Posts with the tag columbia

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

Writing a Thesis in Blood: The Ordeal of Lucia Morett

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:08:40 EST

The Ordeal of Lucia Morett

Writing a Thesis in Blood

By JOHN ROSS @ counterpunch.com

At first Lucia Morett couldn't make out where she was and what had woken her up in the pitch-black jungle dark. Then the Mexican graduate student remembered. She reached for her schoolmate Veronica Velazquez's hand but Vero was not there. She would never be there again.

Vero and Lucia plus three boys from the National Autonomous University (UNAM) and the Polytechnic Institute, one her boyfriend Juan Gonzalez, had arrived in the camp of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) only six hours earlier, Lucia Morett told La Jornada reporter Blanche Petrich during a flight home to Mexico December 3rd.

Lucia called out to Juan who was sleeping just meters away in another "caleta", a hut assembled from rough planks. Again there was no answer. Lucia felt a sharp jab of fear in her gut. Then the bombs began to explode on the camp, ten 500-pound Paveway bombs, the same kind the United States military had dropped during the first Gulf War on Iraq. A sudden wind gusted through the caletas. She heard screams. A tree erupted into flames right in front of her. Her sleeping bag felt wet. Lucia saw that it was drenched in blood..............

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.counterpunch.org/ross12122008.html

OBAMA FOR CALIFORNIA [ 1 ]

WEBMASTER — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:18:18 EST

Acampo * Acton * Adelanto * Adin * Agoura Hills * Aguanga * Ahwahnee * Alameda * Alamo * Albany * Albion * Alderpoint * Alhambra * Aliso Viejo * Alleghany * Alpaugh * Alpine * Alta * Alta Loma * Altadena * Altaville * Alturas * Alviso * Amador City * Amboy * American Canyon * Anaheim * Anderson * Angels Camp * Angelus Oaks * Angwin * Annapolis * Antelope * Antioch * Anza * Apple Valley * Applegate * Aptos * Arbuckle * Arcadia * Arcata * Armona * Arnold * Aromas * Arroyo Grande * Artesia * Artois * Arvin * Atascadero * Atherton * Atwater * Atwood * Auberry * Auburn * Avalon * Avenal * Avery * Avila Beach * Azusa * Badger * Baker * Bakersfield * Baldwin Park * Ballico * Bangor * Banning * Banta * Bard * Barstow * Bass Lake * Bayside * Beale AFB * Beaumont * Beckwourth * Belden * Bell * Bell Gardens * Bella Vista * Bellflower * Belmont * Belvedere Tiburon * Ben Lomond * Benicia * Benton * Berkeley * Berry Creek * Bethel Island * Beverly Hills * Bieber * Big Bar * Big Bear City * Big Bear Lake * Big Bend * Big Creek * Big Oak Flat * Big Pine * Big Sur * Biggs * Biola * Birds Landing * Bishop * Blairsden Graeagle * Blocksburg * Bloomington * Blue Jay * Blue Lake * Blythe * Bodega * Bodega Bay * Bodfish * Bolinas * Bonita * Bonsall * Boonville * Boron * Borrego Springs * Boulder Creek * Boulevard * Boyes Hot Springs * Bradley * Brandeis * Branscomb * Brawley * Brea * Brentwood * Bridgeport * Bridgeville * Brisbane * Brookdale * Brooks * Browns Valley * Brownsville * Bryn Mawr * Buellton * Buena Park * Burbank * Burlingame * Burney * Burnt Ranch * Burrel * Burson * Butte City * Buttonwillow * Byron * Cabazon * Calabasas * Calexico * Caliente * California City * California Hot Springs * Calimesa * Calipatria * Calistoga * Callahan * Calpella * Calpine * Camarillo * Cambria * Camino

OBAMA FOR SOUTH DAKOTA

WEBMASTER — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:37:05 EST

Aberdeen * Alcester * Alexandria * Arlington * Armour * Ashton * Avon * Baltic * Belle Fourche * Beresford * Big Stone City * Blunt * Bonesteel * Bowdle * Box Elder * Brandon * Bridgewater * Bristol * Britton * Brookings * Bruce * Bryant * Burke * Canistota * Canton * Carthage * Castlewood * Centerville * Central City * Chamberlain * Clark * Clear Lake * Colman * Colome * Colton * Columbia * Conde * Corsica * Crooks * Custer * Deadwood * Dell Rapids * Delmont * De Smet * Doland * Dupree * Eagle Butte * Edgemont * Egan * Elk Point * Elkton * Emery * Estelline * Eureka * Faith * Faulkton * Flandreau * Fort Pierre * Frankfort * Freeman * Garretson * Gary * Geddes * Gettysburg * Gregory * Groton * Harrisburg * Hartford * Hecla * Herreid * Highmore * Hill City * Hitchcock * Hosmer * Hot Springs * Howard * Hurley * Huron * Ipswich * Irene * Iroquois * Jefferson * Kadoka * Kimball * Kosmos * Lake Andes * Lake Norden * Lake Preston * Lead * Lemmon * Lennox * Leola * McIntosh * McLaughlin * Madison * Marion * Martin * Mellette * Menno * Milbank * Miller * Mission * Mitchell * Mobridge * Montrose * Mount Vernon * Murdo * Newell * New Underwood * North Sioux City * Oldham * Onida * Parker * Parkston * Philip * Pierre * Plankinton * Platte * Presho * Rapid City * Redfield * Roscoe * Salem * Scotland * Selby * Sioux Falls * Sisseton * Spearfish * Spencer * Springfield * Sturgis * Tea * Timber Lake * Tripp * Tyndall * Valley Springs * Veblen * Vermillion * Viborg * Volga * Wagner * Watertown * Waubay * Webster * Wessington * Wessington Springs * White * White Lake * White River * Whitewood * Willow Lake * Wilmot

OBAMA FOR MISSISSIPPI

WEBMASTER — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:31:29 EST

Abbeville * Aberdeen * Ackerman * Algoma * Alligator * Amory * Anguilla * Arcola * Arkabutla * Artesia * Ashland * Avalon * Avon * Bailey * Baldwyn * Banner * Bassfield * Batesville * Bay Saint Louis * Bay Springs * Beaumont * Becker * Belden * Belen * Bellefontaine * Belmont * Belzoni * Benoit * Benton * Bentonia * Beulah * Big Creek * Biloxi * Blue-Mountain * Blue Springs * Bogue Chitto * Bolton * Booneville * Boyle * Brandon * Braxton * Brookhaven * Brooklyn * Brooksville * Bruce * Buckatunna * Bude * Burnsville * Byhalia * Caledonia * Calhoun City * Camden * Canton * Carriere * Carrollton * Carson * Carthage * Cary * Cascilla * Cedarbluff * Centreville * Charleston * Chatawa * Chatham * Chunky * Clara * Clarksdale * Cleveland * Clinton * Coahoma * Coffeeville * Coila * Coldwater * Collins * Collinsville * Columbia * Columbus * Como * Conehatta * Corinth * Courtland * Crawford * Crenshaw * Crosby * Crowder * Cruger * Crystal Springs * D-Iberville * D-Lo * Daleville * Darling * De-Kalb * Decatur * Delta City * Dennis * Derma * Diamondhead * Doddsville * Drew * Dublin * Duck-Hill * Dumas * Duncan * Dundee * Durant * Eastabuchie * Ecru * Edwards * Elliott * Ellisville * Enid * Enterprise * Escatawpa * Ethel * Etta * Eupora * Falcon * Falkner * Farrell * Fayette * Fernwood * Flora * Florence * Forest * Foxworth * French Camp * Friars Point * Fulton * Gallman * Gattman * Gautier * Georgetown * Glen * Glen Allan * Glendora * Gloster * Golden * Goodman * Gore Springs * Grace * Greenville * Greenwood * Greenwood Springs * Grenada * Gulfport * Gunnison * Guntown * Hamilton * Harperville * Harriston * Harrisville * Hattiesburg * Hazlehurst * Heidelberg * Hermanville * Hernando * Hickory * Hickory Flat * Hillsboro * Holcomb * Hollandale * Holly Bluff * Holly Ridge

OBAMA FOR KENTUCKY [ 1 ]

WEBMASTER — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:40:31 EST

Aberdeen * Adairville * Adolphus * Ages Brookside * Albany * Alexandria * Allegre * Allen * Allensville * Almo * Alpha * Alvaton * Anchorage * Annville * Argillite * Arjay * Arlington * Artemus * Ary * Ashcamp * Asher * Ashland * Athol * Auburn * Audobon Park * Augusta * Aurora * Austin * Auxier * Avawam * Bagdad * Bakerton * Bandana * Banner * Barbourville * Bardstown * Bardwell * Barlow * Baskett * Battletown * Baxter * Bays * Bear Branch * Beattyville * Beaumont * Beauty * Beaver * Beaver Dam * Bedford * Bee Spring * Beech Creek * Beech Grove * Beechmont * Belcher * Belfry * Bellefonte * Bellevue * Belton * Benham * Benton * Berea * Berry * Bethany * Bethelridge * Bethlehem * Betsy Layne * Beverly * Bevinsville * Big Clifty * Big Creek * Big Laurel * Big Sandy * Big Spring * Bighill * Bimble * Blackey * Blackford * Blaine * Bledsoe * Bloomfield * Blue River * Boaz * Bonnieville * Bonnyman * Booneville * Boons Camp * Boston * Bowen * Bowling Green * Bradfordsville * Brandenburg * Breeding * Bremen * Brodhead * Bromley * Bronston * Brooklyn * Brooks * Brooksville * Browder * Brownsville * Bruin * Bryants Store * Bryantsville * Buckhorn * Buckner * Buechel * Buffalo * Bulan * Burdine * Burgin * Burkesville * Burlington * Burna * Burnside * Bush * Busy * Butler * Bypro * Cadiz * Calhoun * California * Calvert City * Calvin * Camp Dix * Camp Springs * Campbellsburg * Campbellsville * Campton * Canada * Cane Valley * Caneyville * Canmer * Cannel City * Cannon * Carlisle * Carrie * Carrollton * Carter * Catlettsburg * Cave City * Cave Run Lake * Cawood * Cecilia * Center * Centertown * Central City * Cerulean * Chaplin * Chappell * Chavies * Cisco * Clarkson * Clay * Clay City * Clayhole * Clearfield * Cleaton * Clermont * Clifty * Clinton * Closplint * Cloverport

OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS

WEBMASTER — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:26:49 EST

Addison * Algonquin * Alsip * Alton * Antioch * Arlington Heights * Aurora * Barrington * Bartlett * Bartonville * Batavia * Beach Park * Belleville * Bellwood * Belvidere * Bensenville * Benton * Berwyn * Bethalto * Bloomingdale * Bloomington * Blue Island * Bolingbrook * Boulder Hill * Bourbonnais * Bradley * Bridgeview * Broadview * Brookfield * Buffalo Grove * Burbank * Burr Ridge * Cahokia * Calumet City * Calumet Park * Canton * Carbondale * Carol Stream * Carpentersville * Cary * Centralia * Champaign * Channahon * Charleston * Chatham * Chicago * Chicago Heights * Chicago Ridge * Cicero * Clarendon Hills * Clinton * Collinsville * Columbia * Country Club Hills * Crest Hill * Crestwood * Crete * Crystal Lake * Danville * Darien * DeKalb * Decatur * Deerfield * Des Plaines * Dixon * Dolton * Downers Grove * Du Quoin * East Alton * East Moline * East Peoria * East St Louis * Edwardsville * Effingham * Elgin * Elk Grove Village * Elmhurst * Elmwood Park * Evanston * Evergreen Park * Fairview Heights * Flossmoor * Forest Park * Fox Lake * Frankfort * Frankfort Square * Franklin Park * Freeport * Gages Lake * Galesburg * Geneseo * Geneva * Glen Carbon * Glen Ellyn * Glencoe * Glendale Heights * Glenview * Glenwood * Godfrey * Goodings Grove * Granite City * Grayslake * Greenville * Gurnee * Hanover Park * Harrisburg * Harvard * Harvey * Harwood Heights * Hawthorn Woods * Hazel Crest * Herrin * Hickory Hills * Highland * Highland Park * Hillside * Hinsdale * Hoffman Estates * Homewood * Inverness * Island Lake * Itasca * Jacksonville * Jerseyville * Joliet * Justice * Kankakee * Kewanee * La Grange * La Grange Park * La Salle * Lake Bluff * Lake Forest * Lake Zurich * Lake in the Hills * Lansing * Lemont * Libertyville * Lincoln * Lincolnshire * Lincolnwood * Lindenhurst

