(from http://www.truthdig.com/report/print/the_obama_deception_why_cornel_west_went_ballistic_20110516)
“. . . When you look at a society you look at it through the lens of the least of these, the weak and the vulnerable; you are committed to loving them first, not exclusively, but first, and therefore giving them priority,” says West, the Class of 1943 University Professor of African American Studies and Religion at Princeton University. “And even at this moment, when the empire is in deep decline, the culture is in deep decay, the political system is broken, where nearly everyone is up for sale, you say all I have is the subversive memory of those who came before, personal integrity, trying to live a decent life, and a willingness to live and die for the love of folk who are catching hell. This means civil disobedience, going to jail, supporting progressive forums of social unrest if they in fact awaken the conscience, whatever conscience is left, of the nation. And that’s where I find myself now. . ."
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)
Missouri police office Darren Wilson says that he could not have done anything differently to have prevented Brown's death. Wilson, who shot 18-year-old Michael Brown,a total of 12 times on August 9
according to autopsy reports also said he had a "clean conscience" and
that he was "simply doing his job", a surprisingly cold, over-simplified conclusion to a complex and real situation that has evoked extremely emotional reactions from many people.
Granted, the officer felt that Michael Brown was a threat to his own life. He is a police officer. He has been trained to react when encountering just such a situation.
Granted, Officer Wilson was taken aback when a twice-shot, bleeding but unarmed
Brown came running towards him again. Was his training inadequate in providing him a tactic for subduing a wounded man instead of shooting him multiple times in the head?
Granted, Michael Brown may have been belligerent, large and scary to Wilson, but Wilson was and is not the complete justice system contained in one human package.
Granted, the grand jury rendered their decision but the conduct of the prosecutor and Wilson himself show a remarkably insensitive disposition to the entire episode.
Something is fishy and less than 'just' in this situation.
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
My latest solo release, '2014' of original, instrumental piano music, can be downloaded digitally at:
(or you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rayjozwiak4)
Conclusions by both the FBI and NTSB are suspicious, at best, with regard to what really happened.
Some convincing evidence does exist but to date, no one has been held accountable for what appears to be an assassination.
(from American Assassination; The Strange Death of Senator Paul Wellstone by Four Arrows and Jim Fetzer)
". . . Once again, Wellstone seems to have been a nemesis for big business. However, Wellstone posed an even more significant and costly threat to corporate profit-making interests. He tried to enable the 2002 defense appropriations bill to bar corporate tax dodgers from being eligible for defense department contracts. Additionally, he successfully amended the Homeland Security bill to bar those companies from getting contracts with the new "Department of Homeland Security." Both amendments passed on the Senate floor by voice votes.
After the November election - and after Paul Wellstone's tragic death - the final version of the homeland security bill gutted the Wellstone amendment. His bills were obliterated by enough waivers to assure that corporate lobby groups would indeed land the billion-dollar defense contracts we have now seen, especially in Iraq. Similarly, a mental health reform Wellstone had championed, which would have required insurance companies to provide mental health coverage on a par with physical health coverage if their policies cover both, has been successfully blocked, one more indication that the loss of "the conscience of the Senate" continues to make a difference. . ."
(from No One Left To Lie To; The Values of the Worst Family by Christopher Hitchens)
"The impression has been allowed to solidify that there was no price to be paid for all this; that the very definition of political skill was an ability to act without conscience. Appalled by the sheer raw ruthlessness of the President and his defenders, the Republicans and the conservative churches decided to call it a day. Marvin Olasky, the born-again Rightist who had originated the idea of "welfare reform" and been at Newt Gingrich's elbow, wrote a book on Presidential morality in which he said that if only Clinton had been a more regular churchgoer, and would even now ask for God's mercy, all might be well. It was no only liberals who failed the test set by Clintonism: the world of the "prayer breakfast" was his ally as surely as were the boardrooms and the Dow Jones. But millions of Americans still realized that something had been lost in the eight years of reptilian rule. The embarrassing emptiness of the 2000 election, especially the loss by the Democratic Party of even the slightest claim to any moral or ethical advantage, is one small symptom of what has been so casually thrown away. Meanwhile, the warm-blooded and the thin-blooded could only discuss the scaly and the remorseless in hushed tones, as the ensuing chapter will demonstrate. Perhaps one day the hot-blooded will have their revenge. . . "
U.S. Senator Max Baucus -- known as the "Senator from K Street" because of his ties to corporate lobbyists -- is retiring! Former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, a bold progressive populist who supports single-payer health care, would be a strong ally of Elizabeth Warren and lists Paul Wellstone as one of his heroes wants the job. If you're in Montana, let Baucus know where to find the exit by shaming him for voting with gun manufacturers against 79% of his constituents who want background checks. While Max Baucus takes millions from Wall Street, insurance companies, and special-interest lobbyists, Schweitzer is one of the most popular public figures in Montana precisely because he fights big corporations.
