https://www.dailykos.com/user/Tin hat mafia/rss/index.xml News Community Action Copyright 2005 - Steal what you want Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:26:47 +0000 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:26:47 +0000 Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) https://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/28/1030984/--occupynashville-kudos-to-Tom-Nelson <p>Just a quick diary here. &nbsp;Last night (about 3:10am) Tennessee Highway Patrol officers cleared out Legislative &nbsp;Plaza, arresting 29 peaceful protesters. &nbsp;By all accounts the officers were civil and professional in their enforcement of the unconstitutional policy adopted earlier in the week.</p> <p>The big surprise, to me at least, came when Night Court Commissioner Tom Nelson <a href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111028/NEWS01/111028004/Arrested-Occupy-Nashville-protesters-released">refused to sign off on their arrest warrants!</a></p> <p>The protesters were returned to the custody of THP, who kept them until 9am and released them with misdemeanor citations for criminal trespassing. &nbsp;Those charges, I would imagine, will not hold in court since it was public property.</p> <p>Go 99%!!!!!!</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) #OWS Occupy Wall Street OccupyNashville OccupyWallStreet _1030984 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:59:37 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/14/1026379/-Obama-s-war-on-me-vis-a-vis-the-war-on-drugs <p>There is breaking news today that the DEA, along with local law enforcement (LEOs), are raiding medical marijuana dispensaries in California[see <a href="http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111013/ARTICLES/111019773?Title=Feds-raid-medical-pot-co-op-near-Ukiah">here</a> and <a href="http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/10/marijuana_raid_northstone_organics_dea.php">here</a>], and in Arizona [see <a href="http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/health/cannabis-club-raid-10-12-2011">here</a>]. &nbsp;It is only a matter of time before these raids spread into other states who have chosen to leave behind the bigoted, anti-science moral crusade to pass compassionate care laws, like my new home state of Colorado.</p> <p>more over the fold...</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 99% 99Percent Election 2012 Election2012 MedicalMarijuana WaronDrugs _1026379 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:20:10 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/8/9/891561/-I-want-MY-country-back <p>If we are going to entertain the possibility that the illusions Republicans hold about the 'state of our nation' in past days are true, I have my own to throw into the pot.</p> <p>While the Republicans are pining for days of crotchety old white men in charge of the House of Reps and sitting in the White House, I'm pining for the days when this was a nation I could, within a degree of plausible deniability, be proud of.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Iwantmycountryback Rant Tea Party TeaParty _891561 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:38:07 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/6/11/875180/-Must-see-short-film-about-gulf-coast-help-it-go-viral <p>This is a short diary....</p> <p>Edward James Olmos has put together a short film interviewing a few gulf residents about the impact of the BP oilpocalypse, both on their current livelihood and their prospects for the future.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) BP EdwardJamesOlmos Gulf Coast GulfCoast Oil Spill OilSpill _875180 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:18:51 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/30/820367/-Insanity-The-Health-Care-Reform-Bill-is-not-THE-Problem <p>I put the following idea to you: The HCR bill is not THE problem. &nbsp;It is, of course, A problem but it is not THE problem. &nbsp;Obama and Rahm have made it crystal clear by lying to our faces during the campaign and immediately pouncing on any progressives who dare to cross the administration that they have nothing but disdain for our hopes for the country. &nbsp;Single payer is only lunacy and even their weak assed compromise of a 'public option' was a subterfuge to allow them to claim that they had fought for some small grain of actual reform before giving in and letting their benefactors have the largest slice of the pie.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) CentristDemocrats Corporatism HealthCareReform Progressives _820367 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:33:45 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/24/796818/-I-m-vaccinated <p>This is a short, almost non- diary.</p> <p>Yesterday, while walking across the campus at my university, I saw a sign that said "Free H1N1 vaccine for faculty &amp; staff."</p> <p>Went in rolled up my sleeve, got my seasonal, then took two shots up the nose with the H1N1 live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).</p> <p>24 hours later, and I'm still alive and kicking. &nbsp;I haven't grown a third arm or eye...