....and creepy as hell, if you ask us.
Excuse me for a moment, I hear an odd noise outside. Sounds like the sound of jackboots in the distance, approaching fast.
Consortiumnews.com:
"Given George W. Bush's history of outright lying, especially on national security matters, it may seem silly to dissect his words about the new disclosure that his administration has collected phone records of some 200 million Americans.
But Bush made two parse-able points in reacting to USA Today's story about the National Security Agency building a vast database of domestic phone calls. 'We're not mining or trolling through the personal lives of millions of innocent Americans,' Bush said, adding 'the privacy of ordinary Americans is fiercely protected in all our activities.'
In his brief remarks, however, Bush didn't define what he meant by 'ordinary Americans' nor whether the data-mining might cover, say, thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people, just not 'millions.'"
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Corruption scandals converge; WHOAH
Cannonfire:
"For quite a while now, I've contended that Brent Wilkes -- the spooked-up bribe-meister still described as a 'defense contractor' by most mainstream publications -- ran a largely phoney string of businesses. Wilkes paid off Republican pols to get fat contracts; any actual work usually went to
subcontractors who charged a lot less, and the profits were recycled back into Republican campaign warchests. (The same schemes took place during the Katrina clean-up: A company run by a G.O.P. good old boy would receive megadollars, while the subcontractor -- the local guy with the truck who did the actual labor -- received pennies.)"
"For quite a while now, I've contended that Brent Wilkes -- the spooked-up bribe-meister still described as a 'defense contractor' by most mainstream publications -- ran a largely phoney string of businesses. Wilkes paid off Republican pols to get fat contracts; any actual work usually went to
subcontractors who charged a lot less, and the profits were recycled back into Republican campaign warchests. (The same schemes took place during the Katrina clean-up: A company run by a G.O.P. good old boy would receive megadollars, while the subcontractor -- the local guy with the truck who did the actual labor -- received pennies.)"
Media Snake Oil: The Media Preaches Moderation
We are hoping that the MSM and MSP has so blown their credibility these past 12 years that they won't be able to influence who we can vote for.
Political Cortex: Media Snake Oil: The Media Preaches Moderation:
Two articles from the Thursday, May 11 opinion section of The Seattle Times demonstrate the path that the mainstream media is pursuing toward the 2006 and 2008 political cycles. The mainstream media seeks to define what is 'moderate' and hence electable, hoping that voters will buy into their arguments."
The Impeachment of George W. Bush
The thought of another impeachment is a horrid thought. Especially since the evidence that will have to be presented will be a sickening embarrassment to the entire country and all of its citizens.
But, if we are a Democracy and the majority of us understand what being a citizen in a Democracy really means, we have no choice but to impeach Cheney and Bush, and try the others in this administration in courts of law.
The Impeachment of George W. Bush:
"Finally, it has started. People have begun to speak of impeaching President George W. Bush--not in hushed whispers but openly, in newspapers, on the Internet, in ordinary conversations and even in Congress. As a former member of Congress who sat on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon, I believe they are right to do so.
I can still remember the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach during those proceedings, when it became clear that the President had so systematically abused the powers of the presidency and so threatened the rule of law that he had to be removed from office. As a Democrat who opposed many of President Nixon's policies, I still found voting for his impeachment to be one of the most sobering and unpleasant tasks I ever had to undertake. None of the members of the committee took pleasure in voting for impeachment; after all, Democrat or Republican, Nixon was still our President. "
George Bush and Tony Blair | Axis of feeble
They should both be in the Hague, along with Howard of Australia.
George Bush and Tony Blair Axis of feeble Economist.com:
"THEY have been improbable soul-mates, the silver-tongued British barrister and the drawling Republican from Texas. But the partnership between Tony Blair and George Bush has shaped world events in the nearly five years since the attacks of September 11th. Over the past year, however, the debacle in Iraq and problems at home have turned both leaders from soaring hawks into the lamest of ducks.
This week Mr Bush's popularity drooped to 31% in the polls; his party faces a beating and the possible loss of one or both houses of Congress in November's mid-term elections . In Britain meanwhile, much of the Labour Party, which Mr Blair reinvented and led through three consecutive election victories, wants to bundle its saviour into retirement and replace him with Gordon Brown. "
George Bush and Tony Blair Axis of feeble Economist.com:
"THEY have been improbable soul-mates, the silver-tongued British barrister and the drawling Republican from Texas. But the partnership between Tony Blair and George Bush has shaped world events in the nearly five years since the attacks of September 11th. Over the past year, however, the debacle in Iraq and problems at home have turned both leaders from soaring hawks into the lamest of ducks.
This week Mr Bush's popularity drooped to 31% in the polls; his party faces a beating and the possible loss of one or both houses of Congress in November's mid-term elections . In Britain meanwhile, much of the Labour Party, which Mr Blair reinvented and led through three consecutive election victories, wants to bundle its saviour into retirement and replace him with Gordon Brown. "
Words of Mass Deception (Good Guy Pays for Blowing Whistle)
Words of Mass Deception - National - smh.com.au:
"Rod Barton blew the whistle on Australian, US and British lies about Iraq's hidden weapons cache. And the Australian Government has made sure he pays a high price for his stand. Hamish McDonald reports."
"Rod Barton blew the whistle on Australian, US and British lies about Iraq's hidden weapons cache. And the Australian Government has made sure he pays a high price for his stand. Hamish McDonald reports."
Where are Scully and Mulder whe we need them? (This is freakin' Bizzare)
MySA.com : Printer Friendly Story:
"If diseases like AIDS and bird flu scare you, wait until you hear what's next. Doctors are trying to find out what is causing a bizarre and mysterious infection that's surfaced in South Texas.
Morgellons disease is not yet known to kill, but if you were to get it, you might wish you were dead, as the symptoms are horrible.
'These people will have like beads of sweat but it's black, black and tarry,' said Ginger Savely, a nurse practioner in Austin who treats a majority of these patients.
Patients get lesions that never heal.
'Sometimes little black specks that come out of the lesions and sometimes little fibers,' said Stephanie Bailey, Morgellons patient.
Patients say that's the worst symptom - strange fibers that pop out of your skin in different colors."
"If diseases like AIDS and bird flu scare you, wait until you hear what's next. Doctors are trying to find out what is causing a bizarre and mysterious infection that's surfaced in South Texas.
Morgellons disease is not yet known to kill, but if you were to get it, you might wish you were dead, as the symptoms are horrible.
'These people will have like beads of sweat but it's black, black and tarry,' said Ginger Savely, a nurse practioner in Austin who treats a majority of these patients.
Patients get lesions that never heal.
'Sometimes little black specks that come out of the lesions and sometimes little fibers,' said Stephanie Bailey, Morgellons patient.
Patients say that's the worst symptom - strange fibers that pop out of your skin in different colors."
The Freefalling Dollar and Bush's war on the Middle Class
Bush is aching for a breaking; laying the ground for a real American Revolution!
The Freefalling Dollar and Bush�s war on the Middle Class���:
"05/13/06 'Information Clearing House' -- -- The dollar is getting hammered almost daily now. It's like watching the blood ooze from a hemophiliac. In just one month the dollar has tumbled from $1.20 to $1.29 vs. the euro; an astonishing 7% retreat.
Can't the American people see what is happening to their future? In just 6 years Bush has taken the world's strongest currency and chopped it into finally ground hash. By the time people rouse from their stupor, the greenback will be eye to eye with the peso.
Bush has piled up more debt than all the other presidents combined. His tax cuts have fattened the bankrolls of his constituents but they've put the dollar on a downward slide. Since he took office the once-mighty greenback has plummeted a whopping 35%.
Meanwhile, at the Federal Reserve, new Fed-master Bernacke has the printing presses running at warp-speed. The soaring price of oil has soaked up more than a trillion dollars of freshly-minted fiat currency, but it's the only thing that's kept the greenback from slipping beneath the waves. Unfortunately, that trick won't last forever. "
America's long shadow
Independent Online Edition > Robert Fisk:
"America set up military bases in the north of Brazil without waiting for authorisation
Strange things happen when a reporter strays off his beat. Vast regions of the earth turn out to have different priorities. The latest conspiracy theory for the murder of ex-Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri - that criminals involved in a bankrupt Beirut bank may have been involved - doesn't make it into the New Zealand Dominion Post.
And last week, arriving in the vast, messy, unplanned city of Sao Paulo, it was a Brazilian MP corruption scandal, the bankruptcy of the country's awful airline Varig - worse, let me warn you, than any East European airline under the Soviet Union - and Brazil's newly nationalised oil concessions in Bolivia that made up the front pages.
"America set up military bases in the north of Brazil without waiting for authorisation
Strange things happen when a reporter strays off his beat. Vast regions of the earth turn out to have different priorities. The latest conspiracy theory for the murder of ex-Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri - that criminals involved in a bankrupt Beirut bank may have been involved - doesn't make it into the New Zealand Dominion Post.
And last week, arriving in the vast, messy, unplanned city of Sao Paulo, it was a Brazilian MP corruption scandal, the bankruptcy of the country's awful airline Varig - worse, let me warn you, than any East European airline under the Soviet Union - and Brazil's newly nationalised oil concessions in Bolivia that made up the front pages.
"Comrade Wolf" And The Mullahs
"Comrade Wolf" And The Mullahs:
"05/12/06 'Post Chronicle' -- -- In the 27 years since the Iranian Revolution, the United States has launched air strikes on Libya, invaded Grenada, put Marines in Lebanon, and run air strikes in the Bekaa Valley and Chouf Mountains in retaliation for the Beirut bombing.?
We invaded Panama, launched Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait, and put troops into Somalia.? Under Clinton, we occupied Haiti, fired cruise missiles into Sudan, intervened in Bosnia, conducted bombing strikes on Iraq, and launched a 78-day bombing campaign against Serbia, a nation that never attacked us.? Then, we put troops into Kosovo.?
After the Soviet Union stood down in Eastern Europe, we moved NATO into Poland and the Baltic states and established U.S. bases in former provinces of Russia's in Central Asia.?
Under Bush II, we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, though it appears Saddam neither had weapons of mass destruction nor played a role in 9-11.?"
"05/12/06 'Post Chronicle' -- -- In the 27 years since the Iranian Revolution, the United States has launched air strikes on Libya, invaded Grenada, put Marines in Lebanon, and run air strikes in the Bekaa Valley and Chouf Mountains in retaliation for the Beirut bombing.?
We invaded Panama, launched Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait, and put troops into Somalia.? Under Clinton, we occupied Haiti, fired cruise missiles into Sudan, intervened in Bosnia, conducted bombing strikes on Iraq, and launched a 78-day bombing campaign against Serbia, a nation that never attacked us.? Then, we put troops into Kosovo.?
After the Soviet Union stood down in Eastern Europe, we moved NATO into Poland and the Baltic states and established U.S. bases in former provinces of Russia's in Central Asia.?
Under Bush II, we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, though it appears Saddam neither had weapons of mass destruction nor played a role in 9-11.?"
More Troubles for Afghan SEAL Samaritan
Why aren't we helping this hero, instead of making his life worse?
More Troubles for Afghan SEAL Samaritan - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com: "Death threats from the Taliban aren't Mohammad Gulab's only worry. As reported in NEWSWEEK's April 17 issue, the Afghan villager has been pursued by Al Qaeda's local partners ever since June 2005, when he rescued a wounded U.S. Navy SEAL in the mountains of Kunar province, east of Kabul. Vengeful jihadists burned down his village lumber business and forced him and his family to flee for their lives, abandoning their home and possessions. The Americans never delivered on promises Gulab says they made to relocate the family to a safe place, so they moved in with Gulab's brother-in-law near the U.S. base at the provincial capital, Asadabad. But Gulab never expected that the American military would target him next."
McCain, Falwell and God
Foulwell has little to do with God and is the living antithesis of Christ's teaching.
Jon Meacham on McCain, Falwell and God - Newsweek Columnists - MSNBC.com:
"McCain's 'Argument Among Friends'
At Liberty University, the presidential candidate takes on Jerry Falwell with subtlety and grace. "
Cheney Notes Surface in Fitzgerald Probe
Oh yeah, the great unraveling is unstoppable now! This bunch of thugs is going down.
Cheney Notes Surface in Fitzgerald Probe - Newsweek National News - MSNBC.com: "In the margins of the op-ed, Cheney jotted out a series of questions that seemed to challenge many of Wilson's assertions as well as the legitimacy of his CIA sponsored trip to Africa: 'Have they done this sort of thing before? Send an Amb. [sic] to answer a question? Do we ordinarily send people out pro bono to work for us? Or did his wife send him on a junket?'
