The LA Wildfires
From By Ken Levine

Hello from the giant ashtray that currently is Los Angeles. Our house is okay and thanks to you who have inquired. We live in Westwood, near UCLA, where the only major threat to us is earthquakes so we have great peace of mind.

But the entire region looks like nuclear winter. The sky is an eerie gold. A layer of fine ash is everywhere. The air tastes like stale mesquite. It’s odd to pick up the LA TIMES and for the weather prediction, where it usually says sunny or partly-cloudy or rainy is says “smoky” today.

NBC’s Brian Williams has said the mass evacuation as a result of the fires is the “Largest Peacetime Movement of Americans since the Civil War.” On the other hand, surfers who have been able to get to Malibu have reported that the waves are currently fabulous. Cowabunga, dudes!

Wildfires are a game of Russian Roulette hundreds of thousands play here in Southern California. Especially with real estate prices so high, younger families must move farther and farther away from the city. New communities pop up in remote canyons. Where brush fires once charred empty acreage now they’re threatening countless homes… and lives.

All of us are affected, even those in safe terrains. Eric Pierpoint, one of the actors from my play on Monday night, came to the theater after evacuating his home. My partner’s living room is filled with possessions from a friend who had to evacuate. Many Angelinos have taken in emergency houseguests. Your heart goes out to the over 500,000 whose lives have been disrupted and especially to those who’ve lost their homes and memories.

And there’s nothing you can really do to avoid such natural disasters.

It’s the old story – where you gonna go? After the big ’94 quake many residents considered relocating to a safer part of the world. But just where is that? Who doesn’t have floods, giant snowstorms, hurricanes, tsunamis, droughts, earthquakes, avalanches, pollution, terrorists, monsoons, wildfires, tulie fog, bees?

Needless to say, television and radio news crews have been all over this “National Disaster”. For my money, the best coverage has come from KNX radio’s Dave Williams (pictured left) and KFWB radio’s Jack Popejoy. For all the helicopter views, field reporters, update crawls, and graphics on local TV, there’s still nothing like the immediacy and intimacy of radio. KABC’s coverage has also been excellent. And their promos should win awards.

As for TV, when not stepping aside for ACCESS HOLLYWOOD and WHEEL OF FORTUNE the local stations have provided extensive coverage that ranges from outstanding to idiotic. The usual bobbleheads are filing on-scene reports. This is where you can really separate the reporters from the swimsuit models. Being able to talk on your feet, offer clear concise reports, and answer the often stupid questions from the anchors while on live TV is a talent few possess. Best in LA: Mary Beth McDade from Channel 2.

And then there’s Clete Roberts. No one is or has ever been in his league.

Roberts was the reporter in the famous MASH episode, “The Interview”. But in the 50s he was a local TV news reporter. I remember vividly watching him file a live report from the Benedict Canyon fire. He was composed. He was informative. In the background was a house burning to the ground. His house.

The winds seem to be dying down and the heroic, tireless firefighters are starting to get a handle on things. And always looking for good news, the LA TIMES had this article Wednesday: “The fires could end up being a boon for construction.”

My best wishes and prayers to all affected.

Is the planet in peril or not? Depends if you watch CNN or CNN Headline News.
From Joe Sudbay for AMERICABlog

Jonathan Klein, the inept President of CNN, is doing it again.

On the one hand, CNN has been promoting this week's special, "Planet in Peril" almost non-stop. CNN actually changed its on-screen logo color to green to mark the occasion.

Yet, on his other network, CNN Headline News, Klein continues to give prime-time billing to global warming denier Glenn Beck. Think Progress has video of Beck's show from Tuesday night -- the very night Planet in Peril was airing.

So, Mr. Klein, is the planet in peril or not? On CNN, the planet is in peril. On CNN's Headline News, it's not. CNN is green. CNN's Headline News is not. How come Anderson Cooper, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and that animal planet guy aren't on Glenn Beck's show to explain why CNN thinks the planet is in peril? Maybe you could force Glenn Beck to watch "Planet in Peril" and hope he'll learn something.

Anderson, I hate to say this, but this is another example of Jon Klein letting Glenn Beck make a mockery of your work. Klein did it on Katrina, too. It's wrong, Anderson -- and, you know I'm on your side.

