BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE SENATOR SWEEITE BARACK OBAMA IS FURIOUS. "I AM SUPPOSED TO BE THIS YEAR'S DAVID COOK!" HE SNARLED OVER THE PHONE. "JUST LISTEN TO WHAT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS SAYING ABOUT ME TODAY, 'OBAMA HAS SENT TO CHARITY $159,000 THAT REZKO RAISED FOR HIS CAMPAIGNS FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.' BUT I DIDN'T STEAL BOBBY RUSH'S HOUSE SEAT SO THAT SHOULDN'T COUNT! THEY GO ON, 'OBAMA'S NAME CAME UP IN TESTIMONY AT THE TRIAL FOUR TIMES, TWICE IN CONNECTION WITH AN OBSCURE LEGISLATIVE MEMO, AS A GUEST AT A REXKO PARTY AND WHEN DEFENSE ATTORNEY JOSEPH DUFFY TOLD JURORS HIS CLIENT WAS A FRIEND OF THE SENATOR.' THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY I AM HIS FRIEND! THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE PAULA, NOT LIKE SIMON! THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO CHEER ME ON! DAVID AXELROD FEEDS THEM THE LINES THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SAY! HOW DARE THEY GO OFF SCRIPT!" WHEN ASKED WHY HE WAS SO UPSET, BARACK STATED THAT "IT MAKES ME LOOK LIKE A LIAR! I TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LAST SPRING THAT MY ONLY CONNECTION TO BIG TONY REZKO WAS FIVE HOURS OF LEGAL WORK! NOW THEY SAY THIS!" YES, BUT "THIS" IS THE TRUTH. "TRUTH DOESN'T MATTER, ONLY I MATTER!" HUFFED SENATOR SWEETIE. "LISTEN UP, THEY SAY THAT 'QUESTIONS CONCERING OBAMA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH REZKO LINGER, PARTICULARLY OVER TEZKO'S ROLE IN THE PURCHASE OF OBAMA'S HOME.' AND THEN THEY TALK ABOUT HOW WE'VE BEEN FRIENDS SINCE 1991. THEN THEY SAY, 'THE MEN TALKED POLITICS FREQUENTLY AND OCCASSIONALLY DINED TOGETHER WITH THEIR WIVES.' THAT'S RACISM! BRINGING MICHELLE INTO IT IS RACISM! SHE'S BLACK, YOU KNOW. RACIST ASSOCIATED PRESS! THEN THEY WRITE, 'IN 2005, THE OBAMAS PAID $1.65 MILLION FOR THEIR HOME NEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO.' THAT'S GOT TO BE RACISM TOO. I'LL ASK DAVID AXELROD. I NEVER KNOW WHAT RACISM IS UNLESS JEREMIAH WRIGHT OR DAVID TELL ME. I GREW UP IN HAWAII WHICH IS MULTI-RACIAL AND THIS WHOLE TOPIC JUST SCREWS WITH MY HEAD. BUT DAVID WON'T LET ME TALK TO JEREMIAH AND SINCE I TRASHED JEREMIAH, HE WON'T EVEN TEXT ME ANYMORE! I USED TO HAVE HIM IN MY CIRCLE OF FIVE FOR TEAM MOBILE, MAN. LISTEN TO THIS, THEY WRITE, 'THE SELLERS WANTED A PARCEL THEY OWNED NEXT DOOR TO SELL ON THE SAME DAY, AND REZKO'S WIFE, RITA, WAS THE BUYER.' SO WHAT! BIG TONY CAN'T HAVE A WIFE NAMED RITA! I BET YOU THAT'S RACISM TOO! THEN THEY SAY, 'AT THE REQUEST OF THE OBAMAS, MRS. REZKO LATER SOLD THEM A 10-FOOT STRIP OF LAND TO ENLARGE THEIR LOT. THEY PAID $104,500'." WELL, THESE REPORTED POINTED OUT, AP DIDN'T MENTION THAT HE PAID $300,000 BELOW ASKING PRICE. "YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TURNING ON ME. AND AFTER ALL I'VE GIVEN THEM. GOOD THOUGHTS, HAPPY THOUGHTS EVEN. I AM THE F**KING TINKER BELL OF THE WORLD OF POLITICS AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR ME THEY'D BE LOST BOYS JUST DRIFTING AROUND! MAN IF BIG TONY WASN'T AWAITING SENTENCING, I'D ASK HIM TO PUT A CAP IN THESE GUYS' ASSES!" WHEN REACHED FOR COMMENT, DAVID AXELROD STATED, "WE DEPLORE THE FACT THAT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS STOOPED TO RACISM. TO IMPLY THAT A BLACK MAN LIKE SENATOR OBAMA GIVING $159,000 TO CHARITY -- WELL WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? THAT A BLACK MAN CAN'T GIVE TO CHARITY? IT IS RACISM! AND TO DRAG MRS. REZKO INTO IT AND DISGRACE HER BY POINTING OUT THAT HER FIRST NAME IS RITA IS JUST PURE RACISM. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT OKLAHOMA BOMBER TIMOTHY MCVEIGH SENT A LETTER TO RITA COSBY OF FOX NEWS! BRINGING UP 'RITA' -- USING MRS. REZKO'S FIRST NAME -- IS CLEARLY A TACTIC ON THE PART OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TO LINK SENATOR OBAMA TO TERRORISM! THEIR USE OF 'RITA' IS MCCARTHYISM! THEN THEY TRY TO TIE BARACK TO TIMOTHY MCVEIGH BY NOTING THAT HE EATS DINNER!" THESE REPORTERS WERE CONFUSED. "HE EATS DINNER! THEY SAY HE ATE DINNER WITH BIG TONY! WELL, EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD KNOWS TIMOTHY MCVEIGH USED TO EAT DINNER! THEY'RE TRYING TO CALL BARACK A TERRORIST! THIS IS SHODDY AND UNPROFESSIONAL AND RACIST JOURNALISM ON THE PART OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. I FAXED THEM A MEMO OF QUOTES AND TALKING POINTS TO WRITE UP FOR SATURDAY'S NEWS CYCLE BUT THEY HAVE DECIDED YELLOW JOURNALISM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN REPEATING WHAT I GIVE THEM. THIS IS A VERY LOW DAY FOR JOURNALISM IN THE UNITED STATES!" Public TV notes. NOW on PBS examines the American Dream as gas prices soar and home values crumble. PBS' Washington Week finds Gwen sitting down with Washington Post's Dan Balz, National Journal's James Barnes, Wall St. Journal's David Wessel and mystery guest Karen Tumulty (Time magazine) who may or may not do her Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte impersonation. Both programs air tonight in some PBS markets, check local listings. Turning to the US presidential race, Cynthia McKinney is the Green Party presidential candidate and Rosa Clemente is her running mate. Rosa has the following upcoming campaign event this weekend in New York: Jericho 10th Anniversary Weekend of Resistance www.jerichomovement.com Saturday, October 11, 2008 @ 12 Noon Rally at the Harlem State Office Building (Corner of 126th St. & A.C. Powell Blvd.) March through Harlem @ 1 p.m. Closing Rally in Morningside Park @ 2 p.m. Between 112th & 114th near Morningside Ave. entrances Ralph Nader is the independent presidential candidate and Sunday he will be Fairfax, VA to speak at a press conference and rally at Geroge Mason Univeristy beginning at 5:00 p.m. Barack Obama is the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden is his running mate. As Wally and Cedric noted yesterday, Barack seemed to offer some sort of Born Free/Elsa excuse for his friendship with Ayers whom he called "rehabilitated." Jake Tapper (ABC News) ponders rehabilitation: And Ayers has made it clear that he is unrepentant. ''I don't regret setting bombs,'' Ayers told the New York Times in 2001. ''I feel we didn't do enough.'' Asked if he would do it all again, Ayers said ''I don't