Antiwar protest at White House
As is to be expected, mainstream media forgot to cover the antiwar protest at the White House today. Readers of the Free Press understand that the frustration of protesting under a media blackout. According to Rob Kall, editor of OpedNews, “Today, 131 rebels were arrested for civil disobedience at the snow covered gates of the White House, including Daniel Ellsberg, Ray McGovern, Chris Hedges, Margaret Flowers, Coleen Rowley, Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evans and scores of veterans and supporters from WWII, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan... The message chanted in the freezing, 22 degree F snowy day was "Obama, Troops Out. End the War."
You tube video here
You tube video here
Our gay Commander-in-Chief
As "conservatives" scream and yell about gays in the military, they might remember that in all likelihood we have already had a gay Commander-in-Chief.
His name was James Buchanan. He was the 15th President of the United States.
A Democrat from Pennsylvania, Buchanan is discreetly referred to in official texts as "our only bachelor president."
In fact, many historians believe that he may well have been "married" to William Rufus King, a pro-slavery Democrat from Alabama who was our only bachelor Vice President.
The two men lived together for years. Andrew Jackson, never one to shy from bullhorn bigotry, was among those who variously referred to them as "Aunt Nancy" and "Mr. Fancy." Other Washington wags called them "Mr. & Mrs. Buchanan," and the like.
His name was James Buchanan. He was the 15th President of the United States.
A Democrat from Pennsylvania, Buchanan is discreetly referred to in official texts as "our only bachelor president."
In fact, many historians believe that he may well have been "married" to William Rufus King, a pro-slavery Democrat from Alabama who was our only bachelor Vice President.
The two men lived together for years. Andrew Jackson, never one to shy from bullhorn bigotry, was among those who variously referred to them as "Aunt Nancy" and "Mr. Fancy." Other Washington wags called them "Mr. & Mrs. Buchanan," and the like.
Transcending progressive discord
“Barack Obama was NEVER a progressive or anything other than a closet Republican. This was true in ’08 and continues to be true. He successfully hoodwinked millions of people who chose not to listen to what he actually said in his interviews (not in his rally speeches; one-on-one interviews). I tried to warn people about this monster but it fell on deaf ears.”
“I think President Obama is doing a fine job with the cards he has been dealt — the worst oppositional party in history, a lame constituency in his own party, a fragmented base, and a raging ‘left’ who have no concept of the reality of our government or our American mindset, much less any constructive ideas on how to change them.”
“I think President Obama is doing a fine job with the cards he has been dealt — the worst oppositional party in history, a lame constituency in his own party, a fragmented base, and a raging ‘left’ who have no concept of the reality of our government or our American mindset, much less any constructive ideas on how to change them.”
What I saw at the Pro-Nuclear Proliferation Press Conference in the U.S. Capitol
This sad event, held in a small conference room in the Capitol Visitors Center (Senate side), was sparsely attended by press, and sponsored by an outfit called the "New Deterrent Working Group," evidently an offshoot of the Center for Security Policy, and skipped by Sen Kyl (who evidently "had to go vote...").
But B*sh era relics John Bolton and Rick Santorum said their bits, and a few other notables offered statements. After an hour of paranoia, innuendo and misrepresentation, they did take a few questions and I was able to ask the first. Incredibly, they let me get all three questions in one. For those who are interested, they're below:
"Jay Marx, Proposition One. One correction if I may, as the Senate has held 18 committee hearings on the NEW Start treaty, not 12 as Mr. Gaffney just stated.
"First, why do you all who oppose this treaty think you know so much better than the legions of US political and military leaders who are on record supporting New START, including the head of the US Missile Defense Agency, multiple generals, some joint chiefs of staff, several former secretaries of state - of both parties - and the current Secretary of Defense?
But B*sh era relics John Bolton and Rick Santorum said their bits, and a few other notables offered statements. After an hour of paranoia, innuendo and misrepresentation, they did take a few questions and I was able to ask the first. Incredibly, they let me get all three questions in one. For those who are interested, they're below:
"Jay Marx, Proposition One. One correction if I may, as the Senate has held 18 committee hearings on the NEW Start treaty, not 12 as Mr. Gaffney just stated.
