March 24, 2012
by Tim
Source:frontporchpolitics.com
There has been a lot of talk this year in regards to voter fraud and rigging of votes. It seems every election year this is the case. However rarely do we get blatant statements such as, “We don’t want people to see what actually goes into the caucuses.”
In the following clip Bryan Spencer talks about such rigging in St. Charles, Missouri.
He tells why the media was trusted to have cameras, but citizens were not allowed and how the police were notified in advance.
So what happened as a result? Well in case you missed it the following video shows exactly what took place. Missouri had actually anticipated that the majority of caucus goers would favor Ron Paul. According to Doug Tweed, “A pre-arranged delegate slate of Republican insiders would be voted on and declared won by acclamation, over the voices of protest by the attendees. If the majority didn’t like it they could complain. If the numbers were too great and the deception too obvious, the temporary chairman would provoke the crowd and by pre-arrangment police would be called in to shut down the event. The latter proved quite easy.”
They then announced that all video would be banned. Can you believe that? Even video cell phones. That is a First Amendment right and if they were honest that should have actually kept them from ever being declared to have rigged anything. However, in declaring that, the crowd was not happy and thus the police they had waiting were called in.
A former GOP County Chairman and Ron Paul supporter, who is handicapped, was in the process of giving instructions to Ron Paul supporters outside, telling them when and where to meet. The temporary chairman then followed him outside and had the police arrest him and escort him away in handcuffs.
The GOP voters, as a whole, are not happy with any of the candidates and have such let it be made known vocally and by the low voter turnout in the primaries. The GOP wants to force Mitt Romney on the GOP voters as their only choice and the GOP voters will once again, just as they did in 2008, “hold their noses and vote” the team’s jersey.
Tim Brown
FrontPorchPolitics.com
Showing posts with label Elections in The U.S.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elections in The U.S.. Show all posts
Monday, March 26, 2012
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Iraq rejects US request to maintain bases after troop withdrawal
21 October 2011
by Ewen MacAskill
Source: The Guardian
Obama announces the full withdrawal of troops from Iraq but fails to persuade Nouri al-Maliki to allow US to keep bases there
Obama presented the troop withdrawal as the fulfilment of one of his election promises Link to this video
The US suffered a major diplomatic and military rebuff on Friday when Iraq finally rejected its pleas to maintain bases in the country beyond this year.
Barack Obama announced at a White House press conference that all American troops will leave Iraq by the end of December, a decision forced by the final collapse of lengthy talks between the US and the Iraqi government on the issue.
The Iraqi decision is a boost to Iran, which has close ties with many members of the Iraqi government and which had been battling against the establishment of permanent American bases.
Obama attempted to make the most of it by presenting the withdrawal as the fulfilment of one of his election promises.
"Today I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over," he told reporters.
But he had already announced this earlier this year, and the real significance today was in the failure of Obama, in spite of the cost to the US in dollars and deaths, to persuade the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki to allow one or more American bases to be kept in the country.
Obama was formally told of Maliki's final decision on Friday morning in a video conference.
Speaking later to reporters, Obama glossed over the rejection, describing it as Iraq shaping its own future.
He told reporters that the "tide of war is receding", not only in Iraq but in Afghanistan and in Libya.
"The United States is moving forward to a position of strength. The long war in Iraq will come to an end by the end of this year. The transition in Afghanistan is moving forward and our troops are finally coming home," he said.
Obama rose to political prominence on the back of his opposition to the Iraq war.
"Over the next two months, our troops in Iraq, tens of thousands of them, will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home," he said.
"The last American soldier will cross the border out of Iraq with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops," he said. "That is how America's military efforts in Iraq will end."
But Republicans criticised the failure to secure a deal with the Iraqis, describing it as a setback for the US.
John McCain, one of the leading foreign affairs specialists in the Senate and Obama's Republican opponent in the 2008 White House race, said: "Today marks a harmful and sad setback for the United States in the world. I respectfully disagree with the president: this decision will be viewed as a strategic victory for our enemies in the Middle East, especially the Iranian regime, which has worked relentlessly to ensure a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq."
