Eternal Verities and such 11-02-15

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 7:00am

Monday 11/02/2015 Open Thread

Your date related factoid factoid of the day: Nov 2 is the earliest day upon which US election day may fall. Wahoo.

Having followed current affairs closely, viewing multiple, usually conflicting, official, domestic, and foreign news sources, and reading history in a similar fashion since my early teens has worn me out. I used to be able to take to the streets and rabble rouse for longer than I can now read news and opinion. An attack on the sinful nature of those who fail to drink the kool-aid and swallow the latest line of government bullshit over at the Daily Kos the other day reminded me that I had become too busy to wade theough the AT, and especially Pepe Escobar lately. So, I browse on over and find this little jab from Pepe (A Syria/Berliner ensemble: Escobar ) which links to this all but forgotten revelation that "Yes, Virginia, we knew about ISIS, and we liked it and still do because 'Regime Change'" (2012 Defense Intelligence Agency document: West will facilitate rise of Islamic State "in order to isolate the Syrian regime") Sinful reading likely to make a sinner out of you, but kool-aid sucks, as does propaganda, so dive on in.

As to today in history, there is a lot there, but a lot of it is ultra-meh. F'rinstance in 1964 King Saud of Saudi Arabia was deposed by a family coup, and replaced by his half-brother Faisal, but who really gives a shit.

Hell, In '64 I was a high school senior and later a freshman at U.C. Berkeley, LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act (and declared the War on Poverty), Schwerner, Goodman, and Chaney were murdered, we passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, 3,000 U.C. Berkeley students started the Free Speech Movement and fucking Mary fucking Poppins was released. Faisal replaced Saud? Really, that's an event? Bah!

So, from a huuuuge number of entries in Wikipedia, I picked the following for your edutainment.

In 1898 Cheerleading was started at the University of Minnesota with Johnny Campbell leading the crowd in cheering on the football team. Eventually the activity spread to the Democratic party and its followers, especially those at the Daily Kos.

1917 saw the Balfour Declaration proclaims British support for the "establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people" with the clear understanding "that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities". No, really, it said that.

In 1930 Haile Selassie was crowned emperor of Ethiopia. Reggae was born but nobody knew it yet.

And in 1960 Penguin Books was found not guilty of obscenity in the trial R v Penguin Books Ltd., the Lady Chatterley's Lover case.

Ah yes, in 1963 South Vietnamese President Ngo Dihn Diem was assassinated following a military coup.

In 1967, US President Lyndon B. Johnson and "The Wise Men" concluded that the American people should be given more optimistic reports on the progress of the Vietnam War. They were already lying to us, so I guess that was a call for enhanced lying, but it would be sinful to so opine, but it is nonetheless true.

And in 1983 that great liberal, U.S. President Ronald Reagan, signed a bill creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Some Births-
1734 -- Daniel Boone, American hunter and explorer. Founder of Boone's farm, makers of fine wine.

1755 -- Marie Antoinette, Austrian-French wife of Louis XVI of France, baker extraordinaire.

1815 -- George Boole, English mathematician and philosopher, inventor of the intersection and the union.

1893 -- Battista Farina, Italian businessman, founded the Pininfarina Company. You may not know it, but you have admired some of their designs.

1929 -- Amar Bose, American engineer and businessman, founded the Bose Corporation. In many homes, the speaker of the house.

1937 -- Earl Carroll, American singer (The Cadillacs and The Coasters) (d. 2012)
1938 -- Jay Black, American singer (Jay and the Americans)
1961 -- k.d. lang, Canadian singer-songwriter, producer, and actress

Deaths
1887 -- Jenny Lind, Swedish soprano and actress (b. 1820)
1950 -- George Bernard Shaw, Irish-English author, playwright, and critic, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1856)
1961 -- James Thurber, American author and illustrator (b. 1894)
1963 -- Ngo Dinh Diem, Vietnamese politician, 1st "President" of the "Republic of Vietnam" (b. 1901)
1966 -- Mississippi John Hurt, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1892)

OK, you know it's coming at some point, so let's start with it:

Jay & The Americans - Cara Mia

Jay and the Americans - Come A Little Bit Closer (Shindig - Oct 21, 1964)

This Magic Moment - Jay & The Americans 1969

---------
The Cadillacs - Speedoo (1955)

-----------------
Few people can cover Orbison, few even dare try
K D Lang's Crying

In Care of the Blues k.d. lang's first time visiting Johnny Carson!