</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2009H1N1outbreak H1N1 LAIVvaccine Swine flu swineflu Vaccination _796818 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:56:36 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/15/782520/-Parent-Alert-Atypical-Symptoms-Seen-in-Children-with-H1N1 <blockquote> <p>Disclaimer/Notice: &nbsp;I posted this diary two days ago in the middle of the night, not exactly the best time to bring important things to people's attention. &nbsp;I am reposting it now so that more people can be aware of some recent news/observations about the symptoms exhibited by children who have contracted H1N1, and realize the severity of this pandemic threat. </p> </blockquote> <p>A week ago here in Nashville, there was a 5 year old boy who died from H1N1. &nbsp;While it is not unusual for children <strong>with pre-existing health conditions</strong> to die from typical influenza, this child <strong>was not known to have any such conditions</strong>. &nbsp;What's more alarming is that he first showed symptoms on Friday, and was dead by Monday night, and it appears that during that time his temperature never got above 102.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) atypicalsymptoms Children H1N1 Swine flu swineflu symptoms TheLancet _782520 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:54:51 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/13/781691/--UPDATED-A-Parent-s-Alert-H1N1-160-Children <p>Folks, despite the name, I try really hard not to be overly paranoid and dramatic, but there is reason to be overly vigilant this flu season anyway. &nbsp;Despite what you may hear, and what you may think about the H1N1 flu, this is NOT like any other bug.</p> <p>A week ago here in Nashville, there was a 5 year old boy who died from H1N1. &nbsp;While it is not unusual for a young child to die of the flu who has a pre-existing health condition, this child was not known to have any. &nbsp;What's more alarming is that he first showed symptoms on Friday, and was dead by Monday night.</p> <p><strong>Update [2009-9-14 9:34:14 by Tin hat mafia]:</strong> &nbsp;The <a href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090914/NEWS01/909130370/How+did+swine+flu+kill+a+healthy+boy?">original Tennessean article</a> has is now available on their web site and featured on their front page. &nbsp;I know I wrote this in the middle of the night, but please rec this up so that others can see it!</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) atypicalflusymptoms Children H1N1 Swine flu swineflu _781691 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:02:15 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/12/781109/-Personal-action-diary <p>We are all inspired to action by little things here and there every day. &nbsp;Today I was inspired to write an email to a family email list....one that sometimes gets CC'd with conservative spam...and give my 2 cents on the health care battle.</p> <p>Here is my email to a possibly hostile, but still potentially receptive audience. &nbsp;I should say that I have never before sent a politically sensitive email such as this to my family, but I felt that 'now is the time'.</p> <p>The take-home message is this: &nbsp; </p> <blockquote> <p>Please remember that not all action is directed towards strangers. </p> </blockquote> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) ActionDiary heathcarereform _781109 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:12:45 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/11/780636/-Howard-Dean-vs-Karl-Rove-debate-to-be-webcast-live-tonight-updated <p>This is just a short diary...I searched and didn't find any record of it, and I figured there might be some here who were as interested as I in something besides the whole Wilson bruhaha...</p> <p>Tonight should be one of the more interesting evenings of the semester for student's at Depauw University, as none other than Howard Dean and Karl Rove square off on stage in a debate....</p> <p>From the <a href="http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=23845">Depauw web site</a></p> <blockquote> <p>August 8, 2009, Greencastle, Ind. &mdash; Two heavyweights on the national political scene -- Howard Dean, who recently completed a four-year term as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Karl Rove, the former chief political adviser to President George W. Bush -- are coming to DePauw University on Friday, September 11. In a Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture, the two men will engage in a debate on "America in 2009: Challenges and Opportunities." The program will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium of the Green Center for the Performing Arts (605 S. College Avenue). </p> </blockquote> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2009 9-11 Debate DePauwUniversity HowardDean Karl Rove KarlRove September 11 _780636 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:34:58 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/7/22/756237/-Is-Private-Bergdahl-fair-game-too-Karl <p>After seeing the images of the Taliban's new trophy, Private Bergdahl, and hearing the hypocritical condemnations of the US Military for merely making a video that shows him scared and vulnerable, I have to ask myself how the fuck anyone in Washington can sleep tonight, much less the rest of the country.</p> <p><object width="425" height="344"><param value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3NJV1XIRfWs&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" name="movie"></param><param value="true" name="allowFullScreen"></param><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess"></param><embed width="425" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3NJV1XIRfWs&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344"></embed></object></p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) AbuGhraib Afghanistan BoweRBergdahl BuckFush EnhancedInterrogation EricHolder GuantanamoBay Taliban Torture _756237 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:56:34 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/5/1/726783/--Updated-Hand-Sanitizer-alcohol-and-H1N1-Swine-Flu <p>I am not one of the neurotic people who carries a little bottle of hand sanitizer around with me on a regular basis. &nbsp;However, until this flu bug passes I WILL BE FROM NOW ON.