It is extremely rare, if not unprecedented, for Cheney's own notes to be made public. The notes, apparently obtained as a result of a grand jury subpoena, would appear to make Cheney an even more central witness than had been previously thought in the criminal probe. Fitzgerald's prosecution has created continued problems for the White House. Karl Rove, the President Bush's chief political advisor, recently made his fifth grand jury appearance in the case and remains under scrutiny while Fitzgerald weighs whether to file criminal charges against him. For now, Libby is the only figure charged in the case."
Americans Wary of NSA Surveillance
Bush went to far a very long time ago!
Any American who doesn't think so is simply too dumb to live.
Those who don't mind the government data-mining should go take a civics class and read a little history.
Newsweek Poll: Americans Wary of NSA Surveillance - Newsweek Politics - MSNBC.com:
"May 13, 2006 - Has the Bush administration gone too far in expanding the powers of the President to fight terrorism? Yes, say a majority of Americans, following this week's revelation that the National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone records of U.S. citizens since the September 11 terrorist attacks. According to the latest NEWSWEEK poll, 53 percent of Americans think the NSA's surveillance program 'goes too far in invading people's privacy,' while 41 percent see it as a necessary tool to combat terrorism."
Is Fitz closing in on Vice?
Hot Damn!
This is so good I can barely stand it.
Yep, the world may be coming to an end, but we can still celebrate our victories
Daily Kos: Recommended:
"There has been a lot of speculation this week about whether, and when, Karl Rove will be indicted. While everyone has been distracted with that excitement, Patrick Fitzgerald has laid a few more of his cards on the table, making it
increasingly clear that he is closing in on Cheney. In this post,
I'm going to pull together some points from three recent posts to show the evidence--and the suggestion of further evidence--including:
A copy of Joe Wilson's op-ed annotated by Dick Cheney with comments constituting the main part of the smear launched against Wilson that week--the claim that Plame had sent Wilson on a boondoggle
Evidence that Scooter Libby noted he had instructions to tell Judy something before he spoke with her on July 8--as well as the suggestion that his excuse doesn't hold up
Evidence that Libby and someone else (I'm guessing it's Dick) were warned of the damage Plame's outing caused after July 14, 2003"
The Decider had CEO of Qwest Investigated
Bush is a mean, contemptable little man. All he needs is an small, ugly, little mustache.
Daily Kos: Recommended:
"Qwest turned down Bush team's request to provide private telephone records to NSA because Qwest foolishly believed that the government should comply with the law, and Qwest concluded that the NSA program would violate federal privacy laws. Bush retaliated for Qwest having the audacity to say no to The Decider by sending the federal government to conduct criminal and civil probes against Nacchio, who was the CEO rejecting Bush."
Watch for Frank Rich's column tomorrow!
Rich rips Bush a new one, forty ways from Sunday.
Daily Kos: Recommended:
"Defending journalists who have been castigated as traitors for exposing government blunders, New York Times columnist Frank Rich writes that any 'witch hunt' for traitors should begin in the White House...
'What really angers the White House and its defenders about both the Post and Times scoops are not the legal questions the stories raise about unregulated gulags and unconstitutional domestic snooping, but the unmasking of yet more administration failures in a war effort riddled with ineptitude,' Rich writes."
Truthout reporting Karl Rove HAS BEEN INDICTED.
HOOWAH!!!
Daily Kos: Truthout reporting Karl Rove HAS BEEN INDICTED.:
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald spent more than half a day Friday at the offices of Patton Boggs, the law firm representing Karl Rove.
During the course of that meeting, Fitzgerald served attorneys for former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove with an indictment charging the embattled White House official with perjury and lying to investigators related to his role in the CIA leak case, and instructed one of the attorneys to tell Rove that he has 24 hours to get his affairs in order, high level sources with direct knowledge of the meeting said Saturday morning.
Robert Luskin, Rove's attorney, did not return a call for comment. Sources said Fitzgerald was in Washington, DC, Friday and met with Luskin for about 15 hours to go over the charges against Rove, which include perjury and lying to investigators about how and when Rove discovered that
Valerie Plame Wilson was a covert CIA operative and whether he shared that information with reporters, sources with direct knowledge of the meeting said.
It was still unknown Saturday whether Fitzgerald charged Rove with a more serious obstruction of justice charge. Sources close to the case said Friday that it appeared very likely that an obstruction charge against Rove would be included with charges of perjury and lying to investigators."
Daily Kos: Truthout reporting Karl Rove HAS BEEN INDICTED.:
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald spent more than half a day Friday at the offices of Patton Boggs, the law firm representing Karl Rove.
During the course of that meeting, Fitzgerald served attorneys for former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove with an indictment charging the embattled White House official with perjury and lying to investigators related to his role in the CIA leak case, and instructed one of the attorneys to tell Rove that he has 24 hours to get his affairs in order, high level sources with direct knowledge of the meeting said Saturday morning.
Robert Luskin, Rove's attorney, did not return a call for comment. Sources said Fitzgerald was in Washington, DC, Friday and met with Luskin for about 15 hours to go over the charges against Rove, which include perjury and lying to investigators about how and when Rove discovered that
Valerie Plame Wilson was a covert CIA operative and whether he shared that information with reporters, sources with direct knowledge of the meeting said.
It was still unknown Saturday whether Fitzgerald charged Rove with a more serious obstruction of justice charge. Sources close to the case said Friday that it appeared very likely that an obstruction charge against Rove would be included with charges of perjury and lying to investigators."
DaSHIELDS BOMBSHELL: "30 seat loss" says GOP Member
Daily Kos: SHIELDS BOMBSHELL: "30 seat loss" says GOP Member:
"MARK SHIELDS: The gloom is there. It's on the Hill. It's wherever two or more Republicans gather in [Bush's] name, I mean, really. I mean, the president's name comes up.
And there was one number -- I was talking to, probably, in my judgment, the most able Republican campaign legislator in the business -- and probably I'm giving away his identity by saying it -- and he said he thought that Republicans would lose right now 30 seats in the House. "
"MARK SHIELDS: The gloom is there. It's on the Hill. It's wherever two or more Republicans gather in [Bush's] name, I mean, really. I mean, the president's name comes up.
And there was one number -- I was talking to, probably, in my judgment, the most able Republican campaign legislator in the business -- and probably I'm giving away his identity by saying it -- and he said he thought that Republicans would lose right now 30 seats in the House. "
Maine filing seeks answers from Verizon
Maine filing seeks answers from Verizon:
"A complaint asking the Maine Public Utilities Commission to investigate whether Verizon handed over telephone records to the National Security Agency could be the first of many similar actions taken in other states.
The Maine complaint was filed just days before USA Today reported that the NSA was collecting and analyzing the phone call records of hundreds of millions of Americans.
Now groups in other states, including state chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union, are considering asking their state regulators to determine the extent to which telephone companies assisted the NSA. They are reviewing the Maine filing as a resource."
"A complaint asking the Maine Public Utilities Commission to investigate whether Verizon handed over telephone records to the National Security Agency could be the first of many similar actions taken in other states.
The Maine complaint was filed just days before USA Today reported that the NSA was collecting and analyzing the phone call records of hundreds of millions of Americans.
Now groups in other states, including state chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union, are considering asking their state regulators to determine the extent to which telephone companies assisted the NSA. They are reviewing the Maine filing as a resource."
Fanning the Flames of Dissent
Fanning the Flames of Dissent:
"A Plutocratic government that does not represent the interests of the people does not deserve the allegiance of the people. It is the moral duty of all citizens to resist unjust government, to overthrow it, and replace it with a form of government that serves them, a representative democracy in which all citizens are equal.
For the first time in history the highest political offices in the land are occupied by executives from the oil industry. President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Secretary of State Rice, are all rolling in oil money. They represent Big Oil, not ordinary Americans. Their every policy provides more wealth to the rich and less for lower income families. Every government office, every cabinet level position is likewise stocked with former industry executives. Even the judiciary is peopled with pro business judges, leaving the people with few viable options within the bounds of the law.
Capital is responsible for the class warfare that has utterly destroyed America. There is only one super power capable of reigning in corporate power and emancipating the people, the rebellion of millions of ordinary but socially conscious working class Americans, regardless of party affiliation. America has suffered well over two centuries of capitalism. One or two percent of the population have benefited while the rest have toiled in virtual slavery. We need to go in another direction. Latin America provides a shinning example of governments that serve the public interest rather than private capital. "
"A Plutocratic government that does not represent the interests of the people does not deserve the allegiance of the people. It is the moral duty of all citizens to resist unjust government, to overthrow it, and replace it with a form of government that serves them, a representative democracy in which all citizens are equal.
For the first time in history the highest political offices in the land are occupied by executives from the oil industry. President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Secretary of State Rice, are all rolling in oil money. They represent Big Oil, not ordinary Americans. Their every policy provides more wealth to the rich and less for lower income families. Every government office, every cabinet level position is likewise stocked with former industry executives. Even the judiciary is peopled with pro business judges, leaving the people with few viable options within the bounds of the law.
Capital is responsible for the class warfare that has utterly destroyed America. There is only one super power capable of reigning in corporate power and emancipating the people, the rebellion of millions of ordinary but socially conscious working class Americans, regardless of party affiliation. America has suffered well over two centuries of capitalism. One or two percent of the population have benefited while the rest have toiled in virtual slavery. We need to go in another direction. Latin America provides a shinning example of governments that serve the public interest rather than private capital. "
3 rd Reich Tyrants
Has the whole damned world gone insane?
3 rd Reich Tyrants:
"05/12/06 'ICH' -- -- I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it. -Dwight D. Eisenhower
The day that the apparently reformed war-monger, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, envisioned decades ago has finally come. It is time for governments to get out of our way.
I have had a chance since Camp Casey in August to travel the world. I have had the honor of meeting hundreds of fellow souls who are just plain sick and tired of the way BushCo is cavorting around the world and comporting themselves as fledgling 3 rd Reich tyrants (Hitler didn't need warrants either) who are threatening the way of life of every person who inhabits our world. I was only just in Canada and got to meet many of our brothers and sisters north of the border."
3 rd Reich Tyrants:
"05/12/06 'ICH' -- -- I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it. -Dwight D. Eisenhower
The day that the apparently reformed war-monger, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, envisioned decades ago has finally come. It is time for governments to get out of our way.
I have had a chance since Camp Casey in August to travel the world. I have had the honor of meeting hundreds of fellow souls who are just plain sick and tired of the way BushCo is cavorting around the world and comporting themselves as fledgling 3 rd Reich tyrants (Hitler didn't need warrants either) who are threatening the way of life of every person who inhabits our world. I was only just in Canada and got to meet many of our brothers and sisters north of the border."
U.S. Dollar takes a pounding over deficit
Here we go folks, just as we predicted, and this is only the beginning.
FT.com / World / International economy - US dollar takes a pounding over deficit:
"The US dollar suffered a severe sell-off on Friday, taking it to its weakest level against a trade-weighted basket of currencies since October 1997, as fears about the US current account deficit crossed world markets."
Starving Palestinians into Submission
NGOs! Are you listening?
Meanwhile, mainstream Christian churches must continue to boycott the corrupt regime in Israel.
Starving Palestinians into Submission:
"05/11/06 'ICH' -- -- The American alleged noble goal of spreading freedom and democracy in the Arab World has been scandalously exposed when the American administration, who encouraged Palestinian election (declared by international observers to be free, honest and fair), has rejected the people's choice, and is attempting to starve the whole nation as a punishment for exercising their democratic right. The Bush administration is putting pressure on the international community to stop all financial aid to the Palestinians, to impose a type of a quasi economical embargo, and to politically isolate them in an attempt to overthrow the newly elected Palestinian Authority (PA).
Through democratic election Palestinians had chosen Hamas resistance movement to form a government to represent them. Israel and Bush administration were hoping that Fatah, with its complicit leaders, would win election and stay in power. The Bush administration is carrying a political blackmail campaign to subdue Hamas PA. It is demanding Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist, to renounce what they call 'terrorism', and to honor previous Israeli/Fatah PA agreements (demands that Hamas totally rejects) or face financial isolation. "
Meanwhile, mainstream Christian churches must continue to boycott the corrupt regime in Israel.
