Steve

 

I agree we've let things go too far to be able to go back to a gold standard but the sentiment behind it is true. The fact is we've f*cked up our currency. It no longer has the power it once did. That's essentially the point. Our monetary policy sucks.

 

ONLY a Ron Paul can change the TSA and re-install our civil liberties. The others won't do' date=' can't do or don't want to do sh*t about it.

 

Integrity goes a long way with me. [/quote']

 

Then make Paul head of homeland security.

 

As for the Gold Standard, so because you perceive montary policy as sucking, you will turn to something which already has been shown by historical precedent to really fuck things up.

 

Gold is a commodity. Like every other commodity, its price goes up and down for a wide variety of reasons.

 

I'm no expert on the gold standard. Admittedly. I also would assume the genie is out of the bottle and we can't go back. The world has moved on without a gold standard. However, I'm not sure if you're saying it was always a bad idea or its just a bad idea now? We were on it for almost all of our history and became the number one nation while on it. Furthermore things got WORSE when we left. We had financial crisises before. However it wasn't due to being on the gold standard. It was from loose financial rules and which have now been corrected via regulations. During those past crisis the fundamentals of the country were solid for the future. Now, the fundamentals are not there and our future looks bleaker and the next generation isn't doing as well as the prior.

 

I think even Ron Paul knows we can't go back even if he was elected. My guess is he is smart enough to know that. We will have a proper accounting of the gold that is there though.

 

The number one thing about a Ron Paul presidency is that the special interests will not have power over the office. That is the biggest thing of all. Getting rid of their influence and power over the government MUST be the number one thing if we are ever going to make it back as a country. Every thing else is just conversation.

 

Neither party has ANYONE who will not be controlled or heavily influenced by the special interests, lobbies, etc.

 

You're getting bogged down in the gold standard, something that even if he's elected has little chance of coming to fruition instead of the big picture which is a government without influence from the special interest.

Republicans want to extend the tax cuts for the oil companies.

 

Have you noticed the GREAT effect of this tax cut has been on the economy? Maybe they shouldn't be taxed at all!

Tax cut for companies making record profits. Sounds familiar.

The fact is also that corporae welfare is at least 3 times the cost of social welfare. Social welfare is demonized as the cause of our ills. Don't get me wrong, I agree it should be curtaile and it has been greatly reduced from the Clinton reform of it but the hypocracy is what gets me.

No, the Gold Standard is absolutely retarded, as medieval as leeches and blood letting. Look at the history of the early parts of the Great Depression.

 

One of the best arguments against it is here, from a Republican:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/02/22/frum.ron.paul.gold/

 

 

But what you said about the Gold Standard points to what both Obama and Romney can do better than Paul, and I am sure the same with Booker: Get things passed in Congress.

 

I think if you are a Senator or Congressman and you want to stop the agenda of the POTUS, the best thing you want is a true believer.

 

The ACA is not what I wanted to see, but it probably is the best that can be done with the reality on the ground. It at least moves the bar.

If a Ron Paul gets elected it would be a mandate for big changes. Not saying the return of the Gold standard but his election, if it were to happen, would be an outright repudiation of the status quo and although he's a Republican, to some extent a rebuke of the two parties.

I agree we've let things go too far to be able to go back to a gold standard but the sentiment behind it is true. The fact is we've f*cked up our currency. It no longer has the power it once did. That's essentially the point. Our monetary policy sucks.

ONLY a Ron Paul can change the TSA and re-install our civil liberties. The others won't do, can't do or don't want to do sh*t about it.

Integrity goes a long way with me.

Some things are beyond party politics and this TSA thing is. I would expect a Republican president to be even more likely to uphold the status quo with regards to the TSA.

I would love to see the question asked in a debate. We may hear someone other than Ron Paul say they'd end it but I wouldn't believe them.

