Glenn Greenwald's life partner detained at Heathrow; electronic equipment seized.

[No Elephants]

As most know, Glenn Greenwald has been a critic of the Obama administration, though Greenwald has supported Obama on occasion.

Whether or not his criticism cost him his position at Salon, we'll never know. However, he has been at the Guardian for a while.

At the Guardian, Greenwald has, among other things, published things released by Snowden.

While trying to leave England to return to his home in Rio de Janiero, David Miranda was detained and question for nine, count 'em, nine hours at Healthrow. After questioning him and confiscating his cell phone, laptop, memory sticks, a game console, DVDs and camera, Miranda was finally allowed to leave.

Freedom of the press? Chilling effect?

This was authorized by the UK's Terror Act of 2000.

Now, maybe Dummya doesn't know the difference between terror and terrorism, but you cannot tell me the Parliament doesn't know the difference. So, I have to conclude that governments do want to engender strong, paralyzing fear, aka terror, in their citizens. Sadly, it's one of the few things they seem to have a knack for anymore, although they have privatized quite a bit of it.

Story here.

http://my.firedoglake.com/wendydavis/2013/08/18/glenn-greenwalds-partner-david-miranda-detained-for-nine-hours-of-questioning-at-heathrow-sunday/#comment-283757

[Enthusiast]

1. This is a gauge of where we're at

in the history of this mess. It isn't looking good. World-wide Machiavellianism.

[No Elephants]

2. O-M-G today, on Martin Bashir, they were talking about this.

Someone said that Greenwald might retaliate by publishing more stuff.

Disdainfully, the woman sitting in for Bashir said something about living in an "age of retaliatory journalism."

Retaliatory journalism?

First, how is that a bad thing?

The more we know about government, the better, regardless of the reason for publishing it.


Second, we're in an age of government denying access to reporters who portray them unfavorably and an age where government is causing sources to dry up by spying on reporters, where a reporter's life partner gets detained for questioning for nine hours and gets his electronic stuff confiscated for no apparent reason.

Retaliatory journalism is not what we need to worry about. Government retaliating against media is. The First Amendment is.

I believe this makes it official. MSNBC has its head way too far up its ass.

If it had any journalists, as opposed to a cast who read teleprompters, we would never hear a term like "retaliatory journalism.

What dangerous rubbish!

[Enthusiast]

3. MSNBC serves

the PTB more effectively than Fox. Consumers don't expect Fox to deliver accurate, unbiased information. I believe consumers do give MSNBC the benefit of the doubt. So if the PTB want to start an important meme they rely on MSNBC. That's just my take. MSNBC allows Chris Hayes to speak of Snowden is a neutral way and they allow Chris to interview Snowden supporters. The rest of the MSNBC lineup generally carry the Administration's water on the anti-Snowden rhetoric. So, I'm with you.

[Enthusiast]

4. We have to remember

what happens to "journalists" on MSNBC that stray outside the strict limitations. In their own way, MSNBC is as predictable as Fox News.

But they are trying to shake things up a bit. They're bringing Ed back to week days. My understanding is he is taking one of the Tweety slots. Of course the chastised Ed will now be extra careful not to anger the PTB.

On a related note, ESPN will have an 11:00 PM Keith Olbermann segment. Keith loves baseball. He is really insightful on baseball topics. I wish him the very best.

[No Elephants]

5. And, Cenk found a home at Current.

Shultz actually did better than I thought. I assumed that they would eventually fire him, citing low ratings for his weekend show.

[No Elephants]

6. PS Is it only a coincidence that the Obama Administration is asking the SCOTUS to

allow all law enforcement officers in the US to make warrantless searches of cell phones?

Fsuking Patriot Act! (not a typo. trying to be a teeny bit more genteel than usual)

[Enthusiast]

7. Apparently the Pres doesn't

mind going down in history as the most intrusive administration ever. Maybe they know there isn't even going to be a future.

[No Elephants]

8. Republicans never mind being "strong on defense."