Posts with the tag civil rights

Civil & Equal Rights in the Obama-Biden Administration

Freethinker — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:13:54 EST

As you will see, both equal rights and civil rights are of great importance to the Obama-Biden Administration and to the Democratic Party, as opposed to the George W. Bush eight year long Administration from hell, full of hate, bigotry, holier-than-thouism, discrimination, intolerance, dogma, doctrine, ignorance and "tradition". - Freethinker

Three Facts about Barack Obama and Civil Rights

Barack Obama will combat employment discrimination:
Obama and Biden will work to overturn the Supreme Court's recent ruling that curtails women’s and racial minorities' ability to challenge pay discrimination. They will also pass the Fair Pay Act to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Strengthen civil rights enforcement:
Obama and Biden will reverse the politicization that has occurred in the Bush Administration's Department of Justice. They will put an end to the ideological litmus tests used to fill positions within the Civil Rights Division.
Expand hate crime statutes:
Obama and Biden will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation, expand hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepard Act, and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section.

In this Section

Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement
Combat Employment Discrimination
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes
End Deceptive Voting Practices
End Racial Profiling
Reduce Crime Recidivism by Providing Ex-Offender Support
Eliminate Sentencing Disparities
Expand Use of Drug Courts

6 years from unemployment insurance to fascism 1927-1933

fx303 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:44:57 EDT

In 1927, the Weimar Republic - the democratically elected government of Germany passed mandatory unemployment benefits for the needy. That's rather progressive for the time. So, what happened in the following six years to turn it all around?

Well, there was a bit of a mistake in that first constitution, they corrected without doubt the second time. There was nothing that prevented laws to be passed that would allow the constitution to be ignored. So it was never officially dissolved, the (you know who) just wrote laws to make ignoring it allowed. The second time the wording states human rights can never be abolished by any future act of legislation.

In 1930, Jazz performance was banned and so was modern art. Three years after unemployment was introduced. Three years before the 'republic' was no longer the government.

Art, Music, and Culture are both an indicator of the level of sophistication of a society; and a warning sign that when such are censored, other rights are likely to follow.

Let's look at the US Constitution. The BIll of Rights was added as an afterthought, the Constitution was ratified by all parties and I'll quote

"The Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added:" the Bill of Rights, Amendments I-X, an afterthought luckily we followed through and passed.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or or the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

That's powerful. The final check on government is the citizens watching for slips, expressing their observations, using the press to carry this information to everyone and organize and assemble to have the matter redressed. Toss the freedom of expression, speech, and the press - this becomes a lot more difficult to accomplish.

Art, Music, and Culture.

PBS: "Medical Marijuana Laws Are Hazy"

Justin Turley, San Diego Medical Cannabis Patient — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:50:57 EDT

This is an interview with San Diego Assistant District Attorney, Steve Walter from the local Public Broadcasting Service's local station.

(A link to the original source, which includes an audio version can be found after the full text.)

MAUREEN CAVANAUGH (Host): Now what constitutes the difference between a drug dealer and a legitimate provider of medical marijuana?

WALTER: It’s a very difficult question. The law itself, when I say the law I’m talking about Prop 215, SB-420, and the AG’s guidelines, as well as the case law. In essence, you have to be either a user or a qualified patient or a caregiver for such a patient.

Wow. So according to the San Diego District Attorney's Office, "a user" is "a legitimate provider of medical marijuana." That's really disturbing as I have obtained/do obtain all of my medical cannabis from Medical Cannabis Caregivers/ Legal Patients. These are the ones that Walter himself oversaw the aggressive arrests of. I guess going on the above quote, he believes that any one ELSE, just so long as they 'use marijuana' is a responsible, law abiding, trustworthy source for the medication I use for my healthcare. Great.

9/16/2009 : San Diego Police Repeat D.A, Dumanis' Lie : That No Medical Cannabis Collective Is Legitimate

Justin Turley, San Diego Medical Cannabis Patient — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:07:15 EDT

This is the first time I've heard of a representative of the law enforcement agencies involved speaking publically on the matter (with exception to the San Diego District Attorney.) Once again I'm hearing the same lie that the City of San Diego is spreading to the citizens and performing horrific illegal acts based upon: District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis claims that the collectives, co-ops and other medical cannabis organizations are illegal, profiteering criminals and not legal medical cannabis patients nor are they caregivers to their fellow legal medical cannabis patients.

I am a legal, medical cannabis patient. As such, I am a member of a few collectives, but most active in one called the Beneficial Care Collective. I do not receive any pay for my work, my only reward is being able to share my feelings, thoughts, expierences and medical treatment stories with my fellow patients. The Beneficial Care Collective was raided and shut down by armed forces on 9/9/2009, a patient that I consider a friend and fellow caregiver was wrongly arrested and the medication was illegally stolen by the City of San Diego.

Here is another report/ piece of insight on the situation currently going on in San Diego, California:

Craig Beresh of S.Cal NORML reports that at least 14 San Diego
dispensaries received "cease and desist" visits by the S.D. police
yesterday. They were told that a written notice would follow
shortly. Numerous other dispensaries remain closed in the wake of
the recent raids. As the following report indicates, police are
falsely spreading the notion that collectives can't operate legally
under state law. S. Cal NORML is contemplating legal action against
San Diego.
- Dale Gieringer, Cal NORML

>From: "Southern California NORML" <craigberesh@normlsc.org>
>To: <dale@canorml.org>
>
>The San Diego police will be visiting all collectives over the next
>few weeks...
>
>At Pacific Beach town council meeting Wed 9/16
>PBTC handed out fliers to everyone with every collective's name and
>address. The inference is to call the police and complain, although
>that is not written. The theme of the night was to call police and
>complain about everything, including motorhomes, street repair,
>floatillas on the bay, alcohol, smoke shops and medical marijuana.
> Then Shelli Zimmerman spoke. She was just promoted to Asst. Chief of
>Police from the Northern Division which includes PB:
>"All collectives are for profit. There has been no change in the
>law. Collectives are illegal. Props 215 and SB420 do not make
>medical marijuana legal. It just gives people an 'affirmative'
>defense. Growing for your own medical use is ok and the cops won't
>bother you. They are only going after illegal collectives (which are
>all of them) We are using the same strategy as in 2005 and 2006. We
>worked with SDPD, sheriffs, DA, and DEA. Seized product, multiple
>handguns, and hundreds of thousands in cash. We don't have enough
>resources to shut them all down. We went after the ones with most
>complaints. Community vocality helps. Especially all the noise,
>vandalism, intimidation, threats and profit complaints. All the rest
>of the collectives will be getting personal visits by the police
>informing them they are breaking the law and to shut down over the
>next few weeks. If they
>don't, they will get cease and desist letters. If they stay open they
>will be raided. Just like in 2005 & 2006, all the collectives got the
>message. Another strategy may be going after the landlords."
>
>A few personal comments:
>I'm not sure what affirmative defense means other than a legal defense
>or medical defense...
>It sounds like people are organized and complaining to police with
>multiple, anonymous, and false reports of noise and vandalism, like
>PB town council, <http://savepb.org>savepb.org, and
><http://discoverpb.org>discoverpb.org Is
>this legal?
>This is from a person just promoted to Asst Chief of SDPD which should
>worry the medical community in SD. How can she even say that ALL
>collectives are for profit without investigating them first. Send in
>state auditors not SWAT!
> - Craig Beresh, S. Cal NORML

Source
Visit California NORML for more information

Terrorist Attacks on Californian Medical Cannabis Patients Continue

Justin Turley, San Diego Medical Cannabis Patient — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:19:51 EDT

While the Nation continues to argue over Healthcare Reform, some of the neediest, sickest, most desperate Americans are being terrorized by their own City Government!

Terrorist Attacks On Medical Cannabis Patients Continue
by 921 » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:34 pm
Unfortunately it appears that despite her claim to care about "Medical Marijuana Patients", San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and her armed militia continue to wage war on San Diego's most defenseless...

I received this report from an anonymous Medical Cannabis Patient/ Co-Op Member just today:

A narcotics officer came in last night and demanded the administrators personal information. he would not leave until we gave it to him. he said he was getting all admins personal info for records and that the "task force" was going to be sending letters, that's why he needed it. I know he went to Mother Nurture and a couple others in SD. I feel it is a ploy to get their personal info so they can raid their houses along with their businesses. If you could post this all over for me, it would help others.

I fear that those suspicions may be correct.

In addition to above report and what I perceive are truly medical cannabis patients asking for help, I have noticed a whole new influx since 9/9/2009's raids. People I have never met or even "chatted with online" are emailing me asking where to get medical cannabis, asking where I live and telling me about buying marijuana off the street. People are posting "reviews" on the BCC section on WeedMaps insinuating that the Collective was anything but a legitimate Medical Collective. I post about BCC possibly opening back up and the suspicious emails increase instantly and the forum is hit with what I assume are links to possibly illegal, pornographic websites.

And even though I've done countless hours of volunteer work to support local law enforcement families & officers and even though I may not live to see next year thanks to Cirrhosis (and other currently fatal health issues) - I am afraid that at any moment the door to the apartment I can't afford will be kicked in and I will be put in a jail cell even though I have not knowingly broken any California State Law.

If this is how Bonnie Dumanis CARES for me and other Medical Cannabis Patients, I'd rather she ignore us, because she's far worse than any of the diseases that are killing me.

~ "921"

http://www.sandiegobcc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=50

Thanks for reading. Unfortunately the local media refuses to report the truth of the situation, so I'm desperately reaching out on the internet. Here's a little background on who I am and why this is here: I am a tax paying, voting, community minded individual that is suffering from Cirrhosis and many other currently fatal physical ailments. I am a fully legal, medical cannabis patient from San Diego, California and this blog is my attempt to educate the President of the United States of America and the entire world of my struggle.

Bringing Terror To San Diego's Suffering

Justin Turley, San Diego Medical Cannabis Patient — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:02:44 EDT

Organizing for America,

While the President was expressing the need for our nation to reform its' inhumane Health Care system, some of San Diego, California's most vulnerable, suffering citizens were subjected to organized terrororism inflicted upon them by their own City and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies.

I am referring to San Diego District Attorney, Bonnie Dumanis' continued persecution (not a mis-spelling) of those who benefit from legal medical cannabis. Lies are being told about the Collectives operating for profit and not being caregivers to its' members.

Please Mr. Stewart and OFA, we're already victims of our ailments, diseases, handicaps and inflictions. Members of these particular Collectives, at least one that I know, is an amputee U.S. Soldier. Isn't the pain he brought back from the war enough punishment and sacrifice for his country? Does he really need to suffer through prescription opiates that are highly addictive and less effective than medical cannabis? These voices need to be heard. Please look into the facts of this. People's lives are at stake.

Brutally Beaten Federal Employee

BeatenFed — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:52:55 EDT

While serving as a US Federal employee, I was brutally beaten in my face, head, arms and legs in an Oklahoma jail cell on July 16th. I am a black woman under the age of 30 and a plain clothes policeman followed me after asking me inappropriate personal questions. I was booked at the jail for eluding the policeman at 30 mph below the speed limit and arrested me at gun point. After I was beaten, I was left for dead and placed into a suicide chair for hours until 8 AM the following morning. I was arraigned by a judge who increased my sentence from a misdemeanor to a felony and the District Attorney continues to refuse to drop the charges.

Join the fight against blatant disregard in Texas

Victor from Spring, TX — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:53:09 EDT

...for disabled and abused children, specifically my son.

State and federal officers are all behind protecting those who have been, and still are, abusing and retaliating against my son (Black Latino) and I (Latino) since I found out in Dec 16, 2007 they've been causing him brain damages to get Federal funding for special ed services which are denied him.
I've spent the last 1.5 years in the Courts, avoiding attempts on my life and freedom, trying to get our case heard. I've been rejected twice by Tx Supreme Court, six times by US Supreme Court. However, state entities and federal officers are all waiting for me to be made scapegoat according to a classified plan referred to as 'the protocol' - one straight out of Project Paperclip.

Primary Defendants include a Family Judge, Executive Director of Special Services for Spring ISD, and my ex-wife. Below is just 1/64th of a list of reference material.

   Harris County Sherrif's Drowning Case # 0007192537 in 07/2000
   Tx Attorney General's CVS Report # VC02461605 in 07/2002
   B.O.E. OCR Complaint #06071260 in 04/2007
   Biased Final Decision Due Process Case No. 206-SE-0407 in 08/2007
   1st medical neglect finding by CPS, # 26492443 in 01/2008
   2nd medical neglect finding by CPS, # 26550760 in 01/2008
   3rd CPS filing ignored, 401346 in 12/2008
   Unheard, disregarded filings, Case No. 2008-03143 in 01/2008
   Tx Supreme Court Denies Habeas Corpus Case No. 08-0896 in 10/2008
   Unfinalized 'Final' Orders Case No. 2000-27121 in 11/2008 ('bill of attainder')

Obama has declared war on gays and lesbians

TMan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:45:16 EDT

I am devastated to see Obama defending policies comparing gays to incest, Changing positions on Don't Ask Don't Tell, and doing nothing to help us.

The Rick Warren fiasco was a tip off. This man has no plan for us. He is with the religous right. I feel lied to.

I will note vote for Obama again.

"From Rosa to Obama"

Sharisma K Smith — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:31:10 EDT

Hello Obama supporters,

My name is Sharisma K. Smith and I am the Creator and Designer of the first Civil Rights/Democratic FLAG to be displayed and/or archived in a public museum. The Troy University Rosa Parks Library and Museum is home to this one of a kind/Authentic/Exclusive flag. It can be viewed in the Children's Wing of the Museum.

I believe in Obama and his staff. His Presidency is ordained of God and is his Destiny being fulfilled as well as Prophesy being fulfilled-" The Last shall be first and the first shall be last". Obama is a wonderful President which is why I created the Flag, to honor him and the road traveled from 1955-2008(CIVIL-RIGHTS)&(EQUALITY) - is NOW! Change,is NOW!

Thanks President OBAMA & Michelle...God Bless America!

Sharisma K. Smith...royalty73@bellsouth.net

Withhold Contributions Until Obama Comes Through on His Promise

A Private Person — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:34:30 EDT

I would expect that very many gay or gay-friendly people contributed many millions of dollars to Obama's presidential campaign.

Those of us who did are currently being asked to continue to support the President's work through "Organizing for America" (and perhaps other groups).

Even Nancy Pelosi has stated that it is "not the right time" to address same-sex marriage at the federal level.

I suggest that we all respond to such solicitations for financial support with something along these lines:

=============
If you want my continued financial support, you're going to have to honor your campaign promise to grant all 1,138 federal rights of marriage to same-sex couples.

Not a penny until that's done. You don't get to choose "when the time is right" for equal protection under the law.
=============

Democratic Senators Tell Obama Not to Rescind Abortion Protections for Doctors

Jason M. Christos — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:00:59 EDT

Democratic Senators Tell Obama Not to Rescind Abortion Protections for Doctors

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 31, 2009_pub = 'sertelt';

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The only two Democratic members of the U.S Senate who are not strong abortion advocates like the rest of their party's caucus have sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking him not to rescind the conscience protections on abortion that President Bush put in place.

Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania sent Obama a letter last week telling him that the Provider Conscience Clause should remain.

That is the collection of new regulations the Bush administration put on the books to provide better enforcement of three federal laws making sure medical staff and facilities are not forced to participate in abortions.

The White House announced in February that Obama is starting the process of overturning the protections and he will make a final decision after the public comment period expires in April.

Pro-life advocates have been actively responding to the proposal...more

DADT funding

Javonne — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:27:14 EDT

Dear President Obama,
Repeal Don't ask, Don't tell. Please do not refund it!

The Intent of the Law or Misuse of it

Tom Awtry — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:52:02 EDT

I guess I could be wrong! I’ve always voted for candidates based on bills they have either authored or supported by their vote, and this, with me, has been true at the local state and federal levels of our government.

Now I see there are other things I should have considered besides the “Intent” of the bill introduced by the person I want in office or that person’s beliefs.

As I understand it, Lawmakers in at least eight U.S. states want recipients of food assistance, unemployment benefits or welfare to submit to random drug testing. For me this is a travesty of government, which could lead to serious repercussions. This effort comes as more Americans turn to these safety nets to ride out the recession. Poverty and civil liberties advocates fear the strategy could backfire, discouraging some people from seeking financial aid and making already desperate situations worse. Please consider reviewing this online news release by CBS News entitled: “States Consider Drug Tests For Needy”. Subtitled: “Recipients Of Food Stamps, Unemployment Benefits And Welfare Targeted By Plans In 8 States”.

We enact laws to “aid” and “protect” us for specifically defined reasons, when these laws are not used for this purpose, in my opinion we are violating the “Rule of Law”, which our country is based upon.

Suppose in my extreme example: a person is transporting a registered firearm “illegally” (in actuality basically a law bidding citizen with no criminal record) in there vehicle; and while transporting the firearm this person comes to the aid of rescuing another individual from a pending life or death situation, hence saving the person’s life! Should this “Good Samaritan” be charged with the crime of transporting a firearm illegally?

For me, to long, I have witnessed the miscarriage of justice within our country in regards to applying laws authored to service one purposed and used in another to establish the “Law of Rule” as opposed to the “Rule of Law”. Our former Bush administration is an additional example, with to many examples to site within one posting.

So, lets not deny those who need financial assistance at this troubling time in our economy when they need it the most. Especially when you consider we could be hurting innocent family members within a family more so than the person under question. Denying an individual these needed benefits could also lead this person to a more serious crime and with one in every one-hundred Americans serving prison time; our penal system is already heavily over crowded.

The following video is a prime example of the importance the Rule of Law as it applies to our American society and basically what separates our nation from developing and undeveloped nations.

Public Service, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law

Sen. Ted Kennedy delivers the keynote address at the 2006 Conference on Public Service & the Law at the University of Virginia Law School. Founded by law students seven years ago, the conference brings together students, citizens, and attorneys to discuss current public interest legal issues. A graduate UVA’s law school, Mr. Kennedy discusses ‘Public Service, the Constitution, and the Rule of Law’.

Additional postings regarding this topic and others may be found here:

"This is for "Charles Barren"

catarina2k2009 — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:02:39 EST

"Sunday" 03/01/2009

"This is just my opinion!"

Now you may not like at all, what I have too say "Sir"

But I believe in "Telling it like it is".

It should not have taken a cartoon being displayed in "The Post" too do an investigation.

That's the problem with some of "Our Peoples" " we wait until something drastic occur then decide too take action. Racism has been around for a long time, it's, just that it's not publicize as much now a days.

Instead of going after those with money, why not do it the right way and get "Justice".

You have other people carring on in the most undecietful way towards the poor, low income, disabled and homeless ones, where is their reasurance. I don't see nothing being done about those matters. I my self is one that was sexually assulted by a maintenance man who continue working for New Community Corp. where I reside, picked on by a neighbor, schemeed on by this neighbor and her associate with management in trying too take me too "Court" based on a lie, injuried by a "Police officer a long with "Misconduct" " Oh! lets not forget about my son "Robert Swepson" being left for dead and having his civil rights being violated. I guess because,

by my son and I being poor, I guess what happen too use means nothing huh!

The Racist New York Post

Lily — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:39:46 EST

Please join me in taking action—attached is my letter to the Editor-in-Chief of the New York Post

D- Col Allen (Editor-in-Chief),

I would start this letter with the word “Dear”, as most common letters begin if I weren’t so disgusted by the despicable half witted excuse of an explanation your paper has “attempted” to make for the most recent cartoon posted on Page 12 of Wednesday’s edition. Specially when Page 11 had a photograph of President Obama signing the Economic Recovery Bill into law, and after traveling extensively to promote its expediency. Also ironic that President Obama often is compared to our dearly departed J.F. Kennedy who many suspect was not a victim of a single shooter but sadly blame/suspect one of our law enforcement agencies. You see we can all push the envelope and stretch our reasoning enough to link two “unrelated” stories: isn’t that what you’re claiming? To say I am nauseated is to simply downplay how many of us feel, distraught! I cannot believe that your paper intends to pass this off as a linking of two separate stories: How Naive do you really think we are?!?!? Seriously?!? This is offensive not only to African-Americans, but to many of us of the human race who are fighting to bring this long overdue gap between people to an end... when we are hoping that we cannot only rise above the tragic pieces of our history by uniting in the progressions we’ve made to overcome and continue to strive to overcome. When we celebrate/experience some progress, something like this only makes us realize how far we have yet to overcome. We grieve these events for the damage they do and the setback they cause and are reminded that even with how far we’ve come, some keep re-infecting the wound we so long to heal. I am sure the controversy makes your paper top the notoriety list and sells papers, however, by stirring up these kinds of controversies you continue to drive a deeper wedge between citizens of the USA (regardless of differences be they physical, philosophical, spiritual etc.) at a time when we cannot afford to be divided. Can’t you see the immense responsibility you as part of the media hold and how damaging misusing the spotlight you hold really is?!? I dare call your actions anti-patriotic, as I would anything that hurts the spirit of our country. And would replace the word “dear” with DISPICABLE, if it weren’t for the hope that you will come to your senses and not only apologize for this cartoon, but actively take measures to ensure this never happens again. I am not asking for censorship, as I do truly believe in freedom of speech and take pride that our constitution grants and protects that privilege; but as all privileges, this right must not be taken for granted and must be backed by good will, NOT greed, NOT a desire to make headlines and specially NOT to cause damage. Journalism is a calling, one that must be honest, factual and progressive. To call the posting of page 12 Regressive is to sugar coat and ignore the Elephant in the room. God bless our President and the United States of America; Let us all focus on the word UNITED.Sincerely,

Lily Estrada

Letter to the Editor: letters@nypost.com
Page Six: rjohnson@nypost.com
Voice your outrage: www. nypost. com

If you have a subscription and want to cancel it, please call 1-800-940-7678

Unsolved murders in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Era

dfillingham — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:24:53 EST

My friend Ben Greenberg and I share activist fathers in civil rights during the 50s and early 60s. He sent me the following. Ben is actively pursing the murderers who are still alive, and is mentioned below. He has tremendous respect for Jerry Mitchell who wrote this column. I support Ben 100% in his work, and I will report on the results as they come in.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090215/NEWS/902150356/1001/news#pluckcomments

This is important work and I am glad to know Ben.

Regards, David Fillingham

The Yellow Brick Road For CHANGE in America Starts Where & When FEAR Stops

Gicomeng — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:07:58 EST

In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a man disabled with a peripheral neuropathic disorder that left him unable to walk rose to the highest office in our nation during the midst of the worst economic disaster in U.S. history. Five sentences into his inaugural address, FDR set the course of the nation for the next 36 years, declaring “there is nothing to fear but fear itself”. Those words became the anthem that echoed throughout our nation, instilling a sense of bravery and patriotism in all Americans, just as “Yes, We Can” rings out today. U.S. citizens had no jobs; no food, and yet, one of FDR’s first accomplishments was bringing beer and wine back into American communities, and by the end of that year, prohibition of all other alcoholic beverages had ended. Until recently, ratification of the Twenty-First Amendment has been consistently overlooked or criticized for it’s lack of importance. Today historians identify it as a strategically prudent maneuver of the only U.S. presidential administration maintaining overwhelming popularity across an unprecedented four terms despite the challenges in resolving the Great Depression. Repealing Prohibition was more than a gift of Pleasure; it was a gift of Responsibility. It brought Unity and Motivation to the backbone of the nation to support FDR throughout the largest war effort of all time, culminating in the only U.S. war victory of the 20th century through today and into the foreseeable future. We can wrap a circle around the years 1933 through 1968 and rightfully call this the Rooseveltian Era. It was a time of superman, super heroes, and binary super powers. It was a time when people remained loyal to “Truth, Justice, and the American way” simply because “fear” was not a barrier.

Psycho-active chemical substances were first introduced to the American people by the U.S. Government. Students today learn that Japanese and Nazi military used amphetamines which had an impact on our opponents losing the war. The truth is that amphetamines were regarded state-of-the-art military technology during WWII and those who had the most advanced technology were more likely to have a greater abundance of amphetamines. Since U.S. technology during the war was by far, the most advanced, it is rather obvious that we exceeded others in quantity.

The assassinations of three U.S. Civil Rights leaders during the 1960s rocked the Rooseveltian Era and brought psycho-active substances into the mainstream. The general public was in mourning; the drugs became a way to heal.

While the presidential administration of Richard M. Nixon is credited with ending segregation, landing an American on the moon, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the end of the draft and the Vietnam War, these events were either fueled by public protest or already set in motion prior to Nixon’s inauguration. The impetus of the Nixon administration lies in restoration of Fear, Ignorance, and Exclusion. Antithetical to FDR, Nixon befriended Fear and Ignorance with a chilling and ghostly pessimism that resounds not only through the tapes he left behind, but in his policies, namely, in the war on drugs (WOD). The Nixonian Era has enduring for 40 years now .

To understand why the WOD was never a logical move, consider two major issues impacting health and safety of the Boomer generation during their teen years, automobiles and drugs, and how each was handled by two distinctively different presidents, one during the Rooseveltian Era and the other in the Nixonian Era.

MOTOR VEHICLE LEGISLATION

In 1966, when automobile fatalities had topped 50,000 in one year, President Lyndon Johnson brought before Congress recommendations from a 1936 Select Committee of the United States Senate, the 1949 Hoover Commission Task Force on Transportation, President Eisenhower’s 1961 Budget Message, and a 1961 Special Study Group of the Senate Committee on Commerce in urging the US Congress to create Department of Transportation.[i] President Johnson facilitated an inclusive effort that reached out to automobile manufacturers, federal, state, and local government contractors engineering the design of roads and highways, motorists, and high schools in developing the foundation for policy that is still successful today.

DRUG WAR LEGISLATION

Exactly one month after the Stonewall Riots commenced on June 27, 1969 in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, triggering a positive turning point in the gay movement, the Nixon administration issued legislation for a comprehensive reform of federal drug enforcement laws. It was a response to constituents and others who believed that sexual perversity was caused by psycho-active substances. Until 1973, homosexuality was listed as a mental illness in the DSM, and the growth of the gay movement was incorrectly attributed to the use of illicit drugs. In Nixon’s May 13, 1971 taped conversation with John D. Ehrlichman, and H. R. Haldeman, Nixon himself states that “Homosexuality, dope, and immorality are the enemies of strong societies.”[ii] A month later, on June 17, 1971, just 10 days before the second annual Gay Pride Parade in New York City, Richard Nixon spoke before Congress with the opening words:

“In New York City more people between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five years die as a result of narcotics than from any other single cause.

"In 1960, less than 200 narcotic deaths were recorded in New York City. In 1970, the figure had risen to over 1,000…”[iii]

The mention of New York City, of course, was a blatant allusion to the gay population that stirred a rather fanatical nationwide appeal by the president in which he states:

“The magnitude and the severity of the present threat will no longer permit this piecemeal and bureaucratically-dispersed effort at drug control. If we cannot destroy the drug menace in America, then it will surely in time destroy us. I am not prepared to accept this alternative.”[iv]

There are two ironies here.

FIRST, “piecemeal…” describes the actions reformists are taking today in a leisurely attempt to undo the WOD. However, the magnitude and severity of the threat imposed by today’s drug laws has totally eclipsed all problems resulting from drugs.

