My Mom should have turned 70 today, but she was taken from us far too young. Happy Birthday, Mom. I think about you everyday, and I miss you more than you will ever know.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Happy Birthday, Mom
My Mom should have turned 70 today, but she was taken from us far too young. Happy Birthday, Mom. I think about you everyday, and I miss you more than you will ever know.
Idiot son of an asshole
Political Moose stole this from MoxieGrrrl, and now I am stealing it from him. It's my new favorite song! If you have broadband, check this out:
Idiot Son Of An Asshole
And, if you don't have broadband - it's time, man.
Idiot Son Of An Asshole
And, if you don't have broadband - it's time, man.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
How dare he
Ok, I'll admit it, I watched Dubya's speech tonight. The whole thing made me very, very angry. It's unbelievable to me that he's still using the 9/11 trump card...especially considering it had NOTHING to do with Iraq. Are there people out there that STILL think Iraq & Osama are somehow linked? Is it possible that some Americans are that stupid?! There must be - because the Prez is counting on it...otherwise he wouldn't have mentioned 9/11 (count 'em) 6 times. How dare he.
You know what, Georgie, when I think of 9/11, I think about this. Not all of us are sleeping.
(Click pic to enlarge)
You know what, Georgie, when I think of 9/11, I think about this. Not all of us are sleeping.
(Click pic to enlarge)
Hip Hip Hurray!
Everyone ready for another vague, inadequate, and mind-numbing speech tonight? Personally, I'll probably skip it. Every time I see or hear GWB now, I want to smash my TV in.
Posters from Ministry of Homeland Security's Propaganda Remix Project
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Details of the Moseley briefing come amid rising concern in the US of the war...
From The Sunday Times - Britain (TimesOnline.co.uk):
June 26, 2005
General admits to secret air war
Michael Smith
THE American general who commanded allied air forces during the Iraq war appears to have admitted in a briefing to American and British officers that coalition aircraft waged a secret air war against Iraq from the middle of 2002, nine months before the invasion began.
Addressing a briefing on lessons learnt from the Iraq war Lieutenant-General Michael Moseley said that in 2002 and early 2003 allied aircraft flew 21,736 sorties, dropping more than 600 bombs on 391 “carefully selected targets” before the war officially started.
The nine months of allied raids “laid the foundations” for the allied victory, Moseley said. They ensured that allied forces did not have to start the war with a protracted bombardment of Iraqi positions.
If those raids exceeded the need to maintain security in the no-fly zones of southern and northern Iraq, they would leave President George W Bush and Tony Blair vulnerable to allegations that they had acted illegally.
Moseley’s remarks have emerged after reports in The Sunday Times that showed an increase in allied bombing in southern Iraq was described in leaked minutes of a meeting of the war cabinet as “spikes of activity to put pressure on the regime”.
Moseley told the briefing at Nellis airbase in Nebraska on July 17, 2003, that the raids took place under cover of patrols of the southern no-fly zone; their purpose was ostensibly to protect the ethnic minorities.
A leaked memo previously disclosed by The Sunday Times, detailing a meeting chaired by the prime minister and attended by Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, Geoff Hoon, the then defence secretary, and Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, chief of defence staff, indicated that the US was carrying out the bombing.
But Moseley’s remarks, and figures for the amount of bombs dropped in southern Iraq during 2002, indicate that the RAF was taking as large a part in the bombing as American aircraft.
Details of the Moseley briefing come amid rising concern in the US of the war. A new poll shows 60% of Americans now believe it was a mistake.
From Lizzy: Looking forward to GWB's dog & pony show on Tuesday. That should be a lot of fun!
June 26, 2005
General admits to secret air war
Michael Smith
THE American general who commanded allied air forces during the Iraq war appears to have admitted in a briefing to American and British officers that coalition aircraft waged a secret air war against Iraq from the middle of 2002, nine months before the invasion began.
Addressing a briefing on lessons learnt from the Iraq war Lieutenant-General Michael Moseley said that in 2002 and early 2003 allied aircraft flew 21,736 sorties, dropping more than 600 bombs on 391 “carefully selected targets” before the war officially started.
The nine months of allied raids “laid the foundations” for the allied victory, Moseley said. They ensured that allied forces did not have to start the war with a protracted bombardment of Iraqi positions.
If those raids exceeded the need to maintain security in the no-fly zones of southern and northern Iraq, they would leave President George W Bush and Tony Blair vulnerable to allegations that they had acted illegally.
Moseley’s remarks have emerged after reports in The Sunday Times that showed an increase in allied bombing in southern Iraq was described in leaked minutes of a meeting of the war cabinet as “spikes of activity to put pressure on the regime”.
Moseley told the briefing at Nellis airbase in Nebraska on July 17, 2003, that the raids took place under cover of patrols of the southern no-fly zone; their purpose was ostensibly to protect the ethnic minorities.
A leaked memo previously disclosed by The Sunday Times, detailing a meeting chaired by the prime minister and attended by Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, Geoff Hoon, the then defence secretary, and Admiral Sir Michael Boyce, chief of defence staff, indicated that the US was carrying out the bombing.
But Moseley’s remarks, and figures for the amount of bombs dropped in southern Iraq during 2002, indicate that the RAF was taking as large a part in the bombing as American aircraft.
Details of the Moseley briefing come amid rising concern in the US of the war. A new poll shows 60% of Americans now believe it was a mistake.
