Sky Dancing Friday Evening News
Posted: September 30, 2011 Filed under: abortion rights, Barack Obama, Civil Liberties, Drone Warfare, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Media, Reproductive Rights, Republican politics, SDB Evening News Reads, Sky Dancing Blog, The Little Blog that could, the villagers, U.S. Politics, Yemen | Tags: al-Awlaki, Chris Wallace, Fox News, Technorati authority 28 Comments »
Good Evening…It’s Friday!!!!
Dakinikat gave us some good news today, the Sky Dancing Blog is number 83 on Technorati’s US Politics Top 100 List…awesome! That means we have moved up another 10 spots in US Politics blogs. We have also moved up in the Top 100 Politics blog list as well, we are currently at 103. That is up 22 spots since last week.
Okay, for today I have a few links for you that you may have missed. Today’s news that Obama can add another assassination to his list of accomplishments should give those on the left, who still support him, the final kick in the ass. Obama is not a progressive democrat! Let’s see what justifications the Villagers come up for his latest “Bushesque” move. On Tennessee Guerilla Women: Jonathan Turley: Obama Is Worst President Ever On Civil Liberties
Speaking of President Obama’s unprecedented order of the targeted killing of U.S. citizens, Jonathan Turley weighs in (before today’s report of the successful Obama-ordered due-process-free assassination of a U.S. citizen) on President Obama’s status as “the most disastrous president in our history in terms of civil liberties:”
One man is primarily responsible for the disappearance of civil liberties from the national debate, and he is Barack Obama. While many are reluctant to admit it, Obama has proved a disaster not just for specific civil liberties but the civil liberties cause in the United States.
Obama failed to close Guantanamo Bay as promised. He continued warrantless surveillance and military tribunals that denied defendants basic rights. He asserted the right to kill U.S. citizens he views as terrorists. His administration has fought to block dozens of public-interest lawsuits challenging privacy violations and presidential abuses.
But perhaps the biggest blow to civil liberties is what he has done to the movement itself. It has quieted to a whisper, muted by the power of Obama’s personality and his symbolic importance as the first black president as well as the liberal who replaced Bush. .. It’s almost a classic case of the Stockholm syndrome, in which a hostage bonds with his captor despite the obvious threat to his existence. Even though many Democrats admit in private that they are shocked by Obama’s position on civil liberties, they are incapable of opposing him. . It looks more like a cult of personality. Obama’s policies have become secondary to his persona.
For many civil libertarians, it will be virtually impossible to vote for someone who has flagrantly ignored the Convention Against Torture or its underlying Nuremberg Principles. . . In time, the election of Barack Obama may stand as one of the single most devastating events in our history for civil liberties. Now the president has begun campaigning for a second term. He will again be selling himself more than his policies, but he is likely to find many civil libertarians who simply are not buying.
This was before the assassination we saw today…Hey, I realize the target was dangerous, but as a US citizen he deserved his right’s to due process. I think this sets a huge precedent, and I find it disturbing to see news and legal pundits gloss over this fact.
That embed is not working too well, here is the direct link: Is our government really broken?
Jeffrey Toobin’s take on the legality of this assassination is in the first minute, you can watch the rest of his interview…When I saw this live earlier today, my first reaction was Toobin you are an idiot. (Check out the things he says about Clarence Thomas.)
And as far as Obama is concerned, this next link should give you a laugh: Chris Wallace Praises President Obama’s War On Terror During Fox News Segment | Mediaite
When news broke earlier this morning that a U.S. missile had reportedly killed Anwar al-Awlaki, most reporters were focused on the details (and ethical questions) surrounding the news. But by this afternoon, cable news analysts started to consider what sort of impact this story has on the world of politics. Case in point, Fox News’ Chris Wallace suggested to Studio B host Shep Smith that the so-called “war on terror” is a political strength for the Obama campaign, noting his administration has taken down the “two greatest threats to America.”
RELATED: Watch: President Obama Comments On Death Of Anwar al-Awlaki
Shep introduced the segment, and Wallace said of the president’s record on fighting terrorism in the context of a political strength or weakness (rough transcript provided by TVEyes):
Remember, this was the guy who, when he ran four years ago, Hillary Clinton was saying, “what happens if there is a phone call at 3:00 in the morning?” There was talk of his dealing with former terrorists and all of that and now when it comes to the war on terrorism President Obama legitimately looks like a tough guy stepping up involvement in Afghanistan and kept us in Iraq but he plans to have us out by the end the year, and he has greatly increased the number and the effectiveness of drone attacks and not only in Pakistan but now as we see in Yemen, and he has taken out, you could argue the two greatest threats to America, Osama bin Laden and al-Alwlaki.
