Saturday, August 30, 2008

Laura Kaminker: Her own little fan club

"Laura Kaminker, a writer, moved from the United States to Canada for political reasons." She was a coward who couldn't stand it that Bush was in the White House. She was too cowardly to stay in this country and fight. She apparently is now trying to become a Canadian citizen but who knows from her ever changing tales. "She now works with the War Resisters Support Campaign in Toronto." Yeah, it's a crap ass organization as we all know. They also have no ethics.

Anyone remember Lee Siegel? From Wikipedia:

In September 2006, Siegel was temporarily suspended from The New Republic, after an internal investigation determined he was participating in misleading comments in the magazine's "Talkback" section, in response to anonymous attackers on his blog at The New Republic's website.[7] The comments were made through the device of a "sock puppet" dubbed "sprezzatura", who, as one reader noted, was a consistently vigorous defender of Siegel, and who specifically denied being Siegel when challenged by an anonymous detractor in "Talkback." In response to readers who had criticized Siegel's negative comments about TV talk show host Jon Stewart, 'sprezzatura' wrote, "Siegel is brave, brilliant, and wittier than Stewart will ever be. Take that, you bunch of immature, abusive sheep."[8] The New Republic posted an apology and shut down Siegel's blog. In an interview with the New York Times Magazine, Siegel dismissed the incident as a "prank." He resumed writing for the New Republic in April 2007.[9] Siegel's critique of Web culture, entitled Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob, was published in January 2008.

Yeah, that's wrong. It's wrong, in fact, to post comments to your writing without letting readers know it is you. January 25th, Common Dreams posted Laura's crap-ass writing entitled "US War Resisters in Canada Face Deportation and Prison: You Can Help Them." It has 66 comments which may seem like a lot but not really. Repeatedly, this article has comments posted to it be "L-girl." Laura 'forgot' to let readers at Common Dreams know that was her. Check out this rah-rah for the article.

L-girl January 25th, 2008 3:51 pm
  1. “This will pass unless the Liberal chicken out again. It is the Liberals you have to convince. The NDP and Bloc already support this.”

    Yes. That’s exactly what this essay says.

    Rabble.ca is covering it in Canada, but not the CBC, the Globe & Mail, or any major newspaper from any major city. The story has been completely ignored.

    But we will carry the day anyway.

In what must be the War Resisters Support Campaign's attempt to 'reach out' to Americans, L-girl (really Laura) posts:


  1. L-girl January 25th, 2008 8:21 pm

    “RE: - Likewise Canada has many skeletons in it’s closet past and present.

    But, unlike the US, we include these things in our telling of history.”

    Yeah baby! That’s one of the many things I love about Canada.

    We know we’re not perfect, we know there’s always room for improvement, and everyone wants to make it better. We may not all agree on how best to do that, but we discuss it openly all the time. In the US, it’s We’re the TGNOTFOTE* or get the hell out.

    Nellemason, that’s how I got here too - just a bit later.

    I wonder why this lizard dude thinks same-sex marriage is only “real” in Quebec? It’s real all over Canada, and in five other countries on the planet, and one bright day it will be legal in the US, too.

    *The Greatest Nation on the Face of the Earth

"Yeah baby!" Is there anything sadder than a grown woman quoting Austin Powers in 2008? I fear there might be, but I have yet to see a photo of the woman.

Here's where a reader finally busts her and tells what "Lgirl" forgot to:

  1. HeatherM January 25th, 2008 9:42 pm

    L-girl (Laura who wrote this column) posted in the comments:
    RE: - Didn’t hear a word about it all week on Democracy Now, didn’t read about it in The Nation, find a US outlet that bothered to note it.

    This is the internet! You go to where the information is. Now you know to check out rabble more often.

    I can even show you a webpage from Germany where they talk about the sub-prime fiasco and the only thing that keeps it from being accessible is the lack of our ability to speak German.
    ————
    I don’t know what Germany’s supposed to have to do with anything. I got the points James06 was making and it’s frightening that someone working to raise awareness on war resisters didn’t.
    L-Girl/Laura’s column went up an hour before actions started taking place in the US.
    There was no advance on this from the independent media.
    For L-Girl/Laura not to grasp that it is the job of Democracy Now, The Nation, The Progressive and other independent media to cover this is just a huge blind spot on her part.
    Common Dreams is one website.
    The whole point about the media is that it amplifies. Again, Laura/L-Girl’s column did no good in the US in terms of actions because it posted so late today.
    Independent media is supposed to cover things.
    Democracy Now doesn’t cover war resisters these days, it went through all of 2007 without covering them. The Nation ignored war resisters since at least 2005 except to run a tiny article on Ehren Watada where he’s called a “coward.”
    That’s pathetic.
    I don’t need a lecture from L-Girl/Laura about what sites to go to. James06’s point seems to be that independent media has let us down. I would agree. I would argue they have failed us.
    If L-Girl/Laura doesn’t think it’s important that war resisters get support why she is writing her column?
    If she does think it’s important, she needs to lose the attitude because James06 made a very valid critique of our independent media in the US and I’m guessing that someone who moved to Canada following one of Bush’s elections really doesn’t know enough to respond to what US independent media is like today in the United States.


Here's the nasty (and stupid) Laura replying:

  1. L-girl January 26th, 2008 8:02 am

    “L-girl (Laura who wrote this column) posted in the comments:
    RE: - Didn’t hear a word about it all week on Democracy Now, didn’t read about it in The Nation, find a US outlet that bothered to note it.”

    HeatherM, I did not post that comment.

    You are quoting (and yelling at) the wrong person. The commenter “James06″ posted the comment you are quoting. Your entire post is mis-directed at me.

    Perhaps next time you will read more carefully. Thank you.

"Perhaps next time you will read more carefully."

The point -- as most knew it -- was that Lgirl (Laura) was suspected of doing a Platonic dialogue with herself using multiple identities. But regardless, she was caught out posing as "L-Girl" instead of logging in with her name. She gets into a horrible fight with some guy ("jamesnewman") that does no good for anyone. She gets busted on being Laura. She doesn't admit it. But that's what she does. And the 66 comments? 19 by LGirl. 19 comments, a little less than a third, left by the author of the article but under an assumed name. Again, it was suspected that Laura was actually posting with two assumed names.

But that's not what journalists do, leave comments at their own articles without saying it's them. Laura is a joke and she is the Lee Siegel.

She has to post about herself. I got an e-mail from an Erin in Canada who states Laura "is a f---king drama queen and what do we have to do to get you [US] to take her back?" Erin, she's your problem now. That nut job left the US. She's a coward.

She's your coward now.

And you have to wonder why the War Resisters Support Campaign would choose a coward as their public face?

War resisters aren't cowards. They're taking a stand.

Laura's just someone who didn't like Bush. Like Alec Baldwin, she made some nutso comment of, "If he wins the election, I'm going to Canada!" That really doesn't say, "Listen to me, Canada!" And, in fact, it says, "Don't listen to me, America."