From Lizzy: Looking forward to GWB's dog & pony show on Tuesday. That should be a lot of fun!
Saturday, June 25, 2005
(Please sign) Petition to fire Karl Rove
by John Kerry:
Just hours after learning about an outrageous speech delivered by Karl Rove, President Bush's most senior advisor, I went to the Senate floor -- and I spoke from my heart. I want to share those words with you -- not as a Democrat or Republican, not as a liberal or conservative -- but as an American.
I've attached part of my speech to the end of this email. But, before you read what I said, look again at what Karl Rove said:
(P)erhaps the most important difference between conservatives and liberals can be found in the area of national security. Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers.
I hope you will join me right now in signing an open letter to the President urging him to thoroughly reject Karl Rove's purposeful attack on the patriotism of those who dare ask the tough questions that best protect American troops. Sign our open letter to President Bush now: http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/rove.php
This isn't the first time that Karl Rove and other White House officials have sought to divide America in ways that make it harder to keep our country safe and our democracy strong. But, it should be the last. That's why I ended my speech with a call on President Bush to fire Karl Rove. It is the only way the President can make it clear that he rejects Rove's effort to distort one of the most unified and patriotic moments in American history into a cheap, divisive, political applause line.
That, of course, is what is most outrageous about Karl Rove's claim that President Bush's political opponents offered "therapy and understanding for our attackers." It isn't true. In the days after 9/11, there were no Democrats, no Republicans. We were all Americans, standing together. President Bush acknowledged that unity in a clear and compelling way at the time.
Now, Karl Rove is purposely twisting those days of unity in order to divide us for political gain. I hope you will act right now to join a growing chorus of Americans calling on the President to fire Karl Rove.
Please act right now. Sign our open letter to the President and pass it on to others. All Americans have to speak with one powerful voice in response to this outrage. I will continue speaking out and I know I can count on you to stand with me.
Sincerely,
John Kerry
Make America Safe, Not Divided
Excerpts of remarks by Senator John Kerry on the Senate floor on Thursday, June 23.
"None of us here will ever forget the hours after September 11... and the remarkable response of the American people as we came together as one to answer the attack on our homeland.... [I]t brought out the best of all of us in America.
That spirit of our country should never be reduced to a cheap, divisive political applause line from anyone who speaks for the President of the United States.
I am proud, as my colleagues on this side are, that after September 11, all of the people of this country rallied to President Bush's call for unity to meet the danger. There were no Democrats, there were no Republicans, there were only Americans. That is why it is really hard to believe that last night in New York... the most senior adviser to the President of the United States [was] purposely twisting those days of unity in order to divide us for political gain.
Rather than focusing attention on Osama bin Laden and finding him or rather than focusing attention on just smashing al-Qaida and uniting our effort, as we have been, he is, instead, challenging the patriotism of every American who is every bit as committed to fighting terror as is he.
Just days after 9/11, the Senate voted 98 to nothing, and the House voted 420 to 1, to authorize President Bush to use all necessary and appropriate force against terror. And after the bipartisan vote, President Bush said: "I'm gratified that the Congress has united so powerfully by taking this action. It sends a clear message. Our people are together and we will prevail."
That is not the message that was sent by Karl Rove in New York City last night. Last night, he said: "No more needs to be said about" their "motives."
I think a lot more needs to be said about Karl Rove's motives because they are not the people's motives... They are not the motives of a nation that found unity in that critical moment--Democrat and Republican alike, all of us as Americans.
If the President really believes his own words, if those words have meaning, he should at the very least expect a public apology from Karl Rove. And frankly, he ought to fire him. If the President of the United States knows the meaning of those words, then he ought to listen to the plea of Kristen Breitweiser, who lost her husband when the Twin Towers came crashing down. She said: "If you are going to use 9/11, use it to make this nation safer than it was on 9/11."
Karl Rove doesn't owe me an apology and he doesn't owe Democrats an apology. He owes the country an apology. He owes Kristen Breitweiser and a lot of people like her, those families, an apology. He owes an apology to every one of those families who paid the ultimate price on 9/11 and expect their government to be doing all possible to keep the unity of their country and to fight an effective war on terror.
The fact is, millions of Americans...are asking Washington for honesty, for results, and for leadership--not for political division. Before Karl Rove delivers another political assault, he ought to stop and think about those families and the unity of 9/11.
Sign here: Fire Karl Rove
From Lizzy:
Hey John, if you keep this up, there may be hope for you in 2008.
Just hours after learning about an outrageous speech delivered by Karl Rove, President Bush's most senior advisor, I went to the Senate floor -- and I spoke from my heart. I want to share those words with you -- not as a Democrat or Republican, not as a liberal or conservative -- but as an American.
I've attached part of my speech to the end of this email. But, before you read what I said, look again at what Karl Rove said:
(P)erhaps the most important difference between conservatives and liberals can be found in the area of national security. Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers.
I hope you will join me right now in signing an open letter to the President urging him to thoroughly reject Karl Rove's purposeful attack on the patriotism of those who dare ask the tough questions that best protect American troops. Sign our open letter to President Bush now: http://www.johnkerry.com/petition/rove.php
This isn't the first time that Karl Rove and other White House officials have sought to divide America in ways that make it harder to keep our country safe and our democracy strong. But, it should be the last. That's why I ended my speech with a call on President Bush to fire Karl Rove. It is the only way the President can make it clear that he rejects Rove's effort to distort one of the most unified and patriotic moments in American history into a cheap, divisive, political applause line.
