Old Dogs and New Tricks

Great tutorial

The biggest threat to the West lies within itself, not with Islam

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/simon_jenkins/article2652762.ece

..and now, an excerpt from an interesting piece

To portray Islam as a whole as a concerted threat to western security, and to imply that the West’s democratic institutions and freedoms are not proof against that threat, is absurd and close to treason. Then to demand that western freedoms be dismantled and stored away for the duration of a “war on terror” is to wave the flag of surrender.

This defeatism led the American Congress to allow its president to authorise torture and detention without trial in what Senator Robert Byrd called “the slow unravelling of the people’s liberties”. It enabled a British Home Office to curb free speech and habeas corpus. It arms police, fortifies buildings and impedes the free movement of citizens. It makes every Christian suspicious of every Muslim.

This poison has not been generated by the teaching of Sayyid Qutb and his Al-Qaeda fanatics, but in the overreaction to them. After sowing their mayhem they, and not Afghanistan and Iraq, should have been targeted and eliminated. The belligerence and ineptitude of western policy over the past decade has turned nobodies into heroes of the Muslim world. The most incompetent period of western diplomacy since the 1930s has left the West hated and cities everywhere at the mercy of any Muslim misfit with a sack of explosive.

When Thomas Paine told America that “we have it in our power to begin the world over again”, he meant by example, not military conquest. His utopianism was a brave, confident and open-hearted one. That of his successors is sinking into the opposite, a fearful, besieged, security-obsessed wimpishness, in which Muslims rightly feel threatened by the arbitrary violence of the American right.

Just FYI, here are some links that gained DCP some extra traffic in the last few days.

The DCP Blog got a nice link right up front in this blog post at FireDogLake on Saturday evening. It focused on Casey's post about Islamo-Facism Week coming to schools near you.

Feministing featured DiAnne's post about Torture and Beauty advertising in this post which led to a number of links in other places.

Nyc W. Alberts and Dustin de Wynde both linked to DiAnne's post in comments at Crooks'N'Liars which generated some traffic for us.

Nyc W. Alberts was a busy person. S/He also posted links to that story on AirAmerica, Jim Spencer's blog, Spenser Speaks as well as a couple Crooks'n'Liars mentions.

Karen's activities in awarding the Backbone award were noted in this diary on dailykos. Karen seems to have acquired a new title.

You can check out the traffic trend here.

Thanks for sharing, dw. Nice to know that our group is getting some exposure out there.

posted by dwahzon:

"Karen's activities in awarding the Backbone award were noted in this diary on dailykos. Karen seems to have acquired a new title."

So I checked out the link and sure enough, Tim Carpenter is out of a job! Someone better tell him...

(For those unable to click, above, the diarist said I was the Executive Director of PDA. That would be Tim Carpenter...I have retired from executive positions in the peace and justice movement!)

And, y'know, one of the cool things about these Open Thread segments is that you get to repeat yourself sometimes without fear of being pilloried for being off-topic.

Not that this is really off-topic anyway, mind you, but I'm going to repeat myself nonetheless:

The new iteration of the DCP website looks great, works great, and *totally* kicks ass -- and it took many many hours of hard & skillful work on the part of our own dwahzon here to make it happen.

So, once again, let me give her major public props for that!

(We now return you to your regularly-scheduled DCP, which is already in progress...)

I was asked to help this go viral ..

I ran across a plea and a link on Crooks and Liars for this New Orleans family in need. They are a 9th Ward family who rebuilt their house and when it was just about ready to have the electricity turned on in September, some creep abandoned a stolen car in their backyard and set it ablaze to rid it of evidence, and their house burned town!

I can only give $5... but I am hoping this will go viral. It needs to. I think there is value in rebuilding one family's hope in a tangible way, perhaps the hope will spread throughout the 9th Ward.