SECOND, destroying the “drug menace in America” IS destroying us, since “US” defines the American people comprised of drug users / abusers.…

Unlike Johnson, who managed the implementation of formal recommendations from experts, commissions, and panels assembled specifically to study the problem of motor vehicle accidents, Nixon excluded the voice of experience, the general public, and even the recommendations from the National Committee on Marihuana and Drug Abuse led by Raymond Shafer, a committee that Nixon personally appointed which recommended the legalization of marijuana when it was released in March 1972. Richard Nixon and members of his administration also rejected input from Dr. Roger Egeburg, Assistant Secretary of Health that he personally appointed to study 1972 in shaping the WOD. In reviewing more than 100 transcribed documents produced by Nixon with specific regard to drug abuse during the first term of his administration, his concern about drug abuse that seems admirable at first glance is actually obsessive and disturbing. However, it is Nixon’s unrefined, personal, erratic, and dangerously presumptive level of understanding about psychoactive substances and drug abuse that are alarming and without foundation. As a result, his efforts threaten rather than inform; demand rather than request; broadly assume rather than specifically identify. Discrepancies in definable terminology with the medical community have been one significant factor steering the U.S. Government directly off course from the original objective.

With support for the drug war waning during the Ford and Carter administrations, Ronald Reagan’s adoption of the WOD was an expectation. During the 1980s, the WOD began expanding in scope with increased bipartisan support and a new focus on prescription drugs. One of the great blunders of the Democratic Party has been the failure to recognize drug use as a Civil Rights issue. Zero Tolerance policy with mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines was not a deterrent to drug use / abuse; it was an invitation to the drug community to engage in other forms of crime. For example, burglary can be reduced to a sentence of a few months; the minimum for possession is 10 years. In cases across the U.S. a defendant arrested for both burglary and drug possession the latter charge might be thrown out if the defendant pleads guilty to the charge of burglary. However, if the defendant was only charged with drug possession, judges have no recourse but to sentence the defendant for 10 years. Such laws are ridiculous because drug crimes offer no reason for incarceration whatsoever.

“Too little is known about drug abuse, especially the causes, ways to treat, and prevent drug abuse.” That humiliating, show-stopping statement came from members of the 109th US Congress in January 2006, 34 years and 7 months after President Nixon declared drugs to be “public enemy number 1”, launching an effort that has cost US taxpaying citizens 2 trillion USD, clogging our courts and increasing our prison population with non-violent drug law offenders sentenced 20-to-40 years or longer under zero tolerance guidelines for something that the US Government knows “too little” about. These mandatory sentences have routinely torn families apart for simple drug possession. As parents are arrested, children, adolescents, and teenagers are taken into custody and frequently scattered among family members whose lives are inconvenienced and these minors are often left on the streets to fend for themselves. They end up without education, a bitter hostility towards law enforcement, and a lifetime of criminal activity. Our lawmakers may know “too little about drug abuse”, but when it comes to spinning out criminals, no nation has mastered this craft better than the U.S.

At the end of the first decade in the 21st century, evidence strongly reveals that the harm resulting from U.S. drug policy is inescapable. Incidents might no longer be hidden but reported daily by the mainstream press with callous interest from the general public which has been led to believe that punishment and treatment are the only ways to stop drug abuse. This is false. These are invalid approaches. Inside the walls of correctional institutions of America, drugs still proliferate. Hundreds of reform organizations have sprouted up over the years and membership is growing steadily in number. While the U.S. Government is so consumed with achieving an impossible victory in the WOD, it has neglected to notice that the collateral damage of current drug policy, by far outweighs any benefit. In fact, it is virtually impossible to determine why nothing has been done to change the course of a war between the government and the people; a war that is destabilizing our nation leading to dangers that are far more imminent than those of global warming. Impacts of the WOD can be mapped across 12 categories:

1. Human Life

2. Civil Rights

3. Healthcare

4. Medical & Pharmacological Research

5. Education

6. Criminal Justice

7. Law Enforcement

8. Corporations & Businesses

9. Economics

10. Family & Society

11. Foreign Relations

12. Future Generations

Each of these is currently defined on my website at http://www.DrugUseEducation.org, I plan to write a blog summarizing each.

RESPONSIBLE DRUG USE IS NORMAL

My website at http://www.DrugUseEducation.org explains in great detail the residual effects our drug laws, but first, to couch my point, simply and succinctly: appropriately formulated drugs are not a threat to humanity. They never have been. Using drugs and chemical substances is normal human behavior.[v] Our culture has established this with regard to using drugs which have medicinal value, while ancient civilizations established the recreational value of drugs with countless generations ever since approving the use of alcohol. The Electro-Chemical Age[vi] coinciding with the Anthropocene[vii] Epoch in which we live today is the logical springboard for introducing safer alternatives to alcohol when correctly administered. These options also make it possible for individuals of different genetic types to enjoy pleasure and relaxation that is more suitable to their body chemistry than alcohol, which is considered to be one of the most lethal substances along with tobacco and gasoline used as pleasure drugs by Americans but are not controlled substances.

THE REAL THREAT IS THE LACK OF EDUCATION

The dangers associated with drugs are specifically linked to incorrect methods of drug administration, namely: drug abuse, dependence, addiction, and misuse. President Richard Nixon was aware of this. Throughout President Nixon’s address to U.S. Congress on June 17, 1971, he specifically mentions drug abuse and drug addiction as the two central “drug problems”. Furthermore, RN presents a proposal for rehabilitation and prevention efforts. Not once does RN mention a “war on drugs” before Congress. Not once does he make the remark that “America's public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse”. Such comments were made during a news briefing several hours after RN addressed Congress.

ABSENSE OF STANDARDS & GUIDELINES

During the past 37 years, the WOD has evolved into an enigma of convoluted terminology, in which there are no standards and no guidelines to designate the acceptable use of recreational drugs, a pastime that has been growing among adults and will surely continue to grow well into the future with no end anticipated outside of the annihilation of the Earth before we have the opportunity to inhabit at least one other planet outside our solar system.

For that reason, I am appealing to the Obama administration and members of Congress to consider my proposal or any substitute action that will stop the condemnation of those with legitimate medical disorders using controlled substances and responsible recreational drug users and self-medicators who want -- and very well may have just cause -- to use drugs, while providing necessary education to everyone in society, especially those who are unaware how drugs should be used correctly, applying harm reduction, and providing treatment for drug abusers and those who have become chemically dependant. So far, the U.S. Government has repeatedly failed to show why anyone administering drugs one way or another -- whether they are prescribed or illicit controlled substances -- should be subjected to incarceration when they threaten no other members of society. By legalizing drugs and making them available at a fair price to individuals who have earned the privilege to use them, the unwanted illicit drug trade would diminish and cease to exist with the absence of any demand for illegal drugs.

I do not support an illicit drug trade, or the manufacturing, sale, distribution and use of impure homemade/homegrown substances that have not been FDA-approved, or the glamorization and commercial sale of drugs as has been the case with alcohol and tobacco. My philosophy is that all drugs whether they are used for medicinal, recreational, performance-enhancement or other purposes are a personal matter that requires education and qualified support by a legitimate pharmacist, physician, or perhaps some other trained and certified individual who is able work with the user to determine which drug is appropriate for them. While there is no way to assure that drugs won’t be abused, dosing restrictions provided with every drug, including alcohol and cigarettes would give the public the knowledge and the responsibility to maintain control.

In the 21st century, the problems associated with incorrect forms of drug administration are merely a cosmetic blemish compared to the life-threatening hemorrhage that defines our current drug policy. How can we even begin to estimate the number of individuals that are adversely impacted by our drug laws. There are reports on-line which suggest a lower end of 700,000 to an upper end of more than 200 million U.S. citizens that have in some way been adversely impacted by our society’s drug laws during the past two decades. Tragically, many of those directly in the line of fire have been innocent children.[viii] Even more tragically, down here in the trenches we are helplessly witnessing the self-destruction of America as faith in our democratic government wanes amidst a background of corruption, including drug laws that have created an environment far worse than the prohibition of alcohol from 1920 until 1933 since today we have included patients with legitimate medical disorders among those who use drugs for entertainment.

The longer it takes to reach a level of sane, acceptable, drug policy, the more certain we are that a far greater number of human lives will be challenged, if not lost, by hardships that result from the irrational control of psycho-active substances.

[i] Special Message to the Congress on Transportation. Lyndon B. Johnson March 2nd, 1966 http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=28114&st=automobile&st1=

[ii] http://www.gicomeng.com/histinsidenixon.htm Original Source: Harper’s Magazine.

[iii] http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=3048&st=&st1= Special Message to the Congress on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, June 17, 1971.

[iv] Ibid

[v] See analysis at http://www.gicomeng.com/

[vi] Electro-Chemical Age (ECA) – The theoretical name that logically represents the tools of our time, which are electronic or chemical based. The ECA has its roots in the Age of Enlightenment (18the Century)that spawned the Industrial Revolution. Technically, the ECA succeeds the Industrial Revolution that took place during the early 19th century. The ceremonial start date of the ECA is May 1, 1851, the date that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert opened the Great Exhibition (aka Crystal Palace) in Hyde Park, London, England, where over 17,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered to demonstrate their inventions and trigger the start of an Age dominated by electrically-powered mechanics, and complex chemical technology.

[vii] Anthropocene is used by some scientists to describe the most recent period in the Earth's history. It has no precise start date, but may be considered to start in the late 18th century when the activities of the humans first began to have a significant global impact on the Earth's climate and ecosystems. This date coincides with James Watt's invention of the steam engine in 1784.[1] The term was coined in 2000 by the Nobel Prize winning atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen, who regards the influence of human behavior on the Earth in recent centuries as so significant as to constitute a new geological era.

[viii]

Homeless, Due To A Conspiracy To Violate Civil Rights, Obstruct Justice And Harass

VERNON BALMER JR. — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:28:35 EST

I am submitting this to various individuals, agencies, and institutions, in hopes that it will get to someone that can and will do something to bring justice to this matter.

Fighting the death penalty

Giorgio from French Village, MO — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:56:56 EST

All the people that likes the life can help on this way.

Please partecipate on this blog, organizing meeting and events, pushing Barak Obama to be really a new and honest President that respect the life of every man and every woman!

We cannot talk of America like a civil State until there is the death penalty!

Fight it!

Yes we can!

giosby

(Italian language)

The Dream: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King

Kenny G — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:00:46 EST

This is my tribute to the process. America's greatest quality is that it can change. This tribute was brought to you by Eastside Columbus, Ohio artstist Yolanda Lisa, Livin' Proof, Michael Tavaras and myself...with love!

Copy and paste the below url in to your favorite browser.

Thanks,

Kenny

http://www.kennyruffin.com/KENNY_RUFFIN/Videos.html

Stop Abu Ghraib like Abuse, Medical Neglect, Torture, and Battery in US Prisons and Jails

Dr Linda Shelton — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:39:26 EST

It is so important to act and not just talk. We live in a totalitarian police state because people have NOT spoken up and acted. Are you willing to help me write a white paper saying what is wrong with the prison system and what we think should be done?

I know of the lawsuit by Everett Hadix against the Michigan prison system for extreme systemic medical neglect and abuse causing for example the death of TH from dehydration while in restraints, or of another prisoner for failure to provide thyroid medication, and others from medical neglect, torture, and abuse. We have a similar situation in Illinois but no lawsuits yet. Read the US Atty report - http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr0717_01a.pdf.

There is also the gross case of death by ammonia inhalant of a Florida teen in a boot camp where the guards and nurse forced an ammonia inhalant on this prisoner because he wasn't running fast enough. He went into laryngospasm and died. The nurse and guards were tried for murder and acquitted!! But by the grace of God go I !!! I have been wrongfully incarcerated, suffered asthma attacks and ammonia inhalants forced on me until I passed out in laryngospasm because they said I was "faking" and "malingering" and they had to "deal with my dramatics"!! I thought I was going to die several times.

I also was tied down and illegally shot up with psychotropic drugs to shut me up so I wouldn't ask for grievance forms, paper and pen to access the courts, or tell other prisoners their writes. This is while I was severely dehydrated on a dry hunger strike and despite the fact I go into very severe flashbacks from being tied down and suffocated in the past.

I have been viciously beaten by guards and black and blue all over in retaliation for my complaints or resisting a psychotropic drug, un-needed and given illegally. Again these illegal acts were done in retaliation for my complaints and civil rights activities!!

My goal is nothing short of congressional hearings on these topics. This is much worse than Abu Ghraib and is standard practice in US prisons and jails. It is so barbaric and cruel it makes me puke and I constantly suffer from PTSD. I cry and shake when even thinking about this stuff as I am doing now while writing this.

We need to raise a lot of funds so we can hire good attorneys to do class actions and lobby for congressional hearings. We need much more press attention. I have been trying to do this unsuccessfully. I am destitute now and fortunately have a relative who has taken me in.

We need an organization to fight this and a celebrity spokesman to help promote the cause.I would appreciate the guidance and assistance of this group in achieving these goals. Perhaps we can form a coalition with other mental health advocacy, disability advocacy, and prison reform groups, as well as with anti-torture groups.

Please contact me with ideas in this regard, tell me if you have the skills or resources to help, and if you are willing to volunteer in some regard.

Dr. Linda Lorincz Shelton

Gays and Allies

Ann P — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:01:27 EST

My mother, who was biracial but (born in 1916) never had that category to retreat into, fully embraced being Negro (Black, African American, Colored...whatever was the current label). She raised me in integrated neighborhoods, schools, churches, and social friendships. I once asked her, when I was a young adult, how racisim would ever get better. Her answer: Intermarriage.

I was shocked at her answer at first. When I probed her for more details at a later date she reminded me of history. No major improvements in racial equality for black people has ever been won without the strength of allies in the white community.

Everybody needs allies in order to move forward.

That's why I ally myself with gays/lesbians/bisexual/transgendered people. To be honest I'm more in touch with gays and lesbians since I know fewer Ts and Bs in my daily life. (Or they haven't come out to me).

I'm calling on the Obama Administration to also ally itself with LBGT people (not just issues: PEOPLE) in appointing some openly LBGT individuals to important posts.

Can't do anything about the Rick Warren invite...I am bummed by it because it seems to send a signal that gay and lesbian people aren't worthy of respect.

However remember...one of the reasons our governmental system is set up the way it is is that protecting the minority from the tyranny of a majority is sometimes necessary. There will never be a majority of homosexuals. But don't count out the number of allies standing side by side with our LBGT brothers and sisters.

Now that Barack has set Rick on a pedestal it's time for him to also elevate someone who is either an open member of a sexual minority or a strong and vocal ally/advocate for LBGT rights.

That's what I think. What do YOU think?

RICK WARREN? HELL NO!!!

Hobie from Dallas, TX — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:54:35 EST

When Barack inexplicably and unnecessarily voted for the Bush-Cheney FISA bill, my heart sank. Oh no, I said, looks like Clinton all over again, but I held my nose, and we prevailed.

In another inexplicable, gratuitous gut punch to civil libertarians, Barack invites RICK WARREN to give the invocation. In so doing, he legitimizes the man who led the campaign with Utah Mormons for Prop H8 in California. As pointed out by many others, he surpasses Leviticus when it comes to homosexual marriage, equating it with pedophilia and incest. (I wonder if he condemns shrimp cocktail with equal fervor?) For a fuller revelation of his flat-earth theocracy, check out his debate with Sam Harris: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17889148/site/newsweek/ Rick Warren represents the benighted 20% of Americans that still approve of George Bush. He represents those who would have government monitor our sexual practices, outlaw contraception and abortion, and assert the property rights of husbands over wives and children. What a great role model for the re-establishment of secular human rights and the re-separation of church and state!

If I were paranoid, I would think that Barack has no intention of undoing Bush's dirty work in the realm of human rights. Could he find no other clergy with a more compassionate, inclusive, and TOLERANT ministry?

AN OPEN LETTER TO BARACK ABOUT RICK WARREN

hindy — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:06:40 EST

Dear Barack:

You have so admirably stated on a number of occaisions, that you will admit to mistakes when you make them. Well, you've just made your first huge blunder by selecting a right wing Christian Fundamentalist preacher Rick Warren, (who has no respect for Gays, women's rights to choose or science) to preside religiously over your innauguration. This is also a man who believes that the only way to obtain a ticket to heaven is through a belief in Jesus Christ. In otherwords many Americans that voted for you - according to this religious moron - are destined for Hell.

You have not only offended Gays with this choice. You have offended people like myself who supported you because I was fed up with the hijacking of the US by the religious right, their retrograde chauvinism and narrow xenophobic concept of God. This man may appearn more moderate on other issues such as poverty and climate change, but make no mistake, he is simply a "wolf in sheeps clothing". His views on abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research and the "one true religion" (which is his brand of Christianity) are as retrograde as all of his ignorant predecessors.

With all due respect Barack, we, who were fed up with the right wing agenda for the past eight years, can't believe your lack of judgement on this one. This is, after all, "the Civil Rights Issue" of our day. If Rick Warren had the same attitudes about African American Rights as he does about Gay Rights, Women's Rights and the rights of sick people to benefit from stem cell research, there would be no way that he'd be allowed to share the podium on your innauguration.

If you want to reach out to that element of America, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so without giving him the prime spot at your inauguration and offending those who voted for you because of your liberalism and open mindedness.

Yes Barack, its time to admit your first enormous mistake and immediately do something to correct it.

Since the US is home to many religions, if you want to correct this blunder without alienating the Christian Right, I suggest that you consider inviting liberal clergy from all denominations of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddism, Hinduism and others to do a group invocation at your inauguration. That will send a message of American inclusivity to people all over the world. More importantly it will show all Americans that they have an equal spiritual voice in the United States.

It will also allow you to save face with Rick Warren and to let the American people know that you've both acknowledged and corrected your first enormous blunder.

Change Is Gonna Come, so Take a Little Time

Mz4Mz — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:56:19 EST

And so it goes. Like the ebb and flow of the tide, the rise and set of the sun, the in and out of breath, so goes fortune. Sometimes you’re up. Sometimes down. Sometimes you’re working and sometimes you’re not. Sometimes things happen and sometimes nothing at all.

What good is sitting alone in your room. Come hear the music play. Life is a Caberet, old chum. Come to the Cabaret!

Out wit da Range–

“The economy is growing, productivity is high, trade is up, people are working. It’s not as good as we’d like, but — and to the extent that we find weakness, we’ll move.” –George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 15, 2008

And in with the Change: at 12:00 noon on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, (according to the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution).

“Words do inspire” – Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.

This world has lost its glory, let’s start a brand new story now, my love.
Right now, there’ll be no other time and I can show you how, my love.
Talk in everlasting words, and dedicate them all to me.
And I will give you all my life, I’m here if you should call to me.
You think that I don’t even mean a single word I say.
It’s only words, and words are all I have, to take your heart away. The Bee Gees | 1968

It didn’t come to last. It’s come to pass.

To all the nameless, faceless dead martyrs wasted away in watery graves at the bottom of the Atlantic– It didn’t come to last.

To all the dead martyrs, young ones and old, men and women, black ones and white ones, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, Quakers, Runaways and Strange Fruit, Emmett Till and Jackie Robinson, Martin L King and Malcolm L X– It didn’t come to last.

To all the “quiet heros,” marytrs, born too soon, who didn’t live to see the day come– It didn’t come to last.

The “quiet, unsung, everyday people, latter day heros,” thick skinned martyrs still among us today pretending not to hear the coded messages, and snide remarks, ignoring the ever changing, veiled euphemisms that add salt to open wounds– It didn’t come to last.

No, not now. Not tomorrow. Not on January 20, 2009.

Put down the knitting,
The book and the broom.
Time for a holiday.
Life is Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret! Liza Minnelli, Cabaret | 1972

On January 20, 2009, take a little time to remember those millions who have gone before. All the blood, the tears, the body blows (and bags), the jeers. The disappointments and the slights, the perseverance and inalienable rights. Always Remember. Never Forget!

It’s been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come . Sam Cooke | 1965

It’s come to pass.

Don't Replace The Old Guantánamo with a New One

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:38:03 EST

Don't Replace The Old Guantánamo with a New One

by Jameel Jaffer and Ben Wizner @ commondreams.org

On Monday, the circus known as "Guantánamo justice" devolved once again into chaos, with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed raising the possibility that he and other prisoners once held by the CIA would plead guilty to involvement in the 9/11 attacks. The anarchic proceedings only served to underscore the makeshift nature of the military tribunals, and to remind the world of the reasons the prison should be closed.

But even as President-elect Obama repeats his oft-made promise to shutter the prison that has so besmirched the nation's reputation, some legal experts, and not just those on the right, are talking about giving him the right to open a new Gitmo here at home. An extraordinary debate is under way about whether Congress should expressly authorize the new president to do what the outgoing president did on his own claimed authority: imprison alleged terrorists without charge or trial.......

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/09-3

Harvey Milk

Miles — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:27:06 EST

I grew up in the bay area in Berkeley. I didn't know at the time what an open place the bay area was compared to other cities. I was on the tale end of the Free Speech Movement and I witnessed the students rioting and protesting the war in Vietnam. I was also one of the first students in the country to participate in full school integration. I remember feeling very privileged to be a part of this effort in 1969. Black Panther Headquarters, Black Power, Brothers, Students, War, King, B. Kennedy, Malcom X and so much more going on in my childhood. To me, it was all NORMAL.

9 years later, I was a student at Berkeley. Times had changed a bit in Berkeley, and the university was not such a hotspot, or at least, it didn't feel that way. And then, on a day in November 1978 word spread quickly of the Moscone and Milk assassinations. I lived on the Greek side of campus in a house that was converted to a boarding house just down the street from the sorority where 2 Moscone daughters lived. The students were all sympathetic and dismayed that this could happen in San Francisco.

I did not know much about Harvey Milk then. A high school friend of mine had come out to me earlier in the year. I was 20 and we had been friends for 10 years or half my life back then. He was from a prominent family and I knew them all quite well. At the time, all I could think about were the dumb things I said growing up and not understanding how much pain he had been through. We were kids and it was really the best of times, really!

I saw Milk last night. Wow! A true Martin Luther King fighting for the civil rights and constitutional protections that all Americans deserve. That day in 1978, I did not realize that it was 1968 all over again. I now realize how numb I had become. Shortly, our nation would turn away from issues of substance and slowly let the Religious Right take control of our country. Ron Reagan launched himself here in California and led most of us to believe in trickle down economics. Thirty years later we are just realizing the damage caused by in the name of GOD politics and the false Hopes created by a very good actor.

Not many people got rich during the last 30 years, but almost all got numb to values and true morals that should guide this great nation. In my mind, the only Patriots in this country are those that would fight for equal life, equal liberty and equal right to the pursuit of happiness. How did we get so far from this most important set of values that we all are entitled to, not as a race, religion or creed, but as Americans.

This movie about Milk and PE Obama's election remind us that we all know the truth about Freedom. As a people, we would be well served to accept the great diversity of our country and get back to working together to demonstrate the full value of Freedom. See the movie and stay away from the hate within us.

Racial Holocaust in the USA

Karen Kennedy — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:33:33 EST

We incarcerate more people than does any other Country in the World. Blacks and others of color are disproportionately represented in our jails and prisons. They are also disproportionately represented on the Probation and Community Control rolls. Being sentenced to Probation or Community Control is the first step on the path towards Prison. Thereafter, the ex-offender cannot vote or find a job, never mind a good job. They have no economic or political power. They can never achieve the American Dream, because it truly is only a dream for those who find themselves in and out of the Criminal Justice system regularly.

The Police stop blacks night and day at will for "Field Interviews", which is a euphemism for illegal detention - no probable cause. It is much more rare for a white person to be stopped for no reason. Black men are subjected to illegal searches under one guise or another more often than are whites. When stopped, they are not free to leave, no matter how many times the Police testify to the contrary. Once officially detained, the black man stays in jail for the duration, because neither he nor his family can afford to post the bond, no matter how low it is set.

The attitude in our Criminal Courts is that since a black man was arrested, he must be guilty, they all are. It is assumed that black men want to be drug dealers and thieves. Black men are given longer jail sentences than are white men. Through a lack of social services, racial discrimination, Policing practices and Court attitudes, we are driving young black men away from mainstream paths to progress and success. If the Defendant is sentenced to Supervision, the system requires the Defendants to pay various fines, costs and Supervision fees, and to participate in, and pay for various court ordered classes. It is usually the case that they simply cannot afford to pay for their Supervision, given their hand to mouth existence. Also, the transportation necessary for attendance at the required functions Ordered by the Court is assumed to be availabe. I have trouble getting to my appointments, and I own a car. What job can a man faced with these institutional biases qualify for other than drug dealing or petty crimes.

The term "Supervision" really means that you can be harassed at will, searched without a warrant and must comply with random drug testing, at the Supervisee's expense. It is to the advantage of the Probation and Community Control Supervisors to file a Warrants for Probation Violation that would reduce their case loads. Formality and Rules of Procedure don't exist in Probation Violation Hearings. Jail or Prison is the most likely outcome. The petty crimes add up, and then it's Strike Three, prison for life.

The obstacles that black men face every day of their lives are not acknowledged by any one who works in the System, and the Offender is never given the benefit of a doubt. So black men plead No Contest to charges that could have been beaten at trial by a good lawyer. The Defendants don't trust their Public Defenders since the APDs and ASAs all work for the same government. If the man goes to trial and loses, he is given a much stiffer sentence than he would had he pled out. A huge number of black men are either on Probation or Community Control, or are being housed in our many prisons and jails. In this way they are eliminated, for all practical purposes, from our society. A wide range of domestic dysfunction and hopelessness results from the existence of this double standard. The cycle of arrests, prosecutions and imprisonment goes on with no intervention, until the young man becomes imprisoned for most of his life. His children never have a Father at home, and the children live in poverty, leading them down the same paths trod by their Fathers. Injustice grows into anger and hate, causing young black men to become criminals and to follow in the tragic footsteps of their forebears.

take a forom

Stephen Views the News 11/22/08

Stephen from Elkins Park, PA — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:29:31 EST

Stephen Views the News 11/22/08

http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/

* The Stench of Torture ~ will not dissipate with Bush’s exit – Barack Obama has stated emphatically that he will end any use of torture by the USA. Human rights groups, constitutional scholars and citizens have called for the next administration to prosecute those who authorized or used harsh interrogation techniques. “But two Obama advisers said there's little — if any — chance that the incoming president's Justice Department will go after anyone involved in authorizing or carrying out interrogations that provoked worldwide outrage.” Having closely followed the actions by the Bush administration and the use of torture, actions contrary to national and international law, I would like to see those who authorized and then lied about it come under scrutiny. Many believe that the US should not look back as Obama changes policy. What about after Obama? If Bush could authorize the use of torture so could a future president. It is obvious that safeguards are not in place to prevent the use of torture. It should not be an option for ANY administration. At the least, America should enact laws that unequivocally prevent any president or U.S. agency from utilizing a policy of torture. That being said, regardless of how the Obama administration decides to deal with abuses by George W. Bush or, should Bush grant broad immunity to perpetrators of abuse before he leaves office, the international community still could address the subject.

