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MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:42 AM Jan 2012

Glenn Greenwald - Progressive or Liberaltarian?

Just who is Glenn Greenwald, really. Is he a progressive? Or is he more of a liberaltarian?

His association with the Cato Institute, a Koch-funded libertarian think tank, argues that he may be more libertarian than progressive. Googling {"Glenn Greenwald" Cato} brings up a bunch of interesting links, which I'm now in the process of examining. What I'm finding so far is interesting, and may explain some recent articles he has written.

Perhaps others will enjoy looking at some of the links in that search, too. There's lots to read and analyze, so I'm not commenting much on individual issues at this point. I'm just encouraging other DUers to check out those links.

97 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Glenn Greenwald - Progressive or Liberaltarian? (Original Post) MineralMan Jan 2012 OP
Your link goes to Glenn Beck. tabatha Jan 2012 #1
I discovered that. MineralMan Jan 2012 #2
Try making a tinyurl. tabatha Jan 2012 #6
It's easy enough to type in the link. MineralMan Jan 2012 #10
This link works. MH1 Jan 2012 #29
I suggest that linkiing to Glenn Beck on DU is a red flag shouting 'slow down and Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #48
Uh, I didn't link to Glenn Beck. MineralMan Jan 2012 #59
Sure, that's the ticket. Where are the other links? Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #64
Progressive DesMoinesDem Jan 2012 #3
I got to pass on Beck coming up. Autumn Jan 2012 #4
It was an error in the way DU resolves URLs. MineralMan Jan 2012 #7
A better question is: _ed_ Jan 2012 #5
Well, the list you created MineralMan Jan 2012 #9
Greenwald supported the War on Terror? _ed_ Jan 2012 #14
He supported the Iraq invasion during the Bush administration. MineralMan Jan 2012 #18
Post removed Post removed Jan 2012 #26
Here you go: MineralMan Jan 2012 #38
When you read this, skip that post and read the preface itself which is linked. Pholus Jan 2012 #52
After a post like this, I think the examination of the writings of any individual is valuable tabatha Jan 2012 #62
I thought he was supported Bush on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. tabatha Jan 2012 #17
All true. Thanks. MineralMan Jan 2012 #19
I'm hoping someone can hack into his emails quinnox Jan 2012 #8
Lol! whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #21
You know what? I couldn't care less. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2012 #11
OK. However, Glenn Greenwald's writings are MineralMan Jan 2012 #15
What I'm trying to figure out is *why* DU is so obsessed with him. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2012 #33
I don't think we should care. It seems to me that this is just A Simple Game Jan 2012 #94
well, you know, last week it was Matt Tiabbi paulk Jan 2012 #70
Since libertarians can range from the far right to the far left nadinbrzezinski Jan 2012 #12
Yes. I'm well aware of libertarian political issues. MineralMan Jan 2012 #16
"they do pollute both parties" Warren Stupidity Jan 2012 #46
So caring about the law and civil rights is pollution? nadinbrzezinski Jan 2012 #60
You don't think that some of the libertarian views are worthy of consideration? A Simple Game Jan 2012 #95
Libertarianism is ultimately NOT consistent with liberal values. It just isn't. MH1 Jan 2012 #39
Sometimes shades of grey can be useful, sir. Pholus Jan 2012 #57
As I said, the RIGHT WING of the Libertarian party is quite noisy nadinbrzezinski Jan 2012 #61
Shitheel MjolnirTime Jan 2012 #13
"Liberaltarian"? If that's a Left-Libertarian, how's that different from anti-statist Progressive? leveymg Jan 2012 #20
No, that's isn't what I meant. MineralMan Jan 2012 #23
So you are saying that "liberaltarians" are deceitful anti-statist progressives then? Pholus Jan 2012 #25
Since you're insinuating that GG is a false-flag Progressive, burden is on you to leveymg Jan 2012 #43
Do you think Greenwald's writings will have ANY impact on the 2012 election? PA Democrat Jan 2012 #22
