11 24 2009

Kirk Cameron went to UCLA to convince students that Darwin’s theory of evolution is dead wrong… but when the students challenged the actor-turned-bible-banger to a debate, Kirk appeared to be “unfit” for the clash.”

politics american taliban right-wing extremism

…[T]he Barack Obama administration is quietly supporting renewal of provisions of the George W. Bush-era USA Patriot Act that civil libertarians say infringe on basic freedoms.

And it is reportedly doing so over the objections of some prominent Democrats.

When a panicky Congress passed the act 45 days after the terrorist attacks of Sep. 11, 2001, three contentious parts of the law were scheduled to expire at the end of next month, and opponents of these sections have been pushing Congress to substitute new provisions with substantially strengthened civil liberties protections.

But with the apparent approval of the Obama White House and a number of Republicans – and over the objections of liberal Senate Democrats including Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Dick Durbin of Illinois – the Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to extend the three provisions with only minor changes.

Those provisions would leave unaltered the power of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to seize records and to eavesdrop on phone calls and e-mail in the course of counterterrorism investigations.

politics bush's 3rd term

So, is the FBI saying this because they want the real killers to be frustrated that Sparkman’s murder has been ruled a suicide, in the hopes of getting them to spill something online or in an angry braggadocio-filled letter, or was the investigation botched? Or corrupted by Bush Junta burrowers yet to be replaced by the Obama administration?

politics

mikethomas:


nevver:

one+infinity



Ryking: I love my iPhone, but this is awesome. Then again, maybe this isn’t against smart phones in general, just those that aren’t  iPhones.

mikethomas:

nevver:

one+infinity

Ryking: I love my iPhone, but this is awesome. Then again, maybe this isn’t against smart phones in general, just those that aren’t iPhones.

art humor

In less than eight weeks, Rich Ross has swiftly stamped his imprimatur on Walt Disney Studios. The novice movie chairman and his boss, Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Bob Iger, want to create a new business model for Hollywood to address the sweeping changes that are roiling the entertainment industry, including slumping DVD sales and the growing role the Internet plays in movie marketing…

In meetings with producers, filmmakers and agents, Ross attacked the industry custom of spending $40 million on a TV advertising blitz two weeks before a film’s opening, rather than enlisting more targeted campaigns that harness social networks and the broader Web. And he’s raised again the touchy subject advanced by Iger that consumers are demanding that movies become available for home viewing sooner after release in theaters than has traditionally been the case…

Beyond organizational changes, Ross’ vision for the types of movies that will ultimately define Disney is beginning to emerge. His main focus will be developing family-friendly movies under the Disney label. Iger’s overarching strategy is to amass a stable of recognizable entertainment brands — Pixar Animation Studios and the pending acquisition of Marvel Entertainment Inc. — and exploit the films across its TV, theme parks, consumer products and game divisions.

“It’s brand over everything else,” said [former Disney studio head and producer Joe] Roth, referring to movies that come with built-in, pre-sold concepts, such as sequels. It’s a strategy, he notes, that although designed to reduce risk is not without a downside. “What may get lost in the shuffle are non-branded original ideas that have no pre-awareness.”

media economics

hippopotamoggles:

Chris Matthews: I have never heard of anybody in the Church, in the laity, or in the clergy, or in the hierarchy say a woman should be put in prison for having an abortion. And I say, “Wait a minute, you think it’s murder; there’s an inconsistency here.” And if there’s a hesitancy to punish a woman for having an abortion, maybe that’s instructive to you, sir, Your Excellency, because when you realize you don’t really want to punish a woman for having an abortion, under the law, then maybe you should step back from using the law as your tool in enforcing moral authority.

From now on, when people look at me weird for saying I’d suck Chris Matthews’ dick in a heartbeat, I’ll send them a link to this video. He misses the point sometimes (a lot of times) but goddamn when he gets it, he GETS it.

politics human rights american taliban

comedycentral:

thedailywhat:

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Neil Young performs a haunting cover of the Fresh Prince theme song and, just like that, my life is complete.

Also: A rift in the spacetime continuum.

[via.]

tv humor

So, to recap: we have indefinite detention, military commissions, Blackwater assassination squads, escalation in Afghanistan, extreme secrecy to shield executive lawbreaking from judicial review, renditions, and denials of habeas corpus. These are not policies Obama has failed yet to uproot; they are policies he has explicitly advocated and affirmatively embraced as his own.

Quote source: Glenn Greenwald (via orbit48)

politics

dennisdemori:

(via ) Sarah Palin Book Signing - Interviews with Supporters

(I made it through 7 minutes of this before I had to preserve my IQ and my blood pressure and stop watching. It’s painfully funny at times, but mostly just painful. These imbeciles shouldn’t be allowed to breed, let alone vote. — Ryking)

politics right-wing extremism

One of the leading progressive champions of health care reform is pessimistic about the state of the debate in the Senate, saying he sees virtually no path to passing strong legislation and predicting potential congressional losses for Democrats as a consequence…

The former Vermont governor warned that if the party allowed [Sens. Joseph Lieberman (Conn.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.)] to further water down the bill (or defeat it altogether) it could lead to primary challenges or a drop in fundraising from the party’s base.

“If you have members refusing to vote for Reid on procedural issues you will have a revolt in the party,” Dean said. “What is the point of having a 60-vote margin? This is going to be death for the [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee] and the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]. Why would anyone donate to them if they’re supporting candidates who defeat the Democratic agenda?”

There was, he insisted, an out clause. Reconciliation — the budgetary maneuver that would allow portions of reform to be considered by an up or down vote — “looks better every time,” Dean said. “Someone has to say, at some point, we need to pass a bill.” Reid has hinted that reconciliation is an increasingly unlikely proposition.

One of the loudest champions of a public plan, Dean has rarely expressed such pessimism about the state of play in the Senate…

politics health care reform

“This thing has been pretty watered down. Right now, it’s about as watered down as it could be and still be a real bill. For example, there’s really no insurance reform in this bill, already,” [former DNC Chair Howard] Dean said on MSNBC.

He added that the Senate bill is “decent” and the House bill is “better.” But, he said, insurance companies can still charge double for those with pre-existing conditions under the House bill.

“There’s not a lot left to this bill. The public option is about it,” Dean said.

politics health care reform

11 23 2009