McDonald Reaches Africa

American Justice

Katrina looters get 15 years in prison. Three people convicted of hauling away liquor, wine and beer from a grocery store after Hurricane Katrina were sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison.

-Loot a few billion from S&Ls or a corporation or a nation and you're a savvy modern white business man. Steal a couple of hundred dollars in liquor and your stranded poor Black ass gets 15 …

Most Dangerous Group?

G8 wants Iran to reply next week to nuclear offer.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – "The Group of Eight industrialized nations told
Iran on Thursday to give a "clear and substantive response" next week to an offer by major powers over its nuclear plans, but Tehran said that was unlikely.

Expressing disappointment that Iran had not replied to a June 6 offer of incentives to stop enriching uranium, G8 foreign ministers meeting in Moscow set a deadline of July 5 for Tehran to respond, but did not say where a negative reply would lead.

The G8 statement followed talks between Rice (Flunky) and foreign ministers from Russia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain who were in Moscow before next month's G8 summit."

I may have to rethink my position of doubting a war on Iran if this Group of Anglo feeders are issuing ultimatums …

G8 members:
United States
France
Russian Federation
United Kingdom
Germany
Japan (white owned & operated)
Italy
Canada
European Union

Medals Schmedals

Former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton will share the 2006 Liberty Medal. The award annually honors those who "demonstrated leadership and vision in the pursuit of liberty of conscience or freedom from oppression, ignorance, or deprivation." (Poppy and Willie free of conscience? I'll buy that.)

The former leaders will accept the medal and its accompanying $100,000 prize on Oct. 5 at the National Constitution Center.

The "medal" was established in 1988 by a group calling themselves We the People 2000 which I found nothing much on other than it is/was a private group of civic and business figures. I'm not into numerology but naming the group 2000 in the year 1988 struck me as odd.

Winners are chosen by the International Selection Commission. I wonder who chooses the members of the Commission?

Previous Winners:
2005 Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko
2004 Afghan President, Hamid Karzai
2003 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
2002 U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
2001 U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan
2000 Dr. James Watson/Dr. Francis Crick (joint prize)
1999 South Korean President Kim Dae Jung
1998 Irish Peace Negotiator and Retired U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell
1997 CNN International
1996 King Hussein 1/Shimon Peres (joint prize)
1995 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata
1994 Czech President Václav Havel
1993 F.W. de Klerk/Nelson Mandela (joint prize)
1992 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall
1991 Former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias and the French medical and human rights organization Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) (joint prize)
1990 Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
1989 Polish Solidarity founder and later Polish President Lech Walesa

The International Selection Commission is made up of leaders from government, world affairs, education, culture, and business. The current members of the Commission are:

Martin Meyerson, Commission Chairman, President Emeritus and University Professor, University of Pennsylvania, Honorary President, International Association of Universities, Paris, UN advisor, board member of Panasonic Foundation, chairman Marconi Foundation (Marty has been Commission Chairman of the "award" since day 1);
Oscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica, Nobel Peace laureate, 1991 Liberty Medal co-recipient;
Joanne de Asis, of the Philippines, Chairman, Globe Capital Partners;
William H. Gray III, former President, College Fund/UNCF and former U.S. Representative;
Peter Harf, former CEO, Joh. A. Benckiser, GmbH, Frankfurt;
Shirley Hufstedler, Esq., first U.S. Secretary of Education;
Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, American Enterprise Institute and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations;
Robert McNamara, former President, Ford Motor Company and World Bank and former U.S. cabinet member;
Mary Patterson McPherson, Vice President, Mellon Foundation, former President, Bryn Mawr College;
Andrea L. Mitchell, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, NBC;
Joseph Neubauer, Chairman and CEO, ARAMARK Corporation;
Ambassador Olara A. Otunnu, U.N. High Commissioner for Children in War, former Foreign Minister of Uganda and former head of the United Nations Security Council; Ambassador Hisashi Owada, President, The Japan Institute of International Affairs and former Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations;
P. Anthony Ridder, Chairman, President & CEO, Knight-Ridder, Inc.;
Jerome Shestack, Esq., Past President, American Bar Association;
Adele Simmons, former President, MacArthur Foundation;
Maurice F. Strong, Senior Advisor to the President, World Bank and Chairman, Earth Council;
Richard Thornburgh, Esq., former U.S. Attorney General and former Governor of Pennsylvania;
Henry Wendt, former Chairman, SmithKline Beecham.

It's all rather like boy scout badges but more highfalutin with cash rewards. An orgy of media, corporate, foundation, university, and government heads – working hard to liberate us of conscience … or something like that.

Criminal Bonehead of the Week

Rush Limbaugh, caught recently at airport customs with a script for Viagra in his physician's name.

(Note to folks not rich and famous: The private distribution, manufacture and sale of prescription drugs, or the possession or use of prescription drugs that are not prescribed to you, are strictly prohibited by law. Legal consequences for the possession and criminal sale of prescription drugs may include fines and imprisonment.)

Physicians give out Viagra sample packs from their boxes of pharmaceutical candies, so the question is why someone of Limbaugh's status couldn't simply stay erect with starter kits rather than a fraudulent prescription. Must be a lot of lovin' for the nubbin'.

Twenty-nine little blue pills.

You are a slave, Rush. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage, born inside a prison that you cannot smell, taste, or touch … A prison for your mind.

You take the blue pill and the story ends. You wake in your bed (in the Dominican Republic with a sex slave) and believe whatever you want to believe such as the Limbaugh name was not on the bottle for "privacy purposes." Yea, that's it, yea.

You're Gonna Get It Now

WASHINGTON — "Americans are paying unusually close attention to the congressional elections in November, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. They are more inclined to deliver significant gains to Democrats than in any year since Republicans won control of the House and Senate in 1994.

Those surveyed are more concerned about national issues than local ones — a situation that favors Democrats hoping to tap discontent over the Iraq war and gasoline prices — and prefer Democrats over Republicans on handling every major issue except terrorism.

DETAILED RESULTS: Majority wants to see third major party."

--Remodeled Responsible Republicrats, Progressive Democans? Independent? Green?

Remember, common folks know what they want, and they're gonna get it, good and hard.

Who's the Moron?

Bush Losing Core Supporters. From Max Udargo blog.

WASHINGTON, May 11 – "President Bush appears to be losing support among a key group of voters who had hitherto stood firmly with the president even as his poll numbers among other groups fell dramatically.

A new Gallup poll shows that, for the first time, Bush’s approval rating has fallen below 50% among total fucking morons, and now stands at 44%. This represents a dramatic drop compared to a poll taken just last December, when 62% of total fucking morons expressed support for the president and his policies.

The current poll, conducted by phone with 1,409 total fucking morons between May 4 and May 8, reveals that only 44% of those polled believe the president is doing a good job, while 27% believe he is doing a poor job and 29% don’t understand the question.

The December poll, conducted by phone with 1,530 total fucking morons, showed 62% approved of the president, 7% disapproved and 31% didn’t understand the question."

-Who is Max Udargo you ask?

"Greetings fellow true American,

My name is Max Undargo and I am running as the Republican candidate for the House of Representatives in your district. I would like your vote. I am writing you to let you know where I stand on the issues that matter to you.

Liberal Democrats would like to distract you from what’s important by constantly talking about things like gas prices, failed foreign policies, soaring national debt, corruption scandals, incompetent responses to domestic disasters, global warming, domestic spying, old men being shot in the face by the Vice President and a myriad of other non-issues. But I know what’s really on your mind. I know what’s really important to true Americans:

Mexicans.

What the liberal Democrats don’t want you to know is that Mexicans are really the source of all of America’s problems.

Damn Mexicans. Don’t you hate them? I sure do."