It remains to be seen whether there will be an effort to bring war crimes charges against Americans responsible for and involved in torture in Iraq, Guantanamo and secret prisons the U.S. government sanctioned around the world. There is a just-released report by the Human Rights Center/Center for Constitutional Rights report titled “Guantanamo and Its Aftermath.” Former DC Appellate Judge Patricia Wald, a judge at the international trial for Serbians accused of committing war crimes against Bosnian Muslims, compared the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody to the treatment Bosnians received at the hands of their Serbian captors. And from the web site ThinkProgress.org: “Last June, Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (ret.), the Army general who led the investigation into prisoner abuse at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison, also accused the Bush administration of committing “war crimes” and called for those responsible to be held to account.”

The report noted above is 136 pages in length. Even if one only reads the Forward and Executive Summary one will find a chilling condemnation of the policies invoked by the Bush administration to deal with the aftermath of 9/11 attacks. It is a vision that no sentient American in my lifetime could have envisioned. I was especially struck with the innocent lives destroyed. I would hope that Americans are struck with a sense of the loss of innocence. The Forward concludes, “We, as a nation, must not only remember our past but strive not to repeat it. This report makes an invaluable start in that direction.”

* In Case of Emergency 1 ~ a simple yet very intelligent idea – A reader sent me notice of an idea conceived by a paramedic that is growing in popularity. Most of us have cell phones. If we were to be injured in an accident or unexpectedly taken ill, emergency personnel would want to alert someone to our situation. To avoid the need to search through a large number of entries in the phone’s address book there is an alternative. Add to the address file “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) and the telephone number of the person you want to be contacted. If there is more than one person or phone number, enter ICE 1, ICE 2, and so on. This is an idea you may want to share with friends and family.

* In Case of Emergency 2 – If you just accidentally swallowed poison and need to regurgitate, watch this video of the members of the U.S. Senate giving a standing ovation to Alaskan Republican Senator Ted Stevens. Stevens is not returning to the Senate because he lost his re-election bid. Even if Stevens had won the election he very probably would have been expelled from the Senate because he recently was convicted in a federal court on 7 felony counts. This is the man who porked huge amounts of federal money for Alaska and he was the legislative architect for the Bridge to Nowhere, while using his legislative power for financial gain for himself, members of his family and friends and associates. And our illustrious Senators gave him a standing ovation, which happens to be against their own Senate rules. Applauding a low-life power abuser and convicted felon is not the message that I want to hear from legislators. It does not bode well for ethics reform or the responsible leadership that the American people crave. Republican losses over the last two election cycles have made this very clear. The Good Ol’ Boy Club has gotten very old. More need to be replaced, including a covey of Democrats.

* Derriere Orifice of the Week ~ say hello to Newt Gingrich – Appearing on FOX News (of course) Gingrich was criticizing those individuals protesting the loss of the right of gay couples in California to marry. Gingrich said, "I think there is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us, is prepared to use violence, to use harassment. I think it is prepared to use the government if it can get control of it. I think that it is a very dangerous threat to anybody who believes in traditional religion." I find Gingrich’s comments disingenuous, hypocritical and misleading.

Recall that it was Gingrich and his Republican Party that consummated a marriage with religious-right fundamentalists attempting to tell Americans how to conduct their lives. I see no evidence of people with a gay lifestyle either attempting to or, by example, influencing anyone to be gay. The gay community does not proselytize. It is seeking its own civil rights, in opposition to the likes of Mike Huckabee who pronounce that gay rights and civil rights are totally different. What is Fascist are Gingrich and his tight-assed brown shirts spewing untruthful propaganda and misinformation. Has anyone seen evidence of gay violence or harassment? More than half of the American people are aware of Gingrich and company’s dangerous band of blowhards. Once a few million more Americans wake up to the uncivil attacks on and the denial of civil rights to the gay community, people like Gingrich will find limited access to mainstream media and be relegated to the increasingly irrelevant Pat Robertson’s Holier than Thou TV infomercials.

* Knowing your limitations – “Congratulations” to Fred Thompson. Following the failure of his somnambulant presidential bid he has decided to again leave politics and return to acting. I suggest that his best chance to earn an Oscar or Emmy would be playing the role of Rip Van Winkle.

* Goodbye and good riddance – Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott is retiring in February. Under his management the largest retailer in this country honed the business model for low wages and low benefits, resulting in many Wal-Mart employees requiring public assistance. Wal-Mart is one of the models for sourcing goods and services overseas that has contributed to the weakness of our economy. Recall that Wal-Mart opposed more diligent inspection of containers as they enter our borders. A container destined for Wal-Mart enters the U.S. every 45 seconds. U.S. national security does not stand in the way of the Wal Mart bottom line. The bottom line is that under Mr. Scott, Wal Mart was a winner on Wall Street but quite damaging to Main Street.

* Is the Bush administration getting in touch with the needs of Americans? ~ Nah! – In an exceptional move the administration has agreed to support the extension of unemployment benefits as unemployment claims reach a 16-year high and unemployment reaches a 25-year high. Otherwise, it is nasty business as usual. The Bush presidency continues to undermine environmental safety, broaden the destruction of public lands and national parks, and further endanger endangered species as it pimps for business interests that are not in the interest of the American people. President George W. and co-conspirators in his administration are making every effort to reduce regulation and constrictions on oil, gas, mining, fishing, timber and financial industries while promoting the development of shale oil, the dirtiest fuel on the planet. America does not need enemies from afar. Our hands are full with the enemies from within.

The situation was best summed up by Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee when he told the Wall Street Journal, “This administration will stop at nothing to jam through as many reckless proposals as they can before the clock runs out.” A glimmer of hope for the health of planet Earth is Barack Obama’s promise to make a decisive break with George Bush on the environment … promising a "new chapter in America's leadership on climate change.” These developments bring to mind a question I have often asked over the last seven years. “Why does George W. Bush hate America? I do not accept the conventional wisdom alibi that he is well-intentioned but ill-advised. The damage he has rendered is too widespread, too deep and well beyond the pale of mere incompetence.

* What have we learned in two millennia? A reader asked this question, accompanied by the following quote:

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."

Cicero, 55 BC

Stephen Views the News 11/16/08

Stephen from Elkins Park, PA — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:17:31 EST

Stephen Views the News 11/16/08

http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/

* Bumper Sticker of the Week ~ Joe Must Go – Many voices are urging the Democratic Party in the Senate to remove Joe Lieberman from his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee. I believe that this would be the correct action. His campaigning for John McCain and his questioning Barack Obama’s patriotism are at the bottom of the list of reasons for Joe to go. His pathetic record of leadership on this important committee is the overriding justification for his removal. Intentional incompetence best describes his tenure in this post. As Rachel Maddow on her MSNBC show and Heather writing at Crooks and Liars point out, Lieberman over the last two years, never held hearings on the disastrous US government response to the Katrina hurricane disaster nor did the committee look into no-bid contracts awarded to friends and associates of Dick Cheney and George W. Bush. Many of those contracts were implemented incompetently while the US government was overcharged billions of dollars. As chairman of this committee Lieberman did not represent the interests of the American people. Instead, Lieberman represented the interests of the Bush administration that operated in secret and often outside of legal parameters, and at great cost to you and me, the citizens recovering from a natural disaster, and the military men and women who were underserved as they served this country while in harms way. Joe Must Go.

* Remember Typhoid Mary? ~ Meet Leukemia Dick and some of the other dicks who “serve” America – Drilling for natural gas, a policy being touted as a means of reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, may contaminate water supplies with unsafe levels of chemicals like benzene, a compound that can cause leukemia, according to an investigation by Pro Publica. The drilling process, pioneered by Dick Cheney's former company Haliburton, uses water pressure and chemicals to break rocks and release the gas. It was exempted by Congress from the Safe Water Act after a 2004 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study declared it safe. It now appears that this EPA study was not as conclusive at it claimed to be.

It is well-documented that the EPA often goes out of its way NOT to protect the environment and the American public. It is well-documented that Cheney has been the most ardent advocate for the interests of energy companies and Haliburton. One wonders what influence was imposed upon the EPA that resulted in this exemption from the Safe Water Act. “More than 1,000 other cases of contamination have been documented by courts and state and local governments in Colorado, New Mexico, Alabama, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In one case, a house exploded after hydraulic fracturing created underground passageways and methane seeped into the residential water supply. In other cases, the contamination occurred not from actual drilling below ground, but on the surface, where accidental spills and leaky tanks, trucks and waste pits allowed benzene and other chemicals to leach into streams, springs and water wells.” This is but one example where the interaction of the executive branch, the legislative branch, federal agencies and business failed the American people. The majority of the problems and dangers confronting America today are the result of such failed leadership.

* Fly Me to the Moon ~ it may be safer – Sixteen months ago I commented about the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) being accused of covering up mistakes by air traffic controllers at Dallas-Fort Worth airport. It was discouraging to learn that a federal agency empowered to protect air travelers was actually complicit in reducing safe conditions. At a minimum, one would expect that the release of the report would have resulted in personnel changes and an upgrading of the oversight. Not in the current state of our federal government.

ABC reports a new investigation has found “the misclassifying of safety errors had continued” at Dallas-Fort Worth, that FAA employees continued to hide safety errors. It causes one to wonder if the repeated dereliction of duty by the FAA at Dallas-Fort Worth is it also taking place at other airports. What is happening in Boston, NY, LA, Miami and hundreds of other major airports? I imagine that remedial action will be taken when two or three planes collide, resulting in the death of 639 passengers, 19 crew members, 412 people on the ground and the widespread destruction of a residential neighborhood. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security may even hold hearings. Perhaps Republican Texas Senators John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson will exercise their fiduciary responsibility by pressing for an investigation into this problem that bodes dire consequences. Perhaps a new administration will coerce a sense of responsibility and accountability into the performance of federal agencies. That would be a refreshing development.

* Change we can believe in ~ it is up to us – The above examples of broken government brings to mind the often-used and cynical phrase, “You can’t fight City Hall.” It is only a truism if good people do nothing. I was reminded of this while reading an article by Gary Younge in the British newspaper The Guardian titled, “Obama's army of supporters must maintain their level of activism.” Younge notes that the characterization of American political life - the notion of a lazy, contented people who do not vote, care or really understand what is being done in their name and leaving governance to big business, and lobbyists – may be changing. I recommend the article because it notes many changes that have been occurring within the American electorate.

I would suggest that the change Younge identifies is a result of two influences; the devastatingly damaging tenure of George W. Bush and the electric and populist rise of Barack Obama. The Bush years awakened a previously unengaged citizenry and the Obama campaign provided the vehicle to channel the disappointment, the losses, the regression and resulting anger and frustration into a movement for change. This new activist citizenry demands responsible and responsive leadership. It opposes narrow ideology agendas and expects federal leadership to address the major issues that challenge our society – challenges that have been ignored over the last eight years. The higher expectations have brought us a new president, senators and representatives that embrace progressive ideas. Their mission is to overcome a bureaucratic government burdened by politicization, ideology and special interests as well as accepted and expected incompetence. Success will require a continually engaged citizenry that keeps a bright light on the ills, vociferously communicates to elected representatives the change that is required and rewards responsible and responsive representatives with re-election.

* All things Progressive – If you have interest in Progressive ideas and activities I recommend the web site The Bucks/Mont Progressive Events. The editor Tom Ulrich does a terrific job each month identifying Progressive events in the Philadelphia area and national broadcasts, publications and videos.

* All things regressive ~ prejudice, hate, ignorance – Much of the Sarah Palin rhetoric during the presidential campaign appealed to this three-headed Hydra. Those susceptible to divisive discourse reveled in the speeches of Palin and other Republican orators. The forces of hate are as real and alive today as they were 50 and 100 years ago. These forces certainly are not as widespread but, certainly as real. One example of such despicable human behavior is the Ku Klux Klan. This organization, originally spawned to repress African Americans, has broadened its “vision” to include Latinos and other minorities. It is fortunate that we have people such as Morris Dees and his organization The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) standing up to forces that debase civil rights and humanity.

In Kentucky on Friday the SPLC gained a decisive jury verdict against members of the KKK, accused of severely beating a Latino in 2006 at a rural county fair. As Dees noted, "The people of Meade County, Kentucky, have spoken loudly and clearly. And what they've said is that ethnic violence has no place in our society, that those who promote hate and violence will be held accountable and made to pay a steep price." The verdict against Imperial Klans of America (IKA), Imperial Wizard Ron Edwards and two former KKK members who have already served prison terms for their involvement was $2.5 million. It is likely the judgment will cripple IKA’s 16 chapters that are located throughout eight states.

The weakening of a KKK group is encouraging but the ugliness of hate that infects the land of the free and the home of the brave will not be eradicated in our lifetime. As noted in an article at the Huffington Post the election of Barack Obama has spurred hundreds of race threats and crimes that include, “Cross burnings. Schoolchildren chanting ‘Assassinate Obama.’ Black figures hung from nooses. Racial epithets scrawled on homes and cars.” America has come a long way in civil rights and human relations. Gay rights are improving with much still to be achieved. There is much to be proud of in America but the road ahead will not be free of prejudice, hate and ignorance. It is a flaw in the human condition that may never be overcome.

* “You cannot hate other people without hating your self.”

Oprah Winfrey

Hypocrites

Tim Schram — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:02:37 EST

Hypocrites

This is to all those people that voted for Barack, fought for civil rights, fought discrimination based on sex, age, race, or religion, but voted against gay marriage. YOU ARE HYPOCRITES!!!!!!! How in the world can you justify denying another group of human beings the same rights you have. Isn’t that what we did with slavery, poll tax, bans on interracial marriage? Oh yeah, I am old enough to remember the uproar from the idiots, morons, and bigot scum on the religious right and social conservatives (KKK) about how interracial marriage would destroy the fabric of society and destroy the world. WRONG again. The world is not flat, the universe does not revolve around you or your precious earth. Get over yourselves!!!! None of us are that special, we are people and that is special enough.

Someone please tell me how two people swearing to love and honor each other in front of friends and family is a threat. You can’t use religion, because I don’t believe in your perverse idea of religion. Give me real world reasons, not what your invisible friend is whispering in your ear. If you don’t like the idea of marrying another man or woman, then DON”T. No one is making you.

And just for the record though it really is none of your business, I am as straight as they come. I am just a human being that believes in the motto “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”.

If you believe all humans are equal

Ed from Fort Lauderdale, FL — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:54:32 EST

Friday November 14 at 6 pm in every city in the US anyone who feels that all humans have the same rights and are equal, should march with us... friends family anyone you know... please turn out at either you city hall or gay community ...this is a grass roots call to anyone who feel discrimination is unfair... Barack said: "there are no first class citizens there are no second class citizens there are only American citizens" If you believe this then help us have the same rights as everyone in America.....
PLEaSE email... blog.... call..... text or whatever this to anyone you can think of.... If you have a conscious even if u do not understand, we are people too

A Heartbreaking Election Day For A Million Obama Supporters in California!

Rob from Los Angeles, CA — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:09:07 EST

The day before you were elected I enjoyed full equality as a gay person living in California and the day after you were elected I had lost my civil rights and been relegated to second class citizenship when Prop. 8 was passed. Where was your leadership when it mattered most? Why didn't you urge everyone, especially the African American community who knows what it's like to be discriminated against, to vote no on Prop 8.? Many were lied to by their pastors who claimed that their churches would be forced to perform gay weddings or else lose their tax-exempt status (which they should anyway) and that gay marriage would be taught in schools. These are both lies of course. 70% of them voted to strip away our rights, including the rights of gay African Americans, even though straight blacks have made a complete mockery of marriage with the the highest divorce rate and number of broken families in the nation. Some religious blacks and others think that this is not a civil rights issue because people choose to be gay. This is crazy! I've never met anyone who chose to be gay. Why would anyone want to be ridiculed, taunted, and discriminated against by society and be relegated to second class citizenship? Why in God's name would a black person living during times of segregation choose to be gay? To risk being jailed or even beaten to death? You find me one single person, black, white, brown, any color or ethnicity, who says they woke up one day and decided to be gay. Good Luck! You say you favor equality and non-discrimination for everyone but at the same time oppose same-sex marriage? Unfortunately your own voice stating your opposition to same-sex marriage at the Saddleback Ranch in front of an evangelical audience was exactly the ammunition conservative Black and White reverends, pastors, and ministers was used on robocalls to hundreds of thousands of conservative churchgoers throughout California as well as Rick Warren's e-mail to his massive following of worshippers that used your direct quote as he urged everyone to vote yes on Prop. 8. In my heart I know you really don't oppose same-sex marriage, but you were afraid of not getting elected if you came out in support of it. So you tried to play it both ways. Well guess what? You put politics ahead of liberty and equality. You would have been elected anyway. As a result of your lack of leadership over a million gay citizens in California lost their equal rights, including the entire black gay African community. I donated to your campaign and wore a shirt with your picture for weeks leading up to Election Day. Now I feel like throwing it in a trash bin. Have you even bothered to see all the protest marches against Prop 8 that have been going on throughout California everyday since the election? This state is in a state of chaos right now. You contributed to it.
While millions of people celebrated on Nov. 4th, over a million gay citizens of California that had voted for you were devastated.
All I can say is: SHAME ON YOU BARACK OBAMA!! If I wanted a president who supports discrimination I could have voted for McCain.

A bitter sweet day

Douglas from Seattle, WA — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:26:35 EST

It was exciting to see President Obama (I love to write that) win in a landslide, along with Democratic Congressman and Senators. I had to celebrate! Oh, but wait, that very night we had dscrimination written into the California Constitution with Proposition 8, which prohibits gays from getting married.

The religious right spent well over $25 million to convince the good people of California to vote against the civil rights of one group. They successfully convinced voters that gays are somehow a threat to society. No hard facts here, just a lot of scare tactics.

The hard facts are that gays and lesbian are also Americans. They pay taxes, have children, mothers, fathers, relatives and friends. They want love and stability and they even want the same rights as other Americans. So many even participated in President Obama's election. Somehow, we have made them villains.

It is ironic that voters that have been the most oppressed in our society's history (African Americans) were also the strongest supporters of Prop 8. The oppressed took no time to become the oppressors. Gays and Lesbians have been active civil rights supporters. They get it! Discrimination is NOT AN AMERICAN VALUE!

I am hoping that President Obama means leadership. We need a leader who will educate the American people to not single out a minority group for discrimination. A leader who can bring us together so that all will benefit.

With the excitement President Obama and new Dems in office, I am optomistic. I only hope that we can come together and give all American their due civil rights

Bob Dylan at Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis - November 4, 2008

Ken — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:31:28 EST

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kkkdtdx40JI

America - Together (post election)

Alex Karoub — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:44:40 EST

..... Contact: http://Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

WHO IS THAT GUY BARACK OBAMA? HE IS US.

We have made historic headway by together pointing our nation in the right directions. After decades, we have America focused on the issues of fundamental importance. Now, each of us acting in concert can together move our country to lead the world to the fruitfulness of moral goodness. I have no doubts about my abilities and the abilities of fellow Americans to work smart and hard to achieve these goals.

Barack Obama has the visions, leadership, and integrity for us to correct and redirect our country to once again lead the world for the fruitions of good. Let's closely listen, learn, and move forward based on that which we know deep inside is good and which we can validate with our hearts.

I hope that those who had but a few reasons to support Obama, look further into the other issues more deeply. I found the more I explored, studied, and listened to Obama the more I found us in agreement. The couple of issues that I did not have depth of knowledge of, quickly became obvious in need. This was unusual for me since I have always refused to be any kind of a follower, and still am not. I find Obama to be a deep thinker who is articulate and inspirational; and, of most fundamental importance, Obama makes excellent moral sense.

Hopefully, our country has learned lessons from the past of mistakenly following leadership blindly, as was done with Nixon and Bush. There are leaders who are simply in it for themselves and will cater to individuals or groups in order to grab for their own benefit. Corrupt and bad leaders hide at all levels. This is especially true in city government as well as county and state government. The corrupt deals of politicians need to be exposed, and those responsible need to be weeded out in the coming local elections. Others need to be investigated by law enforcement and be prosecuted for illegal dealings; for deals they often make for their hidden personal agendas. Let’s look at the bad experiences of the past as bitter medicines, let’s eliminate the need for such bad medicine in the future. Let us use what we know is good to go forward.

I believe we have chosen wisely, not by greed and not by misguided retaliatory anger. I believe this time our country has chosen with open eyes, with each of us listening and examining our choice of leadership closely, driven and validated by our hearts.

I hope we can continue to make our efforts even more inclusive (in many more ways than I touch on here). Far right republicans will be stubborn to change, but we will need to include them to change if we are to succeed. Sure a few more will leave our country, but that is not the American way. No, we really don't need their false fronts of power, money, insider knowledge, or other trappings that they have taught many to 'respect?'. Let's recruit as many as we can, that's the American way, evolving and changing together as one nation. Try to be understanding as we move forward; by better understanding each as individuals and people with various desires and needs we will find ways to reach out with friendship and have them join our causes of good.

Be on the lookout, and root out bad leadership in government and business. Do not be intimidated by those who use the false fronts of power and give a false sense of security in order to lead. Be extra leery of those who say or imply ‘Trust me’; those who give a sense that they somehow omnipotently know better. No longer will Americans be dazzled by phony displays of brilliance or baffled by baloney. There are government aristocrats and business leaders who still believe in the old adage of: “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, then baffle em with bullshit”. We can embrace complexity by demanding true, fundamental, and understandable explanations. We can root out falsehoods by not accepting double speak. We as Americans know how to grow ourselves by first believing in ourselves. Don’t be a follower. Don’t be a follower of followers.

However, when we find leaders who are good; a leader that thinks, speaks, and acts from their heart; one that is honest, has integrity, and leads by sincere examples; then we need to in a big way, join them, support them, and promote their causes of good. From much research, investigation, and scrutiny, I believe Barack Obama is such a person. I hope we search for and find many more who are similar, who we can add to service at all levels of government. We need to add/replace leaders in business with ones that have honesty, integrity, and show quality in leadership. We need more people in leadership roles who are moral, like Barack Obama.

Remember, we are not fighting a battle, we are the artisans and sculptors of the future for ourselves and generations to come. Rarely do societies have opportunities to make such dramatic moves forward as we now have in this opportunity of today. Take pride and practice in being inclusive as we stride forward. In moving forward, create opportunity not only for yourself, but also for all. Hope is a wonderful thing to behold; but without opportunity, hope can become but a dream never achievable. We can, will, and must, create opportunity.

In the coming year I hope that we do not lose our spiritedness, but instead continue to build and make headway. I hope we all continue our campaign for change in government and business. We will succeed in moving forward once again, it will take much effort and good oversight on the part of each of us. We will make great strides in the months and years ahead in order to achieve the fruitions of good. Let's keep our enthusiasm progressing through these coming toughest of times. Let us use the light of goodness and love to motivate us with historic momentum.

I have chosen Barack Obama because he best represents my deepest beliefs in America. Please take time to read the issues that Barack Obama has published on this website. Also, give your attention to see how he leads us to move our nation forward in the time ahead. Most importantly, be part of America's great future, participate in the greatness that together we will make. Participate!

We will each and all flourish, if we think, speak, and act, by using the love in our hearts.

Your reply is welcome. Contact: Alex.Karoub@gmail.com

Swing the pendulum. Make history. Vote.

Douglas from South Gate, CA — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:38:12 EST

This is indeed a historic election, and for reasons more significant than its being the longest and costliest in U.S. history. Underlying it all is the almost palpable sense that after decades of abuse, we -- the people of the United States -- are reasserting our fundamental right to power. The pendulum, which swung to the Right -- and shifted the balance of wealth and power to the top -- with the election of Ronald Reagan, has begun to swing in a more liberating direction.

I'm voting formally

David from Tallahassee, FL — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:09:39 EST

Back in the early 1960's when I was a young boy, I saw images of freedom riders; young men and women, riding buses to Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and yes, Florida. These heros, men and women, black and white, came to the South to stand up for justice and sometimes to sit in. Their heroic efforts changed our country and society forever. When you look at those old photos from back in the day, you'll notice that many of those young men and women came to the protest actions dressed formally.

Tomorrow, it's looking increasingly hopeful that we will elect a new president and he will be a sure enough multicultural/multiracial man with a African father and a Midwestern mother. It's the most significant public event of my 58 years on Planet Earth.

To mark this occasion and to honor the brave heros of the early 60's, I'm wearing my best (OK, my only) suit and tie when I go to vote tomorrow. I hope some of you will join me in marking this life changing event.

Last Chance to Vote Early!

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:38:42 EST

All sources are saying there is going to be a historically humungous turnout on Tuesday. But more than a million people in Ohio have gotten the job done already by voting early. (Now they can devote their time on Election Day to getting out the vote!)

(Above cartoon is from the Kenyon Collegian)

Here are some stories from a few excited early voters:

Robyn from Fairborn: The highlight of this experience was seeing all of the young people who showed up to vote. I'm only 30 years old, however, I rarely see young people voting when I arrive at the polls. This has certainly been a moving experience.

Kollin from Columbus: I was very encouraged to see tons of enthusiastic Barack Obama supporters out in front of the veterans building where I voted. I brought my brother along and made him vote as well. Because I was so impressed with how easy it was to vote, I made calls to all my family and friends to go out and vote as well, I even figured out early vote locations and got them directions to these locations. I'm excited about our chances here in Ohio.

Jared in South Zanesville: I was so proud to be able to walk in and cast my vote for Senators Obama & Biden (along with a host of other Democrats in state and local offices). I am too young to have taken part in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, but I could not help but think I was doing something important to advance civil rights, end poverty, improve health care, expand civil liberties and make America economically strong again. I actually sat there for a moment after filling out my ballot just to be present in the moment. I then went to the local Obama headquarters and made phone calls to undecided voters for 3 hours!!!!!!

Make the pledge to vote early. Or just find your early vote location using the tool below:

Hungry for change? Why wait?

Education with Barack Obama

Hope4Unity — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:12:55 EDT

Achievers Obscured by History
By Frank T. Manheim and Eckhard Hellmuth
Jul 27, 2006

Retired geochemist Frank Manheim, now adjunct professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and Emeritus professor of chemistry, Eckhard Hellmuth at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, were interested in science education.

They tracked down a rumor about special achievements in chemistry at Kansas City Missouri’s formerly segregated Negro high school. Exploring a subject that has involved controversies and sensitivities, their research revealed an important story that was obscured for 50 years.

Topeka and Kansas City

In 1954, an eight-year old Black girl from Topeka, Kansas made national headlines. The NAACP, led by Thurgood Marshall, a rapidly rising Black lawyer who had achieved a succession of court victories, won Oliver Brown’s suit against the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Brown’s daughter, Linda, who was in third grade, had to walk across Topeka to her segregated school. Her white friends could go to school a few blocks away. The landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision outlawed legal imposition of segregation in the United States.

Science Awards Confirm Forgotten History

Around the time of the Topeka decision, students of Sumner High School, a segregated Negro high school in Kansas City Kansas, accomplished something not only unexpected, but also improbable, considering the prevailing conditions of discrimination, the sub-standard school funding, and the educational and socioeconomic background of the Negro population that Sumner served. The accomplishment was this: Sumner dominated all Metropolitan Kansas City high schools (then more than 75 percent white) in awards for science presentations in the newly initiated National Science Fairs program.

