I just passed a bunch of people on East 83rd Street in NYC, all clamoring about something. I heard a guy revving up the crowd saying, "We're going to have FUN!!!! We're going to INTIMIDATE!!"

I looked around at them and they were all waving McCain signs. *sigh*

Some people walking down the other side of the street yelled, "Booooo!"

Abraham Jackemoff @ 2:

Another Bush, another series of catastrophic bank failures followed by government bailout. Just where is all the money going? Would it be unAmerican to suggest it is leaving the country?

You can bet it is. No doubt, to fund the private armies of the people trying to take over this country.

It's time to take our country back from the fascists.

Kelley @ 1:

I just passed a bunch of people on East 83rd Street in NYC, all clamoring about something. I heard a guy revving up the crowd saying, "We're going to have FUN!!!! We're going to INTIMIDATE!!"

I looked around at them and they were all waving McCain signs. *sigh*

Some people walking down the other side of the street yelled, "Booooo!"

Are they holding the signs with both hands? I'm heading over there to rip off their wallets. How's that for entrepreneurial spirit?

Kelly@1. Did they at least spell all the words correctly?

I didn't know where to put this, so I thought I go to an open thread. I am currently watching C-Span 2 where they are rebroadcasting the Ron Paul counter-convention in Minneapolis. John McCain just might have a problem. I took a good look at the crowds when the cameras would take shots and the place looked packed! If Ron Paul could get on an alternate ticket, he could very well draw off badly needed votes from McCain. Now I know some of you out there will say the RNC or the conservative base won't let that happen, but if they do get rid of Paul, they could potentially lose a lot of votes. It's really not looking all that good for conservatives this year.

Voting Issues...

Colorado's State Election Director Resigns: Holly Lowder Had Taken Up Residence With Contractor Who Provided Registration Roll Software to the 2008 Swing State
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6359

Virginia County Threatens Student Voters in Chilling Edict: The Republican War on Voting continues...
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6361

Abruptly Resigned Colorado Election Director Lived With Voting Vendor
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6360

84000 job lost during August. That's around 8 Army divisions. Now we can attack Iran. All we have to do is promise college careers, housing, travel overseas, Dental and Medical plan and 450.000 to the family members when the soldier died in active duty.

During the Crusades to Autremer, in order to stir up zeal because in those times were not "volunteers", slaves were promised freedom, criminals were offered pardon, sinners were granted absolution and the nobles were offered that all they can loot was theirs, no questions asked. Hmmm! Some things haven't changed in the last thousand years.

Update on CIA drug plane owned by “Donna Blue Aircraft, Inc”

Mark Frauenfelder
Boingboing
September 6, 2008

Here’s an update on the strange story of the Gulfstream II jet filled with 3.7 tons of cocaine that crashed in the Yucatan last year. The Mexico City newspaper El Universal reports that European Parliament was investigating the circumstances surrounding the plane, which had previously been used by the CIA for "extraordinary rendition" flights.

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/05/update-on-cia-drug-p.html

Confirmed: Mexico drug plane used for CIA ‘rendition’ flights

AFP
September 6, 2008

A private jet that crash-landed almost one year ago in eastern Mexico carrying 3.3 tons of cocaine had previously been used for CIA “rendition” flights, a newspaper report said here Thursday, citing documents from the United States and the European Parliament.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j6QonBKKMo2gw1e3ql-xUcQEZbVg

Love the General. And don't forget it's all show, that takeover of Freddie and Fannie even is admitted to be to keep kicking the can down the road until Jan. 21, 2009.
see http://cabdrollery.blogspot.com

Abraham Jackemoff @ 2:

Another Bush, another series of catastrophic bank failures followed by government bailout. Just where is all the money going? Would it be unAmerican to suggest it is leaving the country?

It's UnAmerican to not expose the crimes of those in charge of our country. Investigate. Ask Questions. Demand Answers.
Multi-national business men have taken over our country. They aren't loyal to us the people or the constitution. See Halliburton's headquarters in Dubai. Or the selling of our infrastructure. The Bill of Rights being denigrated. The Constitution ignored. Sad. We all have to start speaking up if we are to have a chance. All of us.

Right @ 16:

We're starting our Canadian Federal election and it'll be over in 5 weeks. Cost? 1 millionth of your election. We'll be over by Oct 14th, this year. Drop the writ, talk about issues (I loved it when the Republicans said your election was not about issues!) for 5 weeks and then vote. 5 weeks compared to your, what, 2 year, billion dollar affair? Yikes.

