Thursday, June 13, 2013

Message from Brother Jeff Degan


Just for today I'll be handing over das RANT to my brother, Jeff Degan. This is only the second time that I have turned this site over to another writer. You may recall the piece that my old pal Kevin Swanwick wrote last Autumn called "Our Hearts of Darkness". This one is just as good. I scarfed it from something he posted on his Facebook page:
Just a few words....
Before we all go and canonize this latest whistle-blower for the heroic stand he has taken in revealing what everyone knew but no one cared to admit (and somewhat ignominiously dumping his exotic-dancing girlfriend in the process), let's wait to find out what were his true motives and, perhaps, who is bankrolling his Hong Kong holiday.

And speaking of Hong Kong, it turns out that that bastion of liberty (read FREE MARKET CAPITALISM) does have an extradition treaty with the United States, unlike dirty old corrupt France, which does not but actually does have something of a tradition of liberty of expression (why do you think they call them “Freedom Fries”?). I am not sure the boy genius spy guy really thought this thing through.

Now let's look at that. I mean, who in their right mind would take a bold stand for freedom and democracy and then jump on a plane for the People's Republic of China? That's right. No one in their right mind.

And speaking of minds on the far right, our hero twice gave money to Ron Paul. Now just because he gave money to a candidate I don't particularly care for does not mean that he loves freedom and democracy and apple pie any less than you or I do. It does, however, mean that he probably has a pretty deep-seated opposition to the current administration and its policies and that fact ought to be borne in mind when evaluating his actions.

And while we are on the subject of opposition to the Obama administration, let us not forget that that is the only thing holding the Republican party together at the moment. If in nothing else they are as one in their determination to do everything and anything they can to ensure that the President fails. At every turn they have tried to whip up any misstep by anyone in the federal government into a Watergate-level scandal that would give them a reason to impeach the President, whom they can never forgive for having the audacity, in addition to being a black man in the White House who isn't shining shoes and being to all appearances a model father, is handsomer, smarter, and a better golfer than pretty much the entire Grand Old Party combined.

Finally, I would just like to conclude by saying that, unlike so many people in Washington, apparently, I am not at all surprised by these revelations. This is precisely what a number of outspoken critics of the so-called Patriot Act said at the time WOULD happen if we passed that particular piece of legislation. So, as egregious and as heinous as these assaults on our individual liberties may appear to us, we really have no one to blame but ourselves for voting these rascals in in the first place and then re-electing them after we saw what they were capable of doing in the name of our freedom.

To steal a line from Edward R. Murrow, who himself borrowed it from the Bard: The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves.

Good night and good luck.
Jeff Degan 
Well, what did you expect? The guy is a complete commie. An eternal shame to the good name and reputation of the Degan family. Not only does he live in France - AND LIKE IT THERE - he has a French wife and two French daughters! But seriously, folks, I think he gives us something to think about here.
AFTERTHOUGHT:
Hugs and kisses to my lovely sister-in-law and my two beautiful nieces. There's no French bashing going on in my house!

32 Comments:

At 5:48 PM, Blogger Joanne Noragon said...

Another whippersnapper who knows the solutions better than his fairly elected government--all of it, the congress right up to the president. Instead of Queen for a Day, it seems to be President for a Day. I can reserve judgement, but only long enough to find out how much of a charlatan the lad is. The Wizard of Oz for a Day?

 
At 11:04 PM, Anonymous John said...

Boys,

The discussion should not be about Snowden - or Obama - or democrats and republicans. What is important is our civil rights defined in the constitution - after all, this is the only thing that could be said to be special about being a citizen of the United States. In recent years these rights have been under systematic attack by the ruling class.

What has been exposed in Snowden's revelation is a mechanism that can be used to destroy whatever small vestige of a say you have as a citizen. Those controlling this technology can circumvent elections, attack business rivals...

Think about this, this technology is far beyond what J. Edgar Hoover or Joseph McCarthy had at their disposal, it can destroy people. It brings a level of domestic surveillance far exceeding that of Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union's KGB. What was the aim of those regimes? What is our's?

