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As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there's a twilight where everything remains seemingly unchanged, and it is in such twilight that we must be aware of change in the air, however slight, lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness.
- Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas

SLEEPERS AWAKEN!!




5/4/07

Perhaps it was the full moon, coupled with the fact that I just celebrated another birthday, that I find myself here...

My energy level, starting with each dusk and peaking early every evening, recently, has been very strange.

Perhaps, it has to do with the release and accompanying tour of George Tenent's new book in which he states that the intelligence was cooked by the Whitehouse, years too late!! Traitor. Another, in a long list of people who knew/know yet do nothing, save try to cash in...

After thinking long and hard about it, I've decided to join you folks, here. It seems like a good place to dialog and share ideas with like minded folks.

The counterpoint? What a perfect place to derive lists and learn of potential actions for those that would want/need to spy upon and dominate...

Then, it occurred to me that this is not a private issue. Politics are intended to be discussed out in the open. Only those who would try to deceive would want to hide their strategies and ideas from public view. (Like certain members of the current Justice Department under Mr. Gonzales?)

So, though I am surprised at the level of angst I feel at posting my political views in public, I invite anyone reading this to join us.

Come on in, the water's fine...

LETTERS BELOW ARE IN REVERSE CHRON ORDER:


11/15/07

Hi all,

our contact list is growing...

For some, this is the first email you've received from us in this regard. Our intent is to open up a grassroots dialog about how we are ultimately responsible for the actions of our government. There is a history of our past emails here:
http://network.a28.org/profile/zzzzeee

We really believe that doing nothing in the face of the arrogant and questionable actions of this administration is contributing to the problem by lending strength to the complacency that allows this behavior to go on. We don’t want to tell our grandchildren that we did nothing in the face of a threat that we saw coming. We have committed to writing to our representatives at least twice monthly and attending as many political events as we can. It seemed like a big commitment at first (that first letter is the hardest) but a couple of letters and a few protests later we find that it actually feels pretty good to voice our opinions and be an active part of this, our, democracy. We hope to show by example that two hard working professionals do have the time to be politically active on a regular basis. The lobbyists in DC influence our government every day, it’s time the people found and used their voice, too.

To be removed from this list simply reply to this email with 'remove' in the subject heading.

Why are we emailing you? [from a past email]

Hmmm, let's see... our democracy was founded upon a revolution against Britain's corporations. After a long battle of words and weapons, the colonists were successful in claiming their independence from predator corporations and individuals. Our founders placed strong regulations upon the new American corporations in order to prevent the greed and domination they had just been subjected to.

Those regulations have now been nearly completely eroded...

Now, we witness the corporate take over of our elections, our congress, our debates, our media, our healthcare, our security intelligence, our military, etc. Did you know that there are more private military contractors in Iraq then there are US troops? Are you aware that the Neocons and their allies are attempting to privatize everything? For the first time in my life I recognize that I cannot sit idle and expect my representatives to represent my American values any longer. They are under the constant influence of corporate lobbyists that have their aim on global domination.

It is time for us to get involved on a regular basis. We must counteract the barrage of paid corporate lobbyists. We must make time to protect ourselves and our Democracy from predator corporations and individuals!
-end lecture :-)

November's TO DO list:

1. Get involved to protect our democracy!
2. Whatever comes next in my personal life
3. etc.

Breaktime Activities:

Impeachment
Last week was amazing as we witnessed democrats attempting to 'table' [kill?] Dennis Kucinich's H Res. 333 on Impeachment, the republicans attempting to ridicule the effort, the democrats scrambling to successfully bring the bill to the Judiciary Committee. What a ride!

Now is the time for US to speak up. If you care about this Democracy and you would like to see accountability for the mess we're in, now is the time for 'WE the people' to get involved. Here is an article that will inspire you to get involved, we hope. Please, take the time to read it:

Address by Mayor Ross C. "Rocky" Anderson on October 27, 2007
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/110907E.shtml

here's an excerpt:
"If we want principled, courageous elected officials, we need to be principled, courageous, and tenacious ourselves. History has demonstrated that our elected officials are not the leaders - the leadership has to come from us. If we don't insist, if we don't persist, then we are not living up to our responsibilities as citizens in a democracy - and our responsibilities as moral human beings. If we remain silent, we signal to Congress and the Bush administration - and to candidates running for office - and to the world - that we support the status quo.
Silence is complicity. Only by standing up for what's right and never letting down can we say we are doing our part."

