A prominent journalist who spread lies the U.S. government used to sell the war in Iraq-which led to the deaths of an estimated 1 million-plus people-implied that whistleblower Chelsea Manning has blood on her hands for exposing U.S. atrocities in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Manning, who has been serving a 35-year prison sentence for leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks, had her prison sentence commuted on Tuesday, January 17, after years of pressure from grassroots activists and advocacy groups.
Category: Liberal Political News
The Many Faces of Trump Foreign Policy
From NBC. Admit it, you’d rather look at Nick Offerman than Donald Trump. Which is good.
NATO and Obsolescence: Donald Trump and the History of an Alliance
It should be a point of some delicious reflection for peace activists who have fought for decades against the nature of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. It brought the US deep into West European affairs, turning European states into garrisons.
Fox News Yakker: ‘The Real McCarthyism Is Hollywood’
Fox News would like us all to know that if there is criticism of President Obama, like say for example, from Gary Sinise and Kelsey Grammer, well that’s okay. But if people get pushback like Nicole Kidman did for telling us all we should just get over the fact that America just elected a fascist golden cheeto, well, screw that.
MLK en francais
My to-do list today included tracking down eighteenth-century primary sources in French for some of my ambitious Francophone students. So, obviously, I decided to see what if anything French press had on Martin Luther King .
ACLU Calls on Americans to Take “The People’s Oath” and Pledge …
Building on the sense of urgency and desire to take action that many Americans feel as we approach Donald J. Trump taking the Presidential Oath, the American Civil Liberties Union invites people to create their own oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution through its new campaign – The People’s Oath – launching this week to coincide with the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. Starting Jan. 16, individuals are encouraged to go to peoplesoath.org to add their own ending to: I do solemnly swear to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States to ensurea for example, that I’m the only one who gets to decide what to do with my body or a that my Muslim-American brothers and sisters get the same rights I do.
EU: Orwellian Counter-Terrorism Laws Stripping Rights Under Guise of Defending Them
Sweeping new laws are driving Europe into a deep and dangerous state of permanent securitization, Amnesty International said on the publication of a comprehensive human rights analysis of counter-terrorism measures across 14 EU member states. Dangerously disproportionate: The ever-expanding national security state in Europe reveals how a deluge of laws and amendments passed with break-neck speed, is undermining fundamental freedoms and dismantling hard-won human rights protections.
The Internet Wants to Give Chelsea Manning A Hug
Following reports that Chelsea Manning is on President Obama’s “short list” for a possible commutation, the Internet has exploded with support for the imprisoned transgender transparency advocate. Over the weekend, thousands of people started taking part in a spontaneous #HugsForChelsea campaign, posting photos of themselves with their arms outstretched as if waiting to give Chelsea Manning a hug, calling for President Obama to grant her clemency.
Trump Endorses American Geopolitical Suicide
Quoted in German from a conversation held in English, Trump predicted Britain’s exit from the EU will be a success and portrayed the EU as an instrument of German domination with the purpose of beating the U.S. in international trade. For that reason, Trump said, he’s fairly indifferent whether the EU breaks up or stays together, according to Bild.
Private Prisons Are Poised for a Comeback Under Trump. Here’s How to Reform Them.
A sign for the La Palma Correctional Center in Arizona, owned and operated by CoreCivic . Just a few months ago, things were looking very bleak for the private prison industry.
Davos Man Is a Neanderthal Protectionist
“Davos Man is only bothered by protectionist barriers that raise the incomes of autoworkers, textile workers, or other non-college educated workers,” writes Dean Baker. The NYT had an article on the annual meeting of the world’s super-rich at Davos, Switzerland.
Sunday Toons of the Shift Change Moment
Guest: Matt Gertz on Trump’s marginalization of media and their failure to push back; Also: Dismantling health care for millions; What’s up with Tillerson?; And an Inauguration cover-up… Hustler publisher joins us to explain why he blames U.S. media for Trump; Also: Repubs face reality on Iran, ObamaCare; Senate confirmation hearings continue… Tillerson gets grilled on climate in confirmation hearing; Court orders Exxon to comply with MA AG’s probe; VW execs indicted; PLUS : Obama farewell address appeals to reason on climate… On one of the most insane news days ever, we cover Obama’s Farewell, Day 1 of Tillerson’s hearing; Day 2 of Sessions’ hearing, and Trump’s insane press conference… Unresolved conflicts for Trump’s SoS nom; SoS Kerry warns time running out; China’s huge investment in renewables; PLUS: Obama says move away from fossil fuels now irreversible… With control … (more)
5 Images that refute Trump’s attack on Hero John Lewis
It began when Rep. John Lewis announced that he would not attend the inaugural of Donald J. Trump because he did not consider him a legitimate president. Lewis, sometimes called “the conscience of Congress,” emerged to prominence as a very young man in 1963-66 as Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee – of which he had been one of the founders.