Ghostdog, as for Ron Paul and the gold standard, etc. It simply won't happen. Its not kooky to have our money backed by somethiing real, its just a non starter. He'd need Congress for that and that won't happen. Paul has integrity. He also has some good ideas. He has some ideas I don't agree with as well. For me I don't see why I should vote for a candidate from the two major parties who WON'T do what they say but be advised to vote for someone who WILL try and do what they say they will. What exactly will Obama and Romney (assuming he's the winner) do exactly that is better than what Ron Paul will do?

Alex has a set of balls! Go Alex, go!!!

 

Texans to Launch ‘Citizen Filibuster’ Over TSA Groping

 

http://www.infowars.com/texans-to-launch-citizen-filibuster-over-tsa-groping/

 

Texans outraged by repeated attempts on behalf of state representatives working in consort with the federal government to kill legislation that would ban invasive TSA groping are set to launch a ‘citizen filibuster’ that seeks to pressure public servants into following the will of the people.

 

Despite the fact that the anti-groping legislation in Texas passed the House unanimously last month and also looked set to sail through the Senate, [color:red]repeated dirty tricks[/color] by the likes of [color:red]Speaker Joe Straus[/color] and [color:red]Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst[/color] have sabotaged a bill that merely seeks to reinforce laws already codified in the Fourth Amendment...

Always remember its OUR government. They aren't some independent body we collectively have no voice or control over.

Furthermore there is NOTHING unconstitutional about limiting what the TSA does. I would contend that they are the ones in violation of OUR civil liberties.

We have collectively been mind f*cked to believe that they can do things like this and its their right to.

Never heard of this extreme couponing show but I'd be shocked if my mom either wasn't a fan or is sitting at home watching it saying 'is that all you are saving?'. That woman could squeeze a dollar into into 5 bucks. Had an 8th grade education and a PhD on raising a house full of kids on wages that qualified for public aid (but too proud to take). She ran the house, even gave me dad an allowance. He knew who was the best budget director.

Anyway, a shame that stores are limiting these things as the article states. Especially in these tough times.

http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113020-10125-1-how-to-get-the-most-from-coupons?ywaad=ad0035&nc

10 worst states to retire in. Aren't all 50 pretty bad nowadays? I mean really. Florida is no longer as great as it once was. I heard Nevada and Azrizona were once good and although I confess that I don't know how good it is for retirees, I'd be surprised if it was the haven that its been billed as. I've also read that a lot of retirees, especially guys are going to Costa Rica and other such locales south of the border. Baja Cali was popular for a while but don't know if Mexican crime has seeped into that area as well?

http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/112987/tax-unfriendly-states-retirees?mod=fidelity-livingretirement&cat=fidelity_2010_living_in_retirement

"Enjoy a dinner with the President"? With Barry? Somebody trying to be funny? How fuckin' "enjoyable" would that be?

 

HH

HH, I think you and Flash could nr charmed by Obama if you were invited to dine with him at the white house. May even get a 'bro-mance' or 'man-crush'. lol

Some people are just plain charming. Clinton, Reagan, JFK and FDR were amongst the Presidents I heard that could charm the socks off you.

TSA Defends Forcing Elederly Leukemia Patient to Remove Diaper

 

[color:red]TSA = Touch Squeeze Assault[/color]

 

http://www.infowars.com/tsa-defends-forcing-elederly-leukemia-patient-to-remove-diaper/

 

On Sunday the TSA defended its search of an elderly woman last week at a Florida airport. The 95 year old woman was forced to removed an adult diaper and submit to a pat-down search before she was allowed to board a flight to Michigan so she could be with relatives before passing away from leukemia...

 

 

 

 

 

These TSA cunts need a punch in the mouth and a few really good lawyered up rich people to sue the fuck out of them and the government. Class action law suits using the cream of the crop of lawyers who win these sort of suits. It needs to stop' date=' and stop now. If they tried this with my Mom I'd be in a federal prison right now. And would not care I was there. This is sickening and totally un-American, uncivilized, and revoltingly stupid and unnecessary. This retarded shit (and it [b']IS[/b] retarded) makes me sick and willing to support radical changes, violent means and reactions, and fuck the consequences. They GO TOO FAR! And use NO common sense and take away the dignity of American CITIZENS.