Rich Men Doing Good Works

Warren Buffet and his grand gesture of giving away his billions. Line up little ones, we're going to benefit big time (not).

Buffet gives his fortune to 5 foundations. They include the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Susan A. Buffett Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, NoVo Foundation (run by Peter Buffett and wife Jennifer). And the Gates Foundation (Buffett's gifts to this foundation will continue only as long as either Bill or Melinda Gates is alive and active in its work).

I suppose we can thank Andrew Carnegie, who 100 years ago, began the modern era of philanthropy. At the time of his death Andy had given away 90 percent of his fortune. In 2001 the first ever Carnegie Medal was awarded to the generous givers of the new millenium who, in Carnegie's footsteps, lead the philanthropic communities of tomorrow.

The medal was presented by dignitaries such as Tom Brokaw, Bill Moyers, Barbara Walters, historian David McCullough, NIH's Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, World Bank Managing Director Mamphela Ramphele. Judy Woodruff emceed the affair.

Recipients included : Ambassadors Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, (Annenberg Foundation) who have helped "America's schoolchildren meet the challenges of the 21st century."

Aaron Diamond Foundation, which distributed all of its assets and became the nation's largest private supporter of AIDS research.

The Gates family – William H. Gates III, Melinda French Gates and William H. Gates Sr.

George Soros. His global network of foundations/Open Society Institutes which support projects in education, public health, civil society development. Chosen for his leadership and vision in fostering open societies and a better life for billions of world citizens.

The Rockefeller family was recognized for its exceptional record of philanthropy over the last century. Third and fourth generations of the family now continue to build on philanthropic roots established by John D. Rockefeller, who, along with Andrew Carnegie, set standards for all who followed.

There are 6 types of foundations:
Private foundations are nonprofit organizations whose funds come from one source, whether it is an individual, a family, or a corporation. Family Foundations receive endowments from individuals or families.

Family foundations. Measurable donor or donor-family involvement, especially though participation on the foundation’s board of directors (e.g. Turner Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund).

Operating Foundations are private foundations that use their resources to provide charitable services or run charitable programs of their own. They make few, if any, grants to outside organizations, generally do not raise funds from the public (e.g. J. Paul Getty Trust).

Independent Foundation funding is in the form of an endowment, and even though wealthy families start many private independent foundations, no family members control the grant making. Because of their endowments, they are focused primarily on grantmaking and generally do not actively raise funds or seek public financial support. These foundations are highly professionalized with carefully developed grantmaking strategies and criteria. Their boards of directors often consist of people who are eminent in the fields of interest to the foundation. Of the largest private foundations in the United States, most are independent foundations, although they may have begun as family foundations (e.g. Ford, Rockefeller and MacArthur Foundations).

Corporate Foundations or company-sponsored foundations are entities through which a corporation organizes and channels its philanthropic giving. The company-sponsored foundation is a separate, legal organization (501c3) subject to the same rules and regulations as other private foundations. The assets of the corporate foundation are derived from the assets or profits of its parent corporation or individuals closely associated with the corporation. Most corporate foundations maintain close ties with the donor company and the board of directors includes company executives (e.g. Bank of America Foundation, American Express Foundation).

Public Foundations. Legally classified as “public charities,” public foundations are publicly supported nonprofit organizations and receive assets from multiple sources. They can be funded by contributions from individuals, corporations, governmental units, private foundations and fees for service. A public foundation must continue to seek money from diverse sources in order to retain its public status. As distinguished from most public charities, public foundations focus more on grantmaking than on providing direct charitable services (e.g. Asia Foundation, UN Foundation, Vancouver Community Foundation).

Foundations aim their philanthroping at Education, Welfare, Environment, the Arts, promoting Democracy, bettering Communities to help people help themsevles, etc. Foundations often and usually partner with other organizations such as the UN and The World Bank. One biggie is, bettering the world one town at a time, you guessed it, the Wal-mart Foundation.

I've ranted previously on Foundations being nothing more than generational tax shelters for the monied, giving familial groups and friends undue and undeserved influence on societies and politics. Otherwise, foundations such as Carnegie and Rockefellers would have saved the world a long time ago when the whiskered pocketwatch old guys made the same speeches as they handed off fortunes to their foundationhoods.

But – I've changed my mind. I have become a "public foundation."

I donated my entire paltry fortune to the newly formed (in fact just yesterday) KAB Foundation (an NGO), dedicated to granting and supporting bloggers who wish to save the environment while educating inner city poor kids and simultaneously instructing the community in the art of democracy through watercolor medium and big screen TVs.

Anyone interested is invited to email Kate/A for details, using the aforementioned foundation guidelines, along with a detailed program idea (please enclose a $100 grant application fee).

P.S.
Foundations also fund think tanks so as of this minute KAB Foundation will accept donations to it's newest idea : The Kate-a-A Badda-Boom Badda-Bing Foundation, a tanked group which will limit its research and analysis to the effects of political correctness on interracial humor.

Murtha Caught Performing Fallacy in Public

They're Gonna Swiftboat Murtha. (The domain name murthalied has been taken.)

Please, someone pull their heads out of their "progressive" rectums. Murtha isn't doing anything for we the peons.

Redeployment. Re de lips.

Re…de…ploy…ment. Take the ploy part. Murtha playing his role for the ruling elite. And a sorry ass performance at that as he may be verging on senility.

Air strikes from Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Okinawa. How much does that cut from the defense budget Jack? How many troops and Iraqi lives does that spare?

Pentagon Porker Murtha told Tim Russert recently that troops could be redeployed from Okinawa. Almost instantly. Okinawa?

MURTHA: So--and we don't have to be right there. We can go to Okinawa. We, we don't have--we can redeploy there almost instantly. So that's not--that's, that's a fallacy. That, that's just a statement to rile up people to support a failed policy wrapped in illusion.

"… a failed policy wrapped in illusion."

Dave Ferrie character in JFK movie : "It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma."

Is Oliver Stone writing Murtha's material?

Don't Cry For Dan Rather

From Alternet and Greg Palast : "They can't get you to ignore that man behind the curtain, Dorothy, unless there's a fascinating show on stage to distract you. And, for the final days of the presidential campaign, they gave us the lynching of Dan Rather."

How stupid does Dan Rather have to be to get lynched for telling us what we already know? And why is Palast giving us old news?

From KAB March 9, 2005 archives: Dogging Dan Rather.

Dan Rather began his career with a lie. A nobody newsman in Dallas, the assassination of JFK handed Rather his career. He viewed the Zapruder film and backed up the official lies regarding the direction of the head shots. Someone gave Rather his tit for tat career and he's been tatting ever since. Like all MSM, Rather was a talking head. Reporting what he was told to report, from locations he was sent, presenting packaged news by players behind the scenes who controlled his multi-million paycheck. Surely worth it. Who wouldn't speak as they're told for unlimited kudos, awards, glory, travel, pay, prestige? In Rather's own words (on Clinton's honesty) : "I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things.” (Sounds like pot philosophy.)

Rather was neither liberal nor conservative. Like all MSM puffs, groomed, coifed, exotic backdrops, he presented the angle the media moguls gave him, to sway public opinion for private mogul reasons. He was liberal only in that he sometimes played one on TV. He read the news, as newsmen do. The media has always been an arm of the State, with little significant differences between liberal/conservative reporting. Each first family assigned their fawning reporters and their hounding press. Just enough two party bickering to make you think that all things are fair and balanced. Newsmen who relish and believe what they read of goebbelesque State propaganda is a newer genre, beginning with Fox News. Had we an honest independent media every president since Nixon would have been impeached (possibly excluding Carter). These days there isn't even the pretense of presidential press hounds in the MSM.

