dean and TRUE democracy are first

LAST THREAD
http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/22704...

Way to go Bernie!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/why-i-will-vote-no-on-m_b_70043.html

The attorney general of the United States must be a defender of our constitutional rights. Because President Bush thinks he can do whatever he wants to do in the name of fighting terrorism, we need an attorney general who can explain to the president what the Constitution of this country is all about. We need an attorney general who does not believe the president has unlimited power. We need an attorney general who will tell President Bush that he is not above the law. We need an attorney general who clearly understands the separation of powers inherent in our Constitution. Regretfully, I have concluded that Michael B Mukasey would not be that kind of attorney general. That is why I will be voting against his nomination.

And then there's Hillary............

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/hillary-clinton-a-bundle_b_70052.html

Democrats planned to argue up until the last minute, and then much like what happened in August, the whole "war on terror" meme would receive a serious right-wing flogging and the Democrats would cave lest they be considered "soft on terror." Or at least enough of them would to get 60 votes, which should be no sweat, what with 49 Republicans plus "Slummy Joe" Lieberman plus 6 Democrats on the Intelligence Committee who already gave it a pass.

This was the brilliant strategy coming straight out of Senate offices. Opponents of retroactive immunity were told we were just going to have to "live" with this eventuality. And it was all going to go quite smoothly, according to script, until Chris Dodd threw a monkey wrench into things.

Now everyone who has been soaking up all that telecom money, who needed that "war on terror" excuse as cover for their vote, is in a bit of a bind. Jay Rockefeller was quite concerned that the poor telecoms were only doing what the government asked them to, and thus cannot be blamed for egregiously breaking the law. But as Judge Vaughn Walker wrote when he dismissed AT&T's petition for immunity in one such case:

AT&T cannot seriously contend that a reasonable entity in its position could have believed that the alleged domestic dragnet was legal.

Now Rockefeller is getting a wee bit touchy because people are noting the sharp uptick in his contributions from telecom executives over the past year and wondering what connection it might have with his deal with the White House, which calls for them to turn over a small fraction of the documents to the Intelligence Committee they are legally required to do anyway in exchange for immunity (a deal obviously made with Majority Leader Reid's blessing).

This was the brilliant strategy coming straight out of Senate offices. Opponents of retroactive immunity were told we were just going to have to "live" with this eventuality. And it was all going to go quite smoothly, according to script, until Chris Dodd threw a monkey wrench into things.

But one question few are asking -- is it a coincidence we haven't heard anything convincing from Hillary Clinton, who took in $87,130 in telecom contributions in the 2006 cycle -- more than anyone else currently in the Senate? That makes Jay Rockefeller's contributions look like abject chicken feed.

Mike McCurry and Jamie Gorelick, who both served in the previous Clinton administration, have been raking in money as telecom lobbyists (Gorelick has been providing "strategic advice" to Verizon about obtaining immunity). And Howard Wolfson -- currently a senior advisor to the Clinton campaign -- is a partner in Glover Park, who represent Verizon. No doubt they'll all have some s'plainin to do if Hillary joins Dodd in his filibuster -- as Barack Obama and Joe Biden have already said they would do.

If as Hillary Clinton says she accepts lobbyist money and yet it doesn't influence her vote, wouldn't now be a nice time to prove it? I think we're at one of those moments where the rubber meets the road on that particular claim. By making an unquivocal statement and bring attention to the matter, she could create a groundswell of public support that puts pressure on other Senate Democrats to respect the rule of law.

Then again, maybe that's the problem.

I was on my way, with my digital, to the famous Recoleta Cemetary...good grief, I can't remember how to spell....Cementerio...