It needs to be made part of the presidential and national debate. Really am surprised at Obama though. You'd tink a guy who came from a community organizing background would have changed their polices.

Its an opporunity for one of the major (Ron Paul wants it to stop) Republican candidates to gain brownie points.

I agree. NO WAY I would let them do that to my mom. I'd play every card I had (including the time honored race card but there are many blacks working there ) if I had to.

Seriously, I'd be jail. I know I would. Common sense has been completely removed from the process. The war on terror has been used as a way of taking away our rights. WheneverI go to the airport, I dress as light as possible. I don't even wear a belt.

seen the argies squabbling today!!!

River Plate? That's my Argentinian team. They got relegated and riots broke out. Huge team, formally unthinkable they could be relegated. Akin to Arsenal being relegated :nahnah:

I was in business in Orlando several years ago and a coworker bought me tickets to a Springseen concert. He was a rabid fan and said there is no way I should die without seeing them. Great concert. Great atmosphere amongst the fans. Great show. Don't know where they got the energy to stay on stage so long. Saw the big man as well and it was obvious how much respect he had from the band as well as the crowd.

With regards to the USA v Mexico 'soccer' game. Its obvious I've been converted to the sport and have been for several years now. I completely understand when fellow Americans find the sport boring. I did at first and its one of those things that has to grow on you from repeated viewing and having some sort of vested interest. I've long heard Europeans say baseball is worse than watching paint dry. I'm equally not offended as well.

However, there are socio-political issues in the USA v. Mexico game. Its a heated rivalry. Its much worse than the old Lakers v. Boston or the Yankees v. Dodgers rivalries of old. Amercans come from all over the world. Everyone I know has a soft spot for their country of origin. Italian Americans I know who don't like or follow soccer cheer for the Italian national team in the world cup. They are typically a good team. However, they also equally cheer for America and want America above all. That sentiment is repeated with just about every country EXCEPT Mexico. Mexican Americans are probably the number one group of people where I suspect their loyalty to America. I've known Iranian Americans and they seem to love America more than they do. Arab Americans I met love their country and are often criticcal of America's political stance regarding their country but they love the country. That's the impression I get.

While there are numerous Mexican Americans who have and are fighting for this country in all branches and have unswerving loyalty, there are still too many who show hostility towards the country. American home games in soccer against Mexico when played in California or Texas is akin to being a home game for Mexico. The U.S. team has had to play Mexico in places like Columbus, Ohio just to get a U.S. dominated stadium supporting them. Mexican Americans can't complain why the rest of us question their patriotism. Mexican Americans proudly show the Mexican flag and one rarely ever sees an American flag from them. Its socially unaccepted to a large degree within their community. Showing disloyalty is in. The other latin countries show more loyalty. While they love their home country and always will they are glad to be American as well. The only time when Ive ever seen a Mexican American openly identifying with America is when they travel and see the power of the American passport. The American passport has an aura worldwide, love it or hate it, its resected. Especially in 3rd world countries around the globe. Countries worry about incidents involving American citizens. The vast majority of Mexican Americans I've met when overseas are military related and when non Americans ask them where they are from they say America and when there is a puzzled look (around the globe America has a white face and secondarily, a black face but not anything else) they reiterate they are American.

This peeve of mine makes no difference. The 'battle' is over. California, Texas and the rest of the border states are latin or will be in 20 years by a comfortable margin. They may end up like Miami where you have to know spanish for any government job. Its pretty much like that now anyway.

As for the TSA, its now become the government's gestapo. I'm actually very surprised (and disappointed) Obama hasn't made some changes. It would go a long way politically as well. The suspicious side of me and that side is the dominant side these days, says that the government likes the authortarianism of the TSA to get us used to them having absolute rule over us. I really do think they are making us get used to a state of no civil liberties and the TSA is getting us used to the idea. I really do think they will transfer that authoritarianism to other areas of the government. We are the last bastion of personal freedom and now its almost gone. I truly believe that. I don't think the constitution matters much and we're seeing evidence of it all the time with posts on this thread.

