January 2008 archive

The regular list, plus some thoughts on literature vs. stories

If you like to trade books, try BookMooch.

cfk has bookflurries on Weds. nights

pico has literature for kossacks on Tues. nights, but it’s on hiatus

What are you reading? is crossposted to dailyKos

Miss me?  Not much.  If I am only now getting past this week in drama and angst without going ballistic what is that?  Why should you care since I only exist to amuse you.

I am fictional.  A figment of imagination infused with your interpretation, no more substantial than a dream.  Reality is an apple that falls from a tree every damn time.

Speaking of, I was amused by this bit on Atrios.  Follow the links.

I don’t work blue or not blue.

I do work professional so I apologize for missed marks, but people read too much into insubstantial photons and it is never personal except when it is.

I try to amuse you and make you think like I do which is an impossible task, you are not me- that is too much to ask.  The only attitude I control is my own.

Left or right, up or down I am essentially a clown and you may think me sad but in fact I am glad.  I’m happy to be my fictional self and ok with the choices I’ve made.

The results?

I could have been a rock star astro naught, but instead I am what you’ve got.

Who are you?

…let me just tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I’m wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out — is this wrong?

Glenn Beck, May 17, 2005.

The well-springs of poison are about to open up…

Given the body count already of key Democrat politicians and American civil rights leaders and labor activists who have been assassinated in America, in the Americas and around the globe; given the levels of hostility and invective from the right this cycle already, I have a question:

Will Americans allow right-wing cranks to promulgate homicidal fantasies over the air-waves unpunished, as they have in the past?

What happens when, not if, Glenn Beck, Don Imus, Andrew Sullivan or some Fox crank ‘hypothetically’ discusses the assassination of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Hussein Obama or whoever the Dem candidate happens to be?

There was a diary titled: ‘Breaking: …. Dead’. Few laughed. We know what the wing-nuts are thinking. And it’s only January, the crap hasn’t even started yet.

Turnout for Dems has been fantastic. Americans, hungry for change, are registering and voting in record numbers. The world is paying attention. I watched HRC win on TV on a rush-hour train in downtown Tokyo.

Yet, for the frightened, the idea that a woman, a person of color, a liberal, a Democrat, might actually win the election in November is both an anathema and a blessing. While the prospect fills the wingnut with horror and self-loathing, it also offers the long-awaited opportunity to indulge in the sickest of fantasies. The one where the good guys have to shoot down the bad. For real.

Because, for the misogynist, this election isn’t about Hillary.  For the racist, 2008 isn’t about Barack or his religion. For the authoritarian, this isn’t about John. It’s about fear and hate, plain and simple. The idea that someone supposed to be lower on the totem pole might actually grasp the golden ring fills these sad, sick souls with grief, impotence and rage. It’s not like that’s a secret.

So when you listen to Sullivan and Reynolds fan the flames of Hillary hatred; or listen to Fox speculate about whether Barack is secretly a Muslim, be clear: Reynolds and the other so-called ‘responsible’ media types are tip-toeing right up to the edge of the line, pandering knowingly both to the worst instincts in us all, but also to the sickest in society, hoping/fearing something just might happen as a result.

Appealing openly to the murderous appetites of the right is a form of terrorism; and it’s a form of terrorism that works. A war was sold to America by playing on just such fears. And, lest we forget, that was no dream when Glenn Beck fantasized about murdering Michael Moore on the air two years ago.

…let me just tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I’m wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out…

That’s a major media figure fantasizing about murder. Next time, he might not ask if it’s wrong…

More at rattlesnakepoint…

Dennis Kucinich is asking for a recount of the New Hampshire primary!  Due to the discrepencies which exist, such as hand ballots running by 4 points for Obama and scanned ballots running for Hillary by the same amount.

There are two key opportunities to bird-dog Rep. Nadler this coming weekend, but before I go into details, I would like to let you know that an open letter, written by a group of concerned citizens working under the banner AskNadler2Impeach.org to Rep. Nadler urging him to support Rep. Wexler’s call for impeachment hearings in the House Judiciary Committee was sent yesterday.  We wanted it to reach him this week while he is still in the city on recess and chose to send it yesterday with 133 signers although it is clear that there are many others who would still like to cosign.  AskNadler2Impeach.org is currently being constructed and as soon as it is up and running the site will host the letter and a petition to Rep. Nadler asking him to support impeachment.  You will be first to know when it is operational (hopefully next week).

