Open Thread - Monday September 7, 2015

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 8:11am

Here's a quickie Open Thread for you 99%'ers to post whatever you wish. Today is Labor Day and for some it is also the last day of summer.

I will add some links as I come upon them. But for now, just post your news and views.

First up, from Think Progess is an article on some of the most important heroes of the Labor Movement.

This Labor Day while you’re enjoying the three-day-weekend, take a moment to celebrate the heroes of the union movement. These noteworthy people left behind a legacy that we enjoy today, from the end of child labor to the more humane treatment of farm workers.

Looking at the purpose of Labor Day and the candidates for President, Salon gives us this article.

As we celebrate Labor Day 2015, it’s worth pausing to consider which candidate running for president best represents the working class. The Republicans, despite their folksy rhetoric, are the party of Big Business. For decades, their policies have undermined the economic interests of their social base. They support corporate tax cuts; they push trade deals that outsource jobs to low-wage countries; they oppose raising the minimum wage; they want to shrink social safety nets; they refuse to invest in America’s crumbling infrastructure and their pro-corporate policies, which masquerade as small government initiatives, have increased income inequality and put the squeeze on the middle class.

From the always thoughtful Joseph Stiglitz, we get this article on how the recovery has totally by passed the American people and has benefited only the wealthiest. Stiglitz was among the first to vigorously point out the gross inequality that we are seeing in the United States.

NEW YORK – At the end of every August, central bankers and financiers from around the world meet in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for the US Federal Reserve’s economic symposium. This year, the participants were greeted by a large group of mostly young people, including many African- and Hispanic Americans.

The group was not there so much to protest as to inform. They wanted the assembled policymakers to know that their decisions affect ordinary people, not just the financiers who are worried about what inflation does to the value of their bonds or what interest-rate hikes might do to their stock portfolios. And their green tee shirts were emblazoned with the message that for these Americans, there has been no recovery.

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Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 8:23am

Morning. I consider Tony Blair and David Cameron as

full ruling class partners along with Obama, Bush, and all the western ruling class. They all have the same agenda which
is to act as hegemon over the rest of the planet. These people are cutthroat. Here we are over 14 years (wait! - did he say 14
years?) after the start of their War OF Terror and check this out:

:For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens: as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone. It’s often meant we have stood neutral between different values. And that’s helped foster a narrative of extremism and grievance. This Government will conclusively turn the page on this failed approach.’ David Cameron speech to National Security Council 13 May 2015"

Preventing Terrorism or Preventing Opposition? Imperialist Wars Reveal Who the Real Extremists are

I really don't understand those who are putting the economy first before war and imperialism. That's not going to work. We have to stop these
crazy extremists in control of our governments. Imperialism is putting chains around all of our necks.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/preventing-terrorism-or-preventing-oppositi...

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 8:52am

Actually I see the two totally related

When we are spending between $4.5 and $6 Trillion on just two wars, Iraq and Afghanistan, we are lining the pockets of the banksters and the MIC while neglecting our people at home. The war mongers are the very same people who are cutting taxes for the wealthiest and are pushing for severe cuts to our social safety net. It is the old guns versus butter argument. But the people have been sold on the guns portion of the equation under the guise of an existential terrorism threat. So the public is buying it even though they would prefer more spending at home, the butter portion of the equation. For many in the public, fighting terrorism over there is preferable to having another 9/11 over here even though it is tough medicine to swallow in that the American people are being rapidly impoverished and our social safety net is being shredded.

Not one candidate has had the courage to speak out against the MIC though. Sanders comes the closest, but his words are inadequate too. It is up to the American people to demand that we cut our obscene military expenditures and get out of these wasteful and immoral wars. In my own experience with our local Peace vigil, I have not seen the public make that connection yet even though I try to emphasize it when speaking to them.

The bottom line, the two issues are directly intertwined with one another.

—

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 joe shikspack on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 2:35pm

it's not that hard to figure out, it's calculated...

