Bank Of America Joins Other Institutions Refusing To Do Business With WikiLeaks

We are seeing how a social outcast can attain pariah status as service organizations take stands against a person’s actions. After attempts to deny Julian Assange Internet service, now the banking industry is getting into the act.

Bank of America Corp. has joined several other financial institutions in refusing to handle payments for WikiLeaks, the latest blow to the secret-releasing organization’s efforts to continue operating under pressure from governments and the corporate world.

The Charlotte-based bank’s move adds to similar actions by Mastercard Inc. and PayPal Inc. Though previous moves have prompted reprisals by hackers, Bank of America’s site …

WikiLeaks Founder Walks Out Of Interview After Tough Question

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange took exception to a graphic question from ABC News reporter Jim Sciutto about Sweden’s rape allegations against him (via Mediaite).

Specifically, Sciutto did perhaps get a bit too graphic, asking Assange about some of the claims of the alleged victims who claimed he was “forcibly spreading her longs” and “holding her down so she couldn’t move.” And, in Assange’s opinion, this was one too many smears to have leaked from Sciutto’s mouth and Assange had enough.

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Senate To Repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy; Votes Down DREAM Act

On a 64-33 vote, the Senate agreed to stop debate on a bill to repeal the policy of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, enabling it to go to the floor for an up or down vote. Sure to receive at least a simple majority, this means that the 17-year-old policy will be repealed.

The Senate blocked a bill, known as the DREAM Act, that would have provided a pathway to citizenship for children of undocumented workers who jointed the military or attended college. The measure needed 60 votes to stop a filibuster and was able to garner just 55 votes.…

How The New Tax Law Will Affect You

The average taxpayer will save $3000 in 2011 because of the new tax law.

But many families will be able to save much more by taking advantage of tax breaks for being married, having children, paying for child care, going to college or investing in securities. There are even tax breaks for paying local sales taxes and using mass transit, and a new Social Security tax cut for nearly every worker who earns a wage.

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The law extends most of the tax cuts for two years, including lower rates for the rich, the middle class and the working poor, …

U.S. Proposing Cell Phone Ban For Bus And Truck Drivers

The Department of Transportation is considering a rule that would ban four million drivers from using cell phones while driving.  Inattention by drivers is what has authorities concerned, and one can only wonder if this will extend to private cars as well.

The proposal is the latest move in Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s stepped-up campaign against distracted driving in which he has questioned cellphone use in passenger cars and “hands free” communications technology.

“Every time a commercial truck or bus driver takes his or her eyes off the road to use a cellphone, even for a few seconds, the driver …

Hustler’s Larry Flynt To Donate $50,000 To WikiLeaks

This makes sense, as Larry Flynt has been on the front lines of fighting for First Amendment rights.

Let’s get something straight: Julian Assange is a journalist. You can argue that he is not practicing journalism the way you think it should be practiced — releasing classified U.S. State Department documents — but he’s a journalist nonetheless. And for many of us he’s a hero.

I’m sick and tired of the politicians and political pundits treating this man as if he were a criminal. If WikiLeaks had existed in 2003 when George W. Bush was ginning up the war …

On Friday’s Radio Show…

• Salam al-Marayati of the Muslim Public Affairs Council responds to Rep. Peter King’s plan to investigate the Muslim community.

• Ground Zero First Responder John Feal, president of the FealGood Foundation, tells Alan about his battle to get Republican support for aid to 9/11 rescue and recovery workers.

• American Redneck Society Executive Director Rob Clayton explains why he’s asking fellow Americans to become card-carrying rednecks.…

For The Love Of God Pass The 9-11 First Responders Health Care Bill Already

By Yashwanth Manjunath

Now that the Republicans finally have secured their tax cuts for the rich, can they finally stop holding health care for 9-11 first responders hostage? Is that too much to ask? The House of Representatives already passed the bill, with an overwhelming majority of Republicans voting against it. It’s clear that Republicans would rather protect the corporate tax loopholes being eliminated to pay for the 9-11 health care bill than use that money to care for chronically ill and dying 9-11 heroes. But it is about time that Senate Republicans at least stop filibustering …

GOP Planning Vacation Schedule For 112th Congress

by Stuart Shapiro

Incoming  Majority Leader Eric Cantor is working on the schedule for the next session of the House of Representatives.  Perhaps reacting to Republican reluctance to give up their Christmas vacation, Cantor is proposing one week off for every two weeks of work.  Freshman Rep. Allen West is not happy:

“As we know, Congress needs to work to create jobs, reduce the deficit, strengthen our economy, limit the size of government and contend with a plethora of national security issues,” West said Thursday in a statement. “How are we to do that when, among other things, we …

Group That Was Bashed By Bushies Happy To Have Him On Their Cover

by Gabe Berman
Gabe is the author of Live Like a Fruit Fly

I wasn’t expecting to see W’s toothy grin on the cover of the Jan/Feb edition of the AARP magazine.

The hypocrisy is quite unsettling.

According to their website, “AARP works tirelessly to fulfill the vision: a society in which everyone lives their life with dignity and purpose, and in which AARP helps people fulfill their goals and dreams…We stand up for our members and society as a strong nonpartisan advocate for social change. We work on the issues that matter, including strengthening Social Security and supporting …

Republican Senator Calls Cops On 9/11 First Responders Before Aides Meet With Them

Nine first responders went to the Capitol Thursday to visit senators to find out why they blocked a bill to give them aid, and Senator Susan Collins of Maine called the cops on them.

Collins apparently reacted to a story in [the New York Daily News] which quoted a letter to senators from 9/11 advocate John Feal (pictured, second from left) warning that he and others planned to sit in offices until they got meetings – or the police made them leave.

Collins is among the senators the 9/11 community hopes will come over to their side, but …