Asked about his political heroes, he says, "One is Teddy Roosevelt, who took on the trusts, who recognized—as we ought to recognize today—that corporations are controlling not just our governments but our everyday lives, and there needs to be some equity for families and small businesses. It was Teddy Roosevelt who recognized that there are some pieces of land on this planet that are so special that they need to be conserved for future generations. It was Teddy Roosevelt who warned us about getting into foreign entanglements: “Speak softly, carry a big stick . . and the second would be Paul Wellstone, for many of the same things. Paul Wellstone was the conscience of the United States Senate. When other Senators would line up and cower behind the curtains of big insurance and the military-industrial complex because of their huge campaign contributions...it was Paul Wellstone who often times was the one vote when 99 votes went the other way. Those are the kinds of leaders that we need in this country.
(source: wwww.boldprogressives.org)
By The Way, Two Upcoming Performances in the Maryland Area:
1. Friday, April 26, 2013 @ 6:00PM Bread & Circuses Bistro 27 E. Chesapeake Avenue Towson, MD 21286 410-337-5282 http://bandcbistro.com/
2. Friday, May 3, 2013 @ 6:00PM Elk Run Vinyards 15113 Liberty Road Mt. Airy, MD 21771 Phone: 410-775-2513 • Fax: 410-875-2009 • TOLL FREE: 800-414-2513 elk_run@msn.com
Cry for the cameras but put your conscience where your [fake?] tears are. Maybe after guns, we can discuss all the children (of other nations) that the U.S. has killed with drone strikes. True, outlawing guns won't completely get rid of the violence. It sure could help though. Isn't that a GOOD thing? And don't we have to start SOMEWHERE???
Is it me, or might what you see below be UNNECESSARY - not to mention criminal???
(from http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2012&id=D000000082)
National Rifle Assn: All Recipients
Name Office Total Contributions
Adams, Sandy (R-FL) House $2,000
Aderholt, Robert B (R-AL) House $1,000
Akin, Todd (R-MO) House $1,000
Alexander, Rodney (R-LA) House $2,000
Allen, George (R-VA) Senate $6,450
Altmire, Jason (D-PA) House $2,500
Altschuler, Randy (R-NY) House $2,500
Amodei, Mark (R-NV) House $4,000
Archer, John H Jr (R-IA) House $2,000
Austria, Steve (R-OH) House $1,000
Baca, Joe (D-CA) House $2,500
Bachmann, Michele (R-MN) House $1,000
Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) House $3,000
Barletta, Lou (R-PA) House $2,000
Barr, Andy (R-KY) House $2,500
Barrasso, John A (R-WY) Senate $5,308
Barrow, John (D-GA) House $4,950
Bartlett, Roscoe G (R-MD) House $4,000
Bass, Charles (R-NH) House $2,000
Benishek, Dan (R-MI) House $4,950
Berg, Rick (R-ND) House $7,450
Biggert, Judy (R-IL) House $2,000
Bilbray, Brian P (R-CA) House $2,500
Bilirakis, Gus (R-FL) House $1,000
Bishop, Rob (R-UT) House $1,000
Bishop, Sanford D Jr (D-GA) House $3,650
Black, Diane (R-TN) House $2,000
Blackburn, Marsha (R-TN) House $4,500
Boehner, John (R-OH) House $2,500
Bonner, Jo (R-AL) House $2,000
