Global
Today in Cleveland at the gubernatorial debate,
which only included the Dems. and Republicans, two of Libertarian
Gubernatorial candidate Bill Pierce's supporters showed up
dressed as giant chickens named "Ted" and "Ken" and were
arrested supposedly for being in the street.
Blackwell was accompanied by a contingent of boisterous, (that is obnoxious and rude) supporters who at one point chanted in unison "commie, commie, commie" at the Fitrakis supporters who were holding signs about the stolen 2004 election.
But of course the most egregious violation of democratic principles was that both the Libertarian and Green candidates were excluded from the debate.
The Libertarians have some good pictures up on their website at: http://peirceforohio.com.
Blackwell was accompanied by a contingent of boisterous, (that is obnoxious and rude) supporters who at one point chanted in unison "commie, commie, commie" at the Fitrakis supporters who were holding signs about the stolen 2004 election.
But of course the most egregious violation of democratic principles was that both the Libertarian and Green candidates were excluded from the debate.
The Libertarians have some good pictures up on their website at: http://peirceforohio.com.
"I've known Hugo Chavez for years, let me tell you that man knows a diablo when he sees one." -- Greg Palast
From The Progressive By Greg Palast
You'd think George Bush would get down on his knees and kiss Hugo Chavez's behind. Not only has Chavez delivered cheap oil to the Bronx and other poor communities in the United States. And not only did he offer to bring aid to the victims of Katrina. In my interview with the president of Venezuela on March 28, he made Bush the following astonishing offer: Chavez would drop the price of oil to $50 a barrel, "not too high, a fair price," he said -- a third less than the $75 a barrel for oil recently posted on the spot market. That would bring down the price at the pump by about a buck, from $3 to $2 a gallon.
But our President has basically told Chavez to take his cheaper oil and stick it up his pipeline. Before I explain why Bush has done so, let me explain why Chavez has the power to pull it off -- and the method in the seeming madness of his "take-my-oil-please!" deal.
From The Progressive By Greg Palast
You'd think George Bush would get down on his knees and kiss Hugo Chavez's behind. Not only has Chavez delivered cheap oil to the Bronx and other poor communities in the United States. And not only did he offer to bring aid to the victims of Katrina. In my interview with the president of Venezuela on March 28, he made Bush the following astonishing offer: Chavez would drop the price of oil to $50 a barrel, "not too high, a fair price," he said -- a third less than the $75 a barrel for oil recently posted on the spot market. That would bring down the price at the pump by about a buck, from $3 to $2 a gallon.
But our President has basically told Chavez to take his cheaper oil and stick it up his pipeline. Before I explain why Bush has done so, let me explain why Chavez has the power to pull it off -- and the method in the seeming madness of his "take-my-oil-please!" deal.
Some say the globe will end by warming,
Some say nuclear war.
At the risk of being too alarming,
I hold with those who favor warming.
But if religious feuds can't wait
I think I know enough of hate
To say that just a few more missiles
Could end us first
While Dubya whistles.
Apologies to Robert Frost, and to you, and your family, and what would have been your great grandchildren. We are sending missiles to Iran on a ship departing my home state of Virginia next week, and the water the ship will be passing through is warmer than it used to be, and there's more of it.
Some say nuclear war.
At the risk of being too alarming,
I hold with those who favor warming.
But if religious feuds can't wait
I think I know enough of hate
To say that just a few more missiles
Could end us first
While Dubya whistles.
Apologies to Robert Frost, and to you, and your family, and what would have been your great grandchildren. We are sending missiles to Iran on a ship departing my home state of Virginia next week, and the water the ship will be passing through is warmer than it used to be, and there's more of it.
Dear Bob Fitrakis---
I have just read your June 29 posting, "Blackwell, black votes and God's will in the Buckeye State."
Here is my take on Blackwell...:
First, he is a megalomaniac in the tradition of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The French Existentialist author Franz Fanon decades ago identified and described in great detail the Freudian "projection" and "inversion" of his pathology. (See, e.g.; "Black Skins, White Masks.") While Blackwell began his political career in Cincinnati, it is clear that he long ago abandoned his constituency there for a "higher calling" known as political hypocrisy.
