Manipulation

Mr. Snowden has escaped. This has obviously infuriated the corporate-owned spy establishment in the U.S.. They are so angry they have decided to give everyone in the Arab world an August vacation by closing embassies in the region. After all, it's just too hot over there anyway. The touted terrorist threat, which Mr. Obama tried to sell at a press conference yesterday with little success, is so scary that he has retreated to a resort island surrounded by Secret Service.  His rented home, reported as valued at $7.5 million, is owned by a Chicago financier. With Wall Street connections, you think?

One other aspect of Mr. Obama's press conference which went over like a lead balloon with this gay activist was his assertion that nobody is more upset than he is by the homophobic stance of the Russian government. Nobody, Mr. President? Really? How about the Russian activists who have been jailed and brutalized and who have to listen to you dismissing the proposed boycott of the Olympics, a corporate commercial venue, as counterproductive? For that matter, how about me? Do you really think you are as upset as I am by the brutal oppression of LGBT people in Russia, Mr. Obama? Doubt it.

Speaking of upset... If I had the microphone yesterday, I would have asked Mr. Obama how upset he was when he learned that the military tortured gay man and whistle blower Bradley Manning when he was taken in custody. Was he more upset than anyone else? If so, why haven't any of those who tortured Manning been publicly tried and punished? After all, Mr. Obama is Commander-in-Chief.