Chomsky: In swing states vote Obama

People should vote against McCain and for Obama - but without illusions

Chomsky says while it's true that the two parties are essentially like factions of one party - the party of business - the differences do matter to ordinary people. If you are living in a swing state, there is nothing wrong with picking the lesser of two evils.

The Real News Network:

Noam Chomsky: Current crisis demonstrates anti-democratic nature of financial system

In part two of their interview, Paul Jay asks Prof. Noam Chomsky to weigh-in on the dominant subject of the day, the economic crisis. While Prof. Chomsky agrees that the current crisis is a very serious one that will have broad implications for the broader society, he points out that the foreseeable Medicare-induced economic crisis will "dwarf" the current one in magnitude. Furthermore, Prof. Chomsky develops his contention that democracy is hindered by unrestrained free markets. While on the other hand, state-restricted markets are democratic by design in that they allow people take control--through their government--of financial institutions to force them to include externalities and risks to the broader population in their decision-making. These factors are such that profit-seeking enterprises will not accommodate them when left to their own volition, given that free markets do not put a price on these externalities.

Bio:

Noam Chomsky has written and lectured widely on linguistics, philosophy, intellectual history, contemporary issues, international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. His works include: Aspects of the Theory of Syntax; Cartesian Linguistics; Sound Pattern of English (with Morris Halle); Language and Mind; American Power and the New Mandarins; At War with Asia; For Reasons of State; Peace in the Middle East?; Reflections on Language; The Political Economy of Human Rights, Vol. I and II (with E.S. Herman); Rules and Representations; Lectures on Government and Binding; Towards a New Cold War; Radical Priorities; Fateful Triangle; Knowledge of Language; Turning the Tide; Pirates and Emperors; On Power and Ideology; Language and Problems of Knowledge; The Culture of Terrorism; Manufacturing Consent (with E.S. Herman); Necessary Illusions; Deterring Democracy; Year 501; Rethinking Camelot: JFK, the Vietnam War and US Political Culture; Letters from Lexington; World Orders, Old and New; The Minimalist Program; Powers and Prospects; The Common Good; Profit Over People; The New Military Humanism; New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind; Rogue States; A New Generation Draws the Line; 9-11; and Understanding Power.

Technorati tags: 2008 Election, President, Barack Obama, Noam Chomsky, John McCain, Economy, economic crisis, endorsement, video, Real News Network

The Vet Who Did Not Vet

A Dr. Seuss style telling of the McCain and Palin tale.



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TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THE ELECTION: WATCH

Shiba Inu Puppy Cam

Live streaming video by Ustream

McCain's Surrogates Confirm: McCain More of the Same

As John McCain desperately tries to convince Americans that he is not a George Bush clone, his own surrogates confirm otherwise:

Eric Hirshberg: Republicans Voting for Obama: In Their Own Words

Eric Hirshberg: Republicans Voting for Obama: In Their Own Words

"There are a number of people in my life -- some family, some friends, some colleagues -- with whom I have never agreed upon anything political. Ever. These are my political opposites. My bizarre-o twins. And they have been my adversaries in countless debates; the kind nobody ever wins, but nobody ever seems to tire of, either.

Sadly, politics have become sort of a new sports league in modern culture. We don't really listen to each other's points of view so much as we pick a side and root for it. And just as with our favorite sports teams, our faith in our parties can become blind. I have had about as much success convincing my Republican father-in-law of my liberal points of view as I have had convincing my father, an Ohio State alumnus, to root for Michigan.

But over the last few months, something unprecedented has happened. Almost all these folks have told me that, for the first time ever, they are voting for the same candidate I am: Barack Obama.

Now, these are not casual conservatives...." Continue Reading

"...I thought we were making an ad campaign about Obama. But I think we ended up making an ad campaign about the essential ingredient that makes democracy work: an open mind. We don't belong to our political parties. Our political parties belong to us."

Technorati tags: Ed Hirshberg, Republicans, Conservatives, Endorsement, Barack Obama, Politics, John McCain, President, Election, 2008

Who Is Barack Obama?

John McCain and Sarah Palin keep asking: "Who is Barack Obama?"

Here's a behind-the-scenes look:



Music by Greg Kuehn for Peligro Music and Sound Design.

Technorati tags: Barack Obama, Who is Barack Obama?, Michelle, Obama, Joe Biden, 2008 campaign

Sarah Palin: Palling Around With Secessionists

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. | Alaskan Independence Party: The Last Refuge of a Scoundrel:

...[I]f McCarthy-era guilt-by-association is once again a valid political consideration, Palin, it would seem, has more to lose than Obama. Palin, it could be argued, following her own logic, thinks so little of America's perfection that she continues to "pal around" with a man--her husband, actually--who only recently terminated his seven-year membership in the Alaskan Independence Party. Putting plunder above patriotism, the members of this treasonous cabal aim to break our country into pieces and walk away with Alaska's rich federal oil fields and one-fifth of America's land base--an area three-fourths the size of the Civil War Confederacy.