After reading Rocky's address contact the Judiciary Committee and let them know you seek accountability and you would like them to begin investigations into the alleged crimes of this administration: p/202-225-3951

I just got off the line, it took two minutes. You will find the staff extremely courteous and they are taking a poll re. calls pro/con. I was advised to call all of the reps on the committee by the staffer! Extra credit for all of you that do!!

Here's the committee's web page where you'll find the members contact info:
http://judiciary.house.gov/CommitteeMembership.aspx

Send letters to the Committee's Chairman and call his office directly. I recommend sending him a copy of Mayor Anderson's address stating that you agree with the sentiment, it's time for impeachment, if that's how you feel :

Honorable John Conyers, Jr.
2426 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5126

And, contact Nancy Pelosi's office, too:

Nancy Pelosi
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100

But, before you call the Speaker's Office, consider this...

Solar and alternative energy sources
While you have her staff on the line be sure to mention that it is important at this time to include Tax Credits for Alternative Energy in the Federal Energy Bill. Here's a paste from an email recently received:

The federal energy bill could finally come to a full vote any day now. With oil prices at an all-time high and with daily reminders of global warming, America desperately needs to move toward a new energy future today.

Powerful energy companies are vigorously defending our nation's polluting energy practices. And they are working hard to convince Congress to reject important renewable energy provisions, including a Renewable Electricity Standard and tax incentives for renewable energy. The leadership of the House and Senate need to stand strong.

We only have a couple of days to turn this around! Please take a minute to contact Speaker Nancy Pelosi today via:
https://www.environmentcalifornia.org/action/energy/email-pelosi?id4=ES

These deviants are trying to kill tax credits for solar installations!?! At a point in time in which we desperately need to kick the oil/coal/nuke habit!! So, when talking or writing to Pelosi's office be sure to mention impeachment and to include tax credits for alternative forms of energy in the federal energy bill.

It is insane to be funding an invasion/occupation for oil on the one hand and simultaneously killing incentives for alternative energy sources on the other.

Join Us:

These are our tax dollars at work. Ask yourself, 'as a society, what kind of future shall we invest in?'

Impeachment may be the only tool that will bring an end to this madness... without accountability the atrocities will continue, no doubt.

Please, get involved and vote for impeachment here:
http://www.impeachbush.org/site/PageServer [left hand column]

Everyday thousands of corporate lobbyists descend upon our representatives to sell their corporate cause. Billions of dollars are spent in this process. Business is good for those willing to participate in such ill gotten gains.

So, help us balance their influence by joining us, somehow, today!! -c&h



11/06/07

Hi all,

Sorry for the midweek interruption, but, Dennis needs our support now! If you'd like to see this administration held to account for it's actions, then, now is the time to act.

Please, make time to call Nancy Pelosi's office and ask that she endorse HR 333. (202) 225-0100

Remember, it took merely 3 months for Nixon to resign in shame. But, not until there were millions of citizens on the streets and in the halls of Congress to make it so!! Congress needs to be prodded along.

It's time for us to shame this administration out of office so that we can return to the business of WE, The People.

Thanks, c&h

It's Time to Impeach Cheney
Submitted by davidswanson on Mon, 2007-11-05 23:36. Impeachment
By Congressman Dennis Kucinich, special to www.ImpeachCheney.org

As a member of Congress, I have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution and the laws of our nation, and I have pledged to represent the views of my constituents and of all Americans.

That’s why I feel both duty and sorrow in pursuing the path of impeachment against Vice President Richard B. Cheney.

While the impeachment movement has generated intensely strong sentiment and activism, there have been only two polls published on the question of impeaching Vice President Cheney. In a national poll, 54 percent of Americans favored impeachment. In one state poll, 64 percent of Vermonters favored impeaching the Vice President.

