Grab bag post

I'm laughing so hard at the singer whose name we're not mentioning -- community wide -- because we're not plugging her bad album. Trash sold out to support counter-insurgency and what's especially hilarious is I'm looking at an article on her (small publication) where she's yammering about how happy she is Barack got elected.

Woman's known for having same-sex affairs. And lives in California. And she's talking about how happy things are these days and how wonderful.

I didn't know Denial was a city in California.

Her career was moving along nicely and now it's hit a ditch, actually she drove into it.

Someone also sent me Katrina vanden Heuvel's nonsense ("Smart Defense") and I see now what Elaine means about Katty being a bad writer. For fun, go through and count how many sentences she starts with "In." She really is bad.

But Elaine has a short story up at Betty's site that you will enjoy. It just went up tonight and you really have to read it. Betty's calling everybody but she can't get ahold of my cousin yet so let me steer you to it in case Betty's not able to get through to everyone. It's really good.

My cousin (Marcia) is probably on the phone with Ruth because they usually talk about the days news and then decide what to blog each night. Last night Ruth and Elaine carried a list that I wanted to post here as well.

This is the Anti Gay Blacklist, some of the people who funded the homophobic effort to overturn gay marriage in California:

Chuck Musselwhite / Pastor, The Village Chapel / Lompoc, CA / $1,000
Nicole Whitman / Administrator, Greystar / Thousand Oaks, CA / $1,200
Brian Sprague / Analyst, Dept. Of Energy / Fair Oaks, CA / $1,000
Phillip Fletcher / Dentist, Phillip Fletcher, Dds / Redwood City, CA / $1,000
Lin Whatcott/ Accountant, Davita Inc. / Maple Valley, WA / $10,005
Adam Smith /Cpa, Pwc / Santa Ana, CA /$4,000
Marty Walker / Pastor, The Sanctuary / Santa Clarita, CA / $2,500
Michael Lee / Attorney, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher / Sierra Madre, CA /
$1,000
Donovan Sanchez / Food Services, Mtc Dining Services / Fairfield, CA /
$1,000
David Watts / Engineer, Aeris Communications / Morgan Hill, CA / $2,000
Daniel Jensen / Owner, Jensen Fasteners / Sacramento, CA / $1,000
Dan Darchuck / Investment Advisor, Ubs / Clovis, CA / $1,000
Karen Floyd / Trainer, First American Title / Newcastle, CA / $2,500
Calvary Chapel Montebello / Montebello, CA / $1,000
Scott Anderson / Executive, Zenith Specialty Bag / Chino Hills, CA / $1,000
Steven Clark / Manager, R.l. Co. / Orangevale, CA / $1,000
Janet Mahoney / Nursing, Scripps Health / San Diego, CA / $1,000
Matthew Major / Engineer, Lockheed Martin / Sunnyvale, CA / $1,000
Paul Eumurian / Engineer, Boeing / Anaheim, CA / $1,000
David Warner / Periodontist, David A. Warner Dds / Whittier, CA / $1,000
Integrated Dental Implant Services / Las Vegas, NV / $1,000
John Ludwig / Dentist, John B. Ludwig Dds Dental Corp. / Santa Clara, CA / $1,000
Craig Paullin / Partner, 14000 Avalon, Llc / Los Angeles, CA / $2,500
Richard Snelson / Accountant, Ernst & Young Llp / Newhall, CA / $5,585