GAO Studies FBI Watch List - Are You On It
From Boss Kitty for BlueBloggin

TERRORIST WATCH LIST SCREENING
Opportunities Exist to Enhance Management Oversight, Reduce Vulnerabilities in Agency Screening Processes, and Expand Use of the List

Opportunities Exist to Enhance Management Oversight, Reduce Vulnerabilities in Agency Screening Processes, and Expand Use of the List
The FBI and the intelligence community use standards of reasonableness to evaluate individuals for nomination to the consolidated watch list. In general, individuals who are reasonably suspected of having possible links to terrorism—in addition to individuals with known links—are to be nominated. As such, being on the list does not automatically prohibit, for example, the issuance of a visa or entry into the United States. Rather, when an individual on the list is encountered, agency officials are to assess the threat the person poses to determine what action to take, if any. As of May 2007, the consolidated watch list contained approximately 755,000 records.
Although the federal government has made progress in promoting effective terrorism-related screening, additional screening opportunities remain untapped—within the federal sector, as well as within critical infrastructure components of the private sector. This situation exists partly because the government lacks an up-to-date strategy and implementation plan for optimizing use of the terrorist watch list. Also lacking are clear lines of authority and responsibility. An up-to-date strategy and implementation plan, supported by a clearly defined leadership or governance structure, would provide a platform to establish government wide screening priorities, assess progress toward policy goals and intended outcomes, consider factors related to privacy and civil liberties, ensure that any needed changes are implemented, and respond to issues that hinder effectiveness.

GAO regularly puts a microscope on Federal Agencies. Normally, they describe the results in very dry language, but if you are brave enough to read the side bar synopsis, you may be surprised. Sometimes the GAO is very helpful revealing the weaknesses ans inequities we experience every day, compliments of Uncle Sam. This is as close to OVERSIGHT as you will get … publically.

Is Rudy really a simpleton, or is he just talking like one?
By Eli Blake for Deep Thought

FOX and Friends Suggest al Qaeda Responsible for CA Fires
From Christopher for From the Left

Megan Williams on Video
From Benjamin T. Greenberg for Hungry Blues

Taxes now or taxes later?
From Doug Masson for Masson's Blog

Worshipping Work
From Mauigirl for Mauigirl's Meanderings

While we were away I caught up on reading my newspapers, which had been piling up last week. In the Thursday New York Times, Roger Cohen had an Op-Ed piece about the new French finance minister, Christine Lagarde, who is a proponent of moving France to a more "American" way of life.

Nicknamed "The American" by her countrymen, Ms. Lagarde is making an effort to get the French to, basically, work more: “We are trying to change the psyche of the French people in relation to work.”

Her attitude was nurtured by 20+ years in America:

"In an interview, Lagarde says that more than two decades at a U.S. corporation taught her: 'The more hours you worked, the more hours you billed, the more profit you could generate for yourself and your firm. That was the mantra.'" (Ms. Lagarde was the first chairwoman of the Chicago- based law firm Baker & McKenzie).

Ms. Lagarde feels the passing of the legislation for the 35-hour work week in France had "disastrous" effects in her home country. She said the result was that “People did not really talk about their work. They talked about their long weekends.”

(Quelle horreur! Heaven forbid that people should prefer to talk about their real lives instead of work! How dare they? This must stop!)

Ms. Lagarde wants to lower the unemployment rate from 8% to 5%, and raise the percentage of the population that is gainfully employed from 63% to 70%, by the year 2012. How does she plan to accomplish this?

"Tax cuts, the termination of unemployment benefits for those refusing two valid job offers, later retirement, incentives for those working more than 35 hours, a slashing of the bureaucracy associated with job-seeking and improved professional training are among measures enacted or envisaged. Legislation to reverse the 35-hour week is possible."

Hmmm, tax cuts. Terminating unemployment benefits. Longer working hours. Sounds familiar. Sounds very...American.

Cohen supports Lagarde's goals: "Without a dynamic France, Europe cannot be revitalized, and a Europe in a Gallic funk is bad for everyone. If an overbearing America has been a problem, an underperforming Europe has been its complement."

I disagree with the idea that every country and every culture has to center its efforts on "performance." Why is the American model always held up as the "right" way to live? Why do so many people believe in hard work as some kind of moral imperative? That the correct way to conduct one's life is to work long hours, make more money, provide more profit for the corporations, take as few vacations as possible and live in constant stress?

At one time, there were good reasons to work hard. The purpose of work was to provide food and shelter for one's family. Now it is to hoard money, more money than anyone needs to live. Work, and its goal, profit, have been elevated to a type of religion here in the United States.

And now this sickness is spreading to countries that used to be more sensible about work, who believed life was to be enjoyed and to be lived to the fullest.

The French are not giving up their more leisurely way of life without a fight. Unions protesting reforms in the pension plans paralyzed Paris starting on Thursday and the unrest may continue into November.

But I fear that as time goes by, gradually more and more countries will start to adopt our ways. And if they do, the cafe' life, the intellectual discussions over a glass of wine, the long vacations that other cultures enjoy, will become a thing of the past and eventually every country will be just like us. And that would be a sad day in the world.

