Essay: "Police Brutality against Occupy Movement in Oakland"

Essay: "Police Brutality Against Occupy Movement in Oakland"

According to an e-mail I received from MoveOn.com on Wed. 10/26, on Tuesday evening 10/25 a marine veteran of the Iraq war, ScottOlsen was seriously injured by a supposedly 'nonlethal' bullet fired by an overzealous police presence at a peaceful Occupy Oakland protest in California. The projectile fractured Olsen's skull and left him in "critical conditon". In addition, when some protesters attempted to come to his aid, a thuggish policemen apparently deliberately hurled a "flash grenade" at the would-be good Samaritans. It doesn't surprise me that power crazed policemen would abuse their authority to try to quell a protest by unarmed nonviolent protesters expressing their rights of free speech and assembly against the status quo and the powers that be. I'd be willing to bet that if there were a bunch of Wall Street or politically connected white collar criminals, the police would handle them with kid-gloves or leave them alone entirely. Hopefully, the policemen who brutalize peaceful protesters in Oakland and elsewhere will lose their jobs or be prosecuted for misconduct, but I wouldn't count on it happening given other abuses that cops typically get away with in this society. In case you are interested, look up "Oakland Policeman Throws Flash Grenade Into Crowd" on Youtube to see this example of police brutality.

Essay: "War in Iraq to End? I'll Believe It When I See It."

Essay: "War in Iraq to End? I'll Believe It When I See It."

After ten or so years, and untold billions of dollars spent, the war based on the George Dubya Bush administration's lies is supposedly winding down. Iraq is a very dangerous place for our soldiers to be because of a tenacious insurgency, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), plus a terrorist presence that did not exist before Dubya and his neocon-artist advisors decided to avenge his father or get rid of Saddam Hussein under the pretext of nonexistent Weapons of Mass Destruction; or a dubious connection to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The international War on Terror is a flawed concept because terrorism isn't necessarily a government policy. More often than not, terrorism results from perceived or actual mistreatment (i.e. the Intifada by the Palestinians against Israel), or religious fanaticism (al Quaida) or racism (i.e. the KKK). Terrorism can be an individual or group action. No matter how long war is waged or how much money is spent, or how many of our rights we 'must' sacrifice, chances are terrorism will endure in some way, shape or form. On the other hand, it could be argued that the world is better off without despots like Saddam Hussein or Colonel Khadaffi (who was slain this week), but our country cannot afford to take out despots and thrive economically at the same time. Also, why do we subsidize Pakistan when they don't appreciate what we do for them, and at the same time they harbor terrorists who aspire to target Americans; both military and civilian alike? (tbc?)

Essay: "Clarence Thomas To Be Investigated?"

Essay: "Clarence Thomas to be Investigated?"

Some on the Democratic side of the aisle are calling for an investigation of Extreme right-wing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for alleged ethics violations. Among these, are allegedly having ties to individuals whose cases have been before the court, and for allegedly accepting gifts from some of those who may be directly affected by these rulings (such as the egregious and infamous Citizens United decision (which Thomas voted for). If an investigation happens, it is possible that Thomas may be impeached and may be forced to leave the Court before his lifetime tenure is up. By the way, Thomas is also a friend of the Koch brothers. If Clarence Thomas is forced to step down, it could be an opportunity for the Democrats to have more leverage with the conservative-leaning Court. If you recall, Clarence Thomas was accused of having acted inappropriately with a former lawyer colleague, Anita Hill just before he become a Supreme Court Justice. He was vindicated by the old boys club of Congress, but I have always believed that he did what he was accused of. It was a matter of He Said, She Said. If I remember correctly Justice Thomas just barely squeaked by to survive as a Supreme Court nominee. It was a coup by the G.O.P.,because Ted Kennedy was on the nominating committee and the late Bay State Senator had a similar reputation for misconduct toward women. Also, to vote against a black nominee could be construed as racist, even though his extreme right-wing views should have otherwise sunk his nomination (remember the hapless Robert Bork?). (tbc?)

Essay: Herman Cain Connected to Koch Brothers

Essay: "Herman Cain Connected to Koch Brothers"

Republican contender for the Presidency, former pizza mogul Herman Cain is reportedly connected to the billionaire Koch brothers. The Koch brothers are notorious for using their vast wealth to stealthily fund extreme right-wing causes and candidates under the radar, so that the general public is mostly unaware of what they are doing. By spending so much money on ultra-right-wing causes and extremely conservative candidates, the will of the Koch brothers (corporate personhood and arguably corporate fascism against the will and best interest of the Common Man) is more likely to be imposed that it would by less affluent interests, such as the Occupy Wall Street people. The Koch brothers are also the puppetmasters who fund and pull the strings of the Tea Party movement (they are the biggest funders of the Tea Baggers). Herman Cain is associated with the Koch brothers, and it is possible that his calling card, the so-called "9-9-9 Plan (which would tax everyone at a 9% rate) may have come from the Koch brothers or GOP strategists funded by the Koch brothers in some way, shape or form. Although I would hate to see former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (who recently loudly proclaimed the right-wing lie of "corporation are people")become our Commander-In-Chief, I'm hoping the connection between H. Cain and the Koch bros. will sink Cain's chances at our highest office.

