Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early

I promised you economic news, but why start a story with bad news?

Fed says economy has weakened this year
By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP Economics Writer

The economy has weakened since the start of this year as shoppers turned even more cautious given the severe housing slump and painful credit crunch.

Manufacturers and other businesses, meanwhile, had to cope with skyrocketing prices for energy and other raw materials. The businesses’ ability to pass along higher prices to their customers was mixed, according to the Federal Reserve’s new snapshot of nationwide economic conditions released Wednesday.

Many economists fear that the country is teetering on the edge of a recession or is in one already.

or

Investment News: Advisers brace for bad times

About 41% of advisers think the S&P 500 index will fall in the next six months, according to Schwab Institutional.

Couples now need $225,000 to retire

This figure is a 4.7% increase over the 2007 estimate of $215,000, according to Fidelity

And that's only the good part of the bad news. So let's relax and celebrate the latest headline about the election. We can get to the bad news after the party's over.


Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early

Federal Funding of Elections Has a Chance (if you want it)

Getting a Grip on Money and Politics, Part II from Anthony Lappe on Vimeo.

The movement for public financing is not dead, just stalled. One current plan is to fund elections through sale of broadcast spectrum to media companies, which they usually get for free. I don't entirely agree with that plan, but it is a far sight better than what we have now.

I hope the video gets your thinking machine in gear. You can follow up here.

Your Monthly War Bill is Due

Yes, DO SOMETHING!

Less Jobs, More War

My next post will show you the financial do-do we are really in. The writing's been on the wall for a while, as you will see in the cartoon below.

935 Lies Led to War - FACT!

The Center for Public Integrity established and documented 935 lies uttered by the administration as the basis for the war in Iraq. You can search the database yourself in their Iraq: The War Card page.


The evidence is overwhelming. This war was a war of choice. This war violated international law. So where is the moral fiber of the Americans?

Oh, I forgot.

It seems we're slackers, mostly.

Yet if moral outrage doesn't get you to act, how about this? The huge price for oil we pay goes to the Saudis, the Egyptians, the UAE, Kuwait, Iran - some of the most undemocratic countries in the world. Four of them are our dear friends. This war is making enormous fortunes for them.

And, after no WMDs were discovered, do you remember this bit of proffered wisdom? "Our presence in the Middle East will bring stability to the price of oil."

Can this be the most stupid administration yet?

So you decide: the most stupid or the most criminal administration in history.

Just do something!

Want Healthcare? Get Out of Irag, then.

You can't have affordable healthcare and a war in Iraq. It is as simple as that, there just aren't enough dollars for both. All the candidates' promises mean nothing without an immediate pull out from Iraq.

What is not clear about this issue? Why isn't it number one in peoples' minds? Perhaps we've given up on even thinking about how we're getting out. As long as we feel we need Middle East oil, and as long as we think we need to "protect" Israel, we aren't going anywhere. Those are the facts from the military and policy wonks, and they will persuade any new President that "withdrawal" is not an option.

Beyond NH: Campaign Promises Are Empty Until the War Ends

…The candidates also say they are against the war and want our troops out. But Clinton wants withdrawal in phases and wouldn't have most troops out until 2013. After that, she would keep a residual force in Iraq. Edwards would withdraw 40,000 to 50,000 immediately and all within nine or 10 months, another phased pullout. Obama, who -- unlike Clinton and Edwards -- opposed the invasion, would withdraw all troops before 2010, again in phases.

All these plans would leave troops there for a substantial time. And that's assuming that the winner can keep a withdrawal promise. It's easy to imagine what will happen when the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the so-called wise men and women of the Washington foreign policy establishment start "talking sense" to the new president, urging him or her to keep a strong force in Iraq to guard strategic interests and oil supplies in the Middle East and to protect Israel. Only Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich favor an immediate pullout.

OK? So let's not get distracted.

Issue No. 1 - When and how do we get out of Iraq? We want clear answers.

Do something to make it happen!!!

Christmas Greeting from Mike Huckabee

To my opponents, go kill yourselves.

With love, Bill.



These so-called Christians and their so-called brotherly love. They are killing the world, literally.

Oh, you might want to read the DIGG comments. :>)

Wrap up Chrismas Smartly

How sad Christmas, reduced to a yearly shopping spree in which we are expected to participate to support the sagging economy. Seems a lot of folks indulge in it with passion and fury. Good. Citibank needs the credit card interest you'll generate. They had to borrow a tidy sum from the Arab world lately at credit card rates. : >)

I think our consumption, however, is rather obscene. I'll spare you the rant. Instead, consider sending a can of worms. Not to your friends but to a farmer in one of 26 countries served by Oxfam America. You can also send a sheep, plant 50 trees, or plant a garden. Your friend gets a card telling of your deed, those in need get useful tools.

Take a look. All it takes is a few clicks to get all your shopping done.

Help a Veteran Call Home, 'W' Won't

It's really a sad state of affairs when the Bush administration won't even grant our nation's hospitalized veterans a few dollars in long-distance fees so they can call their loved ones back home over the holidays.

Go fight the good fight for God and Oil, but don't get injured 'cause we grant no favors. Apparently those mega billions in war appropriations didn't include free calls home from your hospital bed.

Why isn't Halliburton subject to the same level of bean counting? : >)

Salute Our Veterans; Help Them Call Home Over the Holidays

Write Karl Rove

I know the thought makes you sick, but hear me out. DCCC.org is reporting that Uncle Karl is trying to blame Congress for starting the disaster in Iraq. Yeah, that's hardly surprising. It's always someone else's fault - the typical MO of the Bush bunch.

Well, suck it up. DCCC made it very easy to write to Mr. Dirty Tricks himself. If I can do it, you certainly can.

Here's my opus:

Hi.

Lately I hear you are crediting Congress with starting the disastrous war in Iraq. Oh, you're blaming Congress? The war's a mistake?

It doesn't surprise me you and your eminently presumptuous crowd believe you don't make mistakes. I only hope you offer this as a defense in your war crimes trial, a time of judgement long overdue.

You'll thank us from jail.

Start now, write your own missive.

Here's the beef from DCCC.org:

We're compiling a holiday present for Rove to remember -- all your letters chock full of the truth. Help us hit Rove hard with a heavy dose of reality.

Karl Rove has been going around town, blaming Congress for starting the failed war in Iraq. That's right -- he is actually trying to make people forget that President Bush started this disastrous war in a ludicrous attempt to rewrite the history books. But this Sunday, Chairman Van Hollen will call him on it.

Help us set the record straight. Send a letter to Karl Rove himself.

While it's on your mind, write a letter to the editor.

When you're finished, post them to my comment section.

Thanks. :>)

The Shock Doctrine - Naomi Klein

Do you want it straight up? Then sit down, maybe have a drink.

Watch this…



Hello? Yes, get off the floor. Take some deep breaths. Let this sink in.

The Shock Doctrine has hit bestseller lists in 7 countries: The United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden!

Buy it now!
Read excerpts from the book
See the National Book Critics Circle Best Recommended List

For my Los Angeles friends:

Don’t Miss an Evening in Los Angeles with Naomi & Robert Greenwald, Director of Outfoxed and Iraq for Sale!

Thursday, December 6, 7:30 pm
Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, 300 N. Clark Drive
Tickets are $20 and open to the public. See more information about the Los Angeles event

This post was culled from Naomi Klein's website where you will find more videos on The Shock Doctrine, among many other writings.