OBAMA FOR TENNESSEE

WEBMASTER — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:11:53 EST

Adams * Adamsville * Alexandria * Algood * Arlington * Ashland * Athens * Baneberry * Bartlett * Baxter * Bean Station * Bell Buckle * Bolivar * Brentwood * Brighton * Bristol * Brownsville * Charlston * Chattanooga * City of Crossville * City of Parsons * Clarksville * Cleveland * Clifton * Clinton * Collegedale * Collierville * Collinwood * Columbia * Cookeville * Coopertown * Covington * Cowan * Crossville * Dayton * Decaturville * Decherd * Dickson * Dover * Dresden * Dunlap * Dyer * Dyersburg * Eagleville * East Ridge * Elizabethton * Erin * Etowah * Fairview * Farragut * Farragut City * Fayetteville * Flag Pond * Franklin * Gallatin * Gatlinburg * Germantown * Gleason * Goodlettsville * Grand Junction * Greeneville * Greenfield * Harriman * Harrogate * Hartsville * Henderson * Hendersonville * Humboldt * Huntingdon * Huntland * Jackson * Jamestown * Jasper * Jefferson City * Jellico * Johnson City * Kimball * Kingston * Kingston Springs * Knoxville * Lafayette * LaGrange * Lake City * Lakeland * Lavergne * Lawrenceburg * Lebanon * Lenoir City * Lewisburg * Lexington * Livingston * Lookout Mountain * Loretto * Lynchburg * Lynnville * Manchester * Martin * Maryville * McEwen * McKenzie * McMinnville * Medon * Memphis * Milan * Millersville * Millington * Monteagle * Monterey * Morristown * Mount Carmel * Mt Juliet * Mt Pleasant * Munford * Murfreesboro * Nashville * New Johnsonville * Newport * Nolensville * Oak Hill * Oak Ridge * Oakland * Old Hickory * Oliver Springs * Paris * Pegram * Pigeon Forge * Pleasant View * Portland * Pulaski * Red Bank * Red Boiling Springs * Roan Mountain * Rockwood * Savannah * Scotts Hill * Selmer * Sevierville * Seymour * Shelbyville * Signal Mountain * Smithville * Smyrna * Soddy Daisy * Somerville * South Fulton * South Pittsburg * Sparta * Spring Hill

CIA Coverup Followed Another Spy Flight Mystery in Colombia

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:14:01 EST

CIA Coverup Followed Another Spy Flight Mystery in Colombia

By Jeff Stein @ "Spy Talk"

Revelations that the CIA misled Congress and the Justice Department about the 2001 downing of a Peruvian plane carrying American missionaries could shake loose still-secret details about another crash in the area two years earlier.
On July 23, 1999, a U.S. Army surveillance plane went down under mysterious circumstances in the mountains of Colombia near the Ecuador border.
The Defense Department's official investigation said that Army pilot Jennifer Odom lost her way in the darkness amid the high Andes. But in the weeks leading up to her doomed flight, Odom had confided to her husband, an Army colonel, that she and the crew of intelligence technicians in the back of her plane, who were supposedly eavesdropping on narcotraffickers, had been "lit up" by radar missiles in the jungle.
As I wrote for Salon.com in July 2000, that led the couple to suspect that the intelligence crew were not targeting drug kingpins, as she had been led to believe, but Marxist guerrillas fighting the Colombia government. Over time, the two became indistinguishable.

But the reason for covering up important details about her death, her husband, Col. Chuck Odom, told me, was that the U.S. was far more deeply involved in Colombia's civil war than publicly acknowledged, with "hundreds of Special Forces people running all over the country."ENTIRE POST - http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/spytalk/2008/11/cia-coverup-should-prompt-reop.html

Former (London) Times Editor Harold Evans Smears the US Media in an Article in the UK Guardian

mathpol — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:22:33 EST

“Mad about The One. The US media have been captivated by Obama, at the expense of their curiosity and scepticism.”

This is the title of an article by Harold Evans in The Guardian on November 1, 2008. He resorts to the bias he decries in his one-sided column. I have reproduced it below in its entirety, along with my annotations {…} . Phrases that I comment upon are in boldface.

It's fitting that the cynicism "vote early and vote often" is commonly attributed to Chicago's Democratic boss, mayor Richard Daley, who famously voted the graveyards in 1960 to help put John Kennedy in the White House. In this 2008 race, it's the American media that have voted very early and often. They long ago elected the star graduate of Chicago's Democratic machine, Barack Obama. {Obama is a hardly a “graduate“ of the machine. What about Harvard Law, Columbia, etc.?}

I am not talking of editorials in newspapers, though Obama has the preponderance of the endorsements over John McCain. Obama certainly deserves the credit for recruiting impressive advisers and running a more efficient campaign machine than any one in the US's political history.

What's troubling to anyone old-fashioned enough to care about standards in journalism is the news coverage in mainstream media. Forget the old notions of objectivity, fairness, thoroughness, and so on. The nastiest rumours on both sides haven't been published, but the coverage has been slavishly on the side of "the one". {“Slavish”? Evans’s description.}

Win Missouri's Editorial Page Battle with this Amazing Free List from USNPL.com

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:48:25 EDT

There's still time to win Missouri's Editorial Pages: Please use this list at usnpl.com; OpEdNews Compendium of Major Endorsements Thus Far

taken from this "LIVE URL": http://www.usnpl.com/monews.php

Newspapers
Click ( A ) for Newspaper address
Click ( C ) for County summary

Ashland Boone County Journal (A) (C)
Bethany Republican-Clipper (A) (C)
Bolivar Bolivar Herald-Free Press (A) (C)
Boonville Daily News (A) (C)
Bowling Green Bowling Green Times (A) (C)
Branson Branson Courier (A) (C)
Branson The Branson News (A) (C)
Brookfield Linn County Leader (A) (C)
Buffalo Buffalo Reflex (A) (C)
California California Democrat (A) (C)
Camdenton Lake Sun Leader (A) (C)
Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian (A) (C)
Carthage The Carthage Press (A) (C)
Caruthersville Democrat Argus (A) (C)
Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune (A) (C)
Columbia Columbia Daily Tribune (A) (C)
Columbia Columbia Missourian (A) (C)
Cuba Cuba Free Press (A) (C)
Dexter The Daily Statesman (A) (C)
El Dorado Springs El Dorado Springs Sun (A) (C)
Eldon Eldon Advertiser (A) (C)
Eldon Vernon Publishing Newspapers (A) (C)
Ellisville WestNews Magazine (A) (C)
Elsberry Elsberry Democrat (A) (C)
Eminence Shannon County Current Wave (A) (C)
Fulton Fulton Sun (A) (C)
Gainesville Ozark County Times (A) (C)
Gallatin Gallatin North Missourian (A) (C)
Gladstone Dispatch Tribune (A) (C)
Hamilton Caldwell County News (A) (C)
Hannibal Hannibal Courier-Post (A) (C)
Harrisonville Democrat-Missourian (A) (C)
Hermann Hermann Advertiser Courier (A) (C)
Houston Houston Herald (A) (C)
Independence The Examiner (A) (C)
Jackson Cash-Book Journal (A) (C)
Jamesport Tri-County Weekly (A) (C)
Jefferson City Jefferson City News Tribune (A) (C)
Joplin Joplin Business Journal (A) (C)
Joplin Joplin Globe (A) (C)
Joplin Joplin Independent (A) (C)
Kansas City Business Journal (A) (C)
Kansas City Kansas City Star (A) (C)
Kansas City PitchWeekly (A) (C)
Kennett Daily Dunklin Democrat (A) (C)
Kirksville Daily Express (A) (C)
Lamar Lamar Democrat (A) (C)
Laurie Highway Five Beacon (A) (C)
Lebanon Lebanon Daily Record (A) (C)
Lees Summit Lee's Summit Journal (A) (C)
Louisiana Louisiana Press Journal (A) (C)
Macon Chronicle-Herald (A) (C)
Marshall The Marshall Democrat-News (A) (C)
Marshfield Marshfield Mail (A) (C)
Maryville Nodaway News Leader (A) (C)
Memphis Memphis Democrat (A) (C)
Mexico The Mexico Ledger (A) (C)
Moberly Monitor-Index/Evening Democrat (A) (C)
Monett The Monett Times (A) (C)
Monroe City The Lake Gazette (A) (C)
Mound City Mound City News (A) (C)
Neosho Neosho Daily News (A) (C)
Nevada Nevada Daily Mail (A) (C)
New Haven New Haven Leader (A) (C)
Nixa Nixa News-Enterprise (A) (C)
Ozark Christian County Headliner (A) (C)
Paris The Monroe County Appeal (A) (C)
Park Hills The Daily Journal (A) (C)
Perryville Republic-Monitor (A) (C)
Piedmont Wayne County Journal-Banner (A) (C)
Pineville McDonald County Press (A) (C)
Platte City Platte County Citizen (A) (C)
Platte City The Landmark Newspaper (A) (C)
Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic (A) (C)
Richland Richland Mirror (A) (C)
Richmond Richmond Daily News (A) (C)
Rock Port Atchison County Mail (A) (C)
Rolla Rolla Daily News (A) (C)
Saint Joseph St. Joseph News-Press (A) (C)
Saint Louis Chinese American News (A) (C)
Saint Louis St. Louis American Newspaper (A) (C)
Saint Louis St. Louis Business Journal (A) (C)
Saint Louis St. Louis Post-Dispatch (A) (C)
Saint Louis The Riverfront Times (A) (C)
Saint Louis The Suburban Journals (A) (C)
Saint Louis The Vital VOICE (A) (C)
Saint Robert Pulaski County Democrat (A) (C)
Sainte Genevieve The Herald (A) (C)
Sedalia Sedalia Democrat (A) (C)
Sedalia Sedalia News-Journal (A) (C)
Sikeston Standard Democrat (A) (C)
Springfield Community Free Press (A) (C)
Springfield News-Leader (A) (C)
Springfield Springfield Business Journal (A) (C)
Steelville Star - Mirror (A) (C)
Stover Morgan County Press (A) (C)
Sullivan Sullivan News (A) (C)
Sullivan The Sullivan Journal (A) (C)
Tipton Tipton Times (A) (C)
Troy Lincoln County Journal (A) (C)
Tuscumbia Miller County Autogram-Sentinel (A) (C)
Vandalia Vandalia Leader (A) (C)
Versailles Versailles Leader-Statesman (A) (C)
Warrensburg digitalBURG.com (A) (C)
Washington Washington Missourian (A) (C)
Washington WashMo.com (A) (C)
Waynesville The Daily Guide (A) (C)
Webster Groves Times Newspapers (A) (C)
West Plains Daily Quill (A) (C)

College Newspapers
Drury University The Drury Mirror
Missouri Southern St. Univ The Chart
Missouri St. Univ The Standard
Missouri Western Griffon News
Missouri-Rolla Miner
Northwest Missouri NW Missourian Daily
Southwest Baptist Omnibus Online
St. Louis Univ University News
SW Missouri State Southwest Standard
Truman State New Media Index
Univ of Missouri The Current
Univ of Missouri The Greek Chronicle
Univ of Missouri The Maneater
Univ of Missouri University News
Washington Univ Student Life Online
Webster Univ The Webster Journal

Editorial Page Victories clarify: Obama will win 2-1 in Electoral College! 4
part compendium---Endorsements at OpEdNews: Washington Post, Houston,
Detroit, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Salt Lake,
Philadelphia, Portland, Bangor, Sacramento, Kansas City (4 former Red States)

OpEdNews has been the site of choice to post the growing list of major and
minor newspaper endorsements for Obama. The Editorials are quoted generally
in full, with interspliced commentaries from major editors and commentators,
explaining what is behind the Editorials.

Part I Obama's Editorial Endorsements: including Washington Post, Fidel
Castro, Richard Lugar, Chuck Hagel, & more!

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-s-Endorsements-The-by-Stephen-Fox-081016-633.html

*******

Part II Editorial Page Endorsements of Obama Denver Post, Chicago Tribune,
San Francsico Chronicle, Los Angeles Times

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Editorial-Page-Endorsement-by-Stephen-Fox-081017-544.html

********

Part III New Endorsements: Salt Lake City Tribune, Bangor and Brunswick,
Maine, Philadelphia, Miami, Portland, Kansas City

http://www.opednews.com/articles/EndorspLements-Salt-Lake-Ci-by-Stephen-Fox-081018-476.html

********

More Obama Endorsements IV: Sacramento, Katie Couric, Malaysia, Houston
Chronicle, Detroit, Waco Tx (sort of)

http://www.opednews.com/articles/More-Obama-Endorsements-IV-by-Stephen-Fox-081019-492.html

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO COMMENT AND SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS, which become a
vital part of a larger on-going dialogue.