I think Greenwald is about dividing people, so it may, indeed affect MineralMan Jan 2012 #28
"Interested"? More like obsessed. Too many threads to count, too much of a pain to hide them all. PA Democrat Jan 2012 #55
Now that's funny. "his articles are posted daily on DU". A Simple Game Jan 2012 #96
The real question is: Do Americans have a right & duty to criticize the President when he's wrong? baldguy Jan 2012 #24
Of course they do. MineralMan Jan 2012 #32
The only reason Greenwald is being attacked is because he has been critical of Obama. baldguy Jan 2012 #47
Here, let me help you with that google search link. Luminous Animal Jan 2012 #27
Hi. Yes, that works. MineralMan Jan 2012 #30
conspiracy theories to smear the left fascisthunter Jan 2012 #31
Thanks for letting me know. MineralMan Jan 2012 #34
I always get a kick when some one ... JoePhilly Jan 2012 #72
"Drug Decriminalization in Portugal" by Glenn Greenwald JackRiddler Jan 2012 #35
Thank you, JackRiddler smokey nj Jan 2012 #44
Barack Obama - Centrist or Moderate? Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2012 #36
What of his associations and employment of Donnie McClurkin? Ex-gay hate preacher Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #41
Glenn Greenwald" Cato shows that he worked with them on drug policy issues Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #37
I agree with the OP. It's important to attach an exact one-word label to everybody. JackRiddler Jan 2012 #40
Lol! whatchamacallit Jan 2012 #42
Your allegation "his association with the Cato institute". Warren Stupidity Jan 2012 #45
Do you really think "liberaltarian" was an intentional coinage? JackRiddler Jan 2012 #49
uh yeah Warren Stupidity Jan 2012 #51
Well then. I stand corrected. JackRiddler Jan 2012 #53
I didn't even coin the word. It's not original with me. MineralMan Jan 2012 #58
Doesn't matter, it works. n/t A Simple Game Jan 2012 #97
Who's Glenn Greenwald? getdown Jan 2012 #50
Emmanual Goldstein... Luminous Animal Jan 2012 #54
hahahahaha getdown Jan 2012 #56
GREENWALD MUST BE DESTROYED!!!1 frylock Jan 2012 #63
The OP refuses to address that nonsense. So many DUers calling out that smear Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #65
Not at all. Greenwald accepted a grant from Cato. MineralMan Jan 2012 #66
Right. Bluenorthwest Jan 2012 #67
So, accepting a grant from an organization is NOT having MineralMan Jan 2012 #68
Interesting -- so is the converse true? Cato is liberal cause it paid GG? Pholus Jan 2012 #69
I don't think so. The one who pays is the MineralMan Jan 2012 #71
That makes ethical sense, but didn't Cato also make a big mistake by offering him money then? Pholus Jan 2012 #73
Skilled writers can pretty much write anything to suit the marketplace. MineralMan Jan 2012 #74
What if you generally disagreed with the client but ethically you supported this one job? Pholus Jan 2012 #75
Personally, I can't answer that, because I don't know MineralMan Jan 2012 #80
Fair enough! Pholus Jan 2012 #91
I found this entry in Wikipedia VERY interesting. johnaries Jan 2012 #76
So I guess he doesn't like the two party system then... Pholus Jan 2012 #77
... girl gone mad Jan 2012 #82
His speech at FAIR has been running two and three times a week on cable. EFerrari Jan 2012 #86
His work with CATO institute concerned studying drug policy in Portugal. Puregonzo1188 Jan 2012 #78
Extraordinary rendition - good or bad? jpgray Jan 2012 #79
I don't care. AtomicKitten Jan 2012 #81
Suspension of Habeas Corpus is a jaw-dropping policy that is impossible to defend jpgray Jan 2012 #83
He's no Molly Ivins. AtomicKitten Jan 2012 #84
He's worse than Molly Ivins. He's right that the Bush-era executive must end - completely jpgray Jan 2012 #87
That anyone could mistake him for a political pundit when his interest is civil liberties EFerrari Jan 2012 #89
He certainly is a political pundit. AtomicKitten Jan 2012 #90
Good ideas and have a Happy New Year, AtomicKitten. freshwest Jan 2012 #92
Same to you. AtomicKitten Jan 2012 #93
What is a "Liberaltarian"? suffragette Jan 2012 #85
You can find a working definition here: MineralMan Jan 2012 #88

