Mr. David Corn,

Great post!

I think it is silly to promote democracy without a free press and equal and generous civil rights. Forcing democracy at the point of a weapon is all but useless.

Each time I hear the "democracy brings freedom" blather I always think about the result of our recent elections and those of other countries that have democratically empowered the wrong people.

Thanks

Kirk

Hajji,

Maria called at 11:00 a.m. Said Dennis is getting to come home today. Said Ann was going to take him home around 2:00.

TRH & HAJII

Trade email addresses. Is this your family bulletin board?

Q: Are most members of Congress beholden to K Street?

GOP Senator: Hang on, I have to ask my lobbyist...he says no.

----

Q: Are most members of Congress beholden to K Street?

GOP Congressman: 'Beholden'? Is that some kinda Brokeback Mountain code word? I ain't be-holdin' no lobbyist nohow. I just takes the money and vote the way I'm told to.

David, I have read that one reason the so-called "democratic" parties find it nearly impossibe to gain power in the middle east is because of the concept of usury. Though I have not seen this subject discussed on any forums, I did read an article that said when orthodox Muslims gain power they won't allow banks to charge interest, it is strictly against their religious beliefs. That may shed a bit of light on an otherwise senseless conflict. If Muslims elect a theocratic govt. they should be allowed to promote laws that seem right to them. I disagree with your statement that it is right to promote democracy around the world if the parties involved are not interested. Can you imagine the uproar that would ensue if a Muslim were to gain power here in the west, and forbid banks to charge interest? That Muslim would soon find himself floating face down in the Potomac!

City demands warrant in FBI investigation

Law enforcement and Newton Free Library officials were embroiled in a tense standoff for nearly 10 hours last week when the city refused to let police and the FBI examine library computers without a warrant.

Police rushed to the main library last Wednesday after it was determined that a terrorist threat to Brandeis University had been sent from a computer at the library.

But requests to examine any of its computers were rebuffed by library Director Kathy Glick-Weil and Mayor David Cohen on the grounds that they did not have a warrant.

While one law enforcement official said he was "totally disgusted" with the city’s attempt to hold up a time-sensitive investigation of potential terrorist threat, Cohen is defending the library’s actions, calling it one of Newton’s "finest hours."

"We showed you can enforce the law ... without jeopardizing the privacy of innocent citizens," Cohen said.

Brandeis received the alleged e-mail threat at about 11 a.m. on Jan. 18, according to Waltham Lt. Brian Navin. While police reportedly didn’t find anything threatening after evacuating 12 buildings at Brandeis and a nearby elementary school, by about 2 p.m., the e-mail was traced to a computer at the Newton Free Library on Homer Street.

Newton Police, followed shortly by FBI and State Police officers, rushed to the library to lock the building down, Glick-Weil said.

"There was a lot of excitement going on," she said.

Police traced the origin of the e-mail to one of the 21 computers in the second-floor lab, Glick-Weil said. She agreed to have her information technology worker examine the computers, but said the FBI requested for information about the computers without a warrant, even though they were familiar with library privacy laws.

"You’ll have to ask them why they did that," she said.

An FBI spokesman, as well as Lt. Bruce Apotheker of the Newton Police, both said their offices would not comment on the investigation.

Cohen was asked by FBI officials to turn over information on all the computers, but said he could not without a warrant. It took U.S. attorneys several hours to finally get a warrant, Glick-Weil said, and they took the computer from the library at about 11:30 that night, after the library had closed.

But a law enforcement official who was close to the investigation but said he was not authorized to speak on the record, described the incident in an e-mail as a "nightmare."

He said Glick-Weil was told "we were dealing with a potential terrorism plot" but became "close to uncontrollable, saying that we had no right to be there."

Nancy Murray, director of education for the Boston branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, said she was surprised the FBI asked for information without a warrant.

"They couldn’t possibly expect to get [the computer] without a warrant," she said. "Good for the library for knowing more about warrants than the police."

"The law requires us to protect the privacy of library users," Glick-Weil said.

Glick-Weil said there was a "little bit of tension" during the investigation, but overall thought it went smoothly.

"I found the process encouraging," she said. "If law enforcement thinks it has probable cause, it can get a warrant in a timely fashion."

Dan Atkinson can be contacted at datkinso@cnc.com.

*****end of clip*****

Fourth amendment "probable cause" is the only constitutional process. Thank goodness for the honest and patriotic Americans that do not roll over to the fascist police state. The sad thing is how many of these illegal requests are satisfied (ie: Yahoo, MSN, etc giving data and we never heard a thing from them)

capt

PS - usury - they cannot charge interest (says that in the bible too) but they charge "rent" to hold money. Basically the same thing.

You cannot simultaneously liberate and oppress a people. It is also fairly difficult to scare the shit out of people and expect them to make rational decisions. Hence Hamas, a terrorist organization, comes to power by the will of a fearful and oppressed people. Hence the neocons, another terrorist organization, have come to power in the US, by the will of an arrogant and horribly misinformed public. Too bad actions have consequences, and the passage of time allows the repurcussions of previous US involvement in the Middle East to come washing onto the shores of the present. You reap what you sow. How about from now on, instead of letting a bunch of greasy warmongers hiding behind a retarded frat boy run the show, we elect a responsible, intelligent, and humanitarian leader, one who will actually make the world a better place? We can discount the republican party right away, and most prominent dems cannot be trusted either. Sorry people, but it looks like we may just have to think during the next election and seriously consider what our choice means for this country, the world, and humanity in general. Democracy is beautiful when it works.

The price of domestic spying: Infiltrated by feds, antiwar group turns on photographer

MIAMI -- The first time federal agents infiltrated the Broward Antiwar Coalition was in July 2003, two months before a planned protest against President George W. Bush, according to one member of the South Florida activist group.

The second time was in September 2003, two months before the infamous Free Trade Area of the Americas meeting in downtown Miami, which resulted in several lawsuits against the Miami Police Department for using excessive force against protesters.

And the third time was less than a year ago, just days before the Organization of American States meeting in downtown Fort Lauderdale, said Ray Del Papa, one of the original members of the activist group

Read more HERE

*****end of clip*****

It is too obvious but electronic wiretaps are only scratching the surface.

capt

Goob,

No doubt, that is assuming our votes are actually counted and the process fair. I do not believe this to be the case.

I hope I am wrong but I predict a huge landslide for the neocons (and DINO's). If they are stealing votes it is now or never for them too.

You do not steal all that power and not abuse it.

I hope I am completely wrong.

capt

usury will never be discussed. neither will the bourse. neither will the pipelines throughout Iraq and Syria. nor Bridas. ha - just like all the evidence surrounding 911, if we conveniently ignore it then it has no bearing on "reality".

#3

Awful brave of you to post without revealing your e-mail address. Good news is shared and all you can do is rain on the parade. Get a life.

Houston PD Running Nuclear Disaster Drills As Build-Up Of Numerous Law Enforcement Agencies Seen In Nearby Texas City

Army Intel Capt. Eric May warns Bush cabal days away from a nuclear strike. Texas City resident "opens up a hornet's nest" as he warns local law enforcement about the possibility of nuclear strike.

I agree with goob. Professional politicians, professional lobbyists combined with an apathetic public is a bad combination. We can see the obvious in the twisted political world, but there is plenty of our fellow citizens who do not and will not pay attention to what is happening around them, and the once formidable foe of politics has rolled over like a dog and let the reich scratch their belly.