It was not a fluke. Sumner would dominate top science prizes for much of the 1950s. Later, Lincoln High School, a Negro high school until 1954 on the Missouri side, dominated science awards in the Kansas City, Missouri school district well into the 1960s.

Read the story: http://www.sciencespectrumonline.com/artman/publish/printer_150.shtml

"The story of the schools should add to their legacy in Greater Kansas City history. It offers insights for education today, though we neither can nor would wish to recreate some of the conditions that influenced the developments. The story also points to an urgent need to research educational history and circumstances in African-American communities prior to the mid 1960s, while the personal experience and documentary resources of surviving educators and other knowledgeable observers are still available." -- Manheim & Hellmuth, 2006

Senator Obama often speaks of the value placed on education by his parents and grandparents. Reform of No Child Left Behind is one of the important changes that will be achieved in an Obama administration.

For the Elders

Leslye J Allen of Atlanta, GA — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:12:25 EDT

Back on January 25, 2008, I received a phone call from my mother telling me that her closest and dearest friend and mentor—and my “Nana”—had passed away. Her friend, Mattie P. Harris died the day Barack Obama won the South Carolina primary. She was one month shy of her 106th birthday. She had witnessed more history than most of us can imagine. The minute Mama said that Nana was gone, I immediately uttered that Barack would win South Carolina. Mama asked me what I had just said, and I repeated the statement. “Are you all right?” Mama asked. “Yeah, it was just a thought,” I answered. It felt extremely weird to have that sensation. I am not one to believe in a lot of hocus-pocus; I have no real superstitions. I do believe, however, in ancestral signs.

This past week I took my mother to the dentist. A retired school teacher and early childhood specialist, at 87 years of age and with two mild strokes behind her, I do not expect my mother to be spry. She has always been a busy body with a keen wit and fierce independence, only recently acquiescing to my demand that she have a housekeeper come to clean up her house. Yet she looked extremely frail to me this week. As an only child, I worry much more than I care to admit. My mother admitted to me that she forgot my phone number the other day, but she has always managed to find her Barack Obama buttons when we are headed out for the day. When I took my mother to vote a month ago, I heard an elderly black man say that he was voting early for Barack Obama just in case he “kicked the bucket before November 4th.” Everyone laughed, but the statement worried me.

Back during the Democratic convention, my cousin Billie, an 83-year-old director, actor, and drama coach called me as if to reinforce how historic and unbelievable this moment in time was. She talked about how she never dreamed she would see such a day. This was coming from a woman who has not only performed with the very best actors of any era, but who has trained some of the best that Hollywood and Broadway have to offer. I worry about her health in almost the same way as I worry about my mother’s health. She admitted that she had endured some recent health problems but was seeing a nutritionist that had prescribed a diet that had improved her overall well-being. She sounded good on the phone, so I worried less. Yet I still worry. In addition to being a supremely talented director, actor, and drama coach, she is a skilled diplomat and when necessary, a gifted liar (smile)—all great actors are! I have heard her skirt around the truth to deter me from worrying. Sometimes it works; sometimes it does not.

This week I found out that Barack Obama’s grandmother Madelyn Dunham was in declining health. The fact that Barack’s grandmother is a year younger than my mother Syble, and only a few years older than my cousin Billie made me a bit more anxious. I am not worried about Barack’s ability to win the Whitehouse or his ability to chart a new course for this nation. I do admit, however, to worrying that there might be some people who might not be around to see it.

I want Obama to win, not simply for myself, and all of us who have made phone calls, donated money and time, but for all of those old folks who never thought such a day would happen. My older relatives have seen this nation at its absolute worst. They remember having to keep silent as they endured the insults of racist whites; they remember being beaten and jailed for looking in the wrong direction or for staring at some white man's ugly cousin. And, too many Black women remember a time when any attractive Black female had to be cautious around white men. Rape was often the payback to a black woman who had spurned the attention of any white man. There was not likely to be any trial, and if so, there would be no conviction of the rapists. These Black elders, male and female, have waited their entire lives for a moment like the one we will see in less than a week. As an African-American, I have heard all the varied responses to a potential Obama presidency. I even heard one misguided white woman admit that she feared Blacks would retaliate against white Americans for past grievances. Oh well.

I do not know any black person who wants to settle two-hundred-year-old plus scores. All that I, and they, wish is to see Barack Obama win this election, and then strut himself, and his wonderful, brilliant wife and two daughters into that Big House on Pennsylvania Avenue. I personally wish this for my country and my elders who have paid the fullest measure for this moment in time!!

Peace and Love!

YES, WE SHALL!!

Why You Should Support Barack Obama

Shadie Okpako — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:23:31 EDT

I see Obama as the person that will bring a real change to the politics and history of America and not only America, but also the history and politics of the world. He is known to be a liberal but a radical one that brings real change.

Jesus Christ in the Bible was liberal going everywhere doing good to the people, helping the poor, the oppressed and downcast. Yet, He did not leave the uncaring attitudes of the Pharisees unchallenged. So He was radical. He brought about real change to His community and beyond during His days on earth and even till today.

That is how I see Barack Obama. His campaigns have always hinged on how to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and avert others coming up, to boost the economy and make life easier for the poor (or low income earners), etc. What a change that will bring to the over 95% of the people in this bracket in America that will benefit! And once there is stability in America other countries in the world benefit too.

Can we compare the bliss and tranquility the world enjoyed during the reign of President Bill Clinton to the wars and economic crunch of the present President George Bush? No. Wars don't bring benefits but suffering. It is time we learn and stop fighting wars but make peace. Finally, I support Barack Obama because he stands for peace rather than wars.

Lets us stand up to support Barack Obama to win the forth-coming election to bring about the real change in the White House.

From the Great Depression to the Great Transformation

MsMike — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:04:41 EDT

I am a 69 year old white woman and a faithful supporter of Barack Obama (have been for almost a year). I am expecting to have the very best birthday of my life when I turn 70 on the 4th of November, 2008, the same day that Barack Obama is elected President of the United States of America!

November 4th 2008 will be a wonderful day for our country and the entire world; it will be a rebirth of hope for peace, hope for our environment, and hope for our children and grandchildren.

And November 4th 2008 will be a wonderful birthday for me because the election of Barack Obama will help me to feel that many of the efforts of my life were not in vain.

Attention: Time for action! "Obama" and "Michelle" HELP!

catarina2k2009 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:33:40 EDT

Hi! Mr."President"

This blog i'm writing is a matter of life and death, mines or my sons life can be saved if someone take the matter serious. Back in 2002,when my son was sixteen, he was out there like the rest of his generation stealing cars.

But was caught, his father had just became a sherriff, we both was notified of this crime.

His father and I went directly too the police department in which he was being held, officers spoke with us and stated, your son doesn't seem like the type of child who would steal a car.

Officials, his father and I talked with our son, his reply was, all he wanted was his mother and father together, that's why he took too triing too steal a car. It may be a little truth in what our son said but, also I believe it was from a lot of bad influence from people of his generation.

So that matter was handled by his father and the "Police" department.

Concerning what went on with the other safety issues my son and I start having from 2005 up until now , I believe from one of the issues when my son got locked up from visiting a School mate of his by the name of Shawn whom lived at the time two doors down from us 55 14th Avenue before going too work, in which he had just got employed at "I HOP", located on Bergen Sreet not too far from where he resided 51 14Th Avenue. That day May 1, 2006, Newark Police officers did an illegal drug bust ,puting my son and his two friends in jail, at the time his friend wife or babies mother was also present upon drug bust but her they did not lock up.

My son, Robert A. Swepson did a year in jail for nothing, his public defender: Johnathan Kessous, handled his case and proved him innocent June 26, 2007 of last year.

I have all documents too prove my sons case, even his first pay stub in which he would of been recieving that day. After recieving a certified letter from the courts stating my sons 'civil" rights was violated, nothing was ever done about it. Not that we didn't try but, was kept from doing so, by officials. Police officers whom did this terrible thing against my son Robert, was pursuing him and my self for all that had gone wrong on their part. Arresting him on phony charges including the real one he had commit in 2002 at the age sixteen. He is also being made too pay bail money out and threaten too be put back in jail if he don't. We both are under the protection program, so if any thing should happen this will be a lead too follow up on. While i'm at it, I mightest well tell of the recent inccident. Oct 7th 2008. I call my self taking in a friend of my sons in my home off of the streets, she became very violent, calling me out my name and causing injury too my thighs, arms, and back, theres a case number for that as well exsplaining the circumstances, involving, police officers again.

So like I said where is our "Justice"

We need your help "President 'Obama"

Here are some case numbers concerning each matter, along with a phone number:

phone number: 1-973-733-4311

case #4418,4677,4465,4541 These are all case numbers and is being looked into hopefully.

In the mean time i'm working with Mr. Livingston once again! whom is witness too one of the safety issue that occured by officers, last year, April 18Th 2007. "Police Misconduct"

Hold up - Bank Nationalization?!

Marjani — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:30:31 EDT

Are we being spoon-fed the New World Order?

Bush Defends Government Bank Investment

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/14/AR2008101400738.html?hpid=topnews

Is Bush trying to pull off an out-going administrative nationalization of all the financial and monetary banking systems so that the rich powerful elite can own it all?

Because if not, this sure sounds like something Republicans have been trying to convince everyone that "liberals" want to do to that will ruin this nation--government ownership of banking systems and a huge push to make certain that the children of the working class poor stay in Iraq protecting THEIR interests for amother 100-1,000 years?

That sounds like some of the very same socialist crap they've been accusing Democrats of.

Socialism is based in government ownership of production of goods and communal living of everyone who is being taken care of by the government. The only difference here is that the socialist plan makes it even and makes it work for everyone, this kind of crud puts control of the monetary and banking systems specifically in the hands of the elitists and leaves the rest of us out here high and dry and subject to nothing more than begging government and rich people for handouts while we work longer and harder hours only to survive andmake sure they stay rich and get richer.

Are you people sleeping or what?!

Bush has not only taken America's right to privacy and other civil liberties, he's trying to set up his family and cronies as the owners of all the oil wealth and the financial systems across the world.

No wonder those Bush-whacks are calling people in the Middle East "terrorists" and no wonder they're bombing and blowing up things in anger. Bush is doing to us what they've already done to those people they call "sand n-words."

Only we're sandal-clad minions. And he's sending in McCain to finish the job he started.

Help Defeat California Proposition 8: Vote No on 8, Vote No on Hate!

Tommy News — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:29:22 EDT

Help Defeat California Proposition 8: Vote No on 8, Vote No on Hate! Vote No on Prop 8 - Equality for All
California Proposition 8 is a California ballot initiative that would make same-sex marriage in California illegal. This discriminatory initiative is on the statewide California ballot this November 4th.Civil rights matters should not be placed on the ballot, but unfortunately this is on the ballot, and we must work to defeat it. This discriminatory measure affects people nationwide. not just in California, but only Californians can vote on it. Gay people deserve the same EQUAL rights as everyone else. Anything less is discrimination.As long as the government makes laws about and codifies civil marriage, all people must be included in those laws equally. Churches are then free to bless those unions or not. There are plenty of Progressive and tolerant churches that will. Please think about this: How does someone else's marriage affect yours? It does NOT! Vote No on 8, Vote No on Hate! Go here to learn more about California Proposition 8 and donate to help fight it:http://noonprop8.com/homeVote No on 8, Vote No on Hate! We need your help and we need it now. Please pass this message on! Here are the facts:Vote No on Prop 8 - Equality for AllWhat Is Prop 8?

The following information will be included in the November ballot materials.

Ballot Title and Summary

Proposition 8:

ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARRY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Changes California Constitution to eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry. Provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.

Fiscal Impact: Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little fiscal impact to state and local governments.

On August 8, 2008 Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley ruled that the Attorney General's Title and Summary of Proposition 8 is accurate.

Samuel and Julia Thoron

Ballot Argument

OUR CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION -- the law of our land -- SHOULD GUARANTEE THE SAME FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS TO EVERYONE -- NO ONE group SHOULD be singled out to BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.

In fact, our nation was founded on the principle that all people should be treated equally. EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW IS THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETY.

That's what this election is about -- equality, freedom and fairness, for all.

Marriage is the institution that conveys dignity and respect to the lifetime commitment of any couple. PROPOSITION 8 WOULD DENY LESBIAN AND GAY COUPLES that same DIGNITY AND RESPECT.

That's why Proposition 8 is wrong for California.

Regardless of how you feel about this issue, the freedom to marry is fundamental to our society, just like the freedoms of religion and speech.

PROPOSITION 8 MANDATES ONE SET OF RULES FOR GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES AND ANOTHER SET FOR EVERYONE ELSE. That's just not fair. OUR LAWS SHOULD TREAT EVERYONE EQUALLY.

In fact, the government has no business telling people who can and cannot get married. Just like government has no business telling us what to read, watch on TV or do in our private lives. We don't need Prop 8; WE DON'T NEED MORE GOVERNMENT IN OUR LIVES.

REGARDLESS OF HOW ANYONE FEELS ABOUT MARRIAGE FOR GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE SINGLED OUT FOR UNFAIR TREATMENT UNDER THE LAWS OF OUR STATE. Those committed and loving couples who want to accept the responsibility that comes with marriage should be treated like everyone else.

DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS are NOT MARRIAGE.

When you're married and your spouse is sick or hurt, there is no confusion: you get into the ambulance or hospital room with no questions asked. IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND ESPECIALLY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS ARE SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH. Only marriage provides the certainty and the security that people know they can count on in their times of greatest need.

EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW IS A FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE. Prop 8 separates one group of Californians from another and excludes them from enjoying the same rights as other loving couples.

Forty-six years ago I married my college sweetheart, Julia. We raised three children -- two boys and one girl. The boys are married, with children of their own. Our daughter, Liz, a lesbian, can now also be married -- if she so chooses.

All we have ever wanted for our daughter is that she be treated with the same dignity and respect as her brothers – with the same freedoms and responsibilities as every other Californian.

My wife and I never treated our children differently, we never loved them any differently and now the law doesn't treat them differently, either.

Each of our children now has the same rights as the others, to choose the person to love, commit to and to marry.

Don't take away the equality, freedom and fairness that everyone in California -- straight, gay or lesbian -- deserves.

Please join us in voting NO on Prop 8.

Why Vote No on Prop 8?

"Proposition 8… would eliminate the fundamental right to same-sex marriage. The very act of denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry – traditionally the highest legal and societal recognition of a loving commitment – by definition relegates them and their relationship to second class status."
Los Angeles Times Editorial, August 8, 2008

Regardless of how you feel about this issue, we should guarantee the same fundamental rights to every Californian. Vote No on 8.

Let's remember that gay and lesbian people are our neighbors, our friends, our coworkers and our family members. They are nurses, firefighters and small business owners. Same-sex couples are loving and committed couples who want to get married. They care for each other, they pay taxes and they want to protect each other and take responsibility for each other, just like other couples. We should not hurt same-sex couples in California by eliminating their right to marry.

It's not the government's place to tell couples who have been together for years whether or not they are allowed to marry. In California, we let people decide what is best for themselves – without government interference. Eliminating fundamental rights for same-sex couples treats them differently under the law – AND THAT'S WRONG. Vote No on 8.

Domestic Partnerships are NOT the same as marriage. Domestic partnerships are just legal documents. They don't provide the same dignity, respect, and commitment as a marriage. In a marriage, a paramedic doesn't tell you that you cannot get into an ambulance with your spouse. Married couples can automatically make life or death decisions for each other in these crisis situations, no questions asked. Vote No on 8.

Regardless of how you feel about this issue, it's wrong to eliminate the fundamental rights of fellow Californians – and hurt our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members. THAT'S WRONG.

Proponents of Prop 8 continue to lie in their television ads.

Here's what's fiction and what's fact:

Fiction: Teaching children about same-sex marriage will happen here unless we pass Prop 8.

Fact: Not one word in Prop 8 mentions education, and no child can be forced, against the will of their parents, to be taught anything about health and family issues at school. California law prohibits it, and the Yes on 8 campaign knows they are lying. Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley has already ruled that this claim by Prop 8 proponents is "false and misleading."

Fiction: Churches could lose their tax-exemption status.

Fact: Nothing in Prop 8 would force churches to do anything. In fact, the court decision regarding marriage specifically says "no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs."

Fiction: A Massachusetts case about a parent's objection to the school curriculum will happen here.

Fact: Unlike Massachusetts, California gives parents an absolute right to remove their kids and opt-out of teaching on health and family instruction they don't agree with. The opponents know that California law already covers this and Prop 8 won't affect it, so they bring up an irrelevant case in Massachusetts.

Fiction: Four Activist Judges in San Francisco…

Fact: Prop 8 is not about courts and judges, it's about eliminating a fundamental right. Judges didn't grant the right, the constitution guarantees the right. Proponents of Prop 8 use an outdated and stale argument that judges aren't supposed to protect rights and freedoms. This campaign is about whether Californians, right now, in 2008 are willing to amend the constitution for the sole purpose of eliminating a fundamental right for one group of citizens.

Fiction: People can be sued over personal beliefs.

Fact: California's laws already prohibit discrimination against anyone based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This has nothing to do with marriage.

Fiction: Pepperdine University supports the Yes on 8 campaign.

Fact: The university has publicly disassociated itself from Professor Richard Peterson of Pepperdine University, who is featured in the ad, and has asked to not be identified in the Yes on 8 advertisements.

Fiction: Unless Prop 8 passes, CA parents won't have the right to object to what their children are taught in school.

Fact: California law clearly gives parents and guardians broad authority to remove their children from any health instruction if it conflicts with their religious beliefs or moral convictions.

Regardless of how you feel about the issue, we should not eliminate fundamental rights for ANY Californians. Please vote NO on Prop 8

http://noonprop8.com/campaign_updates?id=0001

Donate

We need your help and we need it now. There are so many ways you can help fund the fight against Prop 8. You can help to raise much-needed funds and educate your friends and family about why it is so important for Californians to vote NO on Prop 8.

Click Herre:http://www.noonprop8.com/page/?id=0052

Sign up to receive more information on Prop 8

http://eqfed.org/equalityforall/join.tcl

Click Here to help:Vote No on Prop 8 - Equality for All

That word "Liberal"

Nanci — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:15:58 EDT

When did the word “Liberal” become a dirty word? I read articles in Letters to the Editor, and some people seem to think that merely labeling Obama as a “Liberal” ( insert shudder and gasps) is enough to make people not vote for him.

Well, I am a Liberal, I lean further toward things Liberals stand for: the common man, the American worker, labor unions’ right to exist, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, voting rights, and civil rights. The right of every person to be shown respect as a human being regardless of race, sexual orientation or religion. I believe in the individual’s right to decide how to live their life and what to do with their own body in their own privacy, and the right to access to medical and health care benefits, as do Liberals. I, as a Liberal, believe after working for 30 or 40 years and paying into a pension or 401K you have the right to collect a retirement. Liberals believe in fair taxes and expect fair taxes on the wealthy as well as the poor. We believe people don’t mind tax increases as long as they benefit all citizens and not just the top 10% of the wealthiest individuals and corporations. We believe tax cuts should be used judiciously and not just to win an election, but consider the current state of the country’s economy.

Liberals, myself included, believe in the right to voice an opinion, without fear of reprisal. We anticipate the hope to live in peace and not fear. We support policies that do not weigh our children, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren with our irresponsible fiscal policies and lack of oversight, putting them deeper and deeper into debt. We value the opportunity to make a living wage, and being able to walk down the street without the fear of being shot.

Liberals espouse recognition of the value of education in our country and backing up that recognition by funding education for every child in America, as well as recognition of the value of our elderly and our obligations to our elders. Liberals talk about being willing to stop the discarding of the elderly into homes unfit for any human being, or relegate them to poverty and illness at the end of productive lives based on the mighty dollar. Liberals believe in the right to health care that does not force a choice between bankruptcy and medical care. The examples are legion, but if you want to know, talk to your neighbor.

The values Liberals hold I hold: love your neighbor as yourself, choose peace over war whenever possible, hold life (every life) in the highest esteem, empathy, understanding, trust, individual rights, and the respect for the opinions of others. None of us are less, for we are all intertwined and rooted in the same tree. That tree is the Tree of America, and it stands on the Planet Earth. Therefore, we Liberals think globally, trying to work with, rather than against our neighbors. Last of all, Liberals think for themselves and do not believe everything said to them from the pulpit or the soapbox. Instead they look for truth. As individuals we are not perfect, but we are not ashamed of our label either. I am proud to call myself a Liberal.

For Barack Obama's beliefs and stands on the issues see http://www.barackobama.com/issues/.

VOTE FOR CHANGE!! VOTE FOR A NEW AMERICA!! VOTE FOR AMERICAN VALUES! VOTE FOR OBAMA!!!

RACE IN THE 2008 ELECTION, By Sally Liuzzo-Prado, Youngest Daughter of Viola Gregg Liuzzo, A Civil Rights Worker Murdered in 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery March

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:07:20 EDT

[Please take the time to comment on this important article which should be sent to every racist nook-and-cranny in the 9 Battleground States, and please also post your insights at the OpEdNews site below, where they will become part of a larger dialogue]

OpEdNews

Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-2008-Election-by-Sally-Liuzzo-Prado-081011-815.html

October 12, 2008

The racial hatred being promoted by Sarah Palin and the McCain campaign deserves comment. I have experienced this type of hatred on a very personal level. I am the youngest daughter of Viola Gregg Liuzzo, who was murdered by the KKK AND a paid FBI informant on March 25th, 1965 while participating in the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march.

I find it appalling that someone who wants to lead our country would lower themselves to incite racial violence in an attempt to win a political campaign. Racism has been an ugly and shameful part of our country's history. We need to work together to heal the wounds racism has caused--not bring us backwards in our fight.

I also find it appalling that people in the McCain campaign are spreading rumors insinuating Barack Obama is of Arab decent, as if that in itself is a crime. Being from Detroit Michigan, I grew up in an area with a huge Arabic population. The Arab Americans that I have had contact with are decent people who love this country. They were devastated by the events of 09-11-2001 as proud Arab Americans. It is not right to condemn an entire group of people due to the actions of a few.

I saw Barack for the first time two or three years ago while he was promoting his book. This was long before his campaign for the presidency was announced. I remember thinking, "Who is this man? He is amazing!" There are not enough words to express how I feel about both Barack and Michelle Obama. If anyone can help heal race relations in this country, they can.

This campaign has been an emotional roller coaster for me. It has validated for me everything that my mother taught me. Although it has been 43 years since her death, the pain is still there. I still struggle with trying to keep my emotions under control. My mother's murder has never gotten much easier for me to talk about. As much as I miss her, I would not change a thing. I am so proud of her and the sacrifice she made for her fellow man. She taught me more in the six short years we were together, than many parents teach their children in a lifetime. She taught me to choose my friends by their character, not by their appearance or status. I have three children, my 19 year old twin daughters were born the same day my mother was killed, March 25th, twenty-four years later. She left a legacy that my family is passing on to our children. Hopefully in some small way, we can make this planet a better place for all of us.

Let us promote positive race relations instead of hate speech, especially in a presidential campaign.

Sally Liuzzo-Prado

Authors Bio: My name is Sally Liuzzo-Prado. I am the youngest daughter of Viola Gregg Liuzzo who was a civil rights worker murdered by the KKK and a paid FBI informant in 1965. My mother was participating in the historic Selma to Montgomery voting rights march and was ambushed by the Klan and shot in the head. I am single and live on the west coast. I am the mother of three wonderful adult children.

"Civil Rights", and " Police Misconduct" in Newark N.J.

catarina2k2009 — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:51:32 EDT

Hi! My real name is Francine Sanderson

I live 51 14Th Avenue Newark N.J. 07103

New Community Corp. Last year, Feb, 2007. I was sexually assulted by a maintenance man his name is Eon. I was injuried by a "White" or "Hispanic" officer him and other officials keep grabbing on me pushing me around in my bed room snatching my phone cord out the wall shoving a ambalance paper in my face too sign while all this was going on a Mr. Livingston from Al Sharpton network was on the phone asking me, why was cops in my house, get them out! you no you can't trust them. First of all a Mrs. Carpenter from 1 Lincoln Avenue sent officers out too make a sexual assult report which they did not do. My son civil rights was violated, we both were threaten and harass by police and drug dealers, My son was beaten up by 8 or 9 blood members.

All I'm asking is for a chance too be heard and show proof, but by this one noing another person in high authorities, I'm being prevented from doing so. "Obama" and "Michelle" I need your help! my son is locked up again by cops on phony charges. Please don't turn us away either. Help bring "Justice"

My story must be told, I even went too abc 7 on your side, I was told my story wasn't iimportant enough too air and that since it was owned by them they get too chose what news too air.

Iwas told by one female detective Barbara Gilbert, all I needed was a man and drop the matter. It's been a year going on two and no "Justice"!

I'm writing all whom I seek help and was made fun of yelled at, and turned away.

Internal Affairs Det Webber whom took the report: 1-973-733-6171

Dana Rone, Council woman at the time for my district

Attorney General: 1-202-353-1555

Investigation unit:1-877-695-8477

FBI: 1 973 792-3000

Corey Booker: 1 973 733-6400

Ronald Rice: 1 973-371-5665

Senator: 1-609-292-4840

CCRBI: 1 212-442-8833

Lautenberg: 1 202-224-3224

Naacp Gorden Sunkett: Home phone 1 856-513-0681, cell 1-856-340-5255

Star Ledger Bruno Tedeschi: 1 973-392-1727

Governer John Corozine: 1 609-292-6000

Civil Rights in New York: 1-212-306-5070, 1-212-306-7450

Charles Mayor Corey Bookers Handy man located on South Orange Avenue: 1-973-733-6280

Detectives Anthony Roberts Jr. and Det. Barbara Gilbert: 1-973-733-6280

Al Sharpton Network in New York: 1-212-690-3070.

Steve Young: 1-856-513-0647

Home Grown, Organic, Grass Roots Fundraising

David from San Francisco, CA — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:46:50 EDT

Change comes from the folks in the neighborhood, talking to each other, finding common interests, sharing common values, teaching each other about themselves and what kind of progress they want for the future. That's what Obama's campaign has been about. At his core, that's what he champions. Sure his policies are progressive and liberal. But he's about even more than that. He's about recognizing our generation's decency and dignity and it's place in history. He's also about reaching out to every day people in big cities and small towns, in neighborhoods across the country to let us know that we have ownership in this great Country and that fundamental fairness, civil rights, smart pragmatic economic policy and leadership in the world is what makes us strong and proud. Anyway, on a sunny San Francisco afternoon last weekend, my wife and I celebrated her birthday by having a Bakesale for Obama. We sold home made cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and candy. We sold gift baskets. We sold t-shirts. In three hours, we raised just over $500. Our friends and neighbors stopped by. We met some new folks and some old friends came around. It was as American as Apple Pie. It was what Obama's campaign is all about. Yes, We Can ! ! !

Gays Thrown Under Bus By Both Parties

Max from High Rolls Mountain Park, NM — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:24:54 EDT

Last night both parties agreed to throw gays under the bus. We are the one of the last few groups it's still okay to hate. I thought the Democrats believed in equality for all. What a joke. Partial equality for gays, that's the oen thing Democrats & Republicans can agree on. Time for a third party.

