Open sense of impending doom...

In response to David Weinberger's post

Let’s hold the election right now

I commented...

We must be ever vigilant!

We must let due process proceed. We can let no opportunity for deviation sway us from our established right to self determination. This current difficulty is one of the least acknowledged costs of Democracy.

Sadly I can foresee our current fearful “leader” GWB, in response to some real or perceived slight, declaring marshal law and suspending the electoral process. Fear ensuing would only play into the hands of the fearful.

We must be ever vigilant!

For my efforts another poster suggested that I put my tinfoil hat back on...

Now, for the second third time, I have encountered another authoritative voice echoing the following perspective...

In October 1, 2008, the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team was redeployed for 12 months on what is expected will be a permanent mission to respond to the threat of terrorist attacks on American soil and perform crowd control of unruly American citizens in the case of civil unrest. The force was renamed CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force and is now under the the daily control of United States Northern Command's Army North, whose mission is to protect the United States homeland and support local, state, and federal authorities.
-From here
[H/T to Kalilily Time]

I’ve read a number of stories (here's one) this week about the deployment of Army troops within the U.S. which would appear to violate the Posse Comitatus Act, except that in a signing statement, President Bush apparently has repealed that Act. Naomi Wolf - who believes a fascist coup d’etat took place in the U.S. on 1 October - the day the Army deployment went into effect - has published a new book, A Handbook For America which she discussed in this interview.
[Link - Time Goes By]

I reiterate: GWB, in response to some real or perceived slight, declaring marshal law and suspending the electoral process.

It is a perfect irony that in order to prevent the coup d'état that Naomi Wolf speaks of we must rise up and counter the government. The very government that has so completely poisoned us with fear of terrorism, both foreign and domestic.

Welcome to the United Totalitarian State of America!

(Remember George, 'Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose!' When you leave us with nothing then we will be free to counter an oppressive regime.)

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Dept.of Justice, insert political pressure

Reported in TruthOut, Marilou Johanek responsibly reminds us that the economy is not the only story that we should be paying attention to...

Justice Department Scandal Almost Buried by Financial Crisis

Friday 10 October 2008

by: Marilou Johanek, The Toledo Blade

. . .

It was an overlooked bombshell in breaking news cycles preoccupied with financial crisis, rescue plans, presidential politics, and a vice-presidential debate.

But what the Justice Department's exhaustive investigation and blistering report concluded about the enormous damage done to the department through improper politicization is far more troubling than even Sarah Palin in disjointed attack mode.

Investigators from both the department's Office of Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility found that political pressure did indeed drive the dismissal action against at least three of the nine federal prosecutors abruptly fired. At the time, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales insisted the individuals were all dismissed for inadequate performance, or failure to implement the President's law enforcement agenda.

But it appears the longtime pal and adviser to President Bush was lying through his teeth. Turns out the real reason some of the top federal lawyers were removed from the job, according to the Justice Department report, was that either the U.S. attorneys had the audacity to prosecute Republicans or because they failed to aggressively prosecute Democrats.

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Abuse out in the open

ALASKA PANEL: SARAH PALIN UNLAWFULLY ABUSED HER POWER AS GOVERNOR

This is what I wrote on September 7th, 2008 ...

Open Noise, distraction and more NOISE

. . . Imagine how the continuing discomfort of the Republicans grates on the party faithful. Imagine how this Alaskan albatross appears to continue the (Troopergate) slow (Bridge to Nowhere) death (Wasilla Pork Barrel) spiral of public opinion against McCain. Poor, poor put upon John.

Then, all of a sudden, Sara Palin has a change of heart. She claims she must honor God's plan, she must support family values and most of all she must uphold her sworn duty and responsibility to her beloved Alaska, she must, for the good of all Republicans everywhere, step aside.

Poor, poor John McCain. What is a fellow to do?

Quick, quick, have those signs printed that say "McCain & Lieberman". Rejoice, rejoice, the prodigal son returns.