Thank you,

Stephen Fox
Founder, New Millennium Fine Art
Contributing Editor New Millennium Fine Art
Santa Fe, NM

Senator Obama lets down Columbia University

Sahil — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:03:20 EDT

Senator Obama studied at Columbia University. It is his alma mater; he also claimed home advantage there during his interview on September 11, 2008.

When the Columbia University was attacked for not allowing the Military to recruit on campus and for allowing President Ahmedi Nijad of Iran to speak at the university; he took the opportunity to make his position clear on ROTC, which is to allow the military to recruit on the campus, but he did not say a word in defense of Columbia University.

We all including Senator Obama, he also studied at Harvard University, work hard to get into these universities and even try to get our children into these universities but when time comes to stand by the values promoted by these very institutions we are increasingly choosing to look the other way. When negative emotions against our country was at an all time high around the world and when emotions at home were also that of belligerence Columbia took the enormous risk of showing civility and establishing our value of free speech by inviting the President of Iran to speak at the University. It was just providing him an opportunity to speak; there was no danger of the President of Iran converting the students of Columbia into Shiite militants. The President of Columbia went to great length to pacify the hawks of our country by berating the President of Iran even before he spoke.

In my view it was a courageous effort by Columbia. It is the stuff civil societies are made of.

Our nominee Senator Obama failed on these counts:

1. We are supposed to defend our school; we go to great lengths to root for our schools at games etc. Senator Obama didn’t have a single word for Columbia. When you defend your school it has a parallel to defending the country or the institution or the people you have associations with. It shows your loyalty. A word or two for Columbia would have been appreciated even by the Republicans because you would be defending your home ground.

2. Columbia did not do anything outrageous by either of the two acts. It does not allow RTOC because of its opposition to “Don’t ask don’t tell policy.” It was not as if they were taking sides, DADT was signed into law by a Democratic President. Even though I personally disagree with the proportionality of the response by Columbia and others to “Don’t ask don’t tell” I appreciate the courage and the underlying effort to fix a wrong in favor of a minority of Americans. As to inviting the President of Iran I have already discussed the matter above.

Senator Obama is already branded as a liberal. But still people keep asking as to who is “Nominee Obama,” with some justification. If Senator Obama had said a word or two in defense of Columbia that night it would somewhat answer that question. People tend to define you with the associations you keep. Senator Obama has to establish some solid associations. Columbia could be one of those.

It is not a good strategy to fight off associations other people throw at you but to make one yourself. A good offense is the best defense.

If people don’t associate you with Columbia somebody else will have them associate you with Pastors you disassociate. Somebody is associating himself to the military and the Vietnam War some to Caribou hunting, gas pipelines and Alaska. You have to associate yourself to some piece of America that we are all familiar with. South Side of Chicago is not as well known as Columbia. Your association with South side of Chicago may not be as relevant to becoming the President as your association with Columbia and Harvard.

In these days of economic crisis and global turbulence people are more likely to value your association to Harvard and Columbia. Please say something for Columbia and Harvard; it will help define you better.

Joe Biden in Columbia, MO for town hall event.

Clint Smith — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:30:22 EDT

Well today Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden is coming through my hometown of Columbia, MO, for a town-hall style meeting at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) which is to begin this morning at 9:30am. Unfortunately, I was unable to secure a ticket as I came back late this Sunday from St. Louis and when I went into the Columbia Campaign for Change HQ Monday just after 11:30AM they informed me there were people lined up around the building on Sunday evening to get tickets and I would have to go on the waiting list. This was a big disappointment as I was really looking forward to seeing Joe Biden in person and get to cheer on the person I hope is the next Vice President of these great United States. This was made even more disappointing as I work at Shelter Insurance directly across from the ARC.

Despite my disappointment I am happy that someone from the Obama campaign is stumping in Missouri and Columbia in particular. The McCain team had considered visiting Columbia for their event held yesterday, but decided to host it in Lee's Summit (which, oddly enough, is home to my father's side of the family). Of course, Sarah Palin was in tow, following a weekend when John McCain, Joe Biden, and Barack Obama went on national press shows to discuss the campaign and their policies. They have also seen a bump during this time and my feeling is that there are a lot of people now energized about a woman whom they know very little about, which is exactly how the McCain campaign have decided to use her so far instead using commercials to distort their true record. Well, I unfortunately have to get back to work instead of visiting the ARC, but I will do my best to stay up to date on any Joe Biden news this morning (he's also stopping in at Mehlville High School in St. Louis this afternoon) and Barack Obama's visit to Ohio.

Future posts to come with more details about my vision of America and policy opinions.

Lugar-Obama and Columbia University

rahga — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:59:40 EDT

Here is what I want to know: Why is the Obama Campaign not emphasizing the Lugar-Obama Non-Proliferation Bill and Obama's education at Columbia University?

On the first point, as a former high school debate coach who has had countless discussions with students about the earlier Nunn-Lugar legislation, I think I have a fair grasp of the importance of Lugar-Obama to national security and international relations. Quite simply, Lugar-Obama is one of the most important pieces of legislation to come out of the US Congress in the last decade. It seems to me McCain's nomination of a candidate with virtually no experience in foreign policy (let alone substantive education in IR) provides a perfect opportunity for the campaign to talk about Lugar-Obama (again), thus underscoring his IR credentials.

Second, Barack has a BA from Columbia University in Political Science with a specialization in International Relations. Governor Palin, by contrast, has a BS degree in communications-journalism and a minor in political science from the University of Iowa. Sigh.... I listend as long as I could last night (maybe 15 minutes) as callers to the Sean Hannity show complained about Obama's "elitist" education. Look, I'm not denigrating Sarah Palin for studying journalism, or having faith or attending a state university. I am a Christian with beliefs many would find conservative, and I'm currently finishing a PhD in communication at a state university. But since when are degrees from presitgious universities with extraordinarily high standards a liability?

I am concerned about these two issues because a quick serach of Lexis-Nexis this morning turned up NOTHING about Lugar-Obama. Meanwhile the McCain campaign is shouting long and loud about Palin's executive credentials.

Please, please... I hope the campaign reads this entry and decides to talk about these things.

Did I mention that Palin is a global warming skeptic? Heaven help us! Really. The world is a very big place and Wasilla, Alaska is a verrrry small town.

Obama Campaign Names SC Director

Deborah Simmel — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:08:01 EDT

Greg Hambrick reports in the Charleston City Paper:

Senator Barack Obama’s Campaign announced today that Trav Robertson will be the state director for the campaign in South Carolina. Robertson, a veteran organizer with experience at the national, state, and local levels, will oversee field, political and communications staff throughout the state. In addition, the Obama campaign announced today that Clay Middleton will serve as political director in South Carolina.
“I’m ready to get to work building a great team in South Carolina to put Barack Obama in the White House,” Robertson said. “Obama supporters in South Carolina are ready to roll up their sleeves and begin the sprint to November because they know America cannot afford another four years of George Bush’s failed economic policies that John McCain is offering. With the right organization we will be ready for the tough fight ahead so we can elect Barack Obama and bring the change South Carolina’s families deserve.”
“Trav and Clay bring the expertise of state and national campaigns, in addition to years of organizing experience,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said. “They will bring an unprecedented general election campaign organization to all corners of South Carolina that will involve volunteers and supporters to be a part of changing the way Washington works. We are inviting South Carolinians to join Trav and Clay in the effort to work for every vote in the Palmetto State between now and November.”
Trav Robertson is a South Carolina native who resides in Columbia. Before joining Obama for America, Robertson served as Iowa Regional Field Director and South Carolina Field Coordinator for Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign. Robertson has served as a campaign advisor and director for a number of local, state and congressional campaigns in South Carolina. He has a B.A. from the University of South Carolina.
Clay N. Middleton is a Charleston native. In 2008, he ran for the SC House of Representative narrowly losing in the runoff. He is a graduate of The Citadel and an Iraq War Veteran. During his tour of duty Clay earned the Bronze Star Medal. Middleton has also worked as a Regional Field Organizer for the SC Democratic Party in a partnership with the DNC. Before joining Obama for America, he was the Lowcountry Coordinator for Congressman James E. Clyburn House Majority Whip and he remains a Captain in the SC Army National Guard.

By Greg Hambrick | Posted in News, News (Election '08), The Back Channel, Uncategorized

Source link: http://news.ccpblogs.com/2008/08/14/local-clay-middleton-an-obama-sc-campaign-leader/

Uppity on a Down Staircase...

Thomasina — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:16:08 EDT

The media tells me some folks believe Barack Obama is ‘uppity’ because he’s a graduate of Ivy League schools: Columbia and Harvard Law. Due to those achievements, it’s said he just can’t seem to connect with some voters.

Really?

Let’s see, The First President Bush and the current Bush, who vacates the White House in January 2009, both attended Yale. Then President John F. Kennedy and little brother Bobby both attended Harvard. Then there’s Bill Clinton, our first supposed ‘Black President,’ attended Yale for his law degree, only after completion of studies at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

All that ivy sure blocks my view. Both Bushes are successful business men in their own right. JFK was Catholic, which scared some folks. His little brother Bobby, contributed to the Civil Rights Movement—which became a building block for Barack Obama’s position today. Then Bill Clinton was considered ‘inexperienced’—but he did have that Rhodes Scholar thing on his side. Was ‘uppity’ an adjective to describe any of these other Ivy League men? I doubt not. Just amazed the at the degree of scrutiny Barack Obama recieves for not looking like the ‘other’ guys.

I’ve been called uppity all her life. When it was uttered by people I knew—both Black (which includes family) and White-it hurt, I admit. Accusations of I did not sound or act Black enough—my goodness, what DOES that mean anyway? Or that I had too many White friends. Plus the closest I ever got to anything Ivy League was the purchase of a $1.98 ivy plant at Wal-mart.

Even in the 21st Century, a little stereotype goes a long way.

Come November 4, 2008, whether it’s an Obama win or loss, I will continue to bask in pride. My ancestors who built this country—literally-had families broken apart by being sold like livestock, yet treated lower than. My ancestors were denied any rights of any kind. For a time, slave logs did not list their names, just male, female or child. Because of what my ancestors endured then, there is success now.

Call it ‘uppity’ if you want. Call it a celebration for a moment in time that was and no longer is.

SING-OUT FOR CHANGE, ROCK FOR BARACK

Arthur from Columbia, MD — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:43:06 EDT

The "Sing-out for change, rock for Barack" fundraiser is coming up soon on July 22 at 7:30 P.M. at the Oakland Mills Meeting House. Hope you can be there!!

Please go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/obamat-shirt/ to see the latest event pics!

If the FARC “implodes,” does anything change?

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:35:09 EDT

If the FARC “implodes,” does anything change?Uribe Government Security Policies,

Are the FARC guerrillas are about to “implode?”

That question, raised in a Washington Post front-page story on Saturday, may seem fanciful but is actually worth asking. But it is even more worth asking, “What would happen next?”

What would happen if the FARC as we know it ceased to exist - no more Marulanda, no more Secretariat, no more hierarchical arrangement of blocs, fronts and columns?

This possibility can’t be dismissed. It could be that, within the next few years, Colombia’s largest guerrilla group might lose coherence, taking on a new form or splintering into a messy series of successor groups. If so, this would owe to:

Military pressure: a 50 percent increase in the Colombian armed forces since 2000 has meant more frequent anti-guerrilla offensives, and more frequent desertion of mostly rank-and-file guerrillas as the war of attrition drags on.
Increased results against top guerrilla leaders: the last year or so has seen far more mid-level and top-level FARC leaders captured or killed. This has not been the result of massive, costly, scorched-earth military offensives, but instead the product of better intelligence work. Colombian military intelligence - long synonymous with spying on labor leaders and human rights defenders - has finally taken on the more difficult task of actually trying to locate top guerrilla leaders.
The FARC’s own unpopularity: years of abusing poor rural citizens have yielded a bitter harvest for many guerrilla fronts. An insurgency cannot survive for very long if the local population fears and loathes it.
Narco-money: the drug trade fueled the FARC’s spectacular growth during the 1990s. For a time, the drug money maintained the struggle. Today, for many FARC units, it is the other way around.
Leadership problems: few organizations succeed after decades under the same hidebound leadership. Now that the guerrillas’ founding generation is being claimed by the Grim Reaper, it is not clear who is next to succeed them. After Manuel Marulanda leaves the scene, a scenario of fragmentation is plausible.

If FARC implodes or fragments, champagne corks will pop in Bogotá and Washington. But will violence and narcotrafficking in Colombia be much different than the status quo? Perhaps, but probably not.