That, of course, is what is most outrageous about Karl Rove's claim that President Bush's political opponents offered "therapy and understanding for our attackers." It isn't true. In the days after 9/11, there were no Democrats, no Republicans. We were all Americans, standing together. President Bush acknowledged that unity in a clear and compelling way at the time.
Now, Karl Rove is purposely twisting those days of unity in order to divide us for political gain. I hope you will act right now to join a growing chorus of Americans calling on the President to fire Karl Rove.
Please act right now. Sign our open letter to the President and pass it on to others. All Americans have to speak with one powerful voice in response to this outrage. I will continue speaking out and I know I can count on you to stand with me.
Sincerely,
John Kerry
Make America Safe, Not Divided
Excerpts of remarks by Senator John Kerry on the Senate floor on Thursday, June 23.
"None of us here will ever forget the hours after September 11... and the remarkable response of the American people as we came together as one to answer the attack on our homeland.... [I]t brought out the best of all of us in America.
That spirit of our country should never be reduced to a cheap, divisive political applause line from anyone who speaks for the President of the United States.
I am proud, as my colleagues on this side are, that after September 11, all of the people of this country rallied to President Bush's call for unity to meet the danger. There were no Democrats, there were no Republicans, there were only Americans. That is why it is really hard to believe that last night in New York... the most senior adviser to the President of the United States [was] purposely twisting those days of unity in order to divide us for political gain.
Rather than focusing attention on Osama bin Laden and finding him or rather than focusing attention on just smashing al-Qaida and uniting our effort, as we have been, he is, instead, challenging the patriotism of every American who is every bit as committed to fighting terror as is he.
Just days after 9/11, the Senate voted 98 to nothing, and the House voted 420 to 1, to authorize President Bush to use all necessary and appropriate force against terror. And after the bipartisan vote, President Bush said: "I'm gratified that the Congress has united so powerfully by taking this action. It sends a clear message. Our people are together and we will prevail."
That is not the message that was sent by Karl Rove in New York City last night. Last night, he said: "No more needs to be said about" their "motives."
I think a lot more needs to be said about Karl Rove's motives because they are not the people's motives... They are not the motives of a nation that found unity in that critical moment--Democrat and Republican alike, all of us as Americans.
If the President really believes his own words, if those words have meaning, he should at the very least expect a public apology from Karl Rove. And frankly, he ought to fire him. If the President of the United States knows the meaning of those words, then he ought to listen to the plea of Kristen Breitweiser, who lost her husband when the Twin Towers came crashing down. She said: "If you are going to use 9/11, use it to make this nation safer than it was on 9/11."
Karl Rove doesn't owe me an apology and he doesn't owe Democrats an apology. He owes the country an apology. He owes Kristen Breitweiser and a lot of people like her, those families, an apology. He owes an apology to every one of those families who paid the ultimate price on 9/11 and expect their government to be doing all possible to keep the unity of their country and to fight an effective war on terror.
The fact is, millions of Americans...are asking Washington for honesty, for results, and for leadership--not for political division. Before Karl Rove delivers another political assault, he ought to stop and think about those families and the unity of 9/11.
Sign here: Fire Karl Rove
From Lizzy:
Hey John, if you keep this up, there may be hope for you in 2008.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Mississippi finally does something right
From CNN:
Ex-Klansman sentenced to 60 years
Killen convicted in 1964 slayings of civil rights workers
PHILADELPHIA, Mississippi (CNN) -- A Mississippi judge Thursday sentenced former Ku Klux Klansman Edgar Ray Killen to 60 years in prison for the manslaughter of three civil rights workers in 1964.
Killen, an 80-year-old part-time preacher, was convicted on three counts of manslaughter Tuesday, 41 years to the day a Klan mob ambushed and killed the civil rights workers -- James Chaney, 21; Andrew Goodman, 20; and Michael Schwerner, 24. (more)
Rest in Peace; Andrew, James and Michael
Ex-Klansman sentenced to 60 years
Killen convicted in 1964 slayings of civil rights workers
PHILADELPHIA, Mississippi (CNN) -- A Mississippi judge Thursday sentenced former Ku Klux Klansman Edgar Ray Killen to 60 years in prison for the manslaughter of three civil rights workers in 1964.
Killen, an 80-year-old part-time preacher, was convicted on three counts of manslaughter Tuesday, 41 years to the day a Klan mob ambushed and killed the civil rights workers -- James Chaney, 21; Andrew Goodman, 20; and Michael Schwerner, 24. (more)
Rest in Peace; Andrew, James and Michael
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
My little family
Here he is: my better half, Tom, along with the kids. This pic was taken at the French Bulldog Meet-up group at Lake of the Isles Off-leash Dog Park. (Pugs are allowed, too!)
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Downing Street Memo Updates
Recent (excellent) email I received from Shakespeare's Sister:
Wow - so much is happening, I don't even know where to begin! This is a long dispatch, but I tried to condense it as much as possible while still including the most important information we should all know.
