Daniel Ellsberg, the man who leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971, says the United States is on the verge of becoming a police state as evidenced by the National Security Agency's data collection programs and the treatment of secret document leakers Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning.
"We have not only the capability of a police state, but certain beginnings of it right now," Ellsberg told The Huffington Post Wednesday. "And I absolutely agree with Edward Snowden. It's worth a person's life, prospect of assassination, or life in prison or life in exile — it's worth that to try to restore our liberties and make this a democratic country."
He cited the NSA's phone- and Internet data collection programs as evidence that the nation has reached the "capability" of becoming a police state.
"When people understand that their every conversation of every kind on phones, email, chat logs whatever, is being recorded and can be retrieved, that will certainly curtail people's freedom of speech over any digital means," Ellsberg continued in an interview carried on HuffPost Live.
"It gives the government blackmail capability over the population at large . . . With the digital stuff alone, we have a surveillance capability that outmatches any police state in the history of humanity."
Ellsberg can claim many similarities to Snowden, the NSA contractor who leaked information on government phone and Internet data collection programs, and Manning, who provided government files to WikiLeaks.
In 1969, Ellsberg was working as a military analyst with the RAND Corp. when he copied thousands of Defense Department documents on Vietnam War decisions that would later become known as the Pentagon Papers. In 1971, he gave the files to The New York Times and other newspapers. President Richard Nixon tried to stop the Times from publishing them, but the newspaper continued after a court cleared the way, citing First Amendment rights.
Via: Newsmax
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Thursday, August 22, 2013
ALTERNATIVES TO OBAMACARE
As ObamaCare falls apart and the public grows increasingly grouchy, President Obama has tried to head the defund and repeal movements off by claiming they don’t have any alternatives to offer. This segues into the usual hackneyed slander about how Republicans just want to take away health care and watch people die. That’s not hyperbole. As recently as two weeks ago (before he nipped off for his fourth luxury vacation of the year), the President declared at a press conference, “The one unifying principle in the Republican Party at the moment is making sure that 30 million people don’t have health care. Why is it that my friends in the other party have made the idea of preventing these people from getting health care their holy grail? Their number one priority?”
Of course, Obama conveniently leaves out that we’ll still have 30 million uninsured under his plan, too. And that comes straight from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, not a conservative think tank. ObamaCare costs trillions of dollars, kills countless jobs, jacks up the price of insurance for most Americans… and leaves us right back where we started, as far as the uninsured population is concerned. The net effect mostly consists of slightly rearranging the deck chairs on the S.S. Uninsured America, which is a lot like the Titanic, except passage is far more expensive, and booking a ticket is mandatory.
It’s always been untrue to claim there are no Republican alternatives. But it’s also not good enough for the defunders and repealers to point at individual suggestions from years gone by to defend themselves against charges of legislative vandalism. That’s no way to win a messaging war. And we do need to plan for the post-ObamaCare world. God knows the Democrats have, although they only like to discuss their plans in front of socialized medicine enthusiasts. Instead of allowing the Affordable Care Act to run its course and destroy the insurance market as planned, paving the way for the bloody death-spiral nightmare of single-payer nationalized medicine, Republicans need a unified message to rally the great diaspora of ObamaCare refugees – from small business owners to unionized workers. The GOP must be able to say, “First we repeal ObamaCare, or neutralize it until we’ve got a Republican in the White House… and then we do this.”
125 shopping days left: Retailers start Xmas deals
Yes, that's right. With 120-plus shopping days left, stores are already talking up their holiday offers.
Toys R Us announced Wednesday that it would expand its price-match guarantee to include online retailers including Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com andBestBuy.com, among others. The aim, according to the release, "Removing any doubt before holiday shopping begins in earnest that customers are receiving the best available prices."
Also on Wednesday, Walmart announced it will drop the $5 fee it charged shoppers in previous years to open a layaway account. Shoppers can begin putting eligible items on layaway for the holidays on Sept. 13, with the retailer's Facebook fans gaining access two days earlier.
"All year long, but especially during the holidays, our customers need a low price leader," said the retail giant's chief merchandising and marketing officer Duncan Mac Naughton in a statement. "This year, we are committed to doing everything we did last year to help Americans save money—plus more. More savings, more layaway items and our commitment that they can give their families a great Christmas on a budget."
Sarah Palin touts Ashton Kutcher’s pro-work speech: ‘Iowa roots’ showing
Once you go country, you can never go back — that was the essence of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s praise for Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher, who just delivered a pro-work speech that threw conservatives for a spin because of its traditional-core-values tone.
Mr. Kutcher’s remarks to the Teen Choice Awards audience: Work hard. Don’t thumb your nose at physical labor. Honest labor opens the door to career and life dreams. And when opportunity knocks, it’s very often in the form of hard work.
