China's "HOWTO abuse people" document revealed

The tactics of the “urban management officers” are now in print, as a Chinese newspaper has published a government document about how to rough up dissenters. Something tells me a few editors are going to get a little visit from the government soon, but let's hope not.

China shuts down leading Chinese civil rights organization

No one mistakes the Chinese government as a friend of human rights, so it is unfortunate, though not entirely surprising, that it has shut down the Open Constitution Initiative.

Ireland Criminalizes Blasphemy

It almost sounds too stupid to be true, but we're talking about politicians here. But it is true -- by repealing the 1961 Defamation Act, Ireland has criminalized blasphemy. Prepare to be raided if you are publishing any "blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter."

Did Bush administration cover up a massacre?

It seems quite likely. How much longer can we pretend that we're the 'good guys' in Afghanistan?

Bush officials repeatedly discouraged efforts by the F.B.I., the State Department, the Red Cross and human rights groups to investigate the massacre and said that it would undermine our war effort.

The report appears to show how readily Bush officials not only committed war crimes in the commission of torture but embraced war criminals as allies.

Bush administration implemented additional surveillance programs

It has come to light that George W. Bush authorized surveillance that went beyond what the NSA has been known to be doing for a few years now. Furthermore, there is an even more secret program that the CIA refuses to tell us (or apparently, even congress) about. Not surprisingly, it was Dick Cheney himself who ordered this program's concealment from our representatives. Darth Vader strikes again.

Obama administration doesn't actually want to release you if you are deemed innocent by a court of law

Obama's administration has asserted his right to "presidential post-acquittal detention power." What might that mean, you ask? That only means that Obama gets to dictate whether a person deemed innocent in a court of law is released or not. That is, Obama can detain people indefinitely contrary to the orders of a court. Just when you think it can't get any worse...

Obama administration doesn't actually support gay rights

The Obama DOJ has been defending the awful DOMA piece of legislation, a law that blocks same-sex couples from a variety of equalities such as filing joint taxes and securing Social Security spousal benefits. Personally, I'm getting really tired of the "we can't overturn this law, because it would be too much work to overturn all the other injustice going on in the world" defense.

Obama blocks release of White House visitor logs

Contrary to his promises to make his administration an administration of transparency, Obama has blocked the release of the White House visitor logs. Apparently he doesn't think it is the public's business what lobbyists are visiting him to insidiously sway policy in their favor. Perhaps Obama needs a reminder that he is accountable to the people of America, not the other way around.