Starving Palestinians into Submission:
"05/11/06 'ICH' -- -- The American alleged noble goal of spreading freedom and democracy in the Arab World has been scandalously exposed when the American administration, who encouraged Palestinian election (declared by international observers to be free, honest and fair), has rejected the people's choice, and is attempting to starve the whole nation as a punishment for exercising their democratic right. The Bush administration is putting pressure on the international community to stop all financial aid to the Palestinians, to impose a type of a quasi economical embargo, and to politically isolate them in an attempt to overthrow the newly elected Palestinian Authority (PA).
Through democratic election Palestinians had chosen Hamas resistance movement to form a government to represent them. Israel and Bush administration were hoping that Fatah, with its complicit leaders, would win election and stay in power. The Bush administration is carrying a political blackmail campaign to subdue Hamas PA. It is demanding Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist, to renounce what they call 'terrorism', and to honor previous Israeli/Fatah PA agreements (demands that Hamas totally rejects) or face financial isolation. "
Looting By Another Name
Looting By Another Name:
"The Corporate Takeover of Iraq's Economy
05/10/06 'Counterpunch' -- -- The roots of the economic takeover of Iraq are long and deep. They became more aggressive after the strongest U.S. ally in the region, the Shah of Iran, was deposed in the 1979. The roots of the quest of dominance of the oil-rich region are found in both the Democratic and Republican Party, but the most aggressive pursuit has been by George W. Bush.
Former President Jimmy Carter wrote in his memoirs that many Americans 'deeply resented that the greatest nation on the earth was being jerked around by a few desert states.' And, when he was president he put forward 'the Carter Doctrine' in a State of the Union Address in 1980 that acknowledged 'the overwhelming dependence of the Western democracies on oil supplies from the Middle East' and promised military force would be used to ensure access to Middle East oil: 'Any attempt by an outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America and . . . will be repelled by any means necessary including the use of force.'
But, according to a book by Antonia Juhasz, 'The Bush Agenda,' it was the Reagan, Bush I and Bush II administrations that most aggressively pursued the Iraq oil economy. Her excellent book tells a story that explains the reasons for the invasion and occupation of Iraq. It shows how the Reagan and Bush I administrations began by building a friendly trade relationship that provided money, arms, intelligence, and political protection to Saddam Hussein--despite his brutal record as a despotic dictator. And, how the Clinton years led to 'regime change' in Iraq becoming the policy of the United States and naturally following that was the Bush II's military invasion of the country."
"The Corporate Takeover of Iraq's Economy
05/10/06 'Counterpunch' -- -- The roots of the economic takeover of Iraq are long and deep. They became more aggressive after the strongest U.S. ally in the region, the Shah of Iran, was deposed in the 1979. The roots of the quest of dominance of the oil-rich region are found in both the Democratic and Republican Party, but the most aggressive pursuit has been by George W. Bush.
Former President Jimmy Carter wrote in his memoirs that many Americans 'deeply resented that the greatest nation on the earth was being jerked around by a few desert states.' And, when he was president he put forward 'the Carter Doctrine' in a State of the Union Address in 1980 that acknowledged 'the overwhelming dependence of the Western democracies on oil supplies from the Middle East' and promised military force would be used to ensure access to Middle East oil: 'Any attempt by an outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America and . . . will be repelled by any means necessary including the use of force.'
But, according to a book by Antonia Juhasz, 'The Bush Agenda,' it was the Reagan, Bush I and Bush II administrations that most aggressively pursued the Iraq oil economy. Her excellent book tells a story that explains the reasons for the invasion and occupation of Iraq. It shows how the Reagan and Bush I administrations began by building a friendly trade relationship that provided money, arms, intelligence, and political protection to Saddam Hussein--despite his brutal record as a despotic dictator. And, how the Clinton years led to 'regime change' in Iraq becoming the policy of the United States and naturally following that was the Bush II's military invasion of the country."
Telcos Seek to Deceive Bloggers with Cartoon
Slime balls, bastards; this is a former Clintonista
MediaCitizen: Telcos Seek to Deceive Bloggers with Cartoon:
"Coming to a blog near you is a telecom-sponsored advertisement dressed up as an underground cartoon. It's the latest in the ongoing campaign by large phone companies to pull the wool over the eyes of the American public.
The cartoon is a product of a front group funded by AT&T and BellSouth. The group, Hands Off the Internet, is headed by Mike McCurry, the former Clinton Press Secretary who has been widely discredited for selling out his integrity to become the telephone industry's spokesmodel.
McCurry's group is now attempting to buy its way into the blogosphere, spending tens of thousands of dollars on a misinformation campaign against network neutrality -- the principle that keeps the Internet free and open to all."
Pysicists decry Bush Policy
The profession that brought us the BOMB is now upset that it night be used on Iran.
Seed: A Second (Scientific) Opinion:
"On April 17, 2006, Seymour Hersh reported in The New Yorker that the United States had tabled plans to employ tactical nuclear weapons against Iran to halt their burgeoning nuclear program. A letter had been sent to President Bush that same day, condemning what its authors worried would be a radical departure from the official US nuclear weapons policy of 'only as a last resort.'
The 19 signatories of the document were neither weapons experts nor policy wonks; rather, all were physicists, 'members of the profession that brought nuclear weapons into existence.' These individuals, including six Nobel laureates, were asserting the parental rights to their brainchild as Oppenheimer, Einstein and others had once done after WWII. "
'Israel Lobby' bad for Israel, the U.S.
The good Rabbi is right on.
'Israel Lobby' bad for Israel, the U.S.:
"05/12/06 'St Louis Jewish Light' -- -- Oh my God, someone has publicly outed the 'Israel Lobby.' For those readers who do not closely follow the machinations in academia, let me explain. John Walt, the academic dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and John Mearsheimer, a political scientist at the University of Chicago, have written a blistering critique of the Jewish lobby, focusing primarily on AIPAC.
Their main complaint is that 'the thrust of US policy in the region (the Middle East) derives almost entirely from domestic politics, and especially the activities of the 'Israel Lobby'.' There is much with which to disagree in the paper, including their assertion that Israel is not a vital strategic asset (there are many generals who would challenge that assertion). But there is also much truth, if we would only be honest with ourselves. "
Former NSA officer alleges illegal activities under Hayden (5/12/06)
Tice was ordered to unergo psychological tests bythe NSA whn he clashed with superiors on the secret programs ordered by the White House and Hayden. He was fired for being 'paranoid.'
Since that time, Tice has taken another battery of psychological tests and the tests showed no evidence of paranoid ideation or other mental defect.
Former NSA officer alleges illegal activities under Hayden (5/12/06):
"Tice said his information is different from the Terrorist Surveillance Program that Bush acknowledged in December and from news accounts this week that the NSA has been secretly collecting phone call records of millions of Americans.
'It's an angle that you haven't heard about yet,' he said.
According to an unclassified resume, Tice was a specialist in space operations systems, command and control warfare, advanced technology and all-source collection analysis. During an 18-year career, he worked on some of the most secretive programs in the government.
Tice would not discuss with a reporter the details of his allegations, saying doing so would compromise classified information and put him at risk of going to jail. He said he 'will not confirm or deny' if his allegations involve the illegal use of space systems and satellites."
Pro-Bush Chi Trib Blows a Cork over latest NSA Revelations
The NSA has your number Chicago Tribune:
"This sounds like a vast and unchecked intrusion on privacy. President Bush's assurance Thursday that the privacy of Americans was being 'fiercely protected' was not at all convincing.
We need to know more about this. The government, though, didn't offer confirmation or elaboration on Thursday. Based on the newspaper's reporting, this effort appears to go far beyond any surveillance effort that would be targeted at terrorist operations.
At first blush this program carries troubling echoes of Total Information Awareness, a proposed Defense Department 'data-mining' expedition into a mass of personal information on individuals' driver's licenses, passports, credit card purchases, car rentals, medical prescriptions, banking transactions and more. That was curbed by Congress after a public outcry. It seems the people who wanted to bring you TIA didn't get the message."
"This sounds like a vast and unchecked intrusion on privacy. President Bush's assurance Thursday that the privacy of Americans was being 'fiercely protected' was not at all convincing.
We need to know more about this. The government, though, didn't offer confirmation or elaboration on Thursday. Based on the newspaper's reporting, this effort appears to go far beyond any surveillance effort that would be targeted at terrorist operations.
At first blush this program carries troubling echoes of Total Information Awareness, a proposed Defense Department 'data-mining' expedition into a mass of personal information on individuals' driver's licenses, passports, credit card purchases, car rentals, medical prescriptions, banking transactions and more. That was curbed by Congress after a public outcry. It seems the people who wanted to bring you TIA didn't get the message."
Ever-Expanding Secret
Ever-Expanding Secret - New York Times:
"Ever since its secret domestic wiretapping program was exposed, the Bush administration has depicted it as a narrow examination of calls made by and to terrorism suspects. But its refusal to provide any details about the extent of the spying has raised doubts. Now there is more reason than ever to be worried, and angry, about how wide the government's web has been reaching.
According to an article in USA Today, the National Security Agency has been secretly collecting telephone records on tens of millions of Americans with the cooperation of the three largest telecommunications companies in the nation. The scope of the domestic spying described in the article is breathtaking. The government is reported to be working with AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth to collect data on phone calls made by untold millions of customers.
President Bush has insisted in the past that the government is monitoring only calls that begin or end overseas. But according to USA Today, it has actually been collecting information on purely domestic calls. One source told the paper that the program had produced 'the largest database ever assembled in the world.'"
"Ever since its secret domestic wiretapping program was exposed, the Bush administration has depicted it as a narrow examination of calls made by and to terrorism suspects. But its refusal to provide any details about the extent of the spying has raised doubts. Now there is more reason than ever to be worried, and angry, about how wide the government's web has been reaching.
According to an article in USA Today, the National Security Agency has been secretly collecting telephone records on tens of millions of Americans with the cooperation of the three largest telecommunications companies in the nation. The scope of the domestic spying described in the article is breathtaking. The government is reported to be working with AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth to collect data on phone calls made by untold millions of customers.
President Bush has insisted in the past that the government is monitoring only calls that begin or end overseas. But according to USA Today, it has actually been collecting information on purely domestic calls. One source told the paper that the program had produced 'the largest database ever assembled in the world.'"
Questions Raised for Phone Giants in Spy Data Furor - New York Times
Don't just threaten to call these people. Call them and take the really drastic step of putting them under oath!
Questions Raised for Phone Giants in Spy Data Furor - New York Times:
"As senior lawmakers in Washington vowed to examine the phone database operation and possibly issue subpoenas to the telephone companies, executives at some of the companies said they would comply with requests to appear on Capitol Hill but stopped short of describing how much would be disclosed, at least in public sessions.
'If Congress asks us to appear, we will appear,' said Selim Bingol, a spokesman at AT&T. 'We will act within the laws and rules that apply.'"
Questions Raised for Phone Giants in Spy Data Furor - New York Times:
"As senior lawmakers in Washington vowed to examine the phone database operation and possibly issue subpoenas to the telephone companies, executives at some of the companies said they would comply with requests to appear on Capitol Hill but stopped short of describing how much would be disclosed, at least in public sessions.
'If Congress asks us to appear, we will appear,' said Selim Bingol, a spokesman at AT&T. 'We will act within the laws and rules that apply.'"
Bush falls in poll! Call out Guards?
DUCK AND COVER!
New York Daily News - World & National Report - Bush falls in poll! Call out Guards?:
"WASHINGTON - President Bush is considering using the National Guard to keep illegal immigrants from slipping across the Mexican border, aides said yesterday as Bush's approval ratings sunk below 30% for the first time.
The administration is hoping to reverse the continuing slide in the polls by going on the offensive.
The President will deliver a nationally televised address Monday night, when he will talk about deploying the National Guard on the Mexican border - a plan that appeals particularly to his right-wing base." (Favorite Rethug strategy: When in doubt, play the race card and stir up as much fear and loathing as possible)
New York Daily News - World & National Report - Bush falls in poll! Call out Guards?:
"WASHINGTON - President Bush is considering using the National Guard to keep illegal immigrants from slipping across the Mexican border, aides said yesterday as Bush's approval ratings sunk below 30% for the first time.
The administration is hoping to reverse the continuing slide in the polls by going on the offensive.
The President will deliver a nationally televised address Monday night, when he will talk about deploying the National Guard on the Mexican border - a plan that appeals particularly to his right-wing base." (Favorite Rethug strategy: When in doubt, play the race card and stir up as much fear and loathing as possible)
Early Warning ( Another waste of taxpayer money)
Unless terrorists are not really the targets.
Early Warning by William M. Arkin - washingtonpost.com:
"These cutting edge tools -- some highly classified because of their functions and capabilities -- continually process hundreds of billions of what are called 'structured' data records, including telephone call records and e-mail headers contained in information 'feeds' that have been established to flow into the intelligence agencies.