We may have an opportunity to wrest back some of the promise of the constitution - this is what the discussion should focus on.

 
At 7:34 AM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

Just the other day I saw the Charlie Chaplin film "Modern Times" for the first time in ages. I was taken aback when it was over. His theme of the common man against technology and the plutocratic state are as relevant today as when it was released seventy-seven years ago - perhaps even more so. See the film for a better idea. It's worth it. It was his last appearance as the little tramp.

CHAPLIN SPEAKS!

http://tomdegan.blogspot.com/2006/10/chaplin-speaks_116004967991296783.html

Cheers!

 
At 10:47 AM, Anonymous LIBSRSHEEP said...

Naturally if this happened during Bush, Deagan would have already made a t-shirt calling Snowden a hero, but since a "D" is president, this sheep Deagan is ready to condemn Mr Snowden. Once more proving liberals stand for nothing other than defending the Democratic party.

Look at AL Franken Franken.... Franken called the spy grid "warrantless wiretapping" and unnecessary when Bush was president, now Franken says "we need to be protected"

in other words, Franken, like all libs, stand for nothing other than defending the D president.

Deagan= not a liberal, an Obama shoe shiner. Why don't you suck Obama's cock and get it over with ?

 
At 10:49 AM, Anonymous libsaresheep said...

Soon Deagan will post why it is imprtant we support the Syrian rebellian and start another war, since a Democrat is president.


Libs are so brainwashed they do not even see their own hypocrisy

OBama starts a war, libs will celebrate!

 
At 11:03 AM, Anonymous libsrdumbsheep said...

and of course if an "R" used the IRS to target liberal groups Deagan would be screaming for impeachment. Since it's the other way around, Deagan does not care and mocks a serious scandal

Libs like Deagan stand for nothing, luckily America is waking up and braindead party-line cheerleaders on both sides are a dying breed

and the so called republicans are on their knees for OBama right now, both sides are attacking Snowden, both sides want a war with Syria. Deagan has no idea what he is talking about. There is no Republican obstruction, the GOP is identical to the Dems at this point

both support spying on citizens, and useless wars in Middle East countries. Deagan is working on spinning a way to support military intervention in Syria, naturally

America wakes up, sheep like DEagan still cheer on a half black Bush!

 
At 11:45 AM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

I see the conservative apologists are out in force. I'm also sure that ALL these people said something to the effect of "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear" during the Bush administration. I WILL say that it's good to see that the conservatives have finally discovered that there are more amendments than the 2nd in the constitution. It's about time. All it took was a Black President to wake them up. Now if we can just get that as angry about drug testing without cause we will be moving in the right direction.

 
At 5:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you put the federal govt in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there would be a sand shortage,

 
At 9:56 PM, Anonymous Just On Crack said...

I just want to say libsrdumbsheep has made some good points.

Why are we hearing crickets from Dave Dubya about our nanny state monitoring our phone calls and internet activity far worse than when George Dubya was in charge?

Hey Dave, is it Bush's fault that Obama was monitoring the AP reporters phone records?

 
At 10:13 PM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

The IRS did target "Liberal groups" the same way they "targeted" conservative ones. The groups apllied for tax exempt status so they were checked out to see if they were eligable. As for the government running out of sand, I'm sure "Anonymous"(courageous name there) doesn't mind then running the military, and he won't mind when his Social Security comes through (If it isn't already)

 
At 11:15 PM, Anonymous Daniel Ellesbury said...

The IRS did target "Liberal groups" the same way they "targeted" conservative ones. Really?

In liberal world, two wrongs make a right.

 
At 8:16 AM, Anonymous Christopher James said...

I don't consider Snowden to be a hero...nor do I consider him to be a traitor.
What he has done however is forced the converstaion that whe should have had when the Patriot Act was proposed and passed.
Big Brother has been recording conversations of it's citizens...and I don't like it.We have become a Gestapo State....Think about that.

Rationalreaper

 
At 8:28 AM, Blogger Mozart1220 said...

