It is blatant murder and yet the officers and their department and lawyers have the audacity to call it self-defense.

Pretty interesting reading.

Here's a sample:

So-called transformative presidents forge lasting coalitions for their political party, shape a coherent and distinctive agenda of public policy, and rebuild institutions in ways that perpetuate their coalition and their policy agenda. Crucial to all of this is a public philosophy that gives meaning to the president's political vision and Constitution understanding. Obama has no public philosophy, save a commitment to pragmatism -- a kind of anti-public philosophy. This does not mean that Obama will be regarded as an unsuccessful president. His successes, however, are all pragmatic supplements to prior transformations rather than elements of a new and lasting political coalition or constitutional vision.

- Jeffrey Tulis

and

I suspect that future historians are likely to focus on the rising inequality in the American economy during the Obama years, the deepening precariousness experienced by people who once anticipated a greater level of security and prosperity, and on the poisonous impact this has on the entire American political system. The crash of 2008 and its aftermath may come to be seen as a moment when greater reform was possible -- a resolution to the crisis that placed greater weight on holding the financial system accountable and on aiding middle-class people who were hurt, as well as a chance for the deeper reassessment of the basis of the American economy, an opportunity to pursue policies that could have restored a greater level of equality. This didn't happen, and it's the great missed opportunity of the Obama presidency.

- Kimberly Phillips-Fein

U.S. District Judge James Spencer writes in his rejection order that there is no substantial question of law that would warrant a retrial. Spencer writes that the government clearly proved its case that McDonnell used his office for personal gain, resulting in the jury's verdict.

"McDonnell knew what (Jonnie) Williams was seeking," Spencer writes. "McDonnell attempted to use his gubernatorial office to influence governmental decision in favor of Star Scientific."

"McDonnell assuredly did more than provide meer [sic] access to Williams - he performed `official acts' as that term is defined under federal bribery laws.....This is not a `close question' that justifies release pending appeal," according to the judge's order.

I think some if the comments gets at the heart of the difference between the west and much of the Islamic world.

1971 is a 2014 American documentary film and the directorial debut of producer Johanna Hamilton, who also co-wrote the film.

LINK

On March 8, 1971, eight ordinary citizens broke into an FBI office in Media, PA. Calling themselves the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI, they removed every file in the office. Mailed anonymously, the stolen documents started to show up in newsrooms. The heist yielded a trove of damning evidence. The most significant revelation was COINTELPRO, a controversial, secret, illegal surveillance program overseen by lifelong Bureau director J. Edgar Hoover. Despite one of the largest investigations ever conducted, the FBI was unable to catch the burglars. Those responsible have never revealed their identities. Until now. For the first time, the burglars have decided to speak about their actions. 1971 is their story, examining the consequences and implications of their actions--then and now.

Bloomberg

Ars Technica (1-13-2015): Silk Road stunner: Ulbricht admits founding the site, but says he isn't DPR

Ars Technica (1-11-2015): Who was Silk Road's Dread Pirate Roberts? As trial nears, a jury will decide

TalkLeft: (11-7-2014): Global Deep Web Take-Down

Ars Technica (10-13-2013): How the feds took down the Dread Pirate Roberts