</p> <p>I found it rather curious, being a scientist (analytical chemist, not a biologist) and all, that the CDC web page was advising people in addition to washing their hands on a regular basis, to use 'alcohol hand lotions' (i.e., hand sanitizers) when soap was not available and your hands are not visibly dirty.</p> <p>Now, I recall numerous people saying that alcohol won't kill viruses...so I did a little digging...what I found over the bump.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) fluprevention flutraveladivsory H1N1 HandSanitizer Swine flu swineflu _726783 Fri, 01 May 2009 15:51:56 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/4/19/721752/--and-somewhere-a-child-cries-out <p>Over at <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&amp;sid=aMAbMEGzRfco&amp;refer=home">Bloomberg</a>, they are reporting about a clash between the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Treasury Department about which parts of the now infamous 'Stress Tests' to be publicized, and by whom...a stress test that is <a href="http://www.turnmaineblue.com/diary/2666/the-stress-test-banks-cant-fail-the-fed-says-so">intended by design to be impossible to fail</a>.</p> <p>While they hire accounting contortionists to obfuscate the reality of their predicament, and by extension ours as well, I would like to add my own metric for the assessment of the state of the nation, one that hopefully is based on FACTS, and not the re-inflation of some illusory bubble of prosperity...</p> <p>Please, join me across the fold for my recent economic 'stress test' results.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Economy Rescued stresstest _721752 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:58:53 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/2/10/695914/-Do-NOT-go-to-this-website <p>h/t to <a href="http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/suspect-torture-case-was-imprisoned-r">Crooks and Liars</a></p> <p>This is an anti-torture, anti-war on terror diary, and the true story of Binyam Mohamed, a caretaker and accused terrorist. &nbsp;This story will tell you the depths that we sank to under our former presidential administration, and hopefully of the need to publicly ask forgiveness of those who have suffered under the guises of the 'War on terrer'</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) extraordinaryinsanity ExtraordinaryRendition GuantanamoBay WarOnTerror _695914 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:27:17 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/30/691104/-McCaskill-proposes-maximum-wage-for-TARP-recipients-Updated-6x-with-text-of-the-bill <p>I just came across this, and my jaw hit the floor! &nbsp;Some of us on the fringes have been talking about the concept of a maximum wage for a while, but this is <strong>phenomenal timing!</strong></p> <p>Claire McCaskill this afternoon proposed a stunning bill that would limit Wall Street Execs who accept TARP funding to <strong>not making more than the president of the United States.</strong></p> <p>How about them apples?</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) ClaireMcCaskill Economy maximumwage Recommended TARP Wall Street WallStreet _691104 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:56:17 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/28/689825/-Was-Mercury-intentionally-added-to-High-Fructose-Corn-Syrup <p>I wrote a diary on this yesterday, and frankly it fascinates me, even though there were a few people here who saw no problem whatsoever in the industry's allowing mercury contaminated high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in food just because it was cheaper than mercury free HFCS...</p> <p>Anyway, I found another potential gem in the report by the FDA environmental health officer that makes me think there might be more to this story than meets the eye.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) FDA FoodSafety highfructosecornsyrup mercurycontamination _689825 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:52:10 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/27/689659/-Mercury-in-High-Fructose-Corn-Syrup-FDA-Knew-updated-2x <p>Holy mother of all that's holy!</p> <p>This is gonna be a short diary, but one I am sure that will rock your world. &nbsp;Especially those of you with kids!</p> <p>Apparently the FDA has known, since at least 2005, that <strong>50% of commercial High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)samples, and that 1/3 of final products containing HFCS tested positive for mercury!</strong></p> <p>That's no typo folks. &nbsp;That's no casual omission of a medically irrelevant factoid. &nbsp;That's a conscious coverup of a potential disaster to the children of this country!</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) highfructosecornsyrup Mercury _689659 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:42:09 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/21/686985/-President-Obama-s-first-official-act <p>Like you all, I am sure, I would like to celebrate today as a day to 'exhale'. &nbsp;We made it folks!