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Yesterday, Governor Pataki vetoed the minimum-wage bill. To say this caught us by surprise is an understatement. The political class had confidently and uniformly predicted that he would sign the bill.
But perhaps we shouldn't be shocked.
This is a governor with a history of unbridled hostility to funding schools attended by poor children. This is a governor whose recent budget proposals once again slash benefits for the weak and powerless, even as he curries favor with the powerful. Vetoing the minimum-wage merely expands the range of people who can feel the Pataki lash.
The reasons given in his veto message are laughable and often factually wrong. You can read it on our web site.
As the Libertarian Party of Ohio's Executive Director Robert Butler initially predicted on June 14th, another terror warning has been issued for a swing state crucial to the Bush-Cheney re-eletion . This time it's New Mexico.
Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge just announced that the State of New Mexico may become a terrorist target, but the information was unsubstantiated and uncollaborated.
It's unfortunate that the current administration continues to issue vague warnings. This only serves to increase the level of anxiety in states crucial to the election of George W. Bush.
In June, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a bomb plot for a Columbus, Ohio shopping mall. The FBI later contradicted Ashcroft by stating no target had been identified.
We again hope that the media reports these warnings for the scare tactics they are.
For the full June 14th comments from Robert Butler, please see below:
Columbus Terror Target No Surprise
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Leaders of the Green Party called the results of the 9/11 Commission a valuable first step in the probe of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., but called for more far-reaching investigation into the failure to discover and prevent the attacks and into the White House's response to the attacks.
"Instead of merely extending the current commission, which Sen. Kerry favors, we need to see a new, independent Commission to continue to the investigation into the 9/11 attacks, with family members of 9/11 victims given a prominent role," said Patrick Driscoll, Green candidate for Congress in California (5th District).
Greens note that, contrary to President Bush's claims that Americans are now safer, the U.S. response to 9/11 has increased the risk of terrorism throughout the world. At home, the response has included curtailment of civil liberties, including the detention of thousands of Americans without being charged with any crime.
Movements for peace and social justice can bring realistic hope -- not with rhetoric but with the tough daily tedious uplifting work of political organizing.
Yes, we'd be better off with John Kerry in the White House instead of the Rove-Cheney-Bush regime. And the only way that's going to happen is if enough people in swing states vote for Kerry on November 2.
But I'm already getting tired of the bulk email messages claiming that Kerry is the embodiment of progressive dreams. Please. We can simultaneously walk, chew gum and be clear about the reality that Kerry embraces a centrist matrix of militarism and corporatism -- and, at the same time, in a world of contradictions, it's extremely important that George W. Bush lose the election on November 2... Let's not make stuff up. And let's not imitate the Democratic Party's hype machine. Just because you think people should hold their nose and vote for Kerry, don't act like there isn't a stench.
As the election draws nearer, the many millions of us aboard this great ship should expect to be told and told again by the powers that be to be frightened of our voyage. They will dare us to imagine what terrors lie in wait within the seas of change. They will manufacture a dense fog of fear, and then claim only they can protect us from the unspeakable dangers that only they can see within it.
By Ben Cohen and Jason Salzman
Pages: 196; Price: $9.95
Publisher: Westview Press (Perseus Books Group)
ISBN: 0-8133-4282-1
Ice Cream man Ben Cohen has his own "Farenheit 9/11." It's a book, not a movie, and has no footage of George W. Bush reading "My Pet Goat" while the World Trace Center burns.
But as it joins the flood of anti-Bush books, it takes a uniquely funny, compelling must-read niche for the hordes of us desperate to see King George of the "Haves and Have mores" exit the presidency, and always looking for new ways to help.
Among the 50 ways the irascible icon of super-premium ice cream recommends are turning your dog into a political organizer. Giving your "pet for regime change" a name like Big Oil allows you to shout the slogan when you're calling for obedience. The animal can also be adorned with "Bite Bush" and other subtle slogans on buttons or bumper stickers.
All those progressives the last time who ripped up Gore, who said he was about as bad as Bush, where are they? Harvey Wasserman, Bob Fitrakis, Jim Hightower, Michael Moore, Howard Zinn, Chomsky, etc, etc, etc.
Even the Columbus Free Press is noticeably absent from criticizing Kerry. Case in point: The Summer issue of the 2000 Free Press contained several articles supporting Nader or criticizing Bush and Gore. The Autumn issue of 2000 had Nader on the cover and contained article after article in support of Nader.
I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW IF WE IN COLUMBUS GOT A POLICE SHORTAGE WHY THERE WOULD BE OVER 100 POLICE ON BIKES IN CARS ON HORSES UNDERCOVER AND EVERYTHING ELSE AT CITY HALL THE OTHER DAY JUST FOR SOME ANTI ABORTION EVENT.
I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT IVE NEVER HEARD OF ABORTION RIGHTS PEOPLE PRO CHOICE BOMBING CLINICS OR ACTING LIKE TERRORISTS. THE ONLY ONES I EVER KNEW TO BOMB CLINICS HARASS PEOPLE ARE PRO LIFERS. IM NOT SAYING THAT ABORTION ISNT WRONG ON SOME LEVEL BUT I MEAN IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE ALL THE POLICE THERE TO PROTECT PEOPLE AGAINST ABORTION FROM THOSE THAT SUPPORT IT. THOSE POLICE WAS JUST DOWN THERE WASTING TIME TALKING LAUGHING USING CAMERAS AND NOTHING ELSE.
I MEAN I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND HOW YOU NEED ALL THAT MANPOWER TO PROTECT THOSE THAT ARE USUALLY BOMB CLINICS AND SUPPORT DEATH PENALTY AND WAR FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE USUALLY PEACEFUL. THATS A WASTE OF OFFICERS. SO I SAY NO WE DONT NEED MORE OFFICERS THEY JUST NEED TO BE USED PROPERLY. THATS WHAT I GOT TO SAY.