Mitt Romney, front-runner in the race to take on Obama in the 2012 White House race, said: "The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government."
One of the sticking points in the negotiations with Iraq was a US demand that American forces remaining in the country after December would enjoy the same immunity from prosecution as they do now. The Iraqi government, conscious of public anger over many controversial incidents involving US troops and defence contractors over the last decade, refused.
The Pentagon had wanted the bases to help counter growing Iranian influence in the Middle East. Just a few years ago, the US had plans for leaving behind four large bases but, in the face of Iraqi resistance, this plan had to be scaled down this year to a force of 10,000. But even this proved too much for the Iraqis.
Denis McDonough, the White House deputy national security adviser, speaking to reporters after Obama's press conference, denied that the withdrawal was a sign of growing Iranian influence.
"You see an Iran that is weaker and more isolated," he said, noting various incidents such as a sense of international outrage over an alleged plot by Iran to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington.
Although the US is pulling out all troops, it will keep its embassy in Baghdad and two consulates. There will also be about 4,000-5,000 defence contractors, White House aides said.
Since the invasion in 2003, 1 million members of the US military have been deployed to Iraq, of whom 4,482 have been killed and 32,200 wounded.
Obama said there were 180,000 troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan when he took office in January 2009, and that number has been halved and will continue to fall.
A few US military personnel will be based in Iraq temporarily from time to time, just as they are in other countries with links to the US such as Egypt and Jordan, White House aides said. These would primarily be trainers helping out with new equipment bought from the US, such as F-16 fighters Iraq purchased last month.
Maliki, though he has been criticised in the past for being too close to Iran, had wanted to keep some US troops in Iraq to help train Iraqi security forces and to help in the event of a resurgence of sectarian violence. But he had to bow to pressure from pro-Iranian politicians and others in his coaliton government who wanted all US troops out.
Obama was ambivalent on the issue, seeing a total withdrawal as a good sell to a US public tired of war. But the Pentagon had wanted the bases, and the president reluctantly sided with the military staff.
It will be a major logistical exercise, moving not only the remaining 39,000 US troops but mountains of equipment from bases that are the size of small American suburbs, complete with coffee-shops, bowling alleys and cinemas.
The Pentagon is wary of a final attack as the final pullout gets under way.
• This article was corrected on 23 October 2011 because it described Nouri al-Maliki as Iraqi's president instead of as its prime minister, and at one point said he had wanted to keep some US troops "in Iran".
by Ewen MacAskill
Source: The Guardian
Obama announces the full withdrawal of troops from Iraq but fails to persuade Nouri al-Maliki to allow US to keep bases there
Obama presented the troop withdrawal as the fulfilment of one of his election promises Link to this video
The US suffered a major diplomatic and military rebuff on Friday when Iraq finally rejected its pleas to maintain bases in the country beyond this year.
Barack Obama announced at a White House press conference that all American troops will leave Iraq by the end of December, a decision forced by the final collapse of lengthy talks between the US and the Iraqi government on the issue.
The Iraqi decision is a boost to Iran, which has close ties with many members of the Iraqi government and which had been battling against the establishment of permanent American bases.
Obama attempted to make the most of it by presenting the withdrawal as the fulfilment of one of his election promises.
"Today I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, America's war in Iraq will be over," he told reporters.
But he had already announced this earlier this year, and the real significance today was in the failure of Obama, in spite of the cost to the US in dollars and deaths, to persuade the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki to allow one or more American bases to be kept in the country.
Obama was formally told of Maliki's final decision on Friday morning in a video conference.
Speaking later to reporters, Obama glossed over the rejection, describing it as Iraq shaping its own future.
He told reporters that the "tide of war is receding", not only in Iraq but in Afghanistan and in Libya.
"The United States is moving forward to a position of strength. The long war in Iraq will come to an end by the end of this year. The transition in Afghanistan is moving forward and our troops are finally coming home," he said.
Obama rose to political prominence on the back of his opposition to the Iraq war.