The FARC, or successor groups, will be on the scene for some time to come. Many FARC units (the powerful Eastern Bloc commanded by “Mono Jojoy” comes to mind) remain quite wealthy and militarily strong. Even if the FARC should splinter someday, some of its remnants could be bigger, and better armed, than most insurgencies Latin America has witnessed.

“Implosion” is not synonymous with peace. Even if the FARC shrinks or fragments, military victory remains far off, and negotiations seem unlikely in the near term. If even the ELN guerrillas, who are a small fraction of the FARC’s size, continue to be active while peace talks have made no progress, how many years would it take to force the FARC or its successors to surrender on the battlefield?

No FARC wouldn’t mean no violence in rural Colombia. If the FARC disappeared, would Colombia’s government be able to fill the vacuum and govern its territory? What would happen to the country’s vast “ungoverned spaces” - the zones where armed groups rule, coca is grown, cocaine is trafficked, and military force alone has proved insufficient as a nation-building strategy?

In the absence of a politically supported, strategically coherent, well-financed program of state presence without impunity in ungoverned territories, how long would it be until new drug-money-fueled armed groups - whether new guerrilla insurgencies or the rapidly growing “emerging” paramilitary organizations - take the FARC’s place?

A defeat of the FARC is highly unlikely anytime soon, and a guerrilla “implosion” - if it happens - could make the security situation even more complicated than it is now.

Improving the Fight against Drugs in Latin America

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:32:29 EDT

Improving the Fight against Drugs in Latin America

Bogotá/Brussels, 14 March 2008:

The international community will lose its struggle against drugs unless it urgently changes ineffective, partly counter-productive policies.

To contribute to the evaluation of drug policies from a conflict prevention perspective, the International Crisis Group today released reports on cocaine production and trafficking and the ineffective U.S., European and Latin American responses.

The first, Latin American Drugs I: Losing the Fight,* analyses negative developments in the Andean region, where coca cultivation and cocaine production are increasing, and the criminals who drive trafficking are expanding their reach across the Americas and Europe. The second, Latin American Drugs II: Improving Policy and Reducing Harm,* provides an overview of failing counter-drug policies on both sides of the Atlantic. It also examines the serious impact of expanding transnational trafficking organisations and anti-narcotics policies on democratic governance and institutions, civil conflicts, development and international cooperation in Latin America.

“The threat posed by drug trafficking and organised crime and the failure of counter-drug policies are two sides of the same coin”, says Mauricio Angel, Crisis Group Colombia/Andes Senior Analyst. “It is taking a heavy toll on democratic institutions, political systems and societies at large in several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela and Mexico”.

The Bush administration’s last Latin America aid request

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:29:51 EDT

The Bush administration’s last Latin America aid request

Feb 5, 2008

The State Department has sent Congress its foreign aid request for 2009, along with updated 2007 and 2008 numbers. We have added all of this new data to the ever-growing aid database located at http://www.justf.org.

Several links below point to pages on that site.

The State/Foreign Operations budget appropriation request provides about 75 percent of the military and police aid - and 85 percent of the total aid - that goes to Latin America and the Caribbean. The rest either goes through small programs that can give aid “on the fly” (Excess Defense Articles, “Food for Peace” and others) or, for some types of military aid, through the Defense budget.

The 2009 request calls for a sharp jump in aid to Latin America and the Caribbean. The hemisphere received a total of $1.75 billion from Foreign Operations budget programs in 2007; the request foresees that rising to $2.30 billion by 2009.

Combining this with estimates of aid from other sources, we calculate that total U.S. aid to Latin America and the Caribbean would rise from $2.12 billion in 2007 to $2.67 billion in 2009. Total military and police aid would rise from $943 million in 2007 (44.5%) to $1.226 billion in 2009 (45.9%).

Here is what that looks like graphically, since 1996.

(The economic-aid spike in 1999 was Hurricane Mitch aid. The military-aid spike in 2000 was Plan Colombia.)

Why would aid levels bump upward in 2008 and 2009? This chart makes it pretty clear:

See that big purple bulge in the middle in 2008 and 2009? That’s Mexico.
Along with the countries of Central America, Mexico would see a huge increase in aid - most of it military and police aid - under the proposed “Mérida Plan” aid package. If the Bush administration were to get what it asked for - both as a “supplemental” addition to the 2008 budget, and as part of the 2009 budget - aid to Mexico and Central America would more than double.

Here is a breakdown of aid to Mexico and Central America, first by country and then by type of aid. Look at that increase.

To explain what you’re looking at here: while U.S. aid to Latin America would rise dramatically in the Bush administration’s 2009 request, nearly all of the increase owes to raises foreseen for Mexico and Central America. And the majority of that is military and police assistance.

While this would be a dramatic change, we still don’t know when (or even whether) it will actually happen. In this busy election year, there is little sense of when Congress might be disposed to approve a supplemental aid package for Mexico and Central America in 2008. A supplemental attached to Iraq war funding would be bogged down for months, while a supplemental exclusively for Mexico and Central America seems unlikely to find its way onto the crowded legislative calendar.

Meanwhile, despite the big foreseen Mesoamerican increase, the aid request would keep Colombia in first place as the region’s largest aid recipient. However, the Bush administration would not seek to give Colombia a raise.

Under the administration’s plan, total aid to Colombia would remain about where the U.S. Congress left it after dealing a modest cut in 2008 - we estimate a total of $683 million in 2009, compared to $757 million in 2007 and $681 million in 2008. (Counting only aid in the Foreign Operations budget bill gives $619 million in 2007, $543 million in 2008, and $545 million in 2009.)

If the Bush administration got its way, however, it would completely reverse the changes that the new Democratic-majority Congress made to Colombia aid last year. By cutting military aid and increasing economic aid, Congress managed to reduce the military-aid proportion in the Colombia aid package from 81 percent in 2007 to 65 percent in 2008. The administration’s request would bring that proportion back up to 79 percent in 2009 by dramatically increasing military aid and cutting economic-aid programs.

(Considering only Foreign Operations programs, the military-aid percentage would go from 78% in 2007, to 57% in 2008, back up to 74% in 2009.)

The Congress is extremely unlikely to honor the administration’s Colombia request.

The very same people who began demilitarizing the 2008 aid package are still chairing the committees that fund foreign aid. They are not going to reverse direction just because the State Department is suggesting a move back to a mostly military approach.

Finally, though, this post has a bit of a punchline: there’s very little chance that the 2009 foreign aid bill will become law in the next 12 months.

Think about it - if you were a Democratic congressional leader, which would you rather do:

(1) Instead of spending time campaigning or fundraising, rush to finish a foreign-aid funding bill before the new fiscal year starts on October 1. This bill will not go as far as most Democrats would like, because it has to avoid being vetoed by President Bush.

(2) Pass a “continuing resolution” maintaining current funding levels until early 2009. Bet on the Congress remaining under Democratic control and on a Democratic candidate winning the presidency (the odds currently favor both). Next year, write a much different, Democrat-friendly bill and send it to the new Democratic president for signature.

The congressional appropriators will be working hard as ever this year, and indeed both houses of Congress may pass their own versions of the foreign aid bill by Election Day. Nonetheless, scenario (2) is still more likely. Ultimately, the Bush administration’s final aid request may bear little resemblance to what U.S. aid to Latin America and the Caribbean will actually end up looking like in 2009.

http://www.cipcol.org/?p=536

Families Sue Chiquita in Deaths of 5 Men

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:28:07 EDT

Families Sue Chiquita in Deaths of 5 Men

'The suit says Chiquita Brands International Inc. contributed to the killings by financing the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

By CARMEN GENTILE'

Published: March 17, 2008 MIAMI — Tania Julin remembers hearing the distinct sound of feet racing through the dark Panamanian forest moments before armed masked men burst through the door of the modest hut she shared with her husband.

Ms. Julin and her husband, Mark Rich, were missionaries living in a remote village just miles from the Colombian border when the gunmen — leftist rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC — descended on the village. At gunpoint, Ms. Julin was ordered to pack a bag for her husband, and then Mr. Rich and two other men, Charles David Mankin and Richard Lee Tenenoff, were marched out of their homes, flanked by the gunmen who chattered in Spanish and fired into the air.

“That was the last time we saw ours husbands,” Ms. Julin said, recalling the night of Jan. 31, 1993.

A year later, FARC rebels abducted two other missionaries, Stephen Walsh and Timothy Van Dyke. The authorities said Mr. Rich and the four other captives were killed by the rebels, though their bodies have not been recovered.

Last week, Ms. Julin, who has remarried, and the widows of the four other men filed a lawsuit against Chiquita Brands International Inc., saying the company contributed to their husbands’ deaths by financing the leftist group.

The suit, filed in Federal District Court here, seeks unspecified damages for the families of the victims affiliated with the New Tribes Mission, based in Sanford, Fla.
The 63-page complaint asserts that Chiquita provided “numerous and substantial hidden payments” to the rebels in addition to weapons and supplies. That financing, the plaintiffs say, contributed to the deaths of the five men because Chiquita had in fact supported “acts of terrorism.”

Colombia and the United States have designated FARC a terrorist organization.
Ed Loyd, a spokesman for Chiquita, which is based in Cincinnati, said payments to FARC were made during the 1990s to ensure the safety of Chiquita employees working on banana plantations near the Panamanian border, a former stronghold of the leftist guerrillas.

Later, after FARC was forced out of the region by the right-wing paramilitary force known as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, Chiquita continued the practice of paying for protection.

“We always acted to protect the lives of our employees, and the threat was very real,” Mr. Loyd said.

In March 2007, the company pleaded guilty to paying $1.7 million from 1997 to 2004 to the United Self-Defense Forces — also considered terrorists by Colombia and the United States — and agreed to pay $25 million in fines. The company has since admitted to also paying FARC.

Those developments prompted Ms. Julin and the other wives to seek compensation for their loss, she said.

“It took a while to sink in what they were admitting to,” Ms. Julin said. “It was a slow realization that they played a role in my husband’s death, that one of those guns could have been used to kill my husband.”

Chiquita officials disagree. In a telephone interview, Mr. Loyd said that the lawsuit’s assertion that Chiquita armed FARC rebels was “categorically untrue” and that the company would “vigorously defend” itself against the accusations.

Gary Osen, one of several lawyers for the plaintiffs, said his clients’ lawsuit — along with at least four others accusing Chiquita of complicity in killings carried out by the rebel groups — would be brought under the civil provision of the antiterrorism law.
The law states that any United States national “injured in his or her person, property, or business by reason of an act of international terrorism” can sue for damages in any appropriate federal court “and shall recover threefold the damages he or she sustains and the cost of the suit, including attorney’s fees.”

Adam Isacson, director of the Colombia program at the Center for International Policy in Washington, said compensation for the families of the slain men was not a foregone conclusion.

“It’s not a criminal case, so will the court require Chiquita to pay the families? I don’t know,” said Mr. Isacson, who has been following the litigation.

He said Chiquita was just one of many companies doing business in Colombia that paid “protection money” to rebel groups, the price of doing business in a notoriously violent country.

Ms. Julin said she and the others who lost their husbands to FARC do not see it that way.

“Chiquita was there to make money and fund these people,” she said. “How could anybody be involved in something like this without regard to the human lives lost?”

NY Times

Oil and the Political Economy of Conflict in Colombia and Beyond:

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:26:18 EDT

Oil and the Political Economy of Conflict in Colombia and Beyond:

A Linkages Approach

http://www.santafe.edu/files/gems/obstaclestopeace/wirpsadunning.pdf

Really good article that helped me better understand the latest news out of Venezeula and Columbia.

Recent Union and Teacher deaths in Columbia

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:24:16 EDT

Carmen Cecilia Carvajal, member of the North Santander Teachers Association (TASINORT) was killed on March 4.

Leonidas Gomez, member of the Union Nacional de Empleados Bancarios (UNEB) and Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) trade unions was killed on March 5.

Gildardo Antonio Gómez Alzate, delegate of the Asociacion de Wenstitutores de Antioquia (ADIDA) and investigator for the Centro de Estudios e Wenvestigationes Docentes (CEID) was killed on March 7.

Carlos Burbano, member of the organization ANTHOC, was found dead on March 11.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also reports that on February 28 there was a shooting against the house of Luz Adriana González, a member of the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights and a promoter of the March 6 event in Pereira.

Military Crisis in South America: The Results of Plan Colombia

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:16:38 EDT

Military Crisis in South America: The Results of Plan Colombia

Wednesday, 02 April 2008

http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/1206/68/

-snip-

On the other side, president Alvaro Uribe Vélez has integrated drug trafficking and was aided by paramilitary groups, as it appears in the U.S. National Security Archive. This finding was revealed by Newsweek in 2004.