Anyways..... if you can help, or even post it on your blog, I think that would be grand!!

http://www.hopeingrace.com/

Robin

Thanks Dwah for all your help, much appreciated

Revealed: the man behind court attack on Gore film (UK Funded by Mining/Energy Interests)

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2190770,00.html

"Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

Identity Thief Takes Victim's Place in Grave Annie Hayes was still mourning the death of her son when a veteran's cemetery told her another man with her son's name, social security number and military credentials had been in her son's grave since 2003... Video report
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/linkframe.php?linkid=43805

Don't worry Dwah, I will get it sooner or later just a little bit dense, you know what I mean, but I'm trying. I do learn though, sooner or later hey Christy?

Wow! I've just watched a four corners program that follows a trail of dirty money from the Exclusive Brethren and the political "gifts" to major parties in Australia (favouring John Howard), New Zealand (favouring the opposition Leader) and the United States (favouring George W Bush) all in 2004.

Then again in the midterm elections in the United States in 2006. Obviously it didn't work.

Excellent exposure and it couldn't come at a better time here in Australia. Our election will be held on 24th November. John Howard is being bribed. Again! Oh great program! Perfect Timing!

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2007/s2057172.htm

Excuse me, but, I stumbled off the train and somehow found myself in Loony Land, but, wtf are all of you people doing here too?

Group Plans to Provide Investigative Journalism

By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA

As struggling newspapers across the country cut back on investigative reporting, a new kind of journalism venture is hoping to fill the gap.

Paul E. Steiger, who was the top editor of The Wall Street Journal for 16 years, and a pair of wealthy Californians are assembling a group of investigative journalists who will give away their work to media outlets.

The nonprofit group, called Pro Publica, will pitch each project to a newspaper or magazine (and occasionally to other media) where the group hopes the work will make the strongest impression. The plan is to do long-term projects, uncovering misdeeds in government, business and organizations.

Nothing quite like it has been attempted, and despite having a lot going for it, Pro Publica will be something of an experiment, inventing its practices by trial and error. It remains to be seen how well it can attract talent and win the cooperation of the mainstream media.

“It is the deep-dive stuff and the aggressive follow-up that is most challenged in the budget process,” said Mr. Steiger, who will be Pro Publica’s president and editor in chief. He gave up the title of managing editor of The Journal in May, but is staying on through the end of the year as editor at large; during his tenure, the newsroom won 16 Pulitzer Prizes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/business/media/15publica.html?ei=5099&en=bf79b8314af368b4&ex=1193112000&partner=TOPIXNEWS&pagewanted=print

All I can think is...HUH?

The more I think about it, the more weird that is.

Odd. Strange. Absurd. Surreal. Crazy. Insane.

Totally freaking WEIRD!

Notice there is not a single mention of the moral or ethical questions immediately aroused by such a PROPOSTEROUS notion.

Holy crap. That is so wrong on so many levels.

Blackwater's once-reclusive Erik Prince has launched a PR offensive, bringing the press to the private-security firm's Moyock, N.C. compound and showing up on TV chat shows. (More on that in a moment.) The strategy is clear enough: Prince wants to debunk Blackwater's image as out-of-control mercenaries in the wake of the Nisour Square shootings. And that's because Prince is prepping his company for even more lucrative contracts than the billion dollars Blackwater has received from the U.S. government since 9/11. As The Wall Street Journal reports today, Prince is looking to take on the biggest defense contractors in the country.

According to the Blackwater founder and CEO, private security -- guarding U.S. personnel in war-torn countries, as Blackwater does in Iraq -- shouldn't be what defines the company. "We see the security market diminishing," he told the paper. Instead, Blackwater wants to grow its training and logistics work, placing Blackwater in the center of what the WSJ terms "missions to which the [U.S. military] won't commit American forces." For example, Blackwater recently outbid Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman and Raytheon for a five-year, $15 billion contract to "fight terrorists with drug ties." Get ready to see a lot of Blackwater in Colombia.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004453.php

Last week, Lynne Cheney told Jon Stewart, "I'm writing a children's book about the Constitution." Here's an excerpt: Twenty-seven amendments to the Constitution have been adopted since 1791. The first ten of these are known as the Bill of Rights. The way I remember what they're about is a little lullaby that Dick and I used to sing to our daughters when they were small. It went like this:

Goodnight, freedom of religion/ Goodnight, freedom of speech/ Goodnight, freedom of the press/ Goodnight, fuzzy little peach.

