It was a volatile week. John McCain exploded with laughter when a woman in Iowa referred to Hillary as a bitch (Amazingly, instead of apologizing, McCain tried to raise money off the incident). Tom Tancredo took fear-mongering to a new low with ominous campaign ads featuring exploding backpacks in America's malls. And Judith Regan stunned the political/media world with her $100 million lawsuit alleging she was asked by an unnamed senior NewsCorp exec to lie to federal investigators about one-time lover and Giuliani ticking time bomb Bernie "Bada-Bing" Kerik. The smart money is on that unnamed exec turning out to be Roger Ailes, who now solidifies his rep as the Dark Lord Voldermort of NewsCorp: He Who Must Not be Named. Even by Regan, clearly no pushover in the pushback department.
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
Who needs any new episodes of "South Park"?
You just can't make this stuff up.
Now, where ARE all the adults?
By the way,does it really matter which Repuke faces Hillary next year?She's lost the election already,because more then half of their country has actively hated her guts for the last fifteen years.
"Are there signs of approaching Big Brother rule in the United States?
THE ANSWER. You wlll NOT find the answer in the fat Sunday morning papers or from the fat Sunday morning anchorfolks. So I will refer you to my slim blog to Huffington earlier this morning:
"As he arrived home from his diplomatic mission to Pakistan, John Negroponte sounded very discouraged. He 'urged the government to . . . lift the state of emergency . . . release all political detainees' and, of course, to guarantee 'fair and credible elections.'
"But President Bush refused."
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Kucinich for President SEE VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1OGfXgx7ak&feature=PlayList&p=73FFE5173B4762EF&index=0&playnext=1
Rome is burning, the politicians are fiddling. Dollar is collapsing, housing is pulling the economy into recession, Iraq is a mess, and people are upset about McCain chuckling because a supporter called Hillary a name. Who cares, I am a Democrat, and certainly could care less about some name calling. I oppose McCain, but he did nothing wrong.
Lets look at substance - Hillary says she is against the war, but will continue combat operations indefinitely. This is blatant hypocrisy, and she should not be allowed to get away with it.
The Judith Regan story could be big news. It could potentially lead to change in ownership of Fox Network and the Wall St. Journal.
The remarks by President Bush on November 1, 2007 invoking history to justify his agenda has provoked my attention.
Whether a police state exists can only be determined after the damage is well underway, however, there are early signs that can warn of looming despotic rule. The signs of an impending police state are sometimes difficult to recognize since anti-democratic governments are skilled at masking themselves as protectors of the people.
Potential tyrants will invariably point to various entities that they declare are evil. At the same time, would-be tyrants themselves will approve torture, spying on their own citizens and they will disavow internationally established moral codes and agreements that require humane treatment of adversaries and the protection of the environment. Invariably, they will attempt to destroy the credibility of those who oppose them.
Police state types do not hesitate to initiate armed hostilities if they deem it necessary to create anxiety within the populace. They will maintain cozy relationships with domestic business leaders who can be of service to them and, in return, they are happy to provide for the economic desires of this group.
Would-be despots are very aggressive internationally; they tend to ignore diplomatic opportunities. They will flout international treaties and care little when world opinion to turns against them. They will often reach far back in history, point to tyrannies of the past and promise to prevent such occurrences in the future, provided they are given unusual powers. Most often, they will seek outrageous military expenditures even though there will unlikely exist any credible threat, siege or sustained violent attacks.
Are there signs of approaching Big Brother rule in the United States? Each citizen is obliged to consider the possibility.
I find it all too common for women, like the one who asked the original question to McCain, to initiate this kind of conversation!
However, after watching the video, McCain did follow up with the statement, "Can you give me the translation of that?" and added his respect statement for Clinton. He did not call Hillary a "B@#$ch" nor did he raise money for his campaign on that premise.
But then maybe we dont have a problem with social security - we just need everyone to pay into it, including teachers/professors/state workers in 14 states who are are allowed to avoid paying SS tax and contribute to a state controlled retirement account.
Thats right, the very academics who preach the evils of privatization and estoll the virtues of social security may be one of those who got to "opt out", while a student doing a minimum wage job bears the full burden. Lets all pay our fair share, and eliminate the state retirement account scheme in favor of a unified social security pension system for all.
Examples of abuse:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-06-29-benefits-loophole_x.htm
Snippet:
DALLAS (AP) " Thousands of Texas teachers are rushing to retire before a lucrative loophole in Social Security law closes, but there's one catch: They must first spend a day washing windows or scrubbing floors.
Most Texas teachers do not pay into Social Security and instead participate in a state pension fund. But the loophole allows them to receive Social Security benefits if their last day of work before retirement is in a job covered by Social Security.
We must debate "real issues" and speak on our economy, Iraq and foreign policy....I still can not say where any Democrat stands on all the issues. Why arent they screaming for impeachment? Ron Paul is. Dennis Kucinich and Mike gravel are. Why not the others?
Three times this weekend I have heard a Senator and 2 award winning talk show hosts explain that America is in a prime position to impeach this bullshit we have laying up in the peoples house.
The Republicans, up until one week ago, have been saying it would be too un-nerving for the American people to go through another impeachment.
The Dems have gone along with this.
Consistently.
Last week everything changed when Republicans started switching their votes on impeachment and "mocking" the Democrats and causing trouble...
John Conyers has said "this has changed everything."
Please call him Monday morning and request impeachment proceedings begin IMMEDIATELY.
These Republicans must pay for their arrogance and bullying...
Bernie Sanders has said "your calls DO matter."
This war will not end unless these people are impeached or "IF" Ron Paul wins the presidency. Thats too long to wait on an "IF".
Please call.
313-961-5670
202-225-5126
http://metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=12025
ANSWER: There is absolutely NOTHING that can be done to save the current crop of 'murkens from themselves.
A country where Hillary and Giuliani are the only likely nominees, and one where Dennis Kucinich is ignored, doesn't DESERVE to be saved.
If the 1940s' Americans were 'the greatest generation', what would be an appropriate name for them NOW?