Earl Bockenfeld: Outrages

Great Moments In Presidential Speeches

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:48:21 GMT

Great Moments In Presidential Speeches

Feel Good

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 05:36:39 GMT

Watch Feel Good -- It's great

Nick Anderson has a new animation that's just brutal against Bush, Rove and Cheney....against a backdrop of the brutality they've foisted upon Iraq. It's called Feel Good

Happy Codpiece Day!

Tue, 01 May 2007 22:21:50 GMT

Happy Codpiece Day!

Brave New Films has made an impressive short film for Codpiece Day that you can see here and send to all your friends. Be sure to make your own "Mission Accomplished" banner and enter the contest. I did, as you can see.

Baghdad Burning - Laura Logan

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:01:25 GMT

Baghdad Burning - Laura Logan

Baghdad Burning - Part II

Mad TV - IRack

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 01:13:08 GMT

Mad TV - IRack

Steve Jobs unveils the new iRack

The USA Statue in her own animated VIDEO!

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:45:36 GMT

The USA Statue in her own animated VIDEO!

This is an amazing video.

Don't Give It Up, Without A Fight.

Impeach Cheney First

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:33:38 GMT

Impeach Cheney First

I'm persuaded of the value of this approach for several reasons. Among activists who very much want impeachment, one can hear a long list of fears and concerns about how things might go wrong, how impeachment could help Republicans who come around and back it, how impeachment could take energy away from elections, etc. But by far the most common of the nonsensical fears one hears is this one: "Impeaching Bush would give us Cheney, who is worse."

By proposing to impeach Cheney first, we eliminate this fear.

The Fool on Capitol Hill

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:59:46 GMT

The Fool on Capitol Hill

The Fool on the Hill by The Beatles

John Lennon - Happy Xmas (the War is Over)

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:37:06 GMT

John Lennon - Happy Xmas (the War is Over)

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) is a song that was written by John Lennon with partial help from Yoko Ono. It was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City in late October of 1971, with the help of producer Phil Spector. It features soaring, heavily echoed vocals, and a sing-along chorus. The children singing in the background were from the Harlem Community Choir and are credited on the song's single.

Directly following John Lennon's death on December 8, 1980, the song was re-released in the UK on December 20 1980.

Although the song is a protest song about the Vietnam War, it has become a Christmas standard and has appeared on several Christmas CDs. One of the best known versions was recorded live by Melissa Etheridge.

Closely related to the song: in late 1969, John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono rented billboards and posters in eleven cities around the world that read: "WAR IS OVER! (If You Want It) Happy Christmas from John and Yoko." Five of the eleven cities included in the billboard campaign were New York, Tokyo, Rome, Amsterdam, and London. At the time the United States was deeply entrenched in the Vietnam War, which would later become a major political debacle.

I wonder what O'reilly thinks about This "Happy Christmas" song. It must be one of his favorites.

Freedom - better quality

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 15:36:37 GMT

Freedom - better quality

Fantastic video! It basically recaps every mistake, travesty, and abomination that's occurred under the Bush Administration and the GOP stranglehold on our Government. November 7th, 2006 - Happy Repudiation Day!

Funny, smart, and stirring. Tears came to my eyes. "Freedom" was an inspired choice for a soundtrack. George Michael should be proud. George Bush should be ashamed. Balance in our Democracy is needed if we are to persevere as a nation!

Sixteen Candles for Soldiers

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:19:18 GMT

Sixteen Candles for Soldiers

On the eve of her 16th birthday, when many girls are throwing Sweet 16s, she's organizing "Sixteen Candles for Soldiers," in Montgomery, Alabama on October 21st. Watch the video and get involved here.

Lowery writes:

It's an event that is meant to honor and respect our troops by showing our support for them. We plan to demand they get the benefits they deserve and that they be brought home from this war we were lead into by liars. Every day brave Americans are dying as a result of this Administration's actions. It's up to us to demand the truth and accountability. Join me on October 21, 2006 at the State Capitol Steps in Montgomery, Alabama, and we'll show the Bush Administration what real support for our troops looks like.

(PeaceTakesCourage)

Marching up to freedom land

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:00:57 GMT

Marching up to freedom land

Joan baez singing acapella

Network 25 Years Later:

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:53:47 GMT

Network 25 Years Later:
I'm mad as Hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore....

Thank you, Aaron Sorkin!!! So true. Broadcast tv is getting it's butt whipped because of the FCC and the Christian and Conversative groups, (I'm saying this AS a Christian!) Networks are too scared to show their colours because of they're afriad of being burned by these groups and they shouldn't have to be afraid. Like Jordan said in the "The Cold Open", People should be taught how to change the channel! To me, that was the most brilliant statement EVER.

Olbermann- Bush is Unacceptable

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:24:22 GMT

Olbermann- Bush is Unacceptable
Olbermann criticizes Bush for saying it is "unacceptable to think"

I wanna bumper sticker that says Keith Olbermann speaks for me.

The Best War Ever

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 21:33:55 GMT

The Best War Ever

"the notion that the us is getting ready to attack iran is simply ridiculous....having said that all options are on the table"

that is truly a 'now watch this drive' moment

The War On Terror And The War At Home

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 16:27:37 GMT

The War On Terror And The War At Home

“Soon there will only be two classes, the truly needy and the truly greedy!”--- from the movie( Flash Back)

For all their talk of "fighting them there, so we don’t fight them here", there is a very real war that the Bush Administration policies are waging here on our shores: The War Against The Middle Class . Despite the rosy characterizations of our economy from pundits, there is real data that shows that the American Dream may be just that–a dream–for a growing percentage of Americans, who struggle with a larger debt burden.