</p> <p>I thought it instructive that our new president included his exhortation to "put away childish things", those things that have led us down the path to fiscal dispair. &nbsp;Obama's focus on service towards others, and his praise of those who do and those who make over those who, I don't know, make a living speculating on misery, is a welcome change over our outgoing Toddler in Chief.</p> <p>In case you missed it, Obama's first official act was to issue a proclamation that yesterday be a "National day of renewal and reconciliation"</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Barack Obama BarackObama firstofficialact January202009 President Obama _686985 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:05:33 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/9/681997/-Franken-schools-Coulter-in-72-seconds-video-clip <p>Just saw this this clip on Crooks and Liars and thought that I might pass it along. &nbsp;It does a great job of showing the difference between fiscal conservatives and the rest of the conscientious human race on a simple hypothetical question....if you could be any person in the past who would you be?</p> <p>I know that it's an old clip, but I offer it to celebrate Franken's almost imminent seating as the new junior Senator from the state of Minnesota.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Al Franken AlFranken Ann Coulter AnnCoulter ConnecticutForum _681997 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:30:14 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/29/664828/-One-More-Saturday-Night-w-the-Grateful-Dead <p>While we should not be naive enough to believe that a band can change the world, the best of them tend to leave their mark. &nbsp;And true to form, the Grateful Dead have left theirs in the strangest of places.</p> <p>I give you two examples; Paul Krugman, and Celebrity Death Match</p> <p>maybe you can give me more.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) GratefulDead The Best Fucking Band in the World _664828 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:32:38 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/26/666886/-And-the-raping-of-America-continues <p>In the waning days of the Bush administration, the Cronies who have not yet gorged on the teat of the commonwealth are beginning to be fed. &nbsp;Expect more of the following, as the lame dick duck does all he can to take care of his buddies through the next 8 years of wandering in the wilderness.</p> <p><strong> Case in point; authorization of the largest open pit cyanide heap leach gold mines in the United States - the Cortez Hills Expansion Project on Mt. Tenabo.</strong></p> <p>And for those who don't know what Mt. Tenabo is, it is a holy site to the Native American Shoshone Nation. &nbsp;A virtual equivalent of pit mining on top of Golgotha (Calvary) or in the garden of eden (but hey, we sprayed that with depleted uranium too didn't we?)</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) BureauOfLandManagement BushAdministration cyanide heapleachmining NativeAmericans _666886 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:01:21 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/15/660447/-One-More-Saturday-Night-w-the-Grateful-Dead <p>I have been wondering just how many Deadheads there were lurking abouts here amongst the Kossaks, so this is a sort of a roll call. &nbsp;</p> <p>For those of you who aren't familiar with the Dead, maybe we can do something about that too. &nbsp;Although they are definitely one of the iconic jam bands, and their fame initially tracked with the counterculture of the 1960's, it lasted far longer. &nbsp;Commercially, they only charted one 'hit', their 1987 single 'Touch of Grey', which also netted them an MTV video and a new generation of fans. Despite the lack of album sales, they were consistently top draws at the concert arenas right up until the untimely death of Jerry Garcia in 1995. &nbsp;</p> <p>If there is an interest in the history of the band, such as the early 'Warlock' years with the Electric Koolaid Acid Tests...that might be addressed some other time, but there are plenty of sites out there on the intertubes (<a href="http://www.dead.net">like the Dead's official site</a>), a tribute to the dedication of all the heads out there. &nbsp;</p> <p>To say that Grateful Dead fans, or Deadheads, are obsessive is largely an understatement. &nbsp;It has even been reported that one guy spent around $13,000 on concert tickets alone during the band's lifetime. &nbsp;</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) GratefulDead OneMoreSaturdayNight The Best Fucking Band in the World _660447 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:32:12 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/2/617838/-With-all-due-respect <p>Remember this little gem?</p> <blockquote> <p>That&rsquo;s not the way the world really works anymore," he continued. "We&rsquo;re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you&rsquo;re studying that reality &mdash; judiciously, as you will &mdash; we&rsquo;ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that&rsquo;s how things will sort out. We&rsquo;re history&rsquo;s actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do. <br />-unnamed Bush administration official (a.k.a. Karl Rove) </p> </blockquote> <p>and this one too...