The multi-billion dollar program, which began before 9/11 but has been accelerated since then. Well over 100 government contractors have participated, including both small boutique companies whose products include commercial off-the-shelf software and some of the largest defense contractors, who have developed specialized software and tools exclusively for government use. "
Early Warning by William M. Arkin - washingtonpost.com:
"These cutting edge tools -- some highly classified because of their functions and capabilities -- continually process hundreds of billions of what are called 'structured' data records, including telephone call records and e-mail headers contained in information 'feeds' that have been established to flow into the intelligence agencies.
The multi-billion dollar program, which began before 9/11 but has been accelerated since then. Well over 100 government contractors have participated, including both small boutique companies whose products include commercial off-the-shelf software and some of the largest defense contractors, who have developed specialized software and tools exclusively for government use. "
Spy Agency Watching Americans From Space - Yahoo! News
Orwell would be amazed!
Spy Agency Watching Americans From Space - Yahoo! News:
"WASHINGTON - A little-known spy agency that analyzes imagery taken from the skies has been spending significantly more time watching U.S. soil. "
Spy Agency Watching Americans From Space - Yahoo! News:
"WASHINGTON - A little-known spy agency that analyzes imagery taken from the skies has been spending significantly more time watching U.S. soil. "
NSA Whistleblower To Expose More Unlawful Activity: �People�Are Going To Be Shocked�
Think we are too numb to be shocked, but bring it on, Mr. Tice.
Let's get it all out there, so the Rethugs can do there best to cover it up, right before the congressional election.
Think Progress � NSA Whistleblower To Expose More Unlawful Activity: �People�Are Going To Be Shocked�:
"CongressDaily reports that former NSA staffer Russell Tice will testify to the Senate Armed Services Committee next week that not only do employees at the agency believe the activities they are being asked to perform are unlawful, but that what has been disclosed so far is only the tip of the iceberg. Tice will tell Congress that former NSA head Gen. Michael Hayden, Bush's nominee to be the next CIA director, oversaw more illegal activity that has yet to be disclosed:"
Let's get it all out there, so the Rethugs can do there best to cover it up, right before the congressional election.
Think Progress � NSA Whistleblower To Expose More Unlawful Activity: �People�Are Going To Be Shocked�:
"CongressDaily reports that former NSA staffer Russell Tice will testify to the Senate Armed Services Committee next week that not only do employees at the agency believe the activities they are being asked to perform are unlawful, but that what has been disclosed so far is only the tip of the iceberg. Tice will tell Congress that former NSA head Gen. Michael Hayden, Bush's nominee to be the next CIA director, oversaw more illegal activity that has yet to be disclosed:"
Condoleezza Rice at Boston College? I Quit
HOLY MOLY!
Way to go!
Condoleezza Rice at Boston College? I Quit:
"Dear Father Leahy,
I am writing to resign my post as an adjunct professor of English at Boston College.
I am doing so -- after five years at BC, and with tremendous regret -- as a direct result of your decision to invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be the commencement speaker at this year's graduation.
Many members of the faculty and student body already have voiced their objection to the invitation, arguing that Rice's actions as secretary of state are inconsistent with the broader humanistic values of the university and the Catholic and Jesuit traditions from which those values derive.
But I am not writing this letter simply because of an objection to the war against Iraq. My concern is more fundamental. Simply put, Rice is a liar. "
Way to go!
Condoleezza Rice at Boston College? I Quit:
"Dear Father Leahy,
I am writing to resign my post as an adjunct professor of English at Boston College.
I am doing so -- after five years at BC, and with tremendous regret -- as a direct result of your decision to invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be the commencement speaker at this year's graduation.
Many members of the faculty and student body already have voiced their objection to the invitation, arguing that Rice's actions as secretary of state are inconsistent with the broader humanistic values of the university and the Catholic and Jesuit traditions from which those values derive.
But I am not writing this letter simply because of an objection to the war against Iraq. My concern is more fundamental. Simply put, Rice is a liar. "
Iran Nuclear Conflict Is About U.S. Dominance
Well, duh.......
Who the hell doesn't know this?
For some reason, these last few days, I am getting less and less patient with ignorant dumbasses who spend their entire semi-conscious lives in denial.
Iran Nuclear Conflict Is About U.S. Dominance:
"WASHINGTON - As the George W. Bush administration pushes for a showdown over Iran's nuclear programme in the U.N. Security Council, it has presented the issue as a matter of global security -- an Iranian nuclear threat in defiance of the international community. But the history of the conflict and the private strategic thinking of both sides reveal that the dispute is really about the administration's drive for greater dominance in the Middle East and Iran's demand for recognition as a regional power.
It is now known that the Iranian leadership, which was convinced that Bush was planning to move against Iran after toppling Saddam Hussein in Iraq, proposed in April 2003 to negotiate with the United States on the very issues which the administration had claimed were the basis for its hostile posture toward Tehran: its nuclear programme, its support "
Where Are All the Leaders of Faith?
Where, indeed?
Where Are All the Leaders of Faith?:
"Where are the activist priests and ministers who took strong stands during the Vietnam War and hit the streets with their protests?
Three years into the war against Iraq, the silence of the clergy is deafening, despite U.S. abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and a reported American policy of shipping detainees to secret prisons abroad where, presumably, they can be tortured.
There are U.S. chaplains of many faiths serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, ministering to the men and women in uniform and reaching out to local religious leaders in both countries.
But here at home, the clergy seems to be in the same boat as the news media and most members of Congress: they are victims of the post-Sept. 11 syndrome that equates any criticism of U.S. policy with lack of patriotism.
The clergy are not alone. There is a disquieting public acceptance of the status quo. Although the Iraq war has a role in President Bush's declining standing in public opinion polls, rising gas prices may be having a bigger impact on his popularity.
During the Vietnam War, the clergy were vocal leaders of the peace movement and they picked up and marched.
I was reminded of that bygone era -- a time when everyone got involved -- with the passing last month of Rev. William Sloane Coffin, a Presbyterian minister who served as chaplain at Yale University and pastor at Riverside Church in New York.
He was a follower of civil rights leader, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and a liberal, to put it mildly. "
A New Report Says the Pentagon's Finances are in Disarray
In charge of America Inc:
The worst CEOs in the world.
Someone call Keith at MSNBC!
A New Report Says the Pentagon's Finances are in Disarray:
"WASHINGTON - The Defense Department's accounting practices are in such disarray that defense officials can't track how much equipment the military owns, where it all is or exactly how they spend defense dollars every year, according to a report Thursday by a nongovernmental group. "
The worst CEOs in the world.
Someone call Keith at MSNBC!
A New Report Says the Pentagon's Finances are in Disarray:
"WASHINGTON - The Defense Department's accounting practices are in such disarray that defense officials can't track how much equipment the military owns, where it all is or exactly how they spend defense dollars every year, according to a report Thursday by a nongovernmental group. "
Friday, May 12, 2006
Bush at His Most Dangerous, Scorching the Earth
....like any cornerd animal, the Bushites are dangerous...
Ron Fullwood Bush at His Most Dangerous, Scorching the Earth:
"This could be the most dangerous period of Bush's reign.
If it's true that the next presidential election has already begun, then it's also true that the end of the Bush regime is unfolding as well. I should be feeling some satisfaction in that, and, I will, when it's over.
This could be the most dangerous period of Bush's reign. The carefully layered walls of Bush's bubble are closing in as the outer layers of purchased politicos are beginning to peel away, revealing the core ideologues of the cabal. Long gone are wistful architects of the new, bloody American imperialism like Wolfowitz and Perle. As they receded, loyalists like Rice, Hadley, Gordon England, etc. advanced up the chain they forged with their military industrial alliances into catbird seats, lording over our defense budgets, plotting out their imperious ambitions with no fear in their fiefdom.
Stepping out from behind the curtain into the positions of power are faces of past bloody mis-adventures like Negroponte, and engineers of the new American fascism, like Gen. Hayden, whose tenure is marked by the admission of the treasonous act of spying on Americans he shared with the president who directed him there. "
US Army Recruits Abused on US Soil
Another very good reason to not join the military. Better to flip burgers.
US Army Recruits Abused on US Soil:
"Lawton, Okla. - The Army has shaken up a program to heal recruits injured in basic training after soldiers and their parents said troops hurt at Fort Sill were punished with physical abuse and medical neglect.
The program, which treated more than 1,100 injured soldiers last year at five posts, normally returns three-fourths of its patients to active duty, according to Army statistics. But at Fort Sill, recruits said, injuries were often subject to derision, ignored or improperly treated.
Two soldiers in the program have died since 2004, one or possibly both of accidental overdoses of prescription drugs. The latest death, in March, remains under investigation, the Army said.
'I am an inmate,' one soldier, Pfc. Mathew Scarano of Eureka, Calif., wrote in a letter home in January two months before he died. 'I sometimes ask those friends of mine with jailhouse tattoos if they'd rather be back in jail, or here. So far, they are unanimous - jail.'"
N.Y. Times: Bush's Ever-Expanding Secret
Damn straight!
Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - N.Y. Times: Bush's Ever-Expanding Secret:
"The Sept. 11 attacks 'did not give the president the limitless power he now claims to intrude on the private communications of the American people,' the N.Y. Times says in an editorial about the NSA spying story. "
Cheney Falls Asleep at a Meeting--Again
Maybe they have sedated him...
When a Rethug has to trot out his lesbian daughter to run interference, things have got to be bad.
Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - Cheney Falls Asleep at a Meeting--Again:
"Should we be worried that the man one step away from the presidency can't stay awake at high-level meetings? (This is the second time in three weeks.) "
Battle Cry for Theocracy
The world just gets more insane by the minute!
Truthdig - Reports - Battle Cry for Theocracy:
"Editor's note: In this opinion piece, a young activist explores the frightening world of a Christian evangelical youth movement that is holding rock concerts and rallies at city halls nationwide this weekend. "
Impeach these fascists now!
Not only is Bush's illegal "program" costing us our constitutional rights, but our money and our safety
Consortiumnews.com:
"George W. Bush's warrantless phone data collection may not only violate the U.S. Constitution but expend so much money and manpower that America is made less safe, by diverting resources away from more practical steps, like inspecting cargo and hiring translators"
They know who we're calling (hindering the search for terrorist)
An analyst told us that the data-mining does not help with terrorist tracking. As a matter of fact, it hinders the search for terrorists, so what in the hell are they doing?
New York Daily News - Home - They know who we're calling:
"WASHINGTON - A new furor over Big Brother tactics erupted yesterday when it was revealed that the Bush administration has been tracking nearly every phone call in the country over the past five years.
The colossal secret database of phone calls, first reported by USA Today, prompted Democratic and Republican members of Congress to demand answers from the White House, and at least one Senate committee chairman promptly called for public hearings."
New York Daily News - Home - They know who we're calling:
"WASHINGTON - A new furor over Big Brother tactics erupted yesterday when it was revealed that the Bush administration has been tracking nearly every phone call in the country over the past five years.
The colossal secret database of phone calls, first reported by USA Today, prompted Democratic and Republican members of Congress to demand answers from the White House, and at least one Senate committee chairman promptly called for public hearings."
New Fears of Security Risks in Electronic Voting Systems - The New York Times
FINALLY!
Voting machine security risks make MS press
New Fears of Security Risks in Electronic Voting Systems - The New York Times:
"Officials in Pennsylvania and California issued urgent directives about a potential security risk in their Diebold Election Systems touch-screen voting machines."
While Washington Slept
God Save The Queen!
While Washington Slept:
"The Queen of England is afraid. International C.E.O.'s are nervous. And the scientific establishment is loud and clear.
Ten months before Hurricane Katrina left much of New Orleans underwater, Queen Elizabeth II had a private conversation with Prime Minister Tony Blair about George W. Bush. The Queen's tradition of meeting once a week with Britain's elected head of government to discuss matters of state, usually on Tuesday evenings in Buckingham Palace and always alone, to ensure maximum confidentiality, goes back to 1952, the year she ascended the throne. In all that time, the contents of those chats rarely if ever leaked.
So it was extraordinary when London's Observer reported, on October 31, 2004, that the Queen had 'made a rare intervention in world politics' by telling Blair of 'her grave concerns over the White House's stance on global warming.'
The Observer did not name its sources, but one of them subsequently spoke to Vanity Fair. "
While Washington Slept:
"The Queen of England is afraid. International C.E.O.'s are nervous. And the scientific establishment is loud and clear.
