Posted by Anthony Gregory on 03/11/10

This has become the mainstream consensus, as Glenn Greenwald explains, and much of it has to do with a Democratic "peace" president in the White House. Americans used to be impatient about this war going on and on, but now it looks like much of the country is resigned to it.

By the way, I'm blogging this from a plane, a good reminder that just as we all get used to government folly, we also get used to market wonders and come to take them for granted.

Posted 03/11/10 Willij4lib Everett, WA

What is funny to me is all the definitions of Democracy, the only one I get is the one that leads to an Oligarchy and as long as I put that in view I do not get confused at all. What is outrageous to me is we promote this message when Democracy right here at home is going in the same direction to an Oligarchy. I can assure you when I view it this way this is the only one that exist, I don’t even bring it up with out the thought that Democracy equals Oligarchy and I see the results happening in front of my face. Now when I look at what America should be; A Republic I am also not confused on the direction it should be going. The direction I see us going is a Democracy and right on the edge of Oligarchy. Personally this is not a message I wish to promote at all and could be why others are resisting so heavily because they actually get what we do not seem to. Is it possible lower education levels can see it easily and us the educated cannot. I cannot figure out why I am not confused and yet so many are. Or maybe the question should be this BOLD; Do we wish to have a REPUBLIC or do we choose to have an OLIGARCHY? And if we are putting Democracy as the grey area in between, I am thinking this could be very foolish. Maybe we should watch what it is we promote to others, some probably want no part of it, I am sure I do not.

Posted by Anthony Gregory on 03/05/10

Former Democratic VP candidate Joe Lieberman and former GOP presidential candidate John McCain have introduced a new detention policy bill in response to the Christmas Day underwear bomber. From The Atlantic: "A close reading of the bill suggests it would allow the U.S. military to detain U.S. citizens without trial indefinitely in the U.S. based on suspected activity."

This is another reminder of why, as horrible as Obama is on practically every issue, his competition was likely no better. Not that I expect Obama to veto this monstrosity. On detention policy, he has proven himself to be approximately as bad as his predecessor, if not worse.

Can we build a bipartisan police state, complete with the destruction of the last vestiges of due process, while we distract the public with political sideshows and debates over whether the government should control 60% or 61% of the economy? Yes we can.

Posted 03/05/10 RhysW ann arbor, MI

I'm starting to feel trapped... like a dull feeling. Like in the start of Atlas Shrugged, when the guy kept seeing the calendar in the sky and feeling, "your days are numbered" but he couldn't find the words.

Posted 03/05/10 Clairion Arlington, IA

So what kind of unholy alliance is now again set before us? Two losers from opposing parties co-sponsor a new bill. It is obvious that neither of them have a clue. If they knew how out of touch they are with the wants and needs of most Americians, both would resign their offices in beet-red embarrassment. They should. If it were not for their super-human arrogance and prideful ego... they would. I am soo sick and tired of seeing the cretinism that exists in the US Congress today. It seems to them as a simple game of 'kick-the-can'. 'High Value Detainee Interrogation Team'? [H.V.D.I.T.] Why not call it the 'Super High Interrogation Team'? [S.H.I.T.]

Posted 03/05/10 Scott from PA Hopwood, PA

Another validation of my not voting for John McCain. I would think that a former POW would have a problem with detaining people indefinitely.

Posted 03/05/10 galtgulch9 Southborough, MA

RhysW, One of my favorite scenes in Atlas Shrugged occurs when a bar of gold is given to a competent industrialist inventor as a token to remind him that all the money which he had earned but was expropriated from him by the looters through taxation had been recovered and was in an account for him once the tyrannical government was overcome. That is fiction and wishful thinking. In reality each of us should be buying gold and silver and storing up for the hard times our leader has in store for us.

Posted 03/05/10 Clairion Arlington, IA

You speak truth there, Scott. The same thought was roaming around in the back of my brain-pan. It must be understood that there are Political Wars and CONSTITUTIONAL Wars. The last War that was Declared by Congress was World War II. All others since then have been Political Wars. I'm sure McCain suffered as a POW in North Vietnam to some extent. He was one of the lucky ones. Most were more unfortunate. His Father was a Navy Admiral. 'Nuff said.'

Posted 03/05/10 BruceKoerber Cedar Rapids, IA

Prisoner of war is a misnomer. Sympathy for the detention of U.S. citizens is not a concern to those who were (McCain) and are (Lieberman and John McCain) collaborators with the enemy: at this point in time that enemy being the domestic enemy - the unConstitutinal coup.

Posted 03/05/10 BruceKoerber Cedar Rapids, IA

at this point in time that enemy being the domestic enemy - ". . . the unConstitutional coup."