</p> <blockquote> <p>Oops, I did it again <br />-Brittney Spears </p> </blockquote> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) BushAdministration PaulsonBailout shockdoctrine _617838 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:43:27 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/26/610754/-What-if-the-Bailout-is-a-trap <p>I have been known, from time to time, to howl at the moon. &nbsp;As a card carrying member of the tinfoil hat brigade, I have been known to hold what some would consider as controversial beliefs (just look at my <a href="http://www.politicalcompass.org/">political compass</a> numbers in my tagline).</p> <p>Nonetheless, I smell something foul in the air.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Bailout ConspiracyTheory howlingatthemoon _610754 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:22:00 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/20/604665/-Gas-down-in-Knoxville-but-gone-in-Nashville <p>Greetings to the rest of the country, from ground zero for hurricane Ike. &nbsp;No, not from Texas, from Tennessee!</p> <p>I have just returned from a week in Denver to find that the hurricane has taken a much stranger path after making landfall in Texas. &nbsp;Much to my surprise it has wiped out the gasoline supply here in middle Tennessee...</p> <p>Now how in the frack did that happen?</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Gassupplies Hurricane Ike HurricaneIke Nashville Tennessee _604665 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:03:41 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/11/595548/-9-11-2001-Where-were-you <p>I can't believe it has been seven years since that morning. &nbsp;So much has changed, and in ways little of it for the better.</p> <p>follow me over the jump for my memories of that day, and perhaps you can share not just your memories, but your feelings and lessons, that these people will not have died in vain.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 9-11 lessonsfrom9-11 _595548 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 02:41:57 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/27/576823/--Updates-Must-see-video-police-state-tactics-in-Denver-w-poll <p>I came across this video, originally posted by the Rocky Mountain News, on Commondreams, and it made me so furious I had to literally take a breather.</p> <p>Thankfully, we have not seen mass numbers of arrests in Denver, and with the recent <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/27/us/politics/27plot.html?ref=us">Redneck Assassination Ops</a>, I can understand the need for an increased police presence during the convention, but with reports of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/tom-hayden-predicts-obama_b_121282.html?page=3">secret police weapons caches</a> downtown we have to ask if they are going too far. &nbsp;</p> <p>I can not help but feel that this video shows a freeze-frame of the slip of our democracy toward a police state....</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2008DenverDemocraticConvention CivilLiberties PoliceState Protest _576823 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:08:35 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/26/576096/-POW-busting-meme <p>After reading of so many Democrats wringing their hands over how to go after John McCain, maverick philanderer and POW, I have to admit that I don't see the big problem. &nbsp;</p> <p>Even my governor Phil Bredesen thinks it isn't advisable, but it would be far from the first time I have disagreed with him!</p> <p>While Karl Rove is an asshat of the first degree, he wasn't stupid when he said in politics you go after your opponent's strength, not their weakness!</p> <p>The trick in all of this is in not disrespecting his service or his sacrifices.....how do you do that you ask?</p> <p>Follow me over the speedbump and I'll give you my 2 cents worth...</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2008PresidentialElection attackad Barack Obama BarackObama John McCain JohnMcCain POW card POWcard _576096 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:57:26 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/7/564191/-Lookie-here-The-truth-on-McCain <p>I thought I was for Obama, but now I'm not. &nbsp;I have decided, once and for all, to get me a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/toby-keiths-pro-lynching_b_115526.html">Toby Keith-length of rope</a>, make a noose, and tighten it to a jar of Republican vasoline (a petroleum by-product, don't ya know) &nbsp;and tie it to my belt. &nbsp;</p> <p>Seriously, this is my attempt to get me some <a href="http://www.johnmccain.com/ActionCenter/BlogInteract/BlogInteract.aspx">Bloggerpoints(TM)</a> from the McCain campaign committee, and hopefully win an all expenses paid vacation to the soon to be fluorescent landscapes of Yucca Mountain...or somewhere equally illuminating.</p> <p>I'm even incorporating his talking points verbatim to ensure the rapid transfer of my aforementioned bloggerpoints (TM)</p> <p>Everyone fastened in? &nbsp;Okay...awaaay we goooooo!</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2008 Astroturf John McCain JohnMcCain Presidential Election PresidentialElection _564191 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:20:46 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/30/559718/-In-memory-of-my-father <p>My father was a true piece of work. Even though he was a die hard Republican, they broke the mold after him. &nbsp;When he was 9 (in the summer of 1934), his father brought home a handfull of instruments and instructed the entire family (4 boys and one girl), that they were to learn to play so that they could help make money to put bread on the table.