Soon to be a thing of the past? -A scene at La Palette, our favorite cafe' in Paris (picture courtesy of http://hilton.org.uk/pppp.phtml).

What Would Jesus Pay?
Posted by Jolly Roger for Reconstitution 2.0

We already know that they’re murderous. We know as well that they don’t pass up the opportunity to fleece the taxpayer. So I’m guessing there won’t be too many gasps of shock from the news that Blackwater is apparently a tax cheat as well.

Blackwater is a perfect, utterly textbook example of the Chimpy Gopper mentality. That mentality can be summed up in two words: Screw Everybody. Screw the Government out of revenue it’s rightly due, screw employees out of benefits, screw anyone who gets in your way-and that means people who MIGHT get in your way too. Chimpy is a soulless, selfish bastard who thinks that the cross is some kind of cloak that keeps us from seeing who he really is. And Erik Prince, the Blackwater CEO, is cut from the same Jesusistani cloth as the moronic monkey. Their kind go around calling themselves “compassionate” and “patriotic,” but a ten year old could figure out that this is a complete and total lie- and it wouldn’t take the ten year old very long to do it.

Forget the words. Always look at the DEEDS. If I could get every American to do it….. the moronic monkey would still have about 1 in 5 who think he’s God. There are about that many Americans who are cut from the same misfit scumbag cloth as Chimpy and Prince.

Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman sent a letter to Eric Prince, Blackwater’s CEO, saying Internal Revenue Service documents suggest the company “may have engaged in significant tax evasion” by treating armed guards as “independent contractors” and not employees. Here’s the letter.

In March the IRS told Blackwater that the independent contractor classification was “without merit,” according to an IRS letter that Waxman released. In his letter to Prince, Waxman noted that DynCorp and Triple Canopy, the two other major security firms working for the State Department in Iraq, classify their guards as employees.

Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said in an e-mail statement to the Associated Press that Blackwater has appealed the IRS ruling and that no determination has been made. Further, she said, the U.S. Small Business Administration has told the company that Blackwater security guards do not have to be classified as company employees.

The story has been picked up by Government Executive.

Code Pink activists detained
By JJ for Unrepentant Old Hippie

The hell? The same two Code Pink activists were detained in Ottawa today:

"OTTAWA - Two American peace activists denied entry into Canada earlier this month are being detained at Ottawa airport.

Medea Benjamin and retired U.S. Army Col. Ann Wright landed in Ottawa this morning on their way to speak on Parliament Hill.

While other passengers passed through Customs, the two women were held back.

Benjamin and Wright were refused entry at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, Ont., earlier this month because their names are on an FBI crime database."

Something's wrong here. If their only past arrests were for protesting the Iraq war, I don't see how this warrants them being on the FBI database as dangerous enough to be refused entry or detained. Peaceful protest isn't just our right; when we disagree with the state, it's our obligation. Or did that change?

First Amendment Defenders Debunk Limbaugh Claims
By Ron Chusid for Liberal Values

Conservative denial of separation of church and state is clear in the secular nature of the Constitution, in the Bill of Rights, in writings by the founding fathers, and in multiple court decisions. First Freedom First debunks recent claims by Rush Limbaugh regarding correspondence from Thomas Jefferson and Supreme Court decisions which cited this. After reporting on Limbaugh’s claims, they respond:

In the first place, Jefferson sent his letter to the Baptists to thank them for their support of him and his stance on behalf of religious liberty. He also intended to assure them that he shared their hope that religious liberty would spread throughout the land. In Connecticut, Baptists were still second-class citizens.

After thanking the Baptists for their “affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation,” Jefferson wrote, “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.

“Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience,” Jefferson continued, “I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.”

In other words, Jefferson said the American people through the First Amendment have built a wall of separation between church and state, and he hoped that concept would progress throughout the country.

Limbaugh is wrong that the exchange of letters between Jefferson and the Baptists was focused on prayer proclamations. Jefferson did consider commenting on why he didn’t believe in presidentially issued days of prayer, but decided not to.

Limbaugh is also quite wrong that “nothing could be done” to the Baptist dissenters in Connecticut. At that time, the federal constitution’s church-state provisions did not extend to the states. The government of Connecticut could, and did, favor Congregationalists over Baptists. That’s why the Baptists wrote to praise Jefferson and point to their plight.

“Sir,” they wrote, “we are sensible that the President of the united States is not the national Legislator & also sensible that the national government cannot destroy the Laws of each State; but our hopes are strong that the sentiments of our beloved President, which have had such genial Effect already, like the radiant beams of the Sun, will shine & prevail through all these States and all the world till Hierarchy and Tyranny be destroyed from the Earth.”

