SMBC: Evodevomocracy!
http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2788
Syria’s Assad to West: ‘I Am Tougher Than Gaddafi’
"Bashar al-Assad has taken to the Russian airwaves to tell the world that he’s in Syria to stay—and to warn the West and its allies of dire consequences if they try to force him from power. There have been predictions that the reelection of U.S. President Barack Obama might pave the way for more aggressive American action. Members of Syria’s notoriously fractured opposition are convened in Doha this week as part of a U.S.-sponsored effort to create a new and improved body that would be a more credible partner for foreign governments in providing the rebellion with support." Continue reading →
Neo-Con Revenge: Post-Election ‘Attack Iran’ Machine on Overdrive
"US sends drone to spy on Iran, as it has done continuously for years, no doubt collecting targeting data to assist in US/Israeli attack on Iran. Iran reportedly fires at drone gathering targeting data to assist US in bombing Iran. US astonished at Iran's 'aggression' toward US drone gathering intelligence to assist a US attack on Iran. US shocked that the Iranians would have the gall to respond to US hostile gestures in the region. Oh but it was in international waters! Imagine the US response to an Iranian drone operating in international Gulf of Mexico waters off of Florida." Continue reading →
As Sanctions Hit Iran’s Most Vulnerable, the Man Who Dared to Feed Sanction-Starved Iraq Remains in Prison
"Dr. Dhafir was one of many Americans, Muslims and non-Muslims, who for 13 years had raised money for food and medicines for sick and starving Iraqis who were the victims of sanctions. He had asked US officials if this humanitarian aid was legal and was assured it was - until the early morning he was hauled out of his car by federal agents as he left for work. His front door was smashed down and his wife had guns pointed at her head. Today, he is serving 22 years in prison. No executive of the oil companies that did billions of dollars of illegal business with Saddam Hussein during the embargo has been prosecuted." Continue reading →
4 More Drones! Robot Attacks Are on Deck for Obama’s Next Term
"Civil libertarians rightly point to Obama’s reversals on expanding warrantless surveillance; the indefinite detention of terrorism suspects; military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay; prosecuting whistleblowers; and embracing an expensive definition of the war on terrorism’s executive powers. But there’s little evidence that Obama will change course. The evidence is staring everyone in the face. Obama has elevated a practice of stealthy robotic warfare to the tactic of choice for U.S. security priorities, and built around it a system that operates it practically on bureaucratic inertia." Continue reading →
Joe Klein defends the murder of children by drones
"Joe Klein defends the indiscriminate murder of children on MSNBC. A better example of psychopathic thinking would be hard to find." Continue reading →
Obama Won. Now What Will You Do?
"Washington is headed for gridlock. This is good. This is not a dysfunctional government. A dysfunctional government passes lots of laws. The laws are almost always bad laws. Then the federal bureaucracy interprets and implements these laws in the Federal Register. What little that might have been good gets bad. A gridlocked government is the best we can hope for. My suggestion: start making major changes in your life’s plan. Make them in terms of reality: the unfunded present value of future federal liabilities: $222 trillion." Continue reading →
Gary North: Boehner Has Obama by the Boondoggles.
"I am hoping that the House will do nothing. I think that is the best we can hope for, given the fact that what Obama wants is a tax increase on the rich in order to save the Pentagon's budget. I would rather see the Pentagon have its budget cut than to see taxes, meaning progressive taxes, meaning graduated taxes, imposed on the rich . . . or anyone else. I would rather live with Bill Clinton's taxes than Obama's. Then, in 2016, Republicans can blame both of them." Continue reading →
California’s Economic Suicide and other News from Yesterday’s Ballot Measures
"Yesterday, the looters and moochers of the Golden State voted for Prop 30, a measure to significantly boost both the state sales tax and also hike income tax rates on investors, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. I’m generally reluctant to make predictions, but I feel safe in stating that this measure is going to accelerate California’s economic decline. Some successful taxpayers are going to tunnel under the proverbial Berlin Wall and escape to states with better (or less worse) fiscal policy. And that will mean fewer jobs and lower wages than otherwise would be the case." Continue reading →
Crony Capitalists: The Biggest Winners From President Obama’s Re-Election
"Ultimately the biggest winners may be those who finance municipal and state debt. Owing his election to the fiscal failures of New York, Illinois and California, Obama could have to use his executive power to forestall looming bankruptcies at the local and even state level. Ironically the biggest winner here in the crony capitalist sweepstakes will be firms like Goldman Sachs, who turned so vehemently against Obama, but have historically made much of their money on financing government operations. Some people never seem to lose no matter what the result of the election." Continue reading →