PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE 2013 WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT'S DINNER

FINALLY OBAMA GETS IT WITH IMMELT

While President Obama still has a lot to learn in regards to banks and the financial sector; he clearly understands that one of the ways (and it's going to take a lot) to dig this nation out of the hole we're in, is with a company like GE, and a CEO like Jeffrey Immelt. [Immelt ... we forgive you for your past mistakes because we believe you care about the American people; ... and Immelt, ... let's concentrate less on military and outsourcing, and more on American jobs, domestic and international peace and tranquility, and the environment].

We bet a whole bunch of you Clevelanders (and New Yorkers, etc.) have relatives who work for, or worked for GE; and GE respects its unions (or did -not sure what's going on now).

The focus definitely should be on jobs, innovative products, great exports and making the Middle Class strong again. We definitely like Immelt's focus. It's a shame the GOP is wasting tax-payer money on destructive and futile efforts, and trying to gain political points ... but they never learn; and unfortunately, Americans pay the price.

As for the blood sucking corporate globalizers who only care about profits and not people ... We've got news for you. We're urging all the average, ordinary citizens of the world to unionize to stop these global blood suckers from exploiting your country and your labor. Make them act responsibly, and make them pay their fair share.

UPDATE March 25, 2011 / GE IS NOW ON OUR WALL OF SHAME:

Today's Plutocracy Post: GE Doesn't Pay Taxes -- Taxpayers Pay GE | OurFuture.org
by Dave Johnson

There's nothing wrong with unions. For instance, we don't know anyone who objects to the screen actor's guild ... and wasn't the union buster, Ronald Reagan, president of the screen actor's guild? We guys don't mind paying more to see a movie if we can afford it ... emphasis on "afford it". You definitely can't afford it on low wages.

People all over the world ... please don't let the GOP, or anyone, or any country, or any organization, stop you from forming a strong union. NO ONE! Unions must globalize to lift the standard of living for people everywhere.

Jeffrey Immelt To Head President's Council On Jobs And Competitiveness by Jim Kuhnhenn, January 21, 2011

Ronald Reagan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Immelt now says GE's future lies in the past - Times Union by Steve Lohr, December 5, 2010

GE's Jeffrey Immelt to Obama: Focus on jobs, economy - Jul. 15, 2010 by Adam Lashinsky, July 16, 2010


Immelt Appointment Has Labor Worried, But Mostly Quiet by Sam Stein, January 21, 2011

Why Do People Who Work in Finance Earn So Much More Than the Rest of Us? | | AlterNet by Les Leopold, January 21, 2011

aflcio.org - America's Union Movement

Open Left:: It's Not "Competition," Stupid - It's the Difference In Wages/Standards by David Sirota, January 25, 2011


Business Is Booming | The American Prospect by Harold Meyerson, January 28, 2011


Financial Crisis Was Avoidable, Inquiry Concludes - NYTimes.com by Sewell Chan, January 25, 2011


The Reagan Ruins | OurFuture.org by Robert Borosage, February 1, 2011

*****"The Looting of America" by Les Leopold*******

TO BE FURTHER EDITED

PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAKS AT TUCSON, AND REVELATIONS ABOUT JARED LOUGHNER

VIDEO ALSO VIEWED AT: MOVEON.ORG

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President Obama speaks at Tucson Together We Thrive - video and pictures by Christine Nyholm
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UPDATE JANUARY 16, 2011: READ THE LATEST NEWS ON HUFFINGTON POST

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READ ABOUT VICTIMS AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40981099/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

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CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN (DECEASED) READ MORE
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U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE JOHN M. ROLL (DECEASED)
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DORWIN STODDARD (DECEASED)
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MAVANELL "MAVY" STODDARD
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DOROTHY MORRIS (DECEASED)
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GEORGE MORRIS
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U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS
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GABE ZIMMERMAN (DECEASED)
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PHYLLIS SCHNECK (DECEASED)
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BILL BADGER
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RON BARBER
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PAMELA SIMON
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ERIC FULLER
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SUSAN HILEMAN
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Pima Sheriff Releases Names of the Deceased in Tucson Shooting ...