Bono Mack, Mary (R-CA) House $1,500
Boustany, Charles W Jr (R-LA) House $1,000
Brady, Kevin (R-TX) House $1,000
Brooks, Maggie (R-NY) House $1,000
Brooks, Mo (R-AL) House $2,000
Broun, Paul Jr (R-GA) House $2,000
Bruning, Jon (R-NE) Senate $1,000
Buchanan, Vernon (R-FL) House $1,000
Bucshon, Larry (R-IN) House $4,000
Buerkle, Ann Marie (R-NY) House $2,500
Burgess, Michael (R-TX) House $1,000
Burton, Dan (R-IN) House $2,000
Calvert, Ken (R-CA) House $2,000
Camp, Dave (R-MI) House $2,000
Campbell, John (R-CA) House $1,000
Canseco, Francisco (R-TX) House $4,950
Cantor, Eric (R-VA) House $7,450
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) House $1,000
Cardoza, Dennis (D-CA) House $2,500
Carter, John (R-TX) House $6,950
Cassidy, Bill (R-LA) House $1,000
Chabot, Steve (R-OH) House $2,000
Chaffetz, Jason (R-UT) House $1,500
Chandler, Ben (D-KY) House $4,000
Coble, Howard (R-NC) House $4,000
Coffman, Mike (R-CO) House $7,450
Cole, Tom (R-OK) House $3,500
Conaway, Mike (R-TX) House $2,000
Cook, Paul (R-CA) House $1,000
Coors, Joe (R-CO) House $1,000
Corker, Bob (R-TN) Senate $4,950
Cornilles, Robert (R-OR) House $1,000
Cravaack, Chip (R-MN) House $2,000
Crawford, Rick (R-AR) House $2,000
Crenshaw, Ander (R-FL) House $2,000
Critz, Mark (D-PA) House $3,500
Cruz, Ted (R-TX) Senate $250
Cuellar, Henry (D-TX) House $2,000
Culberson, John (R-TX) House $1,650
Daines, Steven (R-MT) House $2,000
Davis, Geoff (R-KY) House $1,000
Davis, Rodney (R-IL) House $1,000
Delong, Gary (R-CA) House $2,000
Denham, Jeff (R-CA) House $3,000
Dent, Charlie (R-PA) House $1,500
Desjarlais, Scott (R-TN) House $2,000
Diaz-Balart, Mario (R-FL) House $1,000
Dingell, John D (D-MI) House $5,000
Duffy, Sean P (R-WI) House $3,500
Duncan, Jeff (R-SC) House $2,000
Duncan, John J Jr (R-TN) House $1,000
Ellmers, Renee (R-NC) House $3,000
Emerson, Jo Ann (R-MO) House $1,000
Farenthold, Blake (R-TX) House $2,000
Fincher, Steve (R-TN) House $9,900
Fischer, Deb (R-NE) Senate $3,000
Fitzpatrick, Michael G (R-PA) House $2,000
Flake, Jeff (R-AZ) House $2,000
Fleischmann, Chuck (R-TN) House $2,000
Fleming, John (R-LA) House $1,000
Flores, Bill (R-TX) House $4,500
Forbes, Randy (R-VA) House $2,000
Fortenberry, Jeff (R-NE) House $1,000
Foxx, Virginia (R-NC) House $2,000
Franks, Trent (R-AZ) House $2,500
Gardner, Cory (R-CO) House $1,000
Gerlach, Jim (R-PA) House $2,000
Gibbs, Bob (R-OH) House $3,000
Gibson, Chris (R-NY) House $2,500
Gill, Ricky (R-CA) House $2,000
Gingrey, Phil (R-GA) House $1,000
Goodlatte, Bob (R-VA) House $2,000
Gosar, Paul (R-AZ) House $5,950
Gowdy, Trey (R-SC) House $2,000
Granger, Kay (R-TX) House $3,500
Graves, Sam (R-MO) House $1,000
Graves, Tom (R-GA) House $3,000
Griffin, Tim (R-AR) House $4,000
Griffith, Morgan (R-VA) House $4,150
Grimm, Michael (R-NY) House $1,000
Guinta, Frank (R-NH) House $2,000
Guthrie, Brett (R-KY) House $2,500
Hall, Ralph M (R-TX) House $1,000
Hanna, Richard (R-NY) House $1,000
Harper, Gregg (R-MS) House $1,000
Harris, Andy (R-MD) House $3,000
Hartzler, Vicky (R-MO) House $2,000
Hastings, Doc (R-WA) House $2,000
