Category Archives: Strict-father State

US Department of Homeland Security Looking at Shock Bracelets for All Air Travelers – A senior government official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expressed great interest in a so-called safety bracelet that would serve as a … Continue reading →

US Exports to Iran grew tenfold under Bush presidency – The value of U.S. exports to Iran grew more than tenfold during President Bush’s years in office even as he pressed for tougher international limits on trade and accused Iran … Continue reading →

  The US Occupation of Iraq is Causing More US Deaths in Afghanistan – The nation’s top military officer said yesterday that more U.S. troops are needed in Afghanistan to tamp down an increasingly violent insurgency, but that the Pentagon … Continue reading →

This Independence Day, the right-wing is manipulating public discourse in order to confuse and conflate patriotism with rabid nationalism. This is not a new phenomenon of course. We have seen such careful linguistic choreography before, when past authoritarian ideologues have … Continue reading →

Almost Like Iraq on a Texas Lawn – Last year, a Houston-area man shot and killed two burglars he saw breaking into his neighbor’s house, even after a 911 dispatcher warned him repeatedly against going outside with his shotgun. Texas … Continue reading →

McCain Truth Squad Defender Was Swift Boat Vet Member – One of the members of John McCain’s new Truth Squad — which his campaign says was launched to respond to unfair attacks on his record of military service –- was … Continue reading →

McCain’s New Web Ad Misrepresents Obama’s Positions on Energy – McCain released a Web ad that distorts Obama’s positions on clean-energy innovation and nuclear power. Here is what FactCheck.org says: The ad portrays Obama as saying “no” to energy “innovation” … Continue reading →

(Note: Authoritarian is used throughout this blog in the context of a personality type — not in the sense of a figure of authority such as a policeman, boss or Army general.) Back in 2006, John Dean completed Conservatives Without … Continue reading →

Government Seizing Laptops and Cameras at Airports Without Cause – Returning from a brief vacation to Germany in February, Bill Hogan was selected for additional screening by customs officials at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C. Agents searched Hogan’s luggage … Continue reading →

U.S. Government Funding Arabic News Channel That Makes Payments to Bush Administration Officials and Airs Anti-American Viewpoints – Alhurra, the U.S. government-funded Arabic news channel, paid former Bush and Clinton administration officials, lobbyists and high-profile Washington journalists tens of thousands … Continue reading →