America’s middle class is drowning in debt. A typical middle income family earning around $45,000 a year saw its debt burden grow by 33.1% between 2001 and 2004, even after adjusting for inflation. Debt relative to income rose even more, to 33.9%, during this period for middle income families. Personal bankruptcies among these households are rising steeply.

The reasons for greater economic distress among middle class households are not hard to pinpoint. Slow income growth between 2001 and 2004, the last year for which complete data is available, has not kept pace with the rising cost of big ticket items such as housing and education loans, medical expenses and transportation. Family budgets have been squeezed.

A common but misplaced assumption is that the growth in debt among middle-income families — those with incomes roughly between $25,000 to $70,000 a year — is the result of over-consumption through increased credit card debt. Rather, growth in debt is primarily due to heavier borrowing for investments in homes or education, both of which saw dramatic price increases in recent years. The cost of a college education, for example, grew by 24.6% between 2001 and 2004, after adjusting for inflation.

Thom Hartman's new book SCREWED: The Undeclared War on the Middle Class on what he terms "the death of the middle class" that I’ve just started reading. Hartman makes a fairly compelling case for a "Fair Market Economy" vs. the neocons’ beloved Free Market Economy, which history has shown has benefitted just the top percentage and caused a greater and greater chasm between the upper and middle classes.

Cause and effect are often confusing, but clearly the effect after six years of this administration's policies are a disaster to everyone below the GOP donor class.

Everyone acts as if globalization and the outsourcing of jobs is an act of nature -- it is not, it is the result of policy. And it can just as easily be reversed should there be the political will/expediency to do so. If globalization is such a peachy treat, then why are the countries who get suckered into these trade deals always worse off? Where's the uptick for the US? When companies like Intel lay off 20,000 employees while they are profitable, don't we need to look at that? What does corporate American mean when they say they need to be competitive? Why can capitol move freely about the world, but people cannot?

So is the American Middle Class dead? - not yet, but given enough time and the continuation of these disastrous policies, it is only a matter of time. Have yourselves a Happy LABOR DAY!

If you heard Howard Dean on "Face The Nation" this morning he mentioned the "War on Terror" and then said "We have a war on the Middle Class in this country by the Republicans to worry about as well."

"VFP" Veterans For Peace

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 02:55:28 GMT

"VFP" Veterans For Peace

The Declaration of Peace is a nationwide campaign to establish by September 21, 2006 a concrete and rapid plan for peace in Iraq, including:

a prompt timetable for withdrawal of troops and closure of bases
a peace process for security, reconstruction, and reconciliation
and the shift of funding for war to meeting human needs.

For What it's Worth; No Iraq War

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 06:06:56 GMT

For What it's Worth; No Iraq War

Anti war video to the beat of Buffalo Springfield

Rove was speaking to the Associated Republicans of Texas, and ticket prices started at $200. He was not in the Renaissance Hotel lobby during the reception.

"I want him arrested. He planned the war that killed my son," Sheehan told officers guarding the door. Sheehan's oldest son Casey was killed in Iraq in 2004.

"Pat, did you get her check before she left?" Rove quipped to the GOP group's executive director, Pat Robbins, as the crowd of 300 laughed, the newspaper reported.

"I don't question the patriotism of our critics. Many are hardworking public servants who are doing the best they can. Some of them are people looking for a free meal," Rove said, drawing more laughs.

And Karl Rove is a scum-sucking bastard who cheerleaded on an illegal war that has killed tens of thousands of people and which harmed every fucking thing it could, including this nation's long-term and short-term interests...all in the name of getting a moron reelected President.

Who's getting a fuckin' free lunch here?

New Terror Alert: "Snakes On A Plane"

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 07:21:43 GMT

New Terror Alert: "Snakes On A Plane"

There's no fascism like naked fascism! Seriously, if this is what the world has come to, scared shitless of bras because the British don't know how to have a sense of identity not based on racism, isn't it time for Britain to just give up as a country?

Authorities Warning Women Not to Wear Gel Bras As Worries of Possible Female Bombers Increase

How many more terror alerts will it take before we’ll all be flying nekkid?

It's lookin to me like full body cavity searches are just over the horizon... Oh boy, flying is just continuing to look like it's headed to a whole new level of entertainment.

That's just the market forces at work folks... Any business that messes with it's customer base without a clue to what they really need to focus on will usually end up going out of business at some point.. Maybe the business class will put up with increasingly draconian terrorist preventive measures to ensure your average fat cat CEO gets from point a to point b in a timely manner for the latest board meeting... But the commercial air industry will not survive without the recreation travelers of the world....Profit margins, I don't think, will work out right to the bean counters in the home offices without that recreation money coming in.

Those stupid infotainers on the "news" were talking about X-RAYS AT AIRPORTS, SHOWING our private parts and that we have an option of placing a steal plate over our privates, about a 5 x 8 plate.
The first thing anybody with a half a brain could notice, you can hide anything in the crotch area, if you have a steal plate in front of the x-ray, it could conceal something.

Did you know that a detonator is as small as and roughly the same shape as a tampon? Do I really need to go any further along this train of thought...?

It's futile, stupid, ridiculous, insane, ludicrous, assinine windowdressing, designed to do nothing except scare the shit out of people and make them compliant. The real security lapses are not where passengers normally see them - the catering staff, the ground crew, the baggage handlers, the airport grounds security, a million and one holes that Homeland Security don't have the time, money or resources to cover adequately.

