In his speech this week to his anti-extremism conclave in Washington, President Obama declared that “former extremists have the opportunity to speak out, speak the truth about terrorist groups, and oftentimes they can be powerful messengers in debunking these terrorist ideologies.” But what about former victims of government extremism speaking out? Maher Arar is a […]
Tag Archives | Cynicism
Anarchy, Regicide, & Beer: Another Brian Wilson Podcast
Brian Wilson and I had a rowdy chat on his Libertas Media Podcast this afternoon. After his great opening bit, I didn’t have the heart to tell Brian that Raging Bitch is no longer my favorite beer. After a discussion of Freedom in Chains and a  foray into the Shenandoah Valley for “redneck ethnic cleansing,” […]
That State of the Union Political Fantasyland
My carpings from Twitter — @jimbovard Has there been an honest State of the Union #SOTU address since Grover Cleveland left office? — James Bovard (@JimBovard) January 21, 2015 #SOTU Obama’s pledge to "properly constrain" drones proves that he was targeting clueless viewers who cannot politically add 2 & 2 — James Bovard (@JimBovard) […]
Counterpunch: Obama’s Sordid Record on Censorship and Secrecy
Counterpunch, January 14, 2015 Blindfolding the Republic Obama’s Sordid Record on Censorship and Secrecy by JAMES BOVARD Republicans are condemning President Obama’s failure to attend the Charlie Hebdo march in Paris as if his omission was the equivalent of a hate crime. Rep. Randy Weber (R-Tx) took the cake with a bizarre tweet complaining that […]
Obama Gets Bum Rap on Paris
Lots of folks are hammering Obama for not going to Paris for the march this past weekend. I think he is getting a bum rap. There was no excuse for the murder of the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists. But the event turned into a Parade of Political Hypocrites with a vanload of repressive politicians hijacking the […]
Torture and the New Definition of American Virtue
The Washington Post/ABC News poll earlier this week showed that most respondents approved of CIA torture and most opposed disclosing the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA abuses. Apparently, as long as the government denies its atrocities, Americans can still feel virtuous. And seeking the truth is giving aid & comfort the enemy… Another great […]
USA Today: Govt. by Cromnibus – blind, deaf, & dumb
USA TODAY, December 12, 2014 Government by Cromnibus – blind, deaf and dumb: Column by James Bovard The Know-Nothing Party Rules Us All “You can lead a man to Congress but you can’t make him think,” quipped Milton Berle in 1950. Last night’s House of Representatives’ approval of the 1,603 page, $1 trillion Cromnibus bill […]