Twenty-one of my colleagues have heeded the public demand and signed on as cosponsors of my resolution, H Res 333. Others in the Congress have claimed they have more important priorities, but have told their constituents they will keep their views in mind if the matter ever comes up for a vote.

Well, the issue is coming up for a vote this week on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the “distraction” will require members to balance their priorities between Constitutionally proscribed justice and recourse and the alternative: Constitutional abuse and dictatorial power.

Only by taking up impeachment can we reinstitute a balance of powers and slow down the rush to launch a new war of aggression against Iran.

I am urging my colleagues to recognize that impeachment will not create a crisis by briefly disrupting their schedules on Capitol Hill. The crisis, as Americans outside the Beltway know, is upon us. Congress, the first branch of our government, to which the first half of the Constitution is devoted, has been reduced to almost a bystander as the policies of the wealthiest nation and the largest military ever known are set in secret by the Vice President's office. Under Bush/Cheney, we have become a nation that illegally threatens and launches aggressive wars for political – not national security -- reasons. For this crisis of confidence, this denial of our Constitutional beliefs and rights, impeachment is the only cure available.

I urge you, my fellow citizens, to share your sentiments with your Members of Congress and with your family, friends, and the news media in support regarding the rule of law and the imperative of impeaching a vice president who has misled both the public and the Congress about the gravest matters possible: war and peace. Please join with organizations like www.ImpeachCheney.org in making your voices heard as soon as possible! Every individual Member of Congress will have to decide within days where they stand.

On Tuesday, when I introduce my privileged resolution to force this issue to a vote, some other member of Congress will almost certainly move to table (kill) it. A Yes vote to table is a vote to delay the enforcement of the rule of law aside. A No vote to table is a vote to give impeachment a chance for a full and fair hearing. Please help me get this message out.

And, please help me sustain and expand YOUR platform on this and other issues by voting for me in Democracy for America's presidential poll: http://democracyforamerica.com/pulsepoll?c=6

Right now, before the primaries and the caucuses and February’s Super Tuesday, your vote – TODAY -- can change the tenor and direction of public debate by letting the other candidates, Congressional leaders, and political power-brokers know that some issues are too important to side-step, table, or ignore. You know what you believe and what you stand for.

Now, today, your vote may mean more than ever again.

Thank you for everything you are doing. Now is the moment to step forward, whatever the challenge or struggle. Now is the moment in which we must preserve and defend our Republic by using the tools that its authors provided. Tell your Congressional Representative what you think. Tell the nation – through Democracy for America -- what you believe. Let's save our pessimism for better times.

Peace,
Dennis

10/27/07

Hi All,

Well, today is the day...

You will either either stand against an illegal, immoral invasion/occupation of Iraq; kidnapping/secret prisons/torture and the suspension of Habeas Corpus; illegal spying on who knows who for what purpose; the corruption of our judicial and electoral processes; the denial of human impact on the environment... all for the profit of a few at the top while our tax dollars fund it.

Or, not...

Please, speak out and support this national movement either by joining us physically on the streets, or by mailing a letter of support to the House Speaker. But do something! Your silence supports the administration's actions... is that really how you feel?

I just timed myself. It took 9 minutes to copy/cut/paste/edit/mail this letter to the House Speaker. Surely, you can take 9 minutes out of your busy schedule to take a stand against the crimes being committed by this current administration. Here's the letter. Do something today, right now:

10/27/07

Nancy Pelosi
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100

To Speaker Pelosi,

Though I cannot attend, I am writing in support of the national demonstrations on October 27, 2007 calling for impeachment and an immediate end of funding for the invasion/occupation of Iraq.

Two simple, moral actions...

The function of impeachment is to immediately disrupt the actions of an administration that is unwilling to comply with our laws. There is ample evidence that NOW IS THE TIME in which to trigger that constitutional tool. It is common knowledge that this administration manipulated intelligence prior to the invasion of Iraq, among other potentially criminal charges. Only a thorough investigation, through the impeachment process, will inform us as to what level this administration has betrayed us, if at all.

By not funding a continuation of the occupation we will be informing the world that we acknowledge our mistake and are making corrections in that regard. Thereby, changing the perception of world leaders and opening up a chance for building an alliance for the development of Iraq's government.