</p> <p>It was only 4 years after their debut on a snowy sidewalk in Thayer, MO., that they were performing regularly on stage at the Grand Ole Opry (where they were all too soon run off because of child labor laws....but that is another story).</p> <p>When he was 18 he was drafted, sent to Germany, and after 8 weeks of duty he was wounded and would spend the next 4 years in and out of VA hospitals. &nbsp;His right knee was gone, with the bones fused together, but I never heard him complain...even though his only dream was to be a professional baseball player.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) memoriam _559718 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:19:07 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/24/556464/-Why-FISA-sucks-pt-II-Terrorist-Watch-List <p>Last night I wrote the <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/23/184333/834/415/555902">first part</a> of this series, a diary almost nobody read, so in following through on my threat I present this diary.</p> <p>My point in this series is simply to point out that every power that the government is given will be abused to some extent. &nbsp;So we must be increasingly wary of what we give up, because odds are we won't be getting anything back.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) FISA TerroristScreeningCenter terroristwatchlist _556464 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:41:22 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/23/555902/-Why-FISA-sucks-Pt-I-COINTELPRO <p>While you may believe that the flame wars are over, I have never been one to let sleeping dogs lie...in fact I like to tickle them just under their chin and run away REALLY FAST.</p> <p>Anyway, in a sincere belief that those who have disagreed with me on the sheer disaster that is the unraveling of the rule of law are simply unaware of the power the government has been handed, I have decided to do a little background.</p> <p>Since the tinfoil hat brigades fall under the purview of the tin hat mafia, I will begin with the 'I told you so' of conspiracy theories: COINTELPRO</p> <p>In the words of The Church committee: </p> <blockquote> <p>"Many of the techniques used would be intolerable in a democratic society even if all of the targets had been involved in violent activity, but COINTELPRO went far beyond that...the Bureau conducted a sophisticated vigilante operation aimed squarely at preventing the exercise of First Amendment rights of speech and association, on the theory that preventing the growth of dangerous groups and the propagation of dangerous ideas would <strong>protect the national security and deter violence</strong>." <br />[emphasis is of course mine...] </p> </blockquote> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 4th Amendment 4thAmendment CointelPro FISA _555902 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:35:35 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/19/553870/-Ever-tried-to-reach-a-horizon <p>The time is now for Obama's camp to jump on this and jump on it hard.</p> <p>The Republicans have given us, in a basket, the key meme to separate their plans for Iraq from those of the rest of the country, the entire world, and definitely the Iraqis.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2008 Barack Obama BarackObama Presidential Election PresidentialElection timehorizon _553870 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:19:46 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/16/552701/-A-condom-on-Senator-Helms-house-w-video <p>Holy $h!t, this is awesome.... I just saw this video, alright so its 17 years old, but it has inspired me..</p> <p>Apparently in 1991, a group of activists were so fed up with Jesse Helms continuing to block every single piece of legislation to fund HIV/AIDS research and/or treatment that they put an enormous condom on his house that said... </p> <blockquote> <p>"A condom to stop unsafe politics. <br />Helms is deadlier than a virus." </p> </blockquote> <p>If only we had one of these groups for every senator that voted for FISA.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) HIV-AIDS JesseHelms PoliticalActivism Tag _552701 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:09:59 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/15/551948/-War-crimes-and-military-waivers <p>Once again McClatchy shows that it is the only print media on the ball for stories of actual significance. &nbsp;In their Sunday edition, in a piece called <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/13/10333/">Suspect Soldiers: Did Crimes in US Foretell Violence in Iraq?</a> (via Common Dreams) Russell Carollo pens an in depth piece studying the links between waivers issued by the military to applicants whose background would "otherwise prevent them from serving."</p> <p>follow me through the jump for the details...</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Iraq War IraqWar McClatchy militarywaivers RussellCarollo War Crimes WarCrimes _551948 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:34:47 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/14/551376/-Pragmatic-denial <p>Part of this was written as a reply to a diary that is scrolling toward oblivion as I write this, and I thought I would expand on it a bit and do a diary of my own. &nbsp;The issue isn't, and has never been, solely about FISA. &nbsp;Anyone who says it is, on either side, simply does not appreciate the gravity of our situation, as a nation, and the need for leadership to AT LEAST acknowledge its existence.