Obama wants FBI to be able to get individual's internet usage data without a warrant

White House proposal would ease FBI access to records of Internet activity - Washington Post

"The Obama administration is seeking to make it easier for the FBI to compel companies to turn over records of an individual's Internet activity without a court order if agents deem the information relevant to a terrorism or intelligence investigation."

How is the Obama administration different than the Bush administration, again? What do you think, liberals? Getting what you expected here? Is this the "change" you were looking for?

Bank Bailout May Cost $23.7 Trillion

U.S. Rescue May Reach $23.7 Trillion, Barofsky Says (Update3) - Bloomberg

"July 20 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. taxpayers may be on the hook for as much as $23.7 trillion to bolster the economy and bail out financial companies, said Neil Barofsky, special inspector general for the Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program."

OK folks, let's do some simple math. $24 trillion divided by 100 million U.S. households....that's $24,000 per family. Would the banking system have "collapsed" if we gave each American family $24,000? What would that $24 trillion have bought? Consumers would have spent and saved...a huge boost to us all. What did it actually go to? Bailing out degenerate billionaire gamblers, paying above-market rates for their insane bets. Come on folks. Don't you see it's time to take the power away from legislator-lobbyist cabal?

Three Catholic Priests Filmed at Gay Clubs in Undercover Sting

Gay priest sex scandal as undercover Berlusconi reporter 'films clerics at gay clubs' | Mail Online

"Using hidden cameras, a journalist from Panorama magazine - owned by
Italian Prime Minister and media baron Silvio Berlusconi - filmed three
priests as they attended gay nightspots and had casual sex."

Return of the Debtors Prison

America's new debtor prison: Jail time being given to those who owe

U.S. Taxpayers Bailout Foreign Banks

Goldman reveals where bailout cash went - USATODAY.com

Corporations are not "American," folks.  To bailout a corporation under the assumption that it is loyal in some way to the U.S. is utter insanity. Can't you see it for what it is...theft? Croyism?

GM Doing Just Fine...in China

G.M., Eclipsed at Home, Soars to Top in China - NYTimes.com

"In the first half of this year, G.M.’s China sales rose 48.5 percent over the same period last year, and for the first time ever, the automaker sold more vehicles in China than in the United States. Just 13 years after entering China, G.M. now says the country accounts for a quarter of its global sales — blistering growth that even G.M. did not expect this soon."

The Scariest Unemployment Graph I've Seen Yet

The Scariest Unemployment Graph I've Seen Yet - Business - The Atlantic

Toxic legacy of US assault on Fallujah 'worse than Hiroshima'

Toxic legacy of US assault on Fallujah 'worse than Hiroshima' - Middle East, World - The Independent

"Dramatic increases in infant mortality, cancer and leukaemia in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, which was bombarded by US Marines in 2004, exceed those reported by survivors of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, according to a new study.

"Iraqi doctors in Fallujah have complained since 2005 of being overwhelmed by the number of babies with serious birth defects, ranging from a girl born with two heads to paralysis of the lower limbs. They said they were also seeing far more cancers than they did before the battle for Fallujah between US troops and insurgents.

"Their claims have been supported by a survey showing a four-fold increase in all cancers and a 12-fold increase in childhood cancer in under-14s. Infant mortality in the city is more than four times higher than in neighbouring Jordan and eight times higher than in Kuwait."

And we're trying to scare the world that Iran MAY use nukes...

This Guy Gets It, Do You?

Huge PBS Frontline & Washington Post Expose on America's Failed Spy Networks

National Security Inc. | washingtonpost.com

"The Post investigation uncovered what amounts to an alternative geography of the United States, a Top Secret America created since 9/11 that is hidden from public view, lacking in thorough oversight and so unwieldy that its effectiveness is impossible to determine."

A huge government program which failed its intent, and was a giant intrusion on our freedoms...imagine my surprise.

Was Jesus a Conservative?

- Barbara Bush

Tea Party Jesus: Blog Puts Words Of Conservatives In The Mouth Of Christ (PICTURES)

Take pictures of Jesus, and add the actual words of conservatives...let's see if they fit.

China passes U.S. as top energy consumer

CBC News - World - China passes U.S. as top energy consumer

"For the first time in more than a century, a country other than the United States consumed more energy than any other nation, as China grabbed the top spot last year."

This is important to note. Some still like to think of "U.S.A. #1," but the world is changing. China is not an "emerging" market. It is not a "developing" market. It is becoming THE market. And American's need to understand that they cannot afford to act as policeman to the world. We cannot burden our country with debt, relegating a generation to stagnant growth, as other countries pass us up. America's power and influence has always come from our strong economy. We are making it weaker for decades by bailing out corporations, and spending money like a teenager trying to impress his friends.