She's an ugly face for the campaign.

But it's an ugly campaign. Erin e-mailed me after she e-mailed the War Resisters Support Campaign to complain about Laura's latest antics. And she got an e-mail from Laura's partner.
She e-mailed the Campaign to complain about Laura and they turn the issue over to Laura's lover.

And they want to be seen as professional? Who are they kidding?

Not only that, Erin says she can't even understand the e-mail: "He's angry, it reads like he's yelling at me. I can't follow what he's saying and wondering if he needed to just go to bed and get some sleep or maybe he was drunk? I know they don't have a good t reputation in this country, both of them. We don't like them much. They go around with F- America this and F-America that and it's like, 'Gee, we don't talk like that up here. There our neighbor. We think they're a little batty but we're not running around screeching.' Which is the other thing they don't get. Hate speech isn't allowed in Canada. For all their talk about hating America, they have brought some very bizarre prejudices across the border. Let me know if I can help. The woman is an embarrassment and the War Resisters Support Campaign needs to fire her. Post any of this that you like or think helps."

Remember guys, Laura Kaminker, her own little sock puppet.

Laura Kaminker, her own best friend and her only friend.

This is from Team Nader:

Wild 24 Hours

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Wild 24 Hours .

What a wild last 24 hours.

With the help of more than a hundred Colorado volunteers and our best roadtrippers we worked day and night to pack 4,000 people into the University of Denver's Magness Arena.

(As usual, this was done with zero help from the Denver media. For example, not a mention all week in the Denver Post, the city's largest newspaper, before or after the event.)

Now we're re-focusing and gearing up for the RNC.

I just flew into Minneapolis and we need your help to fill thousands of seats for our September 4th rally at Orchestra Hall.

Right now nearly a dozen Nader's Raiders are driving across the country in three large vehicles armed with sandwich boards, our two large inflatable props, and boxes of promotional material.

Before they can join us in Minneapolis, they have to make an emergency stop in Wisconsin where we need 3,000 more signatures over Labor Day weekend or we won't make the ballot.

It's just that simple.

Before we can crank up the energy this week in Minneapolis, we need you to donate right now to help us fuel our roadtrip team through the cornfields of Iowa to the dairy lands of Wisconsin.

A donation of $10 helps provide a roadtripper a hearty and (as Ralph would say) nutritious meal.

A donation of $50 helps put a roof over their heads.

A donation of $100 helps outfit our roadtrippers in the new Buffalo Nader '08 t-shirts like you see our team wearing in this photo.

To meet our most recent fundraising goal, we've got to raise more than $70,000 more on our way to $100,000 in less than one week.

Please give whatever you can, to help us knock out Wisconsin fast so we can hit the streets this week at the RNC and demand that McCain invite Nader/Gonzalez into the presidential debates.

And remember, if you give $100 or more now, we'll send you three DVDs -- the Denver rally, the Minneapolis rally, and a special debate DVD. (Three DVD offer ends September 4 at 11:59 p.m.)

Onward to November

Jason Kafoury
National Campaign Coordinator

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Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"


