pianogonzology: candidate

Showing posts with label candidate. Show all posts

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Analyze . . .

. . . schmanalyze!

My advice (as if you asked and as if you would really want it) regarding our "newspeople's" analyses of presidential candidate debates is, quite simply, ignore it. Television debates are not about issues, they're about personalities; personalities of both the candidates and the 'broadcasters'. They are choreographed spectacles.

In choosing your candidate for president, think about how you want to be treated. Think about how you think we should treat our fellow earthlings. Then think about how you believe your candidate views both of those prospects. Then, read the fact check websites and read the writings of the candidates themselves. (The one possible exception to this rule is Donald Trump, as I'm not really sure he can write.)

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Dear . . .

. . . NPR,
In the interest of TRUE objectivity, I would suggest a correction be made regarding a comment made on your show. The male moderator, interviewing a political correspondent on Friday, September 11, 2015 said something to the effect that, 'Hillary Clinton may have a rival for the Democratic Presidential nomination in Joe Biden' implying that there are NO other Democratic candidates. Last time I checked, there were a few; Martin O'Malley and Bernie Sanders are two.. Please do not allow your on-air talent to decide any elections for the American people in advance. This flies in the face of one of the principles NPR is supposed to champion - OBJECTIVITY.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Morality . . .

(from http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/bernie-sanders-asks-if-american-economy-moral-n364541 on Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders)
". . . "Ninety-nine percent of all new income generated today goes to the top 1 percent. The top one-tenth of 1 percent owns as much wealth as the bottom 90 percent. Does anybody think this is the kind of economy we should have. Do we think it's moral?" . . . "These people are so greedy, they're so out of touch with reality," he said. "They think they own the world. ... I'm sorry to have to tell them, they live in the United States, they benefit from the United States, we have kids who are hungry in this country. We have people who are working two, three, four jobs, who can't send their kids to college. . ."

Monday, June 1, 2015

Long Shot . . .

. . . maybe

. . . but not impossible. . .

(from Michael Phelan, Social Security Works)
". . . And now, with Sen. Bernie Sanders formally announcing his run for President, we have our first declared candidate who is in favor of expanding Social Security. That means we have the support of 1 out of 2 Democratic candidates so far—let's change that. We have been working together to keep the numbers in Congress going up—we need to keep the same pressure on every candidate that wants to be our President. We need to make sure that expanding Social Security is a core Democratic plank—and that those who would cut benefits and services are the ones on the fringe. . . Senator Sanders joins Hillary Clinton as an official candidate. So far Clinton has not taken a public position on expansion. But with 79% of likely voters (including Democrats, Republicans and Independents) in favor of expanding Social Security, the choice is obvious: We need to expand our Social Security system! . . ."

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Choices . . .

. . . abound

(from http://www.politics1.com/p2016.htm)
DEMOCRATIC PARTY:
Vice President Joe Biden (Delaware)
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (New York)
Former Governor Martin O'Malley (Maryland)
US Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont)
Former US Senator Jim Webb (Virginia)
Edie Atkinson-Bukewihge (California)
Morrison Bonpasse (Maine)
Jeff Boss (New Jersey)
Philip Bralich (California)
President Emperor Caesar (Florida)
Andy Caffrey (California)
Willie Carter (Texas)
Brittany Clark (California)
Richard Coleman (Florida)
Kristi Dutton (Arizona)
Ronald Emrit (Nevada)
Christin Noel Griskie (Florida)
Charles Hodge (California)
Larry E. Johnson (Colorado)
Glenn Kaminsky (California)
Jonathan Lavigne (West Virginia)
James "Titus The Great" Law ( California)
Ryan Lipner (Florida)
Lee Mercer Jr. (Tennessee)
Patrick McKart (Florida)
Daniel "Tool" Michaels (Florida)
Loretta "Leah Lax" Miller (Pennsylvania)
Rome Murphy II (New Jersey)
James Ogle III (California)
Daniel Owens (Oregon)
Harry Pavilack (South Carolina)
Mary Aku Quartey (Maryland)
Lee Rhodes (New York)
Doug Schreffler (California)
Angelo Scrigna (Hawaii)
Nicholas Sopkovich (California)
Michael Steinberg (Florida)
Robby Wells (North Carolina)
Elaine Williams (Florida)
Jeffrey Windett (West Virginia)
Thomas Winterbottom (Pennsylvania)
John Worldpeace (New Mexico)