Congressman introduces resolution to protect citizens who videotape cops

Congressman introduces resolution to protect citizens who videotape cops

"A U.S. Congressman has introduced a resolution that would protect citizens who videotape cops in public from getting arrested on state wiretapping charges.

Edolphus Towns, a Democrat from New York, introduced the resolution on Thursday, the same day USA Today wrote a scathing editorial denouncing these types of arrests."

Good job, Ed.  Our ability to videotape cops is a great way to balance power.  The trend of arresting these citizens has been very scary.

Pentagon Possibly Gave KBR Immunity to Kill Americans

Blumenauer demands that Pentagon explain KBR immunity deal | OregonLive.com

"U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer is demanding that the Pentagon explain how war contractor Kellogg, Brown and Root may have been granted immunity from harming any soldier or civilian in Iraq."

Reminder from 2007...U.S. Begins Operation to Destabilized Iran

Bush Authorizes New Covert Action Against Iran - The Blotter

"The CIA has received secret presidential approval to mount a covert "black" operation to destabilize the Iranian government, current and former officials in the intelligence community tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com."

"Gee whiz, I can't figure out why those darn Iranians don't trust us?  Can't they understand that we just want peace in the region?  Clearly they hate us for our freedoms."

Harvard Professor Warns of U.S. Collapse

Historian warns of sudden collapse of American ‘empire’

"Harvard professor and prolific author Niall Ferguson opened the 2010 Aspen Ideas Festival Monday with a stark warning about the increasing prospect of the American “empire” suddenly collapsing due to the country’s rising debt level."

China Downgrades U.S. from AAA

Chinese rating agency strips Western nations of AAA status - Telegraph

"China's leading credit rating agency has stripped America, Britain, Germany and France of their AAA ratings, accusing Anglo-Saxon competitors of ideological bias in favour of the West."

When is the owner of our debt going to call-in his loan...and how are we going to pay for it?

Netanyahu In 2001: 'America Is A Thing You Can Move Very Easily'

Netanyahu In 2001: 'America Is A Thing You Can Move Very Easily'

"As noted in Haaretz, Netanyahu seems to boast of his knowledge of the US by saying, "I know what America is. America is a thing you can move very easily, move it in the right direction. They won't get in their way.""

America: Israel's puppet

You and your Johnson

Conservatives Love Porn

Religious Conservatives Love Online Porn

"America's religious conservatives — and even secular conservatives — are among the first to complain about pornography and anything which makes sex easier to see. It's therefore very curious to learn that these same conservatives are also among the biggest consumers of pornography. Among the states which lead the nation in subscriptions to online pornography sites, 8 out of 10 supported John McCain in the last presidential election. The biggest consumer was the very Mormon Utah!"

It's pretty simple, really.  Repression doesn't get you the results you're looking for...it makes things worse.  Freedom leads to responsibility and healthy morals and values.  Demystify bad and unhealthy things, and they don't become obsessions.

“Why Lobbying Is Washington’s Best Bargain; Lobbyists say for just a few million, they can make clients billions:”

“Lobbyists [are] the best bargain in Washington. Capitol Tax Partners,
for example, is one of 1,900 firms that house more than 11,000 lobbyists
registered to operate in Washington. Last year, according to the Center
for Responsive Politics (CRP), firms like Capitol Tax were paid a total
of $3.49 billion for unraveling the mysteries of the tax code for a
variety of businesses."

How Washington Lobbyists Shaped the Financial Reform Bill - TIME

Can't you see?  There's only one solution...make lobbying Washington less profitable and decrease their power to alter business.

Interesting Stats on Wealth Trends in U.S.

22 Statistics That Prove The Middle Class Is Being Systematically Wiped Out Of Existence In America

Great Interview! Ralph Nader and Andrew Napolitano

Selective Attention Test

Nixon and Kissinger joked over Chile assassination

SpyTalk - Nixon and Kissinger joked over Chile assassination

"President Richard M. Nixon and his national security adviser, Henry A. Kissinger, joked that an “incompetent” CIA had struggled to successfully carry out an assassination in Chile, newly available Oval Office tapes reveal."

I always find it interesting that people like to make fun of "conspiracy theorists." Yet, history is rife with examples of large-scale, secret government intervention.  And in the face of this, they still refuse to filter current news through a skeptical filter based on these frequent historical examples.