But how fitting that Rather's handlers ended his career as they began it; with a lie. Poor Dan, as he read each line he knew the Killian memo was a hoax on him, his time was up, he was drinking the hemlock provided to him. His unchallenged usefulness as a talking head for 40+ years coming to an end. Whoever held Rather's leash must have had a helluva grudge or blackmail. Dan was not to go out in a blaze of journalistic glory as a shrewd veteran newsman might deserve, no truimphant victory of breaking the story of a lifetime, nor even a warm fuzzy quiet farewell....no, Dan with a little of the air let out of him, hanging his head, limped off like a Juarez dog.

For the Record

The Don't-Bother-to-Knock Rule.

"For those who worry that Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito will take the court in a radically conservative direction, it is sobering how easily the majority tossed aside a principle that traces back to 13th-century Britain, and a legal doctrine that dates to 1914, to let the government invade people's homes."

-- "No-knock" warrants have been used for a long time in the 'hood, especially under Bubba Clinton's War on Drugs policies. No-knock raids are so common in NYC that the police created a special unit to replace the doors of residents terrorized by the drug squads.

From the inner city to the redneck Heartland trailers - authorities have been doing no-knock raids for years, often at the wrong address. Two decades ago Federal, State, and local "task forces" combined funds and informants to no-knock down doors.

Knocking down doors without knocking is so common - I thought it was legal 20 years ago.

Roberts and Alito are doing as they're told by, you know, the ruling elite. "Radically conservative direction" my ass. The high court decision sanctions what the authorities have been doing all along to minorities and poor whites.

As usual, it's "sobering" only in relation to its potential effect on the white upper-crust suburbs.

Hee-hee-hee. It's gettin' mighty crowded in the back of the bus.

Seven Men Charged in Terror Plot

WASHINGTON - A group of young men seized in a Miami warehouse have been charged in a federal indictment with conspiring with … al-Oldspeak to "levy war against Oceania" … by committing acts of violence including blowing up Chicago's Sears Tower.

The seven individuals indicted by a federal grand jury were taken into custody Thursday when authorities swarmed the warehouse in the Liberty City area, removing a metal door with a blow torch. The indictment also alleges … crimethink plans to blow a federal Records Department building in the Ministry of Peace … in conjunction with the al-Oldspeak terrorist network.

Prominent Inner Party member, Alberto Gonzales, and other top-level … administration officials … scheduled a newspeak conference for later Friday and a similar briefing was in Miami. The seven were expected to appear … in Room 101 later ...

They were also charged with conspiring "to levy war against the government of Oceania … and to oppose by force the authority thereof."

Residents living near the warehouse said the men taken into custody described themselves as Muslims and had tried to recruit young people to join their group … they tried to recruit … for a karate class.

Julie … said she talked to one of the men about a month ago. "They seemed brainwashed," she said. "They said they had given their lives to Allah."

Winston … said the group sometimes had young children with them. At times, he added, the men "would cover their faces. Sometimes they would wear things on their heads, like turbans."

Stay tuned to your telescreens as Inner Party members … rewrite this breaking news as the story moves through the Ministry of True.

Subtle Frauds

I came across this piece yesterday, A journey into the most savage war in the world by Johann Hari.

"It starts with a ward full of women who have been gang-raped and then shot in the vagina. I am standing in a makeshift ward in the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, the only hospital that is trying to deal with the bushfire of sexual violence in Eastern Congo."

“We are trying to reconstruct their vaginas, their anuses, their intestines. It is a long process.”

… a woman was carried here on her grandmother’s back after an eight-hour trek. “I had never seen anything like it. She had been gang-raped and then her legs had been shot to pieces."

- First of all I question how anyone with "legs … shot to pieces" would survive an 8 hour trek on grandma's back. Or survive vaginal gunshots given the availability of ER healthcare in bush country.

The beginning paragraphs immediately reminded me of urban legends and of the long-term ever prevailing effort to paint the inhabitants of Africa as perverted evil animals. Recall the stories of babies being raped because African men (barbaric and ignorant) believed sex with an infant cured AIDS (another phony "epidemic"). When baby rape to cure AIDS in Africa entered the news, I researched and found 1, possibly 2, documented cases. This type of demonized reporting often first appears on rightwing sites such as FreeRepublic.

I'm not denying crime and atrocity don't occur, but there's a difference between hype and facts. Just watch CNN or Faux News.

Hari's articles are sometimes confused with progressive, written by a "leftist" - but initiating the above savage war report with the standard evil African barbarians red-flagged me, so I googled around on the "journalist" of the report, Johann Hari.

SourceWatch describes Hari as a leftwing gay columnist. His credibility has been questioned. Rightly so as he supported the Iraq War under the idea of "friendly bombs." Between January-March 2003 he penned columns for the Independent such as "Liberate Iraq Now, With or Without the UN" and "We Must Fight to End the Iraqi Suffering" and "Sometimes the Only Way to Spread Peace is at the End of a Barrel."

Apparently Johann also claims to have been there done that when he wasn't and didn't, or at times stretches the been there and that of his reporting. And remember, being Gay doesn't automatically make one a liberal. (There's a large and crowded closet in the current administration.)

At times Hari is a darling on the left because of his mistaken identity as an anti-imperialist. Johann is a prep for the rightwing. In this case, because the Congo is sitting on a great deal of petro with potentials for much more offshore. White folks (arming all sides) will need to intervene and end the barbarity of the Congolese and use their oil and resources to repay the white man's kindness and concern for African vaginas. The friendly end of the barrel, etc.

But Hari is just another among thousands of "journalists" and columnists who are well-placed frauds. And thanks to men and women like Hari who pose as intelligent writers backed by the propaganda machines, the Cradle of Civilization is still portrayed as a continent of either subordinate baboons or dangerous Black monsters. Apparently the only good Africans are those who have had lengthy exposure to white people ways (and the ones Brad and Angelina know).

Fear & Loathing

Every topic, every post I've started this week has no ending; the opinion is dammit and dribble to nothing. Maybe writer's block, or disgust.

I continue to think of those 2 soldiers captured, their death and mutilation and my stomach knots and churns. I think if that were my sons ... I cannot imagine having to live the rest of my days knowing a child of mine died this way. The pain and rage. And fear. Fear, because what if the next time it is me and mine.

I hesitate to say it, but if a certain chickenhawk leader were wellstoned, the more gruesome the better - and though such an event would make no difference in the political agenda of corporatofascist pols in DC – justice would be served. And I swear I would feel a littlefukin better.

In the News

Jason Leopold and Truthout were used as Rovian instruments. Hahahahaha.

Robert Kennedy Jr. to sue over stolen election. Hurray, the progressives are winning.

Army to police New Orleans again. The Louisiana governor asked for the National Guard to return to New Orleans after a weekend that saw six people murdered in the city. My dad used to say "police yourself so nobody else has to." New Orleans has brought this upon themselves (and the rest of us eventually if the solution for "fighting crime" is an Army).

Murder Charges for 3 G.I.'s in Iraq. One Defense Department official said investigators had evidence that the soldiers had released the detainees deliberately before they were shot, apparently to have a pretext for killing them as they fled. The three soldiers charged by the Army were identified as Staff Sgt. Raymond L. Girouard, Specialist William B. Hunsaker and Pfc. Corey R. Clagett.

Hopefully guys like Ray, Bill, and Corey are not going to New Orleans.

Home Depot

Dear Home Depot:

As an avid DIY person and currently working on a bathroom remodeling project, this is to inform you that the white vanity w/sink & hardware (plus faux brick tile) which I ordered last week online, I would very much appreciate if said unit was shipped from your Tewksbury, Massachusetts facility.

Sincerely,

Kate/A.

Contact Ur Congressman To Pass AWNAA Bill!

