. . .

Andrew Sullivan addresses “The Guantánamo ‘Suicides’” in the Sunday Times: . . .

One of the great bugaboos of the Bush era was the notion of talking with the enemy. Once a group was defined as an enemy, even the mildest hint of a contact would meet with torrents of indignation. When the definition of the “enemy” went into soft focus, as various parties that might or might not have some ties to Al Qaeda were added, this approach was particularly troublesome. It made it difficult to divide and conquer—to peel off groups on the periphery in order to make the foe weaker and less stable. During the campaign, Barack Obama articulated this fairly obvious critique of Bush-era “War on Terror” policy, and his administration seemed set to pursue a more subtle approach. Talking with the enemy might be on the agenda. . . .

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The longer I live–especially now when I clearly feel the approach of death–the more I feel moved to express what I feel more strongly than anything else, and what in my opinion is of immense importance, namely, what we call the renunciation of all opposition by force, which really simply means the doctrine of the law of love unperverted by sophistries. Love, or in other words the striving of men’s souls towards unity and the submissive behaviour to one another that results therefrom, represents the highest and indeed the only law of life, as every man knows and feels in the depths of his heart (and as we see most clearly in children), and knows until he becomes involved in the lying net of worldly thoughts. This law was announced by all the philosophies–Indian as well as Chinese, and Jewish, Greek and Roman. Most clearly, I think, was it announced by Christ, who said explicitly that on it hang all the Law and the Prophets. More than that, foreseeing the distortion that has hindered its recognition and may always hinder it, he specially indicated the danger of a misrepresentation that presents itself to men living by worldly interests–namely, that they may claim a right to defend their interests by force or, as he expressed it, to repay blow by blow and recover stolen property by force, etc., etc. He knew, as all reasonable men must do, that any employment of force is incompatible with love as the highest law of life, and that as soon as the use of force appears permissible even in a single case, the law itself is immediately negatived. The whole of Christian civilization, outwardly so splendid, has grown up on this strange and flagrant–partly intentional but chiefly unconscious–misunderstanding and contradiction. At bottom, however, the law of love is, and can be, no longer valid if defence by force is set up beside it. And if once the law of love is not valid, then there remains no law except the right of might. In that state Christendom has lived for 1,900 years. Certainly men have always let themselves be guided by force as the main principle of their social order. The difference between the Christian and all other nations is only this: that in Christianity the law of love had been more clearly and definitely given than in any other religion, and that its adherents solemnly recognized it. Yet despite this they deemed the use of force to be permissible, and based their lives on violence–so that the life of the Christian nations presents a greater contradiction between what they believe and the principle on which their lives are built: a contradiction between love which should pre scribe the law of conduct, and the employment of force, recognized under various forms–such as governments, courts of justice, and armies, which are accepted as necessary and esteemed. This contradiction increased with the development of the spiritual life of Christianity and in recent years has reached the utmost tension. . . .

. . .

No wannabe totalitarian regime in the world is quite so ripe for ridicule as North Korea. I traveled there some years back and marveled over the Ryugyong Hotel, a 105-story monstrosity nicknamed the “hotel of doom.” Due to gross design and construction flaws, it’s sat unoccupied in downtown Pyongyang for two decades. It captures the regime perfectly: monolithic and impressive from a distance, laughable up close and fundamentally unhinged in concept, it teeters there awaiting the day when it is inevitably imploded to make space for something better attuned to reality. . . .

Jane Mayer’s feature on Attorney General Eric Holder is just up at the New Yorker website. She presents Holder as at the center of the controversy surrounding counterterrorism policy, under attack from Republicans close to Dick Cheney and relating with difficulty to a White House intent on appeasing Republican critics. Here’s a sample: . . .

Of special interest is the way Seton Hall meticulously unpacks the DOD claim about the “100 interviews” that supposedly refute the testimony in Harper’s Magazine. First, the timing is wrong: . . .