I really don't understand those who are putting the economy first before war and imperialism.

the american people vote their wallets (well, they think they do) - they don't really go to the polls because they're outraged that our war industry is slaughtering people 10,000 miles away. if they are fat and happy, most americans are content enough to ignore what the war industry is doing.

all politicians know deep down in their bone that quite a lot of americans love strutting, macho morons that promise to provide prosperity for the righteous americans and whippings for the degenerates that are dragging our society down. a clever politician who sees that the strutting, macho morons have failed to produce prosperity for too long, knows that he can eat their lunch by offering a plausible path to economic recovery.

the problem is to make the war industry relevant to the average american. probably the most likely path to success in that pursuit is to get the average american to understand just how much the military is costing him, what a waste of resources it represents and what a bunch of crap the fearmongers have sold him.

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 2:38pm

Righto joe.

But I ain't talking about the average American. They are going to stay average no matter what we do.
Frankly, I'm talking about Bernie and the election.
And TomP.

Submitted by joe shikspack on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 6:39pm

well, bernie is trying to win...

so he's trying to put his most attractive foot forward. anti-imperialism might play well with a smallish libertarian segment of the republican population but, jumpin' jesus on a rubber crutch - cutting the military? that has to be approached very carefully as a campaign issue if you want to sneak past the beer-swilling, couch-dwelling, knuckle-dragging electorate. i hate to say it, but bernie's best bet in terms of getting elected is what he's doing, saying as little as possible about it.

to be clear, i'm not saying it's right, but i can see why he's doing it. would i prefer a candidate who would stand up and be counted for their anti-imperialism and anti-militarism? you bet, and i voted for one last election - jill stein. my vote didn't get me anything, but at least i didn't vote for a fucking war criminal.

i don't care to speculate whether deep down bernie really doesn't care for militarism and imperialism. i've gotten burned before by assuming that a particular candidate had traits of simple human decency.

Submitted by mimi on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 6:55pm

So, what about the Green Party, are they still split over

supporting Sanders? Jill Stein was definitely against the support of Sanders, but I remember an article that said, a part of the party members was for it? Any news on that front ?

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 6:58pm

Ya, it's quite understandable what he's doing.

Politicians have to say what is necessary to get elected. That's why he's tried to limit the discussion of foreign policies.
But he's said enough to get the idea.

The real problem is that Sanders is parroting the same narratives as all the rest about Putin, Ukraine, Yemen, the War OF Terror, ISIS, Syria,
having the strongest military in the world, etc., which means if elected he will simply continue the overall imperialist
agenda. I've researched this pretty well, looked into his background, his voting record, etc. There's no doubt.

The problem for me joe is I've had enough of that and I take it personal. I take the three year old on the beach
personal. I've taken it personal for quite some time now and I simply have to refuse to accept anything less than
ending imperialism. And of course that means all imperialism, all countries.

Imperialism is the last stage of capitalism, then we crash and burn. I'm not going to let them do that to me and mine
if I can help it.

It's not just me, I frequent many sites that certainly aren't linked to the democratic party like DK and this one and
I converse with many people, who are of the "left", that have had enough and will not compromise. There are a lot of us.
But I'm 60, I've only got so much time, and I'm serious about it. I don't have to accept this shit any longer. So I don't.

I mean, what it's coming down to is the lesser evil again. Keeping the crazy republicans out of the WH. It's a stupid and
wasteful game to play.

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 4:56pm

This has been my strategy

at our Peace vigils which should resume soon now that the weather is starting to be less stifling.

the problem is to make the war industry relevant to the average american. probably the most likely path to success in that pursuit is to get the average american to understand just how much the military is costing him, what a waste of resources it represents and what a bunch of crap the fearmongers have sold him.