Let me start by giving us all a collective pat on the back, because we are making a difference. That Colored Fella emailed me to let me know the Big Brass Alliance had been mentioned on MSNBC, and Matt of Tattered Coat pointed me in the direction of One Woman Wrecking Crew's report on the mention:
"His smile of satisfaction was unmistakable as Ron Reagan Jr. covered the “Downing Street Minutes” and the Conyers hearing on the popular MSNBC show Connected. The Big Brass Alliance blogs were also credited for bringing the DSM to the attention of the mainstream media by Tony’s Tab, the noted blog analyst. The DSM blog swarm was represented with an impressive chart, that went, well, off the charts! The Big Brass Alliance website was also displayed."
Tony’s Tabs reports:
“On May 30, a blogswarm was formed. For those of you who might be less techie hip that means that many blogs got together on an issue and formed a new blog called "Big Brass Alliance." Their icon is a big set of brass balls. Funny. This blog is a conglomerate of almost 500 other blogs and collectively they support the After Downing Street Alliance in their efforts to get MSM attention for the Memo, as well as a congressional inquiry. Their ultimate goal is impeachment proceedings for President Bush. It has since gotten an increasing amount of play in the press, and as of yesterday Rep. John Conyers has a forum underway on the Hill, a begin to the process of discovery on the issue. Again, this is my cobbled together history, but I think it is relatively accurate. More than the nuts and bolts of dates and specific blogs, it illustrates the powerful potential of the Internet to expose the stories MSM has missed, ignored, or simply gotten wrong. And I want to stress my feeling that, coupled with the Rathergate scandal, this shows interesting potential for a checks and balances system that calls crap what it is, whether it's blue or red.”
Huzzah!
Also, the Associated Press is suddenly all over the Downing Street Documents:
Memos: Postwar Iraq a Concern in Britain
U.S. War Plans Much-Discussed in Memos
2002 Memos Undercut British WMD Claims
Redford Says He Linked Deep Throat to FBI
(The last one includes Redford’s comments on the Downing Street Memo.)
Of course I’d prefer to see these stories on a WEEKDAY, but at least it’s a bloody start!
Paul the Spud has also posted on FAIR’s coverage of the media’s attempt to justify their lack of coverage on the Downing Street Memo: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2005/06/media-justification-read-lots-o.html
ACTION ITEMS
1. The big story that we need to blogswarm on Monday comes from the Independent: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=647397, which reveals that the US has used napalm-type firebombs during the Iraq War and lied about it to the British government. (The use of such weaponry was reported earlier here: http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030805-firebombs01.htm.) Please note that care should be used in reporting on this weaponry. The actual bombs used are known as MK-77s, and they are napalm canister munitions. They evolved from the napalm bombs which we associate with the Korean and Vietnam wars. This is an extremely important issue, and we don’t want to end up giving our opponents the opportunity to discredit our reporting because of a quibble over the definition of the weaponry. Both The Heretik and Freiheit und Wissen have excellent posts up already on this topic. You can find more information on MK-77s here.
2. If you haven’t already, make sure to post on Friday’s hearings. If you weren’t able to watch, I liveblogged the hearings here and Crooks and Liars has a video highlights here. And you can find the image of Conyers being turned away at the White House here. There’s also plenty of coverage you can find at AfterDowningStreet, BradBlog, and Raw Story. (I know there are tons of other great posts and resources on this, too—I’m sorry I’m not linking to everyone.)
3. Contact your representatives and Senators (even if you’ve done it before) and encourage them to address the evidence of a possible conspiracy to defraud both Congress and the American people by manipulating intelligence, as presented at the hearing, by supporting a formal inquiry.
4. Finally, we should focus on contacting our local media. (Follow that link and you’ll see that they couldn’t possibly have made it any easier.) It is, of course, important to petition the national media and urge them to give this issue the attention it deserves, but there are still many, many Americans who use local newspapers and local news shows as their primary source of news. If we want to get this story in front of Joe and Jane America, then local news has to be a primary target.
And although the Progressive Democrats of America (which provides the ability to contact local media, linked above) offer a boilerplate message to send, I believe one of our primary goals at this point needs to be developing a counter-narrative of the war. Giving smaller, local papers an outline for a good story, for example one that suggests everything we thought about the war was wrong, and providing them with the relevant information, will not only have the effect of making their jobs easier (thereby making them more likely to report on it), but also help lay the groundwork for the Dems in 2006. If there’s an existing counter-narrative “out there” on which they can rely, we’ll be making their jobs easier, too.
My attempt to begin such a counter-narrative is here.
As always, email me with questions, comments, heads-up, etc.
Best regards,
Melissa McEwan
Shakespeare’s Sister
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Soul Asylum's bassist, Karl Mueller, dies at 41
Jon Bream, Star Tribune
June 18, 2005
Soul Asylum bassist Karl Mueller, a founding member of one of the Twin Cities' most popular and successful rock bands, died early Friday morning at his home in south Minneapolis. He was 41. (more)
I really got into Soul Asylum in the late 80's/early 90's. Their music helped me through a very tough time in my life. I even wrote the band a letter from treatment. Their manager wrote me back letting me know that he would pass my letter on to them when they got home from their tour. Along with the letter, he sent me all kinds of cool Soul Asylum schwag.
At my very lowest point, I used to tell people to play Endless Farewell at my funeral. Thankfully, my family was there to help me out of that terrible place. I wish more could have been done for Karl's cancer.
We'll miss you, Karl.
Endless Farewell / Soul Asylum / 1988
Rise and shine is your razor sharp?
Size up yourself in the mirror,
a slice of life, to last through all the years,
because sooner or later it all comes back to you,
and we will remember, the fine things you can do.
