Bright Eyes told us of "When A President Talks To God." What happens when constituents attempt to talk to their senator? In Maine, apparently, it's call the cops.
I'm wondering how this plays. I know from members of the community who live in Texas, that they feel Kay Bailey Hutchison doesn't feel that she has to meet with them. They feel she wants votes, she just doesn't want to interact with voters. At her office in Dallas, people have been arrested for attempting to speak with her and we're supposed to believe that this isn't her, this is a policy of the building she rents office space in.
She's an elected official. If she's leasing space in a building that doesn't allow the public the access they need, she needs to break the lease and find new offices.
Since she hasn't, members from that area feel that she is responsible for the arrests that have taken place. Now she apparenty has been joined by Olympia Snowe. We're noting a press release from Maine Independent Media/Maine Commons Bangor:
At 2:00 pm, on December 15, 2005, a "This War Is Over" press conference and rally "To Tell The Truth" were held in front of U. S. Senator Olympia Snowe's office at One Cumberland Place, Bangor, Maine. A group of approximately 100 people attended the rally and heard Judy Robbins of Sedgwick read a letter signed by 450 citizens from around the State of Maine that had been sent to Senator Snowe. The letter asked that Senator Snowe agree to participate in a public "town meeting" to listen to the voices of Mainers who are concerned about the war in Iraq. The letter also asked that Senator Snowe admit that she had been lied to by the Bush administration in the lead-up to the war; that she would work to stop the funding for the war; and that she would work to bring the soldiers in Iraq home now. Statements were also read by Rob Shetterley of Brooksville, artist of the "Americans Who Tell The Truth" series, Bruce Gagnon of Brunswick, a member of Veterans for Peace, and Nancy Galland from Stockton Springs. Gail Kelly, Senator Snowe's office manager, left her office to a read a response from Senator Snowe..
Nearly 50 rally participants who were felt that Senator Snowe's letter did not address their concerns went to Senator Snowe's office hoping to talk by phone with Senator Snowe in Washington, DC, or to discuss Senator Snowe's position on the war in Iraq with her staff. At approximately 3:30 pm, the building manager at One Cumberland Place requested that the rally participants leave the building. Upon being told by an officer from the Bangor Police Department that they would be arrested for "criminal trespass" if they did not leave, all but 19 people left the building. At 3:45 pm officers from the Bangor Police Department and deputies from the Penobscot County Sheriff's Department arrested 19 people for "criminal trespass" and transported them to the Penobscot County where bail was set and 18 people were released.
One person , Jim Harney, refused to post bail. He was released on Friday morning.A hearing is set for 8:30 pm January 20, 2006, in Bangor District Court...
Gerald Oleson,
Maine Independent Media/Maine Commons
Bangor, Maine 207-947-2970
These are the names of those who were arrested.
Judy Robbins Sedgwick
Doug Rawlings Chesterville
Steve West Penobscot
Ron King Penobscot
Jim Harney Bangor
Sandy Yakovenko Tenants Harbor
Maureen Block Swanville
Debby Marshall Deer Isle
Nancy Hill Stonington
Peter Robbins Sedgwick
Richard Stander Stockton Springs
Carolyn Coe Blue Hill
Elizabeth Adams Ellsworth
Olenka Folda Brooklin
Dud Hendrick Deer Isle
Nancy Galland Stockton Springs
Rob Shetterly Brooksville
Bruce Gagnon Brunswick
Pat Wheeler Deer Isle
While Snowe couldn't bother to meet with constituents, she could issue a statement on the death of twenty-three year old Joseph Lucas in Iraq:
"We can never sufficiently express our gratitude for his sacrifice," she said.
Is a sacrifice slight? When she can't meet with people she represents to discuss the topic of the war in Iraq, her statement on the passing of Joseph Lucas in Iraq comes off as little more than lip service.
FYI, I'm working on the spacing for Maria's entry. It will post below this because I'd already copied and pasted her e-mail into another screen. We'll be touching on the arrests at The Third Estate Sunday Review.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
this war is over
to tell the truth
maine
olympia snowe
iraq
peace
gerald oleson
protest
anti-war
americans who tell the truth
veterans for peace
19 arrested
the third estate sunday review
[Note: Post corrected re: spelling of "Hutchison."]
Saturday, December 17, 2005
"Informe: Bush autorizó programa de NSA para vigilar conversaciones telefónicas y mensajes de correo electrónico" ("Democracy Now!")
Maria: Hola. De parte de "Democracy Now!" diez cosas que vale hacer notar este fin de semana. Paz.
Informe: Bush autorizó programa de NSA para vigilar conversaciones telefónicas y mensajes de correo electrónico
El "New York Times" informa que la Agencia de Seguridad Nacional (NSA por sus siglas en inglés) ha estado escuchando secretamente conversaciones de ciudadanos estadounidenses y extranjeros sin órdenes judiciales. Al amparo de una decisión del gobierno de Bush promulgada en 2002, la Agencia ha controlado las llamadas internacionales y mensajes de correo electrónico de posiblemente miles de personas dentro del país. La misión de la Agencia de Seguridad Nacional es espiar las comunicaciones en el extranjero. Aunque los funcionarios dijeron que por lo menos dos posibles atentados habían sido descubiertos mediante este programa, la mayoría de las personas espiadas por la NSA nunca fueron acusadas de un crimen. El "Times" dice que retrasó la publicación del artículo luego de un pedido del gobierno de Bush, hace por lo menos un año. El "Times" también dice que, a pedido de la Casa Blanca, omitió cierta información que según funcionarios del gobierno podía ser útil para los terroristas. Esta información se dio a conocer dos días después de que NBC News reveló que el Pentágono ha llevado registros detallados sobre las actividades de los grupos en contra de la guerra de todo el país.
El Pentágono monitorea eventos contra la guerra en todo el país
Mientras tanto, NBC News informa que el Pentágono ha desarrollado una amplia vigilancia de actos y reuniones de grupos pacíficos contra la guerra en todo el país. Una base de datos de las Fuerzas Armadas obtenida por esa cadena de noticias enumera una lista de pequeñas reuniones y movilizaciones de activistas entre 1.500 "incidentes sospechosos" durante un período de 10 meses. En la lista figura una reunión en un local cuáquero de Lake North, Florida, para planificar una protesta contra el reclutamiento militar en institutos de enseñanza secundaria. En total, la base de datos contenía una lista de casi 50 reuniones y manifestaciones contra la guerra.
Investigación europea cita evidencia de secuestros e interpretaciones de la CIA
En Europa, una investigación oficial sobre la existencia de prisiones secretas de la CIA descubrió evidencia que, según se informó, confirma recientes acusaciones de que agentes estadounidenses secuestraron y transportaron a detenidos en el territorio europeo. En un informe provisorio presentado el martes, Dick Marty, el senador suizo que dirige la investigación para el Consejo de Europa, escribió: "La información reunida hasta la fecha refuerza la credibilidad de las acusaciones sobre el transporte y detención temporaria de detenidos, fuera de todo proceso judicial, en países europeos". Marty también criticó a la Secretaria de Estado Condoleezza Rice por no dar una explicación adecuada durante su visita a Europa la semana pasada. Marty dijo que había pedido a Rumania y a Polonia información específica sobre las acusaciones de que en esos países hay prisiones secretas. Ambos países negaron esta acusación. Marty dijo que cree que las prisiones secretas fueron clausuradas y trasladadas a África del Norte.
Activistas estadounidenses realizan vigilia fuera de prisión de Guantánamo
Un grupo de activistas estadounidenses comenzó una vigilia cerca de la prisión militar estadounidense en Bahía de Guantánamo. Integrantes del grupo Witness Against Torture (Testigo contra la Tortura) marcharon durante cinco días en Cuba hasta llegar a Guantánamo. Funcionarios militares rechazaron su solicitud de reunirse con alguno de los cerca de 500 prisioneros que están detenido sin acusación. Escuchamos a Frida Berrigan hablando fuera de Guantánamo: "Estamos ayunando, la mayoría de nosotros solamente ingiere agua. Algunas personas beben jugo. Quizá mediante el poder de la plegaria sentirán nuestra presencia, nuestra solidaridad. Al mismo tiempo llamamos a las personas de Estados Unidos a que soliciten al presidente Bush, a Donald Rumsfeld, que se comuniquen con la base en Guantánamo, para que nos dejen ingresar a visitar a los prisioneros, a visitar a los soldados, a los soldados estadounidenses que están aquí. Y para que abran este moderno corazón de la oscuridad a la luz del día y a la luz del escrutinio del mundo". Escuchábamos a Frida Berrigan de Witness Against Torture.
Encuesta: Más de dos tercios de los iraquíes se oponen a la presencia de soldados estadounidenses
En Irak, ABC News y la revista "Time" realizaron una encuesta nacional a los iraquíes antes de las elecciones de esta semana. La encuesta descubrió que más de dos tercios de los consultados se oponían a la presencia de soldados estadounidenses en Irak. Tan solo el 44 por ciento dijo sentir que el país está mejor ahora que antes de la guerra.
Pentágono acusado de enviar ataúdes en flete de aerolíneas comerciales
En otras noticias sobre la guerra de Irak, una familia de San Diego cuyo hijo murió en Irak, se quejó ante el Pentágono luego de enterarse de que las fuerzas armadas trasladaron el cuerpo de su hijo a California en un flete de una aerolínea comercial. El ataúd de Matthew Holley, que murió en Irak el mes pasado, habría sido colocado en la bodega de un avión, junto con maletas y otra carga.
Informe: 20.000 soldados hospitalizados luego de recibir vacuna de ántrax
En otras noticias militares, una investigación realizada por "Daily Press" de Virginia, reveló que 20.000 soldados fueron hospitalizados en los últimos años luego de que se les inyectara una vacuna de ántrax. El diario acusó al Pentágono de haber mentido públicamente acerca de la cantidad de soldados que requerían ser hospitalizados para persuadir al Congreso y a la opinión pública de que la vacuna era segura. "Daily Press" también reveló que al menos tres soldados contrajeron la fatal enfermedad de Lou Gehrig luego de recibir la vacuna
Conversaciones de la OMC paralizadas en Hong Kong
En Hong Kong, divisiones considerables entre los países industrializados y los países en desarrollo, en la Conferencia Ministerial de la Organización Mundial de Comercio, reducen las expectativas de lograr acuerdos significativos antes de que terminen las conversaciones el domingo.
El Comisario de Comercio de la Union Europea, Peter Mandelson, dijo: "Es difícil ver cómo puede lograrse un progreso en Hong Kong si las conversaciones continúan en la dirección que van. No quiero pensar en un fracaso en Hong Kong, por lo mucho que está en juego. De todos modos, no veo que sentido tendría un resultado que simplemente se encierre en una ambición escasa, disminuya los beneficios para los países en desarrollo y no abarque nuestras responsabilidades con la economía mundial".
Los negociadores se estancaron en una serie de asuntos clave de comercio. El jueves, el Grupo de los 77, coalición de 132 países africanos, del Pacífico y caribeños del Tercer Mundo, anunció que rechazará cualquier acuerdo que elimine la protección de sus granjeros y el acceso a los mercados extranjeros. Otro grupo de países en desarrollo, el Grupo de los 20, que representa a la mitad de la población mundial, acusa a Estados Unidos y a la Unión Europea de retrasar las conversaciones al negarse a recortar los subsidios estatales a la agricultura.
Mientras tanto, fuera de el encuentro, miles de manifestantes se siguen haciendo escuchar.
Alison Woodhead, de Oxfam, dijo: "En teoría, el sistema debería funcionar, pero hoy en día es manipulado a favor de los países más ricos. Los países ricos se benefician de las normas del acuerdo tal y como están. Pueden proteger sus propios mercados y destruir los mercados de los países más pobres".
Miembros del Congreso exhortan a Bush a que presione por la liberación del sacerdote Jean-Juste
Y seis miembros del Congreso enviaron una carta al presidente Bush exhortando al gobierno estadounidense a que exija la liberación del sacerdote haitiano Gerard Jean-Juste, que se encuentra en prisión. Antes de su encarcelamiento en julio, se pensaba que Jean-Juste sería el principal candidato de Familia Lavalas, el partido del presidente derrocado Jean Bertrand Aristide, si esa fuerza política se presentaba en las próximas elecciones de Haití. Amnistía Internacional lo declaró "prisionero de conciencia". Un médico estadounidense que lo revisó en prisión informó que Jean-Juste tenía síntomas de varias enfermedades graves, entre ellas cáncer. En la carta, los congresistas, entre ellos la demócrata de California Maxine Waters, le escribieron a Bush: "Su acción en este momento crítico podría salvar la vida de este gentil sacerdote".
Informe: El gobierno rechaza más de 77 mil solicitudes de préstamos para vivienda de evacuados por Katrina
En Estados Unidos, el "New York Times" informa que el gobierno negó préstamos a decenas de miles de familias de la costa del Golfo de México para reconstruir sus hogares perdidos o dañados debido al huracán Katrina. Según el "Times", la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas, el organismo federal a cargo del principal programa de recuperación de empresas y propietarios tras el desastre, procesó sólo un tercio de las 276 mil solicitudes de préstamos recibidas. El gobierno rechazó el 82 por ciento de las solicitudes de préstamos para vivienda que fueron analizadas, en total más de 77 mil solicitudes. En Nueva Orleans, parece que el otorgamiento de préstamos es mucho mayor para las áreas ricas de la ciudad que para las pobres. Herbert Mitchell, director del programa de asistencia tras el desastre de la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas, dijo al "Times" que el gobierno no puede arriesgar el dinero de los contribuyentes otorgándole préstamos a personas de bajos ingresos o que tengan una historia crediticia pobre. Mitchell dijo: "Simplemente nos manejamos con los datos demográficos de la zona".
