Daily Topics - Friday September 24th, 2010
By shawnt56
Quote of the Day: We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims. -- R. Buckminster Fuller
"Anything Goes on Townhall Friday!"
Hour One: "Brunch With Bernie" - Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spends the hour with Thom discussing the issues and answering listener questions www.sanders.senate.gov
Hour Two: Full Disclosure...when it comes to campaign finance, can what you don't know hurt you? Thom talks with Minnesota State Representative Ryan Winkler http://ryanwinkler.org; Plus, How do we get America's youth engaged? NAACP Youth Co-ordinator Carmen Berkley will be here www.onenationworkingtogether.org
Hour Three: Exposing the Koch Family backed voter caging plot - Scot Ross, Executive Director of One Wisconsin Now, will be here www.onewisconsinnow.org; Plus, How can the green economy create jobs? Thom talks with Phaedra Ellis-Lampkin, President of Green for All www.greenforall.org
Comments
#2
Where is that "Increase in Defense Spending" that Republicans promise in their pledge going?
Unfortunately, I KNOW, where at LEAST hundreds of billions of dollars in "increased defense budget spending", (Pledge to America), is going. Myself & thousands of Chamorru also found out, on Wednesday, in fact.
Early yesterday morning, about 2AM, my phone rang. It was just 4PM on the beautiful Island of Guam. You may remember that my Son has been an activist for the past 3 years, helping the Chamorru people, (who had "adopted" him into their "tribe"), the indigenous people of the Marianna Islands, to fight the US Govt who had proposed a massive US Military buildup.
5 months ago, the Chamorru were told that the entire matter had been shelved indefinitely, possibly permanently. They celebrated with Island-wide Bar-B-Q's, party's, dancing.
Perhaps they should have expected something when the military decided to move ahead with plans for a giant firing & small missile range--directly over the site of an ancient village and burial ground. Maybe the building tension between China and Japan should have alerted them that something *could* happen.
BUT,Island life is slow, easy, and word travels slowly. And of course their "non-voting" Senator & Representatives hadn't said anything. It had never even come to a final vote in Committees,...as far as they knew. (by the way-they DO pay taxes, fairly high ones, but they don't have a single VOTING representative in our Congress or Senate.)
At about 3PM Guam time, my son saw a line of black SUV's traveling past his small, 98% Asian Islander, University. (UOG) The last time he saw this was about 7 months ago. When "Sensitive" KBR employees, AKA "Support personnel", were serving Chamorru families and businesses "imminent domain" papers. He called his long-time fiancé, a Chamorru. He hadn't been that active in the organization lately, except for a few events, because of school & two jobs. Angela was crying when she answered the phone, they had just been served.
The Activists & most residents didn't even KNOW that everything had changed until late yesterday.
They didn't see this coming. THOUSANDS of Chamorru will be displaced, more homes & land STOLEN by "imminent domain", businesses & land closed. They estimate approximately 79,000 troops and their families, 40,000 "support personnel", (those wonderful companies called Halliburton & KBR are being used INSTEAD of the local population which has over 30% UNEMPLOYMENT!!!). While they ARE planning more protests, these poor indigenous island people, know all to well that when the US Military wants your land-THEY TAKE IT!!! I would HOPE that most Truthseekers would be sensitive to this ABSOLUTE violation of Human & Civil Rights by the US Military!! We need AS MANY people as we can to help get the word out!! I can guarantee you 98% of the US won't even KNOW what this Country is about to do to these poor people!!!! As if our Military hasn't done enough to these poor people. (they are STILL fighting for the promised reparations for their land, businesses & radiation sickness/death from *60 YEARS AGO!!!The Conservative news site, Guam PDN, Pacific Daily News, has VERY little on the theft of the Chamorru's hard earned businesses and land-instead, their headlines were about Guam having a high number of mistakes made in issuing FOOD STAMPS to the MANY unemployed. KUAM.com a local TV &Radio station has a bit more & is "Community oriented" -but understand that since the Environmental Impact Study came back last year, that this build-up could mean destroying this Island permanently, (the Coral Reef that protects the island from tidal waves, tames the typhoons, and geologically stabilizes the island is set to be dredged out for "Naval Aircraft Carrier Access"".). Local media tied to big business, won't tell the people any more than THEY feel they need to know.But THAT'S OK, they promise to be "sensitive".
Here's links for the facebook page and the ROD (DOD's record of decision-actually was released on Tues, sorry-it takes awhile for news to travel), that announced this.