Ten months before Hurricane Katrina left much of New Orleans underwater, Queen Elizabeth II had a private conversation with Prime Minister Tony Blair about George W. Bush. The Queen's tradition of meeting once a week with Britain's elected head of government to discuss matters of state, usually on Tuesday evenings in Buckingham Palace and always alone, to ensure maximum confidentiality, goes back to 1952, the year she ascended the throne. In all that time, the contents of those chats rarely if ever leaked.
So it was extraordinary when London's Observer reported, on October 31, 2004, that the Queen had 'made a rare intervention in world politics' by telling Blair of 'her grave concerns over the White House's stance on global warming.'
The Observer did not name its sources, but one of them subsequently spoke to Vanity Fair. "
Greg Palast: The Spies Who Shag Us
Greg Palast: The Spies Who Shag Us:
"I know your shocked -- SHOCKED! -- that George Bush is listening in on all your phone calls. Without a warrant. That's nothing. And it's not news.
This is: the snooping into your phone bill is just the snout of the pig of a strange, lucrative link-up between the Administration's Homeland Security spy network and private companies operating beyond the reach of the laws meant to protect us from our government. You can call it the privatization of the FBI -- though it is better described as the creation of a private KGB.
********************
For the full story, see 'Double Cheese With Fear,' in Armed Madhouse: Who's Afraid of Osama Wolf and Other Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Class War.'
********************"
"I know your shocked -- SHOCKED! -- that George Bush is listening in on all your phone calls. Without a warrant. That's nothing. And it's not news.
This is: the snooping into your phone bill is just the snout of the pig of a strange, lucrative link-up between the Administration's Homeland Security spy network and private companies operating beyond the reach of the laws meant to protect us from our government. You can call it the privatization of the FBI -- though it is better described as the creation of a private KGB.
********************
For the full story, see 'Double Cheese With Fear,' in Armed Madhouse: Who's Afraid of Osama Wolf and Other Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Class War.'
********************"
Rice, Rumsfeld Block Red Cross Access to Secret Detainees
No surprise here.
Just disgusting...
Rice, Rumsfeld Block Red Cross Access to Secret Detainees:
"Geneva - The United States has again refused the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to terrorism suspects held in secret detention centers, the humanitarian agency said on Friday.
The overnight statement was issued after talks in Washington between ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger and senior officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.
'Mr. Kellenberger deplored the fact that the U.S. authorities had not moved closer to granting the ICRC access to persons held in undisclosed locations,' the Geneva-based agency said.
Kellenberger said: 'No matter how legitimate the grounds for detention, there exists no right to conceal a person's whereabouts or to deny that he or she is being detained.'
The former senior Swiss diplomat said that the ICRC would continue to seek access to such people as a matter of priority."
Just disgusting...
Rice, Rumsfeld Block Red Cross Access to Secret Detainees:
"Geneva - The United States has again refused the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to terrorism suspects held in secret detention centers, the humanitarian agency said on Friday.
The overnight statement was issued after talks in Washington between ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger and senior officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.
'Mr. Kellenberger deplored the fact that the U.S. authorities had not moved closer to granting the ICRC access to persons held in undisclosed locations,' the Geneva-based agency said.
Kellenberger said: 'No matter how legitimate the grounds for detention, there exists no right to conceal a person's whereabouts or to deny that he or she is being detained.'
The former senior Swiss diplomat said that the ICRC would continue to seek access to such people as a matter of priority."
Toxic 100 Corporate Air Polluters Named
We are making a list and checking it twice...
Toxic 100 Corporate Air Polluters Named: " Amherst,
Massachusetts - Researchers at the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts today released the Toxic 100, an updated list of the top corporate air polluters.
'The Toxic 100 informs consumers and shareholders which large corporations release the most toxic pollutants into our air,' says James K. Boyce, director of PERI's environment program. 'We measure not just how many pounds of pollutants are released, but which are the most toxic and how many people are at risk. People have a right to know about toxic hazards to which they are exposed. Legislators need to understand the effects of pollution on their constituents.'
The Toxic 100 index is based on air releases of hundreds of chemicals from industrial facilities across the United States. The rankings take into account not only the quantity of releases, but the relative toxicity of chemicals, nearby populations, and factors such as prevailing winds and height of smokestacks. The Toxic 100 index identifies the top air polluters among corporations that appear in the 'Fortune 500,' 'Forbes 500,' and 'Standard & Poor's 500' lists of the country's largest firms. The Toxic 100's top five companies are E.I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., US Steel, ConocoPhillips, GE, and Eastman Kodak."
Middle East Experts Against Military Option in Iran
We have to stop these bastards from starting WWIII, especially when there are other ways to go about this, just as there was with Iraq.
Sari Gelzer Middle East Experts Against Military Option in Iran:
" On May 9th, 200 American Middle East experts sent a letter to the White House warning President Bush against threatening US military action against Iran.
'We started the letter out of a sense of frustration that the experts in the field were not being consulted as the US develops policy toward Iran,' explained Professor Ahmad Sadri, the coordinator of the project. 'This is the same mistake the US government made before going to Iraq. We're saying don't do that again.'
This group of scholars, academics, commentators, and former US government officials called on the Bush administration to enter into face-to-face negotiations with the government in Tehran.
'As the International Atomic Energy Agency has found no evidence of research or diversion of materials toward atomic weapons in Iran, concerns about future dual use of nuclear technology ought to be addressed in face to face negotiations,' said the letter."
Sari Gelzer Middle East Experts Against Military Option in Iran:
" On May 9th, 200 American Middle East experts sent a letter to the White House warning President Bush against threatening US military action against Iran.
'We started the letter out of a sense of frustration that the experts in the field were not being consulted as the US develops policy toward Iran,' explained Professor Ahmad Sadri, the coordinator of the project. 'This is the same mistake the US government made before going to Iraq. We're saying don't do that again.'
This group of scholars, academics, commentators, and former US government officials called on the Bush administration to enter into face-to-face negotiations with the government in Tehran.
'As the International Atomic Energy Agency has found no evidence of research or diversion of materials toward atomic weapons in Iran, concerns about future dual use of nuclear technology ought to be addressed in face to face negotiations,' said the letter."
Diebold Voting Machine Security Flaw "Worst Ever"
Get rid of these goddamned, evil, democracy-stealing machines now!
Diebold Voting Machine Security Flaw "Worst Ever":
"Critics say hole created for upgrades could be exploited by someone with nefarious plans.
Computer scientists say a security hole recently found in Diebold Election Systems' touch-screen voting machines is the 'worst ever' in a voting system.
Election officials from Iowa to Maryland have been rushing to limit the risk of vote fraud or disabled voting machines since the hole was reported Wednesday.
Scientists, who have conferred with Diebold representatives, said Diebold programmers created the security hole intentionally as a means of quickly upgrading voting software on its electronic voting machines.
The hole allows someone with a common computer component and knowledge of Diebold systems to load almost any software without a password or proof of authenticity and potentially without leaving telltale signs of the change."
Rove Informs White House He Will Be Indicted
We will believe it when we see it.
That has become the American way of life. We no longer trust anyone or anything.
Sad, eh?
Rove Informs White House He Will Be Indicted:
"Within the last week, Karl Rove told President Bush and Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, as well as a few other high level administration officials, that he will be indicted in the CIA leak case and will immediately resign his White House job when the special counsel publicly announces the charges against him, according to sources.
Details of Rove's discussions with the president and Bolten have spread through the corridors of the White House where low-level staffers and senior officials were trying to determine how the indictment would impact an administration that has been mired in a number of high-profile political scandals for nearly a year, said a half-dozen White House aides and two senior officials who work at the Republican National Committee.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources confirmed Rove's indictment is imminent. These individuals requested anonymity saying they were not authorized to speak publicly about Rove's situation. A spokesman in the White House press office said they would not comment on 'wildly speculative rumors.'
Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin, did not return a call for comment Friday. "
Olmert to ask US act against Iran
Ah Christ, here we go!
Olmert to ask US act against Iran - News from Israel, Ynetnews:
"Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is due to leave for Washington in two weeks-time and hold a summit with American President George W. Bush. The two leaders are set to meet in a bid to formulate a uniform stance on the Iranian nuclear threat and Hamas' rule in the Palestinian Authority. The PM will also attempt to ascertain the Administration's standpoint on the issue of the planned Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank.
On Wednesday Olmert convened Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and senior defense officials to discuss the US
visit. "
The Nation has Crossed Over Into DEFCON II for Democracy
The question remains: Are Americans willing to do whatever it takes to revive our Democracy and hold the ones, who have assaulted it, accountable?
BuzzFlash Editorial: The Nation has Crossed Over Into DEFCON II for Democracy:
"The nation has crossed over into DEFCON II for democracy.
We have a Stalinesque government breaking the law, violating the Constitution, invading our privacy -- and Capitol Hill acts as all that's called for is some investigations.
Oh yeah, there's some huffing and puffing by the likes of Snarlin' Arlen Specter. But, as we've pointed out before, he'll never do anything. The only reason the right wingers let him chair the judiciary committee is that he took an oath of Omerta to support the Busheviks to the end when it came to voting time. (All these moderate Republicans always vote with the Busheviks when their votes are needed. They are allowed to 'take a walk' and appear moderate by occasionally voting 'no' when their vote isn't needed anyway. Lincoln Chafee, Olympia Snowe, and Susan Collins are all great examples of this carnival trick.) "
It is time to close down Congress!
Maybe it is time to stop demanding what they aren't going to get and close down Congress.
It serves no purpose, anyway, other than to give more tax breaks to the wealthy, do the bidding of the corporate pigs at the trough, and cover-up for the fascists jackasses in the White House.
White House Stands by Gen. Hayden for CIA - Yahoo! News:
"Lawmakers have been demanding information from the Bush administration about the NSA's database of telephone records, begun while Hayden was in charge of the spy agency."
DeLay says he'll leave office on June 9
Apparently, the only way to protect America from this Bantam Rooster is to throw his unethical, hypocritical, lying and, probably, criminal ass in prison.
That will have to do, until hell will have him.
Chron.com DeLay says he'll leave office on June 9: "WASHINGTON: Rep. Tom DeLay, the once-powerful majority leader whose career was undermined by scandal, said today that he would resign from the House on June 9.
'As you are aware,' the Texas Republican wrote House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., 'I have recently made the decision to pursue new opportunities to engage in the important cultural and political battles of our day from an arena outside of the U.S. House of Representatives.'"
Unconscionable torture tactics
Will Hayden swear off torture?
You have to be kidding!
Number one; how would we know he wasn't lying?
Number two; Hayden has his head so far up Bush/ Cheney's collective butt, it will probably have to be surgically removed.
Unconscionable torture tactics Chicago Tribune:
"Senators will have a lot of questions for Gen. Michael Hayden before they decide how to vote on his nomination. But they should not confirm him or anyone else as CIA director unless, at minimum, he is willing to utter two simple words: No waterboarding.
Waterboarding is an interrogation method that involves immersing a prisoner's head in water, or pouring water over his face, to create a terrifying sensation of drowning. It's about as cruel a technique as you can devise without leaving scars.
Experts say it can cause lasting mental trauma. It's condemned by the U.S. State Department as a form of torture when it's employed by foreign governments, such as Tunisia and Kenya."
Upset vet gives back his medals
Go ahead, Swiftboat of Fools; say something about this courageous man.
Go ahead, and we will hunt you all down like the fresking mad dogs you are.
SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Military -- Upset vet gives back his medals: "
And now what?
He had protested. He had become president of the San Diego chapter of Veterans For Peace.
He had helped put up thousands of white crosses around San Diego County to mark the dead in a solemn display called 'Arlington West.'
And still . . . .
The war goes on. Three years, two months. With more than 2,300 U.S. soldiers and Marines dead. "
Pain At The Pump: Government Gas Secrets
Lying, goddamned corporations strike again.
Read the full article to see where you have been ripped off.
Pain At The Pump: Government Gas Secrets - Yahoo! News:
"And under these guidelines by the Environmental Protection Agency, carmakers are allowed to test miles per gallon by running the vehicle not on the road, but on what's essentially a treadmill for cars.
During an EPA spot check, the car ran with no air conditioning, no inclines or hills, no wind resistance and at speeds no greater than 60 mph.
There's hardly anything real world about it, but it gives carmakers what they want -- the highest possible miles per gallon to put on that sticker.
'People are going into showrooms, they're looking at that sticker that says miles per gallon and they're saying, 'Oh it get goods miles per gallon,'' said Consumer Reports' David Champion. 'In reality, they're being cheated.'"
