tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60387782011-04-21T18:51:16.255-07:00"And to say it once more. Public opinions equals private lazinesses." Mixed views and maxims brought to you by the misanthrope well to your left. holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comBlogger4151100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1118193897343539192005-06-07T18:18:00.000-07:002005-06-07T18:24:57.343-07:00

4th Amendment to play starring role as "toilet paper" in the US's latest release:The bill would give the FBI "administrative subpoena" authority, permitting the bureau to write and approve its own search orders for any tangible thing held by a third party deemed relevant to an intelligence investigation, without prior judicial approval. This unilateral power would let agents seize personal

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1118193485116435602005-06-07T18:14:00.000-07:002005-06-07T18:18:05.120-07:00

Opening statements in trial of former Florida professor:The evidence will show that this case is about Dr. Al-Arian's right tospeak, your right to hear him and the attempt of the powerful to silence him,"Moffitt told jurors. More here.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1115694024552408172005-05-09T19:54:00.000-07:002005-05-09T20:00:24.556-07:00

the oafish boy who holds the spider in the glass -- lifts the edge to allow the spider to roam free again.life is good today. damn good.details to follow.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1107020827482253682005-01-29T09:43:00.000-08:002005-01-29T09:47:07.483-08:00

If you voted for Bush, or for Kerry in the primary, this is what you voted for: Female interrogators tried to break Muslim detainees at the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay by sexual touching, wearing a miniskirt and thong underwear and in one case smearing a Saudi man's face with fake menstrual blood, according to an insider's written account... One female civilian contractor used a special

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1103475465953292832004-12-19T08:48:00.000-08:002004-12-19T08:57:45.953-08:00

It occurred to me, after reading this recent article by Chomsky, that maybe we're better off with Bush. Chomsky writes: The pretext for US-UK aggression in Iraq is what is called the right of “anticipatory self-defense,” now sometimes called “preemptive war” in a radical perversion of that concept. The right of anticipatory self-defense was affirmed officially in the Bush administration National

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1102467804009413272004-12-07T17:01:00.000-08:002004-12-07T17:03:24.010-08:00

From Atrios: Family Values Yesterday: Bush introduced Mike and Sharla Hintz, a couple from Clive, whom he said benefited from his tax plan.Last year, because of the enhanced the child tax credit, they received an extra $1,600 in their tax refund, Bush said. With other tax cuts in the bill, they saved $2,800 on their income taxes.They used the money to buy a wood-burning stove to more efficiently

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1101864925706027072004-11-30T17:32:00.000-08:002004-11-30T17:36:06.853-08:00

Joe Trippi gives his opinion on how to "save" the party. Here's two of them: (1) Democrats can't keep ignoring their base. Running to the middle and then asking our base to make sure to vote isn't a plan. And to those who say talking to your base doesn't work -- Read the Rove 2004 playbook! (2) Finally, what is the purpose the party strives for today? What are our goals for the nation? You

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1101864392547589172004-11-30T17:25:00.000-08:002004-11-30T17:26:32.546-08:00

To paraphrase would be a crime. Go. Seriously.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1101474855161669352004-11-26T05:09:00.000-08:002004-11-26T05:14:15.163-08:00

Successfully propagandized Common Man: "I vote Republican because they represent the common man, not some special interest." Reality: The top-giving corporate political action committees did not hedge their bets in the fall elections despite the narrow division between Republicans and Democrats in Congress. They favored Republican candidates 10 to 1. Of 268 corporate PAC's that donated

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1100020959064364612004-11-09T09:22:00.000-08:002004-11-09T09:26:44.443-08:00

From newly linked MaxSpeak:"Instead of the comforting rationale that merit breeds success and the successful have merit, a more rational approach would be to speculate that in our society wealth and power tend to accrue to those who are ruthless, cunning, avaricious, self-seeking, lacking in sympathy and compassion, subservient to authority and willing to abandon principle for material gain." --

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1100008108287807642004-11-09T05:30:00.000-08:002004-11-09T05:48:28.286-08:00

Daily Kos is Ground Zero for hard-core Democrats on the web (notice how I don't say "liberals"). I've never cared much for his blog because it is largely insight-free. Like reading a talking points memo from the DNC, all fluff no filler. It reminds me of the Iowa housewife who tried to be Karl Rove by nominating John Kerry. Here's the most recent example...Kos exemplifies the ignorance of

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1099931833460308932004-11-08T08:24:00.000-08:002004-11-08T08:37:13.460-08:00

Public Opinion: The reason George Bush won the election of 2004 is because a bunch of Evangelical right-wing nut jobs went to the polls. You know, they voted solely on the basis of "morality/values". Reality: Many, many morons went to the polls to vote for George II, and they did it for many, many reasons (all embarrassingly stupid and all circled around the central reason = ignorance). But,

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1099877123322808512004-11-07T17:09:00.000-08:002004-11-07T17:25:23.323-08:00