There it was established that in the 1990's Uribe had a role in the Medellin cartel, which was commanded by his close friend Pablo Escobar. This is the kind of person whom on March 4 George W. Bush called "our democratic ally." Uribe has become the main operator of White House policies in the region.

Uribe’s Attack on Obama

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:12:51 EDT

Uribe, Bush's so called great freind of the US, used to work for Palbo Escobar

Uribe’s Attack on Obama

The Far Right’s Spokesman in Latin America Is Worried About What Could Be Long Overdue Changes in US Policy
By Al Giordano

Special to The Narco News Bulletin April 3, 2008

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe revealed his worry about the US presidential contest this week to the Bogotá daily El Tiempo: “I deplore that Senator Obama, aspiring to be president of the US, ignores Colombia’s efforts.”

By “efforts,” Uribe referred to his administration’s public relations campaign to improve Colombia’s deserved reputation as the hemisphere’s worst abuser of human rights, particularly as they apply to workers and unions. Senator Barack Obama, on Wednesday, had cited “the violence against unions in Colombia” as his primary reason for opposing a proposed US-Colombia “free trade” agreement.

The Associated Press has now run with the story in English, a reaction to Obama’s statement yesterday before the AFL-CIO of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia:

”I will oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement if President Bush insists on sending it to Congress because the violence against unions in Colombia would make a mockery of the very labor protections that we have insisted be included in these kinds of agreements.”

More extensively quoted in The Philadephia Bulletin, Obama added:

”So you can trust me when I say that whatever trade deals we negotiate when I’m president will be good for American workers, and that they’ll have strong labor and environmental protections that we’ll enforce.”

As conservative columnist Robert Novak noted in his column this week about the possibility that the Bush presidency won’t be able to steer a Colombian trade deal through Congress this year:

“It would humiliate Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, a free-trader and a bulwark against the spreading influence in Latin America of Venezuela’s leftist strongman, President Hugo Chavez.”

(For Novak, that’s apparently now the gold standard for trade agreements: not whether they help or hurt American and foreign workers and economies, but, rather, whether rejecting them might “humiliate” another country’s despot.)

Uribe – the emblem of narco-corruption and violent repression of unions and other social movements in Colombia and, indeed, all of Latin America – clearly believes Obama is serious about his positions toward the region that, if implemented by a US president, would ring in a sea change in US policy toward its neighbors in the Western Hemisphere.

BUSH RENAMES, EXPANDS PLAN COLOMBIA -

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:00:21 EDT

BUSH RENAMES, EXPANDS PLAN COLOMBIA -
ADDS $550 MILLION IN PREP FOR WAR
EQUADOR MOVES 10,000 TROOPS TO COLOMBIAN BORDER
LINKAGE BETWEEN DRUG WAR AND WALL STREET HEALTH BECOMING TRANSPARENT

FTW, March 15, 2001 - Less than a week after diplomats from 25 Latin American and European countries, as well as Japan, defied US interests by meeting jointly with representatives of rebel groups at the invitation of the Colombian government, and just days after two sharp losses caused the Dow to plunge more than 700 points, President Bush added $550 million to Plan Colombia and acknowledged its regional dimensions by re-christening it "The Andean Initiative." Signaling the opening moves in a regional war, Equador has simultaneously moved 10,000 troops to the Colombian border in anticipation of increased hostilities as US military personnel increase air operations from the US base in the coastal city of Manta. All of these events, occurring in close proximity, add further credibility to FTW's long held position that a Vietnam-style conflict in Colombia was essential to prevent the total collapse of the American stock market.

FTW has previously documented how an estimated $250 billion in illegal drug money is laundered through the US economy annually and how a 1999 "solicitation" by NYSE Chairman Richard Grasso for the FARC guerillas to invest their drug profits in Wall Street was summarily rejected. The leftist rebels chose instead to keep their money in Colombia. Also irritating for the American economy and markets is the fact that Colombian rebels, who now control the southern third of Colombia, occupy lands estimated to hold billions of barrels of high grade crude oil sought after by, among others, Occidental Petroleum.

A total US market collapse, if unchecked, would also threaten to destabilize the US dollar which is the dominant reserve currency around the world. That could have the effect of setting off a worldwide depression similar to that of 1929-38. As a rapidly coalescing European Union attempts to find economic strength by distancing itself from US influence (and instability) the US has countered with increasing disregard for near unanimous global opposition to its plans for war. That war will inevitably involve US military personnel in combat operations.

The strongest confirmation that we have seen of the inevitability of war is a report today on http://www.narconews.com citing Village Voice media critic Cynthia Cotts who noted on March 2 that "The New York Times plans to move its Buenos Aires bureau to Bogota or Caracas sometime soon. Other papers are following suit. The Los Angeles Times plans to open a Bogota Bureau next week and the Washington Post is moving its Caracas bureau chief there as well... Even the Wall Street Journal recently established an Andean Bureau in Caracas [Venezuela]."

The timeline of recent events tells the story better than any long narrative. There can be no doubt that major American media, which also trade their stocks on Wall Street and has suffered serious losses, was aware of these developments and has deliberately hidden them from the American people.

Clinton's Interests in Columbia

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:57:24 EDT

October 29, 2000

Plan Colombia Lacks International Support

by Garry Leech

While President Clinton was desperately trying to get the Middle-East peace process back on track last week, his plan for war in Colombia was being undermined from all sides. The European Union (EU) recently announced it would only give Colombia $321 million for social and economic development--less than a third of the amount Washington and Bogotá were hoping for--because of reservations regarding the U.S. emphasis on a military solution to Colombia's problems.

Meanwhile, Colombia's neighbors have refused to endorse the military component of Plan Colombia for fears it will destabilize the region by forcing guerrillas, drug production and refugees to flee to their countries. And finally, a peace conference held recently in San José, Costa Rica ended with a declaration from Colombian and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and leaders of the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN) condemning the militaristic nature of Plan Colombia.

On Drug Policy Reform - and why the past 2 administrations didn't WANT reform.

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:21:47 EDT

On Drug Policy Reform...first we need to look at the history of billions of dollars in aid sent to Columbia to fight the 'WAR ON DRUGS'

Unfortunately, it was NEVER a WAR on drugs...sigh. Remember Iran/Contra?

I have a LOT to say on this...LOL

I will do it in parts.

Part one

The term Plan Colombia is most often used to refer to controversial U.S. legislation aimed at curbing drug smuggling by supporting different Drug War activities in Colombia. Plan Colombia also refers to a wider aid initiative originally proposed by Colombian President Andrés Pastrana Arango, which contemplated the above piece of legislation but was not limited to it.

The plan was conceived between 1998 and 1999 by the administration of President Andrés Pastrana with the goals of social and economic revitalization, ending the armed conflict and creating an anti-drug strategy.

The most controversial element of the anti-narcotic strategy is aerial fumigation to eradicate coca. This activity has come under fire because it damages legal crops and has adverse health effects upon those exposed to the herbicides.

Critics of the initiative also claim that elements within the Colombian security forces, which receive aid and training from it, are involved in supporting or tolerating abuses by right-wing paramilitary forces against the population and left-wing organizations.

History

Columbia FTA and Plan Columbia's New Canal

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:30:57 EDT

WHY I VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE THE COLUMBIA FTA, AND URGE CONGRESS TO STOP POURING BILLIONS IN AID TO COLUMBIA UNLESS THE MAJORITY IS SPENT FOR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, JOBS AND EDUCATION LIKE IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED, AND NOT THE MILITARY.

Read this post carefully. Get mad like I am.

Please help me tell congress NO to the FTA. Let your voices be heard. We cannot afford to destroy more of this rainforest and it's indigenous people!!

The biggest benefactor to the FTA is Drummond Coal. Drummond is paying right-wing militias known as paramilitaries to protect its Colombia operations. Human rights activists claim such practices were widespread among multinationals in Colombia, and that Drummond went even further, using the fighters to violently keep its labor costs down.

More HERE about Drummond.

As I BLOGGED HERE PLAN COLUMBIA HAS BEEN ANOTHER COMPLETE POLICY FAILURE

Now on to the future plans of the energy companies and the Republicans,

Plan Columbia's New Canal

''Empire of Death' for the River People

CAP: Market on the Atrato river, department of Chocó, Colombia.

Plan Colombia is not a plan to eradicate narcotraffic at all, but to impose new projects run by American companies (oil, dams, motorways, quarrying) and to eradicate the political opposition from guerrillas and from native resistance.

One of these programs is the ultra-profitable new inter-oceanic Canal: the estimate is that it will make somewhere between $1.3 and $1.8 billion per year. It will link the Atlantic and the Pacific, through North Colombia.

At present, the Panama Canal is the only way to cross between these oceans without going all the way round South America. The Americans controlled the Panama Canal Zone, and managed to get several extensions on handing it back to the Panamanian government before finally returning it in 1999. Despite the control that they have over the government and via the multinationals that operate in the Zone, this is still far too big a loss for American foreign policy. Also, the Canal was built in 1914 and is quite outdated, as it is not big enough for the ship traffic currently using it. The proposal to link both oceans through Colombia is an idea that has been around for a long time, like similar projects in Mexico and Nicaragua [See article on Plan Puebla Panama in this issue.]. It is based on the linking of the rivers close to the Panama isthmus: the Atrató (Chocó and Antioquia) and the Truandó.

The Atrató river crosses the area with the highest pluviosity [rainfall] in Colombia and one of the richest in biodiversity, pretty similar to the Amazon rainforest. In this area there are no cities, but - due to geographical characteristics - just isolated communities of mainly African Colombians (90%) and Natives (5%). The main Native groups are the Embera, Cholo and Wounan, as well as the Kuna [see the interview with a Kuna activist in this issue], Noanamá and Katía. The good state of this habitat is due to the respect these communities have for it. The Black communities are descendants of slaves and in some cases they even keep African traditions. This heritage has reinforced a sense of identity through the centuries as well as links with nature and the land which are pretty similar to those of the Native communities. As they say in a communiqué, the current situation is "an attempt against biodiversity and natural and 'super-natural'[1] resources of this area which is so vital for the planet". The remaining 5% of the area's population is made up of white and mixed race people, who also live in extreme poverty and are victims of paramilitary terrorism.

An Inconvenient Truth for Bush, McCain and Clinton...or is it a Convenient Memory Loss?

Inspired in Florida - a Recovering Republican — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:45:47 EDT

An inconvenient truth for Bush, McCain and Clinton...or is it a convenient memory loss?

I've made many big changes this year. I've changed parties...yup, I was a Republican. I've donated to Barak's campaign. Never made a campaign donation before. Figured I didn't really have to, with all those PAC's and Lobbyists speaking much louder than I ever could. I've started a Blog here...that's a change for me. But the biggest change I've made this year...I stopped listening to the propaganda the media was feeding me about the issues that are important to me...and started researching for hard facts. It was a real wake-up call. A real scary wake-up call.

I thought long and hard about what issue I'd like to blog about in my first post. But yesterday, as I watched President Bush in New Orleans with the leaders of Canada and Mexico as they concluded their two-day summit meeting, well, lets say I was yelling at the TV set...so I think I will start with the Columbian Free Trade Agreement.

'With his North American counterparts standing next to him, President Bush made a strong appeal to the Democrat controlled U.S. Congress to reconsider the trade deal his administration negotiated with Colombia. He cited Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's efforts to fight drug traffickers and terrorists and said the United States should back him'

'So what's wrong with that?' you might ask.

Here's where those pesky hard facts come in.

The drug war:

After eight years and billions of dollar into the most aggressive counternarcotics operation ever American and Colombian officials say cocaine remains as available as ever on American streets, perhaps more so.

Square miles of Colombia sprayed with “Round-Up Ultra” herbicide, 2000-2005: 2,550

Land area of Delaware, square miles: 1,954

Square miles planted in Columbia with Coca, the plant used to make cocaine, in 2000, the year Plan Colombia began: 526

Square miles planted in Colombia with coca in 2004: 440

Ratio of square miles sprayed to square miles of coca reduced: 30 to 1

Approximate cost of fumigating one square mile, conservative estimate: $162,000

Reduction in Colombian coca-growing from 2003 to 2004, in acres: 0

Percentage of coca plots detected by the United Nations in 2004 that did not exist the year before: 62

Amount per month, according to the United Nations, that a Colombian farmer nets from a hectare (2.5 acres) of coca: $199

Percentage of Colombia’s rural population living below the poverty line: 82
U.S. assistance for alternative development programs in Colombia (including opium-growing areas), 2000-2006: $407.2 million (8.6% of total)

Square miles of coca sprayed in Colombia’s departments of Caquetá, Guaviare and Nariño, 1999-2004: 1,106

Expenditure on alternative development programs in those three departments, 1999-2007: $17.3 million ($1.9 million/year)

Price, by one measurement from the Drug Czar’s office, of a gram of cocaine on U.S. streets in 2000: $161.28

Price, by the same measurement from the Drug Czar’s office, of a gram of cocaine on U.S. streets in 2003: $106.54

Price, by a second measurement from the Drug Czar’s office, of a gram of cocaine on U.S. streets in July 2003: $210

Price, by the same second measurement from the Drug Czar’s office, of a gram of cocaine on U.S. streets in September 2005: $170

This issue is ripe for Senator Obama to really show how he differs on this issue of Free Trade with Columbia.

