ThinkFast: April 21, 2008
ThinkFast: April 21, 2008
$3.47 a gallon: The average price of self-serve regular gasoline on Friday, according to the Lundberg Survey. Mid-grade was at $3.59 and premium was $3.70. “The national average price for regular gasoline rose nearly 16 cents in the past two weeks. … Regular is up 60 cents from a year ago.”
The economy has soared past Iraq as the top problem on the minds of voters. “With growing layoffs, tight credit and an ailing housing market, 67 percent say the economy is an extremely important issue, up from 46 percent in November. Gasoline prices follow close behind at 59 percent.”
The state of the economy is also the top concern for voters between the ages of 18 and 29, according to a new CBS News/MTV poll. Seventy-five percent of young adults say that “the state of the economy is bad,” and only one-third believe “their job prospects are excellent or good.”
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Baghdad yesterday, where a ceremony featuring Rice in the Green Zone was delayed by a “duck and cover” alert, “one of several during her six-hour visit to the fortified compound housing the U.S. Embassy and much of the Iraqi government.” There were three separate rocket attacks during her visit.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has backed down from a proposal to establish a League of Democracies after experts warned it “could damage U.S. interests by alienating countries such as China, Saudi Arabia and Russia.” McCain now “says the group would not use military force, and would be an informal organization.”
In an examination of the “list of 106 elite fund-raisers who have brought in more than $100,000 each” for McCain’s campaign, the New York Times “found that about a sixth of them were lobbyists.” “The sizable number of lobbyists” raising money for McCain “are outnumbered on the list only by those working in the financial services industry.”
“The Bush administration is challenging a court ruling that White House visitor logs are public documents, saying releasing the records would infringe on the separation of powers.” Government lawyers argue the president and vice president “must be able to receive visitors and solicit advice privately.”
In the battle of Basra, Iran and the United States find themselves on the same side. “The American-Iranian convergence is all the more remarkable because of mutual animosity. The United States says that Iran has backed thousands of attacks on American troops in Iraq. … Meanwhile, at the level of senior officials at least, Iran takes quite seriously its depiction of the United States as the planet’s Great Satan.”
Today, a San Francisco court will hear a class action lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by U.S. veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who claim that the government’s “inadequate care is leading to an increase in suicides.” Approximately 18 veterans — five of them under VA care — kill themselves each day.
And finally: Last week, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) “proved why he’s a Congressman, not an ‘American Idol’ finalist.” During a floor speech on Wednesday, Westmoreland tried to add “a musical punctuation” to a policy point. He began singing the theme song to the old sci-fi show “The Twilight Zone.” “Dada dee da. Dada dee da,” Westmoreland sang. Unfortunately, his “monotone attempt at singing” was “so inscrutable, it didn’t even make it into the Congressional Record transcript.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Three States Prepare for Martial Law
Federal law enforcement agencies co-opted sheriffs offices as well state and local police forces in three states last weekend for a vast round up operation that one sheriff’s deputy has described as “martial law training”.
332 people were arrested, 142 of whom were fugitives, or “terrorists” as they now seem to be known. Hundreds of dollars were seized and drugs recovered. The authorities even raided businesses and store owners, confiscating computers and paperwork in an effort to “track down possible terrorists before something big happens”.
It also highlights how the distinction between crime and terrorism is becoming irrelevant. Forget innocent until proven guilty, you are now a terrorist suspect until you are told otherwise.
Full, unedited piece:
April 21st, 2008 at 9:00 amhttp://www.infowars.com/?p=1585
Feds to collect DNA from every person they arrest
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The government plans to begin collecting DNA samples from anyone arrested by a federal law enforcement agency — a move intended to prevent violent crime but which also is raising concerns about the privacy of innocent people.
Ablin said the DNA collection would be subject to the same privacy laws applied to current DNA sampling. That means none of it would be used for identifying genetic traits, diseases or disorders.
Full unedited article:
April 21st, 2008 at 9:01 amhttp://news.yahoo.com/ s/ ap/ 20080416/ ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/ dna_collection_4
White House defends NAFTA: ‘There’s nothing broken’
The White House on Friday vigorously defended the 14-year-old free-trade agreement among the United States, Mexico and Canada against sharp criticism from Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
“There’s nothing broken. Why fix it?” said Dan Fisk, senior director of Western hemisphere affairs for National Security Council. He acknowledged the administration must do a better job of explaining the benefits of the agreement.
Both Clinton and Obama have threatened to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement to pressure Canada and Mexico to negotiate more protections for workers and the environment in the agreement. The accord has removed most barriers to trade and investment among the three countries.
NAFTA will be a major topic when President Bush joins Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon in New Orleans on Monday and Tuesday for his fourth and final North American Leaders’ Summit.
Bush has suffered a major setback on the trade front with the derailing of a proposed free-trade pact with Colombia. Bush sent the agreement to Capitol Hill earlier this month, but the House, led by Democrats, decided to eliminate a rule forcing a vote on the deal within 60 legislative days. The House’s decision probably kills consideration of the
agreement this year, leaving it for the next administration.
“Leaders in Congress have made a serious error,” Bush said in a speech. “A serious error for economics reasons. A serious error for security reasons. It’s not too late, however, for them to get it right.”
On NAFTA, the White House contends the agreement has been a boon for the economies of all three countries. Three-way trade has swelled from roughly $290 billion in 1994 to about $1 trillion by the end of this year, Fisk said at a briefing on next week’s summit.
