Top 10 Issues of the October 6 Movement

Actually, there are fifteen "core issues," which were identified by the October2011 Movement steering committee:

1. Corporatism– firmly establish that money is not speech, corporations are not people, only people have Constitutional rights, end corporate influence over the political process, protect people and the environment from damage by corporations.

2. Wars and Militarism – end wars and occupations, end private for-profit military contractors, reduce the national security state and end the weapons export industry. War crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace must be addressed and those responsible held accountable under international law.

3. Human Rights – end exploitation of people in the US and abroad, end discrimination in all forms, equal civil rights and due process for all people.

4. Worker Rights and jobs – all working-age people have the right to safe, just, non-discriminatory and dignified working conditions, a sustainable living wage, paid leave and economic protection.

5. Government – all processes of the three branches of government should be accountable to international law, transparent and follow the rule of law, people have the right to participate in decisions which affect them.

6. Elections – all citizens 18 and older have the right to vote without barriers, all candidates have the right to be heard and to run and all votes should be counted.

7. Criminal justice and prisons –end private for-profit prisons, adopt evidence-based drug policy, prisoners have the right to humane and just conditions with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

8. Healthcare – create a national, universal and publicly financed comprehensive health system.

9. Education – all people have the right to a high quality, publicly-funded and broad education from pre-school through vocational training or university.

10. Housing – all people have the right to affordable and safe housing.

11. Environment – adopt policies which effectively create a carbon-free energy economy.

12. Finance and the economy – end policies which foster a wealth divide and move to a localized and democratic financial system, reform taxes so that they are progressive and provide goods, monetary gain and services for the people.

13. Media – airwaves and the internet are public goods, require that media be honest, accurate and accountable to the people.

14. Food and water – create systems that protect the land and water, create local and sustainable food networks and practices.

15. Transportation – provide affordable, clean and convenient public transportation and safe spaces for pedestrian and non-automobile travel.

Source: Octorber2011.org Issues







For Your Convenience:

• Contact the Broadcast Media
• Contact the Newspapers
• Contact the US Senate
• Contact the House of Representatives

Sources:

Maryland Tax Delinquents Named

Maryland Tax Delinquents named by Maryland Comptroller's Office:

The Comptroller of Maryland is serious about retrieving unresolved tax liabilities. As a part of the collection process, we publish the names of businesses, individuals and corporate officers having large unresolved liabilities - including individuals who have large unresolved personal income tax liabilities. All of the information is public since liens and judgments have been recorded in the judgment dockets of one or more circuit courts of Maryland.

No one is above the tax laws. If you don't want to see your name posted on our site along with other tax delinquents, be sure to keep up with your tax obligations.

Public Option Senate Letter

Has your Senator signed on to support the public option for healthcare?

HERE IS THE LIST

Time to raise our mutual voices.

For Your Convenience:

Contact the US Senate

Contact the House of Representatives

Sources:

10 Steps to Start Taking Back Our Republic

The more interesting ones come at the end of the list...

1. Secure the Vote (Remove doubts from the voting process)
2. Expand Voter Participation
3. Increase Voter Choice with Instant Runoff Voting (Require the winner to have at least 50% of the voting public's support)
4. Scrap Winner-Take-All Elections (Proportional Representation)
5. Direct Election of the President
6. Overhaul the U.S. Senate
7. Reclaim the Airwaves
8. Minimize Money's Role
9. Reform the Supreme Court
10. Restore Faith in Government of the People.

Source:

Steven Hill book, "10 Steps to Repair American Democracy".

Activism in 2010

Came across an impressive, organized set of lists that support activism.

Sources:

The Poetry Man

How to Host a Honey Tasting

This "how to" is intended for informal honey tastings, perhaps as part of a party, barbecue event, family reunion or other gathering.

"To Do" Lists

Before the Tasting:

• Honey: Five to ten different kinds of honey (eight worked for me). Strive for some variety in flavors from simple to more exotic, e.g., raw honey.
  
• Small cups: I used disposable plastic containers like those used by restaurants for serving to-go sides (e.g., soy sauce, salsa, raitha). I got mine free at a friendly neighborhood restaurant. The disposable ones are helpful because you can write on them (the number of the honey... assuming you're having a blind tasting, which is much more fun).
  
• Toothpicks or coffee stirrers: We used toothpicks... some people used two at a time if they felt the need.
• Toothpick holder: You can use the box the toothpicks come in, or a more attractive holder.
  
• Taster Discard: You'll need a cup or other container for used toothpicks. A deep cup is good so people don't mistake the discard pile as the clean ones!
  
• Scoring Sheet: (See Details Below)
• Copies of Score Sheet: We made enough sheets for all guests to participate, but only about one-third filled them out.
  