People do not respond to being preached at over moral issues, so my approach is definitely one of pragmatism. And the very first thing I use are the figures that Linda J. Bilmes of Harvard compiled in 2013 which puts the long term costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at $4.5 to $6 Trillion. I am willing to bet those costs have gotten much higher now.

I also try to show them how our wars and the drone program have actually increased terrorism and the numbers of people willing to join terrorist organizations and how our war efforts are actually making us less safe. I am surprised that many people are now starting to understand that especially when I try to put them into the shoes of the people we are bombing. But I have found that the costs seem to really shock people into thinking about what we are doing there and how we cannot do anything to improve our situation here in the US because it is all being poured down a black hole.

—

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 Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 8:32am

I'm really pissed off about the reaction of the sheeple to

what's happening in Syria. People talk about "where did the antiwar movement go" and Syria is a prime example. The antiwar
left doesn't even fucking know it's a U.S. war. How can we protest a U.S. war when people don't even realize it's a U.S. war?
Now the sheeple want the U.S. government to "go in" to Syria to do something, save the poor people. This is a really coup by the
ruling class and it's propaganda mainstream media arm. They've obfuscated the situation so well for so long that even many of those
who protested the Iraq war are not seeing what they should see.

"According to former French foreign minister Roland Dumas, Britain had planned covert action in Syria as early as 2009. He told French TV:

I was in England two years before the violence in Syria on other business… I met with top British officials, who confessed to me that they were preparing something in Syria. This was in Britain not in America. Britain was preparing gunmen to invade Syria.

Writing in The Guardian in 2013, Nafeez Ahmed discusses leaked emails from the private intelligence firm Stratfor, including notes from a meeting with Pentagon officials, that confirmed US-UK training of Syrian opposition forces since 2011 aimed at eliciting “collapse” of Assad’s regime “from within.”

He goes on to write that, according to retired NATO Secretary General Wesley Clark, a memo from the Office of the US Secretary of Defense just a few weeks after 9/11 revealed plans to “attack and destroy the governments in seven countries in five years,” starting with Iraq and moving on to “Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran.” Clark argues that this strategy is fundamentally about control of the region’s vast oil and gas resources.

In 2009, Syrian President Assad refused to sign a proposed agreement with Qatar that would run a pipeline from the latter’s North field through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and on to Turkey, with a view to supply European markets in direct competition with Russia. Being a Russian ally, Assad refused to sign and instead pursued negotiations for an alternative $10 billion pipeline plan with Iran crossing Iraq and into Syria that would also potentially allow Iran to supply gas to Europe. Thus Assad had to go."

http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-collateral-damage-of-us-nato-wars-europ...

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 8:41am

I wrote a diary about Syria and a new book out,

"The Wikileaks Files". Will post it later. The book is a compilation of important secret cables that Wikileaks released in 2010
and analysis as to their importance by foreign policy experts. The cables clearly show the U.S. (and others) plan to take down
Syria. With the refugee crisis, the uptick in imperialist language like from Cameron above, and MENA becoming ever more unstable,
it's time for all good people to come to the aid of the people of Syria. They're going to escalate.

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:44am

Wow, just tried posting that diary, hit publish

and now it's gone?

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:52am

Never mind.

It published down the list for some reason.

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 8:54am

This pisses me off too

What is happening in Syria and the horrendous refugee crisis that has resulted should be laid directly on the doorstep of the US government.

—

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 Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 9:11am

Instead they're using it to lay the groundwork for

escalation. I read a number of articles where the politico's are saying we need to do something. The people are so propagandized they will submit to anything now. You can see that over at Daily Kos in the number of people who still believe Assad is the one and only problem.

"If there was any doubt about what constitutes at least part of the agenda behind the shameless media exploitation of the refugee crisis, it’s been entirely eliminated in the hours since our first piece on this was published. Since then we have had BBC revelations that UK ministers are arguing for “military action in Syria”, followed by Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian (“Aylan Kurdi: this one small life has shown us the way to tackle the refugee crisis”) echoing the anonymous editorial we quoted in our previous piece.