“We think NAFTA works,” he said. Fisk said the criticism from the campaign trail has gotten a lot of attention from U.S. trading partners. “Some of the statements that have been made here have made bigger headlines in Canada and Mexico than they have here,” he said.
“We want to find ways to, frankly, convince the American people from our perspective first and foremost that this is an arrangement that has worked for us and it’s also worked for our neighbors,” he said. “It’s been a win-win situation.”
It’s been a dream to Bush and all the Big Corporations. The rest us have watched jobs go overseas, seen wages drop and have a difficult time finding products made in the USA. It is only a win-win situation for Bush and all the cronies that have profited from it. They want to convince the American people from their perspective this is good. It’s okay that American Companies set up shop in Mexico and pay their workers sub-standard wages to keep them the working poor living in huts. Free Trade hurts everyone we lose money and jobs here in the US and in other countries we have seen story after story of how workers are basically slaves in prison camps to make products for us to buy. I don’t like going to bed at night wondering if a person was beaten or imprisoned because they didn’t make my bikini bottom in 3.3 minutes and was paid 4 cents to make it.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:07 amFrom Tom Engelhardt’s ‘Tomdispatch’…
12 reasons we’re still in Iraq:
1.Yes, the war has morphed into the U.S. military’s worst Iraq nightmare.
2.No, there was never an exit strategy from Iraq because the Bush administration never intended to leave — and still doesn’t.
3.Yes, the United States is still occupying Iraq (just not particularly effectively).
4. Yes, the war was about oil.
5.No, our new embassy in Baghdad is not an “embassy”.
6.No, the Iraqi government is not a government.
7.No, the surge is not over.
8.No, the Iraqi army will never “stand up”.
9.No, the U.S. military does not stand between Iraq and fragmentation.
10.No, the U.S. military does not stand between Iraq and civil war.
11.No, al-Qaeda will not control Iraq if we leave (and neither will Iran).
12.Yes, some Americans were right about Iraq from the beginning (and not the pundits either).
Condi, you’re the COWARD here. You’re too much of a coward to tell Americans the truth, too much of a coward to practice real diplomacy & too much of a coward to admit it.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:07 am“The economy has soared past Iraq as the top problem….”
Gee, do you think that Iraq is one of the causes of the economic problems we are facing now? Naaaaah!
Wait, I know of a cure-all. More bush/mccain tax cuts for the rich. That’ll fix it.
Yeah, right!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:09 amThe Simple Arithmetic of Republican Failure
John McCain is a “deficit hawk”? These days, that’s about as accurate as saying Donald Trump is homeless. Let’s cut through the nonsense and talk about real numbers.
Numbers tell a story. Especially over time. They compel us to focus on results — success and failure. Over the short term, maybe a few years, numbers can be manipulated or give false signals. But not over decades, and not over a generation. The numbers over the past 30 years are not refutable. When it comes to creating jobs and managing the nation’s finances, Democratic presidents demonstrate success while Republican presidents show failure.
Job Creation
Democrats - Total: 33.6 million jobs created over 12 years, or 2.8 million jobs per year .
Republicans - Total: 24 million jobs created over 19 years, or 1.3 million jobs per year
Increases in Government Debt
Growth In Debt Held By the Public [$US trillions)
Democratic Total: 0.6
Republican Total: 4.3
The financial markets only pay attention to the amount of debt held by the public. This is the number that helps drive down the value of the dollar and makes bankers nervous about inflation down the road.
This is a sample of how the Republicans have failed us time and time again. Their record is terrible from creating jobs to increases in our debt . Bill Maher is quoted as saying that any middle class worker who votes for a Republican is stupid. I personally don’t think all it is ignorance. Part of the problem is they are voting in their best interest; not what is beneficial to society as a whole. (They were better off so lets keep everything status-quo) That is why we have a breakdown in democracy. The needs of the few outweigh the needs of the majority when this happens. Hopefully, this last four years has been a wake-up call to all the people in the middle class that voted for George.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:09 amRegular is $3.83 in my neck of the woods.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:10 am“Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Baghdad…..”
I know she carries the title of Sec’y of State, but “bush’s whore” would be more apropos.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:13 amOr maybe bush’s megaphone…..
She’s certainly no diplomat.
bratboy Says:
“The economy has soared past Iraq as the top problem….”
Gee, do you think that Iraq is one of the causes of the economic problems we are facing now? Naaaaah!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:14 am—————————–
The media will never connect the dots. When you connect dots a picture emerges. When a picture emerges those responsible are revealed. When those responsible are revealed the public will act. They don’t want us to act. They want us to be blissfully catatonic.
Sam Nunn, David Boren Endorse Obama
Two major stars of the Democratic foreign policy establishment — former Sens. Sam Nunn and David Boren — have just endorsed Barack Obama and have agreed to serve on his national security team,” Marc Ambinder reported. “Nunn served as the Democratic Party’s coverman in foreign policy debates for two decades. He voted against the 1991 Gulf War and thereby gave many other Democrats permission to take that political risk.”
FORMER U.S. SENATORS SAM NUNN, DAVID BOREN ENDORSE BARACK OBAMA
Former Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committee Chairmen Cite Obama’s Ability to Lead on National Security Issues
Chicago, IL - Today, Former Senators Sam Nunn and David L. Boren endorsed Barack Obama for president, citing his judgment and vision to be Commander and Chief and his ability to strengthen our national security.
Nunn and Boren have accepted Senator Obama’s invitation to serve as advisers to his National Security Foreign Policy Team. Senator Nunn served for 25 years (1972-1997) in the United States Senate and was Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1987 through 1995. Senator Boren served in the United States Senate from 1979 to 1994 and is the longest-serving Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Between them, the two senators bring nearly 60 years of service and experience in elective office.