I'm giving back all the things that you gave to me.
I'm saving up the price to pay to be free.
Remember the first time you saw the rising sun?
You may be done but I've just begun.
The leaves are burning and the ashes have flown away.
I'm turning over new leaves almost every day.
You let him think you just as soon stay -
you let him think you had nothing to say.
now you want to just let you go away,
to find some mangled security,
some strangled form of purity,
to restore your faith and all the things you've come to hate.
You give and you take and you leave, leave it alone.
What I want so badly for this to be a place you can call home,
and I haven't felt this way since yesterday, but I don't remember when.
What I want so badly, to be someone you can call a friend,
till we meet again.
Endless Farewell.
Hello, Hello, Hello again.
Endless Farewell
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Meeting on Downing Street Memo
I don't know what the outcome of all of this will be, but I am very glad that this is finally getting some media attention.
See the whole House Judiciary Committee Democrats Meeting on Downing Street Memo and Iraq War here: C-SPAN.org
See the whole House Judiciary Committee Democrats Meeting on Downing Street Memo and Iraq War here: C-SPAN.org
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Monday, June 13, 2005
Sidebar went *poof
I had to take down my last post because my right sidebar kept disappearing. If anyone needs any of that info, let me know and I'll email it to you.
In the meantime, most of it can be found here: AfterDowningStreet.org
In the meantime, most of it can be found here: AfterDowningStreet.org
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Partying with Republican'ts
My niece graduated from high school a couple of days ago. As she was growing up, I got to know some of her closer friends. In doing so, a couple of her friends sort-of became my friends, too. So, I wasn't surprised when I got two invitations from them for graduation parties.
Today was Alan's (not his real name) party. He comes from a family of hardcore Republicans, so when I showed up in this shirt, he immediately pulled me aside to show off his crazy liberal friend (me) to one of his uncles.
The uncle took one look at my shirt and said, "it's nice to have fantasies." I didn't want to start anything so I just laughed sarcastically at his stupid comment.
I don't like Republicans.
Today was Alan's (not his real name) party. He comes from a family of hardcore Republicans, so when I showed up in this shirt, he immediately pulled me aside to show off his crazy liberal friend (me) to one of his uncles.
The uncle took one look at my shirt and said, "it's nice to have fantasies." I didn't want to start anything so I just laughed sarcastically at his stupid comment.
I don't like Republicans.
Al Franken, True Patriot
I love Al Franken. Last night on Letterman, he was very funny, but was able to talk about serious issues at the same time. They discussed hero, Mark Felt (Deep Throat) and corrupted governments throughout the years. The best part was when Al talked about the most corrupt administration of all, Bush & Co.
He brought up the 8.8 BILLION dollars that is missing from the Iraqi reconstruction. When Dave asked him where he thinks the money went, he said something like "Hummmm, I wonder...could it be the American contractors?" They went on the discuss war profiteering while our kids are dying out there.
How dare anyone call Franken anything else but a True American. He has the guts to call out the liers and crooks that they are. He doesn't want anymore people to die in this immoral war.
I can't think of anything less American than the right-wing of the Republican party. Their blind allegiance to Bush is nothing short of fascism:
The 14 Defining Characteristics Of Fascism by Dr. Lawrence Britt
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
HEARINGS SET ON DOWNING MINUTES!
From The Raw Story.com:
For Immediate Release:
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
CONYERS TO HOLD DEMOCRATIC HEARING ON DOWNING STREET MEMO AND LEAD UP TO IRAQ WAR
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday June 16, 2005, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of House Judiciary Committee, and other Democratic Members will hold a Democratic hearing to hear testimony concerning the Downing Street Minutes and the efforts to cook the books on pre-war intelligence.
On May 1, 2005 a Sunday London Times article disclosed the details of a classified memo, also known as the Downing Street Minutes, recounting the minutes of a July 2002 meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair that describes an American President already committed to going to war in the summer of 2002, despite contrary assertions to the public and the Congress. The minutes also describe apparent efforts by the Administration to manipulate intelligence data to justify the war. The June 16th hearing will attempt to answer the serious constitutional questions raised by these revelations and will further investigate the Administration's actions in the lead up to war with new documents that further corroborate the Downing Street memo.
Directly following the hearing, Rep. Conyers, Members of Congress, and concerned citizens plan to hand deliver to the White House the petition and signatures of over a half million Americans that have joined Rep. Conyers in demanding that President Bush answer questions about his secret plan for the Iraq war.
WHAT: Democratic hearing on Downing Street Minutes and Pre-war intelligence
WHEN: Thursday, June 16, 2005, TIME TBD
WHERE: LOCATION TBD
WITNESSES: Joe Wilson, Former Ambassador and WMD Expert Ray McGovern, 27-year CIA analyst who prepared regular Presidential briefings during the Reagan administration Cindy Sheehan, mother of fallen American soldier John Bonifaz, renowned constitutional lawyer
From Lizzy - Now we're getting somewhere!!!
For Immediate Release:
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
CONYERS TO HOLD DEMOCRATIC HEARING ON DOWNING STREET MEMO AND LEAD UP TO IRAQ WAR
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday June 16, 2005, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of House Judiciary Committee, and other Democratic Members will hold a Democratic hearing to hear testimony concerning the Downing Street Minutes and the efforts to cook the books on pre-war intelligence.
