Civil Liberties

We Remember the Dead by Helping the Living

John W. Whitehead | Posted 01.05.2009 | Living

Read More: Civil Liberties, Veterans, Veteran's Rights, Iraq Veterans, John Miska, Vfw, Homeless Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Veterans' Health Care, Vietnam Veterans, National Park Service, Buddy Poppies, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Veterans and Homelessness, Veterans' Rights, Living News
John W. Whitehead

Clearly, we have not done enough for our veterans. That's why it's so infuriating that when someone finally does, government bureaucrats try to stop them.

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Rebutting the Skeptics: Digital Media Is America's Ally

Jared Cohen | Posted 12.24.2008 | World

Read More: Foreign Policy Digital Media, Civil Liberties, Al-Qaeda, Bloggers, Activists Digital Media, Facebook, Online Organizing, Foreign Policy, Extremists Digital Media, Digital Media, Digital Media Empowerment, Fouad Al-Farhan, Bloggers Arrested, Mumbai Attacks Digital Media, Technology, Blogging, Dorm Room Diplomacy, World News
Jared Cohen

Over the past year we have seen digital media empower populations around the world in unprecedented ways, but there are skeptics who don't buy into this trend as a force for social good.

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From Guantanamo to Accountability and Beyond

Arlene M. Roberts | Posted 12.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: Geneva Conventions, Human Rights Center, Presidential Powers, Office of the Pardon Attorney, US Accountability Project, Interrogation, Jonathan Mahler, Carolyn Patty Blum, Presidential Pardons, Open Society Institute, Military Commissions, Detention, The Challenge, International Center for Transitional Justice, Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Violations, International Human Rights, Civil Liberties, Military Tribunals, Aclu, Pardons, Eric Stover, Laurel Fletcher, Osi, Politics News
Arlene M. Roberts

President-elect Obama made known his intention to close the Guantanamo detention facility. The projected closure raises a plethora of issues.

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Terrorist Money Trail Leads to Allied Ire, But Not Terrorists

Frank Naif | Posted 12.04.2008 | World

Read More: Civil Liberties, Obama Transition, War on Terror, Cia, Privacy, Eu, Terrorism, Al Qaeda, World News
Frank Naif

The US campaign against terrorism has lost America its friends and alienated it allies. Following terrorist money is a cornerstone of US counter-terrorism strategy that has achieved unwelcome results.

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Obama Can Help Reclaim Democracy by Closing Gitmo

Robert Greenwald | Posted 11.13.2008 | Politics

Read More: Aclu, Civil Liberties, Barack Obama, Guantanamo Bay, George Bush, Close Gitmo, Gitmo, Torture, Politics News
Robert Greenwald

We have the chance to help President-elect Obama reclaim democracy and restore the rule of law in our country, which he can do on his first day in off...

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The Unarmed Services

Frankie Sturm | Posted 11.11.2008 | Politics

Read More: Civil Liberties, US Military, Patriotism, Politics News
Frankie Sturm

I recently had the opportunity to speak with a retired general. He gave me a gift that I hardly expected and heartily accepted: the option of patrioti...

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The Cutting Edge of Civil Rights: Why President Obama Must Lead on Gay Marriage

Pete Cenedella | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics

Read More: Civil Liberties, California Gay Marriage, Gay Rights, Proposition 8, Prop 8, President Obama, Civil Unions, Civil Rights, Barack Obama, Gay Marriage, Loving vs. Virginia, Politics News
Pete Cenedella

It was the best of elections, and it was the worst of elections. Like everyone but the Republican base, I've been savoring Obama's stunning and beauti...

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California's Shame

Emily Cotler | Posted 11.06.2008 | Home

Read More: Civil Liberties, Hazel Bryan, California, Proposition 8, Ellen Degeneres, Fear of Change, Race, Prejudice, Harvey Milk, Civil Rights, Politics of Fear, Cesar Chavez, Jackie Robinson, California Gay Marriage, Out of State Funding, Gay Rights, California Politics, Racism, Desegregation, Elizabeth Eckford, Separation of Church and State, Gay Marriage, Home News
Emily Cotler

Equality for all. What could be more basic and simple than that? And yet, California's Proposition 8 passed. If you don't know what Prop 8 entails, it...

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An Obituary for the Bush Administration

Alex Geana | Posted 11.04.2008 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Civil Liberties, Obituary, Colin Powell, Economy, Barack Obama, John McCain, Obama Election Day, Election Day 2008, Election Day, Joe Biden, Election Results, Sarah Palin, Election, Voting Day, Obama Presidency, Obama President, Presidential Election, US Economy2008 Election, Voting, Politics News
Alex Geana

This is the great gift of the Bush administration, that apathy has fallen by the way side; citizens are once again active in government. This is George Bush's legacy.

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Just What This Heartsick American Needed: A Republican Beacon for Civil Liberties

David Quigg | Posted 10.21.2008 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, The Dark Side, Warrantless Wiretapping, Civil Liberties, Terrorism, Guantanamo Detainees, Ronald Rotunda, Guantanamo, 9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas Kean, War on Terror, Habeas Corpus, Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, Jane Mayer, Kyndra Rotunda, Detainee Abuse, Enhanced Interrogations, Constitution, Torture, Politics News
David Quigg

A Republican almost made me burst into tears. In a good way. Gov. Kean's specifics are a reminder of how much is at stake now and of how bad things have been since 9/11.

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Yet Another Reason to Fear a McCain Supreme Court

Nathan Robinson | Posted 10.09.2008 | Politics

Read More: Supreme Court, Civil Liberties, Court, Law, Exclusionary Rule, Police, Scalia, Evidence, Politics News
Nathan Robinson

Those who value their civil liberties have much more to fear from a McCain Court than the overturning of Roe v. Wade, as police gain greater and greater incentives to disregard our rights without consequence.

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Domestic Wiretapping First Hand Account: NSA Listened To Phone Sex

ABC | BRIAN ROSS, VIC WALTER, and ANNA SCHECTER | Posted 10.09.2008 | Politics

Read More: Nsa, Civil Liberties, Domestic Wiretapping, Sex, Phone Sex, Wiretapping, Fbi, Domestic Spying, FBI Surveillance, Politics News

Despite pledges by President George W. Bush and American intelligence officials to the contrary, hundreds of US citizens overseas have been eavesdropp...

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Jews for Obama?

Michelle Haimoff | Posted 10.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: 2008 Elections, Civil Liberties, Jews, Democrat, Youth Vote, Liberals, Woody Allen, Barack Obama Israel, 2008 Presidential Campaign, Democratic Party, 2008 Presidential Election, Sarah Silverman, Gay Rights, Jewish, Voters, Election 2008, Israel, Swing Voters, Voting, Abortion, Obama Jewish Vote, Humor, Barack Obama Jews, Independent Voters, Democratic Presidential Candidate, Democrats, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Obama Jews, Young Voters, Barack Obama 2008, Elections, Swing States, Political Humor, 2008 Presidential Race, Presidential Election, Obama Israel, Jewish Voters, Gay Marriage, Politics News
Michelle Haimoff

The one issue that surpasses even those that center around civil liberties is the continued existence of the state of Israel.

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A Technology Agenda for the Next Administration

Leslie Harris | Posted 09.29.2008 | Politics

Read More: Civil Liberties, Internet, Transition, Surveillance, Fisa, Security, President, Election, Privacy, 2008 Election, Politics News
Leslie Harris

This privacy nightmare was born one on the one hand of bad legislation, abusive surveillance tactics and politically-motivated fear mongering, and on dramatic changes in technology on the other.

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Economic 9/11: The Shrinking of Political Space

Roberto Lovato | Posted 09.26.2008 | Politics

Read More: Civil Liberties, American Civil Liberties Union, Nancy Pelosi, Financial Crisis, Economic Crisis and Repression, Us Economic Crisis, Bush Bailout, Paul Craig Roberts, Arun Gupta and the Indypendent Newspaper, Government Repression, Politics News
Roberto Lovato

New York, NY -- Arun Gupta stood between the throngs of tourists and the small army of activists squeezing onto the narrow concrete island occupied la...

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Sarah Palin's Inbox Reveals Possible Troopergate Smoking Guns

Erik Ose | Posted 09.19.2008 | Politics

Read More: Troopergate, Civil Liberties, Sarah Palin Vp Pick, Mccain, Sarah Palin Vice President, General Election, Presidential Campaign, Yahoo, Politics News, McCain VP Shortlist, 2008, McCain Vice President, Obama 2008, E-Mail, Palin Inner Circle, Mike Wooten, Technology, Sarah Palin Reaction, Mccain Vice President Palin, Wasilla, Vice President, John McCain, Sarah Palin Vp, Palin E-Mail Hacked, Walt Monegan, McCain VP, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin Mccain Vp, Secrecy, Barack Obama 2008, Internet Privacy, Mccain Palin Ticket, Sarah Palin Running Mate, Sunshine Laws, Sarah Palin, Palin Vp Choice, Alaska, Veepstakes, Hackers, Politics News
Erik Ose

Why the secrecy? Why try so hard to cover up your e-mail trail? What exactly is Gov. Palin trying to hide?

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What Is Wal-Mart So Afraid Of? Four Words: Employee Free Choice Act

Robert Greenwald | Posted 09.13.2008 | Politics

Read More: Rights, Walmart, Civil Liberties, Workers, Employee Free Choice Act, Economy, Baratunde Thurston, Seiu, Meet the Bloggers, Cenk Uygur, Pensions, American Rights at Work, Robert Greenwald, Recession, Working Class, Brave New Foundation, Efca, Jack and Jill Politics, Michael Whitney, Ceos, Andy Stern, Class,War, Unions, Politics News
Robert Greenwald

The Employee Free Choice Act is a vital piece of legislation that, if passed, will go a long way toward restoring the middle class in our country.

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The Worst 52 Hours Ever

Jack Helmuth | Posted 09.10.2008 | Politics

Read More: Republican Convention, Civil Liberties, Politics, Politics News
Jack Helmuth

As we digest last week's Republican National Convention and that party's traditional small government platforms, such as a constitutional ban on gay m...

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Baton-Bashed In Denver! Is This Really What Democracy Looks Like?!

Linda Milazzo | Posted 08.27.2008 | Politics

Read More: Democratic Convention, Civil Liberties, Democratic National Convention, Incarceration, Citizsen Journalist, First Amendment Rights, Internal Affairs Division, Protest, Free Speech, Denver Sheriff's Department, Codepink, Dnc, Denver, Arrest, Politics News
Linda Milazzo

IS THIS WHAT DEMOCRACY REALLY LOOKS LIKE?! There are characteristics essential to being a member of the peace and social justice organization, ...

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Convention Protesters To Be Treated As Terrorists

Chip Berlet | Posted 08.22.2008 | Home

Read More: Democratic Convention, Civil Liberties, Political Convention, Republican Convention, Political Repression, Police Abuse, Denver, Bruce Hoffman, Minneapolis, Marc Sageman, Home News
Chip Berlet

Government security agencies are planning to treat convention protesters like potential terrorists due to a reliance on flawed research, hyperbolic assessments, and political bias.

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An Early Look: Michigan's Arab Americans and the 2008 Elections

James Zogby | Posted 08.22.2008 | Home

Read More: u.s. Foreign Policy, U.S. Economy, Civil Liberties, Voter Preference, Michigan, 2008 Election, Home News
James Zogby

In the lead-up to the two national conventions - marking the formal opening of the presidential campaign season - I traveled to Michigan to see how A...

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The Death of DC Suburban Mayor's Dogs Should Matter to Every American

Robert Creamer | Posted 08.08.2008 | Politics

Read More: George Bush, Labrador Retrievers, Civil Liberties, John McCain, Mayor Calvo, Civil Rights, Breaking News, Drug Policy, Politics News
Robert Creamer

The Prince George's Sheriff's Office SWAT team raided the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and without apparent provocation, they shot and killed the couples' two Labrador retrievers.

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My Message to the Democrats

James Zogby | Posted 08.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Civil Liberties, Lebanon, Democrats, Iraq, Barack Obama, Politics News
James Zogby

Nowhere has misguided Bush administration policy been more evident than their behavior in the aftermath of September 11th. As Arab Americans, we feel the effect of these misguided policies acutely.

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Chinese Totalitarianism, American-Style

John W. Whitehead | Posted 07.31.2008 | Politics

Read More: Surveillance, Civil Liberties, Human Rights, Beijing Olympics, Big Brother, China, Monitor, Politics News
John W. Whitehead

U.S. defense contractors have been helping China build the prototype for a high-tech police state that will be put to the test with the upcoming Beijing Olympics -- and might end up in the U.S.

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Long Journey Into the Knight

Joshua David Stein | Posted 07.21.2008 | Entertainment

Read More: Civil Liberties, Heath Ledger Joker, New Batman Movie, Batman: The Dark Knight, Batman, Batman Reviews, Movies, Entertainment News
Joshua David Stein

Director Christopher Nolan has decreased the contrast of Dark Knight not only visually but morally as well. Batman is no longer good. He's just less bad than the Joker.

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