• Pencils: Have a number of pencils sharpened. Pencils are handy so people can modify results if needed... but, that depends on having erasers that work ;-1
• Contact info. for party guests (You'll want to send them the results!)
• Blank sheets of paper
• Magic marker
  
• Location for tasting (think about where you'll set up the tasting... space, table(s), etc. You might want to do it inside to avoid attracting bugs).
• Optional: If you want, prepare a summary sheet in advance that describes the honeys. People will want to know what they judged. You can hand this out at the end of the event, even if you don't finish scoring the results until after the event.
  

Day of the Tasting:

• Set-up location: We have a smallish house, so we set up on two tables in different rooms to spread people out a bit (we had 8 honeys to taste). We did it indoors to avoid attracting bugs.
• Make a List of the Honeys: Write down the names of each honey and give them a random number. It's important you don't loose this ;-1
• Number Sheets of Papers: For each honey, create a sheet of paper with the random number at the bottom. You will set each honey on it's own sheet of paper with the number at the bottom... helps catch any drips.
• Mark each Cup: Write the random number on each cup you'll use for the honey.
• Transfer Honey to Cups: Prepare for a little messy job. You'll want a wet rag for cleaning as you go. You might want multiple spoons/knives to help dish out the honey into the numbered cups (I cleaned my knife as I went).
  
• Place pencils, score sheets, tasting toothpicks, toothpick discard cups out for use.
• Get a couple out-going people to start and spread the word to guests.
• Optional: Have judges write their names on the results. If they want to take their score sheet with them, before you've done the scoring, you'll need to copy the results for your use in scoring.
  

After the Tasting:

• Everyone likes instant gratification. If the situation allows, you can try to tally the results and give them to guests toward the later part of the event. This didn't work in my case, so it's good to have contact information that allows you to send the results to people.
  
• Scoring: OK, some people will not fill score all of the honeys. I only used the scores for the people who scored all honeys. You can try to figure out how to include partial scores, but you're on your own for that. I set up a little spreadsheet to tally the results. I added up all the judges scores separately for the two categories (distinctiveness, agreeability). Then, I added these two sub-scores for a combined total. I selected the three top scores, the "Best," (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) for both categories and combined total. (See Score Result Tables).
• Other Results: People will want to know a little about the honeys they judged. As noted above, you can create a summary sheet. I elected to simply document the judges comments on a web page, at which point I also described the honeys.
  

Score Sheet Details: I'll provide a sample once I figure out how to link to a document, but for now, here's Sample Text and description:

Honey Tasting
Score Sheet

Please judge the eight (8) different honeys on two aspects of flavor. Judging ends at 9pm at which time scores will be tallied (put your name on the score sheet if you want it returned). We'll post the results on-line!!

Things to consider: Overheating will cause a burnt sugar flavor (not a problem with raw honey). Fermentation can cause the honey to taste sour. Certain floral sources such as tobacco can produce unpleasant, even disagreeable-tasting honey.

Give Two Scores, each on a scale of 1 – 10 (10 is the Best): 1) Distinctive flavors stand out as being interesting, perhaps having a notable aroma. Distinctive flavors, however, might not be agreeable for regular use, perhaps being too strong in some way. 2) Agreeable flavors go beyond simply tasting sweet (it should have a honey flavor!!), but aren't so distinctive that they might offend someone, e.g., too yeasty.

Honey Tasting Score Table

Honey Number	Score for Distinctiveness	Score as Agreeable	Comments
#1
#2
#3
#etc.

I think that about covers it. I'm sure you can think of improvements. If you do, or if you host a competition, I'd appreciate you leaving a COMMENT below. A link to any web pages, and cross links to this page would be even MORE APPRECIATED!

Top 8 Media Conglomerates

In 1983, fifty corporations dominated most of every mass medium, including our news sources. In 1987, the fifty companies had shrunk to twenty-nine. In 1990, the twenty-nine had shrunk to twenty three. By the end of 2006, there are only 8 giant media companies dominating the US media, from which most people get their news and information. These Are:

• Disney (market value: $72.8 billion)


• AOL-Time Warner (market value: $90.7 billion)


• Viacom (market value: $53.9 billion)


• General Electric (owner of NBC, market value: $390.6 billion)


• News Corporation (that's Fox, which now owns the Wall Street Journal, market value: $56.7 billion)


• Yahoo! (market value: $40.1 billion)


• Microsoft (market value: $306.8 billion)


• Google (market value: $154.6 billion)

The market failure is that these conglomerates have become part of the establishment on which they are supposed to report. They have become beholden to short term profits and entertainment value. Corporate commercial interests have blunted their ability to speak truth to power at a management level, where the control lies.

The high-flying celebrity status of the hosts, and fear of loosing that status, creates a strong aversion to taking the risks associated with speaking truth to power.

The reduced numbers of employees in this consolidated industry make even the technical jobs rare plums. Thus, young people who want a job in the media industry will tend to do what ever management wants... no questions asked. It doesn't matter if these young people, and the vanishing news reporters, are "liberal"; they don't pick the stories to be covered and don't decide what makes it into print or on the air.