So they take the easy route, and the one this administration likes, piling on the fear, cranking it up another notch, like a sadist killer who just can't get enough gratification and spirals into madness...

And that group of travelers folks, is exactly who is going to get fed up with this shit first and start taking trains, or boats or cars to more local vacation spots... I don't know for sure what the answer is, but these latest security measures ain't it...Well, actually I take that last back.. I know what I think the answer is, but the first step to fix this isn't at the airport. The first step to fixing this shit happens at the ballot box.

Is Bush An Idiot? Dah!

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 16:15:41 GMT

Is Bush An Idiot? Dah!

If Dear Leader isn't the idiot we've been calling him for the last 7 years, he's an actor without equal.

I suspect the old drunk is as much a patsy for his "base" as Ronald Reagan ever was. But he's far more arrogant and far less affable. Now that Cheney and Rumsfeld seem to be increasingly at odds over the next step, his rudderless behavior shows.

Jackson Brown's 'Lives In The Balance'

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:17:00 GMT

Jackson Brown's 'Lives In The Balance'

This is a very powerful song and video. It's hard to believe that this song was originally written in the'80s and was about the war in El Salvador, but it still applies to the war in Iraq today.

"War, we have come to believe, is a spectator sport. The military and the press ... have turned war into a vast video arcade game. Its very essence- death - is hidden from public view." - Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for New York Times

It's time. Bring our troops home NOW and take care of them when they get here.

When Torture Isn't HARD Enought

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 04:13:31 GMT

When Torture Isn't HARD Enought

This is what America stands for in the 21st Century: the torture of innocent children to make their fathers confess.

Some of you may recall reports from Iraq which described the egregious tactic of US troops kidnapping the family members of detainees in order to "assist" the interrogation process. At the time we were informed this was a only a limited effort, and that all such family members detained were people who were known to be guilty of aiding the insurgents.

As we know all too well by now, such "official" remarks are often a flat out lie to cover up systematic abuses. Salon's David Benjamin has a story up that reveals the use of kidnapping family members of detainees in Iraq by US forces is the standard operating procedure for many interrogations:

July 14, 2006 | Congress has demanded that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld hand over a raft of documents to Congress that could substantiate allegations that U.S. forces have tried to break terror suspects by kidnapping and mistreating their family members. Rumsfeld has until 5 p.m. Friday to comply.

It now appears that kidnapping, scarcely covered by the media, and absent in the major military investigations of detainee abuse, may have been systematically employed by U.S. troops. Salon has obtained Army documents that show several cases where U.S. forces abducted terror suspects’ families. After he was thrown in prison, Cpl. Charles Graner, the alleged ringleader at Abu Ghraib, told investigators the military routinely kidnapped family members to force suspects to turn themselves in.

Yes, there's nothing like the threat of having your daughter or wife raped by American soldiers to loosen one's tongue. Why, I'd say anything they wanted me to say, I'd sign any confession put before me, if my wife or daughter was in the hands of foreign troops who had occupied my country. It might not bear any relation to reality, but at that point I could care less. Protecting my child or wife would be all that I cared about.

And what works with daughters and wives can work equally as well with sons:

In a hearing before Shays' Government Reform subcommittee last February, Provance testified that the Army had retaliated against him. Provance also made the disturbing allegation that interrogators broke an Iraqi general, Hamid Zabar, by imprisoning and abusing his frail 16-year-old son. Waxman was shocked. "Do you think this practice was repeated with other children?" he asked Provance. "I don't see why it would not have been, sir," Provance replied. Zabar's son had been apprehended with his father and held at Abu Ghraib, though the boy hadn't done anything wrong. "He was useless," Provance said about the boy in a phone interview with Salon from Heidelberg, Germany, where he is still in the Army. "He was of no intelligence value." But, Provance said, interrogators grew frustrated when the boy's father, Zabar, wouldn't talk, despite a 14-hour interrogation. So they stripped Zabar's son naked and doused him with mud and water. They put him in the open back of a truck and drove around in the frigid January night air until the boy began to freeze. Zabar was then made to look at his suffering son.

I really don't have much to add. This is despicable, and a deep stain on our nation. Yet, can anyone argue that this step was not inevitable once George Bush declared his "War on Terror?" When you vow to fight the "terrorists" with the "gloves off" this is what happens: you begin to emulate the worst despots and the most criminal regimes on the planet. You view even the most heinous measures as necessary to combat your enemy, even those that were previously considered beyond the pale. You violate every law and standard of decency in pursuit of of an ever more nebulous victory. In short, you become the evil you first meant to oppose.

If someone is so angry or whatever that they will kill themselves in a suicide bombing of say my family, how could you/I every prevent this when that actual bomber is willing to die. Well, what if you made it blanket policy that the family of a suicide bomber would be ___ (fill in some heinous action such as killed, tortured, imprisoned forever, etc.) I know it sounds extreme in a casual conversation, but if the survival on one's society or even one's own family was at stake. Would such actions maybe be justified as a preventative measure toward other suicide bombings/bombers??

I mean even if the suicide bombers don't care about their lives, they might care about their family members' lives. What kinder, gentler alternative is available to deal with suicide terrorist bombing prevention??