Biden States Equality for All; Palin Sidesteps the Issue

Scott A. Giordano — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:18:52 EDT

The differences were clear in the VP debate, as it relates to civil rights for GLBT people and their families.

The hate-filled posts that are clogging up this campaign's blog site

FiredUpVoter — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:43:45 EDT

It's unbelievable how many groups swear up and down that God is on their side. I'm sure God is ticked off to hear about how many people misquote him, misrepresent him, and use his name in vain by attaching THEIR ridiculous notions to him. "Forgive them, Lord. For they know not what they do."

I want to make sure I understand the end summary of the psychotic ramblings I've been seeing.

Let me get this straight:

The people ("trolls") who have been posting here lately, spewing all sorts of things that go beyond smears, seem to have a lot in common and seem to share a common vision for our country:

-A completely 'Christian' society that makes literal interpretations of the bible and practices intolerance, bigotry, and hate.

-A society where it doesn't matter if you were raped or molested or your might die....you'll have as many babies as the lord allows and you will like it!

-A society that is willing to pick fights with, and blow up, any country that disagrees with us in any way.

-A society that places one group as superior to the others and persecutes anyone whom they feel is inferior.

-A society where everyone who is superior totes a gun..and not just any gun..a semi-automatic! Ya never know when a rowdy goose might be hard to bring down!

-A society that sees themselves as the ones with God on their side.

Wow- What a nightmarish vision!!! This type of thinking is no different than the terrorists organizations. And if you look throughout history, you will find that type of approach has resulted in wars, bloodshed, oppression, and total disaster....all over the world, no matter where you look in history. I can't think of anything more UN-Christian or more totalitarian. Neo-Cons have no business accusing Democrats of being socialist. This takes the cake.

This election has brought to the surface all of the people who have varying degrees of racism and bigotry bubbling beneath the surface. If anyone doubted it, or had a false sense of security, here is the wake up call. There are TONS of people out there who are narrow minded and misguided. Now we know who they are.

We need to recognize that we have terrorism, and have had it, right in the US. They're known as racists, supremacists, anti-government groups holed up in the wilderness with arsenals, and violent criminals with no remorse. It doesn't matter what color they are or what their point is. It all manifests itself in violence and a victim mentality: 'poor me'. 'The world is against me.' It's always this one's fault or that one's fault. NONE of them take responsibility for their actions or what brought them to where to where they are. Examples of it are in the news all the time. There's no difference between a hate group, or a band of ANY religious extremists and band of suicide bombers, as far as I'm concerned. They've all been brainwashed.

We have to confront this problem as a nation and make sure it doesn't take over.

Newman's Own Politics by John Nichols, The Nation

Constance — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:44:52 EDT

Actors do not usually turn in performances that gain the notice of presidents. But when Paul Newman decided to take the role of anti-war activist in the early days of the Vietnam imbroglio, he performed so ably – as an early and essential campaigner for Eugene McCarthy in 1968 and prominent supporter of George McGovern – that he ranked high on then-President Richard Nixon's "enemies list." Newman's name was on the original list of enemies produced by Nixon aide Charles Colson in 1971.

Colson's notes on the memorandum with regard to the actor read: "Paul Newman, California: Radic-lib causes. Heavy McCarthy involvement '68. Used effectively in nationwide T.V. commercials. '72 involvement certain." The official purpose, according to internal memos that circulated in the Nixon White House prior to the 1972 election was to "screw" liberal politicians, labor leaders, business titans, academics, activists and an actor who might be threats to the president's reelection. "This memorandum addresses the matter of how we can maximize the fact of our incumbency in dealing with persons known to be active in their opposition to our Administration; stated a bit more bluntly--how we can use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies," wrote White House counsel John Dean.

Newman, who died Friday at age 83, survived and thrived. He won acting's top honors and even became one of the nation's most successful entrepreneurs, marketing his own exceptionally successful "Newman's Own" brand of salad dressings and organic food. ("It's all been a bad joke that just ran out of control," Newman said of the food business, which allowed him donate more generously than just about anyone in Hollywood or on Wall Street to charity.)

Newman remained political -- dedicated to civil rights, women's rights and gay rights, committed to ending the nuclear arms race and determined to elect opponents of war and militarism. Newman supported, and even wrote for, The Nation. And he was a steady campaigner for and contributor to progressive causes and candidates – mostly Democrats but also anti-war Republican Pete McCloskey when he challenged Nixon in the Republican primaries of 1972 and to Green Ralph Nader in 2000.

In 2006, the actor helped Connecticut's Ned Lamont mount a successful Democratic primary challenge to U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman. (Newman got so into the Lamont campaign that he even volunteered to do calls for the campaign -- and wrote his own script.)

This year, Newman was a maxed-out contributor to the campaign of Barack Obama for president. The actor finished his life with more friends and fewer enemies than just about anyone in his chosen profession. And Newman's extensive philanthropy earned him little but praise in his final years.

Yet, Paul Newman was particularly proud to have been an "enemy." Indeed, he said to the end of his days that the place he held on Nixon's list was "the highest single honor I've ever received."

Adults with Down Syndrome deserve to be seen and heard

Just One in the PNW — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:10:18 EDT

I would appreciate seeing photographs of Senator Obama or Senator Biden shaking hands and listening to adults who have Down syndrome, posted on the internet and in news stories across the USA.

The nation should know that young adults with Down syndrome like my son are participating in supported employment programs trying to find jobs in their communities and many are on waiting lists. We are encouraged by others with Down syndrome who hold jobs, attend programs in community colleges, volunteer in their communities, or are just out and about in their neighborhoods living ordinary lives.

Babies with Down syndrome born to Democrats are even cuter than babies with Down syndrome born to Republicans and I'd like to see more babies and children from Democrats' families featured on the internet and in news stories, too. Individuals with Down syndrome like my son have grown up included in their neighborhood schools with high expectations. What they have achieved with just the small supports and accommodations needed to show us what they can make of their lives has inspired everyone in our families and circles of friends.

:-)

My son told his girlfriend's parents he is voting for Barack Obama because we need hope for the future. Truer words were never spoken. Anyone who has a snapshot of a beautiful baby, child, youth or teen with Down syndrome who has met Senator Obama or Senator Biden, please submit them to the website below and post them at the Obama/Biden website.

People with Down syndrome must be represented in this election. If you are an adult with Down syndrome reading this blog, please submit your own picture of yourself with our Democratic candidates.

Thank you!

Patricia E. Bauer wrote at patriciaebauer.com: "Readers, if you’d like to have your snapshots included here, please send them to patricia@patriciaebauer.com.

We’re looking for shots of people with Down syndrome alongside Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain, Sen. Biden or Gov. Palin. Please enclose the following information: Your full name and city or town; where and when the photo was taken; IDs and relationships of the people in the photo (and ages, for kids), and a few lines about the circumstances. Please also let us know where we may contact you. By sending photos, you are granting permission for their publication."

"That's Why Obama Was Born" -- Song by Dorothy Cotton

Krys Cail — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:05:56 EDT

This is really great! Many of Ithaca's finest, singing together, wonderful inspiration.

Here is the note from Anthony Ingraham, the videographer:

Dorothy Cotton of Ithaca, NY, who once worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., has written the song "That's Why Obama Was Born." She and a group of friends performed it for the first time on Sept. 19 at her home, where I recorded it, and I have posted it online here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuHMIpdQnTM (3 minutes, 47 seconds). Please circulate this widely! Tony Ingraham Ithaca, NY

Change Is Coming, But We Have To Help It Get Here

Trinace Johnson — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:21:11 EDT

Change In The US Is Coming, But We Have To Help It Get Here

The most incredible few days of my life came to a close last month. I’m not sure what can top being chosen as one of 10 people - out of tens of thousands - to take part in the Democratic National Convention in Denver and have the chance to meet and talk to our next president, Barack Obama – at no cost to me. It was so great to be around so many ordinary men and women -- students and soldiers, rich people, poor people, middleclass, Black, White, Hispanic, everything in-between, famous and almost famous people, all together in one place in support of the same thing: leadership that will fundamentally change the course of this nation for the better.

Obama’s acceptance speech was a historical event, not just because he was the first African American to accept a major political party’s nomination for the presidency of the United States or that it was 45 years to the day that Dr. Martin L. King’s delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at March on Washington, but because more than 85,000 people in the stands of Invesco Field and millions more watching at home were united in one voice. That night we joined together in the spirit of unity and hope, and a desire to recapture the promise of America. The divisions that have hampered our nation’s progress for the past eight years dissolved with every word Barack uttered. That night we represented the United States the way we should and the way we haven’t in years.

We can learn a lot from that event and Senator Obama’s leadership, judgment and willingness to sacrifice the interest of the few for the benefit of many. These are the principles that powered the civil rights movement and that we need to renew in the Black community. Obama, with all his great enthusiasm, education, experience, knowledge and motivation, is but one man. I whole-heartedly agree that he has brought that spark of hope that has been lost for so long back. But there comes a point where we have to do our part to help him to keep it going. Change can start with one person. There is definitely power of the few. Too many times we don’t quite get the necessity of change and there is a resistance to change by many, primarily I believe, because of fear. Fear of the unknown, or fear of something different.

My grandfather’s second cousin, Elizabeth Eckford, was one of the “Little Rock Nine” who on September 4, 1957, was one of the first to integrate public schools in Little Rock, Ark. That event changed the course of history in America. Watching old footage of them entering the school, I can’t imagine how scared those nine children must have been going up against what probably seemed like the world. They soldiered on bravely and the nine of them together, altered the course of U.S. history – forever changing it. Those very brave nine children stood up to an angry and fearful America and did it with … what seemed like fearlessly.

So what’s our excuse, “my one vote doesn’t count?”

The challenges facing this nation are too great for us to sit on the sidelines and watch John McCain and the Republican’s push it further in the dumps. Our vote and support for Senator Obama will make a difference in this election – and more importantly, the difference in our community. As Barack so eloquently stated that night “we rise and fall as one nation,” and this election is our opportunity to raise this nation up again and help Senator Obama renew its promise. Like my brave cousin Elizabeth, you never know when one small act will change your life and the course of this nation. I was at home a couple months ago, threatening to spank my 3 –year-old (for the third time in 10 minutes), when I decided to take action. I emailed Senator Obama’s campaign to voice why I believe in his leadership and vision for America. Weeks later I was waiting to have coffee with Virginia Governor Time Kaine, sitting next to former President Jimmy Carter at the convention in Denver, and turning around to see Spike Lee sitting behind me at Invesco Filed while waiting to speak to the future president of the United States, Barack Obama. All that was as a result of one small action that I took. Senator Obama cannot do it alone; he needs our support, labor and vote. We’ve come too far to let the “dream” slip away. Never lose hope. Change is a small action away.

My Almost Complete Case Against Sarah McPalin

Miriam from Wethersfield, CT — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:08:49 EDT

The following are just a FEW of my objections to Sarah Palin as nominee for VP:

Knowing where to drill for oil and gas and being able to view Russia are not foreign policy requisites for competence and success. But hey, they might be for a cushy cabinet post!
However, thinking one should never blink before going to war--with Russia, no less--IS a foreign policy ANTI-requisite. Come on lady, war is not a hockey game! In the words of Therese Heinz-Kerry fr. 2004, perhaps this little lady may be a bit “fazed by complexity.” And she seems to have more than a little of George Bush's hyper-charged certainty. I don’t know about you, but THAT doesn’t make me feel safer. And sure, let’s just add a few more conflicts to our federal deficit! Let's prop up China's economy even more [cause that's where we're borrowing to pay for the war in Iraq], watch the dollar burst into flames and really break the backs of our children and our children’s children! Or let's watch what's happened to 3 of 5 of our most venerable financial institutions happen to our gov't!!! I'm sure those white supremist groups holed up in Montana would say, Yayyy!

Achem.

Sorry.

Kinda went off the rails there ... mixing flames, broken back metaphors w/ white supremists. I'm a little worked up over this stuff in case you couldn't tell.

Whew, so, moving on ...

Building a tax surplus in a state with low populations and large oil and gas revenues does not require the intellect of a brain surgeon. 85% of the state's budget comes from those revenues. And what has the price of oil been doing lately? Right! Going up! In fact, Exxon-Mobil, BP et al. have been at record highs during the Palin administration, right? So guess what, Alaska's coffers have increased 66% from the prior administration. Did that have anything to do with Palin? No. Alaska's unique in that their budget has less to do w/ state govt than the price of oil.

But in Palin's meager defense, she did give taxpayers quite a chunk of change--$1200/every man woman and child in the state. You can do that when you're oil rich. So maybe she has high approval ratings in her state, but how hard was that to accomplish in a mostly white, conservative, evangelical population that got an extra $1200 in their pockets? What's not for them to like?
But does anyone really think she has anything to contribute to reducing a $10 Trillion debt in a $14 Trillion economy [or dealing w/ the worst Financial crisis in our economy since the Great Depression}? You think she can fix that by cutting taxes? [of course, I’m speaking in the ghastly case of a Palin-McCain administration]. Not only that she has a history of secretiveness and NOT reaching across the aisle. All you have to do is google and dig a little.
And trust me, if I can get this, that means it's not rocket science.

Views the war in Iraq as a “task” sent from God. And don’t give me that horse manure about Lincoln. Her handlers saw that question hurtling at them like a meteor. She was clearly rehearsed, and only the far right could convince themselves that part of Gibson's interview was anything but absurd.
And note this comment from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.:

"Fascist writer Westbrook Pegler, an avowed racist who Sarah Palin approvingly quoted in her acceptance speech for the moral superiority of small town values, expressed his fervent hope about my father, Robert F. Kennedy, as he contemplated his own run for the presidency in 1965, that "some white patriot of the Southern tier will spatter his spoonful of brains in pubic premises before the snow flies."
It might be worth asking Governor Palin for a tally of the other favorites from her reading list."

BARACK - BACK TO INSPIRATION!!!

Miguel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:09:39 EDT

Barack, Barack, BARACK,

I'm on this ride with you because YOU INSPIRED ME TO JOIN YOU. YOU INSPIRED ME TO BELIEVE. I am with you. I believe. And I, and many, many, many others are getting worried... we've been here before.

Now you are watching the Republican candidates STEALING YOUR MESSAGE OF CHANGE and ATTEMPTING TO ROUSE THE LARGE CROWDS THAT YOU COMMAND.

TAKE IT BACK TO INSPIRATION! Remind us of how bad things have been over the last 8 years and INSPIRE US TO BELIEVE YOUR VISION OF HOW GREAT IT WILL BE WITH YOU IN COMMAND.

Whip us in to a frenzy of hope!!! This is what you are good at!!! Don't get "angry"... SHOW US YOUR PASSION!!! Not your understanding. Kerry did that and he lost the election. SHOW US YOUR DRIVE!!! Not your intelligence. Gore did that and he lost the election.

When you are commanding a crowd YOU ARE THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, COMMANDER OF HOPE, COMMANDER OF CHANGE!!!

GET OUT of that awkward "John McCain, folksy town hall meeting" - He failed at it and it showed in the polls. While you were Inspiring millions he was boring us 153 people at a time. Now the tables have turned, it seems. You are certainly not boring us... but... THE THRILL IS GONE.

STOP REACTING and DO WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT! I can only assume that you have got more intimate after the convention because the attacks on you being a celebrity got you a bit and you answered. STOP ANSWERING!!! They are controlling this campaign and THEY HAVE TOTALLY CONTROLLED THE CONVERSATION!

50% of ALL THE NEWS SHOWS are talking about your comments on Palin. NO ONE HERE GIVES A FLIP ABOUT HER.

I CARE ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

I CARE ABOUT HEALTHCARE.

I CARE ABOUT OUR STANDING IN THE WORLD.

I CARE ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.

KEEP INSPIRING ME TO BELIEVE YOU CAN CHAMPION MY ISSUES AND WIN THIS ELECTION.

Let the pundits answer back for you.

RISE ABOVE IT!!!!!!!!

A Plain Brown Man

LitGriot — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:36:11 EDT

4 April 2008

40 years ago today a plain brown man was shot and killed. The forces that killed him were massive, yet not nearly as grand as his heart. His courage is unimaginable to me, but a courage by which I measure my own; I want to measure up to his tall legacy, for I, too, am a plain brown man. So are we all, and that is what he said.

Dr. King was shot while supporting sanitation workers in Memphis. And Elvis Presley is racist, white and died rich despite his humble upbringing. Rarely did Elvis ever use his glory for the good of the people. Yet, Elvis’s home in Memphis and cities like it around the country mourn over the superficial affectations of pop stars; stardom simply reproduces itself. These stars inform our everyday lives as we hear their words, see their images and imitate their style. Elvis exploited the images of plain brown men like Jackie Wilson and Little Richard, whose courage informs my own. And Dr. King likely heard the wails and calls of these brothers and instigated some calls of his own: He ran to the aid of the common man (very different from selling the common man an image of wealth and austerity). But unlike the glimmer of Elvis and his Memphis home, Graceland, I am a plain brown man, and all I want is peace.

Why I have never voted before.

Ryan E. Poole - www.Power Poole.com — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:30:00 EDT

Why I have never voted before.

    My name is Ryan E. Poole. I was born in 1971 in Ann Arbor Michigan (GO BLUE :) and I am a 37 year old African American male now living in Huntsville, AL. I lived in Michigan with my mother until I was 10 years old. As part of the first wave of Generation X’ers growing up in the north, I rarely experienced what I call racism. From 1st to 4th grade, I had to ride the bus 20 or 30 miles across town by myself in order to attend a fairly integrated private Christian school. Because I attended a church sponsored school, politics was rarely the subject of a lesson. I honestly cannot even recall any substantive lessons about the struggles of civil rights or voting for that matter.

    When I turned 11, my mom remarried and our new family moved to Alabama because of a Chrysler plant closing. Moving from north to south in the 80’s was a big culture shock for me to say the least. The lines drawn between races were definitely made more prominent in the south. One thing I distinctly remember seeing in Michigan was more interracial couples. As a teenager in Alabama, I remember hearing many more discussions about the civil rights movement but even in those conversations, there was not really an emphasis placed on the importance of voting from older blacks or whites. I am not sure if that was because the civil rights movement was actually more about equality than voting or whether it was just an assumption that everybody here knows that they are supposed to vote. At any rate, I grew up embracing a typical Generation X mindset that my vote really did not count, so why bother. However, my reason for not voting was not based on ignorance of the struggle or even the voting process for that matter.

    While attending college, I remember many heated discussions with older people from the South, including my professors, about the importance of voting. I even devoted my free time to winning those kinds of arguments by proving that our votes really did not count or at least that we had no way to truly prove that they counted. The stock rebuttal that every “pro-voter” relied on, without fail, was that many people died for the right for black people to vote. My response was, dying for a cause or right that was not truly understood did not make the cause any nobler, no matter how sincere the martyrs. One can imagine how blasphemous this sounded to those older black southerners, whose parents died in that very struggle. They spent countless hours trying to convince me of the error of my ways and came pretty close to stoning me after some of those “discussions.” It always ended with my challenge – “prove to me that my vote or your vote or anybody’s vote actually counts in electing the President.” No one was ever able to do so, so I never saw the point.

    Years later, the fiascos of the last two Bush elections only confirmed my position that our vote really does not count. Even before those two clear violations of America’s trust, my understanding of the Electoral College from a pragmatist standpoint gave me all the ammunition I needed. State ballots are designed to suggest that the voters are voting for actual presidential candidates. In reality, we are only voting for presidential electors who in turn vote for a presidential candidate more than a month later. While many states require that their electors vote as they have pledged, the Constitution does not require the same. The discrepancies in exit polls, the differences in electronic counting versus hand counting, the non-reconciling of ballots or types of ballots after the vote, and lack of secure storing methods all are points that cannot be disputed by pro-voters. In short, there is no viable or consistent checks and balances for the current voting process and therefore no possible way to prove that our votes actually count. This is what I actually meant when I said the people who died for the right to vote did not understand the process. Otherwise, in my mind, somebody would have suggested fighting for more than just the right to vote. They would have realized that they needed to ensure that the votes that they so dearly wanted to cast would actually count or at least gave the next generation the commission to ensure that they counted.

Commercial break...

Palin Interview: Letter senders needed. Please Help

BJ from Tallahassee, FL — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:23:44 EDT

We need to stand up and make our voices heard. I need for you to reach within your gut, and sent a message to the media that we respectfully ask for due diligence of Sarah Palin. Some of us have gotten together and have already send out the first round, but it is going to take a lot more of us to make a statement. We have to bombard the media with Facts. We have voter registrations across the country being cast aside by various states, particurlary with Republican run governors.

Are we going to sit silently and moan and not challenge reporters to fair and equitable coverage?

Are we defeatests or are we victors?

I believe, as well as Senators Obama and Biden, we are victors.

Please stand up with me and do the following:

1. You may sign letter enclosed below in its entiretly and send to the media individually, or you may call upon every supportive person you know to sign the email collectively by including them in the CC: address line when sending the letter

2. Copy the enclosed letter in it's entirety and draft a new email and replace my name with your own.

3. Add the following to the TO: address line:
nightline@abcnews.com, 2020@abc.com, netaudr@abc.com, thisweek@abc.com, abcboard@abc.virginia.gov, wnn@abcnews.com, support@abcnews.go.com; tblake@thepolitico.com, letters@newsweek.com, national@washpost.com, hardball@msnbc.com, thisweek@abc.com, scams@cbsnews.com, letters@msnbc.com, letters@time.com, 60M@cbsnews.com, newseditor@MAIL.CNN.COM, managing-editor@nytimes.com, missioncalendar@oprah.com, charlierose@pbs.org, public@nytimes.com, earlyshow@cbs.com, larry.king.live@cnn.com, NBC_MeetThePress_NewsMail@MSNBC.COM, Dateline@NBCUNI.com, joe@msnbc.com, crossfire@cnn.com, evening@cbsnews.com, steve.capus@nbc.com, thedailyshow@comedycentral.com, mailings@mail.cnn.com, FNS@foxnews.com, me@glennbeck.com, loudobbs@mail.cnn.com, 2020@abc.com, phil.griffin@nbc.com, situationroom@mail.cnn.com, letters@usnews.com, dsaunders@sfchronicle.com, readers.rep@latimes.com, wnt@abcnews.com, weekends@cbsnews.com, abcboard@abc.virginia.gov, HeraldEd@miamiherald.com, ftn@cbsnews.com, netaudr@abc.com, executive-editor@nytimes.com, larryking@mail.cnn.com, KAC@cbsnews.com, colmes@foxnews.com, ombudsman@washpost.com, Comments@foxnews.com, casey.wian@turner.com, nightline@abcnews.com, dabrooks@nytimes.com

4. Keep circulating this and ask supporting friendss to do the same.

PLEASE HURRY and SREAD THE NEWS ANYWHERE YOU CAN

THANKS!

BJ ALAN

______________________________________________________________________________________

RE: DUE DILIGENCE OF GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN, ALASKA

Dear ABC, Charlie Gibson, et al:

Since learning that Governor Sarah Palin has granted ABC's Charlie Gibson her first television interview since her VP nomination, we request, in good faith, that your constituents adhere to an objective, a fair and factual interview of Governor Palin.

For example, in ABC's April 16, 2008 coverage of the Clinton-Obama debate, Charlie Gibson defended his scrutiny of Senator Barack Obama's patriotism by stating: ""It comes up again and again when we talk to voters. And, as you may know, it is all over the Internet."

We commend ABC for listening to the voters on April 16, 2008, and now we ask that ABC listens to the voters today, September 8, 2008, and adequately ask Governor Palin---upon interview---precise, unadulterated questions while requiring that the Governor gives unambiguous, un-watered down, and non-deceptive answers to voters' concerns that come "up again and again" and that are "all over the internet".

Case in point: During Governor Palin's acceptance speech, she asserted:

"...I championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress -- I told Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that bridge to nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, I said we'd build it ourselves."

It is not the earmarks that upset voters the most; it is the deception, the disingenuousness, the documented lies about Palin's stance on earmarks as well as other issues, that infuriates us more, and it brings ethics and judgment to the forefront. Thus, we are counting on your wisdom and professional journalistic due diligence in this interview to keep voters informed.

We also enclosed a list of grave voter concerns as detailed on Think Progress' website for your review, and we ask that these issues are thoroughly addressed during this interview, and all others with the McCain campaign.

Thank you for your attention as we await what should be a fair and objective Palin interview on the matters mentioned below, without bias or partisan favor.

