The Weekly Watch
A Judgemental Case or...
A Mental Case Judge?
A Mental Case Judge?
Have no doubt, the courts are being stacked with corporate elitists...not just in the US but around the world. There's no better illustration than the ongoing saga in Brazil. First while the Olympics were in Brazil the courts illegally oust Dilma as President and install Temer who failed to be elected several times. This summer past-President Lula is leading the polls, so he's sent to prison on trumped up charges...not given his constitutional rights. In Poland they are removing 27 judges from their Supreme Court. Around the world courts have been complicit with coups. Honduras comes to mind.
Let's start with the absurdity of of Brasil's court system...in video or text
https://therealnews.com/stories/the-near-release-of-brazils-lula
MARK WEISBROT: I think the U.S. has contributed in so many ways it would take an hour at least to summarize just some of this history. But I think the U.S. has been involved in, in most of these countries in various ways. Obviously in Venezuela they’ve been involved since the coup in 2002, and they tried to overthrow the government and tried to help people topple the government on several occasions there. In Brazil they supported the coup against Dilma, the parliamentary coup. So they didn’t do that strongly, but they sent enough signals, for example, I’ve mentioned this before on this show, right as the House was voting to impeach Dilma without actually presenting a crime that she committed, the head of the Foreign Relations Committee from the Senate came and met with the number three official from the U.S. State Department, Tom Shannon. And then of course in August of that year, the Secretary of State John Kerry went down there and had a press conference with the Acting Foreign Minister Jose Serra. And they, of course, talked about how great relations with the U.S. were going to be before Dilma was actually removed from office. So these were ways of endorsing the coup.
And of course, the Department of Justice contributed to , the FBI, the Department of Justice contributed to the investigation that was instrumental in imprisoning Lula. Now, what they did in that investigation we don’t know exactly, but we do know enough about it to know that it wasn’t a neutral investigation. That is, the investigation did end up decapitating the Workers’ Party for now, first helping get rid of Dilma, but more importantly, or more substantially, in terms of its contribution, they they helped put Lula in prison and prevent him from running for office.
https://therealnews.com/stories/us-interventions-in-latin-america-contin...
We forget Honduras and our support of a coup under democraps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6mi2WaImVI (3 min) and now recognition of a flawed election by the rethuglicans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRahX06hA0E (2.5 min)
https://therealnews.com/stories/honduras-the-never-ending-coup (video or test)
It is a never ending coup against any country daring to try to help their people rather than the corporations.
The Union of South American Nations – UNASUR – was an ambitious project to integrate South America not just on economic terms, but also on political and social terms, but the rightward drift in Latin America is leading to its dissolution, with the unfortunate help of Ecuador’s government, where its headquarters are, says former foreign minister Guillaume Long (video or text)
https://therealnews.com/stories/rightward-shift-in-latin-america-spellin...
Venezuela and Iran policies seem similar...focused on regime change.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on both Iran and on Venezuela, which are both aimed at regime change, but in the case of Iran media and other countries are resisting them, while in Venezuela’s case they are not being questioned,
https://therealnews.com/stories/us-sanctions-on-iran-and-venezuela-illeg...
The Courts around the world provide legitimacy to the the oiligarchs. Justice has an eye out for them.
In Poland there are direct protests about the court
Mass protests have been taking place in front of the Supreme Court in Warsaw, Poland. The former president, Lech Walesa, who is known for his leadership in the Solidarity Party that led to the liberation of Poland from the Soviet Union in the ’80s, and then for abandoning the labor struggles of working class in favor of neoliberalism, is a part of these protests, and is calling for civil disobedience.
https://therealnews.com/stories/polish-government-purges-judiciary-to-en...
If all goes as PiS leaders have planned, about 40 percent of the country’s judges will be forced out of office. They will be replaced by people loyal to the government and subject to dismissal at any time. PiS couched its takeover in the form of an order lowering judges’ retirement age. Every judge over age 65 will now be dismissed except for those who are approved for continued service by the current regime. This amounts to a political takeover of the independent Polish judiciary.
https://www.econotimes.com/Polands-judicial-purge-another-step-toward-au...