Bill Londrigan was a researcher with the AFL-CIO’s building-trades division when, in 1986, Toyota broke ground for its first fully owned U.S. assembly plant, on a tract of Kentucky farmland twelve miles north of Lexington. Honda and Nissan had recently opened their own non-union facilities in the United States, and organized labor feared the consequences of losing further ground in the auto industry. Londrigan was part of the contingent sent from Washington to prevail upon Toyota to hire union builders; he ended up staying on in the Bluegrass Region, and in 1999 he was elected president of Kentucky’s AFL-CIO. When I visited Londrigan late last winter at the union’s state offices—two rooms in a storefront three miles from downtown Frankfort—he flipped across his desk a booklet that he had prepared for the battle with Toyota two decades earlier. The pamphlet detailed the scope of the vertically integrated supply chains, called keiretsu, that Japanese car companies had brought with them to America from Japan and that some believe violate U.S. antitrust laws. On its cover was a black dragon hovering ominously above the middle United States. Londrigan guided me to a specific passage and then began to read it aloud. “The euphoric welcome Japanese keiretsu factories receive when they announce their locations in American towns and counties is reminiscent of the Trojans’ joy when they first viewed the Trojan Horse. The historical warning that sad episode produced—‘Beware of Greeks bearing gifts’—seems to be lost on this generation of Americans, or has at least escaped the attention of U.S. economic development officials.” . . .

2. Do deaths in the context of confinement in prison raise any special concerns for a medical examiner conducting an autopsy? . . .

I continue to think that Syria might yet offer a platform for some fairly modest foreign policy advances for the Obama Administration in the Middle East. But that’s far from certain. Seymour Hersh offers some fascinating snippets from a long conversation with Syrian President Bashar Assad, including this one: . . .

The senate is holding hearings and issuing a report today that shows how a number of corrupt African officials — and their American enablers — used the U.S. banking systems to launder vast amounts of money. A good chunk of the report builds on revelations made here last November about Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, son of the dictator of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea. . . .

From The Onion: . . .

The American political landscape is heavily populated with fake debates—hot-button issues designed to rile people up, but which are not likely to have any real impact on policy. One of the best examples of this in modern times is the fake rage over trying terrorists in federal courts and the procedures that followed the arrest of the “panty-bomber” Abdulmutallab. The simple fact is that the policies of the Bush and Obama Administrations have been essentially indistinguishable, and the rhetorical war is little more than political demagoguery. . . .

From ProPublica: . . .

A bizarre congressional hearing yesterday, as Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Kanat Saudabayev, testified before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is co-chaired by Congressmen Benjamin Cardin and Alcee Hastings. The Kazakh government is forever trying to give the impression that President Nursultan Nazarbaev is keen on democratic reforms, even though human rights groups and the media find no evidence to support that. “Rather than loosen its hold on media, internet is being increasingly censored,” Peter Zalmayev of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative told me. “Rather than cooperate with civil society to improve its laws, the government continues to throw its critics in prison.” . . .

From September 23 proceedings in the case of Robert Melia, a police officer from Moorestown, New Jersey, who was videotaped engaging in sexual acts with calves in Southampton, New Jersey, in 2006. In 2008, Melia was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting three girls over a period of five years; he was also charged with animal cruelty for the 2006 incident. Mark Catanzaro is the lawyer for the defense; Kevin Morgan is an assistant prosecutor for Burlington County. Superior Court Judge James Morley dismissed the animal-cruelty charge. . . .

Location: Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C. Event Date: February 11, 2010 Event Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m. Speakers: Matthew Alexander, Richard Cizik, Elizabeth MacKenzie Biedell, Morton H. Halperin, Scott Horton . . .

2. What specific arrangements were made for a secondary autopsy? Was the body sent directly there by the Americans, or was it transferred from Yemen first? . . .

This segment from CBS’s The Agency dramatizes the crossed wires that result from “stovepiping” national security operations, in which undercover agents from multiple agencies work to identify potential terrorists: . . .

