Posts Tagged ‘Iran’
Oct
Morning Link Dump
by Nicholas Pell in Link Dumps
Social Conditions
The American Plutocracy’s Future for American Workers
Fire Dog Lake is pretty much the one “progressive” blog I can consistently expect to profusely nod my head in agreement with. This article explores what America’s ruling class has planned for the American working class: Low-wage jobs and an increasingly anemic “democracy.” As one astute commenter put it: “There was a reason it was named the ‘President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness’, not the ‘President’s Council on Living Wage Jobs and Competitiveness.’”
Election 2012
Todd Akin Claims Women Who Aren’t Even Pregnant Get Abortions
I generally try and understand what people who say shit like this means as best as I can. What better way to argue against it? In this case I’m coming up short. It’s just a “WTF” for me. Anyone know what’s going on here?
Bipartisan Assault on Social Security and Medicare Planned After Election
No matter who the American ruling class selects as its CEO, they’ll be gutting Social Security and Medicare. This, along with the impending assault on Iran, is the elephant in the room of the 2012 election.
Secularism
I don’t want to over inflate its size or influence, but there is a small but vocal moderate Muslim community around the world. Here are some quotes from that community.
War
America Removes MEK From Terrorist Watch List in Preparation for Iran Assault
One man’s terrorist is another man’s strategic ally.
Media
Bahrain Bought Favorable Coverage From CNN
There’s that free American press in action.
Just Plain Weird
Awkward dating photos amuse me greatly.
Sep
Morning Link Dump
by Nicholas Pell in Link Dumps
Election 2012
Joan Walsh Goes to Bat for Professor Lizzy
An article by Joan Walsh on Scott Brown staffers. As her entire career is based on being a shill for the Democratic Party who assumes that all working-class whites are racist, she conveniently avoids the part of the story where Elizabeth Warren lies about her heritage over a period of decades. Which, really, is more damaging to the aboriginal community? A bunch of frat boys making jokes in poor taste or a white person exploiting their history for personal gain?
GOP Posts Racist Anti-Obama Images, Refuses to Remove Them
It’s 2012 and this garbage doesn’t really work anymore, but someone forgot to tell the Mecklenburg County Republican Party.
Romney Heavily Invested in Russia
He calls Russia America’s “number one enemy,” yet invests heavily there. Not terribly surprising considering there’s one thing we know for certain about Mittens: He’ll do just about anything for money.
Polls Widen in Battleground States
Well, mostly because he’s a terrible campaigner with a total disdain for the electorate. I will say this, though, Barry is a more savvy politician than I’ve previously given him credit for. Sure, he’s kicking a man while he’s down, but he’s doing it right.
Human Rights
This should be interesting. Assange’s reputation as a folk hero is overinflated, but his importance can’t really be overestimated. When was the last time the UK threatened to storm an embassy over (bogus) rape charges?
Secularism
Innocence of the Muslims Producer Could Get Jail Time
The producer of the inflammatory YouTube video apparently violated his parole by uploading it. I find it hard to believe that if he’d uploaded a video of a cat playing with a brown paper bag that he’d be facing jail time. This is a pretty clear attack on free speech, a principle which means absolutely zero if it doesn’t protect offensive speech.
War
Ahmadinejad Accuses America of Nuclear “Intimidation”
It will forever boggle my mind that the United States — the only country to employ nuclear weapons, and against civilian populations at that — considers it proper to tell other countries what weapons it can and can’t have. I’m no friend of the Iranian regime, but considering that they exist between India / Pakistan and Israel, it’s hard to find a compelling reason why they wouldn’t want nukes.
Barack Obama Threatens Iran at UN
The Obama Administration has largely continued and deepened the policies of George W. Bush. On Iran, it has been even more bellicose. Further evidence that the main divide between street level Democrats and Republicans is cultural (urban / exurban vs. suburban / rural) rather than political. And, of course, reason to be terrified of a second Obama term.
Sep
Morning Link Dump
by Nicholas Pell in Link Dumps
Secularism
Pakistan Proposes Anti-Blasphemy Laws to UN
In response to the inability of certain Muslims to take insults against their imaginary friend in stride, the UN is now hearing proposals that restrict anti-religious speech.
War
Iran Threatens Pre-Emptive Strike on Israel
I’m not sure that people appreciate just how precarious the balance of power in Central and Southwest Asia is. This could seriously explode into something really nasty at any second. The major powers — in particular the United States — seem content to kick this hornet’s nest until it explodes.
Social Equality
Life Expectancy Drops in the United States
Only for the poorest Americans, who are overwhelming black and Southern. Remember this next time your liberal friend makes a crack about throwing Mississippi out of the Union.
Election 2012
Romney: Uninsured Have Emergency Rooms
Mitt Romney’s Narrow Maps to 270
“No Chance 2012″ continues its full-throttle race to fiery oblivion.
Elizabeth Warren’s Legal Troubles
Elizabeth Warren represents everything troubling about the Massachusetts Democratic Party and identity politics in general. The lying about her racial background is just gross on a base level, to say nothing of her posing as a defender of the so-called “middle class” while working to help Travelers Insurance Company get out of paying out to asbestos victims. But here’s the latest from Professor Lizzy: She’s not even licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.
Sep
Afternoon Link Dump
by Nicholas Pell in Link Dumps
No.
Brilliant analysis of the Democratic Party’s role in broader American politics. Necessary reading for progressive-minded people.
They’re hoping you’re not smart enough to notice.
Six-Day Work Week Coming To Greece
The face of austerity in Greece, coming soon to a country near you.
Iran To Deploy Warships Off US Coast
The sabre rattling over Iran goes up another couple degrees.
If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of either half of this mashup.
More On Tom Cruise’s Wife Auditions
No comment needed here, really.