Daniel, if you file for tax exempt staus it's the IRS JOB to make sure you qualify. And Christopher, they are no recording conversations of American citizens, they are tracking locations of phone calls. They have been doin that since the 70's (probably before) and I think it's interesting that everyone (GOP) suddenly began caring when we got a Black President. Pretty convenient, but agin, it's nice to find out the right admits there is more to the constitution that the 2nd amendment

 
At 10:57 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it's pretty amazing that everybody (liberals) stopped being concerned about govt intrusion into our freedoms once we got a black president.
Sounds Racist to me.

 
At 11:02 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Darn it, looks like Muslims are racists.

The Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) in Johannesburg, South Africa has apparently had enough of President Obama. The MLA has submitted a request to the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecution calling for the arrest and prosecution of the U.S. President when he next visits the country.

The MLA mainly objects to Obama’s massive use of drone strikes to kill Muslims, something Obama has repeatedly defended and, despite claims he would ramp down the program, has continued to execute in the face of world-wide criticism.

 
At 11:03 AM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

We "stopped being concerned"???

You're proof that conservatives do not pay attention to anything they're not ordered to pay attention to. Go to any and EVERY liberal website and blog you can name. They're all FREAKING OUT about it!

I'm sorry but you haven't a clue what you're talking about.

 
At 11:07 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like Democratic Rep. John Larson (D., Conn.) is a racist, he doesn't think Obama care is good for his staffers. Didnt bother him when we had a white president.

When the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) was being debated, proponents were accused of saddling Americans with inferior and expensive health care while keeping generous coverage for themselves at taxpayer expense. To rebut that allegation and build confidence in the bill, a provision was added mandating that members of Congress – and their staff members – get there coverage through the new exchange system the bill set up. Now that the time to sign up for exchange coverage is nearing, a Democratic member, Rep. John Larson (D., Conn.), is saying that “this is simply not fair” – as key staff members head for the exits to avoid Obamacare.

 
At 1:49 PM, Anonymous Chuck Morre said...

Tom,

Tea party Members, Libertarians, Conservatives and members of the GOP have spoken out since day one against the Patriot Act. The truth is Mozart and JTF ignore their having done so in order to base their false claims of racism against those groups.(Tea Party Members,Libertarians, Conservatives and members of the GOP)

The major difference now is not the race of our president, like Mozart and JTF would like you to believe, but that the actions of the self proclaimed most transparent administration in four years is triple what was done in 8 years under the hated GWB. It is their continued blaming of GWB for current presidential actions and labeling those who disagree with Obama policy's as racists that is clouding the issue of our liberty's being restricted under this president. Liberty's that both liberal and conservative do not want restrictions on and should be arm in arm protesting against.
Our liberty is a non partisan issue

 
At 4:39 PM, Blogger Tom Degan said...

You guys have an awful lot of free time on your hands.

 
At 7:21 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

More free time than you, who has been unemployed for how many weeks?

 
At 7:02 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well said!

 
At 7:04 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Indeed

 
At 12:21 PM, Anonymous Just the Facts said...

Tea party Members, Libertarians, Conservatives and members of the GOP have spoken out since day one against the Patriot Act.

Libertarians, a few Republicans, some Dems, and socialists like Bernie Sanders have spoken out anyway.

Tea Party?

Votes for the PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011 and the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2012.


The former passed the Senate 72 to 23. The latter passed the Senate 73 to 23. The opponents were largely the same.

Most Nay votes were Democratic.

The PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011 passed the GOP led House 250 to 153. The FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act passed the GOP led House 301 to 118.

Tea Party-backed candidates voting for the Patriot Act renewal bill:

Tim Griffin (AR-2)
Paul Gosar (AZ-1)
Steve Southerland (FL-2)
Allen West (FL-22)
Sandy Adams (FL-24)
Bob Dold (IL-10)
Adam Kinzinger (IL-11)
Marlin Stutzman (IN-3)
Todd Young (IN-9)
Jeff Landry (LA-3)
Dan Benishek (MI-1)
Tim Walberg (MI-7)
Michelle Bachmann (MN-6)
Vicky Hartzler (MO-4)
Renee Ellmers (NC-2)
Frank Guinta (NH-1)
Joe Heck (NV-3)
Michael Grimm (NY-13)
Steven Chabot (OH-1)
Bill Johnson (OH-6)
Steve Stivers (OH-15)
Jim Renacci (OH-16)
Tim Scott (SC-1)
Jeff Duncan (SC-3)
Trey Gowdy (SC-4)
Mick Mulvaney (SC-5)
Scott DesJarlais (TN-4)
Bill Flores (TX-17)
H. Morgan Griffith (VA-9)
Sean Duffy (WI-7)
Reid Ribble (WI-8)
David McKinley (WV-1)


