Clipmarks | masbury's clips

More evidence torture doesn't work

Thu, 08 May 2008 04:19:31 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: UK experts - left and right - now believe it prolonged the IRA conflict by 15 to 20 years.

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

Yesterday, the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties held a hearing on the Bush administration’s use of torture

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) scoffed at what he called the “Oprah Winfrey methods” of interrogations built on long-established relationships

International lawyer Philippe Sands

replied by stating simply, “Coercion doesn’t work.”

The thinking in the British military and the thinking across the board politically — it’s really not a left right issue, it is a broad consensus in the United Kingdom — is that coercion doesn’t work. That the experience of the United Kingdom, which moved in the early 1970’s to use techniques that were very similar to those that were used on Detainee 063, putting stress positions, humiliation, and so on and so forth, didn’t not work. The view is taken in the United Kingdom that it extended the conflict with the IRA probably by between 15 and 20 years.

Tags: torture

McCain: Create Human Trafficking Task Force! (oops, we already have one)

Thu, 08 May 2008 04:14:11 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "While McCain’s proposal sounds great and creates the illusion that he is a champion of this particular cause, there is one problem — an 'Inter-Agency Task Force on Human Trafficking' already exists."

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

McCain’s Big Idea: Create A Human Trafficking Task Force (That Already Exists)»

In Rochester, Michigan earlier this morning

While the past few years have seen increased efforts on the part of the State and Justice Departments and the FBI to combat the human slave trade, we must do more. As President, I’ll increase cooperation and communication between all agencies of the federal government by establishing an Inter-Agency Task Force on Human Trafficking, whose purpose will be to focus exclusively on the prosecution of human traffickers and the rescue of their victims.

While McCain’s proposal sounds great and creates the illusion that he is a champion of this particular cause, there is one problem — an “Inter-Agency Task Force on Human Trafficking” already exists.

a result of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000

the task force is already set up to do much of what McCain proposed

combating sex trafficking, bringing traffickers to justice, and focusing on victims

Tags: mccain

Clinton era coming to an end?

Thu, 08 May 2008 03:58:45 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: The most dominant Democrats - and their associates - make way for a new generation of leaders

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

After 16 years, the Clinton era may be coming to an end, presenting Democrats with a historic but potentially wrenching transition and a challenge to Senator Barack Obama as he seeks to reconcile a deeply divided party.

And while the relationship between the party establishment and the Clintons has always been uneasy at best, an entire generation of Democrats has known no other figures as dominant as the two of them.

But Mr. Obama’s move to the brink of the nomination was fraught with symbolism and evidence of a party in transition. A first-time presidential candidate, he has so far outmaneuvered the vaunted Clinton political machine. He positioned his candidacy as a repudiation of the kind of politics the Clintons practiced and a generational break. And he drew thousands of new voters and donors into his fold, giving the party a fresh face and new energy.

a new era with a leader, in Mr. Obama, who comes from a different generation and promises a very different style of politics.

Tags: clinton, obama, democrats

McCain: equal pay won't "help the rights of women."

Wed, 07 May 2008 23:01:05 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: They simply need "education and training."

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

McCain on equal pay: ‘I don’t think you’re doing anything to help the rights of women.’»

Last month, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) skipped the vote on the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which would have made it easier for women and other workers to pursue pay discrimination claims. At the time, McCain explained his opposition to the bill by saying that instead of equal pay protection, women simply needed “education and training.“ Asked about his opposition to the bill at a townhall today, McCain told a 14-year old girl that he didn’t think protections for equal pay would do “anything to help the rights of women“:

Tags: mccain, women

Obama NC & IN wins show broad demographic support

Wed, 07 May 2008 22:55:12 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Check this sampler of demographic wins: Clinton's depiction of his support as narrow is just a last-chance mudball she's trying to stick on him. Ironically, she won among the "elites" - -those making over $100k -- in IN. Things aren't as they seem.

Clip Source: www.dailykos.com

Boy, I keep hearing from all over the place that if it wasn't for those meddlin' blacks, Clinton would've won big yesterday!

Yes, it's true. African Americans were a big component of his winning margin in NC and paper-thin loss in Indiana. But who else was a big component? Let's look at some other demographics Obama got, with the percent

% of vote % for Obama IN: People with college degrees 35 56 NC: People with college degrees 44 57

IN: First time primary voters 19 69 NC: First time primary voters 22 60

IN: Independents 23 54 NC: Independents 19 45*

IN: Liberals 39 56 NC: Liberals 42 63

IN: Urban 33 60 NC: Urban 27 66

IN: White 17-29 year-olds 12 54 NC: White 17-29 year-olds 8 57

IN: All 17-29 year-olds 17 61 NC: All 17-29 year-olds 14 74

IN: 17-64 year-olds 86 52 NC: 17-64 year-olds 80 60

What about rich elites? Actually, Clinton won those in Indiana (52% of those making over $100K, which in Indiana, is a lot).

I should go around talking about Clinton's "non-senior problem".

Tags: clinton, obama, demographics, indiana, n.carolina

"Ticking time bomb" justify torture?

Wed, 07 May 2008 22:47:59 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Even those who say yes can't recall such a situation ever happening - except on "24."

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

One of the right wing’s favorite talking points to defend torture is that it could be useful in a so-called “ticking time bomb” scenario.

But in a House Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) asked three jurists who have extensively studied interrogations if they have ever heard of such a scenario.

Marjorie Cohn, President, National Lawyer’s Guild: I know of one. It’s on the show 24. And that’s the only one I know of.

Phillippe Sands, University College, London: I know none other, and I’ve never seen the show 24, so I don’t even know of that one.

