World-News

Brendan Fischer, PR Watch: ''As the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) comes under increasing scrutiny and both corporate and legislative members sever ties with the organization, the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has jumped in to help?. AFP is a member of ALEC, and both ALEC and AFP have received funding from the Koch family foundations. And, of course as is widely known, David Koch is the chairman of AFP, which he helped create.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8652-alec-gets-support-from-koch-funded-americans-for-prosperity



Washington Post s Kaplan and Other For-Profit Colleges Joined ALEC

David Halperin, Republic Report: ''For-profit colleges are the ultimate special interest. Many receive around 90 percent of their revenue from federal financial aid, more than $30 billion a year, and many charge students sky-high prices. Are you surprised to learn that these subprime schools joined the now-discredited ALEC, the secretive group that connects corporate special interests with campaign contribution-hungry state legislators in order to dominate lawmaking at the state level? No, you probably aren t surprised.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8766-washington-posts-kaplan-and-other-for-profit-colleges-joined-alec



Broadcasters, Citizens United and the Perfect Storm

Part I

Yana Kunichoff, Truthout: ''As broadcasters take in record amount of political advertising money and give little indication of where it came from while lobbying against rules that would require increased transparency of this intake, transparency advocates like Free Press argue that companies including News Corporation, NBC Universal and the Walt Disney Company have created a perfect storm of political misinformation.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8768-broadcasters-citizens-united-and-the-perfect-storm-part-i



ALEC Retreats, the Right Wing Freaks

Mark Engler, Dissent Magazine: ''With sponsors rapidly jumping ship, ALEC has tried to do some damage control. Last week it announced that it would be 'eliminating [its] Public Safety and Elections task force that dealt with non-economic issues' such as Stand Your Ground and Voter ID. The purpose of the move, the organization said, is to focus more keenly on 'free-market, limited government, pro-growth priorities, read: destroying unions, eliminating environmental regulation, reducing taxes for the top 1 percent, and so forth.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8824-alec-retreats-the-right-wing-freaks



ALEC s Top Five Anti-Environment ''Model'' Laws

Stephen Lacey and Jessica Goad, ThinkProgress: ''ALEC is a strong force working behind the scenes to stop any meaningful action on climate and clean energy. This is just a small snapshot of the pro-polluter bills the organization has crafted over the years. With the largest, dirtiest energy companies funding ALEC, it s clear who these 'model' laws are designed to help.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8933-alecs-top-five-anti-environment-model-laws



Koch Brothers' Activism Protects Their 50-Year Stake in Canadian Heavy Oils

David Sassoon, Inside Climate News: ''Over the last decade, Charles and David Koch have emerged into public view as billionaire philanthropists pushing a libertarian brand of political activism that presses a large footprint on energy and climate issues. They have created and supported non-profit organizations, think tanks and political groups that work to undermine climate science, environmental regulation and clean energy.... What is less well documented are the many Koch businesses that benefit from the brothers' efforts to push the center of American political discourse rightward, closer to their own convictions.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/9050-koch-brothers-activism-protects-their-50-year-stake-in-canadian-heavy-oils



The Other ALECs' Corporate Playbook

Steve Horn and Sarah Blaskey, Truthout: ''As it turns out, the answer is relatively simple. Big business in the United States has perfected a legislative 'playbook', a methodical strategy for turning the wish list of multinational corporations into a state-level policy agenda with bipartisan support. The specific details of legislative processes are many and intricate, yet the corporate playbook for exploiting state-level policy is straightforward and critical to understand.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/9889-exposed-the-other-alecs-corporate-playbook



Top Former Tax Code Enforcer Files Letter Asking IRS to Strip ALEC s Nonprofit Status

Ian Millhiser, ThinkProgress: ''The American Legislative Exchange Council, a right-wing group responsible for state voter suppression laws, 'stand your ground' laws and other far right initiatives, is a 501(c)(3) organization, meaning that it does not pay taxes and that its donors can deduct any donations they make to the organization from their taxable income. Thus, we the taxpayers essentially subsidize ALEC s right-wing lobbying because the amount of money in the public treasury is reduced in order to pay for ALEC s activities.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/10116-top-former-tax-code-enforcer-files-letter-asking-irs-to-strip-alec%E2%80%99s-non-profit-status



How Big Business Has Triumphed in State Legislatures on Civil Liberties, Higher Education and Energy

