LIBERTY IN EXILE

The Younger Generation’s Expectations of Politics

Yaël — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:58:08 +0000

After reading Alan Holmes’ piece on reaction to the State of the Union address, I found it fitting to respond to offer a clear contrast.

Any objective party would agree that the President’s soft words and patriotic rhetoric were a welcomed change to the Republican narrative that has dominated the political landscape in the last few months.

Too often, the talk has been solely about repealing Obama-care (which won’t happen), ending Obama’s socialistic “reign” in office (which has been corporatist if anything), and threatening more enemies abroad (which Obama himself has done all too well).

The national media’s focus has largely been on the fantasy horse-race that they themselves have put on for the public, demonstrated quite well in hugely-televised debates and distracting scandals exaggerated to fill the empty crevices of the 24 hour news cycle.

It is, in essence, the Greatest Show On Earth. How else could candidates who have no national campaign, or even enough signatures to be on multiple ballots across the country, become the winners of a state primary or caucus? How else could previously defunct candidates, who have failed in the public eye so many times before and now can rely on the media’s attention for their sole support, become legitimate options for a major party’s nomination?

Of late, our ears have been inundated with thoughts of triple marriages, twenty-year affairs, bloated government tax returns, semantic arguments on the definitions of lobbying, long-form birth certificates, foreign bank accounts, gay-bashing, immigrant-bashing, nativism, and any other wasteful human energy that can fit between the fabricated laugh tracks of the morning shows and the redundant propaganda echo chambers which dominate primetime?

How can the national press continue to fuel a political debate of issues which have lost all relevance to actual concerns of the millions of Americans who face an uncertain future of unemployment and debt?

Though I have been clear in regarding Ron Paul and his ideas as the only virtuous avenue in the contemporary national political conversation, I would say that the vast majority of young Americans are frankly exhausted of broad political solutions offered to combat nationwide problems, especially when they have been unambiguously created by political meddling, whether by a Republican or Democratic hand. The problems with our hierarchical system are so heavily entrenched that any status quo politician or solution scheme risks renewing permanent despair.

But instead of channeling the anger and resentment espoused by grassroots movements of all political spectra, the overriding focus only seems to be one of ultimate power acquisition, as a means of forcing unquestioned beliefs on others.

It was no accident that President Obama struck such a populist tone at his 2012 State of the Union speech, echoing all the same policies and plans which have come to disastrous ends once realized in legislation.

To begin, the President took great effort to offer more tax credits for companies who choose to stay in America and hire workers. This central premise again promotes the fallacy which has been visited upon so many times before, that temporary tax relief will somehow incentivize dormant employers to hire leagues of new workers. While it may be a well-intentioned attempt to rig the system in favor of new jobs, it distorts the real signals that entrepreneurs need to create productive, lasting jobs, not just temporary positions created in order to take advantage of a free handout. Specifically targeting new hires with a temporary refund check may be a great, politically popular, but it falls short of providing any permanent recovery that a diverse economy such as the United States would need.

The President’s pledge to community colleges is once again another grand endeavor, especially as states scramble to save revenue to fund primary schools, and will surely be followed through with more Federal commitment to local education. To fans of an ever-growing Department of Education this may be a win, but an already-ballooned national debt seriously clouds any large-scale effort to recapitalize government institutions across the nation.

Seeking to solidify the youth vote, Obama once again promised reforms to curb interest rates on student loan debt, a constant venture for the first-term President. While this may temporarily alleviate individual college students who have federal loans, it is almost guaranteed to further blow up the higher education bubble, once again causing tuitions to rise to even more unaffordable levels. If the government guarantees yet another generation of worry-free education without any significant funding mandate, it is only telling how expensive an education will be in a decade.

Despite the democratic uprisings during his term, the President has failed to grasp what ordinary youth are frustrated with.

The spirits which spurred the Occupy moment of the past six months have not been erected in vain to support President Obama’s policies of endless taxpayer monies to bankrupt industries or government slush-funds to loyal supporters, no matter how much the Democratic party would love to follow their Republican colleagues’ example of co-opting the Tea Party.

Nor have the voting electorate’s latest preferences for Republicans meant that the last forty years of unfunded war and invasion of foreign nations is a preferable, or necessary, action of government.

The truth is that the solutions to grandiose problems, repeatedly reinforced by the two-party tyranny, will never be achieved by the ballot box or the feel-good rhetoric of a power-happy Presidential figure. The youth know it, and they expect it. Only by revisiting sound principles of balanced economics, respect for personal liberty, sound money, and peace can any hope of a renewal come to pass.

Otherwise, it’s just one side of the same coin, flipped over at the convenience of the landed and monied elite.