Essay: Voter Disenfranchisement

Essay: "Voter Disenfranchisement"

According to the National Public Radio program On Point Radio, as frequently happens, the Republican Party is disenfranchising thousands if not millions of would-be voters such as students, the elderly, the poor, and minorities, among others. Under the pretext of preventing "voter fraud" many states have enacted laws where IDs are required in order to vote. That is well and good, but not everyone (such as the poor or homeless) has the funds or access to purchase an ID card. To make matters worse, many states have disallowed student IDs for young voters in a cynical intent to gain an advantage by GOP candidates, who might otherwise be voted against by young students and other segments of the voting population, who would be more likely to vote Democratic. (tbc?)

Essay: "Nomination Abomination"

Essay: "Nomination Abomination"

I haven't been paying much attention to the Republican debates and I certainly won't waste my time watching to them or listening to them. In my opinion, the rogues gallery of candidates is just a Nomination Abomination. For the most part, all of the candidates advocate the same failed policies which got us into this huge economic mess: tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, rewarding corporations for downsizing jobs and/or outsourcing jobs abroad, allowing Wall Street corporations and banks to keep bonuses meant to stimulate the economy, doing little or nothing to regulate polluters or abusive/predatory mortgages and foreclosures, making the canyon sized gulf between the haves and have-nots even larger, among many other things. And Mitt Romney (former governor of Massachusetts and who established practical mandatory Universal Health Care here) seems willing to say or do anything to try to become President. He is even advocating sending more troops to Afghanistan or Iraq. These entitled, out of touch elites dismiss the Occupy Wall Street movement as a bunch of spoiled brats or 'haters' of America, when the movement isn't that at all. Also, I hope American voters say Nein Nein Nein! (German for no no no) to pizza man Herman Cain's so- called "9-9-9" tax scheme. From what I heard about it, this scheme will only benefit the well-to-do and will hurt the average Joe and the poor with a 9% sales tax on everything you may want to buy. At least the hated Sarah Palin and the arrogant Newt Gingrich aren't running. (tbc?)

Essay: "Koch Brothers Doing Business with Iran?'

Essay: "Koch Brothers Doing Business with Iran?"

This morning (Thurs. Oct. 13, 2011) I clicked on an e-mail from "The National Memo", associated with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). According to the e-mail message, the billionaire Koch brothers (notorious for contributing vast sums of money to extreme right-wing causes and candidates, including being the major funder of the Tea Party movement) have been doing business with our enemy Iran (a major supporter of international extremist Islamic terrorism). By doing business dealings with Iran, they may be directly or indirectly subsidizing terrorism or violence against Americans or other innocent people. So far, Speaker of the House Boehner has failed to investigate the Koch bros. (perhaps because they are major contributors to G.O.P. favored causes and candidates?) To demand such an investigation takes place ASAP go to: http://dccc.org/twKochBrothers .

Essay: "Ruthless Republicans"

Essay: "Ruthless Republicans"

Most right-wingers equate those who disagree with them (i.e. the Occupy Wall Street ralliers) as "Communists and traitors". They also falsely claim that those on the left (i.e. Obama) "hate America" and only those in the Tea Party, the Hard Right or the so-called 'Born Again' folks are: "true Americans" and they and only they "love America". What bunk! American right-wing conservatism is the biggest sham going. Otherwise, why would it need such Charlatans, frauds and blatant liars as Karl Rove, Pat Robertson, and Rush Limbaugh, among many others, to deceive the populace? It is typical of ruthless conservative con artists to label those who oppose the unjust status quo as "commies, traitors, or as unAmerican", among other slurs. I truly hope the majority (as the Occupy Wall Street calls the "99% of us") represented by the American Dream Movement and the Occupy Wall Street ralliers will change things away from the Abattoir of Broken Dreams and the Dystopia the USA is becoming under the pernicious policies and insidious agenda of the extreme right-wing of the conservative Republican Party, the modern GOP.

Essay: "The American Dream Movement and Occupy Wall Street Rallies"

Essay: The American Dream Movement and the Occupy Wall Street Rallies"

At long last there is a progressive response to the wrongheaded and extreme Tea Party and the propaganda from the conservative con artists of the Hard American Right of the Republican Party. The "American Dream Movement" is an offshoot of the Liberal MoveOn.com organization. In tough times, largely caused by the pernicious policies and insidious agenda of the George Dubya Bush and Extreme Right-Wing of the Republican Party it would behoove those in opposition to this horrible and selfish ideology to oppose its tenets and those who advocate such wrongheaded ideas as Endless War, Tax Cuts for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations who send jobs abroad rather than creating them here, an unjust tax code favoring the well-to -do, severe and ruthless cuts to services and infrastructure, and on and on. (tbc). I am hoping the American Dream Movement and the fledgling Occupy Wall Street rallies will counteract the Right/Wrong, and effect positive changes in favor of the poor, vulnerable and the beleaguered Middle Class, but since those on the Right can and do use their vast money, power and political influence to retain the status quo, it will certainly be an uphill battle for things to change for the better. (tbc?)