WASHINGTON, DC - Congress is considering sweeping legislation, which provides new benefits for many Americans. The Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA) is being hailed as a major legislation by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.

"Roughly 50% of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society," said Barbara Boxer. "We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they do a better job, or have some idea of what they are doing."

The President pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74% of postal employees lack job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S. employer of Persons of Inability.

Private sector industries with good records of nondiscrimination against the Inept include retail sales (72%), the airline industry (68%), and home improvement "warehouse" stores (65%). The DMV also has a great record of hiring Persons of Inability (63%).

Under the Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million "middle man" positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.

Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given, to guarantee upward mobility for even the most unremarkable employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations which maintain a significant level of Persons of Inability in middle positions, and gives a tax credit to small and medium businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.

Finally, the AWNA Act contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the Nonabled, banning discriminatory interview questions such as "Do you have any goals for the future?" or "Do you have any skills or experience which relate to this job?"

"As a Nonabled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them," said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint, MI due to her lack of notable job skills. "This new law should really help people like me." With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Said Senator Ted Kennedy, "It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her adequacy, with some sort of space to take up in this great nation."

Bolivian Elite Speak

Ex-Morales backer decries party betrayal.

"SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia -- Adriana Gil braved death threats, public insults and social ostracism to campaign for Evo Morales in Bolivia's conservative eastern region during the presidential election last year. She now feels "betrayed" by the ruling Movement Toward Socialism, which expelled her and invaded her family's land."

"It's a conspiracy and a vendetta against me," said Miss Gil, a 24-year-old Santa Cruz heiress who described herself in an interview as a "social democrat."

"The Bolivian people voted for change, not for a dictator," she said.

Only days later, her land was invaded by squatters, who have camped out along 2,500 acres of her 11,000-acre property. Miss Gil, who spends most of her time at a house in the city, said that the squatters have not taken over the farmhouse, but that more are arriving. "We have a government of lies," said Miss Gil, one of several intellectuals, professionals and businesspeople who supported MAS before the December elections but now feel ignored by the hard-line leftist leadership and its indigenous peasant base.

"They want to put us all in ponchos and chulos [traditional Indian wool caps] and make us chew coca," she said, referring to the source of cocaine. "The president only seems to govern for the Quechuas and Aymaras."

… well, it is a "change" Ms. Gil.

The View This Week

This past week or so there seems to be a "settlement" in the air. A truce of sorts between the political "left" and "right" in the US. In other words, there will be no revolution, no major beneficial change for the masses in the US sociopolitical system. The status quo remains intact, alive and well. The election battles may be dirty, the scandals scandalous, the oppositional bashers heard here and there and everywhere – but basically the leadership of both sides agree : Amurika will continue easing on down the empire road.

A few new voices who many felt represented a catalyst for change, have settled comfortably into mainstream politics as the "new" voices of discontent. Blue dogs, yellow dogs, orange dogs, but still dogs for the Republicans and Democrats. They have crashed the gates – and found jobs within. They are the chosen. They may or may not endorse "independent" candidates but overall, they have become the paid pep club for the status quo pols. Rally 'round the flag boys.

The nation continues to be pockets of people with single issues. The Hispanics, the Gays, the affluent, the poor, the religious wingnuts, the environmentalists, etc. Each group assigned a minion to pander to them. After all, we're a compassionate bunch and everyone deserves a panderer. So! We enter a new era of the same old phony politics with a new crop of well-placed and paid netroot shills.

Left and right both will be shedding a few of their useful idiots over the next few months. There is more than one conservative running from the stink on Coulter this week. Maybe Coulter and Michelle Malkin will marry and live happily ever after on their spitefulness. Seems I hear less screaming from the "left" about Rush "Pills" Limbaugh and Dr. "Porno" Laura these days too, although they certainly have their die-hard groupies.

A real pisser isn't it? There are hundreds if not thousands of websites pouring "black propaganda" as fast as the Amurikan masses can swallow it. Some obvious but much of it very slick and very believable. Who can ya trust? Just recently there was the Jason Leopold story of Rove to be arrested which turns out to be b.s. Leopold was, for a while, a trusted "reporter" on the "left." Now circling the toilet bowl. Hopefully taking TruthOut with him. Cointelpro in the computer age or no? Black Panther coloring books on digital steroids.

Yep, here we are. Amurika's liberal and conservative sides are satisfied the masses are sufficiently confused and divided; time for elite bipartisanship to continue the new world order. The first stage of the agenda achieved: they've gotten their wars and foothold bases, their funding, more laws against us and for them, and have introduced the next front of phonies that speak of change and betterment yet offer nothing but more petitions, more SOS (same old shit) candidates, rallies and candlelight vigils.

Yep, PNAC has disbanded. Ken Lay convicted. Scooter on trial. Cunningham and Jefferson caught with their hands in the till. Delay is gone. Amurikans can relax now. Even Fox News covers atrocities, you know just extra insurance so when the troops come home they can't enlist Joe Average in any threat against the status quo. The dust settles. We need only pay more for everything and go on about our piddling lives, having fed the perverse beast of the hungry elite once again, for a little while. What to do. What to do.

Beats me, but whatever to do will have to be done quietly – as "they" just bump off or buy off the head doer when they hear you doing it.

Surprise Visit

"US President George W Bush has arrived in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on a surprise visit to meet new Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

He is expected to be in Baghdad for about five hours.

Mr Bush had been chairing talks in the US on future policy in Iraq and had been expected to hold a video conference with Mr Maliki.

The visit comes six days after a US air strike killed al-Qaeda in Iraq's leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi."


… Dubya, with a penchant for nicknaming folks, henceforth will be referring to Prime Minister Nouri Maliki as "Nookie My Lickey."

Ding-Dong Dead

(Munchkins)
Ding-dong the witch is dead
Which old witch? The wicked witch
Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead
Wake up you sleepyhead
Rub your eyes, get out of bed
Wake up the wicked witch is dead

'New American Century' Project Ends With a Whimper.

"Is the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), which did so much to promote the invasion of Iraq and an Israel-centered"global war on terror," closing down?

In the absence of an official announcement and the failure since late last year of a live person to answer its telephone number, a Washington Post obituary would seem to be definitive. And, sure enough, the Post quoted one unidentified source presumably linked to PNAC that the group was "heading toward closing" with the feeling of "goal accomplished."

In fact, the 9-year-old group, whose 27 founders included Vice President Dick Cheney and Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, among at least half a dozen of the most powerful hawks in the George W. Bush administration's first term, has been inactive since January 2005, when it issued the last of its "statements," an appeal to significantly increase the size of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps to cope with the growing demands of the kind of "Pax Americana" it had done so much to promote."

… Bullshit, like any other elite racket, they may "close down" only to reopen under another name and storefront. Shame on Antiwar.com and Jim Lobe and anyone spreading such manure.

Max X

BAGHDAD (AP) — U.S. officials have altered their account of the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, saying he was alive and partly conscious after bombs destroyed his hideout, and an Iraqi man raised fresh questions about the events surrounding the end of Iraq's most-wanted militant.

The man, who lived near the scene of the bombing, told AP Television News on Friday that he saw U.S. soldiers beating an injured man resembling al-Zarqawi until blood flowed from the victim's nose.

The man, who lived near the scene of the bombing, told AP Television News on Friday that he saw U.S. soldiers beating an injured man resembling al-Zarqawi until blood flowed from the victim's nose.

The Iraqi, identified only as Mohammed, said residents put a bearded man in an ambulance before U.S. forces arrived. He said the man was found lying next to an irrigation canal.

"He was still alive. We put him in the ambulance, but when the Americans arrived they took him out of the ambulance, they beat him on his stomach and wrapped his head with his dishdasha, then they stomped on his stomach and his chest until he died and blood came out of his nose," Mohammed said, without saying how he knew the man was dead.

