Politics
[News] Haiti: Exiled Former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide Returns / Wyclef Jean Shot!
CLICK HERE for the background on Clef getting shot in the hand last night in advance of today’s elections.
[Video] Michael Moore Speaks in Madison, WI (March 5, 2011): ‘America Is NOT Broke….’
“America is not broke. Not by a long shot. The country is awash in wealth and cash. It’s just that it’s not in your hands. It has been transferred, in the greatest heist in history, from the workers and consumers to the banks and the portfolios of the uber-rich … The only thing that’s broke is the moral compass of the rulers. And we aim to fix that compass and steer the ship ourselves from now on.” – Michael Moore in Madison, Wisconsin on March 5, 2011
Related:
– 20 lies (and counting) told by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker [Russ’ Filtered News]
[via MichaelMoore.com]
[Video] Far-Right Hate Comes to Orange County!
Just watch this: it’s truly beyond embarrassing….
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today released a video of a rally organized by anti-Muslim bigots to protest a February fundraising event held by an American Muslim relief group for relief work and charity in the U.S.
A few hundred protesters showed up to the rally, which was sponsored by groups such as: “We Surround Them OC 912” (a local Tea Party group), Rabbi David Eliezrie of Chabad – Yorba Linda, North Orange County Conservative Coalition, ACT! for America, and Pamela Geller (whose group “Stop the Islamization of America” has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center).
Elected officials Congressmen Ed Royce and Gary Miller, and Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly also attended and spoke at the protest rally.
The event — held at Yorba Linda Community Center, a facility that has been frequented by Muslim families and businesses over the years — first became a target of anti-Muslim bigots over two of the fundraiser’s speakers, who were to speak on the importance of charity in Islam. Initial attempts of some groups to have the Yorba Linda Community Center and the Yorba Linda City Council cancel the fundraising event failed, followed by the protest.
In a statement, CAIR-LA said:
“We support the First Amendment right of protest\eors anywhere in America to voice their concerns, dissent, and even hatred. However, when our nation’s foundational values of inclusiveness, pluralism and equality are attacked by some in favor of calls for advocating hate and violence, then all Americans have a responsibility to challenge and expose such bigotry and those who enable it.
“As the video shows, the rhetoric of the protesters became increasingly venomous toward the families and children who came to attend the ICNA Relief fundraising dinner. Protesters shouted invective statements such as “Go home terrorist,” “Muhammad is a pervert, Muhammad is a child molester,” “Go home and beat your wife, she needs a good beating” at the event-goers.
“Even more disturbing was the participation and encouragement of elected officials in promoting the hateful protest rally. Villa Park Councilwoman, Deborah Pauly, while addressing the crowd at the rally, appeared to threaten Muslim event-goers. Congressman Ed Royce (R-40), in a troubling trend of disparaging Islam and its followers, added fuel to the fire by encouraging protesters to continue on with their hate-mongering. The attendance of Congressman Gary Miller (R-42) was a clear surprise, since he previously has engaged with all constituents, including Muslims, toward a better America.
“We strongly urge all elected officials in attendance to distance themselves from such an exhibition of hate and bigotry. We further ask residents and elected officials of Yorba Linda, Orange County and other parts of our nation to speak out against such hateful rhetoric and the continued Islamophobia that plagues our nation.”
[via Mark]
[Video] The Republican War On Working Families Promo
From the PCCC:
“On MSNBC Wednesday night Rachel Maddow called our new TV ad against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker “the most pointed, stand-with-the-people-who-work-for-a-living ad that we have seen for a very long time.” Ed Schultz announced, “Pro-working groups, they are fighting back!”
Lawrence O’Donnell said, “The ad is beautiful film making. I’m really quite struck by it.””
CLICK HERE to learn more and to help get this ad on the air in Wisconsin.
[Video] President Obama Speaks on the Ousting of Egypt President Hosni Mubarak
I was watching CNN the night of these momentous events but had to turn it off. Gloria Borger was peddling the same old scare tactics & stereotypes about ‘Arabs can’t do democracy’, this may not serve our or Israel’s interests etc. Pundits have been consistently wrong at just about every turn on what has transpired in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East.
Mona Eltahawy, Wael Ghonim are their ilk are right: the #Jan25 Egyptian revolution is a game-changer that is going to render the current mindset about Middle East politics, what Arab people and their nations are capable of and by extension much of the US and the West’s Foreign Policy stance wrt the region and the two major wars currently being conducted there obsolete.
In my mind, this is 1991 fall of the Soviet Union empire time in the Middle East. Anyone talking about ‘maintaining stability’ or supporting despots, corrupt monarchies and other autocrats & dictators that serve Western interest at the expense of their own people’s freedom are quickly going to find themselves on the wrong side of history.
Five years from now, the Middle East is going to be vastly different place and it won’t be because of the Bush’s so-called ‘War on Terror’ (although sadly and ironically, he may ultimately be able to claim the credit for the current turn of events) or the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It’ll be because the people there have finally seen, through the example of Tunisia and Egypt, that they can take the power for themselves. I am in awe of the Egyptian people….
Related:
– Rageh Omaar: The west clings on to the old Arab order at its peril – “Arabs across the region are ready for life after the autocrats. If the west remains reticent, they will look elsewhere for support.” [The Guardian]