Right-wing again crawls out of the sewer to attack Obama

I've been away from the U.S. for two weeks and the country has gone crazy. I suppose you've been wondering how desperate the Right-wing and the Republican party are. Well check out the Sean Hannity panel discussion about the photo then check out the real story. Clearly Hannity, as usual didn't care about the truth any more than the Drudge Report did. They just went with the photo that made the President look bad, even though it was simply not true. Even scarier, a number of media outlets mentioned that it was a young WHITE woman. This level of racist desperation is seemingly where the American right-wing is at today. There seems to be no sewer into which they won't dive.



Now here's the truth that the Hannity panel had no use for.

Obama Checking Out Lady? Judge for Yourself

Shared via AddThis

(If you are viewing this on FaceBook, check out http://contestedterrain.blogspot.com/ to see the videos)

JFK and Vietnam: what I didn't know

I found this letter to the Times (of London) fascinating, so I'm reprinting it in its entirety. It taught me something very important about JFK (and possibly why he was assassinated). It also raises interesting comparisons between Robert McNamara (who recently died) and Vietnm and Colin Powell and Iraq (although it does not mention Powell). And the seduction of being near power (you know: Working from the inside to bring about change v. working on the outside). But most of all it may revise my estimate of JFK. Anyway here it is:

From The Times
July 10, 2009

McNamara and the fog of war
Why Vietnam was President Lyndon Johnson's war

Sir, It would be more accurate to describe the Vietnam War as President Lyndon Johnson’s War (“From the fog of war came three hard truths”, Opinion, July 8).

I suspect that LBJ was responsible for pinning the “McNamara’s War” label on to Robert McNamara (obituary, July 7). He tried a similar thing with Senator William Fulbright, as evidenced by the acrimonious exchange in 1970 between former President Johnson and Fulbright. Johnson believed that the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, proposed by LBJ, and guided to passage by Senator Fulbright, in August 1964, and which committed US Armed Forces to military action against North Vietnam, was “misnamed” and should have been called the “Fulbright Resolution” because Fulbright, acccording to Johnson, “introduced it with his knowledge, with his approval, his consent”.

LBJ asked Congress for a resolution of intent based on false reports of “renewed hostile actions against US ships on the high seas in the Gulf of Tonkin” as a pretext for stepping up the war in Vietnam. Fulbright said in 1970 that he supported the resolution only because he believed the lies he had been told about the so-called attacks on US ships in Auguust 1964, which he descibed as “a phoney and a false”. LBJ sold the idea to Fulbright and others that if the resolution was passed quickly and unanimously it would be a warning to the North Vietnamese and that they would cease to infilitrate South Vietnam. Events proved otherwise.

President Kennedy, fully supported by Robert McNamara, intended to withdraw all US involvement from South Vietnam as indicated in the National Security Action Memorandum No 263 dated October 11, 1963. Kennedy’s intervention in this level of military jurisdiction would hardly have endeared him to those factions who wanted the war in Vietnam to continue and increase. President Kennedy was assassinated only weeks later.

President Johnson almost immediately reversed Kennedy’s plan to withdraw from Vietnam in National Security Action Memorandum No 273 dated November 26, 1963. It is inconceivable that Secretary of Defence McNamara had changed his mind about US policy in Vietnam by then. I do not think he ever did, but allowed President Johnson to prevail upon him, against his better judgment, to prosecute a war that was immoral and unwinnable. As McNamara confessed: “We were wrong, terribly wrong.” I believe that McNamara was of this opinion in 1963, and it is to his eternal shame that he did not resign his postion in the Johnson Administration on this issue.

Peter Henrick
Northfield, Birmingham

July 16: Talk - "Who's Afraid of Swine Flu? The Intersection of Capitalism, Food and Disease"

"Who’s Afraid of Swine Flu? The Intersection of Capitalism, Food and Disease"

July 16, 7:30 pm

The Brecht Forum
451 West Street (between Bank & Bethune Sts)
Phone: (212) 242-4201

Dr. Laura S. Boylan will talk about “Swine and Men” examining the history of viral pandemics in people and their animals with a focus on the most recent outbreak, a WHO designated global pandemic. New York has more cases and fatalities than any other state and yet there’s no evidence it’s as lethal as “regular” flu.

Arun Gupta will analyze “Bacon as a Weapon of Mass Destruction,” demystifying the hidden political and economic systems behind this simple breakfast food. Gupta will look at how government agricultural policies, the rise of Concentrated Agricultural Feeding Operations, the fast-food industry and the construction of consumer taste have transformed the once-humble strip of bacon into a highly profitable product that poses a grave threat to the environment and public health.

For more info: brechtforum.org

CodePink: "When Drones Attack"

This photo and caption appear on CodePink's
"Twitpic page.

It's quite amazing that even
by spending more on our military than almost
all other nations combined, they still can't get
it right.

Parisla at Chickenhammer Services
Committee comments on the photo:
"They've given rise to a feeling of anger
that coalesces the population around
extremists and leads to spikes of extremism."

Letterman's latest Sarah Palin Top 10 List

No comment necessary. As always Letterman speaks for himelf:

Sen. Franken co-sponsors the Employee Free Choice Act

According to American Rights at Work, Al Franken said shortly after being sworn-in as the newest senator:

As of about half an hour ago, I became the co-sponsor of my first piece of legislation in the Senate. And it's something called the Employee Free Choice Act.

That's a great beginning but we have to demand a great deal more from Senator Franken (That does sound good). He could become a real voice for progressive politics in this country - and boy do we need one. So take a moment and join American Rights at Work and many others of us and welcome him to his new job.

Limbaugh concedes Obama a second term

Rush Limbaugh is reaching a point of comedy as analysis. Here's his latest from an extreme right-wing website:

Rush Limbaugh is suggesting that President Barack Obama and his political operatives already are laying the groundwork for a third term.

