Clipmarks | Politicians Clips

We learn the most from things that don't work

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:48:40 GMT

clipped by: Microtargeting
clipper's remarks: Monitoring "why can't" conversations twitter...

jbraun430: Why can't the bagel store grasp the concept of a small amount of cream cheese?

hurlyburly: Line of sight, 18 inches - why can't you find my keyboard you Bluetooth POS?!

dhruba_b: My God. Why must the iPhone sync take so long? And why can't you sync only what you want? Can't wait for September's update.

DavidSchultz: Why can't i decide..

jmerritt: oh dear... why can't politicians in the USA learn to separate church and state? then maybe they could differentiate religion from science.

AnissaMayhew: farking hell, why can't i ever seem to actually catch up on my google reader?

PaleZer0: Why can't I preload Spore for Mac? That's silly.

johnjoseph: why oh why can't i enable the mysql slow query log in the config file? (instead of only at the command line)

Tags: twitter, daves blog, davidhartung, marketing, business

McShallow's Choice

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:31:28 GMT

clipped by: Kevbo4
clipper's remarks: The PUMAs don't seem numerous enough to be worth courting and I really doubt anyone will jump ship from the Obama camp. Is voting for McSame/Palin supposed to be some mavericky pro-equality opportunity for GOP gals? This smacks of desperation. Is she safer than choosing more experienced, more Hillary-esque female politicians who actually have experience but are too disturbing to sexist conservatives and family values crowd? Was she chosen over better female Repubs merely because she's eye candy like all the blondes on FOX News? Sure looks that way and this could very well be an ironic step backward for women in politics.

Clip Source: www.salon.com

McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism

Tags: politics

Israel on the verge of Collapse

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:35:17 GMT

clipped by: mustali

Clip Source: palestinechronicle.com

Is Israel One Disaster from Collapse?

By Ghassan Michel Rubeiz – New York

Israelis are not united in supporting their government’s policies of a four-decade festering occupation of Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese territories. The occupation is costly, morally troubling and beyond the capacity of Israel to maintain.

Israeli land annexation is moving parallel to Palestinian demographic expansion, a formula that is leading to system collapse in the future. The signs of political danger are scripted on the wall, but American and Israeli politicians refuse to read the graffiti. If The Failed States Index is a valid diagnostic tool, American foreign policy makers should rethink their Middle East strategy.

Attack on Mosque stirs anxiety in Azerbaijan

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:50:23 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: A second explosion August 22 at a small power sub-station in Baku’s Khatai District frayed nerves further. The blast left two workers dead and three injured. Investigators are probing a connection between the mosque attack and the power station explosion. Authorities have proclaimed both incidents to be terrorist acts.

Clip Source: www.eurasianet.org

The mid-August bombing of a Baku mosque is heightening an already anxious mood in Azerbaijan. Reflecting the government’s alarm over the terrorist incident, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is personally leading the ongoing investigation. Some opposition politicians have openly wondered whether Russia is trying to stir instability in Azerbaijan in order to extend the Kremlin’s influence in the Caucasus.

The August 17 attack at the Abu-Bekr mosque left two dead and 19 wounded, including the mosque’s imam, Gamet Suleimanov. About 200 people were on the mosque premises for evening prayers when an assailant tossed at least one grenade through a window and fled the scene.

The Abu-Bekr mosque is one of the most highly attended places of worship in Azerbaijan, drawing up to 8,000 believers for Friday prayers. It is known for attracting conservative Muslims, and has in the past drawn scrutiny from Ministry of National Security officials for suspected ties to radicals.

Ethnic Cleansing and the Disneyfication of New Orleans

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:43:13 GMT

clipped by: klippety
clipper's remarks: two years ago, I told my friends that this is what will happen. New Orleans will no longer be the city it once was, but ethnically cleansed and all in the hands of developers and corrupt politicians. It was so predictable and it is such a shame and an embarrassment. I loved New Orleans, good memories of American Southern Culture-No More

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

The Disneyfication of New Orleans

Three years after Hurricane Katrina, a more glamorous image of black America is presenting itself to the world in the person of Barack Obama. Meanwhile, in New Orleans, America's story of black urban poverty is still unfolding, largely beneath the radar of the global media.

