Animals
I am dismayed by Obama's endorsement of FISA.
Sen. Russ Feingold condemned the bill on the ground that it "fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans at home" because "the government can still sweep up and keep the international communications of innocent Americans in the U.S. with no connection to suspected terrorists, with very few safeguards to protect against abuse of this power." Rep. Rush Holt -- who was actually denied time to speak by bill-supporter Silvestre Reyes only to be given time by bill-opponent John Conyers -- condemned the bill because it vests the power to decide who are the "bad guys" in the very people who do the spying.
So why is Obama supporting it?
It's either that he "chickened out" or -- as Yale Law Professor Jack Balkin asserts and Digby wonders -- Obama believes he will be President and wants these extreme powers for himself, no doubt, he believes, because he'll exercise them magnanimously, for our Own Good. Whatever the motives -- and I don't know (or much care) what they are -- Obama has embraced a bill that is not only redolent of many of the excesses of Bush's executive power theories and surveillance state expansions, but worse, has done so by embracing the underlying rationale of "Be-scared-and-give-up-your-rights." Note that the very first line of Obama's statement warns us that we face what he calls "grave threats," and that therefore, we must accept that our Leader needs more unlimited power, and the best we can do is trust that he will use it for our Good.
HT: HERP&ES
- 2 Down 28 To Go
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- The O'reilly Factor Attacks Daily Kos
Read Welcome Fox Viewers! by DarkSyde Bill O'Reilly (who should try reading Daily Kos before slamming it) described Daily Kos as a hate site. He seems unable to grasp the fact that anyone can submit a diary to Daily Kos. In fact Mr. O'Reilly say's...
- American Literature ~civil War Unit
A Taste of Freedom by Tommie Thompson. I am rather disappointed in the book. To me the reading level is 4th grade, but due to the content I wouldn't introduce it until at least Junior High. I have been in two mind about using it as the reading level...
- Plan Targets E. Coli Outbreaks
State Sen. Dean Florez plans to introduce a bill Feb. 1 that calls for a system to track produce from fields to store shelves and forces growers to further protect crops from contaminated water and stray animals that can spread bacteria. Wouldn't...
- Time For A Paradigm Shift...we Are What We Eat!!
Ordinarily all of my posts are fun farm stories.....and I have so many more to share. Today, however, I would like to share a little more than just fun. There is a growing movement in this country aimed at changing the way we eat and the way we do our...
Animals
Is Obama another "W"?
I am dismayed by Obama's endorsement of FISA.
Sen. Russ Feingold condemned the bill on the ground that it "fails to protect the privacy of law-abiding Americans at home" because "the government can still sweep up and keep the international communications of innocent Americans in the U.S. with no connection to suspected terrorists, with very few safeguards to protect against abuse of this power." Rep. Rush Holt -- who was actually denied time to speak by bill-supporter Silvestre Reyes only to be given time by bill-opponent John Conyers -- condemned the bill because it vests the power to decide who are the "bad guys" in the very people who do the spying.
So why is Obama supporting it?
It's either that he "chickened out" or -- as Yale Law Professor Jack Balkin asserts and Digby wonders -- Obama believes he will be President and wants these extreme powers for himself, no doubt, he believes, because he'll exercise them magnanimously, for our Own Good. Whatever the motives -- and I don't know (or much care) what they are -- Obama has embraced a bill that is not only redolent of many of the excesses of Bush's executive power theories and surveillance state expansions, but worse, has done so by embracing the underlying rationale of "Be-scared-and-give-up-your-rights." Note that the very first line of Obama's statement warns us that we face what he calls "grave threats," and that therefore, we must accept that our Leader needs more unlimited power, and the best we can do is trust that he will use it for our Good.
HT: HERP&ES
- 2 Down 28 To Go
We are happy to report that 2 dogs have been adopted since our last update. But 28 doggies still need to be rescued from Rainsville. Drop by their site and see all the doggies that are looking for a home. Wouldn't it be great if Obama adopted one...
- The O'reilly Factor Attacks Daily Kos
Read Welcome Fox Viewers! by DarkSyde Bill O'Reilly (who should try reading Daily Kos before slamming it) described Daily Kos as a hate site. He seems unable to grasp the fact that anyone can submit a diary to Daily Kos. In fact Mr. O'Reilly say's...
- American Literature ~civil War Unit
A Taste of Freedom by Tommie Thompson. I am rather disappointed in the book. To me the reading level is 4th grade, but due to the content I wouldn't introduce it until at least Junior High. I have been in two mind about using it as the reading level...
- Plan Targets E. Coli Outbreaks
State Sen. Dean Florez plans to introduce a bill Feb. 1 that calls for a system to track produce from fields to store shelves and forces growers to further protect crops from contaminated water and stray animals that can spread bacteria. Wouldn't...
- Time For A Paradigm Shift...we Are What We Eat!!
Ordinarily all of my posts are fun farm stories.....and I have so many more to share. Today, however, I would like to share a little more than just fun. There is a growing movement in this country aimed at changing the way we eat and the way we do our...