'You have to wonder if Obama is just trying to lay a foundation for not being a hypocrite when he tries to serve beyond 2016,' Limbaugh told his national radio audience. 'I wouldn't be at all surprised if in the next number of years there is a move on the 22nd Amendment.'

But the most interesting thing about this quote is that Limbaugh and his right-wing buddies are apparently conceding a second term to Obama in 2012. The other aspect of this nonsense is that clearly the right's strategy is to scare its constituency. That seems go be all they have. A third-Obama term, socialism, these are simply scare tactics being put out there by a bunch of manipulators. It will be interesting to see what these clowns come up with next.

Annual Public Reading of the Constitution & Declaration of Independence

Every year we have joined Norman Siegel for his (and others) annual reading of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in Central Park's Strawberry Fields. It is important to remember the basis (with all its faults) on which this country was founded. July 4th seems like the perfect day to do that. Since we are in Wales, we can't attend this year but if you can it would be great.

Norman's annual public reading of the Constitution & Declaration of Independence will take place Saturday, July 4th, at noon in Central Park at Strawberry Fields, West 72nd Street entrance. Norman says, "I invite you to join us in Central Park to share in this wonderful experience. The 4th of July, Central Park, people celebrating the principles central to free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, equal protection under the law, due process of the law and other cornerstone American values-it will make you feel good." It's a free event!

WBAI-in-Exile

Here's a comment I thought was more important than just a comment:

Hoping you get this viewed and up soon (jet lag?):

Don DeBar is doing updates often on the seizure of the Free Gaza Movement ship (with Cynthia McKinney and about 19 more), and kidnapping, arrest in international waters. Info on demos too that are happening in NYC and DC:
www.wbaix.org WBAI-in-Exile.

Video of the meeting, combination of Harlem Tenants Council and Take Back WBAI, on June 27th, is on www.wbixradio.org
Great speakers: including Nelly Hester Bailey, Glen Ford, Lisa Davis (from Take Back WBAI) because it's about corporatisation of housing, radio, etc.
Don DeBar is producer of of both sites.

Dumbing-down the U.S. Senate: Jim DeMint

I have a very simple question: how do people this dumb get elected to the U.S. Senate? Here's what Sen. Jim DeMint (R=SC) said in a recently received e-mail:

If it concerns you that America is sliding toward socialism, I hope you will join me in supporting a group I am leading to elect true conservatives to the U.S. Senate who will stand up and fight to save freedom.

Obviously DeMint isn't the only extreme right-wing Republican to accuse the President of the U.S. of "socialism." It's their chosen strategy to get back into power. They simply don't understand how removed from the concerns of the American people they are and that is why they lost. When McCain/Palin were up against the wall, they kept yelling "socialism." The voters told them what they could do with their accusations and elected Obama and a Democratic Senate and House. But these tin-ear dummies are still yelling "socialism." What else does the DeMented DeMint have to say:

As you know, President Obama and congressional Democrats are ramming billions in bailouts, stimulus plans, and pork-barrel projects through Congress as fast as they can.

So that's what they mean by socialism. I don't know what DeMint and his buddies were doing during grade school and high school history and civics; clearly not paying attention.

But my question is still: who elects these dummies to the Senate? And what can we do to raise the IQ level of Congress? And Jim DeMented helps by identifying the Axis of Evil in the Senate (or seeking to enter it), he says:

In Oklahoma, we are supporting the re-election bid of conservative U.S. Senator Tom Coburn. As I'm sure you know, Senator Coburn is a one-man pork-busting machine who has done more to protect American taxpayers from wasteful Washington spending than anyone in Congress.
In Pennsylvania, we are backing former Congressman Pat Toomey in his race to replace ultra-liberal Senator Arlen Specter, who helped President Obama pass the $1 trillion stimulus bill and recently switched parties to save his political hide.
In Florida, we have endorsed former Speaker of the House Marco Rubio who is running for the GOP nomination against Governor Charlie Crist. Rubio is a bright, articulate, and principled leader who has what it takes to win this important seat for conservatives.

So now that we know who the boobs are, let's get busy.

Al Franken wins!

Al Franken was just officially declared the next U.S. senator from Minnesota!.

If only Al Gore had had Sen. Franken's fortitude and commitment the last eight years might have been very different. Anytime your right-wing friends talk about "activist judges" just remind them about the Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore.

Good luck Sen. Franken. We need more progressive politicians like you.

July 2: 12-Hour Vigil in Honor of National Domestic Worker Appreciation Day

Thursday, July 2, 11am-11pm

VIGIL to demand the immediate passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

Outside Governor Paterson's New York City Office,

41st St and 3rd Ave

11am-12pm: PRESS CONFERENCE

Over 200,000 workers, mostly women of color, work as nannies, housekeepers, and elderly caregivers. They care for the most important elements of society: families and homes. Their work allows their employers to work with peace of mind. And they are vulnerable to some of the worst abuses imaginable and lack the power to negotiate for basic rights and benefits. Domestic workers need the urgent passage of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and they need your support now more than ever.

Gloria Steinem, Barbara Ehrenreich, and other prominent New Yorkers will be on hand to distribute certificates of appreciation to ALL domestic workers who attend. The 12-hour program includes testimonies, music, poetry, street theater, community candle lighting ceremony, and much more! There will be simultaneous vigils in California.

(Trains 4/5/6/7 to Grand Central Station)
For more information, please call DWU at 212-481-5747 or
email domesticworkersunited@gmail.com.

Arrival in Wales

We (the New York City labor chorus and a few hangers on like me) arrived in London's Heathrow Airpoprt this morning (Tues.) and almost immediately were taken by bus to Cardiff and the University of Wales in Cardiff, where we are staying for the next three days (Wed., Thurs., and Fri.) On Friday we will we will head for Swansea, where we will stay until we return to London (Heathrow) for the flight home.

