Thanks to last weekend’s “Values Voters” Summit, I am learning that I am not an ordinary gay American. Apparently I am Darth Vader: evil, out to destroy the Republic, and a threat to public health.

This may be how the Iraq War ends, over the denial of a grant of immunity. I’d say private security contractors are far more likely to fill in than NATO forces, because all NATO countries save for the US have pulled out of Iraq, and member states would likely face a huge backlash if they put their imprimatur on a training mission there. A base confinement strategy, furthermore, would make these troops sitting ducks for a Beirut-style bombing, as the Sadrist forces still reject any presence of foreign troops on Iraqi soil after December. So I could see officials with the US defense companies selling Iraq billions in military equipment and fighter jets training the Iraqis before NATO. And possibly now, before the US military, given this development.

Someone give that guy a radio show. Meanwhile, from Krugman this morning:

The Occupy movement has spread from Wall Street, to D.C. to other areas throughout the country and even internationally.

Who could have anticipated FoxNews saying it is getting too much coverage?

Adele – Set Fire To The Rain

Having the President of the United States in their corner, publicly and resolutely stating that the “stuff” banks did “wasn’t necessarily illegal,” may not give a great deal of aid and comfort to middle-class Americans who saw their real estate wealth evaporate. It may not comfort folks illegally evicted from their homes, or those illegally foreclosed upon.

Obama’s words must comfort the comfortable most of all.

It is all too common for conservative or corporatist agents (sometimes employed by Federal, state or local goverments; sometimes working for conservative or corporatist groups) to infiltrate movements they don’t like for the specific purpose of trying to figure out ways to make them look bad via acts of violence.

All of the protesters said the Cleveland Police had been great, and that they felt they were on their side. One young woman said she had held a sign up saying “We Are Fighting for Your Pensions” and a couple of the cops had come up to her and said, “We know.” We were only there for a couple of hours, but during that time several cars pulled up right behind a police car, parked in a No Parking zone behind it, and dropped off supplies. We must have been there for at least half an hour chatting with the protesters while the old Saturn flashed its hazard lights, and the police didn’t so much as give us a “move along.”

Saturday marked the one week anniversary of Occupy LA so to celebrate, festive live music and cake! People made screened tee shirts, painted, talked, danced and wandered about the Occupy LA encampment, dropped off donated goods, and shared fruit from their trees. Bands played all day and special guest Tom Morello delivered a spirited set then stayed to chat with Occupiers.

It could just be coincidence, of course. But just as a huge scandal unfolds in Washington over a seemingly botched guns-drug operation, and a possibly cover-up by Attorney General Eric Holder, the Department of Justice has announced a big crackdown on medical marijuana dispensaries in California, long the leader in the medical marijuana movement. Something is very wrong here.

The guns-drug operation, run through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF), was titled “Fast and Furious.”