Executing the perfect political ploy John McCain again successfully introduces MORE noise and MORE distraction into an otherwise forgone conclusion of a presidential race. From the very moment of his theatrical introduction McCain's choice for a VP running mate serves to pull focus away from his short-comings. With one convenient PR brush stroke the American public is no longer worried about any of the real-life issues of the day.

Republicans collectively heave a huge sigh of relief ...

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Rage: McCain's game is crap...

Report: McCain Exploded With Rage During Gambling Outing

The Huffington Post | Nico Pitney | October 9, 2008 10:23 AM

. . .

McCain's game is craps. So is Jeff Dearth's. Jeff was at the table when McCain showed up and happily made room for him. Apparently there is some kind of rule or tradition in craps that everyone's hands are supposed to be above the table when the dice are about to be thrown. McCain--"very likely distracted by one of the many people who approached him that evening," Jeff says charitably--apparently was violating this rule. A small middle-aged woman at the table, apparently a "regular," reached out and pulled McCain's arm away. I'll let Jeff take over the story:

"McCain immediately turned to the woman and said between clenched teeth: 'DON'T TOUCH ME.' The woman started to explain...McCain interrupted her: 'DON'T TOUCH ME,' he repeated viciously. The woman again tried to explain. 'DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO?' McCain continued, his voice rising and his hands now raised in the 'bring it on' position. He was red-faced. By this time all the action at the table had stopped. I was completely shocked. McCain had totally lost it, and in the space of about ten seconds. 'Sir, you must be courteous to the other players at the table,' the pit boss said to McCain. "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? ASK ANYBODY AROUND HERE WHO I AM."

This being Puerto Rico, the pit boss might not have known McCain. But the senator continued in full fury--"DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"--and crisis was avoided only when Jeff offered to change places and stand between McCain and the woman who had touched his arm.

Mr. McCain, please move away from the "Red" button...

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Propaganda: A sleazy attempt to fan the flames of war.

USA: “Obsession” Anti-Islam Film Angers Bloggers

Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 @ 22:06 UTC

by Jillian York

Last week, many newspaper subscribers across the United States were surprised to discover a DVD inserted into their Sunday paper. The video, which can be viewed in its entirety on YouTube, is entitled Obsession: Radical Islam's War With the West and portends to compare the threat of radical Islamism with that of Nazi Germany prior to World War II. The DVD's release was timed to match the upcoming elections, and distribution of the DVD was almost entirely within swing states.

Almost immediately, newspapers began receiving complaints for their inclusion of the DVD, which was funded by The Clarion Fund, a group set up to combat “the most urgent threat of radical Islam.” Bloggers in the U.S. and abroad have expressed anger at both the distribution of the DVDs and the related crime.

. . .

A Diamond's Eye View of the World, an American who blogs about Lebanon, reminds us that we have the right to protest the distribution of this DVD, sharing the Clarion Fund's address and urging us to write polite letters:

And if you want to contact the Clarion Fund, the address given on the DVD packaging is:

255 W. 36th Street, Ste. 800
New York, NY 10018
(646) 308-1230

Just remember: be polite, be professional, and articulate your position using evidence, not personal insults.

Also of note is that a group called Obsession With Hate has been set up to combat the propaganda perpetuated by the film.

1.) Read the entire post here.

2.) Consider who would benefit from such propaganda.

3.) Consider who would be so cruel as to pour such hatred into the hearts of ignorant Americans.

Most certainly we have become our own worst enemy.

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Geography: The Presidential Battleground

Standings according to Electoral-vote.com

H/t to my brother (who doesn't blog, yet)

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open one then try to live it down.

"That one..."

...will be the next President
of the United States
of America

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Slogan: John McCain't & Palin Won't

'nuff said.

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Fear & Loathing

I have listened to both the VP and Pres debates. I am convinced that the Republican's believe that the American people are so stupid that they will accept their empty rhetoric as a legitimate political position.

Sadly, GWB has used this same empty rhetoric to address America and look where he has taken us.

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Gamble? Ubetcha!

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open ambiguity: $700B and the economy is still tanking!?!?

SEVEN HUNDRED BILLION U.S. DOLLARS

to cover some phat kat's a$$ets and ...

the Economy is still TANKING???