Friday, August 29, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, the US military announces another death, John McCain declares a running mate, Cynthia McKinney campaigns this weekend in Michigan, and more.
Starting with the US presidential race. Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader held a Super Rally in Denver Wednesday and took the stage to the tune of "This Land Is Your Land." Below are some of his opening remarks and you can see the video here:
Ralph Nader: . . . one of the best songs of social justice ever written. And for those of you concerned, all this [points to confetti] can be recycled. Well, where do we start? Let's start with something dealing with Colorado. The Democratic Party Convention selling sky-boxes. And guess who paid big money for those sky-boxes? Coors. One million dollars. How about this one: Excell, one million dollars. Qwest, six million dollars.
Well, you know, if they are really a part of working people, the way they used to say they were, fifty, sixty years ago, under Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. They'd have hospitality suites, not for these fat cat corporate lobbyists who are tearing the heart and soul out of America, they'd have hospitality suites for workers, for farm workers, for nurses, for patients trying to get health care, for consumers being ripped off, for students who are being gouged by student loans. They'd have all kinds of hospitality suites and maybe they ought to go and see how some people in Denver live on the other side of the tracks, to see the poverty and the desperation and the lack of affordable housing and the lack of insurance when they get sick.
This party is sick. It's decaying. It's lost its soul. And its leaders can't ever get up on the stage like at the Pepsi Center -- the Pepsi Center, imagine after you say "The Pepsi Center" -- I'll bet you the tax payer built that center.
You never talk about the poor. That's a no-no in Democratic Party dictionary. You talk about the middle class, which they've helped shrink through NAFTA and WTO and all the way they've crushed opposition to corporate power. Corporate power has crushed so much of its opposition they've brought trade unions to their knees. They've made it almost impossible for industrial or commercial workers to even form a trade union because of the Taft-Hartley Law and other obstructive laws that no other western country puts before it workers.
The Democrats are dialing for the same dollars, the same corporate dollars the Republicans are dialing for. And they don't even bother covering it up. They're being winded and dined by the corrupters, the corporate predators, the corporations who have ripped off American consumers and workers that depleted their pensions who are outsourcing your jobs when you get out of college. Who are saying to you when you get out of college, "You got a skill but try getting a good paying job, try getting affordable housing, try getting affordable health insurance, try getting anything that your forebearers were able to get." You know what you're doing? I'm talking to young people in the audience, you're the first generation that's ever polled and said they aren't going to be as well off as their parents.
And the indicators are all coming down. More and more, millions of Americans, not making a living wage, not even close. Wal-Mart wages. K-Mart wages. Millions and millions of people who have to get sick or become sicker or even die because they can't afford health insurance. Just think of that.
This is the richest country in the world and the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science, just to give you a fact, says 18,000 people a year in this country die because they can't afford health insurance. That's six 9-11s. Washington turned the country upside down after . . . 9-11. In a lot of bad ways, as we know. They don't turn the country upside down for 58,000 people who die every year from work-related diseases in the mines and foundries. They don't turn the company upside down for 65,000 Americans who die from asphyxiation or cancer due to air pollution. They don't turn the country upside down for the 100,000 people who die from medical negligence and malpractice in hospitals.
They don't turn the country upside down for any form of violence -- however preventable it is -- if it's source is corporate crime, corporate negligence, corporate greed and corporate power.
You know some people ask me this around the country, "Nader, what are you doing this for? What do you expect to achieve?" Well look at what we've achieved tonight. You have seen the young leaders of the future on this stage. You have seen not only veteran advocates like Cindy Sheehan, you've seen Ashley Sanders. You've seen Rosa Clemente. You have seen Nellie McKay. You've seen someone you're going to hear a lot more of in the next few months, you've seen Rev. J Wait and see. He's only 21-years old and he's breaking away from this notion that although many of us have always hoped there would be an African-American ascended to the presidency of the United States. He's saying something more than that. He's saying that's not enough, that may be an unprecedented career move into the White House but it's got to mean more than that, it's got to mean standing up to the corporate subjugation of the American people. It's got to mean pushing forward a war against poverty. It's got to mean coming from your background, something more than if it were just a White man or White woman in the White House, it's got to mean a peculiarly insistent sensitivity to the bottom 100 million Americans in this country who are at the bottom of the income scale: African-Americans, poor Whites, Latinos who do the most dangerous work, who do the most dangerous work for us, who do the most thankless work for us, who raise our children, take care of our children, be with our ailing parents, harvest our food, service us in all kinds of ways while they're underpaid and overcharged, while they're excluded. While they're disrespected. While their marginalized. And the only time they're held up before the country is when they ask them to go overseas and fight our criminal wars for us.
And we're stopping there to note Hispanic Business trumpets today that the US army has launched its "Leaders Among Us" tour in Illinois after having been through San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, NYC, Miami and Puerto Rico. Just reruns the press release as though it were a good thing. "Leaders Among Us" is a recruitment effort -- long on rah-rah, short on facts. Natalia Montemaor (The Ranger) told the sad, sad tale of the efforts in San Antonio and how everyone was just so mean to the ROTC. ROTC instructor Micheal Trujillo didn't conform to the rules and wants to whine about the unfairness of it all. Why can't he just he make his own dates for events? And what happened to the $300 he was promised by someone -- he doesn't say who -- that his field trip to the Bataan Death March cost. "Those funds were not promised through the office of student life," said its director Jorge Posadas. But it's a conspiracy by the well funded counter-recruitment forces who are bankrolled in the millions by the US government while the US army must depend on the donations of individuals and is not on the tax payer payroll -- oh, wait, it's the other way around. Someone explain it to the ROTC.
From the recruiting tricks to its outcome: violence in Iraq.
Bombings?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad bombing that claimed 1 life and left another person wounded.
Shootings?
Rueters notes police shot dead 1 person in Tal Afar that they suspected was a bomber.
Corpses?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 2 corpses discovered in Baghdad.
Today the US military announced: "A Coalition force Soldier died in a non-combat related incident Aug. 28 while conducting operations in Ninewa." The number of US service members killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war stands at 4150 and, for the month, at 22.
It's Friday, very little violence gets reported. So who's going to end the illegal war? Not Barack Obama. But he's going to rip off the film The American President, as Delilah Boyd (A Scrivener's Lament) makes clear. Next up, Barack pretends he's Harrison Ford in Air Force One. Jeremy Lott (Guardian of London) observes of the speech in front of the mock Pagan Temple, "It was made-for-cable catnip. Obama looked at the last four years and yelled 'Enough!' He promised to end the war in Iraq but to do so 'reasonably.' . . . Obama prissily informed us that he's 'ready to have' that debate about all this. With all due respect, no he's not." Lott notes the usual MSNBC male orgy for Barack. Greg Mitchell (Editor & Publisher) reports that Olberman's yet again on attack, "So the liberal Olbermann was outraged that the AP's Babington had written, in his analysis of the speech, just off the wire, that Obama had tried nothing new and that his speech was lacking in specifics. He read the first few paragraphs on the air, lamented that it would be printed in hundred of newspapers on Friday, and concluded, 'It is analysis that strikes me as having borne no resemblance to the speech you and I just watched. None whatsoever. And for it to be distributed by the lone national news organization in terms of wire copy to newspapers around the country and web sites is a remarkable failure of that news organization. Charles Babington, find a new line of work." Babington (whom I know) is not light with the facts. His work can strike some as 'boring' because he does not play the drama game in his copy but sticks to the basics: Who, what, where when. Babington has a long resume filled with many accomplishments. Olbermann? He's got a mike to yell into as he stars in a low rated, basic cable yuck-fest. The telling part of Olbermann's comments can probably be found when he whines that Babington's reporting will be in "newspapers around the country and web sites".
John McCain's showed no more indication of ending the Iraq War than has Barack Obama. And no doubt Keith will be spewing his usual sexism tonight at the McCain campaign because today McCain announced his running mate: Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. The Chicago Tribune's Mark Silva and the Los Angeles Times Michael Finnegan pretty much write the same exact story except Silva's obsessed with one beauty pageant and, in fairness, neither writer wrote a story -- the Obama campaign did. It's the Obama camp's narrative in both: She's inexperienced!
Seems Sarah Palin's crime is daring to go for the vice presidency with a little less than two years of being the governor of Alaska. But, Team Obama insists, you can declare the presidency with less than three years. Unlike Obama, Palin has an actual resume -- one that the press tries to trivialize -- which includes having been elected mayor and having been elected to city council twice. She and her husband Todd are also the parents of five children. Palin's not pro-abortion, she's not pro anything for the left. She also isn't someone who deserves to be derided as "beauty queen" or mocked for her gender which has already become all the rage online since the surprise announcement today. Klownhaus notes, "Sarah Palin is young and telegenic, and any attack on her lack of experience opens up the GOP counter-punch of attacking Uh-bama's lack of experience. When the He-Man Woman Haters Club launches misogynistic attacks on Palin (and they have already begun) it puts the GOP in the position of supporting and defending women." It's noted that her oldest son will deploy to Iraq shortly.
McCain gets a running mate who is young (diminishing the perceived negative of his age), female (snookering Obama for Hillary's hold-outs), executive (to his legislative) and most important, both by her deserved reputation and by the impact of the choice itself, re-establishes McCain's eroded credentials as a genuine maverick candidate. That appeals to the middle voters who will decide the election.
Plus, McCain's choice of Palin achieves what McCain himself can never do -- it took the words right out of Obama's mouth.
The acceptance speech that was so essential to Obama has been filed in the dusty back drawers of political history, as if the text had never been given voice. Media are addicted to the new and the now, and now the Labor Day Weekend will be all I Dream Of Sarah and no echoes of I Had A Dream. Magic.
Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.
Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.
In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.
As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.
Governor Palin has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today.
A number of female 'leaders' have taken to trying to forcibly escort women onto the Barack bus (the one that they were previously thrown under) and they love to make statements, "Well, like Hillary asked, were you in it just for her?" It's time for those same 'leaders' to prove whether they are in it for women or just the Democratic Party? Sarah Palin becomes the second woman to run for the vice presidency on a ticket of one of the two-major parties. Are they going to demand that she be treated with the same respect/tone a male running would be? Or are they just going to stay silent? Put up or shut up. Feminist Wire posts two items today -- neither noting Palin's nomination. Do they needed to be reminded of their tax free status? Or do they need to lose it? That really needs to be explored since their tax status forbids them from endorsing but Feminist Wire likes to 'fact check' McCain's statements while just reposting Barack's without any 'checking.' Today a woman was named to be the running mate of the GOP presumed nominee and Feminist Wire couldn't find a thing worth noting?
Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to run for the vice-presidency from one of the country's two largest political parties. could note Palin's significance. Kristine Johnson (CBS) quotes Ferraro declaring today, "I've spent a lot of time over the last 24 years saying, 'Gosh, I wish I weren't the only one.' So I welcome seeing a woman on the ticket. . . . The potential for a woman to be vice president will really make a difference for girls in this country." NOW on PBS notes that they interviewed Palin for a broadcast earlier this month "about her efforts to clean up corruption in her home state." But Feminist Wire? Nothing.
Which is indicative of the 'coverage' they've given Cynthia McKinney for her presidential run. McKinney is the Green Party nominee and Rosa Clemente is her running mate. Does Feminist Wire really think that one brief, on July 14th, cuts it as 'coverage' of McKinney's run? And then later they wonder why Ms. is falsely seen as "White, White, White" and when Ms. is seen that way, feminism gets seen that way. Feminist Wire exists on the Feminist Majority Foundation's tax-free status -- as does Ms. these days -- and they are forbidden from endorsing candidates. So it's about damn time they started offering coverage for all the candidates -- and there's never a need for a feminist publication to explain why they cover female candidates. (Though there is a need for Ms. and Femnist Wire to explain why they failed to call out the attacks on Hillary.)
The Green Party of Michigan notes Cynthia will be campaigning in Michagan August 30th through September 1st. She's working the holiday. Maybe Feminist Wire could do the same? Saturday night (7:00 pm) she'll be speaking at the International Institute in Detroit at a press conference with a rally immediately after (7:30). Sunday, Cynthia will appear at the National Welfare Rights Union Awards Dinner where she will deliver a speech on poverty. Monday, Cynthia will be standing shoulder to shoulder with union members as they march down Woodward Avenue in Detroit to mark the historic workers struggle in this country that produced the 40-hour work week, that produced a respect for the workers in this country and that produced the Labor Day holiday (among many other things).
Meanwhile, China scores big! Erica Goode and Riyadh Mohammed (New York Times) announce that China National Petroleum signed a contract with the puppet government in Baghdad. With the DNC speeches this week repeatedly hitting on the borrowing from China, that will probably not go over well in this country. Some examples:

Mark Warner: "Two wars, a warming planet, an energy policy that says let's borrow money from China to buy oil from countries that don't like us. "

Al Gore: "As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization."

Hillary Clinton: "The biggest deficit in our nation's history. Money borrowed from the Chinese to buy oil from the Saudis."
Ava and I cover the DNC convention Sunday at Third. Ralph Nader's Super Rally took place in Denver and, with little media attention, Team Nader turned out a large crowd of 4,000. As the huge crowd gathered and the event geared up Wednesday, Jesse A. Hamilton (Hartford Courant) reported that Sean Penn had spoken and notes "major cheers" for Nader's "amnesty talk for non-violent drug offenders" and quotes Nader stating: "Every politician I've ever known from the major parties . . . starts flattering the people. Oh, how they flatter the people! Because that's what gives the people weak knees. . . . Read the grim lesson of history, here and abroad. When people do not turn on to politics, politics will turn on them." Not noted is that Ralph noted the historical importance of the week (19th Amendment enacted). Something that Barack skipped out on but no one's supposed to notice that. Team Nader notes:
What a wild last 24 hours.
With the help of more than a hundred Colorado volunteers and our best roadtrippers we worked day and night to pack 4,000 people into the University of Denver's Magness Arena.
(As usual, this was done with zero help from the Denver media. For example, not a mention all week in the Denver Post, the city's largest newspaper, before or after the event.)
Now we're re-focusing and gearing up for the RNC.
I just flew into Minneapolis and we need your help to fill thousands of seats for our September 4th rally at Orchestra Hall.
Right now nearly a dozen Nader's Raiders are driving across the country in three large vehicles armed with sandwich boards, our two large inflatable props, and boxes of promotional material.
Before they can join us in Minneapolis, they have to make an emergency stop in Wisconsin where we need 3,000 more signatures over Labor Day weekend or we won't make the ballot.
It's just that simple.
Before we can crank up the energy this week in Minneapolis, we need you to donate right now to help us fuel our roadtrip team through the cornfields of Iowa to the dairy lands of Wisconsin.
A donation of $10 helps provide a roadtripper a hearty and (as Ralph would say) nutritious meal.
A donation of $50 helps put a roof over their heads.
A donation of $100 helps outfit our roadtrippers in the new Buffalo Nader '08 t-shirts like you see our team wearing in this photo.
To meet our most recent fundraising goal, we've got to raise more than $70,000 more on our way to $100,000 in less than one week.
Please give whatever you can, to help us knock out Wisconsin fast so we can hit the streets this week at the RNC and demand that McCain invite Nader/Gonzalez into the presidential debates.
And remember, if you give $100 or more now, we'll send you three DVDs -- the Denver rally, the Minneapolis rally, and a special debate DVD. (Three DVD offer ends September 4 at 11:59 p.m.)
Onward to November
Tonight and over the weekend on PBS (check local listings) NOW on PBS (debuts Friday night in most markets) explores affirmative action and state-ballot measures attempting to overturn it. Katty van van sits down for a chat and chew with Bill Moyers -- hope he brings the oats and remember to keep the kids out of the room. Cat Radio Cafe does not air on WBAI Monday (fundraising) but The Next Hour features Michael Heller, Harvey Shapiro and John Taggart on the topic of Pulitzer Prize winning poet Goerge Oppen broadcasting from eleven to noon Sunday on WBAI. And iIndependent journalist David Bacon's latest book officially is released next week, Illegal People -- How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants (Beacon Press). (Some bookstores already have it in stock currently -- and you can order at the link if you order online.)
Finally. The 'peace' organization passes on e-mails. A number of visitors and members have e-mailed to explain that they complained about what went down and their 'reward' was to have their e-mails passed on. They end up getting the Gutter Trash's stark raving partner screaming at them in e-mails. Well, we know they have no ethics. Until Third on Sunday, that's all I plan to say. We will address it there and some community sites will address it now. Visitors also e-mail to ask that it be passed on: Don't bother posting to Gutter Trash''s blog. She will not allow you statement to go up. Of course not, she can't play victim and get her small posse to lie with her by allowing outside voices. Best visitor e-mail runs in Polly's Brew (with sender's permission) this Sunday -- it's a Canadian who's had it with the "pushy American" who is "as phoney as Madonna's British accent." We're done promoting the organization. There were questions about that in e-mails. They've been pulled from the links and I'm weighing whether or not to pull their chapters from the links. We were not speaking of Courage to Resist, for visitors who e-mailed asking about that. Courage to Resist is a real organization and remains linked at this site. I've passed on the e-mail to Mike (I've never read Gutter Trash's site) that asks if he gave permission for his e-mail to be posted (Gutter Trash apparently claims to be concerned about "niceness" in reposting people's e-mails). No, he did not. He will address that at his site tonight as well as what Gutter Trash leaves out.


 iraq
 the new york times
 erica goode
 riyadh mohammed
 mcclatchy newspapers
 david bacon
 charles babington
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Rachel Maddow

The Softer Side of Narcissism


That's Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "The Softer Side of Narcissism". Yeah, when will the informerical end? If I thought it would stop it, I'd pick up the phone and get on the EZchecks plan just to be done with the infomercial.