Bottom line is that the media industry reflects corporate conservatism, not liberalism.

19 Largest Banks

Here's a list of the 19 biggest banks in order from largest to smallest:

• JPMorgan Chase & Co.,
• Citigroup Inc.,
• Bank of America Corp.,
  
• Wells Fargo & Co.,
• Goldman Sachs Group Inc.,
• Morgan Stanley,
• MetLife Inc.,
• PNC Financial Services Group Inc.,
• U.S. Bancorp,
• Bank of New York Mellon Corp.,
• GMAC LLC,
• SunTrust Banks Inc.,
• State Street Corp.,
• Capital One Financial Corp.,
• BB&T Corp.,
• Regions Financial Corp.,
• American Express Co.,
• Fifth Third Bancorp, and
  
• KeyCorp...

Sources:

Associated Press, Meltdown 101: How do bank 'stress tests' work?, DANIEL WAGNER, April 24, 2009.

April 11: Take to the Streets!

In reaction to Wall-Street-friendly bailout plans coming from Obama's economic team, senior journalist Bill Moyers recently asked "Are we chumps?" His guest, MIT economist Simon Johnson, bumbled a bit, then settled in on the right answer:

We'll find out. Yes, we may be. Okay. It depends on how we play this politically. It depends on what our political system does. It depends, I think, on the level of reaction.

This Saturday, April 11, 2009, is your opportunity to react with others, thanks to a group of organizers calling this initiative "A New Way Forward." Take to the Streets!

What do you write on your placard?

• "Break up the Banks"
• "It's Wealth Distribution Stupid"
• "Put Homeowners First, Not the Banks"
• "Who would Jesus Bail out?"
• "Enough is Enough"
• "No More Handouts"
• "Expose the Insolvency Cover Up"
  

The New Way Forward gives other ways to "vote":

Sign the Pledge calling for too-big-to-fail banks to be broken apart
Follow on Twitter
Join the Way Forward Group on MySpace
Be a Fan on Facebook

Lets not be taken for chumps! Find a group of people assembling near you using the link below. Be part of the coordinated reaction. If you don't find a gathering, you can start one using the handy calendar tool at the New Way Forward web page.

Share this link with your friends: http://anewwayforward.org/demonstrations/

Here's a taste of the growing list of cities and towns that are getting organized to let the powers that be know what they are up against:

Anchorage, AK at Corner of Northern Lights and Seward Highway more

Corner of Northern Lights and Seward Highway December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

600 E Northern Lights Blvd 907-338-0695

Approx Capacity: 0 55 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Samuel Bair sjbair@gmail.com

-->

Fayetteville, AR at On the University of Arkansas campus in front of Old Main more

On the University of Arkansas campus in front of Old Main December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Arkansas Avenue

Approx Capacity: 0 5 people plan to attend.

Organized by: George Sakhel gsakhel@hotmail.com

-->

Phoenix, AZ at Sidewalks outside AIG building more

Sidewalks outside AIG building December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Central Ave and Thomas Road, NE corner Stay on city owned sidewalks and don't block foot traffic

Approx Capacity: 5000 153 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Cheryl C cheryl.colan@gmail.com

-->

Tucson, AZ at sidewalks outside Chase Bank, Swan@Speedway more

sidewalks outside Chase Bank, Swan@Speedway December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

4711 E. Speedway corner of Speedway and Swan

Approx Capacity: 0 42 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Richard

-->

Eureka, CA at waterfront park more

waterfront park December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Sea ave. 7072680960

Approx Capacity: 0 84 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Thom Notwell

-->

Los Angeles, CA at Federal Building more

Federal Building December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

11000 Wilshire Blvd

Approx Capacity: 0 258 people plan to attend.

Organized by: steve

-->

Redding, CA at Redding City Hall more

Redding City Hall December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

777 Cypress Avenue

Approx Capacity: 100 14 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Ivan info@ivanhall.com

-->

Sacramento, CA at State Capitol more

State Capitol December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

1200 L-ST.

Approx Capacity: 2000 71 people plan to attend.

Organized by: PETER

-->

San Diego, CA at Embarcadero more

Embarcadero December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Pacific Highway and Broadway 858-331-1817

Approx Capacity: 5000 171 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Stephen Stepheng.bishop@gmail.com

-->

San Francisco, CA at Federal Reserve BANK more

Federal Reserve BANK December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

101 Market Street

Approx Capacity: 0 181 people plan to attend.

Organized by: plutarch

-->

Santa Barbara, CA at Santa Barbara Museum of Art more

Santa Barbara Museum of Art December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

1114 State Street ( X Anapamu St.) (805)962-9332

Approx Capacity: 0 2 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Lois Hamilton vlhamilton1@cox.net

-->

Santa Cruz, CA at County Offices more

County Offices December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

water st and ocean ave maya11125@yahoo.com

Approx Capacity: 0 95 people plan to attend.