On May 1, 2005 a Sunday London Times article disclosed the details of a classified memo, also known as the Downing Street Minutes, recounting the minutes of a July 2002 meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair that describes an American President already committed to going to war in the summer of 2002, despite contrary assertions to the public and the Congress. The minutes also describe apparent efforts by the Administration to manipulate intelligence data to justify the war. The June 16th hearing will attempt to answer the serious constitutional questions raised by these revelations and will further investigate the Administration's actions in the lead up to war with new documents that further corroborate the Downing Street memo.
Directly following the hearing, Rep. Conyers, Members of Congress, and concerned citizens plan to hand deliver to the White House the petition and signatures of over a half million Americans that have joined Rep. Conyers in demanding that President Bush answer questions about his secret plan for the Iraq war.
WHAT: Democratic hearing on Downing Street Minutes and Pre-war intelligence
WHEN: Thursday, June 16, 2005, TIME TBD
WHERE: LOCATION TBD
WITNESSES: Joe Wilson, Former Ambassador and WMD Expert Ray McGovern, 27-year CIA analyst who prepared regular Presidential briefings during the Reagan administration Cindy Sheehan, mother of fallen American soldier John Bonifaz, renowned constitutional lawyer
From Lizzy - Now we're getting somewhere!!!
"I'm not a part of a redneck agenda"
I've said this before, but I'm still wondering...where are the new protest songs? Are we just not hearing them because overproduced teenage bubblegum crap is being forced down our throats? Or, is Clear Channel with their heavy Republican contributions keeping it off the air?
Bush's war is the new Vietnam. We need some new voices to rile up the younger generations to the truth. Music played a big part in bringing about change in the 60's & 70's, and it can happen again.
Hey, Neil Young & John Fogerty - show them how it's done.
At least Green Day is keeping it real:
"American Idiot"
Don't wanna be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new mania.
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along in the age of paranoia.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Don't wanna be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Bush's war is the new Vietnam. We need some new voices to rile up the younger generations to the truth. Music played a big part in bringing about change in the 60's & 70's, and it can happen again.
Hey, Neil Young & John Fogerty - show them how it's done.
At least Green Day is keeping it real:
"American Idiot"
Don't wanna be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new mania.
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along in the age of paranoia.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Don't wanna be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alienation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Mainlining banana flips
It's time to get in shape. Since quitting smoking 18 months ago, I've put on about 10lbs, and it's really bothering me. I'm only 5'2" so every ounce shows.
The problem is my addictive nature. Since quitting street drugs, my main addiction has been sugar, and that is one addiction I'm not willing to give up. I can decrease the amount I take in, but I refuse to stop completely. I've left behind heroin, cocaine, cigarettes and methadone, but I'm not Superwoman, for G-d's sake!
So that means it all comes down to exercise. I'm going to join a local health club and get a personal trainer. When I was in my early 20's, I used to go to a gym everyday, and I can do it again. I think between nautilus, free weights, stationary bike, walking the dogs, and possibly yoga, it shouldn't take me long to start feeling better. I'm going to join this week. I'll keep you updated.
The problem is my addictive nature. Since quitting street drugs, my main addiction has been sugar, and that is one addiction I'm not willing to give up. I can decrease the amount I take in, but I refuse to stop completely. I've left behind heroin, cocaine, cigarettes and methadone, but I'm not Superwoman, for G-d's sake!
So that means it all comes down to exercise. I'm going to join a local health club and get a personal trainer. When I was in my early 20's, I used to go to a gym everyday, and I can do it again. I think between nautilus, free weights, stationary bike, walking the dogs, and possibly yoga, it shouldn't take me long to start feeling better. I'm going to join this week. I'll keep you updated.
Saturday, June 04, 2005
From Recovering Liberal.com:
Countdown to Impeachment 2005
In perhaps one of the largest turnarounds in modern political history, only six months after winning reelection, Bush has apparently squandered his mandate and now finds himself a lame duck, his powerful political capitol spent. Yes, dear readers, America is finally on to the man and it is doubtful that his presidency will survive the next two years.
So unlikely is his political survival that we here at the RECOVERING LIBERAL feel completely comfortable in beginning what amounts to as a countdown to IMPEACHMENT (Drum Roll Please!)
And what a lovely impeachment it will be, televised and tivo'd, and commented on by AL and Randi at AIR AMERICA while being dutifully dissected by our brothers and sisters in the BLOGGING COMMUNITY Including: BLONDESENSE, AMERICAblog, DAILY KOS, and of course here in the red, white and blue pages of the LIB.
We are confident that in the next twenty-four months Dubya and the gang will be relegated to their rightful place in history as the war criminals, thieves and zealots that they most definitely are.
That they will be taken to task for lying about the WMD'S and for generally disregarding the will of the American people, who mostly believe that war should only be fought only when our nation is at jeopardy and not because war is good business.
We further believe that they will be held to answer for the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives squandered as collateral damage in this War for Oil as well as for the senseless loss of our own troops, and for the ongoing pain and suffering of those soldiers, sailors and marines lucky enough to survive their tour of duty in Iraq.
Additionally, it is our sincere hope that they will be charged for their crimes against the environment and for the senseless destruction of the air that we breath, the water that we drink, and the food that we eat in the name of shameless profit.
Lastly, it is our fondest desire they be made to pay dearly for the climate of hate, which they have engendered, endorsed and fueled with their draconian approach to the maters of gay rights, stem cell research and evolution, as well as their support for those who preach hate in God's name.
