Monthly Archives: December 2005

Tracking the Growth of American Authoritarianism

“Can There Really Be Fascist People In A Democracy?”
Libertarians are stealthily taking over America.
Since the 1971 Powell Memo, America has moved closer and closer to Fascism.

 

Presidential Mendacity and Apocrypha, Urban Legends, and Media Pliability

Posted on December 29, 2005 by Andy Hailey

Whoppers, whether told by presidents of countries or companies, survive only with the help of the profit oriented media. Most who believe George Bush’s version of the Osama satellite phone story, revived recenlty to justify unchecked spying, also still believe … Continue reading →

  • Related NPR Stories: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5069307" target="_blank" title="A look back at presidential statements that, in the end, turned out to be not quite true."> Presidential Apocrypha</a>
Posted in Media-Info Control   |   Leave a comment   |  

Where Bush Leads, Ohio Follows – Deeper into “1984”

Posted on December 22, 2005 by Andy Hailey

There has been plenty of news recently about the federal Patriot Act and its potential for violating our civil rights and expanding the options for identifying candidates for the terrorist watch list. However, there is state legislation in the final … Continue reading →

  • Related NPR Stories: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4696652" target="_blank" title="Bush Stumps for Patriot Act Renewal ">June 9, 2005 · The President visits Ohio to push for renewal of portions of the Patriot Act</a>
Posted in Enemy/Scapegoat, Human Rights Abuse   |   Leave a comment   |  

Corruption Requires Secrets, Secrets Need Protection, and Protection Requires Collusion and a Hobbled Media

Posted on December 20, 2005 by Andy Hailey

… a disturbing cabal that started after the resignation of President Nixon and continues today in the Bush administration with some of the same saboteurs. Continue reading →

  • Related NPR Stories: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5014688" target="_blank" title="The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's Inspector General has released a report that finding former CPB Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson violated federal law in his efforts to rid the public airwaves of what he called its liberal bias.">Report Finds Ex-CPB Chair Violated Law</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5013575" target="_blank" title="Former Corporation for Public Broadcasting chairman Kenneth Tomlinson violated his office's code of ethics as he sought to bring political change to the organization, according to the agency's internal investigation.">Report Faults Ex-CPB Chair Tomlinson on Ethics</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5014066" target="_blank" title="He also allegedly used political tests as a factor in hiring a new president. " >CPB Report Details Ex-Chairman's Wrongdoings</a>
Posted in Rampant Cronyism/Corruption   |   Leave a comment   |  

Can You Spell Impeachment?

Posted on December 20, 2005 by Jim Vogas

I can. Snoopgate! In the above article, Newsweek columnist Jonathan Alter reported, ” I learned this week that on December 6, Bush summoned Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger and executive editor Bill Keller to the Oval Office in a futile attempt … Continue reading →

  • Related NPR Stories: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5063308" target="_blank" title="Two scholars discuss this and other arguments the president has used to justify wiretaps and other surveillance.">Assessing the Legal Reaches of Executive Power</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5062498" target="_blank" title="President Bush has claimed that a legal measure passed in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks gives him the authority to authorize domestic spying. His critics say that another measure, passed in 1978, severely limits such spying.">Legality of Bush Eavesdropping Order Questioned</a>
Posted in Media-Info Control   |   Leave a comment   |  

Shrinking Sea Ice Area Helps Promote Record Hurricane Season

Posted on December 18, 2005 by Andy Hailey

In Warnings from Katrina and Rita?, I provided a chart that plots the number of named storms over time for the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.   This chart was created by a coworker from various internet data sources and goes … Continue reading →

  • Related NPR Stories: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5044101" target="_blank" title="Science Friday - recent research that suggests 2005 was the most extreme weather year on record.">Ira Flatow on Science: An Extreme Weather Year</a>
Posted in Environment   |   2 Comments   |  

More Corporate Failure – And a Win for Labor?

Posted on December 17, 2005 by Andy Hailey

In Has America’s Greatest Generation Begat The Failure Generation?, I summarized the introduction to “The Rise of the Rogue Executive,” where the authors point out, “Business scandals are just another part of the stream of daily news that is full … Continue reading →

  • Recent NPR Story: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5056527" target="_blank" title=""December 16, 2005 · In Los Angeles, a federal grand jury has handed down an indictment to Ralph's supermarket chain.>Ralph's Supermarkets Charged in Labor Dispute</a>
Posted in Corporate Intrusion, Labor Power Loss   |   Leave a comment   |  

December 2005 WAWG Index – Down Slightly

Posted on December 10, 2005 by Andy Hailey

The total WAWG index was down 11,407 points from November, 2005.   The December average was down 834 points from November’s.   This is the second down month.   But this is only the third month of tracking this index. … Continue reading →

Posted in WAWG Index   |   1 Comment   |  

China – Overt Military or Stealth Political Powerhouse?

Posted on December 9, 2005 by Andy Hailey

Will the administration’s lack of recognition of the growing political power of China add international failure to the current list of domestic failures of my boomer generation? Continue reading →

  • Related NPR Stories: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5020199" target="_blank" title="How the Rise of the Next Super Power Challenges America...">Chronicling the Rise of a New Superpower: China</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5019091" target="_blank title="Friday's ceremony for Hu Yaobang, whose death helped spark the Tiananmen Square protests, wasn't the endorsement of more progressive politics that some Chinese had hoped for.">China Honors Reformist Whose Death Sparked Protests</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5050285" target="_blank" title="Pentagon figures show that attempts to break into Department of Defense systems increased dramatically from 2003 to 2004.">Defense Contractors May Be Chink in Cyber Security</a>
Posted in International   |   Leave a comment   |  

The FEMA Recovery Channel – More Government Media Control?

Posted on December 8, 2005 by Andy Hailey

This government media source isn’t as blatant as Pentagon Channel and seems to be more more responsive to requests to cut out the propaganda. According to The Recovery Channel web site, “The focus of the FEMA Recovery Channel is to … Continue reading →

  • Related WAWG Article:: <a href="https://the-wawg-blog.org/?p=10" target="_blank" title="More recently Allison Barber, performing other Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense duties, was video taped preparing 10 members of our military for a teleconference with President Bush. ">Pentagon Channel - News or Government Media Control?</a>
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Has America’s Greatest Generation Begat The Failure Generation?

Posted on December 4, 2005 by Andy Hailey

The image of the USA has gone from one of admiration and appreciation for the efforts of The Greatest Generation to one where USA can’t get much support or cooperation from most of the rest of the world. Continue reading →

  • Related NPR Stories: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5036329" target="_blank" title="So now it's Duke Cunningham.">The 'Culture of Corruption' in Congress</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4991735" target="_blank" title="The scandal is playing out as the former governor, George Ryan, stands trial for corruption.">Illinois Governor Plagued by Corruption Charges</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4578968" target="_blank" title="In her new book, University, Inc.: The Corporate Corruption of Higher Education, author Jennifer Washburn alleges that universities have begun undermining the public trust.">'University, Inc.' Cites Corruption in Higher Education</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4619611" target="_blank" title="Bankrupt Adelphia, the fifth-largest cable provider in the country, has agreed to pay the government $715 million to settle a federal fraud investigation. ">Adelphia Settlement to End Fraud Investigation</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4775280" target="_blank" title="Tuesday's public suicide by an embattled former Miami politician, the ongoing mayoral scandal in San Diego and smaller trials in Kansas City, New Orleans and Chicago all bring the consequences -- and prevalence -- of civic corruption into sharp focus.">Corruption in U.S. Cities</a>
Posted in Rampant Cronyism/Corruption   |   2 Comments   |