Organized by: maya kha

-->

Boulder, CO at Sister Cities Park, east side of Municipal Building more

Sister Cities Park, east side of Municipal Building December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Canyon and Broadway 303-444-6981x2

Approx Capacity: 0 12 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Carolyn Bninski carolyn@rmpjc.org

-->

Denver, CO at State Capitol - West End more

State Capitol - West End December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

West End Steps of the Capitol 303-350-7019

Approx Capacity: 0 140 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Jackie Pearlilm13@q.com

-->

Durango, CO at SE Corner of College (6th St.) & Main Ave., Durango, CO more

SE Corner of College (6th St.) & Main Ave., Durango, CO December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

College & Main

Approx Capacity: 0 11 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Nathan dirtyhands@riseup.net

-->

Hartford, CT at Senator Dodd's Office more

Senator Dodd's Office December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

30 Lewis St and nearby portion of Bushnell Park 860-726-8700

Approx Capacity: 1000 78 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Kanishka Azimi and Mallory

-->

New Haven, CT at TO BE DECIDED - NEGOTIABLE, NEW HAVEN AREA

TO BE DECIDED - NEGOTIABLE, NEW HAVEN AREA December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

?????????????? ???????????/ 000-000-0000

Approx Capacity: 0 7 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Trevor Masterson TMAS1199@GMAIL.COM

-->

Washington , DC at Lafayette Park more

Lafayette Park December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

1600 H St. NW

Approx Capacity: 1000 336 people plan to attend.

Organized by: beth pointer beth.pointer@gmail.com

-->

Gainesville, FL at Downtown Plaza more

Downtown Plaza December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Approx Capacity: 0 42 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Faith Carr faithccarr@yahoo.com

-->

Jacksonville, FL at TBA more

TBA December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

TBA 904-733-1234

Approx Capacity: 0 1 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Duke Fagan Duke@trial-lawyers.ws

-->

Fairburn, GA at FEDERAL RESERVE BANK - ATLANTA more

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK - ATLANTA December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

9710 Cedar Grove Rd

Approx Capacity: 0 16 people plan to attend.

Organized by: MIKE RUCKER 5RUCKERS@BELLSOUTH.NET

-->

Iowa City, IA at College Green Park more

College Green Park December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

College St. 319-337-3535

Approx Capacity: 100 50 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Sarah Swisher seiusarah@gmail.com

-->

Chicago, IL at 230 S. Dearborn more

230 S. Dearborn December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

LaSalle Street

Approx Capacity: 0 274 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Debby Fay

-->

Lexington, KY at Triangle Park more

Triangle Park December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Main Street and Broadway 859-278-1965

Approx Capacity: 100 32 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Debbie Stoops debbie.stoops@insightbb.com

-->

Baton Rouge, LA at Jefferson Terrace S/D more

Jefferson Terrace S/D December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Upton and Azrok

Approx Capacity: 5 9 people plan to attend.

Organized by: charles

-->

Boston, MA at Boston Common more

Boston Common December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Bound by Tremont, Beacon, Charles, Park and Boylston Streets MB 1 774 573 2805

Approx Capacity: 10000 343 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Matt Zaccarino mzaccarino@gmail.com

-->

Augusta, ME at State House more

State House December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

State House Station Capitol St.

Approx Capacity: 0 55 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Jane

-->

Detroit, MI at City County Building more

City County Building December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

1 Woodward Ave

Approx Capacity: 0 114 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Beth Breidenstein

-->

Holland, MI at 645 Wilshire Ct. more

645 Wilshire Ct. December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

645 Wilshire Ct. 6163358076

Approx Capacity: 0 7 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Don Brake dshoes@hotmail.com

-->

Marquette , MI at UP Post Office 12 Noon more

UP Post Office 12 Noon December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

3rd & Washington St

Approx Capacity: 0 2 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Richard Bourgeois

-->

St. Paul, MN at State Capitol, St. Paul, MN more

State Capitol, St. Paul, MN December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Approx Capacity: 0 101 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Walt

-->

Saint Louis, MO at Under the Arch more

Under the Arch December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Approx Capacity: 0 114 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Eric Hoffpauir eric@showmeprogress.com

-->

Springfield, MO at Glenstone and Battlefield more

Glenstone and Battlefield December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Approx Capacity: 0 17 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Patrick Bills roughneckredleg@sbcglobal.net

-->

Hickory, NC at Union Square more

Union Square December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Union Square NW

Approx Capacity: 0 12 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Ed Crump edgeg@yahoo.com

-->

Raleigh, NC at Bicentennial Plaza more

Bicentennial Plaza December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

1 E Edenton St. 802 922 1719

Approx Capacity: 0 257 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Zephyr Teachout zteachout@gmail.com