REPUBLICAN PARTY:
Former UN Ambassador John Bolton (Maryland)
Former Governor Jeb Bush (Florida)
Dr. Ben Carson (Florida)
Governor Chris Christie (New Jersey)
US Senator Ted Cruz (Texas)
Campaign Site: TedCruz.org
Former Governor Bob Ehrlich (Maryland)
Former IRS Commissioner Mark Everson (Mississippi)
Businesswoman Carly Fiorina (Virginia)
Former Governor Jim Gilmore (Virginia)
US Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (Florida)
Governor Bobby Jindal (Louisiana)
Governor John Kasich (Ohio)
Congressman Pete King (New York)
Former Governor Sarah Palin (Alaska)
Former Governor George Pataki (New York)
US Senator Rand Paul (Kentucky)
Governor Mike Pence (Indiana)
Former Governor Rick Perry (Texas)
US Senator Marco Rubio (Florida)
Former US Senator Rick Santorum (Pennsylvania)
Governor Rick Snyder (Michigan)
Governor Scott Walker (Wisconsin)
Pogo Mochello Allen-Reese (Texas)
John Anderson Jr. (California)
Skip Andrews (Kansas)
George Bailey Jr. (Mississippi)
Virgil Bierschwale (Texas)
Kerry Bowers (Nevada)
Dominique Brown (Pennsylvania)
George Brucato (Nevada)
Francis Castleberry (Florida)
Dale Christensen (Missouri)
Brian Ari Cole (Pennsylvania)
Scott Cole (North Carolina)
Ezekiel George Crotzer (Michigan)
Tim Day (Texas)
Paul DeBow (Louisiana)
Mike Diggs (Arkansas)
Kenneth Donaldson (Texas)
Patrick Drake (Georgia)
Wanda Duckwald (Oklahoma)
Ronald Duke (Alabama)
John Dummett Jr. (California)
Stuart Farber (Florida)
Jack Fellure (West Virginia)
Bruce Gidner (Michigan)
Jim Hayden (Tennessee)
Chris Hill (Kentucky)
Eugene Hunt Jr. (Michigan)
Justin Hyde (California)
Kins Jeroboan (New York)
Roger Jewell (Arizona)
D. Royce Jones (Texas)
Tyrone Julius (District of Columbia)
Brenda Justice (New York)
Tim Kalemkarian (California)
Marc Keller (Oregon)
Michael Kinlaw (Colorado)
John Lee (Texas)
Jerry Leonard (North Carolina)
Renee Loetscher (Florida)
Bartholomew James Lower (Michigan)
Dennis Michael Lynch (New York)
Joan Malone (District of Columbia)
Barbara Mae Markovich (Montana)
Mike Martisko (Pennsylvania)
Mickey Meade (California)
Raymond Miller (Idaho)
Tiffani Mims (Texas)
James Mitchell Jr. (Illinois)
Scot Olewine (Puerto Rico)
Richard Peter (Texas)
Michael Petyo (Indiana)
Deshon Porter (Illinois)
Jim Rundberg (Colorado)
Brian Russell (Florida)
Ole Savior (Minnesota)
Larry Scarborough (California)
Jefferson Sherman (Maryland)
Silvia Stagg (New York)
Sherlene Stevens (District of Columbia)
Rickey "Joe" Story (Florida)
Dwayne Tomlinson (Florida)
Donald Trump (New York)
Vern Wuensche (Texas)

AMERICA'S PARTY / AMERICAN INDEPENDENT PARTY:
Tom Hoefling (Iowa)

AMERICAN FREEDOM PARTY:
Kenn Gividen Bob Whitaker
Kenn Gividen (Indiana)
Bob Whitaker (South Carolina)
Vice Presidential Nominee

CONSTITUTION PARTY:
Darryl Castle (Tennessee)
Betsy Elgar (Washington)
Former Congressman Virgil Goode (Virginia)
Jim Hayden (Tennessee)
Chad Koppie (Illinois)
Curtis Woolsey (Arizona)

GREEN PARTY:
Charles Brannan (California)
Willita Bush (Missouri)
Darryl Cherney (California)
Kent Mesplay (California)
Robert Milnes (New Jersey)
Midge Potts (Missouri)
Dr. Jill Stein (Massachusetts)

JUSTICE PARTY:
Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson (Utah)