Anyway, right down the street from my studio there was a protest against the paper compania across the river  in Paraguay.  The paper company is polluting the beautiful Rio Plata . ... the Plata River in Entre Rios and some of the most superb pristine beaches on the Argentine side are being destroyed.  Finland loaned Uruguay the money to build the paper company.  I learned so much today and took 31 photos and will post a few here.  I met and talked with 2 TV reporters who were about to cover the protest and told me where to stand so that I could be on the local 5 PM news but at the last minute, the coverage was cancelled...  so I almost became famous.  LOL  

There were dancers and drummers and trombones and flag and signs and lots of people watching and police lined up in full gear as I was running about, in and out, shooting and hoping I wouldn't get shot.  Every so often, shots rang out; scared the hell outta me, but they were nothing; firecrackers I think.  Anyway, I had a blast and this is what it means to feel decent again here.  I can actually go out and see what happens. 

The cops don't use stun guns here to my knowledge but I have to check that out again.  I think maybe in extreme cases.

After all the activity today, my tummy is troubled.  It just wants to hang out in bed but it can't anymore. Not as much.   I'll be on meds for the next week and the doctora said it's nothing serious and very common with the foreigners.

Tomorrow or Sunday I dance! 

PRICE*CHANGE% CHANGETIMENymex Crude Future91.861.401.5514:54

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/link.php?id=44465

SINCE THE DEMS ARE EGGING DUBYA ON...........

"A high-level diplomatic source in Tehran tells Asia Times Online," reports Pepe Escobar, "that essentially Putin and the Supreme Leader [Khameini] have agreed on a plan to nullify the George W Bush administration's relentless drive towards launching a preemptive attack, perhaps a tactical nuclear strike, against Iran. An American attack on Iran will be viewed by Moscow as an attack on Russia."

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This photo is accusing Finland of being a pirate (remember that Finland loaned the money to Paraguay to build the paper mill that's polluting the Rio Plata ...that jack built.

 this says  gathering of the people's party

8.  Now that they're saying it out loud, it's my guess the danger is over.  Russia is just taking credit for it's position all along.  They're the ones that supplied the missiles Iran has aimed at the bases in Iraq.  On today's evening news, some Russian was quoted about the similarity to the Cuban missile crisis and, of course, some American said he didn't see any similarity at all.  They also had the general in control of the Kurdish area for the Americans who said he has no responsibility for what the PKK are up to.  "No Responsibility" seems to be catching.

This is the guy who takes care of the people during the day...we have 24 hour service.  LOL  We're talking a lot...He's too young, right?  But he's separated...

His name is Daniel. 

The admins at DU said not to worry about all the stress during the primaries, just lower our expectations about the discourse. 

Ok, fine.  But someone started bringing Dean into the picture in a strange way to use as ammo against Obama.  Ridiculous.  

Gonna sit right down and lower my expectations.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1606

A summary of many of the good folks who understood Dean's comments and took up for him.  I mean bringing 2003 into 2007 as a campaign tool is infuriating.

http://www.chrisdodd.com/fisa

http://www.chrisdodd.com/fisa

This is so adorable.  Signs in the street.  This is a happy birthday from a guy telling his sister that in spite of all the fights, he loves her. 

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 Tommorrow! Oct. 27th  Philly Anti -War March, marches going on in 11 cities:

In Camden, NJ, participants in a morning rally will march across the
Ben Franklin Bridge to Philadelphia, and on to Independence Mall.
The Camden event starts at 11:00am at the Walt Whitman Cultural
Center at Rutgers/Camden. You take Admiral Wilson Blvd to the last
exit in Camden before the bridge. The Whitman Center is 2nd & Cooper.On street parking should be available.2-5 PM – Big peace rally in Philly – Independence Mall. email Carol if your going carolgay747@aol.com

All the info at http://www.oct27.org

Am I taking up too much bandwidth? 

S/O today said that he hopes Putin stops bush. 

Printable version

No actual reporters were able to attend Fema's televised briefing on the fires in California on Tuesday because they were only been given 15 minutes notice.

Instead, press officers asked questions many described as soft and gratuitous.

37.

Linda*in*SFNM
Fri, 10/26/07
1:12 pm


Thanks Linda

5.