Steve Horn and Sarah Blaskey, Truthout: ''Assaults on civil liberties, public higher education and the ecosystem have been initiated in statehouses nationwide over the past decade. In these various policy spheres, the corporate agenda has trumped a people-centric agenda. What s the thread that ties it all together? And how did extreme policies become normalized in the states? Over the past year, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has received the lion s share of coverage for its documented role in advancing the corporate agenda in statehouses nationwide.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/10316-how-big-business-has-trumped-the-peoples-will-in-state-legislatures-on-civil-liberties-higher-education-and-energy-policy

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No Shortage of Shadowy Special Interest Groups to Fill ALEC s Role
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2012/04/24

Common Cause List of ALEC Corporate Members Released
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2012/05/04-8

Pity the Poor Billionaires
https://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/06/01-11

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ALEC is an enemy of liberty

C4SS Center for a Stateless Society
by Nathan Goodman

07/18/12

As the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) prepares for its annual meeting next week, there remains a great deal of confusion about what the organization supports. ALEC advertises itself as a group that supports free markets, limited government, and federalism. But in reality, ALEC pushes a broad range of oppressive policies that distort markets, attack liberty, and centralize power. ALEC does all of this on behalf of multinational corporations that would not and could not exist without state intervention...

http://c4ss.org/content/10982


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=liberty
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=civil+liberties
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http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=American+Legislative+Exchange+Council
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http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Americans+for+Prosperity
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http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=misinformation
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http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Brendan+Fischer
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Rachel+Maddow
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=David+Halperin
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Yana+Kunichoff
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Mark+Engler
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Stephen+Lacey
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Jessica+Goad
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=David+Sassoon
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=moyers
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Michael+Winship
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Steve+Horn
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Sarah+Blaskey
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Ian+Millhiser

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Mike Ludwig, Truthout: ''Progressive activists are celebrating another victory today after the Vermont Legislature became the third in the nation late Thursday to pass resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, the controversial 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allowed corporations and other groups to spend unlimited amounts of money influencing elections and gave rise to the now-infamous Super PACs.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8636-vermont-legislature-votes-to-overturn-citizens-united



How to Beat Citizens United

E.J. Dionne Jr., The Washington Post Writers Group: ''We are about to have the worst presidential campaign money can buy. The Supreme Court s dreadful Citizens United decision and a somnolent Federal Election Commission will allow hundreds of millions of dollars from a small number of very wealthy people and interests to inundate our airwaves with often vicious advertisements for which no candidate will be accountable.''

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/8679-how-to-beat-citizens-united



Mitch McConnell and the Chamber of Commerce Tell the Supreme Court to Double Down on Citizens United

Ian Millhiser, ThinkProgress: ''The Supreme Court is currently considering whether to hear a case that will enable it to correct its error in Citizens United and overrule its indefensible decision to allow unlimited corporate and other wealthy donor money to influence elections. Neither the corporate lobby nor the Senate s top Republican are eager to see this occur, however. Both of them filed briefs in the Supreme Court yesterday urging the justices to not only reaffirm Citizens United, but to do so without even hearing argument in the case.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/8861-mitch-mcconnell-and-the-chamber-of-commerce-tell-the-supreme-court-to-double-down-on-citizens-united



How Citizens United Is Leading to More Racism in TV Campaign Ads

Lee Fang, Republic Report: ''Joe Ricketts, the billionaire founder of TD Ameritrade, is planning to unleash a race-baiting advertising assault against President Obama late in the campaign. It s a stark reminder that the Supreme Court s Citizens United decision may unleash a new level of ugliness in American campaigns. Technically, the decision only allows corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts in elections. But in practice, Citizens United might fuel a wave of advertising designed to stir racial divisions and hatred against minority groups.''

http://truth-out.org/news/item/9213-how-citizens-united-is-leading-to-more-racism-in-tv-campaign-ads

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Public Citizen: More Than 50 Towns in Massachusetts Call for an End to Citizens United
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2012/05/22-2



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Vermont
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Mitch+McConnell
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http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Citizens+United+ruling
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Federal+Elections+Commission
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=racis
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=presidential+campaign
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http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Mike+Ludwig
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=E.J.+Dionne
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Ian+Millhiser
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Lee+Fang
-----

Washington has written permission to collect and retain personal information from journalists, news anchors, reporters or anyone who uses ''traditional and/or social media in real time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed.''

http://yhoo.it/AxwYw4


From Information Clearing House



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Homeland+Security
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Another day, another war

By Justin Raimondo

For the Beltway boys, war is not a threat but an opportunity, a means to expand the empire, line their pockets and the pockets of their friends, and bask in the momentary elation of a very short-lived ''victory.''