Limbaugh’s Supreme Court account is wrong too. Jefferson’s letter was first mentioned in high court jurisprudence, not in 1947, but in 1879. In their Reynolds v. U.S. decision, the justices unanimously held that the letter reflects the intent of the First Amendment.

“Coming as this does from an acknowledged leader of the advocates of the measure,” the court held, “it may be accepted almost as an authoritative declaration of the scope and effect of the amendment thus secured.”

The justices referred to the letter again in their 1947 Everson –not Emerson — decision. And the court unanimously affirmed a high wall of separation between religion and government.

“In the words of Jefferson,” Justice Hugo Black wrote, “the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect ‘a wall of separation between church and State’…. That wall must be kept high and impregnable.”

Far from misconstruing Jefferson’s viewpoint, as Limbaugh claims, the Danbury letter exactly captures the Sage of Monticello’s church-state vision. It also reflects the views of James Madison and other far-sighted visionaries among the nation’s founders.

Without Comment
From Tengrain for Mock, Paper, Scissors

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, is confronted by CodePink member Desiree Anita Ali-Fairooz, her hands painted red, as Rice arrived on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

What is not so obvious is that Code Pink was arrested in a brawl immediately following this and at least one member of that organization is in the hospital tonight. Apparantly yelling at Mme Secretary “There’s blood on your hands,” gets you clobbered.

Bush threatens Cuba ... with what?
Posted by BAC for Yikes!

George Bush plans to issue a stern warning to Cuba that the United States won't accept a political transition from one Castro brother to another. The only problem with this is Bush is a little late -- the transfer is pretty much done.

The New York Times reports:

As described by an official in a background briefing to reporters on Tuesday evening, Mr. Bush’s remarks will amount to the most detailed response — mainly an unbending one — to the political changes that began in Cuba more than a year ago, when Fidel Castro fell ill and handed power to his brother Raúl. [...]

[Bush] will say that while much of the rest of Latin America has moved from dictatorship to democracy, Cuba continues to use repression and terror to control its people. And, the administration official said, Mr. Bush will direct another part of his speech to the Cuban people, telling them they “have the power to shape their destiny and bring about change.” [...]

Some of the sharpest parts of the speech, however, will be aimed directly at Raúl Castro. Mr. Bush is expected to make clear that the United States will oppose an old system controlled by new faces. The senior administration official said that nothing in Raúl Castro’s past gives Washington reason to expect democratic reforms soon. And he said the United States would uphold its tough economic policies against the island.

Because they have worked so well up to now! But wait, there's more.

 

Phil Peters, an expert on Cuba at the non-partisan Lexington Institute, said he saw Mr. Bush’s speech as an attempt to reorient a policy that had fallen behind the times. American policy, he said, had been centered around the idea that the Communist government would fall once Mr. Castro left power, and that Mr. Castro, 81, would be forced out of power only by death. Instead, Mr. Peters said, Raúl Castro’s rise caught the administration off guard.

President Bush has remained largely silent, Mr. Peters said, while Raúl Castro consolidated his control over Cuban institutions by establishing his own relationships with world leaders, and opening unprecedented dialogue with the Cuban people about their visions for their own country. Meanwhile, all the doomsday scenarios predicted for Cuba once Fidel Castro left power — a violent uprising by dissidents and a huge exodus of Cuban refugees — never materialized.

“The administration realized they had missed the boat,” Mr. Peters said. “Succession has already happened. They can no longer have a policy that keeps them waiting for Castro to die when the rest of the world has moved on.”

Bush and Condi are certainly on top of this one! Bush's comments will no doubt play well with "the politically-powerful exile community in Miami." But for what purpose? One has to wonder what Bush has up his sleeve?

Whatever it is, 2009 can't come too soon for me!

Harper chooses gay superhero to be new symbol of Canada 
From Alison for Creekside

Harper is going to take a certain amount of flack for choosing a gay francophone superhero from X-Men to be the new symbol of Canadian, uh, pride, but personally I think it's just terribly terribly bold of him.

G&M : "In a new bid to foster national pride and confidence in its leadership, the Stephen Harper government is urging Canadians to look up, look way up.
As the Conservatives search for a more inspirational way to deliver their message and replace the worn-out catchphrase "Canada's New Government," the lobbyists and strategists who deliver the government line were told after last week's Throne Speech to make use of a reference to the North Star that showed up toward the end of the speech.

"To help you effectively communicate with your local media, as well as your constituents, we have included general messaging on the Speech from the Throne," says a PMO memo obtained by The Globe and Mail.
Among the elements of the Throne Speech that the memo urges them to highlight, the first is this lyrical passage: "Like the North Star, Canada has been a guide to other nations..."

The memo does not say specifically how the strategists should use the reference."