Originally posted on FreeYaël

Golden Shower Occupation

Yaël — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:39:22 +0000

DIRECT LINK TO MP3

This 19. January 2011 show was broadcast from the Sovereign Southern Studio on the Liberty Radio Network and the No Agenda Stream.

Specifically we looked at the SOPA/PIPA bills, indefinite detention of Americans, Ron Paul and the Golden Rule, Espionage in Iran, Mitt Romney a “murderer”, Pissin’ on Talibans, Old men getting tased, new EU Fiscal treaties, Bill Kristol smack-down, and much more

Enjoy alternative media in the new year, and consider donating to the program to keep Liberty In Exile alive.

Links for the latest show

DRONE WARS

One Nation Under The Drone: The Rising Number Of UAVs In American Skies | TPMMuckraker

Iran Mocks US With Toy Drone – Yahoo! News

Mesa County Sheriff Buys Drone Airplane – Denver News Story – KMGH Denver

Military wife tells off Neocon Kristol – YouTube

THE POLICE STATE

10 reasons the U.S. is no longer the land of the free – The Washington Post

Officer beats 66-year-old man suffering from dementia | www.wftv.com

North Carolina task force recommends $50,000 for sterilization victims – In America

AFP: New York governor urges mandatory DNA samples

Company Hoarding License-Plate Data on US Drivers

The US schools with their own police | World news | The Guardian

New York City plans to curb alcohol sales, bars – NYPOST.com

NYPD developing portable body scanner for detecting concealed weapons

THE EUROPEAN DEBT UNION

European nations begin seizing private pensions – CSMonitor.com

UK braced for eurozone meltdown: Hague compares crisis to stricken Costa Concordia cruise ship | Mail Online

Five European Nations to Be Downgraded by S&P: Report – Business News – CNBC

Mafia is now ‘Italy’s number one bank’: report | News | National Post

The World from Berlin: ‘There Is No American Ratings Conspiracy’ – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International

AFP: Ancient Greek sites could soon be available for rent

TERROR THEATRE

DHS takes counterterrorism to the NHL | Campaign 2012 | Washington Examiner

Scotland Yard Report Finds British Citizen Was Tortured in Secret CIA Site – Raymond Bonner – International – The Atlantic

TSA CREEPERS

Does Airport Security Really Make Us Safer? | Culture | Vanity Fair

TSA Admits to Humiliating Old Ladies, Still Can’t Get Its Stories Straight – Hit & Run : Reason Magazine

TSA agents who stole $40K from NY luggage get jail – WSJ.com

MEDIA DECEPTION

Pentagon Finds no Fault In Its Ties to TV Analysts – NYTimes.com

Army: Bradley Manning coverage ‘negative’, but ‘balanced and factual’ – POLITICO.com

Colbert Super PAC Ad – Attack In B Minor For Strings – YouTube

Debate Fatigue? 5.48 Million Watch FNC Debate – TVNewser Media in Slovenia start charging for online access – CNBC

LEGALIZE IT

No long-term lung damage from marijuana: study

World News: Mexico’s drug war kills more than 47,000 in 5 years – thestar.com

The ecstasy and the agony – Colby Cosh – Macleans.ca

Study: A Joint May Be Easier On Lungs Than A Cigarette : Shots – Health Blog : NPR

RON PAUL REVOLUTION

CNN Poll: Obama tied with Romney & Paul in November showdowns – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs

Poll: Obama %48 – Paul %46, CNN Baffled, Asks College Students Why Ron Paul? – YouTube

Ron Paul Highlights – South Carolina Debate 01/16/12 – YouTube

Ron Paul flying first class for congressional trips? – Video on mnsbc.com

Bill Kristol “Ron Paul Hangs Out With People Who Believe 9/11 Was An Inside Job” – YouTube

CNN’s Dana Bash is Worried About Ron Paul – YouTube

Ron Paul – Three of a Kind – YouTube

Blatant CNN Media Bias New Hampshire Debate Focus Group – YouTube

Fox News: ‘Ron Paul didn’t just do well, he did the best’

IRANIAN WAR

Iran’s nuclear scientists are not being assassinated. They are being murdered | Mehdi Hasan | Comment is free | The Guardian

Over 1000 students apply to change major to nuclear physics, engineering

False Flag – By Mark Perry | Foreign Policy

Iran Threatens U.S., Persian Gulf Cities with Missile Attacks – US News and World Report

Sunday Times: Mossad agents behind Iran scientist assassination – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Use of force tops agenda on Iran – FT.com

