The Oil Theocracy

As books go, American Theocracy by Kevin Phillips is above average, to say the least. Its usefulness is in setting forth in concise form the history of oil.

At this point in the book I am reading about the relative importance of the various states whose economies are strongly connected either with oil or the automobile. It is interesting to see the correlation. (Phillips' credulous assumption of the validity of the vote against Kerry in 2004 both nationwide and in Ohio can be partly forgiven due to the circumstances of the times. However, Phillips should know that the election of Bush was challenged in Congress -- the first time such a contest had been lodged since the nineteenth century.)

It is clear from the book that American life and especially its politics are intrinsically bound to the oil industry. Later in the book I hope to read suggestions for an effective divorce in the oil-politics marriage.

"American Theocracy"

The latest book I am reading (along with about twenty others) is "American Theocracy" by Kevin Phillips. This 2006 book which made quite a splash when first published is a very-well-researched tome chronicling the influence of both oil and Christian right-wingers on (primarily) the Republican Party, but all of American life.

As the book is rather dense and I have only started it, I will refrain from presenting much detail now. Suffice it to say this is a very revealing and important look at the history of oil from ancient times to the present day. (The focus is on modern history.)

We see from this book how middle-eastern American foreign policy was essentially conducted by the oil industry for decades! Although hard to believe, it does help explain why little progress is ever made in that woeful region.

So I will keep this short so I can get back to "American Theocracy" and my other books!

Text of Letter to John Edwards

Dear Senator Edwards:

I am so very disappointed you felt compelled to suspend your campaign for the Presidency, as Rep. Kucinich did before you. Your voice certainly added immeasurably to the campaign as you raised economic issues which the two "major" candidates haven't even begun to grapple with.

For me as a voter, I am reminded that it is only February, yet a campaign dominated by "talking heads" has clamored for banishments of candidates, first from the debates, then from the race itself. The pundits always saw this as a race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Their little-disguised prophecy has become reality.

It was stated on public television tonight that had the economy been the issue six months ago that it is today, you would still be in the race. And so I hope there will be a role for you in the future. Should the remaining candidates show themselves to be destructive to the Democratic Party I hope you would be available as a possible alternate choice in order to heal the Party, then to unify this country, north and south, poor and not-so-poor. I believe America can return to the vision of the Founding Fathers -- of a country made up of informed and enlightened citizens capable of governing themselves without an imperial Presidency. This is the America we should all fight for.

And so I wish you well and hope to hear from you again in the coming weeks and months.

Sincerely,

(signed)

The Financing of the President 2008

Just how does one finance a successful run for the White House in 2008? This is a question which remains to be fully answered. But solid information about how to finance a run for the nomination is available now at Open Secrets on the web (see link below).

Already, the amount of money spent on this primary season is higher than any nomination race up to 2004. Just where does all this money come from -- hundreds of millions of dollars of it? More importantly, where does all this money go? We know a substantial portion of it goes to gigantic media conglomerates, who essentially own our media broadcasting system, a system we are supposed to own.

This gets back to an earlier headline here: Impeaching the Media. For it is clear we have a political/media regime in this country with PR flacks operating right in the White House. And, sadly, the same machine operates in the nominating process. Why are so many debates hosted by the media? The media are supposed to "cover" the debates, not sponsor them.

Perhaps this is the deeper meaning of the success of Barack Obama with his mantra of change. People want not only change in the White House. They surely want an end to government by experts, by PR hacks, by spinmeisters, by lying and conniving thieves. And they want an end to self-important pundits who dare to divine the will of the people even before the people have spoken.

So change is possible, but only if we get much more interested in the machinery of politics so wealthy voices are prevented from speaking with an unduly loud voice. Let us put the tiger back in its cage. And if it refuses to go, let us demand an end to "corporate personhood", that legal flim-flammery which grants unto fictitious entities the rights of persons under the Constitution.

A new day can indeed be at hand. But only if we teach one another and learn from one another. And as the old union song has it: "You've got to organize." And organize. And organize.

Have a good time organizing.


http://www.opensecrets.org/

A Renewed Call for Impeachment

Whither America? This timely question has been answered in a renewed call by former House Judiciary Committee member Elizabeth Holtzman. At the link below you will see that G.W. Bush and Cheney have broken the law.

At the second link you will find more about one Congressman's efforts to hold the appropriate hearings for Richard Cheney.