Oh come on, strategists, how tough is that?
According to wikipedia, NorthStar is a Quebecois superhero who first joins the Front de Libération du Québec to gain Quebec independence but soon sees the error of his ways and renounces terrorism to join Alpha Flight, a superhero group financed by the Canadian government.
His X-Men bio divulges that in addition to being a world class Olympic skier who makes his home at the north pole, NorthStar is also a martial arts master, a trapeze artist, and an accomplished novelist.
Now what could be more Canadian than that?

"Sources have told The Globe that the North Star terminology was to have been peppered throughout the speech, rather than just at the end.
"When you're following the North Star you're always going in the right direction," said the source in explaining its appeal."

As Impolitical says : Must ...repeat...North...Star....

Aung San Suu Kyi Is Taken To Meet With Junta’s Envoy
Posted by RickB for Ten Percent

News agencies quoted unnamed sources as saying the detained opposition leader was picked up by a convoy of cars on Thursday afternoon and driven to a government guesthouse for the talks. There was no immediate word on the purpose of the brief release from house detention in which she was allowed to talk to Aung Kyi, a retired general appointed by the military government earlier this month to hold talks with the opposition. Footage of the meeting was broadcast on state television. After an hour, she was returned to her villa in Yangon where she has been under house arrest for the past 12 years.

In an article about the UN human rights envoy Paolo Sergio Pinheiro a question is asked that also applies here, for whose benefit are these manoeuvres? Is it merely a media strategy by the generals to create the illusion of process, but if that is the case how can that be turned to the advantage of the people? Until Aung San Suu Kyi is free and the NLD unmolested there is no chance of genuine negotiations, what is happening now could lead to that but only if global pressure is maintained. That empty spin is not allowed to replace real movement. Yet again though indications are that the junta are only paying lip service to reform while strengthening the lockdown, in other words- they are taking the piss-

Authorities in Aung Lan township, Magwe division, have raised the annual tax on loudspeakers this week from 150 kyat to 15,000 kyat, according to local residents. Locals told DVB that the decision to raise the tax was taken by Aung Lan township peace and development council’s motion and sound committee. Loudspeakers are used widely in Burma, particularly in villages, to pass on important information to the community, to broadcast public prayers and for advertising. As they are viewed by the government as sensitive items, all owners must be registered and pay an annual tax.

In Irrawaddy division, about 30 NLD members have so far been detained since the anti-government demonstrations began. Ko Thein Swe, youth coordinator of the NLD in Irrawaddy, was arrested at his house at midnight on 22 October, a few days after the arrest of Khin Htun, a communications committee member of NLD in Ma-au Bin township, at his home on 16 October. In North Dagon township, Rangoon, NLD member Ko Thant Zin narrowly escaped being arrested at his home on 21October. Commenting yesterday on the charging of two other NLD members, NLD spokesperson Nyan Win said that he believed the arrests were intended to prevent the NLD from operating. “It wasn’t only NLD members who protested. In fact, there were even some of us who did not join the protests but were arrested later anyway,” Nyan Win said.

Another woman activist, Khin Mar Lar, was arrested on September 25 while following a peaceful demonstration of monks in Mandalay. She was detained for nearly one month…Before her release, she was forced to sign a paper saying if she was involved in another demonstration she would be imprisoned and fined 500,000 kyat (US $377), and authorities would confiscate her household possessions. 

The Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) has been taking money from the villagers who refuse to go the rally denouncing the monk-led protests in Ye Township Mon State today.

Offices of pro-democracy Burmese opposition groups in Thailand will be searched by security personnel in the kingdom as part of an “operation”, informed sources told Mizzima. 

The CSM reports (via slashdot) that a US tech firm has sold surveillance equipment to the Burmese junta and that such sales to the Burma remain legal under US law. Essentially the junta has been using US-made software to censor the Internet.

The lockdown industry knows no restrictions, especially in the empire and shame on the Thai govt. though not surprising. Australia imposes some sanctions, but note the get out clause-

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) today announced the imposition of financial sanctions against 418 Burmese military generals and their family members, which will restrict the ability of the generals from conducting financial transactions through Australian banks and financial institution. “Any transactions involving the transfer of funds or payments to, by the order of, or on behalf of any person listed in the Annex are prohibited without prior approval from the Reserve Bank,” said the RBA in a media statement release today.

Call me cynical but still no trade sanctions and unless someone keeps an eagle eye on those approvals, it means little, especially with a wanker like Howard in power (not for much longer though hopefully). Meanwhile is this a sign targeted sanctions are taking effect-

Burmese junta-linked airline Air Bagan is suspending all flights to Singapore in the wake of sanctions imposed on the company and its owner by the United States.