Bush Approval Rating Hits the 20s for First Time
This poll was taken before the latest NSA, Telcom revelation.
Of course there will be the usual % of retarded Americans who believe that a long as they aren't terrorists they have nothing to fear. I feel sorry for these people, because they do not realize the potential for abuse, by this administration and administrations to come.
To all you right-wingers out there: How would you like it if, say...President Hillary Clinton had this kind of access to your personal records?
Think about it!
Bush Approval Rating Hits the 20s for First Time:
"NEW YORK President Bush's job approval rating has fallen to 29%, its lowest mark of his presidency, and down 6% in one month, according to a new Harris poll. And this was before Thursday's revelations about NSA phone surveillance.
Of 1,003 U.S. adults surveyed in a telephone poll, 29% think Mr. Bush is doing an 'excellent or pretty good' job as president, down from 35% in April and 43% in January.
Roughly one-quarter of U.S. adults say 'things in the country are going in the right direction,' while 69% say''things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track.'
Some 28% of Americans said they consider Iraq to be one of the top two most important issues the government should address, up from 23% in April. Interest has faded slightly in the immigration issue.
Other recent major polls have pegged Bush's approval rating from 31% to 37%. "
NSA has your phone records; 'trust us' isn't good enough
If you wanted our trust you and your administration, you shouldn't have lied to us about everything since, and including, 9/11.
This program is not helping track terrorists, according to NSA analysts, so who is it tracking?
USATODAY.com - NSA has your phone records; 'trust us' isn't good enough:
"The government is secretly collecting the phone records of millions of Americans.
Stop and think for a moment about the meaning of that simple, startling fact, exposed Thursday in a remarkable report by USA TODAY's Leslie Cauley.
In the narrowest interpretation, of course, it is benign. Possibly even helpful. It means that the National Security Agency (NSA), the Pentagon-run spy agency that monitors communications, is using a new tool to hunt terrorists: Monitor phone traffic to identify threats and stop them.
This is all it means, President Bush told the public Thursday in a brief appearance aimed at quelling the instant outrage provoked by the story. He assured Americans that their civil liberties were being 'fiercely protected' and that the government was 'not mining or trolling through the personal lives of millions of innocent Americans.'
In other words, never mind appearances. Trust us."
When hell freezes over, you lying SOB!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
"ANN COULTER VOTER FRAUD: A First! Coulter Goes Silent! May Be Thrown Off Voter Rolls!"
How about off the rolls and into jail.
Voter fruad is a crime punishable by prison time, is it not?
At least it shut her up, and that is a miracle in itself.
THE BRAD BLOG: "ANN COULTER VOTER FRAUD: A First! Coulter Goes Silent! May Be Thrown Off Voter Rolls!":
"Incident Report, Letter to Coulter from Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections.
GOP Propagandist May Also Be Guilty of Tax Code Fraud for Taking $25,000 'Homestead Exemption' if She Doesn't Actually Live in Palm Beach"
Voter fruad is a crime punishable by prison time, is it not?
At least it shut her up, and that is a miracle in itself.
THE BRAD BLOG: "ANN COULTER VOTER FRAUD: A First! Coulter Goes Silent! May Be Thrown Off Voter Rolls!":
"Incident Report, Letter to Coulter from Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections.
GOP Propagandist May Also Be Guilty of Tax Code Fraud for Taking $25,000 'Homestead Exemption' if She Doesn't Actually Live in Palm Beach"
What does Bush mean by 'ordinary Americans'?
Will some one nail Bush down on just what he means by ordinary Americans.
This man cannot be trusted.
Consortiumnews.com:
"Given George W. Bush's history of outright lying, especially on national security matters, it may seem silly to dissect his words about the new disclosure that his administration has collected phone records of some 200 million Americans.
But Bush made two parse-able points in reacting to USA Today's story about the National Security Agency building a vast database of domestic phone calls. 'We're not mining or trolling through the personal lives of millions of innocent Americans,' Bush said, adding 'the privacy of ordinary Americans is fiercely protected in all our activities.'
In his brief remarks, however, Bush didn't define what he meant by 'ordinary Americans' nor whether the data-mining might cover, say, thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people, just not 'millions.'"
This man cannot be trusted.
Consortiumnews.com:
"Given George W. Bush's history of outright lying, especially on national security matters, it may seem silly to dissect his words about the new disclosure that his administration has collected phone records of some 200 million Americans.
But Bush made two parse-able points in reacting to USA Today's story about the National Security Agency building a vast database of domestic phone calls. 'We're not mining or trolling through the personal lives of millions of innocent Americans,' Bush said, adding 'the privacy of ordinary Americans is fiercely protected in all our activities.'
In his brief remarks, however, Bush didn't define what he meant by 'ordinary Americans' nor whether the data-mining might cover, say, thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people, just not 'millions.'"
NSA Sweep "Waste of Time," Analyst Says
It is a waste of time oif they are really looking for terrorists.
If they are wanting to spy on peace activists, non-lapdog reporters and political 'enemies,' it may not be such a waste of time.
Defense Tech: NSA Sweep "Waste of Time," Analyst Says:
"It'd be one thing if the NSA's massive sweep of our phone records was actually helping catch terrorists. But what if it's not working at all? A leading practitioner of the kind of analysis the NSA is supposedly performing in this surveillance program says that 'it's a waste of time, a waste of resources. And it lets the real terrorists run free.'
Re-reading the USA Today piece, one paragraph jumped out:
This kind of data collection from phone companies is not uncommon; it's been done before, though never on this large a scale, the official said. The data are used for 'social network analysis,' the official said, meaning to study how terrorist networks contact each other and how they are tied together."
If they are wanting to spy on peace activists, non-lapdog reporters and political 'enemies,' it may not be such a waste of time.
Defense Tech: NSA Sweep "Waste of Time," Analyst Says:
"It'd be one thing if the NSA's massive sweep of our phone records was actually helping catch terrorists. But what if it's not working at all? A leading practitioner of the kind of analysis the NSA is supposedly performing in this surveillance program says that 'it's a waste of time, a waste of resources. And it lets the real terrorists run free.'
Re-reading the USA Today piece, one paragraph jumped out:
This kind of data collection from phone companies is not uncommon; it's been done before, though never on this large a scale, the official said. The data are used for 'social network analysis,' the official said, meaning to study how terrorist networks contact each other and how they are tied together."
It is time for the stonewalling to stop!
Because if it doesn't, impeachment will be the least of the Bushite worries.
We Don't Know Jack:
"T'S TAKEN a Freedom of Information Act request, a lawsuit and a court order, but the White House will soon release Secret Service records detailing lobbyist Jack Abramoff's visits there. This is long overdue, and the delay has been due to -- there's no other word for it -- stonewalling by the Bush administration. The administration says the lobbyist attended a Hanukkah party or two and 'a few staff-level meetings.' With whom? About what? We don't know, and it's not clear the Secret Service records will reveal that. But certainly, at this point, the White House does know, and leaving these questions unanswered, as it has tried to do, remains unacceptable."
We Don't Know Jack:
"T'S TAKEN a Freedom of Information Act request, a lawsuit and a court order, but the White House will soon release Secret Service records detailing lobbyist Jack Abramoff's visits there. This is long overdue, and the delay has been due to -- there's no other word for it -- stonewalling by the Bush administration. The administration says the lobbyist attended a Hanukkah party or two and 'a few staff-level meetings.' With whom? About what? We don't know, and it's not clear the Secret Service records will reveal that. But certainly, at this point, the White House does know, and leaving these questions unanswered, as it has tried to do, remains unacceptable."
Rights and Liberties: Reach Out and Track Someone
They might now like what they find...
AlterNet: Rights and Liberties: Reach Out and Track Someone:
"If you are one of the more than 200 million Americans with a cell phone nestled in your pocket, authorities may be able to find you any time day or night--even if you never make or receive a call.
You know the Verizon ad where a lockstep crowd personifies the network that accompanies its customer everywhere? Well, within that seemingly friendly horde, a high-tech Big Brother is lurking.
Most people know that when they make a mobile call--during a 911 emergency, for example--authorities can access phone company technology to pin down their location, sometimes to within a few feet."
AlterNet: Rights and Liberties: Reach Out and Track Someone:
"If you are one of the more than 200 million Americans with a cell phone nestled in your pocket, authorities may be able to find you any time day or night--even if you never make or receive a call.
You know the Verizon ad where a lockstep crowd personifies the network that accompanies its customer everywhere? Well, within that seemingly friendly horde, a high-tech Big Brother is lurking.
Most people know that when they make a mobile call--during a 911 emergency, for example--authorities can access phone company technology to pin down their location, sometimes to within a few feet."
America, You Lost! The Railroading of Zacarias Moussaoui
When in doubt, convict a nutjob who couldn't get it together to set off a cherry bomb in a bus station.
America, You Lost! The Railroading of Zacarias Moussaoui:
"It's official. 9/11 has driven America utterly bat-guano mad. Don't believe it? Consider the following:
American citizens, liberal and conservative alike, have become self-deluded, fervently certain of 'facts' that are indisputably false. 'By a margin of better than two to one,' according to the May 9th New York Times poll, Democrats--who have become so ideologically invisible that they're meeting to decide what, if any, ideas they ought to develop for this fall's elections--'were seen as having more new ideas than Republicans.' At the same time, most voters believe that Republicans--who are losing two catastrophic wars because they failed to send enough troops or supply them with adequate equipment--'would do a better job at maintaining a stronger military than Democrats.'
Meanwhile, the CIA--whose mission is to sabotage popularly elected democracies and replace them with right-wing torture-dictatorships--has become the liberal branch of government. According to insiders, Porter Goss was fired as the agency's director because he failed to purge its 'soft leakers and liberal Democrats.' A former senior CIA official with continuing links to the Bush Administration and the agency told the Baltimore Sun upon Goss' appointment in 2004: 'The CIA is looked on by the White House as a hotbed of liberals and people who have been obstructing the president's agenda.' CIA liberals. Right. "
America, You Lost! The Railroading of Zacarias Moussaoui:
"It's official. 9/11 has driven America utterly bat-guano mad. Don't believe it? Consider the following:
American citizens, liberal and conservative alike, have become self-deluded, fervently certain of 'facts' that are indisputably false. 'By a margin of better than two to one,' according to the May 9th New York Times poll, Democrats--who have become so ideologically invisible that they're meeting to decide what, if any, ideas they ought to develop for this fall's elections--'were seen as having more new ideas than Republicans.' At the same time, most voters believe that Republicans--who are losing two catastrophic wars because they failed to send enough troops or supply them with adequate equipment--'would do a better job at maintaining a stronger military than Democrats.'
Meanwhile, the CIA--whose mission is to sabotage popularly elected democracies and replace them with right-wing torture-dictatorships--has become the liberal branch of government. According to insiders, Porter Goss was fired as the agency's director because he failed to purge its 'soft leakers and liberal Democrats.' A former senior CIA official with continuing links to the Bush Administration and the agency told the Baltimore Sun upon Goss' appointment in 2004: 'The CIA is looked on by the White House as a hotbed of liberals and people who have been obstructing the president's agenda.' CIA liberals. Right. "
Operation Refuse War
Check it out.
There are many ways of becoming a refusenik
Operation Refuse War:
"NEW YORK - May 11 - From May 11th to 16th, US conscientious objectors (CO's) and CO's from around the world will gather in New York City and Washington DC for Operation Refuse War, a week of conferences, demonstrations, and actions in celebration of International Conscientious Objectors Day, May 15th.
Operation Refuse War will be an opportunity for conscientious objectors, anti-war activists, and military families to come together to share strategies and build community. Participants are coming from South Korea, Eritrea, Colombia, Peru, El Salvador, Canada, Britain, Israel, Macedonia, Bosnia, Germany, and across the United States. This week of action will highlight the difficulties that current conscientious objectors face as well as help build relationships and connections between the various communities within the anti-war movement. In addition, Operation Refuse War will bring together international and American conscientious objectors to share their experiences and ideas with the public.
Public Activities will include: "
There are many ways of becoming a refusenik
Operation Refuse War:
"NEW YORK - May 11 - From May 11th to 16th, US conscientious objectors (CO's) and CO's from around the world will gather in New York City and Washington DC for Operation Refuse War, a week of conferences, demonstrations, and actions in celebration of International Conscientious Objectors Day, May 15th.
