Alterman and Escobar debate if Obama is a conservative politician or a progressive who knows how to win
Eric Alterman argues that Obama is a political realist, a consensus politician who understands that he must compromise in order to be electable.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Is Obama a conservative or a progressive realist?
The Real News Network:
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Israel: Culture of fear
Judith Norman and Alistair Welchman (Jewish Peace News) write:
"This opinion piece (link below) discusses what is perhaps the most significant psychological mechanism acting to help make the Jewish community support Israel’s occupation: the fear of collective annihilation. Seth Freedman argues that a culture of fear like this has a life of its own, independent of whether it is grounded in something real, and, indeed, has a tendency to create objects of fear where there are none. Of course this psychology is very much in the interests of those who seek to perpetuate the occupation and who encourage this culture of fear. Thus, a people as victimized, oppressed, dispossessed and essentially powerless as the Palestinians under occupation is magnified into a monster that threatens the existence of a nuclear-armed state. This is a neat argument, and explains, for instance, the disproportionate hysteria over the Qassam rocket attacks.Must Read: Seth Freedman: Culture of fear | guardian.co.uk
While it is fairly easy to use blunt geopolitical reasoning explain the motivations behind the occupation, it is always more difficult to explain why so many Jews in Israel and around the world support such cruelty. Analyses such as this go a long way towards such an explanation."
"History has handed the Jewish people the fear of annihilation on a plate – but while the fear exists, what is feared may not..."Photo Credit: Israeli soldiers scuffle with Palestinian protestors during a demonstration. (AFP)
Friday, June 27, 2008
Couldn't Agree More....
Jason Rosenbaum: The Obama Problem:
"...The harsh reality is, Barack Obama can and will tack towards the center on issues that are important to progressives during the general election. We can argue until we're blue in the face that this is not a smart thing to do, and by extension, that the country is ready for real progressive leadership, but Obama will do what he wants to do. Unless we are willing to actively work against him, we have no leverage.
I am not willing to actively work against him. I'm not willing to call on people to pull their money and their volunteer hours either. But two can play at Obama's game.
To me, Obama's methods are obvious. He is selling out a constituency without leverage (progressives) to burnish his centrist image, which he believes will bring him more votes in November. Obama is practicing, as BooMan puts it, "raw political calculation." Well, guess what; I can do that, too!..."
Continue reading.
New Bush-push for US-Iraq security pact
US submits new unspecified proposals hoping to get security agreement in Iraq despite staunch opposition
The Real News Network:"In a meeting between US President George W. Bush and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani they discuss what Bush calls 'a strategic framework agreement that suits the Iraqi government.' The push for a deal on a US-Iraq security pact has been stepped up after Washington submitted new, unspecified proposals. The pact would allow permanent US bases in Iraq as well as immunity from prosecution for US citizens. Many Iraqis say this would violate the nation's sovereignty and fear this would leave Iraq under US domination for years. The Real News Network's Senior Analyst Aijaz Ahmad comments."
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Bush Impeachment Debate Focuses on Subpoenas
David Swanson: Refusing Congressional subpoenas is an impeachable offense.
The Real News: "With the Democratic leadership still staunchly against impeachment, it remains unlikely that Chairman Conyers will bring hearings on Rep. Kucinich's 35 articles of impeachment. David Swanson suggests that the most likely road to impeachment would include article 27, which charges the Executive with failing to comply with Congressional subpoenas."
Technorati tags: The Real News, Cheney, Bush, Impeachment, Congress, Impeach, Subpoenas, David Swanson
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sign On: Petition to Impeach President George W Bush
Our many voices can be one! Join America's most Courageous Congressman.Only one Congressman had the personal courage and the profound respect for our Constitution to stand on the floor of the House of Representatives and exercise his right and his responsibility to bring Articles of Impeachment against President George W. Bush - Ohio Representative Dennis J. Kucinich.
Now is the time for Americans to speak with one voice to support his bold and historic efforts to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. (click here)
Beginning today, Americans who cherish our Democracy and the Constitutional principles upon which it was founded can stand up, speak out, and take action by signing the one official petition that carries the full and unqualified support of the one and only original sponsor of the impeachment resolution:
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich.
Read the Articles (click here) and exercise your right to be heard by signing the official Kucinich Petition.
McClellan, Impeachment & Congress
The Real News reports:
"Bruce Fein says McClellan's book confirms Bush has committed impeachable offenses."Watch:
The Canonization of St. Tim
Alexander Cockburn, The Nation, reports:
"The delirium in the press at Tim Russert's passing has been strange. As a broadcaster he was not much better than average, which is saying very little. He could be a sharp questioner, but not when it really counted and when courage was required. He was tough with George Bush in a February 2004 interview. He taxed him with faking the reasons to attack Iraq. But in the years before the 2003 attack, I used to hear Russert being merciless to those questioning whether Saddam Hussein had the nukes and bioweapons alleged by the Bush Administration and its co-conspirators in the press, prominent among them Russert himself...."Photo credit: Tim Russert. www.centre.edu
Continue reading.
Bomb Iran? What's to Stop Bush?
Ray McGovern, Consortium News, reports:
"It's crazy, but it's coming soon. The armed forces are working out details. Impeachment may be the only way to stop it...."
Read more.
Related Articles:
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The REAL McCain: Big Oil Fuels the Straight Talk Express
Watch the video from Brave New Films:
Gas prices are hitting all-time highs. Our country is in the midst of a recession thanks in part to our crippling dependence on oil, so what's John McCain's plan? Will he hold the corporate leaders of the energy industry accountable when he addresses them today in Houston? Probably not, considering they are some of his biggest fund-raisers.
