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GOP California Electoral Heist Prospects Dim
The Republican attempt to hijack California's 2008 electoral votes is foundering; will low poll numbers and a lack of signatures stop this blatant attempt at electioneering?
The California ballot initiative I first posted about here, the one initially funded by Giuliani supporter and hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer, is back in the news- apparently supporters are still rushing to get the 700,000 signatures needed to get this blatant GOP attempt to hijack the presidential vote on the ballot. From the LA Times;
Backers of a California initiative that could significantly aid the next Republican presidential nominee said today they're still collecting signatures to qualify it for the state's ballot in June, terming as premature reports that they have wrapped up the process.
"The goal is to be completed by Dec. 1," Mike Arno, the contractor heading the signature-gathering effort, told The Times' Dan Morain.
He added that "people are still out working" and circulating petitions.
To qualify the measure, its supporters must obtain signatures from 434,000 registered California voters. They say they have obtained roughly that number of names, but inevitably many will be disqualified when state officials vet the petitions, often because the signers are not registered to vote. So to ensure they reach the required mark, the initiative supporters aim to amass about 700,000 signatures.
The measure calls for California to change the winner-take-all method for its 55 electoral votes -- by far the nation's largest cache and more than one-fifth of the total needed to win the White House. Instead, the electoral votes would be apportioned based primarily on the outcome of the presidential race in each congressional district.
So why am I saying the prospects are dim for this measure?
With odds increasing that the initiative will qualify for the ballot, Chris Lehane, a San Francisco-based Democratic activist leading the campaign to derail it, issued the following statement today:
"The power-grabbers are pursuing a lose-lose-lose strategy: It will lose at the ballot box, where it is polling below 30%; it will be a loser for the Republican Party, as it will brand the GOP as the party of presidential hijackers; and it will be a loser for Rudy Giuliani, whose close connections to the initiative will only further define him as someone who puts the raw, crass pursuit of power before the best interests of the country."
So despite low polling the GOP is going ahead with this doomed initiative. It will only prove how desperate the Republicans are, and how bad their prospects will be at the ballot box in 2008.
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Alabama governor Siegelman in jail, can't appeal because his trial transcript is not yet done after a year and a half. Rove was said to be involved in his prosecution....and he is still not called to account. In fact he was just hired to write a column at Newsweek.
Perhaps the operative can be dismissed but his point from the article cannot; with the measure polling so low, even if Republicans can get another 300 or 400K signatures, it's still likely to fail.
Mr. Kuykendall,
When you've moved to California and live in a blood red area of the state, perhaps then the good folks at the bfa should listen to your "expert advice". Nobody should never underestimate the ultra right-wingers in California. Arnold is still the Governor. No Democrat should feel safe with that guy still in charge of this state.
Susan Rowe
Four years and $125 million later, Arnold sets state fundraising record
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has become the most prolific campaign fundraiser in California history, taking in more than $125 million for his various political committees, according to an Associated Press review of fundraising records. In doing so, he has surpassed Gray Davis, the governor he ousted four years ago in a recall election that focused in large part on Davis' seemingly incessant fundraising. Schwarzenegger's political committees have taken in $125.8 million since he jumped into the gubernatorial recall campaign in August 2003. Davis took longer -- seven years -- to raise $120 million for two gubernatorial campaigns and to fight the recall effort against him. The money has been rolling in to Schwarzenegger's campaign accounts, mainly from large and small businesses and business executives, even though he suggested that he would rely on his own fortune to pay for his campaigns. "The biggest problem we have is that California is being run by special interests," the former actor said after announcing his candidacy on "The Tonight Show" on Aug. 6, 2003. "I will go to Sacramento and clean house. I don't need to take money from anybody. I have plenty of money myself. I will make decisions for the people." more: http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics...
Annilow, I agree about Barenboim and his lack of passion but the Bruch played by Pinkus was extraordinary. He's able to make his violin weep with passion.
I found even Barenboim's face rather cold and passionless.