I urge you, dear reader, to become involved in the impeachment effort, if you have not already done so. We must restore the rule of law in the Executive branch!



http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012808R.shtml

http://www.WexlerWantsHearings.com

The Beautiful Obligation

We in America have at this time a beautiful obligation. As regular readers of this blog will understand, the democratic republic of the United States has been under attack from within and without for a number of years. The attackers have not been bearded men in long white robes, but men and women in suits and men and one woman in long, black robes.

The suited men and the power-suited women (but mostly men, I dare say) have been the moguls of finance, who, working in concert with like-minded colleagues in the world financial order, have worked to out-source both jobs and money from the United States to foreign lands. The men and one woman in long, black robes were the fascist members of the A.D. 2000 Supreme Court, who traitorously gave the election to a man who did not earn it after a fair counting of the votes, and who, indeed never had the majority of the popular vote.

Several authors have worked hard to document all this. Some of these authors are given in other places on this web log. I commend them to you. In coming days I intend to add further information on the resources which are available to you.

But for now, let me underscore the choice we have to make. We in America now can either stand up for a continuance of the world's oldest democracy or we can stick our necks in the sand and take what seems to be the safe route. As for me, I choose to stand with the democracy I was taught as a young boy and came to love deeply as a young man. I say proudly that I have no other choice. To decide differently would be to dishonor not only my country, but myself.

So onward toward further brave seeing, toward impeachment, toward securing the right to vote. This democracy is far from finished. Let us be about the honorable business of securing its rights and privileges for another generation.

There's Still Time

Every so often I get the urge to revisit the events of November and December 2000, in the aftermath of the Presidential vote that year. Last evening I read a statement of well-known prosecutor, Vincent Bugliosi, to the effect it was not too late to impeach the Supreme Court Five (the majority which handed the election to Bush). This was in an interview with Bugliosi sometime after September 11, 2001, on the web site of The Nation magazine. Two of the Fascist Five (as I call them) are no longer on the court, although it is possible to impeach someone after he or she has resigned. (Whether it is possible or advisable to impeach a dead person -- Rhenquist -- is open to question.)

In any event, I agree it is not too late to impeach the people who effectively put the least-qualified and one of the least-effective people in the White House in U.S. history. Of course any impeachment effort against them would face the same kind of hurdles the Cheney and Bush impeachment efforts are facing. Still these efforts continue to slowly gather strength, so who knows what can happen. And here I may mention my post of yesterday in which I mentioned gaining considerable encouragement from the writings of Thomas Paine.

It is tragic and even horrifying that our information systems are dominated by a small number of huge conglomerates which do not have the true interests of the American people at heart. Thus, any attempts at justice which simultaneously threaten corporate media interests have, unfortunately, a rough go of things.*

These are indeed times which try men's (people's) souls. But these are also times for persons of courage to stand up and contribute time and energy non-violently to the cause of a true democratic system in the United States, a process only begun by our founding fathers, but desperately needing revivifying now.


* See my earlier recommendation of a group called Reclaim Democracy (www.ReclaimDemocracy.org).

The New Democracy

A new year has brought substantial work for me and I am only now beginning to get caught up. Thus, there has been a break in my postings. I am glad to be able to write something today.

Last Friday night saw another fascinating Bill Moyers program. This is a man who continues to pay penance for his part in the Viet Nam War fiasco. Friday night's program featured several interesting segments. One was on Tom Paine. The conversation prompted me to get a book of Paine writings from the library.

I have started reading his Common Sense. For some reason I have never read this. It is clearly a great work, greater perhaps than the Federalist papers (some of which I have read). In the beginning he distinguishes between society and its purpose and the reason for government.

I am astounded that I was never assigned to read this work in either high school or college. It is time to ask for my money back!

Seriously, I certainly recommend this book. The information presented here along with the work of other guests on the Moyers program is inspiring me to action.

Best wishes for a meaningful Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Impeaching the Media -- Part 1

Sound and Fury Signifying Nothing

The media world is today full of energetic mouthings about revolutions. No, the Sunnis are not back in power in Iraq, and, no, the son of Benazir Bhuto has not unseated Musharaf. They are referring to the "stunning victory" of Senator Barrack Obama in Iowa, accompanied by the "impressive victory" of M. Huckabee. However, even more surprisingly neither man actually won Iowa, as can be shown. Writer Scott Galindez wrote convincingly several days ago that the caucuses held last night are only the first step in the actual selection of delegates which, according to Galindez, will not actually occur until June.

