Tag Archives | Politics

Hacker Exposes George W. Bush’s Bizarre Oil Paintings

By on February 8, 2013 in News 23

Can a psychologist explain the significance of continually painting yourself bathing? Via The Smoking Gun, leaks from the email accounts of members of the Bush family revealed no nefarious Illuminati-style plottings, but did turn up this:

The apparent hack of several e-mail accounts has exposed personal photos and sensitive correspondence from members of the Bush family, including both former U.S. presidents. Included in the hacked material is a confidential October 2012 list of home addresses, cell phone numbers, and e-mails for dozens of Bush family members, including both former presidents, their siblings, and their children. The posted photos and e-mails contain a watermark with the hacker’s online alias, “Guccifer.”

The hacker also intercepted photos that George W. Bush e-mailed two months ago to his sister showing paintings that he was working on, including self-portraits of him showering and in a bathtub.

… Read the rest

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Recolonization of Africa, a Symptom of Our Addiction to Growth: Differential Accumulation, Why GDP Growth Rates Influence Foreign Policy

By on February 8, 2013 in News 6

via chycho

The name of the game when it comes to investing in the markets is that you must not only be ahead of inflation but you must also beat the averages, exceeding the normal rate of return. If you don’t do both then you are neither protecting nor accumulating capital, i.e., in the limit you will lose your wealth. This principle also applies to nations.

Ignoring our need to rely on different economic measures (pdf) other than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a nation to indicate progress, wealth and well-being, if a countries GDP growth rate is below the global average, then over time that country will lose influence and be subject to an unstable economy. In essence, how a countries economy performs is relative to how other countries perform – there is a “growth imperative in capitalist economies” (pdf).

“But why do capitalist economies need to grow?

… Read the rest

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France Has Forgotten the Battle of Algiers, Africa Never Will: “Ordinary Victories” by Manu Larcenet

By on February 3, 2013 in News 2

via chycho

One of the most amazing aspects of the African resource wars is that within their own countries, most western powers have been able to stifle opposition for their participation. An incredible achievement considering the state of their economies and the number of wars that they have been involved in in the last two decades (2011–present, 2003–2010, 1990–2002).

Let’s take France as an example since it appears to have the backing of its citizens in taking the lead role in the recent wars which are set to determine the future of Africa.

“French companies must go on the offensive and fight the growing influence of rival China for a stake in Africa’s increasingly competitive markets, France’s Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said on Saturday…

“‘It’s evident that China is more and more present in Africa…(French) companies that have the means must go on the offensive.

… Read the rest

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Julian Assange To Run For Australian Senate In 2013

By on January 30, 2013 in News 1

This is assuming he’s not jailed in an off-the-grid dark pit somewhere come next year. The Herald-Sun reports:

Julian Assange will run for a Senate seat in the 2013 federal election and his mum reckons he’ll be awesome. Christine Assange has confirmed her son’s candidacy, after WikiLeaks tweeted the news.

Queensland-born Assange, who founded the secret-leaking website WikiLeaks, announced his Senate ambition last December from Ecuador’s London embassy. He said he would run as a Senate candidate under a yet-to-be-formed WikiLeaks party banner and was recruiting others to stand with him. He sought refuge there last June in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden.

Assange fears if he goes to Sweden to be questioned over rape allegations, authorities will allow him to be extradited to the US to be questioned over WikiLeaks’ release of thousands of US diplomatic cables.

… Read the rest

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When A President Criticizes The Press: Is Anyone Listening?

By on January 29, 2013 in News 4

There is one subject that most politicians avoid: talking about the media. Most spend most of their time positioning themselves for media attention because most seem to need and rely on media visibility.

The media provides their political oxygen and, hence, explains why they spend so much time spinning their words with hired press secretaries, advisors and consultants.

In many ways, being on the air validates their role if not their existence. . Hence, many are always scrambling to be interviewed for TV news and on Sunday shows. Media visibility is a key tool in the permanent campaigns most pols run for their reelections and to move up the political ladder.

Much of the money they spend so much time raising goes right back into the media for commercials.