In August and September 2005, areas like the largely black Lower Ninth ward, almost entirely invisible to the hordes of tourists who flock to New Orleans every year, attracted worldwide sympathy as the levees broke. Now they have been all but forgotten. While tourists long ago repopulated the French Quarter, 57% of New Orleans' black population - against 36% of whites - have yet to return to the city. Many never will. This is because since Katrina, developers have clubbed together with the authorities to complete New Orleans' makeover into a playground for wealthy tourists.

these demolitions will overwhelmingly affect black people has led some to call this ethnic cleansing.

Body Language a Sign of Truthfulness

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:51:59 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

As more politicians get ready to hit the stage during the presidential nominating conventions, they should be cautious about what they say -- and what they don't. Body language can speak volumes.

"When you see someone purse their lips, that's a typical male response to choke back emotion," he said. "It was good and genuine."

For those who plan to watch speaker after speaker take the podium, Hartley and other public speaking analysts said there are several cues one can look for when trying to determine the truthfulness of politicians.

Politicians Should Listen to Their Mothers: Pointing Is Rude

Clip Source: abcnews.go.com

The Other Pitfalls of Public Speaking

Patti Wood, a public speaking expert who has analyzed speakers for more than 25 years, warns viewers that political conventions are notorious for being some of the hardest-speaking engagements to analyze because of the charismatic nature of those who headline the events.

Tags: language, body, public, speech, politics

545 People

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:10:30 GMT

clipped by: mklosinski
clipper's remarks: Leave no incumbent in office.

Clip Source: www.dailypaul.com

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the
domestic problems that plague this country.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not
replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of
incompetence and irresponsibility.

I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable
directly to those 545 people.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Tags: congress

US economy sees surprise 3.3% spurt

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:23:05 GMT

clipped by: jatfla
clipper's remarks: It's not really a "surprise". I believe that the MSM and certain politicians promoted their suppositions hoping for a Democratic win.

Clip Source: www.breitbart.com

US economy sees surprise 3.3 percent spurt

The US economy outpaced expectations as surging exports fueled a second-quarter growth spurt at a 3.3 percent pace, according to data Thursday that analysts say makes recession less likely.

The Commerce Department revised upward last month's estimate of a 1.9 percent annualized pace of growth in gross domestic product

The figure was much better than the average Wall Street estimate of 2.7 percent and showed a strong acceleration from the 0.9 percent rate of the first three months of the year.

The latest figures, helped somewhat by a massive economic stimulus package, suggest the world's biggest economy had more momentum than previously thought by analysts, many of whom anticipated recession.

"For a recession the economy is certainly growing very quickly," said Avery Shenfeld, senior economist at CIBC World Markets.

Georgia is the graveyard of America's unipolar world

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:57:19 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: Cont...

There has been much talk among western politicians in recent days about Russia isolating itself from the international community. But unless that simply means North America and Europe, nothing could be further from the truth. While the US and British media have swung into full cold-war mode over the Georgia crisis, the rest of the world has seen it in a very different light. As Kishore Mahbubani, Singapore's former UN ambassador, observed in the Financial Times a few days ago, "most of the world is bemused by western moralising on Georgia". While the western view is that the world "should support the underdog, Georgia, against Russia ... most support Russia against the bullying west. The gap between the western narrative and the rest of the world could not be clearer."

And that has the neocons scare witless!

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Russia's defiance in the Caucasus has brought down the curtain on Bush senior's new world order - not before time

If there were any doubt that the rules of the international game have changed for good, the events of the past few days should have dispelled it. On Monday, President Bush demanded that Russia's leaders reject their parliament's appeal to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Within 24 hours, Bush had his response: President Medvedev announced Russia's recognition of the two contested Georgian enclaves.

The Russian message was unmistakable: the outcome of the war triggered by Georgia's attack on South Ossetia on August 7 is non-negotiable - and nothing the titans of the US empire do or say is going to reverse it. After that, the British foreign secretary David Miliband's posturing yesterday in Kiev about building a "coalition against Russian aggression" merely looked foolish.

