mintpressnews--2020-12-11--Nine of the 10 Most Expensive Senate Races in US History Happened in 2020

It had already been established that the 2020 election was by far the most costly of all time , with political parties spending $ 14 billion — more than twice as much as in 2016 .
But a new report from the Center for Responsive Politics has found that nine of the costliest Senate races of all time occurred in 2020 .
The most expensive race was in North Carolina , which pitted Republican incumbent Thom Tills against Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham .
There , the two parties sank nearly $ 300 million into the contest , which ended with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had four years before , resulting in a Republican victory .
In neighboring South Carolina , Democrats sank over $ 130 million into a quixotic attempt to unseat prominent Senator Lindsey Graham , who himself spent more than $ 100 million .
As in North Carolina , the result was markedly similar to 2014 , with Graham winning 54 % of the votes ( he won 55 % six years earlier ) .
Democratic donors also funneled more than $ 90 million to right-wing candidate Amy McGrath in the fanciful dream of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kentucky .
McGrath often pitched herself as a “ pro-Trump ” Democrat in the vain hopes of picking off hundreds of thousands of supposedly “ moderate ” Trump voters .
McConnell won by 20 points , carrying 117 of the state ’ s 120 counties , and greatly increasing his vote total from 2014 .
The other most expensive Senate elections of 2020 included Iowa ( $ 261.6 million ) , Arizona ( $ 248.5 million ) , Maine ( $ 204.5 million ) , Michigan ( $ 191.2 million ) , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida ’ s 2018 Senate election was the only previous contest to make the top ten .
Money was the deciding factor in most races ; 70 % of the contests were won by the biggest spender .
That figure rises to 88 % of all elections to the House of Representatives .
The 70 % figure is actually a decrease on previous years , as many of the Democrats ’ big money moves , like those in South Carolina and Kentucky , came to naught .
In the 24 states where Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only 13 , losing nine .
By comparison , the GOP won all eight states where they spent more .
Overall , Democrats spent $ 280 million more than Republicans , but failed to flip the Senate , gaining only one seat more than in 2018 .
Elections are getting far more expensive .
The 2000 contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore is reported to have cost around $ 3 billion , with 2016 ’ s election estimated at $ 6.5 billion .
The only place to get that sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multi-billionaire Sheldon Adelson ( number 36 on Forbes ’ worldwide rich list ) was the largest individual donor , channeling over $ 183 million to Republican sources .
For the Democrats , Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer were the top donors , spending $ 111 billion and $ 68 billion , respectively .
Unlike Adelson , Bloomberg and Steyer also attempted to take direct control of their party , both ( unsuccessfully ) running to be its leader in 2020 .
Cash rules everything around me In 1995 , political scientist Thomas Ferguson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stating that elections are essentially contests between rival big businesses and that the two political parties compete to serve those who pay them , not the public .
Nearly 20 years later , a University of Princeton study of 1,779 policy issues found that , In other words , on virtually every issue , the government carries out the will of the rich and ignores that of the poor majority .
Even if Americans are unaware of the academic research , they agree that big money has a highly negative impact on U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 63 % of young Republicans believe the presence of big money is among the most responsible factors for the state of America today .
And nearly eight in ten Americans told the Pew Research Center in 2018 that they wanted to see laws enacted that would limit the amount of money that rich individuals or well-funded PACs could spend on political campaigns .
In recent years , a number of anti-establishment candidates have run on an explicit rejection of corporate money , preferring instead to crowdfund from small donors .
But considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for office , it is not clear whether this technique will pay off without comprehensive campaign finance reform .
As the Center for Responsive Politics wrote , “ small donors make good press , big donors get you reelected.
” Feature photo | Senate candidate Amy McGrath speaks to supporters at the Georgetown-Scott County Regional Airport , Georgetown , Ky , Nov. 3 , 2020 .
James Crisp | AP Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

It had already been established that the 2020 election was by far the most costly of all time, with political parties spending $14 billion — more than twice as much as in 2016. But a new report from the Center for Responsive Politics has found that nine of the costliest Senate races of all time occurred in 2020.
The most expensive race was in North Carolina, which pitted Republican incumbent Thom Tills against Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham. There, the two parties sank nearly $300 million into the contest, which ended with almost exactly the same polling figures as it had four years before, resulting in a Republican victory.
In neighboring South Carolina, Democrats sank over $130 million into a quixotic attempt to unseat prominent Senator Lindsey Graham, who himself spent more than $100 million. As in North Carolina, the result was markedly similar to 2014, with Graham winning 54% of the votes (he won 55% six years earlier).
Democratic donors also funneled more than $90 million to right-wing candidate Amy McGrath in the fanciful dream of unseating Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. McGrath often pitched herself as a “pro-Trump” Democrat in the vain hopes of picking off hundreds of thousands of supposedly “moderate” Trump voters. McConnell won by 20 points, carrying 117 of the state’s 120 counties, and greatly increasing his vote total from 2014.
The other most expensive Senate elections of 2020 included Iowa ($261.6 million), Arizona ($248.5 million), Maine ($204.5 million), Michigan ($191.2 million), and Montana ($190.1 million). Florida’s 2018 Senate election was the only previous contest to make the top ten.
Money was the deciding factor in most races; 70% of the contests were won by the biggest spender. That figure rises to 88% of all elections to the House of Representatives. The 70% figure is actually a decrease on previous years, as many of the Democrats’ big money moves, like those in South Carolina and Kentucky, came to naught. In the 24 states where Democrats significantly outspent their opponents, they carried only 13, losing nine. By comparison, the GOP won all eight states where they spent more. Overall, Democrats spent $280 million more than Republicans, but failed to flip the Senate, gaining only one seat more than in 2018.
Elections are getting far more expensive. The 2000 contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore is reported to have cost around $3 billion, with 2016’s election estimated at $6.5 billion. The only place to get that sort of money is from the super-wealthy. Ultraconservative multi-billionaire Sheldon Adelson (number 36 on Forbes’ worldwide rich list) was the largest individual donor, channeling over $183 million to Republican sources. For the Democrats, Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer were the top donors, spending $111 billion and $68 billion, respectively. Unlike Adelson, Bloomberg and Steyer also attempted to take direct control of their party, both (unsuccessfully) running to be its leader in 2020.
Cash rules everything around me
In 1995, political scientist Thomas Ferguson developed his investment theory of politics, stating that elections are essentially contests between rival big businesses and that the two political parties compete to serve those who pay them, not the public. Nearly 20 years later, a University of Princeton study of 1,779 policy issues found that,
Economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on US government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence.”
In other words, on virtually every issue, the government carries out the will of the rich and ignores that of the poor majority.
Even if Americans are unaware of the academic research, they agree that big money has a highly negative impact on U.S. politics. 75% of young Democrats and 63% of young Republicans believe the presence of big money is among the most responsible factors for the state of America today. And nearly eight in ten Americans told the Pew Research Center in 2018 that they wanted to see laws enacted that would limit the amount of money that rich individuals or well-funded PACs could spend on political campaigns.
In recent years, a number of anti-establishment candidates have run on an explicit rejection of corporate money, preferring instead to crowdfund from small donors. But considering the enormous and increasing cost of running for office, it is not clear whether this technique will pay off without comprehensive campaign finance reform. As the Center for Responsive Politics wrote, “small donors make good press, big donors get you reelected.”
Feature photo | Senate candidate Amy McGrath speaks to supporters at the Georgetown-Scott County Regional Airport, Georgetown, Ky, Nov. 3, 2020. James Crisp | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-12-11--Podcast Panel: US Meddling In Venezuela Elections, Economic Warfare & COVID-19

Welcome to MintCast — an interview series featuring dissenting voices the establishment would rather silence– I ’ m your host Mnar Muhawesh Adley .
President Nicolas Maduro is celebrating this week after a clear victory in the National Assembly elections that took place on December 6 .
Boosted by a partial opposition boycott , the ruling socialist coalition led by Maduro received over 69 % of the votes cast and won a massive 253 of the 277 seats in the National Assembly , the only branch of government not under its control .
While the government is celebrating , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried its support is decreasing , although the vote was held in the middle of a pandemic .
The U.S. government , who has long considered Venezuela an official enemy , decried the process as fraudulent before it began , instructing opposition parties to boycott it and sanctioning those that disobeyed their orders .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took to Twitter to call Venezuela ’ s elections illegitimate , describing Maduro as a dictator and strongman , despite the fact that it was overseen by 1,500 election observers and 300 representatives from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guests who know the country well , Max Blumenthal , Anya Parampil , Adrienne Pine , and Alan MacLeod .
Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and author and editor of The Grayzone .
He has been reporting from Venezuela this week and observed the elections himself .
His latest book is “ The Management of Savagery : How America ’ s National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda , ISIS , and Donald Trump.
” He is also the co-host of the Moderate Rebels podcast .
Parampil is a former producer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In Question.
” She now hosts her own show , Red Lines , which you can find at The Grayzone and on YouTube .
Pine is an associate professor of anthropology at the American University in Washington DC .
In 2019 , she occupied the Venezuelan embassy in DC to prevent it from falling into the hands of U.S.-backed self-declared president Juan Guaidó .
Along with Blumenthal and Parampil , Pine observed the recent elections close up , traveling to Venezuela to serve as an election observer .
Our third guest is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alan Macleod .
Macleod is an expert on Western media coverage of South America .
After completing his Ph.D. on the topic in 2017 , he published five peer-reviewed articles on how media distorts the image of Venezuela .
He is also the author of the book “ Bad News from Venezuela : 20 years of fake news and misreporting.
” This program is 100 percent listener supported !
You can join the hundreds of financial sponsors who make this show possible by becoming a member on our Patreon page .
Subscribe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and SoundCloud .
Please leave us a review and share this segment .
Mnar Muhawesh is founder , CEO and editor in chief of MintPress News , and is also a regular speaker on responsible journalism , sexism , neoconservativism within the media and journalism start-ups .