We Are Guahan Forum-MUCH info, up to date, unlike the website, we're going to try & fix the site tonight weareguahan.com (Guahan is the REAL, Chamorru name for Guam)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=201035718843&ref=
Many of the photos in this group are of the breath-taking area they want to demolish for their "firing & missile range"
CommonDreams article on it:http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/09/22-2
The record of decision from the DOD:
http://www.guambuildupeis.us/documents/record_of_decision/Guam_Record_Of_Decision_FINAL.pdf
Elaine/SoloPocono Who is also in tears
#3
Thom Hartmann
The Loveboat with Louise and Higgins
Portland Oregon
September 24, 2010
Dear Thom,
The suspense is building with regard to your move to D.C. Will you win and carry Higgins on the plane or will Louise win with her good etiquette sense of putting Higgins in the storage area of the plane? Or, will Stephanie Miller intervene with information on the pet airport? Thom speaks fondly of his “cat.” From Thom’s description of Higgins I am led to believe that his cat is actually a “dwarfed Bengal tiger.”
Thom’s move to D.C. makes sense because he wants to be in the belly or near the belly of the beast. Personally, we have relatives in Maryland and I would not want to live in the D.C. area. The place is more like a zoo than habitation for human beings.
Sincerely, Gerald
Here are some recent articles worth reading.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Collapse-of-Western-Mo-by-paul-craig-roberts-100923-975.html
http://www.opednews.com/Poll/How-About-Bill-Clinton-Wa-by-Rob-Kall-100923-104.html
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Take-this-Pledge-and-Shove-by-Kevin-Gosztola-100923-539.html
#4
Paul Craig Roberts last paragraph of his recent article.
Americans will be the first people sent straight to Hell while thinking that they are the salt of the earth. The Americans have even devised a title for themselves to rival that of the Israelis' self-designation as "God's Chosen People." The Americans call themselves"the indispensable people."
#5
One Nation Working Together --
Put down cynicism and despair -- this will take not just one election -- it will take many. We can't undo 30 years of damage in 18 months. There is much to be done.... Let's get busy! This is the opportunity we have been waiting for to take a peaceful stand against the theft of our jobs and our economic stability, against the use of hatred and suspicion to divide us, against environmental destruction and consumer fraud, against greed -- and FOR cooperation and the creative use of our energy..............................................
If you can't be in DC -- go to: www.onenationworkingtogether.org and find a local event. For us West Coast folks: Rally in LA and another in Seattle:
Seattle One Nation Rally!
"One Nation Working Together Rally -Seattle" (One Nation Events)
We Are
ONE NATION
WORKING TOGETHER
SEATTLE RALLY
Join us as we support the national call for Jobs, Justice & Education,
demanding the Change we voted for as a part of the national march
and rally taking place in Washington D.C. at the Nation’s Capitol.
On October 2nd (10-2-10)
From 10:00 A.M. To 1:00 P.M.
Downtown at 2nd Ave.
Henry M. Jackson Federal Bldg. (JFB)
915 2nd Avenue, Seattle Washington
Putting America Back To Work;
Pulling America Back Together
Information: Call (206) 854-3684 or Visit www.naacpaowsac.org
#6
VOTE!!!
Tell those voters to wake up -- this is going to take working for this
election and countless more --- Change does not happen overnight. We
can't undo 30 year of the Corporate Rule by the Bush Dynasty and
Reagan in 18 months! This is going to take time!!
Every branch of government and our agencies have been filled with
corporate insiders -- we get a poisoned Gulf and so much more. The
Supreme Court and other courts serve the Corp interest. Regulations
designed to protect our families have been frayed and tattered. This
is going to take time!!
Our infrastructure has been deliberately allowed to decay in order to
make the case for privatization (our police and fire departments are
next). Private spies working for Corporations are spying on all of us
( See how Blackwater is in the business of spying on politically
active Americans: http://www.alternet.org/story/148202/ ). This is
going to take time!!
The Rove/Cheney/Carlyle cabal grew our government into a hidden
labyrinth so big that even Robert Gates admits he does not know how
many private spy "contractors" are getting checks of our money to spy
-- on us! ( www.topsecretamerica.com - Washington Post.) This going
to take time!!
We have some sort of weird theocratic war-mongering cult secretly running things under the banner of "Family" friendly language meanwhile -- our real famlies fall apart under the strain.... This is going to take time!!
Our real families have been cheated out of their homes by an unregulated
financial system. Our small towns have collapsed under the strain of
the Big Boxes. Factory" Farms", places of torture that breed illness
and nightmares and pollution have replaced the family farms -- this is
going to take time!!