Tags: russia, us, empire, georgia, history, hegemony

“Kay Griggs Interviews” Excerpt by Eric Hufshmid

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:58:15 GMT

clipped by: WIDEEYECINEMA

Clip Source: wideeyecinema.com

“Kay Griggs Interviews” Excerpt by Eric Hufshmid

Kay Griggs, wife of colonel George Griggs, USMC (retired USMC Commandant): 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, found her husband’s diary, which contains details of homosexual blackmail in the top ranks of the US Marine Corps and names leading politicians and military leaders. Kay Griggs’s information about the US government also comes from observations and people she met. She exposes initiation rituals, the raping of young men and blackmail and murders to keep people quiet. Much of this, according to Griggs, is related to secret society activity and she names figures like Henry Kissinger and a string of other top government individuals.

Tags: politics, video

Guidelines for Faith in Politics

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:37:26 GMT

clipped by: laceym
clipper's remarks: Don Byrd - Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty

Clip Source: www.bjconline.org

1. Being religious is not in itself a qualification for office

Outward displays of faith neither confirm nor deny sound policy judgment or strong leadership skills

2. A religious belief can be - and is - held by a wide diversity of political views, and a political view can be - and is - held by a wide diversity of religious beliefs

Politicians and activists do religion a great disservice when they presume to speak for all people of faith

4. I know it's a political campaign, but can we keep the religious pandering to a dull roar? Using religion divisively as either the carrot or the stick of an electoral strategy is demeaning to religion, it cheapens faith, and it distracts from important issues our political leaders should face head on.

Tags: faith, religion, politics

Hold our Politicians accountable? Good luck.

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:31:55 GMT

clipped by: douchrti
clipper's remarks: I live 2 miles form this prison. Knowing how well my elected officials will be brought to justice for allowing this to happen? Priceless!

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

Guard survives Iraq, dies on job at U.S. prison

ATWATER, California (CNN) -- Jose Rivera survived two tours of duty in Iraq, but his job as a corrections officer at a high-security federal prison in California cost him his life.

Tags: government unaccountability, elected officials, california, prison, guards

Huge statue of Roman ruler found

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:18:35 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Seems an early habit among politicians was to hang round these baths.
Nothing changes.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Parts of a giant, exquisitely carved marble sculpture depicting the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius have been found at an archaeological site in Turkey.

Marcus Aurelius ruled over the empire for 19 years

Fragments of the statue were unearthed at the ancient city of Sagalassos.

So far the statue's head, right arm and lower legs have been discovered, high in the mountains of southern Turkey.

Marcus Aurelius was portrayed by Richard Harris in the Oscar-winning 2000 film Gladiator and was one of the so-called "Five Good Emperors".

He reigned from 161AD until his death in 180AD.

In addition to his deeds as emperor, Marcus Aurelius is remembered for his writings, and is considered one of the foremost Stoic philosophers.

The partial statue was unearthed in the largest room at Sagalassos's Roman baths.

The cross-shaped room measures 1,250 sq m (13,500 sq ft), is covered in mosaics and was probably used as a frigidarium - a room with a cold pool which Romans could sink into after a hot bath.

UK: Safe in our cages?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:56:30 GMT

clipped by: hitchhiker08
clipper's remarks: "As surely as night follows day, the new surveillance society will do more harm than good." Says it all, I guess

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Safe in our cages

Proposals to monitor all our communications are an intolerable assault on liberty in the name of security

In the Queen's speech this autumn Gordon Brown's government will announce a scheme to institute a database of every telephone call, email, and act of online usage by every resident of the UK. It will propose that this information will be gathered, stored, and "made accessible" to the security and law enforcement agencies, local councils, and "other public bodies".

Two things have made this ghastly development possible: the technology, and politicians.

The technology is way ahead of the game: Siemens of Germany are already supplying 60 countries with a device that monitors and integrates data from phone, email and internet activity;

The second point concerns the quality of our politicians. They say they are putting us all under suspicion for our own good. They wish to protect us against terrorists and criminals, and to make bureaucracy more efficient.

Tags: security, suveillance, siemens, technology, politics, terrorism, safety, precautions

Future with net neutrality laws is not pretty

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:50:26 GMT

clipped by: rayniles

Clip Source: www.technewsworld.com

That would be a future in which lobbyists, interest groups, and power-hungry politicians controlled what consumers could access on the Net. It would be a future that looked a lot like the regulation-heavy telecommunications past. Despite assurances from Net neutrality activists that such a future wouldn't include price controls or infrastructure-sharing, it would only be a matter of time before such arrangements emerged. Repeating those mistakes from the dark days of telecommunications history would be both careless and downright stupid.