Capt. May, who once backed the government's position while serving his country, became disillusioned after 911, saying facts surfaced making it "crystal clear" the enemy wasn't Al Qaeda but an "enemy within," or the Bush-New World Order Cabal.

Since realizing 911 was an inside government job, Capt. May has used every ounce of his military training, energy and intelligence to try and stop the Bush administration and what he calls its "phony war on terror." His info-war on terror can be better understood by a Google search of Ghost Troop Bibliography, taken from the name of his cyber-unit called Ghost Troop.

Capt. May said the Al Qaeda scare has been contrived and manufactured by the Bush Cabal in an effort to cover-up the real criminals and culprits in the White House. Saying every so-called terrorist attack escalates in size and body count, he is warning Americans that the next one will involve a nuclear blast on American soil.

"There is a very good chance the next attack could occur within the next 9 days and the target being the British Petroleum plant at Texas City, Texas," said Capt. May,

Diebold Blocks Alaska Voters From Viewing Election 2004 Results, Data!

Blogged by Brad on 1/24/2006 @ 2:39pm PT...

Contract with State said to Bar Release of 'Company Secrets' Such as the Records of Who Citizens Voted For
Democratic Official: 'It's impossible to say whether the correct candidates were declared the winner in all Alaska races from 2004'

In just one more story which illustrates the many undemocratic dangers of allowing private companies to "own" our public elections, Diebold, Inc., one of America's largest Voting Machine Companies is currently blocking citizens in Alaska from viewing election data from the 2004 general election!

"All Alaska races from 2004" are now being questioned, said a Democratic party official in a written letter to the state Elections Director.

Questions have begun to arise about results from that election, including the reported revelation that "district-by-district vote totals add up to 292,267 votes for President Bush, but his official total was only 190,889."

The BRAD BLOG has obtained a copy of the letter sent yesterday by Jake Metcalfe, chair of the Alaska Democratic Party to Whitney Brewster of the Alaska Division of Elections. The letter responds to Brewster's refusal to supply the party with the requested data files and outlines a number of additional concerns about the reported 2004 election results.

The complete letter is available for download here in WORD format.
-------------
Did someone mention democracy? Remind me again why we even bother to vote on these fucking machines??

Pipeline Blasted Again

Sunnis want Federalism postponed until 2009

Guerrillas blew up pipelines again on Wednesday, halting Iraqi petroleum exports through Turkey. There were some other bombings and shootings. Interior Ministry police commandos (usually Shiites) killed a Sunni cleric in Samarra. This looks bad.

A new report says that the Iraq quagmire is causing the US Army to reach the breaking point. The report notes that the army now appears to be meeting its recruiting goals by admitting high school dropouts. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, the worst SecDef in the history of the country, wants the military to move in the direction of high tech. I'd say he needs a high school and a university within the army if the dropouts are eventually going to operate that machinery.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said that Arab peace keeping forces for Iraq would require that 1) a sovereign, Iraq, national-unity government ask for them and 2) that US troops withdraw. He said that Arab troops would decline to serve under a US command. An Arab peace keeping force, led by Syria, was deployed in Lebanon during the civil war there.

Iraq needs $60 billion to revive its industries, according to the Iraqi government.

Paul McLeary reports from Baghdad, ' These days, more American reporters are leaving Iraq than arriving. In large part, for the U.S. press, "The party's pretty much over." ' (A tip of the hat to CBS's Public Eye.

A Kurdish writer sentenced to 30 years in prison for "defaming Kurdistan" (a.k.a. warlord Massoud Barzani) will be retried. In civilized countries, journalists are not tried for criticizing governments.

Iraqi journalists constantly face threats, either from guerrillas or from supporters of government officials, for writing critically about either. Reuters reveals that there really is not any freedom of the press in Iraq, and nor could there be given the poor security situation and the unconventional civil war.

Ghali Hassan argues that the US military is another impediment to a free press in Iraq.

Al-Zaman /AFP report [Ar.] that Sunni Arab politicians renewed their opposition to loose federalism and regional confederacies when they met Wednesday with Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the Shiite cleric who leads the largest bloc in parliament. Salih Mutlak of the National Dialogue Council (11 seats) told Agence France Presse that the delegates insisted that loose federalism be abandoned before they would enter the new government. He said that this matter could be taken up by the next parliament, to be elected in 2009.

On another front, Virtue Party leader Nadim al-Jabiri said that the United Iraqi Alliance had broken pledges it had made to coalition partners about the distribution of compensatory seats. Virtue was given only one of these seats, whereas it had joined the United Iraqi Alliance on the promise that it would be given 15 regular seats and 5 compensatory ones. He said that most of the compensatory seats went to the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and the Badr organization, while a few went to the Sadrist movement. He said that when he complained, the UIA leadership denied they had pledged him 5 compensatory seats.

Researcher Reidar Vissar analyzes the affiliation of the members of the United Iraqi Alliance. He concludes that they broke down as follows before the compensatory seats are figured in:

Sadrists (Muqtada): 23%
Da`wa: 23%
Independents: 22%
Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq and Badr: 19%
Virtue Party: 13%

Another 19 seats had yet to be apportioned when Vissar made this chart. Jabiri, above, is claiming that most of the 19 went to SCIRI. My own suspicion is that SCIRI and Badr are also much richer than the other factions inside the UIA, in part because of likely Iranian support. Still, an alliance of Sadrists and the Da`wa Party could form a powerful challenge to SCIRI leadership.

James,

Sounds like Capt. May (a real capt - I am not) is another looney lefty, eh?

Thank our lucky stars for the real patriots and true Americans. We many not have done enough to stop this handbasket in the last 10-15 years but it sure seems like more and more people are waking up to the nightmare.

capt

Analysis: Hamas history tied to Israel

But even then, some in Israel saw some benefits to be had in trying to continue to give Hamas support: "The thinking on the part of some of the right-wing Israeli establishment was that Hamas and the others, if they gained control, would refuse to have any part of the peace process and would torpedo any agreements put in place," said a U.S. government official who asked not to be named.

"Israel would still be the only democracy in the region for the United States to deal with," he said.

All of which disgusts some former U.S. intelligence officials.

"The thing wrong with so many Israeli operations is that they try to be too sexy," said former CIA official Vincent Cannestraro.

According to former State Department counter-terrorism official Larry Johnson, "the Israelis are their own worst enemies when it comes to fighting terrorism."

"The Israelis are like a guy who sets fire to his hair and then tries to put it out by hitting it with a hammer."

"They do more to incite and sustain terrorism than curb it," he said.
-----------
"By way of deception." Think about it, if this conflict was not constantly raging, who would support Israel's goal of total occupation of Palestine? They play the eternal victim card to the hilt.

Capt,

#7...

I hold a card to that very library! It is a very busy institution and its materials and equipment are some of the finest in the country.

Sad to think that government's responsibility to protect our privacy has, by default, fallen on the shoulders of those stereo-typical meek and humble LIBRARIANS!

The Boston FBI and Newton Police(I know a couple of agents there, believe it or not!) have instant and unimpeded access to the system for emergency warrants. They'd've probably gotten one in an instant, if they hadn't already locked the library down and tried to bully their way past the law. Making a public spectacle of the issue is one sure way to slow down the wheels that spin out the red tape!