 
At 4:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ahem, JTF, did you forget to list the democrats who have voted for the Patriot act? I'm sure it's just an over site on your part that you haven't.

Once again you have proven your objective is not the protection of our Constitutionally guaranteed rights, but to attack anyone who is not as liberal as you are, even at the cost of your own liberty.

Next you will claim those you have listed are racists.

 
At 4:55 PM, Anonymous Just the Facts said...

Racists? Not at all, only Tea Party-backed candidates voting for the Patriot Act renewal bill.

I know you have a hard time handling the facts.

More dems voted against it than republicans.

Just the facts.

 
At 7:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The list please.

 
At 8:03 PM, Anonymous Just the Facts said...

The list please.

Use the Google. Curiosity won't turn you into a liberal....or it just might.

 
At 10:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank God, I can at least jeep my own insurance plan and DOC. if I want to.
Right?

A new 253-page Obamacare rule issued late Friday requires state, federal and local agencies as well as health insurers to swap the protected personal health information of anybody seeking to join the new health care program that will be enforced by the Internal Revenue Service.

Personal health information, or PHI, is highly protected under federal law, but the latest ruling from the Department of Health and Human Services allows agencies to trade the information to verify that Obamacare applicants are getting the minimum amount of health insurance coverage they need from the health "exchanges."

The ruling, explained on pages 72-73 of the book-thick guidance, does not mention any requirement that applicants first OK the release of their PHI. HHS already allows some exchange of PHI without an individual's pre-approval, especially when for a "government program providing public benefits." Officials said the swapping of information is simply meant to help figure the best insurance coverge of Obamacare users.

 
At 11:00 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nothing new here to see, move along.

Applications of pro-Israel groups for tax-exempt status are routinely routed to an antiterrorism unit within the Internal Revenue Service for additional screening, according to the testimony of a Cincinnati-based IRS agent.

Asked whether Jewish or pro-Israel applications are treated differently from other applications, Gary Muthert told House Oversight Committee investigators that they are considered “specialty cases” and that “probably” all are sent to an IRS unit that examines groups for potential terrorist ties.

Muthert, who served as an application screener before transferring to the agency’s antiterrorism unit, was interviewed in connection with the committee’s investigation into the IRS’s discrimination against conservative groups. As a screener, Muthert flagged tea-party applications and passed them along to specialists for further scrutiny.

Wonder if any George Soris funded organizations got the IRS anal example?

 
At 12:35 PM, Anonymous Just the Facts said...

Wonder if any George Soris funded organizations got the IRS anal example?

Curious are we?

I somehow doubt you're interested in the surveillance, searches and harassment of peace and environmental groups who committed no crimes. I have to wonder why there's no outrage over the same treatment for protesters at Republican conventions. I'd bet you also don't care to know the NAACP was also under "special" IRS scrutiny.

Should anyone with an open mind be interested, here's a good place to start looking at these matters:

The Pentagon's Secret Database on Peaceful Protest

And here:


IRS targeted NAACP in 2004

Just the Facts, just for you.

 
At 1:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks Dave Duyba, we all knew you would come through.

 
At 6:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

OH NO, Oliver Stone is a racist, right Dave Dubya?

Oliver Stone at the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival.
Stone went on to praise WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Bradley Manning, and condemned President Barack Obama's administration for its prosecution of whistleblowers.

SHANGHAI – Director Oliver Stone brought thunderous applause to a crowd of more than 500 festivalgoers at the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival in China on Monday when he praised whistleblower Edward Snowden as a "hero."

 

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