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31136.htm



The Simple Truth in Chomsky s Words

By Geoff Kennedy

''One of the things they want is a passive quiescent population. So one of the things that you can do to make life uncomfortable for them is NOT to be passive and quiescent.''

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31146.htm



Noam Chomsky on America s Declining Empire

By Joshua Holland

Support the dictator and the regime as long as possible. When it becomes impossible, for example if the army turns against him which is what happened in Egypt, then send him out to pasture, issue ringing statements about your love of democracy, and then try to restore as much of the old regime as possible.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31174.htm



''If I Wanted America To Be A Dictatorship''

Video

Micro Documentary by Libertarian Film Maker and Activist Fabian4Liberty.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31241.htm



Welcome to the Asylum

By Chris Hedges

The final chapter of this sad experiment in human history will see us sacrificed as those on the outer reaches of empire were sacrificed.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31208.htm



USA Holds Its Breath

Saudi Arabia s uprising surmounts the regime s impregnable shield

By Zayd Alisa

The USA needs to stand on the right side of the present and future of Saudi Arabia, by extending the oil-for-protection deal to an (oil and concrete democratic reforms-for-protection deal).

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32112.htm

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China s Rise, America s Fall
http://lewrockwell.com/orig5/unz8.1.1.html

Brewing a Conflict with China
http://www.lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts345.html

Rome Didn t Fall in a Day
http://lewrockwell.com/orig11/sullivan-c9.1.1.html

Egypt Headed for an Explosion
http://lewrockwell.com/margolis/margolis295.html

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Democracy is not freedom

Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G. Hornberger

05/24/12

One of the ostensible goals of U.S. foreign policy is to spread democracy. Of course, the reality is the exact opposite. The U.S. Empire is one of the greatest lovers of nonelected dictatorships in the world, as manifested by its ardent support of such dictatorships as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Chile (under Pinochet), Guatemala (after ousting Arbenz), Iran (after ousting Mossadegh), Pakistan (under Musharraf), Yemen, Bahrain, and many others...

http://www.fff.org/blog/jghblog2012-05-24.asp


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=empire
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=foreign+policy
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Egypt
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Saudi+Arabia
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http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Chomsky
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=raimondo
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Geoff+Kennedy
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Joshua+Holland
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=/unz
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Chris+Hedges
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=com/roberts
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=/sullivan-c
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Jacob+G.+Hornberger
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=margolis
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Zayd+Alisa
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Zwei Jahre nach dem Deep Horizon-Unglück im Golf von Mexiko befürchten Fischer und Wissenschaftler, dass beobachtete Deformationen von Shrimps, Krabben und Fischen mit der Ölkatastrophe in Zusammenhang stehen.

http://www.heise.de/tp/blogs/2/151835



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Deepwater+Horizon
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=drilling
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=oil+spill
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=British+Petroleum
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=seafood

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Wie anscheinend auch in Pakistan, will die CIA nicht gezielt hochrangige Militante töten, sondern Angriffe auf Ziele führen, wo ''verdächtiges Verhalten'' beobachtet wurde.

http://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/36/36800/1.html



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Jemen
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Yemen
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Pakistan
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Central+Intelligence+Agency
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Drohne
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=drone
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http://lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts344.html

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''We Do Not Live in a Free Country''

National Security Agency Whistleblower William Binney on Growing State Surveillance

By Democracy Now!

The NSA Is Lying: U.S. Government Has Copies of Most Of Your Emails.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31135.htm



Government Misinformation Campaign Targets Reporter

By Gregory Korte

A USA TODAY reporter and editor investigating Pentagon propaganda contractors have themselves been subjected to a propaganda campaign.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article31133.htm

--------

The NSA Is Watching You
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/04/26-4



http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=surveillance
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=National+Security+Agency
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Pentagon
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=misinformation
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=propaganda
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http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=William+Binney
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=com/roberts
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Gregory+Korte
http://www.sharenews-blog.com:8090/helma/twoday/sharenews/search?q=Amy+Goodman
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