Obama grows the drug war, with enforcement a clear priority

According to 2011 funding "highlights" released by the ONDCP (PDF link), the Obama administration is growing the drug war and tilting its funds heavily toward law enforcement over treatment.

The president's National Drug Control Budget also continues the Bush administration's public relations tactic of obscuring the costs of prosecuting and imprisoning drug offenders. "Enron style accounting," is how drug policy reform advocate Kevin Zeese described it, writing for Alternet in 2002.

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Most U.S. Union Members Are Working for the Government, New Data Shows

For the first time in American history, a majority of union members are government workers rather than private-sector employees, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Friday.

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More on Cass Sunstein

Thanks to the author of the Bleeding Heart Show, I have got my hands on a copy of Sunstein’s white paper entitled Conspiracy Theories (2008). I’d like to draw your attention to some interesting features.

According to the introduction of the paper, polls suggest that roughly one-third of Americans subscribe to a ‘conspiracy theory’ about the September 11th attacks in NYC, whether it be that the government knew about it in advance, conspired in it themselves, or covered up Israeli involvement. In most illuminating fashion, the paper then states:

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President Obama Signs Executive Order Establishing Council of Governors

The President today signed an Executive Order (attached) establishing a Council of Governors to strengthen further the partnership between the Federal Government and State Governments to protect our Nation against all types of hazards. When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.

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Comment: More EOs centralizing power in the executive branch. This is a clear demonstration of Obama carrying the torch on Bush's prior work to the same goal.

How nation's true jobless rate is closer to 22%

Fact 1: The next employment report will be worse.

When the Labor Department puts out the January employment figures on Feb. 4, they will include an assumption that a lot of companies went out of business.

This is something called the birth/death model that is used by the department. Last year it caused 356,000 jobs to be subtracted from the January job count.

So, the next employment figure should be shockingly bad.

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The Raw Story | US to store more weapons, ammunition in Israel: official

The US military plans to expand its stockpiles of weapons in Israel under a recent agreement with Jerusalem, a Pentagon spokesman said Monday. The deal will double the value of military equipment kept on Israeli soil from 400 million to 800 million dollars, Major Shawn Turner told AFP.

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Obama staffer wants ‘cognitive infiltration’ of 9/11 conspiracy groups | Raw Story

In a 2008 academic paper, President Barack Obama's appointee to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs advocated "cognitive infiltration" of groups that advocate "conspiracy theories" like the ones surrounding 9/11.

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Arizona treasurer says checks will bounce amid budget crisis - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News | ABC15.com

Martin said unless the capitol buildings are sold before the end of the month, there will be no more money meaning, "If they continue to issue checks without having money from the sale of the buildings, I have to bounce them."

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Twisted: Administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association

A Marxist atheist trained in materialism, Harry Hay tried to find spirituality in his own confused sexual identity, eventually developing the idea that he was a “Radical Faerie” who had male and female traits. A communist, he was also a supporter of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA).

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Shock study: 12% of kids sexually abused in govt. custody | Raw Story

Some 12 percent of minors held in government custody are sexually abused, and in some facilities the rate reaches a stunning one in three children, says a report released Thursday by the Bureau of Justice Statistics...


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