I beg you, as House Speaker and as a citizen of the United States, to do everything in your power to achieve these two strategic goals. Impeach this administration and cease the funding of the Iraq occupation.

You swore an oath to protect the Constitution of The United States. It is your duty to uphold your oath of office. The choice and responsibility are yours.

In my view, impeachment is the only moral choice.

Sincerely,


your name
your address
your city, state zip
your phone number

Join Us:

These are our tax dollars at work. Ask yourself, 'as a society, what kind of future shall we invest in?'

Please, send that letter and vote for impeachment here: http://www.impeachbush.org/site/PageServer [left hand column]

Impeachment may be the only tool that will bring an end to this madness... without accountability the atrocities will continue.

Everyday thousands of corporate lobbyists descend upon our representatives to sell their corporate cause. Billions of dollars are spent in this process. Business is good for those willing to participate in such ill gotten gains.

So, help us balance their influence by joining us, somehow, today!! -c&h


10/22/07

Hi all,

I was wrong about the Beach Impeach 5 action on the 27th. The organizers have decided that the crowd size would be too difficult to direct/control. So, instead, a mass die-in will take place at the end of the march on the way to Dolores Park where the march will culminate for a rally. The marchers start at Civic Center in San Francisco, 11am.

Here's a link for San Francisco info: http://www.oct27sf.org/DotNetNuke/

There are national demonstrations to be held simultaneously in 11 major cities. Here's a link to the national organizer's page: http://www.oct27.org/national/

FYI:

Holly and I don't spend an entire day at these demonstrations. Our busy schedule just won't allow it. But, we've noticed that, no matter what time we arrive, there are people leaving and arriving simultaneously. Everyone has a busy schedule these days. So, it makes sense that many people would show up to these events only briefly to show support because of their busy schedules, too. It also indicates that there are many more people involved in these events than can be documented by a 'snapshot' of the attendance.

That's why the letters are so important. Please, send a letter.

Torture:

If for no other reason, join us to stop the insane direction this administration has taken our military and intelligence agencies. We are funding 'for profit' companies and individuals with our tax dollars for these crimes against humanity! And, the majority of us are against it!

Today I offer this article as a source of inspiration:

Bush's Pentagon Papers: The Urge to Confess
By Tom Engelhardt, Friday 19 October 2007: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/101907F.shtml

And, this short clip from the ACLU interviewing the director of the movie 'Rendition': http://stream.luxmedia501.com/?file=/clients/aclu/rendition_hood_wizner.wmv&type=wmv

“Rendition” Film All Too Real for CIA Kidnapping Victims

Opening in theaters nationwide today, the feature film Rendition is about the CIA kidnapping of a fictional character, Anwar El-Ibrahimi. Unfortunately, the practice of extraordinary rendition is all too real.

The unlawful practice of "extraordinary rendition," abducting foreign nationals for detention and interrogation in secret overseas prisons—has been used by CIA operatives since Sept. 11, and must be stopped.

Khaled El-Masri’s story is but one real-life example of the damaging effects of extraordinary rendition. El-Masri, an innocent German citizen, was on vacation in 2003 when he was kidnapped by the CIA. Black-clad masked men beat him, drugged him, and flew him to a secret prison in Afghanistan. He was held incommunicado for five months, long after his captors became aware of his innocence.

In 2005, with the assistance of the ACLU, El-Masri brought a ground-breaking lawsuit against former CIA Director George Tenet and others. On October 9, 2007 the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to review El-Masri’s case, letting stand a federal appeal court decision based upon the government’s assertion of the “state secrets” privilege.

Send a letter

Here's a copy of that letter again to copy/paste/edit/mail. Even if you show up at the demonstration, send a letter. The least we can do is send a letter in opposition to this invasion / occupation. 15 minutes, 41 cents and you've taken a stand for our Constitution and against greed. Am I getting through, yet? Please, send a letter:

10/20/07

Nancy Pelosi
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100

To Speaker Pelosi,

Though I cannot attend, I am writing in support of the national demonstrations on October 27, 2007 calling for impeachment and an immediate end of funding for the invasion/occupation of Iraq.