We Were Warned About Barack Obama-By Obama
In the fall of 2014, I attended a meeting of Iowa City progressives called to discuss the possibility of trying to enlist Bernie Sanders to enter the 2016 presidential race as a Democrat. When the 30 or so attendees went around the table introducing themselves, all but two expressed “disappointment” with Barack Obama-a president in whom they’d invested considerable betrayed hope for progressive- and left-leaning change.
Crisis
A 37% approval rating would be a major crisis for any president at any time — Trump needs a policy win, and fast https://t.co/viCU6vDdWq Not picking on Thrush in any way, but Bush was basically at sub-40% popularity for 3 years. He hit 25%! I have the ponies to prove it! .
Confessions of a Megalomaniac
THE ARAB taxi driver who brought me to Ramallah had no trouble with the Israeli border posts. He just evaded them.
On the eve of MLK weekend, Obama protects 3 civil rights sites as national monuments
On Thursday evening, in the lead-up to the holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., President Barack Obama announced the designation of three new national monuments to preserve important places in civil rights history. In the same move, the president also expanded two national monuments in California and Oregon, permanently protecting 47,000 additional acres of land.
Ethical failures
Obamacare has saved livesa S-a Ssomething cancer survivor Jeff Jeans knows well. But House Speaker Paul Ryan wasn’t interested in hearing from Jeans at last night’s town hall.
Trump’s national security adviser interfered with US sanctions, spoke directly with Russia
Donald Trump has won the presidency after narrowly carrying a few states to put him above 270 electoral votes.But according… Send a letter to U.S. Senators: Block Jeff Sessions’ appointment as Attorney General. **NOTE: THE FORM LETTER IS BLANK.
Canada’s Household Debt Crisis: Blame Capitalism
Canadian capitalism is in crisis, with household debt reaching a record high 166.9 per cent of disposable income and about 208 per cent of GDP, and wage stagnation is a primary cause. Richard Vague told the Globe and Mail “any country whose private-debt-to-GDP ratio goes beyond 150 per cent and that has a five-year growth rate of 18 per cent or greater in that ratio experiences a financial crisis at some point.”
Alt-Right “Mafia” Using Digital Brownshirt Tactics To Hijack Progressive Groups
Recently, I’ve been made aware of a group of miscreants on Facebook calling themselves the Catena Mafia. According to my sources, they’ve been responsible for hacking into multiple Democratic and Progressive supporting groups, posing as like-minded liberals until they are able to socially engineer their way into being made admins of the groups.
Confirmation Hearing Update: General “Mad Dog” Mattis, Defense Secretary
Up next we have General Mattis for position of Secretary of Defense. Typically this position must be held by someone who has been a civilian for at least 7 years, a qualification Mattis has not met since he just left uniform service in 2013.
Welcome to Psychopathocracy
We are now on the brink of a new form of government, undreamed of by Aristotle, who spoke of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy. We are headed to a psychopathocracy, which has something in common with the degraded form of classical regime types that Aristotle warned against .
Nothing to Worry About Here
Between the Trump transition team’s infighting, incompetence, and high-profile resignations, any decisions that signaled even a modicum of stability for the country would come as a relief at this point. Unfortunately, the nascent Trump Administration isn’t inclined to calm anyone’s nerves.
Hollywood Gets a Clue About Inclusion, Meryl Streep Gets Political at 2017 Golden Globes
After Meryl Streep gave her speech at the 2017 Golden Globes on Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump called her a “Hillary lover” in an interview with The New York Times. Remember last year’s hashtag-fueled protest – #OscarsSoWhite – decrying the lack of diversity at Hollywood’s most hyped awards show? On Sunday night, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association showed up the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by rewarding a wider range of talent at the 2017 Golden Globes.