Why Is A “U.S. Coast” Guard Ship Off The Coast Of Iran? – YouTube

EU ministers plan Iran oil embargo, IAEA team to visit | Reuters

THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE

Breitbart.tv » Perry Defends Marines Who Urinated On Corpses

U.S. Marines Urinating On Taliban Martyred Bodies In Afghanistan – YouTube

Taliban claims it shoots down helicopter in Helmand province – Telegraph

Military Cutbacks: Thousands of US Soldiers Set to Leave Europe – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International

Saudi Arabia, China Ink Nuke Cooperation Deal

Capitalism in crisis: Perilous path to prosperity – FT.com

CLAIM THE INTERNETS

SOPA becoming election liability for backers – Jennifer Martinez – POLITICO.com

Microsoft Patents ‘Avoid Ghetto’ Feature For GPS Devices « CBS Seattle

Microsoft App To Guide Users Away From High-Crime Areas Proves Controversial « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth

Facebook: Making Your Political Opinions Less Private Since 2012 » Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union

BRAVE NEW WORLD

Killer flu doctors: US censorship is a danger to science – Science – News – The Independent

Over-hygienic parents could be cause of diabetes | euronews, futuris

Discerning germs: ‘Hygiene hypothesis’ favours exposure over manic cleanliness | Life | National Post

NASA in legal battle with veteran astronauts – Americas – Al Jazeera English

American caffeine addiction races full speed ahead – Washington Times

One in three US adults is obese: study

CLIMATE DISRUPTION FUNCTION

CBC News – Harper says pipeline debate should be left to Canadians

CRUISE BLUES

Video: Cruise disaster: Captain ordered dinner as ship sank – Telegraph

Cruise ship’s death toll mounts

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Austerità Italiana

Yaël — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:20:30 +0000

DIRECT LINK TO MP3

This 10. January 2011 show was broadcast from the Austerità Italiana Studio in Genoa, Italy on the Liberty Radio Network and the No Agenda Stream.

Specifically we looked at the NH primary race and the Ron Paul Revolution, Italian austerity, observations from Italian trip, more war mongering in the Middle East, innocents in Gitmo, Slavery mathematics, chickenhawks, and much more.

Enjoy alternative media in the new year, and consider donating to the program to keep Liberty In Exile alive.

Links for the latest show

DRONE WARS

Chances of Central New York drone flights improve as new law allows six national test sites | syracuse.com

CIA likely to resume drone strikes – The Express Tribune

THE POLICE STATE

Feds find failures in Cook Co. homeland security project – Chicago Sun-Times

UK police smuggle fake bomb onto Olympic site – Yahoo! News

My Guantánamo Nightmare – NYTimes.com

Third Grade Homework Assignment Contains References to Slavery

‘Europe’s Guantanamo’: Öcalan Lawyer Discusses PKK Leader’s Detention – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International

THE EUROPEAN DEBT UNION

Clock ticking as Greece races to avoid default – FT.com

As economies teeter, leaders in Europe warn against extreme populism – CSMonitor.com

Greece should quit euro unless massive funding given: Czech | Reuters

France and Germany push controversial Tobin tax | euronews, Europe

Germany’s stance on financial transaction tax risks French rift – Telegraph

Daniel Hannan on Russia Today TV – YouTube

Furor in Greece Over Pedophilia as a Disability – ABC News

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/new-iron-lady-orders-cameron-to-win-back-powers-from-brussels-6285111.html

EU financial pact ‘by March 1st’ – YouTube

LEGALIZE IT

U.S. Agents Aided Mexican Drug Trafficker to Infiltrate Ring – NYTimes.com

Michigan Marijuana Amendment Would End Debate Over Medicinal Use

Snoop Dogg to W.H.: Legalize pot – Patrick Gavin – POLITICO.com

RON PAUL REVOLUTION

Huntsman accused of video conspiracy to smear Ron Paul | The Raw Story

Ron Paul: Moment of Truth – YouTube

Phil Donahue On Ron Paul “How Many Wars Do You Want To Have In YOUR Lifetime!” – YouTube

Remember, CNN & Dana Bash Are Scared of Ron Paul…(She Admitted it live on CNN) – YouTube

The Republican Reality Show: Fox News Takes Center Stage in Primaries – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International

» Huntsman Supporters Admit Creating ‘Racist’ Video To Smear Ron Paul?