Maria: Now in English, here are twelve headlines fom Democracy Now! Remember that the headlines are provided daily in English and Spanish and please get the word out. Peace.
Report: Bush-Enacted NSA Program Monitors Phone Conversations, E-Mails
The New York Times is reporting the National Security Agency has been eavesdropping on U.S. citizens and foreign nationals without court-approved warrants. Under a Bush administration directive enacted in 2002, the agency has monitored the international phone calls and e-mails of hundreds, and possibly thousands of people inside the country. The National Security Agency’s mission is to spy on communications abroad. Although officials said the program had helped thwart at least two potential attacks, most people monitored by the N.S.A. have never been charged with a crime.
The Times says it delayed publishing details of the program after a request from the Bush administration at least one year ago. At the request of the White House, the Times also says it has omitted information administration officials said could be useful to terrorists. The disclosure comes two days after NBC News revealed the Pentagon has kept detailed records on the events and meetings of anti-war groups across the country.
Pentagon Monitoring Anti-War Events Across the Country
Meanwhile, NBC News is reporting the Pentagon has been extensively monitoring the events and gatherings of peaceful anti-war groups across the country. A military database obtained by the network lists small activist meetings and events among 1,500 "suspicious incidents" over a 10-month period. The events included a gathering at a Quaker Meeting House in Lake Worth, Florida, to plan a protest of military recruiting at local high schools. In total, the database listed over four dozen anti-war meetings or protests.
European Investigation Finds Evidence of CIA Abductions
In Europe, an investigation into the existence of secret CIA prisons has found evidence that reportedly bolsters recent allegations U.S. operatives kidnapped and transferred detainees on European soil. In an interim report submitted Tuesday, Dick Marty, the Swiss parliamentarian heading the investigation for the Council of Europe, wrote : "the information gathered to date reinforced the credibility of the allegations concerning the transport and temporary detention of detainees -- outside all judicial procedure -- in European countries." Marty also criticized Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for not giving an adequate explanation during a visit to Europe last week.
Marty said he has asked Romania and Poland for specific information concerning allegations the countries played host to the secret prisons. Both countries have denied this charge. Marty said he believes the secret prisons have been shut down and moved to North Africa.
U.S. Activists Hold Vigil Outside Guantanamo
A group of U.S. activists have begun a vigil near the gates of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Members of the group Witness Against Torture walked for five days across Cuba to reach Guantanmo. Military officials rejected their request to meet with any of the 500 or so prisoners who are being held without charges.
Peace activist Frida Berrigan: "We're fasting, most of us fasting just on water. Some people drinking some juice. Fasting and praying, and hoping that our intentions reach the prisoners. That somehow through the power of prayer, they will feel our presence, feel our solidarity. At the same time we're calling on people in the United States to call President Bush, to call Donald Rumsfeld, to get in touch with the base here in Guatanamo, so that we might be let in to visit the prisoners, to visit the soldiers, American soldiers here. And to open up this modern heart of darkness to the light of day and to the light of world scrutiny."
Poll: More Than 2/3 of Iraqis Oppose U.S. Troops
In Iraq, ABC News and Time Magazine have conducted a nationwide poll of Iraqis ahead of this week's elections. It found that more than two thirds of those surveyed oppose the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. Only 44 percent of the country feels the country is better off now that it was before the war.
Pentagon Accused of Shipping Coffins in Freight in Commercial Airlines
In other news on the Iraq war - a San Diego family whose son died in Iraq has complained to the Pentagon after it learned that the military transported their son's body to California as freight on a commercial airline. The coffin of Matthew Holley who died in Iraq last month was reportedly stuffed in the belly of a plane along with suitcases and other cargo.
Report: 20,000 Soldiers Hospitalized After Anthrax Vaccine
In other military news - an investigation by the Daily Press of Virginia has revealed that 20,000 soldiers have been hospitalized in recent years after receiving an anthrax vaccine. The paper accused the Pentagon of publicly low-balling the number of troops that required hospitalization in order to persuade Congress and the public that the vaccine was safe. The Daily Press also revealed that at least three soldiers developed the fatal Lou Gehrig's disease after receiving the vaccine.
WTO Talks At Standstill in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, considerable divisions between industrialized and developing countries at the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization are lowering expectations for significant agreements before talks end Sunday.
European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson: "It is hard to see where progress can be achieved in Hong Kong if talks continue in their present direction. I do not want to contemplate failure at Hong Kong. So much is at stake. Equally, I see no point in an outcome here that simply locks in low ambition, diminishes benefits for developing countries and falls short of our responsibilities to the global economy."
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. Negotiations have stalled on a number of key trade issues. On Thursday, the Group of 77 -- the coalition of 132 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the Third World -- announced they would reject any deal that eliminates protections for their farmers and access to foreign markets. Another group of developing nations, the Group of 20 -- which represents half the world’s population -- accused the US and European Union of holding up talks by refusing to cut state agricultural subsidies.
Meanwhile, outside the meetings, thousands of protesters continue to make their voices heard.
Oxfam's Alison Woodhead: "The system in theory should work, but at the moment it's rigged in favour of the richest countries. The rich countries benefit from the trade rules as they exist at the moment. They're able to protect their own markets and destroy the markets of poorer countries."
Congressmembers Press for Release of Rev. Jean-Juste
And six members of Congress have sent a letter to President Bush urging the US government to demand the release of jailed Haitian priest Gerard Jean-Juste. Before his imprisonment in July, Jean-Juste was considered to be the leading candidate for the Family Lavalas -- the party of ousted Presdient Jean Bertrand Aristide -- were it to run in Haiti's upcoming elections. Amnesty International has called him a "prisoner of conscience." An American medical doctor who examined him in prison two weeks ago reported Jean-Juste has displayed symptoms of a number of serious medical conditions, including cancer. In the letter, the congressmembers, including California Democrat Maxine Waters, write Bush: "Your action at this critical time could save the life of this gentle priest."
Over 77,000 Katrina Home Loan Applications Rejected
In this country, the New York Times is reporting hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast families are being denied government loans to rebuild homes lost or damaged in Hurricane Katrina. According to the Times, the Small Business Administration -- the federal agency in charge of the main disaster recovery program for businesses and homeowners -- has processed only a third of the 276,000 loan applications it has received. Of those that have been reviewed, the government has rejected 82 percent of home loan applications – over 77,000 rejections. In New Orleans, approved loans appear to be heavily tilted towards wealthy neighborhoods over poor ones. Herbert Mitchell, director of the Small Business Administration’s disaster assistance program, told the Times the government could not risk taxpayer money by lending to people with low incomes or poor credit history. Mitchell said: "We're just dealing with the demographics in the area."
democracy now
news
iraq
irak
noticias
Informe: Bush autorizó programa de NSA para vigilar conversaciones telefónicas y mensajes de correo electrónico
El "New York Times" informa que la Agencia de Seguridad Nacional (NSA por sus siglas en inglés) ha estado escuchando secretamente conversaciones de ciudadanos estadounidenses y extranjeros sin órdenes judiciales. Al amparo de una decisión del gobierno de Bush promulgada en 2002, la Agencia ha controlado las llamadas internacionales y mensajes de correo electrónico de posiblemente miles de personas dentro del país. La misión de la Agencia de Seguridad Nacional es espiar las comunicaciones en el extranjero. Aunque los funcionarios dijeron que por lo menos dos posibles atentados habían sido descubiertos mediante este programa, la mayoría de las personas espiadas por la NSA nunca fueron acusadas de un crimen. El "Times" dice que retrasó la publicación del artículo luego de un pedido del gobierno de Bush, hace por lo menos un año. El "Times" también dice que, a pedido de la Casa Blanca, omitió cierta información que según funcionarios del gobierno podía ser útil para los terroristas. Esta información se dio a conocer dos días después de que NBC News reveló que el Pentágono ha llevado registros detallados sobre las actividades de los grupos en contra de la guerra de todo el país.
El Pentágono monitorea eventos contra la guerra en todo el país
Mientras tanto, NBC News informa que el Pentágono ha desarrollado una amplia vigilancia de actos y reuniones de grupos pacíficos contra la guerra en todo el país. Una base de datos de las Fuerzas Armadas obtenida por esa cadena de noticias enumera una lista de pequeñas reuniones y movilizaciones de activistas entre 1.500 "incidentes sospechosos" durante un período de 10 meses. En la lista figura una reunión en un local cuáquero de Lake North, Florida, para planificar una protesta contra el reclutamiento militar en institutos de enseñanza secundaria. En total, la base de datos contenía una lista de casi 50 reuniones y manifestaciones contra la guerra.
Investigación europea cita evidencia de secuestros e interpretaciones de la CIA
En Europa, una investigación oficial sobre la existencia de prisiones secretas de la CIA descubrió evidencia que, según se informó, confirma recientes acusaciones de que agentes estadounidenses secuestraron y transportaron a detenidos en el territorio europeo. En un informe provisorio presentado el martes, Dick Marty, el senador suizo que dirige la investigación para el Consejo de Europa, escribió: "La información reunida hasta la fecha refuerza la credibilidad de las acusaciones sobre el transporte y detención temporaria de detenidos, fuera de todo proceso judicial, en países europeos". Marty también criticó a la Secretaria de Estado Condoleezza Rice por no dar una explicación adecuada durante su visita a Europa la semana pasada. Marty dijo que había pedido a Rumania y a Polonia información específica sobre las acusaciones de que en esos países hay prisiones secretas. Ambos países negaron esta acusación. Marty dijo que cree que las prisiones secretas fueron clausuradas y trasladadas a África del Norte.
Activistas estadounidenses realizan vigilia fuera de prisión de Guantánamo
Un grupo de activistas estadounidenses comenzó una vigilia cerca de la prisión militar estadounidense en Bahía de Guantánamo. Integrantes del grupo Witness Against Torture (Testigo contra la Tortura) marcharon durante cinco días en Cuba hasta llegar a Guantánamo. Funcionarios militares rechazaron su solicitud de reunirse con alguno de los cerca de 500 prisioneros que están detenido sin acusación. Escuchamos a Frida Berrigan hablando fuera de Guantánamo: "Estamos ayunando, la mayoría de nosotros solamente ingiere agua. Algunas personas beben jugo. Quizá mediante el poder de la plegaria sentirán nuestra presencia, nuestra solidaridad. Al mismo tiempo llamamos a las personas de Estados Unidos a que soliciten al presidente Bush, a Donald Rumsfeld, que se comuniquen con la base en Guantánamo, para que nos dejen ingresar a visitar a los prisioneros, a visitar a los soldados, a los soldados estadounidenses que están aquí. Y para que abran este moderno corazón de la oscuridad a la luz del día y a la luz del escrutinio del mundo". Escuchábamos a Frida Berrigan de Witness Against Torture.
Encuesta: Más de dos tercios de los iraquíes se oponen a la presencia de soldados estadounidenses
En Irak, ABC News y la revista "Time" realizaron una encuesta nacional a los iraquíes antes de las elecciones de esta semana. La encuesta descubrió que más de dos tercios de los consultados se oponían a la presencia de soldados estadounidenses en Irak. Tan solo el 44 por ciento dijo sentir que el país está mejor ahora que antes de la guerra.
Pentágono acusado de enviar ataúdes en flete de aerolíneas comerciales
En otras noticias sobre la guerra de Irak, una familia de San Diego cuyo hijo murió en Irak, se quejó ante el Pentágono luego de enterarse de que las fuerzas armadas trasladaron el cuerpo de su hijo a California en un flete de una aerolínea comercial. El ataúd de Matthew Holley, que murió en Irak el mes pasado, habría sido colocado en la bodega de un avión, junto con maletas y otra carga.
Informe: 20.000 soldados hospitalizados luego de recibir vacuna de ántrax
En otras noticias militares, una investigación realizada por "Daily Press" de Virginia, reveló que 20.000 soldados fueron hospitalizados en los últimos años luego de que se les inyectara una vacuna de ántrax. El diario acusó al Pentágono de haber mentido públicamente acerca de la cantidad de soldados que requerían ser hospitalizados para persuadir al Congreso y a la opinión pública de que la vacuna era segura. "Daily Press" también reveló que al menos tres soldados contrajeron la fatal enfermedad de Lou Gehrig luego de recibir la vacuna
Conversaciones de la OMC paralizadas en Hong Kong
En Hong Kong, divisiones considerables entre los países industrializados y los países en desarrollo, en la Conferencia Ministerial de la Organización Mundial de Comercio, reducen las expectativas de lograr acuerdos significativos antes de que terminen las conversaciones el domingo.
El Comisario de Comercio de la Union Europea, Peter Mandelson, dijo: "Es difícil ver cómo puede lograrse un progreso en Hong Kong si las conversaciones continúan en la dirección que van. No quiero pensar en un fracaso en Hong Kong, por lo mucho que está en juego. De todos modos, no veo que sentido tendría un resultado que simplemente se encierre en una ambición escasa, disminuya los beneficios para los países en desarrollo y no abarque nuestras responsabilidades con la economía mundial".
Los negociadores se estancaron en una serie de asuntos clave de comercio. El jueves, el Grupo de los 77, coalición de 132 países africanos, del Pacífico y caribeños del Tercer Mundo, anunció que rechazará cualquier acuerdo que elimine la protección de sus granjeros y el acceso a los mercados extranjeros. Otro grupo de países en desarrollo, el Grupo de los 20, que representa a la mitad de la población mundial, acusa a Estados Unidos y a la Unión Europea de retrasar las conversaciones al negarse a recortar los subsidios estatales a la agricultura.