Former Senator Sam Nunn said, “America remains the strongest nation in the world, but we can only be successful in tackling our toughest problems if we gain cooperation at home and abroad. Our next president - working across party and economic lines - must restore and strengthen our national purpose, our credibility, our competence and our spirit.
“We need a president who has the temperament of a leader - a sharp, incisive, strategic mind, a rare capacity for self criticism, and a willingness to hear contrary points of view.
We need someone who knows something about Foreign Policy. This current administration doesn’t have a clue. They need responsible people who understand the word DIPLOMACY.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:16 amLet me try to understand this. This Administration says it is going to follow a law? I thought Bush has yet to find a law he can’t break with his Unitary Executive Powers as Commander-in-Chief.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:16 amAnd now for a good laugh:
http://rawstory.com/ news/ 2008/ Ann_Coulter_booksigning_takes_place…_in_0420.html
April 21st, 2008 at 9:16 amBriseadh na Faire Says:
$3.47 a gallon: The average price of self-serve regular gasoline on Friday, according to the Lundberg Survey. Mid-grade was at $3.59 and premium was $3.70.
Regular is $3.83 in my neck of the woods.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:18 am————————————-
I see $300/barrel in five years or less. There’s absolutely nothing to stop oil’s rise.
#7 Briseadh na Faire Says:
——————
$3.47 a gallon: The average price of self-serve regular gasoline on Friday, according to the Lundberg Survey. Mid-grade was at $3.59 and premium was $3.70.
Regular is $3.83 in my neck of the woods.
In Ohio (Northeast) we are at $3.45 today. You have my sympathies that yours is even worse than our prices.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:18 am‘McCondi’
I hope McWarmonger picks her for his VP candidate.
This woman, like her BFF, can rarely complete a sentence without an ‘ummm’ or an ‘ahhh’. Now, by calling Sadr a ‘coward’, she’s essentially parroted Bush’s ‘bring ‘em on’ stupidity.
Secretary of Stupidity - McCondi
April 21st, 2008 at 9:18 amBarfly:
April 21st, 2008 at 9:19 amGreat start to a Monday morning! AC is finally in her element.
Nothing on Jimmy Carter’s meeting with Hamas?
http://www.bloomberg.com/ apps/ news?pid=20601087&sid=aZISzFwf8RY8&refer=home
Or is this too controversial…
April 21st, 2008 at 9:19 am#12 barfly Says:
And now for a good laugh:
http://rawstory.com/ news/ 2008/ Ann_Coulter_booksigning_takes_place…_in_0420.html
What would even be better is if no one showed up. Ann Coulter deserves to be ignored. LOL Thanks Barfly!!!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:21 amA San Francisco court will hear the class action lawsuit against the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Heard about this on Air America Friday - what a sickening disgraceful story.
Will the msm cover it? Don’t hold your breath.
My (very popular, highly circulated) local paper’s above-the-fold headline today was about the return of a kidnapped puppy!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:22 amBriseadh na Faire Says:
Ablin said the DNA collection would be subject to the same privacy laws applied to current DNA sampling. That means none of it would be used for identifying genetic traits, diseases or disorders.
Let me try to understand this. This Administration says it is going to follow a law? I thought Bush has yet to find a law he can’t break with his Unitary Executive Powers as Commander-in-Chief.
————————-
Total Information Awareness is back. Did it ever truly go away?
http://www.infowars.net/ articles/ march2007/ 080307TIA.htm
April 21st, 2008 at 9:23 am#12, barfly Says:
April 21st, 2008 at 9:25 amThanks, barfly, that was a good early morning laugh about Coulter.
I wonder if Larry Craig was in a stall, tapping & listening?
What’s that?
Oh yeah, we would find Senator Craig lurking in the Men’s toilet.
But, Anne’s a transvestite, so how do we know it wasn’t the Mens’ toilet?
Wow, Carter talking to the other side. Yeah, diplomacy is contraversial, with this adminstration. It was Carter who got the first Arab-Isreal peace accord signed. He was adult enough to try words over war. Good for Carter!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:25 amWhat would even be better is if no one showed up. Ann Coulter deserves to be ignored. LOL Thanks Barfly!!!
You and Marie are welcome. Just picture Ann, pontificating about the dreaded liberals, and every point puntuated by a toilet flush! Irony?
April 21st, 2008 at 9:25 amI don`t buy the supply and demand $hit when we are being raped at the pump and Exxon Mobil makes 125+ billion $$$$ profit.The White House has shown it`s true colors dollar bill green and soldier red. Bush plays his fiddle(Nero while Rome burned)while we slide into economic despair. Dubya does not read the paper he only gets his news from FIX NEWS and Free Trade is good for everybody but the average Joe, his/her wages crumble under the weight of free trade gas is at $3.50 a gal and record
April 21st, 2008 at 9:26 amforeclosure rates and the only ones making any money are the GREEDY SOB`s at the top, how discouraging and disgusting what has happened to our country.
And Zimzone as well, of course.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:26 amRegular is $3.83 in my neck of the woods.
Idiot-boy-king Chimperor’s advice:
“Don’t buy gas if you don’t need it.” –George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Sept. 1, 2005
Somebody please slap the shit out of this moron.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:27 amThe economy has soared past Iraq as the top problem on the minds of voters.