Mitt Romney, 19, demonstrated in favour of Vietnam War draft | Mail Online

John McCain Says He’s Confident “President Obama Will Turn This Country Around” – YouTube

IRANIAN WAR

Panetta admits Iran not developing nukes | The Raw Story

EU Ready To Ban Import Of Iranian Oil – YouTube

Iran looks for friends in Latin America – The Washington Post

UAE pipeline to skirt Strait of Hormuz ‘ready by June’ – Yahoo! News

Atomic humour as Ahmadinejad meets Chavez | euronews, world news

Venezuela rejects World Bank arbitration in dispute with ExxonMobil

Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, Former U.S. Marine, Sentenced To Death In Iran

THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE

Noam Chomsky- Recognizing the “Unpeople”

CLAIM THE INTERNETS

FCC’s Genachowski proposes broadband reform – Post Tech – The Washington Post

Rep. Paul Ryan warns anti-piracy bill may lead to Internet ‘censorship’ | The Raw Story

CLIMATE DISRUPTION FUNCTION

Companies Face Fines for Not Using Unavailable Biofuel – NYTimes.com

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The State of Liberty: A Year in Review

Yaël — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:34:24 +0000

DIRECT LINK TO MP3

This 31. December 2011 show was broadcast from the Freiheit Studio in Vienna, Austria on the Liberty Radio Network and the No Agenda Stream.

This was a special end-of-the-year program, highlighting the state and evolution of liberty in the year 2011.

Clips of audio from previous shows was mixed together to present a great review of important issues and events which have transpired in the last year.

Each category is available for individual download.

Enjoy alternative media in the new year, and consider donating to the program to keep Liberty In Exile alive.

Links for the latest show:

ULTIMATE DRONE WARS

DRUG WARZ

THE EVOLUTION OF FREE SPEECH

THE STATE OF PERSONAL LIBERTY

THE CRUMBLING OF THE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

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Christmas Orgy

Yaël — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:10:51 +0000

DIRECT LINK TO MP3

This 22. December 2011 show was broadcast from the Sovereign Southern Studio on the Liberty Radio Network and the No Agenda Stream.

Specifically we looked at the college debt scam, cops above the law, McCain and the Military Industrial Complex, Pat Robertson and his orgies, the lies about nuclear Iran, Ron Paul winning the day, Drone Wars, and much more.

Links for the latest show:

HOOKERS N’ BOOKS

Desperate British students ‘turning to prostitution’ | The Raw Story

Nearly a Third of Americans Are Arrested by 23, Study Says – NYTimes.com

US students struggle with cost of education – YouTube

COPS ABOVE THE LAW

Families of crash victims speak out – YouTube

Sheriff Reacts To Deputy Accident That Kills Two Pedestrians – North Of The River News Story – KERO Bakersfield

Local Cops Ready for War With Homeland Security-Funded Military Weapons – The Daily Beast

States spend billions on local homeland security | America’s War Within

DRONE WARS

Secrecy defines Obama’s drone war – The Washington Post

Exclusive: Iran hijacked US drone, says Iranian engineer – CSMonitor.com

Police departments could soon have easier access to airborne drones: report | The Raw Story

My Way News – Iran says its delayed news of US drone capture

Drones: A deeply unsettling future – Opinion – Al Jazeera English

The Secret Lives of Killer American Drones | Mother Jones

New Police Drones in Houston- YouTube

Overstretched U.S. drone pilots face stress risk | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters

THE SURVEILLANCE STATE

Surveillance and Privacy Issues – C-SPAN Video Library

POLICE STATE UK – Police Show Off Plastic Bullets As Future Rioters Face Tougher Response – YouTube

Are you being watched? It’s your fault. | OregonLive.com

NEWS: Protesters against ‘disgusting’ NDAA 2012 arrested at White House

Company Who Lobbied for the NDAA Indefinite Detention Bill Given 23 Million Dollar Contract for Night Raid Equipment

MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL-CONGRESSIONAL COMPLEX

In Rare Move, Aggressive Hawk John McCain Denounces Military-Industrial Complex

Senator McCain Wars: BEWARE of the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex p.1

Senator McCain Wars: BEWARE of the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex p.2

Senator McCain Wars: BEWARE of the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex p.3

Todd S. Purdum on Military-Industrial Complex- Vanity Fair

Opposition to privatised US immigrant prison – YouTube

Breitbart.tv » McCain On Iraq: ‘History Will Judge’ Obama’s Leadership ‘With Scorn And Disdain That It Deserves’

THE EUROPEAN DEBT UNION

Crisis — what crisis? German firms upbeat | euronews, world news

Analysis: ECB cash to give indirect boost via banks | Reuters

40,000 euro coins spill on German highway – YouTube

PIRATES IN THE MEDIA

The RIAA Pirated $9 Million Worth of TV Shows

British Phone-Hacking Scandal, Piers Morgan Testimony, Part 1 – C-SPAN Video Library

British Phone-Hacking Scandal, Piers Morgan Testimony, Part 2 – C-SPAN Video Library