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SHOOTER: JARED LOUGHNER
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JARED LOUGHNER TIMELINE BEFORE SHOOTING
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INFO ON LOUGHNER FROM HUFFINGTONPOST
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TUCSON SHOOTING SUSPECT WAS PULLED OVER DAY OF ATTACK
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JARED LOUGHNER: THE FRIGHTENING YOUTUBE VIDEOS [AN ADVERTISEMENT IS BEFORE EACH VIDEO] SEE ALSO THE RELATED POSTS ON THAT PAGE

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ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/jared-lee-loughner-suspected-gabrielle-giffords-shooter-school/story?id=12575278

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DEBT KILLS

Republicans love to talk about the deficit; however, they don't seem to mind American families and individuals living in debt, ... enough debt to cause relentless worry, and will psychologically and financially (and perhaps physically) kill you.

Why is it that so many of us are dealing with mounting debt?

Well, thanks to Republicans /conservatives /corporate Democrats /big corporations /big banks /hedge fund managers /and the Feds previous and current policies, speculation and legislation*, the American family and individual (because of these policies/speculation/legislation and low wages) is forced to either work 2 to 3 jobs just to pay for food, clothing, insurance, taxes, shelter, education, health care, transportation, etc.; and/or have to finance these things using credit cards and/or refinance the house (if you have one with equity, and you have good credit); and/or have to do without two or more of the necessities.

This is insane.

Most likely you won't have good health care because you won't be able to afford health insurance; and/or you'll do without a good education for yourself or your children; and/or you'll have no life insurance if a bread winner dies; and/or you may end up homeless, or in substandard housing and drive a beat up (death trap) under-insured automobile (because you won't be able to afford to have that car fixed, or a newer car or other modes of transportation), and etc.

Americans should be outraged ... they should be demanding that corrupt politicians/bankers/hedge fund managers (and others who are responsible for gutting the economy) go to jail, ... and they should be listening to economist Joseph Stiglitz, and professor Michael Hudson, and Max Keiser ... however, what do they do (?), they fire progressive Democrats (like Russ Feingold and Alan Grayson) and hire Republicans.

Again, are you insane?

Anyway, it's a never ending cycle of debt that Republicans/conservatives will not address or fix because they don't want to address low wages, affordable good health care, affordable good education, war and war expenditures, the financial mess on Wall Street, or anything that really matters. They simply want to cut federal spending (which in today's economy has disastrous consequences), repeal health insurance reform legislation, impeach President Obama, and hand everything over to private business and industries and hope for the best. Well, sorry, beside that being a self indulgent, asinine prescription for what ails the economy and Americans, that prescription will not work.**

Maybe I should have called this post, "Debt Kills, and Republicans have no Real Fixes for what ails Americans or the Economy."
In fact, they haven't got a clue how to fix it!

Whenever unbridled "Capitalism 201 Gone Wild" comes to town (and it's been here for way too long), debt becomes the only thing that keeps you and our capitalistic system afloat; however, that debt will eventually kill you (and our capitalistic system) in too many ways to count.

Welcome to America.



Update: November 10, 2010As the Country Falls Apart, It's Time for Our Revolution | | AlterNet by Ted Rall

How the Wealthy Organized to Rip Everyone Else off -- And What You Can Do to Stop It | | AlterNet by Maria Armoudian (Nov. 10, 2010)

Dylan Ratigan, November 8, 2010 / The Great Divergence

Rachel interviews Elizabeth Warren






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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Update: Rethinking How Much We Spend (Nov. 18, 2010)

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*New 600B Fed Stimulus Fuels Fears of US Currency (Democracy Now, Nov. 5th 2010 - professor Michael Hudson starts speaking 9 minutes into the above video)



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**Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz: Foreclosure Moratorium, Government Stimulus Needed to Revive US Economy , (Democracy Now, October 20, 2010, Stiglitz starts speaking about 13 minutes into the above video)

Make sure you also watch The Keiser Report.

PRESIDENT OBAMA ON THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Barack Obama Pt. 1
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Barack Obama Pt. 2
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Barack Obama Pt. 3
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity

THEATER OF THE WEIRD AND ABSURD!!

UPDATE: September 10, 2010, 9:14pm, added Jason Linkins article (see end of post) about the Media's irresponsible behavior in ginning up the public (and international community) over the proposed "Qur'an burning" stunt, the so called "Ground Zero Mosque"; and how they've allowed the far-right, fringe groups, and politicians with ulterior motives, take over the airwaves.