David Luban, Georgetown University: I have been trying to chase down true ticking time bomb cases for a couple of years. There have been a couple that have been alleged to be ticking time bomb cases. They turned out not to be true.

Even torture proponents can’t think of a scenario.

David Rivkin, a former Reagan Justice Department official

“I personally do not have complete proof” of a particular instance.

Tags: torture

Clinton spokesman: Florida and Michigan no longer enough

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:56:27 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: would still be behind

Clip Source: thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign acknowledged this morning that even if all delegates from Michigan and Florida were seated at the Democratic convention, she would not have enough delegates to claim the presidential nomination.

Mr. Singer said that even if the delegates were counted, the campaign would still be about 100 delegates shy of the number needed. The implication was that the gap could not be made up, even if she wins more delegates in the remaining contests, as she is expected to do. He also said he expected the Democratic National Committee’s rules and bylaws committee to seat the delegates from Michigan and Florida to ensure that all voters are represented.

Asked again if it was correct that the Clinton campaign would still not reach the full number of delegates, Mr. Singer said, “That is correct.”

Tags: clinton, elections, politics

Hillary will drop out by June 15

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:53:08 GMT

clipped by: masbury

Clip Source: www.democraticunderground.com

A senior campaign official and Clinton confidante has told me that there will be a Democratic nominee by June 15. He could not bring himself to say the words "Hillary will drop out by June 15," but that is clearly what he meant. I kept saying, "So, Hillary will drop out by June 15," and he kept saying, "We will have a nominee by June 15." He stressed what a reasonable person Hillary is.

Everything about our conversation implied that he had already had this reality-based discussion with Hillary. He said the Clinton campaign plan is to collect as many votes and delegates as they can right through June 3, then take no more than a week or so to make their case to the superdelegates. Nothing he said indicated that he actually expected the superdelegates to move to Hillary in the week after the final election.

Tags: elections, clinton

Seven Wonders of the World - New and Old

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:45:02 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Artist's depiction of the original 7 wonders, and photos of the more recent list

Clip Source: 4ever7.blogspot.com

The following artwork is a depiction of the Seven Wonders by 16th century artist Marten Heemskerk.

Recently, the new Seven Wonders of the World was released by The New7Wonders organization after being voted by more than 100 million votes. Here are the new Seven Wonders of the World:

The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy

The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India

The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China

Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

The Pyramids of Giza, one of the original Seven Wonders, has been named an honorary wonder.

Tags: seven wonders

Study: Conservatives rationalize more, are happier

Wed, 07 May 2008 19:37:12 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Some of the best comments I've seen on CM, toward the end, below! Knocked me out!

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

Why Conservatives Are Happier Than Liberals

Individuals with conservative ideologies are happier than liberal-leaners, and new research pinpoints the reason: Conservatives rationalize social and economic inequalities.

Regardless of marital status, income or church attendance, right-wing individuals reported greater life satisfaction and well-being than left-wingers, the new study found.

Conservatives also scored highest on measures of rationalization, which gauge a person's tendency to justify, or explain away, inequalities.

The rationalization measure included statements such as: "It is not really that big a problem if some people have more of a chance in life than others," and "This country would be better off if we worried less about how equal people are."

Officials: Woman Found Hanging From Tree Died in Suicide

"apparently because liberals lack ideological rationalizations that would help them frame inequality in a positive (or at least neutral) light."

Tags: conservative, liberal, progressive

The War on Greed starring Larry the Loophole [3 min]

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:42:31 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: How tax loopholes favor corporate buyouts, cause job losses, strain school and road budgets, and give rapid wealth growth to the very rich.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: economy, taxes, wealth

Delegates needed: Obama 184.5; Clinton 341

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:23:09 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: UPDATES: Sat 10 PM: wiccantexan says now 155
Fri 3 PM: now 164;
Fri AM: now 167 (h/t, wiccantexan!)
Thurs PM - down to 177.

Clip Source: rawstory.com

Obama 184.5 delegates short of nomination, Clinton 341

Obama won at least 94 delegates in the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, according to an analysis of election returns by The Associated Press. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won at least 75 delegates, with 18 still to be awarded.

Sixteen of the outstanding delegates were from North Carolina and two were from Indiana.

There are 217 delegates at stake in the final six contests. Also, about 270 superdelegates are yet to be claimed.

Tags: delegates, elections, politics, obama, clinton

Slams on Obama get little traction

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:15:08 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Other than over 65, he does well among whites; "elitist" charge and Wright connection unimportant; economy and war main issues

Clip Source: www.juancole.com

' Exit polls in both Indiana and North Carolina showed the economy was the most important issue to voters, followed by the Iraq war. Concerns about Obama's controversial former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and Clinton's attempts to paint him as an out of touch elitist, did not seem to be important to many voters.'

In other words, our corporate media keep giving us irrelevancies like someone's pastor or ad hominems (a Yalie who made $108 million in recent years is calling someone an 'elitist'?).

They appear to have liked Obama's talk of a timetable for US withdrawal from Iraq, something the majority of the Iraqi parliament also wants. They were unimpressed with Clinton's pandering on a gasoline 'tax holiday'; a solid majority was unimpressed with attempts to damn Obama by association. Take out the over-65 crowd, and Obama did well with whites. He did overwhelmingly well with new voters.

Tags: obama, elections, indiana, nc

Russert: We now know who the nominee will be" [1:30 clip]

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:18:36 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "There's no good answer" to why HRC should stay in the race

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

MSNBC's Russert: 'We Now Know Who the Nominee Will Be'

[Video]

Drudge: THE NOMINEE

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:07:51 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Headline of Drudge Report says it all; Hillary loses NC by 14 points

Clip Source: www.drudgereport.com

THE NOMINEE

Tags: obama, elections, drudge, clinton