Day: October 2, 2007

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Kucinich Watch: Presidential Candidate Who Can’t Win Keeps Winning – And He’s Witty, Too! By Ardeth Baxter

Dandelion Salad

By Ardeth Baxter
CLOUT INDEX
Published Aug 28, 2007

Is Dennis Kucinich lagging in the presidential race? Not by much, according to a number of recent polls. In an ongoing Internet political “blind taste test”, as of this writing, 79,911 respondents out of 138,563 have placed Kucinich on top, by ranking specific issues of importance to voters, not the candidates themselves. Gravel comes in a distant second at 9680, Paul at 9413, Romney at 6167, and Clinton rates fourth at 5143.

Kucinich also won the online ABC news poll after the Des Moines debate with 10,000 votes as the most frequent answer to the question “Who do you think won the Democratic debate?” Obama came in second at 8,000 and Hillary third at 5,000. Even after ABC inexplicably pulled this poll and replaced it with a second poll posing a different question-“Who do you think is winning the Democratic debates?”-Kucinich finished neck-in-neck with Hillary Clinton. Interestingly, ABC failed to announce the results of the poll, and even cut Kucinich out of an online Democratic presidential candidate group photo, with no explanation offered.

Kucinich came in second in a poll after the HRC/LOGO presidential forum with 25% of the votes, behind Obama at 46%. Clinton came in third with only 14%. As well, after the AFL-CIO presidential forum in Chicago shown on MSNBC, to the question “Which Democrat will best represent labor?” Kucinich ranked second at 22% (with Edwards) after Obama at 24%, with Clinton fourth at 17%. And at the Howard University forum, he was rated third behind Clinton and Obama by a number of political analysts based on his responses.

All in all, these are excellent showings for a so-called “third-tier” candidate. Why is he ranking so highly? Part of it is undoubtedly Kucinich’s consistently courageous, cogent and informed responses to questions. Voters know exactly where he stands on the issues. The other part is that he’s just plain witty and adds sparkle to often dull proceedings. Even career conservative Pat Buchanan somewhat patronizingly declared recently on “The McLaughlin Report” that Kucinich shouldn’t be excluded from the Democratic forums because “he’s a great little debater”.

At one point in the ABC debate noted above, in answer to a question about what role prayer played for the candidates, a frustrated Kucinich quipped to moderator George Stephanopoulos, “George, I have been standing up here for 45 minutes praying that you would ask me a question.” The audience loved it.

Speaking to an AFL-CIO Democratic forum, Kucinich recalled digging holes as a child and being told, “If you dig it deep enough, you’re going to get to China.” He added drily, “Well, we’re there,” to the amusement and applause of the union crowd.

In February during a New Hampshire stop, he sat in a chair and spun in a circle, explaining he was doing something no other candidate could do. “Do you know why I can do it?” Kucinich asked. “No strings. Imagine a president with no strings attached?”-in reference to his independence from corporate control.

Kucinich proudly proclaimed his liberalism in the recent CNN/YouTube Democratic debate by commenting: “You notice what CNN did? They didn’t put anybody to the left of me,” to laughter and applause.

Appearing on ABC’s “This Week”, Kucinich responded to George Stephanopoulos’s comment that only the liberal base of the Democratic party supported him, and that the centrist Democratic Leadership Council believed Kucinich’s ideas could “hurt the party”, by saying, with a smile, “You have to keep in mind that the center has shifted in our politics. I’m really at the center, and all the other candidates are to the right of me. And they’re to the right of the American people.”

I agree. I believe the majority of the American people-not just the liberals-are tired of the Republican and Democratic politics-as-usual status quo and want the New Deal-style revolution in their government that Kucinich offers, as well as an immediate withdrawal from Iraq. If not for the fact that in our post-democratic country, the support of the corporate media and big campaign bucks have a great deal to do with who wins the presidential nomination, Kucinich would be a shoo-in for the presidency. And he still may have that chance, if more Americans see through the glitz, hypocrisy and corruption of the system and vote their consciences, to save our country from those who are either too politically timid to effect real change or who want to destroy what used to make it unique among other nations and worthy of their admiration.

h/t: Dennis 4 President in 2008!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. This material is distributed without profit.
see

Listen to Randi Rhodes & singer Melissa Etheridge EXAULT KUCINICH! + Dennis vs Ron Paul poll

The Colbert Report: Dennis Kucinich is on Notice by Manila Ryce (video link; poll

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Immigration Imponderables by Guadamour

GUADAMOUR

Dandelion Salad
featured writer

Guadamour’s Blog
Oct 2, 2007

IMMIGRATION IMPONDERABLES

I live nine block from the Mexican border in a small Southeastern Arizona city, and I’m continually amazed about the things I learn about the border.