Gas prices are hitting all-time highs. Our country is in the midst of a recession thanks in part to our crippling dependence on oil, so what's John McCain's plan? Will he hold the corporate leaders of the energy industry accountable when he addresses them today in Houston? Probably not, considering they are some of his biggest fund-raisers.
The Center for Responsive Politics finds that McCain has accepted over $1 million from the oil and gas industry. Many of McCain's top advisers have lobbied for big oil, which is why he now acts in their best interests, opposing environmental legislation and alternative energy plans. And that's exactly why we want everyone to know The REAL McCain.
McCain is desperate to distance himself from President Bush. But according to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, McCain has received millions in donations from the same oil, coal, nuclear, chemical, utility, and auto companies that helped the Bush administration create its energy plan�a plan that has raised gasoline to $4 a gallon.
Here's what you can do: Send this e-mail to ten of your friends, family members, and colleagues. Tell them to send it on to ten people they know. And don't forget to Digg it! Spread the word that McCain is taking major contributions from wealthy oil executives like Bob Mosbacher, just one of the special interest leaders he'll be addressing in Houston.
Make sure everyone gets to know The REAL McCain, subscribe to Brave New Films today.
Technorati tags: Energy Policy, Presidential Election, 2008, John McCain, Oil, Corporations, Energy Industry, Campaign Contributions, Global Warming
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Barack Obama Has Even Won the Matt Drudge Primary
Now, as Obama and Senator John McCain look toward the fall, Drudge has emerged unexpectedly as more of a threat to the Republican than to the Democrat...reflecting a major shift from the last two presidential elections, a matter of open alarm to Republican strategists and surprised satisfaction to Democrats.read more | digg story
Bill Moyers Addresses NCMR 2008
Legendary journalist Bill Moyers addresses the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis, June 7, 2008. Presented by FreePress.net. For more speakers, press coverage, and info, visit: http://www.freepress.net/conference
Trouble viewing this video? Click Here.
Trouble viewing this video? Click Here.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Obama Claims Nomination!
First Black to Lead a Major Party Ticket
NYTimes.com:
"Senator Barack Obama claimed the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday night, prevailing through an epic battle with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in a primary campaign that inspired millions of voters from every corner of America to demand change in Washington...."Photo Credit: Jeff Haynes/Reuters (NYT)
Not Ready for Prime Time Iran
Read up. You won't find this stuff on CNN:
- Asia Times Online | Bush 'plans Iran air strike by August':
"The George W Bush administration plans to launch an air strike against Iran within the next two months, an informed source tells Asia Times Online, echoing other reports that have surfaced in the media in the United States recently...."
- Iran Warns IAEA on Nuclear Cooperation | NYTimes.com:
"Iran said on Sunday it might have to limit its cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, criticizing the agency's report which said Tehran's alleged research into nuclear warheads was a matter of serious concern...."
Iraqi Clerics Against U.S. Bases
Clerics call for referendum on proposal to indefinitely station US troops in Iraq:
"The Bush administration will have a hard time extracting a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) from the government in Baghdad – indefinitely stationing US military troops in the country just as in Japan and South Korea. Muqtada al-Sadr wants any agreement to be submitted to a national referendum. Grand Ayatollah Sistani has recently been visited by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Najaf. And he practically ordered Maliki to call a national referendum. Now Ayatollah Kazim al-Haeri – the 5th grand Ayatollah of Iraq - has issued a fatwa against the agreement."--The Real News Network
Meet the Federal Reserve
This is must see video....
From Gary Franchi, Restore the Republic:
Trouble viewing this video? Click Here.
Produced in association with Aaron Russo's http://RestoreTheRepublic.com, the Lone Lantern Society of America (http://LoneLantern.org), and Republic Magazine (http://RepublicMagazines.com).
Recorded May 14th-16, 2008 at the 44th Annual conference on Bank Structure and Competition hosted by the Federal Reserve of Chicago.
Shot on location at the Hotel Inter-Continental and on the streets of Chicago, Illinois.
From Gary Franchi, Restore the Republic:
"A new video featuring Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chairman, and Jerry Nelson, Corporate Communications for the Federal Reserve with Gary Franchi, Managing Editor of Republic Magazine.Runtime: 0:26:38
Bernanke is questioned about the Amero and Nelson reveals some little known facts about the FED. Is it really a private bank? Is the Amero on the horizon? What were US Notes printed by John F. Kennedy? Is our money toxic? What happened to the gold in the Treasury? These questions and more are answered in this expose' about the Federal Reserve System, from the mouth of the Federal Reserve...."
Trouble viewing this video? Click Here.
Produced in association with Aaron Russo's http://RestoreTheRepublic.com, the Lone Lantern Society of America (http://LoneLantern.org), and Republic Magazine (http://RepublicMagazines.com).
Recorded May 14th-16, 2008 at the 44th Annual conference on Bank Structure and Competition hosted by the Federal Reserve of Chicago.
Shot on location at the Hotel Inter-Continental and on the streets of Chicago, Illinois.
When Less Is More: Simply Brazile - ient!
Telling Thoughts reports:
"At one stage in the raised temperature of the DNC Rules & Bylaws committee meeting in Washington DC, superdelegate and committee member, Donna Brazile responded to remarks by the former Governor of Michigan, Jim Blanchard, a Clinton advocate, saying quote:
"My mama taught me to play by the rules and respect the rules …'When you decide to change the rules, especially, in the middle of the game, it’s called cheating....'”
Technorati tags: Donna Brazile, Politics, 2008, Primaries, Election, President, Democratic Party, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)