LIBERTARIAN PARTY:
Keenan Dunham (South Carolina)
Marc Feldman (Ohio)
Former Governor Gary Johnson (New Mexico)
Cecil Ince (Texas)
Steve Kerbel (Colorado)
Robert Kuffel (New Jersey)
Kip Lee (California)
Robert Milnes (New Jersey)
Darryl Perry (Texas)
Rebecca Pfleiderer (Missouri)
Bill Pruitt (Oklahoma)

OBJECTIVIST PARTY:
Tom Stevens (New York)

PARTY OF SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION (PSL):
No Candidates Yet Identified

PEACE & FREEDOM PARTY:
Roseanne Barr (California)
Donovan Raymond (Oregon)

PROHIBITION PARTY:
Jim Hedges (Pennsylvania)
Rick Knox (Georgia)

REFORM PARTY USA:
Ken Cross (Arkansas)

SOCIALIST PARTY USA (SP-USA):
No Candidates Yet Identified

SOCIALIST EQUALITY PARTY:
Dean Capone (Florida)

SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY (SWP):
No Candidates Yet Identified

INDEPENDENT, OTHER & WRITE-IN CANDIDATES:
Gifford Abbott Jr. (Independent-Pennsylvania)
Christopher Abernathy (Independent-North Carolina)
William Oren Adams (Independent-Louisiana)
Robert Aldridge (Independent-Tennessee)
James Allen (Independent-Kentucky)
Brandon Armstrong (Independent-South Carolina)
Frank Atwood (Approval Voting-Colorado)
Ed Baker (Independent-Oregon)
Jacob Baker (Work-South Carolina)
Danny Bennett, II (United-Montana)
Piotr Blass (Write In-Florida)
Sheila Bolar (Independent-Alabama)
Matthew Borman (American-Florida)
Eric Borrell (Independent-District of Columbia)
Robert Boris (Independent-California)
William Bowhall Jr. (Independent-Alabama)
J. Boydston (Write In-Colorado)
Michelle Braithwood (Independent-Florida)
Peter Breyfogle (Independent-Minnesota)
Harley Brown (Independent-Idaho)
James Brummett (Independent-Indiana)
Pamela Pinkney Butts (Independent-Ohio)
James Byers (Independent-Indiana)
Johnnie Campbell (Independent-Iowa)
Paul Cannaday (Independent-Michigan)
Jerry Leon Carroll (Independent-California)
John Castillo (Independent-Texas)
Paul Chehade (Independent-Florida)
Christopher Cincotta (Independent-Colorado)
Doris Cintron (Independent-California)
Douglas Clement (Independent-Missouri)
Amy Conger (Independent-Ohio)
J.D. Criveau (Constitutionist-Virginia)
Caesar St Augustine DeBuonaparte (Absolute Dictator-California)
Michael Dename Jr. (Independent-New York)
Steve Dillon (Independent-North Carolina)
Kevin Donges (Independent-Ohio)
Andrew Elijah Mister Duffy (Independent-California)
Christopher Dunn (Independent-Indiana)
Mark Dutter (Independent-South Dakota)
Jenny Edwards (Independent-Alabama)
Katee Edwards (Independent-Alabama)
Roderick Edwards (Write In-Indiana)
Claire Elliott (Independent-Georgia)
Jonathan Evans (Independent-Colorado)
Charles Fanning (Independent-Virginia)
John Ferguson (Eco/Green-Texas)
Lori Fleming (Independent-Arkansas)
Edward A. Gardner Jr. (Independent American-New York)
Kenn Gividen (American Freedom-Indiana)
Todd Glore (Independent-Indiana)
Mark Graham (Write In-Florida)
Martin Hahn (Independent-Oregon)
Emelia Harris (Write In-Florida)
Ronald Hartsfield (Florida)
David Hendrix (Independent-North Carolina)
Phillip Hill (Independent-Pennsylvania)
David Christopher Holcomb (Independent-Nebraska)
Bill Howard (Independent-Indiana)
Michael Hubbell (Independent-Maryland)
Eugene Hunt Jr. (Independent-Michigan)
Tom Irwin (American-Pennsylvania)
Zoltan Istvan (Transhumanist-California)
Roland Jackson (Independent-District of Columbia)
Khadijah Jacob-Fambro (Revolutionary-California)
Steven Jacobson (Independent-California)
Michael Jenkins (Independent-Virginia)
O. Hope Jerio (Independent-West Virginia)
Barry Johnson (Independent-Kansas)
Ronald Jones (Independent-Florida)
Sue Lisa Jones (Independent-Arizona)
Terry Jones (Independent-Florida)
Vincent Jones II (Bull Moose-South Carolina)