I admit it. I was the victim of wishful thinking. Many, many, many months ago I adamantly proclaimed John Kerry a loser. I held that belief until very, very recently. A victim of wishful thinking. I hoped Americans were smarter than I know them to be. I hoped Americans knew more about history. I hoped Americans were better socialized and didn't fear or hate one another (and the rest of

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1099875983850565372004-11-07T17:05:00.000-08:002004-11-07T17:06:23.850-08:00

Quote of the day: God this would be so much easier if you weren't arguing against something I didn't say. You do this so often. Something I say reminds you of something you heard before, and you confuse the two. Instead of arguing against what I said, you attribute what you heard before to me and argue against that. I makes it impossible to have any semblence of an argument. I have to spend more

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1099511610554665272004-11-03T11:48:00.000-08:002004-11-03T14:51:01.106-08:00

I'm at a complete loss for words today -- feel like I'm walking around in a cloud. It will take me a few days to get my thoughts together, but here's two possible takes: (1) I'm moving to Canada. The people in this country are fucking morons. Morons. They deserve all that they shall receive for their ignorance. (2) Perhaps we will witness the reinvention of the Democratic party -- the next big

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1095551384662078282004-09-18T16:44:00.000-07:002004-09-18T16:49:44.663-07:00

For a short while -- unless I come across something I just can't ignore. I'm incredibly busy right now with a campaign. I wish I'd had time to post on Putin's George Bush impersonation. Suffice it to say that the the Russia situation is unfolding like a movie I've seen 20 times, that I'm sick of watching, but that I'm forced to endure because there's nothing else on -- and I can't afford all

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1095386806340639162004-09-16T19:05:00.000-07:002004-09-16T19:06:46.340-07:00

Awesome commercial.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094917455028394752004-09-11T08:26:00.000-07:002004-09-11T08:52:39.010-07:00

Both are "born again". Both are "true believers". Both are a little crazy; both are stupid. Neither knows it. Both "shoot from the hip". Both are deaf to criticism. Both have proven themselves incompetent. Neither have improved. Both make poorly reasoned decisions with dire consequences. Both display a willingness to "go it alone if necessary". Both have proven successful only at: stubbornly

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094912191973647432004-09-11T07:07:00.000-07:002004-09-11T07:16:31.973-07:00

In the United States, health care premiums rose 11.2% this year (from yesterday's Wall Street Journal -- "Health-Care Costs for Companies, Employees Surge"): "marking the fourth consecutive year that companies and their employees have been walloped with a double-digit increase in health-benefit costs." -snip- "The cost of family health insurance is rapidly approaching the gross earnings of a

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094848516188511502004-09-10T13:32:00.000-07:002004-09-11T05:47:57.183-07:00

Although I have made efforts to avoid discussing sports and other trivialities -- here's two college football predictions for you: (1) Miami over FSU -- big (2) South Carolina over Georgia. Call that friend with "a problem" and put some dime down. Easy money folks. UPDATE: Alright, so maybe not "big". FSU tried to lose big, but Miami's offense was largely incapable of moving the ball.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094742999779736892004-09-09T07:59:00.000-07:002004-09-09T08:21:22.510-07:00

According to today's Wall Street Journal, U.S. Corporations are holding more cash than at any time since 1969 ("U.S. Companies Decide to Keep the Money" -- sorry, no link): "U.S. Corporations are piling up cash at the fastest pace in 30 years, raising questions about what these companies intend to do with the wealth. -snip- The amount of cash and liquid investments in the period was equal to

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094590016231460402004-09-07T13:29:00.000-07:002004-09-07T13:46:56.230-07:00

I'm always befudled by the bumper sticker: "Freedom isn't Free". However, thanks to US policy in Iraq, I think I finally understand. From the Guardian UK: Iraqi security officers stormed al-Jazeera's Baghdad offices and sealed the newsroom with red wax at the weekend after the US-backed interim government banned the Arabic television station from broadcasting in the country. The raid followed

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094494201649410312004-09-06T11:07:00.000-07:002004-09-06T11:11:05.293-07:00

The Justice Department's record: (besides the recent Detroit "sleeper" cell shiite) --In Portland, Ore., lawyer Brandon Mayfield was held for days as a material witness in May after the FBI mistakenly said his fingerprint matched one found on a plastic bag connected to the deadly terror bombings in Madrid, Spain. Closer inspection proved the supposed match wrong. --Two leaders of a mosque in

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094493893221003222004-09-06T11:01:00.000-07:002004-09-06T11:04:53.220-07:00

Oh, the glorious invisible hand of the market! What wonders private enterprise and deregulation does for our great society. A SWAT team stormed the Bay County Jail on Monday to end an 11-hour hostage standoff, injuring one hostage and three inmates, authorities said. An undetermined number of other employees were freed. -snip- Jennifer Elmore, an anchor at WJHG-TV, said she received a call

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094483698469583882004-09-06T07:46:00.000-07:002004-09-06T08:14:58.470-07:00