Mientras tanto, fuera de el encuentro, miles de manifestantes se siguen haciendo escuchar.
Alison Woodhead, de Oxfam, dijo: "En teoría, el sistema debería funcionar, pero hoy en día es manipulado a favor de los países más ricos. Los países ricos se benefician de las normas del acuerdo tal y como están. Pueden proteger sus propios mercados y destruir los mercados de los países más pobres".
Miembros del Congreso exhortan a Bush a que presione por la liberación del sacerdote Jean-Juste
Y seis miembros del Congreso enviaron una carta al presidente Bush exhortando al gobierno estadounidense a que exija la liberación del sacerdote haitiano Gerard Jean-Juste, que se encuentra en prisión. Antes de su encarcelamiento en julio, se pensaba que Jean-Juste sería el principal candidato de Familia Lavalas, el partido del presidente derrocado Jean Bertrand Aristide, si esa fuerza política se presentaba en las próximas elecciones de Haití. Amnistía Internacional lo declaró "prisionero de conciencia". Un médico estadounidense que lo revisó en prisión informó que Jean-Juste tenía síntomas de varias enfermedades graves, entre ellas cáncer. En la carta, los congresistas, entre ellos la demócrata de California Maxine Waters, le escribieron a Bush: "Su acción en este momento crítico podría salvar la vida de este gentil sacerdote".
Informe: El gobierno rechaza más de 77 mil solicitudes de préstamos para vivienda de evacuados por Katrina
En Estados Unidos, el "New York Times" informa que el gobierno negó préstamos a decenas de miles de familias de la costa del Golfo de México para reconstruir sus hogares perdidos o dañados debido al huracán Katrina. Según el "Times", la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas, el organismo federal a cargo del principal programa de recuperación de empresas y propietarios tras el desastre, procesó sólo un tercio de las 276 mil solicitudes de préstamos recibidas. El gobierno rechazó el 82 por ciento de las solicitudes de préstamos para vivienda que fueron analizadas, en total más de 77 mil solicitudes. En Nueva Orleans, parece que el otorgamiento de préstamos es mucho mayor para las áreas ricas de la ciudad que para las pobres. Herbert Mitchell, director del programa de asistencia tras el desastre de la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas, dijo al "Times" que el gobierno no puede arriesgar el dinero de los contribuyentes otorgándole préstamos a personas de bajos ingresos o que tengan una historia crediticia pobre. Mitchell dijo: "Simplemente nos manejamos con los datos demográficos de la zona".
Maria: Now in English, here are twelve headlines fom Democracy Now! Remember that the headlines are provided daily in English and Spanish and please get the word out. Peace.
Report: Bush-Enacted NSA Program Monitors Phone Conversations, E-Mails
The New York Times is reporting the National Security Agency has been eavesdropping on U.S. citizens and foreign nationals without court-approved warrants. Under a Bush administration directive enacted in 2002, the agency has monitored the international phone calls and e-mails of hundreds, and possibly thousands of people inside the country. The National Security Agency’s mission is to spy on communications abroad. Although officials said the program had helped thwart at least two potential attacks, most people monitored by the N.S.A. have never been charged with a crime.
The Times says it delayed publishing details of the program after a request from the Bush administration at least one year ago. At the request of the White House, the Times also says it has omitted information administration officials said could be useful to terrorists. The disclosure comes two days after NBC News revealed the Pentagon has kept detailed records on the events and meetings of anti-war groups across the country.
Pentagon Monitoring Anti-War Events Across the Country
Meanwhile, NBC News is reporting the Pentagon has been extensively monitoring the events and gatherings of peaceful anti-war groups across the country. A military database obtained by the network lists small activist meetings and events among 1,500 "suspicious incidents" over a 10-month period. The events included a gathering at a Quaker Meeting House in Lake Worth, Florida, to plan a protest of military recruiting at local high schools. In total, the database listed over four dozen anti-war meetings or protests.
European Investigation Finds Evidence of CIA Abductions
In Europe, an investigation into the existence of secret CIA prisons has found evidence that reportedly bolsters recent allegations U.S. operatives kidnapped and transferred detainees on European soil. In an interim report submitted Tuesday, Dick Marty, the Swiss parliamentarian heading the investigation for the Council of Europe, wrote : "the information gathered to date reinforced the credibility of the allegations concerning the transport and temporary detention of detainees -- outside all judicial procedure -- in European countries." Marty also criticized Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for not giving an adequate explanation during a visit to Europe last week.
Marty said he has asked Romania and Poland for specific information concerning allegations the countries played host to the secret prisons. Both countries have denied this charge. Marty said he believes the secret prisons have been shut down and moved to North Africa.
U.S. Activists Hold Vigil Outside Guantanamo
A group of U.S. activists have begun a vigil near the gates of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Members of the group Witness Against Torture walked for five days across Cuba to reach Guantanmo. Military officials rejected their request to meet with any of the 500 or so prisoners who are being held without charges.
Peace activist Frida Berrigan: "We're fasting, most of us fasting just on water. Some people drinking some juice. Fasting and praying, and hoping that our intentions reach the prisoners. That somehow through the power of prayer, they will feel our presence, feel our solidarity. At the same time we're calling on people in the United States to call President Bush, to call Donald Rumsfeld, to get in touch with the base here in Guatanamo, so that we might be let in to visit the prisoners, to visit the soldiers, American soldiers here. And to open up this modern heart of darkness to the light of day and to the light of world scrutiny."
Poll: More Than 2/3 of Iraqis Oppose U.S. Troops
In Iraq, ABC News and Time Magazine have conducted a nationwide poll of Iraqis ahead of this week's elections. It found that more than two thirds of those surveyed oppose the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. Only 44 percent of the country feels the country is better off now that it was before the war.
Pentagon Accused of Shipping Coffins in Freight in Commercial Airlines
In other news on the Iraq war - a San Diego family whose son died in Iraq has complained to the Pentagon after it learned that the military transported their son's body to California as freight on a commercial airline. The coffin of Matthew Holley who died in Iraq last month was reportedly stuffed in the belly of a plane along with suitcases and other cargo.
Report: 20,000 Soldiers Hospitalized After Anthrax Vaccine
In other military news - an investigation by the Daily Press of Virginia has revealed that 20,000 soldiers have been hospitalized in recent years after receiving an anthrax vaccine. The paper accused the Pentagon of publicly low-balling the number of troops that required hospitalization in order to persuade Congress and the public that the vaccine was safe. The Daily Press also revealed that at least three soldiers developed the fatal Lou Gehrig's disease after receiving the vaccine.
WTO Talks At Standstill in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, considerable divisions between industrialized and developing countries at the ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization are lowering expectations for significant agreements before talks end Sunday.
European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson: "It is hard to see where progress can be achieved in Hong Kong if talks continue in their present direction. I do not want to contemplate failure at Hong Kong. So much is at stake. Equally, I see no point in an outcome here that simply locks in low ambition, diminishes benefits for developing countries and falls short of our responsibilities to the global economy."
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. Negotiations have stalled on a number of key trade issues. On Thursday, the Group of 77 -- the coalition of 132 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the Third World -- announced they would reject any deal that eliminates protections for their farmers and access to foreign markets. Another group of developing nations, the Group of 20 -- which represents half the world’s population -- accused the US and European Union of holding up talks by refusing to cut state agricultural subsidies.
Meanwhile, outside the meetings, thousands of protesters continue to make their voices heard.
Oxfam's Alison Woodhead: "The system in theory should work, but at the moment it's rigged in favour of the richest countries. The rich countries benefit from the trade rules as they exist at the moment. They're able to protect their own markets and destroy the markets of poorer countries."
Congressmembers Press for Release of Rev. Jean-Juste
And six members of Congress have sent a letter to President Bush urging the US government to demand the release of jailed Haitian priest Gerard Jean-Juste. Before his imprisonment in July, Jean-Juste was considered to be the leading candidate for the Family Lavalas -- the party of ousted Presdient Jean Bertrand Aristide -- were it to run in Haiti's upcoming elections. Amnesty International has called him a "prisoner of conscience." An American medical doctor who examined him in prison two weeks ago reported Jean-Juste has displayed symptoms of a number of serious medical conditions, including cancer. In the letter, the congressmembers, including California Democrat Maxine Waters, write Bush: "Your action at this critical time could save the life of this gentle priest."
Over 77,000 Katrina Home Loan Applications Rejected
In this country, the New York Times is reporting hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast families are being denied government loans to rebuild homes lost or damaged in Hurricane Katrina. According to the Times, the Small Business Administration -- the federal agency in charge of the main disaster recovery program for businesses and homeowners -- has processed only a third of the 276,000 loan applications it has received. Of those that have been reviewed, the government has rejected 82 percent of home loan applications – over 77,000 rejections. In New Orleans, approved loans appear to be heavily tilted towards wealthy neighborhoods over poor ones. Herbert Mitchell, director of the Small Business Administration’s disaster assistance program, told the Times the government could not risk taxpayer money by lending to people with low incomes or poor credit history. Mitchell said: "We're just dealing with the demographics in the area."
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The Laura Flanders Show: Jonathan Tasini, Ion Sancho, Mark Crispin Miller, Eleanor Clift, Si Kahn, Raul Midon
It's the weekend which, in this community, means one thing:
Today on The Laura Flanders Show
On Air America Radio, 7-10 PM EST
OUR DAVIDS, THEIR GOLIATHS
JONATHAN TASINI in a debate on his run against Hillary Clinton for the Senate.
ION SANCHO, the Florida election administrator who hacked into his county's voting machines and then gave Diebold the boot.
Media criticism with MARK CRISPIN MILLER and Newsweek's ELEANOR CLIFT.
And the antidote to privatization with activist-author SI KAHN.
All that, plus singer-songwriter, RAUL MIDON, on "State of Mind," his latest CD.
You can listen to shows you missed: Download archived shows HERE or Subscribe to the Free PODCAST through the iTunes Music Store
Go to the Laura Flanders Blog
How can you listen to The Laura Flanders Show? Via podcast (as noted above), via broadcast radio (if there's an AAR in your area), via XM Satellite Radio (channel 167) or listen online.
Si Kahn is the co-author of The Fox in the Henhouse: How Privitization Threatens Democracy. (Written with Elizabeth Minnich). Martha noted in her forward that Elaine wrote about Kahn and Minnich's appearance on Democracy Now!
Ruth's Morning Edition Report just went up. Now that this is going up, it will stay our top entry until The Laura Flanders Show is underweigh. It's your reminder of what's on.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
jonathan tasini
ion sancho
si kahn
raul midon
eleanor clift
mark crispin miller
laura flanders
the laura flanders show
radio
like maria said paz
Today on The Laura Flanders Show
On Air America Radio, 7-10 PM EST
OUR DAVIDS, THEIR GOLIATHS
JONATHAN TASINI in a debate on his run against Hillary Clinton for the Senate.
ION SANCHO, the Florida election administrator who hacked into his county's voting machines and then gave Diebold the boot.
Media criticism with MARK CRISPIN MILLER and Newsweek's ELEANOR CLIFT.
And the antidote to privatization with activist-author SI KAHN.
All that, plus singer-songwriter, RAUL MIDON, on "State of Mind," his latest CD.
You can listen to shows you missed: Download archived shows HERE or Subscribe to the Free PODCAST through the iTunes Music Store
Go to the Laura Flanders Blog
How can you listen to The Laura Flanders Show? Via podcast (as noted above), via broadcast radio (if there's an AAR in your area), via XM Satellite Radio (channel 167) or listen online.
Si Kahn is the co-author of The Fox in the Henhouse: How Privitization Threatens Democracy. (Written with Elizabeth Minnich). Martha noted in her forward that Elaine wrote about Kahn and Minnich's appearance on Democracy Now!
Ruth's Morning Edition Report just went up. Now that this is going up, it will stay our top entry until The Laura Flanders Show is underweigh. It's your reminder of what's on.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
jonathan tasini
ion sancho
si kahn
raul midon
eleanor clift
mark crispin miller
laura flanders
the laura flanders show
radio
like maria said paz
Ruth's Morning Edition Report
Ruth: Let's start out by noting CounterSpin. A guest this week is community favorite Naomi Klein. I'm glad to know that Diego listened Friday. He e-mailed to ask if it were "Ny-o-mee" or "Nay-o-mee." I believe that would depend upon how she pronounces her own name since either pronuciation is acceptable. Diego wrote that he loved the entire broadcast and intends to listen each week. If, like me, you listened Friday to WBAI, you may want to listen online at FAIR's site since the interview with Ms. Klein was interrupted.
The beginning of each program addresses recent headlines and I enjoy both the critiques and the humor offered in those. Steve Rendell and Peter Hart covered them this week. Diego asked that I please note Bill O'Reilly's falsehoods. Mr. O'Reilly, as most already knows, sees a war to worry about everywhere but in Iraq which explains both his priorities and why he has so much difficulty with facts. Mr. O'Reilly is convinced that there's a war on Christmas.
He has announced that two cities, Plano and Dodgeville, are strong centers of this supposed insurgency. In Plano, Mr. O'Reilly maintains, combat has grown so fierce that the schools have barred red and green clothing. No doubt Toby Keith is strumming his guitar and preparing a ditty. But before anyone air bombs the city of Plano, it should be noted that red and green clothing is not banned in Plano schools nor has it ever been. In Dodgeville, Mr. O'Reilly maintains, children are not allowed to sing Christmas songs and that the songs have been rewritten in this extreme attack on Christmas. Hold the white phosphorus. The reality is that the children do sing Christmas songs and they also sing, as part of a musical the children put on, their own words to the melodies of traditional Christmas tunes.
