in the past few hours
LJM commented on Morning News: The Bridge Collapse, Obama's Speech, and a Crop of Terrible Movies.
8:07 PM yesterday
LJM commented on Obama Administration Admits the US Has Used Drones to Kill Its Citizens.
@32,
http://drones.pitchinteractive.com/
Would you rather hundreds of innocent men, women and children died, creating support for Al Qaeda and zero increased safety for Americans?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/midd…
Or would you rather zero innocent men, women, and children died, decreasing support for Al Qaeda, and increasing safety for the U.S.?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/opinio…
http://drones.pitchinteractive.com/
Would you rather hundreds of innocent men, women and children died, creating support for Al Qaeda and zero increased safety for Americans?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/midd…
Or would you rather zero innocent men, women, and children died, decreasing support for Al Qaeda, and increasing safety for the U.S.?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/opinio…
May 20
LJM commented on Obama Administration Described a Reporter Just Doing His Job as Probable "Aider, Abettor, and/or Co-Conspirator" in a Crime.
@21, it's hilarious that you think that anything resembling "sedition" was committed. And by "hilarious," I mean "predictably sad."
It is not illegal to publish classified information. Repeat that phrase in your head, because it's a fact. Ignoring inconvenient facts is something that only Republicans do, right?
As far as Obama "upholding the laws and Constitution," you can't be serious.
He refused to enforce the torture treaty (even though he's said a president can't ignore treaties ratified by the Senate).
He clearly violated the War Powers Resolution when he sent troops to Libya without Congressional approval.
He assassinated an American without due process. He holds suspects without trial for indefinite detention, even those who have been cleared by the courts.
He's spied on millions of Americans without warrant or probably cause.
These aren't the actions of a man who is "upholding the laws and the Constitution." They are the actions of a man who cares little for either, and to not see that is to value politics over civil rights and good governance.
More...
It is not illegal to publish classified information. Repeat that phrase in your head, because it's a fact. Ignoring inconvenient facts is something that only Republicans do, right?
As far as Obama "upholding the laws and Constitution," you can't be serious.
He refused to enforce the torture treaty (even though he's said a president can't ignore treaties ratified by the Senate).
He clearly violated the War Powers Resolution when he sent troops to Libya without Congressional approval.
He assassinated an American without due process. He holds suspects without trial for indefinite detention, even those who have been cleared by the courts.
He's spied on millions of Americans without warrant or probably cause.
These aren't the actions of a man who is "upholding the laws and the Constitution." They are the actions of a man who cares little for either, and to not see that is to value politics over civil rights and good governance.
May 20
LJM commented on Obama Administration Described a Reporter Just Doing His Job as Probable "Aider, Abettor, and/or Co-Conspirator" in a Crime.
@18, exactly, thank you.
@19, your perspective is, frankly, as shallow as it could possibly be. This is about decent behavior. It's about living in a free and liberal society.
The reason you can shrug your shoulders at conservative, authoritarian behavior like this, is because you care more about partisan tribes than you do about what is right and wrong behavior on the part of the government.
Real liberals are upset by this, more so because it's being done by a supposed liberal. His race and political party are only relevant to people who are less interested in ethical behavior than they are in scoring political points.
@19, your perspective is, frankly, as shallow as it could possibly be. This is about decent behavior. It's about living in a free and liberal society.
The reason you can shrug your shoulders at conservative, authoritarian behavior like this, is because you care more about partisan tribes than you do about what is right and wrong behavior on the part of the government.
Real liberals are upset by this, more so because it's being done by a supposed liberal. His race and political party are only relevant to people who are less interested in ethical behavior than they are in scoring political points.
May 20
LJM commented on Obama Administration Described a Reporter Just Doing His Job as Probable "Aider, Abettor, and/or Co-Conspirator" in a Crime.
@16, believe it or not, working for a bad news network isn't a crime. Would you have no issue if the government framed him for domestic abuse or drunk driving? I mean, he deserves it, right?
Your attitude is actually no different from an authoritarian conservative's. Most loyal Fox News viewers would agree with you that the government should be able to accuse reporters of crimes when they don't like what they report. But that's what happens when partisan tribalism outweighs a liberal appreciation of the rule of law.
And if you don't mind it when the Obama administration intimidates reporters, you'll have to use a powerful mouthwash to get out the taste of hypocrisy when the next Republican administration does it.
Your attitude is actually no different from an authoritarian conservative's. Most loyal Fox News viewers would agree with you that the government should be able to accuse reporters of crimes when they don't like what they report. But that's what happens when partisan tribalism outweighs a liberal appreciation of the rule of law.
And if you don't mind it when the Obama administration intimidates reporters, you'll have to use a powerful mouthwash to get out the taste of hypocrisy when the next Republican administration does it.
May 20
LJM commented on Obama Administration Described a Reporter Just Doing His Job as Probable "Aider, Abettor, and/or Co-Conspirator" in a Crime.