</p> <p>So this is written as a generic rebuttal to those requesting ANYONE to sit down and shut up when they disagree with a candidate.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2008 Election 2008Election Barack Obama BarackObama FISA _551376 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:29:53 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/10/549667/-Sign-Kucinich-s-petition-NOW-action-diary-Plz-rec <p>For all of you who tuned in to CSPAN to watch the festivities, as well as all of you who are constitutional purists....</p> <p>Rep. Kucinich needs your help NOW!</p> <p>Kucinich has a link on his new web site to sign a petition, which he will personally deliver to your own Representative of Congress, to support his new Unitary Article of Impeachment.</p> <p>So <a href="http://impeachment.kucinich.us/petition/">head on over</a> and sign up!</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Dennis Kucinich DennisKucinich George W. Bush GeorgeWBush H.Res.333-110 HouseJudiciaryCommittee Impeachment _549667 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:13:59 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/26/542339/-Troll-rate-me-please <p>I am writing this diary in the hopes that someone will troll rate me. &nbsp;You see, I disagree with you. &nbsp;I will not be supporting Obama with monetary contributions, nor with a donation of my time.</p> <p>Am I a troll yet?</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Trolls _542339 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:06:29 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/17/531885/-Proper-response-to-9-10-mindset-charge <p>If I were Obama, this would be my tack....in addition of course to what he has already said re: the failures of the GOP in their GWOT.</p> <blockquote> <p>My opponent has alleged that I have a "9/10 mindset", as if I am not aware of the risks and dangers of the current day and age. &nbsp;I would counter that John McCain, and his party as well, suffer from a "9/11 mindset", as opposed to myself and my party which by and large have developed a post-9/11 mindset... </p> </blockquote> <p>follow me over the hump for more.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2008PresidentialElection 9-10mindset Barack Obama BarackObama John McCain JohnMcCain _531885 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:23:04 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/10/533433/-Open-letter-to-Pelosi-and-Conyers <p>I offer the following, an email I sent today to both Rep. Conyers and to Rep. Pelosi.</p> <p>I implore all of you who are passionate about the impeachment of Bush and Cheney to write or call your local reps, as well as Conyers and Pelosi.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2008PresidentialElection George W. Bush GeorgeWBush Impeachment _533433 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:22:40 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/7/531914/-Out-Bushing-Bush-on-Iraq <p>Everyone here is by now aware of Bush's recent overture to finalize a '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_of_Forces_Agreement">Status of Forces</a>' agreement with the Iraqi puppet parliament, and I believe I know a way for Obama to effectively stop this in its tracks....</p> <p>it involves using the threat of a trick from Bush's own playbook...</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2008 Barack Obama BarackObama Presidential Election PresidentialElection StatusofForces _531914 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:41:20 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/4/529102/-What-Hilliary-deserves-and-what-she-s-up-to <p>My original idea for this post was going to be something along the lines of "in attempt to prove readiness for VP position...Hillary shoots herself in face on live TV"...but on deeper reflection, and loosing the sarcasm, I think I have figured out what is going on.</p> <p>And Obama supporters can breathe a sigh of relief, she doesn't want the VP slot!</p> <p>Follow me over the hump to hear my 2 cents worth.</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2008 elections 2008elections 2008Primaries Barack Obama BarackObama Democratic Party DemocraticParty Elections Hillary Clinton HillaryClinton _529102 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:40:34 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/8/332485/-McClatchy-Iraqi-Oil-Flowing-Unmetered-to-Tankers-in-Basra <p>I was just checking out the McClatchy Washignton bureau web pages, and was stunned to see an entry on their &nbsp;<a href="http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/iraq/2007/05/you_sleepy_why.html">Baghdad Blog</a> commenting on the lack of <em>functional meters</em> on the oil pipelines feeding tankers in the port of Basra.</p> <p>an excerpt is included below...</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Iraq McClatchy Oil _332485 Tue, 08 May 2007 22:09:55 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/8/288376/-Dead-Birds-and-the-Smell-of-Fear-in-Manhattan <p>So, Bush is scheduled to announce a new sacrificial surge on Wednesday, and we awake to find much of downtown New York <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16524813/">wreaking of a gas leak</a>, downtown Austin, TX shutdown due to the discovery of '<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/01/08/austin.birds.ap/index.html">dozens of dead birds</a>', and now a bomb squad finds <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16528857/">traces of C-4</a> on a mysterious package on a Miami dock....is this a coincidence? &nbsp;All this a day after a Reuters report saying Israel is planning a <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070107/wl_nm/iran_nuclear_israel_dc_3">tactical nuclear strike</a> on Iran's nuclear facility......