Ray McGovern and the Sam Adams party have presented the Sam Adams award to Edward Snowden. I am delighted. This from Ray’s account of the event:
In brief remarks from his visitors, Snowden was reassured — first and foremost — that he need no longer be worried that nothing significant would happen as a result of his decision to risk his future by revealing documentary proof that the U.S. government was playing fast and loose with the Constitutional rights of Americans.
Even amid the government shutdown, Establishment Washington and the normally docile “mainstream media” have not been able to deflect attention from the intrusive eavesdropping that makes a mockery of the Fourth Amendment. Even Congress is showing signs of awaking from its torpor.
In the somnolent Senate, a few hardy souls have gone so far as to express displeasure at having been lied to by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and NSA Director Keith Alexander — Clapper having formally apologized for telling the Senate Intelligence Committee eavesdropping-related things that were, in his words, “clearly erroneous” and Alexander having told now-discredited whoppers about the effectiveness of NSA’s intrusive and unconstitutional methods in combating terrorism.
Coleen Rowley, the first winner of the Sam Adams Award (2002), cited some little-known history to remind Snowden that he is in good company as a whistleblower — and not only because of previous Sam Adams honorees. She noted that in 1773, Benjamin Franklin leaked confidential information by releasing letters written by then-Lt. Governor of Massachusetts Thomas Hutchinson to Thomas Whatley, an assistant to the British Prime Minister.
The letters suggested that it was impossible for the colonists to enjoy the same rights as subjects living in England and that “an abridgement of what are called English liberties” might be necessary. The content of the letters was so damaging to the British government that Benjamin Franklin was dismissed as colonial Postmaster General and had to endure an hour-long censure from British Solicitor General Alexander Wedderburn.
There has been a determined attempt by government to justify the need to intercept everybody’s communications, all the time. We have, yet again, had MI5 claim there are many thousand violent Islamic terrorists running around the UK, (yet somehow not managing to kill anybody). The cry of “paedophiles” is raised, as always. I can imagine them suggesting the entire population be shot dead, and justifying it as making sure they get the paedophiles. The tabloids would go with that.
There still had not been a single credible claim by the mainstream media that any named individual has died, despite that contingency being trotted out all the time as the reason Snowden and Manning should not have revealed state crimes and abuse of power. I am hopeful that, with the internet still largely free to the dissemination of information, out next massive whistleblower is only weeks away.
‘Is this the last word on the UK storm?’
If you mean literally, then not if you switch on BBC or Sky News. It was still the BBC lead story at 1pm and Sky are still at it, speaking of ‘the latest developments after the big storm’.
Ms Burley is currently asking a rep from the train operator if they over reacted on the cancellations. Absence of irony.
“The right-wing generally recruits their fake bloggers and paid commenters from outside of the US.
If you thought the tea party social media trolls just had bad English and grammar skills back when they first came on the scene, you were wrong. In order to avoid being caught, the right wing generally recruits their fake bloggers and paid commenters from outside of the US. In 2011, a help wanted posting appeared on Craigslist in Toronto. In an effort to elevate the reading and speaking skills of its online propaganda machine, the right-wing made the mistake of trying to recruit new shills just a little too close to home. That help wanted posting got the attention of several independent journalists, both in Canada and the U.S.
In ‘Murdoch’s World,’ Folkenflik confirms what many social media users have known for a long time. Many right-wing commenters are using fake profiles and they are getting paid for spewing their filth around the web. Folkenflik reveals that these paid commenters use a wide range of deceptive tactics to hide their true identities. Using wireless broadband connections so that the comments cannot be traced back to their source, is just one of the many tactics employed.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/10/27/paid-commenters-flood-internet/
crane collapsed onto the roof of the Cabinet Office.
It is as yet unknown if the storm had to take off its shoes for the X-ray inspection and whether it was frisked/searched prior to attacking the cabinet office.
An anonymous source added that soon there will be a new regiment for frisking and searching the future storms and meanwhile there will be no more cranes allowed into the area.
“If you mean literally, then …”
Mary, I didn’t think I’d have to add a wink every time I posted tongue in cheek. But it appears that I do.