Welcome to MintCast — an interview series featuring dissenting voices the establishment would rather silence– I’m your host Mnar Muhawesh Adley.
President Nicolas Maduro is celebrating this week after a clear victory in the National Assembly elections that took place on December 6. Boosted by a partial opposition boycott, the ruling socialist coalition led by Maduro received over 69% of the votes cast and won a massive 253 of the 277 seats in the National Assembly, the only branch of government not under its control.
While the government is celebrating, the low turnout of 31% has many worried its support is decreasing, although the vote was held in the middle of a pandemic. The U.S. government, who has long considered Venezuela an official enemy, decried the process as fraudulent before it began, instructing opposition parties to boycott it and sanctioning those that disobeyed their orders.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took to Twitter to call Venezuela’s elections illegitimate, describing Maduro as a dictator and strongman, despite the fact that it was overseen by 1,500 election observers and 300 representatives from 34 countries.
Joining MintCast are four guests who know the country well, Max Blumenthal, Anya Parampil, Adrienne Pine, and Alan MacLeod.
Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and author and editor of The Grayzone. He has been reporting from Venezuela this week and observed the elections himself. His latest book is “The Management of Savagery: How America’s National Security State Fueled the Rise of Al Qaeda, ISIS, and Donald Trump.” He is also the co-host of the Moderate Rebels podcast.
Parampil is a former producer and host at RT America’s “In Question.” She now hosts her own show, Red Lines, which you can find at The Grayzone and on YouTube.
Pine is an associate professor of anthropology at the American University in Washington DC. In 2019, she occupied the Venezuelan embassy in DC to prevent it from falling into the hands of U.S.-backed self-declared president Juan Guaidó. Along with Blumenthal and Parampil, Pine observed the recent elections close up, traveling to Venezuela to serve as an election observer.
Our third guest is MintPress’s own senior Staff Writer, Alan Macleod. Macleod is an expert on Western media coverage of South America. After completing his Ph.D. on the topic in 2017, he published five peer-reviewed articles on how media distorts the image of Venezuela. He is also the author of the book “Bad News from Venezuela: 20 years of fake news and misreporting.”
This program is 100 percent listener supported! You can join the hundreds of financial sponsors who make this show possible by becoming a member on our Patreon page.
Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify and SoundCloud. Please leave us a review and share this segment.
Mnar Muhawesh is founder, CEO and editor in chief of MintPress News, and is also a regular speaker on responsible journalism, sexism, neoconservativism within the media and journalism start-ups.


mintpressnews--2020-12-11--Critics Pan Time’s Choice of Biden-Harris for 2020 Person of the Year Award

There was immediate pushback to today ’ s decision by Time magazine to give its historic “ Person of the Year ” award to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris .
“ Is this a parody ?
” asked writer Fiona Edwards , “ What about the multi million strong Black Lives Matter movement which really played the decisive role in defeating Donald Trump ?
What about the health workers who have battled the pandemic ?
” “ They haven ’ t even done anything yet…Totally unimpressed , ” responded British author and radio host , Maajid Nawaz .
Comedian Dave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did so much .
She started off having the biggest war chest and then had to drop out before Iowa .
Then Biden picked her .
And Joe .
What can you say about a guy who had 30 % enthusiasm , has a hard time speaking and was elected just because he ’ s not Trump ?
” he asked .
Others were more sardonic .
“ This is Joe Biden ’ s year .
He not only managed to stay alive until the election , he also did other things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shaun .
After selecting its youngest ever Person of the Year last year in climate activist Greta Thunberg , the 78-year-old former vice-president is the oldest recipient in the award ’ s 93-year history .
Time announced that it chose Biden and Harris , “ For changing the American story , for showing that the forces of empathy are greater than the furies of division , for sharing a vision of healing in a grieving world.
” Other recent winners include Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and U.S. politicians , Barack Obama , Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further back , Mahatma Gandhi , Adolf Hitler , Joseph Stalin , and Winston Churchill have also all received the distinction .
Perhaps the most controversial selection , however , came in 2006 , when it declared that “ you ” were the Person of the Year , sparking widespread collective eye-rolling .
“ Time ’ s Person of the Year is not and never has been an honor .
It is not an endorsement , ” the magazine wrote in 2007 , after selecting Russian President Vladimir Putin .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best , it is a clear-eyed recognition of the world as it is and of the most powerful individuals and forces shaping that world — for better or for worse.
” Despite this , it is clear that the magazine is overwhelmingly supportive of the Biden/Harris ticket .
In a long exposé article , it praises his leadership , approvingly stating that he “ believed most voters simply wanted reconciliation after four years of combat , that they craved decency , dignity , experience and competence.
” Harris , meanwhile , is presented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her “ charisma and tough questioning of Trump Administration officials.
” Unlike Trump , “ President-elect Biden takes COVID-19 very , very seriously , ” it instructs readers .
This must mark a change from March , when he was against CDC guidelines , beseeching his supporters to go to the polls during the Democratic primaries , insisting it was safe to do so when it clearly was not .
News of the announcement came just as audio from a private meeting between Biden and civil rights leaders leaked and went viral .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ down all their ideas for progressive reforms , including categorically rejecting any idea of defunding police departments .
Activist Shaun King noted that his organization was present at the meeting and the 78-year-old Delawarean simply “ yelled the whole time.
” Amid a pandemic that had cost nearly a quarter of a million American lives by Election Day , Biden managed to limp over the line , beating out the incumbent .
However , Democrats failed to take control of the Senate , and lost ground in the House of Representatives , meaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent lame duck session .
Biden also suffers from a dearth of enthusiasm , with the majority of his voters telling pollsters their vote was cast against Trump , not for him .
In the leaked interview , Biden appears to acknowledge that , while he won the election , the Democrats ’ performance was profoundly disappointing .
“ That ’ s how they beat the living hell out of us across the country , saying that we ’ re talking about defunding the police , ” he said , implying that progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposite , that , perhaps in the year of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter it was not a good decision to select a segregationist who wrote the 1994 Crime Bill and California ’ s “ top cop ” as the ticket .
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

There was immediate pushback to today’s decision by Time magazine to give its historic “Person of the Year” award to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. “Is this a parody?” asked writer Fiona Edwards, “What about the multi million strong Black Lives Matter movement which really played the decisive role in defeating Donald Trump? What about the health workers who have battled the pandemic?” “They haven’t even done anything yet…Totally unimpressed,” responded British author and radio host, Maajid Nawaz. Comedian Dave Anthony was similarly disappointed. “Kamala did so much. She started off having the biggest war chest and then had to drop out before Iowa. Then Biden picked her. And Joe. What can you say about a guy who had 30% enthusiasm, has a hard time speaking and was elected just because he’s not Trump?” he asked.
Others were more sardonic. “This is Joe Biden’s year. He not only managed to stay alive until the election, he also did other things, presumably,” replied popular YouTube creator Shaun.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are TIME's 2020 Person of the Year #TIMEPOY https://t.co/o97QNlSBrl pic.twitter.com/KuoBoebBN4 — TIME (@TIME) December 11, 2020
After selecting its youngest ever Person of the Year last year in climate activist Greta Thunberg, the 78-year-old former vice-president is the oldest recipient in the award’s 93-year history. Time announced that it chose Biden and Harris, “For changing the American story, for showing that the forces of empathy are greater than the furies of division, for sharing a vision of healing in a grieving world.”
Other recent winners include Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and U.S. politicians, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Rudy Giuliani. Going further back, Mahatma Gandhi, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill have also all received the distinction. Perhaps the most controversial selection, however, came in 2006, when it declared that “you” were the Person of the Year, sparking widespread collective eye-rolling.
“Time’s Person of the Year is not and never has been an honor. It is not an endorsement,” the magazine wrote in 2007, after selecting Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It is not a popularity contest. At its best, it is a clear-eyed recognition of the world as it is and of the most powerful individuals and forces shaping that world — for better or for worse.” Despite this, it is clear that the magazine is overwhelmingly supportive of the Biden/Harris ticket. In a long exposé article, it praises his leadership, approvingly stating that he “believed most voters simply wanted reconciliation after four years of combat, that they craved decency, dignity, experience and competence.” Harris, meanwhile, is presented as having “electrified millions” through her “charisma and tough questioning of Trump Administration officials.” Unlike Trump, “President-elect Biden takes COVID-19 very, very seriously,” it instructs readers. This must mark a change from March, when he was against CDC guidelines, beseeching his supporters to go to the polls during the Democratic primaries, insisting it was safe to do so when it clearly was not.
am i missing something did joe biden do anything significant in the last 12 months besides literally just not be Donald Trump. cause i did that too https://t.co/jHVzaVk3M7 — rishi! (@rishipuff) December 11, 2020
News of the announcement came just as audio from a private meeting between Biden and civil rights leaders leaked and went viral. In it, he seemed to shut down all their ideas for progressive reforms, including categorically rejecting any idea of defunding police departments. Activist Shaun King noted that his organization was present at the meeting and the 78-year-old Delawarean simply “yelled the whole time.”
Amid a pandemic that had cost nearly a quarter of a million American lives by Election Day, Biden managed to limp over the line, beating out the incumbent. However, Democrats failed to take control of the Senate, and lost ground in the House of Representatives, meaning that his four-year term could be one permanent lame duck session. Biden also suffers from a dearth of enthusiasm, with the majority of his voters telling pollsters their vote was cast against Trump, not for him.
https://twitter.com/christoaivalis/status/1337248875275579394
In the leaked interview, Biden appears to acknowledge that, while he won the election, the Democrats’ performance was profoundly disappointing. “That’s how they beat the living hell out of us across the country, saying that we’re talking about defunding the police,” he said, implying that progressive policies were unpopular. Others have argued the opposite, that, perhaps in the year of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter it was not a good decision to select a segregationist who wrote the 1994 Crime Bill and California’s “top cop” as the ticket.
Feature photo | MintPress News | Time Magazine
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-12-14--Lee Camp: Unemployment Skyrocketing? An Evolved Society Would Celebrate