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
2. I discovered that.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:46 AM
Jan 2012

For some reason the URL didn't resolve properly. I haven't been able to fix it, so I'll just let people type it into Google. I'm not sure what the problem with it was.

tabatha

(18,795 posts)
6. Try making a tinyurl.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:52 AM
Jan 2012

However, I put in Glenn Greenwald into Google, and came across some interesting stuff.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
10. It's easy enough to type in the link.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:57 AM
Jan 2012

I never use tinyurl, since I won't click on such links myself. I'm still working on figuring out why my pasted link didn't resolve properly.

MH1

(17,541 posts)
29. This link works.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:12 PM
Jan 2012

(although technically it isn't exactly the same thing, it probably gets the same results)

[url]http://www.google.com/search?aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=%22Glenn%22Greenwald%22Cato[/url]

I used <url></url> tags (with square brackets) and replaced the '+' symbol in your link (found in your edit history) with '%22' , like:

<url>http://www.google.com/search?aq=f&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=%22Glenn%22Greenwald%22Cato</url>


It seems the bb code version DU is using doesn't like the + symbol. This seems like a bug to me, because it would be awfully annoying to have to replace the + symbols in google search links all the time.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
48. I suggest that linkiing to Glenn Beck on DU is a red flag shouting 'slow down and
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:35 PM
Jan 2012

think in your zeal to make hay out of some commentator'. My opinion, of course.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
59. Uh, I didn't link to Glenn Beck.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:21 PM
Jan 2012

When I discovered that the link didn't work, I deleted it. I believe one person saw it before it was deleted. I did not design DU's URL resolving algorithm.

Have a nice day! I'm about to go watch the NU Cornhuskers kick South Carolina's collective butt in a bowl game.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
64. Sure, that's the ticket. Where are the other links?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:57 PM
Jan 2012

And why, when others looked up the Cato study, did you refuse to discuss the actual nature of the study? Those who fling poo should stand up and defend that poo. You fling, then run. You make silly comments on game watching and yet, you do not respond to the actual questions that arise from the allegations in your OP. Many DUers asked you to address that. You failed to do so. Thus, the OP is not seeking discussion at all. It seeks destruction and insinuation. Without fact, without links.
Worthy of Tail Gunner Joe. In my opinion, of course.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
7. It was an error in the way DU resolves URLs.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:54 AM
Jan 2012

I deleted the link. You can Google the search I included, and not see Beck. I'm still trying to figure out why the copied URL didn't resolve properly when pasted into DU. Or you can skip the whole thing. It's up to you, really. Believe me, I didn't intend to send people to any links to Beck.

_ed_

(1,734 posts)
5. A better question is:
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:51 AM
Jan 2012

"Is President Obama a progressive?"

Glenn is:
- anti war
- pro civil liberties
- against executive power
- against Iraq / Afghanistan
- Pro drug legalization (by the way, this is the issue he works with the CATO Institute on, see his analysis of Portugal)
- against media corruption

Does that sound like a Progressive? Where does Obama come down on those issues?

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
9. Well, the list you created
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:56 AM
Jan 2012

is also a libertarian list, for the most part.

But, Glenn Greenwald was for the wars before he was against them.

_ed_

(1,734 posts)
14. Greenwald supported the War on Terror?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:59 AM
Jan 2012

You're just making stuff up now. Waiting patiently for a link where Glenn supports the War on Terror.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
18. He supported the Iraq invasion during the Bush administration.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:03 PM
Jan 2012

I did not say the "War on Terror." If I had meant that, I would have written that. I believe he also supported the Afghanistan war at that time. He doesn't mention that these days, though. Embarrassing, I guess.

Response to MineralMan (Reply #18)

Pholus

(4,062 posts)
52. When you read this, skip that post and read the preface itself which is linked.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:39 PM
Jan 2012

I find the context useful at times. Like this one.

tabatha

(18,795 posts)
62. After a post like this, I think the examination of the writings of any individual is valuable
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:45 PM
Jan 2012

especially to those who are unfamiliar with them.

It usually helps to make charges based on fact.

tabatha

(18,795 posts)
17. I thought he was supported Bush on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:02 PM
Jan 2012

"It is little known that Greenwald supported the Iraq War, and the war in Afghanistan before it. He does not mention it in writing anymore and rarely speaks of it. He supported the war for the same reason I did: he believed that Iraq possessed WMD and that the potential consequences of that possession could not be risked."
http://sadredearth.com/christopher-hitchens-glenn-greenwald-and-the-war-of-ideas/

Obama did not support the Iraq war. Obama - plus, Greenwald - minus

Obama is pro civil liberties, against executive power.

Obama is not anti-war, but against wars that are stupid.

Obama is not for media corruption.

As for pro drug legalization - I would think that banning meth is just as important as removing mercury from air and water. Marijuana is a different matter - I would like to see it legalized, so that people could grow it in their homes instead of in national forests, and people who need it could have access to it.

As for the Cato Institute, they get some things right, but an awful lot wrong.

 

quinnox

(20,600 posts)
8. I'm hoping someone can hack into his emails
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:55 AM
Jan 2012

I'm thinking there is some real juicy stuff there maybe to be found, like maybe Greenwald used some really bad words or somethin'.

For the sarcasm impaired, SARCASM

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,293 posts)
11. You know what? I couldn't care less.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:58 AM
Jan 2012

Glenn Greenwald is just another editorialist on the Internet - one of many. Sometimes I agree with him; sometimes I don't. He's as entitled to his opinions as anyone else, and he has every right to criticize Obama. And those who disagree with Greenwald are equally entitled to criticize him.