There is a very simple alternative to threatening a "suicider's" family and thereby multiplying the number of 'suiciders.' Oddly enough, it's a method from the hated BIBLE. Love your enemy, turn the other cheek and do unto others as you would have others unto you. In policy terms, this would have translated into a 'Marshall Plan' for the Middle East, including building a school system to rival the Madrasas, infrastructure building, etc. It would have meant passing up the opportunity to become a police state after 9/11 and reserving the many hundreds of billions of dollars we have spend so far in hunting the wrong countries for a few extremely naughty people in caves. It would have meant passing up a world war. (When has a Bush passed up starting a world war?)

Now that our great Christian President has ignored even the basic tenants of the Judeo-Christian tradition, we are basically in the position your thought experiment speaks of. The problem with the 'blanket' policy of threatening families is that it moves more people into the realm of the desperate and homicidal. The desperate tend to be able to take their religious beliefs more seriously when it comes to laying their lives on the line. Systematically removing all the bread winners from a village is not going to help the next generation come to different conclusions vis-a-vis the value of life. Especially when you grab and torture the wrong 12-year old.

Might I suggest that we all take a brief moment to steal ourselves against a suicide bomb attack (bearing in mind that the odds of your being directly, mortally effected are, well as zero as zero gets in predicting the future), take more personal responsibility for your own family's safety (Goverment is good at bombing clean up, not complete prevention), and above all else, love your enemy by providing an alternative, any alternative, to desperation. Otherwise you are just multiplying the number of people who have reason to die just to kill you. Family by family. Systematically, as a blanket policy.

Sorry, there is just no way to eye-for-an-eye your way our of this. There is just no way that you are minimizing the threat to your family by intimidating and mistreating the families of those who do. There is no path to safety or peace can be articulated that starts here. There are many paths if we take our lumps for the blowback for the cheap energy we've already enjoyed and begin the process of buying a reasonable increase in our safety with good will.

What Does Melting Greenland's Glaciers Mean?

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 22:42:33 GMT

What Does Melting Greenland's Glaciers Mean?

The Greenland glaciers that cover the island contain enough water to raise sea level twenty feet, or seven meters. It was once thoughts (and that was only six years ago) that the glaciers would be self-sustaining even in a warming world because of size and so on.We now know that this is not true.

Not only are the edges melting fast, but the surface melt is seeping through the ice to lubricate the junction between the ice and the rock underneath. This is the unexpected factor that has turned scientific attention onto this escalating problem.

It appears that the Greenland ice is shot through with crevices, tunnels and faults through which the melting upper surface can penetrate right through the glacier, and threaten to break the attachment between the ice and the rock base.

When this happens much of this mountain of water will flow into the sea. Already twenty-one of the great glacial masses are moving seawards eight times faster than ten years ago. It would seem we are on the verge of a major tipping point in climate change, if we have not already reached it.

It is important to be aware of the consequences. The five most urgent are

1. Most coastal cities would become uninhabitable for many, for metros would be flooded, sewage and stormwater flows would be overwhelmed, and most cable infrastructure would be affected. More drastically, most docks would be underwater so that food and oil could not be landed, even if it could be loaded into the ships in the first place. And in any case, without oil, how would food be transported?

2. Enormous areas of the most productive agricultural land would be underwater. One thinks immediately of Bangladesh and the North Sea farms in Holland and Anglesea.

3. The alteration in the cold water flow that drives the great deep-sea currents of the world would have a profound impact on the Gulf Stream, with completely unpredictable results. The eastern US and Europe may become hotter or colder or more storm-ridden. No matter which, the outcome spells disaster for some of the most advanced cultures on earth.

4. Removing the weight of the ice cover from such a large land-mass will have an impact on the earth on quake and, considering how close Iceland is, on volcanic activity.

5. Lastly, and most significantly for a world that is now awash in guns, people, in their millions, will be on the move for survival.

This is the future that we are bequeathing our children, and ourselves if any of us are younger then 65. This is happening in our times, to our families and loved ones, and is no longer a distant scenario. It would appear that it is here.

The latest US Navy survey suggests there will be no sea ice left in the Arctic summer by 2016. Is this the date we have to look forward to?

We Can't Make It Here Anymore - by James Mcmurtry

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 02:06:22 GMT

We Can't Make It Here Anymore - by James Mcmurtry

The average working class kid without a expensive Education "can't make it here anymore" Globalization took my job overseas. The kids fighting the war haven't a chance, Bush is cutting VA benefits.

Great video...totally explains the predicament we are in today

Stewart on Lebanon Coverage

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 03:43:07 GMT

Stewart on Lebanon Coverage

Daily Show host takes on media coverage of Lebanon...

Wow. Jon Stewart has the audacity to call out our news media because it is more worried about the prices at the gas pumps than on all of innocent lives being killed!

Good Thing: The Adults Are In Charge

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 05:22:50 GMT

Good Thing: The Adults Are In Charge

Joenertia Reaching Into The Liar Jar

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 01:22:10 GMT

Joenertia Reaching Into The Liar Jar

At least Joe's got his priorities straight. It's Connecticut's reponsibility to be for Lieberman, not the other way around.

The Connecticut Post has an article today on the deceptive Lieberman ad which shows a fake, mocked-up Lamont bumper sticker - done in the exact style that Ned has his own bumper stickers. And a fake website. In other words, the entire political advertisement is based on a lie.