Washington DC ( ScheerPost ) — Leaf blowers are everything wrong with capitalism .
.
.
.
I ’ ll explain that in a minute .
We all know times are irredeemably grim , and they ’ re only getting worse .
The unemployment level in America seems to be setting the record books aflame , and for some bizarre reason those numbers correlate nicely with the number of Americans under 40 living with their parents again .
Understandably , the entire country is a little on edge .
If I spend more than 30 minutes around my parents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ringing settles into my inner ear canal , and I start to think Rachel Maddow ( which they leave on 24/7 as if she ’ s Christmas music at Macy ’ s ) makes some logical sense .
Point being , in terms of discomfort , I would imagine living with your parents in your late thirties ranks somewhere between erectile dysfunction and having a brain-eating parasite .
Anyway , back to unemployment .
The Economic Policy Institute recently released new numbers showing , “ Unemployment has especially skyrocketed for young workers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The overall unemployment rate for young workers ages 16–24 jumped from 8.4 % to nearly 25 % from spring 2019 to spring 2020 … Spring 2020 unemployment rates were even higher for young Black , Hispanic , and Asian American/Pacific Islander workers – close to 30 % for all three groups.
” Unemployment is raging .
Out .
Of .
Control .
Forgive me a quick aside about the inner workings of systemic racism .
As those unemployment numbers make clear , not every problem in America involves racism , but every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Systemic racism deniers refuse to comprehend this .
When shit is bad for young people – it ’ s even worse for black young people .
When life sucks for the elderly poor in the United States – it sucks even more for elderly poor Hispanics .
If the police are using weapons of war to crack activist heads – they ’ re cracking black activist heads twice as hard .
If there ’ s a clean water problem in America – the water in Indigenous communities isn ’ t just unclean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Now let ’ s break down this unemployment problem because much like a good one-night stand , you must get to the bottom .
( I ’ m only half sure I understand what that sentence meant . )
So , the surface problem is obvious : a lot of young people are unemployed .
They don ’ t have money , they can ’ t pay rent , they can ’ t pay their student loans , they can ’ t afford food or life , they can only buy a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frappe Unicorn Caramel Almond Juice Latte™ .
So that ’ s one reason employment is important .
Why should we all have to be slaves to the labor market to survive in the first place ?
But if we excavate down to the second layer , we find a more important – and largely censored – quandary : Why should we all have to be slaves to the labor market to survive in the first place ?
Many people work their asses off grinding away at awful monotonous crap that shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our economy overflows with useless work .
Utterly meaningless jobs , profoundly redundant tasks , excessively bureaucratic nonsense , woefully vapid spectacle production , joylessly soulless drudgery .
They proliferate everywhere one looks .
For example , daily outside my apartment window , in a parking lot , no fewer than three Leaf Blower People ( technical terminology ) blow the fuck outta thousands of leaves .
The entire neighborhood sounds like the middle of a nonconsensual monster truck rally for three hours every single morning .
And as if that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s windy out .
The leaves return to their original locations 15 seconds after the guy blows them .
So – much like a fluffer on a porn set – his work doesn ’ t last long .
Not to mention , why do leaves have to inhabit a particular location anyway ?
At the risk of sounding like a radical , let the leaves be leaves !
Let them do their thing .
I ’ m a strong supporter of leaf self-determination .
It ’ s not like they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free near domiciles is a downright danger to society .
No one has ever found a leaf in a parking lot , gasped with horror , then bellowed , “ The children !
Will no one think of the children ?
!
” Plus , we ’ re talking about a damn parking lot .
What car can ’ t park on leaves ?
( Other than a Kia . )
And why the hell hasn ’ t someone invented a leaf blower silencer yet ?
We have a silencer for shooting people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would hope happens far less often than leaf blowing .
Where ’ s the Dyson vacuum guy when you need him ?
Get to work , mate !
Invent the silencer .
You can ’ t retire now – your legacy is not nearly secure .
All you did so far was come up with a funny vacuum and a hand dryer that sprays fecal matter all over people at public restrooms .
( Yes , scientists found that public restroom hand dryers simply hose us all down in shit flurries . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaf blower silencer post haste or you ’ ll be known as the “ feces laminator ” forevermore .
So , we can agree leaf blowing is a nonsensical job .
Much of the machinery of our society is filled with work , that pays people , that is inconsequential , insubstantial , and hollow .
Yet , many of us do these jobs because we are wage slaves .
We must hold down bullshit jobs to survive .
David Graeber wrote a great book about inhuman empty jobs , and although I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m going to pretend I have to impress you .
It ’ s a tremendous book .
Can ’ t believe you haven ’ t read it yet .
So this is the part of the column when I hit you with a groundbreaking , snot-snorting solution that rocks your boat and soils your pants .
Here it is .
.
.
How about NO ?
How about no more wage slavery ?
Alot of the jobs in this country don ’ t need to get done at all , a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a lot of them could be thrown out if we just had a cultural awakening that scientifically analyzed our society to maximize efficiency , health , and sustainability instead of profit , profit , and profit .
So at this point in the debate , people who suffer from Stockholm syndrome defend their wage masters by belching , “ We can ’ t get rid of all those jobs and give people houses and food and clothing without endless life-draining soul-bleeding work – because then what will people do all day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they hate .
It gives their lives meaning.
” To that person I respond – Wow , what a rousing defense of slavery .
It ’ s the same thing they said on the plantations .
“ If you free the slaves , then what will they do all day ?
” Well , if the people newly freed from their jobs have a passion , I assume they ’ ll pursue that .
But if they don ’ t have anything they enjoy doing , then I actually don ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe choose to count their farts — but that ’ s fine because that ’ s called freedom .
Many philosophers with far thicker gooey brain matter than I have said that we must create our own meaning for our lives .
We must seek out and ascertain our own life purpose and folding shirts at Banana Republic is not a good answer .
If people had the time , freedom , understanding and education , they would happily pick their own significance and aspirations .
No one spends 23 hours a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ass hair is perfectly coiffed — because that gives their life drive .
They do it because they need the money .
How many people keep trimming the labradoodle ’ s “ reardo ” or folding the shirts or blowing the leaves after they win the lottery ?
It means he ’ s been indoctrinated so thoroughly , he can ’ t see life outside the factory .
That ’ s like a prisoner who can ’ t leave the prison .
This reminds me of a TV news story I saw about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — millions of dollars — and said he was going back to work at the factory on Monday .
And the news report gushed over how tremendous this was .
“ What a great guy !
He ’ s going back to the factory !
” But honestly , that shouldn ’ t be celebrated .
It ’ s the result of a cultural brain disorder .
It means he ’ s been indoctrinated so thoroughly , he can ’ t see life outside the factory .
That ’ s like a prisoner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s not something to have a goddamn ticker-tape parade over .
We should want all the unemployed people to have jobs — because currently , without the jobs , they can ’ t afford their lives .
But we should also discuss regularly how one day , preferably soon , we should not want to have these jobs — at least not full-time , slaving away at mind-numbing labor the employee loathes .
But that conversation can ’ t be had on our mainstream media or even most alternative media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slavery all the time because this is America – The freest country in the world !
My boss told me so .
Oh , and how will we pay for a leaf blower not to blow leaves ?
How about using the trillions we pay for wars that are never won .
Lee Camp is the host of the hit comedy news show “ Redacted Tonight.
” His new book “ Bullet Points and Punch Lines ” is available at LeeCampBook.com and his stand-up comedy special can be streamed for free at LeeCampAmerican.com @