LEGALIZE IT

Survey: More teens using synthetic drugs – USATODAY.com

Barney Frank schools George Will, Paul Ryan on marijuana legalization | The Raw Story

Marijuana Use Growing Among Teenagers – NYTimes.com

Get a Medical Marijuana Card, Lose Your Second Amendment Rights – Reason

RON PAUL REVOLUTION

Will Ron Paul kill the caucuses? – Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns – POLITICO.com

“Ron Paul Win In Iowa Is The Best Thing That Could Happen For Mitt Romney” – YouTube

Ron Paul “I Challenge Everybody From The Military Industrial Complex To The Banking System!” – YouTube

What Happens When Ron Paul Wins Iowa? – YouTube

IOWA GOP FEARS RON PAUL VICTORY! – YouTube

Why Is The U.S. Mainstream Media So Afraid Of Ron Paul – YouTube

Got (Raw) Milk? | Video – ABC News

Paul’s Raw Milk Freedom Pitch Reflects Offbeat Campaign on Rise – Bloomberg

GOP will take off the gloves if Ron Paul wins Iowa | Campaign 2012 | Washington Examiner

“Will This Strategy Of Pretending Ron Paul Doesn’t Exist Work For The Republicans?” – YouTube

Ron Paul quits CNN interview after being asked about racist newsletters | The Raw Story

Ron Paul Town Hall Meeting – C-SPAN Video Library

WAR IS PEACE

Arab League Syria Team To Visit On Thursday

Russia urges probe of Libya civilians killed by NATO – Yahoo! News

Manning Hearing Moves Into ‘Secret’ Sessions — News from Antiwar.com

Iraqi Vice-President: ‘I’m ready to stand trial’ – YouTube

U.S. Forces-Iraq Flag Returns to Home Soil – YouTube

Vladimir Putin calls John McCain ‘nuts’ in outspoken attack – Telegraph

This Disturbing Photo Has Sparked A New Probe Into What Happens To Dead Troops

Just Back From Iraq, US Troops Ordered to Afghanistan — News from Antiwar.com

September 11 | Iran | Federal Judge | The Daily Caller

TSA TOUCH-A-THON

TSA screenings aren’t just for airports anymore – latimes.com

On the Spot: Tips for airline travel this holiday season – latimes.com

TSA Chorus raise their voices in concert at LAX – latimes.com

Military May Get Faster Airport Screening

BEATING THE WAR DRUMS

Panetta: Iran will not be allowed nukes – CBS News

Playing with fire: Obama’s threat to China – Opinion – Al Jazeera English

Phone Hacking: News International Paid Total Of Hundreds Of Thousands In Settlements To Celebrities | UK News | Sky News

THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE

No Stocks Under Tree: Investors End Year Fleeing Equities For Bonds – Fast Money – CNBC – CNBC

World economy at a ‘very dangerous juncture’: IMF chief

G.O.P. Monetary Madness – NYTimes.com

US asks banks to keep more cash at hand

CLAIM THE INTERNETS

Twitter Use by Shabab in Somalia Incites U.S. – NYTimes.com

India moves to restrict online content – Central & South Asia – Al Jazeera English

Illegal Gun Sales Run Rampant On Internet

Justice Department Probing Verizon Deal With Cable Companies

CLIMATE DISRUPTION FUNCTION

Highest Court In Europe Rules ALL Airlines Flying Into Europe Must Pay For Their Carbon Emissions – YouTube

NCDC data shows that the contiguous USA has not warmed in the past decade, summers are cooler, winters are getting colder | Watts Up With That?

COMEDY HOUR

Al Qaeda Populating U.S. With Peaceful ‘Decoy Muslims’ – YouTube

Bill Hicks – Waco Massacre – YouTube

Christopher Hitchens – The Best of the Hitchslap – YouTube

BBC News – Kim Jong-il death: ‘Nature mourns’ N Korea leader

Obama: Ask Osama If I’m An Appeaser – YouTube

John DeStefano, New Haven, Connecticut Mayor Seeks To Let Undocumented Immigrants Vote

Propaganda war rages over North Korea’s future – YouTube

‘WAR’ ON CHRISTMAS

Pat Robertson Bashes On The Way Americans Celebrate Christmas! – YouTube

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LIBERTY IN EXILE BOOK CLUB

In Rare Move, Aggressive Hawk John McCain Denounces Military-Industrial Complex

Yaël — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:23:17 +0000

In the political documentary Why We Fight, focusing on the relationship between defense contractors and the U.S. government, one of the most highly-profiled politicians with immense ties to military industries is Senator John McCain of Arizona.