Respectfully,

BJ Alan,
Serving as Proxy to all emails included in the CC address, excluding media and politicians

CC: Media: tblake@thepolitico.com, situationroom@mail.cnn.com, missioncalendar@oprah.com, larryking@mail.cnn.com, thedailyshow@comedycentral.com, thisweek@abc.com, wnt@abcnews.com, larry.king.live@cnn.com, casey.wian@turner.com, loudobbs@mail.cnn.com, 60M@cbsnews.com, ftn@cbsnews.com, crossfire@cnn.com, letters@newsweek.com, letters@usnews.com, charlierose@pbs.org, colmes@foxnews.com, FNS@foxnews.com, letters@msnbc.com, abcboard@abc.virginia.gov, Dateline@NBCUNI.com, dabrooks@nytimes.com, phil.griffin@nbc.com, managing-editor@nytimes.com, executive-editor@nytimes.com, steve.capus@nbc.com, hardball@msnbc.com, readers.rep@latimes.com, earlyshow@cbs.com, Comments@foxnews.com,

CC: Politicians: barack_obama@obama.senate.gov, joseph_biden@biden.senate.gov

Enclosures:

As per http://thinkprogress.org/

ON FOREIGN POLICY

Palin Hasn’t Given The War In Iraq Much Thought. Palin told the Alaska Business Monthly, “I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place.” [Alaska Business Monthly, 3/1/07] Palin Has Never Been To Iraq. In her only trip overseas, Palin visited Al aska National Guard troops stationed in Kuwait and Germany in July 2007. [AP, 7/25/07] Palin Believes That The Iraq War Is A Task ‘From God.’ Speaking at the Wasilla Assembly of God church in June, Palin said that “our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God.” [Huffington Post, 9/2/08] Palin Believes The Iraq War Was Fought Over Oil. “We are a nation at war and in many [ways] the reasons for war are fights over energy sources,” Palin told BusinessWeek in an interview. [BusinessWeek, 8/29/08] Palin Didn’t Have A Passport Until 2007. Palin first obtained a passport in July 2007 for her trip to Kuwait and Germany to visit Alaska National Guard troops. Her only other trip outside of the United States was to Canada. A Palin spokeswoman had previously said that Palin had also been to Ireland, although it was actually just a “refueling stop” on her Germany/Kuwait trip. [New York Times, 8/29/08; Politico, 9/2/08] ON EARMARKS Palin Supported The Bridge To Nowhere. During her unveiling as McCain’s running mate, Palin claimed that she said, “Thanks, but no thanks” to federal funding for the Bridge to Nowhere. But in her 2006 campaign for governor, Palin repeatedly expressed support for the bridge project, saying Alaska should take advantage of earmarks “while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.” [Anchorage Daily News, 10/22/06; Ketchikan Daily News, 8/9/06, 11/21/06] Palin Obtained $27 Million In Earmarks As Mayor Of Wasilla. As mayor of Wasilla, AK, Palin “hired a private lobbyist to help the tiny town secure earmarks from [S en. Ted] Stevens.” “The town obtained 14 earmarks, totaling $27 million between 2000-2003.” [Associated Press, 9/3/08] ON THE ENVIRONMENT Palin Denies Man-Made Global Warming. When asked for her “take on global warming,” Palin replied, “A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I’m not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.” [Newsmax, 08/29/08] Challenging ‘Uncertain Climate Models,’ Palin Is Suing To Lift Protected Status For Polar Bears. After a multi-year court battle, the Bush administration recognized in 2008 that polar bears are threatened with extinction by global warming. Announcing Alaska’s suit to block the listing, Palin said, “We believe that the listing was unwarranted and that it’s unprecedented to list a currently healthy population based on uncertain climate models.” [Reuters, 5/22/08] Palin Established Illegal Fly-By Wolf Hunting Bounty. In 2007, Palin illegally established “a $150 bounty to the state sanctioned airborne wolf hunters as an added incentive to increase their kills,” soon overturned by the Alaska State Court. [Alaska Wildlife Alliance; Anchorage Daily News, 3/31/07] ON ENERGY Palin Is A Top Arctic Wildlife Refuge Drilling Advocate. Palin said she thinks McCain is “going to evolve into, eventually, supporting ANWR opening also” and “I’d like the opportunity to get to change his mind about ANWR.” [Kudlow & Co., 6/25/08] Palin Opposes Lieberman’s Bill To Prevent Arctic Refuge Drilling. In a letter to Congress opposing the Arctic Wilderness Act (S. 2316), Palin wrote that “as a citizen of the United States” she believes “development [of the Refuge] should be authorized.” [Letter to Sen. Akaka, 11/9/07] Palin Dismisses Alternative Energy. Palin said that “Congress needs to lift the ban on drilling” because “alternative-energy solutions are far from imminent and would require more than 10 years to develop.” [Charleston Post and Courier, 8/16/08] Palin Believes It Is ‘God’s Will’ To Build A Natural Gas Pipeline. Speaking to the Wasilla Assembly of God church in June, Palin said, “I think God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that,” referring to a $30 billion national gas pipeline project. [Huffington Post, 9/2/08] ON BIG OIL Palin’s First Statewide Campaign Was Fueled By Veco. “While mayor of Wasilla, Palin ran for lieutenant governor in 2002. She gathered $5,000 — or about 10 percent of her campaign fund — from Veco officials or their wives along the way.” [Anchorage Daily News, 9/6/06] Palin’s Inauguration Was Sponsored By BP. Beyond Petroleum Exploration Inc. is listed by the Alaska Inaugural Committee as a sponsor of Palin’s 2007 Governor’s Balls. [Alaska Inaugural Committee] ON SCIENCE Palin Supports Teaching Creationism In Public Schools. In a 2006 gubernatorial debate,=2 0Palin “said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state’s public classrooms.” [Anchorage Daily News, 10/27/06] ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS Palin Is A Member Of Anti-Abortion Group Feminists For Life. Palin is a member of an “anti-abortion group called Feminists for Life.” When running for governor in 2002, she “sent an e-mail to the anti-abortion Alaska Right to Life Board saying she was as ‘pro-life as any candidate can be’ and has ‘adamantly supported our cause since I first understood, as a child, the atrocity of abortion.’” [Anchorage Daily News, 8/6/08] Palin Opposes Abortion Even In Cases Of Rape Or Incest. In 2006, Palin said that even if her daughter were raped, “I would choose life.” She said that she would support abortion only if the mother’s life were in danger. [Anchorage Daily News, 11/3/06] Palin Slashed Funding To Help Teenage Mothers. Earlier this year, Palin used a line-item veto “to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers i n need of a place to live.” Funding for Covenant House Alaska, which provides transitional housing for teen mothers, was cut by 20 percent — from $5 million to $3.9 million. [Washington Post, 9/3/08] Palin Supports Abstinence-Only Policies. In 2006, the Eagle Forum Alaska asked Palin whether she would “support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education.” Palin replied, “Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.” [Politico, 9/1/08] Palin Supports Parental Consent Laws For Minors Seeking Abortions. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Palin was “disappointed lawmakers let a bill die requiring girls under 17 to get parental consent for an abortion. ‘My belief is parents have the right to know about the health and welfare of their children,’ she said.” [Anchorage Daily News, 8/14/08] ON ETHICS Palin’s Lobbyist Had ‘Close Ties’ To Don Young, Ted Stevens. “As mayor of Wasilla, however, Palin oversaw the hiring of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, an Anchorage-based law firm with close ties to Alaska’s mos t senior Republicans: Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens, who was indicted in July on charges of accepting illegal gifts.” [9/2/08] Palin’s Lobbyist Was Part Of ‘Team Abramoff.’ Steven Silver, the lobbyist Palin hired as Wasilla Mayor, also listed Jack Abramoff’s lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig, as a client. Silver lobbied on issues similar to those headed up by Abramoff, including “Indian/Native American policy” and “legislation relating to gaming issues.” [TPMmuckracker, 9/2/08; Washington Post, 9/2/08] Palin Served As Director Of ‘Ted Stevens Excellence In Public Service’ 527. Palin’s name was listed on 2003 incorporation papers of the “Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc.,” a 527 group that could raise unlimited funds from corporate donors. She also “served as one of three directors until June 2005, when her name was replaced on state filings.” [Washington Post, 9/1/08] State Employee Charged Palin With Ethics Violation. A state employee filed an ethics complaint alleging Palin tried to secure a job for one of her supporters. The complaint accused Palin and her top staffers of “breaking executive ethics branch and hiring rules. It centers on the hiring of surveyor Tom Lamal, who once co-hosted a Palin fundraiser, for a state right-of-way agent job in Fairbanks.” [Anchorage Daily News, 9/7/08] Palin Forced Top Wasilla Employees To Resign As Loyalty Test. As Mayor of Wasilla in 1998, “asked all of the city’s top managers to resign in order to test their loyalty to her administration.”[Daily Sitka Sentenial, 10/28/06] Palin Fired Police Chief For Not Fully Supporting Her. After becoming Mayor of Wasilla, Palin fired the city’s police chief, Irl Stambaugh, writing, “I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment.” Stambaugh charged that Palin fired him “because he stepped on the toes of Palin’s campaign contributors, including bar owners and the National Rifle Association.” [Anchorage Daily News, 2/1/97; ABC News, 9/3/08] 0A Palin Used Mayoral Office Resources For Campaigning. During her 2002 campaign for lieutenant governor, Palin ordered campaign materials from City Hall, had them delivered there, and used city employees on city-aid time to arrange campaign events. According to the Anchorage Daily News, there was “no indication she repaid the city for the incidental expenses the city incurred.” [Anchorage Daily News, 7/21/06] ON TROOPERGATE Ousted Former State Official Accused Palin Of Pressuring Him To Fire Trooper. Palin allegedly “tried to get a state trooper fired and she then fired the trooper’s boss because he wouldn’t act on her request.” Palin’s sister was involved in a “bitter child custody battle” with the trooper. [Anchorage Daily News, 7/18/08] Palin’s Intial Denials Of Interference In Firing Were Proven False. Palin “previously said her administration didn’t exert pressure to get rid of trooper Mike Wooten,” but “an audio recording that shows an aide pressuring the Public Safety Department to fire a state trooper embroiled in a custody battle with her sister.” The McCain campaign now says Palin’s husband and members of her staff had made inquiries “about the appropriate Dep artment of Public Safety procedures for dealing with someone they considered a dangerous person and rogue trooper.” [Anchorage Daily News, 8/14/08, 9/02/08] Palin’s Lawyer In Investigation Is Also Her Personal Attorney. Thomas V. Van Flein, the lawyer Palin hired to defend her in the trooper investigation, is “representing Palin both personally and in her official capacity as governor.” The AP noted, “Depending on where the investigation leads, that could put him in a difficult situation if Palin’s interests and the interests of the public office diverge.” [AP, 9/02/08] Palin Has Refused To Release E-mails, Citing ‘Executive Privilege.’ Palin has refused to release e-mails requested by the state’s trooper union, citing executive privilege. Questions have been raised, however, as to whether these documents are actually related to official business, since her husband was copied on some of them. [KTUU, 8/6/08; TPMmuckraker, 9/1/08] ON THE RADICAL RIGHT Palin Cheered On the A laskan Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin “told members of the Alaskan Independence Party” — who advocate for a vote on secession from the union — to “keep up the good work” and “wished the party luck on what she called its ‘inspiring convention.’” Palin and her husband attended the party’s convention in 2000, and “for all but two months from 1995 to 2002, the governor’s husband was registered as an Alaskan Independence Party member.” George Clark, the vice chair of the party, claims that Palin was a member of the party “before she got the job as a mayor of a small town.” The McCain campaign denies the charge. [LA Times, 9/3/2008; ABC News, 9/1/2008] Palin Welcomed The Hard-Right Candidacy Of Pat Buchanan. Palin reportedly supported Pat Buchanan’s 1999 presidential bid. When Buchanan visited Alaska in 1999, “[a]mong those sporting Buchanan buttons were Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin and state Sen. Jerry Ward, R-Anchorage.” Buchanan said Palin “was a brigader in 1996 as was her husband, Chris, they were at a fundraiser for me.” The McCain campaign says Palin “never worked for any effort to elect” Buchanan. [The Nation, 8/29/08; ABC News, 8/30/08] Palin Characterized Ron Paul As ‘Cool.’ During an interview with MTV in February, Palin called Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), who ran against McCain in the primaries, “cool.” “He’s a good guy,” she added. “He’s so independent. He’s independent of the party machine. I’m like, ‘Right on, so am I.’ ” [MTV News, 8/29/2008] Palin Believes The Founding Fathers Wrote The Pledge Of Allegiance. In 2006, when asked by the Eagle Forum Alaska if she found the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance offensive, Palin replied, “Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me.” But the words “Under God” didn’t appear in the Pledge until 1954. The Pledge itself wasn’t written until 1892. [Huffington Post, 9/1/08; Slate, 6/28/02] ON CIVIL RIGHTS Palin Supports Denying Benefits To Same-Sex Couples. In 2006, Palin vetoed legislation denying benefits to same-sex couples, “based on a legal opinion from her new attorney general that the legislation was unconstitutional.” However, she said that she would support a constitutional amendment to deny same-sex couples the benefits. [Gay Republic Daily, 9/20/06; Anchorage Daily News, 12/21/06] Palin Opposed Expanding Hate Crime Laws. A 2006 Eagle Forum Alaska questionnaire asked, “Will you support an effort to expand hate crime laws?” Palin replied, “No, as I believe all heinous crime is based on hate.” [Washington Blade, 9/2/08] ON HEALTH CARE Palin Advocated Consumer-Driven Health Care. While running for governor, Palin attributed rising health care costs to “a lack of competition” and called for “flexibility in government regulation that allow competition in health care.” [On The Issues] Palin Introduced Health Care Transparency Act. Palin’s Alaska Health Care Transparency Act established “an Alaska health care information officeD to help consumers “make better-informed decisions about health care in the state.” The act also called for the repeal of Certificate of Need Laws, programs “aimed at restraining health care facility costs and allowing coordinated planning of new services and construction.” [Gov Tech, 1/28/2008; National Conference of State Legislatures, 8/21/2008] Palin Did Not Take A Position On Expanding SCHIP Funding. Palin did not advocate for greater federal funding of SCHIP. [Blagojevich Press Release, 2/23/07] Palin Signed Watered-Down SCHIP Bill. Palin signed legislation updating eligibility for Alaska’s SCHIP program, Denali KidCare, to maintain the eligibility level–which had dropped to an effective rate of almost 150 percent of the poverty line due to inflation. However, by limiting eligibility to families living below 175 percent of the poverty line, Alaska’s eligibility criteria are still among the lowest in the nation. Palin did not support legislation to expand eligibility to higher levels. [National Conference of State Legislatures, 6/2008; Kaiser Network, 5/22/2007; Anchorage Daily News,=2 04/15/2008] Palin Failed To Support A Bill To Cover All Alaskans. While governor, Palin “did not get behind the most significant piece of health legislation offered — a proposal to ensure that all residents have health insurance, without disrupting the coverage that many Alaskans already have.” [Anchorage Daily News, 5/17/2008] ON THE ECONOMY Palin Left Wasilla $20 Million In Debt. As mayor of Wasilla, Palin cut taxes while simultaneously expanding the town’s operating budget by almost $2 million. She ended her term in 2002 with Wasilla $20 million in debt. [Anchorage Daily News 10/23/06; the Politico, 8/29] Palin Instituted A Windfall Profits Tax On Oil Companies. In 2007, Palin raised taxes on oil company profits by $1.5 billion a year, enabling Alaska to double its oil revenue. However, in 2008 she said, “Windfall profits taxes alone prevent additional investment in domestic production.” [Bloomberg, 3/8; Seattle Times, 8/10; Go vernor’s Office Press Release] Palin Supported Flat Tax Advocate. Palin appeared in campaign commercials in support of Republican Senate candidate Mike Miller, who was advocating the Flat Tax. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, 4/24/04]

Letter to Mr. Plouff

Demian from Sonoma, CA — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:34:28 EDT

I read today in the NY Times, that you will not challenge Governor Palin, and I think that is a great mistake. I do not have to tell you how rotten it would be for the United States, if Palin and Mc Cain won. One of the sad realities of the United States is that change occurs but only after a long time frame. For example equal rights for African Americans took over 100 years after the Civil War. We cannot allow for time in this election. Another reality is that for two election cycles 2000 and 2004, the DNC lost to a more ruthless party who do not care about truth, nasty innuendos, or out right character assassination. And they won. In the 2000 election, I heard from so many people that Bush could not win because he was " stupid," and I replied do not cofuse stupidity with zealotry, and they are the most dangerous. Confirming that point, more people watched the RNC convention through FOX..............Yes, the election is between Mc Cain and Obama, but remember, if more people like Palin than like Obama, and that could happen because she is white and is in all aspects a typical Mom. Than, all that person needs is a sliver of trust and a mistaken belief that she cannot change our judicial system-Palin has the vote.The pundits want specifics but most people want generalities. Just take a look at the last two Presidential elections.Palin must be " hit" in the following areas 1. Abortion Abortion Abortion. Her stance against Abortion in whatever case must be broadcasted across the nation. She, a woman wants the Government to take control of woman's bodies. To take the right of woman' s control over he body. She wants woman to have to resort to crime.Remember, the argument of abortion is simple. We are for a woman's right to choose and it is up to the woman to decide it morally.2. She wants to control what is read in Libraries3. She has believes and has used executive power for personal reasons4. She believes in killing small puppies5. She is a terrible financial instincts and left her town Wasilla in debt. these points should be broadcasted particularly in wavering states.

Finally, please do not rely on her lack of foreign experience credentials to hurt her,because believe you me, it is not that important. People care but will side with Mc Cain on that one. Remember Bush. Further, the press again will give her a real low standard to pass. Again just like Bush.

Bush beat the DNC twice and the strategy that beat the DNC could do so again.

I know that you are busy but do not count on the busy American person to find out all the facts themselves.

RegardsDemian Barrett

Dear, Rudy

rahga — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:19:57 EDT

September 4, 2008

Dear Rudy,

I am an independent voter, someone like you, a middle-aged man who has often crossed party lines. I am writing to congratulate you on your warm up speech for Governor Sarah Palin at the Republican National Convention last night. Boy, you really had us with you, especially when you laughed about Obama being a community organizer and when you told us Obama had passed “no major legislation to speak of”…

To tell you the truth, Rudy, you are a smart guy, so you have probably already figured out I am faking it. Mind you, not the independent voter part. I am registered with no party, and I vote in every election, but I am not very happy about the speech you gave. It was entertaining. I’ll give you that. A real bell-ringer. But as far as I am concerned it was a hit job. …no, that could be taken as ethnically insensitive, and after last night I know you are a sensitive guy, so I’ll use a phrase that’s less prejudicial and more to the point. It was a hockey check – and not some youth league nudge that could be shrugged off. It was a body slam into the boards intended to split someone’s lip, take out some teeth, leave a little blood on the ice. That was your job. You did well. The timing was perfect, and you made the hit, with a gleaming smile and a glimmer in your eye. The crowd lapped it up. <p>So, just what parts of the speech got me so heated, Rudy? I’m glad you asked. It was your snide dismissal of community organizing and of Obama’s legislative accomplishments. I’ll take them one at a time.

Hockey check #1: You went out of your way … and I mean obviously out of your way by departing from the script, adding a few words, and working the pause until the audience filled in the subtext of your argument. They didn’t get it right away, but on the second go, you had them, and the crowd began to laugh and chant “USA, USA!” But why do I care? What does it matter if you are adept at innuendo and timing? Well, it’s because you went out of your way to stretch a term – organizer – in order to give just a whiff of the old Red-scare (and that’s all that was needed given the hysterical rumors about Obama being a Koran toting socialist). And, it’s because you went out of your way to ridicule people who work long hours, often at great personal sacrifice, to serve democracy. Remember, it was the community organizers who gave us the Civil Rights Movement. In the 1950’s and 60’s great leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Cesar Chavez worked alongside hundreds of community organizers to register voters and to offer a helping hand to those in need. In the Freedom Summer of 1964, four community organizers were killed, four more were critically wounded, and 80 were severely beaten. All because they volunteered their summer to help poor folks in the South learn about their Constitutional rights. Others suffered that summer as well. All together, 1,000 people were arrested and more than 60 African American homes, businesses and churches were bombed or burned. If you think I am pushing the limit by talking about community organizing in the South, I’m going to suggest you call up a person who was there and ask what he thinks about your speech. Robert Parris Moses saw things up close because he was the chief organizer of the Freedom Summer project. Back then he was a young school teacher, fresh out of Harvard, who gave up a good job to become a community organizer. Today he is still teaching and organizing. And he is easy to find. He is the founder of the highly successful Algebra Project that, according to their website, is a “national, nonprofit organization that uses mathematics as an organizing tool to ensure quality public school education for every child in America.” Darn, there is that word again, organizing. Well, on second thought, you might not want to talk to Bob Moses. He is after all, a mere “organizer.” He also bears an uncanny resemblance to that other man you so blithely disparaged on national TV last night.

But as bad as that was, Rudy, hockey check #2, this time on Senator Obama’s Congressional record, was probably worse. Here is why. You are the 9-11 man. America’s Mayor. The man who stood shoulder to shoulder along side New York’s finest and helped our nation find hope in one of its darkest hours. You were unwavering on 9-11, and I believed you. But after last night I’m not so sure about all that. I have deep reservations. You see, I have been reading the newspapers for a long time, and I remember a rather important piece of legislation that made a big splash back in the early 1990’s shortly after the fall of the USSR. I am sure you know about it. Your candidate, Senator John McCain, was a strong supporter of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program of 1992, a crucially important act, the purpose of which was to secure and dismantle weapons of mass destruction and their associated infrastructure in former Soviet Union states.” Senator McCain was also a strong advocate of a more recent, closely related bill, the Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Legislation of 2007 which helps “other nations find and eliminate conventional weapons that have been used against our own soldiers in Iraq and sought by terrorists all over the world.” You knew about that legislation as well. You had to. You ran for president as the 9-11 Man. You gave secret testimony about national security and nuclear non-proliferation before the 9-11 Commission. But when it came time to look voters in the eye and tell them the truth, you failed. I’ll give you this. When you spoke those words, you lost your smile. Check the tape. You knew it was a lie. You knew Obama had labored along side Republican Senator Dick Lugar to craft and pass this legislation that would prevent terrorists from buying weapons to use against our troops in Iraq or from setting off a dirty bomb on American soil. National security is your specialty. Remember? You also knew Obama had reached across the aisle to work with Republican Senator Tom Coburn. Together they passed the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, better known as Coburn-Obama. The bill calls for the creation of “a single searchable website, accessible by the public at no cost,” to help voters keep tabs on their elected officials. Your candidate, John McCain was a co-sponsor of Coburn-Obama, not an author, mind you, a co-sponsor. But clearly, neither of those bills was “worth mentioning,” were they?

You know, Rudy, most voters do not have the time to check these things out for themselves. Most of us work long hours, go to bed tired, and get up early. So we trust guys like you to tell us the truth. Oh, we know you are going to shine the apple some times – like when you made goofy over Sarah Palin being “a…. mayor!” We expect that. But on the bread and butter issues, the hard core matters like national security and government transparency, we expect you to tell us the truth. Like I said, most of us are too busy to get to the bottom of this stuff – too busy wondering how we are going to pay our mortgages to contemplate the peculiar ironies of Rudy Giuliani shading the truth about national security… or using fatuous oratory to accuse an articulate opponent of being full of hot air.

You were the right guy for the job, Rudy. You cut your teeth in New York courtrooms. You became a forensic wizard; a smiling, nattily appointed attorney who earned a national reputation for slicing and dicing Wall Street cheats and mafia bosses and serving them up in front of the cameras to grand juries. You were the guy who needed to make the hit. You have the requisite rhetorical skills, and you are (were?) the embodiment of credibility on national security. To be fair, I am sure you justified it to yourself. Sometimes a guy has to do a little dirty work to serve the greater good, doesn’t he? I will close with two comments. First of all, though you could not know this – I am not typically an angry person, and I am not prone to writing letters to prominent people. I wrote because I am truly disappointed. Second, although you spoke in front of a very large audience last night, you may have been forgetting one viewer. History was watching as well. It has a strange way of remembering ugly moments like this. And if you ever wake up at night and reflect upon life…. and history. I hope you think about community organizing and non-proliferation. And repent.

Sincerely,

A former admirer

Community Organization - The Backbone of our Democracy

Fee Lu — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:58:44 EDT

Seems that the Republican VP candidate needs to return to school and retake Social Studies 101. SP clearly demonstrated that aspect of her education was sadly neglected and I do hope that Senator Obama acts swiftly and decisively to dampen her enthusiasm and educate her. I believe that she trampled most ungraciously and disrespectfully on the life work of the very people who made this country what it is today and gave her the opportunity to stand on the podium as her party's VP nominee.

That VP and John MaCain should be made to understand that "LOVE OF COUNTRY" is the only qualification for being a community organizer. Barack Obama qualifies. Does she? Was she ever a community organizer? The process of community organization is the backbone of our democracy. Community organizers have made this country what it is today. The last time that I checked . . .

Attacks

John from Spring Hill, FL — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:16:44 EDT

As we've seen in EVERY election, negative ads fill the T.V., Radio, and now cyberspace about the other party. I think it is rediculous that the campaign manager, David Plouffe, would send out this 'letter' to get attention form the Obama followers describing McCain's negative ads that "fill" the air. If I recall BOTH parties do it, so why make it look like Barack Obama is so inoccent in all this? Why? Because he isn't.

They don't even mention protecting equal pay for equal work.

This is from David Plouffe's letter. McCain doesn't address equal pay for equal work? Interesting, I think. On Obama's front page it also talks about how for every $1.00 a white male brings home an African American male brings home $.77 and an African American female brings home just $.67. And it continues with Latinas recieving a mere $.57. WOW that is amazing! McCain should be more vocal about all this! He should come up with a plan to give EVERY African American male a $.23 raise and every African American female a $.33 raise and every Latina a $.43 raise. And did you know that in the NBA there are more rich African American's than whites? And this is happening in the NFL as well. once we get into the major leauges WATCH OUT, Latinos have that one. Just because there are white people with a little more money doesn't show that we have a civil rights problem on our hands. it shows that someone in the Obama campaign is good with numbers! Well I'm not to bad with numbers either. You know who has made more executive decisions within their ENTIRE political career? Not Obama, that's right you guessed it, Sarah Palin. It's sad that everyone is asking the question: "Is Sarah Palin READY to lead this country if the time should arise?" Well that is a VERY good question. Some believe yes, some believe no. Well let me ask you another Question: Who has more experience with budgets, REAL decisions, and REAL life situations while in office? Sarah Palin. That's who. In Obama's book The Audacity of Hope he talks about how he worked with both sides to get a bill passed that installed cameras in the interrogation rooms. he goes on about this for pages and thinks it makes him look bipartisan! these are the issues he deals with? No budgets. No executive decision making. No REAL LIFE situations. So weather or not you believe that Sarah Palin is ready to lead this country or not, you have to realize that she is more ready that Barack Obama, and she's not running for president.

Lawyers and the Constitution - Civil Rights

KDenni, MPA — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:03:57 EDT

Why I support Barack Obama: I support the Barack/Biden ticket because: I believe in wise,thoughtful, well-advised and tempered leadership. His responses to the swift-boating and choice of Joe Biden for veep highlight these qualities. He's not an electoral "slore." As a lawyer he has studied the Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

Protecting the Vote

Jim Malone — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:41:13 EDT

One of the most insidious tactics of the right wing neo-cons has been to disenfranchise likely Democratic voters. Along with ad hominem attacks, lies and smears, it's one of their preferred tactics.

Through vote caging, challenges, restrictive ID requirements, bad voting machines from Diebold, and outright fraud, Republicans have made a practice of suppressing and stealing votes from Democrats.

Add to that the systematic, illegal politization of the U.S. Department of Justice in the name of voter fraud, and it's no wonder election observers worry that 2008 will again see the Republicans pull out all stops to steal this election.

The heinousness of this effort cannot be overstated. What's more sacred in a Democracy than our right to vote? And in Wednesday's New York Times, Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert Caro eloquently states the historic underpinnings of the fight for the vote waged by LBJ and the civil rights activists of the 1960s. By my way of thinking, the sheer immorality of the Republicans' efforts to undo those advancements is reason enought for ANY American to repudiate today's GOP.

Caro writes:

In March 1965, black Americans in the 11 Southern states were still largely unable to vote. When they tried to register, they faced not only questions impossible to answer — like the infamous “how many bubbles in a bar of soap?” — but also the humiliation of trying to answer them in front of registrars who didn’t bother to conceal their scorn. Out of six million blacks old enough to vote in those 11 states in 1965, only a small percentage — 27 percent in Georgia, 19 percent in Alabama, 6 percent in Mississippi — were registered.

1965. I was 11. I had read about segregation and discrimination in the biographies of my sports heros like Red Auerbach and Bill Russell. But it was largely an abstraction to a young boy living on the North Shore of Boston. But for those involved, it was all too real.

The heroism of the march at Selma, the heroism all across the South, the almost unbelievable bravery of black men and women — and children, so many children — who marched, and were beaten, and marched again, for the right to vote, created the rising tide of national feeling behind the passage of civil rights legislation, the legislation not only of 1965 but of 1964 and 1957. That feeling did so much to make the legislation possible. It has taken me scores of pages in my books to try to describe that heroism, and all of them inadequate. But it also took Lyndon Johnson, whom the black leader James Farmer, sitting in the Oval Office, heard “cajoling, threatening, everything else, whatever was necessary” to get the 1965 bill passed and who, with his legislative genius and savage will, broke, piece by piece, in 1957 and 1964 and 1965, the long unbreakable power of the Southern bloc.
“Abraham Lincoln struck off the chains of black Americans,” I have written, “but it was Lyndon Johnson who led them into voting booths, closed democracy’s sacred curtain behind them, placed their hands upon the lever that gave them a hold on their own destiny, made them, at last and forever, a true part of American political life.”