I really do think we are all set to believe that we should not expect to enjoy the civil liberties we were born with. The saddest fact is collectively we are all sheep. We are going along with it like lambs. I'm being melodramatic perhaps but I feel like its the 1930s Germany and our rights are being taken away and we are going along with it, complaining, but still going along with it. With the exception of Ron Paul, I don't know any presidential candidate that would reverse things. Oh, you may hear lip service if the question is asked but I have no faith that any candidate will do anything about it.

There is very little mayors can do nowadays. Most functions are state or federally influenced to varying degrees: Law enforcement (100k cops program during Clinton's administration), Education (No child left behind), Roads are now state or federally funded, Jobs, even local jobs are now a federal issue and obviously state. Detroit jobs are now in presidential debates. The movie industry in Los Angeles is a state issue in California. Subways, light rail and even busses are under the auspices of the department of transportation to some degree be it funding or some other portion of it. Housing for the poor is federally funded (projects), lots of state and federal buildings are in cities and control that land.

The cities (and states) have f*cked up so much they need the federal government. No need for states to complain about states rights as they did many years ago, they have openly courted the federal government to help them and have given the federal governmen power over what used to be their function. Many governors are quasi mayors anyway. Especially in smaller states. If you're the governor of Rhode Island you're damn near the mayor of Providence.

Its all bullsh*t. I've long said any federal spending we do should be on infrastructure. Its desperately needed for one and two would provide millions of jobs directly and indirectly to millions of people. Many good working class jobs for the masses. Too many NIMBY (not in my backyard) folks as well as environmentalists holding up much needed high speed rail lines in a few states.

The cities have f*cked themselves up on their own. When the demographics changed and the largest cities became black run, many of these mayors continued the graft and corruption as well. just like the federal government, the face behind the desk may change but the powers that be are ever present and still pull the strings.

You want to know what is going on in the USA?

 

Follow the fucking money. Who is getting rich? Who isn't?

 

It is that elementary.

 

The Gubbamint? Errand boys sent by grocers to collect the bill. As it always has been. Oh, on further review, Ron Paul is a fucking retard. If he really is a decent guy, then he is just a fucking guppy in a shark tank.

I remember a scene from the tv show The Wire and the cop said 'follow the drugs and you'll find drug addicts and drug dealers...follow the money and you don't know who you'll find.'

As far as Ron Paul, I understand the hesitance so I'll ask for your candidate? Or someone who should run and isn't.

The person who I think has the most integrity, good ideas and hopefully will run for President one day is Jersey City mayor Cory Booker. Phenominal guy.

Herman Cain: Jon Stewart Mocked Me Because I'm A 'Black Conservative'

 

...

 

After suggesting that he would not allow words like Stewart's to hurt him, Cain suggested that because "he's an American Black Conservative, an A-B-C" he's been labeled "Uncle Tom," a "sell out," an "Oreo" and "shameless." For that reason, he said that he "does not care" about what Stewart had to say.

 

...

 

 

No surprise?

I personally wouldn't say Stewart's comments were racially motivated. Stewart has a history of ridculing ALL conservatives and most Republicans. I didn't hear race mentioned by Stewart at all. Cain is using the race card if anything. I caution that such a card is a privelege and should not be overused hence it loses its power. It should really only be used when you're trying to get the bank to financie your business or you're on trial for a double murder or if you've already spent more than $50 and the white girl you have on the date won't go back to your place. :nahnah:

He is far, far right though. A bit too far right for me. I love his life story. Its one of those stories that America is famous for and seems to happen here more than any other place.

Many of you have been around a lot longer than I have. You've seen some tough times in America. Let me ask those of you who are American and can remember not only the '60s or '70s clearly but also may know more about what your parents experienced as well.

Is this as bad as its ever been? I know the Great Depression was bad. My parents were too young for it but it was fresh in their consciousness. They as well as my grandparents pretty much lost all faith in any financial institution. For years my mother would rather deal in cash than trust a bank check. We always had canned fruits and foods stored in the cellar..as a precaution. They faced very tough times as kids and it always lingered in their minds and that was passed on to us.