We had an entertainment theme but Elaine called a conference call and suggested a new one: Backstabber.

So we're all picking a woman who stabbed Hillary in the back. I'm going with the woman who looks like Scott Baio's ugly twin. Chachi. Yeah, Rachel Maddow, the War Hawk who insisted through spring 2005 on air that US troops needed to stay in Iraq. She's a whore from way back and she's a bitch.

Am I not supposed to say those words? Didn't Rachel call Hillary a "vain bitch" on MSNBC last night (before Hillary spoke)? When Rachel wants to call Hillary a "vain bitch," I'd argue she can be called any term you want.

Maddow the Mad Cow amplifies Eleanor Smeal's sexist words today and tosses in "minority."

Which might be a surprise considering Rachel's a lesbian like me. But she's not like me. Rachel's got a real need to prove how manly she is. They grab a bucket of paint and splash it on her face for MSNBC or that would be a little more clear.

I'm a woman who sleeps with other women. I am not a woman who feels the need to play sexist gender roles. In other words, unlike 'bread winner' Rachel, I've never felt the need to play 'the man.' Nor have I wanted to play the meek little woman.

I'm attracted to other women. Not in a, "If I were a man, I'd bang her so hard!" Not in a, "I want her to show me who's boss!"

I'm attracted to women and always have been. I've never hid in a closet so never needed to navigate the gay world by grabbing on too tired stereotypes from the straight world.

Rachel Maddow's a War Hawk and a Hillary Hater.

Gay boi Glen Greenwald (who's going bald in the back of his head) won't call Rachel out. He won't call her out for her Clinton Derangement Syndrome. He won't call her out for anything she does.

It's the gay pass.

It's why Rachel wouldn't call out the gay man who wrote the fawning piece of Ann Coulter. Not only would Rachel not call him out, she defended the article on Air America Radio -- repeatedly. And forgot to tell listeners that the article she was defending was written by a friend of her's, one who referred to her as "an angel."

Gay boi Glen can play his little games. I understand he too is trapped in gender stereotype role play so he's already suffering.

But I won't stay silent.

Rachel got herself a little p.r. by calling out MSNBC's sexism early this year . . . for 18 hours or so. Then they gave her a contract and she started backing away from her criticism.

Rachel's a whore.

She is the whore who stayed with Unfiltered. That was the Air America Radio show Lizz Winstead picked her to co-host. The spot almost went to Laura Flanders but Lizz picked Rachel. It aired for exactly a year.

In its last month, AAR called a meeting. They informed them that they were being replaced with Jerry Springer. Lizz never went back to work. Lizz walked out.

Rachel, the whore that she is, showed up for work every day.

Rachel LIED that Lizz was out sick. Rachel then LIED on the blog (under various names) that Lizz was seriously ill.

After Lizz was out a few days, Rachel just stopped mentioning her.

Rachel never told listeners the show was being cancelled. Never told them what happened to Lizz.

She'd try to grab Chuck D every now and then (it was his show too) and you could just hear it in his voice that he wasn't into lying.

He made maybe three appearences (if that) after Lizz walked. While he wouldn't whore himself out, Rachel did every day.

Then she whined on air about needing a job, had her father take to the blog to demand that Rachel needed a job and needed money and everyone let AAR know that they wanted Rachel.

No one wanted Rachel. That's why Unfiltered was cancelled to begin with. But the Sonny of that Sonny and Cher set (as C.I. dubbed Madcow long ago) wasn't done yet. First she would do a morning show that would flop. Then she'd do one later on that flopped and now she's doing a third show that will flop.

She'll flop on MSNBC as well. It's because she's not warm, it's because she's snooty and too damn pleased with herself and it's because she's a damn egg head trying to act like a man.

Women cannot be men. We can do anything a man can, no question. But we are women. When we try to be men we're a second-rate man.

Women who honor their gender can excell at anything. Women who hide their gender can sometimes get ahead. Women who disown it are losing from the word "go."

Rachel Maddow disowns it.

Some don't get it and think, 'But she sleeps with women!' Yes, she does . . . like a man. She wants to be a man. That was obvious when Lizz was out following Christmas and Rachel played her rough trade, uber dyke role with the two guest hosts. At one point, Bill Press was on (probably after complaints from the two women who tried to guest host) and Rachel was still determined to out 'man' Bill Press.

She's a sorry excuse for a woman and she's not a feminist.

She's a self-loathing bulldyke who will not call homophobia except in the easiest targets. She is a traitor, a sell-out and so much more.

What she is not is a woman with any talent or real skill.

She'll be a novelty with her own show briefly. Then she'll go the way of every other woman MSNBC gave a show too.

And when that happens, uber dyke will want sympathy and wants us, as women, to rush to support her.

We shouldn't. She doesn't support women. She wants to be a man.

All the mascara MSNBC has taken to smearing on her, all the clown make that makes it look as though she has a fever cannot cover up that reality. Rachel Maddow is a loser.

I am a woman, I am a lesbian. Rachel Maddow backstabs me on both counts.

But I am also an African-American and one of the biggest backstabbers was Jim Clyburn who is no hero, just an old scam artist. And the pimps at Jack & Jill Politics, include them as well because they used their tiny online 'cred' to back up Clyburn over and over. What idiots they are. Not were, are. They are not my brothers, they are not my sisters. There is no room in my home for bigots and bigots is all Jack & Jill are. Trashy little bigots who couldn't call out homophobia.

And racially ignorant. I believe Ava and C.I. were the only ones to call out the Democrats holding a debate at an institution created to enforce slavery. Jack & Jill? Idiots. Unaware of our own history.

Clyburn's biggest contributers last go-round were the telecoms giving him over %55,000 for that election. They bought him and he danced for them.

Clyburn spent the primaries like Steppin' Fetchit and wants to continue sounding like an idiot. Big Tent Democrat alerts that Clyburn is now calling Al Gore a racist, repeating a right-wing lie. That's James Clyburn and the sooner his old ass is kicked the hell out of Congress, the better. I'm not a Gore freak. I voted for Al Gore (as did most of America) but I'm not a huge fan. That said, Al Gore has never done anything that I've seen that deserves him being called a racist. I have never gotten even a racist vibe from Al Gore.

He's on PBS tonight and his glasses are askew and he looks like a crazy old man "I never had a problem [with Bill or Hillary Clinton during the primaries]. I made it very clear," he said lying through his teeth.