The Republicans have made it their mission to undo that heroism, not just for African American voters, but for Democratic voters, be they African-American, Jewish, Irish, Italian, union, management, rich, poor, whatever.

LOOK what has been wrought! Forty-three years ago, a mere blink in history’s eye, many black Americans were unable to vote. Tonight, a black American ascends a stage as nominee for president. “Just give Negroes the vote and many of these problems will get better,” Lyndon Johnson said. “Just give them the vote,” and they can do the rest for themselves.
All during this long primary campaign, after reading, first thing every morning, newspaper articles about Barack Obama’s campaign for the presidency, I would turn, as part of the research for my next book, to newspaper articles from 1965 about Lyndon Johnson’s campaign to win for black people the right to vote.
And I would think about Johnson’s great speech, when he adopted the rallying cry of black protest as his own, when he joined his voice to the voices of all the men and women who had sung the mighty hymn of the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King cried when he heard that speech. Since I am not black, I cannot know — cannot even imagine — Dr. King’s feelings. I know mine, however. To me, Barack Obama is the inheritor of Lyndon Johnson’s civil rights legacy. As I sit listening to Mr. Obama tonight, I will be hearing other words as well. I will be hearing Lyndon Johnson saying, “We shall overcome.”

Barack did not disappoint. It was one hell of a speech. Now we have to go out and win by a fraud-proof margin. Because it is the opposition's intent to tilt the playing field toward the past, to undo the heroic achievements of our side, to game the system. Because they know that's the only way they can win. They know the majority of Americans are disgusted by what their policies have wrought. The know the majority of Americans favor our policies of choice, liberty, universal health care, responsible end to the occupation of Iraq, strong safety net, just rewards for hard work and a government that fulfills its promise fo strength, opportunity, fairness and security for all Americans.

They know that's what Americans want. And they know they cannot - in fact have no intention to - deliver on those ideals. So they have to smear, attack, lie and cheat, activate our fears. And GOP voter fraud will be a frontal attack this November.

Many worked, sacrificed and even died for the right to vote. Republicans want to take it away from us because it's the only way they can win. Expose the GOP fraudsters for what they are. If they're going to steal 5 million votes, let's register 10 million more Americans! Let's make sure everyone who wants to, gets to the polls Nov. 4.

It's our shared legacy. It's our sacred right.

Join us in Making History in SF - 8/28 "I Accept" Convention Watch Party

eric mar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:55:19 EDT

"I Accept": Obama Nomination Speech Watching Party (Convention Watch Party)

http://donate.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4wczf

The event team that brought you the Obama events featuring Kelly Hu in January and Maya Soetoro-Ng in June invites you to another special gathering on Thursday, August 28, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Roe Restaurant, 651 Howard Street, in San Francisco to watch Senator Barack Obama's historic speech as he accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States of America. It's been widely noted that Sen. Obama will accept the nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. Let's also not forget that the date is also the eve of the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall on the Gulf Coast. These three milestones together gives us both an opportunity to rejoice and to acknowledge that our country and our communities still have a long way to go in order to achieve a society where equal opportunity is more reality than promise. So as we work together to help Barack Obama become our President, let's join together to support our friends at the local level who creating the Change We Can Believe In. To that end, this fundraiser will also support Eric Mar, a longtime Obama supporter, in his bid for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and Jenn Pae and Brian Wang, two convention delegates pledged to Sen. Obama. Eric will be at the event and Jenn and Brian will call in from Denver shortly before Sen. Obama delivers his speech.

We're asking for a $20 donation. Please RSVP on this event listing or email speech@apaforobama.com.

More info - http://www.ericmar.com
Join our FACEBOOK PAGE -http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eric-Mar/12068760165?ref=ts

Division Bell

Helen Bascom — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:28:54 EDT

It is a symbol of independence and an icon of liberty and justice. This object now called the Liberty Bell was known as the Independence Bell or the Old Yankee's Bell until 1837. It became known as the Liberty Bell after it was adopted as the symbol for the abolitionist organization, the American Anti-Slavery Society. The Liberty Bell carries many different meanings and there are quite a few myths about how and why the crack in the Bell occurred. For me the crack in the Bell symbolizes the division of our society and the bigotry that persists despite all the glorious rhetoric to the contrary. The inscription on the Bell is taken from the biblical book of Leviticus 25.10 and reads "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof." The very symbol of liberty for all inhabitants of the United States of America was cast, hung, and then cracked during a time of Slavery in America. It is a curious, yet telling hypocrisy that this Bell represents. Great progress has been made toward the liberty proclaimed on this icon of American freedom, but at the enormous price of the blood of true patriots who died by the assassin's bullet. Liberty should not be granted by laws, but recognized as the inherent and natural state of all persons. To read more: Active Art

Let's Get Serious: Can Obama Really Win?

Marjani — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:56:33 EDT

How many of you out there actually believe Obama is GOING TO BE President?

Between our beliefs that America can belong to The People again, and Kim Clement's prophecy, Obama is slated to become President on November 4 or sometime shortly thereafter, and to be inaugurated in January of 2009.

However, The Repugs have stolen elections before...what's to stop them from doing in this one?

Why not think ahead...to the IMF, the World Bank, even the Illuminati ... the "real owners" of this nation that George Carlin often said spend all of their time f-ing everyone else for their own profit, and killing other people's children while keeping their own children safe from harm.

There was a time when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had more people listening to him than did the President of the United States. Right now, Obama is doing the same. Obama has more listeners and a broader outreach than the President himself, the vice-president, who has been industriously silent on the frontlines (who's watching Cheney right now and what is he up to? why has he sorta kinda 'disappeared' from view?), AND the world is definitely paying more attention to Obama than to McCain, which is why they keep calling him The One and The Celebrity. BUT, we all know that if Obama weren't running for office no one would be listening to McCain at all beause he really has nothing of worth to say.

Problem is, Mr. Average Joe Citizen has sat on his duff and let "Big Government" run our lives for so long, how much as actually spun out of control over the years? Who are the 'powers-that-be' that will only let Obama go so far before snatching the chair from under him?

I'm not preaching about the politics of fear or engaging in the semantics of conspiracy theories, I'm talking about reality.

Reality, meaning everything from two-faced people who smile about Obama to your face, but who would never vote for him simply because, though he is the best candidate, he is still a shamelessly professed "Black" man, with a black wife, and black children who have no business at Camp David during vacations unless they're serving lunch, cleaning toilets, takig notes, or sweeping the fireplace chimney. To them, that's all he will ever be - popularity or no popularity.

I am hoping Obama is taking a "working vacation" in Hawaii, and I am glad he is pacing himself and taking time out to breathe and relax before jumping back in the frying pan again, but some folk will even take his "breathers" for granted and call him out his name for needing a time out here or there.

And IF this is a legitimate election, rather than one that will be set up in the Supreme Court again, what about "the experience factor?" McCain does have 18 years government experience over Obama, though more of it is because of familial connections than actual self-achievement. I know white women 20 years my junior who have 10 years more experience than me simply because they were afforded opportunities in the span of my 35-year long career that never came my way.

But "experience" is the very reason McCain ought to be retired. President is a job he is much too old to handle. He is not ready, nor is he prepared to preside over all the people of all races and all nationalities -- he is only ready and prepared to preside over his own little special interest group of Caucasian power elite, just as many presidents before him did and with the exception of very few, while continuing to push the rest of us aside.

Of course, McCain's constituents either don't see what everyone else does, or at least they don't want to see it for obvious reasons. Obama is a Life Manager by his actions -- one who understands balance and equality in all things, and how to budget and manage money, as no other president-elect ever has before.

Today, Obama is wielding the same political sphere of influence and power as did Dr. King, just before the Poor People's Campaign was to take place -- and, in a sense, he is truly taking up the mantle and the gauntlet where Dr. King left off. King was a man who was in position to march and demonstrate for the rights of ALL workers and people in The Beloved Community who were being played, used, abused, ignored, and had their industry and hard work and hard-won gains (those of ALL races) taken for granted while the mob and the power elite and the corporate elite ran ramshod over this nation and turned it into a den of thieves and illicit gain.

However, when the power elite and corporate upper crust were threatened by the power King was earning by the truckloads, they had him snuffed out as they then credited racism and viral hatred (the politics of individual emotions run amuck) for a death that was actually endorsed and co-signed by the federal government, just as were the deaths of the Kennedys and several others who were assasinated. Hillary Clinton knows that, or is aware of it, or she wouldn't have said what she said about Robert Kennedy at The Ambassador in L.A. during the time that she was campaiging.

I realize Obama is not worried about it, or least that's what he and Michelle say and want us to believe, to help us 'be not afraid,' BUT the bottom line is that IF Obama is going to succeed, then the ENTIRE NATION of those outside of those power elite circles are going to have to rally around him day and night -- not just now, but even after he's elected; even if it has to be done in shifts around the nation, yeah -- around the globe.

We've got to do everything that we can to let these controlling b-words know that this is OUR country, too; not just theirs -- and that we want our nation and our lives and our right to privacy back and our children back home -- and that they can't just arbitrarily manipulate The Constitution to force people to do their will for their own personal profit and gain at the expense of our children while simultaneously keeping their own children out of harm's way.

Now is the time to end this once and for all. One nation, indivisible.

And even more than that, if this is truly the good and just nation that its patriot-citizens say it is, and Obama actually wins come November, will it be business as usual between blacks and whites -- or will true racial equality, on all sides, finally be within our reach? Will The Beloved Community be actualized, realized, and manifested at last?

Prior to this time, many thought black people were plain ignorant when the truth is that they had nothing to vote for and nothing to hope for before now, not even in the Clintons (who were still white at the end of the day). If America needs to be ONE NATION, it is past time to give its citizens who didn't believe there was any hope the hope that things can and will get better in the future. {Remember: Some people thought blacks don't read either, until they discovered that black people weren't reading because most of the stuff that was written had nothing to do with them and wasn't having any real impact on their lives one way or the other.}

Yet and at the same, many black Americans think Obama has some duty outside of serving ALL the people that is strictly theirs, and this, too, is untrue. Just because he IS Black doesn't mean he owes black people anything. If black folk don't/can't/won't stand up for themselves, no one has to do it for us--not even Obama, whether we like his Cosby-esque "blame the victim" motif or not.

Kapish?

Can Obama really win? It depends on how willing we all are to see to it that Big Government knows we're damn sick and tired of their crap and aren't taking it any more.

Obama isn't 'The One,' but he is the right one to lead us, and right now his wisdom is certainly comparable to that of King Solomon's. He is abundantly blessed with it, as is spoken of in the Book of Proverbs. Maybe he (Obama) humbly and graciously asked God for wisdom in his quiet prayer time, and God granted his prayer, because he certainly has it.

Obama 08

McCain: One “Sorry” Mutha—Ooooh Shut Yo Mouth!

Tanya — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:57:58 EDT

McCain apologizes for Keating 5…
“The appearance of it was wrong. It’s a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do.”

McCain Apologizes for Opposing MLK Holiday…
“We can be slow as well to give greatness its due,” McCain said. “A mistake I myself made long ago. I myself made long ago when I voted against a federal holiday in remembrance of Dr. King. I was wrong. I was wrong.”

the "Compromise" Platform -- W-T-F???

A Private Person — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:33:17 EDT

Not a SINGLE mention of equal rights for same-sex couples. Not a SINGLE WORD.

Maybe I need to ask for my $2,000+ in campaign contributions back.

Biden Leads with Justice Integrity Act

Jill 4 Obama — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:03:08 EDT

BIDEN Introduces JUSTICE INTEGRITY ACT

Establishes Pilot Program to Study Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System

July 10, 2008

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, along with Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and John F. Kerry (D-MA), today introduced the Justice Integrity Act, legislation designed to increase public confidence in the justice system and address any unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal process. The Justice Integrity Act will establish advisory groups in ten federal districts, under the supervision of the United States Attorney General, to study and determine the extent of racial and ethnic disparity in the various stages of the criminal justice system; make public reports on the results of their findings; and make specific recommendations to help to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimination and unjustified racial and ethnic disparities.

“Nowhere is the guarantee of equal protection more important than in our criminal justice system,” said Sen. Biden, former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “The reality is that despite the best efforts and intentions of policymakers, racial and ethnic disparities continue to plague our justice system. We need to step up our efforts in order to root these disparities out.”

Studies, reports, and case law from the last several years have documented racial disparities during many of the stages of the criminal justice system—law enforcement contact with a suspect, arrest, charging, plea bargaining, jury selection, and sentencing. Nowhere is this more evident than in our prisons, according to data compiled by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics. Minorities now make up more than two-thirds of persons convicted of offenses in State and Federal courts. At least 60 percent and, by some estimates, nearly three-quarters of prisoners in the United States are either African American or Hispanic. One of every three African American men born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime. Disparities in the criminal justice process like these engender a crisis of public trust in the integrity of our criminal justice system and raise the possibility that we are failing to make good on the Constitutional promise of equal protection.

“I came to the Senate 35 years ago because of the civil rights movement and because I wanted to help end injustices everywhere,” added Sen. Biden.
"America has come a long way in the fight for civil rights, but new and more subtle forms of prejudice still endure. For Americans to respect the rule of law, they must have faith that justice is attainable for everyone. The Justice Integrity Act will help us continue to fulfill the Constitution’s promise that every American will enjoy the equal protection of the laws."
The Justice Integrity Act establishes a pilot program within the Justice Department to identify and eliminate unjustified disparities in the administration of justice. The program calls for:

Ten U.S. Attorneys, designated by the Attorney General, are directed to appoint and chair an advisory group, composed of federal and state prosecutors and defenders, private defense counsel, federal and state judges, correctional officers, victims’ rights representatives, civil rights organizations, business representatives and faith-based organizations engaged in criminal justice work.

Each advisory group to systematically gather and examine data regarding the criminal process in its district and seek to determine the causes of any racial or ethnic disparity.

Produce a report on key findings and recommend a plan to reduce any unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities, and thereby increase public confidence in the criminal justice system.

At the end of the pilot program, the Attorney General will produce a comprehensive report to Congress on the results in all ten districts and recommend best-practices going forward.

Numerous law enforcement and civil rights organizations have expressed their support for Sen. Biden’s legislation, including the American Bar Association, the National Criminal Justice Association, and The Sentencing Project.

Thomas M. Susman, Director of the American Bar Association, said: “Growing racial disparities work to erode confidence among minorities in the fairness of the criminal justice system. All of us have a stake in the rule of law in our justice system, and we must continually aspire to achieve both the perception and reality that our criminal justice system is fair, unbiased and just. The ABA stands ready to work with you toward timely enactment of the Justice Integrity Act.”

Cabell C. Cropper, Executive Director of the National Criminal Justice Association, said: “NCJA members applaud your commitment to analyzing the root causes of disparity, regionally and nationally. The Justice Integrity Act will provide tools for gathering and analyzing data and exploring the root causes of inequity. Only by learning what triggers and enables the disparity can we, as a society, work to reverse it. The American judicial system is known as a beacon for countries around the world. We must look unflinchingly at weaknesses where they exist and work together at the federal, state and local levels to ensure the administration of justice is fair, ethical and unbiased.”

July 18, 2008

Senator Biden proposes "Justice Integrity Act" to study federal criminal justice disparities

Perhaps because the bill he introduced last week has gotten no press coverage, I only recently learned about Senator Joe Biden's encouraging efforts to examine racial and ethnic disparities in the federal criminal justice system. The basics of the bill are explained in this press release from Biden's office, which starts this way:

U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, along with Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and John F. Kerry (D-MA), today introduced the Justice Integrity Act, legislation designed to increase public confidence in the justice system and address any unwarranted racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal process. The Justice Integrity Act will establish advisory groups in ten federal districts, under the supervision of the United States Attorney General, to study and determine the extent of racial and ethnic disparity in the various stages of the criminal justice system; make public reports on the results of their findings; and make specific recommendations to help to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimination and unjustified racial and ethnic disparities.

Thanks to a link from the Sentencing Project, the full text of the Biden bill is available here. Also, a Google search led me to this short letter from the ABA, which expressed strong support for the bill. The ABA letter starts this way:

[The American Bar Association and its members] express our strong support for the Justice Integrity Act, legislation to examine the cause and extent of racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system and to facilitate the development of proposals for reducing or eliminating racial and ethnic bias where it is found. We applaud your leadership in introducing the Justice Integrity Act. It provides a thoughtful approach to addressing this issue of great importance to our justice system through supporting the gathering of facts and generation of proposals for reform at the federal district level.

Angry

Jeff Brock — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:09:24 EDT

I hope I am one of millions of Americans who are angry. Angry about the way our government has represented us. Angry about being lied to. Angry about the way the constitution has been raped. I have no trust in our government. There is no reason to. We have lost a lot of or precious civil rights by the actions of the president with help from congress who believed in the lies being told to them. Also thanks to the Supreme Court who is supposed to be upholding the constitution. Instead they are just rubber stamping the will of the president. I man who has committed treason and has gotten away from it. Why we have not called him on these actions is beyond me. I am hoping that the millions of people angry like myself will get out there and vote for a change. Not just a change in the government but in the way we hold it accountable.

Here we go again

Rick Adis — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:19:57 EDT

Here we go again. McCain has once again reversed his position on running a clean campaign. He has stooped to a new all time low in Republican politics. His political ads indicating Obama is responsible for high oil prices are down right false and smacks of dirty politics.

When you listen to McCain talk he offers no real solutions to Americas problems. His only platform seems to be in support of the big oil companies, drilling off the coast and in ANWAR or criticizing everything Obama has to say.

Frankly, I have heard just about enough dirty politics. The Republicans offer drilling as some pie in the sky solution to high oil prices. Even if we were drilling today it would take at least five to seven years before that oil was discovered and placed in line to fuel depots. Republicans seem to think the American people are just a bunch of passive dumb asses who can be easily manipulated by the politics of fear and false promises of simple solutions. The worst news is they are right.

I will readily agree 911 was one of the most tragic events in our recent history. It unfortunately presented the opportunity for Republicans and the powerful special interests they represent to hi-jack the United States Government in a silent coupe. By removing the rights of the American people and substituting their surrogates powerful special interests have trampled on the very Constitution, which has made this great country, what it was.

I say what it was because of the destruction of our civil rights, tapping of our phones, reading our mail, detaining American citizens without legal justification and the endless and unjustified war in Iraq. A war in which powerful American companies are robbing the American people blind. Millions and billions of taxpayer dollars are being wasted on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. This does not even take into account the men and women who are serving our nation and the hardships for them and their families. Not to mention the dead and wounded on our side. Remember there are innocent Iraqi men, women and children who are suffering and dying in this war.

The worst part is the McCain campaign talks up the success of the surge. This so called “success” is another Republican load of crap. Credit should go to the “Sons of Iraq” who have, along with large sums of money from the Bush Administration, risen up against Al Quida. The surge was only another excuse to stay in Iraq and allow American contractors to pillage the United States Treasury.

Its time to get all Republicans voted out of office so we can return reasonable representation to the people of this country. Its time the American people had a leader with vision and a real plan to turn things around and save us from becoming nothing but economic slaves to the rich and powerful. Its time for them to go!!!!!! Vote Democrat in all National and Local elections.

Platform Meeting

A Private Person — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:51:08 EDT

I attended a Democratic Party Platform gathering yesterday here in Dallas. It was a very interesting gathering, but I must say that it was quite a bit different from what I thought it would be, in that we did not address issues in an organized manner, and there was no effort at identifying actual proposed language (other than the interesting suggestion to tie everything to the "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" line in the Declaration of Independence). The discussion was much more of a disorganized, free-ranging series of individual opinions and stories, pretty much absent of give and take on any substantive issues.

However, this morning I was surprised to see an email from the organizer with written language on the many topics broached, because as a group we never got into wordsmithing. The list of planks proposed was apparently penned by a single individual taking great license, and so I don't think it should be presented as a consensus statement from the meeting.

K1NG LAND

Brandon from Atlanta, GA — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:14:09 EDT

This Is Our Moment!
The Barack Obama National Anthem
HTTP://www.myspace.com/thek1ngland

Great Contrast Between Candidates to Use Recruiting

David H. Stern, M.D. — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:03:19 EDT

I'm sure many here are still engaged in the arduous task of recruiting fence sitters and soft supporters of both candidates into being strong Obama supporters. The recent FISAsco has Obama "taking his lumps," (and rightfully so, I might add) and the MSM seem to be engaged in a coordinated campaign to minimize the actual differences between candidates.

Well, for Americans of nearly every stripe, Civil Rights is a major issue - particularly in the wake of the unprecedented assualt on Constitutional principles this nation has weathered over the past eight years.

For anyone doubting the significance of the differences between the two candidates in this area, take a look at this compilation of vote-rating for Barack Obama, and compare it to the same ratings for John McCain. These compliations come, courtesey of Project VoteSmart, and as you can see they have numerous tools for drawing comparisons on a wide variety of issues. So, if this is your first exposure to this tool, I hope you will find it useful in the coming weeks. Time is getting short!

In order to make use of this tool easier, I've prepared a one-page side-by-side two-year comparison sheet on Civil Rights Group Rankings for both candidates. Please feel free to copy, print, and distribute it as much as you like. (I prefer that you copy, rather than link to it, as my server's bandwith is limited. Thanks.)

Let's get out there, and get out the vote! (And make sure it is the right vote!)

The New Yorker - Intent = NO EXCUSE

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:14:24 EDT

At the end of June, Sam Wang, an associate professor of molecular biology and neuroscience at Princeton, and Sandra Aamodt, a former editor in chief of Nature Neuroscience, wrote an op-ed column for the New York Times that attempted to shed some light on how false beliefs are created in the brain, and how they can persist despite a constant deluge of accurate information.

I don't care how many excuses the New Yorker comes up with regarding it's INTENT. IT'S IMPACT THAT MATTERS

False beliefs are everywhere. Eighteen percent of Americans think the sun revolves around the earth, one poll has found. Thus it seems slightly less egregious that, according to another poll, 10 percent of us think that Senator Barack Obama, a Christian, is instead a Muslim. The Obama campaign has created a Web site to dispel misinformation. But this effort may be more difficult than it seems, thanks to the quirky way in which our brains store memories — and mislead us along the way.

A false statement from a noncredible source that is at first not believed can gain credibility during the months it takes to reprocess memories from short-term hippocampal storage to longer-term cortical storage. As the source is forgotten, the message and its implications gain strength.

Our brains fit facts into established mental frameworks. We tend to remember news that accords with our worldview, and discount statements that contradict it.

Journalists and campaign workers may think they are acting to counter misinformation by pointing out that it is false. But by repeating a false rumor, they may inadvertently make it stronger. In its concerted effort to “stop the smears,” the Obama campaign may want to keep this in mind. Rather than emphasize that he is not a Muslim, for instance, it may be more effective to stress his discovery of Christianity in his twenties.

According to the Supreme Court.....

Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424 (1971)revolutionized the enforcement of the Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424 (1971), by shifting focus away from intent and toward a disparate impact standard.

OUT OF 50K PEOPLE WHO WILL SEE THAT COVER, ONLY 5K WILL READ THE INSIDE ARTICLE.

THERE WILL BE DISPARATE IMPACT FROM THIS COVER.

The New Yorker SHOULD BE ASHAMED.

NO EXCUSE.

Supporting the Constitution is not a Radical position!

Morgaine Swann — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:35:37 EDT

I've been very disturbed by the way the corporate media is portraying people who were against the recent FISA vote. Supporting the Constitution is traditionally a Conservative value. Since the Reagan administration, our country has moved so far to the Right that the people who call themselves Conservative are really fascists and the people who are supposed to be Liberals are what we used to call Conservative. The Progressive movement, which is portrayed as radical and Far Left, seem to be the ones that are concerned with Constitutional Rights. Our political system is so changed that the hippies and the miitias are finding themselves on the same side more and more often.

The Constitution is the social contract that empowers our representatives to act for us. It doesn't give us our rights - those are innate, endowed upon us by Nature. Our founders declared our rights to be self-evident and unalienable. The Constitution enumerates some of those rights, reserving others not mentioned to the people, but it doesn't create them. That's why foreigners have to be treated as well as Americans - we aren't special in any way except that our government is supposed to respect our innate human rights.

People think only terrorists are being held without rights to habeas corpus. There are US citizens being held both as potential terrorists and as illegal immigrants. The media doesn't talk about the detention camps filled by Homeland Security raids on immigrants. A lot of the people in those camps are citizens who aren't being given access to legal counsel. The government is reading our emails and listening to our phone calls. They're torturing prisoners who haven't been charged with any crime. The war in Iraq is illegal, because only Congress can declare war and they never did. Karl Rove outed a covert operative working in WMDs and he's still walking around free while 1 in every 10 Americans is in jail. Our government is out of control.

I'm praying that we can count on Senator Obama, a Constitutional scholar, to do what he can to restore this country to the rule of law. The recent FISA vote was a mistake, and one I hope won't be repeated. In my perfect world, Senator Obama would start backing the articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Kucinich, and he'd start pushing for prosecution of Karl Rove in the Plame case. I would hope that a President Obama and his newly minted Justice Department would start by investigating the illegal activities of the Bush administration. That's a big project, but I think it's a vital one. We can't just sweep these crimes under the rug as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid seem determined to do. If we're going to be a nation of laws again, and not some evil oligarchy that only benefits the elite class, then criminal prosecution of the crimes is essential.

Reports of Mosque Surveillance Concerns Muslims

funkfresh01 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:00:53 EDT

http://religion.info/english/articles/article_385.shtml

Source: Religioscope

Author: Richard Cimino

While there have been allegations in the past of government investigation of mosques on issues relating to terrorism, the recent report, first featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, is said to be the first confirmation that surveillance is taking place.

An article in the Los Angeles Times (May 29) reports that information about the alleged spying surfaced in a case about classified files concerning terrorism that were stolen from a secure office used by military and civilian law enforcement officials at Camp Pendleton. Some of these classified records referred to the surveillance of Muslim communities in Southern California, specifically, the Islamic Center of San Diego. The records alleged that the mosque had been monitored as part of a federal surveillance program targeting Muslim groups, according to the Union-Tribune article.

The FBI's Plan to ‘Profile’ Muslims

funkfresh01 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:03:03 EDT

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/07/10/muslim_profiling/index.html

Source: Salon

Author: Juan Cole

The U.S. Justice Department is considering a change in the grounds on which the FBI can investigate citizens and legal residents of the United States. Till now, DOJ guidelines have required the FBI to have some evidence of wrongdoing before it opens an investigation. The impending new rules, which would be implemented later this summer, allow bureau agents to establish a terrorist profile or pattern of behavior and attributes and, on the basis of that profile, start investigating an individual or group. Agents would be permitted to ask "open-ended questions" concerning the activities of Muslim Americans and Arab-Americans. A person's travel and occupation, as well as race or ethnicity, could be grounds for opening a national security investigation.

The rumored changes have provoked protests from Muslim American and Arab-American groups. The Council on American Islamic Relations, among the more effective lobbies for Muslim Americans' civil liberties, immediately denounced the plan, as did James Zogby, the president of the Arab-American Institute. Said Zogby, "There are millions of Americans who, under the reported new parameters, could become subject to arbitrary and subjective ethnic and religious profiling." Zogby, who noted that the Bush administration's history with profiling is not reassuring, warned that all Americans would suffer from a weakening of civil liberties.