Two simple, moral actions...

The function of impeachment is to immediately disrupt the actions of an administration that is unwilling to comply with our laws. There is ample evidence that NOW IS THE TIME in which to trigger that constitutional tool. It is common knowledge that this administration manipulated intelligence prior to the invasion of Iraq, among other potentially criminal charges. Only a thorough investigation, through the impeachment process, will inform us as to what level this administration has betrayed us, if at all.

By not funding a continuation of the occupation we will be informing the world that we acknowledge our mistake and are making corrections in that regard. Thereby, changing the perception of world leaders and opening up a chance for building an alliance for the development of Iraq's government.

I beg you, as House Speaker and as a citizen of the United States, to do everything in your power to achieve these two strategic goals. Impeach this administration and cease the funding of the Iraq occupation.

You swore an oath to protect the Constitution of The United States. It is your duty to uphold your oath of office. The choice and responsibility are yours.

In my view, impeachment is the only moral choice.

Sincerely,


your name
your address
your city, state zip
your phone number

Join Us:

These are our tax dollars at work. Ask yourself, 'as a society, what kind of future shall we invest in?'

Please, read the article and watch the video above, be outraged, and vote for impeachment here: http://www.impeachbush.org/site/PageServer [left hand column]

Impeachment may be the only tool that will bring an end to this madness... without accountability the atrocities will continue.

Everyday thousands of corporate lobbyists descend upon our representatives to sell their corporate cause. Billions of dollars are spent in this process. Business is good for those willing to participate in such ill gotten gains.

So, help us balance their influence by joining us, somehow, on the 27th!! -c&h

EXTRA CREDIT:

Chris Dodd is taking a stand by placing a 'hold' on the newest FISA bill He needs all the backup he can get from us right now. You can email your endorsement of support here:

http://action.chrisdodd.com/signUp.jsp?key=1570


10/14/07

Hi all,

It's difficult for me to send these out weekly, as I have a personal life that beckons, too. But, in light of current circumstances, I feel compelled.

Fortunately[?!], I saw a bumper sticker this week that encouraged and reminded me of my personal responsibilities...

"A time comes when silence is betrayal." -MLK, April 4, 1967

I looked it up online and found this speech and thought to share. You will notice many similarities to the situation we now find ourselves in:

http://www.quotedb.com/speeches/a-time-to-break-silence

It's fairly long, here's an excerpt that sums it up well:

This is the message of the great Buddhist leaders of Vietnam. Recently one of them wrote these words:

"Each day the war goes on the hatred increases in the heart of the Vietnamese and in the hearts of those of humanitarian instinct. The Americans are forcing even their friends into becoming their enemies. It is curious that the Americans, who calculate so carefully on the possibilities of military victory, do not realize that in the process they are incurring deep psychological and political defeat. The image of America will never again be the image of revolution, freedom and democracy, but the image of violence and militarism."


If we continue, there will be no doubt in my mind and in the mind of the world that we have no honorable intentions in Vietnam. It will become clear that our minimal expectation is to occupy it as an American colony and men will not refrain from thinking that our maximum hope is to goad China into a war so that we may bomb her nuclear installations. If we do not stop our war against the people of Vietnam immediately the world will be left with no other alternative than to see this as some horribly clumsy and deadly game we have decided to play.

Beyond the similarities there are many new issues for us to face now. The domestic Shock and Awe: The privatizing of our military and government, tax cuts for the rich, simultaneously defunding social programs, the use of kidnapping/secret prisons/torture, Guantanamo Bay and the loss of Habeas Corpus, some leaders/people[?] redefining torture so that they can say that they don't torture and still comply with The Geneva Convention, Military Code of Justice, domestic and international laws and treaties... there's more I'm sure. I just don't have the time to write it down.

Curiously, Cheney and Rumsfeld were on Nixon's team two years after this time period. We all know how the conflict grew exponentially and criminally under that administration. It is a shame that it took so long for the public to wake up and demand a stop to the Viet Nam War.

Let us learn from our history!

DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM OUR GOVERNMENT ON OCTOBER 27!!

Please join us on Oct 27, for a nation wide demonstration in support of impeachment and an end to the occupation of Iraq!

