Well, they keep saying water is going to be the new oil, in terms of assholes trying to hog it/steal it/bomb people over it, etc.
Can't wait.
Posted by Sharkbabe at October 15, 2007 09:03 PMYep.
Posted by gtash at October 16, 2007 04:08 AMOrwell in 2007
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/101507M.shtml
By Robert Weiner and John Larmett
The Oregonian
Sunday 14 October 2007
In "1984," the novel that most baby boomers read in high school, George Orwell creates a theoretical modern-day government with absolute power - a state in which government, called the Party, monitors and controls every aspect of human life to the extent that even having a disloyal thought is against the law.
On Sept. 26, a federal judge in Eugene ruled that crucial parts of the USA Patriot Act are unconstitutional because they allow federal surveillance and searches of American citizens without demonstrating probable cause. U.S. District Judge Ann L. Aiken said the federal government would "amend the Bill of Rights, by giving it an interpretation that would deprive it of any real meaning."
Ruling in favor of an Oregon lawyer who challenged the act after he was mistakenly linked to the 2004 train bombings in Madrid, Spain, Aiken stated: "A shift to a nation based on extra-constitutional authority is prohibited, as well as ill advised."
Earlier in September, another federal judge, this one in New York, ordered the FBI to stop obtaining e-mail and telephone data without first securing a warrant. The secrecy provisions are "the legislative equivalent of breaking and entering, with an ominous free pass to the hijacking of constitutional values," U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero wrote.
In "1984," the Party barrages citizens with psychological stimuli designed to overwhelm the mind. The giant telescreen in every room monitors behavior. People are continuously reminded of government's surveillance, especially by omnipresent signs reading, "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU." Individuals are encouraged to spy on each other, even children on their parents, and report any instance of disloyalty to the Party - i.e., government.
"1984" is happening in 2007.
Signs along interstate highways urge citizens, "Report Suspicious Behavior." Cameras mounted at strategic locations monitor our everyday movement (just as in the novel). Red, orange and yellow are no longer just bright, pretty colors: They now represent levels of national security alerts. Intelligence agencies now define "chatter" as "terrorist speak."
The Party in "1984" uses psychological manipulation to make citizens "doublethink" - hold two contradictory ideas contrary to common sense.
Back to 2007: The Patriot Act by its very name defies individuals to disagree with it, for to do so would be "unpatriotic."
The Patriot Act was passed hastily in October 2001, under a cloak of fear in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Some of the fundamental changes to American's traditional legal rights include:
Establishing a huge surveillance system on millions with no court approval, without probable cause.
Holding citizens indefinitely without access to the courts or counsel.
Monitoring library withdrawals and Internet communications.
Taping attorney-client communications.
Creating a national system for citizens to monitor and report on each other, regardless of reason, including paranoia or ethnic bias.
Developing a massive computer system to monitor every purchase.
Creating a national identification card.
The new federal court rulings are a step forward against threats to our freedom - as were other recent court rulings against the Bush administration's contention that the Geneva Conventions prohibiting torture were "obsolete" and "trite" and against our secret holding of prisoners abroad without due process.
9-11 was real, as the recent videos by Osama bin Laden confirm now more than six years after he attacked us. However, that fact does not allow playing on our fears and increasing our paranoia about our personal safety. Sen. Joseph McCarthy tried that with Communism in the 1950s. The administration has tried to condition the American people, just as Pavlov did with his dogs.
Congress is now revisiting the legality of the Patriot Act, warrantless surveillance programs, torture of prisoners in secret prisons and barring detainees from counsel and knowing the charges against them. By law, in the next few months, Congress must renew, change or end the Patriot Act and surveillance programs.
This week, House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) introduced legislation, passed by his committee and sent to the full House, guaranteeing that the courts oversee wiretaps and that the phone companies cannot just do what some federal investigator tells them and are held accountable for violations of civil liberties. The bill also requires independent audits by the DOJ Inspector General. These provisions continue effective monitoring of potential terrorists. As Conyers, a lifetime champion of individual rights, stated in introducing the bill, "It is possible to protect civil liberties and fight terrorism at the same time."
Senate Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has similar concerns, but both Conyers and Leahy must confront the different priorities of both bodies' Intelligence Committees. In addition, the Senate legislation does not penalize the phone companies for past abuses. The issues will be decided on the floor of both the House and Senate and in conference.
Congress must act quickly or the courts should permanently strike down presidential fear-based abuses. Americans' trust of the federal government is now lower than during Watergate, according to a Gallup poll released Sept. 26.
Al-Qaeda hates Americans of all creeds and races and will do whatever it can to destroy us and our way of life. James Madison warned, "If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." With the mightiest military and strongest technology on Earth, democracy can stand up to terrorism without becoming the mirror of our enemies.