Help Avaaz reach the million mark with their Burma petition-

I am one of the 8888 uprising generation. Since the September uprising in Burma, I can’t get good night sleep. I can’t contact my remaining families and friends if they are ok… The voice of the world is very powerful. I have heartfelt thank you for all the supporters. Your voice can change our lives! 

October 27th Mobilization To End The War
By John Good for Left in Aboite

On Saturday, October 27th there will be 11 massive demonstrations for peace throughout the United States. In Boston, Chicago, Jonesborough, Tennessee, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle, people from all walks of life will join together to express their anti-war sentiments and to call for an immediate end to the conflict in Iraq.

With each passing day the human and financial cost of this unnecessary war grows more and more painful. It’s time for the American people to speak out; to collectively let our government know that it’s time for this war to end. October 27th provides just that opportunity and the world will be watching.

Take a look at the mobilization web site to get details on the marches October 27th and join your family, friends and neighbors in making sure that your voice is heard. It’s time.

Working together with our partners at United For Peace And Justice, Brave New Films has demonstrated again just how effective an advocacy tool video can be. As this video spreads throughout cyberspace, help it on its essential journey by spreading the word to friends and family. The power is in your hands, please use it and help the cause of peace now.

The video is presented by Robert Greenwald and the entire team at Brave New Foundation. It was produced by John Ehrenfeld and Chris Gordon, who also edited the piece.

The original song “People” was written by Alex Dickson and produced and mixed by Alex Elena. Featured musicians were Alex Elena on drums, Alex Dicksonon bass and guitar, Riley Geare on the Wurlitzer organ and Milena Mepris, Darren Geare and Alex Dickson on vocals.

I thought I was enlightened, The scenario for WW3 and what is occurring today was developed several decades Ago! Act1-Act6 are undeniable and telling!
From James Joiner for An Average American Patriot

I am a little blown away to find all this out. First, it is no secret my beliefs on the middle east, Bush's plan for world dominance using the politics of threats, and his use of environmental destruction and catastrophe to control us and his wars. I gathered so much information this morning when I was researching this drive towards WW3 after hearing Castro state what I have been saying for years now and that is that absolutely 100% evertything Bush is doing today is to facilitate his new world order forever wars. As I have been saying, at this point the entire world is coming together to confront Bush head on and it will happen very soon. In Act 6 At the end of this they ask who can tell how the war will end? I can!

I won't get into that right now. As I watch California burn, watch this ramp up, listen to Nostradamus preditions of what is happening in the world today and that it is all so Bush can instigate his wars and control them, I gathered so much info today I could write a book including the fact that our military Captains in large are the ones who lead combat on the ground and are leaving, Bush is purposely driving the below scenario and it is not good for America or the world. please look at this. It is stunning and unbelievable. Why is Bush not confronted with this so he cannot joke about it or deny it?

The Planned World War 3 - A Play in Numerous Acts World War Three in Brief!
Look at this friggen undeniable setup! I told you. A Three World War scenario was developed several decades ago (see Conspiratorial History). Two World Wars have already been achieved, and the Third and final World War envisions an attack on Iraq, Iran and/or Syria as being the trigger to set the entire Middle East into fiery conflagration. Once America is firmly entrenched into the Middle East with the majority of her first-line units, North Korea is to attack South Korea. Then, with America's forces stretched well beyond the limit, China is to invade Taiwan. This will usher in the start of World War Three. north and South Korea, China and Taiwan, you cannot deny this, damn I tolld you!

World War Definition:
What constitutes a 'world war'? How many countries need to be involved? And who decides at which point a number of regional skirmishes can be grouped together and called a World War? At the time, who called the official start of World War 1 and World War 2? And have you noticed that although the term 'World War Three' is freely used in the alternative press and on the Internet, all the major news networks have stoically avoided using any phrase reminiscent of World War.

A World War is a military conflict spanning more than 2 continents, in which at least 20 major countries participate in an attack against a common enemy, and which has the attention of the man-in-the-street due to the significant loss of life.

With that definition, we can agree that WW1 and WW2 were in fact World Wars (both wars involved some degree of participation from most of the world's then existing countries: Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the Soviet Union). We can also agree that we are very close to achieving World War 3. The only requirement left to fulfill the start of WW3 is that of a military conflict spanning more than 2 continents. As soon as Israel attacks Palestine, or North Korea attacks South Korea or the US, or China invades Taiwan, we will have the next World War well underway.

