Counterpunch, February 13, 2017 Trump’s Fearmongering is a Tawdry Presidential Tradition by James Bovard President Donald Trump is being reviled for wildly exaggerating the peril of Muslim refugees. Some commentators fret that his rhetoric signals a new fascist era descending on America. A recent Washington Post news analysis derided Trump’s fearmongering: “Playing upon the nation’s […]
Tag Archives | Homeland Security
FFF: Billion Dollars of Federally Funded Paranoia
A Billion Dollars of Federally Funded Paranoia by James Bovard When it comes to mindless excess in the war on terror, it is difficult to compete with the 70+ fusion centers bankrolled by the Department of Homeland Security. They began to be set up around the nation shortly after 9/11 as federal-state-local partnerships to better […]
TSA #iHateTheWait Video from Washington Post
Frustrated travelers caught in endless TSA lines are lashing the TSA with an #iHateToWait Twitter tag. The Washington Post created this excellent video on the backlash. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says his agency is “asking the public to have appropriate expectations when they arrive at the airport.” Ya, expect to miss your flight, Chump! […]
Democratic Debate Hoots & Huckstering
Tonight’s Democratic candidate debate was everything a cynic could have wished for. Government retained its power to perform miracles, though no one explicitly promised that it could raise the dead. It is amazing to see how far & easily both Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley ran from their records in office. Following are some of […]
USA TODAY: Leave More Empty Seats for Obama Victims
USA TODAY, January 12, 2016 First Lady’s box should be empty at State of the Union speech by James Bovard Saving seats for the dead would require a lot more room for victims of Obama’s policies. The White House announced that there will be a seat left vacant in the gallery during Obama’s State of […]
MP3 of TSA Tribute on Bob Zadek Radio Show San Francisco
Here’s the MP3 of yesterday’s radio interview with Bob Zadek on San Francisco’s AM 910. We had fun giving a vigorous patdown to the TSA (the agency was not allowed to “opt-out” from the show). Bob’s producer Charlie Deist said he especially enjoyed the riff on how reactions to TSA are an ink blot test of people’s […]
USA TODAY: Budget Bill Leaves No Boondoggle Behind
USA TODAY, December 17, 2015 BUDGET BILL LEAVES NO BOONDOGGLE BEHIND by James Bovard Republican congressional leaders are like a football coach who believes the secret to winning is to punt early and often. House Speaker Paul Ryan and others are claiming victory over the 2,000-plus page appropriations bill, but this is a “no boondoggle left […]