Actually, I think if you delved a little deeper in asking the question you will find that the concerns about the economy coincide with their concerns about Iraq. Anyone with an IQ above room temperature knows that our misadventure in Iraq is seriously affecting our economy.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:30 am#1 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:
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Three States Prepare for Martial Law
Forget innocent until proven guilty, you are now a terrorist suspect until you are told otherwise.
2Million that is truly sad that in some states this is happening. The Republicans keep taking bits and pieces of our rights away. When they said we would give up our rights to be safe. Talk about out of touch. Nothing is sacred to Republicans.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:31 amThere were three separate rocket attacks during her visit.
And my guess is that she told everyone how thrilled she was at how well the escalation had gone.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:31 amSomebody please slap the shit out of this moron.
No without a haz-mat suit on; his brand of stupidity might be contagious…
April 21st, 2008 at 9:31 amJimmy Carter, in his ’80’s, has more diplomacy and intelligence than the entire Right wing combined.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:31 amHamas is a duly elected organization. They have indicated they are willing to reach accord that would ‘guarantee’ Israel’s right to exist. Carter is willing to be the ‘go between’.
The only thing wrong with this picture is Genghis Chimp, McCondi & Big Dick don’t want a lasting peace.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has backed down from a proposal to establish a League of Democracies after experts warned it “could damage U.S. interests by alienating countries such as China, Saudi Arabia and Russia.”
And this guy really wants us to think he is qualified to lead this country. Thus far he has backed down on just about every policy he has put forth. I certainly hope the MSM is letting the public know about all this. He hasn’t a clue what is going on in the world around him.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:32 amHad enought yet?
Two thousand years ago a Roman senator suggested that all slaves wear white armbands to better identify them. “No”, said a wiser senator. “If they see how many of them there are , they may revolt.”
It is very clear we have come to a crossroads. We have a choice to make.
We can choose Empire
OR
We can choose Earth Community.
We can choose to continue to be slaves to the Empire or we can choose to build on a new Earth Community.
If you choose Earth Community then let’s start by choosing a symbol that EVERYONE could easily obtain. Nothing fancy just something that anyone has in their drawer and can identify with the simplicity of Earth community.
Let’s start the revolution. The Bandana Revolution. Let us see how many of us there are.
A bandana is a simple easy symbol that can represent solidarity for Earth community and be used as a visible signal that you reject Empire.
Take a bandana and
Tie it on your car, your briefcase or your bag.
Wear it on your head, your neck or your arm.
Hang it in your house window, tie it to your mailbox.
The power of seeing others on the street who have the same beliefs, courage and desires to transform our world will be visible to all easily and quickly.
Let us really see how many of us are wiling to support our cause. Remember, they are few, we are many but we need to see who we are. Let’s show the world how many of us believe we can change knowing we are not alone.
And to really make our point if everyone didn’t buy one single thing on the last day of every month until DC gets the message and starts getting serious about what is happening we will have taken back our country. Nothing speaks louder to DC than money (or the lack of it). One day, the last day of every month, don’t buy a thing. No gas, No food, No movies, No nothing. One day, the last day of every month until we see some honest to goodness changes. Not a hardship for us but certainly will make our point. Make them understand we mean business. Our business, not theirs.
Psssssst……………..do something!!!!!! Pass it on………………It’s time……….
April 21st, 2008 at 9:32 ambarfly Says:
“his brand of stupidity might be contagious…”
_________________
Sheesh… I’m t’inkin’ it might be time fer a name change here.
Botch is ruinin’ that word for me…
April 21st, 2008 at 9:33 amIn an examination of the “list of 106 elite fund-raisers who have brought in more than $100,000 each” for McCain’s campaign, the New York Times “found that about a sixth of them were lobbyists.”
Wait a minute here. Didn’t McCain say he was the only candidate who didn’t take money from lobbyists? Oh yeah, I forgot, that is another claim he has backed down on.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:34 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
He hasn’t a clue what is going on in the world around him.
________________
This would PAINFULLY appear to be the truth.
This was the best the GOOP could find for this election cycle?
OUCH!!!!!!!!!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:35 amMeanwhile, at the level of senior officials at least, Iran takes quite seriously its depiction of the United States as the planet’s Great Satan.”
And at this point in time they would be right. Hopefully President Obama can reverse this course the Bush Crime Family has set us on.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:36 am#23 barfly Says:
You and Marie are welcome. Just picture Ann, pontificating about the dreaded liberals, and every point puntuated by a toilet flush! Irony?
I love it. I forget when this happened but, someone tried to get her with a pie in the face and missed. I couldn’t stop laughing at that one.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:36 amApproximately 18 veterans — five of them under VA care — kill themselves each day.
I don’t have words to express how sad this is. My god, what have we done, what have we become?
April 21st, 2008 at 9:37 am“The Bush administration is challenging a court ruling that White House visitor logs are public documents, saying releasing the records would infringe on the separation of powers.” Government lawyers argue the president and vice president “must be able to receive visitors and solicit advice privately.”
Perhaps those Government lawyers may regret the use of “solicit” in that last quote. I doubt it was only advice.
Furthermore, the use of the word, “privately” is absurd. The logs do not impinge on the President’s PRIVACY; they do prevent SECRET SOLICITATIONS! Why would the executive branch have the right to unfettered SECRECY??????
Do we want the President to be the head of OUR government and accountable to US, or just the head of his government and accountable to noone (or just secret others who are not us).
Sorry to rant; sometimes something still breaks through my whole outrage-overload. You’d think after 8 years, I’d have run out of outrage already.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:39 amWe are at $3.64 per gallon for regular in Connecticut.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:45 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Approximately 18 veterans — five of them under VA care — kill themselves each day.