As a reliable informant, Bill O'Reilly's record is matching up with Ahmed Chalabi's.
On the war, CounterSpin noted that until the Bully Boy used the 30,000 figure for Iraqi casualities, the press was not very interested in the topic. The press was so disinterested that the question that prompted an answer on this topic came not from the press, but from a citizen at one of Bully Boy's speeches. The number itself is based upon tabulating civilian deaths reported by the media and other studies have placed the fatality count for Iraqis at a much higher number.
Richard Bernstein and the New York Times' attack on playwright Harold Pinter was noted for its linkage of the Sandanistas with al Quaeda. The linkage was a dubious one and I'll trust that we all grasp that and move on to Juan Williams.
Juan Williams enjoys sitting around on for the Fox "News" cameras. It is apparently an easy job that does not require that Mr. Williams be fully awake. Which would explain why, as CounterSpin pointed out, Mr. Williams made no real effort to correct William Kristol's fales claim that Richard Pryor was a "Reagan-ite." Mr. Pryor, who attended a function at the Reagan White House in honor of MLK, was on record as saying that obscenity to him was the Ronald Reagan claimed to be fighting communism by killing people. Those do not sound like the words of a Reagan-ite and, more curious, Juan Williams had reported on those statements for NPR following Mr. Pryor's death.
For those interested in the creation of a Department of Peace, please check out KPFT's Open Journal from Friday. Treva was en route to New Orleans, I believe, when she phoned to ask if I was listening? I was not until she gave me the heads up. Congress member Dennis Kucinnich has introduced a bill for the creation of a Department of Peace since 2001. Currently, there is a proposal in the Senate as well. The proposal is discussed in great detail and, unless I am mixed up on this, during this program a wonderful live version of John Lennon's "Imagine" was also featured. I usually prefer to focus on news in my listening choices; however, I was busy thinking of issues raised by Open Journal and dealing with an unusually active Elijah who was opposed to a nap on Friday, loudly opposed. He was strongly in favor of the music played on KPFT's Radio Active which was reason enough to listen but I also enjoyed the host bringing on his daughter to introduce a favorite song.
KPFT's After Hours is a favorite program of my grandson Jayson. It was airing in the early morning hours of Sunday but now has switched to late night Fridays. (Jayson, let me know if I got this wrong.)
KPFA's The Morning Show featured strong programming all week. I think my favorite discussion was on the issue of the out of control rent in the San Francisco area and how it effected families, traffic and so much more.. While a subject that does not effect me directly since I do not live on the west coast, I found it to be highly informative and involving. For me, that is a key factor in why I listen to The Morning Show. The discussions can cover any topic and they always involve me regardless of topic. A topic that they addressed throughout the week was executions with a focus on the excution of Stanley Tookie Williams.
Jayson pointed out that Andrea Lewis was spelled "Andre Lewis" two Saturdays ago. That was my typo and not a letter lost when C.I. spaced my copied e-mail into an entry. Dallas got the spelling correct for the tag but neither he nor C.I. noticed it in the entry. My apologies to Ms. Lewis. Ms. Lewis hosts The Morning Show with Philip Maldari who did a strong job this past week in the discussion on the coast line.
On Monday, WBAI's twice a month hourly program Law & Disorder aired. I wish this were a weekly show because the issues tackled are important ones. If you have not sampled this program yet, I will note a comment Tracey made. She was not feeling well Monday and spent the day. This was her first time listening and she enjoyed the interview style which involves the hosts handing off to one another throughout an interview.
A number of e-mails came in on KPFA's Sunday Salon expressing praise for the discussion on Iraq so I will note this Sunday's program. If you are seeing this after it originally posted, remember that Sunday Salon is archived:
Tomorrow at 9:00 am
Sunday Salon
This week on Sunday Salon...
In our first hour...
We'll follow-up 2 hours of live wrap-up coverage from the World Trade Organization's meetings in Hong Kong. Our guests will analyze what inside and outside the meetings, and what it all means moving forward.
In our second hour...
Author Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz joins us in-studio to talk about her new book Blood on the Border: A Memoir of the Contra War. Plus, an interview with poet, artist, libertarian theologian, and Nicaraguan Catholic Priest Father Ernesto Cardenal.
Listen to past shows, get contact and reference info for guests, see announcements of upcoming programs, and more at: SundaySalon.org
A number of e-mails also came in regarding the report I pulled last week. C.I. has a natural tendency to grab all the blame, and none of the glory, so to be clear, I made the decision. I was not asked to pull it. I did address, for most of the report, the issue that has been a topic in the community all week and most of last week. I was not asked to take that out. C.I. phoned Sunday morning to explain that an e-mail had come in and shared the e-mail with me. Based upon the contents of the e-mail, I decided to pull the report. I did not have the time to rethink the report and this was a large portion of the drafts I had already done on legal pads.
The sentiment of the community is that the e-mail was not a genuine one. I do not know that I can support that sentiment. I think it may have been genuine. Bear with me. When words have so little meaning, as I feel the person in question grants them, you can write anything and mean it at the time. So I am not sure that, at the moment she wrote the e-mail, she did not mean it.
I am sure of a few things which I will share now.
As part of the sixties wave of feminism, I do not know any woman who felt she was speaking out so that someday a show akin to Gidget could be praised at length. Gidget was a silly show with entertainment value perhaps. Certainly Sally Field went on to many genuine accomplishments.
But as war raged in Vietnam, as women sought to give voice to issues that society felt were "personal problems" (two examples: rape and domestic abuse), we had some serious battles on our hands. I do not think those battles are over.
I think the battles are just as serious today and I do not believe that feminism benefits from silence on the issue of the current war or in uncritical "shout outs" to TV shows. While anyone, feminist or not, is welcome to write about whatever topic they choose to, writing about a topic with the platitudes that were to be found in the "women's magazines" at the time was the reason Ms. and other magazines were needed.
In my (college) days we spoke of "contributions." Were you making a contribution or not? If someone is offended that her (or his) silence on the war is questioned, they would be better served (as would be their readers) if they attempted to address the issue of the war instead of hiding behind hurt feelings.
It also bears noting that a show starring a woman is not necessarily a feminist program nor is it necessarily good for women. Tracey and I watched both Commander-in-Chief and Veronica Mars this week together. I wanted her perspective in case my age was an obstacle to recognizing some noteable advancement. Neither of us saw anything praise worthy in terms of feminism with either shows.
What I saw was some fluff pretending to be serious and I did not grasp how either show could be seen as empowering by feminist. Tracey saw nothing of value either so I doubt my disinterest was due to my age alone.
Women's magazines of the period were happy to cheer uncritically this form of entertainment and, as stated before, one of the things feminists of my generation were taking on was that sort of journalism.
A woman or man is entitled to pursue any path they desire. However, if they identify as feminist, the label requires some grasp of feminism and the application of that grasp in their writing otherwise they are just churning out "copy." From television to children's literature, from movies to professions, women of my generation were dedicated to examing and addressing a variety of topics from a feminist perspective.
To remain silent on the issue of a Veronica Mars now false claim of rape would not have happened with women of my generation. We took issues like rape very seriously and we railed against harmful portrayals and harmful coverage. Someone who feels her feminism has been questioned might be better served in focusing less on her hurt feelings and more on her silence regarding the war and a lack of any critical examination in her "Here is what to watch! And it stars a woman!" advertising copy.
In closing, Kat is a wonderful writer. Never having been afraid to challenge conventional wisdom or sacred cows, she is also a brave writer. The demand, by a male, that she "correct" her opinion was offensive enough. When a woman stays silent on that or endorses it, she calls her own feminism into question. When she decides that the template for Kat's own writing is the criteria defined by a pedestrian writer, a male writer, she calls her own feminism into question.
Kat's writing is full of life and full of passion. Most importantly, she writes from a feminist perspective. That is a perspective that women of my generation fought hard to have heard so I will not support anyone, male or female, feminist or non-feminist, criticizing her for not playing it down the middle of the road in accepted, mainstream terms.
Having checked out the woman's site, I felt I was reading any paper USA's generic Sunday arts coverage. I saw "writing" that was a few sentences stringing together a bunch of links to other people's writing on TV portrayals of men in prison. I saw no feminist perspective in that "writing." I saw no thought in that "writing." It read like someone attempting to hop on the bandwagon and win approval from the mainstream by repeating claims coming from the mainstream. It would not have passed for feminism when I was a young woman and it does not pass for feminism today.
counterspin
iraq
larry bensky
andrea lewis
kpfa
the morning show
sunday salon with larry bensky
ruths morning edition report
the common ills
wbai
radio active
after hours
steve rendell
peter hart
kpft
feminism
The beginning of each program addresses recent headlines and I enjoy both the critiques and the humor offered in those. Steve Rendell and Peter Hart covered them this week. Diego asked that I please note Bill O'Reilly's falsehoods. Mr. O'Reilly, as most already knows, sees a war to worry about everywhere but in Iraq which explains both his priorities and why he has so much difficulty with facts. Mr. O'Reilly is convinced that there's a war on Christmas.
He has announced that two cities, Plano and Dodgeville, are strong centers of this supposed insurgency. In Plano, Mr. O'Reilly maintains, combat has grown so fierce that the schools have barred red and green clothing. No doubt Toby Keith is strumming his guitar and preparing a ditty. But before anyone air bombs the city of Plano, it should be noted that red and green clothing is not banned in Plano schools nor has it ever been. In Dodgeville, Mr. O'Reilly maintains, children are not allowed to sing Christmas songs and that the songs have been rewritten in this extreme attack on Christmas. Hold the white phosphorus. The reality is that the children do sing Christmas songs and they also sing, as part of a musical the children put on, their own words to the melodies of traditional Christmas tunes.
As a reliable informant, Bill O'Reilly's record is matching up with Ahmed Chalabi's.
On the war, CounterSpin noted that until the Bully Boy used the 30,000 figure for Iraqi casualities, the press was not very interested in the topic. The press was so disinterested that the question that prompted an answer on this topic came not from the press, but from a citizen at one of Bully Boy's speeches. The number itself is based upon tabulating civilian deaths reported by the media and other studies have placed the fatality count for Iraqis at a much higher number.
Richard Bernstein and the New York Times' attack on playwright Harold Pinter was noted for its linkage of the Sandanistas with al Quaeda. The linkage was a dubious one and I'll trust that we all grasp that and move on to Juan Williams.
Juan Williams enjoys sitting around on for the Fox "News" cameras. It is apparently an easy job that does not require that Mr. Williams be fully awake. Which would explain why, as CounterSpin pointed out, Mr. Williams made no real effort to correct William Kristol's fales claim that Richard Pryor was a "Reagan-ite." Mr. Pryor, who attended a function at the Reagan White House in honor of MLK, was on record as saying that obscenity to him was the Ronald Reagan claimed to be fighting communism by killing people. Those do not sound like the words of a Reagan-ite and, more curious, Juan Williams had reported on those statements for NPR following Mr. Pryor's death.
For those interested in the creation of a Department of Peace, please check out KPFT's Open Journal from Friday. Treva was en route to New Orleans, I believe, when she phoned to ask if I was listening? I was not until she gave me the heads up. Congress member Dennis Kucinnich has introduced a bill for the creation of a Department of Peace since 2001. Currently, there is a proposal in the Senate as well. The proposal is discussed in great detail and, unless I am mixed up on this, during this program a wonderful live version of John Lennon's "Imagine" was also featured. I usually prefer to focus on news in my listening choices; however, I was busy thinking of issues raised by Open Journal and dealing with an unusually active Elijah who was opposed to a nap on Friday, loudly opposed. He was strongly in favor of the music played on KPFT's Radio Active which was reason enough to listen but I also enjoyed the host bringing on his daughter to introduce a favorite song.
KPFT's After Hours is a favorite program of my grandson Jayson. It was airing in the early morning hours of Sunday but now has switched to late night Fridays. (Jayson, let me know if I got this wrong.)
KPFA's The Morning Show featured strong programming all week. I think my favorite discussion was on the issue of the out of control rent in the San Francisco area and how it effected families, traffic and so much more.. While a subject that does not effect me directly since I do not live on the west coast, I found it to be highly informative and involving. For me, that is a key factor in why I listen to The Morning Show. The discussions can cover any topic and they always involve me regardless of topic. A topic that they addressed throughout the week was executions with a focus on the excution of Stanley Tookie Williams.
Jayson pointed out that Andrea Lewis was spelled "Andre Lewis" two Saturdays ago. That was my typo and not a letter lost when C.I. spaced my copied e-mail into an entry. Dallas got the spelling correct for the tag but neither he nor C.I. noticed it in the entry. My apologies to Ms. Lewis. Ms. Lewis hosts The Morning Show with Philip Maldari who did a strong job this past week in the discussion on the coast line.
On Monday, WBAI's twice a month hourly program Law & Disorder aired. I wish this were a weekly show because the issues tackled are important ones. If you have not sampled this program yet, I will note a comment Tracey made. She was not feeling well Monday and spent the day. This was her first time listening and she enjoyed the interview style which involves the hosts handing off to one another throughout an interview.
A number of e-mails came in on KPFA's Sunday Salon expressing praise for the discussion on Iraq so I will note this Sunday's program. If you are seeing this after it originally posted, remember that Sunday Salon is archived:
Tomorrow at 9:00 am
Sunday Salon
This week on Sunday Salon...
In our first hour...
We'll follow-up 2 hours of live wrap-up coverage from the World Trade Organization's meetings in Hong Kong. Our guests will analyze what inside and outside the meetings, and what it all means moving forward.
In our second hour...
