Daily Headlines
Whenever lawyers for ex-CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling sought to illuminate the political context for his prosecution as a leaker, prosecutors objected with the support of the federal judge, but politics has always lurked in the case's background, writes Norman Solomon.
Do we really need reminding about what happened six years ago? The financial collapse crippled the middle class and poor -- consuming the savings of millions of average Americans, and causing 23 million to lose their jobs, 9.3 million to lose their health insurance, and some 1 million to lose their homes.
If Iran, one of the two oldest civilizations and cultures on the planet, wishes to continue its existence without coming under the rule of the "exceptional" Americans, Iran must turn its back to the West, ally with Russia, China, India, and the other BRICS countries, and have nothing whatsoever to do with the Western criminals.
A network of conservative advocacy groups backed by Charles and David Koch aims to spend a staggering $889 million in advance of the next White House election, part of an expansive strategy to build on its 2014 victories that may involve jumping into the Republican primaries. Freedom Partners President Marc Short said in an interview that "2014 was nice, but there's a long way to go," noting that the group's ultimate goal is to make free-market ideals central in American society. "Politics is a necessary means to that end," he said.
"Americans used to think Iowa and New Hampshire held the first caucus and primary in the nation every four years. Not anymore,"explains Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders."Now the 'Koch brothers primary' goes first to determine who wins the blessing and financial backing of the billionaire class. This is truly sad and shows us how far Citizens United has gone to undermine American democracy."
According to a Pew Research poll conducted in June 2014, over 70 percent of those who identify themselves as conservatives either do not believe in global warming or don't consider it a danger, nor do they believe that human activity is a serious contributing factor. Finally, many of these self-described conservatives believe that the U.S. has "gone too far in efforts to protect the environment."
Speaker of the House John Boehner and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered a disastrous appearance on 60 Minutes, the lowlight of which was their complete inability to discuss the Republican alternative to Obamacare. John Boehner and Mitch McConnell went on the most watched television news program in the country and promptly fell on their faces. The truth is that Republicans have no replacement plan for the ACA.
some great stories of dealing with the KKK
By Dave Lindorff
Where's the US 'Syriza'?: Greek Voters Tossed a Grenade into the Banker/Bureaucrat-Run European Establishment
Where's the US 'Syriza'?: Greek Voters Tossed a Grenade into the Banker/Bureaucrat-Run European Establishment
Greek voters have elected a radical left party, shattering the European political duopoly backing corporate interests, and paving the way for radical parties in Spain, Italy and elsewhere. But where is the US version of Syriza, asks TCBH! journalist Dave Lindorff (hint, it's not Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders).
By John Whitehead
Handcuffs, Leg Shackles and Tasers: The New Face of Punishment in the Public Schools
Handcuffs, Leg Shackles and Tasers: The New Face of Punishment in the Public Schools
On any given day when school is in session, kids who "act up" in class are pinned facedown on the floor, locked in dark closets, tied up with straps, bungee cords and duct tape, handcuffed, leg shackled, tasered or otherwise restrained, immobilized or placed in solitary confinement in order to bring them under "control."
Recent developments in science are beginning to suggest that the universe naturally produces complexity. The emergence of life in general and perhaps even rational life may be extremely common. Scientists are increasingly beginning to discuss how the basic structure of the universe seems to favor the creation of complexity: disordered energy states produce atoms and molecules, which combine to form suns and associated planets, on which life evolves. Life then seems to exhibit its own pattern of increasing complexity, with simple organisms getting more complex over evolutionary time until they eventually develop rationality and complex culture. And recent theoretical developments in Biology and complex systems theory suggest this trend may be real, arising from the basic structure of the universe in a predictable fashion. "You can look at the universe as a kind of 'complexity machine.'"