... and it will take work. Real work. But what more important work could there be?
And what happens if we do not do it? What nightmares await us -- our
animals -- our forests -- our fish -- our water -- our breathable air
-- our human communities? We see a green and a beautiful future is
possible -- but not if we fail to undo this damage now. There is no
later.
Every citizen must care... care about more than "what's for dinner?"
-- or what's for dinner will be poison. Care about more than "what's
on TV?" -- or what's on TV will all be lies.
This is real life. It matters.
Vote.
#7
@DRichards, its true that the Democratic party has set itself up for a shellacking in Nov, and they do deserve it, however, do we the people deserve it? That's the problem with this whole, "they're nothing but bums" attitude. Throwing them out is equivalent of jumping from the frying pan, right into the fire.
N
#8
I find your recent ad hominem attacks on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad childish, intellectually dishonest and helpful only to the Pentagon/Neo-Con/Zionist cabal that has destroyed our economy, killed Iraq/Afghanistan and created a growing surveillance police state at home. His comments before the UN have great merit and deserve serious consideration. Not a week goes by without some new threat of totally unjustified military action against Iran either from Israel, the Pentagon or the State Department and you say nothing. Furthermore, it is entirely reasonable, based on the evidence, to believe that the 9/11 attacks were engineered and executed by elements of the US government, military and domestic and possibly foreign intelligence agencies. One thing is certain : The official government 9/11 conspiracy theory is a total fabrication. Your unwillingness to face this reality head on and really debate the issue and discuss the ramifications is just a cowardly flight to MOR "safety".
You not alone. All the so called "progressive" talkers have done the same to the great detriment of our nation.
Your program is devolving into formulaic and repetitive self promotion and is becoming increasingly irrelevant. I suspect your move to the new "ROME", Washington DC will only accelerate this trend.
#9
Republicans have foolproof plan to end all pollution from manufacturing in the US. They plan to outsource all manufacturing out of the United States.
#10
Why is the United States of Hell such a great nation? The United States of Numb Nuts is able to plan ahead!
http://www.amconmag.com/blog/our-next-wars-yemen-and-somalia/
#11
After empire the United States of Mortal Sin heads directly to hell.
#12
IT'S OFFICIAL!!! The United States of Satan's Disciples IS A POLICE STATE.
http://original.antiwar.com/roberts/2010/09/24/it-is-official-the-us-is-a-police-state/
#13
The United States of Where Shit Rises to the Top is a nation of morons.
#14
Carnegie Report
No one should be surprised that Barbara Tuchman’s daughter, Carnegie Foundation President Jessica Tuchman Mathews, has been inoculated against "cognitive dissonance." A January 2009 Carnegie report on Afghanistan concluded:
"The only meaningful way to halt the insurgency’s momentum is to start withdrawing troops. The presence of foreign troops is the most important element driving the resurgence of the Taliban."
Obama is smart enough to know that, but he lacks the courage of his convictions. Teaching law or speed-reading a teleprompter does not a president make.
Eight hundred years ago, Thomas Aquinas observed that courage is the precondition of all virtue. In other words, you can be smart as all get-out, but you cannot be a real leader if you have no guts.
Sure it’s hard; and no one is going to make it any easier for Obama to avoid caving in to the military once again. Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak complained to the BBC on Monday that NATO has neither provided enough troops, nor trained Afghan forces quickly enough.
Adding salt to NATO/U.S. wounds, Wardak said, "We have never had enough forces that were required by the principles of counterinsurgency warfare."
To reach those multiples would require a major escalation, which privately is what many generals anticipate. And remember, it was Gen. Petraeus, who "wrote" the update to the counterinsurgency manual.
Yet, wooden-headedness prevails. On Thursday, Adm. Mullen attempted to reassure the press about Afghanistan, stating that although "this is a very, very difficult year, we’ve got the inputs right" and "we’re starting to move forward."
For his part, Defense Secretary Gates expressed full confidence in the current approach and predicted only "some adjustments and tweaks" during a planned December war review "to try and enhance what’s going on."
God help us!
#15
Obama lacks the courage to be a great leader. He is weak and gutless.
#16
This article proves that Obama will be a one term president!!!!!
#17
With Obama as president Americans will continue to face endless BOHICA Days.
#18
#19
Both Ralph and Brent offer working and middle class Americans a new look come January 1, 2011. Happier days return to the party with toxicity in their brain.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/What-would-explain-a-Repub-by-Ralph-Nader-100924-42.html
#20
The Republicans and their voters have bodies filled with toxicity.
