Clipmarks | thisnamecantbetaken's 'politics' clips

What Would It Take To Prove You Wrong?

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:12:41 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: This is a powerful question to ask yourself when examining your beliefs. Doing so honestly, will make you a clearer and deeper thinker. It can be the difference between a person who simply revels in wishful thinking, and a heroic seeker of truth.

Take a deep look into your own belief systems, and ask yourself what evidence it would take to convince you they were wrong. It's an uncomfortable exercise, but an important one.

Clip Source: www.paulstips.com

Few people in today's world would admit that they don't have an open mind.

When it comes to religion, politics, morals, and rules of behaviour, most people's ideas are pretty much set in stone. If somebody starts talking in a way that sounds like an opposing view, the vast majority of us would simply switch off our ears and wait for a chance to use our mouths.

But overcoming the weight of in-built attitude of always assuming the moral and knowledge high-ground is difficult for most people. It's so much easier just to stubbornly keep insisting that they're right and anyone who disagrees must be evil and/or stupid.

Here's a good trick for overcoming this disability. When you get into a discussion about difficult beliefs - religion, politics, moral codes and so on - ask yourself this one simple question.

What evidence would it take to convince me my beliefs are wrong?

it leaves the door open to explore under what circumstances that might be true.

What would it take to prove you wrong?

The Doomsday Code

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:11:53 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: A good watch.

Clip Source: www.channel4.com

The Doomsday Code

In this Channel 4 documentary Tony Robinson investigates the people with powerful political friends in the White House, who are trying to bring about the end of the world. Julia Bard reports

Today, though, a growing number of American evangelical Christians reckon they have cracked the code. These End Timers believe that every weird word of Revelation predicts real events.

Political implications

If this was confined to the personal beliefs of a few fundamentalists it would be of little significance but, says Tony Robinson, the leaders of the End Time movement are rich, well-connected and very powerful. Though the USA constitution enshrines the separation of church and state End Timers are frequent visitors to the White House. No one knows if George W Bush is an End Timer himself, but his policies are at one with those of the evangelical Right and his language is often apocalyptic, such as when he describes the 'war on terror' as 'the epic struggle of good and evil'.

Clip Source: video.google.com

[Video]

Tags: politics, religion

The Other Inconvenient Truth?

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:00:26 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: *giggle*... yeah, but I still wanna know.

Clip Source: www.tcpalm.com

Dom Armentano: Intelligent extraterrestrial life: The other inconvenient truth?

Unlikely as it seems, the UFO phenomenon has infiltrated presidential politics. During the recent presidential debates, Democratic candidates Dennis Kucinich and Bill Richardson were both asked publicly about their views on unidentified flying objects.

Gov. Richardson even went so far as to demand increased governmental disclosure on the UFO topic.

correspondence recently released under the Freedom of Information Act indicates that former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and their Office of Science and Technology were all involved in Laurance Rockefeller’s unsuccessful “disclosure initiative” (1993-1996) to open up secret government UFO files.

despite the “giggle” factor, UFOs are a legitimate public policy concern.

the U.S. government may have systematically lied to the American people (and to elected officials)

If true, why the extreme secrecy and deception?

Americans deserve

the truth about UFOs

Tags: ufo, disclosure

UFO Allegedly Splashes Down In Kazakhstan

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:09:08 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: Found under the news category "Politics". Odd.

I read an article yesterday, about a crash of some sort in Canada too:
Something "Definitely Unidentified" Crashes In Canada

Clip Source: www.interfax.ru

UFO allegedly splashed down in Kazakhstan

PAVLODAR. Jan 8 (Interfax) - An unidentified flying object might have fallen in the Belaya river in the May district in the Pavlodar region, northern Kazakhstan, a source with the regional emergency situations department told Interfax referring to an eye-witness.

The chief of a local police department saw a shining flying object falling in the river in the early hours of January 5, the source said, adding that the policeman "reported about it to higher authorities."

According to the emergency situations department, divers examined a 15-meter air hole and officers of the local sanitary and epidemic office took water samples.

"Divers plunged four times, but no objects were found. Water samples are normal," the department said.

It is possible that an UFO splashed down in the Belaya river, the ufologist said.

How To Rig An Election

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:55:23 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks:

This is not about morality, this is about winning.

What do we do about this? Accept it, as the rules of the "game" or should we demand better? It's time we got some honesty into politics. It has everything to do with morality IMO.

Yeah, I'm a dreamer...

How Politicians Vote

Voting 101

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

How to Rig an Election:
Convicted Phone-Jammer Tells All

Disgraced Ex-GOP Consultant Allen Raymond Reveals His Dirty Tricks as Party's 'Fall Guy'

What does it take to win the New Hampshire primary — dirty tricks or retail politics?

The former consultant, who served three months in jail last year, tells his story and reveals secrets of the trade

Raymond blames the Republican Party for making him the fall guy and claims that his scheme was approved by a top state GOP official and the Republican National Committee's northeast regional director.