President Barack Obama skipped jury duty to deliver his first State of the Union address. In the 70-minute speech, Obama blamed Republicans for “saying no to everything,” Democratic leaders in Congress for “horse-trading,” and the Supreme Court for a recent decision that will allow elections to be “bankrolled by special interests.” Justice Samuel Alito shook his head and mouthed the words “not true.” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dozed. Obama also criticized banks, lobbyists, his own political strategy, and, indirectly, root canals; an objection from the American Society of Endodontists was duly noted. The president announced that leftover stimulus money would generate 1.5 million new jobs for the 15 million out-of-work Americans and called for a new bill to create jobs by giving tax credits to small businesses that hire new workers. He planned to cut the federal deficit with a freeze on domestic spending that, if successful, would reduce the United States' expected shortfall by less than 3 percent over the next ten years. Thirty-two minutes into the address, Obama reiterated his commitment to health-care reform. He also said he wanted to end the Iraq war. “Make no mistake,” he said. “All of our troops are coming home.” He also committed 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan for December. MSNBC host Chris Matthews was impressed: “I forgot he was black tonight,” he said. New York Times New York Times Washington Post UPI Bureau of Labor Statistics New York Times New York Times New York Times New York Times MSNBC Earlier in the week, Obama met with Magic Johnson. “He was the only man on earth that ever trash-talked me and I [didn’t] say anything,” said Johnson. “It was a great moment.” ESPN . . .

In January of this year [2000], Simon & Schuster published my book Gone: The Last Days of The New Yorker. I had been at The New Yorker since 1963–with an absence of about fourteen months, during which I was Bosley Crowther’s successor as the film critic of the New York Times. Although I had written for other publications, I thought I knew the magazine pretty well. The New Yorker, I wrote, is dead. I did not expect everyone to agree or to welcome my account of what happened to the magazine. Perhaps not surprisingly, the colleagues whom I had loved and admired through the years tended to share my views. Those of whom I thought less highly, and whom I portrayed less admiringly, did not. . . .

Three developments last week show the growing gap between the Obama Administration and its NATO allies with respect to the legacy of torture from the Bush era. They also demonstrate that, contrary to Obama’s promises faithfully to uphold the Convention Against Torture and Geneva Conventions, his Justice Department has no intention of doing so when crimes from the Bush era are in question. This attitude is not going over well with key allies. . . .

From Politics Daily: . . .

“The treason of the Senate! Treason is a strong word, but not too strong, rather too weak to characterize the situation in which the Senate is the eager, resourceful, indefatigable agent of interests as hostile to the American people as any invading army could be, and vastly more dangerous; interests that manipulate the prosperity produced by all, so that it heaps up riches for the few.” . . .

3 Responses to “Early Morning Swim: Rachel Maddow — Is Ron Paul Being Targeted by Tea Partiers?” eCAHNomics February 9th, 2010 at 4:56 am. 1. I can't help but think that all the chaos in D.C. is caused by, and well deserved by, ...

how can people not understand what ron paul wants to do to help our economy? so many people bitch about inflation and poor housing markets, but yet they go and support a candidate like senator mccain, who has absolutely no idea what ...

Ron Paul Interview on the Tea Party Movement. Submitted by Michael Nystrom on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 22:54. in. Daily Paul Liberty Forum. Average: Select rating, Poor, Okay, Good ... Login or register to post comments. Picture of Ron Paul ...

Ron Paul is ridiculously weak on defense of this nation and refuses to face the nature of our enemy. Of course same people are displeased with half a loaf if they can get the whole loaf instead, small government big defense. ...

Ron Paul : More Spending is Always the Answer · http://www.house.gov/htbin/blog_inc?BLOG,tx14_paul,blog,999,All,Item%20not%20found,ID=100208_3643,TEMPLATE=postingdetail.shtml. Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk. A weekly column ...

Ron Paul (R-Texas) is drawing three primary opponents for his own re-election bid. Ironically, all three are from the Tea Party movement, which, as reporter Tom Benning points out, would be hard to imagine without the energy stirred up ...

