2 Studies Link Global Warming to Greater Power of Hurricanes

Climate researchers at Purdue University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology separately reported new evidence yesterday supporting the idea that global warming is causing stronger hurricanes.

This Week on Left Turn with Cecily Friday

I had to have surgery on my foot last week, as a result of the injury I suffered, while helping out down in New Orleans. So there will be a re-run of a previous show this Wednesday. It could be the interview I had with ex-CIA agent Larry Johnson, or perhaps climate change author Susan Joy Hassol. Our handy engineers at the station will surely deliver. Tune in at 7:00 PM CST tonight and I look forward to being back with you next week.

New Iraqi Ambassador: US Marines Killed My Cousin Intentionally and Unnecessarily

CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer spoke later in the day with Ambassador Samir Sumaidaie about U.S. military investigations into alleged killings of Iraqi civilians in Haditha last year by U.S. Marines.

Gore: Bush is 'renegade rightwing extremist'

Al Gore has made his sharpest attack yet on the George Bush presidency, describing the current US administration as "a renegade band of rightwing extremists".

Memorial Day-Remember All Who Have Lost

Another one from Ava.
To watch the video Click Here

From Yearlykos: New Video from Ava at Peacetakescourage

Remember Ava, the 15 year old that received death threats for her video involving children in Iraq called "WWJD"? Well she's done it again with a new video that's posted on Yearlykos. It's great. Check it out.

To watch the video Click Here

Bush 'planted fake news stories on American TV'

Federal authorities are actively investigating dozens of American television stations for broadcasting items produced by the Bush administration and major corporations, and passing them off as normal news. Some of the fake news segments talked up success in the war in Iraq, or promoted the companies' products.

Lead figure in phone jam to advise GOP contenders

A
major figure in the Election Day phone-jamming scandal that embarrassed and nearly bankrupted the New Hampshire GOP is out of prison and back in the political game.

Children Held at Guantanamo

The notorious US detention camp in Guantanamo Bay has been hit by fresh allegations of human rights abuses, with claims that dozens of children were sent there - some as young as 14 years old.

From HP: Let's Throw the Bum Out

I know, I'm a Democrat. And I'm supposed to beat up on Republicans when they break the law - and look the other way, when Democrats break the law.

Well, guess what? I'm not that kind of Democrat. Believe it or not, I have no patience with crooks - of either party.

Here, here Bill Press! If a democrat lied us into a war, condoned torture, illegally spied on us, or was a corrupt politician in Congress, I'd want them out too.

Unfortunately that equal rule of law doesn't apply to most republicans.

"In the list of politicians now under investigation, the count is now: Republicans 15, Democrats 1."

Bradblog: US Military Accused of Civilian Massacre in Iraq

A video tape uncovered by Time Magazine showing evidence of an attack on Iraqi civilians in Haditha has renewed human rights calls for investigations into possible war crimes by the U.S. military. The Pentagon announced that 12 Marines were under investigation for the deaths shown in the video tape.

To watch the video Click Here

Clinton Says Must "Get Off Our Butts" to Stop Warming

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Former President Bill Clinton said on Saturday global warming is a greater threat to the future than terrorism and that the United States and other countries must ``get off our butts'' and do something about it.

From C&L: SNL Bush Funny

To watch the video Click Here

THE 9/11 STORY THAT GOT AWAY

In 2001, an anonymous White House source leaked top-secret NSA intelligence to reporter Judith Miller that Al Qaida was planning a major attack on the United States. But the story never made it into the paper.

My Wedge Issue Rant

New heights of lunacy were reached by Republicans on Capitol hill this week when the Senate Judiciary Committee met behind closed doors, away from the public, to approve a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Gay marriage is the GOP’s wedge issue du jour and its proven useful before in distracting the public from the real issues we face, like a president who lied us into a war, approved torture, spied illegally and now has the nerve to still lie to us about it.

We should not be surprised, after all its an election year, which makes it time for the Republican majority, with our own Senator Frist taking the lead, to trot out their wedge issues (abortion and gay marriage) in order to get their homophobic, anti-women’s rights base to come out to the polls and pull the lever for the GOP, like so many rats in a Skinner box.

