is permitting a scenario to unfold that could lead to World War III.
Latest Articles
Tamir Rice was only 12 years old and in possession of an airsoft pellet gun. He died yesterday from real bullets. Who is to blame?
An exploration of the progress trap in terms of conquering unchartered frontiers with technological prowess and the destruction of earth's fragile resources.
As Americans prepare to sit down to family turkey dinners in celebration of all that we may have to be thankful for, the Prime MInister of Israel announces our next loss: that of chief ally of the 'only democratic country in the Middle East - if we are true to our constitution.
In its coverage of the Har Nof killings, the Washington Post put "Americans" in its headline, leaving the impression they were tourists. They were not. They were Orthodox rabbis with dual citizenship, American and Israeli. Few media outlets have taken note of the glaring fact that a circle of violence connects Har Nof to Deir Yassin, the Palestinian village destroyed before the formation of the modern state of Israel.
The United States is so degraded that reform or modification is no longer possible and the present system cannot be salvaged. The only options now available are revolt or exile. If you don't believe that you can survive revolt, then leave - while you still can.
Best News Links from the Web
500 sea lions found dead on Peruvian beach - Salon.com
Environmental police are investigating the mysterious mass die-off of the endangered species. Local fishermen are thought possibly to have poisoned them.It's also unclear whether the deaths are related to another mass die-off that took place earlier this month, in which the bodies of about 200 sea lions, along with dolphins, turtles and pelicans, washed ashore on a Peruvian beach further north. Wildlife officials are still investigating the cause.
Environmental police are investigating the mysterious mass die-off of the endangered species. Local fishermen are thought possibly to have poisoned them.It's also unclear whether the deaths are related to another mass die-off that took place earlier this month, in which the bodies of about 200 sea lions, along with dolphins, turtles and pelicans, washed ashore on a Peruvian beach further north. Wildlife officials are still investigating the cause.
Be assured of one thing. There will be a Keystone XL pipeline in your future; your very near future. The Republicans want it. The blue dogs want it. The State Department has blessed most of it and the president is vacillating like a football coach unsure whether to replace his quarterback in a close game. The fact of the matter is, the majority of the Keystone pipeline has already been built; 2,600 miles worth. The yucky junk won't find its way into most of the U.S. until next year, though Texas refineries are already being supplied with light crude. There are 1,200 (well, 1,179) miles to go. The XL pipeline will begin at Hardisty, Alabama, extend to Steele City, Nebraska and fan out after that, ending up on the gulf coast.
Historic negotiations with Iran will reach an inflection point on Monday, as world powers seek to clinch a comprehensive deal that will, to their satisfaction, end concerns over the nature of its vast, decade-old nuclear program. Israel has issued a stark, public warning to its allies with a clear argument: Current proposals guarantee the perpetuation of a crisis, backing Israel into a corner from which military force against Iran provides the only logical exit.
Marion Barry, the iconic four-term former mayor and current D.C. Council member and the best-known local political figure in modern Washington history, died early Sunday, a few hours after ending a brief stay at Howard University Hospital. He was 78. According to the statement, he died at the United Medical Center in Southeast Washington, after having been released from Howard University Hospital Saturday. Natalie Williams, a United Medical Center spokeswoman, said Barry arrived at the hospital around 12:30 a.m. and died at 1:46 a.m.