A few weeks ago, Ron Paul introduced one of the Downsize DC Agenda bills. Throughout 2009, DC Downsizers ALONE called for Congressman Paul to re-in.

The Ron Paul rEvolution is till there, unfortunately. Now they're kicking things up a notch in their effort to isolate America and prevent us from protecting ourselves. They've become better dressed anti war hippies for today's ...

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) recently endorsed Rand Paul, the son of Rep. Ron Paul , R-Texas, in his bid to be the Republican Senate nominee from Kentucky. The Note, authored by ABC News' Rick Klein, covers politics, ...

In this interview, Palin calls controversial Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul "cool." "He's a good guy," she added. "He's so independent. He's independent of the party machine. I'm like, 'Right on, so am I.

A young Seattle woman is accused of a littany of crimes. And police say she was foolish enough to keep a journal on her exploits.

Angie Estes says the air in the airplane made her sick and now she wants the airline to pay.

Toyota says it will inform the Transport Ministry later Tuesday it is recalling the Prius gas-electric hybrid that went on sale last year.

U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks is likely to succeed the late Rep. John Murtha as chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees Pentagon spending.

Neighbors are trying to figure out who would want to intentionally set fire to Minister Michael Carey's house.

Our El Nino weather feels warm, but it could have a cold effect on our electric bills. The low snow pack is cutting into revenues at Seattle City Light and the whole region's power grid.

Billions of dollars are on the line with Tuesday's school elections in Washington State. A total of 165 school districts are asking voters to approve more than $4.6 billion in property taxes for maintenance and operation levies.

A journalist from Chicago is stranded in Seattle after Canadian authorities deported him, and he says he believes it's because he happens to be an anti-Olympic activist.

Tacoma police are searching for a shooter who opened fire on a car, killing one person and wounding another.

TheThe San Juan Island Community Calendar serves San Juan Island as a comprehensive review of what's happening on the island and in Friday Harbor .

Eight Friday Harbor male wrestlers are advancing to the 1A Regional Tournament, Feb. Continued here: Eight Friday Harbor wrestlers advancing to 1A Regional Tournament (Journal of the San Juans)

The Friday Harbor Wolverines wrestling team will host a wrestling meet on Saturday in Turnbull Gym. Weigh-ins will take place at 11 am Wrestling will begin at noon.

Maggie Andersen scored 26 points to help Friday Harbor overwhelm Darrington 55-31 Jan. 29 at Turnbull Gym, solidifying the Wolverines' hold on the Northwest 1A/2B league lead. Friday Harbor dominated from the start, leading Darrington ...

Friday Harbor wrestlers host four-school meet Saturday. Feb 02 2010, 10:23 AM. The Friday Harbor Wolverines wrestling team will host a wrestling meet on Saturday in Turnbull Gym. Weigh-ins will take place at 11 a.m. Wrestling will begin ...

Friday Harbor's Maggie Andersen will be looking to continue her hot scoring streak in the Wolverines' rematch with the Orcas Vikings. A win would remove a huge hurdle from the Wolverines' run to the league title. ...

Director Of Friday Harbor Labs-GO. North Carolina February 12, 2010. "Big, Fast and Bulletproof: What One Biologist Has Learned From 300 Million Years Of Shark Evolution"**. Free lecture by shark expert and "Finding Nemo" technical ...

The event is emceed this year by Brent Snow, with entertainment during intermission by Friday Harbor Jazz Band. The Knowledge Bowl is presented each year by the San Juan Public Schools Foundation. Through its two main fundraisers, ...

Friday Harbor Middle School students will have second semester art classes thanks to the efforts of the San Juan Island School District, Island Museum of Art, San Juan Island Community Foundation, and the Norcliffe Foundation. ...

Junior Kelsey Barnes tossed in 15 points and Maggie Andersen had 14 to lead Friday Harbor , which outscored the Braves 15-5 in the third quarter and knocked down 7-of-11 free-throw attempts in the final period to seal the victory. ...