Goodnight, self-incrimination/ Goodnight, cuddly little Haitian/ Goodnight moon, goodnight air/ Goodnight jury trials everywhere.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marty-kaplan/the-pet-constitution_b_68374.html

Last Friday, retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez blasted the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war, calling it a "nightmare with no end in sight." Sanchez, who has received praise from President Bush for his "strong leadership" and for doing "a fabulous job," joins a growing list of military officials who have attacked the Iraq war. His critique is notable not only because he is the most senior military officer to speak out against the war so far but also because he served as the top American commander in Iraq from 2003-2004. "From a catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan to the administration's latest surge strategy, this administration has failed to employ and synchronize its political, economic and military power," Sanchez said. "There has been a glaring, unfortunate display of incompetent strategic leadership within our national leaders. ... There is no question that America is living a nightmare with no end in sight." He added, "Who will demand accountability for the failure of our national political leaders involved in the management of this war? They have unquestionably been derelict in the performance of their duty."

more at

http://www.americanprogress.org

MEDIA -- FOX NEWS LAUNCHES NEW BUSINESS CHANNEL: Rupert Murdoch's latest venture -- the Fox Business Channel (FBC) -- launches today. In an extensive report on the new FBC, Media Matters states that viewers can expect "rampant falsehoods, statements praising the Bush administration, suggestive questioning, scantily clad women, and celebrities discussing the news of the day." FBC's host, Neil Cavuto, for example, has a history of making inflammatory and ill-informed statements about the economy. After Bush adviser Karl Rove resigned from the White House, Cavuto asked: "Karl Rove leaving: A loss for Wall Street?" In May 2006, Cavuto interviewed Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and Playboy model Kara Monaco, who had just been named the 2006 Playmate of the Year, stating "this really is a big, big business story." Explaining FBC's new aims, Fox News CEO Roger Ailes said in February, "Many times I've seen things on CNBC where they are not as friendly to corporations and profits as they should be." Murdoch's recent acquisition of the Dow Jones & Company is already proving fruitful. CNBC, the rival that Murdoch seeks to "conquer," purchased advertising on two Dow Jones websites, but was informed last Tuesday that they would not run on the day of Fox Business's launch.

http://www.mediamatters.org

Oh that Lynne Cheney is such a friggin gem, huh?

Better link and more information. Knew Murdoch's new aquisitions (Dow Jones) meant trouble:

The Fox Business Network will launch in 30 million homes on October 15. According to Multichannel News, Neil Cavuto, the managing editor and senior vice president of business news for Fox News Channel and host of Your World, will "oversee content and business coverage" on the new channel. Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of News Corp., which owns Fox News, reportedly said that the Fox Business channel would be "more business friendly than CNBC." Fox News chairman and chief executive Roger Ailes said, according to The New York Times: "Many times I've seen things on CNBC where they are not as friendly to corporations and profits as they should be." TV Week recently reported that the anchor lineup of the Fox Business Network will include: Forbes on Fox host David Asman, Fox News business contributor Stuart Varney, Bulls & Bears host Brenda Buttner, Cashin' In host Terry Keenan, and business news correspondent Dagen McDowell.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200710120001

Dwahzon,

Your hard work on creating DCP 2.0 is appreciated. It's nice that the new m.t. allows all the new bells and whistles and I'm sure many appreciate the time you've taken to set it up and to explain coding.

I do have a question. I have heard from others that they can't post if they have to register and sign in. Is the new registration and sign up required by the new MT or is it something that we have a choice to turn on or off?

http://www.charlierose.com/home
Monday October 15, 2007
An hour with Erik Prince, Chairman, CEO and Founder, Blackwater USA.