I don’t have words to express how sad this is. My god, what have we done, what have we become?
Let me add that these young Americans ran out of hope. They saw and, perhaps, did things that will not let them sleep at night.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:46 amThings that will not allow them to find a ‘rhythm of life’ with their families and friends, because the horror of what they witnessed and/or performed won’t leave their awareness.
They ran out of hope because they relived this nightmare 4 to 5 times previously for 12-15 month stretches.
They ran out of hope because their dream of serving their Country turned into killing fields for innocent women & children.
They ran out of hope because their service was intended to solve their financial woes at home, be it student loans, scarce family resources or a sick Mother or Father.
They ran out of hope because all their friends back home didn’t support the invasion, and when they got home they were ostracized for taking part in an illegal invasion.
They ran out of hope because war is hell, no matter how many flags or crosses were displayed at their best friend’s funeral.
Shame on all of us, America.
Civil Behavior (@33),
I like your bandana idea. I’ll put one on my “go to work backpack” tomorrow.
I’m not so sure about your “no purchases” idea. It is not purchasing which is the problem, it is consumption. On the other hand, it might get us to live without a few of the things we put off buying.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:46 amPeter C Says:
“The Bush administration is challenging a court ruling that White House visitor logs are public documents, saying releasing the records would infringe on the separation of powers.”
________________
I’m surprised they’re even bothering to challenge it. Botch can just issue another signing statement. Has anybody kept track of how many subpoenas these scum bags have kissed off at this point?
It s/b be verrrry inneresting to hear the GOOPers squeal about “rule of law” once they’re bounced out of office this fall.
Good for the goose…
April 21st, 2008 at 9:46 amPeter C.
Thank you and I do hope we all begin to use the bandana as our signal that we stand together so we can see each other.
I just don’t think we need to make this very hard. I also think it is way past time that we show Empire where we stand. As the Roman senator most astutely recognized……. they really don’t want each of us to know how many of us there are and I say the sooner we show them the better.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:48 amPeter C Says:
April 21st, 2008 at 9:48 am“The Bush administration is challenging a court ruling that White House visitor logs are public documents, saying releasing the records would infringe on the separation of powers.” Government lawyers argue the president and vice president “must be able to receive visitors and solicit advice privately.”
—————————–
Too bad the White House isn’t being mortgaged with a variable rate loan. We could evict the current residents and have a friendly bank reposses it.
#39 Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
——————
Approximately 18 veterans — five of them under VA care — kill themselves each day.
I don’t have words to express how sad this is. My god, what have we done, what have we become?
And John McCain won’t pass the new GI Bill or Up Veterans benefits. These are the ones the VA didn’t deny treatment too. There are so many more out in society that haven’t received anything. I truly don’t know which is worse. This administration has alot to answer for. I agree with you Bilbo, there are not words to express how tragic this is.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:49 amBe careful, 2Million…
Botch might have taken out a 2nd w/ a Chinese bank…
April 21st, 2008 at 9:49 amhttp://blog.washingtonpost.com/ the-trail/ 2008/ 04/ 20/ clinton_says_mccain_no_better.html
And just when I thought Hillary Clinton had hit bottom, she has to go and show I was wrong. Talk about being disingenuous. She says that John McCain would be a better leader than Barak Obama and now she’s complaining because Obama said McCain would be a better leader than Bush. A turnip would be a better leader than Bush has been. Besides what she is saying he said is a stretch. Here’s what he actually said:
“You have a real choice in this election. Either Democrat would be better than John McCain. And all three of us would be better than George Bush.”
That is not praising John McCain. It is simply saying the obvious. Anyone would be a better president than Bush.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:51 amcivil behavior Says:
Peter C.
Thank you and I do hope we all begin to use the bandana as our signal that we stand together so we can see each other.
I just don’t think we need to make this very hard. I also think it is way past time that we show Empire where we stand. As the Roman senator most astutely recognized……. they really don’t want each of us to know how many of us there are and I say the sooner we show them the better.
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This is also the primary reason why politicans try to divide us with petty racial, religious or lifestyle differences. When we’re fighting amongst ourselves we’re not focused on THEM.
Last week we saw the corporate media use this technique very effectively by swamping Barack with every meaningless divisive question during the “debate”. This technique is the “bandana” of the elite.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:52 amAlmost ANY of us would be better than Botch…
April 21st, 2008 at 9:53 amBarney would be better than Botch.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:53 amClinton has been careful to praise McCain as an “American patriot,” but she and Obama began to take him on once he emerged as the Republican nominee.
I also like this part of the Post article I quoted. You will notice that they failed to mention the fact that Clinton said that only she and McCain pass the “Commander in Chief” test. In my mind that’s praising McCain way more than saying that all three would be better than Bush.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:53 amI’d like to know where they’re getting their figures. Yestereday, I saw premium gasoline selling for $4.49/gallon. If $3.70 is the average, then somewhere it’s selling for uneder $2.00. Care to let the rest of us know where that is?
April 21st, 2008 at 9:59 amNothing on Jimmy Carter’s meeting with Hamas?
I read about that. Thank you Jimmy Carter for being a diplomat rather than a warmonger. We need more Jimmy Carters in the world. Imagine that. Jimmy Carter met with the democratically elected government of a country.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:01 am#40 Peter C Says:
Sorry to rant; sometimes something still breaks through my whole outrage-overload. You’d think after 8 years, I’d have run out of outrage already.