Field Trip to Friday Harbor and Lopez Island This week, I drove and ferried up to Friday Harbor to p

My son the Marine is returning from Iraq in a few days, and for some reason my mood is stranger than

Some little while ago now, Quilly, Tilden, and Your Friendly Neighborhood Amoeba were dining at a re

VAS Entertainment Climbing DVD – Primal Quest San Juan Islands : $24.95. February - 9 - 2010. Buy now VAS Entertainment Climbing DVD – Primal Quest San Juan Islands : $24.95. Check out this action packed Climbing DVD, 'Primal Quest San ...

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There will be music in the bandshell and an awards ceremony for those chosen to receive this year's San Juan Islands Good Steward Awards (affectionately know as the “Finnies”) for leadership in sustainability in our San Juan Islands ...

San Juan Islands . I got to spend the weekend visiting my friends Beth and Bruce who live on Lopez in the San Juans. We went kayaking on Saturday at the south end of the island and hiking Sunday morning on the north end. ...

What images represent the true essence of the San Juan Islands ? Submit your ideas to inspire the design of a logo for the San Juan Islands Scenic Byway.

San Juan Islands . Fire Marshal Low's departure for Quilcene: One resignation, a lot of shoes to fill · JOURNAL OF THE SAN JUANS Feb 02 2010, 1:47 PM · UPDATED; 'The Lord decided to give me a second chance': A missionary's story of faith ...

The dates are set for our 2010 San Juan Islands kayak fishing trip! We'll meet at West Beach Resort on Orcas Island, on Wednesday, June 3rd, at 9 AM. We'll pack boats, get geared up and paddle an easy 7 miles to Jones Island, ...

Before I explain my Christmas gift(s) from Greg, here is the back-story, and the explanation to why

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San Juan Islands . Richard Lawson dies in mainland hospital; long-time contractor, former port commissioner · JOURNAL OF THE SAN JUANS Jan 26 2010, 11:37 AM · UPDATED; Picking up the pieces · ISLANDS SOUNDER Today, 3:21 PM · UPDATED ...

See? I can do pretty for pretty’s sake once in a while. # # # Sailing, Near Brown Island, 2009

Vessel repairs extend San Juan Islands ferry service disruption.

For her work, Doris Estabrooks is The Journal of the San Juan Islands ' Citizen of the Year for 2009. Won their respect. Although Estabrooks didn't win County Councilman Rich Peterson's vote for a Styrofoam ban, she won his respect. ...

Well, this is a fine juxtaposition:  the lonely little lighthouse yearning for a hint of recognition

“Oooo, that’ll be a pretty one.  The color on those flowers is so beautiful!”

This fall I was exploring the south end of Lopez Island and came across a running creek on the south

Black Friday is gone and Cyber Monday is here. Retailers, myself included, are hoping and praying fo

Sharks of the San Juan Islands 5:30 pm | Tuesday December 8, 2009 Camp Orkila Larry Norman Lodge Orc

The anonymity of mass transit.  I passed this couple as I looked for a seat.  They glanced up from t

  Nature draws us into its embrace, helping us to remember how to live in the now, loving, nurturing

    On Tuesday Bernie and I took our guests, Lyndsay and Jordan out to San Juan Island. I had not be

Maria and Chris were married last month up on Orcas Island at the Inn at Ship Bay, and I came up the

My earliest memories of hip-hop in the 206 begin with Sir-Mix-A-Lot and Kid Sensation. It’s sa

The Bellingham Bay Marathon is happening right outside our doors this Sunday! We’ll have the b

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I got a late start on the boat this summer.  Usually, I head for Canada July 5 and stay along the In

San Juan Island Real Estate Report, Summer ‘09. Real estate activity on San Juan Island and th

So, I am back to work at my paying job; meetings, kids, classes, and lesson planning.  Apparently I

As we cruise past.

Although she has flown two other times before (Arizona and Philadelphia) it was like flying for the

Well, watching and photographing really. I’ve wanted to see the Southern Resident Orca pods si