Washington DC (ScheerPost) — Leaf blowers are everything wrong with capitalism. . . . I’ll explain that in a minute.
We all know times are irredeemably grim, and they’re only getting worse. The unemployment level in America seems to be setting the record books aflame, and for some bizarre reason those numbers correlate nicely with the number of Americans under 40 living with their parents again. Understandably, the entire country is a little on edge. If I spend more than 30 minutes around my parents, one eye starts twitching, a dull ringing settles into my inner ear canal, and I start to think Rachel Maddow (which they leave on 24/7 as if she’s Christmas music at Macy’s) makes some logical sense. Point being, in terms of discomfort, I would imagine living with your parents in your late thirties ranks somewhere between erectile dysfunction and having a brain-eating parasite.
Anyway, back to unemployment. The Economic Policy Institute recently released new numbers showing, “Unemployment has especially skyrocketed for young workers in the COVID-19 labor market. . . . The overall unemployment rate for young workers ages 16–24 jumped from 8.4% to nearly 25% from spring 2019 to spring 2020 … Spring 2020 unemployment rates were even higher for young Black, Hispanic, and Asian American/Pacific Islander workers – close to 30% for all three groups.”
Unemployment is raging. Out. Of. Control.
Forgive me a quick aside about the inner workings of systemic racism. As those unemployment numbers make clear, not every problem in America involves racism, but every problem in America also involves racism. Systemic racism deniers refuse to comprehend this. When shit is bad for young people – it’s even worse for black young people. When life sucks for the elderly poor in the United States – it sucks even more for elderly poor Hispanics. If the police are using weapons of war to crack activist heads – they’re cracking black activist heads twice as hard. If there’s a clean water problem in America – the water in Indigenous communities isn’t just unclean, it has chunks of shit in it!
(Usually chunks of something Dupont used to produce Teflon™. I mean, what’s a few thousand people with cancer in order to ensure the egg slides right off the pan?)
Now let’s break down this unemployment problem because much like a good one-night stand, you must get to the bottom. (I’m only half sure I understand what that sentence meant.) So, the surface problem is obvious: a lot of young people are unemployed. They don’t have money, they can’t pay rent, they can’t pay their student loans, they can’t afford food or life, they can only buy a regular coffee at Starbucks instead of the Frappe Unicorn Caramel Almond Juice Latte™. So that’s one reason employment is important.
Why should we all have to be slaves to the labor market to survive in the first place?
But if we excavate down to the second layer, we find a more important – and largely censored – quandary: Why should we all have to be slaves to the labor market to survive in the first place?
Many people work their asses off grinding away at awful monotonous crap that shouldn’t even have to get done at all. Our economy overflows with useless work. Utterly meaningless jobs, profoundly redundant tasks, excessively bureaucratic nonsense, woefully vapid spectacle production, joylessly soulless drudgery. They proliferate everywhere one looks.
For example, daily outside my apartment window, in a parking lot, no fewer than three Leaf Blower People (technical terminology) blow the fuck outta thousands of leaves. The entire neighborhood sounds like the middle of a nonconsensual monster truck rally for three hours every single morning. And as if that’s not inane enough, most days it’s windy out. The leaves return to their original locations 15 seconds after the guy blows them. So – much like a fluffer on a porn set – his work doesn’t last long.
Not to mention, why do leaves have to inhabit a particular location anyway? At the risk of sounding like a radical, let the leaves be leaves! Let them do their thing. I’m a strong supporter of leaf self-determination. It’s not like they’re scorpions and allowing them to run free near domiciles is a downright danger to society. No one has ever found a leaf in a parking lot, gasped with horror, then bellowed, “The children! Will no one think of the children?!” Plus, we’re talking about a damn parking lot. What car can’t park on leaves? (Other than a Kia.)
And why the hell hasn’t someone invented a leaf blower silencer yet? We have a silencer for shooting people’s heads off, which one would hope happens far less often than leaf blowing. Where’s the Dyson vacuum guy when you need him? Get to work, mate! Invent the silencer. You can’t retire now – your legacy is not nearly secure. All you did so far was come up with a funny vacuum and a hand dryer that sprays fecal matter all over people at public restrooms. (Yes, scientists found that public restroom hand dryers simply hose us all down in shit flurries.) Well done, Dyson. Invent the leaf blower silencer post haste or you’ll be known as the “feces laminator” forevermore.
So, we can agree leaf blowing is a nonsensical job. Much of the machinery of our society is filled with work, that pays people, that is inconsequential, insubstantial, and hollow. Yet, many of us do these jobs because we are wage slaves. We must hold down bullshit jobs to survive. David Graeber wrote a great book about inhuman empty jobs, and although I haven’t read it, I’m going to pretend I have to impress you. It’s a tremendous book. Can’t believe you haven’t read it yet.
So this is the part of the column when I hit you with a groundbreaking, snot-snorting solution that rocks your boat and soils your pants. Here it is . . . How about NO?
How about no more wage slavery?
Alot of the jobs in this country don’t need to get done at all, a lot of them can be done by technology, and a lot of them could be thrown out if we just had a cultural awakening that scientifically analyzed our society to maximize efficiency, health, and sustainability instead of profit, profit, and profit.
So at this point in the debate, people who suffer from Stockholm syndrome defend their wage masters by belching, “We can’t get rid of all those jobs and give people houses and food and clothing without endless life-draining soul-bleeding work – because then what will people do all day? People need to work at jobs they hate. It gives their lives meaning.”
To that person I respond – Wow, what a rousing defense of slavery. It’s the same thing they said on the plantations. “If you free the slaves, then what will they do all day?”
Well, if the people newly freed from their jobs have a passion, I assume they’ll pursue that. But if they don’t have anything they enjoy doing, then I actually don’t know what people will do with themselves — maybe choose to count their farts — but that’s fine because that’s called freedom. Many philosophers with far thicker gooey brain matter than I have said that we must create our own meaning for our lives. We must seek out and ascertain our own life purpose and folding shirts at Banana Republic is not a good answer. If people had the time, freedom, understanding and education, they would happily pick their own significance and aspirations. No one spends 23 hours a day grooming high-end dogs — making sure the ass hair is perfectly coiffed — because that gives their life drive. They do it because they need the money. How many people keep trimming the labradoodle’s “reardo” or folding the shirts or blowing the leaves after they win the lottery?
It means he’s been indoctrinated so thoroughly, he can’t see life outside the factory. That’s like a prisoner who can’t leave the prison.
This reminds me of a TV news story I saw about a blue-collar worker who won the lottery — millions of dollars — and said he was going back to work at the factory on Monday. And the news report gushed over how tremendous this was. “What a great guy! He’s going back to the factory!” But honestly, that shouldn’t be celebrated. It’s the result of a cultural brain disorder. It means he’s been indoctrinated so thoroughly, he can’t see life outside the factory. That’s like a prisoner who can’t leave the prison. It’s not something to have a goddamn ticker-tape parade over.
We should want all the unemployed people to have jobs — because currently, without the jobs, they can’t afford their lives. But we should also discuss regularly how one day, preferably soon, we should not want to have these jobs — at least not full-time, slaving away at mind-numbing labor the employee loathes. But that conversation can’t be had on our mainstream media or even most alternative media. Everyone must partake in the wage slavery all the time because this is America – The freest country in the world! My boss told me so.
Oh, and how will we pay for a leaf blower not to blow leaves? How about using the trillions we pay for wars that are never won.
Feature photo | Bernat Armangue | AP | MintPress News
Lee Camp is the host of the hit comedy news show “Redacted Tonight.” His new book “Bullet Points and Punch Lines” is available at LeeCampBook.com and his stand-up comedy special can be streamed for free at LeeCampAmerican.com.


mintpressnews--2020-12-14--US Embassy Caught Scrubbing Tweets Urging Venezuelans Not To Vote

The United States embassy for Venezuela has been caught deleting tweets undermining the integrity of the December 6 National Assembly elections in the country and calling on Venezuelans not to participate in them .
“ Tomorrow in Venezuela there will be no elections but rather a fraud carried out by the illegitimate Maduro regime .
The world is watching .
And Venezuelans are organizing to report it .
Are you ready to defend democracy ?
I don ’ t vote on December 6 , ” one tweet read , linking to a website purporting to track election irregularities .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been one commonly employed by the opposition during their many coup attempts on the government , dating back to 2002 .
The deletion was spotted by Adrienne Pine , Associate Professor of Anthropology at the American University in Washington D.C. and one of 300 foreign election observers who oversaw the contest earlier this month .
It is not clear why the U.S. embassy decided to go back and delete its posting history , especially as that continues to be the official line of the United States government .
Accusing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described the contest as “ a political farce intended to look like legislative elections.
” “ The United States , along with numerous other democracies around the world , condemns this charade which failed to meet any minimum standard of credibility , ” he added .
But the American position is disputed by the international observers , including Pine herself , who was impressed by the level of election security .
“ It was really amazing to see it firsthand .
There are so many fail safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there can ’ t be fraud that I was just blown away , ” she said on the latest edition of the MintCast , MintPress ’ video podcast .
“ COVID security measures were completely integrated into the electoral process itself , ” she added .
The Council of Latin American Electoral Experts , who also oversaw the vote , verified the results , noting the “ increased citizen confidence in political organizations and candidates.
” A number of former heads of state , including those of Ecuador , Spain , Honduras , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s veracity .
The election saw the ruling socialist coalition sweep up 253 of the 277 seats on offer in the National Assembly ( comparable to the U.S. House of Representatives ) , amid a partial opposition boycott of the process encouraged by the U.S. government .
Calling for mass abstention , many opposition parties essentially ensured that the government would win big , but were hoping to delegitimize the process altogether through a painfully low turnout .
Turnout was 31 percent , low , but not low enough to prevent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thus , without control of any branch of government , the opposition ’ s only hope of coming to power in the near future remains through directly ousting the current government .
The embassy , like the government in Washington , continues to support the self-declared president of Venezuela Juan Guaidó , despite his lack of office .
Guaidó held his own “ people ’ s vote ” at the same time as the election , promoting voting in person , online , or by phone in his referendum .
The U.S. endorsed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country showing they could bypass safety features and vote online themselves .
Despite unwavering American support , others in the opposition , such as two-time opposition coalition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles , are calling on the U.S. to rethink their backing of a figure with such low public support inside the country .
“ The new administration has to understand that this plan has run its course and it can not keep the status quo : the [ Guaido ] ‘ interim presidency , ’ ” he told the BBC .
The embassy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not physically located in Venezuela , but in neighboring Colombia , a close U.S.-ally .
The U.S. had no ambassador to Venezuela from 2010 until November this year , and no representatives inside the country at all of late , amid worsening relations and multiple attempts to overthrow the Maduro administration led to the expulsion of U.S. diplomats .
Last week , President Ivan Duque of Colombia admitted that he had a hand in helping opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez , kept under house arrest for his role in a 2014 coup attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also faced scrutiny after supporting the now-infamous “ Bay of Piglets ” attempt by ex-Green Berets to carry out an amphibious landing from Colombia and shoot their way into the presidential palace .
If a low level mercenary invasion proved ineffectual , a few tweets will likely not work in removing Maduro from power .
Feature photo | Government supporters walk past a mural depicting the late president Hugo Chavez during a closing campaign rally for parliamentary elections , in Caracas , Venezuela , Dec. 3 , 2020 .
Ariana Cubillos | AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary .

The United States embassy for Venezuela has been caught deleting tweets undermining the integrity of the December 6 National Assembly elections in the country and calling on Venezuelans not to participate in them.
“Tomorrow in Venezuela there will be no elections but rather a fraud carried out by the illegitimate Maduro regime. The world is watching. And Venezuelans are organizing to report it. Are you ready to defend democracy? I don’t vote on December 6,” one tweet read, linking to a website purporting to track election irregularities.
The concept of “defending democracy” has been one commonly employed by the opposition during their many coup attempts on the government, dating back to 2002.
The deletion was spotted by Adrienne Pine, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the American University in Washington D.C. and one of 300 foreign election observers who oversaw the contest earlier this month.
Gee, I wonder why the phantom US embassy in Venezuela is deleting tweets in which it calls for Venezuelans to not participate in their own national elections and claims the election will be a fraud before it occurred and without any evidence.https://t.co/3CnEihC0EJ pic.twitter.com/oQXYm5M2mU — Adrienne Pine (@adriennepine) December 14, 2020
It is not clear why the U.S. embassy decided to go back and delete its posting history, especially as that continues to be the official line of the United States government. Accusing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of “brazenly rigging these elections,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described the contest as “a political farce intended to look like legislative elections.” “The United States, along with numerous other democracies around the world, condemns this charade which failed to meet any minimum standard of credibility,” he added.
But the American position is disputed by the international observers, including Pine herself, who was impressed by the level of election security. “It was really amazing to see it firsthand. There are so many fail safe measures in the system to ensure that there can’t be fraud that I was just blown away,” she said on the latest edition of the MintCast, MintPress’ video podcast. “COVID security measures were completely integrated into the electoral process itself,” she added.
The Council of Latin American Electoral Experts, who also oversaw the vote, verified the results, noting the “increased citizen confidence in political organizations and candidates.” A number of former heads of state, including those of Ecuador, Spain, Honduras, and Bolivia also attested to the process’s veracity.
The election saw the ruling socialist coalition sweep up 253 of the 277 seats on offer in the National Assembly (comparable to the U.S. House of Representatives), amid a partial opposition boycott of the process encouraged by the U.S. government. Calling for mass abstention, many opposition parties essentially ensured that the government would win big, but were hoping to delegitimize the process altogether through a painfully low turnout. Turnout was 31 percent, low, but not low enough to prevent the socialists from declaring a decisive victory. Thus, without control of any branch of government, the opposition’s only hope of coming to power in the near future remains through directly ousting the current government.
The embassy, like the government in Washington, continues to support the self-declared president of Venezuela Juan Guaidó, despite his lack of office. Guaidó held his own “people’s vote” at the same time as the election, promoting voting in person, online, or by phone in his referendum. The U.S. endorsed the results, despite non-Venezuelans outside the country showing they could bypass safety features and vote online themselves.
Despite unwavering American support, others in the opposition, such as two-time opposition coalition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, are calling on the U.S. to rethink their backing of a figure with such low public support inside the country. “The new administration has to understand that this plan has run its course and it cannot keep the status quo: the [Guaido] ‘interim presidency,’” he told the BBC.
The embassy calls itself “virtual” because it is not physically located in Venezuela, but in neighboring Colombia, a close U.S.-ally. The U.S. had no ambassador to Venezuela from 2010 until November this year, and no representatives inside the country at all of late, amid worsening relations and multiple attempts to overthrow the Maduro administration led to the expulsion of U.S. diplomats. Last week, President Ivan Duque of Colombia admitted that he had a hand in helping opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, kept under house arrest for his role in a 2014 coup attempt, escape to Colombia. The U.S. also faced scrutiny after supporting the now-infamous “Bay of Piglets” attempt by ex-Green Berets to carry out an amphibious landing from Colombia and shoot their way into the presidential palace. If a low level mercenary invasion proved ineffectual, a few tweets will likely not work in removing Maduro from power.
Feature photo | Government supporters walk past a mural depicting the late president Hugo Chavez during a closing campaign rally for parliamentary elections, in Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 3, 2020. Ariana Cubillos | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.


mintpressnews--2020-12-14--Corporate Media Shills For Assassination Of Iranian Scientist

The Trump administration committed another act of war against Iran , and like every U.S. war in the modern era , it began with a lie : that Iran is developing nuclear weapons .
It ’ s a total falsehood we ’ ve heard get repeated again and again throughout mainstream media and from pundits who personally profit from U.S. aggression .
Jack Keane , who once proclaimed , “ Iran with nuclear weapons and missiles that deliver them is absolutely a bonafide existential threat to Israel , ” has a cozy relationship with the MEK , an Iranian exile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and who the U.S. government had listed as a terrorist group until recently .
It ’ s no secret that the MEK pays U.S. officials to advocate on its behalf .
Keane is the chairman of the Institute for the Study of War – a think tank funded by arms manufacturers like Raytheon and General Dynamics , which paid Keane more than $ 200,000 dollars in 2018 alone .
Then there ’ s the uber-hawkish human walrus John Bolton .
Bolton was on the payroll of the MEK too , but CNN didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor that Bolton famously told a fawning audience at an MEK rally , “ that ’ s why before 2019 , we here will celebrate in Tehran .
Thank you very much !
” It ’ s not just right-wing fanatics paid by the MEK that are lying about Iranian weapons capabilities .
It ’ s also respectable liberal media outlets .
Sonam Sheth , a political correspondent at Business Insider covering national security issues told MSNBC that , “ it ’ s very unlikely that his [ Mohsen Fakhrizadeh ] assassination is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue its producing nuclear weapons.
” ABC News also presented the allegation of an Iranian nuclear weapons program as an undisputed fact , describing Fakhrizadeh simply as , “ The scientist believed to be the mastermind behind Iran ’ s covert nuclear weapons program.
” “ Believed to be ” – what an interesting term .
It was used over and over in coverage of the assassination of Fakhrizadeh .
Who exactly is doing the believing here ?
The New York Times described the operation as being carried out by “ U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the so-called paper of record said , “ are known for their upstanding behavior and honesty.
” Remember when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swore that Saddam Hussein was developing nuclear weapons ?
“ There is no question , whatsoever , that Saddam is seeking and is working , and is advancing towards the development of nuclear weapons .
No question whatsoever , ” he said in 2002 testimony to Congress .
Whatever happened to those anyway ?
George Bush , too , proclaimed that “ Those weapons of mass destruction got ta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing pushing for U.S. war on Iraq , he said “ Iran was developing nuclear weapons too.
” Of course , all of these outlets conveniently ignore the statement from then-top intelligence official Dan Coats that “ we do not believe Iran is currently undertaking the key activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device.
” Because that would undermine the drive to war .
But don ’ t worry .
Biden isn ’ t like Trump .
He ’ s one of the adults in the room .
And he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made it clear they ’ ll return to the Iran deal that stupid Trump tore up , right ?
Wrong .
Biden ’ s secretary of state Tony Blinken said this , “ If Iran returns to compliance with the nuclear agreement , we would do the same .
But then we would use that as a platform to try to , working with our allies and partners , to try to strengthen and lengthen it.
” And then there ’ s national security advisor Jake Sullivan , who said Biden would return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Iran “ returns to compliance… and is prepared to advance good-faith negotiations on these follow-on agreements.
” So Biden ’ s Iran policy is basically just Trump lite .
But that ’ s not terribly surprising when you examine his top foreign policy advisor ’ s record .
Jake Sullivan is a favorite of the Foundation of Defense For Democracies , the neoconservative think tank funded by top Trump donor and ultra-zionist Sheldon Adelson which an Israeli official described as acting on its behalf .
The FDD crafted Trump ’ s maximum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran .
So even if Biden doesn ’ t go to war with Iran , he ’ s not projecting any desire for real diplomacy or de-escalation of hostilities .
He hasn ’ t even said he ’ ll lift the crippling sanctions the Trump administration leveled .
And what happens when the next administration decides it wants full-on war with Iran ?
Just because Trump is out , don ’ t think for a second that the U.S. is going to fundamentally change .
The U.S. is gearing up for war a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden doesn ’ t authorize he ’ s not going to prevent his successor from doing it .
Dan Cohen is a journalist and filmmaker .
He has produced widely distributed video reports and print dispatches from across Israel-Palestine .
Dan is a correspondent at RT America and tweets at @ DanCohen3000 .

