The Iraq War: How We Spent $800 Billion

Check this graphic out at Frontline on the actual costs of that illegal and conjured up war.  Shocking!  And still no one has been held accountable.  Bush and Cheney should be in the Hague indicted for war crimes.

Senate Report on JPMorgan

The Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation's report on JPMorgan's "whale trade" is not only damning but really points out utter lack on any meaningful regulations over these To Big Too Fail banks.  You can read the whole report here and exhibits here or visit the Subcommittee's website here, but let me give you a few highlights to pique your interest:

Remember when Jamie Dimon claimed that their trading was meant as a hedge?  Why is this guy not in a jump suit for lying to Congress.  From the report on the Synthetic Credit Portfolio (SCP):

JPMorgan Chase told the Subcommittee that the SCP was not intended to function as a
proprietary trading desk, but as insurance or a “hedge” against credit risks confronting the bank.  While its original approval document indicated that the SCP was created with a hedging function in mind, the bank was unable to provide documentation over the next five years detailing the SCP’s hedging objectives and strategies; the assets, portfolio, risks, or tail events it was supposed to hedge; or how the size, nature, and effectiveness of its hedges were determined. The bank was also unable to explain why the SCP’s hedges were treated differently from other types of hedges within the CIO.

I suppose no one would really be surprised that big banks like JPMorgan are gaming the system and playing with taxpayer insured funds—privatizing any gains and if things blow up stick the bill to taxpayers since they're Too Big Too Fail.  What a broken, perverted and distorted system that special interests have created for their own benefit.  And the scary part: it seems there's no way to reverse it since the electoral system is financed by the beneficiaries of such scams and politicians pay lip service but don't actually address the problem which is them and the special interest financing of elections!

JPMorgan Fucks it's Customers

JP Morgan scammed its credit card customers out of more than $200 million dollars and just recently reached a settlement to pay around $100 million dollars.  It's a sickening example of legalized organized crime.  If Joe Schmo tried that shit he'd be gone forever, but if you're a too big too fail bank you literally have a license to steal.  How long can this go on?  See story here: http://www.cnbc.com/id/48614808

Mitty Romney - Out of Touch

Mitty says "I like to be able to fire people."  This guy comes across as crass and a just plain old asshole.  Really hope they fire him from this nomination process.

Does the U.S. Want Other's Democracy?

The answer is clearly "NO!"  Take a look at Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon and the Palestinians and you could come to no other conclusion.  Despite all the propaganda to the contrary the U.S. is interested in its own interests—read business and oil—and not democracy.  The U.S. has spent years and years supporting despots and dictators throughout the world while cheer leading "democracy."  Wave a patriotic flag and the masses will not notice the falsehoods and propaganda, so the story goes.  I think Glenn Greenwald has an excellent piece summarizing at Salon here.

Texas Fucks Its Residents and Then Makes Them Pay

The coming "Water War"s may be starting in Texas:  great article here on how business interests trump citizens' rights in Texas.  I wonder how long people can see 70% increase in water charges before they take up all their guns.  And I hear, Texas has a lot of guns!  Watch out you raping and pillaging private water companies!!

Was Bradley Manning Keeping His Oath to the Constitution?

Let's face it:  the prosecution of Bradley Manning is a crime in itself.  Those perpetrating this crime should be prosecuted for an affront to the U.S. constitution, an oath they would have taken themselves, as Mr. Manning did.  Bradley Manning exposed crimes committed by the U.S. military—exposing crimes, whistle-blowing, should be celebrated and recognized for what it is: an act of patriotism. Instead, what we get is a distorted perception and a criminalization of an act that would be celebrated by the founding fathers of the U.S.  What is left when this occurs in a society?  Well, we can look at the middle-east for the answer.  The U.S.'s days of credibility are numbered.  It's just a matter of time before the general population stops buying the spoon-fed propaganda that has been force fed down its throat.  The "occupy" movement has not even started yet.  Watch...

U.S. Fucked Up, Is There Really Any Doubt?

The U.S. committed a war crime when it "preemptively" attacked Iraq.  There is no doubt that American sheep were fed propaganda and lied to in a planned and systematic way.  Remember the talk of "mushroom clouds?"  How it was just a matter of time before Saddam Hussein would attack the U.S. with "weapons of mass destruction?"  How the whole world was at risk?  It was all lie!  There was no accountability and we know it at  some level even though the perpetrators seem to have gotten away with it.  History will catch up to the criminals Bush and Cheney, but in the mean time they, or their mouthpieces, should not be allowed to revise this history and the incontrovertible evidence that the Iraq war was based on falsehoods.  History will prove it.  I just hope not too late!

Republican Congress is Just Stupid

Let's face it:  these Republicans—Cantor and Boehner—are just idiots.  When the U.S. is experiencing the most serious economic situation in generations, what are they doing?  Concealed carry legislation!  Can you believe it?  With 9.1% unemployment these idiot Republicans are talking about making it easier for gun nuts to carry their guns from state to state.  Obama just needs to run against this congress and he'll be in for another 4 years. 

Another Criminal Republican

Rep. Phil Gingrey Mugshot

Reuters brings us another example of a corrupt hypocritical Republican.  His name is Rep. Phil Gingrey from Georgia and he has a good scam going—borrow money, never repay it and then try to legislate without disclosing that the legislation would benefit yourself!  Read it yourself here.