want to discount the possibility. I don't think you can understand a single thing we did without understanding the violence of the Vietnam War." In a comic strip that Ayers recently posted on his blog, Ayers tried to explain the "we didn't do enough quote" from seven years ago, writing, "It's impossible to get to be my age and not have plenty of regrets. The one thing I don't regret is opposing the war in Vietnam with every ounce of my being. During the Vietnam War, the Weather Underground took credit for bombing several government installations as a dramatic form of armed propaganda. Action was taken against symbolic targets in order to declare a state of emergency. But warnings were always called in, and by design no one was ever hurt. "When I say, 'We didn't do enough,' a lot of people rush to think, 'That must mean, "We didn't bomb enough s---."' But that's not the point at all. It's not a tactical statement, it's an obvious political and ethical statement. In this context, 'we' means 'everyone.' The war in Vietnam was not only illegal, it was profoundly immoral, millions of people were needlessly killed. Even though I worked hard to end the war, I feel to this day that I didn't do enough because the war dragged on for years after the majority of the American people came to oppose it. I don't think violent resistance is necessarily the answer, but I do think opposition and refusal is imperative." (He doesn't think violent resistance is NECESSARILY the answer?) So today, with today's facts, does Obama think Ayers has been "rehabilitated"? No, he doesn't think so, a source at the campaign tells me. Mike did a press roundup on Barack's Ayers stories last night, Kat called out AP's Philip Elliott who does not seem to grasp the number of "40," Ruth contemplated the press mistakes, Rebecca noted the lack of standards and Marcia congratulates Oklahoma community members (as have Kat, as did Elaine and Mike). Oklahoma community members are supporting the Republican ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin. The McCain-Palin campaign has a new TV ad entitled "Ambition" (click here to read more about it): ANNCR: Obama's blind ambition. When convenient, he worked with terrorist Bill Ayers. When discovered, he lied. Obama. Blind ambition. Bad judgment. Congressional liberals fought for risky sub-prime loans. Congressional liberals fought against more regulation. Then, the housing market collapsed costing you billions. In crisis, we need leadership, not bad judgment. JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message. In addition, the Republican ticket notes: Today McCain-Palin 2008 announced that Bill Bruins, a dairy farmer from Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, joined the McCain-Palin Farm & Ranch Team National Steering Committee. Bruins joins a distinguished team of elected officials and leaders in agriculture who share a common goal with John McCain: to provide the leadership necessary to create prosperity in America's rural heartland.
The benefits of American leadership in agriculture extend well beyond our borders -- America's contribution to meeting the food, fiber, feed and energy needs of a growing world population through efficient production and technology innovation are critical to our national security. More details on John McCain's statement on "Prosperity for Rural America" can be found on the McCain-Palin 2008 web site at rural.JohnMcCain.com. MCCAIN-PALIN 2008 FARM & RANCH TEAM NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE* And finally, Team Nader notes: This morning, as markets around the world are crashing, Nader/Gonzalez is on the rise. Here's why: We have a chance over the next week to run inexpensive radio ads. In battleground states all across this country. To expose The Bailout Boys -- Obama and McCain. And to let the American people know that on November 4, they have a choice. The people's candidate -- Independent Ralph Nader. The man who stood against the bailout of Wall Street crooks. And for regulation that would have prevented the current crisis. Here's the problem: We want to run the radio ads from October 21 to Election Day -- November 4. In thirty markets all across this country. Our radio guy tells us he needs the money by Monday to be able to reserve air time for the last two weeks before the election. Throughout this year, when we have asked, you have delivered. Thanks to you, we have not missed one fundraising deadline this year. Now, we are in a corner. Over the past week, you have donated $130,000 to our October Surprise Fund. On our way to our goal of $250,000 by Sunday midnight. Now, to reach our goal, we need 12,000 of you -- our loyal supporters -- to kick in $10 each. We know that many of you have dug deep for the past seven months. So, after you hit that contribute button, pick up the phone and get your friends, relatives, neighbors -- who are angry about the bailout and looking for an independent outlet -- to support the one candidate who has stood with the American people against the corporate criminal elite on Wall street. To give you a sneak preview, we have cut a demo tape. If we reach our goal by Sunday night, we will be professionally producing a version of this demo ad and getting it out to our radio guy in Los Angeles. As the Dow collapses, the Nader/Gonzalez shift the power platform is on the rise. So, donate now -- whatever you can afford -- $10, $100, $1000 -- up to the legal limit of $2,300. Help us fund our nationwide radio ad buy. Inform the American public. There is a choice on November 4. Vote Independent. Vote Ralph Nader for President. Onward to November. The Nader Team RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot" "Other Items" "Iraq" "I Hate The War" "The ahistorical Gail Collins" "4 Recipes in the Kitchen" "nader" "it is his middle name" "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" "Will the press get the facts right?" "Barack attempts to buy the presidency" "AP's fool Philip Elliott" "The campaigns" "Thoughts on McCain-Palin" "The Common Ills" "Election, Iraq" "Ayers" "Bill Ayers as Elsa?" "THIS JUST IN! BARACK TRIES THE 'ELSA EXCUSE'!" |
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Team Obama insists it's the new McCarthyism
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Bill Ayers as Elsa?