Brent Griffiths / Self Employed, Brents Carpet One / Newhall, CA / $1,000
Gordon Maughan / Medical Doctor, Self Employed / Palos Verdes Estates, CA / $1,000
Scott L. Larson / Mngr., Scandia Rec., Inc. / Ontario, CA / $1,000
Richard Teerlink / Real Estate Consultant, Richard M. Teerlink Consulting / Gold River, CA / $2,500
Mark Warden / Executive, The Bergman Corp. / San Jose, CA / $1,000
James Elison / Geologist, Paso Creek Reources / Bakersfield, CA / $1,000
Mark E. Abel, Dds / Auburn, CA / $1,000
Douglas Myers / Cpa, Douglas S. Myers, Cpa / Mission Viejo, CA / $1,000
Dallin Large / Pool Cover Repairman, Cover Care / Los Angeles, CA / $1,000
Patrick Foley / Ceo, Rirock Technologies, Inc. / Redlands, CA / $5,000
Mark Walton / Accountant, Reading Intenational, Inc. / South Pasadena, CA / $1,000
Wikitoria Lovett / School Teacher, San Bernardino City Usd / Redlands, CA / $1,580
Lois Lafrance / Cinematic Artist, Activision / Thousand Oaks, CA / $1,000
Scott Wallace / Engineer, Carlsbad Manufacturing Corp / Chula Vista, CA /
$1,000
Steve Keithly / Vice President, Whittier Mailing Products / La Mirada, CA / $3,000
Paul Kepes / Risk Manager, Ctc, Llc / Chicago, IL / $9,900
Monica Kepes / None, N/a / Chicago, IL / $9,900
Salvatore Cordileone / Clergy, Catholic Diocese Of San Diego / San Diego, CA / $2,000
Lance Paddock / Teacher, Alvord Usd / Fullerton, CA / $1,000
New Covenant Church / Martinez, CA / $3,050
Nathan Birchall / Cfo, Ranch Capital / Encinitas, CA / $1,000
Ken Swanson / Engineer, Sun Microsystems / San Jose, CA / $3,000
Patrick Svedin / Sales, Sanofi Pasteur / Salt Lake City, UT / $1,000
Jay Mortensen / Consultant, South West Dealer Services / Laguna Hills, CA / $2,500
Edward Weaver / Teacher, Tehachapi Usd / Tehachapi, CA / $1,000
Jay Clark / Produce Dealer, A & Z Produce / Centerville, UT / $25,000
Scott Eckern / Artistic Director, California Musical Theatre / Citrus Heights, CA / $1,000
Rodney Remington / Physician, Self - Remington / Clovis, CA / $1,000
Harold Stevens / Building Contractor, Stevens Construction / Lancaster, CA / $1,200
David Payne / Self Empoyed, Muzicraft / Santa Barbara, CA / $9,550
Behrouz Younessian / Cfo, The Brass Ring Inc. / Oceanside, CA / $2,000
Robyn Evans / M.d., Self - Robyn Evans / Redlands, CA / $1,000
Todd Johnson / Dentist, Todd L Johnson Dds / Citrus Heights, CA / $1,000
Todd Johnson / Dentist, Todd L Johnson Dds / Citrus Heights, CA / $1,000
Benjamin Whitesides / Principal, Orange County Logistics / Huntington Beach, CA / $1,000
Michael Freeland / Optometrist, Family Optometry Of Camarillo / Camarillo, CA / $1,000
Stuart Watt / Attorney, Amgen / Camarillo, CA / $2,500
Stuart Watt / Attorney, Amgen / Camarillo, CA / $2,500
Drew Dellenbach / Sales, Bms / Corona, CA / $1,500
K. Melton Higgins / Ceo, Ca Bapist Foundation / Fresno, CA / $1,000
Arthur Birtcher / Real Estate, Birtcher Anderson / San Juan Capistrano, CA / $1,000
Barry Magaoay / Advisor, Lee Financial Group / Kapolei, HI / $1,000
Shelley Mitchell / Owner, Strategy Micro / Laguna Hills, CA / $1,000
Brian Mendenhall / Manager, Pendum / Lake Forest, CA / $1,000
Drew Dellenbach / Sales, Bms / Corona, CA / $1,500