50 Statistics About The U.S. Economy That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe

50 Statistics About The U.S. Economy That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe

#50) In 2010 the U.S. government is projected to issue almost as much new debt as the rest of the governments of the world combined.

#49) It is being projected that the U.S. government will have a budget deficit of approximately 1.6 trillion dollars in 2010.

#48) If you went out and spent one dollar every single second, it would take you more than 31,000 years to spend a trillion dollars.

#47) In fact, if you spent one million dollars every single day since the birth of Christ, you still would not have spent one trillion dollars by now.

#46) Total U.S. government debt is now up to 90 percent of gross domestic product.

7,000 Marines and 46 Warships Deployed to. . .Costa Rica to "Fight Drugs"

Costa Rican Govt Approves US Occupation -- News from Antiwar.com

"In another example of the growing militarization of the war on drugs, the Costa Rican government has given the US permission to launch an invasion of up to 7,000 Marines, ostensibly to “fight drugs.”"

The US is deploying 7,000 Marines, 46 warships, and hundreds of helicopters to....Costa Rica?!? To allegedly "fight drugs"?!

Bernanke and Geithner Lied to Congress, Saying Bailout Money for "Investment Grade" Securities

Fed Made Taxpayers Unwitting Junk-Bond Buyers - Bloomberg

"Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and then-New York Fed President Timothy Geithner told senators on April 3, 2008, that the tens of billions of dollars in “assets” the government agreed to purchase in the rescue of Bear Stearns Cos. were “investment-grade.” They didn’t share everything the Fed knew about the money.

The so-called assets included collateralized debt obligations and mortgage-backed bonds with names like HG-Coll Ltd. 2007-1A that were so distressed, more than $40 million already had been reduced to less than investment-grade by the time the central bankers testified. The government also became the owner of $16 billion of credit-default swaps, and taxpayers wound up guaranteeing high-yield, high-risk junk bonds."

These guys are still in office, ya know.

Gov't Intervention In Banking Crisis = This...

Bush Admits He Targeted Saddam Before 9-11

Bush admits he targeted Saddam from the start

"President Bush acknowledged for the first time yesterday that he was mapping preparations to topple Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein as soon as he took office."

Corrpution Has Doubled in Afghanistan since 2007

Survey: Corruption Doubled in Afghanistan Since 2007 -- News from Antiwar.com

"Though it is almost unfathomable that it is even possible given how widespread corruption was in 2007, a recent survey by the Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) organization shows that the level of corruption in Afghanistan has doubled since then."

Spreading our brand of crony capitalism to the world!

Jefferson (My Favorite President) Quotes

American's Journey: How did Jefferson know?

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the
brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement:

"This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to
gather at one time in the White House with the exception of
when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."


"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe." - Thomas Jefferson


"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson


"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.
A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world."
- Thomas Jefferson


"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
- Thomas Jefferson


"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
- Thomas Jefferson


"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." - Thomas Jefferson


"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms
is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
Thomas Jefferson


"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson


"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." - Thomas Jefferson

PAY ATTENTION TO THIS ONE:

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their
currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will
grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children
wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." - Thomas Jefferson (1802)

New Report Shows Cheney's Claim That CIA Report Showing Waterboarding Works Was A Lie

SEC Says Airline Put Option Info "Destroyed"

Washington's Blog

The SEC responded:

This letter is in response to your request seeking access to and
copies of the documentary evidence referred to in footnote 130 of
Chapter 5 of the September 11 (9/11) Commission Report.

***

We have been advised that the potentially responsive records have
been destroyed.

Michael Steele Mentions Fight Club

Bill Maher Tells Teabaggers He Likes the Idea of Cutting Spending, But Ya Gotta Cut Military (video)

Bill Maher Blasts Tea Baggers For Ignoring Defense Spending (VIDEO)

"Everything that goes into defense costs us about a trillion dollars a year, most of which goes into fighting the Russians in 1978."

BBC: There Is No Al Qaeda

$4 Trillion Extra on Fed's Balance Sheet

Fed to GSEs – Put it on the Balance Sheet! | zero hedge

Let's do some simple math.

$4 tril. divided by the number of households in the U.S., let's say 100 mil.
Well, that's $40,000

Which would have been better for the economy, giving every family in the U.S. $40k, or bailing out AIG, GM, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup?

Was the bailout for us? Was it for the stability of the financial system? Of course not. The system is still not stable. Would it have been if we all got $40,000? You're damn right it would.

Do you really need more proof that politicians are corrupt and their power needs to be cut back dramatically?