A must read for all Obama supporters

Justin from Chicago, IL — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:37:02 EDT

The Bill of Rights (see extended post)

Anyone who thinks the FISA vote opponents are "whiners" should really read this.

I can't wait until someone calls me a troll for defending the constitution.

Anger over Obama's support for FISA

Carlos from Long Beach, CA — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:12:33 EDT

SHAME ON YOU!

I can't believe that Sen. Obama has willfully violated the protections enshrined in the Constitution by voting for the FISA bill. Sen Obama earlier had promised to work against this bill.

Actions speak louder than words.

FISA woes

Jeremy — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:12:02 EDT

Here is the message I sent to Senator Obama concerning his stance (and his response to criticism) on the revised FISA bill:

To Barack Obama:

I am writing this note to register my disappointment with your choice to support the revised FISA legislation before the Senate this week. I will not lecture anyone, especially not a constitutional scholar, on what granting immunity to the telecommunications companies and minimizing the oversight responsibility of the FISA courts means for Americans' civil liberties. Instead, I will simply discontinue my contributions to your campaign, and I will no longer preach to all who will listen that Senator Obama is a champion of our freedoms.

It is not enough to pay lip-service to what's right while notifying your supporters of your sympathy when a deeply flawed bill, a bill that you voted for, ends up passing.

If you really believe that allowing large telecom companies to break the law in order to protect government contracts is justified in the name of national security, you are not the candidate that I thought you were. If you are trying to avoid political controversy and, as a result, abrogating your responsibility to defend the American people from abuse at the hands of its own government, you are not the candidate I thought you were. If you are protecting Democrats whose careers may be ruined if the civil lawsuits are allowed to go forward, you are not the candidate that I thought you were.

This was an opportunity to prove that you are a politician who is, for once, brave enough to stand up for what's right while being savvy enough to become more popular for it. In this case, I am left with serious doubts as to the accuracy of either.

Frightened over Obama's position on the FISA

Laura — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:59:46 EDT

I just heard from another loyal Obama supporter and volunteer that Senator Obama has declared his intent to vote for the new FISA bill that would allow the telecommunication industry that has allowed President Bush and his underlings to wiretap our telephones to get off without any penalties. In other words, they will be immune from prosecution for their collaboration with governmental eavesdropping in clear violation of our civil rights. I have seen the McCarthy witch hunts and the backlash that had us vowing not to let a government accuse its citizens of some "ism" that would destroy their lives. This time the scope of governmental attempts to obtain information on our phone calls is much broader. They used "communism" to ruin lives through innuendo then and are using "terrorism" to do much worse today, to accuse people of treason, hold them without trial, and completely cover up their own and their collaborators' actions so that we may never know the extent of their actions and telecommunication giants' collusion with them. What scares me is not only that my precious civil rights are being eroded by the delusional suspicions of a twisted presidency, but that the man who has promised us that he will guarantee our civil rights appears to be caving into some unknown pressure to go along with them. Where are the promises of a new way of doing business in Washington and the vows to protect our civil rights?

I don't see that Barack Obama has a need to pander to the more conservative Democrats or the Republicans by agreeing to this legislation in order to win the election. I think he can win anyway on the basis of the vision that he has given to us of a country free of governmental intrusion and the influence of the largest and most powerful industrial giants, such as the telecommunication companies. So why is he caving in to them?

What I am to do now with my dreams? I have organized two precincts for the Obama campaign, learned to register voters and devoted a good bit of my time to doing this, meeting with field organizers and Fellows, and planning voter registration drives. I have been happy volunteering for Obama and feeling "fired up", but I fear now that my hopes are being betrayed. So now what do I do with the free time I had been devoting to his campaign? Wait for a retraction or tell myself I was being too gullible again? I can't live in a country that offers no protection for my free speech and assembly rights after building up my hopes for the future of the nation. Must I emigrate to Canada?

What do you all think?

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Allison Ruby Reid-Cunningham — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:19:38 EDT

I took part in a national online event for Obama: Yesterday hundreds of us read Martin Luther King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." I posted my reactions to this important piece of writing upon rereading it yesterday to my blog at http://rubycrushonobama/2008/07/letter-from-birmingham-jail.html

I've included excerpts from MLK's and Obama's speeches, as well as videos and some pictures.

Check it out!

The Practical Relevance of the FISA/Immunity Issue

Chip Pitts — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:40:08 EDT

One of our fellow Obama supporters asked whether this FISA/immunity issue matters at all. "Is anybody going to die?" "What does this have to do with my bills, gas, healthcare?"

As a rough and quick response, I offer two preliminary answers – one short (and more short term) and one a bit more distant/long-term:

The short/short-term answer: I've visited a number of dictatorships, both before and after the fall of the Berlin wall. Ubiquitous spying can cause lots of people and entire societies serious, depressing, meaningful psychological harm; it tends to result in arbitrary, conflict-producing, brittle governments resorting to unfair practices including political repression, stifled dissent, and discrimination against vulnerable groups or dissenters/creative types/artists/intellectuals. Societies that take that approach (e.g. East Germany, where a significant portion of the populace were employed by or informants for the Stasi secret police) tend not to do very well in terms of achieving the economic prosperity that allows them to pay bills, buy gas, get health care, etc. Beyond that, the individuals affected often have no way to challenge the justness of the actions taken against them -- just ask those trying to get off the terrorist watch or no-fly lists -- and some often even suffer physical harm (including arbitrary imprisonment). Again, this isn't speculation: US citizens and many others have already been imprisoned for years without due process or rights to contest the (secret) evidence against them. In the USA (!) as well as at Gitmo and other prisons, secret and overt, abroad.

Illusory measures like this FISA Amendments Bill, which like the “shoes off” routine at the airport give you the false comfort of feeling secure (while being easily evaded by genuine terrorists), and that avoid the truly effective fact-based, hard, detailed intelligence gathering that's proved empirically successful against terrorists, will also mean that you, yours, and the nation are more (not less) vulnerable to risk of a terror attack, because of the inevitable mission creep and diversion of resources involved and the false feeling that we've taken effective action when we've actually taken only the easy, false-comfort, self-defeating route that actually alienates the populations most able to provide actionable intelligence.

Such spying is also is of a piece with the same theory of untrammeled executive power that underlies other arbitrary and unfair, counterproductive actions we've seen in recent years from the Bush administration: it renews a precedent for, and encourages the slippery slope of e.g. torture, indefinite detention, secret and lawless prisons, kidnapping, and extraordinary rendition. These actions have indisputably left us less powerful and less safe in the world -- despite the fatuous, illogical, and self-serving Bush/McCain rhetoric that "well, at least there's been no attack since 9/11!" [It's another subject, but in addition to confusing correlation with causation, that argument reveals ignorance of al Qaeda and its modus operandi (multi-years between attacks, striving for the spectacular, etc), of memos from al Qaeda that have been captured and say that the strategy is not to attack the US right now, and of the adversary’s morphing (according to Rand Corporation and other sources) into a stronger, more decentralized, global franchise.]

An answer more for the long-term: if these FISA amendments pass, with or without the telecom immunity envisaged, the amended law enshrining the hi-tech Bush surveillance and datamining approach will change America in subtle but profound and enduring ways, to the point that we simply won't be the same country we've been or share many of the vital, core principles that we've shared essentially since the founding (although it's those principles more than anything else that bind us together). Recall that on that other July 4th, in 1776, a major reason for the revolution was King George's assertions of arbitrary, unchecked power, including the "general" (unspecified) warrants that resulted in searches of the colonists' homes without any sort of notice, specific fact-based warrant or probable cause/individualized suspicion.

That arbitrary, unfair, and tyrannical practice without checks and balances tore the social fabric then, and today’s updated techno-version will just as surely tear the social fabric in insidious ways now and in the future. This effect won't be immediately apparent or visible, but it will matter tremendously for your long-term future and that of any children, grandchildren, or those of relatives you may have. At least that's my grave concern.

Re-read Orwell.

FISA/Immunity Not "Just Another Issue"

Chip Pitts — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:21:17 EDT

The top US and global issues all have significant, if underappreciated, interrelationships -- e.g. the current financial volatility is related to food/commodity/oil price increases which in turn are influenced by and influencing global warming (affecting weather systems and droughts like that in Australia at present). The increased demand from globalization and urbanization (as, e.g. China paves over agricultural fields to make new parking lots and office parks) is part of this picture, and that too influences and is influenced by energy policy, which in turn influences and is influenced by wars such as those in Iraq/Afghanistan and elsewhere, other conflict, disease, refugee flows, terrorism, etc . . . I won't go on . . . but none of these issues can be effectively addressed without US leadership and action in coordination with that of other actors, official and unofficial (including the people in various countries). (My own view is that all of them -- at home or abroad -- are best addressed with "rights-based" approaches that recognize the pragmatic values of rights such as those at issue in the FISA/immunity debate.)The FISA/telecom immunity issue may seem to be a stand-alone topic, unrelated to education, health care, global warming, energy policy, electoral reform, national security, economics, social justice generally, etc. It is said to relate to merely one right (privacy) or one big idea (uncorrupt good governance and accountability under the rule of law). But those concepts are also importantly interrelated to each other and to rich notions of what I would call the "rights infrastructure" that (despite all our national ills and flaws) has distinguished this country and undergirded the substantial success we've enjoyed. Privacy creates the space for free expression, religious freedom, nondiscrimination, free assembly, free press, etc. Due process of law involving objective standards, no favorable treatment of special interests, etc similarly relates in important ways to respect for the dignity and autonomy of the individual, nondiscrimination, and the values underlying rights and good societies. Without privacy, for example, you lose the critical room for meaningful information gathering, independent creative thought, freedom of conscience and expression, and entrepreneurial activity of all kinds . .. you take a notable step toward the sorts of failing and repressive societies that the US opposed during the Cold War. We won that conflict in large part because of our "soft power" as a country that had a Bill of Rights, opportunity for immigrants and ordinary people, and concern for others in the world as represented by US leadership in creating the United Nations and that of Eleanor Roosevelt and others in advocating for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But if the Bush theory of executive power as manifest in this horrendous FISA bill prevails, and telecoms are granted retroactive immunity, what happens to that national essence? What is the next corporate action that will be expected to be forgiven later? A new round of discriminatory internment by private prison companies after the next terrorist attack? Domestic martial law enforced in part by private military contractors like Blackwater (as we also saw after Katrina)? Surely that sort of "new normal" is intolerable.So . . . protecting those interrelated rights and freedoms is essential, in my view, to reaching high quality decisions, avoiding terrible mistakes like the Iraq war, and generally avoiding further regression/repression and preserving our social capacity to successfully address all the major issues on which we want and desparately need Sen. Obama's leadership. It's that simple. (Or complex.) My point is just that for this and many other reasons (that the candidate has previously seemed to appreciate even if some of his current handlers do not), this is not a "niche" issue as some have characterized it. It cuts across and relates directly to the kind of society, politics, capacity, and soft power that we absolute must have both domestically and globally in order to solve our most pressing problems.Chip Pitts

The FISA and the Flag Pin

Shawn — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:47:38 EDT

America is not a place on the map. America is not a bunch of people. America is a dream, remembered in the midst of nightmares, and written down with the hope and determination that it one day might be realized. Our forefathers fought and bled and died that their children might live to see that dream come true. Generations have toiled and struggled and faced overwhelming odds to share in and defend that dream. With a righteous spirit and the wind of liberty at their backs, true patriots have spoken out in defense of that dream, no matter what the personal or political costs.

How truly sad then, that craven politicians could preach the dream, but be so readily willing to trade it for fleeting political gain. How sad that the rights our ancestors fought and died for are political currency in an unlocked vault. "No one will notice if I borrow a few bills here and there." "I can always pay them back after I get elected." "I can always pay them back after I get reelected..." And so it goes until our vault is empty and our freedoms spent.

Mr. Obama, be the patriot of our dreams, and not the politician that trades them away. Your reversal on FISA and subsequent milquetoast defense are lacking in every way. Lacking in vision, lacking in integrity, and lacking in common sense. FISA was already violated by the President's actions, and merely reiterating FISA's authority will not keep it from being violated again, especially when it is apparent there will be no consequences for doing so, thanks to the Immunity provision. The further allowances for warrantless spying on Americans only compound the damage.

It would be better to have no new telecom spying bill this summer, than to suffer the abomination of a "compromise" that you have settled for here. After all, what are we defending if not our way of life, our civil liberties, and that one dream that we all share? Show us that you share our American dream, and don't let this bill pass. Don't let that flag pin you started wearing be a substitute for your own true colors.

Barack, Meet Ben

AngryDesi — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:39:38 EDT

Barack Obama likes to pepper his speeches with references to the Founding Fathers. If he holds them in such reverence, then perhaps he should listen to the wisdom of one of our most wise:

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Benjamin Franklin

This is Barack Obama's test of courage and leadership. Will he cave to the forces of fear-mongering that says a bad compromise is the only way for Democrats to demonstrate that they aren't weak on national security or will he stand by his earlier commitment, to preserve and protect the Constitution and the civil liberties of everyday Americans? Sen. Obama, please vote against the FISA compromise.

FISA, Dissing Moveon, Throwing Clark Under the Bus... It's a Bad Scene.

valkyrie607 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:18:22 EDT

This is exactly the kind of behavior that Hillary displayed that made me want to vote for Obama.

I used to have good reasons for voting for Obama. I would tell people, "Here's a guy who actually has the skills and political acumen to challenge the fairy tale the mainstream media spins about Democrats and national security."

What, you don't know the fairy tale? It goes like this:

"Once upon a time, a Very Bad Thing called 9/11 happened. Fortunately, the manly, strong leader named Bush was in charge (never mind what he was doing right before) and so he started not one, but TWO wars to get revenge on the dirty, freedom-hating (and oh-so-incidentally, Muslim) terrorists who did this Very Bad Thing. Not only that, but he started spying on people--all kinds of people! even Americans!--to find out what those nasty terrorists were doing. The fact that starting those wars and spying on people were illegal under international and domestic law only shows how tough and manly President Bush really is. If there were another terrorist attack, it would only go to show that we didn't start enough wars, torture enough foreigners, and spy on enough Americans to really get the job done. Anyone (cough! Democrats! cough!) who DOESN'T want to start wars illegally and spy on law-abiding Americans is a pussy-whipped pinko pansy. The end."

Anyway, I had seen Obama challenging this ridiculous narrative, and pointing out, as I believe is right to do, that declaring preemptive wars, violating civil rights, and torturing POWs (whatever you call them) makes us less safe. Indeed, not only is this the morally superior position, it is also, in my humble opinion, a winning strategy. I base that opinion on the fact that most Americans don't want their government spying on them, don't want their government torturing people, and don't want their troops bogged down in a civil war in a country that never attacked America.

Then again, this election isn't about what most Americans want, is it? My cynicism took a brief hiatus for Obama's rise to the nomination, but with his rightward shift, now it's back again. Once again, we are seeing that the Democratic party is controlled by people whose interests are completely alien to the interests of the people who give them their votes. The trick is to market the party to us, the people, then, once it's in the bag, get back to the business of America, which is business, i.e., protecting the ruinous profits of corporations which exploit people here and abroad, and trash the environment, all for a quick buck. In order to do this, it's necessary to do exactly what Obama's been doing: distance yourself from the Democratic base that got you into power, and define their interests as the interests of crazy, kooky, far-left radicals.

So now Obama is aiding and abetting that process, whereby people who care about the rule of law and protecting the constitution are characterized as crazy lefty radicals. Just great.

There's a lot at stake in this election. This may be our last chance to lower CO2 levels before something drastic and irreversible happens to the global climate. The wars in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and pray it doesn't happen, in Iran. Need I mention the Supreme Court?

Vote for Obama, folks! Be disappointed, be angry, hold your nose, and vote for him! At the very least, we will have a politician in charge who is ever so slightly beholden to us progressives and our interests. Do not give up fighting! But don't stay home in November!

Us vs. Them?

Brent — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:19:07 EDT

I was musing (fuming) today about the way Republicans seem to view the world, and why I view it so differently. I came up with what I consider to be a revelation, at least in my own understanding...

I view the purpose of government to be protecting the rights of the individual citizens; I think Republicans tend to view the "Government" as a third actor. In their worldview, the "Government" is pitted against "Business", and "people" just get caught in the middle.

I believe that the job of government, acting as the representative of the people, should regulate "corporations" and other amorphous (nay, fictitious) entities to protect the rights of actual people.

In fact, in protecting the rights of citizens who are in turn shareholders, "business" should be protected via a "trickle-down" effect; I know our Red friends can appreciate that turn of phrase.

The Right Plans to Use Marriage as an Wedge Issue ...

Scott A. Giordano — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:53:46 EDT

Let this be a wake up call to GLBT activists and Obama supporters ...

The Voiceless Victims of Sexism

Keite Young — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 06:50:59 EDT

As a Black man, it is incredibly encouraging to see that while there are some hurdles we have yet to confront, the state of race relations in this country have progressed even within the last two years. Honest conversations about race are being had from a national media level to the exchanges around the water cooler to the local community centers and playgrounds of our neighborhood schools.

What is troublesome about the state of civil rights in this country is a growing rift between men and women on the issue of sexism. Now, tackling the age-old argument of miscommunication between the sexes or how we may think and perceive things differently is frankly a subject that I believe is too big and broad to be properly addressed in one speech or even one lifetime. But speaking to the inequality that exist between the sexes in the workplace and the public forum by someone who has the eyes of the world trained on them could at the very least spark conversation and a shared awareness in both men and women that has been dormant for too long.

♥ Happy Olmstead Day :: 9th Anniversary :: June 22, 1999 ♥

Cindy Sue Causey — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:43:59 EDT

Even as we reflect today on the Value of having Supreme Court support specifically address for the Disability Community what others take for granted, let's please not forget our Brothers and Sisters still incarcerated in long term care facilities across the United States, especially when it comes to the concept of including everyone in activities such as the Vote For Change voter registration drive..

Elaine Wilson and Lois Curtis, along with Sue Jamieson to represent them, put themselves on the line that re-emphasized the civil right to living inclusively in our respective communities.. It's up to us, in each our own unique ways, to daily live Lives that help propagate environments fulfilling the already guaranteed Freedom for the rest of our extended family still jailed away in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, institutions, and the like..

What better day than an Olmstead decision anniversary to write that first letter to elected officials asking for their full, ongoing support of actions that promote healthy communities inclusive of everyone.. Accessible transportation, education, housing, and employment remain among the strongest societal lifelines that help cultivate the same..

Peace, Love, Hope, and Social Justice For Us All..

John Dean and Keith Olbermann expressing hope that President Obama will press criminal charges against telecom community if his fight to strip telecom immunity from FISA 2008 is unsuccessful in the Senate

Sheldon from Doylestown — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 01:26:02 EDT

John Dean and Keith Olbermann expressing hope that President Obama will press criminal charges against telecom community if his fight to strip telecom immunity from FISA 2008 is unsuccessful in the Senate. This, after the caving by Democrats in the House of Representatives on FISA 2008.

Video:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#25292233

June 21, 2008, 12:20 PM

Obama: I'll Fight To Strip Telecom Immunity From FISA

Posted by David S Morgan|

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/06/21/politics/horserace/entry4200105.shtml#ccmm
(CBS/AP) - Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., issued a statement in support of the House's update of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but said he would try to strip a provision granting immunity to telecommunication companies when the bill comes to a vote in the Senate next week.

The House approved a compromise bill Friday that would set new electronic surveillance rules that would also shield telecoms from lawsuits arising from their participation in the government's warrantless eavesdropping on telephone and computer lines in the United States.

The government eavesdropped on American phone and computer lines for almost six years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks without permission from the FISA Court, the special panel established for that purpose under the original 1978 law.

Some 40 lawsuits have been filed against the telecommunications companies by groups and individuals who say the Bush administration illegally monitored their phone calls or e-mails.

Obama said there is "little doubt" that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, "has abused [its] authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders."

"Given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as president, I will carefully monitor the program.

"[The bill] does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses."

The House approved the legislation 293-129.

The White House had threatened to veto any surveillance bill that did not also shield the companies.

Critics say granting immunity to telecoms would scrap the pending lawsuits and prevent any public airing of details about the government's surveillance activities.

Last February, when an earlier version of the FISA bill came to a vote, Obama voted for an amendment to strip the telecom immunity provision from the bill. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) voted in favor of keeping immunity for the telecoms.

For more background on FISA 2008, see:

Surveillance Bill: The Worst of All Worlds

June 20, 2008

Months of troubled negotiations over new surveillance legislation ended in the House of Representatives today, with the approval of the so-called FISA Amendments Act of 2008. Hailed in some quarters as a " compromise" after the capitulation of the Protect America Act of 2006, the new surveillance bill is nothing of the kind: on core issues of privacy and accountability, there is no compromise, since little in the measure honors those two values. Since the New York Times's revelation of massive illegal surveillance by the NSA, electronic privacy has been a battlefield for claims of executive power and civil liberties. In 2006, the Administration used the shadow of midterm Congressional elections to stampede both Houses into temporary authorization of sweeping new powers in the Protect America Act (PAA). The measure's grants of new authority had sunset clauses, which expire either immediately before or after the 2008 elections.

The PAA set the scene for another legislative bait-and-switch: On the cusp of national election contests, the Administration rang alarms of crisis, claiming the nation is losing spying capabilities. Legislators inclined to protect civil liberties weighed their exposure to soft-on-security attacks against their allegiance to constitutional values. Either way--in terms of raw power or partisan advantage--the Administration and its supporters win.

House Democratic leadership agreed to support the measure--seemingly out of fear of losing conservative Democrats to an even weaker proposal. But it is the worst of both worlds. It contains just enough of a pretense of accountability to allow the legislators to claim a victory for civil liberties, as it sells out core principles of accountability and privacy.

Begin with accountability. Since the enactment of the PAA, the Administration and its allies have pushed for legislative immunity for the telecommunications companies that aided the NSA's illegal spying from 2001 until 2005. (Those companies are the defendants in multiple suits, presently consolidated before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging their complicity in past illegal wiretapping).

They argue that protection is necessary to ensure future cooperation, even though the telecoms were not deterred by the fact their past actions were clearly in violation of federal law.

In fact, immunity is on the White House front burner for wholly different reasons: pending lawsuits against the telecoms are the best opportunity for the American public to learn what kind of illegal surveillance occurred under Bush's watch, and how existing law against warrantless wiretapping was circumvented. As bad as the telecoms will look, the Administration will look worse as more of its cynical and results-oriented reasoning and contempt for constitutional rights is fully aired.

At first blush, the new bill seems to be a fair compromise. Under Section 802, pending lawsuits are not automatically dismissed. They are not even moved to the secretive FISA court, as an earlier proposal would have done. Rather, the district court in each case is required to dismiss a case provided that a defendant telecom can show that it acted with the "authorization" of the President and also with a certain kind of "written request or directive." The bill then provides an elaborate description of that directive: it can be from the Attorney General, or the head of "an element of the intelligence community" (or from their deputy), and must say simply that the surveillance was determined to be lawful. The bill does not say who must have made this determination.

According to the a report in the Washington Post, this provision would give courts "the chance to evaluate whether telecommunications companies deserve retroactive protection from lawsuits." But the provision does nothing of the kind. Rather, the court can only look to see if the defendant has the piece of paper described in the law, and if it does, the court must dismiss the case. By interposing a certification requirement, and directing judicial attention to a piece of paper, the bill fends off judicial scrutiny of what in fact occurred.

And there is every reason to believe that the telecom defendants will have the necessary piece of paper. Indeed, there is every reason to believe that the bill has been carefully written to track the precise piece of paper the telecoms have--otherwise, why list both the Attorney General and the heads of intelligence community elements? And why include the weird codicil about the deputies of one but not the other?

House minority whip Roy Blunt of Missouri has all but confirmed that the law was drafted to give the pretense of judicial review without the substance: "The lawsuits will be dismissed," Blunt explained, "and we feel comfortable that the standard of evidence that the law requires will be easily met."

The bill, in short, is worse than granting absolute immunity: it is an effort to suborn the legitimacy of the federal courts by having a judge rubber-stamp the dismissal of cases against the telecoms without looking at the substance of what, in fact, was done. It reduces the separation of powers to a check-the-box exercise.

The bill does no better on privacy matters--the question of new surveillance power. Title I of the measure grants the executive branch new surveillance powers for collecting the communications of persons overseas. Although it contains several provisions that purport to shelter Americans' privacy both at home and overseas, these parts of the bill are rendered irrelevant by the grant of sweeping collection authorization.

Under the bill, the government can create new surveillance programs, each lasting a year, that focus on "persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States." Provided that spying agencies do not "intentionally target" someone "known" to be in the United States, or intend to target "a particular, known person reasonably believed to be in the United States" (and with some other minor caveats), large-scale acquisition of data is permitted.

To be sure, the bill then installs judicial review of such collection efforts--but the courts will not examine the actual surveillance programs, let alone individual cases of surveillance. Again, the bill interposes a certification requirement between the court and the facts.

Specifically, the role of judges is limited to ascertaining whether the Attorney General has completed a certification promising that either he has followed the law, or that he will follow the law soon. If the Attorney General cannot meet even this spectacularly low bar, the bill gives the government time to amend and to re-file the certificate. Something even Alberto Gonzales could manage.

This is a radical break from the FISA regime created in 1978, and risks severe harm to Americans' privacy interests. The most important break with FISA is the absence of any individualized warrant requirement: it is now whole collection programs that are authorized and reviewed. And the abandonment of discrete, individualized legislative authorization and judicial review is only the first of the bill's troubling features.

The new provisions also allow the government to create sweeping new programs that are formally targeted at overseas persons, but that predictably sweep in large. The provision's loose language about targets--who do not in fact have to be overseas, only reasonably believed to be overseas--gives the government substantial latitude in crafting the parameters of its searches. Past experience gives no cause for confidence on this point. If the bill is enacted, Americans could simply no longer have confidence that calls placed or received from abroad would be private.

Democrats have emphasized new Section 102, which affirms that the act is "the exclusive means" for electronic surveillance for national security ends. But this was the provision in the original FISA that the Bush Administration circumvented. Re-enacting a notional rule that has been flagrantly violated for half a decade, and whose violation continues to be defended and even celebrated, is hardly a victory for civil liberties.

All this is too high a cost in the phony war over privacy. Despite the repeated cries of crisis, there is no verifiable evidence--and nothing at all beyond the self-serving complaints of Bush Administration Cassandras--that the pre-PAA regime under the FISA Act was fundamentally flawed. If the PAA wholly lapses, it is certain that the nation's security will not collapse. When the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 passes the Senate--as it almost certainly will next week--we can be certain that it will be the privacy rights of Americans, and their ability to hold government accountable, that will suffer.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080707/huq

When the Glass Ceiling Becomes a Glass Floor

Florida Believer — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:11:36 EDT

The greatest divide between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is a generation gap. Senator Obama is young enough to feel neither offended by nor owed for a social injustice. There lies the essence of Barack Obama’s triumph and Hillary Clinton’s disappointment.

When the glass ceiling becomes a glass floor, only by rejecting the shroud of inferiority can a new generation assume the mantle of equality.

Anita Yeates

Acquis Advisers