I certainly don't hold out much hope for my nephews future. Oh, they'll do well. They are smart kids who will get a great degree and be very marketable. They will have at the very least a solidly middle class existence if not better. However, I fear they will struggle more than they should. A solid middle class life in the future is looking more like to a solid working class life that I know.

I don't see a working life in the U.S. as anything to have any longer. Living abroad is much more appealing. The daily grind of life seemingly sucks out the soul from ones body.

The government seems to view us all as sources of revenue to nickel and dime and beat into submission instead of there to serve our best needs. I now believe we're seen as 'the enemy' to the government. I know it sounds crazy. Maybe I am (a couple friends and family members as well as all my ex girlfriends would confirm that).

We are told what we want to hear in electiions and then whomever is elected begins to batter us economically and civil liberty wise until we have no fight in us left. We have to pay for small conveniences that were once free.

Law enforcement sees us as the enemy as well. 'Protect and serve'? I don't get that feeling at all.

Are we finished? If not, why? What makes you think we can turn things around? I'd love to hear.

I want to vote for you!

 

Thanks Flash, but I wouldn't vote for me. lol...

Let me know when you see an ad by a hospital that shows comparison pricing. The only time I see it is for lasic and plastic surgery, both of which are largely not covered by insurance. When Americans finally realize that there is no "free lunch," and price should be a major consideration (along with the doctor's track record)in deciding which medical care is appropriate for each person. In the meantime, I'll vote with my feet and take my elective medical care overseas.

The medical culture has to change. Dentists are now competing. The same can be done with hosptials and doctors. There are websites for the best rates and service of airline (FlyerTalk), as well as other industries. Eventually, if there aren't already, online forums set up to discuss your experiences at hostpials or with certain doctors.

I don't see how difficult it is for a hosptial to say what the average cost of certain types of surgeries are? Wait times for certain types of surgeries. Etc. Doctors like this exalted, "I am God" reputation that they are above certain things.

The neighborhood doctor who had his own office and made house calls got killed off. Partially by insurance companies who charged him a king's ransom in malpractice insurance, partially the medical industry who moved all these doctors to HMOs and hosptials. (HMOs were originally fought against by the AMA, along with Medicare and any attempt at natinalized healthcare and its not because it wasn't good for you, it was financially bad for them). Having worked once for a medical technology company for a year, they developed a 'best practice' guideline that hospitals used. This company basically took all the latest info from medical journals. Doctors (and nurses) really have no time to gleam this stuff and this company summarized it all and made it available to hospitals electronically for a fee. If a doctor or nurse (they did it for both) followed best practices this could be used to combat malpractice lawsuits that are not worthy.

I'd love to see a program to encourage local clinics for basic medical, non invasive service. Major surgeries can be refereed to at major hospitals and HMOs for more detailed testing, etc. if its serious enough, but a return in part to the neighborhood doctor via a small clinic. Simple things that could take care of the average families needs which usually are not major. Flu, sprained ankles, grandma's arthriitis, early pregnancy care, etc. Medical school students undersurpervision can do part of their practice there. Learn some friggin' bedside manor. Bring some of the residency stuff to the masses.

You're right about us (Americans). We don't realize there is no free lunch.

Bill Clinton offers some job producing ideas....http://www.newsweek.com/2011/06/19/it-s-still-the-economy-stupid.html

I started picking jobs based almost on how good the benefits were. I would gladly take a 5k or even 10k a year lower salary for Job 1 against Job 2 if their medical and dental plans were far superior. Its gotten that bad and this is from a very healthy guy who works out regularly and never (knock on wood) had call in sick from work a day in his life (inherited those genes from my dad who had one sick day in almost 25 years at his job).

 

 

Thank God when Ron Paul becomes the 45th POTUS' date=' he is going to fix that by instituting a single payer health care by the gubbermint.