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE STILL COMING UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE MCCAIN - PALIN CAMPAIGN TO ANSWER WHEN HE FOUND OUT ABOUT HIS BUDDY BILL AYERS' PAST AS A DOMESTIC TERRORIST, SENATOR SWEETIE BARACK OBAMA TOOK TO THE AIRWAVES TODAY TO . . . REPEAT HIS NON-ANSWER: "ULTIMATELY, I ENDED UP LEARNING ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE HAD ENGAGED IN THIS REPREHENSIBLE ACT 40 YEARS AGO, BUT I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND I ASSUMED THAT HE HAD BEEN REHABILITATED." WHAT? AND HOW DOES THAT ANSWER WHEN? WHAT BARACK'S DOING IS OFFERING THE "ELSA EXCUSE." HE IS STATING THAT BECAUSE BILL AYERS HAD BEEN RELEASED INTO THE WILD, LIKE ELSA THE LION, HE ASSUMED AYERS WAS REHABILIATED. BORN FREE . BORN FREE, AND LIFE IS WORTH LIVING BUT ONLY WORTH LIVING 'CAUSE YOU'RE BORN FREE STAY FREE, WHERE NO WALLS DIVIDE YOU YOU'RE FREE AS THE ROARING TIDE SO THERE'S NO NEED TO HIDE BORN FREE . . . Turning to the US presidential election. Barack Obama is the pampered baby in Pampers for the press. The wipe his butt for him, they burp him. And you're seeing just how expected that action for the allegedly grown man is. Barack Obama's name is Barack Hussein Obama III. We refer to him as Barack Obama. The same as we referred to Hillary Clinton as Hillary Clinton. Others included Rodham, others included her middle name (Elizabeth). It wasn't a problem. Her name is her name. True of all candidates. If their name is a 'liability' in their minds, then they should take their embarrassed and sheepish asses into court and change it. Until they do, their name is their name. If someone wants to list it, that's their business. And if you're ashamed or embarrassed by your name, maybe your delicate ass shouldn't run for public office, certainly not for the presidency. Jimmy Orr (Christian Science Monitor) demonstrates just how ridiculous it's gotten, "The 'H' word. As in Barack Obama's middle name. Hussein. It's something you just don't say." The "H" word? There are millions of people with that name around the world and, yes, in America. The "H" word? Everyone's gotten a little too damn sensitive that Barack Junior might have diaper rash or catch cold. He's an alleged grown up. His middle name is his middle name. He and his supporters need to grow the hell up. A Florida sherrif is in the news for using Barack's nearly fully name (he left off "II"). Steven Beardsley (Naples Daily News) reports on Cult of Barack's self-created drama over this entire nonsense. John McCain should say in the next debate, "My middle name is Sydney. I'm not ashamed about. What's your problem with your middle name, Barack? Aren't you named after your father?" This is the biggest nonsense. If he doesn't like his name, change it or shut the hell up. Back in 2004, during the DNC convention, he was called "Barack Osama" -- on Air America -- by mistake -- on The Majority Report -- by Janeane Garofalo who immediately apologized (on air) for the trip of her tongue. He needs to grow up or change his name. And the press needs to stop breast feeding their little baby. Senator Joe Biden has the difficult task of being Barack's running mate which may explain the additional stress. Ryan Corsaro (CBS News) reports Biden is stating, ". . . John McCain could not bring himself to look Barack Obama in the eye and say the same things to him." If you've wept on stage in Pennsylvania the week before showing up at a televised debate where you almost lost it again, maybe interpreting the psyche of others isn't a door you want to open? Scott Conroy (CBS News) reports the Republican ticket campaign in Wisonsin today and quotes Sarah Palin telling a town hall, ""Oh, yeah, the first thought that pops into my head also when you're talking about rights, and you're talking about freedoms is, we're talking about Senator John McCain and what he has done for our country, in putting his country first his entire life to fight for freedoms. And Wisconsin, here again kudos to you, your great Wisconsin Guard, about a third of your troops will be over in a war zone, in a number of months, in '09. You guys are going to be over there again helping to defend freedom, and defend liberty and the democratic liberties that we all cherish so much." Governor Palin is the topic Vaughn Ververs (CBS News) addresses noting a Pew Research Center study that has found that 38% said the coverage of Palin had "been too tough" and "41 percent of independents say they think the press has been too tough on her." Ed O'Keefe (ABC News, link has text and video) reports on McCain's interview with Charlie Gibson for World News Tonight where McCain declares, "This is a tough campaign. I'm the underdog. I've always been the underdog from the beginning" -- and on the subject of Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, McCain stated, "[Ayers] wasn't a guy in the neighborhood. [Obama] launched his political career in his living room, in Mr. Ayers' living room. And I don't care about two washed-up old terrorists that are unrepentant about trying to destroy America. But I do care, and Americans should care, about his relationship with him and whether he's being truthful and candid about it." Today, McCain-Palin '08 released an online campaign ad entitled "Ayers" (here for video, here for text and announcement): ANNCR: Barack Obama and domestic terrorist Bill Ayers. Friends. They've worked together for years. But Obama tries to hide it. Why? Obama launched his political career in Ayers' living room. Ayers and Obama ran a radical "education" foundation, together. They wrote the foundation's by-laws, together. Obama was the foundation's first chairman. Reports say they, "distributed more than $100 million to ideological allies with no discernible improvement in education." When their relationship became an issue, Obama just responded, "This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood." That's it? We know Bill Ayers ran the "violent left wing activist group" called Weather Underground. We know Ayers' wife was on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. We know they bombed the Capitol. The Pentagon. A judge's home. We know Ayers said, "I don't regret setting bombs. .... I feel we didn't do enough." But Obama's friendship with terrorist Ayers isn't the issue. The issue is Barack Obama's judgment and candor. When Obama just says, "This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood." Americans say, "Where's the truth, Barack?" Barack Obama. Too risky for America. JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message. Cynthia McKinney is the Green Party presidential candidate and Rosa Clemente is her running mate. Rosa has upcoming campaign events: Rosa Clemente in New York October 9-11 Tuesday, 07 October 2008 23:01 from Rosa Clemente Peace and Hello to all my New York City People: As the billionaires on wall street get bailed out, and more and more people are tired of a two party stranglehold, join me, as I celebrate my electoral independence, I am in town, for three exciting days of campaign activities, attending a press conference for assistance and solidarity for Haiti, marching for the freedom of Politcal Prisoners and Prisoner of War, as well as these media appearances, hope to see you! "The Green Party is not the alternative, it is the imperative!" Rosa A. Clemente, Green Party Vice-Presidential Candidate GritTV, with Laura Flanders, to air Wednesday October 8th, 2008, at 8:00pm & 1:00am ET, on Free Speech TV(DISH Network ch. 9415) www.lauraflanders.com Where we Live, with Sally O'Brien Thursday October 9th, 2008 at 8:00pm on WBAI 99.5FM, www.wbai.org The Truth, with Jeff Johnson on to air on BET Friday October 10th, 2008 at 10:00pm (EST) _____________________________________________________________ [. . .] ____________________________________________________________ THURSDAY OCTOBER 9th, 2008 @ 3:30pm Open Community Forum with Green Party Vice Presidential Nominee ROSA CLEMENTE, to be televised on Manhattan Public Access @ MNN Television Studios Manhattan Neighborhood Network 537 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019 (between 10th and 11th Avenues) Green Party VP Candidate - Discusses the Economy, Foreign Policy, Education, Gender Equity, Racism, Social Justice, & the Environment LIVE WITH THE COMMUNITY Featuring Community Organizations: -Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.ME) -UHURU Movement -Brenda Stokely from NY Solidarity Coalition With Katrina / Rita Survivors - La Peña del Bronx Performances: -Hasan Salaam -Video Screening of Final Outlaw's"HIP HOP 4Ever" THIS IS A LIVE TO TAPE EVENT: IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS ARRIVE AT 3:00PM SHARP! Please Contact: (917) 940-8961 or (917) 239-8992 with Questions or to RSVP for this event ABOUT G.A.ME - The Grassroots Artists Movement (G.A.ME) is a membership organization dedicated to addressing sociopolitical and economic realities facing