Author: KJ McElrath

U.S. to Close Gitmo – but “Prisoners” not being Released: the same old story

U.S. to Close Gitmo – but “Prisoners” not being Released: the same old story

Posted by | Aug 31, 2015 | , |

As the U.S. and Cuba begin establishing diplomatic ties for the first time in over half a century, the  Obama Administration has announced plans to close down the infamous Guantánamo Bay prison. But it seems unlikely that the policy of indefinite detention and military commissions will cease anytime soon.  According to Homeland Security adviser Lisa Monaco, fewer than half of current detainees will be returned to their home countries. Most of those remaining will be transferred to mainland facilities, while six who are considered “too difficult to prosecute” yet “too dangerous to release” will remain, subject to occasional “case...

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In CBS interview, Cheney Blames Obama for ISIS: Cheney’s Quotes are Bizarre & Scary

In CBS interview, Cheney Blames Obama for ISIS: Cheney’s Quotes are Bizarre & Scary

Posted by | Aug 31, 2015 | |

In an interview with CBS to promote his new book, Dick Cheney blamed Obama for ISIS, defends the Iraq War, and says we need to return to Iraq. Below is a verbatim portion of the story, which appears at Sharp talk from Dick and Liz Cheney, as CBSnews.com: Portion of CBS article: [Dick] Cheney is renewing his criticism of Mr. Obama with the help of his daughter, Liz, a former State Department official and one-time Senate candidate. In their upcoming book, “Exceptional,” to be published by Simon & Shuster (a division of CBS), they accuse President Obama of retreating...

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Corporate America tried to Kill Investigative Journalism: They didn’t Anticipate Social Media

Corporate America tried to Kill Investigative Journalism: They didn’t Anticipate Social Media

Posted by | Aug 30, 2015 | , |

Five years ago, the word in the media was that investigative journalism was dying. No longer would corruption and morality be kept in check through journalists such as Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman (Nellie Bly), Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, and Seymour Hersh. Well, to paraphrase another famous news man, Samuel (“Mark Twain”) Clemens, reports of the death of investigative reporting have been greatly exaggerated. Thanks to Progressive digital media sites like Huffington Post and The Intercept, that tradition is returning with a vengeance – and heaven help the corporate and political villains who attempt to hide under rocks...

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New Labor Relations Board Ruling Gives Fast Food Workers Greater Power to Organize

New Labor Relations Board Ruling Gives Fast Food Workers Greater Power to Organize

Posted by | Aug 29, 2015 | , |

Late last week, the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) made a ruling that could redefine the employer-employee relationship in light of the increasing shift towards outsourcing, “temp” workers, and “independent contractors.”  Because of this ruling, fast-food workers may find themselves in a much stronger position when it comes to collective bargaining. At the center of the case was a waste management company, Browning-Ferris of California, and one of its subcontractors, Leadpoint. The ruling addresses the question of whether Browning-Ferris and Leadpoint were “joint employers.”  Prior to last Thursday’s ruling, a company was considered a “joint employer” only if...

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