A morning last week I was walking my dogs in the desert near the international line, because I was not in the mood to addle up a mule, nor did I have the time.

I met a solo border crosser, and this is rare, because they normally cross in groups.

I started to talk to this 28-year-old man in Spanish.

He told me he lives in Agua Prieta, but for the last five years he has been working on a ranch just outside of Douglas.

I was intrigued. I ask, “How many times have you been stopped by the Border Patrol.”

He laughs heartily and says, “Never. When you cross by yourself, and know what you are doing it is almost impossible for them to catch you.”

I still don’t know whether I believe him. “What about the fence.”

He laughs again and says, “It’s a joke.”

We hike together for a while and I ask, “Can’t you find work in Agua Prieta?”

He smiles and says, “Sure. I’m a licensed veterinarian in Mexico. There are 83 veterinarians in AP, and unless you have your own business or have family or political connections you don’t make jack.”

I snort, and know it’s all too true because I’ve met veterinarians who drive cabs, doctors who sell tacos, and lawyers and engineers who wait tables in Mexico.

The vet continues, “I only make fifty dollars a day working here as a cowboy, and it’s twice what I would make working as a veterinarian in Mexico.”

I ask which ranch he works .. he lips away on the route he takes, keeping his eyes peeled for migra.

He gives me the name of the ranch and I know the owner.

I go out and talk to Bill and ask about Doctor Carlos. Bill is tall and lanky and been a rancher all of his life and gone to college.

He says with earnest warmth in his voice, “Carlos is the best hand I’ve ever had on the ranch. I thought I knew a little something about cattle, horses and ranching, but I’ve learned plenty from him.”

Bill look nervously up at t he cloudless sky, worrying about the little grass he has because of the drought, and says, “He’s totally dependable and honest. He doesn’t drink, takes initiative on his own, and when he says he’s going to be somewhere at such and such a time–he is there.”

“What he don’t know about animals and ranching ain’t worth knowing. He shoes, ropes, cuts, dehorns, doctors horses and cattle, nurses doggied calves, vaccinates, brands, mends fences, services windmills. In short everything.

“Still,” I say, “Can’t you get someone from this side to work for you?”

“Hell,” he says, fire flashing in his pale faded blue eyes that have seen too much desert sun, “You knew William. He wasn’t worth a shit and I kept him on for years, because he was reliable. He was just a greenhorn who thought he was a cowboy.”

He spits, “I ended up doing twice the work I’m doing now. I’ve finally gotten ahead on paperwork, and I never thought that would happen.”

Bill looks away at t he mountain behind the ranch house. “If I managed to get a real cowboy from here, I couldn’t afford to pay him. I’m just barely hanging onto the ranch as it is.”

“Besides, if I could actually find a real cowboy, he would probably be drunk most of the time, or chase off all the time.”

I thank Bill for the information, and commensurate with him about the state of ranching.

I went to a get together with friends on Sunday evening. There was a couple there from Connecticut who had bought forty acres out here which they planned to retire on.

She is a nurse, a nurse with a BS and about five other abbreviations behind her name. She’s been nursing for 35 years, but she is not a doctor.

I made a comment that they are paying nurses a lot better these days.

She made a sour face and snorted, “A new nurse only starts out at fifty dollars an hour.”

After I left the get together I thought about my grandparents and how I came to be here.

One grandmother, who was deceased before I was born, was the oldest of twenty-two children and came over from Ireland and worked in bondage for three years in a hotel in Filly to pay for the trip.

Both my mother’s parents, who were also dead before I was born, were from an area of Eastern Germany that borders on Poland.

The only grandparent I met was my paternal grandfather who had ranched most of his life in Montana. He was an old coot in his eighties when I met him, and he ultimately died of his own cooking.