… recently, with stories like this, the mainstream media has began psyops to discredit Iraqi claims of US brutality. Iraqi victims will have to show up on episodes of MAXimum eXtreme for Joe Blow to believe it.

MANPADS

To cope with the growing threat to civilian airliners, Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority has approved the use of the Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd.’s (IAI) Elta Systems Group/Israel Military Industries’ system for the defense of commercial aircraft against man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), as the small, short-range systems are known, Aviation & Aerospace, December 29, 2005, reported. According to the IAI, "Flight Guard," the Israeli anti-MANPADS device, “uses an advanced radar-based Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) to detect shoulder-launched missiles fired at the aircraft and ‘dark flare’ technology to divert missiles away from it."

DHS requested $110 million in FY 2006 for Counter-Man Portable Air Defense Systems (C-MANPADS) funding, an increase of $49 million over the $61 million base funding previously approved. The funds would allow continued research into protective measures against shoulder-fired missiles for commercial airlines.

On December 9, 2005, the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington D.C. held a discussion to highlight the threatening homeland security implications of MANPADS in the hands of terrorists. Progress on the mandate has been made, according to panelist Jack Pledger, director of Infrared Countermeasures Business Development at Northrop Grumman.

… hmmm a better term might be KNEEPADS.

Sons & Grandchildren & A Grampa

Past & Present Future

Yesterday I was thinking of Daniel Ellsberg, former hawk turned progressive hero, once again revived as a progressive hero for today's "left." Makes me heave a big disgusted sigh. Today's tactics seem like the '60s all over, but without the protests and riots. Similar sideshows - but with image consulting wusses at the podium rather than hellfired speakers. Politically everyone tiptoes correctly. Wouldn't want to muss the hair-do and make-up.

Americans vent political malice with a horde of Coulter-ish crackpots on the right or a couple of late night comedians on the left. I'm ready for four letter words and a fist fight on the senate floor over a real difference of ideology. Not that I'm advocating a battle, or maybe I am – but high profile folks and/or those in power offer no relevant change to the current sociopolitical system. They're just cheering for the return of their own corporate flunkies to the Big Houses.

Perhaps I have forgotten some of the '60s as I recall only two genuine heroes: Malcolm X and MLK, but their references to God and Allah would turn off most of today's youth, partly due to being well-trained by watchdog groups that demand separation and public education which enforces ignorance. (Not to mention the government supplying drugs (legal or not) and doling out chump checks to the now docile underclasses.)

But the idea that Ellsberg was a hero then or now is a an unfunny joke. Ellsberg, former warrior, former military, former Rand hired hand. I have never been able to do more than speed read and skip around in the Pentagon Papers. Papers which are credited with turning public support against Vietnam. Of course My Lai has been credited as the turning point, war news every night in the living room has been credited with souring the public on VN. But crediting this or that as the "turning point" is an elite media tool; i.e. "you can go back to sleep now Joe because everything will be okay without you, we've reached the turning/tipping point."

How many Joe Blows in 1971 actually read the NYT coverage of the Pentagon Papers; how many Joes relied on a media personality to tell him what to think about the Papers. History has made the PP a holy grail, a legendary inimitable leak. Think today's congress is the first congress to pretend they were "misled" about a war? Political CYA.

Were the Pentagon Papers a "leak" or a covert job? Ya really think "leaking" is a problem for a superpower government, or can the government silence people? Is Ellsberg a minion for the ruling elite who are always at work to divide the country?

Is it believable that Ellsberg, who no longer worked at the Pentagon, could procure, photocopy, and release 4000 classified Pentagon pages to the NYT without the aid of powerful elite players? Could he walk away a hero unless the whole operation was sanctioned? Charges dropped, do not go to jail, do pass go and collect millions of dollars to write, lecture, and pose as a political icon on the "left."

The Kennedys, also heroes of the '60s, were idolized postmortem. How sincere or humanitarian their goals will never be known. Perhaps they were very sincere hence the need to eliminate them. Perhaps the assassinations of that era were the first shock and awe strikes on the American people. To weaken and beat a rowdy awake Joe Blow populace - stirred by beliefs, their demands for genuine self-determination. (Looking at today's whining, dependent, perversely selfish, fat and lazy Joes I'd say the ruling elite's past 40 years of social whupass has been a success.)

Kerry was on the scene back then too, performing his staged medals toss and speeches to congressional hearings. The grooming of a future Yalie Democrat who might be prez or take a skull & bones fall for one. Swifty and shifty?

There was Russell Means, an Oglala/Lakota, and first director of AIM (American Indian Movement) who wanted more too. Palefaces gave it. More whiskey and casinos. After his acquittal for the events at Wounded Knee he went to Hollywood to appear in movies and on TV series. For the Reagan/Bush era (1985 and 1986) he participated in "two clandestine trips into Miskito country of Nicaragua where he assisted in documenting Sandinista atrocities" against the Indians. (Hmm, now who backed those "clandestine trips.") Russell did a European PR tour for the cartoon Pocahontas, became a recording artist, worked at the UN. Today he has his own California production company.

And there's "anti-war activist" Jane Fonda. The Hollywood vixen who strayed into activism more as a means to agitate the hell out of dad Henry than for any humanitarian concerns. Barbarella became a buns booster to exercisers everywhere. Currently poses, somewhat convincingly, as having never been anything but a good and proper, upright, schoolmarmy lady actress, wife, mother.

David Horowitz, a phony radical back then, a flaming conservative now. He didn't really have a change of heart; he simply came out of the neocon closet. And the ever fatiguing Noam Chomsky was around in the '60s. He could have stopped writing 30 years ago and just recycled his earlier writings by inserting the location of the current political killing fields. At nearly 80 I can only be grateful he's approaching his expiration date.

There were the Chicago 7 (8) trial 1969-70 of 7 radicals accused of conspiracy to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. At the time touted as the "most important political trial of the century." Freedom of speech was repeated then a lot too.

Defendents: Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Rennie Davis, Tom Hayden, John Froines Lee Weiner, Bobby Seale. (Bobby Seale, cofounder of Black Panthers was under a gag order and eventually his case was separated from the others.) I remember the convention and trial vividly as I lived in Chicago at the time.

Yep, the political sideshow of the century. Where are those boys today? Abbie worked as a psychologist and activist until found dead in 1989, suicide. Rubin paraded in court giving the judge the nazi salute and shouting Heil Hitler (popular words again today). In the '80s he turned yuppie, put on a suit, worked on Wall Street, and died in 1994 when hit by a car while jaywalking.

David Dellinger was the old man in the bunch at age 54. He regularly shouted "fascist" and "liar" at the judge. A Yale graduate and evangelical socialist. At the 1996 Democratic National Convention he spoke in Grant Park against the "war on drugs." He died in 2004 at age 81.

Rennie Davis, educated at Oberlin and University of Illinois, became a venture capitalist and lecturer on meditation and self-awareness. He too was at the 1996 Convention on a panel with Tom Hayden. Hayden as most know was married to Fonda and is now a state senator in California. He was a delegate at the 1996 Democratic National Convention.

John Froines – PhD from Yale, served at OSHA under Carter, and now a professor at UCLA. Lee Weiner went on to work for the Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'rith in New York, protested for Russian Jews and more funding for AIDS research. Supposedly still an activist.

Bobby Seale. Cofounder of the Black Panthers, has his own web page and memories of the '60s. Supposedly Seale was added to the defendant list to "taint the other defendents" because of his seditious speech, i.e. "If the police get in the way of our march, tangle with the blue-helmeted motherfuckers and kill them and send them to the morgue." No degrees, no Wall Streets, no government clandestine trips, no Hollywood, just a former tainter.