I have just read your June 29 posting, "Blackwell, black votes and God's will in the Buckeye State."
Here is my take on Blackwell...:
First, he is a megalomaniac in the tradition of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The French Existentialist author Franz Fanon decades ago identified and described in great detail the Freudian "projection" and "inversion" of his pathology. (See, e.g.; "Black Skins, White Masks.") While Blackwell began his political career in Cincinnati, it is clear that he long ago abandoned his constituency there for a "higher calling" known as political hypocrisy.
"Stealing America...Vote by Vote "
A Film by Dorothy Fadiman
Ohio Premier at the Drexel Gateway Theater, Columbus, Ohio
Sunday, September 24, 7:30 pm.
Dorothy Fadiman's powerful, moving, infuriating, comprehensive and brilliant new film might well be re-named "The Crime of the Century."
We all now know that the elections of 2000 and 2004 were stolen. The only thing that the American people can be proud of about George W. Bush is that they (or we) have never chosen him President.
Fadiman's many awards include an Emmy and an Oscar nomination, and in this excellent film, we can see why. She uses these 70 cinematic minutes to patiently, methodically and convincingly dismantle any possible remaining arguments against the reality of what was done to the American democratic process in 2004, primarily in Ohio.
A Film by Dorothy Fadiman
Ohio Premier at the Drexel Gateway Theater, Columbus, Ohio
Sunday, September 24, 7:30 pm.
Dorothy Fadiman's powerful, moving, infuriating, comprehensive and brilliant new film might well be re-named "The Crime of the Century."
We all now know that the elections of 2000 and 2004 were stolen. The only thing that the American people can be proud of about George W. Bush is that they (or we) have never chosen him President.
Fadiman's many awards include an Emmy and an Oscar nomination, and in this excellent film, we can see why. She uses these 70 cinematic minutes to patiently, methodically and convincingly dismantle any possible remaining arguments against the reality of what was done to the American democratic process in 2004, primarily in Ohio.
"Stealing America...Vote by Vote "
A Film by Dorothy Fadiman
Ohio Premier at the Drexel Gateway Theater, Columbus, Ohio
Sunday, September 24, 7:30 pm.
Dorothy Fadiman's powerful, moving, infuriating, comprehensive and brilliant new film might well be re-named "The Crime of the Century."
We all now know that the elections of 2000 and 2004 were stolen. The only thing that the American people can be proud of about George W. Bush is that they (or we) have never chosen him President.
Fadiman's many awards include an Emmy and an Oscar nomination, and in this excellent film, we can see why. She uses these 70 cinematic minutes to patiently, methodically and convincingly dismantle any possible remaining arguments against the reality of what was done to the American democratic process in 2004, primarily in Ohio.
A Film by Dorothy Fadiman
Ohio Premier at the Drexel Gateway Theater, Columbus, Ohio
Sunday, September 24, 7:30 pm.
Dorothy Fadiman's powerful, moving, infuriating, comprehensive and brilliant new film might well be re-named "The Crime of the Century."
We all now know that the elections of 2000 and 2004 were stolen. The only thing that the American people can be proud of about George W. Bush is that they (or we) have never chosen him President.
Fadiman's many awards include an Emmy and an Oscar nomination, and in this excellent film, we can see why. She uses these 70 cinematic minutes to patiently, methodically and convincingly dismantle any possible remaining arguments against the reality of what was done to the American democratic process in 2004, primarily in Ohio.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The six highest-ranking, U.S.-trained, military and police officers in this Southeast Asian nation presented themselves on Wednesday (September 20) as Thailand's new self-appointed coup leaders, warning people not to destabilize their junta, and promising to install a civilian interim prime minister within two weeks, so elections could be staged in one year.
They censored the media -- including blackouts of CNN and BBC satellite TV news broadcasts -- and banned public political gatherings.