And now on to bird-dogging…

For those who are not familiar with the term bird-dogging, the PDA website Progressive Challenge 2008 offers a link to What is “Bird-Dogging” and How to Do It.  Bird-dogging is defined as:

   bird-dog also bird·dog (bûrddôg, -dg)

   v. bird-dogged, bird-dog·ging, bird-dogs Informal  v.intr.

   To follow a subject of interest, such as a person or trend, with persistent attention.

Bird-dogging is one of PDA’s Progressive Challenge 2008 recommended courses of activism and a special blog page has been set up for PDAers across the country to share their experiences bird-dogging.  Back in November a group organized to bird-dog Rep. Nadler at a Citizens Action New York event.  Bob Fertik from Democrats.com joined us that evening on the “inside” while we flyered on the outside.  Bob wrote about his conversation with Congressman Nadler on impeachment in Jerrold Nadler Whistles Past the Impeachment Graveyard.

Bird-dogging is best practiced at a Town Hall meeting or other forum where an elected official will be appearing.  Specific tips and techniques from the PDA link are:

1. Do your homework.

a. Find out from the local office when and where your representative or senator will be speaking or holding a candidate forum.

2. Prepare questions ahead of time. Rehearse reading the question or comment.

a. Use the EPIC format (engage them, state the problem, illustrate the solution, call them to action) to craft your questions.

b. Be confident, considerate and persistent about getting an answer to your question.

3. Get familiar with your Congressman.

a. Here is where you can find info on current representatives and senators.

4. Work in teams.

a. Sit in different areas of the room to maximize your impact.

b. Designate a note taker to jot down all info and promises made by the Congressperson.

c. Designate a videographer, as You-Tube, Google video and other methods are an excellent way to amplify your message.

d. Seek out media after the meeting to talk about our issues if they were not covered.

e. Seek out the speakers after the meeting to introduce yourself and follow up on your question, or ask it if you were not able to ask the question during the meeting.

f. Leave the event with a clear plan to follow up with their staff.

5. Stay on message.

a. Don’t get distracted or angry if your question is blown over. Be forceful in repeating the question and asking for an appropriate response.

Item #5 is key:  Don’t get angry – it is critically important that we remain respectful if we are to be considered credible in our questions.

In this case, we have the answer to #1 – the venues where Rep. Nadler will be speaking –  however, in the future, if you know that the Congressman will be speaking at a Democratic Club meeting or elsewhere in the city, please pass on the info and we will help to organize it into a bird-dogging opportunity.  

This Sunday Rep. Nadler will be participating in two events.  The first is in Chelsea, a Presidential Candidates Forum hosted by the Chelsea Reform Democrats:

Decision 08:

The Hon Ronnie Eldridge, Moderator

The Hon Jerrold Nadler (for Hillary Clinton)

The Hon Bill Perkins (for Barack Obama)

Representatives of the campaigns of:

 John Edwards

 Dennis Kucinich

 Mike Gravel

Sunday, January 13, 2008, 1 – 3 pm

Hudson Guild Fulton Center

119 Ninth Avenue (btw 17th and 18th Streets)

Free Admission

Later in the day, he will participate in a NOW-NYC event on

How Critical is the Women’s Vote?

Featuring

Jerrold Nadler, Congressman

Elizabeth Holtzman,

Former Congresswoman and Bklyn D.A.  & NYC Comptroller, and

Sheryl McCarthy,

USA Today & Newsday Columnist, Distinguished Lecturer in Journalism at CUNY

National Arts Club

15 Gramercy Park South

Sunday, January 13, 2008, 4 PM to 6 PM

Wine & Cheese Served   Sponsored by NOW-New York City Chapter

Space is limited. Please reserve with a $10 contribution/$5 for NOW-NYC members.

Charge to credit card by phone, 212.627.9895 or online at www.nownyc.org by clicking “Buy Ticket” or “Donate.”

You may also send check payable to: NOW-NYC, 150 W.28th St. #304, NYC 10001.

Both events look like excellent opportunities to become better informed and to bird-dog Rep. Nadler.  I haven’t decided which I will attend yet, but am leaning towards the NOW event if only because I am a great admirer of Elizabeth Holtzman, have deeply appreciated her advocacy of impeachment, and have long wondered what would happen if she and Rep. Nadler were asked together publicly about impeachment.  If you are interested in attending either as part of a team effort please email me and I will put you in touch with people who are planning to attend  – to both learn and to bird-dog.

A final and most important suggestion:  the groups sponsoring these events have gone to considerable trouble to make them happen.  Please respect their efforts and do not disrupt the events.  Our goal is to work together to ask questions and get answers not to disrupt or be disrespectful and interfere with the participation of others in these events.