"Over the next two months, our troops in Iraq, tens of thousands of them, will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home," he said.
"The last American soldier will cross the border out of Iraq with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops," he said. "That is how America's military efforts in Iraq will end."
But Republicans criticised the failure to secure a deal with the Iraqis, describing it as a setback for the US.
John McCain, one of the leading foreign affairs specialists in the Senate and Obama's Republican opponent in the 2008 White House race, said: "Today marks a harmful and sad setback for the United States in the world. I respectfully disagree with the president: this decision will be viewed as a strategic victory for our enemies in the Middle East, especially the Iranian regime, which has worked relentlessly to ensure a full withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq."
Mitt Romney, front-runner in the race to take on Obama in the 2012 White House race, said: "The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government."
One of the sticking points in the negotiations with Iraq was a US demand that American forces remaining in the country after December would enjoy the same immunity from prosecution as they do now. The Iraqi government, conscious of public anger over many controversial incidents involving US troops and defence contractors over the last decade, refused.
The Pentagon had wanted the bases to help counter growing Iranian influence in the Middle East. Just a few years ago, the US had plans for leaving behind four large bases but, in the face of Iraqi resistance, this plan had to be scaled down this year to a force of 10,000. But even this proved too much for the Iraqis.
Denis McDonough, the White House deputy national security adviser, speaking to reporters after Obama's press conference, denied that the withdrawal was a sign of growing Iranian influence.
"You see an Iran that is weaker and more isolated," he said, noting various incidents such as a sense of international outrage over an alleged plot by Iran to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington.
Although the US is pulling out all troops, it will keep its embassy in Baghdad and two consulates. There will also be about 4,000-5,000 defence contractors, White House aides said.
Since the invasion in 2003, 1 million members of the US military have been deployed to Iraq, of whom 4,482 have been killed and 32,200 wounded.
Obama said there were 180,000 troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan when he took office in January 2009, and that number has been halved and will continue to fall.
A few US military personnel will be based in Iraq temporarily from time to time, just as they are in other countries with links to the US such as Egypt and Jordan, White House aides said. These would primarily be trainers helping out with new equipment bought from the US, such as F-16 fighters Iraq purchased last month.
Maliki, though he has been criticised in the past for being too close to Iran, had wanted to keep some US troops in Iraq to help train Iraqi security forces and to help in the event of a resurgence of sectarian violence. But he had to bow to pressure from pro-Iranian politicians and others in his coaliton government who wanted all US troops out.
Obama was ambivalent on the issue, seeing a total withdrawal as a good sell to a US public tired of war. But the Pentagon had wanted the bases, and the president reluctantly sided with the military staff.
It will be a major logistical exercise, moving not only the remaining 39,000 US troops but mountains of equipment from bases that are the size of small American suburbs, complete with coffee-shops, bowling alleys and cinemas.
The Pentagon is wary of a final attack as the final pullout gets under way.
• This article was corrected on 23 October 2011 because it described Nouri al-Maliki as Iraqi's president instead of as its prime minister, and at one point said he had wanted to keep some US troops "in Iran".
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Ralph Nader, Ron Paul, Kucinich & Chomsky: "End The Left-Right Delusion, Corporatism Is The TRUE Enemy"
Oct 3, 2011
Source: The Daily Bail
Kucinich:
* "Wars cost the U.S. $30 million per hour..."
Excellent short clip with comments from leaders across the political spectrum. Interesting that in the past week, Ralph Nader has announced his support for Ron Paul, who himself announced in a recent speech that he would consider Kucinich for his cabinet as Secretary of Peace. The brightest and best thinkers are starting to understand that corporate control over Washington and both parties is the real enemy, a point which Dylan Ratigan has been making for months.
Ralph Nader seems to understand the endemic corporate cronyism better than any recent candidate outside of Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich.
Republican special interests include corporations, wars, and the wealthy.
Democrat special interests include corporations, wars, and the wealthy.
At least we have political choice.
Source: The Daily Bail
Kucinich:
* "Wars cost the U.S. $30 million per hour..."
