Create an Account
username: password:
 
  MemeStreams Logo

What questions are you asking yourself?

search

Jeremy
My Blog
My Profile
My Audience
My Sources
Send Me a Message

sponsored links

Jeremy's topics
Arts
  Literature
   Classical
   Fiction
   Horror
   Non-Fiction
   Sci-Fi/Fantasy Literature
  Movies
   Movie Genres
    Action/Adventure
    Cult Films
    Documentary
    Drama
    Horror
    Independent Films
    Film Noir
    Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films
    War
  Music
   Music Styles
    Classical
    Electronic Music
    Rap & Hip Hop
    IDM
    Jazz
    World Music
  TV
   TV Documentary
   TV Drama
   SciFi TV
Business
  Finance & Accounting
  Industries
   Tech Industry
   Telecom Industry
  Management
  Markets & Investing
Games
  Video Games
   PC Video Games
   Console Video Games
Health and Wellness
  Medicine
Home and Garden
  Cooking
  Entertaining
Miscellaneous
  Humor
  MemeStreams
   Using MemeStreams
Current Events
  War on Terrorism
  Elections
  Israeli/Palestinian
Recreation
  Cars and Trucks
  Travel
Local Information
  United States
   California
    SF Bay Area
   Events in Washington D.C.
   News for Washington D.C.
   Georgia
    Atlanta
     Atlanta Events
Science
  Biology
  History
  Math
  Medicine
  Nano Tech
  Physics
Society
  Economics
  Education
  Futurism
  International Relations
  History
  (Politics and Law)
   Civil Liberties
    Internet Civil Liberties
    Surveillance
   Intellectual Property
  Media
   Blogging
  Military
  Philosophy
Technology
  Biotechnology
  Computers
   Computer Security
    Cryptography
   PC Hardware
   Human Computer Interaction
   Computer Networking
   Macintosh
   Software Development
    Open Source Development
  Military Technology
  High Tech Developments

support us

Get MemeStreams Stuff!


 
Current Topic: Politics and Law

Yaser Esam Hamdi v. Donald H. Rumsfeld
Topic: Politics and Law 11:46 pm EDT, Jun 30, 2004

At this difficult time in our Nation's history, we are called upon to consider the legality of the Government's detention of a United States citizen on United States soil as an "enemy combatant" and to address the process that is constitutionally owed to one who seeks to challenge his classification as such.

We hold that although Congress authorized the detention of combatants in the narrow circumstances alleged here, due process demands that a citizen held in the United States as an enemy combatant be given a meaningful opportunity to contest the factual basis for that detention before a neutral decisionmaker.

Yaser Esam Hamdi v. Donald H. Rumsfeld


Defense Dept. Torture Memo
Topic: Politics and Law 9:44 am EDT, Jun  9, 2004

A legal memo prepared for the Department of Defense details the rules -- and potential justifications -- surrounding the use of torture.

"The following discussion addresses the requirements of international law, as it pertains to the Armed Forces of the United States, as interpreted by the United States. As will be apparent in other sections of this analysis, other nations and international bodies may take a more restrictive view, which may affect our policy analysis and thus is considered elsewhere."

Defense Dept. Torture Memo


Fewer Republicans Trust the News
Topic: Politics and Law 1:28 am EDT, Jun  9, 2004

This is a good study, and sharply revealing about the extent to which most people seek positive reinforcement and fail to question their views.

CNN and Fox are to news as MTV and VH1 are to music, on several levels.

In a country increasingly divided into red and blue states, the media are taking on a more partisan coloration as well -- at least in the eyes of those who read and watch.

Republicans have come to distrust the media in greater numbers since President Bush took office. Democratic views are mostly unchanged.

26 percent of Repulicans say CNN is credible. 45 percent of Democrats say CNN is credible.

CNN was quick to declare victory. "We're obviously pleased -- once again we've been voted the most trusted news organization in America."

CNN and Fox News should be deeply ashamed -- not pleased -- by these results. Instead they simply spin the numbers to reinforce their own self image, which is really a microcosm of the way most of the audience interacts with the media.