-->

Newark, NJ at Robert A. Roe Federal Building in Paterson, NJ more

Robert A. Roe Federal Building in Paterson, NJ December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

200 Federal Plaza 973-968-5073

Approx Capacity: 0 40 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Michael Atkin coord@nwfnj.org

-->

North Bergen, NJ at 80th st. Park more

80th st. Park December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

80th st. (201) 401-2129

Approx Capacity: 0 12 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Joaquin Santelices

-->

Albuquerque, NM at First Plaza Galeria more

First Plaza Galeria December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

20 First Plaza N.W. (505)315-2537

Approx Capacity: 0 45 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Deborah L. Hall mzhermit@wildblue.net

-->

Lockport, NY at Lockport City Building more

Lockport City Building December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Main Street

Approx Capacity: 0 25 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Judy Snow

-->

New Paltz, NY at In front of the Elting Library more

In front of the Elting Library December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Main and N Front Streets

Approx Capacity: 0 1 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Barbara Upton anahatasun@aol.com

-->

New York, NY at Union Square more

Union Square December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

14th St. & Broadway

Approx Capacity: 0 399 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Gabrielle

-->

Poughkeepsie, NY at In front of Dutchess County Office Building

In front of Dutchess County Office Building December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

22 Market Street (845) 489-5479

Approx Capacity: 200 1 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner joeltyner@earthlink.net

-->

Cleveland, OH at Willard Park at corner of Lakeside and E. 9th more

Willard Park at corner of Lakeside and E. 9th December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

216-255-2184

Approx Capacity: 100 79 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Greg Coleridge

-->

Columbus, OH at Ohio Statehouse more

Ohio Statehouse December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

77 S High St

Approx Capacity: 0 66 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Johnny Milaychev

-->

Oklahoma City, OK at State Capital more

State Capital December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

2300 N Lincoln Blvd 4052551897

Approx Capacity: 5000 4 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Charlie Mai cmai999@hotmail.com

-->

Portland, OR at Pioneer Square more

Pioneer Square December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Pioneer Square

Approx Capacity: 0 186 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Mike

-->

Philadelphia, PA at Convention Center more

Convention Center December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Approx Capacity: 0 36 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Nancy

-->

Pittsburgh, PA at City Hall more

City Hall December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Apt. 96 154 N. Bellefield Avenue 412-477-2922

Approx Capacity: 0 103 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Winnie Frolik wfrolik@hotmail.com

-->

Charleston, SC at Ravenel Bridge more

Ravenel Bridge December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

1514 Brookbank Avenue 843.810.0088

Approx Capacity: 10 111 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Shea Onofrey

-->

Nashville, TN at Legislative Plaza Downtown more

Legislative Plaza Downtown December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Union & 6th Ave.

Approx Capacity: 0 15 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Karina

-->

Austin, TX at South steps of the Texas State Capitol building (Austin) more

South steps of the Texas State Capitol building (Austin) December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

112 E 11th St, Austin, TX‎

Approx Capacity: 0 206 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Steve

-->

Dallas, TX at AIG Building on Walnut Hill more

AIG Building on Walnut Hill December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

8144 Walnut Hill Ln

Approx Capacity: 0 84 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Carrie

-->

Houston, TX at Federal Reserve Bank, Houston Branch more

Federal Reserve Bank, Houston Branch December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

1801 Allen Pkwy

Approx Capacity: 100 32 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Justin McMurtry

-->

Salt Lake City, UT at Utah State Capital Building - South Side more

Utah State Capital Building - South Side December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

State Capital Building - South Side 801-883-9304

Approx Capacity: 0 15 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Debra Rowley rowleyda3@comcast.net

-->

Harrisonburg, VA at Court Square more

Court Square December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

1 Market Stret 540-810-1866

Approx Capacity: 1 16 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Robert Crittenden ambrosiapress@yahoo.com

-->

Montpelier, VT at statehouse lawn more

statehouse lawn December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

802 244 1889

Approx Capacity: 0 3 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Brian Forrest blforrest1@myfairpoint.net

-->

Seattle, WA at Victor Stienbrueck Park more

Victor Stienbrueck Park December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

at Pike's Place Market downtown

Approx Capacity: 0 296 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Candice Morgan angryyoungfemme@gmail.com

-->

Madison, WI at North face of the Capitol more

North face of the Capitol December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

2 East Main St

Approx Capacity: 0 39 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Danielle Bever

-->

Milwaukee, WI at Chase Bank plaza more

Chase Bank plaza December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

Water and Wisconsin St.s intersection

Approx Capacity: 200 7 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Victoria

-->

Victoria, British Columbia at Provincial Legislature grounds more

Provincial Legislature grounds December 31, 1969 at 4:00pm

501 Belleville St

Approx Capacity: 0 16 people plan to attend.

Organized by: Nathan

--> Ottawa, ON at Parliament Hill more

List of Failed US Banks

List of Failed Banks provided by the FDIC (Thanks to CalculatedRisk Blog).