“The real culprit for the rise of religious extremism and terrorism in the Islamic world is Saudi Arabia. The Aal-e-Saud (descendants of Saud) have no hereditary claim to the Throne of Mecca since they are not the descendants of the prophet, nor even from the Quresh. They were the most primitive marauding nomadic tribesmen of Najd who defeated the Sharifs of Mecca violently after the collapse of the Ottomans in World War I. Their title to the throne of Saudi Arabia is de facto, not de jure, since neither do they have a hereditary claim nor do they hold elections to ascertain the will of the Saudi people. Thus they are the illegitimate rulers of Saudi Arabia and they feel insecure because of that; which explains their heavy-handed tactics is dealing with any kind of dissent, opposition or movement for reform.”
http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MID-02-231013.html
http://tompride.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/media-storm-brewing-over-old-bailey-expected-to-bring-mass-blackouts-of-memory/
Dre; The Mafia used to have a religious aspect to their secrecy, and no one ever ‘ratted’. That changed over the last few decades, and RICO has brought some informants resulting in convictions.
The moral midgets in our government can only resort to ‘I don’t remember; I cannot recall’ when there is no one to dispute. Where are the talking rats?
Dropping a ‘demo’ nuke in the desert? Fabulous idea…
http://swampland.time.com/2013/10/23/sheldon-adelson-nuke-iran/
You heard it here first – Coulson was actually listening in on the calls of ALL of Labours big boys (via hacked inboxes), including GB and relaying their election strategy to Cameron. Its wot won it. He was given the plum appointment for “services” rendered. BTW – the ONLY way GB could oust the Miranda was the threaten to leak his recruitment by the CIA, right from Cambridge where they paid for his banger too.
The poppies are back.
If it isn’t moving it gets a poppy stuck on it, so all news presenters, all chat panels, all sports presenters, in fact all talking heads on the mainstream media invariably have a poppy pinned on them. And all the cameramen have to make sure that poppy is on display. It is so false. I am not against remembering the fallen of wars but the overkill shows just how biased MSM is, and the wise ones who contribute to this blog will know that this is just another way, albeit subtle, of perpetuating the current wars with the Horace ‘lie’, as Wilfred Owen called it: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori (rough translation “It’s an honour to die for your country”).
To demonstrate how false MSM policy is over this annual prop parade this morning an outside presenter was reporting from Paddington Station I think it was about how the storms had disrupted the trains but I was concentrating more on what a complete twat he looked being the only one there wearing a poppy. I shall be wearing a red poppy and a white one on Remembrance Sunday. My respect will be genuine, not theatrical.
“Former British Foreign secretary: Jewish money prevents peace”
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4445810,00.html
“Former British Foreign secretary Jack Straw: Monday follows Sunday”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/jackstrawisaselfconfessednazi.html
“Former British Foreign secretary: Tony and me are war criminals of the highest order”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/hangingistoogoodforus.html
No Union Jack pin on the lapel, John? The Stars and Stripes are a mandatory part of a politicians uniform.
Don’t leave home without it.
Miss Ann Thrope, I hope you do not find us all hateful, but good name.
Your second two links (BBC) bring up 404 messages, but I know Jack Straw has many faces, glad he’s retiring, sorry he’s not being tried in the Hague for war crimes and signing extradition papers to torture-regimes.
Those politician and MSM perceptiopn controllers ramming WW2 down our throats at every turn make a mockery of the victims of war. What should never forget that since WW1 more unarmed civilians than soldiers have been killed in war.
There is no eternal glory for them, no tomb, no monument aside from the efdifice of lies and hypocricy that passes for democracy, the thing they claim the mass sacrfices are for. What fools people are to be led by such a pool of putrid scum.
Those second two links must have been taken down by TPTB – that’s freedom of the press for you, the bastards.
John. Agree. You have missed the Poppy Girls. More concealed war propaganda like the Military Wives Choir.
Note that the song The Call (‘No need to say goodbye’) comes from America and has a previous commercial provenance.
Five service schoolgirls form Poppy Girls appeal
The daughters of five men serving in the Armed Forces form a new group, The Poppy Girls, to record this year’s fundraising single for the Royal British Legion’s poppy appeal
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10397241/Five-service-schoolgirls-form-Poppy-Girls-appeal.html
The local Tesco has a stall at the entrance with all sorts of poppy merchandise on sale and manned by volunteers. Pass by without contributing at your peril.