Readers of Naomi Wolf's important and urgently-relevant book The End of America know that there is something of far more concern than these primaries and caucuses. For in a fascist shift, elections become a point of pride to those doing the shifting as a means of hiding the evidence of the closing down of an open society. As "far-out" as all this may seem, Wolf's assertions are borne out by my own independent research and by her own sources.

Thus I plead with readers of this web log to get her book and be enlightened. Although difficult and perhaps painful in one sense, reading this book can save a person from much confusion and wasted effort. Happy reading.

Information on Iowa delegate selection process:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/122807A.shtml


im·peach (im p"chÆ), v.t.
1. to accuse (a public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office.
2. Chiefly Law. to challenge the credibility of: to impeach a witness.
3. to bring an accusation against.
4. to call in question; cast an imputation upon: to impeach a person's motives.
5. to call to account.

-- from Random House dictionary

First Reports of Dirty Tricks in Campaign '08

Josh Earnest, a spokesman for Obama, criticized the calls.

"Negative campaign tactics like push polls don't reflect the values that are at the core of the Democratic Party and the Iowa caucuses," he said.

An aide to Edwards, Dan Leistikow, denounced what he said were "underhanded, despicable" political attacks.

Throughout American history -- sadly -- various kinds of dirty tricks have been employed to try to help a candidate get into office. Now comes the first word of such dirty tricks in Iowa. Voters are being called at home in so-called push-polling in which persons are asked leading questions. The caller then goes on to offer some kind of negative information about one or more candidates. Other tactics being employed appear designed to suppress voter turn-out, such as mentioning a popular football game being shown on TV the night of the Iowa caucuses.

Such tactics are disgusting. Fortunately, there is a bill pending in the Senate which may address some of the concerns.

For more information on this issue, follow the link to The Washington Post below. (Registration may be required.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/31/AR2007123101280.html

Resolved

In these opening hours of 2008 may we in America re-dedicate ourselves to the cause of freedom and justice in our country and around the world. Let us commit to proper study in the areas where we lack knowledge. Let us commit to action where action is called for. Let us conserve what should be conserved and reform what needs reforming; and let us have the discernment to know the difference.

If this sounds like a prayer, so be it.

There are unique challenges to our democratic republic which confront us in this new election year. As important as an election is, we must be reminded that under current circumstances we can perhaps not influence events through elections as much as we might wish.* As the days ahead unfold, I hope to provide some resources to you which may help in your understanding of events.

In the meantime, may we who are able eat hearty -- to gain strength for service.


Peace,

TMP

* For a valuable and interesting article on this subject, see the following:
http://www.democrats.com/node/15218

Oh, Thank Heaven for the End of 2007?

This might be the sentiment of some. And, I confess, I am tempted to adopt this feeling as my own. It was a full year. It began with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales under fire for the dismissal of several U.S. Attorneys. It ended with the horrible assassination of Benazir Bhuto. In between were events weighty and trivial, from the confirmation of a new Attorney General to the ups and downs of twenty-something actresses too young to remember the inauguration of the actor President.

Tonight marks the end of the first full calendar year completed by this web log. I am proud that this blog has remained constant amidst a sometimes tumultuous personal schedule.

I am especially pleased that I have been able to keep abreast of the reaction to the new book called The End of America, by Naomi Wolf. And, too, I have advocated continuously for the impeachment of R. Cheney, seeing him as a violator of the Constitution. (And at this time I thank anonymously D.S. and R.C.S. for their early and timely signing of the Robert Wexler petition urging the Judiciary Committee to conduct hearings in this regard. They know who they are. )

So, A.D. 2007 ends quietly but with activity presaging greater activity. May we be even more vigilant and more energetic in our protecting of this democratic republic known as the United States of America.

Cheney Impeachment Effort Gets Major Boost

You may have heard about the effort of Florida Congressional Representative Robert Wexler to promote the idea of impeaching Richard Cheney. In the interest of continuing to promote this idea, I am proud to present the following statement of Rep. Wexler.

I also recommend pursuing the various links included in the statement, including the webcast with Mr. Wexler.

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

Statement of Rep. Robert Wexler:

As we prepare to celebrate the New Year, my resolution is to hold George Bush and Dick Cheney accountable for their abuses of power.

In the last days, we have made real progress:

The mainstream media has awakened to this movement and to the extraordinary support you have given it. Your calls, letters, and emails have clearly made a difference. Already 140,000 people have joined us in demanding impeachment hearings for Vice President Dick Cheney by signing up at WexlerWantsHearings.com.

