Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of the Revolution, never to violate in the least particular, the laws of the country; and never to tolerate their violation by others.

As the patriots of seventy-six did to the support of the Declaration of Independence, so to the support of the Constitution and Laws, let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor; let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own, and his children's liberty.

Let reverence for the laws, be breathed by every American mother, to the lisping babe, that prattles on her lap; let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in Primers, spelling books, and in Almanacs; let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation; and Let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of all sexes and tongues, and colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars.

While ever a state of feeling, such as this, shall universally, or even, very generally prevail throughout the nation, vain will be every effort, and fruitless every attempt, to subvert our national freedom.


- Abraham Lincoln, January 27, 1838
  Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Seymour Hersh: Cheney's 'Executive Assassin Ring'

Pulitzer prize winner Seymour Hersh is one of the last and perhaps best investigative journalists of our time.

When I was growing up during the Watergate Era, I idolized Woodward and Bernstein: I hoped to one day become an investigative journalist myself -- one of the journalists that serve our democratic process by shedding much needed light into the dark places in our government.

A free and independent media was always considered by our forefathers to be one of the safeguards of our democracy - the unofficial 'forth branch of government' that kept the populace informed so that they could exercise citizen oversight and keep our nation free from the ruling corruption that devoured democracies in the past.

Today, independent media is hard to find. Most of it is now corporate media, pushing a corporate, elitist agenda. To say that our canned media is slanted towards the interests of the corporate power-brokers would be a laughable understatement. It is completely owned by the corporate power-brokers, and serves their purposes quite nicely. Our own voices are seldom heard in this big market, monopolized media; thus government oversight by the media is a dying art, practiced by only a few rare, brave journalists (and working for dedicated papers and magazines.)

My hat is off to the New Yorker for their continued support of Mr. Hersh and his much-needed service to our democracy. And kudos to Amy Goodman for her 'take no prisoners' independent journalism. Her success, and the success of Democracy Now! demonstrates our citizen determination to get the news - the real news - and to keep an eye on Washington. As recent economic (not to mention two wars) have shown... our oversight is necessary.

Government-sponsored hit-squads are so banana republic... they debase our nation, our standing in the world, and our very morality as Americans. They are also unconstitutional and illegal.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Finally, an economist

This posted on Democracy Now!:

Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz: Bail Out Wall Street Now, Change Terms Later

The Senate has endorsed a revised version of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan. The legislation was easily approved last night on a 74-to-25 vote with a majority of Democrats and Republicans voting in favor—among them, presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain. Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz says the measure, although flawed, should be supported now and revisited after the November elections.

Since no one is listening to us (now) anyway... OK.

But Mr Stiglitz... you realize this will never be revisited - not even a chance - unless Obama is elected.

McCain - always against regulation of any kind - has gone totally over to the Neocon.

So if this passes congress... we are staking the entire future of our dollar and the economic wellbeing of generations of Americans on the outcome of one election.

Just sayin.

Labels: , , , , ,

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn) Condemns Police Attacks on Journalists

Dispatch from the Angry Middle:

Finally... someone from Congress weighs in. You'd think this would interest them - at least marginally - since they supposedly represent us huddled masses in this withering democracy.

Posted by now journalistic hero, Amy Goodman:

Amy Goodman: Democratic Congress member Keith Ellison of Minnesota has been back in the Twin Cities this week closely monitoring the treatment of protesters and journalists at the RNC. He joins me now here.

Welcome to Democracy Now!

Rep. Keith Ellison: Glad to be here, Amy.

Amy Goodman: And thanks for helping out last night. It's a very serious situation, of course. Hundreds of people remain in jail. This rule of thirty-six hours, can you explain how it works?

Rep. Keith Ellison: Well, first of all, the thirty-six hours doesn't count weekends. And so, if you get --

Amy Goodman: Or Labor Day, which was yesterday.

Rep. Keith Ellison: Or a holiday. So if you get arrested, say, on a Friday night, you could be getting out -- hopefully, if you can -- maybe Wednesday midday. So it really is something that can take quite a bit of your freedom away.

Amy Goodman: You're -- in addition to being a Congress member, you're a lawyer?

Rep. Keith Ellison: For about sixteen years, I practiced law right here in the courts of Minneapolis-St. Paul and all over Minnesota.

Amy Goodman: It was Minneapolis police, by the way, who arrested us, even though we're here in St. Paul. Why is that?

Rep. Keith Ellison: Well, because they brought in probably a number of jurisdictions to help their complement of officers who would try to do policing activity here for the RNC. So I wouldn't be surprised if they have other jurisdictions besides Minneapolis. Might have a number of suburban districts and maybe even some from further away than that.

Amy Goodman: And, of course, National Guard.