The flight from JFK (in NYC) to London was uneventful (that's the way I like airplane trips to be). But I'm convinced that American Airlines is giving each customer less space. They offered us chicken or meat lasagna, but we declined. We had had sandwiches in the airport before we left. In addition to the Chorus There was a large contingent of Hassidic Jews on the plane and a smattering of families as well. It was pretty full.

Wales (Cardiff) is beautiful. That's all for now, we have to be up and on the bus at 8:30am tomorrow (Wed.). More later.

Protest Chipotle chain treatment of Florida farmworkers

If you patronize Chipotle (or even if you don't) you'll want to send this letter to the restaurant chain's CEO regarding the treatment of Florida farmworkers who pick the tomatos, etc. that are served at the restaurant.

Here's some information from Take Action:

Chipotle, how about some integrity for Florida's farmworkers?
For decades, Florida's farmworkers have faced terrible abuses and brutal exploitation. Workers earn sub-poverty wages for toiling 60-70 hours per week, and some have even been chained to poles, locked inside trucks, beaten, and robbed of their pay.

Chipotle, the country's fastest-growing fast food chain, claims to serve "food with integrity." But the company has turned its back on farmworkers demanding a lasting commitment to ending the brutal exploitation in Florida's fields.

Add your name to the open letter to Chipotle CEO Steve Ells demanding real "food with integrity" and an end to horrific working conditions.

Addendum to "Republican extra-curricular sex activities"

It occurs to me that John Ensign and Mark Sanford were (are) two of the loudest opponents of gay and lesbian marriage, because it would violate the sanctity of marriage. Enough said.

Republican extra-curricular sex activities

According to the AP's Jim Davenport, one week after Republican Senator John Ensign (Nev) admitted to a nearly year-long extramarital affair with a former member of his campaign staff, Republican Governor Mark Sanford (SC) admitted today that he spent Fathers Day weekend in Argentina with a woman with whom he's been having an affair.

Both of these men were likely 2012 Republican candidates for president. They were also currently honchos in the Republican Party apparatus. After their announcements Ensign resigned as the third person in the GOP senate leadership and Sanford resigned today from his position as head of the Republican Governors Association.

Anyone who reads the newspapers or watches TV knows that not being able to keep it in one's pants isn't a specifically Republican weakness, but Democrats don't hold themselves out as paragons of virtue like the Republicans do. So these falls from grace don't also label them as hypocrites. These Republican politicians have also been two of the most vocal self-rightous critics of President Obamas' proposals.

If this keeps happening, all that will be left to the 2012 Republicans will be McCain, Palin and Gingrich (oops, he cheated on two wives).

Democrats opposed to meaningful healthcare reform

Here are the names of the nine Democratic senators who are opposed to a public healthcare option:

Kay Hagan (NC)
Bill Nelson (FL)
Max Baucus (MT)
Kent Conrad (ND)
Mary Landrieu (LA)
Ron Wyden (OR)
Blanche Lincoln (ARK)
Tom Carper (DE)
Maria Cantwell (WA)

These nine senators may very well be the difference between meaningful (even if not perfect) healthcare reform and the bogus Republican-preferred version.

According to Alexander Bolton on the Bill Press show:

A coalition of liberal groups has launched a $1.1 million television ad campaign to ratchet up pressure on senators who have not embraced the creation of a broad government-run health insurance plan.

The ads begin airing on Friday and will run for 10 straight days.

The ad is running in the home states of eight members of the Finance panel: Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).

Of those senators, Lincoln, Wyden and Grassley are up for reelection in 2010.

The liberal coalition is also targeting Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who has voiced opposition to the so-called public health insurance option, and Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.). Hagan has voiced support for an alternative to the public option: health insurance co-ops, a plan pushed by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.).

Obviously the more pressure we can put on these nine senators now, the greater chance we of moving them in a progressive direction. American's healthcare and democracy are at stake.

Will Congress reject the American people's preferred healthcare reform plan?

Well, we are about to find out for whom those people in Washington, who claim to be representing us, are really working. It's clear that for the most part the Republicans will vote against anything Obama proposes. They seem to have decided that opposing Obama (to hell with the American people) is their way back to the magic kingdom. There may very well be a number (currently unknown) of Democrats who will also oppose the Obama-proposed healthcare reform initiative. What they will mostly oppose is any public option to the medical-industrial complex. As Paul Krugman said in the New York Times (Monday, 6/22/09):

Honestly, I don't know what these Democrats are trying to achieve. Yes, some of the balking senators receive large campaign contributions from the medical-industrial complex - but who in politics doesn't? If I had to guess, I'd say that what's really going on is that the relatively conservative Democrats still cling to the old dream of becoming kingmakers, of recreating the bipartisan center that used to run America.

I take it what "the bipartisan center" really means is a right-wing consensus, which doesn't take the wishes of the American people into account.

In the case of the healthcare reform initiative the desires of the majority Americans is not in doubt. The New York Times (6/20/09) reported:

Americans overwhelmingly support substantial changes to the health care system and are strongly behind one of the most contentious proposals Congress is considering, a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. The poll found that most Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance and that they said the government could do a better job of holding down health-care costs than the private sector.

As the lords and ladies of Congress decide, for whatever reasons, what healthcare reform they can tolerate (or their sponsors will allow them to support), there are two obvious victims of this betrayal - the health of the American people and democracy, neither of which, I suspect, are of great concern to the rulers. But as we consider for whom to vote in 2010 how candidates respond to the wishes of the people should take center stage.

Take Back WBAI: New member-voter registration campaign

Bob Lederer forwarded the following e-mail from Akinlabi Mackall re: Take Back WBAI. It proposes a 3-week new member-voter registration campaign. I will be in Wales for two of those weeks, but if possible I will try to keep this blog and my FaceBook page updated.
Dan

(Friends - Akinlabi Mackall, a former WBAI Local Advisory Board member and longtime community activist with S.E.E.D.S., one of the endorsing groups of the Coalition to Take Back WBAI, asked that I forward this to the people on the Coalition's email list. Hopefully we can discuss this at tonight's meeting, which again, is as follows):
Tuesday, June 23, 6:30-10:00 PM
District Council 1707,
75 Varick St. (north of Canal St.), 14th fl
(A, C, E or 1 train to Canal St.)