So I don't really understand all this flak over Greenwald all of a sudden. How is he different from the many other political commentators lurking on the Internet?

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
15. OK. However, Glenn Greenwald's writings are
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:00 PM
Jan 2012

posted here on DU daily, so he is of obvious interest to DUers. Those daily postings, sometimes duplicated several times, have been part of GD for a very long time. Why wouldn't DUers be interested in him? If you're not, it's easy enough not to bother with such threads.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,293 posts)
33. What I'm trying to figure out is *why* DU is so obsessed with him.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:14 PM
Jan 2012

I think that's a fair question. Why is Greenwald, who is, as far as I can tell, just another Internet commentator, such a BFD all of a sudden? I don't get it, and would be interested in some enlightenment on the subject. So far I don't especially care, and of course therefore I could easily ignore the whole discussion, but since Mr. Greenwald has apparently become the latest DU cause celebre (not unlike pit bulls, breast feeding and circumcision), I might be missing something. Maybe I should care; if so, why?

A Simple Game

(9,214 posts)
94. I don't think we should care. It seems to me that this is just
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:04 PM
Jan 2012

the latest smoke screen to divert attention away from President Obama's latest misstep.

Every time President Obama does something that the majority don't like, a scapegoat is soon offered up. It's the old don't look here, look over there trick.

paulk

(11,586 posts)
70. well, you know, last week it was Matt Tiabbi
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 03:31 PM
Jan 2012

this week it's Glen Greenwald, next week it's ...

who knows?

I'm sure they'll come up with somebody to distract with.

After all, it's a big bus...

 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
12. Since libertarians can range from the far right to the far left
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:58 AM
Jan 2012

it could be both... but I am sure you knew this. It's not like it's a secret. The Right Wing of the Libertarian party is far more noiser, that is all. Oh and they are the third largest party in the US, and as far as getting them in one page... you thought getting democrats organized was hard...

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
16. Yes. I'm well aware of libertarian political issues.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:01 PM
Jan 2012

And, yes, they do pollute both parties. That's a long-time interest of mine.

 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
46. "they do pollute both parties"
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:27 PM
Jan 2012

ah that explains a lot.

So sorry to have polluted your party. To make up for it, I've composed a little ditty:

Every party has a polluter
that's why you invited me,
party polluter, that's me!

Fucking hell.

A Simple Game

(9,214 posts)
95. You don't think that some of the libertarian views are worthy of consideration?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:14 PM
Jan 2012

So you support the patriot act, are against single payer, for indefinite detention, etc., the list is very long.

I, along with most people I know have at least a little libertarian streak in me, have for most of my life.

Authoritarians most likely don't.

MH1

(17,541 posts)
39. Libertarianism is ultimately NOT consistent with liberal values. It just isn't.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:20 PM
Jan 2012

Libertarianism is against government regulation of anything at all.

That it happens to oppose government regulations on some things that liberals would like to see less regulated, does NOT make it a liberal viewpoint.

For example, remove all regulations from food production, use of the environment, labor laws, advertising laws; and get back to me in a few years on how that's working out for liberal (or 'progressive' if you prefer) values.

Sure when it comes to what goes on in my personal home, that involves me as an individual and causes no harm to anyone else, you could call me a 'libertarian' - but it would be screamingly inaccurate because that little bit of libertarianism is about 1/10 of what the world is about. So I would say that anyone who thinks they are a 'left' libertarian needs to get out more. They need to think more broadly about the real basis of libertarianism and how that would affect the world.

Or in other words, if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.

Pholus

(4,062 posts)
57. Sometimes shades of grey can be useful, sir.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:50 PM
Jan 2012

So, in the end I STRONGLY agree with the libertarians 10% of the time and STRONGLY disagree 90% of the time.

Too bad you can't attach one word black and white labels to percentages.

However, I notice that when I do mention that 10% the party orthodoxy gets quite displeased...

 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
61. As I said, the RIGHT WING of the Libertarian party is quite noisy
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:28 PM
Jan 2012

but that's not all that encompasses the philosophy (why it will never become one of the two leading parties by the way)

Civil Libertarians, who come straight from CLASSIC liberalism are the left wing of that party.

As I said, you though herding cats... er democrats was hard.

leveymg

(36,418 posts)
20. "Liberaltarian"? If that's a Left-Libertarian, how's that different from anti-statist Progressive?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:04 PM
Jan 2012

Define your terms, particularly if you're going to make them up or borrow them from obscure sources. You don't want to be accused of being simple-minded, so be precise in your use of language.