{{{This Charlie Rose show to be aired tonight with Erik Prince was was taped last week. I saw a preview of it Friday night, and the preview video is online, too. This jerk is beyond scary....}}}

Room at Gitmo for Blackwater?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/101507J.shtml
Julian E. Barnes reports for The Los Angeles Times, "As the Bush administration deals with the fallout from the recent killings of civilians by private security firms in Iraq, some officials are asking whether the contractors could be considered unlawful combatants under international agreements."

Interim Heads Increasingly Run Federal Agencies
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/101507K.shtml
Philip Shenon reports for The New York Times, "With only 15 months left in office, President Bush has left whole agencies of the executive branch to be run largely by acting or interim appointees - jobs that would normally be filled by people whose nominations would have been reviewed and confirmed by the Senate."

{{{One glaring omission from the list cited by the author is the UN ambassador. As far as I know, no one has ever been named to replace Bolton after he got his previous job through a recess appointment, so no Senate confirmation hearings have been held. We currently do not have a UN ambassador, as far as I know.}}}

Robert Weiner and John Larmett | Orwell in 2007
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/101507M.shtml
Robert Weiner and John Larmett write for The Oregonian, "In '1984,' the novel that most baby boomers read in high school, George Orwell creates a theoretical modern-day government with absolute power -- a state in which government, called the Party, monitors and controls every aspect of human life to the extent that even having a disloyal thought is against the law....'1984' is happening in 2007."

Then instead of just bitching I need an Action Item for the initiation of the new Rupert-Murdoch-Fox-News-Business-Conglomeration:

f, while watching the Fox Business Network (or any of the cable news networks for that matter), you note examples of conservative misinformation that we should take notice of, please feel free to email our tips line and let us know -- tips@mediamatters.org. With your help, we can hold Fox Business Network accountable from day one.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

David Brock,
President & CEO
Media Matters for America

KEEP emailing TIPS at tips@mediamatters.org

On the day after Al Gore shared the Nobel Peace Prize, The Wall Street Journal’s editors couldn’t even bring themselves to mention Mr. Gore’s name. Instead, they devoted their editorial to a long list of people they thought deserved the prize more.

And at National Review Online, Iain Murray suggested that the prize should have been shared with "that well-known peace campaigner Osama bin Laden, who implicitly endorsed Gore’s stance." You see, bin Laden once said something about climate change — therefore, anyone who talks about climate change is a friend of the terrorists.

What is it about Mr. Gore that drives right-wingers insane?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/14/232615/78

He has also uploaded 3 videos as http://www.current.com.

Now the Nobel Peace Prize ITSELF is suspect, and its winners are scum, says Charles Krauthammer.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/15/819/52724

Kid's healthcare costs too much but war is free?

This is the qestioning meme that Democrats should be putting out there.

And I can't say this is a thread header, because DCP is non-partisan, but as an exercise in free speech let me say this...

At the very least, being an American means that all kids get medical care.

I don't know what other people may think about the part of the constitution that says the purpose of government is to "provide for the general welfare of the people" means, but I am certain that that healthcare for children is exactly what they meant.

Thanks for the traffic update, DW.
I left a short message of thanks for Thers over at his home blog, Whiskey Fire, though Thers blogs at a few places around town.

And I'll chime in with Otter--DCP 2.0 kicks **

Giant props to those who made it happen.

How many ex-GOPers have won the Nobel Peace Prize?

Anyone?
Anyone?

Bueller?
Bueller?

Pass the Peas, Pass the Peas

monkey said October 15, 2007 3:15 PM

Bush got "Man of the Year" in 04. But I think that was because as Time said, "They didn't say it had to be a 'good man' to be Man of the Year."

The Dumbell Piece Price

Oil prices hit $86 a barrel

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12400801/

Monkey
The whole reason the deficit is down is because they shrunk the dollar.

Casey

You are right because people from both parties profess to care about children - now let them prove it!

This goes for elected representatives and for the voters!

