The GOP mocks the world for votes

"there is in fact no circumstance under which I would like to be a citizen of North Korea, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Cuba, or Russia. I am a citizen – I am a citizen of the United States of America.

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Conservatives Compromise on Health Care: A Liberal's Dream

Recently I was discussing President Obama's healthcare plan with a conservative who opposes the plan saying it might put us on the road to a single payer system.

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Conservatives are hypocrites.

This article is dedicated to Rob Ballew. The last time he wrote an insulting article I left my comment there.

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The Counterproductive Art: How Torture Loses Wars

This article is not going to discuss the morality of torture. Why? Because most of the people that support the use of torture in extracting humint (human intelligence) that even suspect someone of opposing torture on moral grounds reacts thusly:

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Errol Morris's documentary Standard Operating Procedure provides context on Abu Ghraib

I watched Standard Operating Procedure and it provided a lot of context on information we've heard in scattered news stories.

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Michael Savage sues the Department of Homeland Security over report on right wing extremism.

As many of you know, the Department of Homeland Security has produced a report which mentioned dangers from right wing extremists. Predictably, this has caused a ring wing meltdown. I say predictably, because pretty much everything causes a right wing meltdown these days.

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The slow death of newspapers, and with it journalism

I've read some articles recently talking about the accelerating death of the newspaper industry, and even one stating that it's not so bad.

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Satire - Obama Agrees That he isn't really the President

In a surprising turn of events just following the inauguration, Barack Obama has responded to republican questioners by announcing that they are correct.

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I admit it, I'm at War with Christmas

I admit it, I am a part of the vast left wing conspiracy that has been plotting to destroy Christmas, because by doing so, we threaten the entire American way of life.

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There are no cowards in Iraq

Most of us have heard that an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at President Bush, rudely interrupting his victory lap through Iraq. As usual there has been a strong emotional response. It's even been suggested the Muntadar al-Zaidi is

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Hate the bailout? Which one?

I've seen a lot written about the bailout of the big three automobile manufacturers. A lot of emotion has been involved which is understandable, but I'd prefer that some facts made their way into the national conversation as well.

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Sarah Palin sees an open door. Run and hide.

"I'm like, OK, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere, this is what I always pray, I'm like, don't let me miss the open door. Show me where the open door is." --Sarah Palin, on running for national office in the future, FOX News interview, Nov. 10, 2008

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The most divisive election in history (not the one you think.)

A lot has been made of this being the most divisively run election in history. I assure you, it was not, and it concerns me that so many people think so, because it tells me just how little so many of us know of our own history.

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John McCain Revealed, A Dire Warning from a real White Guy...

It hurts me to write this. It really does. (I kind of jammed my finger today and it's really hurting me to write this.) But my point? That John McCain. Watch out. He's bad, baaaaad..... Not bad in a good way, you know.... like Chris Rock's bad. But baaaaad evil.

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Karl Rove was against Gov. Sarah Palin before he was for her

19 days ago, Karl Rove appeared on Face The Nation to attack what was thought to be leading candidate for Senator Obama's Vice President post. Ironically, everything Rove said about Governor Tim Kaine also applies to Govenor Palin, if not more so. Quote:

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Discount Populism: Why the Federal Gas Tax Holiday Is Bunk

A Federal Gas Tax Holiday is bunk. Worse than bunk, it's counter productive -- the economic equivalent of solving the obesity problem by making Twinkies, ho-hos, and deep-fried mars bars tax deductible. Some people might call that populism, but pandering is closer to the mark.

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Hillary Clinton; George W. Bush, the Sequel

When George W. Bush came to power, he walked into office with a great deal of baggage. His father had handled Iraq pretty well honestly, but he hadn't gotten rid of Hussein and the son had visions of doing what his father could not.

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Obama Denies Assuring Canada on NAFTA

Barack Obama said Monday that his campaign never gave Canada back-channel assurances that his harsh words about the North American Free Trade Agreement were for political show — despite the disclosure of a Canadian memo indicating otherwise.

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Your music tracks aren't legal but "usually won't raise concerns."

Not long ago, the Washington Post ran a story that indicated, among other things, that the RIAA considered ripping music from CD's illegal. They then they printed a correction saying otherwise. Unfortunately, they got it right the first time.

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How to be a better Citizen Journalist

When mainstream journalists have anything to say about citizen journalism, it's usually not pleasant. There are a couple reasons for that, one of them being that we are the competition.

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The future of internet radio

Though you might not be aware of it, a market for music which has been building up for about fourteen years might, or might not, be driven out of business in the near future. It's an easy fact to miss, because the major news outlets have been reluctant to cover it.

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The RIAA's curious relationship with its customers

In February of 2005, the Recording Industry Association of America sued Gertrude Walton for putting 700 copyrighted songs onto the internet. She is hardly unusual, they've sued more then 20,000 people over the last four years.

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Is Hillary Finished? Uh, I mean, Is Hillary a Lock?

When I got out of bed this morning, I shambled over to my computer and immediately clicked on the internet, and the graphic to the right of this text is what I saw. I got a great laugh. I was almost as amused as when journalists were advising us that she was a "lock" a year ago.

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The Myth of "Supporting Our Troops"

We've heard it before from conservatives. We're hearing it now. The message they're spreading is loud and clear: only conservatives support the troops because only conservatives support doing what is necessary for victory in Iraq.

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Modern CGI: No Imagination required

When Jaws debuted in the summer of 1975, it was so successful it changed the way Hollywood distributed it's movies. When Star Wars was released two years later, they released it in the summer because they'd decided that all their major releases were best released then.

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Smiling Jack

Articles Posted: 44
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Smiling Jack is really Michael Webb, a guy who enjoys carving pumpkins, not a pumpkin himself. Sorry to disappoint.

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