</p> rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Armageddon George W. Bush GeorgeWBush _288376 Mon, 08 Jan 2007 21:01:04 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/18/228417/-The-Immorality-of-Occupation-with-poll The entire idea of a moral military occupation of another country is, on its face, completely absurd. &nbsp;Only if one rejects the obscene premise of a morally justified occupation can the carnage currently shredding the entire middle east be aleviated. &nbsp;<br> The only hope for peace is if our representatives can bring themselves to admit that they are culpable in a crime....good luck right? &nbsp;Maybe not. &nbsp;All it takes is a straw to break a camel's back, and the story of a 15 year old girl may be that straw...</p><p> (grab an honorary tin foil hat and follow me over the fold) rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Israel Occupation _228417 Tue, 18 Jul 2006 20:17:43 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/16/227814/-YOYO-Dems-and-the-50-State-Strategy-with-poll My local state House Representative held an 'Old fashioned ice cream social' yesterday as a meet and greet election effort... &nbsp;I had, prior to yesterday, a positive attitude toward her, not only because she is a Dem, but because she regularly attends our neighborhood block parties (more like a street potluck kind of thing) even though there are only 10-20 people present. </p><p> After a short conversation with my wife, however, I got that old sinking feeling..... rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2006elections 50statestrategy Strategy Values YoyoEconomics _227814 Sun, 16 Jul 2006 20:05:09 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/27/222479/-Please-Oh-please-don-t-take-the-bait The current hullabaloo surrounding the offer of amnesty to Iraqi insurgents continues to bounce around the MSM echo chamber....to me this is just another exercise in hypocracy by incumbents of both parties trying to cover their own asses for either support of (or lack of opposition to)the entire Iraq fiasco while holding open the option of bringing our boys home under the veil of "victory"...</p><p> more after the hump. rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Amnesty Iraq Withdrawal _222479 Tue, 27 Jun 2006 16:08:30 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/5/26/213713/-The-War-Prayer In the spirit of memorial day, and in tribute to both the brave soldiers and those who fight bravely to keep their lives from being wasted for nothing, I submit the following work by Mark Twain. &nbsp;It was apparently written as a protest to the US invasion of the Phillipines, and of course rejected for publication by his publicist....it was intially published only after his death.</p><p> It may be a little long, but it's worth reading if you haven't read it before. &nbsp;Although it is cited in its entirety, I believe it falls under a 'fair use' exemption due to the morally instructional nature of the piece and the nature of the holiday at hand. rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) Religion ReligiousRight Veterans War WarOnTerror _213713 Sat, 27 May 2006 06:49:40 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/21/204056/-Nuking-Iran-or-How-to-Irradiate-20-000-US-troops-for-Natl-Security There has been much speculation around the internet (leading to some within the MSM) concerning whether or not God has issued instructions to Dubya concerning a pre-emptive nuclear strike against Iran. &nbsp;As with Iraq, I am sure that Dubya and Dead-eye Dick are only seeing the intel that matches their messianic and/or oil-driven intentions, but there is one juicy piect of intel available publicly that makes this endeavor seem more bat-shit crazy than anything about Iraq! &nbsp;This, of course, has not been touched upon by <strong>anyone</strong> publicly to my knowledge!</p><p> More after the fold.... rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2006elections BushAdministration Iran _204056 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 21:41:49 +0000 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/3/175812/-Voting-rights-amendment Although there continues to be quite a bit of debate as to whether the 2004 presidential election was 'stolen', there are few who can say that the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections were shining examples of democracy in action.<br> Whether or not you are convinced that electronic voting machines have been hacked, you cannot deny that they could be in the future. &nbsp;Also, there has been widespread documentation about various conspiracies (i.e. phone banks misleading voters about voting times and/or locations, limiting the number of machines, etc.) to suppress the rights of people to vote.</p><p> Here's the catch, though, as highlighted in the Supreme Court decision in the 2000 race, we don't have a right to vote (or at least to have the votes counted)!</p><p> more after the hump... rss@dailykos.com (Tin hat mafia) 2006elections ConstitutionalAmendment Diebold Elections _175812 Tue, 03 Jan 2006 20:39:02 +0000