January 6, 2012

FDL: Obama’s Pentagon Strategy: A Leaner, More Efficient Empire

"By Charles Davis and Medea Benjamin
http://my.firedoglake.com/codepink/2012/01/06/obamas-pentagon-strategy-a-leaner-more-efficient-empire/

In an age when U.S. power can be projected through private mercenary armies and unmanned Predator drones, the U.S. military need no longer rely on massive, conventional ground forces to pursue its imperial agenda, a fact President Barack Obama is now acknowledging. But make no mistake: while the tactics may be changing, the U.S. taxpayer – and poor foreigners abroad – will still be saddled with overblown military budgets and militaristic policies.

...

Unfortunately, though, rather than renouncing empire and endless war, Obama’s stated strategy for the military going forward just reaffirms the U.S. commitment to both. Rather than renouncing the last decade of war, it states that the bloody and disastrous occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan – gently termed “extended operations” – were pursued “to bring stability to those countries.”

And Leon Panetta assured the American public that even with the changes, the U.S. would still be able to fight two major wars at the same time—and win. And Obama assured America’s military contractors and coffin makers that their lifeline – U.S. taxpayers’ money – would still be funneled their way in obscene bucket loads."

January 6, 2012

This Week In Poverty

The Nation's new blog
http://www.thenation.com/blog/165478/week-poverty-january-6-2011

TANF Is Broken

"In 1996, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) which had guaranteed cash welfare to poor families with kids since 1935. The deal severely limited available funds, freezing block grants at 1996 levels without indexing them to inflation (unlike campaign contribution limits, for example). The states were also allowed wide discretion in terms of eligibility, benefit levels and how the funds would be used.

The results of “reform” are now in: prior to the legislation, for every 100 poor families with children, 68 received cash assistance through AFDC. In 2009 that number plummeted to twenty-seven for every 100 poor families. And since the block grants are stuck in a 1996 time warp, those dollars don’t go as far. Adjusted for inflation, benefit levels have fallen by 20 percent or more in thirty-four states, and a majority of states provide benefits at less than 30 percent of the poverty line (about $5,200 for a family of three).

The recent payroll tax extension also extended TANF “as is” until February 29, 2012. President Obama and Congress should look to Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s RISE Act for guidance when reauthorization rolls around. Among the reforms in the legislation: adjusting each state’s block grant for inflation; allowing education and job training to count towards work requirements; providing childcare for all work-eligible parents; and prohibiting time limits of less than sixty months."

January 4, 2012

Homophobic enablers..

What? This OP that Greenwald is a fag so he hates Obama is still up here?

REASON FOR ALERT:

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

Using a Homophobic slur "fag"

JURY RESULTS

A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of this alert at Wed Jan 4, 2012, 01:35 AM, and voted 4-2 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: We do not tolerate homophobic slurs here.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Given the content of the OP, the question (if harsh) is valid.

Sometimes you gotta be a bitch to make the point.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT and said: Using the word "fag" is hateful. Hide it.

Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given

CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DECISION

You will no longer be able to participate in this discussion thread, and you will not be able to start a new discussion thread in this forum until 2:35 AM. This hidden post has been added to your <a href="/?com=profile&uid=129546&sub=trans">Transparency page</a>.

January 4, 2012

A Republican Primary forum would be nice.

50 states of this cluttering GD?

January 3, 2012

Amnesty International on NDAA: ""Trust me" is not enough of a safeguard"

"Despite expressing serious reservations, the Obama administration has paved the way for legislation that will authorize indefinite detention. The bill places enormous power in the hands of future Presidents, and the only answer the President has is to say "trust me."

"Once any government has the authority to hold people indefinitely, the risk is that it can be almost impossible to rein such power in. President Obama has failed to take the one action – a veto – that would have blocked the dangerous provisions in the NDAA. In so doing, he has allowed human rights to be further undermined and given Al Qaeda a propaganda victory."

Amnesty International and over 45 other organizations will protest the NDAA and Guantanamo in front of the White House on January 11--the 10th anniversary of the "war on terror" prison. Sign up at http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/trust-me-is-not-enough-of-a-safeguard-says-amnesty-international-as-president-obama-signs-the-ndaa-i

January 2, 2012

Could we please have our buddy lists back?

January 2, 2012

Unaccountable Killing Machines: The True Cost of U.S. Drones

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/12/unaccountable-killing-machines-the-true-cost-of-us-drones/250661/

It's all good though! Obama made a joke about killing people with them!

"In other words, Jaffe is describing a system in which a decentralized apparatus carries out summary executions of people we're assured are bad and who are sometimes U.S. citizens, and the president knows about this but chooses not to exercise oversight or control of the process."