Friday, March 17, 2006

New York is still New York. It's just that it is now located in TCFKAUSA.

Police Memos Say Arrest Tactics Calmed Protest

In five internal reports made public yesterday as part of a lawsuit, New York City police commanders candidly discuss how they had successfully used "proactive arrests," covert surveillance and psychological tactics at political demonstrations in 2002, and recommend that those approaches be employed at future gatherings.


"Proactive arrests." Nicely done.

Indeed, one of the documents — a draft report from the department's Disorder Control Unit — proposed in blunt terms the resumption of a covert tactic that had been disavowed by the city and the federal government 30 years earlier. Under the heading of recommendations, the draft suggested, "Utilize undercover officers to distribute misinformation within the crowds."


"Disorder Control Unit." That needs some work. Doesn't quite qualify as doublespeak. How about "Rights Enforcement Unit." Or "Free Speech Zone Detail." Or "Citizen Protection Unit."

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Via Atrios, a depressing reminder that people who speak with a voice of authority are frequently full of shit.

"The Final Word Is Hooray!"
Remembering the Iraq War's Pollyanna pundits

There are those who say, "we have to move on from [insert topic here; the 2000 election, the lead up to the Iraq war, etc.]."

Indeed. I certainly should move on. I would like nothing better than to move on. But there are conditions before I can do so. The people who slung the shit and contributed to the mess need to say, publicly, "boy, was I wrong. I sure am sorry I insinuated that [Saddam had WMD, Iraq was tied to Al Qaeda, Bush is qualified to be president, or even to operate a bicycle, etc.]."

I would be happy to move on. But when the same people who spouted the garbage that fouled the public discourse are still in positions to spout garbage that fouls the public discourse, it's a little difficult to move on. They are still there. They still have a platform, and they still speak with a voice of authority.

The topics change, but the dynamic does not. People on the right will besmirch the patriotism and character of whoever may disagree with their position. People in the press will reflect the desires of the corporation for which they work. People in the press, in the middle, and on the left will be wary about having their patriotism and character attacked.

So, I will be here a while, stuck on certain things, not moving on. Let me know when we get around to Truth and Reconciliation in this country, and I'll see if I can't move on after that.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

The question that it is at the top of my mind more and more frequently is: How is it that I haven't gone drooling insane, running through the streets half-naked, pulling at my hair and screaming gibberish at nervous onlookers?

Documents: FBI spied on Pa. pacifists

I hanging on by fingertips, I tell ya.
This blog has now returned from Blogger quarantine.

Spam, it is not. Derivative and pointless - you've got me there.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Kurtz takes an excerpt from Mark Noonan at Blogs for Bush, and I will excerpt the excerpt.

How many people are dead today because the Democrats have chosen to use the war as a partisan political issue? How many more will die in the future because of it?


I thought I would take a stab at answering those questions. Here we go: NONE. NO ONE HAS DIED as a result of criticism.

Jaysus, how spineless and nutless would you have to be to die from criticism? From words?

Perhaps Noonan needs a fainting couch - or a fainting coffin. I'm picturing a day bed, with a lid. He can swoon to his faint heart's content, and if it's fatal, well we can just close that lid down.

You know what does kill people? Starting a war for bullshit reasons, and not bothering to plan it through. That's killed quite a few people. Words and criticism? Not so much.

Monday, March 13, 2006

Link

STEPHANOPOULOS: You’re saying that censure resolution weakens America abroad?

FRIST: Yes.


So, the Senate majority leader is saying that Bush can do whatever he wants, no consequences, because of the ol' "criticism is unpatriotic" rationale.

Welcome to TCFKAUSA.