---------------
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT Spike driver Blues 1963

Mississippi John Hurt - The Ballad Of Stagger Lee

Mississippi John Hurt - Cocaine Blues

C.C. Rider - Mississippi John Hurt

-----
But we skipped one of the bands listed for Earl Carroll (heh)
Possibly the first use of "boogety, boogety, boogety" on vinyl:

Run Red Run - The Coasters

Yakety Yak - The Coasters

The Coasters "Charlie Brown"

The Coasters - Poison Ivy (Original)

-----

Well, that didn't help, so I'll Queue it up and toddle off to bed, where the inspiration faery will no doubt visit me with a nice uplifting idea relating to the glorious wonderfulness of our incessant meddling in everybody else's affairs, which I can then add as a comment in the morning. Til then, a timeless little ditty from the fugs:

and more eternal verities

Tags:

November 2

Escobar

ISI(L/S)

Saud & Faisal

history

Boogety boogety boogety

Vote

Comments

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 8:38am

Good Morning, el and 99%'ers

Rain, rain, rain today. And it is a continuation of the rain we had yesterday.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIPan-rEQJA]

—

Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 9:40am

We've had nice steady rain since about 11:00 pm last night.

We need it so bad, it is really great to get a little, but it is giving the cats fits.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 12:26pm

We get a lot of rain

here in this part of NC so it is not unusual. The western part of my county gets an average of 91 inches per year. Here in the eastern part, not nearly as much, but more than most people in the US get. I am not complaining because all this rain is why this part of the country is so beautiful. If y'all needed it, I am glad to see you got some rain too.

—

Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Submitted by DonMidwest on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 8:42am

posted a diary today on DK

Corporate Coup d'etat: In Many Cases Can No Longer Get Day In Court

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/02/1443392/-Corporate-Coup-d-etat-...

My historian friend has been talking about writing a book on the coup d'etat in the USA for 8 years. In years past, the challenge was how to convince Americans that a coup was even possible. Now, the challenge is to figure out a way to organize the huge pile of material on the coup so it is understandable

Years ago writing something this strong about the US would bring out the trolls to attack me. Today, at least in what I post and comment on, they have not gone after me. And this is much stronger than when I posted that Obama was working for 1%.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 10:21am

Thanks for the link, I'll have to have a look.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by mimi on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 12:08pm

I tweeted it, the only thing I still can do over there,

it's a good diary. Shows me that I don't read enough and sometimes I should read the NYT. So sorry about not reading enough. My brain is full, my time is confusingly out of order and rarely enough and my spirits not where I like them to be.

Sometimes I ask myself if I am way more pissed off at the current affairs in the world than you are. And then I know it's worthless to find the answer to that question. I can't get over the fact that everything I read about Germany (which is not enough) makes me angry and so disappointed. I am so pissed at the recurrence of the cold war, wars as in bombing wars, NATO doing nothing I can see make sense, and greed being on the forefront of racism showing up and oozing out of people's nostrils and mouths. Sometimes I wonder how misguided I may be by reading too much and living too little.

I understand that one needs to find something to lift up an inspire your next and yourself. It's hard to find out for me how to do that. I am homesick for my books. And I know that reading over there and here won't do the trick. So, wish me luck, finding my way out of this. It takes longer than I thought it would. I need to get outta here. What a shame.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 12:38pm

Excellent diary

There are so many ways that we are losing our rights and the sheer amount of bad news on a daily basis makes it hard for most people to even keep up with. I remember the "rocket docket" foreclosures in Florida that Matt Taibbi reported on in Rolling Stone. People were losing their homes without even being notified of the court cases that took them away. It was appalling.

—

Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Submitted by shaharazade on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 2:49pm

Good diary Don

This affects all of us who are not filthy rich or a corporation. One thing I like about Bernie was his campaign statement that he would not appoint a supreme that supports the CU. Everybody says vote for HRC because the Supreme's but I do not think any judge she appoints would be anything but a corporate tool.

