The Progressive Blog Alliance HQ

Dear Cindy:

Last night Keith Olbermann told me that you have moved to a place of personal peace. I can certainly understand. Sometimes it seems to me that the only way to change our guilty species is by means of a rock from outer space. Our endless war is evidence that humans are no better than other beasts. We are as ripe for extenuation as the dinosaurs ever were. I wonder if it wouldn't be better to wipe clean man's guilty history and start fresh. Educating humans is a hopeless, thankless task. You gave it a noble try, Cindy. Thank you, mother Sheehan You are among the best of us all.
Nevertheless I didn't want you to leave without telling you about my debt to you. I quite probably owe you my life. At the least I owe you my new life.

Talking about electoral fraud on the Today programme yesterday, Jack Straw made the following comment:

'No party has a monopoly on a minority of bad people.'

Can anyone tell me if this makes any sense?

Reflecting the desperation of the Repub warmongers who want to be President, yesterday Rudy Giuliani told New Hampshire Republicans that electing a Democrat in 2008 will result in another 9/11-type attack by terrorists.

Saying that America will be safer with a Republican in the White House and that, with a Democratic President "we will have more losses and it will go on longer", Rudy ginned up the Repub crowd and, shockingly, reached the conclusion that he, Rudy Giuliani, would be the best choice for a safe America.

SNS system born in U.S.A. is getting popular in Japan, too. The biggest firm here is called MIXI which has more than five million members. This site is written only in Japanese. MIXI was founded in Japan in aim to contact with old friends in home town, alumni; and new friends who join in the same community (ex. with same hobby, neighbors, alumni, etc.). The founder of MIXI is from Osaka where 'friendship' is regarded highly.

My father did not leave me any riches, but at his deathbed he whispered to me something that is even better─a good piece of advice: “If you exploit alcohol,drugs (crack,marijuana), sex (prostitution, pornography), and gambling, you can be rich in no time but poor in spirit. If you read books you will be wealthy and also rich in spirit. You choose.” Kristen and I believe that books are the sure road to a good life, and that fervent belief is shown in Kristen’s book reviews and articles.

Get your website flooded with visitors and readers for FREE!

kristen at Blogger.com

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MANCHESTER STOP THE WARMONGERS NO LABOUR WARMONGERS IN MANCHESTER! The Labour Party Conference is in Manchester 24-29 September RALLY OF RESISTANCE From 1pm, 27 September, St Peter’s Square For Peace and social justice! In 1819, in what is now St Peter’s Square, thousands gathered in protest, demanding the right to vote. Although the demonstration was violently suppressed the struggle continued and eventually the vote was won. In 2006 The Labour Party is holding it’s annual conference in Manchester, and many of us again feel the need to gather in protest in the same place, against what Blair’s Labour Government is doing, at home and abroad, and in defence of our democratic right to express our opposition. We invite others to join us who wish to express opposition to any or all of the following

Here is a press release that came my way outlining key points in California's plan to address climate change. In the next two months the state legislature, with the support of Governor Schwarzenegger, are set to enact two new laws that would make it North America's leader in addressing global warming. Key points include: * Strict targets for heavy industry, electric utilities and refineries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020. * Prohibiting all state utilities from signing long-term contracts with coal fired power plants. Tabled by the Democrat controlled legislature, the laws are key elements in addressing Schwarzeneggers commitment of bringing California to 1990 emission levels by 2020. Complete Post here: http://consciousearth.blogspot.com/2006/07/schwarze

For Immediate release: Contact: Cosandra Calloway 323.205.8940 July 2006 cosandra@cosandracalloway.com “Expressions Art Expo 2006” - is looking to award Americas’ top Visual Artists! “Impressions of Expressions” is calling all artists, young and old, to show-case their best work before Art Aficionados, Celebrities, Fellow Artists and Collectors, who will help award “Expressions Art Expo 2006”, Americas’ Top Visual Artist. This fun filled two day event affords opportunities for Visual Artists to Compete, Sell, Showcase and Auction their Artistry in an exciting event interlaced with musical entertainment and Art Auctions.

Leaders perforce establish the tenor of their times, whether it be a "peace and prosperity" outlook, like Clinton's and Carter's, or the aggressive, fake macho, feckless, reckless, "gloves off," anything-goes outlook of Lawless George Bush.

When torture is ok, then massacres become ok. And all the rest.

See more here.

Octavia Butler is gone...

more

(Crossposted at Pushing Rope) There is a thirteen page report on why Officer Martha Gearity transferred out of a TPD anti-crime street unit.

The behavior according to the investigation includes constant flagellation, belching and excessive sexual joking by male officers. It says quote "officer Gearity said that they talked about anal sex, they watched pornographic movies at work, talked about their sex lives in the open, made reference to her menstruation, joked about having homosexual relations with one another in graphic detail and took pictures of a penis with a camera phone." Those involved include Officer Gregory Cotner, Officer David Duncan, Officer Ryan Sigler, and their superiors Corporal David Watt and Sergeant Gene Strickland.

As of yesterday, the long-awaited results of Haiti's February 7 elections are in: René Préval has won with 51.15% of the vote, with 96% of votes counted.

"Everyone is Afraid to Criticize Islam" Bush is having a hard time standing up for free speech, either at home or abroad. Dutch politician Ms. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, on the other hand, stands up for it even though her stance endangers her own life.

Interview here.

Hey Ya'll

I started a 'Live' Streaming Radio and Podcast site called BZoO HomeGrown Radio (formerly Blogosphere Zoo). We feature alternative programming. Currently we feature Independent Music and Spoken Word along with talk and interview shows.

We are looking for someone that would like to have their own Political Show. You would need to be familar with audio, recording and podcasting. We would like to present a show focused on environmental, social and humanitarian rights and the up and coming elections.You would want to create your own talk show with a variety of guest. It would be at least weekly and present 30-60 minutes. Other than that the show would be completely yours to create.

If you're interested please contact me at cafeRg@gmail.com. Please include a sample audio preferably MP3.

FIGHT BACK - AN INTERNATIONAL, ANTI-WAR, SOCIALIST BLOG

So who are the "Terrorists"in the Middle East?As we hear the sauctimonious statements from right wing Israeli leaders about the victory of Hammas consider these two deaths of children in recent days.(1) Israel's shooting of young girl highlights international hypocrisy, say Palestinians. As the votes were counted in the Palestinian election and the scale of Hamas's landslide became apparent to the world, Aya al-Astal drifted away from her home and wandered towards the fence along the border between the Gaza strip and Israel.

NEWS RELEASE<p>OPS-Alaska<p>2262 Magnolia Avenue<p>Petaluma, California 94952<p>(707) 494-0666 <p>(707) 773-1037<p>e-mail: md-r@ops-alaska.com<p>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<p>28 January 2006<p>Contact: Dr. Marilyn Dudley-Flores, OPS-Alaska, CEO<p>California Democratic Party Recommends Presidential Primary Reform Plan for 2012<p> MANHATTAN BEACH, CA ­ In a unanimous vote in its January 28, 2006 Executive Board meeting in Manhattan Beach, CA, the California Democratic Party recommended that the Democratic Party seriously consider the American Plan for implementation in 2012.<p> The American Plan is designed to solve the problem of "front-loading."  Over the past two decades, more and more states have scheduled their primaries increasingly earlier in attempts to capture more political power.  This has resulted in shorter, less-competitive nomination races that are more driven by money than by message.  In 2004, only 20% of convention delegates had been chosen when Howard Dean suspended his campaign. "That means 80% of Democrats were disenfranchised," said Thomas Gangale, author of the American Plan and executive director of the policy think tank OPS-Alaska, based in Petaluma, California.<p> "This plan maximizes the involvement of every state and forces candidates to run campaigns responsive to America's great diversity of ideas and needs," said Senator Art Torres (Ret.), Chairman of the California Democratic Party.  "It also expands the concept of retail politicking in small venues in the early going, thereby reducing the power of money.  Under this plan, grassroots campaigns can go door-to-door in states of diverse populations, score early victories, and build momentum going into later, larger states.  At the same time, the plan balances the interests of the large states by giving them the opportunity to be early enough in the calendar to have a meaningful voice in determining the presidential nominee."<p> Also known by the political scientific name "Graduated Random Presidential Primary System," the American Plan has received the support of Rep. Lynn Woosley (D, CA-06), the Center for Voting and Democracy (http://www.fairvote.org) in Takoma Park, MD, the California Young Democrats, and the Young Democrats of America.<p> "It is essential that the two major parties work together to reform their very flawed nomination processes.  Both parties have the same problems, and they need each other's support to fix them.  It is in their interests, and in the interests of the American people," said Dr. Marilyn Dudley-Flores, OPS-Alaska CEO.<p> In the final meeting of the Democratic National Committee's Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling on December 10, 2005 in Washington, DC, Chairman Torres proposed an amendment to the Commission's Final Report, recommending that the Democratic Party's Rules and Bylaws Committee seriously consider the American Plan for implementation in 2012.  The vote on Senator Torres' amendment was taken without discussion and passed unanimously.<p> For an in-depth explanation of the American Plan, visit http://www.americanplan.org.<p> *  *  *<p>

From Nicholas Riccardi of the LA Times, "Trial Illuminates Dark Tactics of Interrogation":

...Interrogators at a makeshift prison in western Iraq, desperate to break suspected insurgents, would stuff them face-first into a sleeping bag with a small hole cut in the bottom for air.

Chief Warrant Officer Lewis E. Welshofer Jr. used it on an Iraqi general as a last-ditch grab for information as Welshofer's unit was in the midst of an offensive against insurgents and desperate for intelligence.

The technique was not in the Army Field Manual, but Welshofer testified Thursday that he believed it was permitted after top commanders told interrogators "the gloves were coming off."

By way of truthout, "Environment in Crisis: 'We Are Past the Point of No Return'" by Michael McCarthy in The Independent UK. Clips:

Thirty years ago, the scientist James Lovelock worked out that the Earth possessed a planetary-scale control system which kept the environment fit for life. He called it Gaia, and the theory has become widely accepted. Now, he believes mankind's abuse of the environment is making that mechanism work against us. His astonishing conclusion - that climate change is already insoluble, and life on Earth will never be the same again.

read the entire post at P!

In a brilliant speech on Martin Luther King day, former Vice President Al Gore pulls no punches as he calls for a special prosecutor to investigate George Bush's policy of illegally spying on American citizens.

Come hither, come hither. See how US taxpayers' funds have been vilely wasted, um, I mean, as in,  Big-Time, at both No Blood for Hubris, and also at RawStory