The Trump administration committed another act of war against Iran, and like every U.S. war in the modern era, it began with a lie: that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. It’s a total falsehood we’ve heard get repeated again and again throughout mainstream media and from pundits who personally profit from U.S. aggression.
Jack Keane, who once proclaimed, “Iran with nuclear weapons and missiles that deliver them is absolutely a bonafide existential threat to Israel,” has a cozy relationship with the MEK, an Iranian exile cult that has assassinated Iranian scientists itself and who the U.S. government had listed as a terrorist group until recently. It’s no secret that the MEK pays U.S. officials to advocate on its behalf. Keane is the chairman of the Institute for the Study of War – a think tank funded by arms manufacturers like Raytheon and General Dynamics, which paid Keane more than $200,000 dollars in 2018 alone.
Then there’s the uber-hawkish human walrus John Bolton. Bolton was on the payroll of the MEK too, but CNN didn’t bother to mention that, nor that Bolton famously told a fawning audience at an MEK rally, “that’s why before 2019, we here will celebrate in Tehran. Thank you very much!”
Media shills
It’s not just right-wing fanatics paid by the MEK that are lying about Iranian weapons capabilities. It’s also respectable liberal media outlets.
Sonam Sheth, a political correspondent at Business Insider covering national security issues told MSNBC that, “it’s very unlikely that his [Mohsen Fakhrizadeh] assassination is going to impede Iran’s efforts to continue its producing nuclear weapons.”
ABC News also presented the allegation of an Iranian nuclear weapons program as an undisputed fact, describing Fakhrizadeh simply as, “The scientist believed to be the mastermind behind Iran’s covert nuclear weapons program.” “Believed to be” – what an interesting term. It was used over and over in coverage of the assassination of Fakhrizadeh. Who exactly is doing the believing here?
The New York Times described the operation as being carried out by “U.S. and Israeli intelligence,” which the so-called paper of record said, “are known for their upstanding behavior and honesty.”
A broken record
Remember when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swore that Saddam Hussein was developing nuclear weapons? “There is no question, whatsoever, that Saddam is seeking and is working, and is advancing towards the development of nuclear weapons. No question whatsoever,” he said in 2002 testimony to Congress.
Whatever happened to those anyway?
George Bush, too, proclaimed that “Those weapons of mass destruction gotta be somewhere.” At the very same hearing pushing for U.S. war on Iraq, he said “Iran was developing nuclear weapons too.”
Of course, all of these outlets conveniently ignore the statement from then-top intelligence official Dan Coats that “we do not believe Iran is currently undertaking the key activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device.” Because that would undermine the drive to war.
But don’t worry. Biden isn’t like Trump. He’s one of the adults in the room. And he’s surrounded by seasoned diplomats who have made it clear they’ll return to the Iran deal that stupid Trump tore up, right? Wrong.
Biden’s secretary of state Tony Blinken said this, “If Iran returns to compliance with the nuclear agreement, we would do the same. But then we would use that as a platform to try to, working with our allies and partners, to try to strengthen and lengthen it.”
And then there’s national security advisor Jake Sullivan, who said Biden would return to the JCPOA (Iran deal) if Iran “returns to compliance… and is prepared to advance good-faith negotiations on these follow-on agreements.”
So Biden’s Iran policy is basically just Trump lite. But that’s not terribly surprising when you examine his top foreign policy advisor’s record. Jake Sullivan is a favorite of the Foundation of Defense For Democracies, the neoconservative think tank funded by top Trump donor and ultra-zionist Sheldon Adelson which an Israeli official described as acting on its behalf. The FDD crafted Trump’s maximum pressure strategy to achieve regime change in Iran.
So even if Biden doesn’t go to war with Iran, he’s not projecting any desire for real diplomacy or de-escalation of hostilities. He hasn’t even said he’ll lift the crippling sanctions the Trump administration leveled. And what happens when the next administration decides it wants full-on war with Iran?
Just because Trump is out, don’t think for a second that the U.S. is going to fundamentally change. The U.S. is gearing up for war a catastrophic war on Iran, even if Biden doesn’t authorize he’s not going to prevent his successor from doing it.
Feature photo | Graphic by Antonio Cabrera for MintPress News
Dan Cohen is a journalist and filmmaker. He has produced widely distributed video reports and print dispatches from across Israel-Palestine. Dan is a correspondent at RT America and tweets at @DanCohen3000.


mintpressnews--2020-12-14--Netanyahu’s Days May Be Numbered, but a Cadre of Far-Right Fanatics Wait in the Wings

Israel is due to hold elections for the fourth time in just two years .
The Israeli election commission has yet to announce the precise date , but it seems fairly certain that elections will take place in March of 2021 , demonstrating once again that Israel is unstable and likely to become even more dangerous than it already is today .
All eyes are on Benjamin Netanyahu and how he might manage to remain in the Prime Minister ’ s seat .
But all eyes should , in fact , be on two men that are far more dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard-bearers of the Zionist religious right , Naftali Bennett and Bezalel Smotrich .
These two men are the most radical , uncompromising , religious-nationalist radicals in Israeli politics today .
They are ambitious and politically savvy , and if they get their way , then what the Russian Ambassador in Tel-Aviv said in an interview recently , that Israel is a destabilizing factor in the region , will soon be considered an understatement .
The religious Zionist movement has , until recently , been treated as a fringe group , but they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Zionist project , and most post-1967 Zionist expansion can be credited to them .
Their relentless activism and zealous belief that God is on their side have in many ways shaped the Zionist state .
Netanyahu may be the only person capable of keeping them somewhat contained .
Over the past few decades , these religious fanatics managed to become the darlings of the Zionist mainstream .
On the one hand , they seem friendly and generous in their desire to see all Jewish people thrive in their “ ancestral homeland.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and despised .
Either way , they have considerable political strength and influence and have reached a point where their agenda is no longer seen as fringe or radical .
They are dedicated and effective in all areas where they serve .
They perform well in both the military and civil service , and both have the capacity to reach the very top of the political pyramid .
A piece in the Israeli daily Haaretz , comparing Netanyahu to Bennett , claims that “ They both get their inspiration from the right-wing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bible and Ayn Rand , and believe that the strong are right .
But as a kippa-wearer and an entrepreneur who made a profitable exit , Bennett beats his rival hands down .
Netanyahu might know how to quote the Bible and Ayn Rand , but Bennett fulfills them with his actions and his way of life.
” The piece goes on to say that “ Bennett is undoubtedly the most impressive Israeli politician who has emerged over the past decade .
Instead of the prime minister ’ s miserliness and glory-hounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bennett is seen as go-getter without affectations who pays his way.
” Indeed it seems that today many Israelis hang their hopes on “ Hayamin Hahadash ” party Chairman Naftali Bennett as their savior .
In the opinion polls , where he has soared to 22 Knesset seats , he is seen as a leading candidate in the race to the premiership .
This is unprecedented for someone who represents not just the radical right but the religious Zionist right .
While serving as defense minister , Bennett said , “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such that Israel will always lose because it is the Jewish State and Israel should not try to ingratiate itself to the court.
” Further , he is quoted as saying , “ The Hague is the workshop of modern antisemitism.
” Bennett has served as an officer in some of the IDF ’ s most murderous terror units and is known to defend IDF soldiers and commanders who commit war crimes .
During Israel ’ s 1996 criminal excursion into southern Lebanon , Bennett commanded a reconnaissance unit and personally ordered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Qana village , where hundreds of Lebanese civilians had taken shelter .
The attack caused the death of over 100 civilians who had fled there to take shelter .
Several decades later , when another war criminal , Ofer Vinter , a friend and comrade in arms of Bennett , commanded the notoriously murderous “ Givati ” Brigade that murdered countless civilians in the Gaza Strip , Bennett said Vinter and his soldiers deserve medals .
Vinter , too , comes from the radical religious Zionist right and has since been promoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bennett admitted publicly on Israeli television that “ I killed many Arabs in my life , and I have no problem with that.
” The Israeli newspaper Haaretz , reported how Smotrich justifies his support for the segregation between Jews and non-Jews in Israeli maternity wards , “ My Wife Wouldn ’ t Want to Give Birth Next to an Arab Woman , ” Smotrich says .
He continues that he “ doesn ’ t want his wife lying next to a woman whose baby will murder his child in another 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founders of the Regavim organization , known for its campaigns to terrorize Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank .
In their well-funded campaigns , they claim Palestinians are “ stealing Jewish land and water , taking over lands that are not theirs , and building illegally.
” It ’ s a radical organization of right-wing religious Zionists who promote racism and violence .
Smotrich has been at the forefront of a relentless attack by the religious Zionist right against the Israeli High Court .
Along with the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has been pushing for resources and support for Israeli settlements in the West Bank , and through his Regavim organization , actively terrorizing Palestinians throughout Palestine .
“ The Land of Israel was desolate and empty , ” Smotrich stated , referring to Palestine as “ Eretz Yisrael.
” In a rare speech delivered in English , he added that “ Only when they [ the Palestinian people , MP ] give up on their national aspirations here in the Land of Israel will there be a chance for peace.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and that the Arabs who reside in Israel have three choices .
The first is to remain in the state of Israel as residents with no political rights .
They may live here and enjoy the progress the Jews brought here to Israel ’ s otherwise desolate land , and they can enjoy the fruits of “ our ” labor .
They may vote in local elections and have some control over their local government but not on a national level .
The second choice is to leave and live anywhere else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ they can pick any Daesh or ISIS country that they want.
” “ All around you see wars and Arabs killing and eating each other alive , so they can go there if they want.
” The third option is that “ we will see them through the sight of a gun.
” If the Arabs decide to stay and fight , they will die.
” Smotrich also considers this a choice that works .
Smotrich is careful not to discuss the issue of Jerusalem and the building of a so-called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Al-Aqsa Mosque , a mainstay of the religious Zionist right .
While detailed plans are being made and millions of dollars invested to that end , all he says is that this will be done in accordance with the will of the Almighty .
Smotrich has referred to Arabs as uncivilized and barbaric and referred to himself as a “ proud homophobe ” and the Gay Pride Parade as a “ parade of beasts.
” He called the Palestinian Bedouin a demographic ticking time bomb and said something must be done about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no problem with Jewish people having large families , quite the opposite , that , he says , is a “ blessing.
” Tamar Zandberg , a member of Knesset from the left-leaning Zionist Meretz party , said that “ the face of the generation is the face of Smotrich.
” While speaking in the Knesset , she outlined policy after policy from the Smotrich playbook all of which have been adopted by the Israeli government .
While every democratic society has had to deal with its own right-wing fanatics , Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding , and weapons of mass destruction .
As the U.S. and Israel point to Iran as a potential nuclear threat , the real threat comes from Israel , where Bennett and Smotrich can get their hands on Israeli nukes .
Smotrich is admittedly one of the most serious , effective , and hard-working politicians in the Israeli Knesset and has managed to create an image of a caring politician , albeit with an extreme anti-Palestinian and anti-left agenda .
Together with Bennett , who is more of a political heavyweight , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions to wield even more power .
Feature photo | Naftali Bennett , the charismatic new leader of Israel ’ s Jewish religious right , speaks in Ashdod .
Ariel Schalit | AP Miko Peled is an author and human rights activist born in Jerusalem .
He is the author of “ The General ’ s Son .
Journey of an Israeli in Palestine , ” and “ Injustice , the Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five .
”