Next Steps

Like FDR said after he was elected in 1932, "I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it." -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

What do we want?

• Out of Iraq with No Permanent Bases
  
• No Escalation in Afghanistan (It's a dry quagmire)
  
• Universal Health Care with No Insurance Middle-man
  
• Election Reform One person, One voice, One vote, no corporate speech nor money
  
• Fair Trade not Corporate Free Trade
  
• Spread the Wealth down to the people from whom it was taken over the last few decades
  
• Enforce Environmental Laws
  
• Investigate and Prosecute the Crimes of the Bush Administration
  

That's just for starters.

Watch These States on November 4

A sporting event is far more exciting to watch when you know something about the teams and players before watching the event. On November 4, 2008 the presidential election will be an exciting event. It will be more exciting for those who are watching the results come in for the top ten states that are presently "undecided" on the candidates.

Battleground States and their Electoral Votes:

• Colorado (9)
  
• Florida (27)
  
• Indiana (11)
  
• Iowa (7)
  
• Missouri (11)
  
• New Mexico (5)
  
• Nevada (5)
  
• North Carolina (15)
  
• Ohio (20)
  
• Virginia (13)
  

Check out the yahoo political dashboard for up-to-date statistics. It also allows you to play "what if" scenarios, turning switching the combination of red and blue states to see the effect on the electoral vote count.

McCain's False Image of Foreign Policy Knowledge

We can expect John McCain's campaign to claim he has more foreign policy experience than his rival. However, the evidence keeps mounting that this is a false claim.

One might dismiss this it if McCain's lack of knowledge was about a remote part of the World. But the troubling evidence pertains to the most prominent region of US foreign policy, the Middle East.

We're all aware of McCain being prompted in Jordan by "Whispering Joe" Lieberman who effectively said that, "No John, it's not "common knowldege" that Al-Qaida, radical Sunnis, are receiving training from Shia-oriented Iran, because it's not true."

Oops.

Next is McCain's comment to TIME Magazine's Joe Klein in early 2008 that the southern Iraqi city of Basra is "not a problem," at a time when friends of mine were saying, "Keep an eye on Basra," because it's under control of al-Sader and is a choke point of US supply lines. Then, as many bloggers have reported, Muqtada al-Sadr showed the Iraqi central government who's in charge in Basra when his militia stood up to the central government's attempted crack down leaving the Arizona senator "surprised."

Oops again.

Then, what about this major pillar of McCain's foreign policy platform known as the "League of Democracies"? The Star Tribune (via L.A. Times) reports:

Only days after laying out his foreign policy agenda, Sen. John McCain has begun scaling back a key proposal that had been greeted with alarm by some Republican supporters and wariness by important U.S. allies.

Oops on foreign policy again.

Then, as reported in the New York Times, there was McCain's proposal to kick Russia out of the Group of 8 (G-8) nations that meet on economic and other foreign policy matters. One of many problems with McCain's naive idea is that the G-8 makes decisions by consensus, so no single nation can eject another. Besides making himself look, "just dumb," as one senior US official on Russian policy put it, McCain risks creating friction with Russia with nothing to gain from it. [More]

Oooops!

McCain's flip-flop on banning torture can be viewed as another foreign policy blunder. The bottom line is that McCain caved to Bush, as he told Chris Mathews of MSNBC:

I think you do understand that there are some people who are very, very bad people, and I think that to continue a program for some of them, without torture, is something that we can't deprive the President of the United States of.

Philip Giraldi explains McCain's slight-of-hand, which is understood among foreign policy circles and by other nations, even if the "average American" doesn't know it:

But the catch was that President Bush made clear his interpretation of the legislation in a signing statement, reserving what he described as his presidential constitutional authority to avoid further terrorist attacks, which would include the use of torture if necessary. McCain knew perfectly well that he had surrendered on the issue but did not object, feeling that he had occupied the moral high ground and picked up the favorable headlines while preserving the president's authority to carry out "enhanced interrogations."

Doh!

In another exchange with Joe Klien, McCain revealed that he doesn't understand that Iran's president Ahmadinejad is basically a loose cannon figure head. The real decision-making power lies with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. When Joe Klien called McCain on this McCain said,

the fact is he's the acknowledged leader of that country and uh you may disagree, but that's, that's a uh that's your right to do so, but I think if you ask any average American who the leader is, I think they'd know.

Oops yet again.

.

Ilan Goldenberg of the National Security Network, who does have some foreing policy expertise, clarifies who runs Iran:

at the top of it sits Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who essentially has only accountable to the Council of Guardians made up of clerics, many of whom are appointed by Khamenei. So, Ahmadinejad is not the leader. And as the Council on Foreign Relations explains, especially in the area of foreign policy, Ahmadinejad has very little influence.

