Liam

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Clinton's Adaptive Corruption — Not That Bad!

The point isn’t that the massive amounts of money corporations have donated to Hillary directly influenced her votes. > You will not find that I ever changed a view or a vote because of any donation that I ever received. — Hillary Clinton Out and out bribery — I don’t

Hillary Attack Backfires

The more misleading attack ads that Hillary’s Super PAC runs, the more money Sanders has to refute them [http://usuncut.com/news/sanders-raises-1-4-million-after-clinton-attacks/].   In systems theory it’s called a balancing feedback loop; it blunts the effect of the ads. In addition, the attack ads contribute to two narratives.

Guns Are a Distraction From the Sanders Revolution

With Sanders posing a real threat [http://time.com/4174283/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/] in Iowa and New Hampshire, Clinton is now going on the offensive, attacking him for his voting record on guns. It’s a sign of desperation. Let’s keep things in perspective. The crucial choice in the 2016 presidential

Bernie Can't Win: The Myth

[http://www.freespeechnow.org/wp-content/uploads/20441352032_2784b388fb_h.jpg] Sanders addressing rally. Photo: Benjamin Kerensa [https://www.flickr.com/photos/bkerensa/]As I follow the 2016 presidential election one phrase I’ve been seeing crop up recently is “Bernie can’t win.” To be honest, I’m finding it

broadband

Minimizing surveillance over broadband networks

This post describes how you can defeat the surveillance employed by AT&T, Comcast, and other service providers, while taking advantage of faster connection speeds they may offer in your area. In some parts of the US you don’t have much choice in service providers. Here’s more

Mad As Hell

Mad As Hell is a new film about The Young Turks, or more precisely, about its founder Cenk Uygur. I went to a preview screening last night in San Francisco. To be honest, I have not followed TYT’s trajectory very closely. I have occasionally seen clips of Uygur savaging

Sex, Integrity and Truth

When I was invited to participate in a private online conversation about integrity in an open-sexuality community, I was a bit dubious. It’s a charged topic, and I strongly believe healing, connection and insight require a more direct, in-person approach. Online interactions often create more misunderstanding, not less. After

Deida's New-Age Misogyny

Here is a post from a fb friend, quoting David Deida. My response follows. It’s not just about David Deida, though, it’s all the talk about “the masculine” and “the feminine.” He just happens to the be one of the primary proponents of this way of thinking. There

NSA Surveillance

I’ve been meaning to write about the NSA surveillance program for some time now. Finally, prompted by the October 26 demonstration in Washington, D.C. [https://rally.stopwatching.us/], I’m getting around to it. Who has been following the continuing controversy? I have the impression that many Americans

Newt Gingrich: Poster Boy for Polyamory?

Newt Gingrich seems like an unusual poster boy for polyamory. Of course, he was quick to distance himself from the allegations by his ex-wife that he had asked her for an “open relationship.” What else could he do, embroiled as he is in a contest to be the least disliked

Toward a Diversity of Tactics

I attended the debate a few weeks ago, sponsored by Occupy Oakland’s Events Committee, between advocates of non-violence and advocates of a “diversity of tactics.” It was held in the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, and the pews were packed, with people lining the walls.   What follow are my

Are you a pacifist?

“Are you a pacifist?” begins the leaflet [http://sfist.com/2011/11/01/yucky_anti-violence_leaflet_handed.php] passed out at Occupy Oakland, “YOU hold the cock of the Empire in your supple hands.”  Definitely an attention grabbing introduction to a screed that goes on to criticize non-violence and seeks

Getting to Know Your Neighbors

No one knows for sure what people do in the voting booth. Our votes are anonymous.  However, donations to candidates and political parties are a matter of public record.  And now you can easily view them, thanks to the Fundrace 2008 mashup put together by the folks at the Huffington

Reality-based Community Faces the Facts

An October 17,2004 New York Times Magazine article by writer Ron Suskind quoted an unnamed aide to George W. Bush: > The aide said that guys like me were “in what we call the reality-based community,” which he defined as people who “believe that solutions emerge from your judicious

Words, Words, Words

Hijacking the Political Process -- Just for Fun!

Well, the Democrats passed their spending bill which will fund the Iraq war through August, 2008 — although, don’t bet there won’t be requests for more money.  Contemplate that as you wrestle with your Form 1040.  That’s where your money is going. Also, despite his threats, don’t

300 and Others

Another foray into film reviews 300 Aficionados of impaling, dismemberment and decapitation were regaled recently with the release of "300," a film about the battle of Thermopylae. While there is no dearth of violence in the media these days, this graphic novel adaptation cannot fail to elicit a

Iran: An Invitation

I’ve been thinking a lot about the administration’s plans for Iran.  Am I the only one? I mentioned it to a number of people over the weekend, and got very disturbing responses.  Some people had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. Some people didn’t understand

Heat Ray To Be Used on Legislators

Oh good, here’s a proposal to end the war I can really warm up to! — Left Field Weekly Heat Ray to be used on Legislators By Robert Street February 5, 2007 In a move that threatens to raise the stakes in the debate over the Iraq war, a judicial

Iran: The War Begins

“Fool me once, shame … shame on … you.” Long, uncomfortable pause. “Fool me — can’t get fooled again!” Or can we? Will the tricks that worked for Iraq work again for Iran? Will the media again play their enabling role? Will Congress finally assert itself? Will enough Americans demand an end

Full Disclosure and a Lonely Democrat

On the return flight from Nicaragua I saw a great, short, indie film! I liked it so much, I downloaded it from iTunes. (Only $1.99. I don’t usually buy stuff with DRM, or recommend stuff that costs money, but this was worth it!) Synopsis: Tired of wasting time

Inappropriate Appropriations

Okay, so there was a Democratic landslide in November. Finally! A massive public repudiation of George Bush and the war in Iraq. And yet, the Democrats are planning on passing a $160 billion funding bill that would keep the war going! It’s enough to make you want to… to…

Using the "O" Word

The Iraq Study Group’s report on what to do about Iraq is due out next Wednesday, but the gist of it has been made public. They say it is somewhere between “stay the course” and “cut and run.” Historian Andrew Bacevitch is under no delusions regarding the real agenda

Goodbye Constitution, Hello Waterboard

Last week Congress passed legislation as sweeping in its scope as it is dangerous in its intent. Throwing out the long-held legal principle of habeas corpus is patently unconstitutional — but it may take years, if ever, for a case to go before the Supreme Court. Also, in a blatant attempt

Hugo Chávez Prods the Devil

You will no doubt have heard of Hugo Chávez’s speech last week before the United Nations. Much hyper-ventilating from right-wing media, and even the Democrats were quick to condemn his rhetorical flourish that W. was “the devil.” The reaction from the punditocracy seems hysterical. If you bother watching the