In 30 years, more likely than not, today's younger liberal progressive "left" will be dead, working for the government in some manner or other, or just the old guy in the bar selling memoirs online.

The 9/11 truth movement will maintain a following with devoted truthseekers, at least for another couple of generations. Both George Bushes will be dead and memorialized in Texas. Mom Sheehan's camp whatchamacallit, most of the media's Wilsonian - Plamish type darlings will be footnotes like those "radicals" above, and orange lanyards will be gone, although yellow ribbons may hang around forever. Yellow may be the true color for the "left" anyway. And lanyard, a piece of rope (noose?) is ironically appropriate.

A few of today's new and younger progressive tokens, will be aging icons to tell the next new "left," if there is another generation of "left," what they want to hear about ending whatever war is going on and how to win back the power. Like today's "left" they won't be yelling fascist motherfuckers at the government but signing petitions and holding seminars. Social demolition - controlled and on schedule. God bless America.

Haditha Part Deux

Unlikely the progressive liberal blogs will chat up this story on Haditha. It goes against their current beliefs.

ATLANTA Jun 9, 2006 (AP)— A minister embedded with some of the Marines who are alleged to have killed up to two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq, after one of their own died in a roadside explosion says he heard about the dead civilians but saw no distress among Iraqis or Marines in Haditha several weeks after the killings.

Rev. Christopher Price of suburban Atlanta recalled Friday of his conversations with Marines in Haditha in January. "As it was presented, it seemed a normal part of what happened. It seemed a sort of regrettable but also fairly typical incident. I saw nothing that betrayed any difficulty between the Marines and the people of Haditha."

Price couldn't recall who exactly told him about the killed civilians and said he didn't ask for details. Price and the Rev. Ben Mathes, a minister from Dawsonville, Ga., and the father of the executive officer of the Marines' Kilo Company Marine in Haditha, spent Jan. 2 to Jan. 23 in Iraq as embedded reporters for Sacramento, Calif.-based K-Love Christian Radio Network. They are both Presbyterian pastors.

"If this thing had been as horrible as it's been made out to be, the people of Haditha would have been up in arms when we were there," said Mathes, who said he first learned of the accusations when they recently became public.

The ministers said they saw good relations and no bitterness between the Marines, whose morale seemed high, and the friendly Iraqis.

"Nobody disparaged the Iraqis while we were there," Price said. "They were proud stores were beginning to open, the town was coming back to life." While out on patrol with Marines, the ministers were invited to share tea and bread in many Iraqi homes.

..... But, the question is - can you believe Presbyterians?

Friday's Chuckle

Took a peek at DK (Daily Kos) just now and found this.

Yearly Kos: The Magic of People Power Made Manifest. I'm not up to date on Kos (the site smells too much like a government setup to my nose) but I guess this is some type of yearly get-together? This 3 day "workshop" is in Vegas – isn't that where the seemingly tequila sotted bunch at Bartcop go for their festivals?

Kos Diarist: We are here. We are at the gates. We, the people, are coming to power slowly and indefatigably, here in Vegas and here on the blog. We have arrived.

Kos supposedly represents America's progressive liberal democrats (the other cheek on the corporate ass) … liberals are "coming out" because of the "magic of the event."

The Yearly Kos participants were easy to spot: Their "diversity" includes accents of "twangs, drawls, short Northeastern clips." (No ebonics?) Apparently they are also tagged with an "orange lanyard around their neck." They are often teary-eyed from reading their own and one another's diaries. And, they have casts on one arm, from fractures received while patting themselves on the back.

Festivals and scoundrels, and "informed" citizens - oh my - there are just too many ways to be a celebrity and way, way, way too many political fan clubs to join these days.

Crocodiles Weep While Devouring Prey

US threatens to cut UN funding. The long running battle of ideas between rightwinger America and the UN is known as the "spat." Supposedly the current crisis stems from the UN not giving explicit approval for the war in Iraq (UN did agree with war on Afghanistan "To defeat terrorism, we need a sustained effort and a broad strategy to unite all nations, and address all aspects of the scourge we face." – Kofi Annan 10/8/01)

This latest verbal spat is between Malloch Brown (UN deputy, British toady) and John Bolton (US elite toady and UN rep).

Brown has been "criticized by dissident UN staff for aligning the world body too closely with Democrats in US domestic politics."

As I have stated elsewhere the UN is as useful as tits on a bull.

The UN body prefers the slower death of the target (sanctions, lengthy police actions). The UN murders by charter and articles and allied troops. "Police actions" are always okay with the UN, i.e. Korea, Vietnam.

In places like Haiti and Rwanda victims are always SOL when it comes to the UN. In Haiti dissidents are "gang members" and in Rwanda are warring tribal factions which the UN is always incapable of doing anything about. Africans are important only to the UN and EuroUS when there are natural resources to be had, or as in location, location, location. Places such as Rwanda were once colonial owned and operated by Germany, Belgium, and puppet dictators. At one time Rwanda was the trust territory of the UN. Once a country is sucked dry the global elite have little interest, but they cry a lot of crocodile tears.

In Rwanda 1994-97 the UN, the US, the "West" failed 800,000+ victims. Too occupied with other pressing matters? Insufficient warning to react in time, not enough resources? No, the excusers are lying again. As a journalist once said of the Rwandan holocaust "they just weren't white enough."
Willie Clinton stopped in briefly to apologize to Rwanda in 1998, as his plane engines continued to run - he announced the world was sorry for "reacting too slowly."

Al-Zawowie Is Dead

BAGHDAD, Iraq Jun 8, 2006 (AP)— Abu Musab al-Zarqawi rose from the life of a street thug in Jordan to become the symbol of "holy war" in Iraq, masterminding the bloodiest suicide bombings of the insurgency, beheading hostages and helping push Iraq into a spiral of sectarian violence with vicious attacks against Shiites. The 39-year-old al-Zarqawi, slain in a U.S. air strike Wednesday night, was instrumental in turning the swift U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 into a grueling counterinsurgency fight, helping draw Arab militants into what he depicted as a war for Islam against the American "crusaders" and Shiite "infidels."

De dee de dee - ABC News has interviewed the sole survivor of the air strike which killed Al-Zawowie. A neighbor and elderly goat herder, Al-Eyewitness states he was awakened by the early morning strike. According to Al-Eye shortly before sometime, members of the USMC entered the house, handcuffed, tortured, and shot in cold blood the members of the insurgent group, along with mastermind Al-Zawowie who appeared to have been in prayer. The Corp then ordered an air strike to cover up their wrong doing.

ABC has obtained exclusive polaroids of the aftermath, taken by a Syrian visitor who was waiting for a taxi when the killing took place. According to Abu Al-Salamander, a physician in the village of Hibhib, Al-Zawowie had not - contrary to pop myth - regenerated any lower extremities.

According to accounts from other hamlet dwellers, Al-Zawowie was not there and this is another case of American crusaders and infidels bombing places and claiming Al-Zawow was there. Said locals have been arrested and transported to Poland for interrogation.

More news at noon their time.

$50 Billion More For War

$50 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the first few months of next year, under a House bill a subcommittee approved Wednesday.

On a voice vote, the House defense appropriations subcommittee passed a $427 billion measure for the Pentagon budget year that begins Oct. 1, including operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senate has not yet completed its version of the annual bill. House lawmakers sliced about $4 billion from the president's spending request for the Pentagon because of what they said were other priorities within the budget and a soaring federal deficit.

"We did the best we could with the money we had to work with," said Rep. John Murtha.

If approved, the House bill would push total war-related dollars since 2001 toward a staggering half-trillion dollars.

Lawmakers say the Pentagon is spending about $8 billion a month in Iraq and $1 billion a month in Afghanistan.