Raymond also describes his career in opposition research and political dirty tricks, outlining some tactics he observed or participated in.

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

But he can't help following the campaign and takes mental notes on the dirty tricks that he's seen so far.

"All campaigns have an element of dirty tricks," he says. "Guys who practice this trade are hired to engineer a victory. This is not about morality — this is about winning."

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

check list of ways to rig an election

Tags: integrity, some have it, some don't

Sissy Jesus

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:22:16 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: I love power tools! ... does that make me one of the guys?

Clip Source: atheism.about.com

Sissy Jesus

There has been some discussion on various blogs about whether the traditional depiction of Jesus is as a "sissy" and, if so, how that should be countered. Some argue that Jesus should be made more masculine, more "manly." That would, presumably, be a more attractive and appealing Jesus to "real men."

In the tame, domesticated and frankly feminine images of Jesus we use, we suppress Jesus’ masculinity, of which shepherding is one example.

Presumably, girls and women aren't independent, confident, and self-assured, so they don't need to be seen in such a manner.

guns, self-defense, politics, beautiful women, sports, warfare, hunting, and power tools -- all the things that being a man entails.

There are women who like guns, politics, hunting, power tools, and so forth - are they True Males?

"True Christians"

"True Atheists"

"True Male"

"True Female"

personal identity has become more complex than in prior generations.

labels

how to behave

but at the cost of liberty

personality and desires?

Tags: step, outside, the, box

The Orphan Files

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:29:46 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken

Clip Source: women.timesonline.co.uk

The orphan files

What happens when you find out that the people you thought were your family helped to kill your real parents?

27 years Victoria Donda

Three years ago she was told the awful truth: she was born in a secret torture centre run by the brutal junta that governed Argentina for seven years, she was ripped from her mother’s arms when she was 15 days old, and – most heartbreaking of all – the people she thought were her family were part of a regime responsible for the political abduction and murder of her real parents.

Between 1976 and 1983, human rights organisations estimate that between 10,000 and 30,000 people disappeared during the Dirty War, the junta’s attempt to “cleanse” Argentina of left-wing opponents.

The junta stole as many as 500 babies and gave them away to be raised by families with conservative values, military officers and political sympathisers.

there is a growing will to restore to those children – now adults – their true identities.

Tags: orphans, politics, murder, abduction, torture, kidnapping, argentina, buenos aires

Cheney's Law

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:29:52 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: Cheney, a one man axis of evil.

Clip Source: video.google.com

CHENEY'S LAW - PBS FRONTLINE

Clip Source: video.google.com

56 min 20 sec - Oct 17, 2007

[Video]

Tags: cheney, bush, usa, politics, neoconservatism, power, corruption, evil

America's Obsession With Dominance

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:38:30 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken

Clip Source: mwcnews.net

A swift change from dominance to bullyism

A dominant role in international politics could

prove to be greatly beneficial to the social and economic well-being of the world at large, and provide an opportunity to work towards peace and harmony among nations. That dominant role was inherited by the United States as the 80's were coming to a close; but, unfortunately, this nation was ill-prepared to assume such responsibility with appropriate grace and humility.

Instead, aided by political bipartisanship, it transformed its acquired dominance into bullyism… elevated to a true moral art form by the Bush administration and the centurions of neoconservatism.

The metamorphosis from dominant to bully was swift, requiring a single stage.

the US appears to the world, economically and militarily, as an overblown bubble ready to burst.

And to think… the United States once had an opportunity to be on top with grace

Tags: usa, neoconservatism, bush, bullyism, nwo

F*** Politics!

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:12:13 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: Why the f*** did I clip this? I like the word friggin' much better. .

Anyway! I saw someone wearing a t-shirt that said "F*** the President" and wondered if it was legal? (With letters and not asterisks though.) The f-word does seem to be becoming more and more acceptable as common language nowadays. Do I like it? Naaa, I guess I must be friggin' old-fashioned, but I loved the t-shirt though. *LOL*

In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the mere public display of fuck is protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments and cannot be made a criminal offense.

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Fuck

Use in politics

Fuck is not widely used in politics

During the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Chicago mayor Richard Daley became so enraged by a speech from Abraham A. Ribicoff that he shouted "Fuck you, you Jew motherfucker!"

During a 1971 debate in the House of Commons, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau mouthed the words "fuck off" under his breath

Labour MP George Galloway told a public meeting "I don't give a fuck what Tony Blair thinks" when questioned about the party's move to the right.

In June 2004, US Vice President Dick Cheney told Senator Patrick Leahy to either "fuck off" or "go fuck yourself" during an exchange on the floor of the Senate,^[6] to which Patrick Leahy cried foul.

False etymologies

That the word fuck came from Irish law. If a couple were caught committing adultery, they would be punished "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge In the Nude", with "FUCKIN" written on the stocks above them to denote the crime.

the word fuck is so hard to trace

Tags: f-word. etymology, words, language, politics, f***

Genuine Jesus or Counterfeit Christ?

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 02:28:38 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: Simple...