On eBay, when considering whether to bid on an item, you may be inclined to review the past performance of the seller, as measured by those who've conducted prior business.

If you found that 74% of previous buyers found the seller's claims about the product to be not credible, would you place a bid?

The Average American selling bric-a-brac on eBay is more credible than "America's most trusted news source." Hrm.

I know! -- how about an eBay for news? Like, a small-town swap meet instead of a Simon mall. Wait a minute ...

The survey also uncovers what might be called the Iraq effect, with 52 percent saying they track international news closely, not just when important developments occur, compared with 37 percent two years ago.

Tom, you're feeling the Iraq effect.

Trust Matters. MemeStreams Builds Trust. MemeStreams Matters.

Fewer Republicans Trust the News


A Speech That's No Joke
Topic: Politics and Law 9:03 am EDT, May 28, 2004

It has always been easy to make fun of Al Gore. But if there's any truth to the thunderous criticism he's turned loose on the Bush administration this week, it's time to dispense with the jokes and listen seriously to what the man is saying.

The speech was extraordinary -- blunt, colorful and delivered with the kind of passion you seldom see in politics anymore.

Those who disagree with Mr. Gore should challenge him on his facts. Those who agree must look for ways to defend the honor and perhaps the very identity of the United States as we've known it.

Bob Herbert says "Gold Star!"

A Speech That's No Joke


US Diplomat's Letter of Resignation
Topic: Politics and Law 1:49 am EDT, May 28, 2004

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing you to submit my resignation from the Foreign Service of the United States and from my position as Political Counselor in US Embassy Athens, effective March 7. I do so with a heavy heart.

I was paid to understand foreign languages and cultures, to seek out diplomats, politicians, scholars and journalists, and to persuade them that US interests and theirs fundamentally coincided. My faith in my country and its values was the most powerful weapon in my diplomatic arsenal.

It is inevitable that during twenty years with the State Department I would become more sophisticated and cynical about the narrow and selfish bureaucratic motives that sometimes shaped our policies. Human nature is what it is, and I was rewarded and promoted for understanding human nature. But until this Administration it had been possible to believe that by upholding the policies of my president I was also upholding the interests of the American people and the world. I believe it no longer.

Mr. Secretary, I have enormous respect for your character and ability. But your loyalty to the President goes too far.

This is the text of John Brady Kiesling's letter of resignation to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. Mr. Kiesling is a career diplomat who has served in United States embassies from Tel Aviv to Casablanca to Yerevan.

US Diplomat's Letter of Resignation


The Resignation Principle
Topic: Politics and Law 1:46 am EDT, May 28, 2004

(An open letter to Christine Todd Whitman)

Dear Director,

You are in a fair way to being remembered as the Robert S. McNamara of the environment. Live with your obituary in mind, Peter Drucker counsels.

The resignation on principle is electrifyingly rare. Cyrus Vance, over Carter's ill-advised rescue mission in Iran; William Jennings Bryan, over Wilson's tough line toward Germany: that about does it for the twentieth century. It will make you a national figure, part of a trend of women whistle-blowers.

The Resignation Principle


Gore Speech
Topic: Politics and Law 12:29 am EDT, May 28, 2004

Tom gave this speech a gold star. Although I do not give this speech my own gold star, I am glad that Tom chose to do so, and I'm also glad I made the suggestion about gold stars.

This speech is a mixed bag. It is significant and newsworthy, so it is worth reading for that reason on its own. Gore also makes several good points that are worthy of further discussion and consideration.

However, he alternates frequently (and frustratingly) between roles. At one moment, he plays the honest American citizen who is deeply concerned about the (mis)behavior of his government. At the next, he is jockeying for political position, blatantly playing for cheers and ovations from a partisan NYU audience. A speech half as long would have been twice as good if he had been willing to put politics aside and speak thoughtfully, honestly, candidly, and critically to the American public. If he then found himself with time left over, because the talk was of a predetermined duration, it would have been a pleasant surprise to hear him offer some concrete, constructive ideas. The closest he gets is to hearken back to the fundamental (but abstract) principles of American democracy, talking about "the founders" and quoting Jefferson.

