Starting with the informatory talks between the government and the council of Taksim Solidarity (to save Gezi Park), the tense situation in Turkey had cooled down for a short period of time. Before the meeting took place, an AKP adviser declared that they would want to invite several people from TS but they cannot be Sunni Muslim or support a rightist ideology. Two witnesses had confirmed that Erdogan had yelled and shouted at TS members during the meeting and did not care to listen to their demands. The demands were clear, Gezi would be saved from destruction, all those detained across the country for supporting Gezi would be released without further investigation and there would be no attacks on peaceful protesters.

Here is a nightly report on the events in Turkey for 12-6-13:

Another day and night of excessive police force, tons of gas of many types, TOMAs, panzers and thousands of batons mark a historic and unforgettably dark day in history for Taksim and for Turkey. Although Governor Mutlu had declared that there would be no intervention and that the lives of those in and around Gezi Park are under the police’s responsibility and will be safeguarded, there came a wave of attacks and raids against the protesters. While the peaceful protests were continuing, the Governor stated that the square needed cleaning and sent out expedition teams for yet another dawn operation. As day broke, all TV channels broadcasted live how “a few protesters were throwing Molotov cocktails at police while barricades were being lifted.” However, the people throwing Molotovs were in fact undercover policemen, which was proven later by their guns and transmitters.

Financial sadists seeking willing submissives: apply @FixTheDebt. Congress and President will be glad to help you make that decision for the benefit of the oligarchs.

I recall hearing quite a bit from various governors that the US is the “Saudi Arabia of coal” or the “Saudi Arabia of wind,” or whatever natural resource they had in abundance. Now, according to AP energy writer Jonathan Fahey, the US verges on becoming the Saudi Arabia… of oil.

Republicans believe the elimination of the commons will make Americans free in ways they aren’t today. We will soar once we are freed from the chains of public education, crossable bridges and drivable roads, from the curse of clean air and clean, drinkable water, from the prison-house of effective disease control and safe pharmaceuticals.

The FDL community has voted to award five occupations with a command post tent from Occupy Supply for their outstanding community activism. Three others will receive computers, while 12 runners up will get gift certificates to the OccupySupply store. Dan Choi will help deliver the tents. Check out the winners!

Julian Assange should be assassinated, or designated an enemy combatant, according to leading political figures around the world. And this rhetorical fervor has been matched by action. Interpol popped up all of a sudden and issued a global arrest warrant for Assange on a Swedish rape charge that was put together after the last leak, taken down, and then revived for this leak. And now, Amazon has decided to stop hosting Wikileaks.

Yet another example, similar to the head-stomping by a Rand Paul supporter, of how violence has crept into this election season. This time, law enforcement did the honors.

Just as the choice groups sat on their hands for the Nelson amendment in the health care bill, just like the Sierra Club remains mute in the wake of an oil spill the size of Delaware, there will be nothing more than progressive window-dressing in opposition to cutting Social Security benefits this time around. Any of these groups utter so much as a whimper in response to Durbin’s very alarming statement yesterday? Nada. Zip. Zero.

The idea that the right is more “authoritarian” and top-down than the left is absurd. Conservatives successfully organized to keep Harriet Miers off the bench for having an insufficient record, they kicked Arlen Specter and Charlie Crist out, and they’re getting ready to expel Bob Bennett — very much against the will of the party. The GOP had to get on board or lose the support of their base. Meanwhile, Democratic leadership still celebrates Joe Lieberman every day, rubbing our noses in it for ever having had the audacity to challenge him in the first place.

American democracy is a better mousetrap. Unfortunately, it was born in the Age of the Rat.