Subject: Take Back WBAI: Proposed 3-Week New Member-Voter Registration Campaign
To: Justice & Unity Campaign
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:43:28 -0400
From: jaydub16@aol.com

The reversal of the last local station board (LSB) election result is crucial to the future of WBAI (as well as Pacifica). Now, as much as ever, we must practice at 'BAI what the Justice and Unity Campaign (J & U) has always "preached": engagement of the radio station with the voices from and righteous struggles of our communities. The present LSB majority is the opposite of what the station and our communities need. J & U's efforts to engage "the people" are on the right track, but more is called for; much more.

As you know, I've spoken to you about Justice & Unity organizing a focused, 3-week new member-voter registration campaign ending on the July 15th deadline.

Perhaps people in the Coalition to Take Back WBAI (CTBW) will support such a campaign. They were certainly energized at the rally last Wednesday. I think one thousand (1000) new member-voters is an ambitious yet achievable goal. I expect that 1000 "new" voters for our slate will make for a much needed, decisive win; even for potentially lower vote getters on our slate.

I suggest that the approach include the following:

1. CTBW, J & U and Friends immediately identify and engage 100 to 150 prospective small, medium and large groups, orgs and churches across the WBAI listening area (especially NY- NJ).

2. Identify a minimum of ten (10) --preferably twenty (20) -- core campaign coordinators, each assigned to about 10 groups, orgs and churches. These core coordinators would be responsible for overseeing / monitoring / tabulating the registrations of new member-voters by each of their assigned groups.

3. Depending on each group's size and the 'BAI member status of its own members, all the groups will be asked to focus its members and friends on doing all of the following (as appropriate):
(a) contributing $25 or volunteering for 3 hours and registering to become a new WBAI member-voter AND voting in a way that will ensure election of candidates committed to local autonomy and genuine engagement of underrepresented communities.
(b) getting three or more of their friends to do "a" above.

Given the time constraints and the very busy schedules of many of our folks, we need a team of core coordinators who can focus on this mini campaign. Obviously, each of the 10-20 core coordinators must be a self starter, organized and persistent. A dedicated email list for "core communications" might be useful; and 2 or 3 overall coordinators may help with the efficiency (ies) as well.

I am willing to contact the leaderships of the following 17 groups immediately, to request their commitment to participate in this proposed 3-week push:
BEPAA, BNYEE, CBJC, CEMOTAP, CSH, D-12, FFDMS, HCCLC, ICOPE, NAKO, NYABPsi, N-BUF (NY), NYSCKRS, Operation Power, Roots Revisited, Sankofa CEP, S.E.E.D.S., and a selection of churches.

June 29: Book Party & Signing - Martin Duberman

June 29, 2009, 7:00 PM

Waiting to Land: Martin Duberman and the Radical Queer Movement

Bookstore Cafe
126 Crosby Street,
212-334-3324

A panel discussion and book launch to celebrate the publication of Martin Duberman’s Waiting to Land: A (Mostly) Political Memoir.

Martin Duberman is an American historian, playwright, and gay-rights activist. He has authored over 20 books including James Russell Lowell (a National Book Award finalist), Paul Robeson, Stonewall, and the memoir Cures: A Gay Man's Odyssey. His play In White America won the Vernon Rice/Drama Desk Award for Best Off-Broadway Production in 1963.
In 2007 he published The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein, a biography of the man who was the force behind George Balanchine's New York City Ballet.

Moderated by Laura Flanders
with
Martin Duberman
Richard Kim
Kenyon Farrow
Marcia Gallo

Book signing to follow

Sponsored by:
The New Press
The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS)
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
Queers for Economic Justice
The Nation
The Indypendent

Paul Krugman debates the President's economic proposals

Here's an interesting discussion (from the day Obama announced his economic proposals) between Paul Krugman and the American Bankers Association's Diane Casey-Landry. She obviously thinks the President went too far and Krugman thinks he didn't go far enough. Gwen Ifil moderates. It's only a few minutes long. It's by way of Firedoglake

June 17: Take Back WBAI

Take Back WBAI

Undo the Coup!

Wed., June 17, 5-8 PM

In front of WBAI,
120 Wall St. (corner of South St. ),

( Trains: 2,3,4,5 to Wall St ).

Wiwa v. Shell case victory

The following is from a press release from the Center for Constitutional Rights case against Shell:

New York, June 8, 2009 — Today [on the eve of the trial], the parties in Wiwa v. Shell agreed to settle human rights claims charging the Royal Dutch/Shell company, its Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC or Shell Nigeria), and the former head of its Nigerian operation, Brian Anderson, with complicity in the torture, killing, and other abuses of Ogoni leader Ken Saro-Wiwa and other non-violent Nigerian activists in the mid-1990s in the Ogoni region of the Niger Delta.

The settlement, whose terms are public, provides a total of $15.5 million. These funds will compensate the 10 plaintiffs, who include family members of the deceased victims; establish a Trust intended to benefit the Ogoni people; and cover a portion of plaintiffs’ legal fees and costs. The settlement is only on behalf of the individual plaintiffs for their individual claims. It does not resolve outstanding issues between Shell and the Ogoni people, and the plaintiffs did not negotiate on behalf of the Ogoni people.