Dang, if only you didn't have Siberia's weather. Imagine living with actual moderates rather than our far-right moderates.

SadButTrue @ 18:

Is it fascism yet? I don't know, but as a rule I'd say that if you can actually smell the polish on the stormtrooper's boot, it's probably too close to your neck.

Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Yup. The criminalization of dissent is a fact. The evidence is laughably thin:

"Although claiming probable cause to believe that gunpowder, acids, and assembled incendiary devices would be found, no such items were seized by police. As a result, police sought to claim that the seizure of common household items such as glass bottles, charcoal lighter, nails, a rusty machete, and two hatchets, supported the allegations of the confidential informants."

Story from Information Clearinghouse

The Unruly Mob reacts at Les Enragés.org

In the meantime, three Nazi members with weapons that actually confessed to talking about assassinating Barack Obama still haven't been charged with attempted murder.

Austin Cline's piece over at Jesus' General is a briliant read! Thanks for that.

MsJoanne @ 8:

Did you see Rachel Maddow call John McCain a liar? If not, watch it! Good on her!!

How about Obama doing almost the same thing in Terre Haute, IN? Good on him, too!

And then Barbara Boxer calls him out. Dems finally getting their shit together!

And the funniest story du jour...you'll love this. Ever read the Republican Party Platform? Wayne did and his initial report was hysterical. If only the Republican's had any idea who they were quoting. Their stupidity would be laughable if it wasn't our country at stake!

I saw it and as usual, Rachel was spot on!

SadButTrue @ 18:

Is it fascism yet? ....

Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Yup. The criminalization of dissent is a fact. The evidence is laughably thin:

"Although claiming probable cause to believe that gunpowder, acids, and assembled incendiary devices would be found, no such items were seized by police. As a result, police sought to claim that the seizure of common household items such as glass bottles, charcoal lighter, nails, a rusty machete, and two hatchets, supported the allegations of the confidential informants."

Story from Information Clearinghouse

The Unruly Mob reacts at Les Enragés.org

At first swipe, this would be outrageous. But if you Google RNC-WC, I don't know if this is a group to run a litmus test on. Google it and check out the results.

I am much more appalled by independent journalists and phtogs being arrested and detained for much of the RNC. That most certainly is the worst of the abuses.

There's a post up at FDL on how the police targeted medics, too.

THAT is what I would be outraged over. A group calling themselves anarchists and, based on the Google search, I cannot get too excited over.

People's appetite for the truth is staggeringly weak. The CIA running drugs and election machine fraud should be front and center until the problems get resolved. Lou Dobbs should be commended for his tenacity on immigration issues, but we need someone with that same persistence on the other more disturbing issues as well.

Ron @ 25:

SadButTrue @ 18:

Is it fascism yet? I don't know, but as a rule I'd say that if you can actually smell the polish on the stormtrooper's boot, it's probably too close to your neck.

Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Yup. The criminalization of dissent is a fact. The evidence is laughably thin:

"Although claiming probable cause to believe that gunpowder, acids, and assembled incendiary devices would be found, no such items were seized by police. As a result, police sought to claim that the seizure of common household items such as glass bottles, charcoal lighter, nails, a rusty machete, and two hatchets, supported the allegations of the confidential informants."

Story from Information Clearinghouse

The Unruly Mob reacts at Les Enragés.org

In the meantime, three Nazi members with weapons that actually confessed to talking about assassinating Barack Obama still haven't been charged with attempted murder.

Great point.

O.K, I am an old woman, worrying is not good for me, so here is how I see it: This country is in deep shit but it can be fixed. McCain is going to implode thanks to Palin. Barack has way more money than McCain and way more people to work hard for him. If we do what it takes we cannot fail. Not all Americans are stupid, we have to make the smart once understand what is at stake.

Wow, I feel so good now I think I will go and address the race issue with my Georgia neighbors.

Bitter Bud Hussein @ 36:

Looks like Palin's first interview will be with Charlie Gibson.

Why am I not surprised?

Charlie Gibson eh ..... I wonder if she will have an ear piece to help her out with those tough questions..

JimboSlice @ 39:

Bitter Bud Hussein @ 36:

Looks like Palin's first interview will be with Charlie Gibson.

