Torture innocents or suffer the consequences. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) expounded yesterday on the process of 'extraordinary rendition' where suspects are flown to foreign countries outside of US law, so they can be tortured for information. He's got no problem with it, even if innocents are involved. [more inside]
posted by bitmage on Apr 25, 2007 - 89 comments

Youtube banned in Thailand.
posted by gman on Apr 4, 2007 - 57 comments

Bush has got a brand new bag - In an executive order signed today Bush created a new oversight position at all regulatory agencies. This position, which will be staffed by someone appointed by the White House, will over see regulatory suggestions and reports to congress.
posted by sourbrew on Jan 29, 2007 - 63 comments

NewsFilter: 1 in every 136 US residents in jail or prison.
posted by sourbrew on May 21, 2006 - 73 comments

We all know the Nazis picked, and ruined, a perfectly good basic geometric symbol. But what about other symbols of fascism? Not as well known, not as demonized, but interting for students of symbolism.

Oldest, and among the most interesting and enduringly popular, is the fasces, a bundle of sticks wrapped around an axe, from which fascism gets its name. It's pretty rare to see swastikas in public nowadays -- they're so associated with the Nazis that they were universally stripped off American sports jerseys, soda pop promoting watch fobs, and first ladies. And yet, in the United States, fasces can still be found everywhere: medals of honor, the doors to the Nebraska Supreme Court, even behind the president as he speaks at the U.S. House of Representatives.
posted by Astro Zombie on Feb 16, 2006 - 45 comments

Digital Brown Shirts Begging the question, WTF? Hot on the heels of this micro-fuhrer furor over the "Gore-Kerry-Hitler" net ad: Gore says something about "Digital Brown Shirts" and some rightwing bloggers adopt it as the new black. (They did decide to remove the swastika from their graphic.) I'm still blinking while I try to fathom this.
posted by StOne on Jun 26, 2004 - 47 comments

The Fighting Sixties. "In 1962, faced with a resurgent fascist movement, young Jewish men and women came together to oppose them." Searchlight magazine, through a comprehensive guide to the Jewish 1962 Committee (62 Group) presents a thorough historical rundown of anti-fascist activity in London. Eye witness accounts of London Battlegrounds, intelligence led actions, multi-racial, anti-fascist gangs and local heroes fighting back - stories to remember but also to warm the cockles of the heart.
posted by niceness on Oct 15, 2002 - 4 comments