The protesters are winning in Iran

“Baseej find themselves surrounded by the flames of their own motorcycles” as protesters pelt them with rocks. (Quite a change from the early protests when baseej drove motorcycles through the crowds clubbing and killing people.)

Remember, if you are caught and put in jail there for protesting you are quite likely to be repeatedly [...]

An end to politics as usual

DJ comments on our post Firedoglake goes after Rahm, White House deals with Fannie, Freddie.

Like him, I am beyond tired of one party blaming the other for their problems while using it as a ploy to increase their campaign coffers and power base. The other party isn’t the problem. While there are some [...]

Protesters fight back in Iran, police beaten, police cars burned

Andrew Sullivan has continuing coverage including reports that police are sometimes refusing to follow orders to shoot protesters. Their corrupt, brutal, illegal government may yet fall. Let’s hope so.

AFP/Getty Images

Health-care bill will stimulate economy and create tens of thousands of jobs

After a long arduous journey of being half-way there, the Senate finally passed a health care insurance reform bill on Christmas Eve.

How is it that throughout the entire health care debate the issue of job creation and economic stimulus has not been brought up?

The simple fact is, adding 30 million people into the [...]

Increased security on US-bound air flights

So far, and contrary to what you might be hearing, the increased security is on inbound flights only.

“Among other things, during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal belongings or other items on their laps.”

The most depressing commercial real estate disaster in America

Voorhees Town Center is a nearly dead mall with partially completed residential housing next to it. Clusterstock tells the sad tale, with lots of photos too.

Renewable energy from manure coming to New York diaries

“Digesters are a reliable source of renewable energy because they can convert a waste product into power 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, no matter the weather conditions.”

As well as turning a liability into an asset.

Senior government officials in Mexico and US say, legalize marijuana

Why? Because the drug cartels are destroying Mexico and the drug wars are “not winnable.” Marijuana accounts for half their income. Legalize it and you weaken them badly.

However, attempts at legalization will be meant with furious protests by entrenched interests, like some law enforcement and most especially the prison-industrial complex. They have huge [...]

Will the last person please burn the building down; It is time to end the farce that is the SEC

The SEC sure has a sense of humor. With everyone screaming for the agency’s blood unless it does something to curb rampant and blatantly speculative high frequency trading, as well as to tighten insider trading regulation, what does the Mary Schapiro-lead circus do? Just the opposite. and even as the commission is weeping that [...]

Don’t forget