Excellent short clip with comments from leaders across the political spectrum. Interesting that in the past week, Ralph Nader has announced his support for Ron Paul, who himself announced in a recent speech that he would consider Kucinich for his cabinet as Secretary of Peace. The brightest and best thinkers are starting to understand that corporate control over Washington and both parties is the real enemy, a point which Dylan Ratigan has been making for months.
Ralph Nader seems to understand the endemic corporate cronyism better than any recent candidate outside of Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich.
Republican special interests include corporations, wars, and the wealthy.
Democrat special interests include corporations, wars, and the wealthy.
At least we have political choice.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Horse Races, Horse **** and Horse Meat
Posted on October 24, 2010 by dandelionsalad
by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
October 24, 2010
Forget all the classic confidence games and scams you’ve read about… the 3 card monte and letters from Africa and other investment schemes. I wish to address the greatest and most long standing con job of all: The Two Party Electoral System . How many good , decent Americans have been sucked into this scam? As Ralph Nader succinctly commented: ‘ You can vote for candidate Tweedle Dee vs. candidate Tweedle Tum ‘. No matter the outcome, we working stiffs lose out…. Every time!
The energy and the money that these electoral campaign seasons generate is remarkable. Thursday I was on my way to support my dear pal Walt, an 80 something lifetime activist. He decided to begin a weekly street corner protest in New Smyrna Beach against America’s War Empire. Both political parties have wasted trillions of our tax dollars on phony invasions and occupations in Iraq & Afghanistan along with 800 military bases in over 100 countries. Wow! Our cities are broke, good jobs scarce, unemployment is rampant as we lay off needed teachers, first providers and city service workers. The housing bubble burst, due to criminal investment houses, has millions either in foreclosure or under water with their mortgage. We send our young kids to become caretakers of this empire , at risk to themselves and the people they occupy. You know the drill…. You don’t need me to remind you. Yet, where is the outrage against spending 48 cents of every tax dollar on military contracts rather than saving our cities? The sad irony is that both major parties continually vote for more and more money to what Eisenhower warned us about: The Military Industrial Complex.
So, here I was, on my way to stand with Walt, and I decided to stop by the New Smyrna Beach Library to return a few books. As I pulled into the parking lot, I could see scores of campaign workers and a myriad of signs. I had forgotten that the library was conducting early voting. Some of these folks advanced upon me like locusts .’ Going in to vote? ‘ No, I said, only going to the library. I could see some familiar faces from the local Democratic club I had joined years ago when I too was ‘ sucked in ‘ . They had this frenzied look upon their faces that told me how much ( to them, once again ) November’s election seemed a matter of ‘ Life or death ‘ . As far as the Republican and Tea Party campaign volunteers , what more need I say? These folks preach and lecture us about Big Totalitarian Government and then support the very elements that rape our treasury for phony bank bailouts and the aforementioned bloated military budgets. They shout ‘ I don’t want the government controlling my health ‘ and then support huge rip-off artist insurers who actually block our path to healing ( high premiums, high deductibles, pre-existing condition denials, refusing to cover alternative care i.e.: acupuncture, massage and counseling ) . Bottom line: whether Republican or Democrat, this whole Horse race mindset becomes one of Horse**** if one sticks to the core issues and not the rhetoric.
I met up with Walt on the street corner ( five minutes from the library ) and stood next to him, our signs in hand. Our dear friend Donna ( who had been in the library parking lot helping a progressive school board candidate ) drove over and joined us. Walt’s neighbor, Carl, too ill to stand , came down and sat on a bench nearby holding a sign. That was it. Four of us. When will the good people from that library parking lot, and the hundreds of drivers who passed us by, finally get it, before we all turn into horse meat?