Amy and Juan open letter on WBAI

The struggle within WBAI seems to have taken on proportions that might ultimately compromise the station's politics in order to enhance its financial position. I realize that the future of the station is at stake. The precarious financial state of WBAI cannot be overcome by abdicating the station's political responsibility to the community that it serves, especially now, when we are embroiled in two wars (perhaps three, if you count Pakistan) and the most serious crisis of capitalism since the 1930s. The truth has become even more essential since the corporate-owned media have for the most part abdicated any responsibility for investigative journalism. We need WBAI now more than ever. I'm not certain how this struggle will turn out, but I know how it has to if free speech is to prevail. Democracy Now is a key centerpiece of WBAI's contribution to the community it serves. Below is an open letter from its co-hosts, Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales, to the entire WBAI community ("WBAI management, staff, listeners and supporters"). They object strongly to a number of actions the Pacifica board has taken. They particularly object to the shortening of "Wake up Call" - the morning show - by one hour. I suspect that they did not know when they wrote the letter that that extra hour would be devoted to a double broadcast of Democracy Now. I am certain that that would not change one word of the letter, except possibly to make it stronger.

Dan

So here is their letter:

To: WBAI management, staff, listeners and supporters
From: Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, co-hosts of Democracy Now!

We have recently learned that starting this week, the new management at Pacifica station WBAI is shifting the broadcast time of Democracy Now! from its customary 9 a.m. slot to 8 a.m. We hear this change is part of a reorganization of programming that could end up eliminating the popular and long-running Wake Up Call program on WBAI.

This decision disturbs us deeply and we urge that it be reconsidered.

We fully recognize that any station broadcasting DN! has the right to choose the appropriate time slot for the show. In normal circumstances, we would even welcome the chance to have DN! air in that keyhour. But we believe this sudden change will only
exacerbate long-simmering internal divisions among Pacifica listeners and staff.

We are also dismayed by the recent firing of WBAI program director Bernard White. Every station management has the right and responsibility to hire and fire staff they feel most appropriate. But the removal of Bernard, as far as we can tell, lacked the basic due process any employee is entitled to under the law. Given Bernard's decades of devotion and dedication to BAI, the way he was treated lacked basic human consideration.

These latest actions, however, are only symptoms of a bigger problem.

Nearly a decade ago, an unprecedented listener movement won a great victory. It ousted a Pacifica board and management that had lost its way and forced a return to Pacifica's democratic founding principles. We were both proud to be part of that movement. Like many, we believed it a victory of historic proportions for media reform in America. But we have grown increasingly distressed since then as we have watched the Pacifica reform movement, once so powerful and united, fall into deeply divided and warring camps.

A governance structure that was meant to assure greater democracy turned out to breed greater factionalism. Many station managers and executives found it impossible to manage while they answered to daily monitoring requests from newly empowered community boards. Too many activists who had once blasted the old Pacifica national board for gagging dissident producers, for unjust firings, and for poor financial management, then turned around and adopted practices that were eerily similar once they gained positions of power. Legal costs skyrocketed as every action or firing by one group led to new law suits by those on the other side. And most unfortunately, charges of racism, elitism, narrow nationalism and opportunism have
become as much a part of the war of words at Pacifica these days as American missiles in Pakistan or Afghanistan.

In short, an extraordinary amount of time and energy has been spent in what resembles more like the perpetual feuds of a dysfunctional family. We urge our brothers and sisters to reject these deeply destructive tendencies. Pacifica, along with the progressive media of which it is such a vital part, cannot grow unless all of us learn to seek more common ground.

Democracy Now! was born and nurtured inside Pacifica. We still consider ourselves part of that family even though ours has been an independent show for years. Because of those deep ties, we urge that the scheduling of Democracy Now! not be used as a weapon by the current management of WBAI against its opponents.

In Struggle,

Amy and Juan

*The views expressed here are the individual opinions of Juan and Amy and do not necessarily reflect the views of the board and staff of Democracy Now!

just practicing

Bluestockings June events

BLUESTOCKINGS Cafe & Bookstore
172 Allen Street @ Stanton (1 block south of Houston)
www.bluestockings.com

Tuesday, June 9, 7PM - $5 Suggested

“Murals as Protest and Celebration”
Amy Goodman presents muralist Janet Braun-Reinitz and arts activist Jane Weissman

They will discuss community murals and their transformational powers. protest, celebration, beauty, knowledge, inspiration -each of these can be found within or actualized by a mural.

Wednesday, June 10, 7PM - $5 Suggested
Solidarious Harvest Collective "The Greening of Cuba"

Come for a presentation on Cuba's transformation of its farming system: fields became smaller, production was localized near consumption, and organic practices were widely adopted. , and join in a discussion about the greening (or greenwashing) of the food system in the U. S.

Saturday, June 13, 7PM - Free

Reading: John Potash “The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders”

After 12 years of accumulating evidence concerning the murder of Tupac Shakur, John Potash has put it all together and published “The FBI War on Tupac Shakur and Black Leaders,” a volume filled with details gleaned from CIA and FBI documents, court transcripts, and over 100 interviews.

Monday, June 15, 7PM - Free

Reading: Mitchell Gold “Crisis”

Gold will read from his book on the alarmingly high rate of suicide among gay teens and will lead a discussion on means of support through the views and experiences of a diverse group of Americans. “Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social, and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing up Gay in America” is a book for anyone concerned with the relationship between teens and suicide.

June 12: Noam Chomsky - Crisis & Hope: Theirs and Ours

Friday, June 12, 7:00 pm

Crisis & Hope: Theirs and Ours
Noam Chomsky
Moderated by Amy Goodman
with Music by Earthdriver & Mahina Movement

RIVERSIDE CHURCH
490 Riverside Drive, (Bt 120 and 121st St)

On the 40th anniversary of his classic American Power & the New Mandarins, Noam Chomsky will address a wide range of issues from the global economic crisis, U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and South Asia, left electoral and social movement upsurges in places like El-Salvador, Bolivia and Venezuela, and the election of Barack Obama.

Sliding scale for talk: $20/$25/$30
Reception with Noam Chomsky (includes reserved seating for the talk): $50/$100/$250/$500
Special Benefit for the Brecht Forum,
(Please contribute what you can afford.)