-T

TRH,

I guess that's good news, talked to him last night and his voice actally sounded like him, again!

I can only hope that continuing radiation (burn the village to SAVE the village) doesn't send him back anytime soon.

Thank you to all here who've voiced concern and support for my family. It is telling the kind of people whose positive thoughts, prayers and energy finds its way to those who need it most!

#3 I guess my definition of "Family" is a little unorthodox. You're out of the WILL!

-T

Letter to WRH

READER: So ABC news (sic) is dishing out their exclusive report on how the Al Qaeda and the Taliban are regrouping and doing open-air recruiting to kill us Amurkans. They have shown "exclusive" video from the mountainous regions along the Afghanistan and Pakistan border.
This is great timing for Bush's recent spying scenario on that Al Qaeda bunch (in case they call). One problem with the video: where's the snow??? They show mountains in the background with no snow. This is OLD FOOTAGE!!!
-----------
Has anyone seen this footage? Is it true?

Saladin,

Amazing how they could be so disingenuous. The larger question is why aren't they there covering the largest humanitarian disaster in world history and encouraging world relief response in equally historic proportions?

Oh, yeah, "disaster fatigue"...I forgot.

-t

CSI: K Street

Arianna Huffington

Why is the White House so desperate to downplay any contact between the president and Jack Abramoff -- even though the photos of Bush making nice with Abramoff are bound to surface sooner or later? And why is the White house refusing requests to release information about Abramoff's White House meetings -- what today's Washington Post described as "a legitimate inquiry about what an admitted felon might have been seeking at the highest levels of government"?

I mean, sure, the former uber-lobbyist has become the poster boy for the GOP's culture of corruption -- famously guilty of mail fraud, tax evasion, bribery, federal conspiracy, and taking in $80 million from Indian tribes he subsequently disparaged as "morons" and "troglodytes." But it's not like he's been implicated in murder, right?

Oh, wait a minute... he has!
--------------
I've been wondering why this is never mentioned as well.

Hajji, it is far more important to keep the sheeple scared shitless!

Broadcaster says serious news at risk

The anchorman whose boss once characterized him as ice compared with his successor's fire was anything but chilly in the impassioned speech he delivered Tuesday at The Society of the Four Arts.

"Truth no longer matters in the context of politics and, sadly, in the context of cable news," said Aaron Brown, whose four-year period as anchor of CNN's NewsNight ended in November, when network executives gave his job to Anderson Cooper in a bid to push the show's ratings closer to front-runner Fox News.

Brown said he tried to give viewers a balanced diet of light and serious news with NewsNight. "But I always knew when I got to the Brussels sprouts, I was on thin ice," he said.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

Never really warmed up to Aaron but interesting to hear his views.

capt

Speaking of red tape - I hear the government is cutting it . . right down the middle (goes twice as far).

capt

Saladin,

I am sure any murder or inflicted suicide was just a few rogue agents/criminals from the night shift, probably reservists or part time, yeah maybe it was CIA temps?

That's the ticket!

capt

Capt, I am convinced it was clinton who provoked the whole thing!

Oh, c'MON NOW!!!

Who among us can truly say they've no links to murderers and major-league felons? Give the guy a break, I mean, it isn't like Kenny-boy Lay was flyin' him around on the compn'y jet or anything! It isn't like he was guit-fiddlin' while New Orleans was fillin'up or anything! It isn't like he dragged the nation into an unfounded, illegal and immoral WAR or anything! Jeeeze, Louise, you're all just a bunch of BUSH HATERS!!!

Get OVER it, already!

HA! & HA!

What Constitutes Real Leadership on Reform?

Congress needs to make a clean break from former Majority Leader Tom DeLay's legacy. They won't do that by simply picking a new leader from three members who have their own campaign finance and ethical problems. Real reform won't happen simply by replacing DeLay -- "DeLay-ism" needs to be replaced. Both parties need to get serious about a real reform agenda that includes sweeping changes in the way we fund political campaigns, including publicly-financed "Clean Elections." Watch the videos, read the facts, and take action to demand that Congress get serious about reform.

Sign the petition HERE

*****end of clip*****

Top link has some political ads.

capt

I saw a clip on TV news with the al qaedas training - there was no snow. it was the same clip of al qaedas training that has been shown over and over for the last 4 years.

My answer to #159 from the previous thread is that Hamma will work with Bush if Bush renounces violence.

#16 Saladin, we are not a democracy.

Letters to the Editor

From TBR News

From: The-King-of-England the-king-of-england@swfla.rr.com
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 10:09 PM
To: tbrnews@hotmail.com

Who the fuck do you assholes think you are saying Israelis are not Jewish but Mongolians? We are the original master race and we rule not only in Palestine but in America as well. You and your shitty left wing, anti-Bush friends better be careful or we will wipe you all out when our day of vengeance against all Chirstians and liberals comes and that will be soon! First, we will snuff all the filthy ragheads and burn their bodies and then we will drop nukes (and believe we got them!) on Tehran and fry all the arabs there. And bush is not going to stop us either and the fools at the UN are powerless without the US behind them! We rule you and you rule the world so why not shut the fuck up and go away? Ytzak Brandeis

Comment: Wonderfully expressed sentiment from a poster boy for the Likud. It's too bad his childhood couldn't have been prevented. Brian Harring
----------
The bushco neocons have no monopoly on psychotic ranting!

American Soldiers

More American soldiers are killed in the Middle East.

2,498 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Bush's evil lies.

Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy. Henry Kissinger

G.K. Chesterton said, "Jesus speaks sanity to a world of lunatics."

Before you seek revenge, dig two graves. Confucius

Contamination

Linda Schrock Taylor says, "When God means to punish a nation, He deprives its rulers of wisdom."

Hitler Bush and the Nazi cabal will prowl the world seeking endless wars. With endless wars and depleted uranium the Nazi States of America will contaminate people, land, air, and water. In time our entire world will become contaminated through the use of depleted uranium in fighting our endless wars.

The Nazi States of America is an evil nation.

Hey all,
"Democracy's a bitch". ...Dude, that is true only if you don't treat her right.

Got my sys up and running....geeawd! How did things get so frithihing complicated!

Bad new...Lost alot of data on a couple of regions I was metering. Good news...most of the data had improbable variations, would have trashed it anyway.

Got about ten inches of wet heavy snow. YAAH! Going to hit the slopes tomorrow.

Hajji what did I miss?

Keep fighting the good fight.
Later,
th

Palestinian voters decided to put the focus back on the issue of Israel's solidification of its occupation. Now bush and his boyfriends (and Miss Condi) will devise some new rhetoric to continue to put the Palestinians through hoops. bush keeps professing his commitment to peace and democracy, telling other countries that they must reject violence if they want the United States to take them seriously. Rejecting violence as a means to solve a conflict is a noble goal -- it's time for the bush administration to take a leadership role in practicing what they preach.

Programmer Jeff Dean had ties to chief of White House Plumbers unit

UPDATED 1/26 10:30 a.m.: Convicted of 23 felonies for computer crimes, Jeffrey Dean was sent to prison for four years. Shortly after his release from incarceration, his company was awarded a massive ballot printing contract.

In a 2003 deposition, Dean says he was a scapegoat, left holding the bag in a series of unapproved payments from the politically connected Culp, Guterson & Grader law firm.

