Whistleblower Sibel Edmonds Starts a Boiling Pot in the Blogosphere

Sibel Edmonds, whose allegations blew a hole in the FBI's official story, now has a web log. From what I can tell upon a quick examination, the blog definitely has merit. As with most every blog, including this one, the topics don't necessarily flow one from the other, but they do all share a common theme criticizing the fear machine which is still going strong more than eight years after September 11, 2001. The Edmonds blog is enthusiastically recommended.

http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/

George Carlin on the "9/11 Truth Movement"

The comic and the serious are close relations, now more than ever. So, even though unusual for this blog, I present George Carlin speaking about what happened on September 11, 2001. I don't agree with Mr. Carlin about the Kennedy assassination, but his comments about the powers-that-be ring true.

Up-dated June 30, 2013:  You Tube informs this video no longer exists.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pow5_UYKaJ8&feature=PlayList&p=6B9045A514E3FB6A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=3

Hidden History: the Creation of the Constitution

I am continuing my study of the creation of the Constitution and am continuing to learn many interesting things. It is clear to me that almost everyone who is talking about the Constitution these days does not really know the history of its creation, particularly its antecedents in colonial era practice. Due to lack of time, I will have to wait for another day to say more. At a later time I will talk, for instance, about the Electoral College, where it came from, and how it made it into the Constitution and why perhaps it should not be abolished after all.

Sarah Palin: The Media's Favorite Fascist

Why do articles and broadcast news stories about the much-discredited, half-term former governor of Alaska, Ms. Sarah Palin, continue to appear? The article referenced here tells why. It is because of draw. That's right -- Sarah Palin draws people in. In newspapers, over the air, on cable TV, and on the Internet people tune in to, read about , and click on titles of -- Sarah Palin.

In a talk given by award-winner author Naomi Wolf which I attended in 2008, she said that Sarah Palin was being set up as a puppet for some extreme right-wing reactionary forces. In a future post I hope to present evidence for this through statements Palin has made. I believe it to be true -- Palin is the Fascist-in-Waiting. This is so both because of her own inclinations and her relative weaknesses personally. That is, she can be manipulated. Thus we have Palin as demagogue, a feminine poseur, ready to do the bidding of powerful oligarchs who have every reason to oppose democratic institutions.

Again, these statements need to be backed up. But the power of Palin to mesmerize the savants of the media, already shows something of her pluck. Let us hope that, as the polls show, Palin will not win any nomination -- not even as Librarian of the Year.



http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_14389685?source=rss

One Picture Is Worth...

...a thousand words. Reclaim Democracy has treated us to a wonderfully self-explanatory satire of the Gilded Supreme Court most of whose members confuse the corporation with actual living, breathing persons who were born to a human mother.


http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/

Bulletin: Forgotten Facts

The Musical Patriot reminds you of two forgotten facts. They help explain why Americans are unhappy now.

Forgotten Fact Number 1: Al Gore received a half million more votes than did G. W. Bush in the 2000 election.

Forgotten Fact Number 2: Hillary Clinton received the most votes in the Democratic primaries of 2008.

Suffering from acute amnesia, the media elites then wonder why there is a disconnect between citizens and the government. Emergency therapeutic actions are strongly recommended to alleviate said amnesia. Then, at least one group of people will have clear heads.

A Not-So Light Moment?

This morning I heard a brief clip on CNN radio news of the crowd waiting for Punxatawney Phil to appear. For those who live outside of America news that a crowd was waiting for a groudhog named Punxatawney Phil to appear may seem ridiculous. Well, ridiculousness and high spirits are part of the American tradition, so let the frivolity begin.

This clip, however, sounded more than raucous. The people sounded positively paganistic to my ears. That is, they didn't sound like they were simply having fun. They sounded as if they really believed in the furry weather predictor. (If Phil sees his shadow, the custom goes, there will be six more weeks of winter.) I've never taken Punxatawney Phil seriously and have always enjoyed the harmless chicanery. But this group was another matter. What's next -- seances to dispel the total eclipse of the sun?

The erstwhile and esteemed Phil, by the way, did indeed see his shadow this morning, presaging a solid six more weeks of winter. Thanks for the "heads up", Phil.

Bail System Wreaks Havoc with Constitution

I heard a broadcast series of reports on National Public Radio (NPR) late last week on the subject of burdensome bail. Recently, I have become aware of this problem on a local level. But to have reports of this nature on NPR was both enlightening and disturbing. I am glad to highly recommend these reports to you. They tell of a macabre money-oriented system in which the business needs of bail bondsmen are put ahead of the Constitutional rights of the accused. I think you will find these reports riveting.

Below are two hyper-links. In each case the link is to a page containing a run-down of the two NPR programs on which the reports appear -- "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition." You will need to look for the title of the report which I list below. Once you find the report you can either listen to it or read the transcript.


Bail Burden Keeps U.S. Jails Stuffed With Inmates

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=2&prgDate=1-21-2010



Inmates Who Can't Make Bail Face Stark Options

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=3
Sitting in Jail, Unable to Post Bail

Just the Facts, Ma'am

Amidst all the hysteria following a very unfortunate Senate vote in Massachusetts it is helpful to be reminded of some basic facts. I found this very helpful short animated fact sheet with narration. It helps keep us focused on what is truly needed in America now regarding health care.

I am indeed furious with Massachusetts for either a stupid Senate selection process or -- certainly -- a poor outcome. I only hope people in power will have the wisdom to stand up for principles the rest of the country believes in. And if the people of Massachusetts want to be silly -- even if the silliness has an explanation -- may they be eternally happy in their giddy ignorance.* The link to the animation is below. Could you forward it to your friends, please?


*Although blaming the Massachusetts vote, I blame the major media for a criminal dereliction of duty in not presenting the facts with which voters could make informed choices. That's why the film referenced here is so important.

http://www.grahamazon.com/sp/whatissinglepayer.php

Reporting Lite: Brown in Massachusetts

In the interest of presenting a rainbow of reports, here is a report from today's "All Things Considered" on National Public Radio.

I call this reporting lite because of the breezy style and the relatively short length. At any rate, it gives another slant on Scott Brown, the political unknown who now must assume the cloak of a United States Senator. Whether the Scott Brown of the campaign or the friendlier Scott Brown of this report wins out remains to be seen. At least you, the reader, will have an alternative perspective as heard here. (The reference link is below or you may click on the post title above.)



http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=122777101&m=122781643

Kennedy Son Has Interesting Take on Democratic Defeat in Massachusetts

The most interesting analysis I have seen so far on what happened yesterday in Massachusetts has been offered by Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Edward Kennedy. Showing both humility and something more pointed, Kennedy's comments offer a fitting explanation of the mood of voters in the state his father and uncle represented for so many years. You can read the younger Kennedy's comments here:
< http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31700.html >.

Disaster in Massachusetts

It is hard to tell now which was the bigger disaster: nominating Martha Coakley for U.S. Senate or her defeat at the hands of a far-right trickster in today's election. Actually, there is a third nominee for Greatest Disaster of Early 2010: the nomination of Scott Brown. I vote for the latter choice, though it is hard to argue with the other two.

The New York Times has a fairly good report on the horse-race aspect of the catastrophe. (See link below or click the post title above.) Since independents are the largest group of voters in Massachusetts, the volatility of this race is understandable. And the position of independents as such -- not committing to either party permanently-- is understandable except for one glaring fact: The Republican Party has been taken over by virtual fascists. This includes Scott Brown, who is on record as favoring waterboarding! What could the people of Massachusetts possibly been thinking?

Coming: Some possible answers.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/us/politics/20election.html?hp

Insanity Grips Massachusetts -- Blogging the Election

"I'm trying to save the nation today," said Robert Cappello, 69, a registered Republican and enthusiastic Brown voter from South Boston who reveled in what he described as an "overwhelming sweep" of momentum for his candidate.

"This election is a lot about sending a message," Cappello said in an excited voice outside a polling place on H Street. "It's telling Washington to slow down."

This from the Boston Globe web site today. What should have been a no-brainer for Massachusetts has turned into a brawl as Democrat Coakley is facing an unexpectedly strong challenge from far-right candidate Brown. The once-dishabille Cosmopolitan magazine centerfold star, Brown is now within spitting distance of a shocking, bewildering defeat of a solid but lackluster Democratic candidate for the seat held by Edward Kennedy. This in a state which propelled Sen. John F. Kennedy to the Presidency in 1960.

Now, half-delirious voters like Robert Cappello have been given space in Boston's august Globe to pontificate over sending a message. Though totally irresponsible, the desire to use today's election to "send a message" is real. Only a Democratic Party beholden to Wall Street could have allowed such a pending fiasco to develop.

It is time for loyal Democrats to make clear to the party leadership that such a situation was totally avoidable and unacceptable.

Meanwhile, perhaps we should pray to the God of Boston's good Catholics -- and Protestants -- for a miracle in the voting booths of the former Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Election Day in Massachusetts

McClatchy Newspapers company reports today in my local paper that Democratic strategists have put out the word over the week-end that they expect the Democratic candidate, Martha Coakley, to lose in today's special election to replace the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Of course, we can hope that the strategists are wrong and there will be a late surge as voters weigh carefully what a Republican win in Massachusetts would mean.



But absent such a last-minute development, how in God's name could the Democratic Party manage to lose a Senate race in over-whelmingly Democratic Massachusetts? If the Democratic candidate does lose it is a tremendous repudiation of the way the Democratic Party is being led.



Voters in Massachusetts are complaining about a Democratic candidate (Coakley) who is remote and seemingly smug. So, to cut to the chase, what kind of political process would bring such a person to the fore, assuming the crticisms are accurate?



For any Massachetts voters who are still undecided, I ask you to consider carefully your vote. Are we going to continue with a broken health care system? Are we going back to the days of bail-outs for Wall Street, of high budget and trade deficits, of disdain for the poor and the middle class -- all features brought to us by the Republican Party? And make no mistake, Brown is a far-righter who would vote for the most regressive kinds of policies and against the interests of the every-day working person of this country.



If the Democrats do lose the Kennedy seat, I call for the resignation of the head of the Democratic National Committee at a minimum, and the installation of a person who can set a new tone, something different from policies of remoteness and smugness.

A Truthful Look at the U.S. Income Tax

At this time of year employers are dutifully sending out what are known as W-2 forms. I'm not sure why they call them W-2 forms, but I know why they don't call them K-9 forms. But they could. To many people that would be a more appropriate designation.

I found the article linked here to be essentially truthful, factual. One comment I would add is not to dismiss out of hand the allegations of problems with the validity of the sixteenth amendment.

If you wish to comment on this blog post or the article, please hit the comment button below.


For the article cut and paste the URL below or simply click on the blog post title above.
http://www.fff.org/freedom/0500a.asp