World War 3 Timeline
These are, I believe, the elements of the planned Third World War:

Prelude - The events leading up to the start of World War Three, including Sept 11, 2001.
Act 1 - The Middle East. Widespread conflict to bring the entire region into the flames of war, possibly triggered by Iran or militants in Pakistan using North Korean supplied nuclear arms. The first Scene in this Act is the US Invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003.
Act 2 - Israel at War -- Against her Arab neighbors, possibly Palestine. A Palestinian State will be established, so that all Israelis will be fully separated from Palestinians (listen out for mention of a 7-year treaty to be confirmed by a World Leader - probably Bush), only for Israel to viciously attack Palestine shortly thereafter.
Act 3 - Far East -- "Hair-raising nuclear confrontation that threatens mankind's existence" - Peter Lemesurier, author of The Armageddon Script, p. 223, written in 1981. Includes China invading Taiwan and a nuclear eruption on the Korean Peninsula.
Act 4 - Erosion of Confidence in 'The System' so severe citizens will be panicked into giving up liberties and Constitutional form of government. The plan calls for the dissolution of the US Constitution, triggered by a significant enough 'terrorist' attack. The ultimate intent is to introduce a global government and one-world religion.
Act 5 - The collapse of the US, and other Western economies and morals.

Act 6 - Significant population reduction using natural and man-made disasters.
Curtain. Who can tell how this war will end? I will tell you, I have written about it in a Manifesto to the World but we will discuss it at your liesure!
I tried to find the name of the author of the body of this work but I could not find it. I recommend that you look at the various pages and levels of thought and input. it is an undeniable setup.

Money Money Money
From Mary Ellen for The Divine Democrat

Money, get back.
Im all right jack keep your hands off of my stack.
Money, its a hit.
Dont give me that do goody good bullshit.
Im in the high-fidelity first class traveling set
And I think I need a lear jet.

Money, its a crime.
Share it fairly but dont take a slice of my pie.
Money, so they say
Is the root of all evil today.
But if you ask for a raise its no surprise that theyre
Giving none away.
Republicans love to spend money. Well, they love to spend money for their own interests. They'll throw away trillions of dollars on war. Of course, they say it's for our "national security", otherwise known as "oil interests" and "kickbacks" for their favorite corporations, like Halliburton and Blackwater.

MONEY IN THE NEWS:

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported yesterday that "total spending for U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with other related activities to the war on terrorism would amount to between $1.2 trillion and $1.7 trillion for fiscal years 2001-2017. That's trillion, folks!

I'm not sure what "other related activities" is supposed to be, perhaps padding more Halliburton contracts? Cost of renditions for torture? Building a bigger and better Guantanamo prison?

With $705 billion in interest, the cost of the wars could amount to $2.4 trillion, with $1.9 trillion in Iraq alone.

When the CBO was asked if their projections were a "worse case scenerio", they said no. "It represents only the worst of two different scenarios the CBO priced out. The real costs could actually be higher.”

The lovely Dana Perino attacked this report (are you surprised?) as a "ton of speculation". A ton? Maybe she meant...a trillion tons of speculation?!? Dana also added that "The White House is not concerned about the exact cost of the war." Gee, ya think?

The country is certainly worried, however, because this cost will harm our economy, what's left of it. USA Today notes, “In the months before the March 2003 Iraq invasion, the Bush administration estimated the Iraq war would cost no more than $50 billion.”

Perino added, "What I can tell you is I’m not worried about the number. What I’m worried about is making sure that the president gets what he needs in order to provide the safety and security for the country."

I guess having our country in a debt that they will never be able to climb out of, and a military that is so damaged it will take decades to rebuild, will make our country safe and secure. You keep shoveling that shit, Dana.

HOUSE BUDGET HEARING:

The House Budget Committee held a hearing yesterday to discuss the growing costs of this occupation. The Republicans didn't bother showing up for the hearing...because, you know-they're not worried about the costs of the war! Watch Rep.Doggett give them hell about it. Very short video:

The Gavel also provides these comparables:

$2.4 trillion is enough to:
· Provide every college freshman in the country with a free, four year education at a private college or university
· Provide health care coverage to every American for one year

US EMBASSY TRYING TO PAY OFF VICTIMS OF BLACKWATER:

This must be one of those "other related costs" of the war:

BAGHDAD, Oct. 24 -- The U.S. Embassy on Wednesday began offering tens of thousands of dollars in payments to victims and families of victims of the Sept. 16 shootings in Baghdad involving security guards from the firm Blackwater Worldwide, according to relatives and U.S. officials.

[snip]

"This is an insult," said Firoz Fadhil Abbas, whose brother Osama was killed in a barrage of bullets. "The funeral and the wake cost more than what they offered. My brother who got killed was responsible for four families."

THE KIDS FIGHT BACK!

The House will be re-introducing the SCHIP bill today and the kids have a new ad that gives a direct hit to the hypocrite Republicans who like to use them for photo ops. Watch it:

Here is the new and approved SCHIP bill that will be introduced.