One of this firm's partners at the time was Egil "Bud" Krogh, who headed the White House "plumbers" unit under Richard Nixon. Krogh, who was made a partner of Culp Guterson & Grader in 1984, ordered a burglary of private documents from Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg during the Nixon administration.

In a 2003 deposition, Dean claimed that other persons from the firm were involved in a scheme, and upon discovery of illicit payments (averaging $14,000/month) he was made to take the blame.

*****end of clip*****

A poor clip, the story gets real interesting about half way down the page.

Think like 2006 is a lock. We better be ready. They will play the same game, say the same things, it has worked so far.

capt

the palestenian people voted hamas in. the american people voted bush in. that is the way democracy works. live with it.

So many just can't seem to live...with either, for many of the same reasons!

So that is how it works?

Gee thanks!

capt

Are Concentration Camps Coming to U.S.?

By John Newby
January 26, 2006

Here is the word for word news release:

KBR Awarded Homeland Security contract worth up to $385M. (HAL) (By Katherine Hunt)

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- KBR, the engineering and construction subsidiary of Halliburton Co, (HAL), said Tuesday it has been awarded a contingency contract from the Department of Homeland Security to supports its Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in the event of an emergency. The maximum total value of the contract is $385 million and consists of a 1-year base period with four 1-year options. KBR held the previous ICE contract from 2000 through 2005. The contract, which is effective immediately, provides for establishing temporary detention and processing capabilities to expand existing ICE Detention and Removal Operations Program facilities in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs, KBR said. The contract may also provide migrant detention support to other government organizations in the event of an immigration emergency, as well as the development of a plan to react to a national emergency, such as a natural disaster, the company said.

If no one has ever heard anything about detention or concentration camps within the United States, the above press release would appear relatively harmless. However, if anyone is waiting for the government and KBR to come out and say "Hey, we're building concentration camps for all you minions," before they will take note, you'll be in those camps 'before' you figure it out.

Several items about this concern me greatly. First, instead of paying $385+ million for the next five years to build detention centers or so they say; why not stop the flow at the borders which would be much cheaper? On the other hand, if the illegals are the real problem and reason for building detention centers; why not cancel all jobs for illegals, stop all government payments to illegals and their off-spring and watch the illegal problem dry up like a drought stricken river. You won't have to send them back, they will leave. But that would mean that the illegals are the real problem being addressed, could there are other reasons for these little mini Gitmos?...

Secondly, what are these other detention center type projects? Maybe they learned something in New Orleans, maybe they learned that they needed detention camps in which to send people that lost their homes during this natural disaster. By having Haliburton (Man, why does Hallibuton get all the plush assignments) build local camps, we can herd the mindless little masses into them whenever a natural disaster or even potential disaster occurs. Not to mention NWO orchestrated disasters.

Now I'm sure that many will say, not to worry, no big deal or your just making a mountain out of molehill. Maybe I am, however I believe our country has survived quite well without detention or concentration camps for the past 200 years. Just not sure why King George feels we need them now? Wasn't there another country that built and operated a few concentration camps about 60 years ago? I wonder what little piece of propaganda Hitler used to convince the little minions to look the other way?

Color me naive, but when I hear talk of cages, detention and/or concentration camps, my mind usually wonders in devious directions. I haven't seen anywhere in history where detention centers and so forth were used as freedom enhancing tools. View this anyway you wish, but do so at your own peril. Consider yourself warned, what you choose to do with this information is only up to you.
--------
He brings up some good observations. I don't like this at all! How convenient for HAL.

Matriots

Dear Cornposters:

Nazi America must convert to matriotism because matriotism is a commitment to truth and to celebrate the dignity of all life. Matriots must stand up to fake patriotism that the bushians spew to the world.

It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens. Baha’µ’¨lah!

Sincerely,

Gerald

http://www.pollingreport.com/politics.htm

Check out the numbers.

Our trolls are in a group (per FOX) that represents as little as 5%!

This has got to be killing them.

What do you think?

capt

http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm

OMG one number in blue every other in the red. No not that red, the negative red.

Read 'em and weep!

capt

#5
Saladin,
How does the World Bank operate in Muslim countries? How are we going to make any money off the interst on the loans we put in place? EEEKS.

We must all be prepared to torture

You really have to love this country, our Nazi America.

#21
Haijji,
Glad to hear your brother is doing better. As for being a part of your will (I am not #3) I would prefer not to be given custody of your goats.

Wars Weaken U.S.

12 Stop scaring me. I am very sensitive.

One wonders, however, would that take DeLay out? Don't want that bird to sing. Or would he be on that special phone call list and manage to be out of town? Or am I wrong about his location and letting an overactive imagination and your mean scary stories get the better of me?

I am picturing the "journalists" on CNN giggling their way through the weather and offhandedly mentioning that Iran has launched a nuclear strike on the U.S.

It's amazing. ALthough I post post much I have been visiting this blog since before the 04 election. It's nice to see Tim L still posting. I need my daily chuckle. But really I wanted to thank Capt, Saladin, James, Hajji, and the rest for all the info.

Keep up the good work.

#'s 14, 15, and 16

James, do you know or have you heard if poppy bush is out of town? If he goes on a trip somewhere to get away, maybe I should too!

We spend billions polling the public and figuring out how the public is going to vote and then trying to sway the public to do something different.

So, why do the neocons think they have any sway in Palestine or Iran or Iraq? Anybody with brains can see how the people are going to vote. Look at the demographics. Now, the smart thing would have been to encourage education and modernizing the nations. Be a positive force in the nation. Instead in places like Iraq we blow them into the Stone Age. What do the neocons think?

More Democrats Get Behind Alito Nomination

WASHINGTON Jan 26, 2006 Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, whose confirmation seems certain in the Republican-run Senate, padded his modest Democratic support Thursday with endorsements by Sens. Robert Byrd and Tim Johnson.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1545105

Yep, that is one fine opposition party we got goin' there...

Jeanne,

The goats are promised to that nice Greek family down the road. They really seem to like them, stopping by often to feed them grape leaves, mint and rosemary. They keep saying to them, "TOO SKINNY, EAT MORE, GET FAT!!

They keep asking us over to BBQ, and just INSIST on us bringing the goats but we haven't taken them up on it,yet!

To you I leave my autographed "Poison" guitar picks!

-T

That and other incidents gave rise to -- a number of diplomats and intelligence people who I interviewed, saying that there was plenty of reason to think that the Israelis were fostering the growth of Hamas. And, of course, Yasser Arafat himself, in a famous quote to a newspaper reporter a number of years ago, explicitly described Hamas as, quote, “a creature of Israel.” And he said that he discussed this with Yitzhak Rabin during their Oslo process. And Rabin told Arafat that it was “a fatal error” for the Israelis to have encouraged the growth of Hamas. The theory of it, of course, was that Hamas would be a force against Palestinian nationalism. And I think it's clear that it ended up, to a shocking degree, backfiring against overall Israeli policy.

- Robert Dreyfuss, investigative reporter and author of the book "Devil's Game: How the United States Helped Unleash Fundamentalist Islam." He is a contributing editor at Mother Jones, the Nation and American Prospect. On today's Democracy Now!

***********************

Because you're obviously a big "Hair Metal" groupie!

-T

Robert,

Is the thinking that a Hamas-controlled palestine would more welcome because it would have less sympathy from western governments?

That what I was thinking!