So, MM, what's so bad about anti-statist Progressives? That's most of DU.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
23. No, that's isn't what I meant.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:08 PM
Jan 2012

Libertarians often pretend to be other than what they are. As for being accused of being simple minded, Greenwald has already covered that ground. I use "liberaltarian" as a pseudo-political title. You may interpret it as you see fit.

Pholus

(4,062 posts)
25. So you are saying that "liberaltarians" are deceitful anti-statist progressives then?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:10 PM
Jan 2012

Your thread *is* kind of getting python-esque here...

leveymg

(36,418 posts)
43. Since you're insinuating that GG is a false-flag Progressive, burden is on you to
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:22 PM
Jan 2012

establish what he "really is." What is he, really, and what's your evidence?

Otherwise, you're just another ghost of Joe McCarthy character assassin with a handful of names.

PA Democrat

(13,225 posts)
22. Do you think Greenwald's writings will have ANY impact on the 2012 election?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:07 PM
Jan 2012

Because I don't and I am at a complete loss as to why people are so obsessed with the guy.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
28. I think Greenwald is about dividing people, so it may, indeed affect
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:12 PM
Jan 2012

the 2012 elections. I say "elections" because I am not really concerned with the Presidential election, specifically. That's not something I can really do anything about, and I don't think Greenwald can, either. I'm concerned with congressional and state legislatures. I believe that Greenwald's divisiveness may indeed affect those by lowering the turnout rate for people disaffected with the Obama Administration, which appears to be a constant target for Greenwald.

Those other elections, which I consider to be far more important than the Presidential election, often turn on a small number of votes. A diminished turnout by Democrats and other progressives, has the potential to be a disaster.

As for why people are interested in Greenwald, his articles are posted daily on DU. Daily. They have been for a very long time. That's why I'm interested in Greenwald.

PA Democrat

(13,225 posts)
55. "Interested"? More like obsessed. Too many threads to count, too much of a pain to hide them all.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:44 PM
Jan 2012

I'm neither a fan nor detractor of Greenwald, but the character assassination going on is excessive, over-the-top and distasteful.

The election will be decided mostly upon people's perceptions of who can best solve the country's economic problems. Bill Clinton said it best :"It's the economy, stupid." And here is a hint: 99.999999999% of Americans, I'd guess, are not relying on Greenwald's opinions to make that decision.

President Obama's poll numbers have improved when he started taking on a more populist approach and taking on Republicans as the enemies of the common good that they are. That's what I have been urging him and other elected Dems to do in my emails and phone calls.



A Simple Game

(9,214 posts)
96. Now that's funny. "his articles are posted daily on DU".
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 11:24 PM
Jan 2012

There's only about 5 people posting about Greenwald. Your one of them!! Personally I think it is a diversion tactic. I could be wrong. What do you think?

 

baldguy

(36,649 posts)
24. The real question is: Do Americans have a right & duty to criticize the President when he's wrong?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:09 PM
Jan 2012

And be able to do so without being unfairly attacked.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
32. Of course they do.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:14 PM
Jan 2012

I've attacked nobody in this thread. We all may criticize whomever we please, as long as they are public figures. Both Obama and Greenwald are in that category.

 

baldguy

(36,649 posts)
47. The only reason Greenwald is being attacked is because he has been critical of Obama.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:34 PM
Jan 2012

And don't act so innocent & naive. Linking Greenwald to the Koch Bros is an attack; it ignores the fact when he writes a column for syndication anyone who pays the syndication fee can publish it. That doesn't mean the writer and the publisher have anything to do with one another.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
34. Thanks for letting me know.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:15 PM
Jan 2012

Had you not, I wouldn't have any idea that you were ignoring my posts. It's always good to know things.

JoePhilly

(27,787 posts)
72. I always get a kick when some one ...
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 03:37 PM
Jan 2012

welcomes me to their ignore list ...

I usually thank them, because I'm probably being added to a list if folks I like.

 

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts)
35. "Drug Decriminalization in Portugal" by Glenn Greenwald
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:16 PM
Jan 2012

That's the name of the paper he wrote with a Cato grant.

Greenwald's "association with the Cato Institute," when put out as a general statement without specifics, is yet another transparent smear.

As far as I know to date, Greenwald received a Cato grant to conduct one study, on "Drug Decriminalization in Portugal." He then participated as the pro-decriminalization voice in a Cato-sponsored debate.

I can't think of a better item for Cato to spend its money on, and for sure I'm not the only one at DU who would have been happy to take that particular grant and write a study on that subject. (I know this is tough for some who insist that all must be black and white, and if Cato says M&Ms come in several colors, they will insist there's only one.)