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WATCH and READ!!
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CRAZY CALLS FOR COVERAGE
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ABOVE CAN BE SEEN AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39089442
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WEIRD WHITEWASH
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy-

ABOVE CAN BE SEEN AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39089476
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CHRISTINE O'DONNELL (TOO WEIRD)



ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE SEEN AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39089547
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CRAZY GOP CANDIDATE - PHIL DAVISON
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#39089644
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DONNY DEUTSCH, PAT BUCHANAN GONE WILD
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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe#39094786
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THE LAWRENCE O'DONNELL AND PAT BUCHANAN CONFLICT LINGERS ON - BUT HOW DID EUGENE ROBINSON GET SUCKED INTO IT? (SMILE)

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ABOVE VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED AT: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe#39095265
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=
I JUST HAD TO INCLUDE THIS:

Quran Burning Story: This is How the Media Embarrass Themselves"
by Jason Linkins

"Yesterday afternoon, the leader of a microscopic cult of idiots who announced plans to stage an "international" day of Quran burning in Gainesville, Florida held a press conference, for a rapt media which decided that his moronic plans were the single most important thing going on in America. At that press conference, in front of "9/11 Truther" signs, this cult leader lied to everyone who was watching, telling them that he was going to call off his 9/11 book burning festival because he had successfully reached a deal with the people behind the Park51 community center in Lower Manhattan, in which they would move their facility away from the site of the World Trade Center.

Not a word of this was true, but it was amazing, all the same -- at one fell swoop, we had finally knit up the strands of a season of irrationality into one big, shiny, synergized knot. This was supposed to be the end of Recovery Summer? More like Relapse Summer.

The story of how one lone idiot, pimping an 18th-century brand of community terrorism, held the media hostage and forced some of this nation's most powerful people to their knees to fitfully beg an end to his wackdoodlery is an extraordinary one. It's a modern media retelling of Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying", in which a gang of Islamaphobes, cast in the role of Addie Bundren, bamboozle the media into carrying their coffin full of malevolence on a journey of pure debasement. Let's begin at the beginning.

Earlier this year, an organization called the Cordoba Initiative were granted permission by the appropriate authorities in New York City to turn an old Burlington Coat Factory at 51 Park Place in lower Manhattan into a community center. The organization was headed by an Imam named Feisal Abdul Rauf, who has made it his life's work to stand against radical cults like al Qaeda and teach young Muslims that America is a place where one can freely worship at the appointed times and then join other faith communities in America in the task of building a great nation. The proposed community center was to include a basketball court and space for different religious communities in New York City to have interfaith relations. It was also going to have a place for Muslims to pray, if they liked.

The news didn't sit well with many people in New York, most notably people who didn't live in Manhattan. This is because they were told by a gaggle of dumb Islamophobes that what was planned was a "Ground Zero mosque." Of course, the planned community center was not, strictly speaking, a "mosque." And it was most definitely not "at Ground Zero." "Ground Zero" is the site of an interminable municipal construction project. There are no plans to build a mosque there. "Ground Zero" is also not the name of a recognized New York City neighborhood, like DUMBO or Murray Hill. But, here's the thing: even if it was, the battle to stop the "Ground Zero mosque" was already lost, because there already is a mosque in that neighborhood.

This logic failed to sink in, because very few people outside of me and the good people over at Wonkette made any attempt to bring these facts to light. But it might not have mattered, because the fertile field of opposition to the Park51 community center was the raw wound of the September 11th attacks. Obviously, many people are still feeling the loss of that day. And that loss breeds many emotions, among them sadness and anger. And people definitely do have the right to express their sadness and their anger. But what people don't have the right to expect is that the government will intervene to remedy claims that have no basis in law.

As soon as the media saw themselves a shiny shiny shining thing shining shinily in New York City, they pounced! How perfect! Something for us to talk about during the slow-news summer! I mean, we could talk about the nation's unemployment crisis, but that would mean we'd have to talk to poor, jobless people, and there's no currency in having access to a bunch of poors. Right away, they accepted the premise that this was a "Ground Zero mosque," when it wasn't. And so, by the power vested in the media, things that weren't in fact true were accorded the privilege of being "one side of a great debate" and "an interesting point of view."

Story continues below

Charlie Brooker, calling out the media for this bullshit, states what should have happened at this very moment:

New York being a densely populated city, there are lots of other buildings and businesses within two blocks of Ground Zero, including a McDonald's and a Burger King, neither of which has yet been accused of serving milkshakes and fries on hallowed ground. Regardless, for the opponents of Cordoba House, two blocks is too close, period. Frustratingly, they haven't produced a map pinpointing precisely how close is OK.