A Sun-like star with orbiting planets, dating back to the dawn of the Galaxy, has been discovered by a team of astronomers. At 11.2 billion years old it is the oldest star with earth-sized planets ever found and proves that such planets have formed throughout the history of the Universe. The star, named Kepler-444, hosts five planets smaller than Earth, with sizes varying between those of Mercury and Venus. "We've never seen anything like this - it is such an old star and the large number of small planets make it very special." "This tells us that planets this size have formed for most of the history of the universe and we are much better placed to understand exactly when this began happening." "We now know that Earth-sized planets have formed throughout most of the Universe's 13.8-billion-year history, which could provide scope for the existence of ancient life in the Galaxy."
The hottest news in the U.S. this past week was not President Obama's State of the Union address but rather did the New England Patriots intentionally deflate footballs to gain a competitive edge, a story that suffered from the same rush to judgment that has afflicted other aspects of U.S. journalism.
The new tragedy at Penn State lies in the refusal of the fans, students and faculty of PSU to recognize commercialized college sports as the cause of their initial tragedy. Instead, they continue to worship the memory of the essentially decent, but flawed, man who was led by the glories of commercialization to betray them. They obstinately call for the "hair of the dog that bit them."
Loonies Come Out of the Woodwork: Catholics Who Are Outraged!
Pro-Pope fever has swept the imagination of those who love both Christian principles and progressive thinking. The approval rating is soaring sky-high for the man in the funny hat. Francis has graced the covers of The Advocate and Rolling Stone and was voted Time's Man of the Year. Obama even gave PF a shout out in his State of the Union address this week: "As His Holiness, Pope Francis, has said, diplomacy is the work of 'small steps.' These small steps have added up to new hope for the future in Cuba." Pope Francis has his own fanzine and smartphone app. The man even tweets!
Pro-Pope fever has swept the imagination of those who love both Christian principles and progressive thinking. The approval rating is soaring sky-high for the man in the funny hat. Francis has graced the covers of The Advocate and Rolling Stone and was voted Time's Man of the Year. Obama even gave PF a shout out in his State of the Union address this week: "As His Holiness, Pope Francis, has said, diplomacy is the work of 'small steps.' These small steps have added up to new hope for the future in Cuba." Pope Francis has his own fanzine and smartphone app. The man even tweets!
No, this is not an Onion headline. Kentucky State Senator Brandon Smith, who is, ironically, the chair of the Transportation committee, was recklessly driving 20 miles over the speed limit while intoxicated (.088 on a preliminary breath test).
Are we a nation of sheep, sheepdogs, and 1% wolves? How does a nation grow the good and reduce the bad traits among those herded groups? Is it possible to do so? How well is America doing in building a healthier herd?
The Quantum Leap Exhibit Program at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, VT took a good look at FOX "News" in contrast to the published Ethics of Journalism per the Society of Professional Journalists. They concluded that FOX "News" failed miserably at practicing journalism on every level, as evidenced in their outstanding video, "Vermont High Schoolers Just Destroy Fox News About The Ethics Of Journalism." (Video)
Scott Walker is a candidate the Democrats need to be concerned about. While hard-line conservatives may be drawn to right-wing firebrands like Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Sarah Palin, they are not viable candidates. Walker, on the other hand, has already proven his mettle, time and again, as a gubernatorial candidate in Wisconsin, a Midwest swing state. Walker's policies are every bit as right wing as those proposed by the likes of Cruz and Palin. The problem for Democrats, however, is that unlike those carnival barkers, Walker cannot be easily dismissed. He doesn't just talk about right-wing ideas, he enacts them. This makes him a dangerous candidate, rather than just an ideologically driven circus sideshow, like many of his competitors.
Let's face it, the economic crisis was good news for the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions dropped by half during the economic low point in 2008. 'Sustainable Economic Growth' is an Oxymoron.
Over the past week there were hints and suppositions that Republicans were quaking in their boots at the thought of Pope Francis addressing a joint session of Congress due to his advocacy for the poor and message on climate change. However, it was Speaker of the House John Boehner who invited the "Vicar of Christ" because Pope Francis is not, in any universe, the shining progressive many Americans believe he is. In fact, Francis is closely aligned with conservative Republican ideology; particularly in his position on addressing poverty and social issues such as homosexuality, same-sex marriage, birth control, and women's rights.