The power of these combined voices are already shaking up the established order on Capitol Hill and throughout the mainstream media:

This week, the Miami Herald printed an article on our efforts that was syndicated in papers across the country, including the Detroit Free Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, Fort Worth Telegram, Contra Costa Times, Sacramento Bee, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, NC News & Observer, and others. (Click HERE to read the article.)

In addition, CBS4 in Miami became the first station we know of to run a television segment about the call for hearings. Video of that can be found HERE.)

Perhaps most importantly, just this morning the Philadelphia Inquirer courageously ran the full editorial I drafted along with my fellow Judiciary Committee members Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (R-WI). (View it HERE .) Congratulations to the Inquirer for their willingness to publish a viewpoint that is so widely held by Americans – yet one that other leading national newspapers refused to publish.

We have come so far in just a few weeks. No longer can the mainstream media ignore our efforts and dismiss this cause as only part of the fringe left.

Already we are seeing tangible results from our combined effort. As you already know, Congress is well behind the American people on this issue. This is an uphill battle, but it's one that has to be fought. It should not be the whole agenda, but it needs be *on* the agenda.

When Congress reconvenes in January, I plan to present a list to my Judiciary Committee colleagues of every single person that signed up at WexlerWantsHearings.com. I will go to more of my colleagues and ask them to join a letter in support of hearings. We will build on the momentum you have given us.

Last week, I spent an hour on Blog Talk Radio outlining thoughts and answering questions in regards to this work. So many people hit their site that their servers temporarily went down. If you'd like to hear the archived audio, please click HERE.

Let's do our best to further spread the message so that list will be up to a quarter million. Please continue to blog, email friends, and insist that your family and friends sign up!

Thanks for your commitment.

Congressman Robert Wexler

P.S. I have been running online ads to make more people aware of our impeachment campaign. If you are interested in making a contribution to this effort you can click here.

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

From the Publisher of "End of America"

The following is from the publisher of Naomi Wolf's new best-selling book, "The End of America," written of on this page earlier. I continue to highly recommend the book and its crucial, urgent message.



In a stunning indictment of the Bush administration and Congress, bestselling author Naomi Wolf lays out her case for saving American democracy. In authoritative research and documentation Wolf explains how events of the last six years
parallel steps taken in the early years of the 20th century’s worst dictatorships such as Germany, Russia, China, and Chile.

The book cuts across political parties and speaks directly to those of us who are
concerned about the ever-tightening noose being placed around our liberties.

+++++++++++++++++++++

“I believe there are more
instances of the abridgment
of freedom of the people by
gradual and silent
encroachments by those in
power than by violent and
sudden usurpations.”

-- James Madison

++++++++++++++++++++

The End of America. Letter to a Young Patriot
now in paperback
$13.95, Chelsea Green Publishing

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

In this timely call to arms, Naomi Wolf compels us to face the way our
free America is under assault. She warns us—with the straight-to-fellow citizens
urgency of one of Thomas Paine’s revolutionary pamphlets—that
we have little time to lose if our children are to live in real freedom.
Wolf is taking her message directly to the American people in the most
accessible form and as part of a large national campaign to reach out to
ordinary Americans about the dangers we face today. This includes a lecture
and speaking tour, and being part of the nascent American Freedom
Campaign, a grassroots effort to ensure that presidential candidates pledge
to uphold the constitution and protect our liberties from further erosion.
The End of America will shock, enrage, and motivate—spurring us to act, as the Founders would have counted on us to do in a time such as this, as rebels and patriots—to save our liberty and defend our nation.

Naomi Wolf’s essays have been published in The New Republic, Wall Street Journal, Ms., Esquire, The Washington Post,
and The New York Times. She is the author of several books including the international bestseller, The Beauty Myth.

Bush v. Gore Seventh Anniversary

On this date in 2000 at 10:00 p.m. in the evening the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling stopping the counting of votes in the 2000 election. This nefarious ruling, derided by Constitutional scholars ever since, effectively put George W. Bush in the White House against the wishes of the American people. (Vice-President Al Gore received 500,000 more votes than Bush in that election.)

In her recent book, The End of America, Naomi Wolf posits we are now in a fascist shift in this country. I very much agree! However, there have been many fascists shifts. The election of a House of Representatives led by a far-right Speaker, Newt Gingrich, was one. Another was the decision by the Fascist Five of the U.S. Supreme Court, contorting logic, defying legal precedent and laws, and in contempt of the will of the people to install G. W. Bush as President.

Let us not forget that all the nightmares which have flowed over the last seven years have been because of that one Supreme fascist shift.


More can be found here:
http://www.legitgov.org/index_hot_April5.html