Open Message To President Barack Hoover Obama

The following message was left at the WhiteHouse.gov contact page for President Barack H. Obama -- and I am sad to say that the H is for Hoover, as in Barack Hoover Obama:

Have you become a Hoover Republican? The budget freeze is an absolute mistake which will make the registered Republicans and the Blue Dogs very happy and will do awful things to your legacy. I am supposed to be your base and you have totally deserted the issues I care about: true peace, economic justice, restoration of our democracy (cancelling the unpatriotic PATRIOT Act, ending torture, getting rid of Bush league government lawyers), and last but not least: REAL healthcare for all -- single payer (or at least a public option).

Enough. When are you going to give us the Change we can BELIEVE in -- and NOT this awful Bill-Clinton-like middle-ground mess? They call you a socialist anyway, give them (and me) THAT vision. Some socialistic problems that help everyone, not just the wealthy elite. THEN, I will thank you.

I've asked for a response. Let's see if I get one.

Healthcare Bill Indefensible?

I am conflicted about whether or not the Democrats should continue to try and pass the so-called Healthcare Bill BUT:

"It is probably more damaging to the Democratic Party to defend an indefensible law than to defend a bill that never became law that's indefensible," says Norman Solomon in this week's CounterSpin (at FAIR.org). You can hear him AND Glenn Greenwald (talking about anonymous news sources) in this week's AWESOME segment:

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=4002

(I podcast CounterSpin through iTunes, fyi, and would recommend it, but you can hear the episodes you want at FAIR.org's archives whose list you can dig to there or go directly viahttp://tinyurl.com/e7twv )

"A lifelong liberal: I want to be a conservative"

This appeared in the blog at SamSederShow.com posted by MMRules:

Subject: A lifelong liberal: I want to be a conservative

Submitted by MMRules on Fri, 01/22/2010 - 2:10pm.

I want to be a conservative. I want to be free from learning things.
I want to be able to hate people without understanding them.
I want to be free from social obligation.

I want to be told what to do by a drug-addled egomaniac.
I want to believe that everything positive I accomplished was done by myself alone
and my failures are the result of women, minorities, immigrants, and "Big Government."

I want to re-write American/world history to justify my behavior.
But most importantly, I want to be a raving arrogant lunatic throughout it all..

--Steven in Texas

www.bartcop.com

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

MMRules

Corporate Personhood - The Floodgates were Opened Today

IMPORTANT. The Citizens United v. FEC decision impacts worse than Dred Scott. Listen to Thom Hartmann's explanation. (The corporate media isn't saying much of course.) Corporations can truly buy our politicians, even foreign-controlled corporations. When are we taking to the streets?

Medea Benjamin: Obama Needs to Re-Energize the Base!

Code Pink's Medea Benjamin speaks from in front of the White House with the WitnessAgainstTorture.org folks. Leave your note for President Obama at www.losing-hope.org (3 minute video).

Haiti YouTube clip

This brief clip from Haiti was uploaded by @troylivesay who is a missionary there with his family. Follow him on Twitter. Also google Molly Hightower -- a Univ. of Portland grad working with orphans in Haiti who has passed at age 22. AND text OXFAM to 25383 to donate $10 to help Haiti now. (CARE and Habitat to that number donates to them.) Great cause but Holy cell phone bill!

Luke Kelly Rocky Road To Dublin (1976)

Sherlock Holmes movie fans will recognize Luke Kelly, Ronnie Drew and the Dubliners singing Rocky Road to Dublin from the fight scene and closing credits. This is a favorite and NOT easy to sing.

Freedom For Gaza: Why We're Marching

Have you heard about the Gaza Freedom March? It is important to spread the news to address and heal this terrible injustice. Fellowship of Reconciliation's Executive Director Mark Johnson is part of the March. Check out Mark's blog at http://forpeace.net/ for updates.

Latin Quarter - Phil Ochs

Found this exquisite song via a mention by the director of the upcoming (when?) Phil Ochs' film. It deserves more play and the band more follow-up. Good stuff. (And yes there is no opening info on the PhilOchsthemovie.com site so we must live in suspense and follow @philochsfilm on Twitter.)

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Originally uploaded by Kate Anne

View from back window in not so Sunnyside Gardens.