After a few paras of rather perfunctory sentiment about little Aylan Kurdi and the wider human tragedy he embodies, Freedland delivers the kicker.

Action for refugees means not only a welcome when they arrive, but also a remedy for the problem that made them leave. The people now running from Syria have concluded that it is literally uninhabitable: it is a place where no one can live. They have come to that conclusion slowly, after four years of murderous violence. To make them think again would require action a thousand miles away from the level of the district council, an international effort to stop not just the killers of Isis but also Bashar al-Assad’s barrel bombs.

That might mean the creation of safe havens and no-fly zones. More trenchant voices say the bombs won’t stop until anti-Assad rebels can fire back with anti-aircraft weaponry…."

http://off-guardian.org/2015/09/05/it-didnt-take-them-long-to-prove-us-r...

I think this latest aspect of the refugee crisis (because it's been a crisis for a long time) has actually been planned so they can have the excuse to
escalate. Syria is going to be completely ripped apart like Libya and Yemen. But that's always been part of the plan, you can see that in the Wikileaks cables going back to the early 2000's.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 10:59am

The blame can be spread around

To be honest, the United States is not the largest player here. Turkey and the Gulf Nations (i.e. our allies) have done more to destroy Syria than we have. Our blame is that we helped and supported the effort.

But like Big Al, I've also gotten pissed at those articles that blame "peaceniks" and the anti-war left for preventing us from going to war in Syria earlier. It's moronic.

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:40am

No way, this has been a U.S. plan for years,

to take down Assad and Syria. The Wikileaks cables prove it, the DIA memo confirmed it and the DIA chief
confirmed that.

http://levantreport.com/2015/08/06/former-dia-chief-michael-flynn-says-r...

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 9:21am

Las Vegas cops ambushed.

I don't like where this is heading. Not just the violence against cops, but the atmosphere it is creating. I can't remember
where that cop was killed by that mentally unstable man, but I remember reading a statement from the chief talking about how
they were all on guard now.
Now we have this Las Vegas incident and this statement.

"We are certainly working on pins and needles," he told KSNV. "(That is) part of the reason we doubled them up. So we have two officers available immediately whenever an incident occurs."

Cops working on pins and needles is not a good thing.

Where is this heading? It can't be in the right direction.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/06/us/las-vegas-police-shooting/index.html

Submitted by hecate on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 9:56am

good morning, gulfgal

Stiglitz is an advocate of alternative measurements of well-being, not so reliant on the 19th Century industrial model of "jobs," and "goods," and "production," and "growth," and etc. and etc.

A political leader attempting to promote the well-being of his citizens is pulled in different directions: he will be graded on economic performance but there are many other dimensions to the quality of life, including the state of the environment. While there is no single indicator that can capture something as complex as our society, the metrics commonly used, such as gross domestic product, suggest a trade-off: one can improve the environment only by sacrificing growth. But if we had a comprehensive measure of well-being, perhaps we would see this as a false choice. Such a metric might indicate an increase in well-being as the environment improved, even if conventionally measured output went down.

National income statistics such as GDP and gross national product were originally intended as a measure of market economic activity, including the public sector. But they have increasingly been thought of as measures of societal well-being, which they are not.

What we measure affects what we do. If we have the wrong metrics, we will strive for the wrong things. In the quest to increase GDP, we may end up with a society in which most citizens have become worse off.

He is thus intrigued with Bhutan, where well-being is measured not by Gross National Product, but by Gross National Happiness.

From a Bhutanese cultural perspective, it must be understood that the subjective versus objective distinction is merely a heuristic device that does not in any fundamental sense represent what is basic to the nature of reality. The interdependence of all things, and the non-abiding self of everything, is a key concept.