Um,...you do know that they have followed Rosen and read his private emails? You do know that when the government does this to reporters who have reported harmless, innocuous information, it has the effect of stifling other reporters?
Um,... you do know that the government doesn't have to charge someone in order intimidate them and others like them, don't you? In this case, they have claimed that the reporter committed crimes, when he didn't.
Um,... you do know that Obama - the same Obama who promised to, "strengthen whistleblower laws to protect federal workers who expose waste, fraud, and abuse of authority in government," - that this same Obama has prosecuted twice as many government leakers under the 1917 Espionage Act than all prior administrations combined? Yes, including the Bush administration.
Um,... you do know that Democrats do bad things, too, don't you? Ignoring it when they do and pointing fingers at Republicans who did bad things is not constructive.
Um,... you do know that the government doesn't have to charge someone in order intimidate them and others like them, don't you? In this case, they have claimed that the reporter committed crimes, when he didn't.
Um,... you do know that Obama - the same Obama who promised to, "strengthen whistleblower laws to protect federal workers who expose waste, fraud, and abuse of authority in government," - that this same Obama has prosecuted twice as many government leakers under the 1917 Espionage Act than all prior administrations combined? Yes, including the Bush administration.
Um,... you do know that Democrats do bad things, too, don't you? Ignoring it when they do and pointing fingers at Republicans who did bad things is not constructive.
May 20
LJM commented on Obama Administration Described a Reporter Just Doing His Job as Probable "Aider, Abettor, and/or Co-Conspirator" in a Crime.
It is not illegal to publish classified information. I repeat: it is not illegal to publish classified information.
Kudos to Christopher for posting this.
@3, you've been posting this elsewhere, without providing any links. Neither the New Yorker, nor the Washington Post have mentioned this (or even the Feds), so where have you been reading it?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-ra…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/…
Kudos to Christopher for posting this.
@3, you've been posting this elsewhere, without providing any links. Neither the New Yorker, nor the Washington Post have mentioned this (or even the Feds), so where have you been reading it?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-ra…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/…
May 13
LJM commented on This Is What You Get, Liberals: Obama's Surveillance Scandal.
I've found that the best way to garner support for your political views is to shrilly denounce your potential allies. The more shrill the better. People really respond well to that.
I've found that valuing political allies over good behavior leads to more bad behavior. But it's only at the expense of whistleblowers, medical marijuana users/sellers, people who have been arrested or whose homes have been illegally foreclosed on, and impoverished foreigners, so, really, who cares?
I've found that valuing political allies over good behavior leads to more bad behavior. But it's only at the expense of whistleblowers, medical marijuana users/sellers, people who have been arrested or whose homes have been illegally foreclosed on, and impoverished foreigners, so, really, who cares?
May 13
LJM commented on This Is What You Get, Liberals: Obama's Surveillance Scandal.
@50, that's not that point at all. Every anti-Obama liberal understands the "lesser of two evils" argument and why people feel it's necessary within the present political paradigm.
The point is that there are people who didn't just vote for Obama. They think he's a swell guy and a good president. They refuse to admit the documented fact, the objective reality (something liberals are supposed to appreciate more than conservatives) that Obama has been destroying the lives of innocent people since he first took office. Just the other day, a SLOG commenter said that he/she trusted Obama and always would. That's morally and intellectually irresponsible.
The reason Obama (and Clinton and any number of Democrats) behaves badly is because he knows there will always be people for whom defeating Republicans in the short term is more important than electing truly liberal officials in the long term. And I actually respect that in the context of politics, despite my disagreement with it.
What I don't respect is people pretending that Obama behaves like a good or honest or liberal person would behave. Because that is creationism levels of reality denial.
More...
The point is that there are people who didn't just vote for Obama. They think he's a swell guy and a good president. They refuse to admit the documented fact, the objective reality (something liberals are supposed to appreciate more than conservatives) that Obama has been destroying the lives of innocent people since he first took office. Just the other day, a SLOG commenter said that he/she trusted Obama and always would. That's morally and intellectually irresponsible.
The reason Obama (and Clinton and any number of Democrats) behaves badly is because he knows there will always be people for whom defeating Republicans in the short term is more important than electing truly liberal officials in the long term. And I actually respect that in the context of politics, despite my disagreement with it.
What I don't respect is people pretending that Obama behaves like a good or honest or liberal person would behave. Because that is creationism levels of reality denial.
May 13
LJM commented on That's How Come They Got to be Managers at a Movie Theater in Missouri.
Is the "joke" behind the headline that movie theater managers are stupid? Or that movie theater managers in Missouri are stupid? Or that people in Missouri are stupid (because...Missouri?)
I think maybe Grant should leave comedy to the professionals.
I think maybe Grant should leave comedy to the professionals.
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Haha, just kidding, he'll just rely on loyalists who think he really wants to close the prison instead of simply relocate it, and who will then blame the Republicans for Obama's injustices.