MetaFilter posts tagged with uspolitics

Can't pirate, the IP Czar will eat me

schroedinger — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:51:20 -0800

The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property (PRO-IP) Act has added a whole other dimension to the term "copyright infringement." Sponsored by the US entertainment industry, it allows seizure of assets before the accused is found guilty and the creation of a new executive branch led by an "Intellectual Property Czar" who would report directly to the President on IP crimes--similar to the Drug Czar of the War on Drugs. Financial penalties for copyright crimes have increased dramatically. More information here, and a summary of critiques here. Is this a useful addition to the War On Copyright Infringement or just more bureaucratic red tape?

The story of the Democratic primaries so far, boiled down to seven minutes.

goodnewsfortheinsane — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:10:22 -0800

The Democratic Primary Season in 7 Minutes.

Oh, Senator!

chuckdarwin — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:13:50 -0800

This little news story might be slightly damaging to John McCain's campaign. You know how the press lets stuff like this slide. uno dos tres cuatro cinco sex?

The 5 Biggest Pricks in Congress

jonson — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:59:51 -0800

The 5 Biggest Pricks in Congress. via

Is that Constitution still living? Slap it a few times to make sure.

ibmcginty — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:41:19 -0800

"Is any jury going to convict Jack Bauer? I don't think so. So the question is really whether we believe in these absolutes. And ought we believe in these absolutes. ... I don't care about holding people. I really don't." Justice Scalia on 24 and torture. 24 and torture previously.

fact checkers out there in the factosphere

ibmcginty — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:17:08 -0800

"Tired of the LIBERAL BIAS every time you search on Google and a Wikipedia page appears?" At Conservapedia, a "conservative encyclopedia you can trust," you can learn that "faith" is a concept "exclusive to Christianity," and about how Wikipedia is biased in matters such as its description of the Bell Trade Act of 1946, its gossipy treatment of the private life of NPR reporter Nina Totenberg, and its seeming acceptance of evolution. The Wikipedia bias entry also complains of a "rant" against the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, a group for which Conservapedia founder (and son of conservative gadfly Phyllis Schafly) Andrew Schlafly has worked. Signups are here; its take on evolution is criticized here.

20 questions for 20 politicians.

Sticherbeast — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 14:01:35 -0800

Let's play 20 questions. 20 candidates for President, 20 personalized questions.

"Democracy's Valiant Vulgarians" meet the great unwashed

ibmcginty — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:35:21 -0800

Time magazine recently launched a new politics blog, Swampland. The blog is, to this point, most interesting for its confrontations between the commenters and the bloggers. [m.i.]

Scooter throws Turd Blossom under the bus

ibmcginty — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 17:23:13 -0800

Politics/PlameFilter: In opening arguments today in the Plame investigation perjury case against Vice President Cheney's former Chief of Staff I. Lewis Libby, the prosecutor portrayed Libby as an agent of a Cheney-driven media offensive. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came from Libby's attorney, who portrayed his client as a White House-chosen scapegoat for Karl Rove's misdeeds. A conservative reporter saw in Libby's emerging defense a "dramatic split inside the Bush White House." An MSNBC host asked whether this hullabaloo could lead to Cheney's resignation. Background on the case. Liveblogging of today's arguments from an anti-administration perspective.

Naughty politicians

eunoia — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 19:26:23 -0800

Should a politician's "artistic endeavors" come into play when voters go to the polls? George Allen thinks that parts of his opponent, Jim Webb's, novels are demeaning to women and contain depictions of incest. Also, Republican candidate for Texas Comptroller, Susan Combs, is being accused of writing porngraphy because of excerpts like these from a romance novel she wrote 15 years ago. And they're not the only politicians who've written naughty things.

God's Next Army - a documentation about an evangelical College

homodigitalis — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 03:45:58 -0800

God's Next Army a british documentation about the Patrick Henry College. It's only goal: to train more soldiers for God and the evangelical agenda in US politics. Shouldn't there be a separation of education and ruthless fundamentalist indoctrination? (FPP)

Murray Waas is the new Bob Woodward

spock — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 09:52:24 -0800

Murray Waas is the new Bob Woodward. An opposing view. Wuh-duh-yuh-bet most Americans will be much more interested in this story?