Rep. Keith Ellison: Yeah, no doubt about that. Secret Service.

Amy Goodman: And is there a fusion center here in the Twin Cities?

Rep. Keith Ellison: You mean, a coordinating center? Yeah, I'm quite certain there is. I can't give you details on that, because, quite frankly, I thought that it was going to be a relatively routine situation. But when you see some of the footage that I saw, it was anything but routine. It looked quite extraordinary, to tell you the truth.

And when you hear about journalists getting arrested, it's very disturbing. I mean, the news gatherers -- how can the people know, if they don't have news gatherers to gather the news and show them? But when those folks are being intimidated and even roughed up, it's pretty -- it actually is a threat to democracy and the First Amendment.

Amy Goodman: Right, we don't know if the Associated Press photographers have gotten out, if the Pepper spray videographers have gotten out. Even the New York Post guy, we don't know what happened to him at this moment. And, of course, there are many, many people who are on the streets who get rounded up just by virtue of being there. When they move in with such a fast pincer move from all corners and surround a block -- this was basically a parking lot -- there is nowhere to go.

Rep. Keith Ellison: Right. There's nowhere to go. And, of course, they know that, as well. It's not like they haven't mapped out the whole area and don't know exactly what forces are moving in which directions. They do know. And, of course, it's pretty clear that Nicole and Sharif were making their status as press widely known, and it was easy to hear it; you know, clearly on the tape, it was easy to hear. So that's pretty disturbing to me, and I'm actually pretty upset about it.

Amy Goodman: So you weighed in last night as they were in jail. You called the police commissioner.

Rep. Keith Ellison: I called and let them -- just provided the information. You know, this is who you have. This is the deal, stuff like that. So, you know, I just think it's important to make sure that when journalists are trying to do their work, that they are allowed to do it.

Amy Goodman: This is only the second day, and, in fact, the Republican convention was not in even full gear because of Hurricane Gustav yesterday, though the protests in the streets were. You've got a number more days. What is the plan for the city?

Rep. Keith Ellison: Well, you know, that's what I'm trying to find out right now. I mean, before, quite frankly, I was perfectly content to allow the police to do the work they were doing, and I'm just going to go do the work I do. But now, I do have a new -- an urgent curiosity to find out what the plan is. When are massive uses of force going to be deployed? What circumstances will trigger them? Have we looked -- have we recognized the fact that we can actually cause more trouble than what would otherwise happen, when we bring forth this massive use of force as we saw on the tape? And so, I'm concerned about it. I think overreaction is as bad as under-reaction, and what I saw on that tape was pretty disturbing.



I still find it intriguing that it was a Secret Service officer who ripped the press credentials off of Amy Goodman and her producers, while they were already in police custody.

The Secret Service get their orders from... the President, don't they? Either the President or the Vice.

It is interesting to note that the same attacks on journalists have been happening in Iraq for the entire duration of the war; well, at least since the journalists stopped 'embedding' with the Army. More journalists have been targeted and killed in the Iraq war than in any previous war.

I guess Bush doesn't like journalists. To his way of thinking, their job is to spread pro-Bush propaganda. If they happen to stray off of their 'talking points,' he cracks down hard.

For the most part, the corporate media stays on (Bush) message quite nicely. Only foreign or independent (a.k.a. actual investigative) journalists are routinely and often permanently silenced.

Truth is a dangerous thing... if you have something to hide.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Outrageous crackdown on American journalists - on American soil - continues

Dispatch from the Angry Middle:

Would that our Congress hadn't shredded our Constitution on the whim of a rogue president.

I can't help recalling my letter from Senator Lugar, promising that 'Protecting American citizens from harm is the federal government's most important responsibility.' Really. What about upholding the Constitution? Does that still fit into the master plan?

I'd love to ask Senator Lugar now... if he still really believes FISA was all about 'keeping Americans safe.' More like keeping them under control, don't you think?

Are we to become like the former Soviet Union? China?

UPDATE from Democracy Now!

Journalists Facing Charges for Reporting on the Republican National Convention

  • Charges against Amy Goodman still hold; Nicole Salazar and Sharif Abdel Kouddous could still be charged with FELONY RIOT
  • Please take immediate action to have the charges dropped

CONTACT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE - DEMAND THAT ALL CHARGES OR POTENTIAL CHARGES BE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED:

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner
janet.hafner@co.ramsey.mn.us and
susan.gaertner@co.ramsey.mn.us
(cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org)
651-266-3079

________________________

Susan Gaertner for Governor
info@susangaertner.com
(cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org)
(612) 978-8625
(612)804-6156

________________________

St. Paul Mayor Christopher B. Coleman
chris.coleman@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Bob.Hume@ci.stpaul.mn.us
sara.grewing@ci.stpaul.mn.us
(cc: dropthecharges at democracynow.org)

Make your voice heard in the Ramsey County Attorney and St. Paul Mayor’s offices. Demand that they drop all pending and current charges against journalists arrested while reporting on protests outside the Republican National Conventions.