Why am I not surprised?

Charlie Gibson eh ..... I wonder if she will have an ear piece to help her out with those tough questions..

The odds are stacked against us. The fight is still worth fighting.

Site Monitor: This is election time. Please let my voice be heard. I will be careful in my comments. I realize that it hurts your site. I apologize for the inconvenience caused. EZ

[I will, but no funny business. We welcome opposing views on this site, it enlivens the discourse and that's the purpose of this blog's comment section, but remember you are a guest here. A Guest. Treat the other posters here as you would want to be treated. Act as if you were company here. Your comments will still be reviewed before they go to the board. If you want to revert to your old ways, you need to start your own blog-Sitemonitor]

MsJoanne @ 8:
<blockquote
How about Obama in Terre Haute, IN? Good on him, too!
..

Caught it !!
Anybody missed it .. gotta see it!
Obama hits back .. oh so deftly ..

YouTube: Obama inTerre Haute, IN slams McCain/Palin

Producer and writer of The Wire on the escalating breakdown of urban society across the US and why the War on Drugs is a mistake
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/06/wire

PALIN... and banning library books:

http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2008/09/05/breaking_news/doc48c1c8a...

The link, above, is an interesting window into the heart and soul of Sarah Palin. It's a newspaper article from the local Wasilla, Alaska, FRONTIERSMAN, on the controversy that arose between their new mayor and the local librarian. If you read the commentaries after the story, it seems this MAY have arisen as a result of the big Christain dust-up over Harry Potter books... and the damage they were doing to young christain minds... but THAT is only speculation.

WIDEPART @ 45:

You are correct. Harper's is going to get his handed to him I hope. But compared to our American friends this must seem BORING. Maybe that's why we have the reputation of being boring. But I like our system better; only five weeks of lies and name calling. OH HUMM

Right @ 16:

We're starting our Canadian Federal election and it'll be over in 5 weeks. Cost? 1 millionth of your election. We'll be over by Oct 14th, this year. Drop the writ, talk about issues (I loved it when the Republicans said your election was not about issues!) for 5 weeks and then vote. 5 weeks compared to your, what, 2 year, billion dollar affair? Yikes.

True, but our politicians use condensed lies to shorten the election and in any event the government is run through the PMO and Member's of Parliament have very little influence on public affairs. The upper house, the Senate , consists entirely of appointed troughers as does the Supreme Court. It's very easy to have a short quick election when it means virtually nothing.

Consider this:

George Bush - BEFORE he became pResident - had MORE executive experience than McCain, Palin, Obama & Biden COMBINED.

And see what it got us.

JUDGEMENT is the issue.

dadams @ 26:

i feel the true citizens of the United States should
file a suit against john mccain not being a natural
born citizen, since he was born out of the country
albeit it was a u s military base.

Bush and Cheney really are ineligible, though. They both live in Texas, so one of them is illegal. It is OK if you are a Republican

john mccain....I'd rather win an election than be concerned
about good judgement and national security so my pick is the freshman governor of alaska......sarah palin. she's NOT
ready to be commander in chief but will take that RISK and
give her on the job training.

This is some potentially damaging coverage of one of Palin's possible ethics violations as governor I haven't seen at C&L. The video link is to an ABC News story.

Rather than Vetting Palin, McCain Will Orchestrate a Cover-Up of Her Abuse of Power

Devastating ABC Investigative Report on Troopergate

interesting....a simplistic view.....

deregulate mortgage/lending....create subprime strategy
loan deliquencies....foreclosure...less property taxes collected/house auctions/devalued neighborhoods....increased rental property costs
/more difficult to get a loan....banks losing investment/hedge funds closing.....NOW bailouts

Republican battle cry bad terrible government we need out of our lives....that's the talk but NOT the walk....this is the problem...it's NOT big risk big reward....it's just reward.

Ron @ 30:

surfjac @ 29:

MsJoanne @ 8:

Did you see Rachel Maddow call John McCain a liar? If not, watch it! Good on her!!

How about Obama doing almost the same thing in Terre Haute, IN? Good on him, too!

And then Barbara Boxer calls him out. Dems finally getting their shit together!

And the funniest story du jour...you'll love this. Ever read the Republican Party Platform? Wayne did and his initial report was hysterical. If only the Republican's had any idea who they were quoting. Their stupidity would be laughable if it wasn't our country at stake!