Operation Refuse War will be an opportunity for conscientious objectors, anti-war activists, and military families to come together to share strategies and build community. Participants are coming from South Korea, Eritrea, Colombia, Peru, El Salvador, Canada, Britain, Israel, Macedonia, Bosnia, Germany, and across the United States. This week of action will highlight the difficulties that current conscientious objectors face as well as help build relationships and connections between the various communities within the anti-war movement. In addition, Operation Refuse War will bring together international and American conscientious objectors to share their experiences and ideas with the public.
Public Activities will include: "
A Capital Full of Shih Tzu Reporters
Molly nails the D.C. MSM.
So true, Bwahahahaha........
A Capital Full of Shih Tzu Reporters:
"As I occasionally survey the pack of sycophantic Shih Tzus* in the Washington press corps, wriggling on their bellies to kiss the feet of those in power, I feel plumb discouraged about the future of journalism.
It's like a cross between Versailles under Louis XIV and high school: obsequious courtiers flattering their way to favor, plus the silly cliques of the 'in crowd' and 'out crowd.' On the other hand, I am greatly cheered by the young journalists in the blogosphere who have now whelped a perfect litter of books worth paying attention to.
For my marbles and chalk, the pick is David Sirota's 'Hostile Takeover: How Big Money and Corruption Conquered Our Government, and How We Take It Back.' Sirota is a new-generation populist who instinctively understands that the only real questions are 'Who's getting screwed?' and 'Who's doing the screwing?'
The extent to which corporate power has taken over the country and is running the table cannot be exaggerated and must not be ignored. Sirota has not only collected much new and useful information, he has put it into a package that provides handy weapons to fight back. Si, se puede. "
So true, Bwahahahaha........
A Capital Full of Shih Tzu Reporters:
"As I occasionally survey the pack of sycophantic Shih Tzus* in the Washington press corps, wriggling on their bellies to kiss the feet of those in power, I feel plumb discouraged about the future of journalism.
It's like a cross between Versailles under Louis XIV and high school: obsequious courtiers flattering their way to favor, plus the silly cliques of the 'in crowd' and 'out crowd.' On the other hand, I am greatly cheered by the young journalists in the blogosphere who have now whelped a perfect litter of books worth paying attention to.
For my marbles and chalk, the pick is David Sirota's 'Hostile Takeover: How Big Money and Corruption Conquered Our Government, and How We Take It Back.' Sirota is a new-generation populist who instinctively understands that the only real questions are 'Who's getting screwed?' and 'Who's doing the screwing?'
The extent to which corporate power has taken over the country and is running the table cannot be exaggerated and must not be ignored. Sirota has not only collected much new and useful information, he has put it into a package that provides handy weapons to fight back. Si, se puede. "
The War of Internet Democracy
Why would these fools want the battle for Democracy to move from cyberspace to the street?
The War of Internet Democracy:
"This week, the House is expected to vote on something termed, in perfect Orwellian prose, the 'Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006.' It will be the first real battle in the coming War of Internet Democracy.
On one side are the companies that pipe the Internet into our homes and businesses. These include telecom giants like AT&T and Verizon, and cable companies like Comcast. Call them the pipe companies.
On the other side are the people and businesses that send Internet content through the pipes. Some are big outfits like Yahoo, Google, and Amazon, big financial institutions like Bank of America and Citigroup, and giant media companies soon to pump lots of movies and TV shows on to the Internet."
Hey Democrats, Truth Matters!
Yep, and we will have more to say abou this a little later
Hey Democrats, Truth Matters!:
"My book, Secrecy & Privilege, opens with a scene in spring 1994 when a guest at a White House social event asks Bill Clinton why his administration didn't pursue unresolved scandals from the Reagan-Bush era, such as the Iraqgate secret support for Saddam Hussein's government and clandestine arms shipments to Iran.
Clinton responds to the questions from the guest, documentary filmmaker Stuart Sender, by saying, in effect, that those historical questions had to take a back seat to Clinton's domestic agenda and his desire for greater bipartisanship with the Republicans.
Clinton 'didn't feel that it was a good idea to pursue these investigations because he was going to have to work with these people,' Sender told me in an interview. 'He was going to try to work with these guys, compromise, build working relationships.'
Clinton's relatively low regard for the value of truth and accountability is relevant again today because other centrist Democrats are urging their party to give George W. Bush's administration a similar pass if the Democrats win one or both houses of Congress. "
| Seventy two in Congress join battle against wiretaps
Here are men and women who deserve our support.
The Raw Story Seventy two in Congress join battle against wiretaps:
"John Conyers, Jr. of Michigan
Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii
Gary Ackerman of New York
Brian Baird of Washington
Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Howard Berman of California
Shelley Berkley of Nevada
Earl Blumenauer of Oregon
Rick Boucher of Virginia
Corrine Brown of Florida
Michael Capuano of Massachusetts
Julia Carson of Indiana
William Lacy Clay of Missouri
Artur Davis of Alabama
Peter DeFazio of Oregon
Diana DeGette of Colorado
William Delahunt of Massachusetts
Sam Farr of California
Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania
Barney Frank of Massachusetts
Al Green of Texas
Raul Grijalva of Arizona
Maurice Hinchey of New York
Ruben Hinojosa of Texas
Michael Honda of California
Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Illinois
Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas
Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas
Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio
Dale E. Kildee of Michigan
Carolyn C. Kilpatrick of Michigan
Dennis Kucinich of Ohio
Tom Lantos of California
Barbara Lee of California
Zoe Lofgren of California
John Lewis of Georgia
Carolyn Maloney of New York
Edward Markey of Massachusetts
Jim McDermott of Washington
James McGovern of Massachusetts
Martin Meehan of Massachusetts
George Miller of California
James Moran of Virginia
Jerrold Nadler of New York
Eleanor Holmes Norton of District of Columbia
James Oberstar of Minnesota
John Olver of Massachusetts
Major Owens of New York
Donald Payne of New Jersey
Charles Rangel of New York
Linda Sanchez of California
Bernard Sanders of Vermont
Janice Schakowsky of Illinois
Bobby Scott of Virginia
Jose Serrano of New York
Brad Sherman of California
Louise Slaughter"
The Raw Story Seventy two in Congress join battle against wiretaps:
"John Conyers, Jr. of Michigan
Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii
Gary Ackerman of New York
Brian Baird of Washington
Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin
Howard Berman of California
Shelley Berkley of Nevada
Earl Blumenauer of Oregon
Rick Boucher of Virginia
Corrine Brown of Florida
Michael Capuano of Massachusetts
Julia Carson of Indiana
William Lacy Clay of Missouri
Artur Davis of Alabama
Peter DeFazio of Oregon
Diana DeGette of Colorado
William Delahunt of Massachusetts
Sam Farr of California
Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania
Barney Frank of Massachusetts
Al Green of Texas
Raul Grijalva of Arizona
Maurice Hinchey of New York
Ruben Hinojosa of Texas
Michael Honda of California
Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Illinois
Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas
Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas
Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio
Dale E. Kildee of Michigan
Carolyn C. Kilpatrick of Michigan
Dennis Kucinich of Ohio
Tom Lantos of California
Barbara Lee of California
Zoe Lofgren of California
John Lewis of Georgia
Carolyn Maloney of New York
Edward Markey of Massachusetts
Jim McDermott of Washington
James McGovern of Massachusetts
Martin Meehan of Massachusetts
George Miller of California
James Moran of Virginia
Jerrold Nadler of New York
Eleanor Holmes Norton of District of Columbia
James Oberstar of Minnesota
John Olver of Massachusetts
Major Owens of New York
Donald Payne of New Jersey
Charles Rangel of New York
Linda Sanchez of California
Bernard Sanders of Vermont
Janice Schakowsky of Illinois
Bobby Scott of Virginia
Jose Serrano of New York
Brad Sherman of California
Louise Slaughter"
...and the battle is joined.
Wonder if it has dawned on Der Monkey yet, that he is in serious trouble; if not legally, then with mobs of angry people.
The Raw Story Seventy two in Congress join battle against wiretaps: "Seventy two members of Congress filed papers late Wednesday seeking to end President George W. Bush's warrantless NSA eavesdropping program, RAW STORY has learned.
The filing came just before a report Thursday in USA Today which revealed that the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program had collected call records on tens of millions of Americans through agreements with AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth.
It also comes a day after lawyers looking into the NSA program abruptly closed their probe after the Bush Administration refused to grant them clearances."
The Raw Story Seventy two in Congress join battle against wiretaps: "Seventy two members of Congress filed papers late Wednesday seeking to end President George W. Bush's warrantless NSA eavesdropping program, RAW STORY has learned.
The filing came just before a report Thursday in USA Today which revealed that the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program had collected call records on tens of millions of Americans through agreements with AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth.
It also comes a day after lawyers looking into the NSA program abruptly closed their probe after the Bush Administration refused to grant them clearances."
Walking People Up The Crazy-Idea Ladder
......and then over a cliff.
Seeing the Forest: Walking People Up The Crazy-Idea Ladder:
"They are talking about the Overton Window. Here is the original. It's about how to 'advance ideas' - take a wild idea and get people to accept it. This is a concept studied and practiced by the right - and they are talking about ideas like privatizing Social Security, or getting rid of public education. But there is a lot to learn here.
The idea is that you walk people up a ladder of acceptability of an idea, one step at a time. As the people climb the ladder, their thinking about the idea at the top is walked through stages. The first stage is that the idea is unthinkable, then after hearing about it for a while it becomes just radical, then after enough repetition it becomes acceptable, eventually it sounds sensible, then seems popular, and finally it becomes policy."
Seeing the Forest: Walking People Up The Crazy-Idea Ladder:
"They are talking about the Overton Window. Here is the original. It's about how to 'advance ideas' - take a wild idea and get people to accept it. This is a concept studied and practiced by the right - and they are talking about ideas like privatizing Social Security, or getting rid of public education. But there is a lot to learn here.
The idea is that you walk people up a ladder of acceptability of an idea, one step at a time. As the people climb the ladder, their thinking about the idea at the top is walked through stages. The first stage is that the idea is unthinkable, then after hearing about it for a while it becomes just radical, then after enough repetition it becomes acceptable, eventually it sounds sensible, then seems popular, and finally it becomes policy."
Why Does Tim Russert Fear Democrats? Just Ask Patrick Fitzgerald | The Huffington Post
Keep hammering, Jane, you gorgeous thing!
Speaking of Laudanum, does anyone have any? Much more of the Rehugs and we will all be grazing the Poppy fields in Afghanistan.
The Blog Jane Hamsher: Why Does Tim Russert Fear Democrats? Just Ask Patrick Fitzgerald The Huffington Post:
"We'll leave aside for now the high hilarity of George Stephanopoulos inviting Tom DeLay on to talk about ethics, and letting him blather on about corrupt Democrats virtually without challenge (I can think of 20 things a good journalist would've started hammering DeLay about on the spot, but obviously DeLay took the gig because he had no fear of anything like that happening). Howard Dean appropriately scoffed at the absurdity of the situation, but then came Tim Russert recounting practically the same narrative DeLay had recited. So did Maura Liasson. The thing that seems to have them all wilting on the fainting couch and grabbing for the laudanum is the prospect of Democrats gaining a majority and starting impeachment proceedings, or even launching a few badly needed investigations."
Speaking of Laudanum, does anyone have any? Much more of the Rehugs and we will all be grazing the Poppy fields in Afghanistan.
The Blog Jane Hamsher: Why Does Tim Russert Fear Democrats? Just Ask Patrick Fitzgerald The Huffington Post:
"We'll leave aside for now the high hilarity of George Stephanopoulos inviting Tom DeLay on to talk about ethics, and letting him blather on about corrupt Democrats virtually without challenge (I can think of 20 things a good journalist would've started hammering DeLay about on the spot, but obviously DeLay took the gig because he had no fear of anything like that happening). Howard Dean appropriately scoffed at the absurdity of the situation, but then came Tim Russert recounting practically the same narrative DeLay had recited. So did Maura Liasson. The thing that seems to have them all wilting on the fainting couch and grabbing for the laudanum is the prospect of Democrats gaining a majority and starting impeachment proceedings, or even launching a few badly needed investigations."
Specter is all that is standing betwen us and a fuul blown Dictatorship
We are so screwed!
Latest News The Huffington Post#a020835:
"Cafferty: We all hope nothing happens to Arlen Specter, the Republican head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cause he might be all that stands between us and a full blown dictatorship in this country. He's vowed to question these phone company executives about volunteering to provide the government with my telephone records, and yours, and tens of millions of other Americans.