The Ramsey County Attorney’s office is in the process of deciding whether or not to press felony P.C. (probable cause) riot charges against Democracy Now! Producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Please contact Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner by all means possible to demand that her office not press charges against Kouddous and Salazar.

The St. Paul City Attorney’s office has already charged Amy Goodman with misdemeanor obstruction of a legal process and interference with a peace officer. Contact St. Paul Mayor Christopher Coleman by all means possible to demand that the charges against Goodman be dropped immediately.

Goodman was arrested while questioning police about the unlawful detention of Kouddous and Salazar who were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention.

During the demonstration in which the Democracy Now! team was arrested, law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force against protesters and journalists. Several dozen demonstrators were also arrested during this action, as was a photographer for the Associated Press.

IMPORTANT

Be sure to cc: dropthecharges@democracynow.org on all emails so that our team can deliver print outs of your messages to the St. Paul City Attorney, the Mayor and Ramsey County Attorney offices.

Labels: , ,

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Press statement from Democracy Now!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 1, 2008

Contact:
Mike Burke: mike@democracynow.org

**UPDATE**

Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman, Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar Released After Illegal Arrest at RNC

Goodman Charged with Obstruction; Felony Riot Charges Pending Against Kouddous and Salazar

ST. PAUL--Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman and producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar have all been released from police custody in St. Paul following their illegal arrest by Minneapolis Police on Monday afternoon.

All three were violently manhandled by law enforcement officers. Abdel Kouddous was slammed against a wall and the ground, leaving his arms scraped and bloodied. He sustained other injuries to his chest and back. Salazar's violent arrest by baton-wielding officers, during which she was slammed to the ground while yelling, "I'm Press! Press!," resulted in her nose bleeding, as well as causing facial pain. Goodman's arm was violently yanked by police as she was arrested.

On Tuesday, Democracy Now! will broadcast video of these arrests, as well as the broader police action. These will also be available on: www.democracynow.org

Goodman was arrested while questioning police about the unlawful detention of Kouddous and Salazar who were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. Goodman's crime appears to have been defending her colleagues and the freedom of the press.

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were arrested on suspicion of rioting, a felony. While the three have been released, they all still face charges stemming from their unlawful arrest. Kouddous and Salazar face pending charges of suspicion of felony riot, while Goodman has been officially charged with obstruction of a legal process and interference with a "peace officer."

Democracy Now! forcefully rejects all of these charges as false and an attempt at intimidation of these journalists. We demand that the charges be immediately and completely dropped.

Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities' law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amendment rights of these journalists.

During the demonstration in which the Democracy Now! team was arrested, law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force against protesters and journalists. Several dozen demonstrators were also arrested during this action, including a photographer for the Associated Press.

Amy Goodman is one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the United States. She has received journalism's top honors for her reporting and has a distinguished reputation of bravery and courage. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and the subsequent criminal charges and threat of charges are a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists.

Democracy Now! is a nationally-syndicated public TV and radio program that airs on over 700 radio and TV stations across the US and the globe.

Footage of Democracy Now! Producer Nicole Salazar being brutally assaulted by police and arrested:



If you have any trouble with this video - sound or otherwise - please click here.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, September 01, 2008

US of A or 1940s Germany?

I have been hearing a lot about 'pre-emptive arrests' (Habeas Corpus anyone?) and the general harassment of anyone found in Minniapolis/St. Paul, MN (on the street or even in a house/hotel room) who is believed to be... liberal, progressive, a journalist, or simply 'capable of protesting.'

The same thing apparently happened in Denver.

Is this still the USA? Land of the Free, Home of the Brave?

It's beginning to look an awful lot like Nazi Germany. I mean guys -- now everyone is going to notice.

Just a heads up to the GOP, the Democratic Party... and the corporate giants who back them. Do you really want people waking up before the election? Wasn't the whole point to keep everyone asleep and feeling warm and fuzzy while thinking nice, comfortable, safe thoughts about our government?

I mean... everyone knows Amy Goodman. Especially *cough* journalists. Did you think about the fact that arresting an Amy Goodman would absolutely guarantee that everyone would be writing about this? The very arrest of Amy Goodman is news itself.

Did you think you'd scare everyone into silence? Not everyone can be bullied you know.

To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men. - Abraham Lincoln

If you have any trouble with this video - sound or otherwise - please click here.

Labels: , , ,