-T

Spoken like a true king to the peons...
bush again defended his program of warrantless surveillance today, saying "there's no doubt in my mind it is legal."

Jeez Louise, earlier this week he told us he wasn't a lawyer.

oh, and so it would be easier to destroy...is what I meant to say...shouldn't be cleaning house and posting at the same time!

micki,

...and, by bushbot logic, since there's no doubt in his mind, he COULDN'T have POSSIBLY known it was illegal! (ie "He didn't KNOW it was a lie, so he couldn't have been LYING!)

I mean he couldn't possibly commit a crime, if he didn't KNOW it was a crime! Hell, all those minions...I mean "constitutional scholars" surrounding him SURELY would've made him understand such a complex concept as the FOURTH AMENDMENT, f'chrissakes, wouldn't they?

-T

Jeez Louise, earlier this week he told us he wasn't a lawyer.

He's not a president, either, but he plays one on TV.

Within Palestine, the talk was mostly about rooting out corruption within the Palestinian Authority, which mainly relied on the ability to disperse patronage positions to maintain power. It should be remembered that the US, I believe through USAID, funneled a good deal of money to the P.A. to help with this election.

HAMAS, it should also be remembered, has also been more than a militant-political movement. They have also been responsible for providing greatly needed services to the Palestinian population.

sorry, jeanne...

for some reason I when I typed your name, I copied it into the box.

stupid...

-T

sorry, jeanne...

for some reason I when I typed your name, I copied it into the box.

stupid...

-T

Would you believe I did my taxes online this morning...I wonder who's gettin' my refund?

-T

Breaking: Kerry will lead Alito filibuster!
Bob Fertik - I have confirmed reports that Kerry wants to filibuster Alito, and he is talking to his colleagues to round up the 41 votes he needs.

Hajji,
I was getting a little worried. I'm sure the goats will live a loooong and happy life with the NICE Greek couple.
And thank you for including me in your will. And to you a leave an old beat up college copy of 'Siddhartha'. Hmmmm. I should read that again.

CNN:

BREAKING NEWS Sen. John Kerry calls for a filibuster of Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination.

******************

At least the game gets interesting...

I just emailed Senator Kerry's office and thanked him. Sent Senator Dayton an email too asking him to support the filibuster. Alito does not support the interests of this nation.

During today's press conference I'm certain I heard our usurper "N" chief Bush state that he wasn't going to allow Iran to mess with our currency. Did anyone else hear this? Although he didn't metion it by name, perhaps he was talking about the proposed Iranian Oil Bourse?

Also, I found it odd that the Bin Laden tape was aired on Jan. 19. This date reversed, 9/11.

And last evening I listened to Capt. Eric May. Very interesting!

Army Intel Capt. Eric May warns Bush cabal days away from a nuclear strike. Texas City resident "opens up a hornet's nest" as he warns local law enforcement about the possibility of nuclear strike.

Here is the audio listen for yourself. http://mp3.rbnlive.com/Greg/0601/20060124_Tue_Greg.m3u

3 new ads, one each for the repugs running for Majority Leader. See 'em here...

What's a little corruption among friends?

He's not a president, either, but he plays one on TV. LOL!!

...and he did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

#61 I didn't think that had Jeanne's ring to the prose! hahaha

DEA is caught in the chicken coop in Bogotá corruption case
By Bill Conroy

*****************************

Very interesting...

Jeanne,

My own copy lacks covers, both front and back, but the creamy middle remains intact!

"In the journey we see there's no destination
In the journey we find our truest, true love
In the journey we find we can't do it alone
Gotta dig deep down inside and lose my Pride!"

-Martin Sexton

One of my favorite songs...always makes me think of the Hesse book.

-T

Micki,
I was beginning to question my sanity. Now I don't have to anymore. I'll leave it to the rest of you.

"I am troubled by Judge Alito's apparent views on matters such as executive power, his past opposition to the principle of one person, one vote, and his narrow interpretation of certain civil rights laws," Senator Johnson said. "Even so, I cannot accept an argument that his views are so radical that the Senate is justified in denying his confirmation."

"Because we have such a full plate of pressing issues before Congress, a filibuster at this time would be, in my view, very counterproductive," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who wants the Senate to concentrate on Hurricane Katrina rebuilding programs.
+++++++++

Wait a minute! With Senator Byrd leaving the reservation, too, where the hell are the votes for a filibuster gonna come from?

[...]After OFI became USIS, the timeliness and quality of the security background checks conducted on Federal employees quickly deteriorated according to former OFI employees. They saw USIS being turned into a cash laundering operation whereby a few officials at the top became instant millionaires. Insiders also report that USIS "branched" into other operations never before conducted by OFI/OPM. These other operations were the focus of Col. Ted Westhusing's investigation when he was "suicided" in Baghdad. It is also noteworthy that USIS assumed control of a converted limestone mine in Boyers, Pennsylvania. The mine, built during the Cold War to safeguard files in the event of a nuclear conflict, contains millions of government files, including those held by the federal Employee Service and Records Center. That means that The Carlyle Group now has access to sensitive personnel files on millions of current and past government employees as well as contractors who have applied for security clearances. - Wayne Madsen

********************

Now, when Mr. Madsen asked Gen. Hayden directly about the record number of NSA whistleblowers lately, Gen. Hayden said, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Uhh, Gen. Hayden, where do you think the NYTIMES story came from that started this firestorm?

You know, the one with the 27 unnamed sources that the president wants investigated...

The Era of Massive Deficits Is Just Beginning

Today, the Congressional Budget Office issued its ten-year budget outlook. According to their report, the 2006 federal budget deficit will be at least $337 billion, and deficits from 2006-15 will total $1.2 trillion. If we continue with President Bush’≥ economic policies the actual deficits will be much, much higher.

First, the CBO numbers exclude tens of billions of dollars in expected spending for Iraq and Katrina. Second, the long-term figures assume President Bush's tax cuts, which overwhelming benefited the wealthy, will expire at the end of the decade.

To understand how tax cut extensions would ruin our long-term budget picture, look no further than the CBO report. Below are three important points from the report:

1) CBO assumes Bush tax cuts will expire after 2010:"By statute, CBO's baseline must project the future paths of federal spending and revenues under current laws and policies."
2) Little chance of tax cuts expiring:"The assumption that tax provisions will expire as scheduled has a significant impact on CBO's projections. Many of the expiring provisions were enacted many years ago but are routinely extended, and most reduce [tax] receipts."
3) Effects on the budget would be severe:"[I]f all of the tax provisions that are set to expire over the next 10 years were extended, the budget outlook for 2016 would change from a surplus of $67 billion to a deficit of $584 billion."

To learn more about budget issues check out the new Center for American Progress budget blog.
--------------------
What does this tell you about the wealthy in this nation? It tells me they don't care about the health of their nation. They care about their money.

I dunno Micki, but one can guess that Mr. Kerry can count...

or at least try to whip up a few spines...

Jeanne, I wonder about the seriousness of John Kerry's call for a filibuster...considering the timing and all. I hope he has some "moderate" Republicans lined up -- because the Dem nose count isn't too reassuring.

#81 -- jinx. Looks like we were thinking along the same lines.

#79
Robert,
He did look kind of....nervous.

Regarding the "terrorist surveilence" stuff.....

The President would like us to believe that his program needed to be so secret that even members of Congress and the FISA Court could not be trusted with information because then terrorists would learn about the program. If folks believe this, then President Bush clearly continues to appeal to the lowest common denominator - those who also pronounce the word Nu-Cu-Lor.