Posted 03/05/10 BruceKoerber Cedar Rapids, IA

". . . at this point in time that enemy being the domestic enemy - the unConstitutional coup."

Posted 03/05/10 Paul Hogan Middle Village, NY

Of course Obama will pass this bill and if McCain won he obviously would have passed it. This is the great disconnect in all it's glory, like Clairion said, our leaders haven't got a clue. The comical thing is that eventually everything will be against the law and the law will cease to mean anything to anybody. The government can't put everybody in jail, somebody has to work and pay taxes and we know damn well they aren't going to do it.

Posted 03/06/10 kpasa01 Ravenel, SC

John McCain served this country but, he is definately not doing a service to this country.

Posted by Anthony Gregory on 02/26/10

The government's war on pain doctors and patients, with an interview with Siobhan Reynolds from Pain Relief Network.

Posted by Anthony Gregory on 02/22/10

Writes the great conservative Jon Basil Utley:

Antiwar sentiment was a major issue for the first time at this year’s giant CPAC meeting in Washington. Thousands of young conservatives attended, some 5,000, and for the first time, Ron Paul was voted the favorite presidential candidate with 31% of the vote. His speech about how governments use wars to take over dictatorial power was constantly interrupted with roaring applause. Top leaders of the conservative movement spoke, but it was Glenn Beck who carried the last day with mad applause, denouncing Republicans nearly as much as Democrats and saying, “It’s still morning in America, it just happens to be kind of a head-pounding, hung-over, vomiting for four hours morning." Beck is not a war promoter and I’ve heard him on FOX TV saying he had pretty much come around to agreeing with libertarians on the wars.

Republican congressional leader John Boehner had spoken earlier promising that next time Republicans would be different and not cave in to big government.

Speakers covered the gamut of the conservative movement including old timers and new comers. Speaking has been almost obligatory for hopeful presidential candidates. Sarah Palin was not there. Romney spoke including praise for Bush and Cheney and came in 2^nd in the straw poll with 22%. He was followed by Sarah Palin with 7% and Tim Pawlenty with 6%. Gingrich and Huckabee both came in with 4%.

Read the rest.

Posted 02/22/10 Skrag Baton Rouge, LA

The GOP's "small government" tea party fraud by Glenn Greenwald http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/02/21/libertar ianism/index.html

Posted 02/22/10 A Vacation At Gitmo Dallas, TX

From the article --- "Beck is not a war promoter and I’ve heard him on FOX TV saying he had pretty much come around to agreeing with libertarians on the wars." I visit Antiwar.com everyday, and love it, but that statement above seems to be the opposite of what I hear Beck professing. I don't think Glenn Beck has met a war he didn't like, and as long is it promotes mindless nationalism he has always been a cheerleader. Beck calls for government interventionism in many aspects of daily life, but none as loudly as when he wants to sustain the health of the state.

Posted 02/22/10 Isomies Mechanicsville, VA

"Republican congressional leader John Boehner had spoken earlier promising that next time Republicans would be different and not cave in to big government." I love the Tea Party movement, but please, let's not get sucked into the same old song and dance. Yeah, we heard these same promises in 2000 with a full-house of Republicans, in 1994 Contract with America, in 1980 Reagan, in 1968 Nixon, etc. etc. Government has never shrunk with Republicans in power, why am I supposed to trust the pro-bailout, pro-stimulus, pro-war Republicans to reign in big government? I do not.

Posted by Anthony Gregory on 02/22/10

What's your most important issue? See their poll, and note that Audit the Fed is one of the choices.

Posted 02/22/10 ifthenwouldi Wendell, NC

Chose "Audit the Fed" only.

Posted 02/22/10 Adam de Angeli Ann Arbor, MI

Who is the individual or group behind this poll, collecting this data and building an e-mail and phone list of participants? Where and when are the results going to be posted? I took the survey, but did not supply authentic personal information.

Posted 02/23/10 BrendonDeMeo North Chelmsford, MA

I supplied authentic personal info. http://www.contractfromamerica.org/ Is where it's from, it is backed by some reputable organizations, such as FreedomWorks, Tea Party Patriots, and the FairTax (not that I'm the biggest FairTax fan). We're a very important group in the Tea Parties, so we should definitely have a say in this. Also, we're the types of folks who always hold politicians to their promises, so just having us behind this will go a long ways towards ensuring the politicians follow it, who agree to.

Posted 02/23/10 landlease Sandusky, OH

I agree with ifthenwouldi. Audit the Fed would reveal the real issues. The rest of this poll suggests government solutions rather than just outright rejection.