This story best represents the intersection of several seemingly disparate threads that intertwine the last American decade. It appears that an NSA wiretap ensnared Democratic Representative Jane Harman of California discussing a quid pro quo arrangement with a “suspected Israeli agent”.
“It was an MSC vessel,” the official said, confirming the ship fired on an Iranian boat.
Other details were not immediately available. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in
Of course, this is excellent for John McCain.
What is it about conservatives that they perceive bias anytime one of their outstandingly brilliant ideas get challenged? Or better still, that they are crucified for their beliefs socially and economically? From Mashable's Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins :
I’m going to come out and say it here, brand me how you like, but I lean libertarian to conservative in my political beliefs, and on my personal blog and podcast, have made no bones about that. It’s given me a unique opportunity to meet other folks in high tech, folks that you know and have heard of from big time reputable companies and Web 2.0 startups, and who’s services you likely use. Many of these same folks have in confidence have told me that as a conservative, they don’t really feel comfortable publicizing their political affiliations for fear of it affecting their business negatively.
AND he should be fired for this nonsense :
America's fabric is pulling apart like a cheap sweater.
What would sew us back together?
Another 9/11 attack.
[...]
Is there any doubt they are planning to hit us again?
If it is to be, then let it be. It will take another attack on the homeland to quell the chattering of chipmunks and to restore America's righteous rage and singular purpose to prevail.
The unity brought by such an attack sadly won't last forever.
The first 9/11 proved that. *
E-mail stubyko@phillynews.com or call 215-854-5977. For recent columns:
This last 6-years has been a slow-motion train wreck. OBL is still on the loose. The Anthrax attackers are still on the loose. We're stuck in a quagmire in a war of choice in Iraq, losing a winnable war in Afghanistan, and then contemplating opening a third front of the Great War on Terror in Iran (and Pakistan).
I'm tired of staring into the abyss. In addition to the 3000 lives lost on 9/11 and the near 5000 (3600 military deaths, and an estimated 1000 contractor deaths) in Iraq and Afghanistan, we can chalk up threats to free speech, habeas corpus, our own privacy, and any semblance for advocacy for the middle class in Washington. We are distracted from true threats like class inequality, our aging infrastructure, precarious financial environment, and global warming with bright and shiny objects like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, and divisive social wedge issues like abortion, gay marriage, and evolution.
Although Bykofsky takes the easy way out and (correctly) states that another 9/11 would finally unite us, he's correct, but I hope he's thinking of the wrong outcome. He thinks that another 9/11 would would cause us to put aside our partisan differences to get "it" done – I'm assuming by "it" he means the War on Islamofacism. But there's danger in these thoughts. With the right proudly proclaiming that we are safer BECAUSE there have been no new attacks, another 9/11 might have the complete opposite consequences – reinforces the disgust and despair many of us are feeling towards our media and political institutions.
The next-9/11 will preceed one of two outcomes – either the police state, or the beginning of the American Renaissance, where we cast of the dead weight and corrupt institutions of the past and become the America we thought, hoped, and dreamed we were.
Should Bykofsky get fired? Should free speech have consequences? Vote here.
You'll have to excuse me if I think that the sudden outbreak of swastikas on Memorial Day, as well as flag burning, seems a little too much like another time where a swastika suddenly appeared .
Interesting that so few events were deemed to be newsworthy, huh?
I just cannot fathom why the Democrats (some of them, anyway) are so intent to give Bush a blank check for a war that damn-near-everyone opposes (the NYTimes reports that 60% think we never should have invaded, 76% think the surge is failing, and 20% are bat-shit insane). Can you be that afraid of the establishments stenographers and the wingnut welfare recipients? Vote your conviction, stand up to this President, and vote NO on the Iraq funding bill. Even if that means voting AGAINST the minimum wage increase.
The kabuki theater over Iraq, talk of "Wait 'til September" and beginning of the end is pointless – you don't build a $592 million embassy, as large as Vatican City, and plan to walk away, leaving behind only a diplomatic shell. You don't plan on DOUBLING the size of the surge in Iraq (from 21,500 told to the American people 28,000 58,000 to as many as 98,000) by Christmas 2007 [via ThinkProgress], remembering that the original plan called for only 6,000 to remain by December 2006, intending to keep them there for decades.
Furthermore, why are we hearing the war-drums AGAIN over Iran? Two Aircraft Carriers have returned, the President has authorized Covert-Ops to instigate regime change, and the Iranians have seized 4 Iranian-Americans for espionage and attempting to forment rebellion. Iran even has their own version of Ahmad Chalabi, one Alireza Jafarzadeh. How much more will we attempt to tickle the dragons tail? Having screwed up two wars, should we be entertaining the prospect of entering a third?
I've been wondering how BushCo could so flagrantly abuse the law and expect to leave office and remained unscathed, given that the incoming Administration, either Republican or Democrat, will be eager to through anyone and everyone under the bus.
Maybe they're not planning on leaving?
You know it's bad when far-right and far-left websites are in agreement!
The USDOJ document dumps (related to AttorneyGate, PurgeGate, Abu Gonzalez, etc.) that have been posted at the US House Judiciary Committee's website(and parsed at TPMMuckraker) are now part of a searchable database. Via the Sunlight Foundation.
[In the beginning] Shown as a Graphic Novel…
http://www.needlenose.com/i/fubar/inthenickoftime.jpg
The Narrative Story…
http://www.americanprogressaction.org/progressreport/2007/05/shocking_lawlessnewss.html
What We Don't Know?
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/05/what-could-possibly-be-so-bad-by-digby.html
Bush's PERSONAL Involvement…
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/16/bush-comey/
The Secret [Domestic?] Wiretap Program…
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003242.php
The Outcome…
http://salon.com/opinion/greenwald/?last_story=/opinion/greenwald/2007/05/16/nsa_comey/
You'll probably encounter this article by Clive James in Slate all across the interwebs today, accompanied by shrieking cries of "fascist", "wingnut" and "moonbat", and appeals to Godwin.
Take a few minutes and read this, and think long and hard about where we are, where we're going, and where we're likely to end up.