"First, why do you all who oppose this treaty think you know so much better than the legions of US political and military leaders who are on record supporting New START, including the head of the US Missile Defense Agency, multiple generals, some joint chiefs of staff, several former secretaries of state - of both parties - and the current Secretary of Defense?
A $7 billion new nuke attack
The White House and nuclear power industry may be on the brink of grabbing $7 billion in new taxpayer-funded loan guarantees for new reactors. But they can be stopped.
Taxpayer and environmental groups are asking citizens to call their Senators urging deletion of the guarantees.
The guarantees have been stuck into the Continuing Resolution just passed by the House to fund the government. It now goes to the Senate, where calls should be directed to kill this budget-busting radioactive boondoggle.
Nuke lobbyists have spent more than $640 million in the past decade to fund a "nuclear renaissance" from the federal trough. Earlier this year the Obama Administration and the industry's congressional minions were set to add as much as $36 billion to a Department of Energy loan guarantee program to build new reactors. Citizen opposition has been instrumental in slashing that number.
Taxpayer and environmental groups are asking citizens to call their Senators urging deletion of the guarantees.
The guarantees have been stuck into the Continuing Resolution just passed by the House to fund the government. It now goes to the Senate, where calls should be directed to kill this budget-busting radioactive boondoggle.
Nuke lobbyists have spent more than $640 million in the past decade to fund a "nuclear renaissance" from the federal trough. Earlier this year the Obama Administration and the industry's congressional minions were set to add as much as $36 billion to a Department of Energy loan guarantee program to build new reactors. Citizen opposition has been instrumental in slashing that number.
Pearl Harbor: A successful war lie
An excerpt from "War Is A Lie" War is a Lie
One type of "defensive" war is one that follows a successful provocation of aggression from the desired enemy. This method was used to begin, and repeatedly to escalate, the Vietnam War, as recorded in the Pentagon Papers. Setting aside the question of whether the United States should have entered World War II, in either Europe or the Pacific or both, the fact is that our country was unlikely to enter unless attacked. In 1928 the U.S. Senate had voted 85 to 1 to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact, a treaty that bound — and still binds — our nation and many others never again to engage in war.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's fervent hope for years was that Japan would attack the United States. This would permit the United States (not legally, but politically) to fully enter the war in Europe, as its president wanted to do, as opposed to merely providing weaponry, as it had been doing. On April 28, 1941, Churchill wrote a secret directive to his war cabinet:
One type of "defensive" war is one that follows a successful provocation of aggression from the desired enemy. This method was used to begin, and repeatedly to escalate, the Vietnam War, as recorded in the Pentagon Papers. Setting aside the question of whether the United States should have entered World War II, in either Europe or the Pacific or both, the fact is that our country was unlikely to enter unless attacked. In 1928 the U.S. Senate had voted 85 to 1 to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact, a treaty that bound — and still binds — our nation and many others never again to engage in war.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's fervent hope for years was that Japan would attack the United States. This would permit the United States (not legally, but politically) to fully enter the war in Europe, as its president wanted to do, as opposed to merely providing weaponry, as it had been doing. On April 28, 1941, Churchill wrote a secret directive to his war cabinet:
A hollow bomber jacket
Last Friday, in a column about economic policy, Paul Krugman focused on “moral collapse” at the White House -- “a complete failure of purpose and loss of direction.” Meanwhile, President Obama flew to Afghanistan, where he put on a leather bomber jacket and told U.S. troops: “You’re achieving your objectives. You will succeed in your mission.”
For the Obama presidency, moral collapse has taken on the appearance of craven clockwork, establishing a concentric pattern -- doing immense damage to economic security at home while ratcheting up warfare overseas.
By the end of the weekend, a deal was just about wrapped up between the president and Republican congressional leaders to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
On the spin-cycle agenda this month is yet more reframing of the president’s foggy doubletalk about Afghanistan. Strip away the carefully crafted verbiage and the picture is stark -- with plans for a huge U.S. war effort in that country for many years to come.