What would be even more tragic is if you weren’t outraged. Because then you would be numb, and they win. Hopefully society will channel that outrage; by voting to get rid of the whole rotten bunch of them. Good riddance to the Bush Administration but let the door hit you in the ass as you leave. Good post Peter…
April 21st, 2008 at 10:01 amlm945 Says:
Yestereday, I saw premium gasoline selling for $4.49/gallon.
______________
Where is that? I’ve seen it at $4.30/gal in the Bay Area. (Oakland…)
April 21st, 2008 at 10:03 amJimmy Carter acts more Presidential 30 years after leaving office than Genghis Chimp has on any given day during his tenure
April 21st, 2008 at 10:04 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Nothing on Jimmy Carter’s meeting with Hamas?
I read about that. Thank you Jimmy Carter for being a diplomat rather than a warmonger. We need more Jimmy Carters in the world. Imagine that. Jimmy Carter met with the democratically elected government of a country.
—————————
…”at best, President Carter is being naive”…in trying to negotiate with avowed terrorists….”There is a long list of people who thought they could reason with dictators and killers, going back to Neville Chamberlain and Hitler in the 1930s, but it has been shown to be absolutely wrong.”
- Senator Joe Lieberman attacking Jimmy Carter for merely talking to Hamas
*** No Joe, it’s much better to continue perpetual war and demonize your enemies. And don’t think you have a free pass to pull out the “Hitler” card simply because of your religion (which you’re an embarrassment to).
April 21st, 2008 at 10:10 amI am so-o late to the party.
ThinkFast notes:
A gallon of milk (in my NJ area) is now $4. Summer will come early and hot. Oil prices will rise and so will the cost of transportation and refrigeration. I’m guessing $4.30 for a gallon of milk by August.
The economy may have superseded Iraq as the public’s major concern, but I don’t think the polls ask anyone what economic effect pulling out of Iraq would have on the US economy.
Avoiding this obvious link in the questioning maintains a certain amount of damage control that benefits the Bush administration and its business cronies.
One third of students believe “their job prospects are excellent or good”. One third of the population still support Bush, the GOP and their policies overall. I’m guessing this “one-third of students” are all current and future Republicans.
“Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Baghdad”—and there were balloons and everyone had cake! Yay!
John McCain is not only angry and an idiot, he’s also insane.
An entry in a guest book does NOT prevent the President and Vice President from receiving visitors and soliciting advice privately.
The President, VP and visitors are totally allowed to lie about the purpose of a visit, and the advice doesn’t get immediately posted to a MySpace page.
“In the battle of Basra, Iran and the United States find themselves on the same side”—–because the Shia are the majority in both Iran and Iraq! Who knew?
Are suicidal Veterans killing themselves to protect our freedoms?
April 21st, 2008 at 10:21 amSeems to me they are fighting the demons they got “over there”, over here, and they are losing.
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says
April 21st, 2008 at 9:53 am
You will notice that they failed to mention the fact that Clinton said that only she and McCain pass the “Commander in Chief” test.
______________________________________
This shows how out of the loop I really am. There’s a “Commander in Chief” test? Is this a formal number-two-pencil test, like the SATs? Or is it a little less formal, like one of those internet “what kind of tree are you?” quizzes?
What’s a passing score? And will the test results be made public? Inquiring minds want to know.
Seriously (all snarking aside), I would truly love to know how Hillary, with only two more years in the U.S. Senate under her belt than Obama, thinks she passes this mythical CinC test while Obama fails.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:31 amI’m not so sure about your “no purchases” idea. It is not purchasing which is the problem, it is consumption. On the other hand, it might get us to live without a few of the things we put off buying.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:46 am
Purchasing and consumption (in economic terms) is exactly the same thing. Anything that registers as a “sale” is consumption.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:34 amHalliburton and Iraq are pumping a million barrels of oil a day and selling it to the United States with a big profit. Now here in California the gas prices are 4 dollars and going up. It’s becoming clear why the US has to stay in Iraq and Cheney only comes out when the American people speak up and ask questions. Yes Cheney it’s the air waves with Al Queada, Bin Laden will attack again we must stay in Iraq. It works every time and the War profiteers laugh and continue selling oil to the US at 116 dollars a barrel. One might think Americans would wake up to the lies but no Dick just keeps pumping that oil and selling it for profit. Dick didn’t have to report his income on his US taxes has he put in profit in an off shore account. Dick has worked hard for 7 years to get Halliburton this oil field and not even Joe Wilson would stop him.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:36 amBush is having a secret Nafta summit. From Greg Palast, Jose can you see? or the Trojan Taco:
April 21st, 2008 at 10:44 am
I have trouble with links. Here it is:
http://www.ourfuture.org/ blog-entry/ jos-can-you-see-bush-s-trojan-taco
April 21st, 2008 at 10:45 amConnecticut Man1 Says: We are at $3.64 per gallon for regular in Connecticut.
We in central California dream of the days of $3.64 gasoline. It’s $3.899 here. This sounds like a Monty Python skit.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:48 amCoast area of Southwest Florida - hit $3.60/gal for regular here. A little further south, it’s even higher. Milk is at $3.99/gal and has been for some time. I suspect the grocer I frequent the most often is worried about raising it to $4.00 (psychological impact) and are taking a hit on the price themselves right now.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:51 am2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:
Three States Prepare for Martial Law
Federal law enforcement agencies co-opted sheriffs offices as well state and local police forces in three states last weekend for a vast round up operation that one sheriff’s deputy has described as “martial law training”.
What is it gonna take to wake up the masses. I am one who believes the martial law scenario is a very real possibility.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:58 amThis story scares the hell out of me.