Throughout his congressional career, Senator McCain has made his name defending nearly every military conflict, using his political and rhetorical prowess to justify each invasion as “necessary” to American freedom and democracy. In staunchly defending this brand of military adventurism at home, McCain is also often the first American of political notoriety to fly into theaters of war, demonstrating his support and reiterating the importance of the mission.

The most recent example is the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, a civil war strongly supported by Senator McCain and other congressional leaders as a measure to “ouster” the long-time Libyan ruler. Once NATO bombing campaigns and Western-supported ground assaults by rebels were near conclusion, McCain traveled with a delegation to the rebel-controlled Tripoli, hoping to praise the newly-crowned Libyan Transitional Council.

While this particular visit is not significant in its own right, it does shed light upon the irrational aims of American foreign policy and how much it is influenced by domestic contractors of weapons and military gear, a common trope of the post-WWI era.

This is further demonstrated by a similar meeting in 2009, when Libya was not a sworn enemy of the world, but rather a willing customer of Western arms and bombs. McCain joined several other senators on a grand diplomatic trip to Libya to secure contracts with Colonel Gaddafi, revealed by both Wikileaks and Senator McCain’s own tweet to his followers.

Diplomatic trips to theaters of American intervention, in this context, are not new for McCain, and they reflect his strong hawkish stance of American foreign policy. Examples of his favored interventions include Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Libya, Iran, Somalia, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Yemen, Syria, Georgia, Cuba, Egypt, and much more.

It was to this author’s bafflement, therefore, when Senator McCain recently took to the Senate floor to heed President Eisenhower’s warnings of the “Military-Industrial Complex”, or as coined by McCain, the Military-Industrial Congressional Complex.

Bewildering indeed, McCain expounded for close to 40 minutes on the skewed incentives of congressmen in promoting bloated defense spending, the revolving door of the Pentagon and defense industry, and the vast waste perpetuated by uncountable contracts to build weapon systems. His most poignant remark referenced Eisenhower’s warning directly, conceding that it had, in fact, become all too real:

The fiftieth anniversary of President Eisenhower’s address presents us with a valuable opportunity today to carefully consider, have we heeded President Eisenhower’s admonition? Regrettably and categorically, the answer is, no. In fact, the military-industrial complex has become much worse than President Eisenhower originally envisioned: it’s evolved to capture Congress. So, the phenomenon should now rightly be called, the ‘military-industrial-congressional’ complex.

McCain cited various examples of programs and weapons which have enjoyed profligate support by a bipartisan effort, calling to question the immense size of the defense budget. He decried the “biases” of political and military actors who sign off on “failed” and “costly” projects, while welcoming the new “cultural change” forced by the new condition of fiscal austerity.

The comments (in writing and televised in parts one, two, and three) present the American people with a John McCain that has never before been seen. More explicitly, it is a John McCain seemingly antithetical to any public perception of the Senator in the last 30 years.

How does one who, just months ago, was warning that cuts to the defense budget were a “national security threat” so easily change face, lamenting the rise of the huge military defense machine that has engulfed over a fourth of the budget of the Federal government? What could have inspired such a stark paradigm shift in the man once considered the most hawkish politician in Washington, D.C.?

As perplexing as the speech may be, it is one that is welcomed to those who have denounced the unparalleled rise of the American Empire.

In fact, were John McCain to join the fight against military aggression and blind defense spending, he would most certainly become the most influential and powerful former hawk to take on the defense establishment, adding even more legitimacy to the growing opposition.

While John McCain’s change of heart will not directly end the myopic foreign policy of the American federal government, the tremendous credence enjoyed by the Senator will do its part to instill some skepticism in the minds of other American lawmakers, a welcomed move in the age of costly, expansionary, and deadly preemptive war.

I Want My Drone Back

Yaël — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:00:14 +0000

DIRECT LINK TO MP3

This 14. December 2011 show was broadcast from the Sovereign Southern Studio on the Liberty Radio Network and the No Agenda Stream.

Specifically we looked at the plethora of drone news, indefinite detention, the ‘War’ on Christmas, Ron Paul favored to win, The Great Dictator, Climate Disruption Function, the Brits finally question the EU, and much more.

Links for the latest show:

‘WAR’ ON CHRISTMAS

Fox Business boots atheist for ‘denigrating’ Christ | The Raw Story

Richard Dawkins on Religion: Do you get it now, Prime Minister?