Study
Drug Decriminalization in Portugal by Glenn Greenwald
http://www.cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/greenwald_whitepaper.pdf

Article
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10080

QUOTE:



On July 1, 2001, a nationwide law in Portugal took effect that decriminalized all drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Under the new legal framework, all drugs were "decriminalized," not "legalized." Thus, drug possession for personal use and drug usage itself are still legally prohibited, but violations of those prohibitions are deemed to be exclusively administrative violations and are removed completely from the criminal realm. Drug trafficking continues to be prosecuted as a criminal offense.

While other states in the European Union have developed various forms of de facto decriminalization — whereby substances perceived to be less serious (such as cannabis) rarely lead to criminal prosecution — Portugal remains the only EU member state with a law explicitly declaring drugs to be "decriminalized." Because more than seven years have now elapsed since enactment of Portugal's decriminalization system, there are ample data enabling its effects to be assessed.

Notably, decriminalization has become increasingly popular in Portugal since 2001. Except for some far-right politicians, very few domestic political factions are agitating for a repeal of the 2001 law. And while there is a widespread perception that bureaucratic changes need to be made to Portugal's decriminalization framework to make it more efficient and effective, there is no real debate about whether drugs should once again be criminalized. More significantly, none of the nightmare scenarios touted by preenactment decriminalization opponents — from rampant increases in drug usage among the young to the transformation of Lisbon into a haven for "drug tourists" — has occurred.

The political consensus in favor of decriminalization is unsurprising in light of the relevant empirical data. Those data indicate that decriminalization has had no adverse effect on drug usage rates in Portugal, which, in numerous categories, are now among the lowest in the EU, particularly when compared with states with stringent criminalization regimes. Although postdecriminalization usage rates have remained roughly the same or even decreased slightly when compared with other EU states, drug-related pathologies — such as sexually transmitted diseases and deaths due to drug usage — have decreased dramatically. Drug policy experts attribute those positive trends to the enhanced ability of the Portuguese government to offer treatment programs to its citizens — enhancements made possible, for numerous reasons, by decriminalization.

SNIP



Reading the above, I must say: My god! The monster! He hates America/Obama!!! It's all he does!!!
 

Tierra_y_Libertad

(50,414 posts)
36. Barack Obama - Centrist or Moderate?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:16 PM
Jan 2012

His association with DLC'rs Joe Lieberman, the Clintons, and Joe Biden, argues that he may be more conservative than moderate.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
41. What of his associations and employment of Donnie McClurkin? Ex-gay hate preacher
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:22 PM
Jan 2012

who performed for the GOP many times prior, and had called for war on gay people? OFA cut checks to that guy, and defended his employment as surrogate to the candidate. Extremely conservative right wing preacher.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
37. Glenn Greenwald" Cato shows that he worked with them on drug policy issues
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:19 PM
Jan 2012

particularly around Portugal's recent history of legalization. Is that supposed to sound wrong? Why?
Why are you posting without links, claiming I'll find trash? What is your issue with that Portugal study? Specifically.
Also, amazed at what you DID link to. That should alert you that you need to slow down.
Greenwald is just some commentator, and there are many of them. Take a deep one and think on that link you put on DU out of excess zeal.

Name calling and insinuations and attempts at personal destruction in place of the reasoned argument of ideas must always face strong rejection. And I do, strongly reject those tactics.

 

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts)
40. I agree with the OP. It's important to attach an exact one-word label to everybody.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:20 PM
Jan 2012

There are so many people! When I try to count all the people, my brain hurts!

And there are so many words, too! Look at all those words and words!

It's so very hard to use more than word per person. I need a word, one word, that tells me right away if I love someone or if I hate him.

Oh, how I hate people who have bad words attached to them! Hate, hate, hate! It's fun. Every day, for two minutes.

So I'm glad someone is pursuing this important question.

But please don't confuse me with big, non-existent words like liberaltarian.

 

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)
45. Your allegation "his association with the Cato institute".
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 12:23 PM
Jan 2012

His association appears to be a) "He conducted research, commissioned by the Cato Institute, on the effect of the abolition of all criminal penalties for personal drug possession in Portugal, which occurred in 2001. "

source:wiki, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Greenwald

b) a book forum sponsored by the Cato Institute:

"Greenwald, Glenn. "Book Forum: A Tragic Legacy: How a Good vs. Evil Mentality Destroyed the Bush Presidency". Cato Institute, August 7, 2007. Panel discussion featuring Greenwald, "with comments by Lee Casey, Partner, Baker Hostetler." (Hyperlinked MP3 podcast and RealVideo formats.)"

sirce: IBID

I find your efforts here to tar Greenwald with some new made up term, liberalitarian, tortuous at best, and mostly just ridiculous. Really? You need to make up a word for somebody who agrees with right libertarians about the idiocy of drug policies? Here are some existing words: left libertarian, progressive, liberal, non-authoritarian leftist, etc.

