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I'm on the road today, in Pittsburgh, covering the PA Progressive Summit meeting, with close to 400 in attendance today, over 500 expected overall... and very limited access to the web to do OEN editorial work. Heard a great presentation on The War on Dissent, by Vic Walczak, PA ACLU Legal Director. Having dinner with Chuck Pennacchio talking about the history of American Fascism, which he's writing a book about.
Taking off to hear Jesse Jackson, the dinner Keynote speaker.
Exhausted from sleeping on an air mattress last night and the long drive from Philly to Pittsburgh.
have a good one,
rob PS I forgot. OEN has nine days to raise about $3000. Please help. We know you value what we do. Please help us keep on doing it. Click here to donate today. Or go here to sign up as a premium member and get added features to your opednews.com experience. Or even better, do both.  Latest Headlines
By John Grant
Historical Amnesia: The Nation's Number One Disease  Despite -- or because of -- our military occupations, signs suggest US influence is waning in the Middle East and SW Asia. One way to help is to address the disease called historical amnesia. Myth of the Hero Gunslinger  To many gun owners, the question of whether to arm even more people in a country that already has upwards of 300 million guns is as calcified as a Sonoran Desert petroglyph. It's written in stone, among the fiercest of firearms advocates, that more guns equals fewer deaths. By Robert Parry
The Disappearance of Keith Olbermann  The ongoing significance of media imbalance is that it gives the Right enormous capabilities to control the national debate, not only during election campaigns but year-round. Republicans can deploy what intelligence operatives call "agit-propaganda," stirring controversies that rile up the public and redound to the GOP's advantage. The sudden disappearance of Keith Olbermann is an ominous omen. By David Swanson
Punishing Bradley Manning for the Crimes of Others
Bradley Manning, alleged U.S. Army whistleblower, is in two ways -- one likely, the other certain -- being punished for the crimes of others. Who Qualifies for the Insanity Defense?  Six experts including Alan M. Dershowitz, participate in this online forum. Bonuses for bankers, bankruptcy for public services  Goldman Sachs sets aside $15bn for pay; the state of California cuts $1.5bn from education. What's wrong with this picture? US capitalism continues to dole out wealth for a few and austerity for the mass. Economic and social divisions helped bring on the crisis. US-led forces wipe Afghan town off map  US-led military offensives have completely destroyed a town in southern Afghanistan, as public discontent continues to grow over civilian casualties. Civilians have been the main victims of violence in Afghanistan, particularly in the country's troubled southern and eastern provinces, where they are killed by both militant and foreign fire. The surge in violence comes despite the presence of 150,000 foreign troops, which are engaged in the so-called war on terrorism. The war in Afghanistan, with civilian and military casualties at record highs, has become the longest war in US history. Obama Sends Pro-Business Signal With Adviser Choice  The appointment of Immelt, who will retain his posts at G.E., is not without complications for Obama. G.E., one of the nation's largest companies, routinely has a wide variety of regulatory, trade, contracting and other issues before the federal government. Another complicating factor is union uneasiness about outsourcing by G.E. Officials at the United Electrical Workers Union say the company has closed 29 plants in the United States and one in Canada in the past two years, eliminating more than 3,000 jobs. By Olga Bonfiglio
Women and the Arts Will Mostly Likely Change the World  Kurt Cobb wrote a suspense novel about peak oil especially for women because they generally make decisions for the household and because the book addresses one of the most serious problems in our world today that's not being talked about. Of course, men should read it as well. By michael payne
What Audacity! President Obama Lectures China On Human Rights  On January 18, President Obama greeted Chinese President Hu Jintao, who had come to America for a summit meeting, and said: "History shows that societies are more harmonious, nations are more successful and the world is more just when the rights and responsibilities of all nations and all peoples are upheld including the universal rights of every human being," Someone should tell him that he should practice what he preaches. Rights group: Haiti probing Duvalier's alleged atrocities  (CNN) -- The human rights group Amnesty International said Friday that Haitian authorities are launching a probe into alleged crimes against humanity committed during the 15-year rule of former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, who is shown as a child with his father, Papa Doc, who is handling a rifle with the Haitian Army when he was dictator. By Mark Weisbrot