Huron John
Fri, 10/26/07
3:59 pm

And thank you John

And still she's in office, lying to protect her hus boss.

Matt Renner | Rice in Rare Testimony, in Rare Form
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102607A.shtml
Matt Renner, reporting for Truthout, writes, "In combative and analytical testimony, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended her department's work in Iraq in front of a Congressional committee that has uncovered multiple failures and potentially criminal actions taken by State Department officials and contractors."

One thing all Americans can agree on, that's for sure: terrorism is bad news.

Yep - left, right and center - we all want protection from bad people who possess even badder weapons. (Sorry if that comes as a shock to the certifiables of the Ridiculous Right, but it's true. Even we lefties don't want to die, nor do we hate America - though if there's another Republican presidency next term, we may have to reconsider that last part.)

So, given that desire we all share for security from political violence, it sure is a good thing that ol' W is in the White House, isn't it, riding shotgun on the ship of state (forgive the mixed metaphor, but it seemed particularly appropriate considering the subject)? I mean, he talks about terrorism all the bloody time! Plus, he's tight with Jesus. That's gotta mean something, don't you think? Surely - like Con Ed - he's "On it!" when it comes to terrorism, and we can all sleep better knowing that.

Re-builders might want to seriously consider this.

Check out the page one photo on the Thursday, Oct. 25 front page of the New York Times. It shows two rows of completely destroyed homes in San Diego, and two virtually untouched homes right in the midst of them.

The caption makes no mention of it, and indeed in news story after news story, reporters talk about the seemingly whimsical way the fire destroys some houses while bypassing others, but what the two homes in that photo that are seemingly unscathed have in common is red tile roofs.

This is not fickle fate at work; it is common sense.

When I worked as a reporter in Los Angeles back in the 1970s, it was common knowledge--and was verified every time there was a wildfire--that if your house had a tile roof, and stucco walls, it pretty much was immune to fires.

OMG, this is so sick.  Why is BW still in operation?

— from TomDispatch

Evidently, Blackwater, the now infamous private security company whose hired guns, working for the State Department, mowed down at least 17 Iraqis in a Baghdad square recently, wants to soften its image. (I wonder why?) The New York Times' Paul von Zielbauer just reported that the company has redesigned its logo. Once, according to him, it was "a bear's paw print in a red crosshairs, under lettering that looks to have been ripped from a fifth of Jim Beam" on a "menacing" black field. Like Daniel Boone, the company was evidently selling its ability to put "big game" in the crosshairs of its gun sights in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, subtly transformed, the logo is on a white background; the bear's paw more modest looking; and the crosshairs of that sniper's rifle have simply disappeared.

Busheviks Will Stop Releasing National Intelligence Estimate Findings That Reveal the Truth About This Administration's Disastrous War and Foreign Policy. More Kremlinesque Behavior from the Bush-Cheney White House.

I remember Palast predicting that bushco would do away with Chavez.

Warning to Venezuelan leader

By Greg Palast
BBC Newsnight reporter

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had advance warning from Opec of last month's failed coup attempt against him.

The call from the organisation's secretary general, Ali Rodriguez - an old friend of Mr Chavez - was crucial in saving his government and probably his life.

Rodriguez gave the vital warning to Chavez
Mr Rodriguez told President Chavez that Opec had learned that some Arab countries were agitating for a new oil embargo against the US.

They were angry at the US stance following Israel's incursions into the Palestinian territories.

Rodriguez warned Chavez that if an oil embargo were to happen, the Bush administration would not tolerate Mr Chavez in control of Venezuela's oil production.

As the world's fourth largest oil exporter, Venezuela replaced Saudi Arabia as America's chief foreign source of oil during the last embargo in the 1970s.

In an exclusive interview for BBC's Newsnight programme, Mr Chavez accused the US of involvement in the coup.

'Proof'

He said: "I have written proof of the entries and exits of two military officers from the United States into the headquarters of the coup plotters.