#21
Do not let the military stab Americans in the back!!! Kennedy wanted an exit strategy from Vietnam in 1962 with 1,000 soldiers.The military refused to give him one until 1963. By time it was too late he was dead. Now the military is stabbing Obama in the back!!!!! We lost in Vietnam and we will lose in the Middle East. GOD DOES WORK IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS. THE UNITED STATES OF MORTAL SIN IS A DAMNED NATION. America will continue to wallow in the abyss of hell for her many mortal sins.
#22
Republicans say to Americans, "Screw you!"
#23
For a better world!
http://www.wateraid.org/international/about_us/newsroom/8707.asp
#24
#25
I have ripped on Obama but he is the person who needs a Congress with Democrats supporting the American people. Why do we have to be a nation that has to choose the lesser of two evils???
#26
The certainty of our manifest destiny is here. It is all over but the wailing at the wall.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Dismantling-of-Civiliz-by-David-Michael-Gree-100924-878.html
#27
Here is a paragraph from Mr. Green's article.
I remain haunted to this day by the words of John le Carré, written on the eve of the Bush invasion of Iraq: "America has entered one of its periods of historical madness, but this is the worst I can remember: worse than McCarthyism, worse than the Bay of Pigs and in the long term potentially more disastrous than the Vietnam War".
#28
I face my remaining days - unable to wipe away the tears from my eyes.
#29
Gerald’s comments are coming to you from his hideaway bunker deep inside enemy territory. He is a man without a country.
Dear Thom Hartmann Commentators,
I face my remaining days – unable to wipe away the tears from my eyes.
Americans must overcome their state of denial and begin to realize that our nation is evil, vile, and wicked. The soul of America and the souls of her citizens are damned because America and her citizens have turned their backs on God.
I see the collapse of America through her decline in morality.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Collapse-of-Western-Mo-by-paul-craig-roberts-100923-975.html
It’s official. The United States is a police state.
http://original.antiwar.com/roberts/2010/09/24/it-is-official-the-us-is-a-police-state/
The GOP’s contract with America means the enslavement of her citizens.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-GOP-s-real-Contract-Wi-by-Brent-Budowsky-100924-876.html
A GOP victory in November would be a disaster for average and working Americans.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/What-would-explain-a-Repub-by-Ralph-Nader-100924-42.html
The GOP pledges to rob the middle class.
We are witnessing the dismantling of the American Civilization.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Dismantling-of-Civiliz-by-David-Michael-Gree-100924-878.html
The United States plans to be at war for one hundred years. For the rich persons and for rich American corporations endless wars are good for business and for profits. Wars are embedded into the American psyche.
http://www.bangordailynews.com/story/Opinion/Our-Endless-War,154373
I doubt if the grief that is within me for my country will ever go away. I will go to my death a sad person who left this life broken in spirit. In the end may I have a merciful God as my judge!
#30
With the GOP primed to takeover the House in 2011 here is what we will receive for voting the conservative crazies back into office.
#31
Obama holds a Nobel Peace Prize. Here is the work of our peaceful president.
#32
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.
It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.
How vile and despicable war seems to me! I would rather be hacked to pieces than take part in such an abominable business.
The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.
Nothing will end war unless the people themselves refuse to go to war.
Force always attracts men of low morality.
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.
#33
Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.
#34
If only our politicians could absorb information this quickly!!!
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/27/the-mom-song.aspx
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
Images of Thom
Thom & Louise at a "private audience" with His Holiness Pope John Paul II at his summer palace, Castle Gandolfo, Italy
From Screwed:
"If we are going to live in a Democracy, we need to have a healthy middle class. Thom Hartmann shows us how the ‘cons’ have wronged this country, and tells us what needs to be done to reclaim what it is to be American."
From Screwed:
"Hartmann speaks with the straight talking clarity and brilliance of a modern day Tom Paine as he exposes the intentional and systematic destruction of America’s middle class by an alliance of political con artists and outlines a program to restore it. This is Hartmann at his best. Essential reading for those interested in restoring the institution that made America the envy of the world."
From Unequal Protection, 2nd Edition:
"Beneath the success and rise of American enterprise is an untold history that is antithetical to every value Americans hold dear. This is a seminal work, a godsend really, a clear message to every citizen about the need to reform our country, laws, and companies."
The Democrats set themselves up for a shellacking in November, and that's what they deserve.
The only hope for America is a grim one: For the next two to six years, we're going to watch the Republicans destroy the village, and then see if we can save it.
How do pseudo public servants like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid even live with themselves?
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/