How many things are still wrong with this picture???

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open: Gov. Of Alaska and loyal(?) constituents

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open: Three things every voter should know about John McCain

Three Facts About John McCain’s Lobbyist Relationships

1. McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis helped pave the way for job losses in Ohio — putting the interests of his former lobbyist client, Deutsche Post World Net, first. Source: Davis Manafort/Deutsche Post Lobbying Disclosure, Senate Office of Public Records; Congressional Quarterly Today, 4/8/03; Washington Post, 6/26/08; New York Times, 5/20/08
2. McCain’s economic advisor and former banking lobbyist Phil Gramm led the charge for deregulation that then led to our current economic crisis. Gramm has called the economic crisis a “mental recession” — even calling America “a nation of whiners.” Source: Politico, 3/28/08; Wall Street Journal Blog 7/10/08; Washington Times, 7/9/08
3. McCain’s senior advisor, Charlie Black, made a lucrative career as a lobbyist helping Russian, Chinese, and Libyan oil companies take control of the U.S. oil market. Source: CQ Weekly, 2/15/02; SOPR; Jack O’Dwyer’s Newsletter, 4/16/08; Senate Office of Public Records; Business Week Online, 7/19/04; BKSH Lobbying Disclosures, Senate Office of Public Records; Washington Post, 2/22/08

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open: Three things every voter should know about John McCain

Three Facts About John McCain’s Extreme Record on Senior Issues

1. McCain supports President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security and would gamble the Social Security Trust Fund in the stock market. Source: Wall Street Journal, 3/3/08
2. McCain voted against much-needed increases in Medicare funding for seniors, taking away many seniors’ only access to health care. Source: Vote 584, 11/17/95; The Hill, 7/15/08; Vote 177, 7/15/08; Tax Policy Center, Preliminary Analysis Of The 2008 Presidential Candidates’ Tax Plan, 6/20/08
3. McCain’s tax scheme gives Big Oil a $4 billion tax break, while 37 million seniors get no relief at all. Source: Tax Policy Center, Preliminary Analysis Of the 2008 Presidential Candidates’ Tax Plan, 6/20/08; Center for American Progress Action Fund, 3/27/08

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open: Three things every voter should know about John McCain

Three Facts About John McCain’s Extreme Record on Education

1. John McCain has repeatedly opposed increasing funding for education, leaving our children with failing programs. He’s even supported abolishing the Department of Education. Source: Vote 5, 1/16/03; Vote 60, 3/19/03; Vote 330, 9/9/03; Vote 35, 3/10/04; Vote 56, 3/16/05; Vote 64, 3/16/06; Vote 58, 3/16/06; Late Edition, CBS, 12/11/94
2. John McCain voted to protect tax breaks for the wealthiest of Americans rather than make college more affordable for middle class Americans. Source: Vote 126, 6/25/97; Vote 241, 7/30/99; Vote 153, 5/22/01; Vote 155, 5/22/01; Vote 268, 10/25/05
3. McCain left America’s young children behind, repeatedly opposing increased funding for early childhood education and Head Start programs. Source: Vote 272, 10/26/05; Vote 333, 9/9/03; Vote 322, 9/3/03; Vote 86, 3/25/03; Vote 154, 5/22/01; Vote 106, 5/21/92; Vote 182, 9/10/91; Vote 199, 9/21/89; Education Week, 06/12/08

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open: Three things every voter should know about John McCain

Three Facts About John McCain’s Extreme Record on Womens’ Issues

1. McCain repeatedly opposed bills to fight and prevent domestic violence, including the landmark Violence Against Women Act. Source: Vote 295, 8/25/1994; Vote 295, 8/25/94; Los Angeles Times, 8/26/94
2. McCain wants to overturn Roe v. Wade and supports the Republican Party platform which would ban all abortions — even in cases of rape and incest. Source: McCain Website, “Human Dignity and the Sanctity of Life,” 8/11/08, NARAL 8/11/08; New York Times, 8/31/08
3. Women in the United States make only $0.77 cents for every $1 made by a man. McCain opposed legislation that would help women receive equal pay for equal work. Source: New York Times, 4/30/08; Factcheck.org, 5/1/08

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Line, Ubetcha!