The distinction between subjective and objective is but an abstraction from reality, given that from a Buddhist view, they do not exist. What exists in a fundamental way is relationality (as opposed to subject and object) at all levels, which can only be assessed by a broad range of social, economic, cultural, and environmental indicators. Seen in this way, happiness and well-being is ultimately a way of being that is affected by and affects relational quality, which changes in meaning over time with deepening sensitivities to the world around us and with our understanding of what is important or valuable for us and for all sentient beings.

An economy that is continually growing at an unsustainable rate may be seen as a failure due to its inability to promote detachment from the proliferation of wants. Sustainable and stationary economy may signal that stability in wants and psychological stability have been achieved among the consumers.

GNH encourages individuals to see all things as interdependent with all other things. In order to achieve collective happiness, the principle of interdependence needs to be taken on by everyone. Members of a GNH society would cultivate a third eye, which can elevate our vision beyond individual self-interest to address the happiness of all, as a collective goal. The third eye metaphorically represents our potential to see all things as interdependent across time and space. Equity is central to GNH. The perception of happiness that doesnʼt take into account the needs of othersʼ happiness is irresponsible and egocentric, and the pursuit of such happiness is likely to be unethical. Happiness blossoms through enhanced relationships, arising unbidden when relationships improve. In this sense, the whole of development is a progress in relationships, not of individuals.

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 10:50am

Here's Maduro from Venezuela regarding Syria

"Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pinned the blame for the worst refugee crisis to hit Europe since WWII on the United States, speaking exclusively to RT.

The Venezuelan leader accused the US of flinging the Middle East into a whirlpool of wars thus provoking the current refugee crisis faced by European countries.

“It is Europe that has to deal with the disaster caused by the US, because it is Europe that is now taking in thousands of migrants and they don’t know how to cope with this situation,” he told RT during his visit to China for V-Day celebrations commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.

Maduro emphasized that many of the world’s problems ranging from the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe to armed conflicts in the Middle East and ISIS were the results of the US long-lasting policy.

“By deception, they invaded the country [Iraq] that is a cradle of civilization – and razed it the ground. Now is it literally split into thousands parts and engulfed by terrorism in its cruelest form,” he said."

http://www.rt.com/news/314592-maduro-china-rt-interview/

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:15am

I'm going to take a victory lap now

I posted this on GOS two months ago.

That being said, just because people laugh at Trump doesn't mean a whole lot. Hitler, also known as the “Bohemian Corporal,” used to be the butt of jokes as well.
The important point is that Trump has tapped into a hidden vein of fascism often ignored by the political establishment. Because of that Trump is unlikely to sink soon in the polls like so many expect him too. What's more, other Republican candidates are watching the polls and some of them will likely adopt Trump's message.

No one believed it then, but it's pretty obvious now.

Submitted by MarilynW on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:20am

Take a bow gjohnsit, ou deserve it for being so

prescient.

—

To thine own self be true.

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:32am

Take a bow.

I missed that one, so I rec'd it today. Honestly, I am not sure the Republican party can control Trump because he does not care. They have created these monsters and one escaped the lab. Right now it looks like no one is going to catch him.

I have likened Trump to a keg of dynamite. Sometimes when people are so fed up with the system, they just want to blow it up. Trump is the guy to do that and that is the scary part.

—

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 Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:21am

And you thot Daily Kos was whacked.

These are democrats. I'd imagine most refer to themselves as the left, or liberals or progressives.
HIllary Clinton is a war criminal that should be put in prison and these women are just plain stupid.

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:35am

"What do ya think Doc?"

"Too far gone I'm afraid, the patient can't be saved".

Submitted by MarilynW on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:26am

My big accomplishment for the day

While walking my dog this morning I saw a little yellow "thing" on the sidewalk, on a closer look, a yellow bird, still alive. I carried it home in the palm of my hand.
It was vibrating and had closed its eyes. I thought it was dying. The elevator ride in my building woke it up a little. I put it in a basket as soon as I got in. When I saw his bright eyes I thought it might recover so I put the basket on the balcony. He flew away after I snapped this shot. He made it! He flew around the courtyard and off he went. I hope he has better luck with windows from now on.