Aristide Should Be Allowed to Return to Haiti  Haiti's infamous dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier, returned to his country this week, while the country's first elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is kept out. These two facts really say everything about Washington's policy toward Haiti and our government's respect for democracy in that country and in the region. By Dahr Jamail
Uphill Battle: Gulf Coast fighting for Recompense  Attorney Kenneth Feinberg is really making some names for himself with Gulf Coast citizens seeking compensation from BP for all the devastation they are suffering. The trouble is these names cannot be repeated in polite society, but maybe in a foxhole in a war zone, and the Gulf is a war zone. Keith Olbermann leaving MSNBC, ends 'Countdown'  MSNBC issued a statement that it had ended its contract with the controversial host, with no further explanation. Olbermann hosted the network's most popular show, but his combative liberal opinions often made him a target of critics. Olbermann did not explain why he was leaving. By Mike Whitney
As Bad as Bush  More than 125,000 people lost their homes in the disaster requiring a speedy response from the government. Chavez swung into action immediately turning the presidential palace into a homeless shelter and initiating a campaign to construct permanent housing for the victims. Now he has pushed through landmark legislation that will legally require the government to help the homeless. By WILLIAM FISHER
Battle of the Prosecutors
Military Commmissions: Due Process for the Accused or a Mistake of Epic Proportions? By Dave Lefcourt
One Year after "Citizens United"
Yesterday was the anniversary of the infamous Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court. What SCOTUS did w/ "Citizens" was to sanctify the complete takeover of the political process by big moneyed corporate and special interests all but drowning out the interests of the people. An amendment to the Constitution is needed reaffirming we are a nation of, by and for the people, not of by and for the corporation. By Eugene Elander
The New Fox in the Obama Henhouse!
Once again, President Obama makes a very unwise choice by appointing GE head Jeffrey Immelt to chair the new Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. This new fox in the White (Hen)House has expressed contempt for the President and his policies, has little credibility when it comes to Obama policies, and will undoubtedly prove a very bad choice for such vital tasks as promoting American jobs and competitiveness. By Stephen Lendman
Heightened Tensions after Hariri Indictment Announced
Conflict ahead is planned By Stephen Lendman
Bizarre Developments in Haiti
Baby Doc's arrival wasn't happenstance. For sure, Washington and France were behind it. Latest Articles
Follow the Yellow Brick Road - Who Rules America - Part 4
Citizens are ruled by Government. Government is ruled by a plan for which citizens have no input. Government by and for the people is a sham. National elections are meaningless. The U.S. is an under-developing nation, soon to be a third world nation. National sovereignty is eroding. In this series of articles, the power and influence over Government of 17 institutions are reviewed. Theirs is a non-conspiratorial plan. Follow the Yellow Brick Road - Who Rules America - Part 4
Citizens are ruled by Government. Government is ruled by a plan for which citizens have no input. Government by and for the people is a sham. National elections are meaningless. The U.S. is an under-developing nation, soon to be a third world nation. National sovereignty is eroding. In this series of articles, the power and influence over Government of 17 institutions are reviewed. Theirs is a non-conspiratorial plan. Here's One for the Birthers: Is GE's Immelt Really an American?  What is Obama thinking appointing GE's Jeff Immelt as his adviser on jobs? In just the last year, GE has closed 28 factories in the US, sending the jobs to India and China. In fact, GE isn't even, functionally speaking, a US company! Iraq War Inquiry: The Blair Bush Letters Should be Released
Mark Maguire argues that the Chilcott Inquiry into the war in Iraq should insist on the release of the letters Tony Blair wrote to US President George Bush in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq and that the Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell should be instructed to do so if necessary. Santorum Baits Race and Gender in Anti-choice Commentary
the right just can't help themselves. santorum issues racist case against abortion rights. Soldiers Forced to See Chaplain After Failing Spiritual Fitness Test  What happens when a solider is deemed "spiritually unfit"? The Congressional Reform Act of 2011