And these are just some of the things which we would like to see them answer for in this life. God, I'm sure, has a few issues of his own to discuss with them.
Friday, June 03, 2005
John Kerry Joins Call For Inquiry On Downing Street Memo
This story is (finally) gaining momentum, folks:
By Wikinews beta:
John Kerry Criticizes News Media, Joins Call For Inquiry On Downing Street Memo
In a swing through South Coast, Florida, former 2004 presidential candidate Senator John Kerry criticized the near silence of the U.S. mass media regarding the so-called "Downing Street Memo". The Downing Street Memo is a leaked secret British document that details the minutes of a 2002 meeting between top-level British and American government officials. The memo states that George W. Bush "was determined" to attack Iraq long before going to Congress with the matter, and that "the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy." The accuracy of the memo is not being disputed by either government. The memo caused an uproar in Great Britain and made a significant impact in the British national elections, but has gotten little attention in American news. Kerry said of the memo:
"When I go back [to Washington] on Monday, I am going to raise the issue. I think it's a stunning, unbelievably simple and understandable statement of the truth and a profoundly important document that raises stunning issues here at home. And it's amazing to me the way it escaped major media discussion. It's not being missed on the Internet, I can tell you that."
He questioned Americans' understanding of the war and the idea that criticism equals disloyalty, saying,
"Do you think that Americans if they really understood it would feel that way knowing that on Election Day, 77 percent of Americans who voted for Bush believed that weapons of mass destruction had been found and 77 percent believe Saddam did 9/11? Is there a way for this to break through, ever?"
We're trying, John. We're trying.
By Wikinews beta:
John Kerry Criticizes News Media, Joins Call For Inquiry On Downing Street Memo
In a swing through South Coast, Florida, former 2004 presidential candidate Senator John Kerry criticized the near silence of the U.S. mass media regarding the so-called "Downing Street Memo". The Downing Street Memo is a leaked secret British document that details the minutes of a 2002 meeting between top-level British and American government officials. The memo states that George W. Bush "was determined" to attack Iraq long before going to Congress with the matter, and that "the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy." The accuracy of the memo is not being disputed by either government. The memo caused an uproar in Great Britain and made a significant impact in the British national elections, but has gotten little attention in American news. Kerry said of the memo:
"When I go back [to Washington] on Monday, I am going to raise the issue. I think it's a stunning, unbelievably simple and understandable statement of the truth and a profoundly important document that raises stunning issues here at home. And it's amazing to me the way it escaped major media discussion. It's not being missed on the Internet, I can tell you that."
He questioned Americans' understanding of the war and the idea that criticism equals disloyalty, saying,
"Do you think that Americans if they really understood it would feel that way knowing that on Election Day, 77 percent of Americans who voted for Bush believed that weapons of mass destruction had been found and 77 percent believe Saddam did 9/11? Is there a way for this to break through, ever?"
We're trying, John. We're trying.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
"...a test of the left-wing blogosphere"
Copied & pasted from the great blog, Shakespeare's Sister:
FOX NEWS COVERS DOWNING STREET MEMO!
Everything I thought I understood about the world continues to spin out of control as Fox News covers the memo under the headline Downing Street Memo Mostly Ignored in US:
A British government memo that critics say proves the Bush administration manipulated evidence about weapons of mass destruction in order to carry out a plan to overthrow Saddam Hussein has received little attention in the mainstream media, frustrating opponents of the Iraq war.
The "Downing Street Memo" — first published by The Sunday Times of London on May 1 — summarizes a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Tony Blair and his senior national security team on July 23, 2002, months before the March 2003 coalition invasion of Iraq.
The memo suggests that British intelligence analysts were concerned that the Bush administration was marching to war on wobbly evidence that Saddam posed a serious threat to the world.
[…]
White House spokesman Scott McClellan has said there is "no need" to respond to the memos, the authenticity of which has not been denied.
Dante Zappala does not agree. For Zappala, the Downing Street Memo strikes a critical and personal chord. His brother, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, 30, a soldier in the Pennsylvania National Guard, was killed in Baghdad 13 months ago on what Zappala said was a mission to find weapons there."
My family knows the consequences of the decision they made to go to war," said Zappala, 29, of Philadelphia. He is a member of Military Families Speak Out, a group that opposes the war and, according to Zappala, now has more than 2,000 members.
"I can't speak for what the TV news decides to focus their attention on," Zappala said. "They seem to have a willful deference to all relevant information. I think they've really just dropped the ball on this."
They also mention Conyers’ efforts, and here’s our challenge from Fox News:
Several popular left-leaning blogs have taken up the cause to keep the story alive, encouraging readers to contact media outlets. A Web site, DowningStreetMemo.com, tells readers to contact the White House directly with complaints."
This is a test of the left-wing blogosphere," said Jim Pinkerton, syndicated columnist and regular contributor to FOX News Watch, who pointed out that The Sunday Times article came out just before the British election and apparently had little effect on voters' decisions.
"In many ways that memo might prove all of the arguments the critics of the war have made," he added. "But the bulk of Americans don't agree, or don't seem that alarmed, so it is a power test to see if they can drive it back on the agenda."
All right, Big Brass Alliance—Fox fucking News has thrown down the gauntlet. Onward and upward!
FOX NEWS COVERS DOWNING STREET MEMO!