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It's prolly too late for Dodd questions, but I think the most important question is: What are you going to do about the McClellan revelations? Do you think cheney/bush should be impeached? Are you going to pressure the various committees to start subpoening and investigating immediately? Will you exert pressure on Pelosi?
For me, that's our top priority.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody.
Thanksgiving Prayers: http://www.fresnobee.com/221/story/20308...
Far-flung flavors of Thanksgiving
The region's traditions reflect the diversity of its residents, who make room for Greek, Mexican, Filipino, Indian, Chinese and other ethnic foods along with turkey. ...full story: http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/21342...
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Local food pantries don't have food left for the holidays
By Farin Montañez
It's Thanksgiving Day, but for many Valley residents the holiday dinner will be spare. And Christmas may be just as bleak.
Local food pantry shelves are empty -- the holiday supply ran out days ago -- and distributors are turning needy families away. There were not enough donations this year, say food bank officials, who point to the uncertain economy as one explanation.
"We're getting calls all day from people and I just have to tell them, 'I'm sorry, we have nothing left to give you,' " said Dennis Darnell, executive director of the Madera County Food Bank.
Last year, the Madera County food bank was able to give away 1,000 Thanksgiving meal boxes solely from community donations, Darnell said.
This year, donations provided only enough food to fill about 300 boxes, Darnell said. The agency dug into its budget to come up with 300 more.
"We normally don't have to purchase food, and this just sets us back more for Christmas," he said.
Darnell attributes the drop in local donations to a struggling economy and natural disasters.
"I think people aren't giving because they are leery of the economy, or they just gave to the fire victims in San Diego and now they're not donating to us," he said.
Even after a call for Thanksgiving donations was put out, the community response just wasn't great enough to fulfill the local need, said Dana Wilkie, president and CEO of the Community Food Bank in Fresno.
"It was wonderful and generous, but I think it came a little too late and it just wasn't enough," she said.
After turning away at least 500 people last year, the food bank planned to give away 1,500 meal boxes Tuesday to families who signed up for them weeks ago, Wilkie said.
But many still walked away empty-handed.
"We could have given away 750 more meal boxes if we had had enough donations," she said. "We were turning people away last week, people who were calling in for days."
Church organizations and other nonprofit groups that rely on Community Food Bank for food for their own Thanksgiving meal distributions also are suffering, Wilkie said.
"Our partner agencies have had to turn people away," she said. "I don't know of anybody who has enough food to meet the need right now."
At Fresno Metro Ministries, receptionist Renae Muñiz said the organization is receiving many calls from people who report that there are far fewer resources this year for those in need.
The ministry does not distribute food and other items directly to the public, Muñiz said; instead it acts as a hub for other organizations.
People call as a last resort when other charitable organizations have exhausted their supplies.
He said the costs of housing, fuel and other items are having an impact on people's ability to give.
The shortages didn't stop the annual homeless Thanksgiving dinner by Bread of Life ministries.
Organizers said donations didn't start coming in until Monday, but with the help of two churches -- Liberty Christian Fellowship of Fresno, and Yosemite Lakes Community Church -- they were able to feed 400 people at Fresno's Roeding Park.
"Without their help there would have been a lot more hungry people," Patricia Rivera said. "And not just homeless people. There were women and children who just need extra help as well."
Diana Yepez has depended on the Bread of Life Ministries for Thanksgiving for years.
Yepez, who has 13 children, lives on $1,000 a month.
"This is my kids' Thanksgiving," Yepez said. "I get food stamps, but it's still hard to find a way to feed the kids." ...photo and full article: http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/21342...
This is from the article posted awhile back. Underestimating these people is as serious are underestimating the RW in CA. They are driven by negative passion and the *rightness* of their cause, and that makes them both dangerous and likely to succeed. And they are sticking with the bush doctrine of destruction...anything to bring jesus back. Won't they be surprised.
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BLACKWATER, the secretive private army now emerging into public view, is a perfect hinge linking two key elements of the Republican political base: America's war machine and a muscular form of fundamentalist Christianity.
(snip)
Blackwater is the private empire of billionaire Erik Prince, a major Republican fundraiser and bankroller of several fundamentalist Christian organizations. His private army employs some 2,300 active gunners and boasts a register of 21,000 ready to serve on call. He has the largest privately held arsenal in the country and the expertise and firepower to bring down a small country.
(snip)
In Prince, the Republicans' radical Christian base is wed to the war-machine base, the one providing votes and manpower, the other providing campaign funds.The resulting combination is one of rigid ideology and eagerness to solve any problem with overwhelming force. The Bush administration convinced itself its views on Iraq were right, pushing aside contrary evidence, then failed to think beyond "shock and awe," with resultant horrors.
please recommend: http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/23060...
19. Phil Specht
Wed, 11/21/07
3:55 am
Edwards has turned on the DLC and joined our side or I for sure would not be backing him. eh? sitka
You have no no credibility with me in your judgement of people since you said, "I looked into his [Edward's] eyes and took the measure of the man." It was little too much like Bush looking into Putin's soul.
I also remember you once praising Condi Rice for some sham ME intiative.
As for Edwards and the DLC, the article I posted backthread spoke of them as a trojan horse within the Democratic Party. Based on his not very past record, that's what Edwards is.
It's 2:30 PM
Joan jumped on me for calling the blog techies morons.
In my defense, they can't be very smart if they can't keep the server clock close to actual time--it ain't rocket science.
It's now 2:32
AHEM, NANCY.............
With a key White House aide now reporting that the President and VP conspired to out CIA agent Plame and then to obstruct a criminal investigation of that outing, impeachment is required.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_dave_lin_071122_impeachment_on_the_t.htm
Joan jumped on me for calling the blog techies morons.
That was way over the top. I would have too if I'd been there. But you're hardly alone in making a big fuss about an irrelevancy.
I also expect that many who work for DFA are volunteers, or virtually so, and deserve more gratitiude from us than personal insults over a clock.
Repeat: HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY EVERYONE.
First: Mny thanks to our military who served everywhere in every conflict.
Second: Many thanks to those who lovingly provide the food on our table, pay the bills and provide care in raising the children.
Last but not least: Thanks to Howard Dean for being who he is.
Dodd/Obama 2008
Impeachment would also embarrass the RW nutcases and might slow down their frentic attempts to bring jesus back by destroying the world.
I, for you, will write and call Pelosi on Monday and say not so pretty things to her, among which will be telling her to either uphold the Constitution or resign.
HQ, could we have a thread about this please? With phone numbers and email addys like we had with the Feinstein Fiasco?
IMO DFA needs to get behind impeachment in a very in your face way.
FOCUS | Joseph L. Galloway: Good Riddance to Them All
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112207Y.shtml
Joseph L. Galloway of McClatchy Newspapers writes that, "There was little for the unindicted co-conspirators of the Bush administration to give thanks for this week as the clock winds down on the 14 months they have left in power. With former White House press secretary Scott McClellan spilling the beans on who told him to lie to the American people and cover up the White House's responsibility for the criminal act of revealing the identity of a covert CIA officer, it clearly was time for some folks to begin drafting their requests for presidential pardons."
What's everyone doing today? My family is over at the beach (about 2 hours) and I stayed home. Cooked a turkey breast and all the other stuff and ate it. Then whipped some cream and dog and I each licked a beater. Then ate a teeny weeny little piece :~) of apple and pumpkin pie. Now I'm finally going to get a bath and get cleaned up. Oh and watched a little parade and a lot of dog show. I was rooting for that beagle - his face was so earnest but the Australian Shepherd won.
Annilow, I'm also staying home and want to start building a website or start painting or just read and watch "Ugly Betty" tonight. "Rear Window" is also on today and I love that movie and certainly Stewart and Kelly.
Right now off to the store. I'm making turkey soup for me and a friend across the way.
I'm not quite ready to dance again, but soon.....
seashell :-)
Thu, 11/22/07
3:13 pm
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Also, Survivor China is on tonite............Ive already had my cigar with a rum&coke on the front porch...................
seashell I am about to watch Rear Window too. Plus I bought a pumpkin cheesecake. Never had one before, but I figured I couldn't go wrong loving both pumpkin and cheesecake.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
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I have many thinkgs to be thankful for, but right now, I am so thankful that it looks as if the ISP provider has successfully been changed and I now have ADSL again.
It's been iffy for the past couple weeks and on Tuesday, I lost in entirely. But after a detailed run-through by a customer service rep who really earned his paycheck today, I have been able to see and speak with the family. Unfortunately for me (nice for him), my built-in tech support is spending Thansgiving in MD. I had resigned myself to having to wait for his return.
So I am very thankful. And I am especially thankful for the tons of photos taken today of the grandbaby, who is growing up so fast!
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sea: in my skim-through of past threads, I noticed your question about Skype. Yes, we've been hooked up to Skype for ages and have conducted some interesting conference calls, most recently one linking the US, Europe and Asia. Wonder whether we are driving the NSA nuts! LOL
Our main PC here doesn't have the video feature (we haven't gotten around to getting a camera), but my little laptop has a built-in camera, so that when I call someone on Skype from the laptop who also has the Skype video feature, we can see each other when we talk. It's an absolute must for those whose lifestyles require lots of physical separation.
So I am also thankful about Skype.
Joan jumped on me for calling the blog techies morons.
That was way over the top. I would have too if I'd been there. But you're hardly alone in making a big fuss about an irrelevancy.
[I didn't make make myself clear enough. I would have jumped on you too for calling the good people who work at DFA such an insulting epithet. They deserve gratitude and praise instead.
btw, one English-language movie currently showing here (la Suisse) is "JFK." It's on one of the Italian channels, so the other language is Italian.
Given what we know about the antics of putzCO (who did not spring fully formed out of the political landscape), the conspiracy theories about JFK's death don't sound quite so ridiculous any more.
We've just finished our turkey dinner without too much fuss. One grandson is now fourteen and beginning to speak like an adult, sometimes. It's fun to see him become more socially aware and gain a little objectivity.
Anyway, I think that what private corporations and establishments of religion have in common is the ability to operate in secrecy. In a sense, they're being co-opted.
Now that share-holders are becoming more opinionated, the churches and charitable foundations are by far the most "secure" environments for malevolent behavior. While I used to be concerned that religious institutions would be coercive in their social service endeavors, I'm now more concerned that these enterprises are just being used as a front, a way to disguise where the money is going and coming from.
sitka ... hear, hear!
None of us would be able to be on the blog at all without their efforts.
Hope that they are all enjoying turkey with their loved ones.
What's everyone doing today?
I biked to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, ran 3 miles and then biked back home. Then I took my daughter to the park where she rollerbladed and rode her bike. We also walked, ran, and did the playground. We'll have dinner later, nothing elaborate.
None of us would be able to be on the blog at all without their efforts.
THREE CHEERS FOR THE BLOG STAFF!
HIP HIP HOORAY!
HIP HIP HOORAY!
HIP HIP HOORAY!
Just to be more precise with my statement a couple posts back ...
Given what we know about the antics of putzCO (who did not spring fully formed FROM NOTHING out of the political landscape), the conspiracy theories about JFK's death don't sound quite so ridiculous any more.
...
There are some very nasty creatures out there that are pulling the strings ... and most of them we can only surmise about.
People who do keep digging for the truth have a way of turning up dead.
Sheesh, Sitka, I think that I burned a couple of calories off just reading your post.
Enjoy your dinner. You have certainly earned it.
People who do keep digging for the truth have a way of turning up dead.
"Michael, senators and presidents don't have people killed!"
I think that I burned a couple of calories off just reading your post.
According to my heart rate monitor, I burned 1250. But the trick is always to not eat them right back.
My day was mostly spent in communicating with all those who are not here with me, not as active as Sitka's nor as delicious-sounding as pumpkin cheesecake.
Then I am trying to get myself psyched up for figuratively getting back in the saddle again next week. This retirement business is easy to settle into, but it has been quite busy so far.
But it will only be for a short ride. Another thing that I'm thankful for is that the administrative hurdles relating to my working here as an independent are now behind me. That is no small thing.
Of course, for the privilege of being "regularized," I will also have to pay taxes here, but it's a fair bargain, IMHO.
Judy, here's some info on the Bohemian Grove .... the power behind the scenes which likely rules our country, possible the world. There's much to read here.
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The Bohemian Club's membership includes many artists, particularly musicians, as well as many prominent business leaders, government officials (including some U.S. presidents), and senior media executives. As a measure of the club's exclusivity, it is reported the waiting list for membership is from 15 to 20 years, though a fast track, three-year membership process is possible, but two current members must sponsor the prospective member. An initiation fee of $25,000 as of 2006 is required in addition to yearly membership dues. Elected members are allowed to prorate the initiation fee into equal annual payments until they reach the age of 45.
After 40 years of membership the men earn "Old Guard" status, giving them reserved seating at the Grove's daily talks, as well as other perquisites. Members may also invite guests to the Grove although those guests are subject to a rigorous screening procedure. Guests come from across America and overseas. Californian guests are generally limited to attendance at the "Spring Jinxes", in June, preceding the main July encampment.
The Grove motto is "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here", which implies that outside concerns and business deals are to be left outside. However, there is demonstrable evidence of political and business deals having been developed at the Grove. The Grove is particularly famous for a Manhattan Project planning meeting that took place there in September of 1942, which subsequently led to the atomic bomb. Those attending this meeting, apart from Ernest Lawrence and military officials, included the president of Harvard and representatives of Standard Oil and General Electric. Grove members take particular pride in this event and often relate the story to new attendees.[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_Grove
Wow, the last post of mine is number 36. Blog messed up more than usual.
Judy, here's some info on the Bohemian Grove .... the power behind the scenes which likely rules our country, possible the world. There's much to read here.
*******************************************
The Bohemian Club's membership includes many artists, particularly musicians, as well as many prominent business leaders, government officials (including some U.S. presidents), and senior media executives. As a measure of the club's exclusivity, it is reported the waiting list for membership is from 15 to 20 years, though a fast track, three-year membership process is possible, but two current members must sponsor the prospective member. An initiation fee of $25,000 as of 2006 is required in addition to yearly membership dues. Elected members are allowed to prorate the initiation fee into equal annual payments until they reach the age of 45.
After 40 years of membership the men earn "Old Guard" status, giving them reserved seating at the Grove's daily talks, as well as other perquisites. Members may also invite guests to the Grove although those guests are subject to a rigorous screening procedure. Guests come from across America and overseas. Californian guests are generally limited to attendance at the "Spring Jinxes", in June, preceding the main July encampment.
The Grove motto is "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here", which implies that outside concerns and business deals are to be left outside. However, there is demonstrable evidence of political and business deals having been developed at the Grove. The Grove is particularly famous for a Manhattan Project planning meeting that took place there in September of 1942, which subsequently led to the atomic bomb. Those attending this meeting, apart from Ernest Lawrence and military officials, included the president of Harvard and representatives of Standard Oil and General Electric. Grove members take particular pride in this event and often relate the story to new attendees.[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemian_GroveThat trick is definitely a tough one.
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Despite the thread post (and did this thread miss being properly "Howarded"?), here is a recent post and discussion over at DU that is not quite so sanguine about who is winning in this CA electoral battle.
====================
The name game continues in California: Odds increasing that electoral initiative will qualify
Backers of a California initiative that could significantly aid the next Republican presidential nominee said today they're still collecting signatures to qualify it for the state's ballot in June, terming as premature reports that they have wrapped up the process. "The goal is to be completed by Dec. 1," Mike Arno, the contractor heading the signature-gathering effort, told The Times' Dan Morain. He added that "people are still out working" and circulating petitions.
To qualify the measure, its supporters must obtain signatures from 434,000 registered California voters. They say they have obtained roughly that number of names, but inevitably many will be disqualified when state officials vet the petitions, often because the signers are not registered to vote. So to ensure they reach the required mark, the initiative supporters aim to amass about 700,000 signatures....
***
Morain reports that the initiative's backers filed a campaign finance statement late Tuesday showing they had garnered more than $500,000 in donations to their cause in recent weeks, pushing their total to about $1.2 million. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) donated $50,000, raising his total contribution to $100,000.
The measure's main financial angel has been Paul Singer, who also is a major money man for Republican Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid. Other prominent Giuliani supporters are playing key roles in pushing the initiative, causing its opponents to file complaints with federal officials charging the Giuliani campaign with masterminding the measure....
With odds increasing that the initiative will qualify for the ballot, Chris Lehane, a San Francisco-based Democratic activist leading the campaign to derail it, issued the following statement today: "The power-grabbers are pursuing a lose-lose-lose strategy: It will lose at the ballot box, where it is polling below 30%; it will be a loser for the Republican Party, as it will brand the GOP as the party of presidential hijackers; and it will be a loser for Rudy Giuliani, whose close connections to the initiative will only further define him as someone who puts the raw, crass pursuit of power before the best interests of the country."...
[...]
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt...
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Here's the DU discussion.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/dis...
Also over on DU ... what I'd like to see a LOT more of and I'd really be happy if the callers would include Pelosi and Reid.
=================
Jack Cafferty just called for Bush's Impeachment On CNN
http://www.democraticunderground.com/dis...
more Grove info.
The members stay in different camps at the Grove, which have varying status levels. Members & frequent guests of the most prestigious camp (Mandalay) include: Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, S. D. Bechtel, Jr., Thomas Watson Jr. (IBM), Phillip Hawley (B of A), William Casey (CIA). and Ralph Bailey (Dupont). George Bush resides in a less prestigious camp (Hillbillies) with A. W. Clausen (World Bank), Walter Cronkite, and William F. Buckley.
What activities take place at the grove? The grove is the site of a two week retreat every July (as well as other smaller get-togethers throughout the year). At these retreats, the members commune with nature in a truly original way. They drink heavily from morning through the night, bask in their freedom to urinate on the redwoods, and perform pagan rituals (including the "Cremation of Care", in which the members wearing red-hooded robes, cremate a coffin effigy of "Dull Care" at the base of a 40 foot owl altar). Some (20%) engage in homosexual activity (but few of them support gay rights or AIDS research). They watch (and participate in) plays and comedy shows in which women are portrayed by male actors. Although women are not allowed in the Grove, members often leave at night to enjoy the company of the many prostitutes who come from around the world for this event. Is any of this hard to believe? Employees of the Grove have said that no verbal description can accurately portray the bizarre behavior of the Grove's inhabitants.
Besides this type of merriment. the annual gathering serves as an informational clearing house for the elite. The most powerful men in the country do their "networking" here, despite the Grove's motto "weaving spiders come not here" (don't do business in the Grove). At these gatherings men representing the government, military-industrial, and financial sectors meet and make major policy decisions. The Manhattan project, which produced the first atomic bombs, was conceived at the Grove in 1942.
The members stay in different camps at the Grove, which have varying status levels. Members & frequent guests of the most prestigious camp (Mandalay) include: Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, S. D. Bechtel, Jr., Thomas Watson Jr. (IBM), Phillip Hawley (B of A), William Casey (CIA). and Ralph Bailey (Dupont). George Bush resides in a less prestigious camp (Hillbillies) with A. W. Clausen (World Bank), Walter Cronkite, and William F. Buckley.
What activities take place at the grove? The grove is the site of a two week retreat every July (as well as other smaller get-togethers throughout the year). At these retreats, the members commune with nature in a truly original way. They drink heavily from morning through the night, bask in their freedom to urinate on the redwoods, and perform pagan rituals (including the "Cremation of Care", in which the members wearing red-hooded robes, cremate a coffin effigy of "Dull Care" at the base of a 40 foot owl altar). Some (20%) engage in homosexual activity (but few of them support gay rights or AIDS research). They watch (and participate in) plays and comedy shows in which women are portrayed by male actors. Although women are not allowed in the Grove, members often leave at night to enjoy the company of the many prostitutes who come from around the world for this event. Is any of this hard to believe? Employees of the Grove have said that no verbal description can accurately portray the bizarre behavior of the Grove's inhabitants.
Besides this type of merriment. the annual gathering serves as an informational clearing house for the elite. The most powerful men in the country do their "networking" here, despite the Grove's motto "weaving spiders come not here" (don't do business in the Grove). At these gatherings men representing the government, military-industrial, and financial sectors meet and make major policy decisions. The Manhattan project, which produced the first atomic bombs, was conceived at the Grove in 1942. Other decisions made at the Grove include who our presidential candidates will be. There are speeches, known as "Lakeside Talks", wherein high-ranking officials disseminate information which is not available to the public-at-large.
What are the topics of discussion at the Lakeside Talks?
What's not right about this? When powerful people work together, they become even more powerful. The Grove membership is wealthy, and becoming more so, while the middle class is steadily becoming poorer. This close-knit group determines whether prices rise or fall (by their control of the banking system, money supply, and markets), and they make money whichever way markets fluctuate. They determine what our rights are and which laws have effect, by appointing judges. They decide who our highest officials shall be by consensus among themselves, and then selling candidates to us via the media which they own. Important issues and facts are omitted from discussion in the press, or slanted to suit their goals, but they are discussed frankly at the Grove. Is there true democracy when so much power is concentrated in so few hands? Is there any real difference between the public and private sectors when cabinet members come from the boardrooms of large corporations? Is the spending of billions on weapons, which are by consensus no longer needed, really the will of the people? Or is it the will of General Electric, General Dynamics, and the other weapons contractors represented at the Grove?
What can I do to make a difference? Educate yourself about the Grove and it's inhabitants, and the true nature of the power structure in the world. Then educate your friends. Since most major newspapers and broadcast stations are owned by "insiders", be wary of everything you hear in the press. If you can, participate in protest activities during the July retreat.
How do I get more information about the Grove? Send a note to: Bohemian Grove Action Network, P.O. Box 296, Occidental CA 95465. A $5 donation to cover printing and mailing costs is requested.
There are speeches, known as "Lakeside Talks", wherein high-ranking officials disseminate information which is not available to the public-at-large.
What are the topics of discussion at the Lakeside Talks?
What's not right about this? When powerful people work together, they become even more powerful. The Grove membership is wealthy, and becoming more so, while the middle class is steadily becoming poorer. This close-knit group determines whether prices rise or fall (by their control of the banking system, money supply, and markets), and they make money whichever way markets fluctuate. They determine what our rights are and which laws have effect, by appointing judges. They decide who our highest officials shall be by consensus among themselves, and then selling candidates to us via the media which they own. Important issues and facts are omitted from discussion in the press, or slanted to suit their goals, but they are discussed frankly at the Grove. Is there true democracy when so much power is concentrated in so few hands? Is there any real difference between the public and private sectors when cabinet members come from the boardrooms of large corporations? Is the spending of billions on weapons, which are by consensus no longer needed, really the will of the people? Or is it the will of General Electric, General Dynamics, and the other weapons contractors represented at the Grove?
What can I do to make a difference? Educate yourself about the Grove and it's inhabitants, and the true nature of the power structure in the world. Then educate your friends. Since most major newspapers and broadcast stations are owned by "insiders", be wary of everything you hear in the press. If you can, participate in protest activities during the July retreat.
How do I get more information about the Grove? Send a note to: Bohemian Grove Action Network, P.O. Box 296, Occidental CA 95465. A $5 donation to cover printing and mailing costs is requested.
http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.com/bohos/bohofact.html
The enemy is US and OURS, I'm afraid.
================
Iraq's foreign militants 'come from US allies'
Peter Walker
Thursday November 22, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
Around 60% of all foreign militants who entered Iraq to fight over the past year came from Saudi Arabia and Libya, according to files seized by American forces at a desert camp.
The files listed the nationalities and biographical details of more than 700 fighters who crossed into Iraq from August last year, around half of whom came to the country to be suicide bombers, the New York Times reported today.
In all, 305, or 41%, of the fighters listed were from Saudi Arabia. Another 137, or 18%, came from Libya. Both countries are officially US allies in anti-terrorism efforts.