Posted by Kevin at October 16, 2007 04:16 AMRandi Rhodes was attacked while walking her dog on Park ave.. No robbery.
The only mention I found was at The Sideshow.
I wonder if the MSM will even cover it when they have important issues like Malkin quitting or a possible Imus comback to blab about.
I don't know any other facts but when I think about how low a right wing nut case might go, the pit is bottomless.
I think those are primarily red states in the Southeast that are experiencing water shortages. The building challenges of global warming are going to become too serious to ignore or dispute at some point. I wish I could take some consolation from the idea of republican/global-warming-deniers but I read somewhere that the creator causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust and even in a drought that is still true. The suffering is non-partisan.
Posted by angel at October 16, 2007 07:35 AMOnce the meltdown becomes irreversible, the only silver lining is that the most affected states will be the cretinous Red States of the Old South---the very ones who have been utterly responsible for our complete inaction.
The price for their collective denial of global warming should be no federal funds---none, zero, zip---to aid them when the waters start a risin' on their stink towns. They "chose" to live there, right?
Posted by euzoius at October 16, 2007 08:07 AMeuz
There are other people that live in these states that aren't Repugs. Are you for penalizing everyone for what the Repugs have done?
Collective punishment?
Isn't that covered in the Geneva Conventions?
Posted by snark at October 16, 2007 09:00 AMHere in SW Ohio we are 16-18 inches below normal rainfall levels. Talk to the old time farmers around here and they say they have never seen it this bad. Had less than 1/2 inch of rain this morning. That brings the total rainfall at my house since the 4th of July to right at 3 inches. 3 inches of rain in 3-1/2 months. Absolutely incredible.
Posted by Mike at October 16, 2007 09:22 AMWe're hurricanes supposed to come. Wasn't that part of the global warming mantra? No cane's this year except one starring Jimmy Smits. None last year, rather dismal since Katrina/Rita. I guess man isn't effecting the climate that much. Where I'm at we're way over our yearly numbers with months to go. Enjoying a 500 year rainfall event. Look, I'm not complaining, I bet when the rains come for the southeast, thay won't either. These things happen.
Posted by peter at October 16, 2007 09:50 AMPlease substitute "Were" for "We're".
Posted by peter at October 16, 2007 09:51 AMwow, pants-pissing peter, the stoopid, IT BURNS
guess the sun revolves around the Earth too
Posted by Gay Veteran at October 16, 2007 10:34 AMThe sun is the cause of all the earth's climate changes.
Posted by peter at October 16, 2007 12:22 PMHey Mary, plz email, 'k?
Posted by Kevin Hayden at October 16, 2007 12:49 PMWell... the weather is never really normal. I'm not a Global Warming denier, but the scales for measuring mean rainfall are way too short for us to make judgements based on low years. We'd need to look at scientific data over centuries to make a real judgement.
Posted by Dilapidus at October 16, 2007 01:03 PMRandi Rhodes, through her lawyer, said she was injured while walking her dog. No mugging, she was not a victim of a crime. Wonder how soon an apology comes from Jon Elliot for spreading lies to his listeners. I hear she should be expected back on the radio on Thursday. I guess to Jon, you're guilty till proven innocent. How "Air American" of him.
Posted by peter at October 16, 2007 03:29 PMWonder how soon an apology comes from Jon Elliot for spreading lies to his listeners.
Peter, imbecile of the GOP, when your drug induced Daddy, ru$h limburger apologizes, then and only then will he have to make an apology. A simple explanation of the facts and confusion into the matter is good enough. POS!!
Posted by Seven of Six at October 16, 2007 04:58 PM"Randi Rhodes was attacked while walking her dog on Park ave.. No robbery"
Why...
She should have negotiated with her attacker...
Offered him compassion and understanding...
Told him that she was in favor of higher taxes and national healthcare...
And joined him in a chorus of Kumbaya...
Wait, I'm sorry. The report was false.
My bad.
Posted by Bagley at October 16, 2007 05:48 PMHere we had an scorching August followed by a warm Sept and warm October. Some rain lately, but it is relatively warm for this time.
Posted by mje at October 16, 2007 07:17 PMMy bad.
Yes bagley, it is.
Another bu$h licking, ru$h loving, GOP POS.
Posted by Seven of Six at October 16, 2007 07:48 PMBtw, Jon Elliot publicly apologized last night.
Posted by Kevin Hayden at October 17, 2007 12:36 AMmeanwhile the fascistosphere continues to attack kids (a 2 year old!) who benefitied from S-CHIP
modern right-wingers are STUPID EVIL COWARDS
Posted by Gay Veteran at October 17, 2007 05:33 AM