Author Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz joins us in-studio to talk about her new book Blood on the Border: A Memoir of the Contra War. Plus, an interview with poet, artist, libertarian theologian, and Nicaraguan Catholic Priest Father Ernesto Cardenal.
Listen to past shows, get contact and reference info for guests, see announcements of upcoming programs, and more at: SundaySalon.org
A number of e-mails also came in regarding the report I pulled last week. C.I. has a natural tendency to grab all the blame, and none of the glory, so to be clear, I made the decision. I was not asked to pull it. I did address, for most of the report, the issue that has been a topic in the community all week and most of last week. I was not asked to take that out. C.I. phoned Sunday morning to explain that an e-mail had come in and shared the e-mail with me. Based upon the contents of the e-mail, I decided to pull the report. I did not have the time to rethink the report and this was a large portion of the drafts I had already done on legal pads.
The sentiment of the community is that the e-mail was not a genuine one. I do not know that I can support that sentiment. I think it may have been genuine. Bear with me. When words have so little meaning, as I feel the person in question grants them, you can write anything and mean it at the time. So I am not sure that, at the moment she wrote the e-mail, she did not mean it.
I am sure of a few things which I will share now.
As part of the sixties wave of feminism, I do not know any woman who felt she was speaking out so that someday a show akin to Gidget could be praised at length. Gidget was a silly show with entertainment value perhaps. Certainly Sally Field went on to many genuine accomplishments.
But as war raged in Vietnam, as women sought to give voice to issues that society felt were "personal problems" (two examples: rape and domestic abuse), we had some serious battles on our hands. I do not think those battles are over.
I think the battles are just as serious today and I do not believe that feminism benefits from silence on the issue of the current war or in uncritical "shout outs" to TV shows. While anyone, feminist or not, is welcome to write about whatever topic they choose to, writing about a topic with the platitudes that were to be found in the "women's magazines" at the time was the reason Ms. and other magazines were needed.
In my (college) days we spoke of "contributions." Were you making a contribution or not? If someone is offended that her (or his) silence on the war is questioned, they would be better served (as would be their readers) if they attempted to address the issue of the war instead of hiding behind hurt feelings.
It also bears noting that a show starring a woman is not necessarily a feminist program nor is it necessarily good for women. Tracey and I watched both Commander-in-Chief and Veronica Mars this week together. I wanted her perspective in case my age was an obstacle to recognizing some noteable advancement. Neither of us saw anything praise worthy in terms of feminism with either shows.
What I saw was some fluff pretending to be serious and I did not grasp how either show could be seen as empowering by feminist. Tracey saw nothing of value either so I doubt my disinterest was due to my age alone.
Women's magazines of the period were happy to cheer uncritically this form of entertainment and, as stated before, one of the things feminists of my generation were taking on was that sort of journalism.
A woman or man is entitled to pursue any path they desire. However, if they identify as feminist, the label requires some grasp of feminism and the application of that grasp in their writing otherwise they are just churning out "copy." From television to children's literature, from movies to professions, women of my generation were dedicated to examing and addressing a variety of topics from a feminist perspective.
To remain silent on the issue of a Veronica Mars now false claim of rape would not have happened with women of my generation. We took issues like rape very seriously and we railed against harmful portrayals and harmful coverage. Someone who feels her feminism has been questioned might be better served in focusing less on her hurt feelings and more on her silence regarding the war and a lack of any critical examination in her "Here is what to watch! And it stars a woman!" advertising copy.
In closing, Kat is a wonderful writer. Never having been afraid to challenge conventional wisdom or sacred cows, she is also a brave writer. The demand, by a male, that she "correct" her opinion was offensive enough. When a woman stays silent on that or endorses it, she calls her own feminism into question. When she decides that the template for Kat's own writing is the criteria defined by a pedestrian writer, a male writer, she calls her own feminism into question.
Kat's writing is full of life and full of passion. Most importantly, she writes from a feminist perspective. That is a perspective that women of my generation fought hard to have heard so I will not support anyone, male or female, feminist or non-feminist, criticizing her for not playing it down the middle of the road in accepted, mainstream terms.
Having checked out the woman's site, I felt I was reading any paper USA's generic Sunday arts coverage. I saw "writing" that was a few sentences stringing together a bunch of links to other people's writing on TV portrayals of men in prison. I saw no feminist perspective in that "writing." I saw no thought in that "writing." It read like someone attempting to hop on the bandwagon and win approval from the mainstream by repeating claims coming from the mainstream. It would not have passed for feminism when I was a young woman and it does not pass for feminism today.
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A senior scholar at the Cato Institute, the respected libertarian research organization, has resigned after revelations that he took payments from the lobbyist Jack Abramoff in exchange for writing columns favorable to his clients.
The scholar, Doug Bandow, who wrote a column for the Copley News Service in addition to serving as a Cato fellow, acknowledged to executives at the organization that he had taken money from Mr. Abramoff after he was confronted about the payments by a reporter from BusinessWeek Online.
[. . .]
A second scholar, Peter Ferrara, of the Institute for Policy Innovation, acknowledged in the same BusinessWeek Online piece that he had also taken money from Mr. Abramoff in exchange for writing certain opinion articles. But Mr. Ferrara did not apologize for doing so. "I do that all the time," Mr. Ferrara was quoted as saying. He did not reply to an e-mail message seeking comment on Friday.
The above is from Anne E. Kornblut and Philip Shenon's "Columnist Resigns His Post, Admitting Lobbyist Paid Him" in this morning's New York Times. KeShawn e-mailed to note it and noted that Armstrong William has suffered very little fall out for his own "paid work in service of the Bully Boy."
Now what else is going up today? First, let's note that Seth posted Thursday on the nightmare of working retail during the holidays. Rebecca will be posting today and Cedric will as well. They both confirmed that and said to look for it. Kat will also be posting today. Tomorrow, there will be The Third Estate Sunday Review and Mike says that if he doesn't post today, he will post tomorrow.
Back to the Times. The Congress giveth (Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Eric Lichtblau's "Senators Thwart Bush Bid to Renew Law on Terrorism") and the Congress taketh (Eric Schmitt and Tim Golden's "Lawmakers Back Use of Evidence Coerced From Detainees"). On Schmitt and Golden's article, the paper wasn't interested in reporting on this until now. Michael Ratner and Amy Goodman addressed this two weeks ago on Democracy Now! but it wasn't news to the Times. This agreed provision appears in the McCain Ban on Torture that everyone seems so pleased as punch about.
So the position, if the bill's not further "revised" (gutted?) is now that torture is wrong. Except sometimes. That's not a ban. McCain will get all the usual praise and hoseannas but it's nonsense when the bill, as it stands now, currently contradicts itself so strikingly. If you're "banning torture," then you're banning it. "Banning" is not saying we're against it but we can use claims made while under torture as evidence.
From Golden and Schimtt's article:
The juxtaposition of the seemingly contradictory measures immediately led lawyers for Guantanamo prisoners to assert that Congressional Republicans were helping to preserve the utility of coercive interrogations that senior White House officials have argued are vital to the fight against war against terror.
That is exactly what it's doing. No Real Deal McCain once again comes up short but watch all the back patting that occurs on the Sunday chat & chews and watch the gas bags rush to prop up the image of McCain, one that should have been questioned long ago.
Both highlights from other outlets come from Zach. He's been very patient this week and for part of last as we've been stuck dealing with and focusing on a mess. As a result there have been very few evening posts here as I stuck to addressing members e-mails.
Zach is a big fan of Robert Parry's work and I'll note that barring any glitch in posting or any unforseen problem, we'll be discussing one of Parry's books in the book discussion at The Third Estate Sunday Review. But I appreciate Zach's patience as he's submitted several things for highlights and even been told, wrongly by me, that we'd catch one in a link-fest evening entry. That statement was made by me before the whole thing blew up again.
So let's note two of the things Zach wanted highlighted. (I e-mailed him to check that two were the two most important to him. He went with one and offered a new one so those are the two we're noting. And thank you to Zach and every other member for their patience.)
From Robert Parry's "Is Bush Leveling With America?" (Consortium News):
George W. Bush is winning praise from the major U.S. news media for finally leveling with the American people about the difficulties in Iraq. But Bush is still making many of the same false or fuzzy assertions that guided the United States through the first 1,000 days of war.
By refusing to correct or discard these fallacies in four recent speeches and in other comments on Iraq, Bush seems to be holding to an unrealistic course that will lead to an ever-lengthening list of dead American soldiers and Iraqis.
For instance, one of Bush’s favorite arguments continues to be that the U.S. invasion was justified by the goal of imposing democracy on Iraq because "democracies are peaceful countries" -- and, therefore, presumably an Iraq with democratic institutions should become peaceful.
The internal contradiction of this rationale -- from the leader of "the world’s preeminent democracy" which invaded Iraq in 2003 under false premises -- goes unnoticed by the U.S. press corps even though it watched the invasion unfold. In an Orwellian fashion, the news media accepts that Bush’s going to war was evidence of his peaceful intent.
Bush’s notion that democracies are intrinsically "peaceful" is also not supported by history. Democracies as diverse as the United States, France, Great Britain and India have fought wars against neighbors, in colonial possessions or in nations far away -- Vietnam, Mexico, Algeria, South Africa, the Philippines, Cuba and Kashmir, to name a few.
The United States and other powerful democracies also have supported proxy wars in even a longer list of countries. U.S. interventions of various types have touched nearly every country in Latin America and many of the islands of the Caribbean Sea.
War Hysteria
Democracies also have shown themselves to be no more immune from war fever than autocratic states, as was demonstrated by the war hysteria that swept the United States in late 2002 and early 2003.
As Bush’s supporters poured French wine into gutters and ran trucks over Dixie Chicks CDs, the U.S. political debate was drowned out by full-throated calls for invading Iraq. Skeptics were largely silenced, often excluded from the major media. Constitutional checks and balances did nothing to slow Bush’s rush to war.
The second highlight is from Robert Parry's "Spying & the Public's Right to Know" (Consortium News):
The New York Times has disclosed that George W. Bush secretly waived rules restricting electronic surveillance inside the United States, allowing spying on hundreds of Americans without a court warrant. But almost as stunning was the Times admission that it had held the story for a year.
Indeed, it appears the information about Bush's secret spy order was leaked before Election 2004, but was kept from the American people because the Bush administration warned Times executives that the story’s publication might endanger national security.
In finally publishing the story on Dec. 16, more than 13 months after President Bush won a second term, the Times gave few details about specifically why it withheld the story in 2004 and then decided to print it now.
The article stated that "the White House asked The New York Times not to publish this article, arguing that it could jeopardize continuing investigations and alert would-be terrorists that they might be under scrutiny. After meeting with senior administration officials to hear their concerns, the newspaper delayed publication for a year to conduct additional reporting."
In the final weeks before Election 2004, Bush administration officials might have been nervous, too, that the revelation that Bush had asserted broad presidential authority in overriding legal constraints on domestic spying could have played into the hands of Democrat John Kerry. But there is no indication that political concerns were raised with New York Times executives.
Still, there is an unwritten rule in elite U.S. journalism that sensitive stories should not be published in the days before an election so as not to skew the outcome. A countervailing view holds that newsworthy information should be reported to the American people whenever a story is ready, regardless of the political calendar.
I'll add that the administration could have come forward with this information before the Times did. As with Abu Ghraib, they were content to stay silent because embarrassment is apparantly not a component in the make up of a Bully Boy.
What else do we have today? Maria's still working on her contribution. If it's not up before The Laura Flanders Show begins, it will be up sometime after. Ruth's latest will be up this morning as well the entry on The Laura Flanders Show. And on The Laura Flanders Show, we'll note two guests: Mark Crispin Miller and Eleanor Clift.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
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The scholar, Doug Bandow, who wrote a column for the Copley News Service in addition to serving as a Cato fellow, acknowledged to executives at the organization that he had taken money from Mr. Abramoff after he was confronted about the payments by a reporter from BusinessWeek Online.
[. . .]
A second scholar, Peter Ferrara, of the Institute for Policy Innovation, acknowledged in the same BusinessWeek Online piece that he had also taken money from Mr. Abramoff in exchange for writing certain opinion articles. But Mr. Ferrara did not apologize for doing so. "I do that all the time," Mr. Ferrara was quoted as saying. He did not reply to an e-mail message seeking comment on Friday.
The above is from Anne E. Kornblut and Philip Shenon's "Columnist Resigns His Post, Admitting Lobbyist Paid Him" in this morning's New York Times. KeShawn e-mailed to note it and noted that Armstrong William has suffered very little fall out for his own "paid work in service of the Bully Boy."
Now what else is going up today? First, let's note that Seth posted Thursday on the nightmare of working retail during the holidays. Rebecca will be posting today and Cedric will as well. They both confirmed that and said to look for it. Kat will also be posting today. Tomorrow, there will be The Third Estate Sunday Review and Mike says that if he doesn't post today, he will post tomorrow.
Back to the Times. The Congress giveth (Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Eric Lichtblau's "Senators Thwart Bush Bid to Renew Law on Terrorism") and the Congress taketh (Eric Schmitt and Tim Golden's "Lawmakers Back Use of Evidence Coerced From Detainees"). On Schmitt and Golden's article, the paper wasn't interested in reporting on this until now. Michael Ratner and Amy Goodman addressed this two weeks ago on Democracy Now! but it wasn't news to the Times. This agreed provision appears in the McCain Ban on Torture that everyone seems so pleased as punch about.
So the position, if the bill's not further "revised" (gutted?) is now that torture is wrong. Except sometimes. That's not a ban. McCain will get all the usual praise and hoseannas but it's nonsense when the bill, as it stands now, currently contradicts itself so strikingly. If you're "banning torture," then you're banning it. "Banning" is not saying we're against it but we can use claims made while under torture as evidence.