Tonight was the Super Rally .

D-Day Denver

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D-Day Denver .

D-Day.

Denver tonight 6 p.m.

University of Denver Magness Arena.

Sean Penn, Tom Morello, Cindy Sheehan, Jello Biafra, Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez will be there.

Standing up to the corporate two-party controlled debate commission.

Calling for an opening up of the Presidential debates.

If you are in the area, see you at the event.

If you know people in the area, call them, text them, e-mail them -- and give them the details.

Free Speech TV will be streaming the event live on the Internet. (Wednesday, August 27, 7 p.m. Mountain time, 9 p.m. Eastern.)

Just click here to watch.

Also, Free Speech TV will be broadcasting the event live on Dish Network Channel 9415.

If you are home watching convention coverage on cable, watch for Ralph.

He'll be in the DNC belly of the beast at the Pepsi Center today.

He'll be on Fox TV with Neil Cavuto in this afternoon at about 4 p.m.

And MSNBC with Dan Abrams tomorrow morning at about 10 a.m.

Other mainstream media interviews are being nailed down as we speak.

Stay tuned for more details.

The bottom line is this.

The conventions are supposed to be about democracy.

But in fact, they're two big corporate parties.

Talk about corporate crime and corporate power, and you are drummed out of the building.

Talk the happy corporate talk, and they invite you in for a drink.

Thank you Ralph Nader for having the guts to stand up.

For the American people.

Against the corporate takeover of our democracy.

Stand with Ralph today.

If you are in Denver, come on down and join with us at the Magness Arena tonight at 6 p.m.

If you are not in Denver, give whatever you can afford -- $10, $20, $50, $100 -- to help defray the costs of tonight's event. (Renting the arena, sound, lights, stage hands, video crew and equipment, flying in road trippers, printing of 100,000 fliers -- you get the picture.)

By the way, great start on the fundraising drive -- we're at close to $15,000 after just two days. But we have to hit $100,000 by September 4. So, let's get 'er cranked.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

With your help, tonight, we will shake it up.

Onward to November.

The Nader Team

PS: Remember, if you donate $100 or more, we'll send you three DVDs -- the Denver rally, the Minneapolis rally, and a special debate DVD. (Three DVD offer ends September 4 at 11:59 p.m.)

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And I just remembered I should have streamed. :( I'll catch it on YouTube tomorrow at work.

Here's C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Wednesday, August 27, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, the US military announces another death, 2 US soldiers state they killed handcuffed Iraqis and did so on official orders, Ralph Nader's Super Rally takes place in Denver tonight, Courage to Resist speaks with US war resister Robin Long and more.
Starting with war resistance. In Canada yesterday, protests took place. Total Catholic reports, "Catholic groups demonstrated outside Canada House in London on Tuesday in protest against the deportation of US soldiers who refused to fight in Iraq and sought asylum in Canada." It notes the groups included Voices in the Wilderness, Pax Christi, the Fellowship of Reconciliation and Catholic Worker Movement and that they carried posters with photos of war resister and the following "Canada: Stop Deporting US Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in the Illegal War in Iraq." Bruce Kent explains, "In the year that Franz Jagerstater was beatified by the Pope in recognition of his conscientious objection and subsequent execution for refusing to serve in Hitler's army, it seems extraordinary that the Canadian Government is adopting this position. These soldiers have every right to refuse to fight in an illegal war." While they stood up "White boy" (read his article -- better yet, don't) Nathaniel Hoffman (Boise Weekly) blathers on about the DNC convention (24 paragraphs) before including this: "Now for a few updates on the home front. Army deserter Robin Long, a Boise native, was sentenced to 15 months in jail, after being kicked out of Canada and returned to his unit at Fort Carson, Colo. He will also get a dishonorable discharge." That would be Robin's local weekly and that's all they have to offer. Never forget the 'alternative' press always has something else to do. Robin was court-martialed last Friday and Courage to Resist spoke to Robin spoke with him later that day:
Courage to Resist: Well Robin your court martial is done, you got 15 months in military prison, how are you feeling about the outcome?
Robin Long: I -- all in all -- on the day of the trial, had a really good day. I got to tell the army and the world exactly how I felt and I got to meet one of my heroes, one of my heroines, Col. Ann Wright and I enjoyed all the support that was there, all the people that came to see. It was kind of funny, when I was leaving, they rushed me off to a Humvee and they had -- they had the military police escort front and behind and they stopped traffic at all the intersections. And while I was leaving, all the supporters, a lot of them were saluting so that felt really good. I was kind of looking at different figures -- that I could be out as early as April of next year. With everything so . . . I don't know. I'm just looking forward to getting the RCF Unit and start doing my time. And when I come out, start speaking for peace again and my word will be that much more powerful. I can talk now in the States instead of being up there in Canada. And hopefully, we can end this occupation, this war.
Courage to Resist: Now you said you got to tell the army exactly how you felt? What did you tell them?
Robin Long: Oh, I told them, I mean, with my defense case, Col. Ann Wright and with the other witnesses, we basically got to say to a forum and an audience that normally wouldn't hear the things we were saying about the legality of the war in Iraq and, you know, following your conscience and international law, a higher duty and it felt really good to say those things. And to let people know that they can think for themselves and follow their heart.
Courage to Resist: And did Col Wright testify at your trial?
Robin Long: Yes, she did.
Courage to Resist: And what did she say?
Robin Long: She was basically saying the things she saw working in the army and with the State Department and her decision to resign from her position in opposition to the Iraq War and also she kind of said that she wasn't offended because she's part of the military you know she wasn't offended by me deserting. Having a colonel, someone in that high of a position, you know, with the State Department, working with different embassies, MongoliaSomaliaia, Afghanistan that maybe they paid attention to her. The military judge looked really interesting in what she was saying so.
Courage to Resist: You said that she was one of your heroes. I'd be willing to be that the next time we see Ann Wright, she'll be saying that you're one of her heroes. So now you're back in the county jail?
Robin Long: Yep, I'm here at the El Paso jail waiting for transport transfer. They haven't told me yet where I'm going.
Courage to Resist: Any hints, any clues about where you might be headed?
Robin Long: No, not yet. They said whichever place has availability. It's kind of -- kind of weird. I can't bring anything with me in jail. Like all of the books that nice people have sent I can't bring any of that stuff with me. Mail, I can't even bring address book. So I'm going to be sending out all my, my papers that I need to have with me to somebody so that can mail them back to me when I find out where I am.
We'll note more from Robin's interview later in the week (hopefully tomorrow). US war resister Jeremy Hinzman is the US war resister who was the first to go to Canada and apply for asylum. August 13th, he was informed he had until September 23rd to leave Canada or be deported.
To show your support for Jeremy and other US war resisters in Canada, Courage to Resist alerts, "Supporters are calling on Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, to intervene. Phone 613.996.4974 or email finley.d@parl.gc.ca,"Iraq Veterans Against the War also encourages people to take action, "To support Jeremy, call or email Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and ask her to intervene in this case. Phone: 613.996.4974 email: finley.d@parl.gc.ca."
Aidan Delgado is a war resister who has told his story in book form. The Sutras Of Abu Ghraib: Notes From A Conscientious Objector In Iraq is now out in soft cover (list price $15.00). Eric Snider (Creative Loafing) states, "The most engaging aspect of The Sutras is Delgado's quest for CO status; although he's ostracized for his stance, overall he's treated quite fairly." Three other war resisters have told their story in book form: Kevin Benderman's Letters from Fort Lewis Brig: A Mater of Conscience, Camilo Mejia's Road from Ar Ramadi: The Private Rebellion of Staff Sergeant Mejia (Camilo plans a second book), and Joshua Key's The Deserter's Tale. Peter Laufer's Mission Rejected: U.S. Soldiers Who Say No to Iraq details many war resistersincludingng Joshua Key and Jeremy Hinzman) and Aimee Allison and David Solnit's Army of None: Strategies to Counter Military Recruitment, End War, and Build a Better World covers war resistance with a strong focus on stopping it at the point of the entry. Many of these books (and other items as well) are available at Courage to Resist.
There is a growing movement of resistance within the US military which includes Yovany Rivero, William Shearer, Michael Thurman, Andrei Hurancyk, Megan Bean, Chris Bean, Matthis Chiroux, Richard Droste, Michael Barnes, Matt Mishler, Josh Randall, Robby Keller, Justiniano Rodrigues, Chuck Wiley, James Stepp, Rodney Watson, Michael Espinal, Matthew Lowell, Derek Hess, Diedra Cobb, Brad McCall, Justin Cliburn, Timothy Richard, Robert Weiss, Phil McDowell, Steve Yoczik, Ross Spears, Peter Brown, Bethany "Skylar" James, Zamesha Dominique, Chrisopther Scott Magaoay, Jared Hood, James Burmeister, Jose Vasquez, Eli Israel, Joshua Key, Ehren Watada, Terri Johnson, Clara Gomez, Luke Kamunen, Leif Kamunen, Leo Kamunen, Camilo Mejia, Kimberly Rivera, Dean Walcott, Linjamin Mull, Agustin Aguayo, Justin Colby, Marc Train, Abdullah Webster, Robert Zabala, Darrell Anderson, Kyle Snyder, Corey Glass, Jeremy Hinzman, Kevin Lee, Daniel Baker, Mark Wilkerson, Patrick Hart, Ricky Clousing, Ivan Brobeck, Aidan Delgado, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, Blake LeMoine, Clifton Hicks, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Logan Laituri, Jason Marek, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Joshua Casteel, Katherine Jashinski, Dale Bartell, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell, Jimmy Massey, Chris Capps, Tim Richard, Hart Viges, Michael Blake, Christopher Mogwai, Christian Kjar, Kyle Huwer, Wilfredo Torres, Michael Sudbury, Ghanim Khalil, Vincent La Volpa, DeShawn Reed and Kevin Benderman. In total, at least fifty US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.