Higgs Boson Search: CERN Releases New Data Said To Narrow Hunt For ‘God Particle’

FreeYaël: The ‘War’ on Christmas

DRONE WARS

Police employ Predator drone spy planes on home front – latimes.com

U.S. Police Using Predator Drones To Help Solve Local Crimes – YouTube

Barack Obama demands Iran return downed US drone – Telegraph

U.S. military drone crashes in Seychelles – Checkpoint Washington – The Washington Post

Growing Concerns About Police Using Predator Drones To Track Citizens Inside The U.S. – YouTube

Iran rejects US request to return spy plane | euronews, world news

THE EUROPEAN DEBT UNION

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso: UK made compromise impossible at EU treaty summit – YouTube

Nigel Farage: Time for Britain’s Great Escape – YouTube

City of London welcomes Cameron’s EU veto | euronews, world news

EC President sees new fiscal treaty by mid-2012 | euronews, world news

IMF slashes growth forecast for Greece | Business | The Guardian

TERROR THEATRE

The Drop Off – Spanish – YouTube

National Guard Presence At U.S.-Mexico Border To Be Reduced

INDEFINITE DETENTION

URGENT Indefinite Jailing of Americans, and Others Get It Worse

Indefinite Military Detention Of U.S. Citizens Is A Win For Terrorists, Former Admiral Says

Ron Paul: Defense Bill Establishes Martial Law In America! – YouTube

Proof Obama will sign NDAA 1031 Citizen Imprisonment Law – YouTube

RON PAUL REVOLUTION

Jon Stewart: Ron Paul Did So Well In The Debate The Media Remembered To Talk To Him After

Ron Paul: Obama pushing ‘martial law,’ Holder should be ‘fired’ | The Raw Story

Ron Paul – USA Is Setting Up For A Military Dictatorship *It Happened* – YouTube

You Like Ron Paul, Except on Foreign Policy – YouTube

Ron Paul: Poised For An Upset In Iowa?

WITHDRAWAL THEATRE

Analysts see Iraq War as “forgotten war” – USATODAY.com

What Iraqis Think of the American Withdrawal: Baghdad – NYTimes.com

US troops scramble to hand off last-minute security ‘details’ to Iraqis – CSMonitor.com

TSA TOUCH-A-THON

Broward Considers Airport Body Scanner Ban « CBS Miami

BEATING THE WAR DRUMS

Ex-Middle East adviser: ‘We still have time’ to prevent Iran’s nuclear program – The Washington Post

Iran Building Missile Base In Venezuela! – YouTube

Iran army declines comment on MP’s Hormuz exercise remarks – Yahoo! News

Alleged cyberplot points to Venezuela, Iran, documentary says – CNN.com

THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE

Skills gap hobbles US employers – FT.com

Why ‘temporary’ tax cuts never die: Payroll tax and 3 other examples – Payroll tax ‘holiday’ – CSMonitor.com

Washington Mutual Settlement Lets Former Executives Pay $64 Million Of $900 Million Suit

CLAIM THE INTERNETS

Overkill on Internet piracy – Right Turn – The Washington Post

CLIMATE DISRUPTION FUNCTION

Five things to know about the Durban climate agreement – The Washington Post

Canada condemned at home and abroad for pulling out of Kyoto treaty | Environment | The Guardian

NANNY STATE

NTSB recommends full ban on use of cell phones while driving – CNN.com

Gary Johnson: Gingrich ‘proposed the death penalty for marijuana’ | The Raw Story

OCCUPY THE PORTS

Cops Use Chemical Weapons On Protesters At Port Of Seattle! “Cops Were Pushing Pushing Pushing” – YouTube

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LIBERTY IN EXILE BOOK CLUB

It’s Official: Police Using Drones on American Soil

Yaël — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:19:55 +0000

It was once a tactical weapon reserved for the most violent and tumultuous battlefields. Now, after startling debuts in Miami, North Dakota, and our own borders, Unmanned Aerial Drones have now become a staple of American law enforcement on the home front. This represents a new era of a surveillance society, finally bringing dystopian novels of the past to a true real-life rendition before our eyes.

Oddly enough, drones are also in the news lately because of the downed US drone in Iran, which has unified the war crowd as a justification to “invade so as to destroy the intelligence” contained in the craft.

Here are the latest headlines on this very subject:

Indeed, the age of drones is among us. The debate about the technological progress versus privacy will surely be had, and it is hoped that provisions which will keep Constitutional traditions intact will win out in the end.

The Control Business

Yaël — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:31:55 +0000

DIRECT LINK TO MP3

This 07. December 2011 show was broadcast from the PhillyFreedom Studio on the Liberty Radio Network and the No Agenda Stream.

Specifically we looked at legacy of Pearl Harbor, whether or not hell is real, calling teachers ‘cute’, the cause of terrorism, Big Pharma hates weed, violence in Camden, drones in Iran, austerity crying, and much more.