Here's a one minute cartoon about the Trump court.
https://www.truthdig.com/cartoons/the-supreme-court-gets-trumpier-video/
Trump's nominee, Kavanaugh has ruled in favor of the US government in cases he has heard which gave him the opportunity to expand its war powers.
https://preview.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/07/14/kava-j14.html
Kavanaugh’s appellate court decisions and public comments suggest that he will accelerate the trend toward a political system dominated by wealthy elites — often operating in the shadows, without any form of disclosure.
https://theintercept.com/2018/07/12/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-donor-...
Looks like red state dims will cave and this elitist war monger will become a supreme court justice...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/07/14/swing-vote-senators-signal-po...
...despite Feinstein and the Faux resistance
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/14/kavanaugh-supreme-court-dianne...
I guess she has to do something progressive...Dianne Feinstein lost the California Democratic Party’s endorsement in a stunning vote Saturday night at the party’s executive board meeting in Oakland. https://theintercept.com/2018/07/15/kevin-de-leon-stuns-dianne-feinstein...
Speaking of the dims...Obama and his officials are living large
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/obama-officials-are-living-large-in-tr...
The US and Canada have quite different approaches to court appointments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ZohlgqT1g (9 min)
Definition of trumpery
a : worthless nonsense
b : trivial or useless articles : junk
The other big story this week has been Trumps visit to Europe...
With Trump, it is always about money, and he wants more from NATO countries
https://southafricatoday.net/world-news/europe/its-all-about-money-analy...
William Hartung and Aaron Mate discuss the story (video or text)
https://therealnews.com/stories/trumps-real-nato-agenda-more-money-for-war
NATO to keep on keeping on in the Afghan forever war....
http://www.thekabultimes.gov.af/2018/07/14/nato-allies-continued-coopera...
And now an ad provided by the forever war machine (2.5 min)
Trump is consistently inconsistent. On day one of the summit he threatened to pull the US out of NATO over the diminutive defense expenditure of other alliance members. On day two he stated that the United States’ commitment to the alliance remains “very strong".
http://econintersect.com/pages/contributors/contributor.php?post=2018071...
As usual Trump doesn't let facts interfere with his rhetoric
TRUMP: “I didn’t criticize the prime minister.” - news conference Friday with British Prime Minister Theresa May.
THE FACTS: He criticized her.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jul/14/ap-fact-check-trumps-eu...
https://www.opb.org/news/article/npr-fact-check-trumps-claims-on-nato-sp...
The meeting with Putin may be focused on Iran (or perhaps Trump's Moscow hotel he wants to build). Days after Netanyahu’s visit to Moscow, Trump will meet with Putin in Helsinki. But despite talk of a “grand bargain” that enlists Russia in helping the US-Israel-Saudi-UAE front against Iran, don’t expect it to happen, says professor and syndicated columnist Rami Khouri (video or text)
https://therealnews.com/stories/can-trump-israel-and-gulf-allies-get-put...
One thing is for sure, the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia are fomenting a war with Iran. (video or text) https://therealnews.com/stories/new-u-s-sanctions-fuel-protests-and-econ...
The best way to understand Russia is to get to know some Russians. Paul Jay has begun a series of conversations with Aleksandr Buzgalin. He is a Professor of Political Economy at Moscow State University. He is also editor of the independent democratic left magazine Alternatives, and is a coordinator of the Russian social movement Alternatives, author of more then 20 books and hundreds of articles, translated into English, German and many other languages. (video or text)
https://therealnews.com/series/reality-asserts-itself-alexander-buzgalin
An anonymous member analyses the indictment of the 12 Russian intelligence officers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XmHlP5gB2g (10 min)
All three branches of the US government are broken, and there seems little hope for reformation. We are a failed state. All I can offer is a walk in the woods (or nature for those in a different ecosystem) to keep us sane. http://www.yesmagazine.org/happiness/if-meditation-is-not-your-thing-try...
By way of a conclusion let me leave you with this 16 minute speech by Chris Hedges. I hope you find it meaningful and hopeful.
I look forward to your stories, comments, and ideas below.
Comments
Fascism is capitalist reaction
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1O3DWDzyv8]
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
thanks for the clip...