That's literally all I'd ask them in an interview. I'd stand there pointing at a map of the city. Would it be offensive here? What about here? Or how about way over there? And when they finally picked a suitable spot, I'd ask them to draw it on the map, sketching out roughly how big it should be, and how many windows it's allowed to have. Then I'd hand them a colour swatch and ask them to decide on a colour for the lobby carpet. And the conversation would continue in this vein until everyone in the room was in tears. Myself included.

That hasn't happened. Instead, 70% of Americans are opposed to the "Ground Zero mosque", doubtless in many cases because they've been led to believe it literally is a mosque at Ground Zero. And if not...well, it must be something significant. Otherwise why would all these pundits be so angry about it? And why would anyone in the media listen to them with a straight face?

And because the media couldn't do their job, a group of hack politicians, like Rick Lazio and Newt Gingrich, desperate to get a little famewhore attention for their quixotic political career goals, saw an opportunity to horn in on the "discussion." They started telling all the sad and angry people that they actually did have the right to expect someone to provide a remedy to their claims. Their case was primarily based on the idea that nobody has the rights of religious freedom, no one has property rights and that the government has the right -- nay, the duty! -- to intrude.

Right away, they should have been entirely ridiculed, because the people pimping this bilge were primarily right-wing types who would ordinarily say that church and state should not be separated, that property rights are sacrosanct, and that government should be small and unobtrusive. Someone really should have said to Newt Gingrich, "Is this seriously the stand you want to take? Because if it is, we shall never allow you to claim to be a supporter of small government or a 'Constitutional constructionist' ever again. And if you try to assert that claim, we will drop on you like a ton of bricks. We will cause you real, public pain."

But of course, that's not what happened. The media has too much invested in flattering people like Newt Gingrich, and whoever writes Sarah Palin's tweets. And so, these inherent contradictions simply became "one side of a great debate" and "an interesting point of view."

And from there, some idiot news producer said, "Hey, I bet we can shoehorn this into our election narrative somehow!" And so the Park51 community center became an election issue. Imagine that, in a world with a nine year-long, going nowhere war and a massive unemployment crisis! Imagine how many times you would have to hit yourself in the head with a ball peen hammer before you would ask a politician from California how they stood on a local zoning issue in Manhattan.

But ask they did, all the way to the White House. And that's when Democrats like Harry Reid stepped forward to publicly cover themselves in cowardice. This turned the frenzy up several notches for the media, because suddenly, they had obtained a very precious thing -- the right to say "both sides do this." The matter had become a folie a deux -- a madness made for two! -- but the media focused all their attention on the "two" and none on the "madness."

And in that climate, a pastor named Terry Jones saw an opportunity to make himself famous. Jones heads up a heretofore unknown and uncared-about gang of Florida morons known as the Dove Outreach Church -- minor bit players in the field of antagonizing American Muslims. This idiot announced that he was going to burn some Qurans on September 11th, and was anyone interested in giving this nonsense a whole lot of media attention?

And boy howdy, lots of people took him up on the offer! And you know why they did that? Because of the shame. Because deep down, your media all-stars knew that they had aided and abetted something that closely resembled an intellectual atrocity, and now it was time to atone by finding the lowest-hanging fruit available and make themselves feel better by beating on them repeatedly for being assholes -- something they should have already been doing for months!

And this gave an opportunity for some of those who had opposed the Park51 community center -- who deserved the treatment being meted out to Terry Jones -- to do the same. They joined their friends in the media in this demonstration of game-show absolution, saying, "This level of bigotry is unacceptable! It's so declasse in comparison to our own bigotry, which is a refined, 'Sunday Afternoon On The Island Of La Grande Jatte' form of despicableness."

A few people, like John Boehner and whoever writes Sarah Palin's tweets went so far as to say, "See, this is exactly the same thing we were decrying with the Ground Zero mosque." Except it wasn't, because the Ground Zero mosque was a thing they had made up!

None of this bothered Terry Jones at all! Why should it? In the long history of fringe religious figures saying and doing stupid things, it is exceedingly rare for the media to provide much attention to them. Pat Robertson has been telling America that gay people cause hurricanes for years, and it never amounts to much in the way of coverage beyond a periodic reminder that Pat Robertson is a complete fool. Terry Jones, however, had been given something very precious: he was now "one side of a great debate" who possessed "an interesting point of view."

