Category Archives: Government

Olbermann on Rumsfeld

Government, Iraq, Journalism, News/Media, Politics, World

From Crooks & Liars, thanks to Brian:

Keith [Olbermann] had some very choice words about Rumsfeld’s “fascism” comments tonight. Watch it, save it and share it.

Olbermann delivered this commentary with fire and passion while highlighting how Rumsfeld’s comments echoes other times in our world’s history when anyone who questioned the administration was coined as a traitor, unpatriotic, communist or any other colorful term. Luckily we pulled out of those times and we will pull out of these times.

Video and transcript are both available at C&L.  It’s an absolute must-read (or watch).  Spread it as wide as you can.

federal court strikes down warrantless wiretapping

Crime, Government, Law

Finally some good news!

A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government’s warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it.

U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit became the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency’s program, which she says violates the rights to free speech and privacy.

More information and a detailed analysis available from Glenn Greenwald. Let’s hope this sticks!

the real cost of gasoline

Environment, Government, Iraq, Reference, Uncategorized, World

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this study before, but I finally found a source I can cite.  Back in 1998, the International Center for Technology Assessment released a study called “The Real Price of Gasoline.”  It showed that if all the costs of gasoline (including subsidies and externalized costs) were included in the price at the pump, gas would actually cost between $5 and $15 a gallon.  (At the time, gas was $1 a gallon and we weren’t spending $100 billion per year in Iraq and Afghanistan.)  The full report is online (as a PDF), and I strongly recommend it to anyone.