From the Connecticut Post:

William Scher, of Northampton, Mass., exposed the phony bumper sticker Sunday on his Web site, liberaloasis.com. The ad ran Sunday on Hartford's WTIC-TV, during "Fox News Sunday." It was also shown during C-SPAN's airing of the Lieberman-Lamont debate, where Scher saw it.
Scher said his wife wanted to purchase the bumper sticker to display her anger at Lieberman, but he found that nomorejoe.com was not an active site; it had been used two years earlier in a county sheriff's race in Arizona.

"Their central argument is that Ned Lamont has nothing to say beyond 'I hate Joe Lieberman.' They couldn't find any tangible evidence of that, so they had to make it up," Scher said.

His discovery was quickly picked up by other liberal bloggers who expressed outrage at Lieberman's use of a false image - even though many of them have embraced images "doctored" to highlight their claim that Lieberman is too close to President Bush.

Yep,. you are absolutely right that people are disgusted by politicians who lie in their campaign commercials. Again, from FactCheck.org:

Further, the website on the sticker featured in the ad, www.nomorejoe.com, does not exist. The page is currently blank. Nomorejoe.com is registered to Highground Inc. of Phoenix, AZ. A spokesperson for Highground told FactCheck.org that the domain name was purchased in 2004 as an independent expenditure for a local campaign against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and has no affiliation with the Connecticut Senate race.
Overall, the Lieberman campaign is well within its rights to argue that Lamont's campaign lacks a positive message and is simply "anti-Lieberman." But creating false campaign material and passing it off as authentic? That seems at odds with the ad's praise of Lieberman's "principles." (emphasis mine)

When you have reached the point in your political campaign where you have to openly lie about your opponant to find some basis of attack, you have gone way over pathetic into desperation and crapola.

Joe just keeps making things worse for himself. And I don't think he's capable of stopping his tailspin, because it would require a depth of character he doesn't possess. We'll just keep seeing more of the same as Joe digs his own grave, and whines himself into it.

JFK Speech on National Secrets and Secret Societies

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 04:13:59 GMT

JFK Speech on National Secrets and Secret Societies

Thats right, old JFK says everything thats happening now is basically...well... unamerican...

Whats wrong for one person or group is wrong for everyone, otherwise its tyranny. You can't single out one group, lest you be singled out too. I refuse to be riled up against Christians anymore than Muslims or Jews. I will not be mislead by democrats or republicans. Why? Because I'm an American, not a republican or a democrat.

Ava Lowery Does It Again With 'Declaration'

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:53:20 GMT

Ava Lowery Does It Again With 'Declaration'

Peace Takes Courage is a project by Ava Lowery. Ava is a 15 year old student and peace activist from Alabama. In Mid-March 2005, she created her first animation. Since then she has made over 70 animations, many of them about the war in Iraq. In April 2006, Cindy Sheehan wrote an article about Ava and her effort to promote peace through this website. Ava has been featured on Progressive Magazine online, MichaelMoore.com, Buzzflash.com,Truthout.org, and other sites.

7/04/2006 Independence Day Declaration

Posting For Peace

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:55:41 GMT

Posting For Peace

Please take a moment on this July 4th to remember the fallen and their families

Iraq Coalition Casualty Count

Iraq Coaliton Casualties
U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: 2531
Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation: 5
Total: 2536
DoD Confirmation List
Latest Coalition Fatality: July 01, 2006

Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan
Total: 399

Three years of war and occupation have failed to bring stability, freedom or sovereignty to Iraq. Instead, they have brought violence, poverty and despair. U.S. policy needs to support Iraqi civil society to rebuild Iraq and support civil society and political, not military, solutions to the conflict.

While Congress has not reflected the views of the U.S. pro-peace majority, the public debate on television, radio, newspapers, and the internet shows that many see our views as common sense. In the past few months, more and more people have been talking publicly about how political, not military, solutions will get Iraq out of crisis. Even military personel such as George Casey, the U.S. Army general in command of coalition troops in Iraq, are acknowledging the need to withdraw from Iraq.

It's clear that we're winning over public opinion and, with continued pressure, we will end this war.

Wage Peace Movie, Three-minute movie about the human cost of war
http://www.afsc.org/iraq/

VIDEO: WHAT WILL YOU DO?

HELP, This Country Is Headed In The Wrong Direction

If you're looking for a "simple, cheap and effective" way to alert people to the possible infringement of personal liberties this Fourth of July, just fly the Stars and Stripes upside down, a gun rights organization says.

Though some veterans' organizations are far from embracing the idea, Aaron Zelman, president of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO), said flying Old Glory upside-down, a traditional signal of distress, is not "disrespectful," but a way of showing "love for your country."

"If you really want to save freedom," he said, "then you embrace the concept of flying the flag upside-down to get other people's attention so they, too, will understand the threat we're faced with and embrace freedom."

Zelman said if people are going to complain about a possible police state coming or the government invading their privacy, "then they have got to get with the program." "It's almost like termites affect the foundation of our house," Zelman said. "You don't see it going on until there's a collapse."

If you don't think our Goverance doesn't deserve a "Distress Call" then consider this - the U.S. Congress and cynical pundits and political operatives in Washington are polluting our country's political discourse with a debate over flag burning at the very same time that:

- The American Journal of Public Health reports more than 1,700 African Americans die each week because they don't have the same access to health care as other Americans.

- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 110 workers die each week in workplace fatalities - many of which could be prevented by better enforcement of basic workplace laws by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (which is being gutted by budget cuts).

- The Pentagon reports roughly 15 American soldiers die each week in Iraq.

- The Institute of Medicine reports 346 Americans die each week because they lack health insurance.

