Greg Palast in NYC: Iraq elections in three months promised in March

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

That's what Greg Palast said they promised in March, that Iraq would hold free elections in three months. Doesn't look likely it will *ever* happen. Remember when George H W Bush I declared "we have restored Democracy in Kuwait" - of course, Kuwait never had an election as far as I can tell, and Bush put the *king* back in power. Perhaps the Bushes lost their dictionary?

Greg Palast spoke at the SEIU union hall on Canal St. (thanks to the DUer who posted this, I barely made it there in time) - it was a fundraiser for WBAI, NYC's Pacifica radio station (and by far my favorite).

Anyone who hasn't read his book "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" get thee to a bookstore asap, you really want to read this book.

[gratuitous]

1. I agree -- get "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" today!

A must read by all means. I'm in the middle of Chapter 5, "Inside Corporate America," and I have to stop reading from time to time, otherwise I won't be any good at work, because I'll be fuming too much.

Palast is great at several very arcane talents that most of today's pack of journalists have totally lost: He remembers things (like the Bushistas' promise of elections in Iraq by June); he reads things (like corporate reports and memos that reveal the truth that corporate press releases try to hide); and he talks to real people, not spokesmen.

Izzy Stone is no longer with us, but thank Godde for Greg Palast!

[BurtWorm]

2. I was there too!

Great event.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

4. you posted it right BurtWorm?

Thanks, I'm really glad I went, but we had to leave early so I missed Hitower. I was the man in the back row sitting next to the gorgeous redhead :) You live in the city? You like beer?

[BurtWorm]

7. Gorgeous redhead?

I wish I'd turned and looked. I was toward the middle of the back group of seats on the right, in a blue shirt. My wife couldn't make it, so I went alone. Hightower was really good (better organized than Palast, as I said in the Lounge thread on the subject). And I do like beer (not as much as I used to, though.) I live on the Upper West Side. How about you?

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. Hell's Kitchen baby!

We should go get a beer at McCoys sometime.

[BurtWorm]

11. Sounds good to me.

I like Hell's Kitchen.

[lanlady]

3. yes, Kuwait had an election

just recently, as it turns out. Took a wee bit longer than Daddy Bush promised.

Oh, and the women were not allowed to vote.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

5. women can't vote, neither can the majority of men

from what I understand, the majority of the Kuwait population is "guest workers" imported for a few years and sent home. Since they aren't citizens, they can't vote. So I would guess 50% are women, can't vote, another 40% are male guest workers, can't vote, and the 10% that are royals and aristocrats and business executives and their friends get to vote.

This is what the Bushes mean by "democracy"

[dennis4868]

10. WELL IN THIS COUNTRY

votes dont count unless it is for Bush!

[HootieMcBoob]

6. Damn -- I was gonna go but bagged at the last minute

Do you know if it was recorded? Will WBAI broadcast it anytime soon. Yesterday morning I was listening and they played a Hightower speech from earlier in the week and it was excellent. One of the best things that I remember was his mention of a bumber sticker he'd seen recently that said: Where are we going? And why am I in this handbasket? :)

[JHB]

9. I don't know about soon...

...but that kind of event has "fundraising premium" written all over it.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

12. they asked for $10 donation at the door

and they were selling and signing their books.

[JHB]

13. I meant recordings of it...

...to be used as premiums during their next membership drive.