It seems that McCain's reliance on "common knowledge" and the uninformed average American reflects his true level of foreign policy expertise. To understand the source of McCain's misguided perception, we merely need to read CNN Wolf Blitzer's May 21, 2008 blog entry:

there is no doubt that McCain’s strategy of hammering Obama on a nearly daily basis on foreign policy is deliberate. McCain certainly feels very comfortable talking about national security. He sees that as his major strength. And most observers agree McCain would much rather have national security on the agenda right now than the economy where he and his fellow Republicans see themselves as rather vulnerable..

Americans: Target of Military Psychological Warfare

[This blog entry is still under development]

It's more than a scandal. It's military psychological operations (psyops) illegally directed at American citizens. The Pentagon's use of biased retired military officers on television is a deliberate effort to undermine civilian rule, which constitutes a threat to our democracy. (MORE).

Below are brief profiles and photos of the participants in this military propaganda campaign. They include the so-called the "military analysts," bush administration officials, and media executives.

Thanks to the liberal newspaper, the New York Times, we now know many details about what we already knew was happening. Former military officers were hand-picked by the White House to attend invitation-only briefings. Afterwards they knowingly spread Bush administration talking points via the corporate media, and continue to do so:

From the start, interviews show, the White House took a keen interest in which analysts had been identified by the Pentagon, requesting lists of potential recruits, and suggesting names. [Pentagon assistant secretary of defense for public affairs] Victoria Clarke's team wrote summaries describing their backgrounds, business affiliations and where they stood on the war.

The hand-picked TV "military analysts" were invited to take Pentagon-funded trips, following which they echoed Pentagon talking points on TV as paid "experts." The success of this domestic propaganda operation is exemplified in the following correspondence:

“We’re hitting a home run on this trip,” a senior Pentagon official wrote in an e-mail message to Richard B. Myers and Peter Pace, then chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“Rumsfeld ultimately cleared off on all invitees,” said senior Clarke aide Brent Krueger, who left the Pentagon in 2004.

As exemplified in the personal narratives below, the vast majority of the hand-picked Pentagon pundits often had conflicting business interests profiting from the war.

Beyond the miss-conduct of many of these these analysts as individuals, Pentagon officials might have violated fundamental laws. US laws prohibit the use of US military propaganda on Americans. The rationale for these laws rests on the basic democratic principle of ensuring civilian primacy over the military.

Kenneth Allard, a former NBC military analyst who has taught information warfare at the National Defense University, said the campaign amounted to a sophisticated information operation. “This was a coherent, active policy,” he said.





Robert S. Bevelacqua, a retired Green Beret, is one of the Fox News participants who is speaking out against the Pentagon's domestic propaganda operation. “It was them saying, ‘We need to stick our hands up your back and move your mouth for you.’ ” More: Bevelacqua comments on WMD.



James T. Conway, then director of operations for the Joint Chiefs, presided over a conference call with analysts following the death of 14 Marines on August 3, 2005. He urged them, a transcript shows, not to let the marines’ deaths further erode support for the war.

“The strategic target remains our population,” General Conway said. “We can lose people day in and day out, but they’re never going to beat our military. What they can and will do if they can is strip away our support. And you guys can help us not let that happen.”

William V. Cowan, a Fox analyst and retired Marine colonel, was the chief executive of a new military firm, the wvc3 Group (More). At the time, the company was seeking contracts worth tens of millions to supply body a
armor and counterintelligence services in Iraq. (See Carlton Sherwood)


Wayne A. Downing (deceased), one of NBC’s most prominent analysts, was on the advisory board of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, an advocacy group created with White House encouragement in 2002 to help make the case for ousting Saddam Hussein. He also had his own consulting firms and sat on the boards of major military contractors.

Timur J. Eads, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Fox analyst who is vice president of government relations for Blackbird Technologies, a fast-growing military contractor. Mr. Eads said he had at times held his tongue on television for fear that “some four-star could call up and say, ‘Kill that contract.’ ” For example, he believed Pentagon officials misled the analysts about the progress of Iraq’s security forces. “I know a snow job when I see one,” he said. He did not share this on TV.

John C. Garrett is a retired Marine colonel and unpaid analyst for Fox News TV and radio. He is also a lobbyist at Patton Boggs who helps firms win Pentagon contracts, including in Iraq. His promotional materials state he “is privy to weekly access and briefings with the secretary of defense, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other high level policy makers in the administration.” Mr. Garrett displayed an eagerness to be supportive with his television and radio commentary. “Please let me know if you have any specific points you want covered or that you would prefer to downplay,”

David L. Grange, a retired Army general and CNN analyst.










Robert L. Maginnis, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who works in the Pentagon for a military contractor, recalled feeling “very disappointed” after being shown satellite photographs purporting to show bunkers associated with a hidden weapons program. Mr. Maginnis said he concluded that the analysts were being “manipulated” to convey a false sense of certainty about the evidence of the weapons.