By Robert Cogan
Re-institute Disengagement Policy in Middle East
"Disengagement" is the name of a policy successfully practiced by the U.S. during the cold war. This short op-ed is an attempt to inject the idea of disengagement back into discussion of what the U.S. should do in the Middle East. Talk it up!
Re-institute Disengagement Policy in Middle East
"Disengagement" is the name of a policy successfully practiced by the U.S. during the cold war. This short op-ed is an attempt to inject the idea of disengagement back into discussion of what the U.S. should do in the Middle East. Talk it up!
Sarah Palin has just told the Washington Post that she's "Seriously interested in running for the White House in 2016." Yawn!!! She joins fellow no-chancers Cruz, Perry, Jindal, Ron's kid, Rand, Walker, Santorum, Huckabee, Romney and Christie, all likely to run. Jeb Bush could get the nod as the party's nominee, or a new name just emerging.
Pipeline leak spills thousands of gallons of crude oil into Yellowstone River
Nearly 40,000 gallons of crude oil have spilled into the Yellowstone River near Glendive, Montana, as a result of a January 17 leak in a pipeline owned by Bridger Pipeline of Casper, Wyoming. So far, only about a quarter of the leaked amount has been recovered.
Nearly 40,000 gallons of crude oil have spilled into the Yellowstone River near Glendive, Montana, as a result of a January 17 leak in a pipeline owned by Bridger Pipeline of Casper, Wyoming. So far, only about a quarter of the leaked amount has been recovered.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday that the storm approaching on Monday was likely to be one of the biggest to ever strike New York City, and he urged people to stay indoors to avoid powerful winds, low visibility and "treacherous" road conditions. Both the governor and the mayor acknowledged that public transportation could be slowed or halted. "This could be the biggest snowstorm in the history of New York City so, yes, there could be delays of everything," Mr. de Blasio told reporters.
Sheldon Silver, the longtime speaker of the New York State Assembly, agreed on Sunday to relinquish his duties on a temporary basis as he fights federal corruption charges. His decision came amid mounting pressure from his fellow Democrats in the Assembly, who worried that the criminal charges would impair his ability to carry out the duties of one of the most powerful positions in the state's government. In an unusual arrangement, Mr. Silver would not quit his post. Instead, he would temporarily delegate his duties as speaker to a group of senior Assembly members.
Alexis Tsipras, leader of the left-wing Syriza coalition, is about to become prime minister of Greece. He will be the first European leader elected on an explicit promise to challenge the austerity policies that have prevailed since 2010. And there will, of course, be many people warning him to abandon that promise, to behave "responsibly."
The plans by the Israeli Prime Minister to address both Houses of Congress in March in order to rebut the President's call for negotiations with Iran is finally drawing the outrage it deserves. It was condemned in the last day by The New York Times, leading pundits, liberal Zionist organizations, and implicitly, in the Israeli press.
By Tom Engelhardt
Miller and Schivone, Bringing the Battlefield to the Border
Predator drones, tested out in this country's distant war zones, have played an increasingly prominent role in the up-armoring of the U.S.-Mexican border.
Miller and Schivone, Bringing the Battlefield to the Border
Predator drones, tested out in this country's distant war zones, have played an increasingly prominent role in the up-armoring of the U.S.-Mexican border.
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The West destroys a secular government in favour of destabilization and Islamic fundamentalism.
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Jeffrey Sterling, 47, of O'Fallon, Mo., was convicted of nine counts of unauthorized disclosure of national defense information and other related charges for leaking materials that prosecutors said put lives at risk. Sterling was first accused in 2010 of giving classified information to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist James Risen for his 2006 book, "State of War." Prosecutors alleged -- and jurors apparently agreed -- that Sterling was trying to get revenge on the CIA when he talked to Risen about an operation meant to deter Iran's nuclear program.
As millions of residents in the Northeast prepared for a powerful blizzard bearing down on the region, bringing with it near hurricane-force winds along the coast and as much as three feet of snow, officials from New Jersey to Maine urged people to get off the roads and stay indoors. "This will most likely be one of the largest blizzards in the history of New York City," Mayor Bill de Blasio warned.