Submitted by lotlizard on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 9:01am

A 9/11 widow pushes back against Condi's old lie told new again

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristen-breitweiser/condi-rice-heres-your-...

Eternal verities versus temporal mendacities and prevarications.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 10:24am

Stop the lies? What? Never! Especially not from Condi.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by mimi on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 12:23pm

oh, my brain couldn't resist imagining a situation

in which Trump is US President and his own tower in NYC would be "hit by who knows who".
What would Trump say then? "My gollie, it happened under my time?" (referring to Trump's quote blaming GWBush for the attack on the WW towers) Riiight.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 12:11pm

ECB market rigging

link

"some of the European Central Bank’s top decision-makers met banks and asset managers days before major policy decisions, and on one occasion just hours before, copies of their diaries reveal."

Submitted by Unabashed Liberal on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 12:38pm

"No better Christmas present for the American People" says PBO

about the toxic 2015 Budget Bill he just signed.

I've checked a handful of press releases from Dem lawmakers (regarding the budget), and I'm dismayed at how many have lied with impunity--claiming that there were no cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

When I post the material on the SSDI overhaul, and the closing of Social Security 'wasteful loopholes' that our parents (not sure about grandparents) were privvy to, I'll post several of them at EB.

Correction to my figures about how many Repubs voted 'nay'--that count was the 'yea' count. The 'nay' votes were 35 in the Senate. Clearly, if it had been the other way around, it wouldn't have passed! BTW, don't remember the exact number in the House, but it was approximately Dems voting for the bill (over Repubs) by 2:1.

Back to PBO's statement that I just heard.

A few phrases from his spiel after the signing:

The "Christmas Present" quote from above.

This budget reflects our values.

It will grow our economy, and keep us safe.

And, it's paid for.

And,

It protects seniors by avoiding harmful cuts to Medicare, and Social Security.

I'll be glad when we get back home. This is the last straw. As much as I can, I intend to throw many of the dishonest quotes back at the politicians (in screenshots).

Enough is enough.

I haven't even checked in at DKos for more than a week. But, my 'guess' is that there was nothing (accurate) about the SSDI cuts, or the closing of the Social Security so-called 'loopholes,' which will mean major cuts to millions of seniors. (some are clearly spousal benefits)

But, especially to women--who are supposedly so important to Dem Party politicians.

Thanks for the excellent OT, el!

Everyone have a nice day!

Mollie

"We must stop looking for our salvation in strong leaders. Strong people, as Ella Baker said, do not need strong leaders. Politicians, even good politicians, play the game of compromise and are too often seduced by the privileges of power. . . ."

"Integrity and courage are powerful weapons. We have to learn how to use them. We have to stand up for what we believe in. And we have to accept the risks and even the ridicule that comes with this stance. We will not prevail any other way."

Chris Hedges, Journalist/Author/Activist, Truthdig, 9/20/2015

—

Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

Submitted by Shahryar on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 3:34pm

whoopee! No "harmful" cuts!

Many will read that as "no cuts".

More importantly I'm watching a squirrel out my window. He's way high up in a tree. I wonder what he thinks he'll find there. The squirrels and birds love our persimmon tree. It's fun to see a squirrel run off with this huge persimmon in its mouth. Hopefully it's the mama squirrel who lives near us, the one who used to live in our front porch beam. I'm rooting for her to have a good fall/winter.

Oh right...politics...it will all depend on what kind of people are living and writing 50-60 years from now. If reason wins then the history books will tell of Obama's double speak war-mongering. I hope I'm alive then. I won't be all that much past 100+.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 1:02pm

Emerging power struggle in Baghdad

This could be important

Iraq’s parliament voted unanimously on Monday to bar the government from passing important reforms without its approval in an effort to curb Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi amid discontent over his leadership style, lawmakers said.
The chamber acted after Abadi unilaterally enacted reforms in August that it deemed a violation of the constitution including his dismissal of the vice presidents and deputy prime ministers and cuts to salaries of government employees.

“Under this resolution no more absolute authorities for the prime minister,” one member of parliament, who asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters.