Information on war resistance within the military can be found at The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline [(877) 447-4487], Iraq Veterans Against the War and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters. In addition, VETWOW is an organization that assists those suffering from MST (Military Sexual Trauma).
Turning to Iraq. At the US Pentagon today Gen James Conway declared that there might be a drawdown of some marines because "to do more in Afghanistan, our marines have got to see relief elsewhere". No, that would not be withdrawal, no that would not be troops home. Now or later. It is an acknowledgement -- public -- by a marine commander ("The Commandant of the Marine Corps," says the Defense Dept) that the US military is stretched to the limit fighting two illegal wars that neither the White House nor the Congress has the guts or desire to end. So the Pentagon announces: "This week the Army and Coast Guard announced an increase, while the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease. The net collective result is 4,519 more reservists activated than last week." Conway also declared that Al Anbar Province would be turned over to Iraqis (Iraqis under the control of the puppet government controlled by the US).
Meanwhile Khalid al-Ansary (Reuters) reports that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani says US troops (of some formation) will be out (or 'out') of Iraq in 2011 and that the US wanted 2015 but Iraq held firm. Take a second to let the laughter die down. Aboard Air Force One this afternoon, Tony Fratto held a White House press briefing and said nothing about any agreement. At the State Dept, Robert Wood (Deputy Spokesperson) held a press briefing was asked if the US had asked for the US to maintain their presence through 2015 and Wood refused to answer that and stuck "there are discussions going on between the United States and Iraqi Government. We're working to try to finalize an agreement by the end of December. I don't have anything new to offer other than what we've said, and that we think this is an important agreement. And once we have an agreement, we will certainly make that known to the publics."
This morning Paul von Zielbauer (New York Times) reported that "a first sergeant, a platoon sergeant and a senior medic, killed four Iraqi prisoners with pistol shots to the head as the men stood handcuffed and blindfolded beside a Baghdad canal, two of the soldiers said in sworn statements." The bodies were then dumped in the canal according to Sgt 1st Class Joseph P. Mayo and Sgt. Michael P. Leahy Jr.'s statements which have each man killing one Iraqi and stated that 1st Sgt. John E. Hatley killed two and ordered the killings. von Zielbauer quotes Leahy's statement: "I'm ashamed of what I've done. . . . When I did it, I thought I was doing it for my family. Now I realize that I'm hurting my family more now than if I wouldn't have done it."
Turning to some of today's reported violence . . .
Bombings?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad roadside bombing that left five wounded, another that left six wounded, a Baghdad car bombing that claimed 1 life (seven wounded), another Baghdad car bombing that wounded one person, a Tal Afar car bombing that resulted in fourteen wounded (and the driver dead), 2 Mosul "suicide car" bombings -- one targeting "an American patrol" with no known casualties for eitehr bombing. Reuters notes the Tal Afar wound count is not at twenty-two "according to Sabih Hussein, chief physician at the Tal Afar government hospital". The US military announces: "Coalition forces killed three terrorists – two of whom were wearing suicide vests – and detained six suspects, including an alleged al-Qaeda in Iraq leader, during operations in Diyala province Wednesday."
Shootings?

