I have to support the policeman in this one:

Our $3 Trillion Bailout

http://www.clusterstock.com/2008/11/our-3-trillion-bailout

Adding together the $170 billion that the Treasury Department has currently agreed to provide banks in additional capital, the $150 billion that the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve are providing to AIG and the $2 trillion that the Federal Reserve has provided banks in emergency loans brings the total assistance to $2.32 trillion. If the estimated savings from the new tax breaks are included, the assistance would climb to $2.46 trillion.

That total does not include other measures not focused directly on banks, such as Treasury Department's $200 billion in support for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration's $300 billion HOPE for Homeowners program."

Add in another $50 billion for automakers, and that's how you get to $3 trillion.

Google the Flu?

Remember that the CIA owns In-Q-tel Which owns (did) Google.

then consider this quote:

Thomas Malone, professor at M.I.T.: "I think we are just scratching the surface of what's possible with collective intelligence."

Eric Schmidt, GOOGLE's chief executive vows: "From a technological perspective, it is the beginning." 

Let's slow down just a little bit:

Obama Holiday!??!

Can't we wait at least until he's served a few days in office? I am sure that there will be a holiday eventually. But I hate driving down Cleaver Blvd as it is. I think you should wait until someone is dead and gone before youstart naming roads and holidays after them. After all, it's possible ( albeit HIGHLY unlikely) that Obama could be as bad a president as G W Bush.

Fascinating interview with a Fed spokesman

This over at Wave Station X

Distasteful Art Or Censorship?

Thought I'd get your opinions also.

Afghan man spared death sentence.

After seven years this is what we get?!?!?

Sayed Pervez Kambaksh, 24, was sent to prison in October 2007 after
reportedly downloading material from the internet on women's rights in Islam.

Somebody help me. Why are we giving lives, time, money, energy to this government?
This was a journalism student not, as far as I can tell, an activist. I was just listening this morning to a BBC report about kids being taught to exert their "human rights". It is more than a little disheartening to then see this story. I hope that future generations will make it to the point where they can do just that. provided they aren't killed and imprisoned for thought crimes.

US debt clock runs out of digits

The US government's debts have ballooned so badly the National Debt Clock in New York has run out of digits to record the spiralling figure

U.S. Army Troops To Serve As U.S. Policemen?

from Chuck Baldwin:

According to the Army Times (dated Tuesday, September 30, 2008), "Beginning Oct. 1 for 12 months, the 1st BCT [Brigade Combat Team] will be under the day-to-day control of U.S. Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command, as an on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks."

The article continued by saying, "But this new mission marks the first time an active unit has been given a dedicated assignment to NorthCom, a joint command established in 2002 to provide command and control for federal homeland defense efforts and coordinate defense support of civil authorities.

"After 1st BCT finishes its dwell-time mission, expectations are that another, as yet unnamed, active-duty brigade will take over and that the mission will be a permanent one."

No amnesty for Wall Street

Here is an analysis of our current economic crisis from a historical perspective. From Presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin:

In discussing the Bank Renewal bill with a delegation of bankers in 1832, [Andrew] Jackson said, "Gentlemen, I have had men watching you for a long time, and I am convinced that you have used the funds of the bank to speculate in the breadstuffs of the country. When you won, you divided the profits amongst you, and when you lost, you charged it to the bank. You tell me that if I take the deposits from the bank and annul its charter, I shall ruin ten thousand families. That may be true, gentlemen, but that is your sin! Should I let you go on, you will ruin fifty thousand families, and that would be my sin! You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the eternal God, I will rout you out."

"Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from another quarter. From the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government." - Daniel Webster

good quote site linked above

Somebody please explain this:

I caught this over on the Evil genius' website:

An article on White privelege that ought to spark some discussion.

Pentagon Debates Development of Offensive Cyberspace Capabilities

Igniting a provocative new debate, senior military officials are pushing the Pentagon to go on the offensive in cyberspace by developing the ability to attack other nations' computer systems, rather than concentrating on defending America's electronic security.

Under the most sweeping proposals, military experts would acquire the know-how to commandeer the unmanned aerial drones of adversaries, disable enemy warplanes in mid-flight and cut off electricity at precise moments to strategic locations, such as military installations, while sparing humanitarian facilities, such as hospitals.

Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.

Catching up

I was reading through some of the comment wars. I don't always delve in to the fray because you guys seem to have enough fun beating each other up. But I saw a response to a response or something where this is posted:

"""""Able Danger" and "the wire transfer to Atta"

These two are related.
Im the one who told you about this. Let me makes this clear. There was a major fuckup, a complacancy beyond immagination. One thing that held up this thing was removed by the patriot act. An act you bitch about and NOW YOUR RIGHTS are ruined and now you scream they are complicit. YOU DONT LIKE THE ANSWER!!"""""

I'm assuming the "thing" that the Patriot Act removed was the wall between foreign and domestic operations. If that's what is being referred to, I'd like to invite you to watch this little clip which seems to indicate that there were hindrances on both sides of the so called wall:

Two-party 'charade' must end, Ron Paul says

Paul will give his seal of approval to four candidates: Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney, Libertarian Party nominee Bob Barr, independent candidate Ralph Nader and Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin.

Paul said he's supporting the third-party candidates because the two major parties and media had "colluded" to avoid discussing issues and falsely presenting the difference between McCain and Obama as real.

"I've come to the conclusion, after having spent many years in politics, is that our presidential elections turn out to be more of a charade than anything else, and I think that is true today. It is a charade," he said.

Paul offered an open endorsement to the four candidates because each signed onto a policy statement that calls for "balancing budgets, bring troops home, personal liberties and investigating the Federal Reserve," an aide to the congressman said.

How do we counter the masses of concentrated wealth in our governance?

Here's a story about the Missouri Governor's race that fits in with a thought I've been kicking around lately:

What would be the effect if the state, obviously it would have to be through referendum, passed a law requiring that state and local office seekers had to get all their money from within the state/locale? I know that the parties and other interest groups would find ways to funnel money in (ala 527s), but we have to make efforts to reclaim our democracy.

Anybody want to tackl this one?

Mexico drug plane used for US 'rendition' flights: report
and
Planes crash, coke spills, but Mr. O'Connor remains a mystery

These are two related stories, really the same story. I wonder if anyone can find a little more on it.

Also:

Marcus, Can you give me some citation on the Book banning claim about Palin?

Fabled Enemies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck8G5GDrlJ0&feature=related

It's in fifteen sections and takes about an hour and a half. I'm sure some of you won't watch it because Alex Jones had a hand in it. But if you dare, check it out. Much of it is made up of Fox news reports and other mainstream reports. The fascinating thing is looking at all the information in one setting. Much of it you may have heard and seen before.