And the media worked very hard to push the case that Jones was part of a debate. Now, Quran burning was an election-year issue, for which every candidate had to answer. And they even went so far as to ask Jones repeatedly, "What if President Obama told you not to do this? What if former President George W. Bush told you not to do this?" They were literally brokering negotiations between an idiot cult leader and some of the most powerful and important people in the world!

By now, things were terribly out of control. President Obama had to publicly state that Quran burning is a stupid thing to do. Imagine how out of touch you have to be that you need to go all the way to the White House to find that answer! Other important people were compelled to interject at this point. General David Petraeus had to come forward and state the plainly obvious: that all the public attention being given to this Quran burning would undermine the ability of U.S. forces to conduct their counterinsurgency operations, which depend heavily on winning the "hearts and minds" of Afghans. I think a lot of people read this as Petraeus speaking out against the attention-seeker, Terry Jones. But I think he was speaking more directly to the attention-givers. And everything that Justin Elliot reports here, I believe, lends credence to my contention.

Eventually, Robert Gates -- the Secretary of Defense, who is running two wars! -- had to call Jones up and try to convince him not to do this. "Which is crazy," says Alex Pareene, accurately, because when, exactly, did the Pentagon start negotiating with two-bit terrorists?

All of this finally culminated with yesterday's press conference, where Terry Jones lied and said that the Park51 community center was going to move, thanks to him. You see where this is headed now, don't you? Now the people behind Park51 are on the hook for stopping this Quran burning, and all of the negative external impact it may have. Now, all of the refined hate-merchants from early in the story can say that if the "Ground Zero mosque" isn't moved, immediately, American troops could die!

To go back to Charlie Brooker, let's remember that after sizing up the incompetence that pervaded the Park51 coverage, he warned that the "media" should just "give up" before they "[made] things worse." Pretty prophetic, isn't it? They got played, and played badly, by a dude with 14th-century religious beliefs, 19th-century facial hair and ultra-modern media savvy. Terry Jones has essentially blackmailed some of the most important people in America, with the assistance of the media.

Let's remember that all of this paralysis was caused by 50 people who wanted to burn a book that's available for free, on the Internet!

There were many, many moments where someone could have simply said, "No, we should really not be doing this. These Islamophobes are objectively wrong, objectively stupid, objectively contradictory, objectively harmful, and by God, as someone with a functioning brain and a devotion to the pursuit of reason above all else, I am going to stand here and say no to all of this." But as it turns out, it wasn't until yesterday afternoon that someone finally had the guts to say maybe we cannot really believe a word this man is saying.

Well, they should have thought of that before they decided to point a bunch of teevee cameras at him, I guess."

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and This is from "anonymous" comments:
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"20 (let me say it again -20) terrorists committed horrific acts on September 11, 2001 ... and now, 9 years later, we're involved in 2 wars (excuse me, now 1), thousands of military and innocent Iraqis and Afghans have died, we've spent and are spending trillions of dollars on national security and national defense. We've bankrupted this nation; and many people are either homeless or had their homes foreclosed on. Millions are unemployed ...
...
more stupidity, hate and divisiveness than I've seen in my lifetime ...
...
and the only people left standing (with more power and fat wallets) are "Goldman Sachs", JP Morgan Chase, Dick Cheney's Haliburton, military contractors, security firms, health insurance companies who now have record profits, large corporations who continue to outsource, oil companies (the same ones who had a hand in why we went to war) ....

Do I need to go on? ....

Are we insane?"

THE HORROR OF OIL

Very Very Important:
Please go to the website: Hijacking Catastrophe ... I'd recommend that you buy the DVD .... You will be outraged by what you hear and see.