Philip A. Farruggio is son and grandson of Brooklyn NYC longshoremen. He is an activist leader and free lance columnist. Since the 2000 elections, he has written over 200 columns, many posted on various sites worldwide. Recently, he is finding a home at www.dandelionsalad.wordpress.com, or at his own blog at www.opensalon.com. Philip can be reached at paf1222@bellsouth.net.
see
Ten Questions for Tea Partiers by Ralph Nader
How Voting Perpetuates Evil by Joel S. Hirschhorn
Why I Loathe The Democrats by Philip A. Farruggio
Chris Hedges: Death of the Liberal Class
link: http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2010/10/24/horse-races-horse-and-horse-meat-by-philip-a-farruggio/.
by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
October 24, 2010
Forget all the classic confidence games and scams you’ve read about… the 3 card monte and letters from Africa and other investment schemes. I wish to address the greatest and most long standing con job of all: The Two Party Electoral System . How many good , decent Americans have been sucked into this scam? As Ralph Nader succinctly commented: ‘ You can vote for candidate Tweedle Dee vs. candidate Tweedle Tum ‘. No matter the outcome, we working stiffs lose out…. Every time!
The energy and the money that these electoral campaign seasons generate is remarkable. Thursday I was on my way to support my dear pal Walt, an 80 something lifetime activist. He decided to begin a weekly street corner protest in New Smyrna Beach against America’s War Empire. Both political parties have wasted trillions of our tax dollars on phony invasions and occupations in Iraq & Afghanistan along with 800 military bases in over 100 countries. Wow! Our cities are broke, good jobs scarce, unemployment is rampant as we lay off needed teachers, first providers and city service workers. The housing bubble burst, due to criminal investment houses, has millions either in foreclosure or under water with their mortgage. We send our young kids to become caretakers of this empire , at risk to themselves and the people they occupy. You know the drill…. You don’t need me to remind you. Yet, where is the outrage against spending 48 cents of every tax dollar on military contracts rather than saving our cities? The sad irony is that both major parties continually vote for more and more money to what Eisenhower warned us about: The Military Industrial Complex.
So, here I was, on my way to stand with Walt, and I decided to stop by the New Smyrna Beach Library to return a few books. As I pulled into the parking lot, I could see scores of campaign workers and a myriad of signs. I had forgotten that the library was conducting early voting. Some of these folks advanced upon me like locusts .’ Going in to vote? ‘ No, I said, only going to the library. I could see some familiar faces from the local Democratic club I had joined years ago when I too was ‘ sucked in ‘ . They had this frenzied look upon their faces that told me how much ( to them, once again ) November’s election seemed a matter of ‘ Life or death ‘ . As far as the Republican and Tea Party campaign volunteers , what more need I say? These folks preach and lecture us about Big Totalitarian Government and then support the very elements that rape our treasury for phony bank bailouts and the aforementioned bloated military budgets. They shout ‘ I don’t want the government controlling my health ‘ and then support huge rip-off artist insurers who actually block our path to healing ( high premiums, high deductibles, pre-existing condition denials, refusing to cover alternative care i.e.: acupuncture, massage and counseling ) . Bottom line: whether Republican or Democrat, this whole Horse race mindset becomes one of Horse**** if one sticks to the core issues and not the rhetoric.
I met up with Walt on the street corner ( five minutes from the library ) and stood next to him, our signs in hand. Our dear friend Donna ( who had been in the library parking lot helping a progressive school board candidate ) drove over and joined us. Walt’s neighbor, Carl, too ill to stand , came down and sat on a bench nearby holding a sign. That was it. Four of us. When will the good people from that library parking lot, and the hundreds of drivers who passed us by, finally get it, before we all turn into horse meat?
Philip A. Farruggio is son and grandson of Brooklyn NYC longshoremen. He is an activist leader and free lance columnist. Since the 2000 elections, he has written over 200 columns, many posted on various sites worldwide. Recently, he is finding a home at www.dandelionsalad.wordpress.com, or at his own blog at www.opensalon.com. Philip can be reached at paf1222@bellsouth.net.
see
Ten Questions for Tea Partiers by Ralph Nader
How Voting Perpetuates Evil by Joel S. Hirschhorn
Why I Loathe The Democrats by Philip A. Farruggio
Chris Hedges: Death of the Liberal Class
link: http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2010/10/24/horse-races-horse-and-horse-meat-by-philip-a-farruggio/.
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