It is easy to argue that President Bush was only acting in good-faith to protect Americans. The President is basically suggesting that, "Two wrongs do make a right," as long as he is the one who was wrong....But the Constitution does not give the President the power to usurp those laws which are inconvenient.

On the other hand, I hope and pray that my fellow Democrats do not insist on impeachment. Let's get on with governing and rebuilding a great nation that has been damaged by short-sighted, conservative thinking.

Maybe Kerry just wants to be able to say, "I TOLD you so!" to all the other residents of the Gulag, someday!
-T

Micki,
I know. I know. But I'm going to back him and hope. It's our democracy after all. If he was willing to fight for it in Viet Nam and fight for it as a anti war protester maybe he's seeing the danger we are in and is fighting for it now. Somebody has to.

On the other hand, I hope and pray that my fellow Democrats do not insist on impeachment. - Proud Liberal Democrat...

I don't insist on impeachment, I insist on impeachment, conviction and incarceration!

PLD,

"...On the other hand, I hope and pray that my fellow Democrats do not insist on impeachment. Let's get on with governing and rebuilding a great nation that has been damaged by short-sighted, conservative thinking..."

How're we supposed to "get on" with ANYTHING even marginally progressive with the current regime in place? "Rebuiding" requires there to be some kind of foundation. If the sacred provisions of the Constitution are not to be upheld, then what is there to build on?

-T

#85
"The President would like us to believe that his program needed to be so secret that even members of Congress and the FISA Court could not be trusted with information because then terrorists would learn about the program"

The problem with the president's logic is that he's trying to convince me that he and his administration are the best people to choose who can be trusted. And since he's surrounded by people with many psychiatric disorders that include sociopathic behavior, no I do not trust his people.

This guy really needs to sign up for the military.

Gingrich Calls for Regime Change in Iran

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a potential 2008 Republican presidential candidate, says Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is as great a threat today as German dictator Adolf Hitler was in 1935, and the United States should not wait to help bring about a regime change in Iran.

"If we don’¥ have a very serious systematic program to replace the government of Iran, we’≤e going to live in an unbelievably dangerous world," Gingrich said during an exclusive interview with HUMAN EVENTS. "This is 1935 and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is as close to Adolf Hitler as we’∂e seen. We now know who they are; the question is who we are -- are we Baldwin or Churchill?"

Gingrich referenced the two former British prime ministers -- Stanley Baldwin and Winston Churchill -- who disagreed about Hitler's intentions. Churchill proved to be correct in his fears of the Nazi leader, but Britain -- and the world -- acted too late, resulting in mass casualties during World War II.
-------------------
Newt is comparing himself to Churchill.

If you click on the link you will find a woman wearing a tee shirt that reads 'Viva la Reagan Revolution" *cough* and an ad for Novak and *cough* ann coulter.

I believe I read on one of Robert's first links that 40 votes are required for a filibuster.

The following is available at Landmarkcases.org:

FROST: The wave of dissent, occasionally violent, which followed in the wake of the Cambodian incursion, prompted President Nixon to demand better intelligence about the people who were opposing him. To this end, the Deputy White House Counsel, Tom Huston, arranged a series of meetings with representatives of the CIA, the FBI, and other police and intelligence agencies.

These meetings produced a plan, the Huston Plan, which advocated the systematic use of wiretappings, burglaries, or so-called black bag jobs, mail openings and infiltration against antiwar groups and others. Some of these activities, as Huston emphasized to Nixon, were clearly illegal. Nevertheless, the president approved the plan. Five days later, after opposition from J. Edgar Hoover, the plan was withdrawn, but the president's approval was later to be listed in the Articles of Impeachment as an alleged abuse of presidential power.

FROST: So what in a sense, you're saying is that there are certain situations, and the Huston Plan or that part of it was one of them, where the president can decide that it's in the best interests of the nation or something, and do something illegal.

NIXON: Well, when the president does it that means that it is not illegal.

FROST: By definition.

NIXON: Exactly. Exactly. If the president, for example, approves something because of the national security, or in this case because of a threat to internal peace and order of significant magnitude, then the president's decision in that instance is one that enables those who carry it out, to carry it out without violating a law. Otherwise they're in an impossible position.

FROST: So, that in other words, really you were saying in that answer, really, between the burglary and murder, again, there's no subtle way to say that there was murder of a dissenter in this country because I don't know any evidence to that effect at all. But, the point is: just the dividing line, is that in fact, the dividing line is the president's judgment?

NIXON: Yes, and the dividing line and, just so that one does not get the impression, that a president can run amok in this country and get away with it, we have to have in mind that a president has to come up before the electorate. We also have to have in mind, that a president has to get appropriations from the Congress. We have to have in mind, for example, that as far as the CIA's covert operations are concerned, as far as the FBI's covert operations are concerned, through the years, they have been disclosed on a very, very limited basis to trusted members of Congress. I don't know whether it can be done today or not.

**************************

TO a person who remembers the days of COINTELPRO, we appear to be in perilous times.

Impeaching Bush would simply put Cheney in power without the doubt about who was in power. Why do you think Reagan had Poppy behind him calling him the shots? So he wouldn't be even mentioned for impeachment over Iran-Contra.

You know who's next in line after him, since Cheney does have a weak ticker and all?

You sure still want impeachment?

I wrote a paper a long time ago stating " political masses taking action will eventually have a political mass reaction" This was inferrng that Newtonian mechanics could also be applied to human behaviour. These Hama's favored voting results should have easily been predicted if any one with half a brain worked for the shrubbery.

Damn_Em, reminds me of Asimov and Foundation...

J-Dub, the mechanics of impeachment might be messy, but the evidence can be raised to implicate Mr. Cheney as well...besides, the process itself would so flommux the works...

j-dub,

Impeachment doesn't necessarily mean that Dumbya would be removed from office. (although to steal a phrase from the master..."There is no doubt in my mind..." that he should be!)

The point is that impeachment proceedings would bring an open (I'm not holding my breath for "honest) hearing of the many,many failings of this misAdministration.

Even if it did lead to the burning-at-the-stake of Prince DimestoreCowpoke the Evil DarkLord Cheney would in no way stand for re-election and his behind-the-scenes voodoo activities would be closer to the light. In the wake of such exposure of the neo-conVicts wouldn't stand up to continued scrutiny and the TRUE conservatives, at least the ones with scruples, would be forced to get come (and stay?) clean.

The message to the Rupugniconns, the Dumbyacrats and to all who seek to turn the locomotive power of the people into their own personal Gravy Train is "You're not getting away with it!"

Besides, the "Impeachment Parties" across the nations would be KILLER, dude!

-T

Hey, Jeanne, I agree with you. I wasn't being contrarian, tho it may have appeared that way (upon re-reading).

I hope John Kerry hits 'em hard for a filibuster -- I'm with him 1000% on it.

Go down the chain of succesion you have scumbags all along the way, or worse, incompetents and outright criminals. We don't need impeachment we need a sewer pump to clean out that rat's nest. The french did it right when they finally got it going. Now where did I leave that little gizmo?

#91 Newt? For president? (retch) damn how far down the rabbit hole are we? This guy resigned in disgrace so now he thinks he is a senior statesman? If he runs at all the stupid asshats that vote for him are more brain dead than I think. They might be right, there are no skilled workers left in america if he gets any votes at all, because the population has been subjected to an insidious form of IQ depletion.