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) Senate $5,000
Hayworth, Nan (R-NY) House $2,500
Heck, Joe (R-NV) House $2,500
Heller, Dean (R-NV) Senate $6,950
Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) House $3,000
Herrera Beutler, Jaime (R-WA) House $2,000
Higgins, Brian M (D-NY) House $1,000
Hochul, Kathleen (D-NY) House $3,000
Holden, Tim (D-PA) House $4,950
Holding, George (R-NC) House $2,000
Huelskamp, Tim (R-KS) House $2,150
Huizenga, Bill (R-MI) House $3,000
Hultgren, Randy (R-IL) House $2,000
Hunter, Duncan D (R-CA) House $2,000
Hurt, Robert (R-VA) House $3,000
Issa, Darrell (R-CA) House $2,000
Jenkins, Lynn (R-KS) House $2,000
Johnson, Bill (R-OH) House $2,000
Johnson, Ron (R-WI) Senate $1,000
Johnson, Sam (R-TX) House $3,000
Johnson, Timothy (R-IL) House $4,000
Jones, Walter B Jr (R-NC) House $2,000
Jordan, James D (R-OH) House $2,000
Kelly, Jesse (R-AZ) House $2,500
Kelly, Mike (R-PA) House $2,000
Kind, Ron (D-WI) House $2,000
King, Steven A (R-IA) House $5,950
Kingston, Jack (R-GA) House $2,500
Kinzinger, Adam (R-IL) House $2,000
Kissell, Larry (D-NC) House $3,000
Kline, John (R-MN) House $2,500
Labrador, Raul (R-ID) House $7,100
LaMalfa, Doug (R-CA) House $2,000
Lamborn, Douglas L (R-CO) House $2,000
Lance, Leonard (R-NJ) House $1,000
Landry, Jeff (R-LA) House $1,000
Lankford, James (R-OK) House $2,000
Latham, Tom (R-IA) House $3,000
LaTourette, Steve (R-OH) House $3,000
Latta, Robert E (R-OH) House $2,150
Lewis, Jerry (R-CA) House $1,000
Lingle, Linda (R-HI) Senate $1,000
LoBiondo, Frank A (R-NJ) House $2,000
Long, Billy (R-MO) House $2,000
Lucas, Frank D (R-OK) House $2,000
Luetkemeyer, Blaine (R-MO) House $1,000
Lujan, Ben R (D-NM) House $1,000
Lummis, Cynthia Marie (R-WY) House $2,150
Lungren, Dan (R-CA) House $1,000
Manchin, Joe (D-WV) Senate $4,500
Mandel, Josh (R-OH) Senate $9,450
Manzullo, Don (R-IL) House $1,000
Marchant, Kenny (R-TX) House $2,500
Marino, Tom (R-PA) House $2,000
Massie, Thomas (R-KY) House $1,000
Matheson, Jim (D-UT) House $6,950
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) House $2,500
McCaul, Michael (R-TX) House $3,150
McClintock, Tom (R-CA) House $2,000
McCotter, Thaddeus G (R-MI) House $2,000
McHenry, Patrick (R-NC) House $1,000
McIntyre, Mike (D-NC) House $2,000
McKeon, Buck (R-CA) House $2,000
McKinley, David (R-WV) House $2,500
McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (R-WA) House $2,000
McSally, Martha (R-AZ) House $2,150
Meehan, Patrick (R-PA) House $1,000
Messer, Luke (R-IN) House $2,000
Mica, John L (R-FL) House $1,000
Michaud, Mike (D-ME) House $3,000
Miller, Candice S (R-MI) House $1,000
Miller, Gary (R-CA) House $2,500
Miller, Jeff (R-FL) House $4,000
Moran, Jerry (R-KS) Senate $3,000
Mourdock, Richard E (R-IN) Senate $4,950
Mulvaney, Mick (R-SC) House $1,000
Murphy, Tim (R-PA) House $5,000
Myrick, Sue (R-NC) House $1,000
Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) House $2,000
Noem, Kristi (R-SD) House $2,000
Nugent, Richard (R-FL) House $138
Nunes, Devin Gerald (R-CA) House $2,500
Nunnelee, Alan (R-MS) House $3,150