Latest News: China Oil Spill PHOTOS: Official Warns Of 'Severe Threat'


The Military Industrial Congressional Complex [Eisenhower's original terminology] and Big Oil have a lot to answer for.
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Update: June 8, 2010

BP's Long History of Destroying the World
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Update: June 2, 2010

Obama: End U.S. Dependence on Fossil Fuels

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Update: May 30, 2010
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Colin Powell: Oil Spill Is 'Beyond The Capacity' Of BP To Solve, Military Might Have Role
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BP oil spill update - top kill failed - hope lies in containment to protect Gulf Coast -
GOP Hypocrisy Has Been Exposed by the BP Oil Disaster
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MAY 28, 2010




http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/
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MAY 28, 2010



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MAY 19, 2010 - Hearings on Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill



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BLACK DEATH - EQUADOR
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Phillippe Cousteau To Bill Maher: Even Before Oil Spill, The Oceans Couldn't Take Any More (VIDEO)
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OGONI NINE - THE CASE AGAINST SHELL
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OIL SPILL / OIL SPILLS
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BP OIL SPILL
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BIG OIL SPILL CRISIS IN THE GULF
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BPDrillingDisaster.org
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Update May 28, 2010:
Did anyone hear the president ask people to volunteer to help cleanup … ?
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Mr. President, if you did say that, you should resign from office, because it would so clearly show how detached you are from this catastrophe.
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#1 BP and all those people who allow the continued drilling of oil (knowing that oil spills continue to pollute our environment and harm living things) ... these people are responsible for making the people affected and the environment made whole. [We know, of course, the environment will never be made whole]
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#2 Those folks who have lost their livelihood and jobs need jobs and should be compensated by BP.
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#3 People who do clean-up work have to receive training because of health hazards, etc.
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#4 Who knows what the long term effects of exposure to poisonous/toxic fumes, etc. will be.

PRESIDENT OBAMA ROCKS THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT'S DINNER

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The president rocks the house (White House - smile).
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JAY LENO BOMBS AT WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT'S DINNER BY DAN ABRAMSON, MAY 2, 2010
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THE TRUTH ABOUT FINANCIAL REFORM

UPDATE:
Liked this (April 23, 2010) Bill Moyers Journal (Bill Black speaks about financial reform) segment. His talk is followed by a talk on "Net Neutrality".
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Watch the full episode. See more Bill Moyers.

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Above video can be seen at: http://video.pbs.org/video/1476763742/#


Even though the Bill Moyers Journal segment (below) aired back in January (2010), we felt it was relevant for today's debates/discussions about financial reform.

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Note: Senator Richard Shelby gets a mention in the video ... not good to say the least.

******** Keiser Report №40: Markets! Finance! Scandal!

UPDATE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL3n_dqRfQg

GRETCHEN MORGENSEN on Banking Reform, Bill Moyers Journal, March 26, 2010

INSIDE THE BANKING CRISIS

-Update:

MAX KEISER - MAY 17, 2010

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April 16, 2010
Check out Bill Moyers Journal

Simon Johnson and James Kwak, the co-authors of 13 BANKERS: THE WALL STREET TAKEOVER AND THE NEXT FINANCIAL MELTDOWN
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AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION IS ... ??

I've been really trying to keep my distance and my mouth shut as we wind-up health insurance reform or whatever the hell it is. The president is really selling it. He even came here … to Strongsville … and oh my God, he even had our (say no, unless it’s single payer) Congressman Dennis Kucinich with him.
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Well, I’m confused … and I need answers. Congress, will you or will you not cover every American? Are you really going to force Americans to pay into a “for profit” health care system? … and, Is there strong competition to keep health insurance companies honest? The first answer should be yes, the second answer should be no, and the third answer should be yes.

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Unfortunately, that’s not what this health insurance legislation is about. As it stands right now, [regarding that last question] even though we need strong competition [to keep health insurance companies honest], … even though a majority of Americans want that competition … want a strong public health insurance option … looks like we’re not going to get it … Or am I mistaken?

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See, these political parties rely on campaign contributions [money] from the financial services industry [and yes, that means the financial services industry helps finance (by running ads for, and giving "lobbying" money to) Democratic candidates, as well as Republican candidates].

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Health insurance companies fall within the financial services industry. So we absolutely, without a doubt, know why Republicans are against health care reform or health insurance reform [Republicans are in the pockets of the health insurance industry]; however, with the Democrats it’s tricky business; they are, after all, the party of the poor, the working class and the middle class.

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If health care is a right and not a privilege [as Democrats believe, and we believe], then every American has a right to quality, affordable, comprehensive health care. Right?
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So how do Democrats appease their benefactors ["for profit" health insurance companies], while berating their bad behavior at the same time? How do Democrats convince average Americans that they are on their side? How do they "have their cake and eat it too"?