President Uribe lashed out at the Senator recently. Goerge Bush sings his praises. Perhaps President Bush has forgotten Uribe used to work for Pablo Escobar. At least he's hoping voters do.

The history of this failed policy coming up in my next blog entry, along with some more of those pesky little things like facts.

Bill & John Said It Too, & Hillary Also Supports Anti-Blue Collar Trade.

KravitzKravitz — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 03:07:17 EDT

From time to time, I'll put up headlines and notes that support why Barack should be our next president. You'll also see posts on other pages.

Bill Clinton collected $800,000 speaking fees from Columbia Free Trade Group. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY.

Tennyson — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:24:21 EDT

This article in the Philadelphia Daily News asks how can we possibly tolerate a conflict of interest like this one. Hillary says she opposes the Free Trade Agreement with Columbia, but Bill Clinton earns huge sums of money to promote the agreement and actually gets an award from President Uribe of Columbia.

Please follow the link.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/17539059.html

The Clintons and Their Sordid Colombia Advocacy

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:30:18 EDT

How Obama Could Seize Pennsylvania

The Clintons and Their Sordid Colombia Advocacy

By NIKOLAS KOZLOFF

With the Pennsylvania primary fast approaching on April 22, Barack Obama will have the opportunity to end the race for the Democratic nomination once and for all. If he wins by only a slim margin in the state, the "punditocracy" will declare him the presumptive choice of the party and the pressure will build on Hillary Clinton to withdraw. Obama should do well in Philadelphia amongst black voters and will probably pick up a decent percentage of the white affluent vote in the city's suburbs.....

ARTICLE- http://www.counterpunch.org/kozloff04112008.html

Articles on Trade, China, the Olympics, and housing...4/9.

EMK — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:43:43 EDT

China & the Olympics:

White House hopefuls call on China to do more

House passes Chinese crackdown resolution: Interestingly, Ron Paul was the only lone "nay" vote. Now, out of curiousity, I wonder why Ron Paul did so? This is out for those who are either Ron Paul-to-Obama supporters or die-hard Ron Paul supporters, as I am simply curious. I won't criticize.

First Read: Obama and the Olympics: I'm curious here. I know Obama has said that he "is of two minds" concerning this issue, though I wonder how he will resolve this. He did pretty well with his questioning of Gen. Patreus, so I hope he will resolve his internal debate in his mind.

Trade:

House Democrats to table trade deal: Apparently, GWB isn't going to have it easy, at least for now.

Housing:

Apparently, the House version is focused more on borrowers, while the Senate version is more for business.

Now, on a lighter note: Obama recounts first job—and the funny hat that went with it (quickie video here).

Mark Penn Still There

Steve — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:33:33 EDT

Our woes are small; Columbia money trail may point to Bill:

http://www.beyondchron.org/articles/Media_Wakes_Up_to_Find_Mark_Penn_Still_There_5550.html

OBAMA VERSUS CLINTON: THE CREDIBILITY AND CONTRADICTION IN DO WORDS MATTER?

ODEH ODEH — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:17:52 EDT

On several occasions the Clintons have accused Obama of being naïve and full of “word” and no action. In other words Sen. Obama is only good at speaking and expressing himself, maybe better than either Senators Clinton and or McCain. Further more, she discount Obama’s ideology and the movement for hope and change in the USA manifesto as mere rhetoric’s; just words and no substance, period. Given this long held believe by the Clintons and their cohorts, I wish to just briefly state some very concise examples where they have contradicted themselves and yet expect the American people to unconditionally ingest this inconsistency.

When Sen. Obama campaign and emphasizes the need for non-judgmental attitude, tolerance and open-mindedness by all Americans in the current political dispensation, so that the decision to vote for or against him will not be based on discrimination but the essentiality of his ideologies and conviction of driving home the message of Hope and change; the Clintons claimed it is just all about “words.” In fact Bill Clinton (the ex-president and an elder statesman of the country) went as far as calling Obama’s call for unity in diversity, hope and change a “fairy tale.”

Prior to his election into the Senate, Obama was vehemently opposed to the war in Iraq. According to Sen. Clinton Obama’s opposition to the war in Iraq is just yet another example of “word”; thereby justifying her vote to authorize the war as not different from what Obama could have done, if he were in the Senate at that time.

What about Obama’s position of trade, especially NAFTA? Again the Clintons and their campaign were very quick to condemn Obama’s position as mere “words” and no substance.

Summarily when it is most convenient to them, Obama’s agenda and manifesto is meaningless and does not merit being taken seriously by Americans, as far as the Clintons and their surrogates are concerned.

In a very sharp contrasts to the above scenario, it is funny to now see the Clintons come out swinging with the same words they claim amount to nonentity, when Obama quoted Governor Patrick; one of his campaign officials. The Clintons stoop so low as to accuse Obama of plagiarism. So do words now matter?

China's Investments, Columbia, and the economy: Debate and Discussion Thread.

EMK — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:43:25 EDT

China, as many of the countries listed in this blog likely have done, used something called "sovereign wealth funds" to buy into U.S. financial institutions. Now, recall the questions I placed on U.S. Debt Investors: Open Debate Thread:

What could be some of the effect of the debt investments, especially by foreign countries and coporations by these entities on the current issues concerning NAFTA, foreign policy, immigration policy, and even the Iraq War, etc?

and on Open debate thread...Fed Bank and the economy:

[Are the proposed Fed policies] a good idea, or are there better ways of handling the economy, particularly the financial industry, as mentioned in the article?

I also recommend reading this article: U.S. debt trading, a little Suze Orman, and a Senate forclosure proposal before continuing.

Now, President Bush is pressing Congress to pass a "free" trade deal with Columbia, and here is what my argument was against NAFTA:

If workers can't get a decent job with a decent wage, imports won't be affordable in a bad economy. Youngstown [OH] is in bad shape, and that impacts Miami because if the people of Youngstown cannot afford to live since they cannot work, eventually, the people of Miami will be affected because they won't have as many imports to bring in, affecting their local economy. So what if we are in a global economy if the country cannot support itself and its citizens?

...NAFTA is not "free" trade at all.

I might not know all about this new deal with Columbia, but if it follows the lines of NAFTA, it's only going to get worse.

Going out on a limb here, but like Mexico, Columbians might be immigrating here, legally or illegally, maybe for the same reasons as Mexicans; but, that's up for you to debate.

Switching gears, I'm glad to hear there is another stimulus package up for debate that may have an impact for homeowners as well as improve the highway system.

But eventually, we likely will need to consider this option I mentioned in About the weak dollar... even though Obama has a good starting point for the economy. Because, in the end, Wall Street is a double-edged sword.

Since we have all of this national debt, if it were a financially responsible person who carried that debt, wouldn't it be great for that "person" (Congress plus the White House) to pay it off and remember

After your debts have all been paid off, you are to apply the money you were paying all those months toward creating your future. (Suze Orman, site)

Again, that's up for you to debate.

Debate, discuss, suggest, criticize, encourage, and even disagree if you like. I might be wrong, but I'm just bringing it out there.

"The society's degredation relies/ not on our differences/ but on the separation within."

Linkin Park, "Frgt/10."

EMK

MORE HILLARY COLOMBIA TIES

Franklin — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:33:10 EDT

MORE HILLARY COLOMBIA TIES

DRUDGE FLASH
--------------------------------

HILLARY Colombia ties don't stop with Penn
By EAMON JAVERS | 4/7/08 6:56 PM EST

Clinton is using an anti-trade message to win over working class voters in Pennsylvania.

Mark Penn isn’t the only Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter on the wrong side of the Colombia trade agreement.

The Democratic-leaning advocacy firm the Glover Park Group, former home to Clinton campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson, signed a $40,000 per month contract with the government of Colombia in April of 2007 to promote the very agreement that Clinton now rails against on the presidential campaign trail.

That means Glover Park Group was arguing the same position on the free trade agreement as has Penn, the contentious Clinton strategist and Burson-Marsteller chief executive who lost his campaign job over the weekend after The Wall Street Journal revealed that he’d met with Colombian officials to plot strategy on the pact.

Several other Glover Park employees have deep connections with the Clintons, including founding partner Joe Lockhart, who served as the White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton, and Joel Johnson, who was a senior communications adviser in the Clinton White House.

Six employees of Glover Park Group contributed a total of nearly $20,000 to Clinton’s campaign in 2007, according to data kept by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Source: http://www.observer.com/2008/waning-penn

Colombia fires top Clinton strategist's firm

Soldierette!! (CENSORED) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:47:17 EDT

MSNBC.com

Colombia fires top Clinton strategist's firm
Firing comes after Mark Penn apologizes for meeting Colombian officials

The Associated Press

updated 1:58 p.m. CT, Sat., April. 5, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Colombian government said Saturday it has fired Mark Penn's public relations firm after the chief campaign strategist for Democrat Hillary Clinton apologized for meeting with Colombian officials pushing a trade deal with the U.S.

Colombian officials said they terminated their contract with lobbying and public relations giant Burson-Marsteller in response to a statement released Friday by Penn, the firm's chief executive, calling the meeting an "error in judgment." Clinton opposes the trade deal.

"The Colombian government considers this a lack of respect to Colombians, and finds this response unacceptable," government officials said in a news release. The government will continue its push for a free trade agreement with the United States, they added.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Penn had met with the Colombian ambassador March 31.

Penn regretful
Clinton advisers said the meeting was not connected to the campaign, but made clear the candidate was not happy to learn it. Penn later issued a statement expressing regrets.

"The meeting was an error in judgment that will not be repeated and I am sorry for it," he said. "The senator's well-known opposition to this trade deal is clear and was not discussed."

The Colombian government is trying to secure congressional passage of the agreement signed in 2006 by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and the Bush administration.

According to Justice Department filings, Colombia agreed last year to pay Burson-Marsteller $300,000 to help "educate members of the U.S. Congress and other audiences" about the trade deal and secure continued U.S. funding for the $5 billion anti-narcotics program Plan Colombia.

Clinton and Barack Obama, her Democratic rival, oppose the deal. Clinton told the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO this week that the United States needs new trade policies before it has new trade deals. "That includes no trade deal with Colombia while violence against trade unionists continues in that country," she said.

Penn's political consulting firm, Penn, Schoen & Berland, has been paid $10.8 million so far by Clinton's campaign.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23971656/

Who Really runs our country?

Dale from Hoopeston, IL — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:11:51 EDT

Some of the largest key players in this presidential election campaigns are people in the business of buying and selling influence. These people are on both sides of the institutional fence. In this post will start to show how deep these people have rooted themselves in to our political process to a point were they are creating agendas which have turned in to terrible policy decisions made for the American people.

The question is, Who really runs our country?

The first thing we have to know who the players in this election.

Mark Penn - Chief Hillary Clinton strategist, and the CEO of Burson-Marsteller[1].

Burson - Marsteller is a lobbyist firm. Their client list includes CountryWide Financial[2], Black Water [3], Abu Dhabi Investment Authority[4], Saudi Arabia after 9-11[5], Exelon[6], Columbia [7], as well as Phillip Morris, Occidental Petroleum, Bristol-Meyers, Entergy (nuclear power), Lockheed Martin, Texaco, AT&T, Allergen (makers of Botox), Greece, Taiwan, Cyprus, Virginia Tech, Doha16. Qatar (to try to get the 2016 Olympics there), Comcast, Sony Ericcson, Ikea, the National Fisheries Institute, Visa International and many, many others.[8]

Charilie Black - One of John Mccains top Strategists - Chariman of BKSH & Associates [9]

BKSH & Associates is also a lobbyist firm. Now what makes BKSH & Associates so odd, is that is is a subsidary of Burson-Marsteller.[10][11][12]The company that Mark Penn is the CEO of.

Now what does Burson - Marsteller do? Well I will let their own website tell us that.

