http://www.squirmelicious.com Politics, Culture, Technology, Sports, and Good Livin' Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:35:37 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en As Americans, we have a right, if not an obligation to debate how our government goes about securing our safety.  By denouncing misguided policies like waterboarding, certain aspects of The Patriot Act, and the deplorable behavior at Abu Garaib and supporting candidates who will effect the proper change, we work ... http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/07/war-crimes-prosecution-would-be-a-grave-mistake/ WITH PRIVACY PROTECTIONS IN WORLDWIDE RETREAT, NATION FINDS ITSELF RANKED BESIDE CHINA AND RUSSIA Privacy International, the oldest privacy advocacy group in the world, each year issues a comprehensive report on the state of surveillance and privacy protection in some 70 countries around the globe.  The results are more than a ... http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/06/united-states-among-worst-offenders-in-surveiling-citizens/ With all the disinformation floating around about Barack Obama, rumors that otherwise fairminded people have bought into, it seemed time to set the record straight.  Watch this for the truth: http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/05/dispelling-the-obama-rumors/ The blogosphere is agog today over recent comments Obama made concerning the threat Iran and other rouge nations pose compared to that of The Soviet Union of the Cold War era.  Jennifer Rubin in today's Commentary wrote: Was it presidential visits with the Soviet Union that brought down the Berlin Wall? ... http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/05/obama-understands-lessons-of-detenteengagement/ By every reasonable metric the Democrats should enjoy overwhelming success this November. With the economy, war, and demographic trends on their side, coupled with the Obama Campaign's efforts to rewrite the traditional Democratic map, states that had traditionally been ceded to the Republican's will now be in play. Building on ... http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/05/electoral-predictions-for-general-election/  David Corn has a piece in today's Mother Jones about Rod Parsely, a man John McCain has referred to as his "spiritual guide" and whose beliefs about the evils of Islam are at least as toxic as anything spewed out of Jeremiah Wright's bigoted mouth. McCain, who has yet to ... http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/05/mccains-pastor-problem/ In his recent testimony on Capital Hill, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke  cited the benefits of a weak dollar policy, in particular how a feeble dollar boosts exports and export related jobs and positively impacts the trade deficit.  Are you f&*%in' kidding me?  This old yarn has been bandied about for ... http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/05/fed-chief-bernanke-claims-we-benefit-from-weak-dollar/ The conventional wisdom suggests that Operation Chaos - the Rush Limbaugh call for Republicans to cross party lines and vote in Democratic primaries for Hillary - was being employed because Republican's viewed Hillary as the weaker opponent come the general election.  Let me suggest an alternative theory:  Conservative talk radio, ... http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/05/an-alternate-take-on-operation-chaos/ The supposed rationale behind the Federal Reserve's low interest rate policy is to get extra cash into consumer's pockets enabling them to buy buy buy and keep that economy humming along.  So why is there nothing in my pocket save for a linted Werthers wrapper, a guitar pick, and a ... http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/05/whats-really-behind-the-fed-rate-policy/ With the demographics of North Carolina heavily favoring Barack Obama, a win there is a near certainty for the Democratic frontrunner.  More telling on the Senators prospects and the ultimate resolution of this endless Democratic primary will be the outcome of Indiana. Where the Obama campaign has failed thus far is ... http://www.squirmelicious.com/2008/04/why-indiana-matters/