Robb,
I believe 41 is the number required for filibuster.

Hey Robb!

If you're into modern political fiction, pick up a copy of "A Single Star" by Stan Barnett. Good South Carolinians standin' up fer what's right kinda book.

Walter Edgar, SC Historian has been reading it on SC Public Radio every Saturday, but I avoided listening in since I knew a copy was coming my way.

-T

QUICK.

Go to:

http://www.SaveTheCourt.org/Alitofilibuster

People for the American Way are urging "interested parties" (my lingo) to sign the petition in support of John Kerry's filibuster efforts.

Paradox

Louis Tice of the Pacific Institute in Seattle, Washington offers a paradox, "You give up control in order to be in control." Confident leaders do not have to rule by controlling and punitive threats. He also discusses Erickson's book, "Eight Stages of Human Development," regarding leadership. Leadership starts at the top with basic trust. A dishonest leader cannot be an effective leader. Controlling and punitive threats will have consequences and there will be a backlash against such a leader. People will subtly undermine the leader and in the end the leader is not in control and he or she remains in a constant state of fear. A fearful leader is an unstable leader. Good examples of fearful and unstable leaders are Napoleon and Hitler. We must be vigilant of such leaders, be it in the United States or in the world.

Bush is at the start of unraveling into insanity.

Schumer, Salazar Call for Special Counsel in Abramoff Case

___________________

With a leadership transition under way in the Justice Department’s investigation into the Jack Abramoff scandal, a pair of Senate Democrats on Thursday called on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to appoint a special counsel to oversee the sprawling investigation.
____________________

Will anybody with power answer the call?

-T

Hamas won? Ha!
Well, so much for free elections in the Middle East!
They keep on picking the wrong guys, eh Bush?
Whats the problem?
Wasn't anybody there to jigger with the voting machines or stuff the box like in Iraq?

Protesters Sue for Speech Spot

Reflecting Pool Area Off Limits During State of the Union
__________________
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Capitol Police declined to comment on Morales's allegations that politics played a part in the decision and would not say if the Capitol Reflecting Pool has been used in the past as a protest site.

"Many of the questions you are asking are security-related, so we can't comment on that," said Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, a public information officer with the agency.

Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a lawyer with the Partnership for Civil Justice, said the area around the Capitol Reflecting Pool on the west side of the U.S. Capitol has historically been a site where demonstrators have staged protests.

"It's been used time and time again for major demonstrations and small demonstrations," she said. "It's been a critical location for First Amendment expressive activity for a long, long time."

Morales said organizers of the Capitol Hill protest expect it to draw about 5,000 participants. The demonstration is one of several planned around the country. The group's Web site urges people to gather on the night of Bush's address to Congress and to "symbolically drown out" the president's speech with drums, pots and pans, and other noise.
___________________

Whaddya wanna bet somebody was walkin' round DC with a big drum and a cell phone askin..."Can you (still) hear me NOW?" and when the answer was "no", that's where they drew the line for the "security perimeter"?

-T

You trolls in here need to stop using this comment section as a personal message board. I could care less about Daryl and your other brother Daryl.

Buy a phone, troll! It's the thing that goes ding-a-ling when somebody wants to talkie with you.

#108

The only thing going ding-a-ling these
days is that sound you hear inside your head.
Now go answer it, and please let us all know what it says.

Oh, please, please, please don't attempt to filibuster Judge Alito. Conservatives are so scared of John Kerry and PAW!!!

Contact your Senators and tell them that under no circumstances are they to attempt a filibuster.

We conservatives are petrified that you liberals have a real winning play there, one that will resonate well with the American public.

SUPPORT A FILIBUSTER AGAINST ALITO sign on...

John Kerry's plea for filibuster support...

More keyboard activism, as capt sez.

Maybe it won't work, but at least we still believe in democracy. Fuck you and your horse.

There once was a troll named Bill
His mother's teet, he never got a fill
To compensate he comes here instead
And like at home he falls on his head
So you see he's an ingnorant troll still

#112 I agree! We believe in trying, instead of just berating people.

I hope that guy who calls himself Bill, when he's not someone else, enjoys looking at himself in the mirror. What an assignment! Gag.

143
Kerry says he'll filibuster Supreme Court nominees who do not support abortion rights

NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

Friday, June 20, 2003

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Friday that he is prepared to block any Supreme Court nominee who would not uphold the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

"I am prepared to filibuster, if necessary, any Supreme Court nominee who would turn back the clock on a woman's right to choose or the constitutional right to privacy, on civil rights and individual liberties and on the laws protecting workers and the environment," Kerry said in remarks via satellite at a meeting of Democratic party officials in St. Paul, Minn.

"The test is basic -- any person who thinks it's his or her job to push an extreme political agenda rather than to interpret the law should not be a Supreme Court justice."

*****end of clip*****

So, I wonder if Kerry will make good on his word?

I will continue aspirating in anticipation of disappointment. If Roberts did not fit the bill described Alito does in spades.

capt

Posted by: capt at January 26, 2006 04:30 AM

*****************

Kerry must have read my post - seen my dreams.

I figured he was going to roll or be out of the country again!

WOO HOO!

S'OK, Bogus...YOU're still in the will.

To you I leave all the accumulated organic fertilizer. That head of yours is bound to need a refill, from time to time!

kisses,
-T

Oh, I'm not scared of the photos. Me? No.

Studio that scrubbed Abramoff/Bush photo earned $140,000 from 2004 campaign

A photograpy studio which admitted to scrubbing at least one photograph of President George Bush and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was paid more that $140,000 by the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2004, RAW STORY has learned.

Reflections Photography president Joanne Amos told Joshua Micah Marshall of Talking Points Memo that a "business decision" led the company to remove a photograph taken in late 2003 that is believed to feature Bush and Abramoff together. According to Amos, the photograph is "not relevant."

Another blog reported that Amos donated $2,000 to President Bush. The studio owner also gave $4,000 to the Republican National Committee in 2004. Steven Amos, vice president of Reflections, has contributed $2,000 to Bush and $4150 to the RNC. According to Political Money Line, each gave the RNC $750 on the same day last April.

A press release from July of 2003 shows that the photography studio was awarded a contract with the Bush/Cheney 2004 campaign. "We are, of course, extremely pleased about this contract," said Joanne Amos in the press release. "This is an incredible opportunity for our company."

Two years ago, The Washington Post reported that the studio was paid over $140,000.

This link which lists itemized disbursements from the campaign in 2004 shows that the studio was paid $28,520 for photography services on February 26, 2004.

On October 1, 2003 Congressman Tom Davis (Rep-VA) gave a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives in recognition of the "achievments" of Joanne Amos in her 25 years of work in photography (pdf link). Davis also noted her contract with Bush/Cheney 2004.

"Joanne Amos now resides in the 11th district of Virginia; from this base she will be providing event photography for the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign," said Rep. Davis. "This contract was won on the sheer quality of Reflection's reputation and will grant them the opportunity to show they can coordinate nationwide media coverage. Reflections will make full use of their extensive network of photographers and web-based technology to keep pace with the aggressive schedule set by the President's campaign."

A few weeks later, on October 31, Joanne Amos contributed $2,000 to the Bush/Cheney campaign.
--------------------
Again, what's that smell?