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Invitation

Confronting Racism Against Obama

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Education: Liberal Arts isn't just for Liberals

Spoiler Alert: I am a liberal and biased as such...

I have the privilege of working with intelligent people, Engineers mostly. As such I have first hand experience with the Bachelor of Science phenomenon. As recently mentioned they have the 'person with a hammer' mentality. This is a perspective gained by education and training that is focused on problem solving in the moment. The difficulty is that with only a 'hammer' they see most if not all problems as 'nails'.

Liberal Arts education demands a completely different approach to problem solving. As we become the sum of our experience, both life and learning, we are compelled to synthesize similar and dissimilar ideas. When we engage in the Liberal Arts process we are expected to evaluate circumstances outside the literal and physical world.

Symbols are not exact icons used to represent a switch or a traffic light. Metaphors embrace not only the immediate layer of meaning but contain the meaning of the language used to express them. Analogies are not just simple comparisons but rely on collective consciousness to give depth and breadth to their implied meaning.

Without an appreciation of literature or the history of art these thinking tools quickly become two dimensional nails that can only be driven by 'hammers'. Liberal Arts education instills the essential quality of imagination into the mundane process of literal problem solving.

It is this quality of imagination that will move us as a society forward when we have encountered a problem that no longer resembles a 'nail'. Imagination will allow us to see beyond the moment. Conversely, when we cannot have the faith of imaginative resolutions we descend into a mire of despair.

When faced with times of despair we succumb all to quickly into a state of fear. Without the faith of imagination we cower in the status quo - the way we have always done things. Without the faith of imagination we are succeptable to the perveyor of fear, the doom prophets.

The real strength and value of a Liberal Arts education is that it allows us to recognize the potential of limitless possible resolutions when faced with seemingly insurmountable problems. We are capable of recognizing the possiblity of change. With a Liberal Arts eduaction we are armed with the underestanding the across history innovative answers have lead us forward. Undenably our forward progress, however frought with difficulty, has brought us to a better, more enlightened place.

In times like these we must cling to our faith of imagination and not submit to threats based on the fear of only having a 'hammer'.

Open and free from fear

"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Giggles

From my sister (Who doesn't blog, yet) ...

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Flip-flop-flapage: The Continuing McCain Saga

(Excerpted from Rolling Stone's insightful bio of McCain...)

Make-Believe Maverick

A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty

By TIM DICKINSONPosted Oct 16, 2008 7:00 PM

. . .

MR. FLIP-FLOP

In the end, the essential facts of John McCain's life and career — the pivotal experiences in which he demonstrated his true character — are important because of what they tell us about how he would govern as president. Far from the portrayal he presents of himself as an unflinching maverick with a consistent and reliable record, McCain has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to taking whatever position will advance his own career. He "is the classic opportunist," according to Ross Perot, who worked closely with McCain on POW issues. "He's always reaching for attention and glory."

McCain has worked hard to deny such charges. "They're drinking the Kool-Aid that somehow I have changed positions on the issues," he said of his critics at the end of August. The following month, when challenged on The View, McCain again defied those who accuse him of flip-flopping. "What specific area have I quote 'changed'?" he demanded. "Nobody can name it."

In fact, his own statements show that he has been on both sides of a host of vital issues: the Bush tax cuts, the estate tax, waterboarding, hunting down terrorists in Pakistan, kicking Russia out of the G-8, a surge of troops into Afghanistan, the GI Bill, storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, teaching intelligent design, fully funding No Child Left Behind, offshore drilling, his own immigration policy and withdrawal timelines for Iraq.

. . .

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Alternative Perspective

id:heimin posts pictures he's taken with his keitai [mobile phone] camera over the last year

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.

Open Perspectives

photos that evoke the senses

---

I am going to vote for Barack Obama.
I am William "Papa" Meloney and I endorse this message.