All the info you'll need is here: http://www.impeachbush.org/site/PageServer

Can't make it?

No problem! Vote for impeachment here: http://www.impeachbush.org/site/PageServer [left hand column] Almost a million signers, now!

Then mail a letter to our House Leader. Here's one you can cut/paste/edit/mail. 15 minutes, 41 cents and you've taken a stand for our Constitution and against greed:

10/13/07

Nancy Pelosi
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100

To Speaker Pelosi,

Though I cannot attend, I am writing in support of the national demonstrations on October 27, 2007 calling for impeachment and an immediate end of funding for the invasion/occupation of Iraq.

Two simple, moral actions...

The function of impeachment is to immediately disrupt the actions of an administration that is unwilling to comply with our laws. There is ample evidence that NOW IS THE TIME in which to trigger that constitutional tool. It is common knowledge that this administration manipulated intelligence prior to the invasion of Iraq, among other potentially criminal charges. Only a thorough investigation, through the impeachment process, will inform us as to what level this administration has betrayed us, if at all.

By not funding a continuation of the occupation we will be informing the world that we acknowledge our mistake and are making corrections in that regard. Thereby, changing the perception of world leaders and opening up a chance for building an alliance for the develoof Iraq's government.

I beg you, as House Speaker and as a citizen of the United States, to do everything in your power to achieve these two strategic goals. Impeach this administration and cease the funding of the Iraq occupation.

You swore an oath to protect the Constitution of The United States. It is your duty to uphold your oath of office. The choice and responsibility are yours.

In my view, impeachment is the only moral choice.

Sincerely,


your name
your address
your city, state zip
your phone number

Beach Impeach 4

Last weekend was pretty much what we expected it to be. The weather was beautiful. We were in the 'M' and '4.' We spelled out IMPEACH, then morphed into 4 PEACE. Here's a link to the arial photos: http://beachimpeach.com/photos.html
And, here's a link to arial vids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2xWVtVKBaU&mode=related&search=

It looks like we will be doing it again on the 27th at Dolores Park. Beach Impeach 5! Details to follow...

JOIN US!

We need everyone who is concerned to join us now. Either on the streets or in the mail, we must make our presence known. Let's not wait the years that it took during the Viet Nam era for us to acknowledge our mistakes.

Everyday thousands of corporate lobbyists descend upon our representatives to sell their corporate cause. Billions of dollars are spent in this process. Business is good for those willing to participate in such ill gotten gains.

So, help us balance their influence by joining us, somehow, on the 27th!! -c&h

10/6/07

Hi all,

As many of you know, Holly and I will be at the fourth Beach Impeach gathering on Sunday. Join us if you can. If not, please write Nancy Pelosi and tell her you support our cause. You can ask for the accountability she and the Democratic Party promised last year. And, be sure to ask her to place impeachment back on the table! Short and sweet...

Please, do not email. Email is invisible. Send a letter, instead. We need to make our physical presence known. A couple of lines, a few minutes of your weekend, and you've taken a stand against this criminal administration. Here's Nancy Pelosi's address:

Nancy Pelosi
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100

Impeachment not popular?

-Most of the presidential candidates and citizens have stated: 'impeachment would be too disruptive for the country at a time like this.'

To that logic we simply reply: 'that is precisely the purpose of impeachment, to immediately disrupt the actions of a criminal / immoral administration.'

Criminal? Remember that our President said he would fire anyone in his administration that was involved in the outing of Valerie Plame. We now know that even the president was implicated, in a hand written note, during the Libby trial. It's time for US to fire those involved! And, this is just one of the issues facing us.

-Some are saying that there's not enough time for impeachment. We must remind them that it took merely 3 months for Nixon to resign is disgrace!

It is time to shame this administration out office and then begin investigations to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

Blast from the Past:

'To accept passively an unjust system is to cooperate with that system; thereby the oppressed become as evil as the oppressor' (The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

I'm not suggesting that any of us are evil for not standing firm against this current administration's actions. I'm merely pointing out that if we are silent, this administration will continue to pursue the goals laid out in PNAC -domination of the world's resources through military might. And, we get to fund it. WE pay for it and they profit!