I think of Doctor Carlos, wonder why he can’t come to the USA legally, and my uneducated grandparents who could.

see

The US Border Patrol & Disease by Guadamour

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Q & A For The People Of A Forsaken Republic By Phil Rockstroh

Dandelion Salad

By Phil Rockstroh
10/02/07 “ICH“

Addressing the origins of the Whose-Your-Daddy Nation

“We must become the change we want to see.” — Mahatma Gandhi

“In any case, I hate all Iranians.” —Debra Cagan, Deputy Assistant Secretary to Defense Secretary, Robert Gates

How many times do we, the people of the US, have to go around on this queasy-making merry-go-round of propaganda and militarism before we shout — enough! — then shutdown the whole cut-rate carnival and run the scheming carnies who operate it out of town? It is imperative the nation’s citizens begin to apprehend the patterns present in this ceaseless cycle of official deceit and collective pathology. This republic, or any other, cannot survive, inhabited by a populace with such a slow learning curve. Continue reading →

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The US Border Patrol & Disease by Guadamour

GUADAMOUR

Dandelion Salad
featured writer

Guadamour’s Blog
Oct 2, 2007

THE US BORDER PATROL & DISEASE

When the US Border Patrol encounters undocumented border crossers they have them abandon the packs they are carrying, and when they pat them down they use latex examine gloves, less they be infected by something by these people.

Maybe they’ll be infected by the desire to work hard and get ahead so that their families will have better lives.

These people have little to nothing, and usually all they possess are in their packs.

Valley Fever (cocidiomycosis) is a disease caused by a fungus spore which lodges in the lungs, scarring them and weakening the heart.

The disease is prevalent in the Southwest deserts and is carried in dust.

The spore can lay dormant in the soil for decades. Anything that creates a lot of extra dust has the potential to release hundreds of thousands of Valley Fever spores.

Valley Fever is epidemic in parts of the desert Southwest.

Dengue Fever is primarily a tropic disease, but it is also now in Northern Mexico along the border.

There are two types of Dengue Fever: Hemorrhagic Dengue Fever which is almost always deadly. Ebola is another hemorrhagic fever.

The normal Dengue Fever, also known as bone fever, won’t kill you unless you are very young, sick or old.

It will make you feel like death or that you wish you would die for about two weeks. You will have a high raging fever and your bones and joints will ache.

There is no known cure for Dengue Fever, the person with the fever has to wait the disease out.

Dengue Fever’s vector is the common mosquito.

Dengue Fever also infects cattle, and mosquitoes often pick up the virus from cattle.

Both Northern Mexico and the Southwest border areas are cattle grazing country.

The US Border Patrol, in their zeal to apprehend undocumented border crossers, drags dirt roads along the border, raising great clouds of dust that is blown for miles.

Normally three large old truck tires are wired together, and drug rapidly down dirt roads near the border where people cross.

This enables the Border Patrol to track the footprints of people crossing over the fine powdery dust. The BP calls it “Cutting Sign.”

The BP is suppose to remove the tires that they use for dragging. In reality they leave these old, wired together tires which last for decades and decades scattered all over the desert.

These old tires hold rain water and are perfect breeding incubators for mosquitoes.

I feel so much better and safer that the US Border patrol protects their agents from the exposure to serious disease with latex exam gloves.

see

Notes And Observations About Living On The Border by Guadamour

The Border by Guadamour

The Militarization Of The Mexican Border by Guadamour

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Delusion of Exceptionalism By Paul Campos

Dandelion Salad

By Paul Campos
ICH
0/02/07 “Rocky Mountain News”

Nationalism is perhaps the most interesting delusion of modern times. Its power is illustrated by the fact that lots of otherwise sensible people are unapologetic nationalists, even though nationalism requires its adherents to subscribe to various bizarre beliefs.

For example, the nationalist believes that while other nations act invariably on the basis of self-interest, his country is historically unique, in that it makes great sacrifices for the good of others. This thesis has been put forth with complete seriousness by many a well-credentialed supporter of the Iraq war, such as the historian Francis Fukuyama, who argues that the invasion of that country represented a kind of “virtuous imperialism.”