I saw it and as usual, Rachel was spot on!

Can't wait for her new program.

Speaking of new programs, we tuned in to NBC last night at 11:30 pm hoping to see a new Saturday Night Live with Tina Fey doing a guest appearance as Sarah Palin, but they were doing a re-run!!!

We need Saturday Night Live now more than ever! It's shocking (and sadly pathetic) how many people get clued in from that show!

Anyone know if they'll be doing a new season before the election??

Ron @ 25:

SadButTrue @ 18:

Is it fascism yet? I don't know, but as a rule I'd say that if you can actually smell the polish on the stormtrooper's boot, it's probably too close to your neck.

Ramsey County Prosecutors have formally charged 8 alleged leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee with Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism. Yup. The criminalization of dissent is a fact. The evidence is laughably thin:

"Although claiming probable cause to believe that gunpowder, acids, and assembled incendiary devices would be found, no such items were seized by police. As a result, police sought to claim that the seizure of common household items such as glass bottles, charcoal lighter, nails, a rusty machete, and two hatchets, supported the allegations of the confidential informants."

Story from Information Clearinghouse

The Unruly Mob reacts at Les Enragés.org

In the meantime, three Nazi members with weapons that actually confessed to talking about assassinating Barack Obama still haven't been charged with attempted murder.

The asymmetrical application of 'justice' has been an operational constant from Day 1 of the Bush Crime Spree. Many people date this from the Nov. 12, 2001 speech where Dubya declared, 'If you're not with us you're with the terrorists.' I personally think that it dates from Bush v. Gore. The Republican-appointed faction of SCOTUS determined that allowing a recount would do 'irreparable harm' to litigant Bush. The harm that litigant Gore and the country could suffer by NOT having a recount was not considered. See what I mean by asymmetrical?

Long story short: if you're 'with us' you're off the hook no matter how egregious the crime or how overwhelming the evidence. If you're not 'with us', presumably you're with the terrorists at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, or in a shallow unmarked grave in some undisclosed Eastern European country.

Does anybody really listen to what they are saying?
These are not quotes from some guy next door wearing a tin foil hat, or some guy barely able to sit up at the bar. These are our LEADERS. Our PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS and POLICY (and TONS of MONEY). This is just a bare minimum of the quotes, culled to the MAX. There is far too many to show, that it "is" real.

"The Trilateral Commission is intended to be the vehicle for multinational consolidation of the commercial and banking interests by seizing control of the political government of the United States. The Trilateral Commission represents a skillful, coordinated effort to seize control and consolidate the four centers of power political, monetary, intellectual and ecclesiastical. What the Trilateral Commission intends is to create a worldwide economic power superior to the political governments of the nationstates involved. As managers and creators of the system, they will rule the future."
-U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater in his l964 book: "With No Apologies".

"The United States must stay involved in the world and we must lead. Today there is a strange coalition at work in Washington and across the country consisting of people on the political right and the political left coming together to keep us from staying involved.
Big labor and liberal Democrats are joining some Republicans on the right in calling for America to come home, (saying) we have done our part and that it's time for others to do the heavy lifting on international leadership.
And we must not listen to that siren's call of protection and isolation. "
Former President George Bush
Addressing Duke University Graduates May 17, 1998
USA Today May 29, 1998

"Our job is to give people not what they want, but what we decide they ought to have."
Richard Salent, former president, CBS News

"We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some things the general public does not need to know and shouldn't. I believe democracy flourishes when the government can take legitimate steps to keep its secrets, and when the press can decide whether to print what it knows."
Katherine Graham, Washington Post publisher and CFR member.

"There is no such thing as an independent press in America, unless it is in the country towns. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print.
"I am paid $150.00 a week for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for doing similar things. If I should permit honest opinions to be printed in one issue of my paper, like Othello, before twenty-four hours, my occupation would be gone.
"The business of the New York journalist is to destroy truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon; to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. We are the tools and vessels for rich men behind the scenes. We are intellectual prostitutes."
John Swinton, editor of the New York Tribune.

"We are going to impose our agenda on the coverage by dealing with issues and subjects that we choose to deal with."
Richard M. Cohen, Senior Producer of CBS political news.

