Peaceful Protester
Peaceful Protester's JournalA Perspective on Priorities
On 9/11 because of lax airport security, 2,689 lives were lost. A horrible event during a Republican administration filled with neoconservatives, who for years, had pushed for war in the Middle East. After 9/11, they got their wish, and war in the Middle East became a top priority. Many events have since transpired, and related issues have been debated: civil liberties, the budget and the war on terror itself. So, what have we learned?
National Priority : Fear vs Secure (the tally)
Fear : War on Terror - (Reference)
• 225,000 deaths
• $1.45 trillion dollars
Secure : Airport Screening - (Reference)
• 0 deaths
• $4 billion per year (from $500 million before 9/11)
Perspective : Terrorism vs American Mortalities (per/yr--10yr/av)
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443,000 - smoking related deaths - (Reference)
300,000 - deaths from obesity related illnesses - (Reference)
225,000 - deaths from medical mistakes - (Reference)
101,000 - deaths due to lack of health care - (Reference)
[font color=white]..[/font]45,000 - lack of health insurance - (Reference)
[font color=white]..[/font]36,500 - drug overdose - (Reference)
[font color=white]..[/font]30,000 - motor vehicle accidents - (Reference)
[font color=white]..[/font]30,000 - homicides, suicides and unintentional deaths involving firearms - (Reference)
[font color=white]..[/font]16,500 - Americans murdered by other Americans - (Reference)
[font color=white]..[/font]16,000 - drivers distracted by cell phones between 2001-2007 - (Reference)
[font color=white]..[/font]11,773 - drunk driving deaths - (Reference)
[font color=white]....[/font]4,300 - pedestrians killed by automobiles - (Reference)
[font color=white]........[/font]16 - killed by terrorists around the world between 2005-2011 - (Reference)
Is There Anything to Fear?
It appears Americans have more to fear from lifestyle related issues than from fear itself. In fact, the number of Americans killed in gun deaths is far larger than the number of those killed in terrorist attacks around the world every year.
In 2010, 13,186 people died in terrorist attacks worldwide; in that same year, in America alone, 31,672 people lost their lives in gun-related deaths, according to numbers complied by Tom Diaz – until recently, a senior analyst at the Violence Policy Center.
While the United States government has invested more than half a trillion dollars on homeland security since the September 11, 2001 attacks, according to the Congressional Budget Office, there has been practically no effort to deter gun violence.
91% - approval for universal background checks
[font color=white]..[/font]0% - support from Republicans
Are We Making Progress?
By proportionality, our national priorities appear to be inverted. We've made progress, but not nearly enough. We've wrested control from those who told us to rely on war and violence to solve our problems. We've moved toward defending our nation through implementing a few common sense security measures, more are needed. We must insure that adequate security is maintained to thwart further attacks. But, we must also make sure the nation's priorities include investing in our future wisely.
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I No Longer Recognize My Party
That's the message emanating from the website Republicans for Obama.
The Webmaster Writes
As a registered Republican for over 30 years now, I thought I’d share my thoughts.
The Republican party isn't what it used to be. Our leaders and our most vocal activists have written moderates out of the party and have refused to work with the other side, to the detriment of the nation.
I No Longer Recognize My Party
As a registered Republican I fear I must confess that I no longer recognize the party that I grew up with in Oregon. I voted for Mark Hatfield, Tom McCall and other Republicans who found enough common ground with Democrats to govern. Now I watch in dismay as those in my party boast that their primary objective is to defeat the President. Not to govern. Not to bring together a sense of responsibility and willingness to compromise to solve problems we face. Such as the budget. Such as bridges, roads and our electric grid that need maintenance and upgrading, which actually costs money.
My Commentary
Look at how those who have hijacked the Republican party have reacted each time fellow Republicans have reached across the isle: Colin Powell, Chris Christie, Chuck Hagel, Jon Huntsman, etc.
NOTE: This website and others like it should be promoted by both parties. So, that's what I'm doing.
[<br>]
My point is...
Mitch McConnell, who is an obstructionist, says we can't afford to spend money, then turns around and secretly hands out $500,000,000 in tax payer money to his buddies at AMGEN while bragging about being an OBSTRUCTIONIST to raise money for the next election.
NOTE: Also, Congress shouldn't be giving AMGEN any tax payer money after AMGEN agreed to pay $762 million just last month in criminal and civil liability.
McConnell: 'We Beat The Liberals'
In a recent fund-raising email sent out by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), McConnell appears to be taking credit for defeating filibuster reform and preserving the GOP's ability to continue to block legislation.
If one were to think McConnell is bragging about embracing the obstructionist strategy with no intention of moving away from it any time soon, one would be correct...sorta.
