A story in today's NYT, Military Data Reveal Tips on Antiwar Activities centers around what, in the days of the republic, would have been a startling admission: US Military Intelligence was collecting information within the U.S. on the administration's political opponents.

Follow below the fold, to see if you can qualify for the Secret Enemies of the State List (you may already be a winner!)

A piece in todays NYT by Neil A. Lewis Furor Over Cheney Remark on Tactics for Terror Suspects, showcases the flailings of Tony Snow attempting to deny that Dick "Dunk 'em" Cheney bragged about torture. Smintheus brought this to our attention, as a story that emerged from bloggers following wingnut radio. The story seems to be growing legs, while the wheels come off the administration's talking points discipline. No matter what Dick said, he was not talking about torture, because the administration does not discuss interrogation tactics!

Greg Palast is at it again.  Sending out edutaining rants to blast our favorite arch-villains. Dig:

KEN LAY'S ALIVE!

by Greg Palast
Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Don't check the casket.  I know he's back. When I saw those lights flickering out at La Guardia Airport yesterday and heard the eerie shrieks and moans in the dark, broiling subway tunnels, I just knew it:  Ken Lay's alive!  We can see his spirit in every flickering lightbulb from Kansas to Queens as we head into America's annual Blackout season.

It wasn't always so.  For decades, America had nearly the best, most reliable electricity system on the planet and, though we grumbled, electricity bills were among the planet's lowest.  It was all thanks to Franklin Roosevelt and the Public Utility Holding Company Act which allowed for tough regulation of the power monopolies.  They were told what they could charge, the maximum profit they could take and -- what I think about when the lights dim -- exactly how much they had to invest to keep the juice flowing.

Ok bring in the usual suspects...

Greg Palast, author of The Best Democracy Money Can Buy has written another book of snarky yet important investigative reporting:

ARMED MADHOUSE
Thursday, April 27, 2006

For the past two years, I've nearly disappeared from BBC Television screens and from newspapers so my team could focus on our most important investigation yet. I've put it in a book: Armed Madhouse. The book travels from Beijing to New Orleans to Caracas to Baghdad to New Mexico ... a five-part investigation of global economic piggery so deep, dark and devious you just have to scream or cry -- or laugh.

Don't be fooled by the fact that 'Armed Madhouse' is entertaining -- this is my most serious reporting yet -- connecting oil panic, Hurricane Katrina, Chinese currency, Venezuela's petrodollars, disappearing ballots, Thomas Friedman, more oil, and the murder of General Motors. These are dispatches from the front lines of the class war.

You can pre-order directly at http://www.gregpalast.com/...

read on...