"We live in a dirty and dangerous world. There are some things the general public does not need to know and shouldn't. I believe democracy flourishes when the government can take legitimate steps to keep its secrets, and when the press can decide whether to print what it knows."
-- Katherine Graham, Washington Post publisher and Bilderberger

"We in the press like to say we're honest brokers of information and it's just not true. The press does have an agenda."
Bernard Goldberg, as quoted by Harry Stein in the June 13-19, 1992 TV Guide.

"We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries."
David Rockefeller, Baden-Baden, Germany 1991

"Let me control a peoples currency and I care not who makes their laws."
Meyer Nathaniel Rothschild in a speech to a gathering of world bankers February 12, 1912. The following year, the USA subscribed to the 'services' of the newly incorporated Federal Reserve, headed by Mr. Rothschild.

"In the next century, nations as we know it will be obsolete; all states will recognize a single, global authority. National sovereignty wasn't such a great idea after all."
Strobe Talbot, President Clinton's Deputy Secretary of State, as quoted in Time, July 20th, l992.

"You know the one thing that is wrong in this country? Everyone gets a chance to have their fair say."
President Bill Clinton

"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, IT IS THE LEADERS of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is TELL THEM THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. IT WORKS THE SAME IN ANY COUNTRY."
Hermann Goering, President of the Reichstag, Nazi Party, and Luftwaffe Commander in Chief

"Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government."
Dr. Henry Kissinger, Bilderberger Conference, Evians, France, 1991

jerrysmith @ 70:

While C&L knocks down the myth of a "maverick", the so called progressive rawstory.com has headlines telling you Mccain takes on Bush, GOP, and Obama. I just want people to realize like Lieberman this site wants it both ways and it's disgusting.

In which Raw Story post are you referring? I don't see it.

"McCain criticizes GOP, Bush and Obama, too"

In big, bold letters right on the home page. That's just today's example, this type of thing is far too common on that site and it's why I don't waste my time there anymore. It's too frustrating.

jerrysmith @ 73:

"McCain criticizes GOP, Bush and Obama, too"

In big, bold letters right on the home page. That's just today's example, this type of thing is far too common on that site and it's why I don't waste my time there anymore. It's too frustrating.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_targets_GOP_and_Bush_along_0907.html

ellen @ 76:

For me, a VERY important story that I'm not hearing enough about, is the crackdown by police in MN. My understanding is that there were peaceful protests and assemblies that were terrorized by police, activists peacably organizing that were invaded and terrorized by police, journalists and medics that were terrorized by police.

These are not anarchist groups, the word "anarchists" has been used by the MSN to give a free pass to police activity so commenters should be careful about passing that along. The protestors / activists are being held on charges of conspiring to enable terrorism - did you see that? The passage of the bill allowing domestic wiretapping in the service of "homeland security" has come into play here I believe - many citizens did not want to believe this would occur, but it has, and quickly.

Countries that restrict, intimidate, and terrorize their journalists and citizens assembling peacably to witness or express discontent are not democracies. What is happening to our country? A Pitbull in lipstick indeed. I don't know how to bring more attention to this issue myself, but am curious and disappointed that I don''t see it highlighted prominently in the headlines of crooks and liars, huffington post, etc. (firedoglake is on it) So - Why not? Isn't this really really really important? Obama let me down when he voted for FISA, will he say anything now?

What can a regular person do to take action and raise awareness about this?

Here.

MsJoanne @ 68:

Putting all of the pieces of the abuse at the RNC together...In a most disturbing twist of events, it has been reported that not only were journalists and news photographers detained and/or arrested, and preemptive arrests were performed, but it is now being reported that the brutality of the St. Paul police, under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security, was extended to medics on the scene, as well as local residents.

Watch as a young protester describes his own torture at the hands of the police, a telling which is too reminiscent of the handling of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Watch the video. Then read the stories of medics and residents who were abused.

This is the most appalling event, and if it is allowed to continue, we will all be living in a police state, with no ability to carry out our First Amendment rights in speaking out against our government.

This is the government brought to us by the Republicans?

Watch and read this and then take action! This is APPALLING!!

As to the corporate media...don't hold your breath.

This is in my local paper today:

In America, through pressure of conformity, there is freedom of choice, but nothing to choose from? Peter Ustinov (1932-2004).

Sounds like your two-party system, amongst other things.

dennis @ 64:

Just curious, lil' d: how do you reconcile your flamebaiting with your contention that you're not a troll?