>cheer on John McCain
lets do some hilary logic….she disagrees that mccain is better than bush..and she thinks obama is worse than mccain..so by implication, she thinks obama is worse than bush (or at best, equally bad)
April 21st, 2008 at 10:58 amThis morning on NPR Jimmy Carter said that he had spoken to Rice as well as her deputy at the State Dept. before going overseas and that their responses to his trip were quite positive.
Now it’s all about how he went there against their wishes. The interviewer asked him if it was possible that the Bush administration actually hoped he might do some good, but, without them being involved.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:00 am2 million -
It also highlights how the distinction between crime and terrorism is becoming irrelevant.
but, i thought we WANTED to investigate and prosecute “terrorism” as a
criminal matter… at least favored over military action…
maybe the problem is that the definition of “terrorist” has been selectively
defined now so as to remove any civil rights…
as far as the FEDS taking over the locals for these sweeps, i can imagine it was
thought mutually beneficial for each… without much thought or regard to the
impact on those civil rights… and, of course, without civilian knowledge…
…
oh, i dunno… it’s monday… i’m mostly mumbling…
April 21st, 2008 at 11:01 am>Nothing on Jimmy Carter’s meeting with Hamas?
Yes, Hamas, the DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED government of a country very close (geographicallly, and perphaps in other ways as well..)to Iraq…be careful what you wish for, neoturds….Your pal Mookie might just be the Iraqi peoples democratically elected choice for a leader some day..
April 21st, 2008 at 11:02 amcivil behavior Says:
Had enought yet?
I agree completely. However, for those of us who don’t already own a bandanna, may I suggest using cash when purchasing one (or more). Once word of this gets out, the purchase of a bandanna will undoubtedly render one an enemy combatant.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:14 amMore from our pal Condi…
Rice sees Iraqi unity emerging in battle against Sadr
By Howard LaFranchi
BAGHDAD - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced visit to Baghdad Sunday as Iraq continued its assault on Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia in Baghdad and in the southern city of Basra.
Mr. Sadr warned Saturday that continued attacks on his Shiite militiamen could spark an “all-out war.”
But Ms. Rice sees progress, saying a new political unity was emerging around Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s efforts to diminish the power and influence of the Mahdi Army.
http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ csm/ 20080421/ wl_csm/ osadrcity
Jebus. Whatever she’s smoking, it must be good sh*t. :o/
April 21st, 2008 at 11:20 amkaty Says:
2 million -
It also highlights how the distinction between crime and terrorism is becoming irrelevant.
but, i thought we WANTED to investigate and prosecute “terrorism” as a
criminal matter… at least favored over military action…
maybe the problem is that the definition of “terrorist” has been selectively
defined now so as to remove any civil rights…
———————————–
From the information in the story it appears the Feds are trying to blur the distinction between ordinary offenses committed by citizens and terrorists. Additionally, they’re trying to co-opt local police forces to share this ideology. The danger that could result could be tragic.
Citizens get trials before juries. Terrorists get military tribunals where they can’t see the evidence against them. Plus, the may be tortured, and what they confess to under torture may be used against them.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am#61 MHMolly ~ That would be surviving imaginary sniper fire…
April 21st, 2008 at 11:37 amRice’s progress consists of pitting the Shiite government forces against the Shiite Mahdi forces. Al Sadr calls for an all out offensive, and we’ll see how her ‘progress’ stands up.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:39 amCondi just wanted to show Hillary what dodging fire actually looks like.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:55 amMr. Baggins @ #50
That is not praising John McCain. It is simply saying the obvious. Anyone would be a better president than Bush.
Big Primary here tommorrow and I’m doing everything I can to help make sure that “Anybody” is Obama! I’m hoping that he takes the state and forces Clinton to stop the madness. I fear he won’t and she’ll keep it going to the convention. At this point she’s damaging the party and if it goes on she will be worse than Nader by helping to get McInsane elected.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:03 pmDevastated by tornado, Kansas town rebuilds on green plan
http://news.yahoo.com/ s/ afp/ 20080421/ lf_afp/ usenvironmentclimatestorm
But town leaders — who are determined to become the first town in the United States to have all municipal projects built to the highest environmental and efficiency design standards — say going green is the only way to save a town that was dying long before the tornado struck a year ago.
“Building green we come in contact with new industries to come and bring people back to Greensburg,” said Thomas Corns, president of the Greensburg State Bank which is housed in a temporary building as a new, energy efficient bank is being built.
…
“The process for us was getting the community to understand what building green meant, and diffusing political issues of environmentalism,” said Greensburg GreenTown director Daniel Wallach.
All OK, but never was about political sides, always was about do the right thing, but Republicans were too eager to transform it in a weapon against Progressives…
April 21st, 2008 at 12:32 pmcivil behavior Says:
A bandana is a simple easy symbol that can represent solidarity for Earth community and be used as a visible signal that you reject Empire.
Is there a typical or recommended color for these bandanas?
April 21st, 2008 at 12:32 pmSo i see the hypocrisy of the day is:
Praising civil behavior for his call to unity and solidarity
while simultaneously,
Bashing Clinton for being devisive.
LOL! Hillarious.
That said, I do hope Obama wins and puts an end to this mess.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:39 pmwhat did we miss?