...And, In Other News...
Just last month, bio-tech giant Amgen, was involved in the single largest criminal and civil fraud settlement involving a biotechnology firm in U.S. history. Amgen, a company with 74 lobbyists on Capitol Hill and close ties to McConnell, agreed to pay a $762-milllion criminal settlement...sorta.
Vintage Crony Capitalism
In an 11th hour maneuver occurring behind the scenes, Mitch McConnell (R-KY), that millionaire politician with close ties to Amgen, stepped back from obstructing long enough to have hidden in the Senate's "Fiscal Cliff" bill -- a sweet-heart deal for Amgen -- that will cost taxpayers half a billion dollars...literally!
http://vimeo.com/58170994
Bill Moyers & Company
Bill talks to U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) about the bi-partisan bill he recently sponsored to repeal that giveaway, and the political factors that allow such crony capitalism to occur. Bill invited a representative from each party to discuss this story. Apparently, the Republican had a more important prior engagement to attend.
(Read More: http://billmoyers.com/2013/01/25/on-inauguration-day-thoughts-of-corporate-foul-play/)
(Read More: http://billmoyers.com/segment/u-s-rep-peter-welch-on-amgen%E2%80%99s-sweet-senate-deal/)
Prior to attacking the President...
...Joe Scarborough was speaking about new beginnings. He also mentioned how Democrats and Republicans alike love inaugurations whether its a Republican or Democrat being sworn into office.
When I heard this, I thought this doesn't seem to conform to Joe's personal behavior. Nor would it conform to his following comments. As he continued, Joe couldn't help telling everyone how he was taken aback when he heard Obama say, "I did it."
Prior to watching Morning Joe, I hadn't seen or heard about this event. But I knew no one would turn to an 11 year old child to brag about how they did it. That's just silly!
I discovered this is how ABC News reported the event:
--
As he hugged his wife and daughters, Sasha said, "Good job, Daddy."
"I did it," he said.
"You didn't mess up," she answered.
--
What's even more disturbing is neither Joe nor other Republicans seem to ever want to give the POTUS the benefit of the doubt. Even when logic dictates otherwise. But, this is what Republicans do.
They met inauguration night to sabotage the POTUS and pretended to work with him on health care reform. Shortly thereafter they began hurling lies and personal insults at him for the next several months.
I realize Scarborough is not a journalist, but no one likes it when one makes things up to make others look bad. And if one is trying to get both parties to work together, this is not the way to do it.
After he finished criticizing the president's perceived arrogance, Joe began talking about how we have to reform Medicare because Medicare is bankrupting America. What's just as revealing is what they often omit.
When Republicans discuss the budget, they're never willing to mention that the budget of the military industrial complex is bigger than those of the next 19 countries combined!*
*NOTE: the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Milestones in Filibuster History
In 2005, Republican senators agreed to prevent filibusters of judicial nominees except under what they termed "extraordinary circumstances." But when the balance of power shifted in 2008, Republican senators began blocking President Barack Obama's judicial nominees.
Then, On December 6, 2012, an extraordinary milestone in filibuster history was reached when Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader, became the first senator to filibuster himself.
McConnell had attempted to force the Democrats, who had a majority in the Senate, to refuse to pass what would have been a politically-costly measure that would nonetheless solve the current ongoing debt ceiling deadlock.
When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) elected to call a vote on the proposal, McConnell panicked and immediately invoked the rules regarding filibusters, effectively engaging in the first self-filibuster in Senate history.
If the Senate's history has taught us anything, the rules Republicans operate under undergo a complete transformation when a Democrat wins the Presidency.
Filibuster Reform
Bill Moyers Essay: Take Action on Filibuster Reform
Hope of resurrecting the Senate’s noble purpose by reforming the filibuster is being championed by a diverse group of organizations and activists, including The Democratic Initiative and Fix the Senate Now. They want to take the filibuster, which can now be easily and quietly activated, and restore its original, public use (Think Mr. Smith or Mr. Sanders). Time is not on their side, however. Unless the Senate reforms the filibuster at the beginning of the new 113th Congress — that’s as soon as Tuesday, January 22 — the minority wrecking crew remains in charge for the next two years.
Filibuster Reform To-Do List:
1. Contact your senator to tell him or her that you support filibuster reform and the end of the silent filibuster. Calling 1-888-717-0911 will connect you automatically based on where you call from. You can also find Senate contact information here. Or call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (202-224-3542) or Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (202-224-2541) directly, and tell them where you stand.
2. Share graphics on your Facebook timeline letting your friends know that you support filibuster reform. Download graphics made by Fix the Senate Now at their website.