Everything I thought I understood about the world continues to spin out of control as Fox News covers the memo under the headline Downing Street Memo Mostly Ignored in US:
A British government memo that critics say proves the Bush administration manipulated evidence about weapons of mass destruction in order to carry out a plan to overthrow Saddam Hussein has received little attention in the mainstream media, frustrating opponents of the Iraq war.
The "Downing Street Memo" — first published by The Sunday Times of London on May 1 — summarizes a high-level meeting between Prime Minister Tony Blair and his senior national security team on July 23, 2002, months before the March 2003 coalition invasion of Iraq.
The memo suggests that British intelligence analysts were concerned that the Bush administration was marching to war on wobbly evidence that Saddam posed a serious threat to the world.
[…]
White House spokesman Scott McClellan has said there is "no need" to respond to the memos, the authenticity of which has not been denied.
Dante Zappala does not agree. For Zappala, the Downing Street Memo strikes a critical and personal chord. His brother, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, 30, a soldier in the Pennsylvania National Guard, was killed in Baghdad 13 months ago on what Zappala said was a mission to find weapons there."
My family knows the consequences of the decision they made to go to war," said Zappala, 29, of Philadelphia. He is a member of Military Families Speak Out, a group that opposes the war and, according to Zappala, now has more than 2,000 members.
"I can't speak for what the TV news decides to focus their attention on," Zappala said. "They seem to have a willful deference to all relevant information. I think they've really just dropped the ball on this."
They also mention Conyers’ efforts, and here’s our challenge from Fox News:
Several popular left-leaning blogs have taken up the cause to keep the story alive, encouraging readers to contact media outlets. A Web site, DowningStreetMemo.com, tells readers to contact the White House directly with complaints."
This is a test of the left-wing blogosphere," said Jim Pinkerton, syndicated columnist and regular contributor to FOX News Watch, who pointed out that The Sunday Times article came out just before the British election and apparently had little effect on voters' decisions.
"In many ways that memo might prove all of the arguments the critics of the war have made," he added. "But the bulk of Americans don't agree, or don't seem that alarmed, so it is a power test to see if they can drive it back on the agenda."
All right, Big Brass Alliance—Fox fucking News has thrown down the gauntlet. Onward and upward!
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
The Downing Street Memo
From United States Representative John Conyers, Jr's Website:
Dear Friend:
As many of you are aware, a classified memo was recently disclosed in Great Britain that I believe has serious ramifications for the integrity of the United States Government. Dubbed the “Downing Street Memo,” but actually comprising the minutes of a meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair and other top British government officials, the memo casts serious doubt on many of the contentions of the Bush Administration in the lead up to the Iraq war. With over 1,600 U.S. servicemen and servicewomen killed in Iraq, the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, and over $200 billion in taxpayer funds going to this war effort, we cannot afford to stand by any longer.
Along with 88 of my colleagues, I wrote to the President requesting answers about this grave matter. Thus far, our search for the truth has been stonewalled and I need your help. I believe the American people deserve answers about this matter and should demand directly that the President tell the truth about the memo. To that end, I am asking you to sign on to a letter to the President requesting he answer the questions posed to him by 89 Members of Congress.
I will personally insure that this letter is delivered to the White House.
You can read the letter here and sign on to it below. You and I know the White House is just hoping that this matter will fade away, but in a few short weeks, with our steadfastness, the memo has found its way into leading newspapers and White House press briefings. With your help, we can hold this Administration accountable.
Please pass on this important letter to your friends and colleagues, and ask them to sign as well.
Thank you for your help and support.
John Conyers, Jr.
Click here to read & sign the Letter to President Bush Concerning the Downing Street Memo
More info: After Downing Street Dot Org
From Lizzy:
This memo should have been the smoking gun that exposed the Bush administration, but the mainstream media is (shamefully) not doing their job. This story is too important to die. Let's help keep it alive.
Dear Friend:
As many of you are aware, a classified memo was recently disclosed in Great Britain that I believe has serious ramifications for the integrity of the United States Government. Dubbed the “Downing Street Memo,” but actually comprising the minutes of a meeting of Prime Minister Tony Blair and other top British government officials, the memo casts serious doubt on many of the contentions of the Bush Administration in the lead up to the Iraq war. With over 1,600 U.S. servicemen and servicewomen killed in Iraq, the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, and over $200 billion in taxpayer funds going to this war effort, we cannot afford to stand by any longer.
Along with 88 of my colleagues, I wrote to the President requesting answers about this grave matter. Thus far, our search for the truth has been stonewalled and I need your help. I believe the American people deserve answers about this matter and should demand directly that the President tell the truth about the memo. To that end, I am asking you to sign on to a letter to the President requesting he answer the questions posed to him by 89 Members of Congress.
I will personally insure that this letter is delivered to the White House.
You can read the letter here and sign on to it below. You and I know the White House is just hoping that this matter will fade away, but in a few short weeks, with our steadfastness, the memo has found its way into leading newspapers and White House press briefings. With your help, we can hold this Administration accountable.
Please pass on this important letter to your friends and colleagues, and ask them to sign as well.
Thank you for your help and support.
John Conyers, Jr.
Click here to read & sign the Letter to President Bush Concerning the Downing Street Memo
More info: After Downing Street Dot Org
From Lizzy:
This memo should have been the smoking gun that exposed the Bush administration, but the mainstream media is (shamefully) not doing their job. This story is too important to die. Let's help keep it alive.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