Regarding children's healthcare issue - here is the story of how they Swift-Boated a 12 year old who spoke out on the subject.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/opinion/12krugman.html?_r=3&hp&oref=login&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

monkey October 15, 2007 3:52 PM

monkey,
Oil prices are higher. The banks form a 'coalition' to save each other from 'bad investments' in the housing bubble. I'm sure there's a connection to all of that happening right here and right now.

So MoveOn is having vigils tomorrow night, to save children's healthcare.

Sparrow, please have anyone with questions about signing in contact me via the contact form or give them my dcp email address. I'd be happy to answer any questions they may have directly.

There are so many advantages to having it set up with a sign-in process, I am hard-pressed to understand why registering would be a problem.

One can easily sign in and sign out and instruct MT not to retain a cookie. Just don't click the 'Remember me' box.

Whether one is signed in or not, their email address and ip address are recorded with the comment so if it's anonymity they're looking for, then not commenting at all is wisest.

Christy,

Melissa Block did an interview with Paul Steiger about Pro Publica on All Things Considered this afternoon on NPR.

He explained what they want to do quite clearly.

You can listen to the interview here.

NPR also did a terrific story on Tim Tagaris in his role as Chris Dodd's online communications director.

Here's a picture of Tim with the ever-present baseball cap that's mentioned in the story. He was wearing it at YearlyKos when I talked with him.

You can listen to the interview here. I thought the characterization of the different campaigns' websites was interesting. Check it out.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071029/brecher_smith
Watada's Double Jeopardy

Lt. Watada's case comes up in court on Friday.

Hey dwahzon,

I loved all things considered this evening! With the Pro Publica story, and the Tim Tagaris story, I thought it was great!

I think that Pro Publica thing is excellent. It's just what we need, since the newspapers can't seem to do the investigative work themselves (in any decent fashion anyway).

I just went back and read Christy's shock at the Pro Publica idea.

The thing I thought was good about this particular one (I don't know about others, and how they would determine the truthfulness of the material), but Paul Steiger from the Wall Street Journal, who will be the director of pro-publica, prided himself in the non-partisan reporting by the Journal (As opposed to the partisan opinions in the journal, which he mentioned). And the investors are heavy hitting democrats who are also interested in non-biased (in either direction) reporting.

They seem to have that as a common goal.

And speaking of old dogs and new tricks....

Fresh Air on NPR tonight had a review of the new Springsteen album.

It sounds great, and they gave it an excellent review.

Listen here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15284397

DW and Carol,

My shock comes from the fact our media has failed so freaking badly, all the sudden we need a whole new enterprise that will 'investigate' the part of the news that needs to be investigated.

Of course, it is just a matter of time before another one is formed to give the 'fair and balanced investigation'. And then another, and another, ....

AND, then on top of that, the entire article completely shies away from the most fundamental questions, arguments, and profound observations on the overall matter at hand, like...

What in the hell is the NYTimes or WaPo or news entities in general good for at all then? They have completely and utterly rendered themselves totally impotent.

My shock was not at the weirdness, my shock was at the reminder of how totally and completely incompetent every facet of this nation has become.

The fact it is so freaking strange I am kinda getting used too.

Glad to see some fellow NPR listeners.
I just sent in a donation, as I depend on it utterly.
I don't even have a television any more.
(& then the internet)

Christy,

Just wanted to respond before hitting the hay.

You said "What in the hell is the NYTimes or WaPo or news entities in general good for at all then? They have completely and utterly rendered themselves totally impotent."

I totally agree. They have done this to themselves. It is crazy indeed.

G'night all.

October 15, 2007 1:53 PM
not my president said:

Now the Nobel Peace Prize ITSELF is suspect, and its winners are scum, says Charles Krauthammer.

-----

Keep up the work, right wingers, and I may just give up my American citizenship in shame.

The only reason I haven't done it yet is because my country of birth is a Republican puppet state, and not a sovereign country, therefore rendering the whole exercise pointless.