3. Follow #FixtheSenate tweets and send your own tweet with your position on the issue. Also, tweet any interactions or contact efforts you had with senators.
4. Link to or embed Fix the Senate Now's YouTube video.
(Read more: http://billmoyers.com/)
(Read more: http://billmoyers.com/content/take-action-on-filibuster-reform/)
(Read more: http://billmoyers.com/segment/larry-cohen-on-eliminating-the-silent-filibuster/)
(Read More: Blowback, Sorrow and Consequences)
Chalmers Johnson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalmers_Johnson#The_Blowback_series
"In Blowback, I set out to explain why we are hated around the world. The concept "blowback" does not just mean retaliation for things our government has done to and in foreign countries. It refers to retaliation for the numerous illegal operations we have carried out abroad that were kept totally secret from the American public. This means that when the retaliation comes -- as it did so spectacularly on September 11, 2001 -- the American public is unable to put the events in context. So they tend to support acts intended to lash out against the perpetrators, thereby most commonly preparing the ground for yet another cycle of blowback."
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"The Sorrows of Empire was written during the American preparations for and launching of the invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. I began to study our continuous military buildup since World War II and the 737 military bases we currently maintain in other people's countries. This empire of bases is the concrete manifestation of our global hegemony, and many of the blowback-inducing wars we have conducted had as their true purpose the sustaining and expanding of this network. We do not think of these overseas deployments as a form of empire; in fact, most Americans do not give them any thought at all until something truly shocking, such as the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, brings them to our attention. But the people living next door to these bases and dealing with the swaggering soldiers who brawl and sometimes rape their women certainly think of them as imperial enclaves, just as the people of ancient Iberia or nineteenth-century India knew that they were victims of foreign colonization."
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"In Nemesis, I have tried to present historical, political, economic, and philosophical evidence of where our current behavior is likely to lead. Specifically, I believe that to maintain our empire abroad requires resources and commitments that will inevitably undercut our domestic democracy and in the end produce a military dictatorship or its civilian equivalent. The founders of our nation understood this well and tried to create a form of government – a republic – that would prevent this from occurring. But the combination of huge standing armies, almost continuous wars, military Keynesianism, and ruinous military expenses have destroyed our republican structure in favor of an imperial presidency. We are on the cusp of losing our democracy for the sake of keeping our empire. Once a nation is started down that path, the dynamics that apply to all empires come into play – isolation, overstretch, the uniting of forces opposed to imperialism, and bankruptcy."
Dismantling the Empire: America's Last Best Hope
Defense Budget Accountability
1) Barack Obama won in 2008 partly because of the Iraq War and Hagel was helpful.
2) NEOCONS and Hawks (ie: Graham, McCain and McConnell) haven't forgiven Hagel.
3) Foreign policy centrists (ie Hagel) challenge the influence of NEOCONS and Hawks.
NEOCONS and Hawks used 'the War on Terror' to gain power, spend wildly, grow Gov. and divert attention from the Bush administration's failure to act on proactive information that could have prevented 9/11.
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What if, instead of ignoring the August 6, 2001 presidential daily briefing titled:
'[font color="red"]Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States[/font]'
which had contained very important proactive information provided by the FBI:
"[font color="red"]...parallel activities tracked by the FBI consistent with preparations for hijacking...[/font]"
What if...someone had suggested the president take one very simple step: get on TV and make the case for increased airport security screening?
Instead, NEOCONS and Hawks have created a network of expanded presidential powers and agencies consistent with Imperial Militarism: growing the Military-Industrial Complex, the Pentagon, and the CIA. They have created: the Patriot Act, the National Defense Authorization Act, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Naval Station Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba, indefinite detention wo/trial, torturing, spying, preemptive war, invasion, occupation, drone strikes, etc...
As Washington continually finds it easier to re-authorize this network of expanded presidential powers, we will face unchecked actions, expenditures and blowback. The debate over the debt will be one-sided, controlled by Hawks and framed around 'European-style Socialist Programs' (a Republican term for the Social Safety Net).
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Cheerleaders for the 'War on Terror'
The War on Terror seems to have been specifically designed to divert attention away from the Bush administration's failures to act on information that would have prevented 9/11.
Throughout the entire ill-conceived War on Terror, these war-hawks have consistently been out front acting as cheerleaders for every possible military action imaginable.
It's interesting just how far McCain, Graham, McConnell, etc.. are willing to go to distance themselves from their own rhetoric, responsibility and accountability after blowback inevitably occurs.
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Member since: Thu Oct 13, 2011, 07:58 AMNumber of posts: 280