Shortly after 9/11, AT7T, Verizon, and BellSouth began providing the super-secret NSA with information on phone calls of millions of our citizens, all part of the War on Terror, President Bush says. Why don't you go find Osama bin Laden, and seal the country's borders, and start inspecting the containers that come into our ports? "
Two Addictions that Cripple the Left | The Huffington Post
The Blog Philip Slater: Two Addictions that Cripple the Left The Huffington Post:
"Have you ever noticed how frantically eager some people are to tell you how hopeless the state of the world is? Point to any tiny progressive victory or corporate concession and they'll rush in to smother your tiny ray of light in dreary counter-examples, as if it were an outbreak of crabgrass threatening their carefully manicured lawn of misery."
"Have you ever noticed how frantically eager some people are to tell you how hopeless the state of the world is? Point to any tiny progressive victory or corporate concession and they'll rush in to smother your tiny ray of light in dreary counter-examples, as if it were an outbreak of crabgrass threatening their carefully manicured lawn of misery."
Snow Already Sparring With News Orgs.
We are with you CBS. Nail their traitorous asses!
Snow Already Sparring With News Orgs.:
"NEW YORK In his first week in the job, new White House Press Secretary Tony Snow is already having issues with CBS News, and slamming The New York Times and USA Today.
Snow has fired off several emails to reporters. One rapped the Times for continuing to ignore America's economic progress, while another hit USA Today for a misleading Medicare story.
He also knocked CBS News on Wednesday for Jim Axelrod's piece on seniors having problems with the Bush drug plan. Axelrod responded today.
White House sources say that Snow aims to counter criticism of the administration in an aggressive manner. He has yet to hold his first press briefing, however. "
German 'Robin Hoods' give poor a taste of the high life
Way to go guys!
Scotsman.com News - International - German 'Robin Hoods' give poor a taste of the high life:
"A GANG of anarchist Robin Hood-style thieves, who dress as superheroes and steal expensive food from exclusive restaurants and delicatessens to give to the poor, are being hunted by police in the German city of Hamburg.
The gang members seemingly take delight in injecting humour into their raids, which rely on sheer numbers and the confusion caused by their presence. After they plundered Kobe beef fillets, champagne and smoked salmon from a gourmet store on the exclusive Elbastrasse, they presented the cashier with a bouquet of flowers before making their getaway. "
Scotsman.com News - International - German 'Robin Hoods' give poor a taste of the high life:
"A GANG of anarchist Robin Hood-style thieves, who dress as superheroes and steal expensive food from exclusive restaurants and delicatessens to give to the poor, are being hunted by police in the German city of Hamburg.
The gang members seemingly take delight in injecting humour into their raids, which rely on sheer numbers and the confusion caused by their presence. After they plundered Kobe beef fillets, champagne and smoked salmon from a gourmet store on the exclusive Elbastrasse, they presented the cashier with a bouquet of flowers before making their getaway. "
Yet Another Fascism Alert!
Daily Dish : 'Darko' Director Investigated Over 'Terrorism Links':
"Donnie Darko' director Richard Kelly could be forced to miss the Cannes Film Festival because his passport is being reviewed by the U.S. government.
Homeland Security is investigating 31-year-old Kelly, reportedly because there is a James Kelly on the terrorist watch list.
Fearing he will be unable to attend the premiere of his new movie, 'Southland Tales,' at Cannes later this month, Kelly has contacted a U.S. senator and has recruited his mother to hunt out documents to help him prove his American citizenship.
The Virginia-born writer/director fears the issue could be connected to the plot of his new movie, which is in part about security measures taken by the U.S. government following Sept. 11.
He says, 'The paranoid conspiracy freak inside me is starting to think this has something to do with the film.' "
E-Mails: Bush Aide Offered Abramoff Help - Yahoo! News
Why are we not surprised?
E-Mails: Bush Aide Offered Abramoff Help - Yahoo! News:
"WASHINGTON - The Bush administration's top procurement official offered his assistance to now-disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff as his lobbying empire began to crumble, according to e-mails released Wednesday by the White House."
Grand jury indicts Gov. Ernie Fletcher
All we can say is, it's about damn time!
Lexington Herald-Leader 05/11/2006 Grand jury indicts Gov. Ernie Fletcher:
"The special grand jury that's been investigating state government hiring practices today indicted Gov. Ernie Fletcher on three misdemeanor charges of conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination.
The jury also indicted former transportation Cabinet official Sam Beverage for perjury, which is a felony. And the jury also submitted to Franklin Circuit Judge William Graham 14 more indictments that are under seal.
Those indictments cover crimes that may have occurred before Aug. 29, 2005 when Fletcher pardoned all administration officials except himself.
On the charge of conspiracy, the indictment states Fletcher ,ordered, directed and otherwise approved the development and implementation, of what became known as the governor's personnel initiative."
Getting Past the Watergate Fixation
We have been on red alert since December!
AlterNet: Getting Past the Watergate Fixation:
"We knew this was big back in March, when a court sent ex-Rep. Randy 'Duke' Cunningham, R-Calif. -- convicted of taking $2.4 million in bribes from military contractors -- off to serve eight years in prison, the most severe sentence ever handed out to a member of Congress. From then on, the sleaze chain has been metastasizing. More members of the House might be implicated -- and even top CIA officials. Now it is being described as the largest federal corruption scandal in a century. With stories of prostitutes and all-night poker games at the Watergate hotel, it is one scandal that truly is deserving of the '-gate' suffix that has become such a dreary journalistic clich.
No matter how big the affair grows, though, it is likely to follow in the path of so many of its predecessors -- distracting public attention from a larger and more important reality: Today, 'the largest corruption scandal in a century' is not WatergateGate -- it is the everyday performance of the U.S. government. The worst sleaze in Washington is mainly legal, as the old saying goes; and that includes the sorry state of the entire intelligence apparatus -- beyond whether the #3 CIA official improperly participated in those late-night, high-stakes card games."
AlterNet: Getting Past the Watergate Fixation:
"We knew this was big back in March, when a court sent ex-Rep. Randy 'Duke' Cunningham, R-Calif. -- convicted of taking $2.4 million in bribes from military contractors -- off to serve eight years in prison, the most severe sentence ever handed out to a member of Congress. From then on, the sleaze chain has been metastasizing. More members of the House might be implicated -- and even top CIA officials. Now it is being described as the largest federal corruption scandal in a century. With stories of prostitutes and all-night poker games at the Watergate hotel, it is one scandal that truly is deserving of the '-gate' suffix that has become such a dreary journalistic clich.
No matter how big the affair grows, though, it is likely to follow in the path of so many of its predecessors -- distracting public attention from a larger and more important reality: Today, 'the largest corruption scandal in a century' is not WatergateGate -- it is the everyday performance of the U.S. government. The worst sleaze in Washington is mainly legal, as the old saying goes; and that includes the sorry state of the entire intelligence apparatus -- beyond whether the #3 CIA official improperly participated in those late-night, high-stakes card games."
AlterNet: The Best Little Whorehouse in Washington
We are with you, Molly
AlterNet: The Best Little Whorehouse in Washington:
"Of course I am above sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. So serious a servant of the public interest am I, I can fogey with the best: On my better days, I make David Broder look like Page Six.
I don't care what anyone smoked 20 years ago, I approve of those who boogie till they puke, and I don't care who anyone in politics is screwing in private, as long as they're not screwing the public."
AlterNet: The Best Little Whorehouse in Washington:
"Of course I am above sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. So serious a servant of the public interest am I, I can fogey with the best: On my better days, I make David Broder look like Page Six.
I don't care what anyone smoked 20 years ago, I approve of those who boogie till they puke, and I don't care who anyone in politics is screwing in private, as long as they're not screwing the public."
Excerpt: How Would a Patriot Act?
Well, we certainly have some ideas on the subject, but the NSA is probably listening, and we want it to be a big surprise.
AlterNet: Excerpt: How Would a Patriot Act?:
"In one sense, it is difficult to understand how the Bush administration has been able to embrace such radical theories of executive power, and to engage in such recognizably un-American conduct -- first in the shadows and now quite openly -- without prompting a far more intense backlash from the country than we have seen
That is because the Bush administration has in its arsenal one very potent weapon -- and one weapon only -- which it has repeatedly used: fear. Ever since September 11, 2001, Americans have been bombarded with warnings, with color-coded 'alerts,' with talk of mushroom clouds and nefarious plots to blow up bridges and tall buildings, with villains assigned cartoon names such as 'dirty bomber,' 'Dr. Germ,' and so on"
US Freeze on Medical Aid Takes its Toll
This is outrageous!
I am geting a little tired of saying that. The word outrageous is becoming trite in the Bush administration...
Nevertheless, outraged is just what we are, and someone is going to pay! Actually, many will pay before this is over.
US Freeze on Medical Aid Takes its Toll:
"The United States has stopped providing medical supplies to Palestinian hospitals as part of Washington's sanctions against Hamas. "
Global Arms Shipments out of Control: Amnesty
Can the world GET anymore corrupt?
Global Arms Shipments out of Control: Amnesty:
"Governments who cut their armed forces end up relying on private suppliers to transport their weapons with few controls, Amnesty International said on Wednesday.
And as these logistics networks proliferate in conflicts across the globe, international arms control rules are now floundering, the human rights group said in a new report urging tough government action to re-impose control."
Hayden is a "Perfect" Pick (In Bushworld)
These people, the Bushites, have finally gone way over the line.
The last thing we need is more "good soldiers!
Good soldiers were at My Lai!
Hayden is a "Perfect" Pick:
"It makes perfect sense for President Bush to nominate Gen. Michael V. Hayden as CIA director, no matter what the critics, including a surprising number of normally housebroken Republicans, have to say.
True, Hayden was in charge of the National Security Agency during the run-up to Sept. 11, a massive terrorist attack that intelligence agencies are built to prevent. But remaining unflappably confident while getting it all wrong is a vital credential for the head of the CIA under this administration.
Recall that former CIA Director George Tenet was honored by Bush with the Medal of Freedom for dutifully pretending that the case for WMD in Iraq was a 'slam-dunk' and politely taking the hit on Bush's infamous '16 words' State of the Union lie about that African uranium. "
Hillary, Rupert, and the Culture of Corruption
As far as we are concerned, the Clintons can go to hell.
First we have Bill hanging out in in the Bush Family compound with the current patriarch of America's number one crime family and now we have Hillary canoodling with Rupert.
Do they think that all that has happened in the last 6 years is a f______ joke?
Well, we do not!
Hillary, Rupert, and the Culture of Corruption:
"Excuse me for not getting fired up when I hear Democratic leaders bleating about the 'culture of corruption' in Washington under GOP rule. Sometimes I have to laugh. . .and not because the charges against the Republicans aren't true. They're totally true.
It's just that top Democrats are up to their eyeballs in that same culture of corruption -- which may be why they seem blind to how activists see them. Take my New York senator, Hillary Clinton. The Financial Times just reported that she and her re-election campaign have lined up rightwing media mogul Rupert Murdoch to host a Hillary fundraiser in July.
Murdoch is the symbol of media conglomeration and the owner of Republican mouthpieces like Fox News, Weekly Standard and the New York Post. He and Hillary have lately conducted a public courtship. Last month, Hillary attended the 10th anniversary party for Fox News in Washington, where the presidential contender schmoozed Murdoch and Fox chair Roger Ailes. According to the Financial Times, Bill Clinton will address the summer conference of Murdoch's media colossus, News Corp. "
First we have Bill hanging out in in the Bush Family compound with the current patriarch of America's number one crime family and now we have Hillary canoodling with Rupert.
Do they think that all that has happened in the last 6 years is a f______ joke?
Well, we do not!
Hillary, Rupert, and the Culture of Corruption:
"Excuse me for not getting fired up when I hear Democratic leaders bleating about the 'culture of corruption' in Washington under GOP rule. Sometimes I have to laugh. . .and not because the charges against the Republicans aren't true. They're totally true.
It's just that top Democrats are up to their eyeballs in that same culture of corruption -- which may be why they seem blind to how activists see them. Take my New York senator, Hillary Clinton. The Financial Times just reported that she and her re-election campaign have lined up rightwing media mogul Rupert Murdoch to host a Hillary fundraiser in July.
Murdoch is the symbol of media conglomeration and the owner of Republican mouthpieces like Fox News, Weekly Standard and the New York Post. He and Hillary have lately conducted a public courtship. Last month, Hillary attended the 10th anniversary party for Fox News in Washington, where the presidential contender schmoozed Murdoch and Fox chair Roger Ailes. According to the Financial Times, Bill Clinton will address the summer conference of Murdoch's media colossus, News Corp. "
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