(Co-sponsor: The Brecht Forum,The Education Ministry of The Riverside Church,Mission and Social Justice Commission of The Riverside Church,Theatre of the Oppressed at The Riverside Church, The Theater of the Oppressed Laboratory (TOPLAB), Bluestockings Books.)

At the historic Riverside Church in Harlem there will be a very special evening with the worlds leading radical intellectual Noam Chomsky.

I'm sending this from my new iPhone. Wow!

My new iPhone: You can teach an old dog new tricks

Andrew and I got iPhones yesterday (Ann decided to stick to one like her old one) so I'm playing with it and trying to learn new tricks (proving that you can teach an old dog......). I'll let you know how I'm coming along.

French Open: Roger makes history

Well, what is there to say? First of all, Roger has now won the career Grand Slam: Australia, Paris, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. He is the sixth man to accomplish that ( Andre Agassi, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, and Fred Perry). Federer and Pete Sampras (who you will notice is missing from the career grand slam list) stand alone in Grand Slam wins: Total - Sampras, 14-4/ Roger, 14-5. But Sampras never won at Roland Garros. So at some level Federer stands alone. The closest to Roger and Pete is Roy Emerson with 12-3. Without wanting to anger the tennis gods, it's less than (06-22) two weeks till Wimbledon and a possible 15th for Roger. He is scheduled to play a tournament in Halle, Ger. this coming week and probably Eastbourne, GB in the lead-up to Wimbledon. Go Roger!

Court Philippe Chatrier Men's Singles - Finals Robin Soderling SWE (23) 1 61 4   Roger Federer SUI (2) 6 77 6 Match Statistics Serve Statistics

(2) R. Federer defeats (23) R. Soderling - 6 - 1; 7 - 6; 6 - 4



Federer's Path to the Finals

First Round - Defeated Alberto Martin - 6 - 4; 6 - 3; 6 - 2

Second Round - Defeated Jose Acasuso - 7 - 6; 5 - 7; 7 - 6; 6 - 2

Third Round - Defeated (32) Paul-Henri Mathieu - 4 - 6; 6 - 1; 6 - 4; 6 - 4

Fourth Round - Defeated Tommy Haas - 6 - 7; 5 - 7; 6 - 4; 6 - 0; 6 - 2

Quarterfinals - Defeated (11) Gael Monfils - 7 - 6; 6 - 2; 6 - 4

Semifinals - Defeated (5) Juan Martin Del Potro - 3 - 6; 7 - 6; 2 - 6; 6 - 1; 6 - 4

It's Kuznetsova in Paris

Well, the women's French Open final is history. I was wrong. It was Kuznetsova, not Safina.  So Safina remains #1 without a slam. Tommorow 9AM (NBC) Federer plays for history. Go Roger!

Court Philippe Chatrier Women's Singles - Finals
	Dinara Safina RUS (1)							4		2
	Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (7)							6		6

Match Statistics

Serve Statistics

French Open: Men's final set

Well the final contenders for the French Open final have been decided. Roger Federer v. Robin Soderling. If Roger wins, it will be the fourth grand slam, the missing one in his career. After coming back from 2 sets down in the quarters (actually 2 sets and 5-1 in the third) and from 2 sets to one in the semis, I think it's Roger's tournament. But we'll see. Sunday will tell the story. Go Roger.

But don't forget Safina v. Kuznetsova tommorow (Sat.).

Court Philippe Chatrier Men's Singles - Semifinals

Robin Soderling SWE (23)               6    7    5   4   6

Fernando Gonzalez CHI (12)           3    5   7    6   4

Match Statistics Serve Statistics

Court Philippe Chatrier Men's Singles - Semifinals

Juan Martin Del Potro ARG (5)       6   6   6   1   4

Roger Federer SUI (2)                       3   7   2   6   6

Match Statistics Serve StatisticsW

Court Philippe Chatrier Men's Singles - Semifinals

New Hampshire makes six

Yesterday (Wed 6/3) New Hampshire (home of World Fellowship) became the sixth state to legalize gay and lesbian marriage.

Hopefully New York will be next.

The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, elected in New Hampshire in 2003 as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, was among those celebrating the new law.

"It's about being recognized as whole people and whole citizens," He said.

"There are a lot of people standing here who when we grew up could not have imagined this," he elaborated. "You can't imagine something that is simply impossible. It's happened, in our lifetimes."

Watch" Nurse Jackie" Mon. @ 10:30 PM

Our friend Merritt Wever (right) is playing first-year nursing student Zoey Barkow in the new Showtime series Nurse Jackie. It begins Monday evening @ 10:30 PM (right after Weeds.) You may remember Merritt from the George Clooney film Michael Clayton or the short-lived TV series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Just for the record Edie Falco is Nurse Jackie

French Open: An all-Russian final

Saturday's women's final in Paris will be all-Russian: #1 Dinara Safina v. #7 Svetlana Kuznetsova. As you can see below, Kuznetsova had a bit harder a time with Stosur than Safina did with Cibulkova. Kuznetsova also might be more tired from her epic 5-set battle with Sarina Williams yesterday (Wed.). My money (figuratively) is still on Safina. But they are the perfect duo for a clay court final. 

Court Philippe Chatrier Women's Singles - Semifinals Dinara Safina RUS (1) 6 6   Dominika Cibulkova SVK (20) 3 3 Match Statistics Serve Statistics Court Philippe Chatrier Women's Singles - Semifinals Samantha Stosur AUS (30) 4 77 3   Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (7) 6 65 6 Match Statistics Serve Statistics

 

French Open: Semis are set

Well the semi-finals are set both for the men and women in Paris. A week ago no one would have predicted how it would be at this point. There are at least three men (Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray) who are surprisingly missing from the party. As I said yesterday, I still think that Roger is the man to beat. Even more so now that Murray is out. Although it should be noted that, as Ann put it, Soderling seems to still be in the bubble from his defeat of the clay king and Gonzalez and Del Potro are very good. But it's Roger's tournament to lose.