Well not political, but intriguing:
Midwest could get “the big one”
Great! Now I have to worry about damaging, seismic activity, as well as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, lake effect snow, blizzards, wind chill, and beach erosion.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:45 pmMan, living in Michigan sux!!!
misshusseinmolly Says:
This shows how out of the loop I really am. There’s a “Commander in Chief” test? Is this a formal number-two-pencil test, like the SATs? Or is it a little less formal, like one of those internet “what kind of tree are you?” quizzes?
You have to watch Keith Olbermann’s Countdown. He has had the test on his show a couple of times, complete with scores.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:53 pmExit Stage Left Says:
What is it gonna take to wake up the masses. I am one who believes the martial law scenario is a very real possibility.
This story scares the hell out of me.
It scares the hell out of me too. I wonder what has happened to all the people who were swept up in this action? Are they all on their way to Gitmo?
April 21st, 2008 at 12:58 pm“The Bush administration is challenging a court ruling that White House visitor logs are public documents, saying releasing the records would infringe on the separation of powers.” Government lawyers argue the president and vice president “must be able to receive visitors and solicit advice privately.”
These guys forget they work for the people. The people have the right to know what they are doing in the people’s name. Separation of powers has nothing to do with the people’s right to know. Unfortunately, we have too many U.S. citizens who have been ostriches and NOT getting outraged at the anti-Democratic actions of Bush and Cheney.
April 21st, 2008 at 1:27 pmSecretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Baghdad yesterday, where a ceremony featuring Rice in the Green Zone was delayed by a “duck and cover” alert, “one of several during her six-hour visit to the fortified compound housing the U.S. Embassy and much of the Iraqi government.” There were three separate rocket attacks during her visit.
Although I whish on of the rockets hiting this war criminal, I also hope she lives to face trial for treason. misleading congress and the american people (US’s TORTURE PROGRAM), and War Crimes!
April 21st, 2008 at 1:56 pmYes MissMolly, Countdown has the “comander in chief test’! Watch it!
April 21st, 2008 at 2:03 pmHome for lunch to see how the bandana momentum is doing
#81 Exit stage left
No need for color preference. Personally I avoid trying to see color when looking at revolutionary ideas. I expect you probably do too.
#50 2milllightyears
Exactly. The control that has been consolidated at the top including members of Congress know that keeping us unseen and divided about what we can agree upon has worked to their advantage. No better time than the present to steal their thunder and show them VERY visually how many of us there are. They don’t worry about us because they don’t know how many of US there are. That can change VERY easily and become OUR thunder.
#82 dimwit
April 21st, 2008 at 2:13 pmRevolution using symbolism stands for the IDEA. A bandana is merely the convention used to achieve an end to empire through a show of hands. Solidarity shown by carrying a bandana is the choice made for Earth Community over Empire. Once you’ve made that commitment then you can back whomever you feel has laid out the best plans to reject Empire and embrace Earth Community because that is your personal choice. Committing to Earth community is the nexus of the bandana revolution. Are you in?
Hillary knows Ed Rendell is on film praising Louis Farrakkhan.
April 21st, 2008 at 2:46 pmHhusband pardoned two of the Weathermen Underground.
If she knew these facts, then why did she feel it was OK to throw these bombs at Obama? Did she think that, like Bosnia, the truth wouldn’t find its way back to her - or is it worth the few days of negative attacks before that happens?
civil,
my comment wasn’t directed at you. Though I did note:
You might note on this blog there are a certain few who run these threads and willingly suppress any dissenting commentary. Not very Earth Community-like now is it?
April 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pmMore convicted felons allowed to enlist in Army, Marines
WASHINGTON - Under pressure to meet combat needs, the Army and Marine Corps brought in significantly more recruits with felony convictions last year than in 2006, including some with manslaughter and sex crime convictions.
Data released by a congressional committee shows the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.
Those numbers represent a fraction of the more than 180,000 recruits brought in by the active duty Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines during fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2007. But they highlight a trend that has raised concerns both within the military and on Capitol Hill.
LINK
April 21st, 2008 at 3:29 pmDienowforpeace - as you point out, a trend that has raised concerns indeed. This is one example of allowing usually unacceptable people into the military. Doesn’t take too many like this to counteract any desire to “win hearts and minds” in Iraq.
Steven Dale Green (born May 2, 1985) is a former Private First Class in the United States Army who is charged with raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl named Abeer Qasim Hamza al-Janabi and murdering her and three of her family members in the village of Mahmudiyah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_D._Green
April 21st, 2008 at 4:05 pmdimwit
Whether or not you directed the comment to me I wanted to answer it as it touched upon calling for unity directed against Empire.
I think a healthy Earth community needs to not necessarily strive for constant agreement but certainly cooperation based on compromise. Disagreeemnts are fine, domination is not. I am not sure the “supressing of dissenting commentary” is anymore than strong, opinionated discourse as to the tactics employed by Empire and who is the best candidate to oppose .
What is most important to me, after years of bashing my own head waiting for people to show me that they in theory they believe that Empire is destructive (as your definition so aptly described) and that Earth Community is essential to our survival, is to see with my own eyes the strength I believe is there in the numbers.
As a human species, we need to engage, globally, in dialogue that will help bring our collective interests and objectives into focus. There is bound to be disagreement as to how to get there and who to lead it, but make no mistake the ultimate prize is seeing the numbers who support the revolution to oust Empire and build an Earth Community. The bandana revolution would simply be the way to identify the many as opposed to the few.
April 21st, 2008 at 6:54 pmUh, the bandana thing could be mistaken for gang involvement. The colors are not limited to red or blue.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:21 pmThe problem with the visitor logs is the Jeff Gannon visits. That would be awesome if the info came out before Bush left office.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:23 pm