#116
Mushrooms need fertilizer.

I just woke up (not feel well these days)

Signed the petition - THANKS Micki!

Just ingnore the troll - freeze them out.

They are petty trouble makers.

Let's all dance, dance, dance.

OMG - I am pleased with Kerry - WOO HOO!

I will now skim the thread!

capt

I think the senators should read all the messages they receive with the petition during the filibuster.

Taking the People's Demand to Capitol Hill

Capt, this will lift your spirits. A moving billboard. It is a beauteeeful sight. Click on the pretty blue link.

Robert and micki, SOMEBODY on the left has to at least make it LOOK like there's gonna be fight!
Jeanne 87, do you still really believe we have anything even remotely resembling a democracy? I thought that idea was banished back in the 2000 selection!
TRH 109 Aren't trolls so ANNOYING! Always trying to be the blog gestapo, and always failing!

Kerry must have read my post - seen my dreams.

Capt, after seeing your first post of Kerry's statement to flilbuster, I emailed his site with your link to his statement. I have no idea if they read it, but I'd like to think we helped. I read your early morning post, 'bout noon here (central).

ACLU Releases Government Photos

The ACLU of Georgia released copies of government files on Wednesday that illustrate the extent to which the FBI, the DeKalb County Division of Homeland Security and other government agencies have gone to compile information on Georgians suspected of being threats simply for expressing controversial opinions.

Two documents relating to anti-war and anti-government protests, and a vegan rally, prove the agencies have been "spying" on Georgia residents unconstitutionally, the ACLU said. (Related: ACLU Complaint -- PDF file)

For example, more than two dozen government surveillance photographs show 22-year-old Caitlin Childs of Atlanta, a strict vegetarian, and other vegans picketing against meat eating, in December 2003. They staged their protest outside a HoneyBaked Ham store on Buford Highway in DeKalb County.

An undercover DeKalb County Homeland Security detective was assigned to conduct surveillance of the protest and the protestors, and take the photographs. The detective arrested Childs and another protester after he saw Childs approach him and write down, on a piece of paper, the license plate number of his unmarked government car.

"They told me if I didn't give over the piece of paper I would go to jail and I refused and I went to jail, and the piece of paper was taken away from me at the jail and the officer who transferred me said that was why I was arrested," Childs said on Wednesday.

The government file lists anti-war protesters in Atlanta as threats, the ACLU said. The ACLU of Georgia accuses the Bush administration of labeling those who disagree with its policy as disloyal Americans....

...."We have heard of not a single, government surveillance of a pro-war group," Weber said. "And I doubt we will ever hear of a single surveillance of a pro-war group."

The ACLU wants Congress and the courts to order government agencies, including the FBI, to stop unconstitutional surveillance.

Weber said the ACLU of Georgia may sue the government, in order to define, once and for all, what unconstitutional surveillance is in a post-911 America.
------------------
Yeah,
When are those pro bush pro war maniacs going to be spied on? When are they going to get on the 'No Fly' list?

#129

I was pretty brutal. I said that I didn't think the Bush Asministration should be allowed to appoint the next head janitor much less a Supreme Court Justice. This is the most courrupt, incompetent, and downright harmful administration in our counrty's history. They've ruined our world wide reputation, are responsible for tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of deaths in Iraq, wasted billions upon billions of dollars, ad nauseum - all in five short years. At least we will get rid of Bush in 3 years. A Supreme Court appointment can affect future generations to come. Alito must not be appointed.

That should have been #120 - I should get better glasses.

#51 Paul?

Where the heack have you been? Post more!

Good thread folks.

Hajji, I will take any money in any will but in an Apartment so . . . no goats for capt!

I sure hope the filibustering is not just a head-fake.

Impeachment will be far more important in the long run. I think we have some troll spoofers - spoofing as lib's. Sad and funny.

Nobody liked the poll numbers?

I did!

capt

David:

I am going to take a contrarary position on Hamas' win! I think it can't hurt the decades-long FAILURE to solve this ME problem. An analogy in economics would be `creative destruction'. Essentially, the fall of the corrupt Fatah party forces Hamas to either declare war on Israel or (fill in the blank).

You started with: "Democracy's a bitch..... Bush's so-called push for democracy in the Arab world....does not guarantee positive outcomes."

This is absolutely true of just about any endeavor anyone undertakes. Hell, I leave the house and I can't guarantee I will come home in time for dinner! Had Bush done nothing on Iraq, would Libya have come clean w/its WMD? Lebanon be almost free of Syria's grip? No more attacks in the U.S. since 9/11? By doing nothing when there were plenty of reasons, even if some of the reasons were not as well founded, to do something, one will always wonder "What If...".

Isn't that what life is all about? The road not taken? The forever regret of not knowing how things would've turned out diffrently if you did something when you could have but didn't? Just think about your own life's decisions! Sometimes, you just have to take action based on what you believe to be right!

Prolly too hard for the trolls, but the rest might wanna try this maze.

try the maze here

Jeanne,

Thanks - GREAT BILLBOARD! Now if we could only water-board the "Bill" HA!

I ALWAYS click every link.

GOOD STUFF.

RE: Filibuster

I sure hope we are not Charlie Brown with Lucy (Kerry) pulling the football and giggling.

Mother-in-law cleared of cancer today, all tests clean~!

All kinds of stuff to celebrate.

Maybe I am feeling a little better.

capt

"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. " ~ George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

"We rarely find anyone who can say he has lived a happy life, and who, content with his life, can retire from the world like a satisfied guest. " ~ Horace (65 BC - 8 BC), Satires

"There is no greater sorrow
Than to be mindful of the happy time
In misery. "
~ Dante Alighieri (1265 - 1321), The Divine Comedy

"No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities. " ~ Christian Nestell Bovee

Ahhh Happy,
Have you noticed what a hell hole Iraq has become? Have you ever tried to live without electricity and sewer? How about bombs going off daily?
Topping mud with whip cream and a cherry doesn't turn it into ice cream.

#129
Alan,
I hate you. You scared me.

mmmmmmmmm

ice cream

And don't forget about the depleted uranium Happy. They - BushCo - have spoiled the land and will cause birth defects and deaths for decades and decades to come, both in Iraq and here - cuz our troops are bringing it home with them.

All in the name of spreading democracy! Ha!

#129 - OMG - I screamed and jumped out of my chair! Good one Alan!

Had Bush done nothing on Iraq, would Libya have come clean w/its WMD? Lebanon be almost free of Syria's grip? No more attacks in the U.S. since 9/11?

Go Bill Clinton!! Because of his response and policies to unite the world after the first WTC attack, we didn't get hit again until Doofus took the helm. Just think how well off the world would be if the real winner of the 200 election had become president. OBL said, "that idiot? Praise to Allah, we'll have an easy target now." And lo' and behold, Doofus divided us from the rest of the world and increased terrorists' recruiting a hundred-fold. *or more
What an idiot our preznit is!!!

Flan,
I bet Alan pulled girls braids when he was in school.

#137
Alan,
Remember Bill got a blow job.

Sorry 'bout the #129 post, but I couldn't resist. A friend just nailed my azz with it, even though I just knew it was gonna be something like that. haha

Jeanne,

Yeah, well I threw worms at other girls in grade school so I guess that's why I enjoyed it even though it scared the shit out of me.

Alan,

I made my 19 year old so