From Golden and Schimtt's article:
The juxtaposition of the seemingly contradictory measures immediately led lawyers for Guantanamo prisoners to assert that Congressional Republicans were helping to preserve the utility of coercive interrogations that senior White House officials have argued are vital to the fight against war against terror.
That is exactly what it's doing. No Real Deal McCain once again comes up short but watch all the back patting that occurs on the Sunday chat & chews and watch the gas bags rush to prop up the image of McCain, one that should have been questioned long ago.
Both highlights from other outlets come from Zach. He's been very patient this week and for part of last as we've been stuck dealing with and focusing on a mess. As a result there have been very few evening posts here as I stuck to addressing members e-mails.
Zach is a big fan of Robert Parry's work and I'll note that barring any glitch in posting or any unforseen problem, we'll be discussing one of Parry's books in the book discussion at The Third Estate Sunday Review. But I appreciate Zach's patience as he's submitted several things for highlights and even been told, wrongly by me, that we'd catch one in a link-fest evening entry. That statement was made by me before the whole thing blew up again.
So let's note two of the things Zach wanted highlighted. (I e-mailed him to check that two were the two most important to him. He went with one and offered a new one so those are the two we're noting. And thank you to Zach and every other member for their patience.)
From Robert Parry's "Is Bush Leveling With America?" (Consortium News):
George W. Bush is winning praise from the major U.S. news media for finally leveling with the American people about the difficulties in Iraq. But Bush is still making many of the same false or fuzzy assertions that guided the United States through the first 1,000 days of war.
By refusing to correct or discard these fallacies in four recent speeches and in other comments on Iraq, Bush seems to be holding to an unrealistic course that will lead to an ever-lengthening list of dead American soldiers and Iraqis.
For instance, one of Bush’s favorite arguments continues to be that the U.S. invasion was justified by the goal of imposing democracy on Iraq because "democracies are peaceful countries" -- and, therefore, presumably an Iraq with democratic institutions should become peaceful.
The internal contradiction of this rationale -- from the leader of "the world’s preeminent democracy" which invaded Iraq in 2003 under false premises -- goes unnoticed by the U.S. press corps even though it watched the invasion unfold. In an Orwellian fashion, the news media accepts that Bush’s going to war was evidence of his peaceful intent.
Bush’s notion that democracies are intrinsically "peaceful" is also not supported by history. Democracies as diverse as the United States, France, Great Britain and India have fought wars against neighbors, in colonial possessions or in nations far away -- Vietnam, Mexico, Algeria, South Africa, the Philippines, Cuba and Kashmir, to name a few.
The United States and other powerful democracies also have supported proxy wars in even a longer list of countries. U.S. interventions of various types have touched nearly every country in Latin America and many of the islands of the Caribbean Sea.
War Hysteria
Democracies also have shown themselves to be no more immune from war fever than autocratic states, as was demonstrated by the war hysteria that swept the United States in late 2002 and early 2003.
As Bush’s supporters poured French wine into gutters and ran trucks over Dixie Chicks CDs, the U.S. political debate was drowned out by full-throated calls for invading Iraq. Skeptics were largely silenced, often excluded from the major media. Constitutional checks and balances did nothing to slow Bush’s rush to war.
The second highlight is from Robert Parry's "Spying & the Public's Right to Know" (Consortium News):
The New York Times has disclosed that George W. Bush secretly waived rules restricting electronic surveillance inside the United States, allowing spying on hundreds of Americans without a court warrant. But almost as stunning was the Times admission that it had held the story for a year.
Indeed, it appears the information about Bush's secret spy order was leaked before Election 2004, but was kept from the American people because the Bush administration warned Times executives that the story’s publication might endanger national security.
In finally publishing the story on Dec. 16, more than 13 months after President Bush won a second term, the Times gave few details about specifically why it withheld the story in 2004 and then decided to print it now.
The article stated that "the White House asked The New York Times not to publish this article, arguing that it could jeopardize continuing investigations and alert would-be terrorists that they might be under scrutiny. After meeting with senior administration officials to hear their concerns, the newspaper delayed publication for a year to conduct additional reporting."
In the final weeks before Election 2004, Bush administration officials might have been nervous, too, that the revelation that Bush had asserted broad presidential authority in overriding legal constraints on domestic spying could have played into the hands of Democrat John Kerry. But there is no indication that political concerns were raised with New York Times executives.
Still, there is an unwritten rule in elite U.S. journalism that sensitive stories should not be published in the days before an election so as not to skew the outcome. A countervailing view holds that newsworthy information should be reported to the American people whenever a story is ready, regardless of the political calendar.
I'll add that the administration could have come forward with this information before the Times did. As with Abu Ghraib, they were content to stay silent because embarrassment is apparantly not a component in the make up of a Bully Boy.
What else do we have today? Maria's still working on her contribution. If it's not up before The Laura Flanders Show begins, it will be up sometime after. Ruth's latest will be up this morning as well the entry on The Laura Flanders Show. And on The Laura Flanders Show, we'll note two guests: Mark Crispin Miller and Eleanor Clift.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
the new york times
anne e. kornblut
philip shenon
sheryl gay stolberg
eric schmitt
eric lichtblau
tim golden
robert parry
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mark crispin miller
eleanor clift
seth in the city
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mikey likes it
cedrics big mix
kats korner
NYT: "Behind Power, One Principle as Bush Pushes Prerogatives" (Scott Shane)
From the government's detention of Americans as "enemy combatants" to the just-disclosed eavesdropping in the United States without court warrants, the administration has relied on an unusually expansive interpretation of the president's authority. That stance has given the administration leeway for decisive action, but it has come under severe criticism from some scholars and the courts.
With the strong support of Vice President Dick Cheney, legal theorists in the White House and Justice Department have argued that previous presidents unjustifiably gave up some of the legitimate power of their office. The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, made it especially critical that the full power of the executive be restored and exercised, they said.
[. . .]
"Obviously we have to do things differently because of the terrorist threat," said Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, former general counsel of both N.S.A. and the Central Intelligence Agency, who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations. "But to do it without the participation of the Congress and the courts is unwise in the extreme."
The above excerpt is from Scott Shane's "Behind Power, One Principle as Bush Pushes Prerogatives" in this morning's New York Times. Overall, it offers perspective. Left unstated is that Bully Boy came into office spoiling for a fight. The three branches always attempt to grab power for themselves. (Which hopefully will bode well for civil liberties regarding some of the cases winding their way through the courts.) However, it's rare that someone so antagonistic to the system he (and it's been a he thus far) wants to represent as "leader" gets away with so little comment for so long.
You've seen that hostility in play with the executive orders (such as the one regarding presidential papers -- good thing Bully Boy was able to issue that order just as Poppy's papers were set to become public!). You've seen it with attacks on Congress and, more often, on the Court. Think of the nonsense involved in the two "Justice Sundays" and how there was no effort made to distance the administration from those events. Think of how some 'vangicals aren't kept at arms length despite wishing death on on some sittings Justices.
Before 9/11, the mainstream media as a whole was content to lightly josh the Bully Boy, after 9/11 they attempted to canonize him. But the thing that puts the bully in the Bully Boy has been evident all along. It's very sad that a supposed free press has failed to extensively examine the hostility he's exhibited to all branches of government.
Recent history would carry it back to Nixon and his "crippled presidency" (corrupt presidency is far more accurate) and the retaliation for what was done to a 'poor' man who never wanted to do anything but spy on people, undermine elections, circumvent the rule of law and pull the rug out from under democracy. Certain people on the right came out of Watergate spoiling for a fight with reality and, in Bully Boy, they found their bully. Only someone with so much disdain for the workings of democracy would welcome criminals (pardoned, yes, by his father) back to public life.
We'll also note this, from Shane's article, because someone who should have known better made a dithering idiot out of herself:
William C. Banks, a widely respected authority on national security law at Syracuse University, said the N.S.A. revelation came as a shock, even given the administration's past assertions of presidential powers.
[. . .]
Professor Banks said the president's power as commander in chief "is really limited to situations involving military force - anything needed to repel an attack. I don't think the commander in chief power allows" the warrantless eavesdropping, he said.
Get it, Diane Sawyer? Your nonsense in an attempt to shame the Dixie Chicks, in service of the Bully Boy?, was embarrassing for a chattering head, it was all the more shameful coming from someone calling herself a journalist. How many times did she repeat "commander-in-chief"? The Dixie Chicks didn't enlist in the armed forces. Apparently Sawyer believed that she herself had. Years from now that interview should haunt Sawyer, someone who damn well knew better, because it so crossed the line. And it didn't cross it because she was attempting to do journalism so there's no "I may have overstepped" excuse. She threw journalism out the window with that interview and her right to represent herself as a journalist without being greeted with snickers.
Sadly, another interview will haunt her (one in the nineties) and probably overshadow this one. (Gossip usually trumps serious criticism.) But the shaming of the Dixie Chicks should be remembered and used as a case study for how not to conduct an interview unless you are working for state controlled media.
Dallas highlights BuzzFlash's interview with Gary Hart, "Senator Gary Hart Challenges the Unholy Alliance of 'Faith' and Government:"
BuzzFlash: You have a section in God and Caesar in America called the "Awful Warmth of the Gospel of Jesus." Drawing on your background -- Bethany Nazarene College, Yale Divinity School, and the Church of the Nazarene -- you seem extremely comfortable talking about Jesus. But you’re very uncomfortable with how Jesus has become a political football. You comment that we’ve gotten to the point that there are arguments over what political party He might belong to if He were around today. Can you embellish that a little bit more?
Gary Hart: I made that comment with my tongue in my cheek. I'm not "uncomfortable" with the way Jesus is being tossed around -- I'm angry about it. I'd go well beyond discomfort. I think the religious right is making Jesus into some kind of Old Testament wrathful prophet who is judgmental, divisive, and opposed to any notion of liberalism, whereas the teachings of Jesus tell quite a different story. He was tolerant. He was forgiving. He preached love, not hate. In many ways, the literal reading of the teachings of Jesus in the gospels, particularly not filtered through the later apostles in the New Testament, but the literal teachings of Jesus as portrayed in the gospels, are almost totally at odds with the teachings of the present-day religious right.
[. . .]
BuzzFlash: America is composed of many different faiths. Even within Christianity, there are many different denominations and viewpoints. Sometimes we lose sight of that, because the far right -- the Pat Robertson right and the Jerry Falwell right -- tend to assert themselves as though they’re speaking for all of Christianity. They’re really speaking for a small segment of Christianity.
Gary Hart: No question. It's not that they tend to -- it's that they assume to. It's an assumption that they are the spokespersons for all Christianity, and that's underwritten in everything they say. There's a man who appears on TV from the Southern Baptist Convention -- when you listen to him talk, he positions himself as a spokesperson for all Christianity. This is not true, and I think it's particularly dangerous for people who are not Christians and who do not quite understand the complexity of, first of all, the Reformation and the split between Protestantism and Catholicism, and then the multiplicity of Protestant denominations. There are lots of variations, by the way, in Catholicism, as well. But among the Protestants, each tends to design his own church. And clearly the people on the right had no authority to speak for other Christians.
On the other hand, part of the blame rests with the so-called mainstream Christian churches that haven't done a very good job of communicating a different message to the public at large. If you asked a hundred Americans what the Methodist position on the war was, they'd probably guess it was in support.
BuzzFlash also has a strong editorial that we're going to cite at The Third Estate Sunday Review. You can read it now but since the piece for The Third Estate Sunday Review's not written yet, I don't want to pull quote and comment on something that others might be wanting to. Back to Dallas, who choose an excerpt and wanted to add his endorsement for an organization or outlet worthy of noting this month.