Thankfully [?], Iraq's government brought to light one of the sickest tools of this administration: Private 'for profit' Military Contractors. Blackwater is merely one of the 'war for profit' corporations that our tax dollars are funding. One of the smallest. There are many other enormous publicly traded and private corporations.

Here's a link to Amy Goodman's program Democracy Now! She share's clips of congress questioning the owner of Blackwater and interviews Jeremy Scahill, author of 'Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army.'

Here you can read, listen, or watch the interview:
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/03/1349239&mode=thread&tid=25

You won't find this kind of journalism on our main stream media.

Shock and Awe:

Abroad, this administration [and WE through Congress] uses bombs, missiles, bullets, torture, etc. in order to dominate a population. Domestically, it seems we are subjected to weekly, sometimes daily, revelations about the corruption within our current administration and government.

Is this a kind of psychological technique of shock and awe in order to dominate a domestic population? I'm just pointing to a potential pattern...

More on Dan Rather:

Many of you will remember Leslie Griffith. I'd say she's pretty mainstream. Here's a post of hers re. Dan Rather's lawsuit: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/100307F.shtml

Question Authority...

And, please, help us get our government and main stream media under control! -c&h

9/28/07

Hi all,

Considering Congress is busy ignoring our call for an end to the invasion of Iraq and a call for accountability in the White House, we'll be at it again on Oct 7 in Berkeley to spell out our message to Congress.

Here's a link to the event: http://beachimpeach.com/ Looks like Cindy Sheehan and Cynthia McKinney will be joining us. If you can't join us, send a letter to your reps. But, do something!

Thought I'd share my new and improved October's TO DO list:

1. Get involved to protect our democracy!
2. Whatever comes next in my personal life
3. etc.

Why, you ask?

Well, let's see... there are rumors that we are going to attack Iran now. How's that for starters?

Our Main Stream Media is at it again. That is, pumping up the voice of this administration while ignoring the words of anyone who disagrees.

Let there be no doubt, this administration is intent on implementing the goals laid out in PNAC. If you haven't read it, please do. http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf To sum up, this plan calls for the total domination of the world's resources through military force. It was signed by many in this current administration.

Curiously, within that document they acknowledge that Americans would resist military build up in support of their goals in preference to social spending unless some attack, similar to Pearl Harbor, were to take place. Remember Naomi Klien's article last week 'The Shock Doctrine' that spoke of her new book? Connect the dots... these are the same players!

Our mainstream media and the art of deception...

To shed some light on this subject I offer this recent post by William Rivers Pitt. Here he reflects on Dan Rather's new law suit. A very interesting read:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/092607A.shtml

War for oil? There can be no doubt...

Before the invasion of Iraq, Ray McGovern and Scott Ritter were ignored by our MSM. These two tried to warn us that we were being deceived prior to the invasion. Had they as much exposure as those intent on invading we might have avoided this whole mess.

An article by CIA veteran Ray Mcgovern:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/092807O.shtml

Another by Scott Ritter:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/092707C.shtml

Scott's writings are long and technical, but, worth the read. Here's an excerpt [emphasis mine] that emphasizes the fact that we are being manipulated, again:

" From speculation to speculation, the case against the Quds Force by the Bush administration continues to lack anything in the way of substance. And yet the mythological Daqduq has become a launching platform for even graver speculation, fed by the media themselves, that the highest levels of leadership in Iran were aware of the activities of Daqduq and the Quds Force, and are thus somehow complicit in the violence. Not one shred of evidence was produced to sustain such serious accusations, and yet national media outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post both ran stories repeating these accusations. Politicians are formulating policy based upon such baseless accusations, and the American public continues to be manipulated into a predisposition for war with Iran largely because of such speculation. No one seems to pay attention to the fact that the U.S. military itself has subsequently contradicted its own briefings, noting in July 2007 that no persons had been captured by the United States that can provide a direct link between insurgents in Iraq and Iran. Again, in August of 2007, the U.S. military stated that it had yet to catch anyone smuggling weapons into Iraq from Iran."

Question Authority...

And, please, help us get our government and main stream media under control!

-c&h