Security forces reportedly arrested a handful of anti-coup demonstrators who unfurled a banner on Wednesday (September 20) which said: "Fasting in Protest Against the Destroyer of Democracy," but released them within hours, according to Thai media. They could suffer six months in jail and a 260 U.S. dollar fine.
Students calling themselves the "News Center for Student Activities" urged people not to cooperate with the "military junta" and to wear black to mourn the death of democracy, the Nation newspaper said.
Thailand remained calm.
They censored the media -- including blackouts of CNN and BBC satellite TV news broadcasts -- and banned public political gatherings.
Security forces reportedly arrested a handful of anti-coup demonstrators who unfurled a banner on Wednesday (September 20) which said: "Fasting in Protest Against the Destroyer of Democracy," but released them within hours, according to Thai media. They could suffer six months in jail and a 260 U.S. dollar fine.
Students calling themselves the "News Center for Student Activities" urged people not to cooperate with the "military junta" and to wear black to mourn the death of democracy, the Nation newspaper said.
Thailand remained calm.
"In one corner of the little room a couple of mops, with stiff, clotted, foul-smelling heads stand near a rusty bucket. . . . In the room a child is sitting. It could be a boy or a girl. It looks about six, but actually is nearly ten. It is feeble-minded. Perhaps it was born defective, or perhaps it has become imbecile through fear, malnutrition, and neglect. It picks its nose and occasionally fumbles vaguely with its toes or genitals, as it sits hunched in the corner farthest from the bucket and the two mops. It is afraid of the mops."
- Ursula K. Le Guin, "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas"
Now that even Republicans are gagging on the war on terror, as lavish descriptions of psychosis-level torture seep into the mainstream - and as a flailing, unpopular president clings in the face of reason to his right to maintain a gulag of "enemy combatants" (for God's sake, George, most of them are innocent) - Americans are finding themselves on the brink of the moral debate they've been trying to avoid for the last, oh, 50 years or so. It's been brewing my whole lifetime.
- Ursula K. Le Guin, "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas"
Now that even Republicans are gagging on the war on terror, as lavish descriptions of psychosis-level torture seep into the mainstream - and as a flailing, unpopular president clings in the face of reason to his right to maintain a gulag of "enemy combatants" (for God's sake, George, most of them are innocent) - Americans are finding themselves on the brink of the moral debate they've been trying to avoid for the last, oh, 50 years or so. It's been brewing my whole lifetime.
Dear Editor:
Although polls have shown that 70% of voters are against privatization of Social Security, President Bush is resurrecting his attempt to pass that terrible scheme. Privatization of 4% of the 12 ½% withholding tax would destroy Social Security. It is a safety net, not a savings plan. We have plenty of advantageous government savings plans: IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401Ks etc.
Many Republican Senators and Representatives vigorously supported Bush’s plan until polls showed that voters were against privatization when they became informed. They then softened their stand. Now that the election is near they say that they want to strength Social Security.
How Social Security works: Each month money from withholding tax not required for benefits is loaned to the general fund in return for non -negotiable bonds which earn interest at the rate of 10-year government bonds, now about 4%. It is very unlikely, but if ever there is a need for more money to go out as benefits than is coming in from withholding tax, these bond would be redeemed.
Although polls have shown that 70% of voters are against privatization of Social Security, President Bush is resurrecting his attempt to pass that terrible scheme. Privatization of 4% of the 12 ½% withholding tax would destroy Social Security. It is a safety net, not a savings plan. We have plenty of advantageous government savings plans: IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401Ks etc.
Many Republican Senators and Representatives vigorously supported Bush’s plan until polls showed that voters were against privatization when they became informed. They then softened their stand. Now that the election is near they say that they want to strength Social Security.
How Social Security works: Each month money from withholding tax not required for benefits is loaned to the general fund in return for non -negotiable bonds which earn interest at the rate of 10-year government bonds, now about 4%. It is very unlikely, but if ever there is a need for more money to go out as benefits than is coming in from withholding tax, these bond would be redeemed.