Yes, Obama is getting praise from Fox News…what more can you say about that.
I also want to update you on a couple of PLUB news that was reported today.
Kansas – Judge Refuses to Block Abortion Law – NYTimes.com
A federal judge on Thursday declined to halt a Kansas law that limits the availability of insurance coverage for abortions. The American Civil Liberties Union had requested a temporary injunction against the law, which was approved by the Legislature this year, while the group fights the law in court. Judge Wesley Brown of Federal District Court said the A.C.L.U. of Kansas and Western Missouri had failed to prove its contention that the Legislature had approved the law to make it more difficult to receive abortions in the state. The law, which took effect in July, bars insurers from offering coverage for abortions as part of basic health plans. Exceptions are made if a woman’s life is at risk. A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled to be held next month.
I sure am glad I don’t live in Kansas…the PLUBs must be rejoicing this decision.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina: ACLU challeges new N.C. abortion law in court – latimes.com
The American Civil Liberties Union and four other groups sued to challenge a new North Carolina law requiring abortion providers to display and describe ultrasound images of a fetus.
The suit, filed in federal court Thursday, alleges that the statute violates the constitutional rights of women and healthcare providers and intrudes on women’s private lives.
“Politicians have no business forcing healthcare providers to push a political agenda on their patients,” Bebe Anderson, senior counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights, which joined in the suit, said in a statement.
The statute, passed by the Republican-controlled state Legislature in July over the veto of Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue, also requires a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion.
The suit seeks an injunction to block the law, which is set to take effect Oct. 26.
Sigh….
This last video link is a “feel good” story. Sarah Churman, 29, was born deaf and has used hearing aids all her life. Deaf woman hears her voice with new hearing implant – The Feed – CBS News
Her husband shot this heartwarming video of activating her implant and “hearing myself for the first time.”
Sarah writes on her YouTube channel: “I had an implant put in 8 weeks ago called The Esteem Implant by Envoy Medical. I was born deaf and have worn hearing aids from the age of 2, but hearing aids only help so much. I have gotten by this long in life by reading lips. This was taken as they were activating the implant.”
The high-tech Esteem implant is embedded in her ear and works off of ear drum vibrations, unlike most hearing aids which use microphones and speakers. Sarah may have been able to hear some things before, but never like this. The joy and tears on her face can attest to that.
Have a wonderful Friday evening!
Sima
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
fiscalliberal
grayslady
mablue2
NW Luna
peggysue22
quixote
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
The CNN link is not working. While I try and fix it here is the link to the video: http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2011/09/30/am-toobin-broken-government.cnn
That video of that young woman is so moving!!! Gosh, technology can be wonderful!
I just wanted to point out a really piece by BMAZ at emptywheel that mentions that another US citizen was assassinated at the same time who wasn’t on any list to kill.
Extrajudicial Execution of Samir Khan Arguably More Significant Than Awlaki
http://www.emptywheel.net/2011/09/30/extrajudicial-execution-of-samir-khan-arguably-more-significant-than-awlaki/
Will Obama get added to the war criminals list of this?
Oh wow, thanks for that link Dak…
I was reading some of this stuff today and it’s very worrying to me.
emptywheel emptywheel
Last Fri, govt submitted filing in UndieBomber case asking for an “item” to be withheld from him.
UndieBomber was supposedly in contract with the imam at one time
I just put a link up to this, it is something else.
There is another post up at Emptywheel: What Is the Secret Item the Government Wants Withheld from Abdulmutallab? | emptywheel
tomkeene tom keene
Economist Says U.S. Recession Is `Inescapable’ - Video –
Clinton Pushes Women’s Rights Treaty
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/hillary-clinton-womens-rights-treaty_n_972555.html?view=print&comm_ref=false
Baby Joseph Tortured to Death by Fundamentalist Parents and “Pro-Life” Movement
Pro-life = pro-suffering
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/39230_Baby_Joseph_Tortured_to_Death_by_Fundamentalist_Parents_and_Pro-Life_Movement
“Pro-death!” The result of their policies = death for women and children. Somehow adult white Christian males never seem to be the ones to suffer.