US capitalists sold equipment to Germany in WWII.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good day Lookout, thanks for the work.
Enjoyed Hedges inspiring speech. Maybe I missed it but the youtube description does not show the historical info such as date, location, event context of the speech. It is well worth listening to nonetheless.
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
It was posted recently on youtube...
...but is obviously older, at the Lincoln Memorial in DC from the looks of it. Sorry I don't know more about it. Thanks for coming by.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Have read some of Hedges work but this is the first time
I looked up his wiki. Interesting guy.
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
he is indeed...
New York Times Reporter, Chris Hedges was Booed off the Stage and had his Microphone Cut Twice as he Delivered a Graduation Speech on War and Empire at Rockford College in Illinois.
“As I looked out on the crowd, I was witnessing things I had witnessed in the Plaza de Mayo in Argentina or in squares in Belgrade… it breaks my heart when I see it in my country.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3494.htm
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
No, the harbinger of fascism in America isn’t Trump
It’s that kind of mob reaction on the part of students and faculty to an anti-war speaker.
The prevailing culture at that college probably pats itself on the back about how tolerant of dissent and supporting of diversity they are.
@Lookout
just to say when Hedges gave that speech - it was Memorial Day 2017.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkzxWzdRhVI]
https://www.euronews.com/live
Good one, mimi, thanks.
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
Thanks!
Hope you're doing well. Seems T-rumps visit has the people in Germany shaking their heads.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Today a friend posted an Obama rah rah on Facebook.
I usually drop a few why nots onto her posts on what a good Pres he was but did not.
Maybe I'll go back and put in the link you included.
What a sorry sorry degenerate excuse for a human being he is.
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
Wow, man
That's some heavy shit Hedges putting down. Think about it. Empathy or lack of. Lines drawn.
Just wow
question everything
He talks the talk
and walks the walk.
gotta respect the man.
Yeah, bud
terms of political evolution need to be spoken and understood
question everything
Hey y'all
That was the best clip I saw this week and I wanted to feature it in hopes it would draw more ears and minds. Glad to see folks enjoying it.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Go Poland!
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZUYg4AXSpc]
Sorry, but when it comes to actual RESISTANCE, nobody does it like the Poles.
Still writing, still feeling good, and I hope to soon be returning to CNU, just as soon as I get an idea where to go with it. (I know folks like the cults, so maybe a discussion of one of the major ones that we've gathered from fragmentary evidence would be interesting. The most popular seem to be the Maggot Cult and the Witherians...)
And my newest poem is up in Community Content.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
glad to hear things are going well
I've been enjoying the Logos series. It's caused me to re-read those ancient stories, myths, and characters as you are going along. It's been hard to keep up with you. Make hay while the sun shines. All the best.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
They are interesting.
All thanks to Phil Smith in my 5th grade class who introduced us to mythology around the world. Most kids gave it up pretty early, but I never stopped enjoying the Greek myths in particular. Rick Riordan's bowdlerized version in particular gives me the hives.
But such is the fate of all characters in the public domain. Riordan in particular strikes me as a guy who really wanted to tell a "Son of Aquaman" story, but couldn't get the rights.
I'm aiming a little higher, I hope.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
The AFT and NEA supported Hillary for president
the 2 main teachers unions
here is the head of AFT on Bernie
look forward to more crackdown on dissent
In the J20 Trials, the Feds Said They Went After “Bad Protesters.” That Just Means Another Crackdown on Dissent.
You may recall that the feds, the prosecutors, faked the videos. Some data nerds found out. The charges were dropped on the J20 and now they are suing the justice dept, or someone
i thought there was a belt of lava below our feet. No
The Floor Is (Usually) Not Lava We tend to imagine that below the crust, Earth is a seething pool of molten rock—but it’s not
have you ever made up a corn starch putty?
That's the trick I used with my kids to mimic the mantle...of course it isn't hot like the mantle but it has similarities -
something like this...
http://chucklumio.com/Plate%20tectonics%20Simulating%20Plasticity%20of%2...
Thankfully the inauguration protesters entrapped by deep state provocateurs escaped our injustice system. Sadly Standing Rock water protectors have not. https://theintercept.com/2018/07/13/standing-rock-red-fawn-fallis-senten...
