Revelations about the out-of-control US security state
I’m reading Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State, by Dana Priest and William R. Arkin. The book catalogs the mind-boggling number of secret and semi-secret government agencies and programs that have proliferated since the 9/11 attacks. (“Code names linked companies and agencies and activities, and the number of locations doubled…
Battle over the facts concerning Chuck Hagel
I have been engaged in an ongoing edit war concerning the Wikipedia article on Chuck Hagel, whose name is being mentioned as a possible nominee for Secretary of Defense. Hagel is coming under criticism from Republicans and neocons who are unhappy with Hagel’s statements such as “[t]he Defense Department, I think in many ways, has…
Will Obama ride to the rescue for Republicans?
Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks says, in Obama Will Ride to the Rescue … for Republicans: The Republicans have put themselves in a holy mess with this Plan B debacle. They now have less than zero leverage. They are a national laughingstock. A majority of the country now thinks they are “too extreme.” They…
Image essay on the blood soaked NRA
“Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA. They talk about gun rights but what about Chris’ right to live? When will this insanity stop?” — Richard Martinez, father of 20 year old victim Chris Martinez. “If you go back, you can see Wayne LaPierre, who runs the NRA, testifying in front of…
Gregoire and Ross Hunter on the state budget, with a suggestion
Outgoing Governor Gregoire has proposed two budgets, as described in the video Inside Olympia by TVW. By law the governor is required to submit a balanced budget. The first budget, an all cuts “Book One Budget,” raises no revenue but makes significant cuts to state programs, namely to: Gregoire’s second budget raises revenue from an…
Panetta: We Need to Cut DOD Budget
During a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., [Defense Secretary] Panetta said lawmakers should take out about $74 billion in “needless†spending on weapons that “have outlived their usefulness.†– from Panetta: We Need to Cut DOD Budget But our leaders in D.C. instead want to cut Social Security. Don’t put up…
Armed guards in schools?
The answer to gun violence is more guns? Columbine High School Had Armed Guards During Massacre In 1999. As others have said, how odd that so-called conservatives are calling for more government policemen.