Penguin: Examination of Lockheed Lobbying and the C-130 Hercules

The stories are getting simple enough and ridiculous enough for the average American to start getting it. The Disturbing History of One of the Pentagon’s Most Expensive Flying Turkeys Meet the C-130 Hercules. EXTRACT The C-130 Hercules, or Herk for short, isn’t a sexy plane.  It hasn’t inspired hit Hollywood films, though it has prompted …

Open Power: Democracy Lost & Found Essay, Book Review Blurbs and Links [Updated 3 MAR 2015]

NEW: Kindle Book Open Power ($2.99) OLD: Core Documents for Both Initiatives (Free) OLD: the foundation book The Open Source Everything Manifesto ROBERT STEELE: There are two schools of thought on effecting political (and hence economic and social) reform. One school is the school of love — this school emphasizes trust building and doing no …

Marcus Aurelius: Dick Cheney Nominates Sam Nunn for Defense — We Do Not Make This Stuff Up!

For the record. Bloomberg Businessweek, February 18, 2013, Pg. 29 Charlie Rose Talks To Dick Cheney ‘The damage we’re doing to the Defense Department is enormous’ By Charlie Rose Someone said to me that, since you received your heart transplant last year, you’re a new man. That you’re mellow, less strident. Is this true? My …

DefDog: Full Transcript of Hagel Hearing

Very sad — reading remarks prepared by White House weenies, a good man in a strait-jacket. Full transcript of Chuck Hagel hearing before Senate Armed Services Committee Philip Weiss MondoWeiss, February 2, 2013 I believe we can call the Senate Armed Services Committee’s confirmation hearing of Chuck Hagel on Thursday historic: for the savage questioning …

DefDog: Shields and Brooks Condemn Senators — and Hagel — for a New Low in Hearings — PLUS 3 Big Ideas White House & Hagel’s People Don’t “Get”…

Senators irresponsible, Hagel unprepared and lacking any upfront vision to shape the encounter. Shields and Brooks on Hagel’s Rough Hearing, Movement on Immigration EXTRACT JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, speaking of secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel, who, David, the president wants to be the secretary of defense, hearing yesterday, confirmation hearing before the Senate, pretty rough going. …

Mini-Me: One View of AIPAC Poodle Show (Hagel Hearing), Word Count Assessment — Israel and Iran Over and Over No Substance

Huh? Hagel confirmation hearing turns into the AIPAC Poodle Show … by  Jim W. Dean, VT Editor                           …  Press TV It was an embarrassing day to be an American last Friday. The Founding Fathers are turning over in their graves, once again. I knew it was coming, but it was worse than I expected. AIPAC …