The teacher unions are way behind grassroot teacher leaders...always have been. Where the people lead, leaders will follow....as the saying goes.
I worked with VISTA for a while as a kid, but my FBI file comes from hanging out with new dealer socialists and civil rights activists who were already being watched. Ed Snowden convinces me there is nothing we can do about it. So I advocate for walks in the woods or park or backyard, and speaking truth to power.
good to "see" you this Sunday. All the best. Still have some Latour reading on my list.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
when I went into the peace corps
there was a 3 month full field FBI investigation
i grew up in a leftist, activist family and spent 2 years at Berkeley 1965-67 and marched, signed petitions but did not join organizations
i was a trouble maker in training and I have a severe problem with language so the 7 hour per day in audio lingual Spanish didn't work, and I was kicked out
that is not important, but I wonder how big the FBI file is on me. I downloaded info to find out, but have never done it.
here is the case of a woman under surveillance for many, many years in Romania and the author was able to see the file that the security forces in Poland collected on him
Don’t imagine you’re smarter
@Don Midwest, I read through the whole article you linked to
and conclude that your dog may indeed be your best friend. At least he only barks and wags his tail and his affection is independent from what you said, with whom you shared your bed or who was your mental comrade and fellow activist friend.
That article disgust me more than I want to allow it to myself, ie. disgust me of what to think about the character of humans.
Only consolation is that she gave so many People a well Paid Job over the years. Men have to eat. As Long as they don't eat my dog …
Thanks for posting the article.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Another interview that helps a lot .and is terrible to digest
[video:https://youtu.be/TP5gjrh-3Ew]
turbo-charged neo-liberalism - Christian Right - Alt Right - Domionism - Federalist Society - seeped into workings of power - christianized fascis - ethics-free Administration -
they pull you into the backrooms, they sever you from your families, they brook many people down, Christrian Right is more dangerous than the Alt Right -
Strains of deep cruelty within the Christian Right.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Yes, agree, more dangerous .
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
Jeez how should grandma read and understand all that?
Thank you for the link. Right now it is too much for me to read slowly through it. I hope I will later. Sometimes I wished authors would summarize in the beginning of their essays explaining what it is all about.
Greetings from a wannabe grandma, who is frustrated that those kids These days do not want to get kids. Not that I do not understand why… but heh … ok I will read that article and let you know when I am done with it.
I need to grow some apple trees in Addition to other trees for heating supplies. At least then I have something I can offer someone to get seduced and laid. …
Boy I am too tired. Have a good day and thank you for the link to that Video.
https://www.euronews.com/live
the ultimate irony...
religion based on hate.
Your reference to apples down thread made me think of all the mythology around that fruit...
DMW logos series is based on the Greek myth...
The Greek goddess of discord, Eris, became disgruntled after she was excluded from the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. In retaliation, she tossed a golden apple inscribed Kallisti ('For the most beautiful one'), into the wedding party. Three goddesses claimed the apple: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Paris of Troy was appointed to select the recipient. After being bribed by both Hera and Athena, Aphrodite tempted him with the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta. He awarded the apple to Aphrodite, thus indirectly causing the Trojan War.
The Norse myth is also interesting...
In Norse mythology, the goddess Iðunn was the appointed keeper of golden apples that kept the Æsir young (or immortal) forever. Iðunn was abducted by Þjazi the giant, who used Loki to lure Iðunn and her apples out of Ásgarðr. The Æsir began to age without Iðunn's apples, so they coerced Loki into rescuing her. After borrowing Freyja's falcon skin, Loki liberated Iðunn from Þjazi by transforming her into a nut for the flight back. Þjazi gave chase in the form of an eagle, whereupon reaching Ásgarðr he was set aflame by a bonfire lit by the Æsir. With the return of Iðunn's apples, the Æsir regained their lost youth. Apple trees were the symbol of rebirth and beauty; the apple tree was sacred in Norse mythology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_(symbolism)
Religion (as with apples) can be seen in many ways. Growing fruit trees is perhaps more productive than the religion and myths about them?
Wishing you the best!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”