Archive for January, 2008

Ron Paul supporters see Obama potential

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008


The Internet phenomena that is Ron Paul’s base considers it’s next best option…Barack Obama. Cheers to that. I am biased of course, but given Obama’s open government and technology platforms(64k pdf) as endorsed by Lawrence Lessig, I’d say Obama stands alone as the next best choice for Paul supporters concerned about matters of privacy, government transparency, and issues such as net neutrality.

Via DMIESSLER.COM: “Question: When Do We, As Paul Supporters, Switch to Obama?

Ron Paul just took 3% in Florida, and most states have been going similarly. I’m thinking what everyone else is thinking, but now I’m thinking it out loud.

When do we call gg and switch our energies to keeping Romney or McCain out of office? In other words, when do we give up and start supporting Obama?

Perhaps there are those among you that don’t like Obama, but here’s something to consider: you should vote for him for the same reason you’ll vote for Paul even though he doesn’t believe in evolution. He’s an honest man with common sense.”

Will we see a Ron Paul bump in Obama’s February 5th poll numbers?

Posted in 2008 Election, Barack Obama, EFF, Lawrence Lessig, Ron Paul, technology | 2 Comments »

Chavez: Pull Reserves From US

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

How does a centralized pan-South American/Caribbean bank with ties to Iran effect US influence in our hemisphere? This event coincides with the New York Times publishing Waving Goodbye to Hegemony, a long but worthy read which pieces together a world view absent US global dominance.

Given the our nation’s current financial crisis, the long standing history of the Monroe Doctrine, and a US president who seems happiest when indulging fantasies of channeling Teddy Roosevelt, will Chavez’s move here be viewed as tantamount to an act of war, or are these billions of dollars just drops in the bucket?

From Yahoo! Finance: “Chavez welcomed the Caribbean island of Dominica into the ALBA — an acronym that means “dawn” in Spanish — joining Nicaragua, Bolivia and Cuba. Attending as observers were the prime ministers of Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, along with officials from Ecuador, Honduras, Haiti and St. Kitts and Nevis.

Chavez said a new fund created by Venezuela and Iran to support projects in third countries would have links to the ALBA Bank.”

Posted in ALBA Bank, Hugo Chavez, Monroe Doctrine, Venezuela, economy, iran | Comments Off

Precrime: Preemption at Home

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008

The long saga of the Brooklyn-born “Dirty Bomber,” Jose Padilla is over. After 3 and a half years in military custody, Padilla’s constitutional rights were finally upheld and he was granted a civilian trial.

The three month trial showcased the post-9/11 standard for justice in America.

From the New York Times: “Following the defendants’ convictions last Aug. 16, some legal experts said the success of the Justice Department’s strategy cemented a new prosecutorial model in terrorism cases by relying on a little-used conspiracy law that required very little in the way of concrete evidence showing Mr. Padilla’s intent or ability to carry out the crimes.”

The key words here: “very little,” “evidence,” of “intent or ability.” Despite this Padilla was sentenced to 17 years and four months on charges that he conspired to help Islamic terrorists around the world.

He conspired. He thought, talked, dreamed, and schemed about helping terrorists. But he didn’t DO anything. Seventeen years.

Posted in 9/11, Dirty Bomber, Jose Padilla, Precrime, patriot act, technology | Comments Off

YouTube – Treetop Flyer

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

I’m the best starfighter pilot in the galaxy…but even I’m envious. One of my all time favorite tunes too. =)

Posted in Music, Video | 1 Comment »

Bush calls for broad-based tax relief to spur economy

Friday, January 18th, 2008

This is the standard story going out on the wire.

“To be useful, a fiscal stimulus package should be implemented quickly and structured so that its effects on aggregate spending are felt as much as possible within the next 12 months or so,” Bernanke said. But he said any package should be “explicitly temporary” to avoid running up the government’s long-term debt.

He said extending the Bush tax cuts — which are set to expire in 2010 — could have a positive impact on the stock market today. But Bernanke stopped short of suggesting that the Bush tax cuts should be made permanent, telling lawmakers he supports “the law of arithmetic.”

“What comes in at least has to equal what goes out at some point,” he said.

That’s all you need to understand America, now move along. What’s that? You want to know the facts? Bah! You don’t need facts! If you did, CNN would have given them to you.

Here are statistics from the Federal Reserve through 2006. You can clearly see the progression of consumer debt. It’s far worse than the White House let’s on.

Posted in Ben Bernanke, George W. Bush, economy | Comments Off