Clip Source: watkins.gospelcom.net

If you're turned off by Jesus, you're probably confusing him with some ultra-conservative characterization of a TV evangelist.

First, Jesus was Jewish--not white Anglo-Saxon.

The counterfeit Christ emphasizes law; the genuine Jesus, love.

The counterfeit Christ and his followers have long lists of "do's and don't's" that are preached as "Gospel."

But the genuine Jesus has just two laws: love God and love people.

2. The counterfeit Christ emphasizes jealousy; the genuine Jesus, joy.

Jesus also had withering words for the wealthy who oppressed--or simply ignored --the poor.

3. The counterfeit Christ emphasizes politics; the genuine Jesus, peace.

if the TV preacher spends more time attacking those who don't follow his particular brand of theology, then he's probably not preaching the genuine Jesus, either.

He also spoke of unity--not pew politics or doctrinal debates.

The genuine Jesus requires us to follow him.

Perhaps the world is yet to know the genuine Jesus

Tags: jesus, religion, christ, god, charity, poverty, love, compassion, tolerance,

The Misunderestimated Mr. Cheney

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:19:17 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: Hmm...why not decide to impeach he who decides what the Decider will decide.

Clip Source: writ.news.findlaw.com

The Vice President's Record of Willfully Violating the Law, And Wrongly Claiming Authority to Do So

His office oversees signing statements claiming countless new laws will not be honored except insofar as the President's extremely narrow interpretation allows. He does not believe the War Powers Act should be honored by the President. Nor, in his view, should the President be bothered with laws like the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)

For Cheney, the Geneva Conventions - considered among the nation's most important treaties -- are but quaint relics

A man who can so easily disregard the War Powers Act, FISA, the Geneva Conventions, and the War Crimes Act is merely flicking fleas when it comes to complying with laws like the Presidential Records Act, which requires him to keep records.

Cheney's genius is that he lets George W. Bush get out of bed every morning actually believing he is the President.

Cheney decides what the decider will decide.

Tags: cheney, bush, neoconservatism, power, politics

Smoking Weed? Bring A Cat.

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:59:02 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken

Clip Source: www.news.com.au

Watch this Video NOW!

Ex-cop's tips on hiding drug stash

IF you're going to be smoking weed in a car, bring a cat, says ex-narcotics cop.

Tags: weed, marijuana, politics, pot

Bush Family Fortunes

Wed, 30 May 2007 14:39:30 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy." - Palast

An interesting look behind the scenes of the Bush family.

Clip Source: video.google.com

Bush Family Fortunes (2003)

Greg Palast
55 min 54 sec - 31/08/2006
www.gregpalast.com

This hour long documentary follows the award-winning reporter-sleuth Greg Palast on the trail of the Bush family, from Florida election ... all »

finagling, to the Saudi connection, to the Bush team's spiking the FBI investigation of the bin Laden family and the secret State Department plans for post-war Iraq.

These are the hard-hitting reports that have been seen in films like Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, broadcast internationally on BBC Newsnight television, and are found in Palast's international bestselling book The Best Democracy Money Can Buy.

[Video]

Tags: bush, biography, money, power, democracy, politics, profits

Poisoned Chalice : Media & The Use of Force

Tue, 29 May 2007 20:37:38 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken
clipper's remarks: Chomsky compares U.S. aggression to Nuremberg standards of Nazi war crimes.

I haven't heard it myself yet, but I plan to.

Clip Source: www.informationclearinghouse.info

Poisoned Chalice : Media & The Use of Force

Audio : Speech by Noam Chomsky

Chomsky compares U.S. aggression to Nuremberg standards of Nazi war crimes:

Speech by Noam Chomsky May 17th, 07 at "20 Years of Propaganda?" Conference, University of Windsor, Canada.

Radio 4 All

CLICK PLAY TO LISTEN

Download

Tags: war, war crimes, politics, nuremburg, justice, us

Clipmarks | thisnamecantbetaken's 'politics' clips

What Would It Take To Prove You Wrong?

The Doomsday Code

The Doomsday Code

Political implications

The Other Inconvenient Truth?

Dom Armentano: Intelligent extraterrestrial life: The other inconvenient truth?

UFO Allegedly Splashes Down In Kazakhstan

UFO allegedly splashed down in Kazakhstan

How To Rig An Election

How to Rig an Election:Convicted Phone-Jammer Tells All

Disgraced Ex-GOP Consultant Allen Raymond Reveals His Dirty Tricks as Party's 'Fall Guy'

Sissy Jesus

Sissy Jesus

The Orphan Files

The orphan files

Cheney's Law

America's Obsession With Dominance

F*** Politics!

Fuck

Genuine Jesus or Counterfeit Christ?

The Misunderestimated Mr. Cheney

Smoking Weed? Bring A Cat.

Ex-cop's tips on hiding drug stash

Bush Family Fortunes

Poisoned Chalice : Media & The Use of Force

How to Rig an Election:
Convicted Phone-Jammer Tells All