Carrie Fisher’s Urn is a Giant Prozac Pill
Carrie Fisher’s ashes were carried in a giant Prozac pill at her memorial service on Friday. Fisher, who was cremated and laid to rest along with her mother Debbie Reynolds, had been very open about her struggles with bipolar disorder while she was alive, and Prozac is often used in treatment for the disorder.
Mitch McConnell: Democrats Hoping To Delay Cabinet Nominations Need To ‘Grow Up’
Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with compelling evidence that turtles possess no moral compass, no sense of ethics or the ability to feel shame for utter hypocrisy. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared on CBS’ Face the Nation to pooh-pooh the Office of General Ethics’ complaint that the Senate was rushing President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominations to vote before ethics investigations could be completed.
Allegations Against Russia Less Credible Every Day
The U.S. government has now generated numerous news stories and released multiple “reports” aimed at persuading us that Vladimir Putin is to blame for Donald Trump becoming president. U.S. media has dutifully informed us that the case has been made.
Netanyahu caught trying to negotiate more favorable press coverage
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016.
Trump mentioned Wikileaks 164 times in last month of election, now claims it didn’t impact onea
President-elect Trump says that information published by Wikileaks, which the U.S. intelligence community says was hacked by Russia, had “absolutely no effect on the outcome of the election.” This was not the view of candidate Trump, who talked about Wikileaks and the content of the emails it released at least 164 times in last month of the campaign.
Biden Chides Democrats During Formal Counting Of Electoral Votes
In a ceremony marking the end of the 2016 presidential election, some Democrats objected to the official Electoral College tally. But Vice President Joe Biden objected, saying, “It is over.”
Inquiry Points Toward a Pentagon Plot to Subvert Obama’s Syria Policy
Airstrikes by the United States and its allies against two Syrian army positions Sept. 17 killed at least 62 Syrian troops and wounded dozens more.
Ex-Mexican President Reminds Trump He’s Not Paying For That ‘F*cken’ Wall
TRUMP, when will you understand that I am not paying for that fucken wall. Be clear with US tax payers.
Michelle Obama’s last official White House speech just got emotional
During her final official speech as first lady, an emotional Michelle Obama urged young people to be empowered and lead ‘with hope, never fear.’ Michelle Obama’s final speech as first lady was billed as a tribute to Terri Tchorzynski, named the School Counselor of the Year.
Exxon Predicts Energy Demand Will Rise 25 Percent by 2040
The world’s biggest oil conglomerate says it expects global energy demand to increase by a quarter in the next 23 years. ExxonMobil is the largest of the world’s big oil companies, the supermajors.
Public Transportation Is a Necessity. Why Does New York Price It Like a Luxury?
Say goodbye to congressional gridlock. With Washington shifting decisively into reverse, the drive to advance progressive policies is up to the states and cities.
Wash. Post Details How WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange Went From…
An article from The Washington Post highlighted how conservative media figures who once decried WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as a “deeply flawed individual” are now praising Assange for doing conservatives “a favor.” During the 2016 election, Assange’s WikiLeaks released several batches of stolen emails from Democratic National Committee staff and Hillary Clinton aide John Podesta, sparking a conservative media holiday.
Meet Russia’s favorite congressman. He drunkenly arm-wrestled Putin to decide the Cold War.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher finally has his moment in the sun. With the election of Donald Trump and with building relations with Russia as a foreign policy priority, Rohrabacher’s long-standing and often lonely efforts to do the same are suddenly bearing fruit, as our Robert Costa reports : Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican ally of President-elect Donald Trump and a longtime enthusiast of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Wednesday that he is planning to lead a congressional delegation to Russia next month and expects to meet with Russian officials to discuss “how we can work with the Duma.”
A Mexican politician just took his protest right through Trump’s front door
It’s no surprise that a Mexican politician would object to Donald Trump’s proposed border wall – but only in Trump’s America could one raise those objections in the president-elect’s own building. That’s exactly what happened Wednesday morning when Mexican politician Gerardo FernA ndez NoroA a walked into Trump Tower, sat down in front of the golden elevator bank, and held up a sign showing a map of the United States labeled, “Mexico in 1830.”
The 15 Warnings Signs of Impending Tyranny
2. Repeatedly claim massive voter fraud in the absence of any evidence, in order to restrict voting in subsequent elections. 5. Hold few if any press conferences , preferring to communicate with the public directly through mass rallies and unfiltered statements .