Let me repeat: It’s all CIA all the time. And Obama is all CIA (with a little Wall Street thrown in for good measure). A true barbarian. War criminal. Mass murderer. And, oh so easily seduced by any (male) jerk who has a little more knowledge (not too hard, believe me, with this lazy bum who has gotten nothing by merit his entire life) and a lot more agenda. A perfect Manchurian candidate. And, IMO, his guys see this as all a part of his grand reelection strategy – assassinating some bogus bad guy who just happens to be a U.S. citizen. Why, lookee at the polls. He’ll be up a point or two for a day or two. isn’t that worth all the unconstitutional killing?
If there is any history left after Obama is done (something seriously in question), there is no doubt in my mind that he will go down as the president who destroyed the vestiges of a once promising democratic nation. Oh what a great day when this is what our first half-black president turns out to be. Glory Hallelujah! The folks responsible for this white-guilt, black-power con job (including, but not limited to, the CIA, Wall Street, the “Democratic” Party, and those wonderful, wonderful blogger boyz) should hang their heads in shame. This latest obscenity is really testing my belief in non-violence.
The CIA theory is making more and more sense to me.
If you read Tim Weiner’s book “Legacy of Ashes: The secret history of the CIA,” you will note that everything we hate about US foreign policy was pretty much started by the CIA in the 1950s. Presidents usually don’t fight back because….well, we see what happens when they do.
Fullerton Cop Accused of Sexually Assaulting 12 Women
http://laist.com/2011/09/30/seriously_fullerton_pd_wtf.php
Since 2008 and this asshole was still working as a cop?
Dak, there was a very strong backlash against this when the parents insisted on a trach – the doctors here advised it was not going to do anything other than to cause the baby more pain, but the parents went forward and took the baby to the U.S. where a doctor performed the operation – the one that Canadian doctors advised was going to be useless and painful. But the Canadian doctors are not in a for profit situation – not yet anyway. Whatever, the child died, which was the prognosis of the doctors here way back. The for profit doctors south of the border got their money so it doesn’t matter to them – just one more ka-ching at the cash register.
My apologies – I was certain that I have clicked on reply to your comment about baby Joseph, but here I am out in limbo with no sensible background story to my comment. Guess I’ll continue lurking without comment – safer what?
Nope, don’t go back to lurking! We knew what you were talking about…
Fox News was pimping this boy and his health situation. It was obscene…especially how Gretchen Carlson was blabbering on about Baby Joseph this and that.
I can imagine there was a backlash there … why on earth would any parent do this to a child unless they were being emotionally manipulated by some outside interest?
I don’t think that there was a backlash – perhaps because so many people have been through life threatening situations with their kids – it was more of a understanding, but at the same time people understood what the doctors here were advising. When there’s no hope, there’s no hope. At Sick Kids the doctors, nurses and support staff work 24/7 facing incredible odds to save children – it’s one of the premier hospitals for children in the world. And they never say there’s no hope unless there’s no hope. Same with every other children’s hospital up here in the hinterland. I know all about loss, as does everyone who posts here, and I know about the desperation to have a different outcome, however sometime a situation is what it is and there is no alternative fairy tale ending no matter how one prays to that fairy chief in the sky.
I agree with all of that. I’m just sorry the parents got pushed a different way.
I am beyond sickened by the murder of two U.S. citizens by their President based on zero evidence, apparently. Otherwise, why not arrest them and charge them? No due process. No rights granted to citizens of our country. The Constitution is dead.
Any one of us could be labeled terrorists and summarily executed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/aulaqi-killing-reignites-debate-on-limits-of-executive-power/2011/09/30/gIQAx1bUAL_story.html?hpid=z1
Secret U.S. memo sanctioned killing of Aulaqi
I am not saying anything on this subject. I am only 42 and still want to live another 50 or 60 years. We no longer live in the USA I grew up in. Everything I learned in Political Science class long ago is now completely obsolete. It is time for me to shut up and pretend I am living in East Berlin in the 1980′s. It is not far from the truth.
Word. It’s frightening all around, and I’m old enough to be your mother. I’ve never seen anything like it outside of the iron curtain countries and the middle east arabic states. I never thought it could happen in North America. Worst thought expressed by BB – it could happen to anyone that the administration considered an “enemy of the state”. two years ago I would have scoffed at the idea of assassination of an American citizen without trial. Today – well it happened – what next? Obama has certainly obtained his place in history – not as a Thomas Jefferson or even a JFK. He’s the first half black President who authorized the assassination of American citizens without benefit of a trial. I wonder if he really wanted that to be his legacy.
I hear ya Gregory…let’s just recede into the shadows and watch old skits of Sprockets…and see if Dieter will let us touch his monkey…
I hear ya…………..but we must take on the question of allowing for this kind of power – we must be humane.