Israel is due to hold elections for the fourth time in just two years. The Israeli election commission has yet to announce the precise date, but it seems fairly certain that elections will take place in March of 2021, demonstrating once again that Israel is unstable and likely to become even more dangerous than it already is today.
All eyes are on Benjamin Netanyahu and how he might manage to remain in the Prime Minister’s seat. But all eyes should, in fact, be on two men that are far more dangerous than Netanyahu. They are the two standard-bearers of the Zionist religious right, Naftali Bennett and Bezalel Smotrich. These two men are the most radical, uncompromising, religious-nationalist radicals in Israeli politics today. They are ambitious and politically savvy, and if they get their way, then what the Russian Ambassador in Tel-Aviv said in an interview recently, that Israel is a destabilizing factor in the region, will soon be considered an understatement.
Gaining power
The religious Zionist movement has, until recently, been treated as a fringe group, but they have long been on the cutting edge of the Zionist project, and most post-1967 Zionist expansion can be credited to them. Their relentless activism and zealous belief that God is on their side have in many ways shaped the Zionist state. Netanyahu may be the only person capable of keeping them somewhat contained.
Over the past few decades, these religious fanatics managed to become the darlings of the Zionist mainstream. On the one hand, they seem friendly and generous in their desire to see all Jewish people thrive in their “ancestral homeland.” On the other, they are feared and despised. Either way, they have considerable political strength and influence and have reached a point where their agenda is no longer seen as fringe or radical. They are dedicated and effective in all areas where they serve. They perform well in both the military and civil service, and both have the capacity to reach the very top of the political pyramid.
Naftali Bennett
A piece in the Israeli daily Haaretz, comparing Netanyahu to Bennett, claims that “They both get their inspiration from the right-wing in the United States and in Israel, the Bible and Ayn Rand, and believe that the strong are right. But as a kippa-wearer and an entrepreneur who made a profitable exit, Bennett beats his rival hands down. Netanyahu might know how to quote the Bible and Ayn Rand, but Bennett fulfills them with his actions and his way of life.”
The piece goes on to say that “Bennett is undoubtedly the most impressive Israeli politician who has emerged over the past decade. Instead of the prime minister’s miserliness and glory-hounding, which has led him to indictment, Bennett is seen as go-getter without affectations who pays his way.”
Indeed it seems that today many Israelis hang their hopes on “Hayamin Hahadash” party Chairman Naftali Bennett as their savior. In the opinion polls, where he has soared to 22 Knesset seats, he is seen as a leading candidate in the race to the premiership. This is unprecedented for someone who represents not just the radical right but the religious Zionist right.
While serving as defense minister, Bennett said, “the ICC comes from an antisemitic starting point, such that Israel will always lose because it is the Jewish State and Israel should not try to ingratiate itself to the court.” Further, he is quoted as saying, “The Hague is the workshop of modern antisemitism.”
War criminal
Bennett has served as an officer in some of the IDF’s most murderous terror units and is known to defend IDF soldiers and commanders who commit war crimes. During Israel’s 1996 criminal excursion into southern Lebanon, Bennett commanded a reconnaissance unit and personally ordered an artillery attack on the UN compound in Qana village, where hundreds of Lebanese civilians had taken shelter. The attack caused the death of over 100 civilians who had fled there to take shelter.
Several decades later, when another war criminal, Ofer Vinter, a friend and comrade in arms of Bennett, commanded the notoriously murderous “Givati” Brigade that murdered countless civilians in the Gaza Strip, Bennett said Vinter and his soldiers deserve medals. Vinter, too, comes from the radical religious Zionist right and has since been promoted general. As for his own conduct, Bennett admitted publicly on Israeli television that “I killed many Arabs in my life, and I have no problem with that.”
Bezalel Smotrich
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, reported how Smotrich justifies his support for the segregation between Jews and non-Jews in Israeli maternity wards, “My Wife Wouldn’t Want to Give Birth Next to an Arab Woman,” Smotrich says. He continues that he “doesn’t want his wife lying next to a woman whose baby will murder his child in another 20 years.”
Smotrich is one of the founders of the Regavim organization, known for its campaigns to terrorize Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank. In their well-funded campaigns, they claim Palestinians are “stealing Jewish land and water, taking over lands that are not theirs, and building illegally.” It’s a radical organization of right-wing religious Zionists who promote racism and violence.
Smotrich has been at the forefront of a relentless attack by the religious Zionist right against the Israeli High Court. Along with the rest of Israel’s religious right political block, he has been pushing for resources and support for Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and through his Regavim organization, actively terrorizing Palestinians throughout Palestine.
Three choices
“The Land of Israel was desolate and empty,” Smotrich stated, referring to Palestine as “Eretz Yisrael.”
We returned to this land after two thousand years and found sand and Malaria and we brought progress. We are very hospitable people, and the Arabs are welcome to remain here as our guests as long as they accept that this is a Jewish state. Any Arabs who have national aspirations can go somewhere else to other Arab countries.”
In a rare speech delivered in English, he added that “Only when they [the Palestinian people, MP] give up on their national aspirations here in the Land of Israel will there be a chance for peace.”
Smotrich claims that there are no Palestinian people and that the Arabs who reside in Israel have three choices. The first is to remain in the state of Israel as residents with no political rights. They may live here and enjoy the progress the Jews brought here to Israel’s otherwise desolate land, and they can enjoy the fruits of “our” labor. They may vote in local elections and have some control over their local government but not on a national level.
The second choice is to leave and live anywhere else, or as he calls it, “they can pick any Daesh or ISIS country that they want.” “All around you see wars and Arabs killing and eating each other alive, so they can go there if they want.”
The third option is that “we will see them through the sight of a gun.” If the Arabs decide to stay and fight, they will die.” Smotrich also considers this a choice that works.
Smotrich is careful not to discuss the issue of Jerusalem and the building of a so-called “Jewish Temple” to replace the 1,500-year-old Al-Aqsa Mosque, a mainstay of the religious Zionist right. While detailed plans are being made and millions of dollars invested to that end, all he says is that this will be done in accordance with the will of the Almighty.
Smotrich has referred to Arabs as uncivilized and barbaric and referred to himself as a “proud homophobe” and the Gay Pride Parade as a “parade of beasts.” He called the Palestinian Bedouin a demographic ticking time bomb and said something must be done about their fast growth as a community. He has no problem with Jewish people having large families, quite the opposite, that, he says, is a “blessing.”
The face of Israel
Tamar Zandberg, a member of Knesset from the left-leaning Zionist Meretz party, said that “the face of the generation is the face of Smotrich.” While speaking in the Knesset, she outlined policy after policy from the Smotrich playbook all of which have been adopted by the Israeli government.
While every democratic society has had to deal with its own right-wing fanatics, Israel has provided them with a platform, funding, and weapons of mass destruction. As the U.S. and Israel point to Iran as a potential nuclear threat, the real threat comes from Israel, where Bennett and Smotrich can get their hands on Israeli nukes.
Smotrich is admittedly one of the most serious, effective, and hard-working politicians in the Israeli Knesset and has managed to create an image of a caring politician, albeit with an extreme anti-Palestinian and anti-left agenda. Together with Bennett, who is more of a political heavyweight, they will either replace Netanyahu or be in positions to wield even more power.
Feature photo | Naftali Bennett, the charismatic new leader of Israel’s Jewish religious right, speaks in Ashdod. Ariel Schalit | AP
Miko Peled is an author and human rights activist born in Jerusalem. He is the author of “The General’s Son. Journey of an Israeli in Palestine,” and “Injustice, the Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five.”


mintpressnews--2020-12-14--Left and Right Unite in Calls for Snowden Pardon Amid Speculation of a Trump Decision