Lynn Kahn (Independent-Maryland)
Temperance Lance-Council (Anti Hypocrisy-California)
Abbey Laurel-Smith (Pilgrims Alliance-Louisiana)
Robert Lehigh (Inspiration-Utah)
Michael "Lev" Levinson (Write In-Florida)
Bishop Julian Lewis Jr. (Independent-Texas)
David Librace (Write In-Arkansas)
Tom Lineaweaver (Freedom Party USA-Pennsylvania)
Mark Linn (Write In-New Hampshire)
June Lloyd (Independent-Washington)
Donald Eugene Lowe (Independent-Texas)
Deborah MacKimzey (Independent-Texas)
Shawna Martinez (Independent-Kentucky)
Angie McCall (Independent-Florida)
Roland Menard III (Moderation Affiliation-Hawaii)
Merlin Miller (American Eagle-California)
Jeremy Milligan (Independent-Illinois)
Robert Milnes (Progressive Libertarian Alliance-New Jersey)
Virginia Morago (Independent-Missouri)
Tony Mullikin (Independent-Florida)
Bill Nees (Independent Statesmen-Georgia)
Deonia Neveu (Independent-Virginia)
Jeffrey Oleyar (Write In-Ohio)
Bryan Ollivier (Independent-California)
Mark Pendleton (Independent-Utah)
Louis Pica (Independent-New Jersey)
Matthew Pinnavaia (Independent-California)
Eric Poders (Independent-Illinois)
Samuel Powell (Independent-District of Columbia)
Dinesh Ravishanker (New White-California)
Don Reaux (Independent-Louisiana)
C.C. Reed (Independent-Florida)
Darwin Misha Reedy (Indendent-Texas)
Donald Sauter (Independent-Delaware)
John Graham Schwartz (Independent-Illinois)
James Sewell III (Independent-Texas)
Anthony Shahmoradi (Independent-Pennsylvania)
Ryan Shepard (Independent-New York)
Muhammad Sho (Independent-Texas)
Richard Shrum (Independent-Texas)
Keith Smith (Independent-Ohio)
Scott Andrew Smith (Independent-Colorado)
David Sponheim (Independent-Washington)
Tami Stainfield (Independent-West Virginia)
Scott Stephens (Independent-New York)
Karin Swanson (Socialist Democrat-Texas)
Paul Tape Jr. (Tea-Florida)
Dan Taus (Independent-Pennsylvania)
Deacon Taylor (Rational-California)
Sheila "Samm" Tittle (Independent-Virginia)
Matthew Torrez (Independent-Florida)
Mathew Tyler (Independent-California)
Joshua Usera (Independent-South Dakota)
Andre Ventura (Independent-Michigan)
Da Vid (Light-California)
Phlllip "Andy" Vineyard (Independent-Kansas)
Doris Walker (Independent-Illinois)
Victor Walker (Independent-Maryland)
Joy Waymire (Independent-California)
Todd Willey (All Mother Earth-Michigan)
Kent Williams (Independent-Florida)
Mitchell Williams (Write In-Florida)
John Wood (Independent-Utah)
Jason Woodward (Write In-New Hampshire)
Chuck Zeiger (Independent-Arizona)
Daniel Zutler (Independent-Florida)

What do you think?

Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

More of the Same . . .

. . . stuff . . .

Now the pitifully, most-likely Democratic Presidential candidate has, as she and her former-President 'mate' seem always to have had, more scandal with which to contend. Foreign money and secret emails are the latest of more-of-the-same for this 'principled' 'family' of public 'servants.' She tried to defuse the latest controversy with a late-night tweet short after the email problem surfaced that, like all Clinton responses to confrontation, fell far short of effective.

It's difficult to find a vocal Republican with whom I am likely to agree, but Republican Party spokesman Michael Short, who said “Hillary Clinton must think we’re all suckers. The fact Hillary Clinton set up a ‘homebrewed’ email system in her house to skirt federal record-keeping regulations is a pretty good indicator of just how transparent she’s interested in being,” may just be one.
(source: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/03/05/258816/a-clinton-candidacy-is-weakened.html#storylink=cpy)

What do you think?

Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music will be released April 7, 2014 Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Fail . . .

NPR, of all media outlets, the very one frequently held as the gold standard of electronic journalism, has failed us. . . and this is not the first time. According to NPR, Hilary Clinton is the only 'household' name Democrat considering a run for the presidency. There you have it. Case closed. Over-simplified? Yes! True though? Yes!

But there are other, (and yes, possibly BETTER-qualified) well-suited candidates which NPR has failed to tell us about. Not only have they failed, they have subliminally told their audience that there is virtually no choice. Is that what NPR is SUPPOSED to tell us???

One of the (many) problems with our electoral system is the media's heavy influence over it. A candidate is not serious if he can't afford the millions it takes to wage a campaign, which includes paying the media for the exposure it provides.

In spite of what NPR or any other 'news' outlet tells you, there truly ARE other potential Democratic candidates such as Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Luiz Gutierrez, Al Franken, Tim Kaine & John Kerry. . .and don't forget, independent ones either.

What do you think?

Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music will be released April 7, 2014 Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Another Take . . .

Read an interesting take on Putin recently in a shipping trade magazine (Andrew J. Lawler, Global Trade) that said 'Putin, right or wrong, sees himself as the best candidate to restore Russia's sense of national pride, world stature and its economy.' Futhermore, acquiring territory has not historically been a neat, clean, up-and-up kind of business of which Putin is well aware. Hawaiians, Native Americans and Mexicans can well attest to the that in terms of the United States' conduct. Mr. Lawler also says that Putin is smart to align himself with the Russian Orthodox Church as opposed to the atheists that preceded him in leadership positions there. The church connection helps him to win hearts, and subsequently minds. He is a folk hero to his people. . .

a point of view certainly not "Officially Sanctioned" nor one you will hear much about in the mainstream media.

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD)

My latest solo release, '2014', can be downloaded digitally at:

(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)

Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Friday, April 12, 2013

Digression. . .

. . . from human progress. . .

It would appear that this once well-intentioned and possibly practical organization has strayed far from its original intent and has become a proponent of arms manufacturering much to the detriment of the society it was founded to serve.

Army and Navy Journal editor William Conant Church and General George Wood Wingate chartered the NRA in New York state in 1871. Its first president was Civil War General Ambrose Burnside, who had worked as a Rhode Island gunsmith, and Wingate was the original secretary of the organization.

Union Army records for the Civil War indicate that its troops fired about 1,000 rifle shots for each Confederate soldier hit, causing General Burnside to lament his recruits: "Out of ten soldiers who are perfect in drill and the manual of arms, only one knows the purpose of the sights on his gun or can hit the broad side of a barn." The generals attributed this to the use of volley tactics, devised for earlier, less accurate smoothbore muskets. After observing European marksmanship training, General Wingate was convinced that U.S. forces were in need of better training.

Recognizing a need for better training, Wingate traveled to Europe and observed European armies' marksmanship training programs. With plans provided by Wingate, the New York Legislature funded the construction of a modern range at Creedmore, Long Island, for long-range shooting competitions. Wingate then wrote a marksmanship manual.

The publicity generated by a long-range shooting match to determine an Anglo-American championship in 1874 helped to establish breech-loading firearms (manufactured by match sponsors Remington Arms and Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company) as suitable for military marksmanship training, and promoted the NRA to national prominence.

The organization has since metamorphosed into a highly financed and politically powerful group of extremists who value profits of gun sales (under the guise of protecting the U.S. Constitution) over that of human life and stop at nothing to ensure our spineless representatives are well compensated to be on board.

Witness below. . .

(from NBCNews.com)
". . . "Expanding background checks, at gun shows or elsewhere, will not reduce violent crime or keep our kids safe in their schools," top NRA lobbyist Chris Cox wrote in a letter sent to senators Wednesday night. "Given the importance of these issues, votes on all anti-gun amendments or proposals will be considered in NRA's future candidate evaluations. "The NRA rates lawmakers based on how they vote on the group's priorities. The letter grades are highly influential and carry particular weight in rural states with a strong gun culture. . . ."

I promptly wrote to my representatives in Congress and pleaded (paraphrasing), '. . . I wonder how your NRA evaluations look. I hope they look very BAD. . . '

(thanks to source Wikipedia.com)

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My latest release, Black & White Then Back,
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Also, be sure to visit:
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Old. . .