As a result, they usually don’t discuss their experiences or opinions perhaps out of fear of antagonizing media outlets by suggesting that they don’t operate responsibly.… Read the rest

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Western Powers Go Full Retard on Africa, Part 1: China vs. AFRICOM, a Resource War

By on January 22, 2013 in News 7

via chycho

In Africa, China has been securing access to resources through lucrative trade agreements while Western powers have decided to take the military option to secure their share of the pie.

“Across Africa, the red flag of China is flying. Lucrative deals are being struck to buy its commodities – oil, platinum, gold and minerals… From Nigeria in the north, to Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Angola in the west, across Chad and Sudan in the east, and south through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, China has seized a vice-like grip on a continent which officials have decided is crucial to the superpower’s long-term survival.”

China in Africa: New Imperialism?

Chinese world trade has increase over 20-fold in under 20 years and even though Africa represents a minor portion of that growth at present, it is vital for China’s long term security and prosperity. Africa not only contains a vast quantity of the world’s natural resources (more info), it is also the second largest continent with some of the most fertile farmlands (pdf) in the world.

… Read the rest

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Headliner Lupe Fiasco Kicked Off Stage At Pre-Inauguration Concert After Making Antiwar Statements

By on January 22, 2013 in News 20

Watch as security guards swarm the stage, cutting short Lupe Fiasco’s set at Washington D.C.’s Hamilton Live Theater Sunday night. The rapper had been invited to headline the concert celebrating Obama’s second inauguration. The offending lyrics likely were: “Gaza Strip was getting bombed / Obama didn’t say shit / That’s why I ain’t vote for him / I’m part of the problem / My problem is I’m peaceful”

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The Corporate Funders Of Obama’s Second Inauguration

By on January 21, 2013 in News 2

Unlike in 2009 (when corporate donations were not used), much of the bill for today’s festivities in Washington D.C. is being paid by powerful corporate interests. Truthout writes:

Obama’s inaugural festivities Monday are bankrolled by several of the nation’s most powerful corporate lobbying forces. Chief among corporate inaugural donors: AT&T Inc., Microsoft Corp., energy giant Southern Co., biotechnology firm Genentech and health plan manager Centene Corp.

Together, more than 300 registered lobbyists worked on the five companies’ behalf to influence legislation and government policy. Among numerous other influence efforts, Southern Co. lobbied the Executive Office of the President to curtail environmental regulations. AT&T pressed the Treasury Department to extend research and development tax credits and lobbied heavily — and unsuccessfully — to win regulatory approval of a merger with rival T-Mobile. Microsoft targeted the [federal government] for support in strengthening online piracy and intellectual property regulations.

… Read the rest

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Inauguration Day: Ho Hum

By on January 21, 2013 in News 5

Doug Mills/NYT (Fair Use)

What a difference a term in office makes.

Look at the picture (at right) yesterday of the President becoming president again in an oval office ceremony surrounded only by his family swearing an oath administered by a Chief Justice he should be swearing at.

Today what fans turn up will cheer him on, but the die seems to be cast.

He is really alone, shorn of so many of the hopes and expectations his supporters invested in his candidacies.

Even his advisors are distancing themselves. So much for any sense of a grand crusade or plan for change!  He is a reactor, not an enactor, a conciliator, not a combative fighter.

We know him now, even if we wish we didn’t. Illusions keep disillusion away, but not forever.

Even his advisors are slipping away, leaving him to relay on managers and national securocrats  He may not have sold out–because he was always this way—but he surely bought in.… Read the rest

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A Look At Oath Keepers Preparing For Revolution

By on January 16, 2013 in News 31

A fair look at those who believe that societal collapse may be immanent? This VICE piece features perspective on conspiracy theorism and the breakdown of the American Dream from several angles, including Alex Jones and Chris Hedges:

Traveling from Texas to Massachusetts, VICE investigates whether the country is actually on the verge of the 2nd Revolutionary War.

The Department of Homeland Security classifies them as potential “domestic terrorists”; they prefer to be called patriots. As the economic crisis deepens, a growing movement of Americans is rejecting the two-party system and the mainstream media. They believe a violent revolution is imminent, and they’re getting ready for it now. We meet Sgt. Charles Dyer, a U.S. Marine who has taken an oath to disobey unconstitutional orders and take up arms against the government if it becomes tyrannical — and is training a citizen militia to do the same.

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