October 15, 2007 4:08 PM
not my president said:

Regarding children's healthcare issue - here is the story of how they Swift-Boated a 12 year old who spoke out on the subject.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/opinion/12krugman.html?_r=3&hp&oref=login&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

-----

Okay, I really have NO intention of associating myself with a country that has no respect for children, or international institutions and protocols, any longer.

Unfortunately, my choices are pathetic. If I had come from a great country in the first place, I would be reverting to my birth country immediately. Too bad, my "home" country is a pathetic American partisan puppet state with deplorable human rights record. (Just because my "home" country may have made your cell phone and your car does NOT automatically make it a great country worthy of my respect.)

The Republicans practically gave me a freebie visa to the US, and a freebie citizenship, in hopes of making me one of them.

Now, it's the Republicans that will make me give it up.

I'm in tears now.

Every human being has a birthright to call a country home, a country that will look after you and stand up for you, in exchange for loyalty, patriotism, and maybe some taxes. A country that, at least to some degree, reflects your values. A country you can proudly call home, and worthy of that designation.

It's just devastating to know that I have never had such a country in my entire life. Briefly during the Clinton era, I thought the US was it. Now, I know better than that.

Hey All:

If I could stick my hand in my heart,
Spill it all over the stage;
Would it satisfy you,
Would it slide it on by you,
Would you think the boy is strange?

Ain't it strange?

If I could win,
If I could sing,
A love song so divine;
Would it be enough
For yor cheating heart,
If I broke down and cried?

If I cried?

I said...

I know
It's only rock and roll
But I like it.

Chuck in Houston

I know a coffee shop
Down on 52nd Street
And I don't need no fancy food
And I don't need no fancy wine.
And I sure don't need the tears you cried.
Till the next time
We say good bye

I suppose in the interest of protecting intellectual property I should reference the above two posts as lyrics written by the Rolling Stones (name courtesy of McKinley Morganfield et al).

Ally:

Not that it's any of my business, but nobody has any birth-right to anything, as far as I've seen in my 46 years. And as far as countries go, a person can do a lot worse than the old US of A. As long as we all avoid a collective freak-out we'll get there in the end. You have to have patience with us mere mortals!

Chuck in Houston

And for the sake of being on topic I almost wish I had signed myself as an "old-dog" on the above posts.

Meaning that I am not interested in any new tricks.

I don't know exactly why, but I like to post this once and a while, which has to be read from the point of view of the year 1863 to make sense (score = 20):

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_Address

Chuck in Houston

Plus we invented Rock and Roll

October 15, 2007 12:50 PM
monkey said:
Oh that Lynne Cheney is such a friggin gem, huh?

I wanted to throw up!

From NMP: What is it about Mr. Gore that drives right-wingers insane?

Intelligence. Intelligence. More Intelligence. Real solutions. Gore is far more worthy of such an award than any of them will ever get close to being. Jealousy. Gore is a person who didn't have to order any one to go out and kill on his behalf. Gore is Good. Right wingers are already insane. And Bad.

On Thursday night
She looked a fright
Her pretty hair all curled
[Unintelligible]
Dance, dance little sister, dance.

On Friday night
She’s all decked-out
Her high-healed shoes,
Her dress so tight
Dance, dance little sister, dance.

On Saturday night
She [unintelligible]
She’s stepping out
On Fredrick’s Street
Dance, dance little sister, dance.

Fe:

Though nothing
Can keep us together,
We can beat them,
For ever and ever.
We can be heros
Just for one day.

Well I,
Well I wish I could swim.
Like a dolphin,
Like a dolphin can swim.
Well nothing,
Can drive them away.
We can beat them,
For ever and ever.
We can beat them,
Just for one day.

Though nothing
Can keep us together,
We can beat them,
For ever and ever.
We can be heros
Just for one day.

Chuck in Houston

Oops -- for intellectual property purposes that prior is David Bowie. I hope that's all right.

ACLU: Pentagon Sought Citizens' Bank Records
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/101507R.shtml
The Associated Press reports: "The American Civil Liberties Union said Sunday that newly uncovered documents show that the Pentagon secretly sent hundreds of letters seeking the financial records of private citizens without court approval."