It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

five fresh fish — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:42:34 -0800

You are the President. It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Advocate

matteo — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 12:26:27 -0800

Beyond the Playing Field: Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Advocate. (more inside)

These are not the Reditioned Canadiens your looking for

Elim — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 11:33:57 -0800

What you get when a Cars Salesman is your Ambassador Do you get the idea that this whole administration is new to this whole diplomacy thing It seems the only way the truth is admitted is under glaring pressure by our allies.

MacGuyver for president

threehundredandsixty — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 11:44:32 -0800

The solution?

Viva La Revolution

Candide — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 11:32:43 -0800

Unleash the Resistance. Karen Kwiatowski worked in the Pentagon's Office of Special Plans prior to the Iraqi invasion. She is now calling on us to resist its government, in the name of liberty and in the spirit of the Iraqi insurgents. Posted on From the Wilderness, which offers insight on Kwiatowski's essay from other radicals.

Beyond Red and Blue, Republican and Democrat

blahblahblah — Wed, 11 May 2005 22:02:06 -0800

Understanding elections beyond the red and blue axis. Since 1987, the Pew Research center has been conducting a political survey that divides voters into various typologies based on core beliefs-- upbeats and disaffected, enterprisers and bystanders -- and tracking political opinions and votes. The biggest trends have been the rise of disadvantaged pro-government conservatives and the shift of the middle to the right. Fortunately, there is a survey that will determine your type. Where does the typical MeFi visitor fit? (Hint from the typology: "Liberals- Affluent and highly secular...ideologically consistent on social issues, foreign policy and the role of government..nearly four-in-10 cite the Internet as their main source of news.")

Talabangilists have taken over the GOP

EmoChild — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 12:20:54 -0800

Republicans; defending the rights of rapists to sue since 2005. Did you just impregnate your 13 year old daughter? Never fear, the GOP is here! They'll defend your right to keep your "little secret" from crossing state lines.

New Poll: Public Would Significantly Alter Administration's Budget

y2karl — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 12:53:11 -0800

A new poll finds that the American public would significantly alter the Bush administration’s recently proposed federal budget. Presented a breakdown of the major areas of the proposed discretionary budget and given the opportunity to redistribute it, respondents made major changes. The most dramatic changes were deep cuts in defense spending, a significant reallocation toward deficit reduction, and increases in spending on education, job training, reducing reliance on oil, and veterans. These changes were favored by both Republicans and Democrats, though the changes were generally greater for Democrats.
What America Gets Right (pdf) via The Gadflyer

The 50 Most Loathsome People of 2004

Space Coyote — Thu, 20 Jan 2005 17:37:01 -0800

The 50 Most Loathsome People of 2004 Funnier than The NYP 50 Most Loathsome New Yorkers. And you're in it, to boot.

Congressman Matsui (D-CA) Dies of Rare Disease

expriest — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 12:13:47 -0800

Congressman dies of rare disease Congressman Bob Matsui, who was recently elected to a 14th term in Congress, has died due to a rare stem cell disease. Matsui, who was one of the leading opponents of President Bush's plan to eliminate Social Security, was the ranking Democrat on the Congressional subcommittee on Social Security.

Lies, Damn lies, and everything looks like a nail

allan — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 06:59:00 -0800

We conclude that the study is entirely without merit and its “results” are meaningless. Remember Florida and those electronic voting machines? Remember those plucky Berkeley grad students who proved something was wrong with the evoting counties? It turns out they were completely wrong.

Was it Lakoff, or the Trytophan ?

troutfishing — Tue, 23 Nov 2004 14:53:59 -0800

Lakoff say - mellow frames sooth savage Thanksgiving : The guru of framing offers a handy free excerpt from his all-the-rage book, just in time to defuse tense Thanksgiving dinner situations ( All fall asleep - Lakoff or the turkey ? ). Says Penny Kolb, on the practical magic of Lakoff's approach : "....By last night, the chat room was civil. An amazing (to me) number of posters turned off their capitalization and we were actually having conversations."

CaliFilter

magullo — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 06:07:44 -0800

AmendforArnold&Jen
Founded by a libertarian-turned RINO and a member of the Green Party