 

Or, he may support the good old days of the 19th century where employers paid their workers in script instead of greenbacks or goldbacks. (That Lincoln sure was a Commie)

 

Hmmmmmmmmm, which side of the shorts does Paul hang? Only Borat knows for sure.[/quote']

 

 

No health plan will work until the powers that be (AMA, Big Pharma, HMO chains, etc.) who control what is written into law by Congess changes.

 

We can have more doctors without lowering the quality of doctors. One possible suggestion is have an alternative to the AMA in licensing who becomes a doctor. In federal, state and city hospitals who are government run, develop a licensing system akin to the AMA. In state universities med schools they can increase the level of acceptence. The schools keep the numbers accepted arbitrarly low so as not to have too many doctors. Also, allow more doctors to emigrate to the U.S. from other countries and accept their medical license of their home countries as long as they have had no incident of malpractice. Also, pay for medical school of any doctor, nurse, pharmacist, etc. who will work for a certain length of time in areas in need of more doctors. Rural aras like the Dakotas, poor states like West Virginia and parts of other states like Kentucky, Mississippi, etc. inner city. Guarantee them a decent wage and forgiveness of their medical school loans.

 

I have posted on here before an idea of the UN to grant a one time award for any new medical breakthroughs, medicines and cures to any company, medical institution or even country in exchange for full use, patent free, of that cure. Say, 50 billion for cancer or AIDs. Spread amongst all nations its nothing. That amount (or some other amount), awarded tax free should be an amount that would be a huge financial windfall. I've read as much as a couple billion can go into a big cure. Therefore 50 billion is more than enough incentive.

 

Reward healthy living financially via reduction of fee charged. A non smoker, non drinker for example.

 

Make the American medical industry compete on price by allowing a modest percentage of the cost to do a major surgery in India, Europe or Thailand to be written off. What ever is quoated by in America, other local hospitals as well as overseas hospitals can compete on price. We comparative shop for cars and homes all the time.

This guy robbed a bank just to get medical care in jail.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110621/ts_yblog_thelookout/man-robs-bank-to-get-medical-care-in-jail

Some people who need medical care but can't afford it go to the emergency room. Others just hope they'll get better. James Richard Verone robbed a bank.

Earlier this month, Verone (pictured), a 59-year-old convenience store clerk, walked into a Gaston, N.C., bank and handed the cashier a note demanding $1 and medical attention. Then he waited calmly for police to show up.

He's now in jail and has an appointment with a doctor this week.

Verone's problems started when he lost the job he'd held for 17 years as a Coca Cola deliveryman, amid the economic downturn. He found new work driving a truck, but it didn't last. Eventually, he took a part-time position at the convenience store.

But Verone's body wasn't up to it. The bending and lifting made his back ache. He had problems with his left foot, making him limp. He also suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis.

Then he noticed a protrusion on his chest. "The pain was beyond the tolerance that I could accept," Verone told the Gaston Gazette. "I kind of hit a brick wall with everything."

Verone knew he needed help--and he didn't want to be a burden on his sister and brothers. He applied for food stamps, but they weren't enough either.

So he hatched a plan. On June 9, he woke up, showered, ironed his shirt. He mailed a letter to the Gazette, listing the return address as the Gaston County Jail.

I can understand the fight against ObamaCare. I get that. I really do. Especially from a quasi libertarian such as myself. However, it has to be said that medical costs in America is astronomical. I did some research and 60% of bankruptcies are medical bill related. These are bankruptcies from all strata of society.

God forbid if you get sick in America. So, conservatives, talk me into why I shouldn't give Obama care a shot? What is the Republican alternative? Medical savings plans? Can this honestly seriously cut into medical costs? Especially major surgery.

Medical tourism is now a thriving industry. Americans are having to leave America for major medical issues.

I started picking jobs based almost on how good the benefits were. I would gladly take a 5k or even 10k a year lower salary for Job 1 against Job 2 if their medical and dental plans were far superior. Its gotten that bad and this is from a very healthy guy who works out regularly and never (knock on wood) had call in sick from work a day in his life (inherited those genes from my dad who had one sick day in almost 25 years at his job).