AIP's charter commits the party "to the ultimate independence of Alaska," from the United States which it refers to as "the colonial bureaucracy in Washington." It proclaims Alaska's 1959 induction as a state "as illegal and in violation of the United Nations charter and international law."

AIP's creation was inspired by the rabidly violent anti-Americanism of its founding father Joe Vogler, "I'm an Alaskan, not an American," reads a favorite Vogler quote on AIP's current website, "I've got no use for America or her damned institutions." According to Vogler AIP's central purpose was to drive Alaska's secession from the United States. Alaska, says current Chairwoman Lynette Clark, "should be an independent nation."

Vogler was murdered in 1993 during an illegal sale of plastic explosives that went bad. The prior year, he had renounced his allegiance to the United States explaining that, "The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government." He cursed the stars and stripes, promising, "I won't be buried under their damned flag...when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home." Palin has never denounced Vogler or his detestable anti-Americanism.

Palin's husband Todd remained an AIP party member from 1995 to 2002. Sarah can be described in McCarthy-era palaver as a "fellow traveler." While retaining her Republican registration, she attended the AIP's 1994 convention where the party called for a draft constitution to secede from the United States and create an independent nation of Alaska. The McCain Campaign has reluctantly acknowledged that she also attended AIP's 2000 Convention. She apparently found the experience so inspiring that she agreed to give a keynote address at the AIP's 2006 convention and she recorded a video greeting for this year's 2008 convention. In other words, this is not something that happened when she was eight!

So when Palin accuses Barack of "not seeing the same America as you and me," maybe she is referring to an America without Alaska. In any case, isn't it time the media start giving equal time to Palin's buddy list of anti-American bombers and other radical associates?

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Palin's secession flirtation | Rosa Brooks | Los Angeles Times:

"That John McCain -- he's such a maverick!

Just when you thought you had him figured out, McCain threw another curveball -- picking rookie Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whom he barely knows, as his running mate.

As ex-Democrat Joe Lieberman told the Republican convention Tuesday night, everyone recognizes McCain's "record of independence. ... God only made one John McCain, and he's his own man."

Uh-huh. Some might call it reckless for a 72-year-old to offer the vice presidency of the United States to someone with as little national experience as Palin. The McCain campaign calls it showing independence.

Still, don't be too hard on Palin. Like McCain, she's independence-minded -- very, very independence-minded. And, it turns out, there's much more to her than you might at first have thought...." Continue reading.

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Also see:

• YouTube - Palin addresses AIP convention

  "Former member of AIP, Sarah Palin, addresses Alaskan Independent Party convention.
  
  Watch this other clip here of Dexter Clark, vice chairman of the Alaska Independence party confirming that Sarah Palin was once a member of the AIP. The clips are long, you can skip to 6:00 in to hear the reference to Palin.

  'Our current governor, we mentioned at the last conference, the one we were hoping would get elected, Sarah Palin, did get elected. There's a joke, she's a pretty good looking gal, there's a joke goes around we're the coldest state with the hottest governor. And there was a lot of talk about her moving up. She was an AIP member before she got the job as a mayor of a small town -- that was a non-partisan job. But you get along to go along -- she eventually joined the Republican Party, where she had all kinds of problems with their ethics, and well, I won't go into that. She also had about an 80% approval rating, and is pretty well sympathetic to her former membership.'

  Clark goes on to talk about the need for AIP members to 'infiltrate the major political parties'.
  
  Very important to watch these clips also to get the full context."

Also See:

• The Palins' un-American activities | Salon:

  "Imagine if the Obamas had hooked up with a violently anti-American group in league with the government of Iran."

Technorati tags: Sarah Palin, Alaska, Independence Party, Secession, 2008, Campaign, Vice President, politics

Hey Sarah Palin

MC Howie goes political with Julie K in this oh-my-god-how-hilarious song, to the tune of "Hey There Delilah".



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When Will Sarah Palin Stop Lying? When Pigs Fly....

Sarah Palin a Champion of Earmark Reform? Hogwash.



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The Truth About John McCain

Former POW says McCain is "not cut out to be President":

Dr. Phillip Butler knew McCain as a fellow POW. Watch & Listen:

Thanks to Robert Greenwalk, Brave New Pac: John McCain has been exploiting his prisoner of war experience every chance he gets. He has used this story to justify everything from not knowing how many homes he has to his healthcare plan to his marital infidelities to his taste in music. The McCain campaign is even using his POW story in paid ads. But now a veteran who was a prisoner with McCain in Vietnam is explaining loud and clear that being a POW does not qualify McCain to lead our country.

[...]

We are sure this video will draw an onslaught of right-wing attacks, but we bring it to you because it is our job to continue to convey the truth together and give these issues national attention. As Dr. Butler has said, McCain does not have the temperament to have his finger near the red button. Get this video to everyone you know: friends, family members, coworkers, and especially those who don't share your political views. The video is designed to reach them. Get it on your social networking sites like Digg. And get it to every blog, newspaper, and TV station that has ever overplayed McCain's POW story. It is time to fight back with truth!

The mainstream press has already begun to call out McCain for overusing his POW story. And it's cut across all political persuasions.

• "Whether he's deflecting criticism over his health-care plan or mocking a tribute to the Woodstock music festival, Senator John McCain has a trump card: the Hanoi Hilton. - Edwin Chen, Bloomberg


• "Noun, Verb, POW" - Andrew Sullivan, The Atlantic Monthly


• "The McCain campaign's constant invocation of the candidate's POW past is weird bordering on irrational..." - Ana Marie Cox, TIME


• "I think they are going to it way too many times." - Howard Fineman, Newsweek

Remember how Joe Biden got the press to refer to Rudy Giuliani as "A noun, a verb, and 9/11"? Well, let's actually take Andrew Sullivan's lead here and get the media to boil McCain down to a similar phrase: "A noun, a verb, and POW." Considering how often the McCain campaign invokes his POW story, isn't that what they're already doing?

Check out my new Ad

Technorati tags: Unknown Candidate, joke, video, commercial

An Anthem For Change

Dave Stewart: Exclusive Premiere:



For thoughts behind the song and video from Dave Stewart, click here.

Technorati tags: American Prayer, Barack Obama, Bono, Change, Dave Stewart, Politics, Youtube, video, music, song, anthem

Did John McCain Lie About His P.O.W Record?

Related Videos:

• John McCain Exposed


• John McCain (SongBird McCain) Traitor!

Related Articles:

• More McCain Plagiarism? | AlterNet:

  "Do we have to add Solzhenitsyn to the list of people that McCain has ripped off?"

• Mark Nickolas: Did McCain Steal His "Cross in the Dirt" Story at the Saddleback Forum From Solzhenitsyn?

Technorati tags: YouTube, John McCain, The Young Turks, Vietnam, POW, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 2008 Campaign, video

Must See: Bill Moyers Interviews Andrew J. Bacevich

Bill Moyers Journal:

Is an imperial presidency destroying what America stands for? Bill Moyers sits down with ... Andrew J. Bacevich who identifies three major problems facing our democracy: the crises of economy, government and militarism, and calls for a redefinition of the American way of life....

As campaign ads urge voters to consider who will be a better "Commander in Chief," Andrew J. Bacevich — Professor of International Relations at Boston University, retired Army colonel, and West Point graduate — encourage[s] viewers to take a step back and connect the dots between U.S. foreign policy, consumerism, politics, and militarism....

For video, transcript and more information, Click Here.

Photo: Andrew J. Bacevich. (pbs.org)

Technorati tags: Bill Moyers, video, Andrew J. Bacevich, The Limits of Power, Books, Foreign Policy, International Relations, USA, Military

Baracky: John McCain vs. Barack Obama

Enjoy:

The primaries are over... the general election is on. Watch a mashup of Barack Obama and John McCain fighting it out as if they were characters in Rocky.

Technorati tags: Barack Obama, John McCain, Rocky, Baracky, Election 2008, Politics, Humor, video, YouTube

VIDEO: Here's the Proof on Nancy Pelosi

The Progressive:

She admits she hasn't even read Dennis Kucinich's articles of impeachment, even though she previously said she didn't know of any laws Bush has violated.

See for yourself.

Also See:

• EXCLUSIVE: Pelosi Clashes With Protesters Over Impeachment


• YouTube - Nancy Pelosi: Speaker of the House of Bush

Technorati tags: Impeachment, Nancy Pelosi, Dennis Kucinich, The Progressive, youtube, video

Israel, Iran and the New Neocons

ANP: Neocons say Bush should let Israel attack Iran after election day before new president takes office

American News Project:

Washington's neocons are alive and well, advising both John McCain and President Bush. Now many are saying Bush should permit Israel to attack Iran's nuclear facilities after Election Day before the new president takes office. ANP investigates as we chase down John Bolton, Bill Kristol and Frank Gaffney to see how far ahead these hawks are thinking. And a new report says the whole plan could backfire.

The Real News Network - Story

Technorati tags: The Real News, Bush, Iran, Neocons, Nukes, Israel, Foreign Policy, video

Paris Hilton Responds To John McCain's Celebrity Ad

Watch Paris's video from Funny or Die via Huffington Post:

Now it's Paris Hilton's chance to tell off John McCain for putting her in an Obama attack ad. Late Sunday Paris's mother Kathy slammed McCain for the waste of money, time and attention given to the ad in a blog for Huffington Post (excerpted below). But Paris has gone a step further and taken her response to the camera in a scripted piece, saying she'll "see you at the debate, bitches."

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Technorati tags: Paris Hilton, John McCain, Kathy Hilton, video, politics, Barack Obama, 2008 Presidential Election

Jon Stewart Busts McCain on the Paris and Britney Ad

This Obama elitist strategy may have worked, as the media starts to question his arrogance. It's a good thing John McCain is so unassuming....



read more | digg story

Has Anything Really Changed?

WATCH: The Real News Network | Jon Stewart on Crossfire

Technorati tags: John Stewart, Crossfire, Video, Media