Ally,

I don't care where you are from, or how many taxes you pay. If we all still believe in the US Constitution then there is still a place for us.

And we are all still brothers and sisters there.

The only things worth having are the ones we are willing to fight for. The only country worth having is the one we are willing to fight for.

Woz,

A test email I sent myself finally went through.. 2 days late but it went through.

Try emailing me again. My trip was put off til this afternoon, still waiting on my sister. I should have known better. Cops never can just make plans, they have to make plans, then cancel, then proceed.

She is cool for a cop though, and she is armed, so I won't b*tch too much.

Randi Rhodes is the Victim of a Violent Attack

Randi Rhodes was mugged on Sunday night on 39th Street and Park Ave, nearby her Manhattan apartment, while she was walking her dog Simon.

According to Air America Radio late night host Jon Elliott, Rhodes was beaten up pretty badly, losing several teeth and will probably be off the air for at least the rest of the week. At of late Monday night we have not able to locate any press accounts of the attack and nothing has been posted on the AAR website.

Snip

Elliott was extremely agitated when he reported on the incident. He opened his show by saying "it is with sadness that tonight I inform you that my Air America colleague Randi Rhodes was assaulted last night while walking her dog near her New York City home."

Pointing out that Rhodes was wearing a jogging suit and displayed no purse or jewelry, Elliott speculated that "this does not appear to me to be a standard grab the money and run mugging."

"Is this an attempt by the right wing hate machine to silence one of our own," he asked. "Are we threatening them. Are they afraid that we're winning. Are they trying to silence intimidate us."

http://talkingradio.blogspot.com/2007/10/randi-rhodes-is-victim-of-violent.html

God help Us.

I missed a good night on the blog!

Ally, you are a citizen of Planet Earth and Blue Utopia.
The rest can go to the place where little devils hang out but they will be too far gone to enjoy it.

Chuck, glad to see you posting even though I missed it. Good to hear from you via email and thinking maybe you came over after I told you about the "remodel" and we discussed the lame political blogs of the candidates and how 2004 may have been a one-off, with our candidate and blog?

Off to work - didn't like being woken up by the alarm and reading lst thing about Randi Rhodes. Just can't break it to my husband, who is an Air America listener. I'm not because I prefer NPR - less commentary and no commercials. I strive to have a commercial-free existence though that's impossible. Do enjoy commercial photography - it's some of the best.

Have a nice day, all! (Why couldn't it have been Rush or Mann but I shouldn't think violent thoughts - bit my tongue).

Why couldn't it have been Rush or Mann...???

Because there's a special place reserved for such luminaries.

Betterdeadthanred.

cnn quickvote

Do you think the U.S. is sufficiently protected from terror attacks?

Yes 19% 11417
No 81% 47845
Total Votes: 59262

Didja get yer trillions worth?

Bush to meet with Dalai Lama today
Congressional award and presidential visit angers China

WASHINGTON - President Bush and Congress will stir Chinese anger this week when they honor the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet's Buddhists.

While the Dalai Lama is lauded in much of the world as a figure of moral authority, Beijing reviles the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and claims he seeks to destroy China's sovereignty by pushing for independence for
Tibet, where the Dalai Lama is considered a god-king.

China warns that a planned White House meeting Tuesday between Bush and the Dalai Lama and a public ceremony Wednesday to award the spiritual leader the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal are bad for U.S.-Chinese ties.

more...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21320198/

Last week Turkey, this week China... with a Nobel God-King twist!

Who's left to piss off?

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Haythem could only recognize his oldest boy from his tall and slim physique as well as what was left of his shoes. His son's head had been blown away, his body charred beyond recognition. His wife of more than 20 years was torn apart.

Choking back tears, he said, "Killing them was not enough, blowing up their skulls, they burned them and disfigured them."

Haythem's wife, Mahassen, and his 20-year-old son, Ahmed, were among the 17 Iraqi civilians killed and 27 others wounded in a hail of gunfire September 16 in Baghdad.

Guards working for private security firm Blackwater USA are accused of opening fire on the Iraqis.

The Iraqi government has said the Blackwater guards shot without provocation -- something the U.S.-based contractor has denied, saying the guards were in a firefight with gunmen.

An Iraqi government report has accused Blackwater of "premeditated murder," saying the company's guards randomly fired at civilians. An Iraqi panel investigating the shootings has asked Blackwater to pay the families of each of the victims $8 million in compensation.

"Money will not compensate us for what we have lost, even if it were piles of it," Haythem said. "No one can put a price on the lives of those killed."

Haythem, 46, a doctor who specializes in blood diseases, spoke from his temporary home in an upscale Baghdad neighborhood where he is living with his mother and two remaining children -- daughter Maryam, 18, and son Haidar, 17.

While he spoke, his mother sat in a corner of the room, moaning and sobbing, rocking back and forth on a couch. She wore all black.

All Haythem and the family know about the final moments of their loved ones is what two Iraqi police officers who witnessed the shootings have told them -- that Ahmed was shot as he was driving his car in Nusoor Square and his mother clutched him tight as he was bleeding.

"Those who witnessed the incident say that my son's head was scattered and my wife held him and hugged him," Haythem said. "She was screaming, 'My son, my son! Help me! Help me!' "

The car slowly rolled forward until Blackwater guards unleashed more shots that turned the vehicle into a fireball, according to the witnesses.

"They understood the call for help. They sprayed her with bullets," he said.

Blackwater has not discussed specifics about the case, saying the FBI is investigating the matter. Blackwater CEO Erik Prince told CNN Sunday one of the Blackwater vehicles was damaged by small arms fire and that his guards committed no "deliberate violence."

Haythem's wife also was a doctor and his son was attending medical school with hopes of becoming a surgeon.

"They destroyed my family and they killed my beloved wife, my better half," Haythem said calmly. "They deprived me of my eldest son who I have raised into a strong, young man. They deprived him of fulfilling his dream to be a doctor and a surgeon. They planted pain and misery in the hearts of my two younger kids."

more...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/10/16/dad.blackwater/index.html

Monkey Man
by David Byrne

Back from the war
Covered in red, white and blue
So here I am
But I got nowhere to go

Heaven help you now
Heaven help you now

Monkey man
This is not Garden of Eden
Take a look
Who will eat and who gets eaten?

Saturday night
I'm gettin' outa my head
Who's laughin' now
You should be runnin' my friend

Heaven help us now
Heaven help us now

Monkey man
D.N.A. and evolution
Slide on down
Say goodbye civilization

A hundred miles an hour in my mind
And there you go
Outta control into the Promised Land
And down We go

Monkey man
Are we just some weird mutation?
Oh, my mind!
Lead me not into temptation

Like a snake
I will strike without a warnin'
Holy cow
Someone pinch me, am I dreamin'?

Monkey man
Let's get back to where we started
Slide on down
Evolution's goin' backwards

Damn, that story should be a headline everywhere.

Blackwater mercenaries killed a doctor and a medical student and no doubt, have put another doctor out of business in a country that has great need of every medical resource it can muster.

And it was so unwarranted and unnecessary and will have such awful consequences.

All in "Our" name too, dw.

All in Our name.

Oil prices hit new high

Oil prices jumped today on a weak dollar and rising tensions between Turkey and Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq. Light, sweet crude for November delivery rose $1.74 to $87.86 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after reaching a record trading high of $88.20 earlier in the session.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/16/markets/oil/index.htm?postversion=2007101612

I ask you, has this business plan not played out brilliantly for the two Oil Men in the White House and their investors, er, supporters?

Bush Threatens to Veto Any Legislation That Raises Taxes on Oil Industry

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ag5TASwc6720&refer=us

Separate attacks kill 5 Iraqi journalists

Four reporters' deaths follow the slaying of a Washington Post correspondent in Baghdad.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-journalists16oct16,1,4430410.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=6&cset=true