Reuters notes 1 person shot dead in Mosul.
Corpses?
Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 2 corpses discovered in Baghdad. Reuters notes 1 female corpse was discovered in Numaniya.
Today the US military announced: "A Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldier died at a Coalition forces medical facility in Baghdad today as a result of wounds sustained following an IED attack Aug. 26. The Soldier was wounded after the vehicle he was traveling in was struck by an improvised explosive device in northeastern Baghdad Aug. 26." The death brings to 4148 US service members killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war and 20 since the start of the illegal war.
Moving to the US race for president. Tom Hayden lied (there were many but where there are Barack lies, there is Tom Hayden) that Barack had done a bang up job helping Hillary retire her campaign debt. He DID NOTHING. As community member Eddie points out, even Danny Schechter's fallen for the lie ("Remember, Barack's campaign helped her retire her campaign debt!"). Reality, New York Times, A16 today (buy a paper), Michael Lau and Griff Palmer report: "The analysis by The Times found that Obama donors gave $300,000 to Mrs. Clinton in July and $135,000 in June." Chump change. He did nothing to help retire the debt. He's gotten credit from liars like Hayden and from people too smart to give credit like Danny. Her worshippers, Danny? Her worshippers? And you're puzzled so many see you and Media Channel as part of the problem? Hillary busted her ass for the Democratic Party last night and it is exactly the attitude Danny's exhibited today (short on facts and sprinkles of insults) that has no defense. There is no defense for it. And, no, PBS' convention coverage is not praise worthy? Was no one watching last night? Ava and I skimmed last night's coverage today and sexism was on parade. We'll address it Sunday. One example: Maybe someone thinks it's 'natural' to have three historians on repeatedly during the broadcast to talk about Hillary and the women's liberation movement when . . . all three are men. Talking about the struggle for women's equality? PBS should be ashamed. Unless they're so ignorant that they believe there are no female historians? Is that it? And because women know they can count on attacks from all sides, be sure to check out how Eleanor Smeal chose to smear other feminists. When a DC lobbyist takes over Ms., feminism suffers -- and it has suffered. In the real world, To The Contrary's Bonnie Erbe (at US News & World Reports) observes, "The Democrats nominated a junior, inexperienced Senator with no legislative accomplishments on his resume to whom young Americans and latte liberals swarmed due to his cool, celebrity-like demeanor. But then, those same Democratic leaders act surprised that Middle America isn't following suit. How bizarre!!!" Kownhaus notes, "The meltdown of Progressive Blogosphere 1.0 is due in large part to major 'A' list bloggers turning a blind eye to misogyny and sexism because it helped the candidate they supported. MASSIVE FAIL!" Meanwhile Jerry White (WSWS) takes on the latest nonsense from fauxgressives Katty-van-van Heuvel (who doesn't do corrections) and Robert L. Borosage, "Apart from their assertion, which is false, that Obama will end the occupation of Iraq, the authors make no attempt to substantiate their claim that Obama represents a 'stark ideological contrast' with McCain. In fact, they virtually acknowledge just the opposite." And White drives it home with this section:
The Nation is no more able to explain how such a movement represents an alternative to the "entrenched order" than they are able to establish Obama's reformist credentials. Both in their support for Obama and their insistence that all social opposition after the election remain oriented to the Democratic Party, the Nation reveals itself to be a critical prop for precisely the reactionary order they claim to oppose. They themselves are simply its "left" flank.
Of course, the political milieu for which the Nation speaks has a direct and personal stake in the outcome of the election. They count on the arrival of a Democratic administration as an opportunity for many in their ranks to secure choice positions and enhanced status within the apparatus of power in Washington DC, whether as congressional staffers, trade union functionaries or researchers at Democratic-linked think tanks in the capital.
Martha saw that highlighted by Susan (Random Thoughts from Reno) and Susan has my nomination for "Truest Statement of the Week" at Third this weekend: "The party is 'worried' now about mass defections by Clinton supporters to John McCain. Well, what in the hell did they expect? After the May 31 charade effectively handing Obama the nomination, they lost what little chance they had in the fall. Don't expect Clinton supporters to 'get over it' any more than Gore supporters when the 2000 election was stolen." Hillary Clinton gave a great speech last night. Jess, Dona, Eli, Martha and Shirley report the community members e-mails agree it was great and agree it didn't change their mind one bit. Who are they supporting?
Ralph Nader is the independent candidate for president. Tonight he and running mate Matt Gonzalez hold their first Super Rally. This one in Denver. From Team Nader:
D-Day.
Denver tonight 6 p.m.
University of Denver Magness Arena.
Sean Penn, Tom Morello, Cindy Sheehan, Jello Biafra, Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez will be there.
Standing up to the corporate two-party controlled debate commission.
Calling for an opening up of the Presidential debates.
If you are in the area,
see you at the event.
If you know people in the area, call them, text them, e-mail them -- and give them the details.
Free Speech TV will be streaming the event live on the Internet. (Wednesday, August 27, 7 p.m. Mountain time, 9 p.m. Eastern.)
Just click here to watch.
Also, Free Speech TV will be broadcasting the event live on Dish Network Channel 9415.
If you are home watching convention coverage on cable, watch for Ralph.
He'll be in the DNC belly of the beast at the Pepsi Center today.
He'll be on Fox TV with Neil Cavuto in this afternoon at about 4 p.m.
And MSNBC with Dan Abrams tomorrow morning at about 10 a.m.
Other mainstream media interviews are being nailed down as we speak.
Stay tuned for more details.
The bottom line is this.
The conventions are supposed to be about democracy.
But in fact, they're two big corporate parties.
Talk about corporate crime and corporate power, and you are drummed out of the building.
Talk the happy corporate talk, and they invite you in for a drink.
Thank you Ralph Nader for having the guts to stand up.
For the American people.
Against the corporate takeover of our democracy.
Stand with Ralph today.
If you are in Denver, come on down and join with us at the Magness Arena tonight at 6 p.m.
If you are not in Denver, give whatever you can afford -- $10, $20, $50, $100 -- to help defray the costs of tonight's event. (Renting the arena, sound, lights, stage hands, video crew and equipment, flying in road trippers, printing of 100,000 fliers -- you get the picture.)
By the way, great start on the fundraising drive -- we're at close to $15,000 after just two days. But we have to hit $100,000 by September 4. So, let's get 'er cranked.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
With your help, tonight, we will shake it up.
Onward to November.
Green Party presidential candidate's Cynthia McKinney spoke in Denver this week and Black Agenda Report (which is endorsing McKinney for president) posts her speech. This is an excerpt:
Cynthia McKinney: Our country has been hijacked and the Democrats have proven themselves to have been in on the plan. When it came to the Constitution, the Democratic leadership showed us that aiding and abetting illegal spying on us was more important to them than protecting our civil liberties. When it came to war and occupation, the Democratic leadership showed us that financing an illegal and immoral war, based on lies, was more important to them than they people's desire for peace. And when the people, hurting from the financial mismanagement of this country, called foaccountabilityty for the crimes that have been committed against the people here, against the global community, against nature, itself, the Democratic leadership took impeachment off the tableGrassrootsts Democratic Party activists want a livable wage! A "Medicare-for-all" type of health care system, repeal of the Bush tax cuts that have ushered in the greatest income inequality in this country since the Great Depression. But the Democratic Party has shown itself to be incapable of providing even a semblance of the values even of its own activists. The Democratic Party's national leadership didn't even mention Hurricanes Katrina and Rita survivors in their Congressional agenda for the first 100 days.