. . . but worth reflection . . .

(from The Nation, Ryan Devereaux, September 29, 2010. . . )

". . . As a candidate, Barack Obama opposed the Bush administration’s embrace of the state secrets privilege as tactic for deflecting litigation as part of his argument for greater transparency in Washington. He maintained the position, at least rhetorically, following his election. In a memo discussing the Freedom of Information Act in February 2009 the president wrote, “A democracy requires accountability, and accountability requires transparency.”

In an 18-month review of President Obama’s record on human rights, national security and civil liberties entitled “TheNewNormal,” Jaffer and Wizner praise the early accomplishments of the administration—including its release of crucial information regarding the Bush administration’s torture regime—but they also warn of a potential pitfall on the horizon. “There is a very real danger that the Obama administration will enshrine permanently within the law policies and practices that were widely considered extreme and unlawful during the Bush administration. There is a real danger, in other words, that the Obama administration will preside over the creation of a ‘new normal.’”

The Obama administration has invoked the state secrets privilege for the second time in less than a month—most recently in an effort to shut down discussion on the targeted killing of a US civilian who has not been charged of any crime—the new normal may have just arrived. . . "

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AMBIENCE & WINE

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Monday, November 19, 2012

Friends? . . .

(Excerpt from The Israel Lobby,” by John J. Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen M. Walt of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government http://us.macmillan.com/BookCustomPage_New.aspx?isbn=9780374531508)
". . . John Edwards, the Democratic party’s 2004 vice presidential candidate, told his Israeli listeners that “your future is our future” and said that the bond between the United States and Israel “will never be broken.” Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney spoke of being “in a country I love with people I love” and, aware of Israel’s deep concern about a possible nuclear Iran, proclaimed that “it is time for the world to speak three truths: (1) Iran must be stopped; (2) Iran can be stopped; (3) Iran will be stopped!” Senator John McCain (R-AZ) declared that “when it comes to the defense of Israel, we simply cannot compromise,” while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) told the audience that “Israel is facing the greatest danger for [sic] its survival since the 1967 victory.” Shortly thereafter, in early February, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) spoke in New York before the local chapter of the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), where she said that in this “moment of great difficulty for Israel and great peril for Israel . . . what is vital is that we stand by our friend and our ally and we stand by our own values. Israel is a beacon of what’s right in a neighborhood overshadowed by the wrongs of radicalism, extremism, despotism and terrorism.” One of her rivals for the Democratic nomination, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), spoke a month later before an AIPAC audience in Chicago. Obama, who has expressed some sympathy for the Palestinians’ plight in the past and made a brief reference to Palestinian “suffering” at a campaign appearance in March 2007, was unequivocal in his praise for Israel and made it manifestly clear that he would do nothing to change the U.S.-Israeli relationship. . . "

(from http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/12821-elites-will-make-gazans-of-us-all)
". . . Because it has the power to do so, Israel—as does the United States—flouts international law to keep a subject population in misery. The continued presence of Israeli occupation forces defies nearly a hundred U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for them to withdraw. The Israeli blockade of Gaza, established in June 2007, is a brutal form of collective punishment that violates Article 33 of the Fourth 1949 Geneva Convention, which set up rules for the "Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War." The blockade has turned Gaza into a sliver of hell, an Israeli-administered ghetto where thousands have died, including the 1,400 civilians killed in the Israeli incursion of 2008. With 95 percent of factories shut down, Palestinian industry has virtually ceased functioning. The remaining 5 percent operate at 25 to 50 percent capacity. Even the fishing industry is moribund. Israel refuses to let fishermen travel more than three miles from the coastline, and within the fishing zone boats frequently come under Israeli fire. The Israeli border patrols have seized 35 percent of the agricultural land in Gaza for a buffer zone. The collapsing infrastructure and Israeli seizure of aquifers mean that in many refugee camps, such as Khan Yunis, there is no running water. UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) estimates that 80 percent of all Gazans now rely on food aid. And the claim of Israeli self-defense belies the fact that it is Israel that maintains an illegal occupation and violates international law by carrying out collective punishment of Palestinians. It is Israel that chose to escalate the violence when during an incursion into Gaza earlier this month its forces fatally shot a 13-year-old boy. As the world breaks down, this becomes the new paradigm—modern warlords awash in terrifying technologies and weapons murdering whole peoples. . . "

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