!*^!@#%%&!! and !@#^$#!

Here Pavlov, Here Boy

Tehran. "Iran will continue to price its oil sales in dollars but can receive payment in other foreign currency needed by the central bank, Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hameneh said. 'Although pricing is in dollars, our receipts can be in any foreign exchange,' he was quoted as saying by the ISNA students' news agency. When asked about discussions over pricing oil in euros, held on the sidelines of an Opec meeting in Venezuela, Vaziri-Hameneh said: 'Currently, because basic pricing is in dollars, it is not possible to make such a change.' The Mehr news agency carried a separate quote saying the world's fourth biggest crude producer had already received payment in 'any foreign exchange' needed by the central bank for several months. However, this quote was not carried by other agencies and it was not immediately possible to confirm this detail with the oil ministry or the central bank. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said last month that his country might price its oil in euros."

I hate to say I told you so but … often, events are not as close as they appear to be in the media. Just as often a friend is not a friend and an enemy not an enemy, only made to appear as one in the media. Might want to look closer at the voices shouting about bourse, euros, dollars, war on Iran, and every other story that falls off the turnip truck.

For the last 30 years the fallout from Iran's "anti-US" stance has filled many a corporate coffer. The 1970's Iranian revolution contributed to the "oil shortage" and drove up prices (hence everything else we humans use). The Iran/Iraq War in the 1980's likewise drove prices upward. The 1990's sanctions on Iraq, Iran, Libya, etc. – ditto. And of course, we see where oil prices have gone this decade, all moving right along as planned by the global elite.

Iran, a so called hardliner State since the revolution in 1978, has helped the rich get richer. As I've stated before, friends in Iran helped elect Reagan/Bush during the hostage crisis (google if you need more on that era). Iran-Contra were girlfriends. Iran has a lot of friends.

Notice when US/Iran tensions lessen - oil prices fall. Every "threat" of disruption in oil supply by Iran or the US sends crude up again. Bad for peons, good for the global elite and their master baiters.

Note too that more than once the US government has waived sanctions so that big business can do business with Iran. I believe the most recent waiver was for Soroush and Nowruz Iranian offshore fields, under the development of Anglo-Dutch giant Royal Dutch Shell and Japan's JJI. While the Amerikun elite can pretend not to be trading with the designated enemy of the moment – their portfolios do. Limited joint ventures indeed. There are more Anglo-elite companies in bed with Iran than oil wells in the Middle East. Pay no attention to the Japan or China or Abu Dhabi company holding the corporate seal.

Iran is authoritarian, which is exactly what the global elite want it to be, no matter how often they shout democracy and freedom for Iran. Those 2 words are to ring Joe Average's doggie bell. He rolls over and slobbers when he hears them, ready to perform any of the silly tricks he's been Lee Greenwood trained to do and proud of it.

Iran is rich with enormous mineral resources, including gold, all yet to be exploited. Germany, Italy, Japan and others happily worked with Iran between 2000 to present to develop its steel industry. Saveh Rolling & Profile Mills has the largest market and is also the largest Iranian exporter of pipes and profiles to every corner of the world.

One of Saveh's biggest customers is Abu Dhabi National Co. for Building Materials BildCo., located in UAE. Foreigners are allowed to own BildCo stock (as with many businesses). One could invest in Halliburton Worldwide Limited – Abu Dhabi. There's a good chance they buy building materials from BildCo for all the reconstruction going on in Iraq. A convenient stop at the Middle East corporate stores for that embassy and those permanent bases. I'm pondering why Halliburton's nationality on the above site is listed as "Caymen Islands." (Abu Dhabi, UAE was in the recent fuss over port security, aka anglo-infighting over a pie.)

Iran government is encouraging joint manufacturing ventures with foreign companies. As in the rest of the tremendous boom going on in the Middle East Joe Average hears about none of it. The region is a dark, gloomy, warring, primitive place for Joe. Ring a ding, roll over. Joe might be pissed if he knew the elite are making billions as he digs between couch cushions for loose change to buy gas.

The ruling elite can level a few cities in the Middle East but they cannot nuke the oil and gas fields and the multi-billions in construction and industry going on there. It would be equivalent to destroying their portfolios, jewels, land, social registries, and living in a van down by the river. That's not to say they wouldn't enjoy killing off a few billion useless feeders but only if it can be done quickly, neatly, without disruption to their lifestyles and fortunes. I'm hoping today's elite have weaker stomachs than the ruling elite of WWII.

Last, but not least, I suspect Hugo Chavez is doing his part to keep the price of oil up. Pay attention to the language. Such statements as "may" or "could" or "might" price oil in euros is a teaser. Also note that Chavez attacks U.S. imperialism – not the rest of the gringo global elite. I'll take Hugo more seriously when the Venezuelan oligarchy begin arriving in Miami. Chavez more likely than not will go out in a puff of smoke from his own failed imitation of Che and Fidel. But, he will take a tidy personal fortune with him for his work on the plantation.

Tweedledum and Dee

Iraqi army takes over from US in rebellious area.

The 1st Iraqi Army Division officially assumed control of territory near the town of Habbaniya on June 2, between the towns of Ramadi and Falluja, it said in a statement.

"This transfer is another step to a free Iraq," said U.S. Lt. Colonel Loris Lepri.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said after he took office on May 20 that his army and police, now numbering about 255,000, could take over security across the country by the end of next year.

- Gee, al-Maliki has 100,000+ more in uniform than the US does in Iraq. This story scores 1 for the Republican team candidates. Expect more. Such reports create optimism in Joe Voter. Maybe this war can be won, maybe we are making a difference, maybe the troops will be home soon, maybe … maybe … pigs can fly.

From the Democrat team expect to see more atrocity and horror stories. If you think about it, wouldn't another "terrorist attack" at home benefit Democrats much more than BushCo?

Meanwhile, a hard-fought U.S. House election in California is being closely watched for signs of a political shift away from President George W. Bush's Republican party in November's congressional election.

"In November, Democrats must pick up 15 House seats and six Senate seats to regain control in each chamber, giving them the power to set the legislative agenda and more effectively challenge Bush.

Both parties have poured millions of dollars into what has become a rough campaign, and Republicans launched a radio ad to capitalize on comments on immigration by Busby.

While talking to a mostly Hispanic audience at a senior center last Thursday, Busby said: "You don't need papers for voting, you don't need to be a registered voter to help."

Busby later said she misspoke but Bilbray and Republicans said she was encouraging illegal immigrants to help her."

Ju don' need no stinkin' papers. Misspoke. Hahaha. Politicians.

Ho Lee Spy Money

The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, ABC News, AP and the federal government have to pay up $1.645 million to Wen Ho Lee.

"Lee had filed the suit in 1999 after the government and the five media outlets had disclosed his name as being part of a spying investigation. He had alleged in the lawsuit that senior officials in the Bill Clinton administration had leaked his name to the media that he was under investigation for spying for China while working at the Los Alamos Laboratory.

Lee, who was fired from his job in 1999 after the investigation began, was held in solitary confinement for nine months and released in 2000 without being charged with espionage, though he pleaded guilty to mishandling important computer files.

If the case had not been settled through money, Lee’s lawyers would have asked the court to direct the reporters to reveal their sources in government.

US District Judge Rosemary Collyer had threatened stiff sanctions against reporters who refused to name their sources. She said they would have had to pay a hefty fine from their own pockets."

Heftier than what Wen Ho Lee received to keep it out of court?

Collyer replaces Judge Walton in the Sibel "I-Know-Things-Maybe" Edmonds case which is about due for another round of high profile "left" media attention isn't it? (Collyer is a Reagan and Bush appointee although she has ruled favorably for DHS employees and put a 30 day block on moving Yemeni terrorists from Gitmo to another country until they get a hearing.)