low-income Black and Latino communities. Galvanizing the influence of hip-hop artists and culture, G.A.ME unites artists and community members to work side-by-side for social justice. G.A.ME runs youth leadership and community development programs that provide tools for positive change. __________________________________________________________ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10th, 2008 12:00 NOON YES! to international assistance and solidarity to Haiti, NO! to the military occupation of Haiti and the attacks on Haitian sovereignty! The Brecht Forum, 451 West St. @ Bethune St. in West Village, between W. 12th St. and Bank St. Tel. 212-242-4201 3:00pm Rally at Madison Square Park at 5th Ave and 23rd St. www.jerichomovement.com 9:00pm Evening Concert to Benefit the Prisoners@ the Knitting Factory @ 74 Lenard St., NYC • 9 p.m. until . . .Featuring: Inmesyah Soul, Hassan Salaam, X-Vandals, Emperor, Rebel Diaz, The Wordstock Poetry Collective, Maroon Society, Gist the Essence, Collective Flow, United Front 6:30pm New York Univeristy(NYU) __________________________________________________________ Jericho 10th Anniversary Weekend of Resistance www.jerichomovement.com Saturday, October 11, 2008 @ 12 Noon Rally at the Harlem State Office Building (Corner of 126th St. & A.C. Powell Blvd.) March through Harlem @ 1 p.m. Closing Rally in Morningside Park @ 2 p.m. Between 112th & 114th near Morningside Ave. entrances Rosa Clemente appeared on Grit TV with Laura Flanders where she was among the Cult of Barack who especially seemed blank-eyed when Rosa pointed out that two debates now and Barack's not addressed issues for young Americans -- not even 'middle class' ones. Rosa also pointed out that his 'youth' support is more 'middle class' and not monolithic. Yesterday Pacifica and Free Speech Radio News' Election Unspun spoke with Matt Gonzalez (Leigh Ann Caldwell provides real laughs -- and no journalism -- as she 'preaches' about Sarah Palin's "vendetta" in what's supposed to pass for 'news' prior to the interview). Gonzalez is Ralph Nader's running mate. Gonzalez spoke out against the Congressional bailout and stated, "I think government should be promoting existing solvent institutions . . . But we should not be buying the bad debt." Asked about the McCain and Obama campaigns, Gonzalez explained, "I think the truth is each of the candidates makes a calculated decision as to whether or not they can blame the other for a specific issue. In virtually every single case, these are jointly-owned issues, jointly-owned problems." Ralph Nader will be in NYC October 16th to protest Wall St. at noon in front of the Federal Hall, 26 Wall St. The day before (October 15th) he'll be speaking at Cooper Union in NYC. I'm sitting at home reading a Bloomberg wire report about one of my favorite foods -- hummus. Bloomberg reports that a group of Lebanese businessmen wants the European Union to declare hummus and other of my favorite foods like tabouleh -- as "traditional Lebanese dishes." The Lebanese businessmen think that other countries are ripping them off. "It's mostly Israeli companies claiming all our specialities as their own," said Fady Abboud, president of the group. "So many of our specialties are being marketed now as Israeli traditional dishes and among the most famous is hummus." Abboud wants the EU to grant the hummus legal protection, the same way that the Greeks were given protection for feta, the French for champagne, and the Italians for parmesan cheese. Now, I don't want to interfere in a international trade dispute. Suffice it to say that my mother Rose was born in Lebanon. And she made perhaps the best hummus I've ever had. And I've had a lot of hummus. Hummus is nutritious. And delicious. It makes you stronger and healthier. So, Bloomberg's report on the Lebanese claim to hummus got me to thinking about an idea that would help us raise funds to push our substantive agenda onto the front burner of American politics. Here it is: If you donate to Nader/Gonazlez by midnight tonight an amount that has the number three in it (three being the number of lemons in my mom's hummus recipe), we'll e-mail to you Rose Nader's hummus recipe tomorrow. That simple. But it has to have at least one three in it. If it has a three in it, we'll e-mail you the recipe tomorrow. You can share it with your friends and family. (Your donation will help us reach our current fundraising goal of $250,000 by the October 12 deadline. It will help us fund our get-out-the-vote drive over the final stretch of this campaign -- which translates into putting the substantive Nader/Gonzalez shift the power agenda front and center in this crucial election year.) Thank you for your ongoing activism and support. Together, we are making a serious difference -- and keeping our sense of humor. Onward to November. |
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Barack's happy then sad
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TODAY, SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN GAVE A SHOUT OUT TO SENATOR SWEETIE BARACK OBAMA, "I DON'T NEED LESSONS ABOUT TELLING THE TRUTH TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IF I EVER DO NEED ANY IMPROVEMENT IN THAT REGARD, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T SEEK ADVICE FROM A CHICAGO POLITICIAN." WHEN REACHED FOR COMMENT, BARACK SAID, "OH SNAP! MCCAIN REALLY SERVED SOMEONE! TALK ABOUT A BURN! WHO WAS HE TALKING ABOUT? IS RALPH NADER FROM CHICAGO? CYNTHIA MCKINNEY? MAN, THEIR FACES MUST BE RED. BURN!" WHEN SENATOR SWEETIE WAS INFORMED THAT MCCAIN WAS TALKING ABOUT HIM, BARACK SAID, "REALLY? HE SAID THAT ABOUT ME? BUT PEOPLE LOVE ME. THEY CALL ME PRECIOUS. THEY CALL ME THE ONE. WHY WOULD HE SAY SUCH MEAN THINGS ABOUT ME? I DON'T UNDERSTAND. AREN'T I STILL THE PRECIOUS?" SENATOR SWEETIE WAS SO UPSET WE DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO TELL HIM THAT THE CLEVELAND BROWNS' BRADY QUINN AND JOE THOMAS ENDORSED SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN TODAY. Turning to the US presidential race. On the subject of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers (and Bernardine Dohrn), the McCain-Palin campaign released this statement by John M. Murtagh whose father was an NY State Supreme Court justice: "When I was 9 years-old the Weather Underground, the terrorist group founded by Barack Obama's friend William Ayers, firebombed my house. Barack Obama has dismissed concerns about his relationship with Ayers by noting that he was only a child when Ayers was planting bombs at the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol. But Ayers has never apologized for his crimes, he has reveled in them, expressing regret only for the fact that he didn't do more. "While Barack Obama once downplayed his relationship with Ayers, today his campaign took that deceit one step further. Barack Obama now denies he was even aware of his friend's violent past when, in 1995, Ayers hosted a party launching Obama's political career. Given Ayers' celebrity status among the left, it's difficult to believe. The question remains: what did Obama know, and when did he know it? When did Obama learn the truth about his friend? Barack Obama helped Ayers promote his book in 1997, served on charitable boards with him through 2002, and regularly exchanged emails and phone calls with him through 2005. At what point did Barack Obama discover that his friend was an unrepentant terrorist? And if he is so repulsed by the acts of terror committed by William Ayers, why did the relationship continue? Any honest accounting by Barack Obama will necessarily cast further doubt on his judgment and his fitness to serve as commander in chief. "Barack Obama may have been a child when William Ayers was plotting attacks against U.S. targets -- but I was one of those targets. Barack Obama's friend tried to kill my family." Deliah Boyd (A Scriverner's Lament) calls out Obama mouthpiece David Axelrod's claim that Barack was just too wet behind the ears to have ever known anything about the Weather Underground: "But Dear Axelrod, I'm suggeting, nay, stating a damned fact -- that Obama's undergrad Poli Sci classes (at freakin' Columbia University, fer cryin' out loud) surely didn't skip the 1960's." Drew Griffin and Kathleen Jonston (CNN) reported last night that "the relationship between Obama and Ayers went deeper, ran longer and was more political than Obama -- and his surrogates -- have revealed, documents and interviews show." Ruth observes, "At this point, the relationship with Mr. Ayers is not even the issue. The issue is how Barack Obama has lied about it repeatedly. Just like he lied about his relationship with Antoin Rezco, he has lied about his relationship with Mr. Ayers." Cynthia McKinney is the Green Party presidential candidate and, in a new column at Black Agenda Report, she takes on the bailout: At the precise moment when we couldn't imagine it getting worse, it does. After all, the Democrats, since they acquired majority status in the Congress, delivered funding for George Bush's wars several times. They authorized retroactive immunity for telecoms that helped Bush's Administration illegally spy on us. And they never really considered any alternatives to the basic bailout wish list given to them by Bush and his Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson. Sadly, I must say that this failure on the part of the Democratic leadership is by far the greatest perfidy of the Democrats yet. I shudder to think what betrayal of the Constitution and the people of this country yet awaits us. I am forced to ask, "What do they stand for?" I think they have shown us time and time again what they stand for, what their values are, and that they are willing to leave the people behind in their quest to acquiesce to what Bush's base asks for. And remember, Bush told us that his base were the haves and the have mores! So, if the Democratic leadership is more loyal to them than they are to the working people in this country, then a new political alignment of historical proportions is taking effect that the working people of this country must recognize. Reporter Chris Hedges (via Information Clearing House) examines the bailout and notes, "The passing of the $850-billion bailout pulled the plug on the New Deal. The Great Society is now gasping for air, mortally wounded, coughing up blood. It will not recover. It was murdered by the Democratic Party. We are on our own. And don't expect any help from Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who lobbied hard for the bill and voted for it. Ignore their rhetoric. Look coldly at the ballots they cast against us. We, as citizens, have only a handful of representatives left in Washington, most of whom were left sputtering in rage and frustration on the House floor. The sad irony is that some of them were Republican." Hedges goes on to explore the vote and the bailout and to quote US House Rep Dennis Kuccinich explaining of the vote, "It is a direct attack on the American people's ability to be able to stabilize their homes and their neighborhoods. This single vote will define the careers of everyone. We are back to taxation without representation to markets that are openly rigged. We buried the New Deal. Instead of Democrats going back to classic New Deal economics where we prime the pump of the economy and start money circulating among the population through saving homes, creating jobs and building a new infrastructure, our leaders chose to accelerate the wealth of the nation upwards." Hedges juxtaposes Barack's support for the bailout with Barack's voting record and it's a must read article. Last week, Kucinich declared on Democracy Now!, "You know, I'll tell you something that we were told in our caucus. We were told that our presidential candidate, when the negotiations started at the White House, said that he didn't want this in the bill. Now that's what we're told. . . . That he didn't want the bankruptcy provisions in the bill. Now, you know, that's what we were told. And I don't understand why he would say that, if he did say that. And I think that there is a -- the fact that we didn't put bankrptcy provisions in, that actually we removed any hopes for judges to do any loan modifications or any forbearance. There's no moratorium on mortgage foreclosures in here. So, who's getting -- who's really getting helped by this bill? This is a bailout, pure and simple, of Wall Street interests who have been involved in speculation." You need to remember for that for a number of reasons. The most current has to do with last night's Democratic and Republican presidential candidate debate during which John McCain declared, "As president of the United States, Alan, I would order the secretary of the treasury to immediately buy up the bad home loan mortgages in America and renegotiate at the new value of those homes -- at the diminished value of those homes and let people be able to make those -- be able to make those payments and stay in their homes. Is it expensive? Yes. But we all know, my friends, until we stabilize home values in America, we're never going to start turning around and creating jobs and fixing our economy. And we've got to give some trust and confidence back to America." Katharine Q. Seelye (New York Times) live blogged the debate and noted McCain's proposal was "not somethng that had been proposed. Nor is it clear without further detail how or whether this would work" citing the paper's Jackie Calmes (citing Barack's campaign)? Robert G. Kaiser (Washington Post) doing a post-debate critique noted, "I was taken aback by McCain's opening proposal, which if I understand it correctly would have a huge impact on the housing market, the banks, the holders of securitized mortgages, etc." The proposal was a proposal. Michael Abramowitz (Washington Post) reports that Doug Holtz-Eakin, the campaign's policy advisor, on a morning press conference call, "offered a few more details of the so-called American Homeownership Resurgence Plan, unveiled at the Tuesday night debate, in which a homeowner having difficulty making payments or facing foreclosure would be eligible for an FHA-insured mortgage. He said that some of the money for the new program, which could cost $300 billion, could come from the new $700 billion authority granted the Treasury Secretary to buy distressed assets; he also said some of the funds could also come from existing authority in the Federal Housing Administration." Abramowitz also notes that the Obama campaign is attempting to downplay the proposal by stating Barack was floating something like that publicly back in September. A shame he didn't fight to have it put in the bill -- especially considering he is the party's 'leader' and the Democrats control both houses of Congress. But can't tick off his biggest donors on Wall St. apparently. Alison Fitzgerald and Sharon L. Lynch (Bloomberg News) report Barack's whining the bailout that passed allows this to take place already and quote Holtz-Eakin stating, "It could help literally millions of people. We don't have a precise estimate." The McCain-Palin campaign has posted the text (and audio option) of Doug Hotlz-Eakin's comments: "Senator McCain last night announced his initiative, the McCain Resurgence Plan, that has four very straightforward goals. Goal number one is to provide direct help to struggling homeowners making sure they can stay in their homes with a manageable mortgage, avoid foreclosures and the damaging impact that has on neighborhoods and property values in that area. It would also, in the process of refinancing, help them with their financial situation and, as a result, give some stability to the household spending in the overall economy. "Second thing is it would provide, to the mortgage market, lower interest rates. If history was a guide, we'd see a spread of about 160 basis points above government interest rates to the mortgage market. That would put interest rates in the low five percent. Mortgage rates are above that right now. Providing this kind of financing would stabilize housing values and obviously take some stress off the pressures downward in the economy. Having a stabilized housing market would, in turn, combine with the purchase of these mortgages to stabilize the values that are underneath mortgage-backed securities and all the housing-related derivatives that have been plaguing the valuation of balance sheets in the financial sector. And so by starting with the homeowner and working up you accomplish some of the objectives of the financial stabilization plans that we've seen come out of Congress and proposed by the administration in recent weeks. Senator McCain beli eves this is exactly the right kind of policy: provide direct help to homeowners and, at the same time, support the financial markets and keep them from further damaging the availability of credit to Main Street America, one of the real threats to the economy at this point it time. "The initiative would rely on authorities that have been provided in recent months by the Congress. There's $300 billion worth of refinance capacity at the FHA at this point. That can be combined with the statutory capacity at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are now owned by the federal government for all practical purposes, to purchase mortgages. If Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac bought 80% of the mortgage, you could leverage that $300 billion in financing tremendously. And there's also the $700 billion that was provided to the Treasury by the Congress. There's direct purchase authority in there that would allow to augment these as well, although, it may be useful to reserve that for other purposes. "Mechanically the initiative is very simple. A homeowner would initiate the process by calling a mortgage broker or other originator and basically saying 'I'd like to refinance my home.' They would start the underwriting process, verify incomes, this is an opportunity as well to make sure the program has in it appropriate checks to make sure that government money is not being given to folks who are not primary homeowners, who don't have adequate income, or otherwise, in the initial purchase of their home didn't provide valid information. These authorities could then be used to retire the existing loan. The FHA would issue a guaranteed thirty year fixed-rate mortgage at a manageable interest rate. The homeowner would stay in the home, their financial burden would be relieved, the valuation of the existing loan would be resolved, there would no longer be a threat of default or diminished capacity to repay. That would stabilize financial markets, and t he taxpayers' contribution would be, in some cases the difference between the values of those two loans, something which would be the necessity for taxpayer contribution. "Senator McCain thinks this is the best way to go forward. He's obviously been personally very concerned about the problems facing the economy. He has participated, as I think everyone on this call knows, extensively in the process of taking the initial proposal by the administration to directly purchase Wall Street securities shaping it in a way that it was both possible to get it through Congress in a bi-partisan fashion, and also had it augmented with the adequate taxpayer protections, some oversight and transparency. This would take the authorities that have now come through and further target them in a way that he thinks would accomplish the purposes of financial stabilization but also to provide some relief to homeowners, near-term stimulus to the overall economy, and lay out a path where he can then turn to his initiatives in taxes, in energy, healthcare, trade to provide job creation in the American economy and a path forward out of this ter rible crisis." Tomorrow, Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin will hold a town hall at noon in Waukesha, Wisconsin (Center Court Sports Complex, 815 Northview Boulevard) and the proposal will be addressed there. Foon Rhee (Boston Globe, link has text and video) reports that he raised the issue at a campaign stop in Bethlem, Pennsylvania. Jonathan Newman, Matthew Jaffe and Stu Chamberlain (ABC News' Political Radar, text and video) report Democratic vice-presidential nominee, US Senator Joe Biden, was introduced at a Tampa campaign event today by Jim Pacillo who stated, "Please help me today in welcoming the next vice president of the United States, John McCain!" Also McCain-Palin announce the endorsement of 100 US ambassadors from a group co-chaired by Mark W. Erwin who was supporting Hillary in the primaries (and, disclosue, I know and like Mark and that's probably why I'm putting it in the snapshot). Other endorsements today include the majority of board members on the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with Jerry Natividad explaining, "I am supporting John McCain because he understands that small businesses are the job engine of America, and he has a real plan for the issues that Hispanic-owned small businesses confront, such as health care. John McCain's plan puts families first, provides them with more choices, and while it cut costs for my business, it allows my company to afford the best medical coverage for my employees." Maria G. Taxman is quoted explaining, "I am very confident John McCain will continue to break down foreign trade barriers, giving Hispanic-American-owned small businesses the opportunity to compete in the global markets. John McCain will promote a strong and growing economy that creates new jobs and increases wages." News Advisory FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ryan Mehta, 408-348-0681, rmehta@votenader.org (National HQ); Josh Starcher, 718-909-6343 (Local) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RALPH NADER TO SPEAK IN NEW YORK WHO: Ralph Nader WHAT: Major Campaign Address WHEN: Thursday, October 16 at 12:00pm WHERE: Federal Hall, 26 Wall St. NYC On Thursday, October 16 at 12:00pm, Ralph will take to the street in front of the NYSE to protest the bailout at Federal Hall, 26 Wall St. NYC. Ralph is the only Presidential candidate who supports jail time, not bail time for Wall Street fat cats, so come hear him speak in the historic Cooper Union after watching the game show debates on TV. He will also comment on the Presidential debates from which he was excluded. In another part of the city, after Ralph speaks in Cooper Union, the two corporate candidates will be debating each other without even mentioning the issues that Ralph will talk about and that matter to the American people. Since 1988, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has sponsored every presidential debate and kept the discussion empty. Since its inception, the CPD has always been headed by two former chairs of the Democratic and Republican parties. In 1987, the League of Women Voters refused to sponsor any more presidential debates, ìbecause the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. Back to the debate. Susan (Random Thoughts) analyzes the debate and will note this section on Barack, "Obama was absolutely incoherent. He would start strong, but then he would wander off on some tangent and constantly ran overtime with his answers. This is going to kill him when people realize he doesn't really know what he is talking about. It was the same problem John Kerry had, but Kerry learned to keep his answers short in the debates with our dictator in 2004." Rebecca noted that Barack declared war on Social Security, Elaine noted Barack's rush for more war, Mike found the debate a waste of time, Cedric & Wally (joint-post) noted how Barack got his way, Marcia skipped it and noted the crony ways of Barack in Chicago, and Kat explored the liars and cover-up artists in the press Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney's running mate is Rosa Clemente who has a series of campaign stops coming up including the following: Rosa Clemente in New York October 9-11 Tuesday, 07 October 2008 23:01 from Rosa Clemente Peace and Hello to all my New York City People: As the billionaires on wall street get bailed out, and more and more people are tired of a two party stranglehold, join me, as I celebrate my electoral independence, I am in town, for three exciting days of campaign activities, attending a press conference for assistance and solidarity for Haiti, marching for the freedom of Politcal Prisoners and Prisoner of War, as well as these media appearances, hope to see you! "The Green Party is not the alternative, it is the imperative!" Rosa A. Clemente, Green Party Vice-Presidential Candidate GritTV, with Laura Flanders, to air Wednesday October 8th, 2008, at 8:00pm & 1:00am ET, on Free Speech TV(DISH Network ch. 9415) www.lauraflanders.com Where we Live, with Sally O'Brien Thursday October 9th, 2008 at 8:00pm on WBAI 99.5FM, www.wbai.org The Truth, with Jeff Johnson on to air on BET Friday October 10th, 2008 at 10:00pm (EST) _____________________________________________________ WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9th, 2008 @ 7pm-10pm THIS IS AN HISTORICAL MOMENT...BUT ONLY SOME OF IT WILL BE TELEVISED! You are invited to the home of Gloria Mattera & Sean Sweeney and host M1 of dead prez for light fare, drinks and lively discussion with special guest: Rosa Clemente is a nationally known hip-hop activist, independent journalist, community organizer and Green Party vice presidential candidate. She helped organize the National Hip-Hop Political Convention in 2003, to create a national political agenda for the hip-hop generation. Let's help Rosa and Cynthia raise the funds needed to get their message of peace and justice out to voters throughout the country! Campaign Merchandise will be on hand! Location: 437 2 Street between 6/7 Avenues in Park Slope Brooklyn F train to 7 Ave; Q/B to 7 Ave (at Flatbush); R train to Union St RSVP: gmattera@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 718 369-2998 _____________________________________________________ THURSDAY OCTOBER 9th, 2008 @ 3:30pm Open Community Forum with Green Party Vice Presidential Nominee ROSA CLEMENTE, to be televised on Manhattan Public Access @ MNN Television Studios Manhattan Neighborhood Network 537 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019 (between 10th and 11th Avenues) Green Party VP Candidate - Discusses the Economy, Foreign Policy, Education, Gender Equity, Racism, Social Justice, & the Environment LIVE WITH THE COMMUNITY Featuring Community Organizations: -Grassroots Artists MovEment (G.A.ME) -UHURU Movement -Brenda Stokely from NY Solidarity Coalition With Katrina / Rita Survivors - La Peña del Bronx Performances: -Hasan Salaam -Video Screening of Final Outlaw's"HIP HOP 4Ever" THIS IS A LIVE TO TAPE EVENT: IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS ARRIVE AT 3:00PM SHARP! Please Contact: (917) 940-8961 or (917) 239-8992 with Questions or to RSVP for