For the Obama presidency, moral collapse has taken on the appearance of craven clockwork, establishing a concentric pattern -- doing immense damage to economic security at home while ratcheting up warfare overseas.
By the end of the weekend, a deal was just about wrapped up between the president and Republican congressional leaders to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
On the spin-cycle agenda this month is yet more reframing of the president’s foggy doubletalk about Afghanistan. Strip away the carefully crafted verbiage and the picture is stark -- with plans for a huge U.S. war effort in that country for many years to come.
Seeking Republican patriots: how reining in anonymous attack ads can help save our democracy
Does Olympia Snowe really want to be the target of waves of anonymous attack ads in support of some conservative primary challenger? Wouldn't a retiring George Voinovich prefer to leave some shards of our democracy off-limits to being sold to the highest bidder? Could John McCain remember why McCain-Feingold was once of his proudest legacies and acknowledge how profoundly the Supreme Court's Citizen's United decision damaged everything he was trying to do to safeguard American democracy?
DAVID VS. MONSANTO a movie review
Although the showing of David and Monsanto appeared to be a sold out showing at the Gateway Film Center on Sunday night, there were plenty of open seats--a result of online ticket buyers making other plans for the night. Or, for the more conspiratorial of us, a Monsanto employee may have bought up the remaining tickets at the box office in order to reduce the number of viewers. Oh, laugh now, but you may wonder after seeing the film.
David and Monsanto is the story of Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser and his legal struggle with corporate biotech company Monsanto. (Also featured is Troy Roush, an Indiana farmer of FOOD, INC. documentary fame.) This movie is a first hand account of the increasingly familiar tale of Monsanto harassing farmers with every means possible--civil lawsuits, stalking, trespassing, slander, threats, and crop contamination.
Percy Schmeiser is clearly no sophisticated businessman. He is a simple farmer. Perhaps that is why his message is so powerful. When Percy Schmeiser says, "GMO is about controlling the food supply" I believe him.
David and Monsanto is the story of Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser and his legal struggle with corporate biotech company Monsanto. (Also featured is Troy Roush, an Indiana farmer of FOOD, INC. documentary fame.) This movie is a first hand account of the increasingly familiar tale of Monsanto harassing farmers with every means possible--civil lawsuits, stalking, trespassing, slander, threats, and crop contamination.
Percy Schmeiser is clearly no sophisticated businessman. He is a simple farmer. Perhaps that is why his message is so powerful. When Percy Schmeiser says, "GMO is about controlling the food supply" I believe him.
Obama wooing “Economic Royalists”
In his first term, President Franklin Roosevelt denounced "the economic royalists." He drew the line against the heartless rich: "They are unanimous in their hate for me -- and I welcome their hatred."
What a different Democratic president we have today.
For two years -- from putting Wall Street operatives at the top of his economic team to signaling that he’ll go along with extension of Bush tax cuts for the wealthy -- Barack Obama has increasingly made a mockery of hopes for a green New Deal.
The news from the White House keeps getting grimmer. Since the midterm election, we’re told, Obama has concluded that he must be more conciliatory toward the ascendant Republican leadership in Congress -- and must do more to appease big business.
Fifteen days after the election, the Washington Post reported that Obama -- seeking a replacement for departing top economic adviser Lawrence Summers -- “is eager to recruit someone from the business community for the job to help repair the president’s frayed relationship with corporate America.”
What a different Democratic president we have today.
For two years -- from putting Wall Street operatives at the top of his economic team to signaling that he’ll go along with extension of Bush tax cuts for the wealthy -- Barack Obama has increasingly made a mockery of hopes for a green New Deal.
The news from the White House keeps getting grimmer. Since the midterm election, we’re told, Obama has concluded that he must be more conciliatory toward the ascendant Republican leadership in Congress -- and must do more to appease big business.
Fifteen days after the election, the Washington Post reported that Obama -- seeking a replacement for departing top economic adviser Lawrence Summers -- “is eager to recruit someone from the business community for the job to help repair the president’s frayed relationship with corporate America.”