James Marks, a retired Army general and analyst for CNN from 2004 to 2007, pursued military and intelligence contracts as a senior executive with McNeil Technologies.

Barry R. McCaffrey, one of NBC’s most prominent analysts, was on the advisory board of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, an advocacy group created with White House encouragement in 2002 to help make the case for ousting Saddam Hussein. He also had his own consulting firms and sat on the boards of major military contractors. He was also involved with the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq.


Jeffrey D. McCausland, appears on CBS TV and radio. He is a defense industry lobbyist. He has been a frequent commentator on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan for CBS since 2003. In this capacity he has been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and Christian Science Monitor. He has appeared on the CBS Evening News, Morning Show, and Up to the Minute. He has also appeared on CNN Morning Show, CSPAN Booknotes, MSNBC, and Al Jazeera. [1]

“Good work,” Thomas G. McInerney, a retired Air Force general, consultant and Fox News analyst, wrote to the Pentagon after receiving fresh talking points in late 2006. “We will use it.”







Montgomery Meigs, a retired Army general and NBC analyst, appeared on “Today” after being flown to Guantanemo by the Pentagon. “There’s been over $100 million of new construction,” he reported. “The place is very professionally run.”






William L. Nash, a retired Army general and ABC analyst, with no defense industry ties, and no fondness for the administration, was reluctant to be critical of military leaders, many of whom were friends. “It is very hard for me to criticize the United States Army,” he said. “It is my life.” However, in April 2006, after an emergency briefing of seventeen analysts with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the midst of the "Generals' Revolt," Nash was repulsed. “I walked away from that session having total disrespect for my fellow commentators, with perhaps one or two exceptions."

Joseph W. Ralston is a retired Air Force general. Soon after signing on with CBS, General Ralston was named vice chairman of the Cohen Group, a consulting firm headed by former defense secretary William Cohen.






Carlton A. Sherwood executive vice president the wvc3 Group. At the time, the company was seeking contracts worth tens of millions to supply body armor and counterintelligence services in Iraq. (See William Cowan)





Robert H. Scales Jr., a retired Army general and analyst for Fox News and National Public Radio, heads a consulting company that advises several military firms on weapons and tactics used in Iraq. He exchanged e-mail messages with the Pentagon that reveal an implicit trade of privileged access for favorable coverage. “Recall the stuff I did after my last visit,” he wrote. “I will do the same this time.”

Donald W. Shepperd, a retired Air Force general, was flown to Guantanamo Cuba to tour the prison after abuse claims were raised. He reported live on CNN by phone from Guantánamo stating that “The impressions that you’re getting from the media and from the various pronouncements being made by people who have not been here in my opinion are totally false.”






Paul E. Vallely, a Fox News analyst from 2001 to 2007. A retired Army general who had specialized in psychological warfare. “We lost the [Vietnam] war — not because we were outfought, but because we were out Psyoped,” he wrote. He urged a radically new approach to psychological operations in future wars — taking aim at not just foreign adversaries but domestic audiences, too. He called his approach “MindWar” — using network TV and radio to “strengthen our national will to victory.” (At least he's willing to admit we lost the Vietnam War.)



... and on the Government Side

Victoria (Torie) Clarke, the former public relations executive who oversaw the Pentagon’s dealings with the analysts as assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, had come to her job with distinct ideas about achieving what she called “information dominance.”




Lawrence Di Rita, one of Mr. Rumsfeld’s closest aides, said in an interview that a “conscious decision” was made to rely on the military analysts to counteract “the increasingly negative view of the war” coming from journalists in Iraq.




Brent T. Krueger, a senior aide to Victoria Clarke, was the point person for a small group of political appointees analysts who catered to they analysts. He indicated he was well aware that some analysts viewed their special access as a business advantage. “Of course we realized that,” Mr. Krueger said. “We weren’t naïve about that.” “They have taken lobbying and the search for contracts to a far higher level,” Mr. Krueger said. “This has been highly honed.”

Don Meyer, an aide to Ms. Clarke, said a strategic decision was made in 2002 to make the analysts the main focus of the public relations push to construct a case for war. Journalists were secondary. “We didn’t want to rely on them to be our primary vehicle to get information out,” Mr. Meyer said. (So compliant corporate journalists were a secondary way for the Pentagon to use push propaganda onto American citizens).

Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman.






Active Military Officers involved in the propaganda operation:

Richard B. Myers

Peter Pace

Update:

Pentagon, House to Investigate Propaganda Program:

The Pentagon’s inspector general office has announced an internal probe into the military’s domestic propaganda program. Last month, the New York Times revealed the Pentagon has used retired military officers to generate positive news coverage and push for the war in Iraq. The move comes one day after the House approved a measure ordering investigations by both the inspector general and the congressional investigative body, the Government Accountability Office. The House probe will focus on whether the program violates laws barring government funding of domestic propaganda.