“Good to see his Iowa roots shining through all that Hollywood glitter,” Mrs. Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, said, as Politico reported. “On our trips to Iowa, our family has always admired the strong work ethic and dedication to freedom that those who live there in the heartland hold dear. As they say — you can take the boy out of Iowa, but you can’t take Iowa out of the boy.”
Mrs. Palin issued the praise in a Wednesday posting of Facebook. She described Mr. Kutcher’s message as “heartfelt,” and one that Washington politicians frequently fail to impart.
“In a reflection of the sad state of affairs in Washington, one mainstream media newspaper even had to acknowledge, ‘Who knows, maybe Ashton Kutcher was able to do something America’s political leadership can’t do, which is to talk honestly to America’s youth about the dignity of work.’ Wake up, Washington, and kudos to Ashton for speaking out for America’s youth,” she wrote.
Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican who now serves as a Fox News host, previously praised Mr. Kutcher’s views. Mr. Cruz called them “remarkable,” Politico reported.
And Mr. Huckabee wrote in a posting on his own website, “Good job, Ashton.”
Via: Washington Times
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Bolton 2016?
How serious is John Bolton about potentially running for president? He’s about to start hiring for his political operation.
The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and conservative star is ready to hit the road, play in the 2014 midterm elections, and flesh out his domestic-policy views —including his support for gay marriage — in preparation for throwing his hat in the ring in 2016.
For Bolton, the path here — to the cusp of running — has been a winding one. Save for his trademark snow-white mustache, he could be mistaken for just another Washington, D.C., lawyer as he makes his way to work each morning from his home in Bethesda, Md. He spends his days at the American Enterprise Institute, ensconced in a glassy corner office, writing columns on foreign policy, as he did for the Wall Street Journal this week. Or he’s at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, reviewing litigation for his firm’s clients. At night, when he’s not giving a speech to college students or corporate executives, he usually heads over to 400 North Capitol Street, near Union Station, where he sits in a brightly lit studio. There, he talks through the latest Middle East mess with Greta Van Susteren or Bret Baier, two of the stars at Fox News, where he’s a contributor. (He’s also on the board of the National Review Institute)
University of Virginia Drops Spouses’ Health Coverage Due to Obamacare
The University of Virginia announced today that it will be dropping health coverage for some employees’ spouses, citing the rising costs added by Obamacare.
According to a university press release, the Affordable Care Act is projected to add $7.3 million to the cost of the university health plan in 2014 alone.
The university added that they could also face millions more in federal taxes once the university passes certain thresholds set by the act.
The University of Virginia explains:
Provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act are projected to add $7.3 million to the cost of the university health plan in 2014 alone. Federal health care reform will create new costs related to the “individual mandate” that requires all Americans to have health care coverage (or pay a penalty).
Additionally, the university reports it could face millions more in taxes on some insurance plans:
Via: WFB“Ironically, by providing generous benefits, the university becomes exposed to a federal excise tax known as the ‘Cadillac tax,’” Carkeek said.Effective in 2018, the 40 percent tax would apply to the cost of an individual plan with average premiums per employee topping $10,200, or $27,500 for a family plan.If the university made no changes to address rising costs or the impact of the Affordable Care Act, employee premiums would have risen a projected 12 percent to 13 percent this year.
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San Diego Mayor Bob Filner to Resign
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has agreed to resign as part of a deal reached this week with city officials, NBC 7 News has learned.
Filner, spotted leaving City Hall with packing boxes Wednesday night, will formally vacate the office following a closed session of City Council Friday, according to several sources.
City officials announced just before 7 p.m. Wednesday a proposed solution had been reached in the scandal that has consumed the city of San Diego since it first broke July 10.
In the last six weeks, more than a dozen women have come forward with tales of alleged sexual harassment and unwanted sexual advances.
Filner has admitted to disrespecting and at times intimidating women, saying that he needed help. He announced he would enter a treatment program for an undisclosed disorder or illness.
Under investigation for alleged “pay to play” schemes with developers, Filner disappeared from public view for three weeks and surfaced Monday in time for a mediation session with city officials.
Over three days of negotiations in the downtown San Diego high-rise located just blocks from City Hall, officials reached a deal.
Filner has agreed to a deal with the Tourism Marketing District then refused to adhere to the terms. He also pulled permits with Jack-in-the-Box and meddled in Centerpoint.
So as with any negotiations, until the agreement is approved and signed, it’s still tentative.
Once Filner resigns, San Diego city government will enter a period of interim leadership.
Council President Todd Gloria will take on the role of acting mayor.
Via: CBS San Diego
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