Links for the latest show:

BRAVE NEW WORLD

Priest says Hell is an invention of the church to control people with fear – YouTube

Mother says son was suspended for calling teacher ‘cute’ – News Story – WSOC Charlotte

LEGALIZE IT

DEA Laundering Money For Mexican Drug Cartels – YouTube

California Medical Association Calls For Legalization Of Marijuana – YouTube

Medical Marijuana Industry Moves to Block U.S. Crackdown – NYTimes.com

Governors Ask U.S. to Ease Rules on Marijuana

ECONOMIC FALLACIES

Occupy Economics – YouTube

RON PAUL REVOLUTION

Rush Limbaugh: “Ron Paul Has Nothing To Do With The Tea Party” | Mediaite

“I LOVE RON PAUL!” Jack Cafferty – YouTube

DRONE WARS

US Claims Spy Drone Shot Down In Iran Was Flying Mission In Afghanistan When They Lost Control – YouTube

Iran Drone Crash: U.S. Officials Say Drone That Crashed Inside Iran Was Part Of CIA Surveillance Mission

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards prepare for war – Telegraph

Mysterious blasts, slayings suggest covert efforts in Iran – latimes.com

US shifts drones from Iraq to Turkey: Pentagon | The Raw Story

POLICE STATE

Cops Hide Surveillance Cameras In Trees Outside Man’s Home – YouTube

BATTLEFIELD MAIN STREET – The Militarization of Police- THE DAILY

New Rules For Crossing The U.S. Canadian Border – YouTube

Radley Balko: SWAT Raids, Stun Guns, And Pepper Spray: Why The Government Is Ramping Up The Use Of Force

Camden Asks National Guard For Help

These Guys Made Billions & Killed Over 400 People In The Process – YouTube

TERROR THEATRE

Gingrich: Gov. Should Allow Terror Attacks To Remind People How Much We Need Them – YouTube

Sen. Rand Paul on Hannity with Monica Crowley – 11/02/11 – YouTube

TSA TOUCH-A-THON

TSA Strip Searches 84 Year Old Wheelchair-Bound Grandmother – YouTube

House Report on the TSA

WAR IS PEACE

Pearl Harbor Speech – YouTube

Obama Says U.S. to Base 2,500 Marines in Australia – NYTimes.com

Declassified Memo Hinted of 1941 Hawaii Attack – Washington Whispers (usnews.com)

THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE

Six Central Banks Led by Fed Cut Dollar Funding Costs to Ease Debt Crisis – Bloomberg

Wal-Mart Benefits From Anger Over Banking Fees – NYTimes.com

How Paulson Gave Hedge Funds Advance Word – Bloomberg

Hard Times Generation: Families living in cars – 60 Minutes – CBS News

Companies Who Paid More for Lobbying Than Taxes

Hank Paulson’s inside jobs | Felix Salmon

THE EUROPEAN DEBT UNION

Fillon: ‘EU must rise to credit rating challenge’

Merkel and Sarkozy Call for European Treaty Changes – NYTimes.com

Joe Biden “Jokes” About Bringing Hundreds Of Millions Of US Taxpayer Dollars To Bailout Greece | ZeroHedge

S&P warns eurozone of mass downgrade – FT.com

Pay Freeze for Queen in UK Austerity Measures | ABC News Blogs – Yahoo!

Britain and the EU: British Eurosceptics demand the right to prescribe euthanasia for the euro zone | The Economist

CLAIM THE INTERNETS

FCC to set standards for mass disruptions of Americans’ communications | The Raw Story

CLIMATE DISRUPTION FUNCTION

Sceptics question UN climate strategy – YouTube

Scientists who said climate change sceptics had been proved wrong accused of hiding truth by colleague | Mail Online

Science panel: Get ready for extreme weather | CTV News

Climate Minister buys a castle with 16 bathrooms… and a massive carbon footprint | Mail Online

Canada May Save $6.7B by Exiting Kyoto Pact – Bloomberg Climate Change: UN Extreme Weather Report Triggers Storm of Protest – SPIEGEL ONLINE – News – International

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LIBERTY IN EXILE BOOK CLUB

Rise of the Technocrats

Yaël — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:54:38 +0000

DIRECT LINK TO MP3

This 30. November 2011 show was broadcast from the PhillyFreedom Studio on the Liberty Radio Network and the No Agenda Stream.

Specifically we looked at tweeting insults to politicians, indefinite detention for American citizens, CIA infiltrating news media, Pedobear on the loose, fake terror plots, Ron Paul schoolin’ at the debates, JFK’s warning, rise of the technocrats in the EU, and much more.