Any rise in political tensions could undermine Baghdad’s efforts to tackle an economic crisis and form a united front against Islamic State militants posing the worst threat to Iraq since a U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Last week over 60 members of Iraq’s ruling State of Law coalition threatened to pull parliamentary support for Abadi’s reforms - aimed at stamping out corruption and incompetence - if he did not heed their demands for wider consultation.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 1:28pm

Iran threatens to leave Syria talks

Because of Saudis

Iran said on Monday it would quit Syria peace talks if it found them unconstructive, citing the "negative role" of Saudi Arabia, in the latest twist in a spat between the regional rivals that bodes ill for efforts to ease turmoil across the Middle East.
Increasingly bad-tempered exchanges between the conservative Sunni-ruled kingdom and the revolutionary Shi'ite theocracy have dampened hopes of improved ties after the adversaries sat down for their first meeting to discuss the Syria war last week.

"In the first round of talks, some countries, especially Saudi Arabia, played a negative and unconstructive role … Iran will not participate if the talks are not fruitful," ISNA cited deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian as saying.

Delivering unusually personal criticism, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appeared to reprimand Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who, on Saturday, lashed out at Tehran for what he termed its interference in regional countries.

"An inexperienced young man in a regional country will not reach anywhere by rudeness in front of elders," Rouhani was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA on Monday. He did not name the 'young man' but Jubeir was assumed to be his target.

Sounds like royalty talking to peasants.

Recall that these talks have no Syrians attending.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 1:33pm

U.S. and Turkey on collision course

The news media slowly wakes up to this fact

Submitted by lotlizard on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 3:31pm

I've seen references to Erdogan's supposed Neo-Ottomanism.

There's more than one way to reinstitute a caliphate, I guess.

Submitted by shaharazade on Mon, 11/02/2015 - 5:55pm

I don't think

any of the so called caliphate fundies are a real threat to the latest NWO transnational Empire. The 'developed' world created the mess with their proxy illegal wars of invasions and so called 'interventions'. Caliphates are the least of our worry's with this insane shit going down in the ME. It's like each action the 'civilized' advanced nation states take sets off a reaction. I personally think this is the intention of the global powers that be in the first place. Well hell didn't the Ottomans or one of the Eurasian empires give us silverware and algebra? I don't for one minute fear or believe that the Eurasians have always been our enemy. We got a lot of nerve considering our own home grown fundies who want to rule the world and spread 'democracy' Christian style across the universe. Fat chance of reinstituting a Ottoman or any other Caliphate. We got it covered we just bomb the hell out of anybody who threatens our interests. What these interests are is a much worse threat then any mythical pathetic caliphate cutting into our action. Hell lotizard what about the new old cold war featuring that CIA dude Putin?

Submitted by Pluto's Republic on Tue, 11/03/2015 - 12:48am

I've seen odd stories

…regarding behaviors of the latest Turkish empire:

Members of Daesh have been moved from Syria to Ukraine

As announced on the 1st August 2015, the International Islamic Brigade was created by Turkey and Ukraine in order to destabilise Russia in Crimea [1].

Over the last three months, a base has been set up by Ukraine in Kherson, facing Crimea. Turkey has organised the transfer of several hundred Daesh combatants from Syria to Ukraine.

However, contrary to what we believed in August, the jihadists have not been transferred to Crimea, but to Donbass. The Cheikh Manour and Djokhar Doudaïev batallions, whose existence was revealed by the New York Times in July, and almost immediately disbanded, have now been reformed [2].

The members of the Georgian secret services, who had played a central rôle during the development of Daesh during the second half of 2014, and had set up a jihadist training camp in Georgia, were then deployed to Ukraine. It was these people who ensured the liaison between the two battle-grounds of Ukraine and the Near East.

….the jihadists had been instructed by Senator John McCain to organise with the CIA, from Ukraine, the destruction of a US plane in Syria and to attribute the operation to Russian forces, in order to create conflict between the two countries [3]. Of course, the operation was cancelled once the investigation was opened.

http://www.voltairenet.org/article189162.html

—

IMAGINE if you woke up the day after a US Presidential Election and headlines around the the world blared, "The Majority of Americans Refused to Vote in US Presidential Election! What Does this Mean?"