BKSH & Associates Worldwide provides the Burson-Marsteller family with elite government consulting, public affairs, and strategic lobbying capabilities. The firm's professionals design and execute government strategies on the federal and state levels, which affect public policy and enhance business development and practices around the world.
The firm uses a bipartisan approach, led by Charlie Black, one of the country's leading Republican political strategists and Scott Pastrick, a senior Democratic strategist, former Treasury Department official, and former Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee. BKSH team members have managed "front-page" issues and have worked quietly on behind-the-scenes projects for clients including Fortune 100 companies, multinationals, trade and industry associations, foreign governments, state governments, and municipalities.
Through integrated efforts with Burson-Marsteller; Marsteller; PSB; and DI, BKSH is able to meet specific government relations needs for its clients, including public affairs counsel from the local to federal level, strategic campaign leadership, and widespread, long-term relationships with political decision-makers.

This is the most amazing thing to me. This company is not even trying to cover up this up, but actually is proud of this. Wonder how long or how deep it goes? Well let me quote their website for that.

A Bipartisan Team
BKSH uses a bipartisan approach. Our team includes Democrats and Republicans who have had distinguished careers as senior staff in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the Executive Branch. The company’s professionals have been involved in most of the significant legislative issues in the past 20 years.
Our team also includes senior strategists from the Democratic and Republican parties who are veterans of many political campaigns, including:
The 2004 and 2000 campaigns of President George W. Bush
The 2004 Presidential campaign of Senator John Kerry
The 2000 Presidential campaign of Vice President Al Gore
The 1992 and 1996 campaigns of President Bill Clinton
The 1996 Presidential campaign of Senator Bob Dole
The 1992 and 1988 campaigns of President George Bush
The 1980 and 1984 campaigns of President Ronald Reagan [14]

The about us page goes on further to tell us the their Big Picture.

The Big Picture
BKSH comprehensively views a client’s concern. Even the most basic objective is potentially impacted by a multitude of constituencies and factors – some within the government, some in the media, others throughout the private sector. Therefore, it is the firm’s practice to develop an integrated approach that incorporates government relations, communications and public relations. BKSH can also help the client form coalitions with allied associations, companies, and interest groups to impact a common government relations goal.

and the bottom line

The Bottom Line
In today’s world, characterized by tight budgets and corporate downsizing, BKSH & Associates Worldwide understands that it must show real value for the client’s bottom line. The company encourages the client to view its fee not as an expenditure, but as an investment. BKSH is able to become an invaluable part of the client’s long-term strategy rather than an ancillary. We set specific goals upon which our performance may be measured. The company becomes an invaluable part of the client’s long-term strategic planning. [14]

This company not only acknowledges this is occurring, but also talks about how hiring them will improve your financial status, or push your agenda. The company also brags about how it has been in involved in the Republican party since Regan campaign, and start having people on both sides of the fence from when Bill Clinton started running. The company goes far to say that they have top Republican Strategist Charlie Black, and Top Democratic Strategist Scott Pastrick and will use a bipartisan approach on "Front Page Issues" or working quietly behind the scene.

The question is, Who really runs our Country? Vote for the Candidate that has said No to lobbyist money.

Please go through my citations. Check for the Accuracy of what I am saying. If you see any mistakes, or have any questions, or comments please e-mail me or post a comment. I only want the truth in this blog.

1. Burson-Marsteller, "Abous Us Mark Penn http://www.burson-marsteller.com/About_Us/Global_Leadership/Lists/GlobalLeadership/DispForm.aspx?ID=1&nodeName=Global%20Leadership&SubTitle=Mark%20J.%20Penn (accessed March 30, 2008).

2. CNN, "Countrywide to launch PR campaign(2007), http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/03/news/companies/countrywide_pr/index.htm (accessed March 30, 2008).

3.Border, J, & Risen, J "Blackwater Mounts a Defense With Top Talent(2007), http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/washington/01blackwater-sub.html?pagewanted=print (accessed March 30, 2008).

4. Burson-Marsteller, "B-M in the News(2007), http://www.burson-marsteller.com/Newsroom/Lists/BMNews/DispForm.aspx?ID=3627&nodename=B-M%20in%20the%20News&subTitle=ADIA%20Hires%20Burson%20for%20Global%20Work (accessed March 30, 2008).

5. Guardian UK, "Fur flies as Greenpeace grandee takes PR shilling(2002), http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4334181,00.html (accessed March 30, 2008).

6. Stein, S. "Mark Penn Tied To Controversial Nuclear Firm http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/14/mark-penn-tied-to-controv_n_86722.html (accessed March 30, 2008).

7. US Department of Justice, "Pursuant to the Foreign Agents Regisitration Form OMB NO. 1105-0003, http://www.fara.gov/docs/2469-Exhibit-AB-20070503-5.pdf (accessed March 30, 2008).

8. Shear , M & Birnbaum, J "The Anti-Lobbyist, Advised by Lobbyists(2008), http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022101131_pf.html (accessed March 30, 2008).

9. BKSH & Associates, "Charles R. Black, Jr http://www.bksh.com/charlie-black.html (accessed March 30, 2008).

10. USA today, "Blackwater aided by PR giant(2007), http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-10-05-blackwater-pr_N.htm (accessed March 30, 2008).

11. Burson-Marsteller, "Intergrated Solutions http://www.burson-marsteller.com/INTEGRATED_SOLUTIONS/Pages/BKSH.aspx (accessed March 30, 2008).

12. Birnbaum, J. "A Few Degrees of Separation From Hillary Clinton's Top Adviser(2007), http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/19/AR2007021900972.html (accessed March 30, 2008).

13. BKSH & Associates, "Integration with the Burson-Marsteller Family http://www.bksh.com/integration-with-the-burson-marsteller.html (accessed March 30, 2008)

14. BKSH & Associates, "About Us http://www.bksh.com/about-us.html (accessed March 30, 2008).

Experiencing VICTORY as a volunteer!

Caroline of Staunton, Virginia — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 23:23:47 EST

My experience in Columbia, SC as a volunteer...and BTW- most volunteers were NOT locals,.. many flew in from MANY states!!

Capacity Crowd at Stand Up for Change Rally in Columbia, SC

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:37:12 EST

Just hours before South Carolinians begin casting their vote in the Democratic Primary, Barack rallied a capacity crowd at the Koger Center in downtown Columbia, SC.

The theater was massive and filled to the brim with screaming supporters when Michelle Obama hit the stage to introduce Barack and former SC Governor and Obama supporter, Jim Hodges.

Former Gov. Hodges really fired up the crowd by joking that, "Clemson was louder earlier today." The crowd, filled with SC Gamecocks, roared with disapproval and got even louder.

Already fired up, when Barack finally took to the stage, the crowd was probably one of the loudest I've ever heard. The Koger Center almost shook with the cheering.

Without a doubt, it was one of the best rallies this campaign has ever seen and a perfect way to kick-off the day all of us have been waiting for -- Primary Day!

Today is our day, South Carolina. This is our time.

With polls open in less than five hours, the time for action is now. Find your polling location online now and, in the morning, make sure you reach out to younger and older friends and neighbors and make sure that they're able to get to the polls, too.

Take a look at some of the other pictures from tonight's rally.

Friday: Stand Up for Change in Columbia with Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:40:36 EST

Just hours before the polls open for the South Carolina Democratic Primary, hundreds of supporters will be standing up and rallying behind Barack.

You will not want to miss this! Here are the details:

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama
Friday, January 25, 2008

Doors open at 8:45 PM
Program starts at 10:45pm

Koger Center for the Arts
University of South Carolina
1051 Greene St
Columbia, SC 29201
(Map It!)

RSVP: http://my.barackobama.com/columbia

It's going to be great way to kick off a world changing day. I can't wait to see everyone there.

Video: Stand Together Rally in Columbia, SC with Barack

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:02:17 EST

Barack fired up a huge crowd in Columbia tonight at the same downtown venue that he launched his South Carolina campaign from over ten months ago.

Check it out...

Sunday: Learn More about Barack's Healthcare Policy with Sr. Advisor Gregg Bloche

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:31:10 EST

Interested in learning a little more about Barack Obama's health care policy?

Dr. Gregg Bloche, a senior adviser to Senator Obama on health law and policy, will be speaking in Columbia, SC later this evening. Here are the details:

An Evening with Dr. Gregg Bloche
Senior Advisor to Senator Barack Obama

Sunday, December 30, 2007
6:00-8:00 PM

212 S Edisto Ave
Columbia, SC 29205
(Map it!)

Dr. Bloche is an expert on health law and policy. His work includes issues of efficiency in health care, the dual loyalties of physicians in managed health plans, the role of for-profit institutions in medicine, and market-driven regulations to contain medical costs. Dr. Bloche is a professor of law at Georgetown University and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. He is also an adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland.

It should be an interesting evening for anyone seeking more information about Senat Obama's health care policies is encouraged to attend and RSVP with the event organizer at 803-381-4525.

Video: Meet Mrs. Annie Bennett

T. Neil Sroka — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:37:28 EST

The best parts of the movement that's been growing behind Barack Obama here in South Carolina and across the country for the past ten months are the incredible individuals that power it, the regular people who are standing up with Barack and playing a part in transforming their country.

Mrs. Annie Bennett, who South Carolina Field Organizer Nicole Young introduced us to back in July and Sarah Ramey blogged about last week, was born in the segregated South and now, at the age of 85, is an Obama Team leader in Columbia, S.C.

Watch the video below to find out a little more about the life of this incredible woman and what inspired her to get behind Barack.

Video: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Gov. Tim Kaine in Columbia

T. Neil Sroka — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:35:02 EST

Yesterday, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) and Gov. Tim Kaine (D - Virginia) spoke together at a press event in Columbia, SC about why they support Barack.

While each message was a little different, both Jackson and Kaine gave phenomenal speeches that you don't want to miss. Check out the highlights in the video below:

H.O.P.E. for the Holidays

Emily from Columbia, SC — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:01:47 EST

Hey y'all!

As we get ready for the big event tomorrow in Columbia, SC, I wanted to remind everyone that through the generosity of Barack and Oprah Winfrey, the rally is also going to be a collection area for Richland Northeast High School's Holiday canned food drive.

We are so excited! But to make this work, we need your support! Please spread the word and bring canned goods when you come! This is a really great way to support two great causes.

So remember- come support Obama, Oprah and Richland Northeast High School!

Bring your canned goods!

Don't forget, and Vote Obama '08!

Thanks!

Oprah-Obama Rally Moved to Williams-Brice Stadium

T. Neil Sroka — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:27:16 EST

Because of overwhelming interest, this Sunday's rally in Columbia with Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Oprah Winfrey will be moved from its original location, the Colonial Center in Columbia, to WILLIAMS-BRICE STADIUM, the home of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks!

Admission is free, and a ticket is no longer required for entry.

Rally in Columbia with Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and Oprah Winfrey
THIS SUNDAY, December 9, 2007
Doors open at 12:30PM

Join us as we make history. (Carpooling is strongly encouraged.)

Oprah-Obama Mania!

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:54:38 EST

It has been one heck of a weekend here in South Carolina, as hundreds of supporters of Barack showed up at offices around the state to pick-up tickets to see Barack & Oprah Winfrey in Columbia this coming Sunday, December 9th.

Check out crowd we got here in Columbia on Saturday!

Sunday is sure to be a historic event. We can't wait to see you there!

Saturday: Come out and Support Barack (via Simulcast) at the Heartland Forum in Columbia

T. Neil Sroka — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:35:07 EST

With the DNC meeting in Washington today, tomorrow nights's Brown & Black Presidental Forum, and Oprah & Barack coming to Columbia a week from Sunday, you're more than excused if you haven't heard that Barack is also going to be speaking at the Heartland Presidential Forum tomorrow afternoon in Des Moines, IA.

Put on by the non-partisan Center for Community Change, the Heartland Presidential Forum will give regular people from around the country a chance to ask Barack and a number of other Democratic candidates about the issues that matter to their communities, like poverty, health care, and education.

While the forum itself will be taking place in Iowa, the Center for Community Change here in South Carolina is planning to get in on the action by holding a simulcast at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce here in Columbia and participating in the forum through a SC representative.

Interested in checking out the forum and cheering on Barack? Here are the details:

Heartland Presidential Forum (simulcast)
Tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 1
2:00-5:00pm

Columbia Chamber of Commerce
930 Richland St.
Columbia, SC
(Map it!)

Between all the events that are going on throughout the country and right here in South Carolina in the days and weeks ahead, Barack's movement for change is really starting to get fired up. If you're ready to go, make sure you let the campaign know that you're a supporter and sign up to join an Obama Team near you.

Canvassing for Change in Columbia

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 18:46:07 EDT

Folks all across South Carolina spent the day knocking on doors and talking to their friends and neighbors about Senator Barack Obama's plan to end the war in Iraq -- a conflict he opposed before it was politically convenient.