Dallas: I was linked to by BuzzFlash so I'll note that upfront in case anyone's thinking, "Didn't they link to him?" They did link to the thing I wrote on their NCR CDs. I had given to NPR in the past. The NCR CDs and their refusal to listen to the request that they offer Democracy Now! were my reasons for ceasing my contributions to my local NPR. This year, instead of giving to NPR, I gave to Pacifica. But I also "give" to BuzzFlash. I say "give" because it's not really a hard gift to make. I'm sure that many BuzzFlash readers give money with no return other than knowing that they're helping one of, my opinion, the best online sources of news available. I'm a little more "selfish." I "give" by purchasing premiums. The NCR CDs are one example. I also have DVDs and books I've purchased through BuzzFlash. It's a way to show some support and to get something I can keep or share or give as a gift. Why do I give to BuzzFlash? One reason is it's easy to give. They make it easy to order and pay online (which is how I do it) or to do it by sending in a check or money order. They also offer a wide range of premiums. Some of them, I see and know that's not for me and others are very much things I'm interested in. The point there is that there's a huge variety in the premiums, so you should check it out. You have no idea what you'll find until you do. A book, a DVD, a CD, a tote bag, a bumper sticker, you never know until you check it out. When you purchase one of their premiums a small portion of the cost stays with BuzzFlash. I have friends who will point to a book and say, "Well it's on sale at Borders." It is on sale at Borders. But what's Borders really doing for you? Are they writing strong editorials? Are they pouring all over the web trying to find the news you need to know and providing it to you? BuzzFlash does that. They offer original content and I'm really excited about the return of Maureen Farrell. I know that everyone in the community has an organization that they are partial to. For me, it's BuzzFlash. I also know that we're highlighting worthy sites that, if you have the money, are worthy of making a contribution to. You might not have the money. If so, you should note that BuzzFlash is up there free for everyone. It's not the New York Times asking that you subscribe in order to read "premium content." And the content includes interviews like the one with former Senator Gary Hart. Naomi Klein, Molly Ivins, Danny Schechter, Laura Flanders, Amy Goodman, Jesse Jackson Jr., Robert Parry, Bernie Sanders, Randi Rhodes, Gloria Steinem, Greg Palast, Margaret Cho, Jim Hightower, Cindy Sheehan, Joe Wilson and many others have also been interviewed. Did you hear Naomi Klein interviewed on NPR by an NPR show? Maybe you're lucky and your NPR carries Democracy Now! and you heard her via that Pacifia show. But NPR didn't book her on the "news" shows while I was still listening. BuzzFlash did provide an interview with her. In their original content, they provide a space to discuss issues that you may not find on TV or radio unless you really work hard to hunt them down. With BuzzFlash, you're just a click away from the voices that you can't find in the mainstream media. Gina and Krista are reminding everyone to pick their selections for the year-in-review and they're noting that you better be prepared to say something if you want your choice noted here. I agree with that. There are too many members and just saying "BuzzFlash" or something else and expecting C.I. to come up with a commentary for all the choices is expecting too much from one person. So I've already made my selection and written my commentary and, no surprise, it's BuzzFlash. I think that's going to go up on Christmas. [C.I. note: That is the plan. No later than the evening of the 25th.] While I was writing that, I thought about the fact that I purchase premiums from BuzzFlash throughout the year and thought that might be a point to make to the community. With Christmas a week away, most people who might think of giving may be tapped out. If that's the case, and if you have money to give, I'll make a different suggestion. Think about what BuzzFlash provides and think about it throughout the next months. Check out their premiums and see if there's not something offered that you can purchase. It may mean you pay four dollars more than at Borders if they have the book, DVD, CD or whatever on sale, but I think it's worth a few dollars more to show support for an organization that provides so much. So just think about it, if you have the money to spare, and see if there's not a way for you to support BuzzFlash. Lastly, as C.I. noted last year between Christmas and New Year's, BuzzFlash wasn't on vacation. They're up seven days a week, posting new links and new content all the time.
Dallas hunts down his own links (and the ones for The Third Estate Sunday Review as well as ones here anytime I'm backed up -- all of which is appreciated) but if you're not sure how to do links, you can write your commentary, as Dallas and others have, and I (or Dallas or Martha) will hunt down the links for you. Again, due to some feeling that their own favorites are short changed, I'm not going to write your endorsement for you. Dallas noted the round-robin and, for the few members who didn't sign up for that, I'll note that Gina and Krista are reminding everyone to write their own commentaries for the year-in-review. That decision was made by our ombudsperson Beth in a column she wrote two Fridays ago responding to Bonnie's question. There should be at least two sections where we can just cite things so if you're not comfortable with writing a commentary, you can weigh in on that. But Beth's correct that these are members noting what stood out to them and if it stood out to you enough to create a category, it should have a commentary of some form from you.
Beth noted her question to me of, "Is there a limit?" and my response of no. But there is a cut off date. That's tomorrow. And Gina and Krista have noted that in the round-robins. Unless you don't get the round-robins, that will be enforced. If you don't get the round-robins, you've got until Wednesday (my decision and Beth can evaluate the wisdom of that if she wants). That's due to the fact that there's been no note here. There's been so much else to note that I've failed on that. I'll also note that last year, Keesha's award didn't make it into the first published version. That might happen again. If you submitted something and, when it goes up, don't see it noted, please e-mail so we can get included. I make mistakes all the time and could overlook something again this year.
Beth's doing a year-in-review for her column in the round-robin next Friday. In addition, she hopes to be able to pull together something for the year-in-review. (Something original, not a summary or excerpt of her ombudsperson columns.)
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
the new york times
scott shane
buzzflash
gary hart
With the strong support of Vice President Dick Cheney, legal theorists in the White House and Justice Department have argued that previous presidents unjustifiably gave up some of the legitimate power of their office. The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, made it especially critical that the full power of the executive be restored and exercised, they said.
[. . .]
"Obviously we have to do things differently because of the terrorist threat," said Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker, former general counsel of both N.S.A. and the Central Intelligence Agency, who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations. "But to do it without the participation of the Congress and the courts is unwise in the extreme."
The above excerpt is from Scott Shane's "Behind Power, One Principle as Bush Pushes Prerogatives" in this morning's New York Times. Overall, it offers perspective. Left unstated is that Bully Boy came into office spoiling for a fight. The three branches always attempt to grab power for themselves. (Which hopefully will bode well for civil liberties regarding some of the cases winding their way through the courts.) However, it's rare that someone so antagonistic to the system he (and it's been a he thus far) wants to represent as "leader" gets away with so little comment for so long.
You've seen that hostility in play with the executive orders (such as the one regarding presidential papers -- good thing Bully Boy was able to issue that order just as Poppy's papers were set to become public!). You've seen it with attacks on Congress and, more often, on the Court. Think of the nonsense involved in the two "Justice Sundays" and how there was no effort made to distance the administration from those events. Think of how some 'vangicals aren't kept at arms length despite wishing death on on some sittings Justices.
Before 9/11, the mainstream media as a whole was content to lightly josh the Bully Boy, after 9/11 they attempted to canonize him. But the thing that puts the bully in the Bully Boy has been evident all along. It's very sad that a supposed free press has failed to extensively examine the hostility he's exhibited to all branches of government.
Recent history would carry it back to Nixon and his "crippled presidency" (corrupt presidency is far more accurate) and the retaliation for what was done to a 'poor' man who never wanted to do anything but spy on people, undermine elections, circumvent the rule of law and pull the rug out from under democracy. Certain people on the right came out of Watergate spoiling for a fight with reality and, in Bully Boy, they found their bully. Only someone with so much disdain for the workings of democracy would welcome criminals (pardoned, yes, by his father) back to public life.
We'll also note this, from Shane's article, because someone who should have known better made a dithering idiot out of herself:
William C. Banks, a widely respected authority on national security law at Syracuse University, said the N.S.A. revelation came as a shock, even given the administration's past assertions of presidential powers.
[. . .]
Professor Banks said the president's power as commander in chief "is really limited to situations involving military force - anything needed to repel an attack. I don't think the commander in chief power allows" the warrantless eavesdropping, he said.
Get it, Diane Sawyer? Your nonsense in an attempt to shame the Dixie Chicks, in service of the Bully Boy?, was embarrassing for a chattering head, it was all the more shameful coming from someone calling herself a journalist. How many times did she repeat "commander-in-chief"? The Dixie Chicks didn't enlist in the armed forces. Apparently Sawyer believed that she herself had. Years from now that interview should haunt Sawyer, someone who damn well knew better, because it so crossed the line. And it didn't cross it because she was attempting to do journalism so there's no "I may have overstepped" excuse. She threw journalism out the window with that interview and her right to represent herself as a journalist without being greeted with snickers.
Sadly, another interview will haunt her (one in the nineties) and probably overshadow this one. (Gossip usually trumps serious criticism.) But the shaming of the Dixie Chicks should be remembered and used as a case study for how not to conduct an interview unless you are working for state controlled media.
Dallas highlights BuzzFlash's interview with Gary Hart, "Senator Gary Hart Challenges the Unholy Alliance of 'Faith' and Government:"
BuzzFlash: You have a section in God and Caesar in America called the "Awful Warmth of the Gospel of Jesus." Drawing on your background -- Bethany Nazarene College, Yale Divinity School, and the Church of the Nazarene -- you seem extremely comfortable talking about Jesus. But you’re very uncomfortable with how Jesus has become a political football. You comment that we’ve gotten to the point that there are arguments over what political party He might belong to if He were around today. Can you embellish that a little bit more?
Gary Hart: I made that comment with my tongue in my cheek. I'm not "uncomfortable" with the way Jesus is being tossed around -- I'm angry about it. I'd go well beyond discomfort. I think the religious right is making Jesus into some kind of Old Testament wrathful prophet who is judgmental, divisive, and opposed to any notion of liberalism, whereas the teachings of Jesus tell quite a different story. He was tolerant. He was forgiving. He preached love, not hate. In many ways, the literal reading of the teachings of Jesus in the gospels, particularly not filtered through the later apostles in the New Testament, but the literal teachings of Jesus as portrayed in the gospels, are almost totally at odds with the teachings of the present-day religious right.
[. . .]
BuzzFlash: America is composed of many different faiths. Even within Christianity, there are many different denominations and viewpoints. Sometimes we lose sight of that, because the far right -- the Pat Robertson right and the Jerry Falwell right -- tend to assert themselves as though they’re speaking for all of Christianity. They’re really speaking for a small segment of Christianity.
Gary Hart: No question. It's not that they tend to -- it's that they assume to. It's an assumption that they are the spokespersons for all Christianity, and that's underwritten in everything they say. There's a man who appears on TV from the Southern Baptist Convention -- when you listen to him talk, he positions himself as a spokesperson for all Christianity. This is not true, and I think it's particularly dangerous for people who are not Christians and who do not quite understand the complexity of, first of all, the Reformation and the split between Protestantism and Catholicism, and then the multiplicity of Protestant denominations. There are lots of variations, by the way, in Catholicism, as well. But among the Protestants, each tends to design his own church. And clearly the people on the right had no authority to speak for other Christians.
On the other hand, part of the blame rests with the so-called mainstream Christian churches that haven't done a very good job of communicating a different message to the public at large. If you asked a hundred Americans what the Methodist position on the war was, they'd probably guess it was in support.
BuzzFlash also has a strong editorial that we're going to cite at The Third Estate Sunday Review. You can read it now but since the piece for The Third Estate Sunday Review's not written yet, I don't want to pull quote and comment on something that others might be wanting to. Back to Dallas, who choose an excerpt and wanted to add his endorsement for an organization or outlet worthy of noting this month.
Dallas: I was linked to by BuzzFlash so I'll note that upfront in case anyone's thinking, "Didn't they link to him?" They did link to the thing I wrote on their NCR CDs. I had given to NPR in the past. The NCR CDs and their refusal to listen to the request that they offer Democracy Now! were my reasons for ceasing my contributions to my local NPR. This year, instead of giving to NPR, I gave to Pacifica. But I also "give" to BuzzFlash. I say "give" because it's not really a hard gift to make. I'm sure that many BuzzFlash readers give money with no return other than knowing that they're helping one of, my opinion, the best online sources of news available. I'm a little more "selfish." I "give" by purchasing premiums. The NCR CDs are one example. I also have DVDs and books I've purchased through BuzzFlash. It's a way to show some support and to get something I can keep or share or give as a gift. Why do I give to BuzzFlash? One reason is it's easy to give. They make it easy to order and pay online (which is how I do it) or to do it by sending in a check or money order. They also offer a wide range of premiums. Some of them, I see and know that's not for me and others are very much things I'm interested in. The point there is that there's a huge variety in the premiums, so you should check it out. You have no idea what you'll find until you do. A book, a DVD, a CD, a tote bag, a bumper sticker, you never know until you check it out. When you purchase one of their premiums a small portion of the cost stays with BuzzFlash. I have friends who will point to a book and say, "Well it's on sale at Borders." It is on sale at Borders. But what's Borders really doing for you? Are they writing strong editorials? Are they pouring all over the web trying to find the news you need to know and providing it to you? BuzzFlash does that. They offer original content and I'm really excited about the return of Maureen Farrell. I know that everyone in the community has an organization that they are partial to. For me, it's BuzzFlash. I also know that we're highlighting worthy sites that, if you have the money, are worthy of making a contribution to. You might not have the money. If so, you should note that BuzzFlash is up there free for everyone. It's not the New York Times asking that you subscribe in order to read "premium content." And the content includes interviews like the one with former Senator Gary Hart. Naomi Klein, Molly Ivins, Danny Schechter, Laura Flanders, Amy Goodman, Jesse Jackson Jr., Robert Parry, Bernie Sanders, Randi Rhodes, Gloria Steinem, Greg Palast, Margaret Cho, Jim Hightower, Cindy Sheehan, Joe Wilson and many others have also been interviewed. Did you hear Naomi Klein interviewed on NPR by an NPR show? Maybe you're lucky and your NPR carries Democracy Now! and you heard her via that Pacifia show. But NPR didn't book her on the "news" shows while I was still listening. BuzzFlash did provide an interview with her. In their original content, they provide a space to discuss issues that you may not find on TV or radio unless you really work hard to hunt them down. With BuzzFlash, you're just a click away from the voices that you can't find in the mainstream media. Gina and Krista are reminding everyone to pick their selections for the year-in-review and they're noting that you better be prepared to say something if you want your choice noted here. I agree with that. There are too many members and just saying "BuzzFlash" or something else and expecting C.I. to come up with a commentary for all the choices is expecting too much from one person. So I've already made my selection and written my commentary and, no surprise, it's BuzzFlash. I think that's going to go up on Christmas. [C.I. note: That is the plan. No later than the evening of the 25th.] While I was writing that, I thought about the fact that I purchase premiums from BuzzFlash throughout the year and thought that might be a point to make to the community. With Christmas a week away, most people who might think of giving may be tapped out. If that's the case, and if you have money to give, I'll make a different suggestion. Think about what BuzzFlash provides and think about it throughout the next months. Check out their premiums and see if there's not something offered that you can purchase. It may mean you pay four dollars more than at Borders if they have the book, DVD, CD or whatever on sale, but I think it's worth a few dollars more to show support for an organization that provides so much. So just think about it, if you have the money to spare, and see if there's not a way for you to support BuzzFlash. Lastly, as C.I. noted last year between Christmas and New Year's, BuzzFlash wasn't on vacation. They're up seven days a week, posting new links and new content all the time.