Continue reading →

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Listen to Randi Rhodes & singer Melissa Etheridge EXAULT KUCINICH! + Dennis vs Ron Paul poll

Dandelion Salad

A few days ago, I sent the note at the end here asking you to thank Randi Rhodes for her and Melissa’s words praising Kucinich. Randi has placed her entire segment with Melissa.

I created an audio clip excerpt of the last 3 minutes of that audio which contains the parts about their feelings on Kucinich.

Please pass far & wide particularly among our friends in the gay community.

Audio clip excerpt of Rhodes & Etheridge on Kucinich

http://playaudio-345.com/play.asp?m=447780&f=CASTJR&ps=13&p=1 (3 minutes)

Listen to Randi Rhodes & singer Melissa Etheridge EXALT KUCINICH!

Melissa Etheridge
(2007-09-27)

Randi talks to Melissa Etheridge about her new album, Dennis Kucinich and drafting Al Gore

Listen Now (click for the entire segment)

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Thank Randi Rhodes for her amzing support of Kucinich today.

I don’t know how many were able to listen to the very first HOUR of the Randi Rhodes radio talk show on Air America today but she, along with very same Kucinich support from singer Melissa Eheridge, could not stop praising Kucinich and his candidacy.

HOUR ONE GUEST: Singer and songwriter Melissa Etheridge.

I hope she posts the audio of this segment on her website in the next few days. It is ONE POWERFUL endorsement of Kucinich from 2 influential Progressives.

We were very quick to call Rhodes to task with our e-mails when she was not particularly complementary to Kucinich about a week ago. Lets hope we can do the same with our e-mail but, this time TO THANK HER!

Jack
jacopel

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Daily Kos Poll: Dennis v Ron Paul

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/2/11551/0070

h/t: rjones2818

see

The Colbert Report: Dennis Kucinich is on Notice by Manila Ryce (video link; poll)

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The Daily Show: Republican Candidates Snub the Black Vote by Manila Ryce (video link)

Dandelion Salad

By Manila Ryce
Published Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007, 8:04 am

While competing for the minority vote may be an important strategy for Republican frontrunners if they hope to stand a chance in the upcoming election, it surely can’t be as imperative a priority as the most important meal of the day. Though Romney treats the UN and international law with contempt, he strangely holds the International House of Pancakes in high regard. Though, as Romney says, the Republicans “aren’t entirely braindead”. Larry Wilmore and John Oliver team up to cover this historic triumph for the party of Lincoln.

Continue reading →

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The Colbert Report: Dennis Kucinich is on Notice by Manila Ryce (video link; poll)

Yeah! Bet Kucinich will take him up on this very soon. ~ Lo

Dandelion Salad

By Manila Ryce
Published Tuesday, October 2nd, 2007, 8:29 am

While some talking heads might characterize Dennis Kucinich as a tree-hugging elf, they usually say so because of his appearance and not his magical qualities. Kucinich’s pockets are like Batman’s utility belt. They always contain the perfect item at the exact moment it’s needed. Stephen is disturbed by this anomaly so much that he puts Kucinich on notice until he agrees to empty out the contents of his pockets on his show. Maybe we’ll finally find the spine the Democrats have been lacking all these years. Dennis does seem to be the only one possessing any of it.

Continue reading →

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CODEPINK Citizens Arrested for commiting FREE SPEECH in Wash, DC (video)

Dandelion Salad

Arrested for reading the constitution!

Jon

Go to your windows and scream “I’m mad as Hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore”!!!!

Peaceful onlookers were arrested by police for reading the Constitution while a pro-war group was allowed full freedom of speech in Washington DC recently in another flagrant example of how American cops are now the enforcers of a tyrannical police state.

Police are required to swear an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution but this didn’t stop them from kidnapping members of the Code Pink group, who gathered on a nearby sidewalk to calmly express their disagreement with a Neo-Con pro-war event taking place nearby by reading the bill of rights.

The pro-occupation group “Vets for Freedom” held a rally at Upper Senate Park, Washington DC, on Saturday September 22nd. Their guest speakers included Neo-Con criminals John McCain, Johny Isakson and Joe Lieberman.

A common theme of the event was that U.S. troops in Iraq were there to “protect the freedom” of the Iraqi people, but this freedom didn’t seem to apply to the group of American citizens that decided to use their first amendment right of free speech to voice their dissent.