My day began at the SC for Obama Headquarters in Columbia with some words of encouragement from Larry Stokes, a 20 year Navy Veteran and President of the DC chapter of the National Association for Black Veterans. An advocate for veterans for the past ten years, Mr. Stokes reminded everyone that ending this war would mean not only bringing our troops home now, but ending the risk of debilitating injuries they face on the battlefield every day.

"Every Wednesday and Friday I go to Walter Reed [Medical Center] in Bethesda and I see men and women... who've lost limbs, who are blind, severely burned, or have traumatic brain injuries. If that doesn't get you fired up and ready to support somebody who can end this senseless war, I don't know what would."

After rallying with Mr. Stokes, I started knocking on doors with Ms. Cella Bernard, a Equal Opportunity counselor at Fort Jackson, on her canvass in Lower Richland County.

In addition to working with military and civilian personal at Ft. Jackson everyday, Ms. Bernard had at least two, personal reasons to be out canvassing for Obama: Her son, Idris, is a soldier in the 282nd Airborne and has already served two tours in Iraq, while her son-in-law, who is now in the reserves, was sent to Iraq four times.

At the end of a couple of hours of walking and talking to neighbors on Robney Dr., Ms. Bernard and I headed back to Bluff Road Park to meet up with the other canvassers and celebrate the amazing work everyone had done getting the word out about Barack and changing the country, one person at a time.

Barack Attends Church in Columbia

T. Neil Sroka — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 12:04:35 EDT

Yesterday, Barack quietly joined two churches for their services here in Columbia.

Barack enters First Baptist with the church's First Lady, Lynda Estep
Senator Obama started off the morning attending the 8:15 service at Brookland Baptist where he received a standing ovation from his supporters in the congregation. A couple of hours later, over in downtown Columbia, Barack received a warm reception at First Baptist's 10:30 AM Service.

After the services, reporter Ben Werner, who wrote The State article about Barack's visit to both churches, struck up an interesting conversation with two First Baptist Church attendees he met later in the day, Bobbie and Cheryl Stevenson:

"I thought it was interesting he would pick First Baptist. It is more conservative," said Cheryl Stevenson. "It shows the diversity of the candidate."

The Stevensons said they are undecided about whom they will support in the 2008 presidential campaign.

"He was very humble," said Bobbie Stevenson. "It was almost like he was there to attend church."

Both shook hands with Obama.

"He was facing the nation today, instead of being on 'Face The Nation,'" Cheryl Stevenson said.

Muggles for Obama--Tonight in Columbia

Sam Wilson — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:48:32 EDT

I support Senator Obama for lotsa reasons. His message, his life story, what he represents, and he likes really good literature. Like myself, he counts Marilynn Robinson's Gilead as one of his favorite books. But when we're not turning Pulitzer Prize pages, we also both enjoy the best of children's literature from the UK.

He and his oldest, Malia, have read the entire series together.

So anyway, I know its only a few hours away, but you should come celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with some of the Columbia staff. Nicole, Santino, and I are going to be at the Barnes and Noble on Harbison. Max and Tyler are going to be at Books-a-Million on Harbison. We'll be picking up our own copies of the book and sharing the message with anyone who cares to listen.

So come out. I mean, really, is there a better way to spend your Friday night than mixing Barack and and Harry Potter?

Didn't think so.

tales from the field: tip of a push pin

Akin — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:59:30 EDT

So people like to tell me stuff when I’m wearing my trusty Obama 08 button. After a most exciting Essex County Obama Meetup, I stayed up all night mapping out Initiative ideas and pricing shirts, buttons, posters, post cards, & buttons online. Anyone who’s ever seen the film Election, will understand why I actually root for Reese Whitherspoon (& it is not because she went to my alma mater).

SOFT DISSOLVE TO: Wednesday morning in Jersey. Neighbors are tickled pink by the sudden warm weather but I’m dragging my heels cause the coffee’s not workin’ on me anymore. I hit up my old high school to see about organizing a debate with another school in Jersey just before the primaries. As I’m coasting on empty, my spirits droop into my socks. Around lunch time I stop into a local convenience store and this Grey Haired Nurse Lady comes up to me in line to ask if I’ve considered Senator Clinton. So I tell her what this gorgeous Rutgers student told me, “A vote for Senator Clinton is a vote for the status quo. A vote for Senator Obama is a vote for possibility.”

DEAD SILENCE.

Surrender smirked at me.

Sleep called on me all day, but I stayed up for a NJ for Obama conference call where I’m sure I babbled incoherently like a Former-Child-Star-On-the-Skids. I finally went to bed resigned to this daunting marathon ahead of us all.

Now I have this T-shirt design on my wall, right? And I woke up to the word “Barack”. Eventually, I will mass produce enough shirts for all my BarackObama.com friends!

Somehow.

I climbed out of bed and went down to a local Printing Center in Jersey. I told this local small business owner that I was pricing merch for some grassroots Initiatives and the owner (who it turns out is probably the coolest small business owner in Jersey – if not the universe) tells me, “I like that guy.” And for the next hour, this guy and I talk about politics, his kids, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, 9-11, the war, 911, Social Security, Giuliani, John Amos, NJ for Obama, Tempest Bledsoe, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Tribeca, Robert Deniro, Charles Dutton, the printing press, Rutgers Prep, computers, the future, crime, Barack the Youth Vote, Manhattan, the colors of the rainbow, Senator Clinton, Upper East Side socialites, and just about anything else you could expect to fit on the tip of a push pin.

After learning about some great deals in the name of possibility, the most Gentile Kat you could imagine from Louisiana saunters in with a map looking for directions to Costco. It turns out one of my Stanford roommates was a rather gentile Kat from Abbeville, Louisiana so I recognized a sort of kinship to this lost gentleman from Louisiana. A’ight, I was just getting my passion back, but the bottom line is I wanted to help the guy. And then this Jamaican American woman tip toes in and this itty bitty business in Central Jersey is turning into the bar from Cheers where everybody has some kind of positive reaction to thought of “Barack Obama”.

Then I get a message on my cell from a friend from high school who I haven’t seen in a decade who it turns out is dating a big Obama Supporter.

And then…now this is where surrender took a rain check…I went back to that same convenience store around lunch time. Pat Benatar’s “Invincible” is blasting from a car stereo and that SAME GREY HAIRED NURSE LADY pulls up in her Blue Car bopping to “Invincible.” I’ll admit an affinity for any 80s pop hits. And my Grey Haired Nurse Lady waved gleefully. And my spirits soared! Not out of some deluded notion that my Grey Haired Nurse Lady was going to vote my way. But because she was going to vote. And I was going to vote. And we were sorta bonded not by our candidate, but simply by our commitment to participate in the political conversation – the conversation about everything you could possibly fit on the tip of a push pin…

A thought, even a possibility, can shatter and transform us.

-Nietzsche

My First Attempt

Isaac from Columbia, SC — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 15:03:09 EST

When Barack came to Columbia this past Friday i got right up to the gate, but while he came inches from me shaking hands, I tried unsucessfully to get a high five, which has started my quest to achieve one of the most trivial goals of my lifetime.

I am back...

Billie Zahir — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 17:30:25 EST

Wow....what a trip.

I made it up there in time to get tickets before they were all taken for the Columbia event but not in time for the Orangeburg event. I figure that was ok at least I got to see him. I should not be greedy. :)

What struck me about the event was how the people who attended were a cross section sample of America....50/50 black and white......old and young...Prada shopers and Wal-Mart shopers.

I was standing by a very talkitive lady that had a habit of slapping my arm when she was making a point (my arm was slapped alot...but I found it sweet)

I was positioned infront of a lady who was older and shorter than myself....so I switched with her so she could see better(she was close enough to shake his hand and say hi at the end...but I could not be mad when I saw how happy she was after)

There was a mother who held her daughter on her shoulders so she could hold up a sign standing on the other side of me. (she made a point of letting her down so those in back could see)

Last but not least there was this little frail woman with long gray hair pulled in a pony tail....she caught my interest after Obama started speaking. She was so focused on what he was saying and when he said some inspiring thing she would look around trying to make eye contact with anyone....just to see that they were hearing the same thing and we were in this together a team and she was not alone in her excitement. I know this lady came by herself....I did not want her to feel like she was alone I looked at her and smiled in agreement often. Afterward I was pulled into a conversation with the lady who brused my arm slightly....and when I turned around to introduce myself to that frail lady who came alone she was gone. I may not know her name but I made a connection.

I think we miss that in America.....connections. We are so busy with our own lives and doing our own things that we forget we are not alone. The world is bigger than our own group of family and friends.

I guess what I am saying is I thought I was going to the rally because I wanted to see Sen. Obama but in reality anyone can watch him speak the words on TV or the internet. I discoverd that going is importaint because of the connections that you feel with others who dare hope that we can see a change in goverment, that we will be able to heal from the inside out as a country.

I got there at 2:00 and stood in line with others till the doors opened at 4:30 I stood in the crowd with others till Obama started speaking at 6:00 I stood in awe and screaming my agreement and support with others till he exited around 7:00 I went to my car at the end alone but with others in my heart.

Is it true? Are we fighting a losing battle?

Cortney75 — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:40:36 EST

I don't think so! But it upsets me to think that people especially senators think that Obama would bring down the democratic party in office.

I am just floored by the comments below. It just goes to show how corrupt DC is! It just makes me more motivated to prove them wrong! Now is the time and I really believe that. Don't let these words of others get us down, don't let someone else view sway yours, this should motivate everyone even more to get Obama into office and win!

Sure some may say...but it is a long shot and we want a sure thing! Will if everyone that is thinking that would actually make a stand we would WIN!

I don't care what sex you are, I don't care what color you are, I don't care what language you speak or how you sound, if all of us were blind what would it matter anyways! So just close your eyes and listen to the words they speek, here Obama vs Clinton, who sounds like a true President, who sounds like the real leader, who sounds like the voice of tomorrow...the voice of hope...the voice of CHANGE!

I want a better future for my country, for OUR country, I want a better future for my children, grand children, etc...I want to know that my wishes are being met! I don't think I could stand behind a better person to do that then Barack Obama!

Here is the article - print it and if you have not printed Obama speech for office, print that as well. Read it everyday. Let Obama encourage you for that dream for tomorrow that we all want and need and let the below article remind you of the corruption in DC and serve as motivation to get Obama into office!

GOD BLESS THE USA!!!

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Two key black political leaders in South Carolina who backed John Edwards in 2004 said Tuesday they are supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

State Sens. Robert Ford and Darrell Jackson told The Associated Press they believe Clinton is the only Democrat who can win the presidency. Both said they had been courted by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama; Ford said Obama winning the primary would drag down the rest of the party.

"It's a slim possibility for him to get the nomination, but then everybody else is doomed," Ford said. "Every Democrat running on that ticket next year would lose - because he's black and he's top of the ticket. We'd lose the House and the Senate and the governors and everything."

I'm a gambling man. I love Obama," Ford said. "But I'm not going to kill myself."

Former president lends a hand
Ford said he was swayed by calls from former President Clinton and Hillary Clinton. The Charleston lawmaker said she has solid support in his district, one of the key regions in the state with a major black Democratic voting population.

Clinton's campaign said it welcomed the lawmakers' support, but disagreed with Ford's contention that Obama could harm a Democratic ticket. "I think it's just flat-out wrong," said spokesman Mo Elleithee.

One Obama ally rejected Ford's assessment.

"I think that Senator Ford's comments were reprehensible," said Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. "I believe Democratic prospects would soar, not slump."

Later in the day, Ford said he had been besieged by criticism and apologized for his characterization of Obama's chances. If Clinton doesn't win the nomination, any of the other candidates are well suited to take the White House, Ford said.

"If I caused anybody - including myself - any pain about the comments I made earlier, then I want to apologize to myself and to Senator Obama and any of his supporters," Ford said.

Darrell Jackson, who also is the minister of a large church in the state's capital city, said Edwards - a South Carolina native who won the state's Democratic primary three years ago - had his chance.

"I feel as if he's had his opportunity," he said.

Dueling campaign visits pending
Darrell Jackson said Edwards was a wonderful individual and he considers Obama a friend, but Clinton "is our best shot."

John Moylan, campaign director for Edwards in South Carolina, shrugged off the defections and predicted Edwards would win the state.

The endorsements come just days before Obama and Clinton campaign in the state for the first time in the 2008 race.

Jackson and Ford took credit for turning out black voters for Edwards in 2004 in a state where half the primary voters are black. In his only primary victory, Edwards won 37 percent of the vote, slightly better than Sen. John Kerry.

Support from black voters is key in South Carolina, where 49 percent of the Democratic presidential primary vote came from blacks in 2004. The state will host the first Southern primaries for both the GOP and Democrats in 2008.