Hope to see you this weekend.  If you can’t make it to either event, please

Call Rep. Nadler’s office

Ask/Urge/Demand that he support hearings on impeachment in the House Judiciary Committee

New York:  212-367-7350

Washington, DC:  202-225-5635

You might also tell Rep. Nadler what you think about him having four women arrested and put in jail overnight for engaging in a sit in at his Brooklyn office.  I heard from one of the women this week, Elaine Brower, and in her words: “we spent the entire night in jail, no food, no water, terrible conditions, just to make sure the Congressman and the media knew we meant business.”  Elaine was also part of the group that was arrested with Cindy Sheehan during the sit in at his office this summer.  In that case, the grassroots activists spent only five hours in jail.  Shame on Congressman Nadler for forcing four women to spend a full night in jail for engaging in a sit in at his office.

If you haven’t yet signed Rep. Wexler’s petition callling for impeachment hearings in the HJC, please sign it now and pass it on to colleagues, friends, and family.  Thanks for all you do.

It was six years ago, January 11, 2002. Shackled, handcuffed, goggled and hooded, the men came shuffling off the big gray C-141 Starlifter cargo jet that had sped them from Afghanistan to the southeastern coast of Cuba, to Guantánamo Bay. Only 20 arrived that first day, but, eventually, some 800 prisoners wound up behind the razor wire at Camp X-Ray, Camp Delta, Camp Iguana, Camp Echo. They included gnarled old men with no teeth whose beards their captors had forcibly shaved. And boys too young for whiskers.

Designated “unlawful enemy combatants,” they were delivered to a bit of land permanently pried from Cuba a century earlier specifically because the Cheney-Bush administration wanted them held beyond the rule of law, confined incommunicado in a jurisdictionless no-man’s land and subject to the whims of a single person, the president of the United States of America. Out of reach of the Geneva Conventions, of the U.S. Constitution, of civilization itself, they were held in a military prison perched on the stolen land of a country that this same irony-challenged president would soon list as part of his “axis of evil.”

More than four years would pass before Washington officially made 558 of the prisoners’ names public. Not a single one was innocent, the camp boss, Rear Admiral Harry Harris, would tell ABC News in 2006.  

The New York Times story is getting the buzz:

The helicopter was hovering over a Baghdad checkpoint into the Green Zone, one typically crowded with cars, Iraqi civilians and United States military personnel.

Suddenly, on that May day in 2005, the copter dropped CS gas, a riot-control substance the American military in Iraq can use only under the strictest conditions and with the approval of top military commanders. An armored vehicle on the ground also released the gas, temporarily blinding drivers, passers-by and at least 10 American soldiers operating the checkpoint.

“This was decidedly uncool and very, very dangerous,” Capt. Kincy Clark of the Army, the senior officer at the scene, wrote later that day. “It’s not a good thing to cause soldiers who are standing guard against car bombs, snipers and suicide bombers to cover their faces, choke, cough and otherwise degrade our awareness.”

Both the helicopter and the vehicle involved in the incident at the Assassins’ Gate checkpoint were not from the United States military, but were part of a convoy operated by Blackwater Worldwide, the private security contractor that is under scrutiny for its role in a series of violent episodes in Iraq, including a September shooting in downtown Baghdad that left 17 Iraqis dead.

Scott L. Silliman, the executive director of the Center on Law, Ethics and National Security at the Duke University School of Law, points out that this once again gets into Blackwater’s legal gray areas, what I like to refer to as legal mud. As I’ve previously written, that legal mud may even get Blackwater off the hook for last year’s massacre of seventeen Iraqi civilians. As the Washington Post reported, in November:

FBI investigators have reportedly concluded that the killing of 14 of the 17 civilians was unjustified under State Department rules on the use of force. But the case is muddied by the question of what laws, if any, apply to security contractors operating under military, State Department and civilian contracts.

If massacring civilians is one of those areas of legal mud, don’t expect any legal clarity for gassing American soldiers. The question, then, was whether laws applying to private contractors working for the Defense Department also apply to contractors working for the State Department. And although the military has brought charges against numerous official service personnel, they have brought none against private security contractors. Because whether or not mass murder is legal depends on who is doing the mass murdering, and for whom they work.  

Saturday Jan. 12th Radio Tribute to Dave Cline

RADIO ON SATURDAY

Tune in to the radio tribute to David Cline on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York on Saturday, January 12, Noon – 3 PM EST {WBAI is streamed live over the Internet in multiple formats:

MP3: 24K or 64K or .ram

OGG: 24K or 64K

See WBAI Stream