Five members of Code Pink were arrested, one for reading the Constitution, as police refused to say what the charges were and refused to answer any questions while demonstrators were hauled into paddy wagons.

WHYNotNews

at pro armageddon rally, sponsored by… at pro armageddon rally, sponsored by anti american Corporations.

see

Reading the Constitution an Arrestable Offense? Codepink

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Hardball: Robert Greenwald vs. Frank Gaffney (video)

Dandelion Salad

bravenewfilms

http://iraqforsale.org

Robert Greenwal…

http://iraqforsale.org

Robert Greenwald talks about Blackwater USA on Hardball with Chris Matthews.

see

Hearing on Blackwater USA’s Mission & Performance in Iraq and Afghanistan (videos; links)

Bill Moyers Journal: Loose Change (video; Iraq)

New Report: Blackwater Portrayed as Out of Control (video)

The Whores of War By Neil Mackay

In case you missed it:

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers (Interview with Robt Greenwald; video link)

Iraq For Sale: The War Profiteers (75 min video; watch while you can)

Iraq for Sale Banned Excerpts-vid on war profiteering the Reps don’t want you to see (vid)

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10.01.07 Uncensored News Reports From Across The Middle East (video; over 18 only)

Dandelion Salad

Warning
.
This video contains images depicting the reality and horror of war and should only be viewed by a mature audience.

Selected Episode

Oct. 1, 2007

linktv

U.S. Weapons’ Sales Skyrocket, Al Jazera English
Israel Releases Palestinian Prisoners, Dubai TV
Palestinian Mothers and Resistance, Al Aqsa
Students Return to Universities in Al Anbar, Al Arabiya
Al Qaeda Weapons Found in Al Anbar, Al Jazeera
Egyptian Government Cracks Down on the Press, Al Arabiya
Produced for Link TV by Jamal Dajani

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Hearing on Blackwater USA’s Mission & Performance in Iraq and Afghanistan (videos; links)

Dandelion Salad

After Downing Street
Submitted by davidswanson on Tue, 2007-10-02 09:51

LINK

www.oversight.house.gov

This morning at 10:00 a.m., the Oversight Committee is holding a hearing to examine the mission and performance of private military contractor Blackwater USA in Iraq and Afghanistan. Erik Prince, the owner of Blackwater, will testify as well as three State Department officials.

The hearing will provide members the opportunity to address three key questions: (1) Is Blackwater’s presence advancing or undermining U.S. efforts? (2) Has State Department responded appropriately to the shooting incidents involving Blackwater forces? (3) What are the costs to U.S. taxpayers for the reliance on Blackwater and other private military contractors?

A live video of the hearing will be available at www.oversight.house.gov beginning at 9:45 a.m. Archived video will become available this afternoon.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. Such material is made available for educational purposes, to advance understanding of human rights, democracy, scientific, moral, ethical, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 of the US Copyright Law. This material is distributed without profit.

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Blackwater’s Rules of Engagment

Veracifier

House Hearing on Blackwater Security Firm in Iraq, October 2, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhbK-AhrNZo

The Case of The Drunken Blackwater Shooter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5KQdsZPPec

Blackwater vs. Counterinsurgency

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5KQdsZPPec

Prince: Non-Compete Clauses Might Hurt Troops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4HJj7F_R_Y

Is Blackwater a Republican Company?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3hG-8J7Hr0

What Laws Govern Blackwater?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ3J5vMtUqg

Prince: Our Profit Margins Are Private

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbDmwsuyrKA

Why Did State Help Get Drunken Shooter Out of Iraq?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmmhmbw6ggg

Moser: Blackwater Got Sole-Source Contract

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hbiAXhAYLU

Blackwater’s Rules for Use of Force

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLbvSGyK5Ow

Issa Issues Veiled Blackwater Threat Against Waxman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu90tBlkKXw

Issa: Green Party Contribs Show Blackwater “Non-Partisan”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ew2X-9KHRA

Issa: Attack on Blackwater is Attack on… Petraeus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UedfjY75AVc

see

New Report: Blackwater Portrayed as Out of Control (video)

The Whores of War By Neil Mackay

Blackwater involved in 195 shootings, says report h/t: ICH