If this bill doesn't pass, and in my opinion nothing should have been changed, it will just prove to us and the rest of the country that Bush doesn't mind saddling all our children with the trillion dollar costs of his wars, but he won't allow them to have health care.

I'll also bet that there will be at least one Republican who will vote "nay" on the SCHIP bill while using the excuse that the costs of the wildfires in California are going to be so large we can't afford it.

BLOG RECOMMENDATION

Although the blog is no longer coming up with any new posts - the author left the newspaper it was featured in - Corpus Obscura - is still an interesting place to peruse.  The idea was to feature the obituaries of people who were obscured by their own accomplishments (the last boxer to fight Muhammad Ali, the animator of Fred Flintstone, the tuba player from the Jaws theme, the first physician convicted of illegally performing an abortion in a hospital, etc)

Little Mountain Town Fights For Its Life
From Lydia Cornell

Bush Bombs?
By TomCat for Politics Plus

Tucked inside the White House's $196 billion emergency funding request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is an item that has some people wondering whether the administration is preparing for military action against Iran.

The item: $88 million to modify B-2 stealth bombers so they can carry a newly developed 30,000-pound bomb called the massive ordnance penetrator, or, in military-speak, the MOP.

The MOP is the the military's largest conventional bomb, a super "bunker-buster" capable of destroying hardened targets deep underground. The one-line explanation for the request said it is in response to "an urgent operational need from theater commanders."

What urgent need? The Pentagon referred questions on this to Central Command.

ABC News called CENTCOM to ask what the "urgent operational need" is. CENTCOM spokesman Maj. Todd White said he would look into it, but, so far, no answer.

There doesn't appear to be any potential targets for a bomb like that in Iraq. It could potentially be used on Taliban or al Qaeda hideouts in the caves along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, but there would be no need to use a stealth bomber there.

So where would the military use a stealth bomber armed with a 30,000-pound bomb like this? Defense analysts say the most likely target for this bomb would be Iran's flagship nuclear facility in Natanz, which is both heavily fortified and deeply buried... [emphasis added]

Inserted from <ABC>

The Machiavellian Moron has been caught dead to rights on this one, because his attempt to sneak this item through, betrays his intent to bomb Iran, the only possible urgent operational need he could have for this item.  This nation does not need more Bunker Busters.  It needs more Bush Busters!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake
From Sumo for Sumo Merriment

More bad management
From Demeur

Browsing the news I see more and more examples of bad management and blunders of this misadmenistration. If George W. were your son (thank God he's not) would you hand over your wallet or credit cards to him? Our government can't account for $1.6 billion for the training of Iraqi police. See: Dyna Corp

It may take 3 to 5 years to find out where the money went? Maybe we should just send a couple of sharp I.R.S. agents over there and I'm sure there'll be an accounting in a few months not years. And what a waste of resources anyway. There was a point just after our invasion where the Iraqis could have trained police and rebuilt their own country. All of that has been lost because Iraq has suffered the greatest brain drain of any country I can imagine. In short the best have left. And yet George wants to keep pumping more money into a loosing proposition. Have any of you had a used car that just didn't work out? You know what I'm talking about. That car with a great body, nice interior, plenty of bells and whistles but the one with a bad engine. You think you can fix it but every time you take it to the mechanic he tells you something else is wrong. There is a point at which you must dump it and move on.
One point six billion dollars. That would just about cover the damage from the fires in Southern California or cover a whole bunch of uninsured children. And imagine what we could have done with the hundreds of billions already wasted. We could have rebuilt our own country.

Difficulties fighting Calif. fires so obvious, even "Brownie" recognizes it
By Pookyshoehorn for Ramblings of a Madwoman

You know things are bad when it takes former FEMA Director Michael “Heckuva Job Brownie” Brown to point out that the National Guard is stretched too thin to help the California firefighters. But on Wednesday, he did just that:

“The White House needs to recognize that we are overstretched. They need to increase the size of the regular Army and stop relying so much on the National Guard.”

“FEMA's job is to pick up the phone and call another Governor and say 'Hey California is short on National Guard, can you spare a few?' but you can call any Governor in the country and everybody is stretched.”

Orange County Fire Chief Chip Prather recently told reporters that firefighters' lives were threatened because too few crews were on the ground. He said a quick deployment of aircraft could have corralled a massive blaze near Irvine.

Anti-War Statement? Hardly!!
From ParisL0ve2 for I Wish I Were In Paris

OMFG! Teh TAXXX !*%^@#$&*(%^@#$&*%^&*
By Randal Graves for L'ennui mélodieux

Like I Care?
By Polishifter for Pissed On Politics