—

To thine own self be true.

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 11:35am

Is that a goldfinch?

Windows without screens are dangerous to birds. It looks like your rescue was a lucky fellow.

—

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 MarilynW on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 1:55pm

I think too small to be a goldfinch

and it had a very fine beak, almost like a hummingbird. I will have to look it up. It was just a handful, as small as a lemon.

—

To thine own self be true.

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 5:06pm

You are right about the bill

Since it was that small and its bill is more pointed, it is probably some type of warbler. The two warblers I thought it might be are both eastern birds, but there is a yellow warbler that is out west and goes into Canada.

—

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, 09/07/2015 - 12:50pm

Windows are a big problem

for critters that live in urban places. The saga of the mama squirrel who made a nest in the hollow beam of our covered porch right near our frontdoor was triggered by the squirrel coming into the house via an open porch window. She had no idea that the window was an opening on another world. When Shahyar tried to get her out she flung herself on the closed windows instead of leaving via the open one. She had a nut in her mouth and was most likely looking for a place to salt it away as this is the season when the squirrel's go nuts. She finally ran out the opened front door and Shahyrar tossed her nut out after her.

She had been living in peace on the porch with the cats for a month or so. We had no idea she was a she and a mama and we routed her out by spraying water into her nest. When he started to clean the leaves and twigs out we found a baby squirrel. She was beside herself in a nearby tree as I was keeping her away spraying her with the hose, when Eric discovered the baby. Poor mama. We stopped immediately left the baby where it was. Eric looked up squirrels/raccoon's etc on the Audubon site and they said to leave the nest and baby's alone and the mother would most likely come back for her young. We put out some nuts on beam and she came back in the middle of the night and removed the baby and the next day came back for the nuts.

Yesterday I looked out my kitchen window and saw her gleefully burying nuts and rummaging through the bushes and plants on the side of the house. Hopefully she has relocated away from windows and doors and will not venture into the strange world of human dwellings. I was so glad to see the mama squirrel out and about foraging yesterday. I think she's is living in a giant Cecile Burner climbing rose on the back fence. The back fence seems to be a squirrel and bird highway between the trees in our backyards. The bird perch on it to look for worms and the squirrels use it to get to trees and rooftops.

It's amazing to me that wild critters can live in a city alongside of humans. As our house has eves and covered porches the birds flying into windows are rare. Our house is 100 years old it is quite porous as far as the local insects and beasties are concerned. I like this aspect of living in an older city neighborhood with lots of trees and fauna. This is another reason I'm so freaked out about the city 'developing' neighborhoods that are rich in natural habitiat's. They are bulldozing trees and houses and building glass fronted huge 850 unit condo's and apartments that abut the street that do not offer anyplace for the critters we live side by side with.

Glad to hear the bird you rescued was able to get back to airspace. What a shock to these creatures when they crash into steel and glass or inadvertently enter human territory. The raccoon's are another story as they brazenly enter our house via the cat door and our backdoor intent on vandalism. This hot summer I haven't seen the raccoon's or had to run them out of my kitchen backdoor at night. Even the pesky raccoon's and crows we live in close proximity to are part of the rich tapestry of nature. An excellent accomplishment of the day.

Submitted by MarilynW on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 1:53pm

We had friends who had a couple of ducks come

to their doorway every Spring. When I asked them about it, they told me they had studied the history of the area where they lived and found out it had once been a thriving swamp. So they thought that the ducks were following ancient imprinted patterns from before human settlement. So I wonder if that's why we have wildlife in the city. The locations are in their DNA. This is just a theory, I have no science to back it up.

—

To thine own self be true.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 12:13pm

The most Orwellian headline you will ever read

Hollande Readies Syria Air Strikes as Response to Refugee Crisis

Remember that this guy is a "socialist".