HOwever, I have seen friends and family go into serious debt, unrecoverable holes because of some major medical issue. Its insane.

LP maybe your super angry young moslems just need a hug. Don't we all? :content:

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/06/19/248151/clarence-thomas-resign/

Justice Clarence Thomas is an ethics problem in a black robe. Just eight months after ThinkProgress broke the story of Thomas’ attendance at a Koch-sponsored political fundraiser, we learn that Thomas doesn’t just do unethical favors for wealthy right-wing donors — they also do expensive favors for him.

Leading conservative donor Harlan Crow, whose company often litigates in federal court, provided $500,000 to allow Thomas’s wife to start a Tea Party group and he once gave Thomas a $19,000 Bible that belonged to Frederick Douglass. The American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank which frequently files briefs in Thomas’ Court, also gave Thomas a $15,000 gift.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because America has seen this movie before. Indeed, the Thomas scandal is little more than a remake of the forty year-old gifting scandal that brought down Justice Abe Fortas. Like Thomas, Fortas liked to associate with wealthy individuals with potential business before his Court. And like Thomas, Fortas took inappropriate gifts from his wealthy benefactors.

Fortas’ questionable gifts first came out when President Johnson nominated him for a promotion to Chief Justice of the United States in 1968. Fortas had accepted $15,000 to lead seminars at American University — far more than the university normally paid for such services — and the payments were bankrolled by the leaders of frequent corporate litigants including the vice president of Phillip Morris. Fortas survived this revelation, although his nomination for the Chief Justiceship was filibustered into oblivion.

Just a year later, the country learned that Fortas took another highly questionable gift. In 1966, one year after Fortas joined the Court, stock speculator Louis E. Wolfson’s foundation began paying Fortas an annual retainer of $20,000 per year for consulting services. Fortas’ actions were legal, and he eventually returned the money after Wolfson was convicted of securities violations and recused himself from Wolfson’s case, but the damage to Fortas — and the potential harm to the Supreme Court’s reputation — were too great. Fortas resigned in disgrace.

It is difficult to distinguish Fortas’ scandal from Thomas’. Like Fortas, Thomas accepted several very valuable gifts from parties who are frequently interested in the outcome of federal court cases. One of Thomas’ benefactors has even filed briefs in his Court since giving Thomas a $15,000 gift, and Thomas has not recused himself from each of these cases.

Of course, Thomas is also the least likely Justice to actually follow the command of precedent. Thomas embraces a discredited theory of the Constitution which would return America to a time when federal child labor laws were considered unconstitutional. His fellow justices criticize him for showing “utter disregard for our precedent and Congress’ intent.†Even ultra-conservative Justice Antonin Scalia finds Thomas’ approach to the law too extreme — in Scalia’s words “I am a textualist. I am an originalist. I am not a nut.â€

But Thomas’ disregard for what has come before him changes nothing about the precedent he faces. If Abe Fortas had to resign his seat, so too should Clarence Thomas.

The war on terror is getting results.

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100007185&docId=l:1440170891&start=13

As the Obama administration nears a crucial decision on how rapidly to withdraw combat forces from Afghanistan, high-ranking officials say that Al Qaeda's original network in the region has been crippled, providing a rationale for an accelerated reduction of troops.

The officials said that the intense campaign of drone strikes and other covert operations in Pakistan - most dramatically the raid that killed Osama bin Laden - had left Al Qaeda paralyzed, with its leaders either dead or pinned down in the frontier area near Afghanistan. Of 30 prominent members of the terrorist organization in the region identified by intelligence agencies as targets, 20 have been killed in the last year and a half, they said, reducing the threat they pose.

Their confidence, these officials said, was buttressed by information found in Bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. They said the trove revealed disarray within Al Qaeda's leadership, with a frustrated Bin Laden indicating that he could no longer direct terrorist attacks by lieutenants who feared for their own lives.

Some good news....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13799616

For 20 years, crime in the US has been falling and new figures from the FBI show a sharp drop in the last two years, despite the recession. Why?

...and anyone in a Tottenham shirt.