Captain Codpiece reserves the right to lie

How much longer do we have to put up with these cunts?

OK then here's the deal

We need a quid pro quo for this $1,000,000,000,000 bail out of America's shockingly poorly run banks. And the quid pro quo I suggest if this: the board members, the CEO, the COO, the CFO and all and sundry executive Vice Presidents of any institution that sticks the American taxpayer, or perhaps more accurately the grandchildren of the American taxpayer, with the dross of their business are prohibited forever from ever serving as a board member, a CEO, a COO, a CFO or an executive Vice President of any financial institution AND they must accept the same severance package as any ordinary employee of their business has access to (including pension and stock rights). I think it's only fair, don't you?

Yet another sad day

Did any of us ever imagine that the United States would be severely criticised by international human rights organisations for the arrest of journalists, on clearly trumped up charges, on American soil? (I could imagine, even though I did not need to, that there would be similar charges on foreign soil.)



Video of Amy Goodman's arrest.

And grown men wept

It can happen here. The US Justice Department is quietly making plans to remove restrictions on the FBI that would see the American secret police domestic investigative unit allowed to open investigations into American citizens WITHOUT A TRACE OF SUSPICION! But don't worry if you're a non-Muslim, white person you probably have nothing to worry about.

Has anyone seen the Fourth Amendment?

It seems to have gone missing again. Perhaps it is just on holiday. The United States Department of Homeland Security now says that it can seize "laptops...hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes -- as well as books, pamphlets and other written materials" without any suspicion or probable cause.

America - it used to be such a nice country!

The one million name list

America's list of potential terrorists has now reached seven figures. Any predictions as to when it will reach eight figures? But don't worry. If you're not an evil doer you have nothing to worry about unless you might want to fly somewhere.

It can't happen here!!!

Or maybe it can. The American FBI is considering changes to its rules that would allow it to investigate Americans without any evidence of a crime solely on the basis of their religion or ethnicity. Of course since the religion in question isn't Christianity and the ethnicity isn't pasty and white I am certain that the American right will love the idea!

I hope you feel safer!

Because Big Brother IS watching, and listening, and taping and trolling.



Go here to help.

Yes, I'm disappointed

Barack Obama, along with scores of other Democrats in the Senate and the House is set to cave in on the FISA "compromise" and give Captain Codpiece what he wants; warrantless surveillance and telecoms immunity. From my perspective this is hardly an encouraging start but I can understand why he may have taken this position from a purely calculated political perspective. We are watching you Senator Obama, and watching very closely indeed.

Sold down the river

I would like to express my gratitude to the congressional Democrats who have seen fit to provide immunity to telecoms companies that knowingly broke the law, admittedly at the behest of Captain Codpiece and his evil minions, by allowing for the warrant-less surveillance of American citizens on American soil.

Well done everyone; especially Steny Hoyer of Maryland. I'm sure you will sleep well tonight in the Land of the (Not So) Free (as It Used to Be).

It can happen here (and I think it just did)

Captain Codpiece has just signed two more imperial fiats Presidential directives authorising the American government to collect, retain and share biometric data pertaining to "known and suspected terrorists [and] other persons who may pose a threat to national security." One can only assume that this will all occur without warrants, court authorisation or those pesky checks and balances but don't worry; there's nothing to worry about if you're not guilty.

In which I praise a Tory

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis is resigning from the Conservative front bench and from Parliament over the passage of the government's 42 detention without charge bill. To quote the honourable (and I mean that) Mr. Davis:

"Up until yesterday I took the view that what we did in the House of Commons, representing our constituents was a noble endeavour because with centuries of forebears we defended the freedoms of the British people - well we did up until yesterday."

Are there any (probably not New) Labourites who wish to follow his example?

So who the hell wants it then?

Parliament is due to debate and vote on the proposed new 42 day internment detention limit this week. Yesterday Home Secretary Jacqui Smith admitted that MI5 has not asked for these new powers simply saying that the ghostly security service has said that the "scale of the threat" is growing. Today The Guardian also reports that at least four of the nations top police executives are attacking the plans saying that it will damage the reputation of the police, damage the police forces' relations with the Muslim community that is clearly the target and lead to pressures to manufacture evidence against those held without charge.

Gordon, I think you're hanging your hat on the wrong peg.

1,000 reasons John McCain shouldn't be President

Number 37: he'll be watching you, and listening to you, and reading your emails and he don't need no stinkin' warrant either.

Be afraid; be very, very afraid

It can, it might and it probably will happen here.

According to arguments by government lawyers at a hearing in the case of Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri, a legal US resident who has been held without charge on US soil for over six years, the President of the United States "can send the military into any U.S. neighborhood, capture a citizen and hold him in prison without charge, indefinitely".

Not at all totalitarian or unconstitutional or even terrifying. I am now going to go and hide.

Have you always wanted to be a grass?

Do you live in the Twin Cities? This could be you're lucky summer as the FBI is recruiting informants to keep track of the un-American hordes that will be protesting at the Republican national convention this summer.

Big Brother isn't watching

At least not everyone; at least not big businesses; at least not in the form of the IRS. Once again your tax dollars not at work.

Fighting the Eternal Global War on Terra - one nipple at a time!

The battle to keep America safe is never ending as demonstrated by the courageous Transportation Security Administration personnel in Lubbock TX who forced Mandi Hamlin to remove her nipple piercing (with pliers) before she could be allowed to Dallas. Ms. Hamlin has demanded an apology and an investigation for which the TSA is very thankful.

Meanwhile the battle against terrorist teats has moved on to the great state of Florida where advertisements in Orlando for the upcoming Wrestlemania XXIV feature post nipple-ectomy pugilists.

Things are not going so well however in the Green Mountain State though as the Vermont Human Rights Commission has found that an airline discriminated against Emily Gillette when they removed her from a flight for pornographically feeding her two month old child. What do we expect from a state with a French name?

They should feel right at home

With no apparent sense of irony the US State Department is warning Americans planning on attending the Beijing Olympiad that they may be subject to surveillance. It is not entirely clear from the news release if the surveillance will be conducted by Chinese security or Blackwater under contract to the NSA.

Will someone please wake me when the coup is over?

Whilst he thought no one was looking Captain Codpiece quietly took steps to roll back some of the protections put in place after the Nixonian abuses of power in the 70s. Where do I turn in my passport?