Bring up gay men living in wedded bliss or women making choices about what to do with their own bodies and these republican followers drool like Pavlov’s dogs. It worked in 2004, will it work again in 2006? Those of us that haven’t been conditioned to respond to these GOP tricks hope it doesn’t.

How Bush Destroyed the CIA

The moment that the destruction of the Central Intelligence Agency began can be pinpointed to a time, a place and even a memo. On Aug. 6, 2001, CIA director George Tenet presented to President Bush his presidential daily briefing, a startling document titled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S." Bush did nothing, asked for no further briefings on the issue, and returned to cutting brush at his Crawford, Texas, compound.

Ex-Bush Campaign Official Jailed

"A former Republican National Committee official was sentenced Wednesday to 10 months in prison for his role in the jamming of New Hampshire Democrats' telephones on Election Day 2002," reports the Associated Press.

Telco Spying Cover Up?

New Presidential Memorandum Permits Intelligence Director To Authorize Telcos To Lie Without Violating Securities Law

World opinion of U.S. sinking

WASHINGTON -- The United States has often irritated the rest of the world, but lately it's gotten worse -- and more dangerous.

From War Room: Karl Rove, Jason Leopold and the hunt for the truth

For many of us that are complete Plamegate junkies, this is a frustrating situation. Will Karl Rove be indicted this week?
Who knows?!

This Week on Left Turn with Cecily Friday

Larry Johnson joins me on the program this week. He previously worked at the Central Intelligence Agency and as a Deputy Director at the US State Department's Office of Counterterrorism. He trained for the CIA with Valerie Plame, the wife of Joe Wilson. We'll be discussing the latest in the CIA leak investigation, the nomination of Michael Hayden to head up the CIA as well as the NSA spying controversy. Join us for the discussion this Wednesday at 7:00 PM CST.

NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls

The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.

Larry Johnson: Whither the CIA?

If the New York Times is correct, John Negroponte and Michael Hayden are hell bent on shifting critical analytical functions from the CIA to some other part of government (perhaps a stand-alone entity). If true, the death knell for the CIA is sounding, and an important national security capability will disappear if they are permitted to institute this madness. While right-wing crazies, convinced that the CIA is part of an elaborate plot to undermine the Bush administration, will celebrate this pyrrhic victory, sane Americans should hit the panic button.

Senate Intel Chair Not Ready to Endorse Hayden

Sen. Pat Roberts likes Gen. Michael Hayden. But that doesn’t mean Hayden will get Roberts’ support to be the next director of the CIA.

AP reports: “President Bush's nomination of Gen. Michael Hayden as CIA chief ignited a confirmation fight Monday over the intelligence veteran's ties to the controversial eavesdropping program and his ability to be independent from the military establishment.

HP Tribute to Stephen Colbert

To watch the video Click Here

Pointed Questions on Iraq Often Come From "the People," Not the Press

Note to "The People": Don't stop asking the tough questions.

When it comes to really putting Bush and Rumsfeld on the spot, why did a comedian, a former general, a rock star, an ex-CIA analyst and an average citizen in North Carolina, go where reporters often fear to tread?

Endgame for the Constitution

Paul Craig Roberts, former Reagan administration offical (and former guest of Left Turn with Cecily Friday) calls Bush out on his constitutional abuses

The Bush administration has done more damage to Americans and more harm to America's reputation than any other administration in history. Yet, a majority of Republicans still support Bush. This tells much about blind party loyalty.

NEVER AGAIN

This Week on Left Turn with Cecily Friday

Jim Derych joins me on the program this evening. He is the author of Confessions of a Former Dittohead, a book which details his personal journey from being an avid right winger and Rush Limbaugh listener to a member of the democratic party. Want to know how to talk to your right wing friends and family? Tune in for the discussion Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM CST.

For more information on the book Click Here

MSNBC Confirms: Valerie Plame was working on Iran when outed

On Chris Matthews' Hardball Monday evening, just moments ago, MSNBC correspondent David Shuster confirmed what RAW STORY first reported in February: that outed CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson was working on Iran at the time she was outed.

Crooksandliars has a video clip of the MSNBC report here