Olson, Pete (R-TX) House $2,000
Owens, Bill (D-NY) House $1,000
Palazzo, Steven (R-MS) House $2,000
Paulsen, Erik (R-MN) House $2,250
Pawlenty, Tim (R) Pres $1,000
Pearce, Steve (R-NM) House $2,000
Perry, Rick (R) Pres $1,500
Perry, Scott (R-PA) House $3,000
Peterson, Collin C (D-MN) House $2,500
Petri, Tom (R-WI) House $1,000
Pittenger, Robert (R-NC) House $2,000
Pitts, Joe (R-PA) House $1,000
Poe, Ted (R-TX) House $2,000
Pompeo, Mike (R-KS) House $2,000
Posey, Bill (R-FL) House $1,000
Price, Tom (R-GA) House $1,000
Quayle, Ben (R-AZ) House $2,600
Rahall, Nick (D-WV) House $2,000
Reed, Tom (R-NY) House $1,000
Renacci, Jim (R-OH) House $9,900
Ribble, Reid (R-WI) House $3,000
Rigell, Scott (R-VA) House $4,950
Rivera, David (R-FL) House $1,000
Rogers, Hal (R-KY) House $5,000
Rogers, Mike (R-MI) House $2,500
Rogers, Mike D (R-AL) House $1,000
Rokita, Todd (R-IN) House $1,500
Romney, Mitt (R) Pres $5,850
Rooney, Tom (R-FL) House $1,000
Roskam, Peter (R-IL) House $3,000
Ross, Dennis (R-FL) House $2,000
Ross, Mike (D-AR) House $5,000
Royce, Ed (R-CA) House $1,000
Runyan, Jon (R-NJ) House $5,000
Ryan, Paul (R-WI) House $2,000
Ryan, Tim (D-OH) House $3,000
Scalise, Steve (R-LA) House $2,000
Schilling, Bobby (R-IL) House $3,500
Schmidt, Jean (R-OH) House $2,000
Schock, Aaron (R-IL) House $2,000
Schrader, Kurt (D-OR) House $3,000
Schweikert, David (R-AZ) House $2,000
Scott, Austin (R-GA) House
Scott, Tim (R-SC) House $2,000
Sensenbrenner, F James Jr (R-WI) House $2,000
Sessions, Pete (R-TX) House $4,950
Shimkus, John M (R-IL) House $2,000
Shuler, Heath (D-NC) House $4,950
Shuster, Bill (R-PA) House $1,000
Simpson, Mike (R-ID) House $5,000
Smith, Adrian (R-NE) House $1,000
Smith, Lamar (R-TX) House $4,500
Southerland, Steve (R-FL) House
Stearns, Cliff (R-FL) House $4,950
Stewart, Chris (R-UT) House $1,000
Stivers, Steve (R-OH) House $1,000
Strickland, Tony (R-CA) House $2,000
Stutzman, Marlin (R-IN) House $1,500
Sullivan, John (R-OK) House $3,000
Tavaglione, John F (R-CA) House $2,000
Terry, Lee (R-NE) House $4,500
Thompson, Glenn (R-PA) House $2,000
Thompson, Tommy G (R-WI) Senate $7,000
Thornberry, Mac (R-TX) House $2,000
Tipton, Scott (R-CO) House $4,500
Turner, Michael R (R-OH) House $1,000
Turner, Robert L (R-NY) House $1,000
Upton, Fred (R-MI) House $3,500
Valadao, David (R-CA) House $2,000
Wagner, Ann L (R-MO) House $2,000
Walberg, Tim (R-MI) House $2,000
Walden, Greg (R-OR) House $3,000
Walorski, Jackie (R-IN) House $3,500
Walsh, Joe (R-IL) House $2,000
Walz, Timothy J (D-MN) House $2,000
Webb-Edgington, Alecia (R-KY) House $1,000
Webster, Daniel (R-FL) House $1,000
Wenstrup, Brad (R-OH) House $2,000
West, Allen (R-FL) House $2,000
Westmoreland, Lynn A (R-GA) House $2,000
Whitfield, Ed (R-KY) House $1,000
Wicker, Roger (R-MS) Senate $4,950
Wilson, Joe (R-SC) House $1,000
Wittman, Rob (R-VA) House $2,000
Womack, Steve (R-AR) House $2,000
Yoder, Kevin (R-KS) House $4,000
Young, C W Bill (R-FL) House $1,000
Young, Don (R-AK) House $2,000
Young, Todd (R-IN) House $1,500
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