- The Environmental Working Group reports that 192 Americans die each week because of exposure to asbestos.

These are tiny snippets in a blood-stained river of similar facts - facts that are similarly ignored by America's political Establishment. But quiet dismissal of life and death is one thing - openly substituting a discussion of life and death with a made-for-television spectacle about a fabricated "controversy" is altogether different.

Our founding fathers would be ashamed. Our country's historical icons who fought to make this country great would be appalled. My own ancestors - who risked their lives to free themselves from tyranny, get to this country and help build it through public service - they would be disgusted. And the next generation will rightly look upon this day - and this era - as a humiliating cautionary tale in the history of a country that allowed the worst forms of greed and self-indulgence from the most vile political opportunists in both parties to imperil the very foundation this nation was built upon. They will wonder how we, the people, didn't all scream at Congress from the top of our lungs: "How dare you?"

Glenda in the Land of Oz from has come up with a wonderful idea for this year's Independance Day celebration. Visit the other blogs that are also posting on peace and an end to this war.

Enigma4ever - Watergate Summer
Sumo - Summo Merriment
Beth - Here I Am
James - Genius Of Insanity
Betmo - Life's Jouney
Celtic Fire - celticfire
Weezielou - weezielou
Divajood - Journeys With Jood
Michael Bains - Silly Humans
Peacechick Mary - Knock Knock
BZ - Intrepid Flame

JM - John's Blog
PTCruiser
Mary - Get Your Own
GUERRILLAS in the MIDST
Dizzy Dezzi - I'm Jus' A Lil' Dizzy!
Time - Time
The Poetryman - Poetic Justice
Pissed Off Patricia - Morning Martini
Neil Shakespeare
Sarah - An American Aries
Charlie - Highland Dreams
Lorraine - Here's The Thing
Snave - Various Miseries
Libby - The Impolitic
Lew Scannon - Unbrainwashed
Ron Nasty - The Nasty Page
Diane S. - A Stone, A Leaf, An Unfound Door...
Grish - The Weekly View
Ann - The Tulgey Wood
A Rose Is A Rose - Ravings Of A Semi-Sane Madwoman
Changeseeker - Why Am I Not Surprised?
Kvatch - Blognonymous
Cali - Nite Swimming
Dusty - It's My Right To Be Left Of Center
Steve O. - Naked Politics
John Good - Left In Aboite
Tabor - One Day At A Time
Angie - Ang's Weird Ideas
Donnie McDaniel - The Katrinacrat Blog
Glenda - Glenda In The Land Of Oz
Elizabeth Branford - The Blue Republic
Orange_Gearle

Glenda - Lose The Noose
Elizabeth Branford - Consider The Boot
Stella - Swiftspeech

Visit these sites and see their "Post For Peace" and about celebrating the Fourth of July.

Primary Race In Connecticut, Joe and Ned .....

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 15:40:24 GMT

Primary Race In Connecticut, Joe and Ned .....

Generally speaking, I have nothing against Lieberman. Even his pro-war stance is OK - NOT. We're a big tent, but not right now? His sucking up to George Bush, however, is really offensive and completely gratuitous. That's strike one.

Plus there's this whole snide business about how "Kos and the liberal netroots have never backed a winning candidate." It's not really true, I know, but it would still be nice to see that canard die a clear and well-deserved death. So that's strike two.

And then there's the really lame ads Lieberman has been running. That's strike three. And the fact that he's as much as said he'd ditch the party and run as an independent if he loses. That's strike four. And his vote for cloture during the debate on the bankruptcy bill and the cloture vote for cloture on the Alito appointment.. That's strike five.

Handing Cheney a big ol' bucket o' love during their "debate" - strikes six and seven.

Telling rape victims they can just go to a different hospital if the one they are taken to won't give them "morning after" contraception - strike eight.

Saying "Freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion" - strike nine.

And his annoying habit of undercutting other Democrats by going on television shortly after they've said something useful and completely disagreeing with them (see "we shouldn't criticize our President in these times of peril") - strike ten!

Remind me again. How many strikes before you're out?

Scientists OK Gore's movie for accuracy

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 07:07:57 GMT

Scientists OK Gore's Movie For Accuracy

The best thing about Global Warming is it's one beautiful day followed by another, until you die of thirst, (or the poisons that are causing the problem).

WASHINGTON - The nation's top climate scientists are giving "An Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore's documentary on global warming, 5 stars for accuracy.

The former vice president's movie — replete with the prospect of a flooded New York City, an inundated Florida, more and nastier hurricanes, worsening droughts, retreating glaciers and disappearing ice sheets — mostly got the science right, said all 19 climate scientists who had seen the movie or read the book and answered questions from The Associated Press.

The AP contacted more than 100 top climate researchers by e-mail and phone for their opinion. Among those contacted were vocal skeptics of climate change theory. Most scientists had not seen the movie, which is in limited release, or read the book.

But those who have seen it had the same general impression: Gore conveyed the science correctly; the world is getting hotter and it is a manmade catastrophe-in-the-making caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

"Excellent," said William Schlesinger, dean of the Nicholas School of Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University. "He got all the important material and got it right."

Robert Corell, chairman of the worldwide Arctic Climate Impact Assessment group of scientists, read the book and saw Gore give the slideshow presentation that is woven throughout the documentary.

"I sat there and I'm amazed at how thorough and accurate," Corell said. "After the presentation I said, `Al, I'm absolutely blown away. There's a lot of details you could get wrong.' ... I could find no error."

Gore, in an interview with the AP, said he wasn't surprised "because I took a lot of care to try to make sure the science was right."

The tiny errors scientists found weren't a big deal, "far, far fewer and less significant than the shortcoming in speeches by the typical politician explaining an issue," said Michael MacCracken, who used to be in charge of the nation's global warming effects program and is now chief scientist at the Climate Institute in Washington.

One concern was about the connection between hurricanes and global warming. That is a subject of a heated debate in the science community. Gore cited five recent scientific studies to support his view.

"I thought the use of imagery from Hurricane Katrina was inappropriate and unnecessary in this regard, as there are plenty of disturbing impacts associated with global warming for which there is much greater scientific consensus," said Brian Soden, a University of Miami professor of meteorology and oceanography.

Some scientists said Gore confused his ice sheets when he said the effect of the Clean Air Act is noticeable in the Antarctic ice core; it is the Greenland ice core. Others thought Gore oversimplified the causal-link between the key greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and rising temperatures.

While some nonscientists could be depressed by the dire disaster-laden warmer world scenario that Gore laid out, one top researcher thought it was too optimistic. Tom Wigley, senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, thought the former vice president sugarcoated the problem by saying that with already-available technologies and changes in habit — such as changing light bulbs — the world could help slow or stop global warming.

While more than 1 million people have seen the movie since it opened in May, that does not include Washington's top science decision makers.

President Bush said he won't see it. The heads of the Environmental Protection Agency and NASA haven't seen it, and the president's science adviser said the movie is on his to-see list.

"They are quite literally afraid to know the truth," Gore said. "Because if you accept the truth of what the scientific community is saying, it gives you a moral imperative to start to rein in the 70 million tons of global warming pollution that human civilization is putting into the atmosphere every day."

As far as the movie's entertainment value, Scripps Institution geosciences professor Jeff Severinghaus summed it up: "My wife fell asleep. Of course, I was on the edge of my chair."

New 'Murtha Lied" Website Posts 'Hateful' eMails

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 06:29:31 GMT

New 'Murtha Lied' Website Posts 'Hateful' eMails

A new Website devoted to the "lies" of Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman Jack Murtha went live a few days early in order to post "hateful" emails sent by readers of liberal blogs that were tipped off early and had already begun digging into the site's background.

Although the original url for the Website was to be www.murthalied.com, a few days ago, one of the site's founders, retired Navy Captain Larry Bailey, purchased a new url at BootMurtha.com. Bailey served as president of Vietnam Veterans For The Truth, which attacked 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry's military record, on the heels of the more well-known Swift Boat Veterans For Truth.

In 2004, the term "swift boating" entered the modern lexicon, which the online community encyclopedia Wikipedia defines as "an ad hominem attack against a public figure, coordinated by an independent or pseudo-independent group, usually resulting in a benefit to an established political force."

"Specifically, this form of attack is controversial, easily repeatable, and difficult to verify or disprove because it is generally based on personal feelings or recollections," Wikipedia continues.

Last November, Murtha authored a resolution to pull the troops out of Iraq, and the Republican Party quickly turned on the conservative pro-military Democrat, who retired as a decorated colonel in the Marines. The Republicans put together their own resolution, which varied from Murtha's, in order to "embarrass" Democrats into voting for it.

At the time, Kerry warned those on the right not to attempt to "swift boat" Murtha.

"I won't stand for the swift-boating of Jack Murtha," said Kerry. "There is no sterner stuff than the backbone and courage that defines Jack Murtha's character and conscience."

According to Bailey, "Murtha Lied" will be devoted to recent statements made by the Congressman regarding Iraq, and, in particular, the alleged massacre at Haditha.

"At the moment we don't know enough about Murtha's service record to say much of anything about it," Bailey said.

Murtha and Haditha

Murtha upset many on the right when he claimed that there was a Haditha "cover-up," and some called him a liar since there was an ongoing investigation. However, a formal military investigation wasn't launched until March after Time magazine had begun investigating it.

"There was no firefight," Murtha said in a televised news conference back in May. "There was no IED that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood."

To this day, the official Marine statement on the killings still claims that a Marine and fifteen civilians were killed by a roadside bomb blast, even though death certificates, leaked reports and pictures indicate that most of the victims - close to two dozen and some just young children - were shot at close range in the head.

Expose those involved

Sean-Paul Kelley, editor of The Agonist, a community blog online since September of 2002, was one of the first to "track down and investigate and expose those involved in this enterprise," with the help of his readers and fellow bloggers.

Kelley's post They're Gonna Swiftboat Murtha contained an email address and picture for Amanda P. Doss, the site's manager, along with information about her past work and connections.

"The person who set up the site is one Amanda P. Doss, and a quick google search turns up this site: www.operationstreetcorner.com, which is a wonderful site, as Billy found out, dedicated to: 'The Vietnam Veterans' Grassroots Campaign Against John Kerry and Jane Fonda, traitors to our country,'" wrote Kelley.

Earlier today, Doss fired back by posting some of the emails she received which she characterized as "hateful and even threatening."

"I would like to share some of hateful and even threatening emails I have recently received due to these blogs, before this website was even created," Doss wrote. "Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, please feel free to email these 'sweethearts' and let them know how proud of them you are for the way they represent the Democratic party."

"Interesting that a political whore would pick a name like streetcorner'. I've wonder who you'll be doing on the corner," wrote one emailer.