Tarring Greenwald with the twitter rape joke allegation was much more successful. I have ot consider this OP FAIL.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
58. I didn't even coin the word. It's not original with me.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:02 PM
Jan 2012

It even has definitions in the Urban Dictionary:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Liberaltarian

I don't coin words often. There are already plenty of them I can use.

There's even a whole website:

http://www.liberaltarian.net/

Have fun!

frylock

(34,825 posts)
63. GREENWALD MUST BE DESTROYED!!!1
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:51 PM
Jan 2012

kicking in hopes that OP corrects this Cato Institute nonsense that he's been called out to do throughout this thread.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
65. The OP refuses to address that nonsense. So many DUers calling out that smear
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 02:03 PM
Jan 2012

and the OP simply refuses to specify what his issues with the study are, or to defend his use of this study as an insinuated indictment. Really tawdry, to say the least.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
66. Not at all. Greenwald accepted a grant from Cato.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 02:31 PM
Jan 2012

That represents a tie to that organization, just as I said. The nature of the study is not in question. Anyone can see what the subject of it is. I chose not to discuss the actual study, since I only said that he had links to Cato, which was founded by Koch. I said nothing that was not factual.

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
68. So, accepting a grant from an organization is NOT having
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 03:18 PM
Jan 2012

an association with that organization? I'm confused.

Pholus

(4,062 posts)
69. Interesting -- so is the converse true? Cato is liberal cause it paid GG?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 03:25 PM
Jan 2012

After all, GG has had at least ONE liberal position in there somewhere....

MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
71. I don't think so. The one who pays is the
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 03:31 PM
Jan 2012

one setting the rules, not the one who is paid. That's always been my understanding when I've taken money to do work for someone. Political organizations like Cato tend to fund people who will validate Cato's positions. The same is true for most political organizations, it seems to me.

For example, I had a request to write the content for a website for a conservative candidate for a state office here in Minnesota in 2010, through the web designer I normally work with. I turned down the contract, because I wouldn't be able to write anything positive about that candidate, and that would have been the job. Had I taken the contract, I would have been obligated to cast him in the best possible light. I can't do that, because I have higher principles than that. So, I did without the money I would have earned for that content.

Pholus

(4,062 posts)
73. That makes ethical sense, but didn't Cato also make a big mistake by offering him money then?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 03:46 PM
Jan 2012

The Koch bros. helped establish Cato and Cato paid GG. GG wrote one paper supportive of Cato's position but has otherwise written article after article critical of other things the Koch brothers like and desire. It seems foolish that they would have hired such an ideological loose cannon in the first place.

They certainly have a bevy of hacks lounging over in conservative think tank welfare land. Why could they not hire someone with a purer background to produce the same product? I admit in advance that I am being lazy -- I don't really care to dig into the Google search to figure out what made GG ideal compared to your standard hack like Jonah Goldberg and believe that you must have considered this already...



MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
74. Skilled writers can pretty much write anything to suit the marketplace.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 03:54 PM
Jan 2012

Greenwald is a skilled writer. There's no question about that. If he wrote something to suit Cato, then he probably tailored it to suit them. I used to write for several computer magazines. Each had its own definition of who its readers were. So, I wrote in a style and diction level that suited that definition of their demographics. Today, if I write a website for an HVAC company, it will be written in a completely different style and level of diction than one for a global translation company.

So, I would be surprised if Greenwald turned in work product for Cato that didn't suit them. They pay, they get something they'll like. Writers produce written material that suits those who pay them, or they go broke.

I've turned down many projects over the years when I couldn't ethically do what was wanted by the client. That meant less money in my pocket, but a clear conscience. Not all writers do that, to be frank.

Pholus

(4,062 posts)
75. What if you generally disagreed with the client but ethically you supported this one job?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 04:07 PM
Jan 2012

Would you take the offer? Greenwald has made no secret of his stand on "The War on Drugs"
so it seems like he would have been sympathetic to this one particular Cato project regardless
of his feelings about the rest of their endeavors. I would presume that before approaching him
that Cato made the same conclusions about Greenwald.

In the end I don't think this single association can be used to damn either one of them -- it just happened
that their interests aligned on a single special issue.


MineralMan

(146,195 posts)
80. Personally, I can't answer that, because I don't know
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 04:59 PM
Jan 2012

what the situation might be. Not enough information. I can answer with regard to the Cato Institute. I would not write a word for them, ever.