The 26th amendment to the Constitution (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months to be ratified! Why? Simple! Because the people demanded it. That was in 1971 before computers,e-mail, cell phones, etc. With a small effort from each of us, in three days, most people in the USA will have the message. Do you have five minutes for this? Read it and then decide. Vermont single-payer proposals a "major step in right direction': doctors' group
While citing the merits of a publicly administered single-payer plan, Hsiao's team ended up by recommending a "public-private hybrid single-payer" model that would be managed by an independent board and that would contract-out the job of claims processing to private and public bidders. A private company like Vermont Blue Cross Blue Shield, for example, could be hired to process the claims, as is done currently by Medicare. Answering Santorum: We Can Agree that Women are Human
Santorum's ironic analogy of abortion to slavery, glosses over women's personhood. Lexapro For Hot Flashes Medical Victimization  A new JAMA study by Ellen W Freeman shows that Lexapro is "marginally" more effective than placebo for Hot Flashes. This is laughable. Surely you must be joking? SSRI drugs are addictive drugs with adverse side effects including loss of sexual function, akasthesias, agitation, movement disorders and violence and suicide.  Best News Links from the Web
Former U.S. diplomats to Obama: Support UN draft condemning Israeli settlements  Former senior U.S. officials have sent President Barack Obama a letter urging him to refrain from vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The letter, signed by a former U.S. secretary of defense, a number of former assistant secretaries of state and U.S. ambassadors, calls on Obama to instruct the U.S. envoy to the UN to "vote yes" on the resolution condemning Israeli settlements. More Democrats Want to Cross the Aisle Than Republicans - Saturday, January 22, 2011
An effort by Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., to persuade lawmakers to break their traditional seating habits and partner with a member of the opposite party for the big prime-time address is getting far more interest from Democrats than Republicans. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., called Udall's effort a "trap" to make Republicans appear as though they support the president. 'Iran open to talks, no preconditions set'  A senior Iranian official says Tehran is ready for further talks with major world powers provided that its rights are not violated, refuting claims that it has set preconditions. Supreme Court: Justice Clarence Thomas reportedly failed to report wife's income
Virginia Thomas earned over $680,000 from conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation over 5 years, a group says. But the Supreme Court justice did not include it on financial disclosure forms. Science Betrayed: The Downfall of Science and the Rise of Intellectual Tyranny  The Forces of Greed in the world have tarnished science so much through fraudulent research and lies that this is helping to create a new Dark Age. Olbermann leaving MSNBC  Keith Olbermann, top rated news commentator on MSNBC, is leaving. He won't say if he was forced out. Corporate contributions have surged for new Republican leaders in House
The new Republican leaders in the House have received millions of dollars in contributions from banks, health insurers and other major business interests, which are pressing for broad reversals of Democratic policies that affect corporations. Much of that money flowed to the GOP chairmen overseeing banking, energy and other key committees - leaders who will play a central role in setting the House agenda over the next two years. On Anniversary of Citizens United Ruling, DOJ Asked to Investigate Scalia and Thomas for Conflicts of Interest  Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause: "Justice Scalia, in 2007, and Justice Thomas, in 2008, attended a special workshop seminar sponsored by the Koch brothers, who run the second-largest private industry in the United States, and it just seemed odd to us that these two justices would have their way paid to this special conference and then, on the Citizens United case, which could have been decided on just the very narrow grounds of the issues that were brought before the Court, decided to break that open and end a ruling that had been in place for over 60 years to prevent corporations from dipping in and playing politics. With health care 'repealed,' GOP turns to climate change
Now that the House of Representatives has voted to repeal the health care law, Republicans say they're likely to move soon to another target -- a rewrite of the Clean Air Act so that it can't be used to fight climate change.
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