In contrast, 56 Syrians were listed and no Lebanese. Previously, US officials estimated that around a fifth of all foreign fighters in Iraq came from these two countries.
US officials have also long complained about Iranian interference in the affairs of its neighbour, accusing Tehran of shipping weapons for militants over the border. However, any assistance does not appear to extend to people, the paper said, reporting that, of around 25,000 suspected militants in US custody in Iraq, 11 were Iranian. No Iranians were listed among the fighters whose details were found.
The information came from files and computers seized in September when US forces raided a camp in the desert near Sinjar, a small town in north-west Iraq, close to the Syrian border. It was believed the camp was the base for an insurgent cell responsible for smuggling the vast majority of foreign fighters into Iraq.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,33134...
Just popping in to wish y'all a happy Thanksgiving. We are far flung, but still a family, no matter how disfunctional at (frequent) times.
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By Susan Rowe on Nov 22, 2007 11:39 AM EST...Chris Lehane, a San Francisco-based Democratic "activist"?
You've got to be kidding.
About Chris Lehane the Trained Political Operative: http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.ph... more http://www.nndb.com/people/595/000135190...
Clinton Unleashes Attack Dog Chris Lehane on Obama: http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/6/12/0171...
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The Education of Alexandra Polier
...As I continued to try to understand what had happened, I found that shortly after his first story, Drudge had posted a leaked private e-mail from Craig Crawford, a political columnist at The Congressional Quarterly, to some colleagues at MSNBC: “Drudge item on Kerry intern issue is something Chris Lehane has shopped around for a long time.” Drudge quickly dropped the posting, and Lehane complained to Crawford that it wasn’t true, but Lehane’s name was familiar to me. I knew he was feared by rival campaigns as a master of the black art of leaking political-opposition research. A former spokesman for the Kerry campaign, he had quit amid some acrimony and gone to work as a strategist for Clark. ... full story: http://nymag.com/nymag/features/coversto...
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http://pajamasmedia.com/xpress/billbradl...
Schwarzenegger seems to view this all as part of the dance of negotiation. The problem for him, and for labor, and legislative Democrats, is the issue has dragged on so long it’s begun to be a bore.
Then there’s the issue of how similar Schwarzenegger’s plan is to that of … Hillary Clinton. Nunez and Villaraigosa are national co-chairs of the Clinton campaign. Lehane just did some work on Clinton’s behalf helping unmask the Republican scheme to change the allocation of California’s electoral college votes.
Lehane, incidentally, who is a prime source for a couple of big conventional newspapers and celebrated as a result, worked for then Governor Gray Davis during the electric power crisis. He also worked for Southern California Edison, the utility seeking a state bailout. And worked out of the Governor’s Office in the process. Until I asked him about the obvious conflict of interest.
He explained to me that there was no conflict of interest. “The governor and Edison have the same energy policy.” After Gray Davis read that, he fired Lehane.
Nationally, SEIU is neutral on the presidential race, noting the strength of Clinton. But California SEIU is more to the left, backing John Edwards.
There is both more — and perhaps ultimately less — to this than meets the eye.
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Labor splits; Dems worried
...Dem consultant Chris Lehane hits it on the head, "The approach represented by progressive reform organizations like the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) represents the future — they grow in size, they have fresh ideas, they understand message in the media age, they connect with the middle class," said Democratic strategist Chris Lehane.... full article: http://dos-centavos.blogspot.com/2005/07...
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MWO WEIGHS IN
Comments like Dean's, if distorted as Lehane distorted them, ordinarily would be highly damaging if not lethal to most candidates. But what has many Democrats so enthusiastic about Howard Dean is his unmatched ability to expose disingenuousness and distortion tactics of both opponents and the media.... full post: http://www.blogforamerica.com/archives/2...
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AFSCME and SEIU announced their joint endorsement of Howard DeanAFSCME and SEIU announced their joint endorsement of Howard Dean. ... "He was assassinated by Bill and Hillary with the assistance of Chris Lehane, ... http//:www.stargeek.com/item/25704.html