France is preparing for air strikes in Syria as President Francois Hollande seeks ways both to stem a flood of refugees from the Middle East into Europe and grapple with the threat of terrorism.

Because the solution to a population fleeing war is to bomb the place they are fleeing, right?

Submitted by Big Al on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 12:20pm

Peace is War man.

and up is down.

Hell, it's almost as if they planned it this way.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 1:34pm

I had to write a quick diary

here.
I combined the France bombing story with this article by FAIR. (It's a good article. You'd like it)

On a lighter note, check this out.

British taxpayers should be allowed to opt out of funding the Army, Jeremy Corbyn once proposed in an idea former generals have called "stark-starring bonkers".
The Labour leadership front-runner suggested voters should be able to act with their "conscience" and order the Treasury not spend their tax money on soldiers.
Britain's leading former generals warned the "corrosive" idea could undermine public support for soldiers and was "absolutely ludicrous".
It has emerged after Mr Corbyn triggered a backlash by saying he “couldn’t think” of a situation in which he would deploy troops.

Submitted by MarilynW on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 2:07pm

Good article, on the money

i have to point out that Michael Gerson, former Bush speech writer is an Evangelical Christian and according to WIKI

Gerson is considered to be a leading figure of the evangelical intelligentsia movement

And yet he is one of the most blood-thirsty pundits there is. How is it possible to reconcile both. Maybe we won't have the "peace on earth" envisioned by Christ as told in the Christian bible until we kill all the non-Christians? i just don't remember seeing anything in the New Testament while I was a Catholic that exhorted us to go kill anyone.

—

To thine own self be true.

Submitted by Shahryar on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 1:39pm

Obama, Clegg, Hollande, Tsipras...Bernie? Probably

the lesson has been learned unfortunately.

Submitted by MarilynW on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 1:42pm

OMG! I saw 2 headlines from France

One was about the heartbroken French who want to help refugees and the other was about the plan to bomb Syria.

It's all coming true, Orwell was so right.

—

To thine own self be true.

Submitted by MarilynW on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 1:44pm

BTW people in Canada are proposing that we use military

vehicles to transport the refugees ASAP to Canada. What a great idea but I doubt our facsist PM will agree to it.

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To thine own self be true.

Submitted by mimi on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 2:33pm

And I read this "frigging" headline

Jim Messina: Obama Insider To Help Social Democrats Challenge Merkel

That isn't a bad prerequisite for Messina's next job. The 45-year-old Democrat, who organized Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign and this year orchestrated British Prime Minister David Cameron's spectacular, nail-biting win, is now getting into German politics. Messina has agreed to a consulting job in Berlin: He wants to help the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) beat Chancellor Angela Merkel of the conservative Christian Democrats in the next national election in 2017.

Wow, I know the Social Democrats of Germany are weak and weaseling and no-fighters and all of that. But to accept now that we need a American Democrat Consultant to "help" the SPD run against Merkel, that's too much to swallow for me.

I am sure they (the SPD) falls for that and don't see through this "spiel" . Sorry, makes me angry and makes me feel ashamed for the German Social Democrats. Can Mr. Messina may be take care of the US electoral system and campaign finance regulations in the US and stay out of other countries campaigns? Let the Germans mess up on their own, at least then you have someone to blame and we (Germans) can't blame it on US influence...

Sigh.

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https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by shaharazade on Mon, 09/07/2015 - 10:18pm

Axelrod worked

as a campaign strategist for Labour's candidate in the last UK election. Apparently the liberals in the UK weren't buying what Axelrod and the 'New Labour' Blairites were selling. Don't see Corbyn using sleazy American political hucksters and he is pulling ahead and Labours got over 600,000 new members so maybe ordinary people are getting hep to their jive. Too bad Bernie is such a endless bloody warrior and will not drone any innocent people. Corbyn's advocating letting people stop paying taxes to support their bloated military 'defense' spending.