Dallas hunts down his own links (and the ones for The Third Estate Sunday Review as well as ones here anytime I'm backed up -- all of which is appreciated) but if you're not sure how to do links, you can write your commentary, as Dallas and others have, and I (or Dallas or Martha) will hunt down the links for you. Again, due to some feeling that their own favorites are short changed, I'm not going to write your endorsement for you. Dallas noted the round-robin and, for the few members who didn't sign up for that, I'll note that Gina and Krista are reminding everyone to write their own commentaries for the year-in-review. That decision was made by our ombudsperson Beth in a column she wrote two Fridays ago responding to Bonnie's question. There should be at least two sections where we can just cite things so if you're not comfortable with writing a commentary, you can weigh in on that. But Beth's correct that these are members noting what stood out to them and if it stood out to you enough to create a category, it should have a commentary of some form from you.
Beth noted her question to me of, "Is there a limit?" and my response of no. But there is a cut off date. That's tomorrow. And Gina and Krista have noted that in the round-robins. Unless you don't get the round-robins, that will be enforced. If you don't get the round-robins, you've got until Wednesday (my decision and Beth can evaluate the wisdom of that if she wants). That's due to the fact that there's been no note here. There's been so much else to note that I've failed on that. I'll also note that last year, Keesha's award didn't make it into the first published version. That might happen again. If you submitted something and, when it goes up, don't see it noted, please e-mail so we can get included. I make mistakes all the time and could overlook something again this year.
Beth's doing a year-in-review for her column in the round-robin next Friday. In addition, she hopes to be able to pull together something for the year-in-review. (Something original, not a summary or excerpt of her ombudsperson columns.)
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
the new york times
scott shane
buzzflash
gary hart
Friday, December 16, 2005
Democracy Now: Tina Susman, Bill Chandler, Ishmael Muhammad; Aaron Sarver, Marian Wright Edelman ...
Report: Bush-Enacted NSA Program Monitors Phone Conversations, E-Mails
The New York Times is reporting the National Security Agency has been eavesdropping on U.S. citizens and foreign nationals without court-approved warrants. Under a Bush administration directive enacted in 2002, the agency has monitored the international phone calls and e-mails of hundreds, and possibly thousands of people inside the country. The National Security Agency’s mission is to spy on communications abroad. Although officials said the program had helped thwart at least two potential attacks, most people monitored by the N.S.A. have never been charged with a crime.
The Times says it delayed publishing details of the program after a request from the Bush administration at least one year ago. At the request of the White House, the Times also says it has omitted information administration officials said could be useful to terrorists. The disclosure comes two days after NBC News revealed the Pentagon has kept detailed records on the events and meetings of anti-war groups across the country.
Turkish Novelist On Trial For Discussing Armenian Genocide
In Turkey, a popular novelist is on trial today for making comments about the veracity of the Armenian genocide. Orhan Pamuk stands trial for insulting “Turkishness” after he gave a magazine interview in which he referred to the genocide committed by the Ottoman government during the First World War. In the interview, Pamuk said QUOTE: "One million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds were killed in these lands and nobody but me dares talk about it." Pamuk is one several Turkish citizens who have been issued with similar charges. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison.
Ralphs Supermarket Chain Indicted on Labor Violations
In California, the Ralphs supermarket chain was indicted Thursday on charges it hired workers under false names and violated other labor laws during a workers’ strike in 2003. The indictment alleges Ralphs engaged in a QUOTE: "company-wide course of criminal conduct involving the hiring of locked-out employees under false names, Social Security numbers and documentation." The grocery chain locked out its workers in October 2003 after the Southern California grocery workers union voted to strike against Safeway’s Vons and Pavilions chains. Ralphs had been negotiating alongside Safeway. A Ralphs spokesperson acknowledged the company committed the violations, but said the actions were taken by individual managers and did not the result from company policy.
The above three items are from today's Democracy Now! Headlines and were selected by Juan, KeShawn and Lily. Democracy Now! ("always worth watching," as Marcia says):
Headlines for December 16, 2005
- High Turnout For Parliamentary Elections in Iraq
- Bush Administration Drops Opposition to Senate Torture Ban
- WTO Talks At Standstill in Hong Kong
- Barghouti Leads Major Split in Ruling Palestinian Party Fatah
- Lebanese, Palestinians File Suit Against Ex-Israeli Officials in US
- Turkish Novelist On Trial For Discussing Armenian Genocide
- Transport Workers Announce Selective Strike As Talks Halt
- High Turnout For Parliamentary Elections in Iraq
- Bush Administration Drops Opposition to Senate Torture Ban
- WTO Talks At Standstill in Hong Kong
- Barghouti Leads Major Split in Ruling Palestinian Party Fatah
- Lebanese, Palestinians File Suit Against Ex-Israeli Officials in US
- Turkish Novelist On Trial For Discussing Armenian Genocide
- Transport Workers Announce Selective Strike As Talks Halt
House Debates Bill to Rewrite Immigration Laws, Includes Provision that Makes it a Felony to be an Undocumented Worker
The House debates a bill that would rewrite the nation's immigration laws. The legislation makes it a felony to be an undocumented worker to be in the United States without authorization and requires all employers to verify the legal status of their workers. We speak with the general counsel of the immigration worker program at the AFL-CIO and a member of the Border Network for Human Rights. [includes rush transcript]
The House debates a bill that would rewrite the nation's immigration laws. The legislation makes it a felony to be an undocumented worker to be in the United States without authorization and requires all employers to verify the legal status of their workers. We speak with the general counsel of the immigration worker program at the AFL-CIO and a member of the Border Network for Human Rights. [includes rush transcript]
Workers in New Orleans Denied Pay, Proper Housing and Threatened with Deportation
In the clean-up efforts following the devastation of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, many undocumented workers and homeless people were recruited to the area to work under large companies contracted by the federal government. We speak with Newsday reporter Tina Susman, who has investigated the case of a group of homeless men, and Bill Chandler, about subcontractors and workers' complaints. [includes rush transcript]
In the clean-up efforts following the devastation of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, many undocumented workers and homeless people were recruited to the area to work under large companies contracted by the federal government. We speak with Newsday reporter Tina Susman, who has investigated the case of a group of homeless men, and Bill Chandler, about subcontractors and workers' complaints. [includes rush transcript]
New Orleans Residents Face Eviction From Homes as Rents Skyrocket and Legal Protections Remain Weak
Three months after fighting for their lives in the days after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, many survivors are now fighting to keep their homes in the city of New Orleans. We speak with attorney Ishmael Muhammad and a N.O. resident being evicted about the rising costs of rent and the legal challenges facing evacuees.
Three months after fighting for their lives in the days after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, many survivors are now fighting to keep their homes in the city of New Orleans. We speak with attorney Ishmael Muhammad and a N.O. resident being evicted about the rising costs of rent and the legal challenges facing evacuees.
Bruce asks that we note the following:
There is a dreadful disconnect between the American conversation on Iraq, and the opinions of Iraqis and most people in the world. We know that more than 80 percent of Iraqis want the U.S. troops to get out of their country. This figure is so high, it reflects a consensus among all three major groups: Shia Arabs, Sunni Arabs, and Kurds. If Americans respected Iraqi opinion -- their true democratic aspirations -- there would be no question that the U.S. would leave. But instead, the corporate U.S. media pretends that America has brought democracy to Iraq, while disregarding Iraqi opinion. Only American opinion counts.
What's it from? "The War Parties, Both of Them." Which is? This week's radio commentary from The Black Commentator. Bruce wonders if most members are aware that The Black Commentator offers radio commentaries or that you can listen to the commentaries at the site or read them? Bruce is the first member who has brought it up. (I wasn't aware you could read them in text form.) So this may be a feature that's new to the community.
Bruce: The Black Commentator took their stand against the war early and have maintained it.
They stand for truth to power. They can cover any topic and not do in a fluffy way. They have core principles and beliefs and stand by them. The Black Commentator is offering subscriptions and if anyone's thinking of something to give for Christmas or if they're being asked what they want for Christmas, maybe they could think of The Black Commentator. They aren't just the anti-Armstrong Williams by not selling their opions to the highest bidder, they are actively and loudly speaking out for their beliefs. When it's easy to be fluffy, The Black Commentator doesn't just take the hard road, they blaze the trail.
For more on this, you can click here. Bruce wondered if that was the sort of thing that would get a highlight of a worthwhile organization or outlet between now and the new year? It's exactly the thing. So if you're someone writing in saying "Plug ___" -- take the time to do what Bruce did.
Now we'll note a report from Susan who lives in an area "that was always off beat and that's what I liked about it but lately big money's moved in."
Susan: We have a real coffee house that predates Starbucks by decades. Local musician will play there. The place has a really lived in feel. But with the new crowd in the neighborhood, it's seemed less and less like a laidback place as Bully Boy cheerleaders seemed to be haunting the place. So Thursday night, we showed up. We sat at tables in twos. With our magazines. We couldn't decide on one so we took a variety. We had Ms., we had The Nation, we had The Progressive, we had Off Our Backs, we had In These Times, we had Left Turn, we had Utne, we had Harper's. There were twelve of us and very little repetition in magazine choices. We had them displayed and talked and referred to them. It was as though a Tom Ridge Homeland Security warning was sent out as they looked shocked, then nervous and then departed with one of them commenting about "all the liberal propaganda." I'm not sure this is what you were talking about but it was a big moment for us. The poiint, by the way, wasn't to run anyone of. It was to let the newly moved in know that we are a part of the community. A message that hasn't gotten through yet even after we rallied to stop their demand that the coffee house do away with instrumental music over the speakers and blare out right wing radio instead."
Susan, I think the message you sent was very clear. And probably even more clear due to the fact that you weren't all showing up with the same magazine. In a nation where Newsweek, Time, et al are seen as "liberal," I'm sure it was a shock to be confronted with readers of actual left publications. And if the mainstream media were truly interested in stopping the attacks that they're left, they would have done something similar sometime ago. Take the New York Times since we focus on that each morning. If it wanted to dispel the notion that it was "liberal," Bill Keller could do without opening new offices in the "heartland." He could so by making sure that readers of the paper got to meet an actual left voice on a regular basis. Sundays hearts & flowers to a right-winger (that didn't have one left voice quoted in the article) and attempts to keep importing the wishy-washy from the hawkish, mawkish The New Republic won't change anyone's minds. If that's what's going to pass for "left," it's no surprise that so many have bought into the myth of the "liberal media."
I want to say congratulations to everyone who has worked to raise the issue of the war in their own circles this week. Bruce noted The Black Commentator and Bruce is right, they haven't been silent on the war. It's been over a thousand days and playing "War Got Your Tongue?" won't help anyone. It will allow this illegal invasion/occupation to continue. We can use our voices and we can support others who do.
Remember Danny Schechter's "MediaChannel Appeal: Join Us In A 'Tell The Truth About The War' Campaign"? We can do that. What's been accomplished so far didn't come from Dan Rather, Cokie Roberts or Matt Lauer telling the truth. TV and print, the mainstream media (Laura Flanders called it the "maniac media" on Sunday's The Laura Flanders Show ) hasn't led on this or even followed on it. This has resulted from the independent media and from the people.
And that's probably a good point to lead into Micah's highlight, Aaron Sarver's "Lapham's Way" (In These Times) where Sarver speaks with Harper's Lewis Lapham:
Do you think those in power care about what dissenters such as yourself say?
They only care about it if it can take some form of political force. In other words, I think the Bush administration is beginning to care about the rising tide of criticism and the more general recognition of its dishonesty and incompetence. Observations that three or four years ago would have been considered leftist or extreme are beginning to show up in the president’s approval ratings.
Do we have any reasons to be optimistic about our country?
I think so. I have reasons in the many young people I encounter as the editor of Harper's. More young people today are anxious to get into the political melee than, say, in the middle of the '80s.
Information, getting the word out is important. That's a point that Three Cool Old Guys make in their e-mail today but also say "maybe we're too 'old school' but education matters just as much. They to note Marian Wright Edelman's "Tax Cuts on the Backs of Children" (The Chicago Defender):
What is most just and important to America's future? Health coverage for 1.6 million children or tax breaks for 289,000 of the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans?
Congress will meet this month to vote on a budget bill that will greatly hurt the poor and children, and on tax bills that will greatly benefit the wealthiest Americans. The Senate budget bill would cut $39 billion.
The House budget bill would cut $50 billion primarily from programs for low-income children and families including Medicaid, foster care, child support, childcare, food stamps, and student loans. The richest 1 percent of U.S. taxpayers will reap the majority of the tax breaks from the capital gains and dividend tax cuts included in the House tax bill.
Three Cool Old Guys are community members via Cedric. If you don't know about them, you haven't been reading Cedric's Big Mix. And for those who have been reading, Three Cool Old Guys report that the choir came to their nursing home last night and gave an amazing performance of twelve Christmas carols. They also note that they took part in increasing discussion on the war this week.
And Carl get's the last highlight, noting Jesse J. Holland's "Senate Rejects Extension of Patriot Act" (AP):
But the Patriot Act's critics got a boost from a New York Times report saying Bush authorized the National Security Agency to monitor the international phone calls and international e-mails of hundreds -- perhaps thousands -- of people inside the United States. Previously, the NSA typically limited its domestic surveillance to foreign embassies and missions and obtained court orders for such investigations.
"I don't want to hear again from the attorney general or anyone on this floor that this government has shown it can be trusted to use the power we give it with restraint and care," said Feingold, the only senator to vote against the Patriot Act in 2001.
"It is time to have some checks and balances in this country," shouted Sen. Patrick Leahy, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. "We are more American for doing that."
Good news to end with.
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