If you live in Birmingham you can get white poppies from Friends of the Earth at Allison Street, Digbeth.
Miss Ann Thrope and Mary. Excellent and valid comments.
Ben too.
“The real culprit for the rise of religious extremism and terrorism in the Islamic world is Saudi Arabia.”
Not Saudi Ben, SW1.
Miss Anne Thrope.
The man of Straw is attempting a rehabilitation before he bows out. He is quoted here knowing that many people will agree with what he said about Israel in the HoC last week.
I’m not remotely anti-Semitic, says ex-British FM Straw
Veteran politician doesn’t deny account of his comments in debate last week, but tells Times of Israel he voiced legitimate concerns
http://www.timesofisrael.com/im-not-remotely-anti-semitic-says-ex-british-fm-straw/
PS Nice try with links 2 and 3. As if!
PPS Your name puts me in mind of Private Eye’s column of contributors’ suggestions for names with a double meaning.
http://www.private-eye.co.uk/
Mary28 Oct, 2013 – 5:13 pm : John. Agree. You have missed the Poppy Girls. More concealed war propaganda like the Military Wives Choir.Note that the song The Call (‘No need to say goodbye’) comes from America and has a previous commercial provenance.Five service schoolgirls form Poppy Girls appealThe daughters of five men serving in the Armed Forces form a new group, The Poppy Girls, to record this year’s fundraising single for the Royal British Legion’s poppy appealhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10397241/Five-service-schoolgirls-form-Poppy-Girls-appeal.htmlThe local Tesco has a stall at the entrance with all sorts of poppy merchandise on sale and manned by volunteers. Pass by without contributing at your peril.
Mary, you stupid woman, you do not, ever, ever attempt to ridicule our Armed Forces and their families like that. Whatever your opinion of the idiocy of WW1, or Iraq, those were not choices made by the soldiers who gave up their lives. I have never met a serving British officer who is not indignant about the folly of going to war in Iraq. You sit there, all day, with nothing to do and fuck all to contribute, and dare to insult our Armed Forces in the most revolting fashion, those who are ultimately assigned to protect you with their lives, from the comfort of your armchair. You really are a worthless person.
Ex-British FM
There are Israelis to a man/woman.
They not there.
I expect even writing;
““I am not remotely anti-Semitic. Quite the reverse. I have all my life strongly supported the state of Israel, and its right to live in peace and security,”,
will not save Jack Straw from the critical scorn of Res Des, our Witch Finding Anti-Semitic Inquisitor General ! Perhaps he may be more forgiving, when he recalls all the Islamophobic comments that Straw has infamously also made.
Anon
Soldiers were given brains and consciences whether to submit to orders or not. Just because we respect their courage does not mean you have respect their conscience and intelligence, unless they signed it away to someone who was worthy of being obeyed.
Day in day out you trolls deny the false-flag murder committed by the same people who manage the armed forces. What is patriotism? You think it’s ok to murder foreigners or whistle-blowers if some troughing Zionist in parliament says so?
[craigmurray.org.uk – sock-puppeted by Guano, who admits it here:
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2013/10/edward-snowden-gets-sam-adams-award/comment-page-14/#comment-436054%5D
Guano
Just be careful of people wearing poppies in the next few days.
They might be loaded with acid to give you scabby rag-heads a taste of your own…
Anon
Calm down dear, all the poppies will be organically grown in Afghanistan, and donations distributed to the distant relatives of families killed by drones.
*** BREAKING NEWS*****
Sky News reporting that the crane which fell onto the Cabinet Office cannot yet be confirmed as a terrorist crane.
Security insiders have confirmed to Sky News that although the crane has no known connections to terrorists it is still too early to rule this out.
The crane is now being held under emergency powers for up to 99 days prior to the UK Govt rewriting extradition treaties at the US’s behest,in anticipation of transfer to Guantanamo Bay.
David Cameron,when asked for comment,tersely replied “that ginger bitch is behind all of this”
Anon; “those who are ultimately assigned to protect you with their lives,”
Get off your faux self-righteous horse; It’s just a job, and they do it for the money just like every wage slave, but only worse as it’s a very immoral job, mostly attracting questionable types and the desperately poor; Bill Hicks echos my own view;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np6_b-72H3E