How Deep It Is

Surfing the blogosphere I had to interrupt reading, go out to storage, and dig for the hip waders this weekend. It's flooding shabby info. The sewage is getting really deep in the blog world, along with MSM but I expect as much from MSM.

Truth is not in the lead of course. But would we expect any less from the government? Would we expect TPTB not to have trusted toadies as high profile on the world wide web? They completely control our viewing and reading – did ya think they wouldn't control surfing the same way?

Examples I read this weekend:

Embedded reporters let the American people down with their coverage; suffered Stockholm syndrome as their safety depended on troops so they could not report objectively. Reporters were sort of kidnapped?

Anyone not seeing the same atrocity "truths" is lying, denying, or suffering a syndrome. For some unfathomable reason "truth" is coming from the same mainstream media that once lied so much, so saith the "left."

Stories of kicking human heads around, chariot races complete with togas, killing anyone with a cell phone, troops going on patrol totally stoned/high on drugs, tie up toddlers and shoot 'em the head, or multiply Haditha by the thousands according to Aaron Glantz and Alaa Hassan. A geyser of massacres.

If the troops are this far gone I suggest we leave them in Iraq. Who wants to live next door to these stoned, human head rollers, and baby killers? Never know when a vet at the next table in Denny's might go berserk while you're eating pancakes and minding your own business.

And let's give deadbeat veterans the lifetime PTSD excuse so they never have to work another day in their life, living off prescription narcotics and psycho disability. Nevermind all those WWII and Korea and Vietnam vets who lived quiet, decent, productive lives after combat. It's better for big pharma and unemployment figures if returning troops are seen as crazy. We're getting a head start on labeling this batch of vets. Even McCain had his war experience used against him in his run for the nomination – his opposition hinting at anger management issues, a result of his POW experience and some accused him of cooperating with the enemy. Paul Hackett – forget it, everyone now knows what you might have done in this war.

A few "leftists," in an attempt to be forgiving or kind or something, do remind us this was Kilo company's 3rd tour, the stress/fatigue, etc. contributed to the "breakdown." A "left" kind of CYA as they don't want to appear anti-troops. (The same folks make excuses for Johnny Whiteboy's parenticide because of ADHD medication or Holyrolling Mom drowning her pack of kids because of depression.) Situational stress, a hell of a lot better sounding than the twinkie defense.

Another oft heard meme: Bring the troops home from a "war based on lies." Where do people get this shit from? All wars are based on lies. If there had been WMD would that justify the troops being in Iraq to kill or be killed? Does that mean the "left" is peachy keen with the Afghanistan War because it was based on a new Pearl Harbor?

Do you really think WWII was only about Hitler and Jews? Money, power, geopolitics = war. Think hard. Think about who funds and supports the "historians" and scholars and experts who write history for mass consumption. Think about the banksters behind all war. War is a racket of the rich.

This one was interesting: World Bank: Venezuela decreased poverty. "Between 1995 and 2005 the number of homes in poverty decreased by 10 percent." (Chavez elected 1998.) I hope the fact that floods and mudslides in 1999 which wiped out tens of thousands didn't contribute to the decline in poverty. Who in their right mind would believe anything from Paul Wolfowitz and the World Bank?

Is this a sneaky way of Wolfie encouraging the "left" with the neocon brand of socialism where the State (corporatocracy) takes care of everything? Is there a Stalin in our future or here already and the masses too dumbed to know it? I can almost see Hillary as the Woman of Steel, the Blue Army versus the Red Army?

The media informs us Al Gore has all but ruled out running for president in 2008, saying the best use of his time is to educate people about global warming. Eh, Gore limped out in 2000 so lets hope he stays out. As for global warming I'm a fence sitter. Why? Because I figure the corporatocracy destroying the environment have to breathe the same air and live on the same earth I do so here's the question : Are they not concerned because they know 99% of the environmental fear is a bogus issue, another collection plate and government siphon for "studies", clean-ups, departments, foundations, organizations - OR do the elite have another big blue marble to live on when this one is used up? Nature will kill man long before man destroys nature. So, yes, the best use of Gore's time is probably educating folks about saving mother nature as she exponentially shortens the human lifespan. Would ya like a burger with that Albuterol MDI?

And then there was Arnie Meathead of California who ordered troops to the border after initially stating he could not comply with the deployment of guardsmen – until he had more info from the WH. Wouldn't you like to know what tit he got for that tat? Did they change the law that would allow the son of an Austrian Nazi to run for prez?

Now the "left" have their turn at slandering and slavering over headlines written to suit their agenda (getting elected). Where will the admen direct our attention next.

Today the Senate begins the marriage amendment debate. The "right" have to tuck their chin down a bit and return to their favored election issues - fags and fetuses. Better them than us I guess, otherwise the pols could repeat their "tough on crime" b.s. and scare folks with the image of menacing Black men ready to rob and rape the white women.

Kennedy Jr.

Bobby Kennedy Jr. is to tell us BushCo stole the 2004 election, that Kenneth Blackwell of Ohio was in on it, and "sources" tell BradBlog that Kennedy "does not hold back in this article."

And this will accomplish what? Do ya really think elections were honest before 2004? You really think paper ballots never once ended up in swamps, woods, and fireplaces across the country when a count went the wrong way according to Earl and Jimmy County Clerks?

"Does not hold back." I can hardly wait. A Kennedy will unleash the dogs on the republicans. Payback time you republican liars. Just you wait and see. You're gonna get it now.

Questioning the legitimacy of the voting system, 5 months before election, will convince more voters there's little point in voting with all the fraud going on. That is, the millions of Joes who still think voting makes a difference. So I'm curious – which party does this help at the polls?

The congressional democrats have not exactly been gnashing teeth over the honesty and accuracy of voting in the last 6 years. And how many fought side by side with Gore in 2000 when Jeb gave Florida to Boy George? How many democrats raised hell about the obvious fish odor on Election 2000?

But, I suppose the article will make the republicans look bad, as if they can look any worse. And dammit all to hell – wouldn't we all be in a lot better place if Republican-Lite Kerry and his self-proclaimed African-American Theresa were in the WH now?!

Joe Voter can fear his vote won't count and whichever way November '06 goes the elite win. I.e. Joe Democrat can cry foul if democrats lose and if democrats win big (a good possibility) Joe is assured the voting system really does work and it was only maybe that J. Kenneth Blackwell guy in Ohio that cheated on a count, the system is honest again.

Chicanery indeed.

Thank goodness RFK Junior and pols aren't telling Joe Voter he should abolish PACs and lobbyists, demanding congressional term limits, campaign reform without corporate or individual donors and instead government funding with equal air time, money, etc. for candidates. C-span might actually be useful.

Good thing pols aren't concentrating on talk of pulling government contracts from corporations that outsource jobs Americans can do, forcing pols to balance the budget or go home, telling Israel to make peace or no more checks in the mail. Thank heavens they dare not encourage folks to hold back tax payments that fund war and KBR. Or telling Joe minimum wage should be $11/hour just to keep up with inflation.

Yep, good thing pols are not talking Joe Voter into reinstating the draft, with first physicals and new uniforms to be given to the 18 to 27 year old sons/daughters of all politicians and the offspring of families making $150,000 plus, with no college deferment, no medical deferment outside of being deaf, dumb, or blind as all conscripts will be assigned a slot fitting their ability (anal cystees could do talk radio direct from Falujah, etc).

Yep, that 2004 election was stolen and if we prove it why … well … uh … ummm … we can undo … we can send that Black dude in Ohio to jail and … uh … oh I know! Oust those neocons and bring honesty and integrity back to government. Now where I have heard that before ….