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Well, you have to look like you’re beating up on the health insurance industry. Listen to the rhetoric … you get the feeling … hey, these Dems are really giving it to the health insurance companies. Wait, wait … but aren’t the “for profit” costly health insurance companies getting more customers? Yeah, … but a Dem will say, “We’re not allowing them to deny enrollment based on pre-existing conditions. Wait, wait … but with the exception of children, this regulation won’t kick-in for adults until around 2014; and, by the way, … if these health insurance companies do deny, who’s policing them and what exactly are the penalties? Wait, wait, ... and can't the health insurance companies continue to charge older adults and women more in premium? *****

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Let’s listen to Michael Moore being interviewed by Lawrence O’Donnell sitting in for Keith Olbermann (Keith’s father just passed … Keith we love ya and you are in our prayers).

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LISTEN to Natoma at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann#35884301
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*****PLEASE READ THIS and call, email, write your representative to stop gender based rating, etc (the bill that passed 3/21/2010 does not ... does not address this adequately): For gender-equal health care, enact Medicare for all /By Plain Dealer guest columnist, March 21, 2010, 6:00AM By Sheila Leavitt
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Obama's Final Health Care Rally: Time For Courage

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Pelosi: 'Get The Bill. Go For It.'

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Obama Brings Dennis Kucinich On Air Force One For Health Care Speech

Closing Pro-Reform Ad Has Private Insurers On Corporate Jets, High-Fiving (VIDEO)

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Health Care Summit: Republicans Prepare, Hoping For Political Gain

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Update: March 26, 2010 - Bill Moyers Journal

After Health Insurance Reform, What Now?

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Sicko

Fight Bad Faith Insurance Companies

WHAT DOES THE WHITE HOUSE DO NEXT ON HEALTHCARE?

Okay, I plead guilty to going ballistic after hearing about the backroom deals that the White House took part in early on. It seems they decided to not really fix the broken healthcare system we have. They decided (or Rahm Emanuel decided) instead to go with a pro-health insurance industry, health insurance (so called reform) package and call it healthcare reform … eventually the healthcare reform label became health insurance reform.

Now that the jig is up and everyone knows about the deals cut by the White House, the White House is saying “you guys have this all wrong”. They claim what the Senate has done is true health (insurance) reform. At least they’re not calling it healthcare reform (or did you guys hear something else?).

The White House caused a firestorm when Gibbs crucified Dr. Dean (former Chairman of the DNC, and the voice of the progressives who has been fighting for real healthcare reform for quite some time); calling Dr. Dean’s criticisms of the Senate bill as insanity or something to that effect.

Then Senator Rockefeller chimed in and holy hell broke loose on the liberal blogosphere; and I was, and still am, extremely angry at the White House.

Where does that leave things today? Who knows. I’m sure the White House will try to “pull a rabbit out of a hat” and come up with something that they think will appease people who are angry at the White House and various members of Congress.

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You'll also be seeing more and more members of Congress talking about what a great Senate bill they have, and how wonderful it will be for so many people.

The president has said (according to Gibbs) that next year, the president plans to pay less attention to criticism of his handling of things. … okay …

You can read my previous post for links to some informative articles regarding the healthcare debate and backroom deals by the White House.

If I don’t post before Christmas, have a fantastic holiday.

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PS: Guys I wrote this post this morning, this afternoon I read a post from Drew Westen. I thought I was the only one who felt this way about the president. You ask ... which way? ...

Must Read: Leadership, Obama Style, and the Looming Losses in 2010: Pretty Speeches, Compromised Values, and the Quest for the Lowest Common Denominator

THE WHITE HOUSE, THE REPUBLICANS, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF CORPORATE DEMOCRATS AND BLUE DOGS ARE MAKING ME SICK

Ben Nelson, the mouth-piece for the sex-scandal ridden Catholic Church has decided (after getting what he wanted) to vote for the (currently) seriously compromised Senate healthcare bill (which is a gift to the publicly traded health insurance industry), while nobody knows what Senator Webb will do.

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In the meantime, the tea partiers and the progressives are mad as hell at their own parties; and they are in full fighting mode, trying to decide who they will get to run against the traitors in their party come 2010 and 2012.

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Let's face it, the majority of the Republicans and all but 30 or so Democrats in the Senate are bought and paid for by corporate interests (that includes the Catholic Church).

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The House Democrats want to keep their majority; however, those representatives better get their act together, cause their progressive base is foaming at the mouth.