So here are the men's semis:

Robin Soderling SWE (23)
v
Fernando Gonzalez CHI (12)

Juan Martin Del Potro ARG (5)
v
Roger Federer SUI (2)

In some sense, the women's semis are as surprising as the mens. Dinara Safina (#1) is still on board and there was no one who's loss was as surprising as Nadal's. We rarely get a #20 and 30 in the semis. Just like among the men many familiar faces are missing: #s 2&3 the williams sisters (Venus and Serena), #4 Elena Dementieva, #5 Jelena Jankovic and #8 Ana Ivanovic. Oh and don't forget unseeded Maria Sharapova (who had a good tournament until yesterday when she met semi-finalist Domeninika Cibulkova). I predict an all-Russian final, with Safina coming out on top.

So here are the women's semis:

Dinara Safina RUS (1)
v
Dominika Cibulkova SVK (20)

Samantha Stosur AUS (30)
v
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (7)

Murder for "Life"

Domestic terrorism, just like the international version, does not happen in a cultural vacuum. So all of the right-wing deniers who rushed to the microphones and video cameras to absolve themselves of any guilt for the murder of Dr. George Tiller, who, according to Amy Goodman yesterday morning, is "Remembered for Lifelong Dedication to Women’s Reproductive Health" are as usual delusional. The Supreme Court long ago decided that crying fire in a crowded theater was not covered by free speech. These right-wing shouters are promoting violence. There are many weak-minded people among their followers who are easily manipulated. I have no idea what Bill O'Reilly intended each time he referred to "Tiller the baby killer." But that's not the point. In an atmosphere dominated by the right-wing gun culture and a bunch of weak-minded disciples, O'Reilly's rants certainly contributed to the tragedy at the Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas last Sunday. One of the most notable aspects of Tiller's assassination is that O'Reilly has once again proven that he has perfected the victim role. Here's what he said yesterday:

When I heard about Tiller’s murder, I knew pro-abortion zealots and FOX News haters would attempt to blame us for the crime and that is exactly what happened.

A man is dead and when he heard about the murder all he could think about was how it would effect BillO', that's a level of self-involvement that's hardly believable. The object of rational people should not be to shut up O'Reilly and his lynch mob, but to make their irresponsible rantings irrelevant.

Survivors of Air France flight 447 landed on an island

According to news reports:

an Air France plane carrying 228 people from Brazil to France has gone missing over the Atlantic. A search and rescue mission is underway off the coast of Brazil.

Does anyone else believe that the survivors of Air France Flight 447 landed on an island and are in for one hell of an experience. There might even be some time travel involved.

Federer avoids another upset at Roland Garros

Yesterday's earthquake at Roland Garros in Paris - the upset of the clay master Rafael Nadal - has shaken up the men's draw. There are several possible champions on the horizon. If you share our support of Roger Federer, you'll be interested in today's Federer v. Tommy Haas match. In a nutshell, Haas took the first two sets and then Federer remembered who he was and took the final three. So our favorite is still in the running and with both Nadal and Novack Djokavic gone the only real threat to his finally winning the one slam he hasn't won is Andy Murray. So this week should be fun.

Court Philippe Chatrier Men's Singles - 4th Round
	Tommy Haas GER			2				77		7		4		0
	Roger Federer SUI (2)			6				64		5		6		6

Match Statistics

Serve Statistics

Tennis: French Open - Nadal v. Soderling

SPOILER ALERT: This match will not be televised until 3PM on NBC. So if you want to watch it not knowing the outcome do not read any further.

In what I believe to be the biggest upset in French Open history, #23 Robin Soderling has defeated the King of Clay #1Rafael Nadal . Here is the offical French Open record:

Court Philippe Chatrier Men's Singles - 4th Round
	Rafael Nadal ESP (1)							2		77		4		62
	Robin Soderling SWE (23)							6		62		6		77

Vote immediately for our friend

Our friend Juliet Ucceli sent the following message:

Hi everyone,

My niece 14-year-old niece Nika Kashyap (my brother-in-law's daughter) has been nominated for the Ocean Hero award and if you could vote for her on line, it would be much appreciated.

Vote must be in by the end of May, i.e. tomorrow, Sunday. I did it and it's real easy.

Info about what she did and how to vote is below.

Thanks.

Juliet

Three girls from Hawaii -- Chanel Gemini, Nika Kashyap and Sabina Van Tilburg -- have been nominated as Ocean Heros by Oceana.org for their efforts this year to amend the state list of recognized days to include World Ocean Day on June 8th. They worked for 2 years on this project and finally got the bill passed on April 1st. You can view the details of SB412 on the website

OK! Get busy and vote QUICKLY

SHELL TRIAL RALLIES WILL GO ON AS SCHEDULED

If you haven't already heard, the Wiwa v. Shell trial was postponed today. In the brief announcement from plaintiffs' attorneys, no new opening date was given and rumors are swirling that Shell must be scrambling at the 11th hour for an out-of-court settlement. It's hard not to speculate but the plaintiffs, defendants, and court haven't said anything else about it.

Solidarity RALLIES WILL GO ON AS SCHEDULED in New York and London!

12 noon at Foley Square near the courthouse.

Tonight (May 26): Celebration Of Women In The Arts @ Nuyorican Poets Cafe

Celebration Of Women In The Arts @ Nuyorican Poets Cafe

Raise your voices with ours as we celebrate strong, creative, intelligent, beautiful, powerful women

In an evening of music, song, hip hop, and spoken word

Featuring 

DJ Mary Mac 

Rephstar & PattyDukes 

Suzen Baraka

Ife 

Simi

Aurora "Rory" Barnes  

Where's Leslie?  

J.Love Calderon 

Also featuring an 8 minute clip of an, as yet, untitled documentary by Karin Anderson, about the effects of sexual abuse and violence against women. 

This is a MUST SEE. It is beautifully done.