Pholus

(4,062 posts)
91. Fair enough!
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 07:07 PM
Jan 2012

I know enough about myself to say that I can work with anyone, no matter my personal feelings, if it moves me towards my personal goals. In a way, I can even rationalize it because if I could take conservative money for a mutual goal I it does a small bit to remove that money from the conservative echo chamber.

I used to say if McCain won I'd start a sideline business selling red state memorabilia to the saps and then donate half the profits towards worthy liberal causes. Because in the end if you can't save the suckers from themselves you might as well take their money because in the end someone will and it might as well be you.
 

johnaries

(9,474 posts)
76. I found this entry in Wikipedia VERY interesting.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 04:14 PM
Jan 2012
In a discussion about Civil Liberties in the age of Obama, he elaborated on his conception of change when he said "I think the only means of true political change will come from people working outside of that <two-party electoral> system to undermine it, and subvert it, and weaken it, and destroy it; not try to work within it to change it."

(emphasis added)

There ya go.

Pholus

(4,062 posts)
77. So I guess he doesn't like the two party system then...
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 04:20 PM
Jan 2012

Sometimes I can sympathize, especially when my own personal concerns are marginalized by both parties.

So the choices are: lie down and take it, try to work from within, try to end the two party system

Now number one has been given as advice to me on DU but it's just not my style, number two has generally been ineffective and led to the great DU schism and number three is being mentioned in this presentation as a hypothetical.

How does that quote stand against the entire body of work?

girl gone mad

(20,634 posts)
82. ...
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 05:34 PM
Jan 2012
In a discussion about Civil Liberties in the age of Obama, he elaborated on his conception of change when he said "I think the only means of true political change will come from people working outside of that system to undermine it, and subvert it, and weaken it, and destroy it; not try to work within it to change it."


IOW: Occupy.

EFerrari

(163,986 posts)
86. His speech at FAIR has been running two and three times a week on cable.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 06:06 PM
Jan 2012

Where have you been?

Greenwald has said over and over that this system is too corrupted to be used to change anything. And there are thousands of people on the street in the OWS movement that agree with him.

Puregonzo1188

(1,948 posts)
78. His work with CATO institute concerned studying drug policy in Portugal.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 04:21 PM
Jan 2012

If I remember correctly from the health care debate he was pretty critical of the final bill not including a public option, which would lead me to believe he was a progressive.


Though as Greenwald himself has admitted, his political views have undergone a sort of evolution over the last decade. Having been aware of Greenwald since the Bush years I've noticed this myself in his columns--he's shifted more to the left as time gone on--though I suspect that's true of most rational people.

jpgray

(27,831 posts)
79. Extraordinary rendition - good or bad?
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 04:34 PM
Jan 2012

What does that have to do with whether Greenwald is a Libertarian? Absolutely nothing. And that's exactly the point that has whizzed over so many heads.

 

AtomicKitten

(46,585 posts)
81. I don't care.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 05:20 PM
Jan 2012

That some hold him up on their shoulders as the purveyor of political gospel is beyond rational thought in light of some of his jaw-dropping positions that would otherwise be tough to defend. He's a pundit with an axe to grind, but lacks the class and wit of pundits like the sorely missed Molly Ivins. Use ignore/hide thread if his opinion screeds and fervent acolytes get on your last nerve and have a happy new year.

jpgray

(27,831 posts)
83. Suspension of Habeas Corpus is a jaw-dropping policy that is impossible to defend
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 06:02 PM
Jan 2012

Yet many here will hold those who maintain such powers up on their shoulders, and see them as purveyors of political gospel. I don't see your avatar as representing something beyond rational thought - apparently you would?

I don't like Greenwald, but when he sees Bush-era executive powers as wrong and evil he is exactly right. Whatever Greenwald does or has done - whether he works for Cato, steals the shirt off an orphan, kicks puppies - is immaterial in deciding whether extraordinary rendition is abominable.

jpgray

(27,831 posts)
87. He's worse than Molly Ivins. He's right that the Bush-era executive must end - completely
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 06:09 PM
Jan 2012

One has nothing to do with the other.

EFerrari

(163,986 posts)
89. That anyone could mistake him for a political pundit when his interest is civil liberties
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 06:09 PM
Jan 2012

is itself jaw dropping myopia or the kind of narcissism that only sees itself in any landscape.

 

AtomicKitten

(46,585 posts)
90. He certainly is a political pundit.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 06:15 PM
Jan 2012

The fact that he is also a columnist, blogger, and attorney doesn't render that statement false.

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