Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 250

WikiLeaks Volunteer Also FBI Informer

Kevin Poulsen who goes way back in covering WikiLeaks at Wired--he drew praise and criticism after getting scoop on the Lamo/Manning chats logs, for example--breaks a story this morning linking a certain WikiLeaks volunteer (seen at left with Assange) to the FBI.  He calls himhe first known FBI informant inside WikiLeaks. For the next three months, Thordarson served two masters, working for the secret-spilling website and simultaneously spilling its secrets to the U.S. government in exchange, he says, for a total of about $5,000. The FBI flew him internationally four times for debriefings, including one trip to Washington D.C., and on the last meeting obtained from Thordarson eight hard drives packed with chat logs, video and other data from WikiLeaks. The relationship provides a rare window into the U.S. law enforcement investigation into WikiLeaks..."

CIA and Domestic Spying--Via NYPD

Can't be too shocked anymore with this stuff, but still quite a report tonight from Charlie Savage at NYT.  Remember, all CIA surveillance supposedly banned in USA.

Four CIA officers were embedded with the New York Police Department in the decade after Sept. 11, 2001, including one official who helped conduct surveillance operations in the United States, according to a newly disclosed C.I.A. inspector general’s report.

That officer believed there were “no limitations” on his activities, the report said, because he was on an unpaid leave of absence, and thus exempt from the prohibition against domestic spying by members of the C.I.A.

Another embedded C.I.A. analyst — who was on its payroll — said he was given “unfiltered” police reports that included information unrelated to foreign intelligence, the C.I.A. report said.

Sounds Like Wendy Davis Will Run for Governor

Wendy Davis on Chris Hayes'  MSNBC show just now.  (UPDATE: You can now watch.)  Talked about "test of endurance" in Texas filibuster last night,  most notably in anticipating GOP points of order and trying to avoid them.  Says she did feel disrespect and condescension from colleagues, but "nothing new."  Mainly men who wanted to "intrude" on rights of women, "starkly in this case."

 Gov. Perry and Lt. Go.v Dewhurst "have led the charge in breakdown of decorum" and changed rules that bill could pass by simple majority.   Senate rules "became meaningless."   They "ran roughshod over the rules" and "they are going to do it again."  Those in gallery observed decorum until they could "no longer take it" when saw presiding officer's behavior.   Became "the people's filbuster" and she's proud--what democracy all about.

Asked if she would run for governor, she said she wouldn't lie and can't deny she  has had aspirations to run for state office--but will enthusiasm from last night "hold"?  If it does, "indications are that will be the case"--that is, she'd run for governor, it seems.  But those in other  states need to take up "the fight."  People do appreciate "when you take a tough stand." 

Marine's Murder Conviction Overturned--What About Manning?

Gotta wonder if Bradley Manning can make same claim.  Full story here.

The military's highest court has overturned a murder conviction against a Camp Pendleton Marine in one of the most significant cases against American troops from the Iraq war. The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces on Wednesday threw out the conviction of Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III.

According to the ruling posted on the court's website, the judges agreed with Hutchins, who claimed his constitutional rights were violated when he was held in solitary confinement without access to a lawyer for seven days during his interrogation.  Hutchins led an eight-man squad accused of kidnapping a retired Iraqi policeman from his home in April 2006, marching him to a ditch and shooting him to death in Hamdania.

The squad's other members served less than 18 months.

Woman Goes Over Fence at White House Today

She was in 56th day of hunger strike protesting Gitmo.  Video by Eddie Becker.

Not Dead, and Lover Lovering It

Leonard Cohen amidst usual three-hour live show in London this week, after NYT declared him dead.

Wendy Davis, America's Sweetheart

The new heroine of Texas (and USA), Wendy Davis--who carried out nine-hour filibuster (until silenced by GOP cheating) related to abortion bill in Texas legislature--won by only 6500 votes in her reelection bid in 2012, if you get my drift.  Also, in 2012, her office was firebombed with a pair of Molotov cocktails. She was not in office at the time and no one else was injured.  She commented, "It's unfortunate when things like this happen in the public arena. It reminds us of how important it is for us to remain very civil in our discourse and to work not to foment this kind of anger in our community as we discuss things that are challenges that we all face and care about."

UPDATE   As I turn in for night--huge crowd in gallery took over in final 15 minutes, disrupting vote--until after midnight deadline.  But GOPers say it counts anyway.  Uproar started when Sen. Van De Putte rose to complain, "At what point does a female senator need to raise her voice to be heard over the male colleagues in the room?"  I believe she had buried her father earlier in the day.  AP headlines: "Republicans pass new restrictions expected to close almost every abortion clinic in Texas." A fun look at the night, wit GIFs.  Much more to come.

Nothing Like a 'Dame'

Helen Mirren, as perhaps you've never seen, fencing with famous sexist Brit TV interviewer,1975.

Upcoming Book With Bombshells on Hollywood and Nazis

NYT just posted piece on Harvard scholar's upcoming book detailing for first time considerable evidence of what he calls Hollywood studios heads of the 1930s--most of them Jewish-- "collaborating" with the Hitler regime on edits of films and more.  Free tours or studios no problem.  Some already claiming "collaborate" is far too strong but see what he dug up.  From my research for my book on Upton Sinclair's 1934 campaign for governor of California--Hollywood's first all-out plunge into politics--this somehow doesn't surprise me.  BTW, Hitler loved Laurel & Hardy, hated Tarzan.

Obama Compares Climate Change Deniers to Flat Earthers

He did it in his big speech today, and hooray for that.  But it raised the question?  Does the famous Flat Earth Society still exist? Indeed it does, and they even have their own podcast and merchandise shop with t-shirts etc.  See their site here.  And you can join up--you might even find a SCOTUS justice or two if they ever hold a D.C. meeting.   Apparently they still cite the UN map as evidence.  I forgot musician Thomas Dolby joined up back in 2001.  iTunes page here. 

Yes, the president of the group (he revived it after it got too flat) is on Twitter from London @danielshenton.  Most recent tweet: Watching David Attenborough's "Deep Ocean" episode. Really makes me thankful that I'm not plankton.

UPDATE:  Shenton in an email to Salon said that he believes in climate change: “I accept that climate change is a process which has been ongoing since beginning of detectable history, but there seems to be a definite correlation between the recent increase in world-wide temperatures and man’s entry into the industrial age,” he said. “If it’s a coincidence, it’s quite a remarkable one. We may have experienced a temperature increase even without our use of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution, but I doubt it would be as dramatic as what we’re seeing now.”