Without directly saying it, he gives the impression that he would repeal the Patriot Act if he were in power. Yet it was the Clinton-Gore FBI director who recently made the case for ever more expanded authority in this regard, including the reinstitution of bans on the export and use of strong cryptography.

In the absence of this speech, I would not have thought to criticize Al Gore because he did not have the Answer to our Problems. It is never easy to develop a solution to a complex problem, and it is even harder to make that solution succeed in practice. But it is disappointing to see him make this speech, which (notwithstanding its truth) is so uniformly and unflinchingly negative and critical of the Bush administration, without offering anything resembling a coherent alternative beyond a laundry list of "Don'ts." Sadly, this only serves to diminish the sincerity and impact of the valid, important questions he has asked. His prescription can be summarized in a single word: Change. Thanks, but I kind of already knew that.

I was both surprised, and on some level, impressed, I think, by his call for Tenet's resignation. It gave me pause to reconsider the basic problem with the common interpretation of a resignation in the modern world. I have been quite conflicted of late regarding the notion of a Rumsfeld resignation, and it was refreshing to see a public figure call for the resignation of a friend while still retaining respect for that person.

Anthony Zinni was on Charlie Rose earlier this week, and the hour-long interview should be up on the web within the next few days. It is well worth the time, and I highly recommend it. I would consider giving the interview a gold star if not for ... [ Read More (0.2k in body) ]

Gore Speech


Abolish the Ghettopoly Mentality!
Topic: Politics and Law 11:40 am EDT, May 23, 2004

To: NAACP, The Urban League, The Nation of Islam, Our Black Leadership Worldwide

David Chang, a Taiwanese immigrant, has created a racially offensive board game called "Ghettopoly," loosely based on Milton Bradley's "Monolopy." The game pieces are a whore, a 40 oz. bottle of malt liquor, a pimp, a piece of crack cocaine, a marijuana leaf, a basketball, and an Uzi machine gun.

Sign this petition, which will be forwarded to the NAACP, The Urban League, The Nation of Islam, and any other organization that can mobilize to stand up and say "NO MORE!" Send the link to as many people as you can. The goal is to collect 500 signatures in one month. Let's speak in one voice and say -- ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Abolish the Ghettopoly Mentality!


Liberals Are Down but Not Out
Topic: Politics and Law 11:31 am EDT, May 23, 2004

Given that brains and brawn on both sides are about even, what explains liberals' inability to compete?

Conservatives would say it is the cogency of their ideas, and perhaps this is so, but perhaps it is something else. Many liberals regard their ideas as being received wisdom from on high, as being so obviously true they do not require explication. This type of complacency cedes the field to the conservatives. It is, simply speaking, stultifying smugness.

"Conservative institutions have been more dogged and focused in their approach than liberal ones." This is certainly so; greed and selfishness are great motivators.

The mistake of small and large "d" democrats was to think that society had gotten past them, and to stop fighting vigorously for such equally durable counter-ideas as fairness, justice, equality and reason.

Liberals don't suffer from a lack of ideas of how to change our nation for the better. But we have been losing ground because so many of us have chosen an approach that leaves us thinking "I need to convince my representative how important (name of political issue) is" instead of choosing to run for office ourselves.

You might call it The Petition Mentality.

Liberals Are Down but Not Out


Sticking Up for Rumsfeld
Topic: Politics and Law 12:24 pm EDT, May 22, 2004

According to Bob Woodward's new book, Mr. Rumsfeld spent meetings asking questions rather than taking positions.

What would firing Mr. Rumsfeld achieve?

The person who charted the course into Iraq and who bears ultimate responsibility is not Mr. Rumsfeld but Mr. Bush -- and his bosses will get a chance to fire him in November.

Sticking Up for Rumsfeld


(Last) Newer << 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 >> Older (First)
 
 
Powered By Industrial Memetics
RSS2.0