July 6, 2013

I think Snowden has a way out now

I have already stated what I think of the guy and I hope he ends up in the US to answer for his crimes. But realistically, I think he has a way out now (other than accepting Ana Chapman's marriage proposal, which is what he ought to do.)

Anyway,Nicaragua and Venezuela have offered asylum. But like most countries they require the applicant to ask for it on their sovereign soil. This, however, includes embassies. Putin has already said a diplomatic car from the airport to an embassy would still allow him to continue to say he didn't let Snowden enter Russia. If the Nicaraguans send a car for him, take him to their embassy, grant him asylum and then issue him a passport, then fly him directly to Managua (which I think is logistically possible), he's made it.

July 5, 2013

Greenwald vs Assange vs Snowden's Dad (priceless)

Wikileaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson rejected suggestions made by Guardian reporter Glenn Greenwald that the statement Wikileaks distributed on behalf of Edward Snowden Monday was not genuine. "I can confirm that, as far as I know, this is from Mr. Snowden," Hrafnsson told TPM.

Hrafnsson said he is not in direct contact with Snowden, but his "colleagues" at Wikileaks are. On MSNBC Tuesday, Greenwald, who wrote the first story based on documents leaked by Snowden, said the statement from Wikileaks was "flavored with some person who isn’t Edward Snowden."

Bruce Fein, an attorney for Snowden's father, has said he received a call from Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on the weekend saying Snowden wanted his father to stop speaking publicly about his situation. Hrafnsson declined to discuss that call. "I don't want to comment on that, it's a private conversation," Hrafnsson said.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/wikileaks-spokesman-insists-snowden-statement-is-genuine?ref=fpblg

July 2, 2013

Greenwald vs. Snowden

Greenwald: NOTE: Snowden’s leak is basically done. It’s newspapers – not Snowden – deciding what gets disclosed and in what sequence.”




Snowden: I remain free and able to publish information that serves the public interest.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/01/us-usa-security-snowden-text-idUSBRE9601AP20130701


Greenwald: He gave us all the documents he provided to us weeks ago. That process is done. And we – not he – are the one deciding which of those gets published and which don’t, and in what order.



Snowden has been used by a lot of people; Greenwald, Assange, the Chinese, the Russians and who knows who else. I'm not saying, and I do not believe, it is some giant conspiracy between all of them. But they have taken advantage of this guy's gullibility, ego, emotional instability or who knows what. And one by one they are setting him adrift, now that they are done with him.
Edited to say I do not believe he is the victim in all this, just that he has allowed himself to be a pawn.

July 2, 2013

Snowden and the Chinese

Edward Snowden shared classified US intelligence secrets with the Chinese. Regardless of your thoughts on the rightness of his actions in leaking the NSA, FISA court warrant, should he be prosecuted for giving that info to the Chinese?

July 2, 2013

Web of Lies

In his opening statement, prosecutor John Guy said that the most damning evidence against Zimmerman would be the web of lies that came from his own mouth. Today we got to hear some of it.

George Zimmerman trial: jury hears his own words

He originally told police he was not following Trayvon, that he got out of his truck because he was trying to find a street sign to pass along better location information. But in an interview three days later, Zimmerman said something different and was challenged: "I wasn't following. I was just going in the same direction." "That's following, man," said the case's lead detective, then-Investigator Chris Serino of the Sanford Police Department.

...

Zimmerman also told police that after he shot Trayvon, the two changed positions, that Zimmerman climbed on top of him, spread his arms and pinned them to the ground. But the first person on the scene, neighbor Jonathan Manalo, and the first officer on the scene, Tim Smith, both testified that Trayvon's hands were beneath his body.

...

Zimmerman also described a very short exchange of words with Trayvon before the fight started, something that does not match the accounts of several neighbors, who testified that they heard a confrontation that stretched over several minutes.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/trayvon-martin/os-george-zimmerman-trial-day-16-20130701,0,7223584.story?page=2

And let's not forget that Zimmerman first said it didn't sound like him on the tape screaming. But then later said it was, even though supposedly Martin was covering his mouth (and somehow also slamming his head in the ground.) He also changed his stories about what Martin said to him - all of it sounding like it came out of a bad Hollywood screenplay as the sentinel story points out. The detective also said he didn't believe Zimmerman was knocked to the ground with one punch because his injuries just weren't severe enough.

July 1, 2013

right now begins the evidence that lays the groundwork for a conviction at least of neg. hom

he told the police officer on the stand right now, during their interview that Martin took off running, he got out of his truck, then Martin circled back around and attacked him.

Problem is, the tape with the non-emergency operator has him getting out of his car and admitting he is following.

It was during another interview with other cops, which we will hear later, when he realizes he has stepped on his dick and says "i wasn't following, I was just walking in the same direction."

July 1, 2013

"individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is"

If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals–if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.
Ronald Reagan

http://reason.com/archives/1975/07/01/inside-ronald-reagan

So if you think libertarians are all about freedom and you are falling for the Ron/Rand Paul BS. Well the Gipper dug them too. Because they agreed that freedom meant sticking it to those "welfare queens" and those "strapping young bucks" on foodstamps

http://reaganandracism.blogspot.com/

July 1, 2013

The NSA, Snowden, Obama etc. The bottom line IMO

Regardless of whether what you think about Snowden (I think he is a traitor for giving info to the Chinese). Regardless of what you think about Obama (I am very glad that he is my president.) Here is what this come down to in my mind..

It is time to repeal the Patriot Act. That, to borrow a line from Scalia, is the diseased root from which all this grows.

June 29, 2013

Any DU Black Sabbath fans?

What do you think of the new album? I think it is cool but don't like the Rick Rueben production. They should have stripped that fucker down like it was 1968 and made a real Black Sabbath album. But it has some decent songs. I'd like to go see them, though they seem, after 100 years, to still be fighting over money - Bill Ward the drummer has dropped out. What a shame.

June 29, 2013

Anybody else going to the Houston Pride parade tomorrow?

given recent current events, should be particularly gay - in the antiquated sense of the word.