"I have their names, whom they met with, what they said, proof on video and on still photographs."

Speaking of Ali Rodriguez's warning, Mr Chavez told Newsnight: "That call of alert helped me."

Chavez said that he had tried to avert a coup by sending a note to President Bush, assuring him that Venezuela would never join any oil boycott.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/1985670.stm 

20.
Phil,
Granny D's statement "Democracy is not something you have, democracy is something you do" just sums it all up for me...someone else spoke words like these...

"Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it's something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles"...Abbie Hoffman.

A little about Hoffman...from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbie_Hoffm...

His death was officially ruled a suicide, but many who knew him believed that the overdose had been accidental.[12] As reported by The New York Times, "Among the more vocal doubters at the service today was Mr. Dellinger, who said, 'I don't believe for one moment the suicide thing.' He said he had been in fairly frequent touch with Mr. Hoffman, who had 'numerous plans for the future.'"

After being found not guilty, Hoffman prepared for a cameo appearance in Oliver Stone's anti-Vietnam War movie, Born on the Fourth of July. He essentially played himself in the movie, waving a flag on the ramparts of an administration building during a campus protest that was being teargassed and crushed by state troopers.

The movie was released on December 20, 1989, more than eight months after Hoffman's suicide on April 12, 1989. At the time of his death, Hoffman was at the height of a renewed public visibility, one of the few '60s radicals who still commanded the attention of all kinds of mass media. He regularly lectured audiences about the CIA's covert activities, including assassinations disguised as suicides. His Playboy article (October, 1988) outlining the connections that constitute the "October Surprise" brought that alleged conspiracy to the attention of a wide-ranging American readership for the first time.


I think Granny D is safe though...lol

Putin: US Plan Evokes '62 Cuban Crisis. Some Serious Sh*t Going on Here. Cheney is Just One Dr. Strangelove Moment Away from Bombing Iran, And Junior Will Go Along Because It Makes Him Feel Like a Real Man. 10/27

OK, so Putin claims an attack on Iran would be tantamount to an attack on Russia?  Does anyone think that bushco cares?  This is cowboymacholandia, one uppmanship.  I think the madness won't stop them .  IMO it just eggs them on, since they now feel invincible, able to control all  3 branches of gov't.  With Congress not stopping them, I'm beginning to think the serious mental illness is contagious.

I'm happy to see that the population explosion is finally being addressed.

');   E-Mail Article

PARIS: The human population is living far beyond its means and inflicting damage on the environment that could pass points of no return, according to a major report issued Thursday by the United Nations.

Climate change, the rate of extinction of species and the challenge of feeding a growing population are among the threats putting humanity at risk, the UN Environment Program said in its fourth Global Environmental Outlook since 1997.

"The human population is now so large that the amount of resources needed to sustain it exceeds what is available at current consumption patterns," Achim Steiner, the executive director of the program, said in a telephone interview. Efficient use of resources and reducing waste now are "among the greatest challenges at the beginning of 21st century," he said.

The program described its report, which is prepared by 388 experts and scientists, as the broadest and deepest of those that the UN issues on the environment and called it "the final wake-up call to the international community."

Over the past two decades the world population has increased by almost 34 percent to 6.7 billion from 5 billion; similarly, the financial wealth of the planet has soared by about a third. But the land available to each person on earth had shrunk by 2005 to 2.02 hectares, or 5 acres, from 7.91 hectares in 1900 and was projected to drop to 1.63 hectares for each person by 2050, the report said.

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The result of that population growth combined with unsustainable consumption has resulted in an increasingly stressed planet where natural disasters and environmental degradation endanger millions of humans, as well as plant and animal species, the report said.

Steiner said that demand for resources was close to 22 hectares per person, a figure that would have to be cut to between 15 and 16 hectares per person to stay within existing, sustainable limits.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/25/europe/environ.php?WT.mc_id=newsalert 

 

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