"You vile 'swiftboaters' (translation: idiot cowards and despicable liars) will get your asses kicked all over the media this time, you are the lowest form of human beings there could possibly be, and on top of that YOU are just plain ugly," wrote another. "Please crawl under a rock and die."

Liberal bloggers respond

"I don't regret putting her email address in my post because her email address was widely available," Sean-Paul Kelley said. "What I regret was that people used her email to send her nasty comments instead of trying to engage her in a substantive debate."

In fact, personal information about someone connected to Doss was posted by one Agonist reader, and Kelley immediately deleted it.

Taylor Marsh, a blogger and author who hosted a radio show called "The Antidote to Right Wing Talk" ("now on hiatus" according to Marsh's Website bio), also has done some digging into "Murtha Lied."

"...Republicans like their soldiers serving, silent and standing for photo ops, not talking back," Marsh wrote at her blog. "When a vet speaks out he's targeted. Murtha is just the latest."

Jack Murtha is asking for an exit strategy from this administration. Something that should have been done *before* we invaded Iraq. Jack Murtha wants our troops equipped with the best body armor. Jack Murtha visits the soldiers at Walter Reed every week. The people attacking this man of honor are fools.

Bring 'em Home!

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 06:40:09 GMT

Bring 'em Home!
Bruce Springsteen & The Seeger Sessions Band Bring 'em Home

Bush says Bring 'em ON, but we say Bring 'em Home NOW

Giving voice to the majority of Americans who now support the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, "Bring Them Home Now!" has created a $.39 cent postage (Real US Postage!).

The stamp features the symbol of the growing "Bring 'Em Home Now!" movement - a yellow ribbon transposed over a peace sign - providing millions of Americans with a unique way to let everyone know where they stand: Love the troops. Hate the war.

Use the "Bring 'Em Home Now!" stamp to both mourn the loss of over 2500 US soldiers and help spread the word that supporting our troops and fighting to bring them home are one and the same. At the same time you'll be raising money for veterans groups.

All proceeds from the sale of the stamps (as well as t-shirts, buttons & stickers featuring the popular "Bring 'Em Home Now!" designs) benefit citizen groups working hard to end the war and bring our troops safely home, including Military Families Speak Out , Gold Star Families for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Veterans for Peace.

By participating, you proudly say: "I support the troops. Let's bring them home now! And let's take care of them when they get here."

AT&T Rewrites its Privacy Policy

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 07:33:23 GMT

AT&T Rewrites its Privacy Policy

Is there even a limit to the amount of abuse the average american phone customer is willing to take from telcos?

AT&T has a new privacy policy, and if you are its customer you have no choice but to accept it.

The new policy says that AT&T -- not customers -- owns customers' confidential info and can use it "to protect its legitimate business interests, safeguard others, or respond to legal process."

The policy also indicates that AT&T will track the viewing habits of customers of its new video service -- something that cable and satellite providers are prohibited from doing.

Moreover, AT&T (formerly known as SBC) is requiring customers to agree to its updated privacy policy as a condition for service -- a new move that legal experts say will reduce customers' recourse for any future data sharing with government authorities or others. All personal data is valuable and routinely sold for marketing purposes. This just looks like AT&T finally caught on to that fact and wants to be the one making the money from it. I doubt there's anything anyone can do to make them stop doing this. It's just too profitable.

The annoying part about this is it's hard to poison their database. I routinely misstate my income in various places where it's requested. Declining to give information isn't as effective as giving corrupt information. However, if they're tracking what you're watching, it's hard to have it register something else and not register what you're watching.

The interesting part is that they're doing something that cable and satellite companies aren't allowed to do. I have to wonder if there's some regulatory agency that should be pressured into reviewing AT&T's circumvention of their rules.

UPDATE: We hear all the time about Hillary's stand on the War. Last week Hillary introduced what I think should be a primary plank of the the Democratic Party: A Privacy Bill Of Rights. Indeed, I think this is the most fertile territory out there to gain some disaffected Republican voters and put some of the mountain west in our electoral quiver. It’s smart politics. We are building a police state and I firmly believe that, politics aside, if you build it they will use it.

That all this has been done by the alleged libertarian small government Republicans is no surprise to me. They have always been about big bucks and authoritarianism over all else. Democrats have an opportunity to craft a real message of American independence if they choose to take it - and it might just be the way to beat back the fear factor a little bit, which I think people are getting tired of.

An Inconvenient Truth - Trailer

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 04:06:57 GMT

An Inconvenient Truth - Trailer

The most terrifying movie of the summer. You owe it to the planet to see the truth. Yes! The most important action we can take to slow global warming is to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases. Governments, individuals, and businesses can all help.

Governments can adopt a range of options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including

increasing energy efficiency standards
encouraging the use of renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar power)
eliminating subsidies that encourage the use of coal and oil by making them artificially cheap
protecting and restoring forests, which serve as important storehouses of carbon

Individuals can reduce the need for fossil fuels and often save money by

driving less and driving more fuel-efficient and less-polluting cars
using energy-efficient appliances
insulating homes
using less electricity in general

Businesses can increase efficiency and save substantial sums by doing the same things on a larger scale. And utilities can avoid building expensive new power plants by encouraging and helping customers to adopt efficiency measures. Do your part.

Their Lives Are More Than Just A Number

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 04:18:45 GMT

Their Lives Are More Than Just A Number

Ava Lowery: Their Lives Are More Than Just A Number

It's interesting how Ava's video commands a dignity and respect which is completely lacking in the Bush administration and the GOP.

Ava's work is what the truth looks like.