this event ABOUT G.A.ME - The Grassroots Artists Movement (G.A.ME) is a membership organization dedicated to addressing sociopolitical and economic realities facing low-income Black and Latino communities. Galvanizing the influence of hip-hop artists and culture, G.A.ME unites artists and community members to work side-by-side for social justice. G.A.ME runs youth leadership and community development programs that provide tools for positive change. Ralph Nader is on TV tonight! Ralph will be on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blizter at about 5 p.m. EST this afternoon. And he'll be on Fox's The O'Reilly Factor with Bill O'Reilly at about 8:25 p.m. EST tonight. Hope you get a chance to watch. And remember, this week we're offering a limited number of Ralph's most recent book -- The Seventeen Traditions. (HarperCollins, 2007). It's a 150-page hard cover classic -- detailing the traditions Ralph grew up with in his home town of Winsted, Connecticut. For a donation of $100 or more, we'll ship you this Nader classic -- signed by the man himself -- Ralph Nader. (This offer ends Sunday October 12, 2008 at 11:59 p.m.) So, donate now. By the way, the Nader/Gonzalez video team was with Ralph in Winsted, Connecticut last week. And they put together this neat little peek of Ralph in his hometown. Take a look. Pass it around. Thank you for your ongoing support. Onward to November |
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
The pouty candidate
BULLY BOY PRESS & CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL-AID TABLE SENATOR SWEETIE BARACK OBAMA POUTED AND STOMPED DURING TONIGHT'S DEBATE UNTIL HE WAS ALLOWED TO BREAK THE RULES AND HAVE HIS FOLLOW UP. AFTERWARDS, HE TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "SEE, HAVING A HISSY FIT DOES WORK! TEMPER TANTRUMS ARE SO ME!" TOM BROKAW WAS THE MODERATOR AND HE DID G.E.'S BIDDING THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT BUT ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO NUCLEAR ENERGY AND SOCIAL SECURITY. HE AVOIDED THE TOPIC ALL OVER THE NEWS: BARACK AND BILL AYERS. WHEN ASKED WHY THAT WAS, BROKAW TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "A WITTLE CAUTION GOES A WONG WAY." Tonight Dem. presidential nominee Barack Obama and Rep. presidential nominee John McCain debate. Alexander Cockburn (The First Post) observes of last Thursday's debate between the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Senator Joe Biden, and the Republican vice presidential nominee, Governor Sarah Palin, that only Palin has passed the test of the Democratic and Republican candidates: "Palin, despite somewhat excessive folksiness, with 'gosh-darneds' and the like, did look as though she and Todd had spent some time at their kitchen table in the not-too-distan past figuring out how to pay the bills and deciding they couldn't afford health insurance. . . . Alone of the four candidates [Obama, Biden, McCain and herself], she spoke to the fury and fear of Main Street America about the $700bn bail-out . . . More than once last night, I thought Palin must have been watching re-runs of Reagan's speeches, though decades of deference to Hollywood tycoons made Reagan far more respectful of Wall Street than the Alaskan Governor, who even presumed to introduce the antique phrase 'working class' into the debate." As noted in yesterday's snapshot, following the New York Times lead on Saturday, Palin has been bringing up Barack Obama's ties to Weather Underground's Bill Ayers. Today on Democracy Now! Amy Goodman lied (it's a lie, the Red Diaper baby damn well knows better), "Obama was eight years old when Ayers was a Weather Underground member." That's how the media's worked it. Obama says it's so it's 'true.' In the debate with Hillary, that was one of the lies regarding Weather Underground that Barack uttered, "And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense, George." The press has run with the lie ever since. However, George Stephanopoulos actually asked the question correctly (and that's part of the reason George was attacked by the Cult of Obama), "A gentleman named William Ayers. He was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol, and other buildings. He's never apologized for that." Idiots and liars run with that garbage of eight years old. Barack was born in August of 1961. Weather Underground is not "Weatherman." Weatherman did the Days of Rage in 1969. Weather Underground emerges with the "Declaration of a State of War" (read by Bernardine Dohrn). You can find a transcription here (as published in Berkeley Tribe, July 31, 1970 and released May 21, 1970). 1970 is when Weather Underground emerges. Prior to that Weatherman existed. 1970 is when the bombings begin and they are not a one-year thing. Barack was prepped for that debate with Hillary, coached to toss out a lie the press could run with and obsesses over: " Look, I'm going to have to respond to this just really quickly, but by Senator Clinton's own vetting standards, I don't think she would make it, since President Clinton pardoned or commuted the sentences of two members of the Weather Underground, which I think is a slightly more significant act." The campaign then prepped all reporters that Bill Clinton had pardoned the two women (there was no pardon) and look for yourself and see who LIED. Did anyone do their own work? No. David Corn, when forced to 'correct' at Mother Jones made a real ass of himself insisting that "commuted" and "pardon" were basically the same thing. No, they are not. But the press went running where Barack told them to do like the good little doggies they are. George Stephanopoulos was correct and most (including Diane Rehm) knew he was correct, it was the 1970s. And yet the liars repeatedly lie (including Diane who's tired ass needs to retire). As Mike pointed out last night, Ben Smith (Politico) can get it right: "On the other hand, Obama's not that young. He started at Columbia University, for instance, in 1981, when their names were certainly in the New York tabloids, which haved always loved the story of upper-middle-class radical cop killers. Kathy Boudin's role in a botched, fatal 1981 Brinks roberry was huge news. Bernardine Dohrn was imprisoned in 1982 for refusing to testify against fellow Weather Underground members. And Ayers' past was hardly a secret in Chicago, where he was regularly quoted as an ex-radical and ex-fugitive." As Nathaniel Sheppard Jr. explained in "Bernardine Dohrn Gives Up To Authorities in Chicago" (New York Times, December 4, 1980): "Still espousing revolutionary causes, Bernardine Dohrn, the 38-year-old reputed leader of the radical Weather Underground, surrendered to authorities here today, 10 years after going into hiding to avoid Federal and local riot charges. . . . Mr. Ayers was also indicted on Federal charges in connection with the disorders, but the Federal charges against Miss Dohrn, Mr. Ayers and other Weathermen were dropped in 1979 when a court ruled that the Government's evidence had been obtained through illegal telephone wiretaps. . . . An associate of Miss Dohrn said privately that she might have come forward now partly because of fear that her treatment under the administration of Ronald Reagan could be harsher than under the Carter Administration." Joe Boyle (BBC) explains Weather's actions: "From 1970 to 1975 the group bombed police stations and patrol vehicles and court and government buildings. In 1970 there were fatalities - a police officer died from his injuries after a pipe bomb was detonated in a San Francisco police station, while three of the group blew themselves up while building explosives in their New York apartment." The ever-changing story from Barack. What was the earliest lie? Who knows? One claimed, as Ava and I noted, that all their kids went to school together: "The focus wasn't helped when the Obama campaign attempted to lie that Ayers and Barack were friends because they had children the same age. As The Guardian of London's Daniel Nasaw pointed out Dorhn and Ayers' son Zayd is 30-years-old, Malik is 27-years-old and Chesa Boudin, Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert's son that Ayers and Dorhn raised, is also 27, while Barack and Michelle Obama's daughters 'are 6 and 9, respectively'." Believe it or not, the lie of "kids go to school together" was bought and re-sold by the press without question for months. Geoff Earle (New York Post) quoted Team Obama leader David Axelrod telling CNN that Barack didn't know all this public history. He then repeated the eight-year-old lie. Or maybe, what he's trying to say is Barack doesn't condemn the bombings of the Pentagon and the State Dept which took place after he was eight-years-old? As Elaine pointed out last night, Geoff Earle repeats without question the latest spin. The McCain-Palin campaign issued this statement yesterday: Does Barack Obama truly expect the American people to believe that he had no idea about his friend's past as the infamous founder of the domestic terror group 'The Weather Underground' or is he just lying? If Obama didn't know in 1995 about the bombings Ayers was responsible for, when did he find out -- because Obama was promoting Ayers' book in 1997, serving on boards with him until 2002, and trading emails and phone calls with him as recently as 2005. If Obama really was unaware of Ayers' radical past, learning the truth doesn't seem to have had any effect on their friendship. Whether Barack Obama is lying to voters about his previous support for higher taxes on the middle class, his votes against funds for American troops in the field or his associations with an unrepentant terrorist, voters are left wondering who Obama is and what he stands for. Today Athena Jones (NBC) explains, "Reporters pressed Barack Obama's chief strategist David Axelrod on when the senator became aware of William Ayers' radical past during the flight from Asheville, NC to Nashville for tonight's debates. When asked to clarify when it was that Obama learned about Ayers' history of planning bombings to protest the Vietnam War, Axelrod said it was some time after their first meetings but that he did not know the exact moment." Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller (ABC News' Political Punch) add, "The Alaska governor has been blurring what Axelrod said to make it seem as though Obama was claiming that he didn't know about Ayers' history until recently, which is not what Axelrod said. Not that there's been any clear explanation of this relationship forthcoming from the Obama campaign. So when did Obama find out that Ayers had been a member of an organization the FBI called a 'domestic terrorist' group, and had been for years a fugitive from the law?" On the campaign trail today, Palin again raised the issue. Perry Bacon Jr. (Washington Post) quotes her stating in Jacksonville, Florida, "Now our opponent's campaign is claiming for the first time Barack Obama wasn't aware of Ayers' radical background. He didn't know he launched his own political career in the living room of a dometic terrorist? What's next, claiming he didn't know that two of his biggest supporters were running Fannie Mae? . . . Maybe he thought they were just guys in his Washington neighborhood." ABC News' Political Radar includes the next statement, "And since he got called out on his plans to meet unconditionally with terror state leaders like [Iran's President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, will he now claim he was unaware of his radical backround? Ladies and gentlemen, this election is about the truthfulness and judgment needed in our next president. John McCain has it and Barack Obama doesn't." The McCain-Palin campaign site is highlighting the issue and clicking here takes you to Obama LIAR Anita Dunn now insisting (CNN transcript) that Barack was seven at the time, seven! What a pack of liars. For more McCain-Palin releases on Barack and Bill, click here and here. And, in more news for Barack, CBS News' Laura Strickler, Sarah Fitzpatrick and Ariel Bashi reported yesterday: CBS News has learned that two donors to the Obama campaign that gave a total of $7,722 appear to have made their contributions under fake names that look like they were written by a mouse running across a keyboard: Dahsudhu Hdusahfd of Df, Hawaii with the following employer CZXVC/ZXVZXV and Uadhshgu Hduadh listed as living in Dhff, Florida listed their employer as DASADA/SAFASF. CBS News did not find any records of these last names, towns or employers anywhere else. Newsweek reported two questionable Obama donors over the weekend named "Doodad Pro" and "Good Will". Contributions from the two donors Hdusahfd and Hduadh were made on the same day starting on July 16, 2008. Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show the campaign began refunding the donations as early as August 6, 2008. Despite numerous refunds from the Obama campaign, Hdusahfd still has a record of giving a total of $7500 to Obama which is well over the legal limit for the primary and general election of $4600. Hduadh gave $14,200 but the Obama campaign returned all but $222.00. Ruth noted the CBS news item last night in her round-up of the presidential campaigns. And Kat pointed to the biggest liar or the most uninformed in the press, Jason Szep of Reuters who claimed Weather Underground "was involved in bombings in the 1960s" -- uh, Szep, what bombings are you referring to? McCain and Obama debate tonight or 'debate'. And the other presidential candidates are shut out of the debate. Cynthia McKinney is the Green Party presidential candidate. Kevin Alexander Gray (Progressive via Some Carolina) writes, "McKinney, who served as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives for twelve years, left the Democratic Party last year to join the Greens. In Congress, she had one of the most progressive records. And as a Presidential candidate, she offers up a coherent agenda. In her acceptance speech at the Green Party convention in Chicago on July 12, she denounced what she called 'Democratic Party complicity' in 'war crimes, torture, crimes against the peace' and 'crimes against the Constituion, crimes against the American peopke, and crimes against the global community.' She said, 'Those who delivered us into this mess cannot be trusted to get us out of it.' She told her supporters, 'A Green vote is a peace vote,' and 'A Green vote is a justice vote.'" Rosa Clemente is Cynthia's running mate. Ralph Nader is the independent presidential candidate and his running mate is Matt Gonzalez. Nader - Gonzalez notes: Why? To protest the sheer arrogance of the Gallup Organization. In a recent WSJ/NBC national poll, Ralph Nader pulls 5 percent. Contrast that to the most recent Gallup national poll, where Nader polls a fraction of one percent. Why the big difference? Answer: Gallup, the 800-pound gorilla of the polling world, doesn't list Ralph Nader as one of the Presidential candidates in the primary polling question. Are you kidding me? No. We are not kidding you. And guess who the Commission on Presidential Debates depends on to do its polling to see which Presidential candidates get to debate before tens of millions of Americans tonight in Nashville? You guessed it: Gallup. I called Frank Newport. (pictured above) Newport is the editor-in-chief at Gallup. I asked Newport: Is there an objective standard you use to keep Ralph off your primary polling question? "No," Newport said. "We use our internal judgment to decide." Whoa! Gallup's "internal judgment" keeps Ralph Nader out of their polling. So, I tried again. Any ballpark levels of support Gallup looks to as a threshold? "No," Newport said. Again, it was just subject to unidentified "internal judgment criteria." What a total crock of you know what. There are some polling agencies -- such as Ipsos/McClatchey and CNN/Opinion Research Corp. -- that include all the major third party candidates. Not Gallup. So, we propose two ways to protest Gallup's arrogance in keeping Ralph Nader out of the Gallup polls, thereby denying him the chance of having a chance to debate McCain and Obama. Protest method number one: Donate $5, $10, $100 -- whatever you can afford -- up to the legal limit of $2,300 -- to Nader/Gonzalez now. The stronger we become in October, the more difficult it will be for even Gallup's "internal judgment" to ignore us. We're in the middle of our October Surprise fundraising drive. And we need to reach $250,000 by the end of the week. So, if you haven't donated yet, hit that there contribute button now. Protest method number two: Call up Gallup's Frank Newport. Give him a piece of your mind. Nader/Gonzalez is on more state ballots (45) than any other independent or third party candidate. And we're polling five percent and higher in other polls nationwide. Why is Gallup keeping Ralph Nader out of their polls? What standards does Gallup use to determine who is included in their Presidential polls? You can call Newport at: 609-924-9600 Or you can e-mail him directly at: frank_newport@gallup.com Onward to November. Toby Heaps National Media Coordinator Though shut out of the corporation's debate between the corporatist candidates, Ralph Nader will be addressing the debate tonight: News Advisory FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ryan Mehta, 408-348-0681, rmehta@votenader.org (National HQ) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RALPH NADER TO RESPOND TO DEBATES IN WINSTEAD WHO: Ralph Nader WHAT: Debate response WHEN: Tuesday, October 7 from 9:00pm until after the debates WHERE: Founders Hall Auditorium, Northwestern Community College, Park Place Winsted, CT 06098 On Tuesday, October 7 starting at 9:00, consumer advocate and Presidential candidate Ralph Nader will be in Founders Hall Auditorium at Northwestern Community College. After the debates, he will give his response and take question about the debates. |
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