Amid mounting speculation that President Trump is about to announce a list of presidential pardons , calls for — and against — NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden ’ s name to be included are growing louder .
In November , as is customary , Donald Trump pardoned a turkey for Thanksgiving .
Now , in the lame duck session of his presidency , he appears to be making a customary list of people to pardon as well .
Influential and well-connected publication Axios reported , in a scandalized tone , that he is planning to hand out pardons “ like Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever talked to [ him ] .
” In August , the president was asked about Snowden specifically , responding by saying that , “ I ’ m going to take a very good look at it .
I ’ ve seen people that are very conservative and very liberal and they agree on the same issue…I ’ m going to take a look at that very strongly.
” Now , a host of figures are calling in unison for Trump to follow through on the proposal .
“ President Trump is listening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urging him to pardon Snowden .
It ’ s the right thing to do , ” Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz said yesterday .
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul agreed , slamming former Director of National Intelligence , James Clapper , in the process .
“ Clapper brazenly lied to Congress denying that the Deep State was spying on all Americans .
Snowden simply revealed Clapper ’ s lies and exposed unconstitutional spying .
He deserves a pardon from Donald Trump , ” he wrote .
Those calls were joined by a number of voices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party vice-presidential candidate Ajamu Baraka , who said , “ I support pardons for Snowden , Assange and especially Chelsea Manning .
All exposed the criminality of the Bush-Obama/Biden period.
” The American Civil Liberties Union , who have previously described Snowden as a “ patriot , ” concurred , stating , “ Edward Snowden blew the whistle on illegal government activity kept secret for years .
Our democracy is better off because of him.
” While the idea of pardoning the former CIA employee drew together an alliance of those on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared totally against the idea .
Former CIA director John Brennan bristled with indignation at Senator Paul ’ s remarks , replying : Upon hearing the news that Trump was considering pardoning Snowden , Susan Rice , now head of President-elect Biden ’ s Domestic Policy Council , suggested that this was an action so disgusting that it showed the Republican Party in a new light .
“ Congratulations GOP .
This is who you are now , ” she tweeted .
Setting up a false dichotomy , David Weissman of the Lincoln @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reality Winner instead .
Meanwhile , New York Times columnist Kurt Eichenwald went on a spirited tirade , claiming that Snowden had given U.S. secrets to the Chinese government and that exposing American spying on Asian nations had likely cost lives , connecting Chinese repression in Tibet with his decision .
“ And if Trump gives him a pardon ?
Well , China will be laughing it ’ s ass off .
So will Putin .
And every U.S. enemy that Snowden helped , ” he fumed .
“ Edward Snowden is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest and most damaging release of classified info in US history .
He handed over US secrets to Russian and Chinese intelligence putting our troops and our nation at risk , ” wrote Liz Cheney , daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney .
“ Pardoning him would be unconscionable.
” This drew a storm of criticism online , not least from those pointing out her father ’ s own crimes .
“ Of course…The neocon ally of US liberals speaks up .
Liz Cheney is an abject liar , ” responded journalist Glenn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a family of liars and her career rests solely on her father , one of this century ’ s worst liars.
” For his own part , Snowden has actually campaigned for the release of Julian Assange , rather than himself , directly asking the president for clemency for the Australian publisher .
Meanwhile , Reality Winner ’ s family appears to be pinning their hopes on the incoming Biden administration .
Snowden shot to international fame in 2013 when he shared a vast archive of NSA documents with Greenwald , documents which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NSA and other organizations were spying on the world , including the American people — something which its leaders had explicitly denied under oath .
He was immediately charged under the Espionage Act of 1917 , passed when the United States was at war during World War I .
He has spent the last seven years in Russia , unable to return to his homeland without facing prosecution .
In October this year , he was granted permanent residency in Russia .
Considering the treatment of Assange and Chelsea Manning , others who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is highly unlikely that , without a pardon , he will be able to safely return to the United States .
Manning , whose sentence President Obama commuted in 2017 as he was leaving office , has faced constant harassment and was reimprisoned for refusing to aid the prosecution of Assange .
Trump has made many contradictory statements with regards to whistleblowers .
Which camp the famously mercurial president eventually sides with remains to be seen .
Feature photo | Edward Snowden is seen on a television screen via video uplink @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call upon President Barack Obama to pardon Snowden before he leaves office in New York , Sept. 14 , 2016 .
Mary Altaffer | AP Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News .
After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books : Bad News From Venezuela : Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age : Still Manufacturing Consent .
He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting , The Guardian , Salon , The Grayzone , Jacobin Magazine , Common Dreams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Amid mounting speculation that President Trump is about to announce a list of presidential pardons, calls for — and against — NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden’s name to be included are growing louder.
In November, as is customary, Donald Trump pardoned a turkey for Thanksgiving. Now, in the lame duck session of his presidency, he appears to be making a customary list of people to pardon as well. Influential and well-connected publication Axios reported, in a scandalized tone, that he is planning to hand out pardons “like Christmas gifts” to “every person who ever talked to [him].” In August, the president was asked about Snowden specifically, responding by saying that, “I’m going to take a very good look at it. I’ve seen people that are very conservative and very liberal and they agree on the same issue…I’m going to take a look at that very strongly.”
Now, a host of figures are calling in unison for Trump to follow through on the proposal. “President Trump is listening to the many of us who are urging him to pardon Snowden. It’s the right thing to do,” Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz said yesterday. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul agreed, slamming former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, in the process. “Clapper brazenly lied to Congress denying that the Deep State was spying on all Americans. Snowden simply revealed Clapper’s lies and exposed unconstitutional spying. He deserves a pardon from Donald Trump,” he wrote. Those calls were joined by a number of voices on the left, including former Green Party vice-presidential candidate Ajamu Baraka, who said, “I support pardons for Snowden, Assange and especially Chelsea Manning. All exposed the criminality of the Bush-Obama/Biden period.” The American Civil Liberties Union, who have previously described Snowden as a “patriot,” concurred, stating, “Edward Snowden blew the whistle on illegal government activity kept secret for years. Our democracy is better off because of him.”
How often do we have have trans-ideological and principled agreement like this? pic.twitter.com/oPtVGPyDUh — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) December 13, 2020
While the idea of pardoning the former CIA employee drew together an alliance of those on the left and right, the centrist establishment appeared totally against the idea. Former CIA director John Brennan bristled with indignation at Senator Paul’s remarks, replying:
Jim Clapper has had a lifetime of dedicated and selfless service to America. Edward Snowden betrayed his country, providing exceptionally sensitive intelligence to China and Russia. You consistently demonstrate utter ignorance of U.S. national security. You disgrace the Senate.”
Upon hearing the news that Trump was considering pardoning Snowden, Susan Rice, now head of President-elect Biden’s Domestic Policy Council, suggested that this was an action so disgusting that it showed the Republican Party in a new light. “Congratulations GOP. This is who you are now,” she tweeted. Setting up a false dichotomy, David Weissman of the Lincoln Project asked why not pardon RussiaGate whistleblower Reality Winner instead. Meanwhile, New York Times columnist Kurt Eichenwald went on a spirited tirade, claiming that Snowden had given U.S. secrets to the Chinese government and that exposing American spying on Asian nations had likely cost lives, connecting Chinese repression in Tibet with his decision. “And if Trump gives him a pardon? Well, China will be laughing it’s ass off. So will Putin. And every U.S. enemy that Snowden helped,” he fumed.
“Edward Snowden is a traitor. He is responsible for the largest and most damaging release of classified info in US history. He handed over US secrets to Russian and Chinese intelligence putting our troops and our nation at risk,” wrote Liz Cheney, daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney. “Pardoning him would be unconscionable.” This drew a storm of criticism online, not least from those pointing out her father’s own crimes. “Of course…The neocon ally of US liberals speaks up. Liz Cheney is an abject liar,” responded journalist Glenn Greenwald, “because she comes from a family of liars and her career rests solely on her father, one of this century’s worst liars.”
If the people most desperate for you not to be pardoned are the professional liars of CIA, the criminal domestic spies of NSA, and bloodthirsty neocon warmongers and monsters like the Cheney Family, that’s a pretty good sign that you’ve served justice and deserve a pardon,” he concluded.
The Cheney ideology supporting forever wars puts more troops at risk than @snowden ever did. https://t.co/BNbEVa4E6C — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 14, 2020
For his own part, Snowden has actually campaigned for the release of Julian Assange, rather than himself, directly asking the president for clemency for the Australian publisher. Meanwhile, Reality Winner’s family appears to be pinning their hopes on the incoming Biden administration.
Snowden shot to international fame in 2013 when he shared a vast archive of NSA documents with Greenwald, documents which exposed the vast extent to which the NSA and other organizations were spying on the world, including the American people — something which its leaders had explicitly denied under oath. He was immediately charged under the Espionage Act of 1917, passed when the United States was at war during World War I. He has spent the last seven years in Russia, unable to return to his homeland without facing prosecution. In October this year, he was granted permanent residency in Russia. Considering the treatment of Assange and Chelsea Manning, others who exposed the secrets of the U.S. government, it is highly unlikely that, without a pardon, he will be able to safely return to the United States. Manning, whose sentence President Obama commuted in 2017 as he was leaving office, has faced constant harassment and was reimprisoned for refusing to aid the prosecution of Assange.
Trump has made many contradictory statements with regards to whistleblowers. Which camp the famously mercurial president eventually sides with remains to be seen.
Feature photo | Edward Snowden is seen on a television screen via video uplink from Moscow during a news conference to call upon President Barack Obama to pardon Snowden before he leaves office in New York, Sept. 14, 2016. Mary Altaffer | AP
Alan MacLeod is a Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent. He has also contributed to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, Common Dreams the American Herald Tribune and The Canary.