Supported by V-Day, We Got Issues!, Greater NYC Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, TADA!, NiteStar, PoetCD, Imajre Films, Circa'95, BKBOYEEZ.com, Voices Of New York, Girls Like Us, Zunnania.com, Women's Project, Propel-her Dance Collective!  

Tues. May 26th - 7pm doors, 7:30pm Show.  $10 admission

Nuyorican Poets Cafe

236 E 3rd St

F Train to 2nd Avenue Station

Get out at the 1st Avenue exit and walk east to Avenue B

May 26: Meeting of Coalition to Take Back WBAI

WBAI has been the jewel of the New York Left since its founding in 1955. For most of its life it has lived up to its name, "Free Speech Radio." In case you haven't been paying attention (easy to do during the Spring and Summer) a cabal from San Francisco has taken control of WBAI, fired the program director Bernard White and station manager Tony Riddle and decided that they know better how to appeal to a New York audience. It seems to me that means much more talk about health and diet and less about war and peace. Since this is not the first time a group of outsiders has attempted to take over the station, many people are well prepared to fight back.

The second meeting of the Coalition to Take Back WBAI will be Tuesday, May 26, 6:30-10:00 PM at District Council 1707, 75 Varick St. (north of Canal St.), 14th floor.(A or 1 train to Canal St.). We need to start on time - there's a lot of urgent work to do. There will be an update on the coup, and time for the working groups to meet and move forward on action plans.

Current Demands of the Coalition to Take Back WBAI:

1. Reinstate Tony Riddle as WBAI General Manager and Bernard White as WBAI Program Director
2. No gag rule - no punishment of staff - reinstate Ayo Harrington and any other removed staff
3. Keep the transmitter under WBAI's control
4. Safeguard WBAI's historic local autonomy.

Among the people supporting the Coalition are

Pam Africa
Stanley Aronowitz
Father Luis Barrios
City Councilmember Charles Barron
Tony Gronowicz
Fred Ho
Akinlabi E. A. Mackall
Esperanza Martell
Dr. James McIntosh
Ken Nash
Ralph Poynter
Lea Rizack
Nayo Joy Simmons & Brenda Walker
of Operation P.O.W.E.R. (People Organizing
& Working for Empowerment & Respect)
Lynne Stewart
Valerie Van Isler

We can't afford to lose WBAI now. Support the Coalition. Take back WBAI.

Obama v. Cheney: Dueling speeches

At least that's the way a speech about national security by the President of the United States and a retread of the speeches the former vice-president has recently made whenever he faced a camera or a microphone have been treated by the corporate-owned media. They do love a controversy even if they have to create it themselves. It seems as if Cheney has spent too much time in bunkers since 9/11 and he thinks it's still 2003 and he's missed that most of his strategy was rejected during the second Bush term. I think there is a loop in his head and whenever he sees a TV camera it just clicks on. I have been thinking, if you wanted to get someone to spill what they know, you could subject them to the canned Cheney (father or daughter) speech. They would spill the beans as fast as they could. But seriously, Cheney keeps repeating several mantras: (1) If you disagree with him, you are endangering our security; (2) We do not torture. In order to sustain this lie, torture has been renamed "enhanced interrogation techniques;" (3) We kept you safe ever since 9/11, with the use of these "enhanced interrogation techniques." Let's look at these claims. We prevented an attack on the U.S. since 9/11. Well,it's true, there hasn't been such an attack. But did it have anything to do with Cheney and his torturers. What Cheney and his Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld did to prevent a second attack was to send thousands of our young men and women to be killed and maimed in Afghanistan and Iraq. With all that cannon fodder close at hand why would Al-Queda need to attack us here? Juan Cole, in his wonderful new book, Engaging the Muslim World quotes Bin Laden from a 1996 interview:

I can't fight the Americans on the American mainland. It is too far. But if I succeed in bringing the Americans where I can find them, where I can fight them on my own terms, on my turf, this will be the greatest success.

And as you know Bush and the Neocons accommodated him. Many people who know what actually happened claim that much of the waterboarding and other "enhanced interrogation techniques" were used to get a few key people to say that there was a connection between Sadam Hussein and Al-Queda in order to justify their planned invasion of Iraq. In other words, people were waterboarded many times in order to promote Cheney and his Neo-Con buddies Iraq fantasy. It's important to remember that the primary method of governing during the Bush, Cheney, Rove years was to scare people in order to better manipulate them. Cheney continues to follow the same strategy: "scare the hell out of them and you can better control them."

Every thing that was done between 9/11 and the end of Bush's first term was done for two reasons: to get control of Iraqi oil in order to enrich their Anglo-American oil buddies profits and to situate Bush as Commander-in-Chief to enhance his election chances. Both tactics seemed to prove successful.

May 27: Rally to turn the heat up on Shell

From OilChange International:

Dear Dan,

This coming Wednesday, the landmark Wiwa v. Shell trial will open in U.S. federal court. Multinational oil giant Royal Dutch Shell will finally answer to charges for its role in atrocities committed against the Ogoni people of Nigeria, including conspiring with the Nigerian military government to bring about the execution of human rights and environmental justice leader Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his colleagues.

Please join our May 27, noon courthouse rally to mark the historic opening of this trial and to turn up the heat on Shell.

Because Shell doesn't want you there

Rally to mark opening of Wiwa v. Shell trial
Noon, Wednesday, May 27th
Foley Square, Manhattan, across from the U.S. Courthouse (near City Hall)

Please spread the word. Join OilChange on Facebook

This trial could send a shockwave - of the very best kind - through corporate boardrooms around the world. Together, we can send a message that corporations will be held accountable for human rights abuses, no matter where they occur.

Health Insurers Planning on Double-Crossing Obama

According to The Huffington Post:

One week after the nation's health insurance lobby pledged to President Obama to do what it can to constrain rising health costs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina is putting the finishing touches on a public message campaign aimed at killing a key plank in Obama's reform platform.

The industry argues that creating a public insurance program will undermine the marketplace and eventually lead to a single-payer style system.