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Truly both the tea partiers and the progressives are fed up with most politicians who appear to be more concerned about their own welfare.

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One out of 6 Americans live in poverty. The Middle Class is disappearing; 1% of the population control 90% to 95% of the wealth in this country, and that 90-95% group does not include tea partiers or most progressives.

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The tea partiers blame immigrants, moderate Republicans and the government for their misfortune; while progressives see the banks, corporate executives and lobbyists as the true culprits.

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One thing is clear, neither group is happy, and both think it's time to clean both houses of Congress.



Update November 10, 2010
How the Wealthy Organized to Rip Everyone Else off -- And What You Can Do to Stop It | | AlterNet by Maria Armoudian

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Bill Moyers Journal - Matt Taibbi, Robert Kuttner

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The Senate Health Care Bill: Leave No Special Interest Behind Arianna Huffington 12/21/2009

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What the Media and Obama Never Understood About the Public Option C. Uygur

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America Without a Middle Class - Elizabeth Warren

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Nelson supports health bill after tough bargaining

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Conservatives grab for tea party cash (Gee, I hope the tea partiers don't mind being used by the very people they supposedly hate)

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MoveOn.Org Comes Out Against Senate Health Care Bill

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The Bishops’ Billion-Dollar Business Bonanza - November 14, 2009

THE FAR RIGHT EVANGELICAL EXTREMISTS ARE A THREAT TO OUR PRESIDENT AND NATIONAL SECURITY

My mother, a Republican who voted for President Obama, prays for the president's safety every day. Her friends, who come from almost every race, religion, and culture, also hold prayers for President Obama, and pray for his safety every day. They wish him well.

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It is woefully evident however, that there is a Republican far right fringe [esp. the Evangelicals] that does not pray for his safety; they pray for his death, and his liberal [who they call Socialists] supporter’s demise. According to Frank Schaeffer there are probably 22 million individuals who are part of that fringe [“the super conservative Evangelicals”]; and a much smaller minority that would actually carry out their death threats or violence given the right set of circumstances.

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According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, death threats against our president have increased over 400% since he took the oath of office.

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That we hear no denunciation of these individuals and groups from moderate, responsible [and supposedly sane] members of the Republican Party is alarming; however, it does not surprise me. These Republicans it would appear, would sell their mother and their soul to cater to what they see is their political base. God help us!

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Senator George Voinovich [R-OH] has said he does not recognize his own political party; that they have strayed far away from their principles and southerners have hijacked his party. Other Republicans have also expressed similar sentiments; yet, none that I know of, has publicly called for a stop to the threats against the president. This is the party that is seeking to regain power in Washington, and wants to represent us in the International community.

Why are we not hearing a public denunciation of these death threats and violence from the leadership of the mainstream and Evangelical religious community?

Our president welcomes criticism and our support; he does not deserve the venomous language and hatred (racial and otherwise) that is leveled against him.

What must other countries think of us; what must we think of ourselves?

Several posts ago, I wrote “Why are we worried about Afghanistan, when Afghanistan is in our own back yard”. When I wrote it, I didn’t think about this fringe (largely religious) group “who are the American version of the Taliban”. They themselves would be horrified to know that they possess a similarity to the Taliban.

If we don’t publicly and privately denounce these individuals and groups now, we are giving aid and comfort to violent rhetoric; and if violence results, we have aided and abetted it.

Next time you want to criticize the president and his administration, be very careful of your tone and language. If you don’t have constructive and/or helpful criticisms, keep your thoughts to yourself. We don’t want or need inflammatory rhetoric right now.

It also wouldn’t hurt you to email or fax or publicly praise President Obama when he does something you like or are proud of.

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SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE FAR RIGHT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

The GOP’s Anti-Obama Propaganda”
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Tea Party Protest Turns Violent (VIDEO)
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Psalm 109:8, 109:9
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Frank Schaeffer: Organizing to Stop Far Right Violence
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An Open Letter To Attorney General Eric Holder
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“Crazy for God” by Frank Schaeffer
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“Patience with God” by Frank Schaeffer
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Frank Schaeffer (wikipedia)
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Rachel Maddow (wikipedia)
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Southern Poverty Law Center
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Hatemongers Poised to Exploit Obama Election, Tough Economic Times
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Dick Armey
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Evangelical Hate Groups
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Rightwing Extremism:  Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment