A couple posts ago, I tried to upload this and now it finally worked...
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Thank You, Mr. Bush
Sometimes we forget to say "Thank You" enough ( Above: Entry from MoveOn.org's 2003/2004 "Bush in 30 Seconds" ad contest.Produced by: Christine Rose,
I intended to post a little home made video that's been processing for 2 weeks now because I couldn't find one for this poem that was posted a couple years ago at:
http://melissamsw.blogspot.com/2006/09/thank-you-mr-bush.html
Thank You Mr. Bush 
Vanessa German, National Slam Bush Champion, wrote this absolutely amazing, angry, filled-with-promise protest poem. Hear it in her own voice.H/T to A Poetic Justice.
Thank you George Muthaf@%#king Bush
thank you mr. george w. bush
thank u
for makin it easier for me
to get a tech9 or AR14
than a pap smear & a good education
thank u
from the first boy i kissed
who u sent off to fight your war in iraq
he returned home only by telegram
& in a box
thank u
from me
from my body
from the woman i love
that i want to marry & call my wife
without u bible thumpin daggers
& demanding constitutional amendments
to prevent us from loving this revolutionary love
(az tho we cud soil the sanctitiy of marriage)
u cud nevah touch my love or fuck with my love
its just the right u seek to deny us
so we must fight for it in the end it's all a matter of
voiceof excercising choice & flexing the muscle of democracy
which shudn't be pigeon holed marginalized
or constitutionaly compromised
under the pretense that who i love
kiss fuck hold hands & make family with
iz destructive to the fiber
that quilts the fabric of america
which ironically happens to be
cotton
that notoriously bloody lily white thread
that my grandfather
& hiz fathers fathers before picked by hand
in mer rouge louisiana
i hav not forgotton that i am america
that my blood iz in these rivers
& at the roots of these redwood trees
i know that this country was built on the backs of blacks
that were shackled strapped & stacked
slashed gashed taxed & then cashed in on
like cattle
i hav not forgotton that i am america
& even tho u want me to be quiet & invisible
i will noti hav decided that if u r not with US
then u r against US
USthe 99% of the population that makes less
than 1.2 million dollars a year
the 43 million people that hav no health care
the 14 million children that got left behind
& go to bed hungry every night
if u r not with US then
u r against US
& we understand
that terror iz not always guns & knives
& otherwise explosive devices of evil
sometimes terror iz just making no living wage
going day to day pay check to pay check
praying that no one gets sick
terror iz not knowing which of ur sons
will fit the description
& die while reaching back pocket
for identification to prove he iz american
but not american enuf to live free
terror iz being 13having no access
no choice & taking matters
into ur own hands
terror iz being a woman
begging for emergency contraception
when u've been raped taken by force & foresaken
just like the constitution
after the presidential election of 2000
which u did not win
u stole like a purse
off the shoulder of an old lady
making america ur bitch
didn't anyone ever tell u
when u take shit that's not urs u give it back
& apologizebut no.
we realize that u mr bush
r just the figure head the smoke screen
the sony nike gmc tommyhilfigerbluejeansbrand name
of a regime of evil so vicious & arrogant
u hav the audacity to murder in my name
& call it justice call it liberation long time come
when all it really iz
iz economic imperialism
or occupation
which iz the same thing hitler did
in poland austria & hungry
...if u really wanted to liberate
u cud hav liberated
delbert orr africa
janine holloway africa
micheal sims africa
or mumia abul jamal
it wasn't 6 weeks
it waz 17 thousand lives
not just american lives
but human lives
how sacred are they
tell me answer me
tell me how sacred are they
stop trying to convince us that justice
iz always this bloodythat liberation costs babies
& mothers & homes & sons& lovers & fathers & dignity& truth & purity
& hope & democracy
thank u mr bush
for showing us
that we must fight everyday for our freedom as tho we r fighting for our lives
obviously u r not going to beat a path of justice to our frontdoors
this is my requiemfor the last four years
my premptive strike on the next four years
this iz my love poem
to america even tho
he took u by force violated u
forsook u before they eye of god
made u barely recognizable to the rest of us
i still love u baby
he can not shame u before my eyes
u r beautiful
i will fight
& die for u r the people
& i am u
Monday, October 27, 2008
Andrea Gibson - For Eli
Andrea Gibson performs, "For Eli" from her album, When The Bough Breaks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwh23QSrwKw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwh23QSrwKw
Friday, October 24, 2008
It's timely to re-post this song by Jackson Browne.
It's called "Lives in the Balance."
"There are Lives in the Balance...
And they sell us the president the same way they sell us our cars..."
It's one of the few songs I've ever sung -and played- publicly, in the pursuit of Peace...
"Ive been waiting for something to happen
For a week or a month or a year
With the blood in the ink of the headlines
And the sound of the crowd in my ear
You might ask what it takes to remember
When you know that youve seen it before
When a government lies to a people
And a country is drifting to war
And there's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who send the guns
To the wars that are fought in places
Where their business interest runs
On the radio talk shows and the t.v.
You hear one thing again and again
How the U.S.A. stands for freedom
And we come to the aid of a friend
But who are the ones that we call our friends
--These governments killing their own?
Or the people who finally can't take any more
And they pick up a gun or a brick or a stone
There are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire...
There's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who fan the flames
Of the wars that are fought in places
We can't even say the names...
They sell us the president the same way
They sell us our clothes and our cars
They sell us every thing from youth to religion
The same time they sell us our wars
I want to know who the men in the shadows are
I want to hear somebody asking them why
They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are
But they're never the ones to fight or to die
And there are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire..."
And I think of Utah Phillips, quoting Ammon Hannessey,
Saying "Pick dead people as your heroes, since they can't let you down,"
Which I mention because of that photo of Jackson wearing an Obama for president pin,
Hearing phrases like "Clean Coal," "Safe Nuclear Power," and "Troop Surge in Afghanistan,"
Being spoken by Mr. Obama...
It's called "Lives in the Balance."
"There are Lives in the Balance...
And they sell us the president the same way they sell us our cars..."
It's one of the few songs I've ever sung -and played- publicly, in the pursuit of Peace...
"Ive been waiting for something to happen
For a week or a month or a year
With the blood in the ink of the headlines
And the sound of the crowd in my ear
You might ask what it takes to remember
When you know that youve seen it before
When a government lies to a people
And a country is drifting to war
And there's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who send the guns
To the wars that are fought in places
Where their business interest runs
On the radio talk shows and the t.v.
You hear one thing again and again
How the U.S.A. stands for freedom
And we come to the aid of a friend
But who are the ones that we call our friends
--These governments killing their own?
Or the people who finally can't take any more
And they pick up a gun or a brick or a stone
There are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire...
There's a shadow on the faces
Of the men who fan the flames
Of the wars that are fought in places
We can't even say the names...
They sell us the president the same way
They sell us our clothes and our cars
They sell us every thing from youth to religion
The same time they sell us our wars
I want to know who the men in the shadows are
I want to hear somebody asking them why
They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are
But they're never the ones to fight or to die
And there are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire..."
And I think of Utah Phillips, quoting Ammon Hannessey,
Saying "Pick dead people as your heroes, since they can't let you down,"
Which I mention because of that photo of Jackson wearing an Obama for president pin,
Hearing phrases like "Clean Coal," "Safe Nuclear Power," and "Troop Surge in Afghanistan,"
Being spoken by Mr. Obama...
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Burbank for Congress Forum
Photo from:
http://www.myspace.com/burbank4congress
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008
Times: 6;30 to 9 PM
Location: Canton Library Program Room
Address:
40 Dyer Ave.Canton, CT 06019
Contact: Harold Burbank
Phone: (860) 693-2687
Email: haroldburbank@comcast.net
Details: This is an open public forum for groups and indivduals to ask questions, obtain literature, and make suggestions about my campaign. The Library Program Room is located about halfway down the hallway on the left in the Canton Community Center adjacent to the Dyer Avenue Canton Public Library.
Date: Monday, October 27, 2008
Times: 5:30 PM
Location: Farmington High School
Address:
Rte. 4Farmington, CT
Contact: Harold Burbank
Phone: (860) 693-2687
Email: haroldburbank@comcast.net
Details: Farmington Chamber of Commerce will hold an all-candidates US House 5th District debate 10-27-08. This is the first REAL DEBATE to be scheduled for ALL VOTERS in the 5th District. Bring all your friends and relatives for a great GREEN cheering section for this blockbuster debate, where Murphy and Cappiello will answer for their support of bail outs of criminal corporations, war crimes, no energy plan, skyrocketing living costs, no national health insurance, no free education through college, and deep recession.
Date: Monday, October 27, 2008
Times: 9 AM to 10 AM
Location: Hartford, CT
Address:
Hartford, CTHartford, CT
Contact: Harold Burbank
Phone: (860) 693-2687
Email: haroldburbank@comcast.net
Details: I will appear with all CT Green Party US House candidates on John Dankosky's call in radio show "Where We Live". Call in and ask a tough question about bail outs, the wars, impeachment, indictment of the Bush cabal, and Murphy and Cappiello's tolerance and support of these crimes against the Constitution and humanity.
Let the debate begin!
The third party and independent candidates for President will duke it out tomorrow night.
At the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. October 23, 2008 at 9 p.m. EST.
And it will be shown live on C-Span.
Ralph Nader will be there.
Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin will be there.
We've been told that Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney and Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr have been invited but haven't committed to attend yet.
If you are in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, please come on down to the Mayflower Hotel (1127 Connecticut Avenue NW -- Farragut North Metro Stop on the Red Line) and catch an historic event -- a Presidential debate that includes Ralph Nader.
If you are not in the the DC area, hope you get a chance to watch it live on C-Span.
If you get a chance, organize a debate party and watch with friends, family and neighbors.
Should be a lot of fun.
Can Coal really be called "Clean" with a straight face?
Can Nuclear-waste producing steam-generated electricity actually be labeled "Safe"?
Why are the corporate-funded Candidates so very afraid to debate the next highest placing Presidential Candidate?
Find out why by going to:
http://www.votenader.org/
And Ralph will have a chance to lay out before a national television audience the Nader/Gonzalez people-powered platform that Obama and McCain and the national media ignored during the three Anheuser-Busch sponsored parallel interviews (aka The Presidential Debates.)
Onward to November.
The Nader Team
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Come plan CT Dec. antiwar action!!
- Please circulate widely -
Statewide Meeting to Call and Build a December Demonstration to End the War and Bring the Troops Home Now!
Sunday, October 26th, 2008
2:00 pm
Quaker Meeting House
144 South Quaker Lane
West Hartford, CT 06105
On October 9th and 11th students at Central Connecticut State University, Trinity College and UConn held inspiring actions to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home now. They joined activists across the country in a nationally coordinated week of local actions against the war which included a rally in Boston of over 1000.
Earlier, in a late summer fight to prevent the closure of two neighborhood libraries in Hartford, children and adults tied their struggle to the war with signs demanding, "Money for Libraries, not for War!"
The pressure to oppose the U.S. war machine is only growing. The war in Iraq roars on with an approximate 1.6 million dead Iraqis, 5 million refugees, over 4,000 dead US soldiers, a shattered infrastructure, and trillions going up in smoke. Anti-Iran venom grows, with officials commonly labeling its national guard a "terrorist organization." U.S. operations are already spreading into Pakistan where they killed 11 Pakistani troops in a recent June airstrike. Rather than admit defeat, the war-makers are attempting to extend combat into new terrain.
As the world economy tumbles into depression, the drive for war will only intensify. Investors will look more towards arms spending to turn a profit. The rush to control resources and trade routes; to attain regional hegemony; to smother discontent and dissent in a tsunami of war-mongering nationalistic fervor - will escalate. Conflicts between Georgia and Russia could very well turn into war between Russia and the U.S.
Amidst an economic crisis involving hundreds of billions in corporate bailout dollars, skyrocketing home foreclosures, rising unemployement, loan freezes, and collapsing pensions, war funds are needed at home more than ever before.
Now more than ever it is time to bring anti-war forces across Connecticut together to oppose this war! Activists across the country will demonstrate against the war on the week of December 9-14 as part of nationally coordinated actions responding to the proposal put forth by anti-war activists across the country, including the National Assembly to End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Let us unite in Connecticut for a mass action in December to Bring the Troops Home Now! Join us on October 26th at the Quaker Meeting House in West Hartford for a meeting to call and begin organizing a state-wide anti-war demonstration in Connecticut!
Initial signers:
Organizations:
Trinity College Anti-War Coalition
CCSU Progressive Student Alliance
Students for Change, Norwich
Students for Justice, WCSU
Stop the Raids! Students of Trinity College
Progressive Alliance, Quinepaug Valley Community College (Danielson branch)
Queers without Borders
Middle East Crisis Committee
Iranians for Peace and Justice
Colectivo Puertorriqueño Pro-Independencia
Iraq Veterans Against the War, CT
Socialist Action, CT
People of Faith, CT
Socialist Party, CT
International Socialist Organization, CT
ANSWER, CT
Individuals (All below organizations for identification purposes only):
Joyce McKelvey, AFSC
Jason Ortiz, Idealists United, UConn
Hannah Kluger, UHart, Greater Glastonbury for Peace and Justice
Brittany Kilburn, Tim MacSweeney and Juan Veliz, Students for a Culture of Peace, Naugatuck Community College
Marissa Blaszko, Opinion Editor, CCSU Recorder
Wayne DeRoy and Paul Ofori, Africana Students Organization, CCSU
Erin McAuliffe, CCSU PRIDE
Gabrielle Pierce, CCSU Art Club
Erin Kenney, CCSU Central Counseling Society
Laura Lockwood, Director of Trinity Women & Gender Resource Action Center
Christopher Hutchinson, Manchester Community College
Harold Burbank, Green Party, running for CT 5th district Senate
Opton Martin, CCSU
Ebony Murphy, Hartford
Barbara Byrd, Bloomfield
Sharyn Murphy, Southington
If you are interested in joining the call for the meeting to call a mass action against the war in December, or want to find out more about the October 26th meeting contact Beth @ 203-448-9140 or eilis.dyer@gmail.com
Statewide Meeting to Call and Build a December Demonstration to End the War and Bring the Troops Home Now!
Sunday, October 26th, 2008
2:00 pm
Quaker Meeting House
144 South Quaker Lane
West Hartford, CT 06105
On October 9th and 11th students at Central Connecticut State University, Trinity College and UConn held inspiring actions to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home now. They joined activists across the country in a nationally coordinated week of local actions against the war which included a rally in Boston of over 1000.
Earlier, in a late summer fight to prevent the closure of two neighborhood libraries in Hartford, children and adults tied their struggle to the war with signs demanding, "Money for Libraries, not for War!"
The pressure to oppose the U.S. war machine is only growing. The war in Iraq roars on with an approximate 1.6 million dead Iraqis, 5 million refugees, over 4,000 dead US soldiers, a shattered infrastructure, and trillions going up in smoke. Anti-Iran venom grows, with officials commonly labeling its national guard a "terrorist organization." U.S. operations are already spreading into Pakistan where they killed 11 Pakistani troops in a recent June airstrike. Rather than admit defeat, the war-makers are attempting to extend combat into new terrain.
As the world economy tumbles into depression, the drive for war will only intensify. Investors will look more towards arms spending to turn a profit. The rush to control resources and trade routes; to attain regional hegemony; to smother discontent and dissent in a tsunami of war-mongering nationalistic fervor - will escalate. Conflicts between Georgia and Russia could very well turn into war between Russia and the U.S.
Amidst an economic crisis involving hundreds of billions in corporate bailout dollars, skyrocketing home foreclosures, rising unemployement, loan freezes, and collapsing pensions, war funds are needed at home more than ever before.
Now more than ever it is time to bring anti-war forces across Connecticut together to oppose this war! Activists across the country will demonstrate against the war on the week of December 9-14 as part of nationally coordinated actions responding to the proposal put forth by anti-war activists across the country, including the National Assembly to End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Let us unite in Connecticut for a mass action in December to Bring the Troops Home Now! Join us on October 26th at the Quaker Meeting House in West Hartford for a meeting to call and begin organizing a state-wide anti-war demonstration in Connecticut!
Initial signers:
Organizations:
Trinity College Anti-War Coalition
CCSU Progressive Student Alliance
Students for Change, Norwich
Students for Justice, WCSU
Stop the Raids! Students of Trinity College
Progressive Alliance, Quinepaug Valley Community College (Danielson branch)
Queers without Borders
Middle East Crisis Committee
Iranians for Peace and Justice
Colectivo Puertorriqueño Pro-Independencia
Iraq Veterans Against the War, CT
Socialist Action, CT
People of Faith, CT
Socialist Party, CT
International Socialist Organization, CT
ANSWER, CT
Individuals (All below organizations for identification purposes only):
Joyce McKelvey, AFSC
Jason Ortiz, Idealists United, UConn
Hannah Kluger, UHart, Greater Glastonbury for Peace and Justice
Brittany Kilburn, Tim MacSweeney and Juan Veliz, Students for a Culture of Peace, Naugatuck Community College
Marissa Blaszko, Opinion Editor, CCSU Recorder
Wayne DeRoy and Paul Ofori, Africana Students Organization, CCSU
Erin McAuliffe, CCSU PRIDE
Gabrielle Pierce, CCSU Art Club
Erin Kenney, CCSU Central Counseling Society
Laura Lockwood, Director of Trinity Women & Gender Resource Action Center
Christopher Hutchinson, Manchester Community College
Harold Burbank, Green Party, running for CT 5th district Senate
Opton Martin, CCSU
Ebony Murphy, Hartford
Barbara Byrd, Bloomfield
Sharyn Murphy, Southington
If you are interested in joining the call for the meeting to call a mass action against the war in December, or want to find out more about the October 26th meeting contact Beth @ 203-448-9140 or eilis.dyer@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Statewide Meeting to End the War and Bring the Troops Home Now!
"hey tim! it's brittany from students for a culture of peace. i just wanted to get into contact with you because there has been a proposal set forth to hold anti-war actions in the month of december and we are looking for endorsers to lend their names to the call in support of the proposal to hold actions. i know that you were interested in being involved before, and it would be great if you could lend your name in support. also, there is a meeting this sunday, october 26th at 2:00 pm at the quaker meeting house in west hartford, and it would be great if you might be able to attend that as well. i have asked others from students for a culture of peace if they were interested. no one has gotten back to me yet, but we could possibly have a carpool. let me know what you think, preferably tonight if possible, tonight is the deadline for endorsements. (sorry for the short notice). have a good night, thanks!!brittany kilburn, Students for a Culture Peace
Statewide Meeting to Call and Build a December Demmonstration to End the War and Bring the Troops Home Now!
Sunday, October 26th, 2008
2:00 pm
Quaker Meeting House
144 South Quaker Lane
West Hartford, CT 06105
On October 9th and 11th students at Central Connecticut State University, Trinity College and UConn held actions to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home. They joined activists across the country in a nationally coordinated week of local actions against the war in Iraq which included a rally in Boston of over 1000.
Earlier, In a late summer fight to prevent the closure of two neighborhood libraries in Hartford, children and adults tied their struggle to the war with signs demanding, "Money for Libraries, not for War!"
The pressure to oppose the U.S. war machine is only growing. The war in Iraq roars on with an approximate 1.6 million dead Iraqis, 5 million refugees, over 4,000 dead US soldiers, a shattered infrastructure, and trillions going up in smoke. Anti-Iran venom grows, with officials commonly labeling its national guard a "terrorist organization." U.S. operations are already spreading into Pakistan where they killed 11 Pakistani troops in a recent June airstrike. Rather than admit defeat, the war-makers are attempting to extend combat into new terrain.
As the world economy tumbles into depression, the drive for war will only intensify. Investors will look more towards arms spending to turn a profit. The rush to control resources and trade routes; to attain regional hegemony; to smother discontent and dissent in a tsunami of war-mongering nationalistic fervor - will escalate. Conflicts between Georgia and Russia could very well turn into war between Russia and the U.S.
Amidst an economic crisis involving hundreds of billions in corporate bailout dollars, skyrocketing home foreclosures, rising unemployement, loan freezes, and collapsing pensions, war funds are needed at home more than ever before.
Now more than ever it is time to bring anti-war forces across Connecticut together to oppose this war! Activists across the country will demonstrate against the war on the week of December 9-14 as part of nationally coordinated actions responding to the call put forth by anti-war activists across the country, including the National Assembly to End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, ANSWER, and the Troops Out Now Coalition.
Let us unite in Connecticut for a mass action in December to Bring the Troops Home Now! Join us on October 26th at the Quaker Meeting House in West Hartford for a meeting to call and begin organizing a state-wide anti-war demonstration in Connecticut!
If you are interested in joining the call for December actions, or want to find out more about the meeting contact Beth @ 203-448-9140 or eilis.dyer@gmail.com
Monday, October 13, 2008
COLUMBUS AND THE INDIANS
"When we read the history books given to children in the United States, it all starts with heroic adventure--there is no bloodshed-and Columbus Day is a celebration..."
Howard Zinn
"Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress,"
A People's History of the United States.
More at: http://wakinguponturtleisland.blogspot.com/2008/10/christopher-columbus-and-indians.html
Howard Zinn
"Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress,"
A People's History of the United States.
More at: http://wakinguponturtleisland.blogspot.com/2008/10/christopher-columbus-and-indians.html
Friday, October 10, 2008
VP Candidate Matt Gonzalez Talks to Protesters Outside Rally
In Santa Cruz, CA
Added (to YouTube): October 06, 2008
Added (to YouTube): October 06, 2008
Ralph speaking to an audience in Waterbury, Connecticut.
2008 Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader discusses the passage of the bailout bill. Waterbury, Connecticut - October 4, 2008.
From: votenader08
From: votenader08
Added: October 05, 2008
Words and phrases I keep hearing:
Middle class, Safe nuclear, "I agree with Senator McCain," Clean coal, Biodiesel, Troop surge is working, Rescue package, Terror, al Qaeda, Countries that don't like us, Dependence on foreign oil, Capture and kill, Change, Innovation, Bipartisan, "I agree with Senator Obama," Failed economic policies, Tax cuts, Fundamentals, Maverick, Grave threat, Reform, Working familes...
Words I don't hear enough:
Working class, No to nuclear power, Yes to solar, Carbon tax, Taft Hartley Act, Labor Unions, Consumer Protection, Bailout, Military Industrial Complex, Poverty, PEACE, Single Payer Healthcare, Impeachment, Corporate power/Corporate welfare/Corporate crime, Living wage, Open Presidential Debates...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Question
2008 Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader responds to a question from the audience about impeachment/prosecution of Bush/Cheney.
Excerpted from the Open the Debates super rally in Minneapolis on September 4, 2008.
Three Way Vice Presidential Debate - Palin, Biden, Gonzalez
Vice Presidential Candidate Matt Gonzalez was barred from the 2008 Vice Presidential Debate hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) on October 2nd, just as Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader was barred from the first Presidential CPD Debate on September 26th.
If you'd like to see all major candidates participate in a debate please visit:http://thirdpartyticket.com/
Spread this video along and help them reach their goal of 10,000 pledges today!
Video created by Manila Ryce
From: votenader08
October 07, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Associations
In a televised interview last spring, Senator John McCain asked, "How can you countenance someone who was engaged in bombings
that could have or did kill innocent people?"
"I was reading my copy of the New York Times the other day," she said."Booooo!" replied the crowd.
"I knew you guys would react that way, okay," she continued. "So I was reading the New York Times and I was really interested to read about Barack's friends from Chicago."
It was time to revive the allegation, made over the weekend, that Obama "pals around" with terrorists, in this case Bill Ayers, late of the Weather Underground. Many independent observers say Palin's allegations are a stretch; Obama served on a Chicago charitable board with Ayers, now an education professor, and has condemned his past activities.
"Now it turns out, one of his earliest supporters is a man named Bill Ayers," Palin said.
"Boooo!" said the crowd.
"And, according to the New York Times, he was a domestic terrorist and part of a group that, quote, 'launched a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and our U.S. Capitol,'" she continued.
"Boooo!" the crowd repeated.
"Kill him!" proposed one man in the audience.
from: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/06/in_fla_palin_goes_for_the_roug.html
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Students for a Culture Of Peace
The Students for a Culture of Peace at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury CT sent me this:upoming anti-war actions
"hello members and future members of students for a culture of peace!
i just wanted to let you guys know of a couple upcoming important dates for the fight against the wars inIraq and Afghanistan. the week of october 6th through 11th is a nationally called week of action for the anti-war movement, and many campuses around the state are holding anti-war actionsin this week. the list is as follows:
Event: CCSU Against the War October 9th
"All Out for October 9th"
What: Rally
Host: CCSU Against the War Organizing Committee
Start Time: Thursday, October 9 at 12:15pm
End Time: Thursday, October 9 at 3:15pm
Where: Student Center Mall Area - The Big Circle Thing Outside
To see more details and RSVP,
follow the link below:
October 11 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Trinity College, Hartford, CT
Mather quad
Endorsers: Stop the Raids!
La Voz Latina (LVL)
Arab American Student Association
Temple of Hip Hop
ConnPirg? (no confirmation yet)
Performers:
Zee Santiago
Sagacity
Speakers:
ACLU Director Mike Alewitz Professor Chatfield (Trinity History)
Andrew Page (Trinity anti-war)
Stop the Raids! Member
Arab American Student Association
- president LVL- i think gustavo
Marissa Blazko- she said sounds good on facebook, will call her soon
IVAW- ?
that is all i know right now, but let me know if you can make it and maybe we can carpool. have a good weekend!!"
Thursday, October 2, 2008
HOLLY NEAR TO DAVID MIXNER, SEPTEMBER 2008
To read this interview on David Mixner's blog, go to http://www.davidmixner.com/holly_near/index.html
If Woody Guthrie were alive today he would be Holly Near. This kind, gentle person is one of the great folk singers, writers, activist and teachers alive. She was the one of the first women to ever create an independent record company called Redwood Records over thirty years ago. She has been a major presence in the LGBT, feminist, peace and justice movements her entire life. When one thinks of champions of civil rights and human rights you think of Holly Near. Most of all, Holly is a brilliant singer and entertainer who has sung in all corners of the world. Coming from a left, feminist and activist viewpoint, we asked her to discuss her support of Obama with us.
Who did you support in the primaries and why?
I didn’t work for any of the candidates. I don’t like either party much and have always worked outside of the mainstream political system. But I do vote.
Kucinich's ideas were probably the closest to my own. I have a friend who voted for Edwards by absentee ballot but by the time the actual California Primary happened, he had withdrawn so her vote was wasted. Clinton would have been her second choice. It is crazy her vote didn’t count. We need a new system. I voted for Obama in the primary.
I feel frustration during an election year. I can’t stand flag waving and phrases that suggest this country was built on the principles of democracy and equality when in truth our “fore-folks” had slaves, lynched people, and terrorized indentured servants including little northern European irls who looked like me working in sweat shops. Millions of indigenous people were killed - so the whole show un-nerves me.
That said, I’m not stupid. I think critically and strategically. I like Obama and McCain scares me to death. If Clinton had won the primary I would be supporting her as well. I am a long time activist - always left of the democrats - but I like to choose with whom I am going to struggle. I did NOT vote for Nader last time nor would I vote 3rd party this time. I like the idea of building a third party from local level up but I am startled by the thought that experienced political organizers would vote 3rd party this time around at the presidential level.
I don’t feel I’m voting for an icon or a politically perfect social feminist…
…Some indigenous tribes say that the clan mothers pick the ones who will serve different aspects of the community. They would never put a warrior as chief. They would only put a diplomat. So, when I imagine that red blinking button and a cinder box moment involving nuclear weapons, it terrifies me to think of McCain or Palin representing our national security. Obama is not an anti war candidate but he is thoughtful and seems to know how to listen. And he makes room for an anti war movement in his belief system. I don’t feel hated by Obama. I feel hated by McCain…
...This is one of the most historic and important elections I have experienced in my lifetime. And the Republican Convention just upped the ante. How often do we get to do something as the citizens of the United States? I’m not a nationalist but I do live in a nation that is seen around the world as violent and insensitive and greedy and weak and self absorbed.
I want the world to see the other side of our nation, see us make a choice, even if it seems to some to be symbolic. Most people in the world don’t know about the in fighting in the left or about gay marriage. All they know is that their lives and the very safety of the planet has been in grave danger for the last 8 years. I believe they are looking at us to see if we will stand with them to form the biggest circle of resistance the world has ever seen in opposition to Bush-Cheney policy. Regardless of what Obama can achieve or not achieve, I believe one of the strongest things we could do for national security is to show the world we have the courage throw out the Republican agenda and replace it with an offer friendship - to each other and to the world.
I want the world to see the other side of our nation, see us make a choice, even if it seems to some to be symbolic. Most people in the world don’t know about the in fighting in the left or about gay marriage. All they know is that their lives and the very safety of the planet has been in grave danger for the last 8 years. I believe they are looking at us to see if we will stand with them to form the biggest circle of resistance the world has ever seen in opposition to Bush-Cheney policy. Regardless of what Obama can achieve or not achieve, I believe one of the strongest things we could do for national security is to show the world we have the courage throw out the Republican agenda and replace it with an offer friendship - to each other and to the world.
"Open the Debates" Tour in Connecticut!
Since 1988, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has sponsored every presidential debate. Since its inception, the CPD has always been headed by two former chairs of the Democratic and Republican parties. In 1987, the League of Women Voters refused to sponsor any more presidential debates, "because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter."
The Nader/Gonzalez Campaign is on a mission to open these debates for third party candidates, and bring back democracy to the American Voter!
If you cannot make it to these rallies,
please help us spread the word by forwarding these events:
October 4th, Noon - Waterbury, CT
Nader for President 2008 Rally
195 Grand St. Waterbury, CT 06702
For more information: (203)982-8578 or events@votenader.org
October 4th, 4 pm- Hartford, CT
Private Gathering with Ralph Nader
RSVP: Rob Socket at (202) 471-5833 or rob@votenader.org
October 4th, 7 pm - Storrs, CT
Nader for President 2008 Rally
Edwin O. Smith High School
1235 Storrs Rd. Storrs, CT 06268
Suggested Contribution: $10/$5 students
For more information: (203) 468-1268 or http://ssomail.charter.net/do/mail/message/mailto?to=events%40votenader.org
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