Pat Buchanan speaking the truth on Meet the Press Sunday: MR. RUSSERT: [reading from Buchanan's new book "Where the Right Went Wrong"] "U.S. dominance of the Middle East is not the corrective to terror. It is a cause of terror. Were were not over there, the 9/11 terrorists would not have been over here. And while their acts were murderous and despicable, behind their atrocities lay a political

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094227982658846602004-09-03T09:07:00.000-07:002004-09-03T09:13:02.660-07:00

Does this sound familiar to anyone else? A federal judge threw out the terrorism convictions of two Arab immigrants on Thursday, undoing what the Justice Department once proclaimed was its first major courtroom victory in the war on terror. -snip- "Although prosecutors and others entrusted with safeguarding us through the legal system clearly must be innovative and think outside the conventional

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1094149668291371282004-09-02T11:06:00.000-07:002004-09-02T14:42:08.756-07:00

John Ashcroft to the Press [October 4, 2002]: Earlier today, agents of the Portland and Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Forces arrested suspected terrorist cell members charged with engaging in a conspiracy to join al Qaeda and Taliban forces fighting against United States and allied soldiers in Afghanistan. The alleged conspiracy names six defendants, five of whom are United States citizens,

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1093900167317280612004-08-30T14:09:00.000-07:002004-08-30T14:09:27.316-07:00

"Would you like to see a 'link" to Al-Queda'?"

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1093899590815825962004-08-30T13:59:00.000-07:002004-08-30T13:59:50.816-07:00

Did I say "great" nation? Sorry, I meant "rogue" nation.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1093899150774645622004-08-30T13:52:00.000-07:002004-08-30T13:52:30.773-07:00

Don King at the RNC in NYC. Caption Contest -- go.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1093648176083688502004-08-27T16:03:00.000-07:002004-08-27T16:13:10.046-07:00

Ever wonder how innocent men go to prison? This article, via the Virginian Pilot, sheds some light. Both rape victims pointed to Arthur Lee Whitfield in court, saying they knew with absolute certainty that he was the man who had attacked them. “Is there any question in your mind about the individual?” a prosecutor asked one woman. “No,” she replied. -snip- Their testimony was enough to convince a

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1093641573759002662004-08-27T14:17:00.000-07:002004-08-27T15:23:56.016-07:00

I'm sorry, but this is total horseshit. Anyone who says differently is selling something. Al Qaeda and other Islamic militant groups may be considering attacks against Veterans Affairs hospitals in the United States, U.S. law enforcement officials said. -snip- Al Qaeda and affiliated groups may be eyeing Veterans Affairs hospitals as symbolic targets, believing they are less heavily defended than

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1093446324115222832004-08-25T07:44:00.000-07:002004-08-25T08:10:31.540-07:00

You may remember that Hussein's son, Uday Hussein, was infamous for reportedly torturing the Iraqi soccer team whenever they lost. That attempt at motivation apparently didn't work too well. There is a much more effective way to motivate this soccer team, as George Bush has recently discovered: just kill their relatives and friends, and invade and occupy their country. You can't argue with

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1093287320965152782004-08-23T11:53:00.000-07:002004-08-23T11:55:20.966-07:00

[From the Saint Petersberg Times, on the recent exoneration of Wilton Dedge] "How these prosecutors can sleep at night is their problem. How they are still in their jobs is ours."

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092767653368744652004-08-17T11:25:00.000-07:002004-08-17T11:39:55.196-07:00

Back to Haiti we go. (Background on Aristide's fall here.) A guy named Chamblain (leader of death squads -- on "our" team) was acquitted of murder today in Haiti. Complete pig circus and a travesty of justice. [Article here.] Chamblain led a paramilitary group blamed for killing some 3,000 people [approximately the same number as killed in 9/11] from 1991 — when Aristide was first ousted — to

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092756904329985342004-08-17T08:29:00.000-07:002004-08-17T08:35:04.330-07:00

If you don't already know about the Washingtonienne, you better ask somebody. Facking hilarious (and highly x-rated) account of being a so-called "staffer" on the hill in the DC. Synopsis: hot girl works as staffer, has multiple sexual partners (including one of Bush Co's chief of staff who pays her for sex), creates a blog and documents her exploits -- is outed, fired. Anyway, the Washington

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092695878891193222004-08-16T15:05:00.000-07:002004-08-16T15:56:56.023-07:00

So much to say about this one. Even casual PO readers know that the USA PATRIOT Act tore down the so-called "wall" between law enforcement (the FBI, et al.) and the Justice Department (US Attorneys, or AUSA's). The falling of the wall has been heralded (by the Bushies and other defenders of PATRIOT) as giving law enforcement a terrific new "tool" to stop terrorism. Today's New York Times article

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092595135689777192004-08-15T11:37:00.000-07:002004-08-15T11:38:55.690-07:00

Fuck yeah! Atrios has a great idea for a Kerry campaign ad. A fair response to Bush's ads - note, not necessarily the correct response strategically, but a prefectly fair response would go something like this. [ominous music swells]Rice (from 9/11 Commission testimony): I believe the title was 'Bin Laden Determined to Attack'Flash on screen: August 6, 2001, accompanied by Law and Order type

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092585261880658802004-08-15T08:34:00.000-07:002004-08-15T08:57:03.143-07:00

It seems to me the reason the left is so inept at quickly mobilizing popular support for its causes (even though the vast majority of Americans would likely agree with them) is due to its inability to properly frame issues. The right is amazing at creating ridiculous straw man arguments (under the guise of "some are saying...") and disseminating the Republic/right wing response -- not the actual

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092496774703857722004-08-14T08:10:00.000-07:002004-08-14T08:19:34.703-07:00

About a year ago, Clarence Thomas started coming out of his shell. In a well organized PR campaign he appeared (or tried to appear) at several law schools as the commencement speaker -- and he started giving interviews to prominent magazines (only the "right" authors need apply). He also authorized a biography. Well, as Kop has already told us, the biography is ready to go. And, as the

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092424271033145132004-08-13T12:08:00.000-07:002004-08-13T12:11:11.033-07:00

I've tried not to pay much attention to the innuendo show, er, Scott Peterson murder trial (except to note the repeated discovery violations by the state). However, I caught some of the Amber Frey tape recordings (she recorded her and Scott's conversations -- nice chick) and it has pushed me into prediction mode. So, I'm going to go out on a limb here -- Laci was cheating with another guy (and

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092410629589495942004-08-13T08:13:00.000-07:002004-08-14T11:12:05.660-07:00

Last month, Public Opinions twice went on record to warn of "Terra" related subsidies to big Pharma (already the most profitable sector in the world). At least last time there was a plausible reason for the corporate welfare (we need these drugs in case we're attacked with anthrax). This time, they're just insulting my fucking intelligence. "Cues from chatter" gathered around the world are

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092332457970204372004-08-12T10:18:00.000-07:002004-08-12T10:40:57.970-07:00

It's worse than I, or anybody I know or read, thought. We assumed, that the Bush Ad (hereinafter "BAD") wanted to keep Yaser Hamdi incommunicado indefinitely because THEY thought he was a bad guy [Example: "In the administration's Supreme Court filing Wednesday, Solicitor General Theodore Olson called Hamdi a prime example of a dangerous terror suspect who should be locked up."] Many of us

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092327637513073972004-08-12T09:11:00.000-07:002004-08-12T09:20:37.513-07:00

[Entire post to be read in best "Hank Hill" voice. ] Boy, I tell ya' what. We sure do have the greatest criminal justice in the world. Yup. I mean, just take a look at 'ole Wilton Dedge. Here's a guy who would've rotted to death in a prison camp in Russia or Iran -- but here in the good 'ole US of A he's got a new lease on life. Yup. You see, he was convicted of raping a 17 year old girl

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092265589784643322004-08-11T16:01:00.000-07:002004-08-11T16:08:09.980-07:00

Mike Wallace, 86, was arrested by the NYPD for "disorderly conduct". Maybe he'll start a crusade against overzealous police. I can dream can't I? The dispute began as the "60 Minutes" correspondent was leaving Luke's Restaurant late Tuesday after picking up a take-out order of meatloaf, Wallace said on WFAN's "Imus in the Morning." Wallace saw two Taxi and Limousine Commission inspectors

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092264900975120182004-08-11T15:51:00.000-07:002004-08-11T15:55:44.420-07:00

The PD Dude relates his Kobe trial "wet dream". My scenario involves something akin to human sacrifice. I started practicing criminal law (and law in general) around the time of OJ Simpson trial, and for years, probably to this day and beyond, defending people accused of crimes has been made much more difficult as a result of that case. The perception of most people in society is that a guilty

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1092263961111775382004-08-11T15:35:00.000-07:002004-08-11T15:39:21.113-07:00

Crime and Federalism has an interesting post about his recent police/motorist encounter. We saw the flashing lights in our rearview. A police officer approached our car and told us that he was unable to see our temporary tags. "Huh," we thought. We stepped outside to see that our back license plate was missing. We thought it fell off en route to California but then noticed that the handy-dandy

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091727757539198782004-08-05T10:42:00.000-07:002004-08-05T10:42:37.540-07:00

Bush asks for clarification of local farmer's request: "You want me to stick this where?"

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091710892905849392004-08-05T05:48:00.000-07:002004-08-05T06:01:32.906-07:00

Six independent forensic scientists, in a report to be filed in a Houston state court today, said that a crime laboratory official - because he either lacked basic knowledge of blood typing or gave false testimony - helped convict an innocent man of rape in 1987. The panel concluded that crime laboratory officials might have offered "similarly false and scientifically unsound" reports and

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091668795534420952004-08-04T18:10:00.000-07:002004-08-05T05:48:41.173-07:00

Just saw the documentary "Control Room" about the Al-Jazeera network's Iraq war coverage. I would recommend it to anyone who gives a shit. It's not cut as tightly as, say a Michael Moore film. However, the footage is every bit as powerful, and the film easily pulls you back into the surreal, moral-relativism of the Iraq war days.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091641100973282942004-08-04T10:25:00.000-07:002004-08-04T10:40:59.636-07:00

I'm completely disgusted; I'm infuriated. The State of Florida, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to scapegoat a 43 year-old woman with NO criminal record. Pain? Misery? Unhappy "victims"? Well, here you go -- do with her as you wish. The woman, Rachel Sercey, worked at a home for the developmentally disabled. She is a fucking social worker, who was fucking taking a group of people from the

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091583660269718262004-08-03T16:20:00.000-07:002004-08-03T18:41:00.270-07:00

I wish I was making this up (with talent like that I could write Vonnegut-like novels for a living): Prosecutors intend to show Laci Peterson had ordered satellite television service in March 2001 without the adult programming option. But on Jan. 8, 2003, they say, about two weeks after Laci vanished, Peterson changed the account to include the Playboy Channel. He disconnected it on Feb. 18,

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091545224476027532004-08-03T07:28:00.000-07:002004-08-03T10:30:45.676-07:00

I know this is being covered ad nauseum elsewhere, but I cannot let it go without documenting it here. Instead of pointing out the obvious, let's play a game: we'll try to guess what Tom Ridge thinks "new" means. Good afternoon. President Bush has told you, and I have told you, when we have specific credible information, we will share it. This afternoon, we do have new and unusually specific

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091391097999236042004-08-01T13:10:00.000-07:002004-08-01T13:11:38.000-07:00

Read this interview of Noam Chomsky. Too good to be synopsized. Go.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091197621778715602004-07-30T07:17:00.000-07:002004-07-30T07:27:01.780-07:00

Several months ago I wrote that the Patriot Act was for law enforcement what Christmas is for a rich kid: you get everything you want, but you already have so much it doesn't really matter. I've recently linked up a new blog, "Crime & Federalism" (which I admittedly lifted from Public Defender Dude).  Anyway, C&F has a great post about USA Patriot that agrees with my assesment.  C&F writes:"the

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091111997876292882004-07-29T07:30:00.000-07:002004-07-29T07:39:57.876-07:00

Public Opinion: "Boy that John Edwards sure is charismatic and charming, and what a great speaker!  We're sure to take some southern states with this guy on the ticket." Reality: He's a shitty speaker.  I've watched about 15 of his speeches, and seen him in about 5 of the Democratic debates -- and he just doesn't live up to the hype.  I know this goes against his carefully crafted image, but I

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1091026600453215072004-07-28T07:52:00.000-07:002004-07-29T07:47:56.670-07:00

Tom Tomorrow explains how Drudge stole his photo and made a meek attempt to cover it up.  This Modern World has some excellent convention coverage, as does Atrios (who has been unmasked by Talk Left as one "Duncan Black" and captured in this here photo).  Note also, that Tom Tomorrow's name is Dan Perkins.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090961505945288902004-07-27T13:48:00.000-07:002004-07-27T13:51:45.946-07:00

This Modern World's Tom Tomorrow is blogging the DNC this week.  He spent the day tagging along with Michael Moore and was fortunate enought to witness this little exchange: We head back to the Fleet Center and as we are getting out of the Town Car, Bill O'Reilly is across the street getting out of his limo. "Hey Moore, when ya gonna come on my show?" he shouts. Michael responds, "When you see

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090960728314977652004-07-27T13:35:00.000-07:002004-07-27T13:38:48.313-07:00

Kop  and wife Michelle are taking the Florida Bar Exam today and tomorrow -- Good luck guys.  If any of you have any to spare, send 'em some positive energy. Also, Bill Clinton's speech at the DNC last night fucking rocked.  God I miss him.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090766049221822892004-07-25T07:20:00.000-07:002004-07-25T07:37:46.836-07:00

The Bush administration has prodded the Food and Drug Administration to radically shift course on the issue of products liability.  The Bush administration has been going to court to block lawsuits by consumers who say they have been injured by prescription drugs and medical devices.  The administration contends that consumers cannot recover damages for such injuries if the products have been

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090764604671189352004-07-25T06:24:00.000-07:002004-07-25T07:10:04.670-07:00

Today's New York Times claims that the 9/11 Report succeeds in carefully refuting false "common wisdom" about the attacks (the headline reads: "Correcting the Record on 9/11").  This "common wisdom" (aka Public Opinion) is, of course, largely the result of a carefully crafted Republican misinformation campaign -- dutifully obeyed and carried out by the sycophantic media.  I predict that this

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090593667959581952004-07-23T07:39:00.000-07:002004-07-23T07:41:07.960-07:00

This clip pretty much sums up the reason for this blog's title.  "Conventional Wisdom" by Jon Stewart.  Talking points -- "they're true, because they're settled upon."

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090535250138647962004-07-22T15:11:00.000-07:002004-07-24T05:37:21.316-07:00

Sounds familiar right?  Would you believe the Bush Administration is now trumpeting the tool of sanctions?  They're claiming that sanctions -- not war -- should be used in the Sudan.  Secretary of State Colin Powell met U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan for the second time in three weeks to step up pressure on Sudan to end the 15-month conflict and escalating humanitarian crisis in the western

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090509098576076642004-07-22T07:54:00.000-07:002004-07-22T15:06:26.353-07:00

When police officers run afoul of the law, they are often treated with kid-gloves by the criminal justice system (In many ways celebrities, sports stars, white collar criminals and police officers are treated similarly by law enforcement.  Example here.).  The preferable treatment usually starts with the first responding officers and continues up through the investigating officers and eventually

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090448067609246032004-07-21T15:08:00.000-07:002004-07-21T15:14:27.610-07:00

Heard about Jonathan Idema?  He's the guy in Afghanistan who was running around seizing Afghans and torturing them (not to mention "advising" our dilligent media -- whatever is left of it in Afghanistan)?  He claims he's working at the direction of Rumsfeld and the DOD.  Who do you believe?  Rumsfeld or this guy?  The smart money isn't on 'ole Rummy. 

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090439489453055782004-07-21T12:50:00.000-07:002004-07-21T12:53:14.193-07:00

No, the headlines didn't say that -- but you gotta read between the lines. President Bush signed legislation on Wednesday aimed at encouraging the development of drugs and vaccines to negate the impact of attacks using biological and chemical weapons...  The BioShield legislation will encourage more research and will also basically guarantee a market by buying and stockpiling the new drugs and

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090421735247911682004-07-21T07:48:00.000-07:002004-07-21T07:55:35.246-07:00

Bush promises safety in return for his re-election.``The next four years will be peaceful years, prosperous years, and hopeful years for everybody fortunate to be a citizen of this great country,'' Bush said (via the AP).Hmmmm... I'm reminded of an old saying: Fool me once...   Bush added in closing, as is his custom, "God Bless America, and no place else." 

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090421282944902252004-07-21T07:44:00.000-07:002004-07-21T07:48:02.943-07:00

You'd think they would've learned the first time.  Police are investigating whether a backpack that exploded in a Times Square subway station was planted by the officer who reported it, high-ranking police sources said.  via the AP.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090420010801655302004-07-21T07:19:00.000-07:002004-07-21T07:26:50.800-07:00

Yet another instance of a false confession from a criminal defendant.  If not for DNA evidence, this man would still be in prison serving his 75 year sentence.  Sorry about those 11 years you spent in a cage -- during which your mother, father, sister and grandmother died.  You know, our bad.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1090076736641900462004-07-17T08:02:00.000-07:002004-07-21T07:37:06.856-07:00

Can anyone tell me what's up with this?  I've had a soft spot for this guy ever since I saw that chess movie with the little kids (sorry for the parse description).  I never heard any of this negative stuff -- nor did I know he was fugitive from "justice" for playing a chess match.   Here's an in-depth and engrossing article from the Guardian UK on Fischer.   UPDATE: As expected, the Japanese

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1089490841816178702004-07-10T13:11:00.000-07:002004-07-10T13:22:35.773-07:00

Virtually no coverage on US TV news of this decision -- Caught some on BBC last night though. (Via the NY Times)The International Court of Justice ruled Friday that the major portion of the barrier Israel is building violated international law because it was rising on Palestinian land on the West Bank. In a nonbinding decision, it called on Israeli officials to tear down the sections it ruled

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1089308553975090532004-07-08T09:49:00.000-07:002004-07-08T15:54:21.520-07:00

I'm seriously pissed about this one -- so I'm in no mood for a debate. The Spanish elections were not altered or affected by the Madrid train bombing. Many months ago, this blogsite and others, pointed out the fact that the Spanish people were overwhelmingly against the war in Iraq. CNN polls reported that over 90% of the Spanish population was against the war in Iraq. The President of

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1089213480372086252004-07-07T08:06:00.000-07:002004-07-08T17:05:13.440-07:00

This came from the Abilene Reporter -- it's by far the best explanation of the Patriot Act and how it altered (both slightly and significantly) how law enforcement spies on you. Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968...allowed the government to spy on Americans only if agents suspected a person of engaging in any one of a plethora of serious crimes spelled out in

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1089211281489280562004-07-07T07:32:00.000-07:002004-07-07T07:47:47.296-07:00

I wish Hillary was the VP. When Drudge "scooped" that Hillary was the veep, I actually got a little excited about the Kerry campaign. Don't get me wrong, the most important thing is still that Bush goes -- I just wish the Democrats had nominated somebody worth voting for. Instead we get John Kerry (anyone asleep yet?) and the guy who couldn't quite beat John Kerry in the primaries. Maybe

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088782295622702552004-07-02T08:07:00.000-07:002004-07-02T08:31:35.623-07:00

Good God. You absolutely must go to georgewbush.com and take a look at the three tv ads they're currently running (Pessimism, Patiot Act and The New War). Say what you will about these assholes, but they sure know how to cater to morons. They boil the issue (theme) down to it's most simple element. They boil it down so far that it's almost a lie, but not quite. In fact, the issue is pared

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088699220209951272004-07-01T09:21:00.000-07:002004-07-01T14:05:56.026-07:00

Here's an unpopular opinion for you. This trial is going to be a pig circus. Take a look at the charges (via Reuters):Apart from the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the preliminary charges against Saddam referred to the suppression of Kurdish and Shi'ite revolts after the 1991 Gulf War, poison gas attacks and other massacres of Kurds, the killing of religious leaders in 1974 and the killing of

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088440969859665032004-06-28T09:33:00.000-07:002004-06-28T11:51:33.720-07:00

In Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, Justices O'Connor and Breyer once again prove why they, collectively and individually, suck dick. Meanwhile, Justice Scalia continues march forward, alone but principled. In the Hamdi case, Hamdi (an AMERICAN) filed a petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus charging that his arrest and detention without charges (for over 2 years now, based solely on Bush's decision to label

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088372685334614992004-06-27T14:42:00.000-07:002004-06-27T14:44:45.333-07:00

This guy (handle "Little Brother") summarizes media people pretty well I think. The comment is in response to the Gwen Ifill Meet the Press comments about Michael Moore's movie. Enjoy: -- Yeah, Gwen strikes me as a perfect example of the apparently decent and reasonably bright journaloid who gets carried along in the undertow of the infomedia profession and buys into the dominant paradigm to a

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088358440274340212004-06-27T10:26:00.000-07:002004-06-27T11:01:10.100-07:00

Public Opinion: All this criticism of Bush for going to war in Iraq is groundless. After all, even the German, French and Russian intelligence agencies "agreed" that Saddam possesed WMD's. Therefore, Bush's decision to go to war has nothing to do with incompetence or some hidden agenda -- he was just misled (like everyone else). Plus, we're safer because Saddam is no longer in power." You: If

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088348960992088272004-06-27T07:49:00.000-07:002004-06-27T12:39:57.560-07:00

Michael Moore's Farenheit 911 continues to draw heat from media as being blatantly false (non-factual). I'm watching Meet the Press and Gwen Ifill (from PBS's Washington Week), and Russert asks her how she liked the film. Like Lisa Myers' recent broadside attack on Farenheit, Gwen Ifill says the film is not "factual". [Transcript here] MR. RUSSERT: There's a new movie, as we all well know, "

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088267723045369602004-06-26T09:29:00.000-07:002004-06-26T09:35:23.046-07:00

Captain Yee appeared in public for the first time Friday.He appeared Friday night at a Chinatown benefit to raise money for his legal bills, although a gag order limited his ability to talk about the case. "I'm not here tonight to talk about my case, but to thank those who stand in support of civil liberties," Yee said. "I thank everyone for their patience, and God willing, they'll be able to

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088266245438900022004-06-26T08:49:00.000-07:002004-06-26T13:05:08.303-07:00

As though scripted -- as on que -- the police officer caught on tape beating a suspect has tossed a familiar smoke screen. Now watch the press (and those clamoring for the cops' head) lose themselves in the cloud. The officer has resorted to the all-too-familiar, focus on the object in the defendant's pants, "I thought it was a gun", defense. As in previous cases of police brutality -- this

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088194163598425612004-06-25T12:58:00.000-07:002004-06-26T12:18:05.236-07:00

Via Yahoo NewsIreland - President Bush defended his decision to invade Iraq and insisted most of Europe backed the move during a tense interview Thursday on Irish television. On several occasions during the 15-minute interview, Bush asked RTE correspondent Carol Coleman not to interrupt him. --snip-- Bush was asked whether he was satisfied with the level of political, economic and military

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088193306643861952004-06-25T12:54:00.000-07:002004-06-25T12:55:06.643-07:00

In Poker & Liberty's absence I feel compelled to post this account of a poker game with Dick.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088183355267215962004-06-25T10:08:00.000-07:002004-06-25T10:09:15.266-07:00

Keepin' it real about the recent police brutality evidence. I swear I share a brain with this guy.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088175296947478742004-06-25T07:54:00.000-07:002004-06-25T08:23:59.940-07:00

Great Op-ed piece in the Times about the "Medical Malpractice Crisis." Basically, it's a bunch of shit. To top it off, Insurance companies and the AMA are working hard to keep secret the data that confirms it. Via NYTIMES:in several states specifically characterized by the A.M.A. as in "crisis," the evidence is rolling in that malpractice claims and awards are not appreciably increasing, and

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088173145143660122004-06-25T06:43:00.000-07:002004-06-25T15:25:24.836-07:00

Democracy and Moore's Farenheit 911 -- Caught some MSNBC this morning. They had an amazing segment on Moore's film by Lisa Myers [Myers is commonly referred to as "NBC's senior investigative correspondent"]. Myers' segment was presented as a balanced, unbiased "review" of the film. Myers basically presented a four part attack on the film based on the film's "factual inaccuracies." The "

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088118926269300382004-06-24T15:32:00.000-07:002004-06-24T16:15:26.270-07:00

Mark you fackin' calendars kids. Today marks the beginning of a new era for sentencing in the federal and state systems. The case is Blakely v. Washington "In this case, petitioner was sentenced to more than three years above the 53-month statutory maximum of the standard range because he had acted with "deliberate cruelty." The facts supporting that finding were neither admitted by petitioner

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088006375227390272004-06-23T08:47:00.000-07:002004-06-23T08:59:35.226-07:00

Another study (this one by the ABA) confirms what countless other studies told us 10 years ago: the "war on drugs" and "get tough" sentencing are completely irrational and indefensible. The ABA study, of course, will have exactly the same effect on sentencing in the criminal justice system. None. Via the Associated Press: "the federal government spent $9 billion on jails and prisons in 1982

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1088003656587906152004-06-23T07:57:00.000-07:002004-06-23T08:14:16.586-07:00

According to the movie review in the New York Times: "Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 will be properly debated on the basis of its factual claims and cinematic techniques, [but] it should first of all be appreciated as a high-spirited and unruly exercise in democratic self-expression." Pay attention now. We're going to have a little experiment here. We're going to see just how "democratically"

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1087939448249086242004-06-22T14:12:00.000-07:002004-06-22T14:39:20.346-07:00

In yet another instance of Public Opinions' foresight -- your favorite blogsite has again correctly prognosticated future events. Way back on February 19th Public Opinions predicted (under the title "Your Papers Please") that this guy's arrest and subsequent conviction would be upheld by the US Supreme Court. The issue was whether a US citizen, after being accosted by a jackbooted police

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1087481037519748602004-06-17T07:00:00.000-07:002004-06-17T07:05:56.926-07:00

Via the Associated Press: U.S. workers have fewer legal rights to time off for family matters than workers in most other countries, and rank near the bottom in pregnancy and sick leave, a Harvard School of Public Health study found. The report, released Wednesday in Washington, D.C., was based on research on 168 countries. Some disturbing facts: More than 160 countries offer guaranteed paid leave

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1087480067761609102004-06-17T06:42:00.000-07:002004-06-17T07:04:49.086-07:00

Via the NYTimes: Larry Stewart, a U.S. Secret Service laboratory director, "faces two counts of perjury for testifying in February that he was involved in examinations of the worksheet. He actually was consulted only briefly and did not do the actual work, court documents said." You all will recall that this government-funded joke testified that Bacanovic's notation to sell Martha's ImClone

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1087232972986367592004-06-14T08:59:00.000-07:002004-06-14T10:43:49.923-07:00

When propaganda leads to confusion. Much has been written and said about the so called torture memo (pdf file). However, as usual, the proper focus is not the talking heads' focus. The proper focus is not that the memo dares to argue that certain interrogation techniques are in accordance with US LAW (they likely are). If this and other recent events has shown anything, it is that the LAW

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1087071611980180752004-06-12T13:17:00.000-07:002004-06-12T13:20:11.980-07:00

A puppet, controlled by his "advisors". "One does not blame an actor for the content of the words that come from his mouth. When we speak of the policies of the Reagan administration, then, we are not referring to the figure set up to front for them by an administration whose major strength was in public relations." Sound familiar? Via ZNet.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1086980050175957332004-06-11T11:45:00.000-07:002004-06-11T11:54:10.176-07:00

Kop has already did a solid and succinct job of dissecting Reagan, but having been inundated with all this funereal propaganda about what a swell guy he was (I just heard a talking head say: “he appealed to average Americans because he was an average American…”), I feel compelled to post my dissent here. It has recently been suggested, by some, that I am overly fawning in my Chomsky posts.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1086720136588437082004-06-08T11:30:00.000-07:002004-06-08T11:42:16.586-07:00

Chomsky breakin it muthafuckin down. A truly amazing read. The phrase "new imperial grand strategy" is not mine. It has a much more interesting source: the leading establishment journal, Foreign Affairs, the journal of the Council on Foreign Relations. The invasion of Iraq was virtually announced in Sept 2002, along with the Bush Administration's National Security Strategy, which declared the

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1086718776388096262004-06-08T11:18:00.000-07:002004-06-08T11:19:36.386-07:00

It gives me comfort to know this guy is still out there swinging away. Enjoy.

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1085520785519053972004-05-25T14:29:00.000-07:002004-05-25T14:33:05.520-07:00

On December 26th, 2003, your own Public Opinions blog predicted that the GOP strategy of making the November elections a "referendum on the direction of the country" was a really shitty idea. Some morons argued that I had gone too far and that the referendum idea was a good one. What you got to say now mothafucka? (Hat tip to Kop for jogging my memory)

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6038778.post-1085520263278251292004-05-25T14:16:00.000-07:002004-05-25T14:24:23.276-07:00

Couldn't come up with a better title for this one. I'm honestly blown fucking away. A federal judge in Portland, Ore., on Monday threw out the case against an American lawyer jailed for two weeks as a material witness in the Madrid train bombing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it had mistakenly matched his fingerprints with prints on a plastic bag found near the scene of the attacks

holdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01410340818968123644noreply@blogger.com