K. Melton Higgins / Ceo, Ca Bapist Foundation / Fresno, CA / $1,000
Arthur Birtcher / Real Estate, Birtcher Anderson / San Juan Capistrano, CA / $1,000
Don Francis / Manager, Cbs / San Ramon, CA / $2,500
Jeff Hendrickson / Manager, Legacy Professional Services / San Clemente, CA / $3,500
John Mcgaffey / Manager, Polara Engineering / Murrieta, CA / $1,000
Mike Denning / Consultant, Ernst & Young / San Clemente, CA / $3,000
Jeff Grover / Manager, Solecon / Modesto, CA / $1,000
Lu Little / Admin Asst, Rw Little Ins Agency / Los Angeles, CA / $8,500
Robert Little / Ins Agent, Rw Little Ins Agency / La, CA / $9,500
Richard Zamboni / Manufacturer, Zamboni, Co / Paramount, CA / $1,000
Donovan Cyndi / Secretary, Gaelic Electric / Santa Barbara, CA / $1,000
Calvary Bible Church / Bakersfield, CA / $2,255
Donn Crummer / Real Estate Mgmt, Crummer Realty Mgmt Group / Santa Ynez, CA / $1,000
Ronald Smith / Professor, Biola University / San Bernardino, CA / $1,000
Helen Boltz / Chemical Plant Manager, Tressidewl-kirley / Mesa, AZ / $5,000
Myron Randall / Computer Programmer, Firemans Fund / Penngrove, CA / $1,000
Dave Barlow / Real Estate Broker, Barlow Williams Realty / Camarillo, CA / $1,000
Bohl, Nixon & Schoneman / Ventura, CA / $2,000
Jon Van Woerkom / Attorney, Aig / Roseville, CA / $1,001
Orion Wood / Consultant, Orion Wood Consulting / Newark, CA / $2,500
Frank Johnson / Engineer, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center / Oxnard, CA / $1,000
Robert Frost / Project Manager, Ace Hardware / Clayton, CA / $1,000
Patrick Fitzgerald / Cpa, Pricewaterhouse Coopers Llp / Mission Viejo, CA / $2,000
Jon Hickman / Investment Analyst, Mdb Capital / Pleasant Hills, CA / $1,000
Scott Letellier / Sports Executive, Big League Dreams Usa, Llc / Palos Verdes Estate, CA / $1,500
Sally Lee / Vp Media, Guthy-renker Corp. / Los Angeles, CA / $1,000
John Warren / Cpa, John Warren Cpa / Uniah, CA / $1,000
Dan Lang / Attorney, J.d. Lang & Associates / Westlake Village, CA /
$1,000
Kelley Ivancovich / Farmer, Ivancovich Farms / Porterville, CA / $1,500
Alan Colledge / M.d ., Central Utah Clinic / Lindon, UT / $1,000
John Griffiths / Orthodontist, John C. Griffiths, Dds, Mds, Pc / Las Vegas, NV / $1,000
Darren Wight / Finance, Insight Health Corp / Laguna Niguel, CA / $1,500
Dana Del Francia / Ceo, Bullet Freight Systems / Anaheim, CA / $1,000
America Francis / Apartment Manager, Spieker Companies / San Ramon, CA / $2,000
Bruce Higginson / President, Awc / Garden Grove, CA / $2,001
Brian Gibson / Operations Manager, Hewlett-packard
/ Antelop, CA / $1,000
Jennifer Johnson / Manager, Coraticum Asset Mgt. / Holladay, UT / $2,500
Mark Lindgren / Pilot, Fedex / San Luis Obispo, CA / $5,000
Thomas Brasher / Insurance, Brashers Insurance Svc. / Newcastle, CA / $2,500
Jeff Nelson / Tech Support, Shields, Harper & Co. / Vacaville, CA / $1,800
David Knowles / Insurance, David Knowles Insurance / Sacramento, CA /
$1,000
Jon Iverson / Cpa, Jon Iverson, Cpa / San Jose, CA / $5,000
Michael Schield / Manager, Orpor, Inc. / Laguna Woods, CA / $2,500
Eric Schwarz / Consultant, Omni Management / Thousand Oaks, CA / $2,000
Roman Catholic Bishop / Sacramento, CA / $1,000
Schmoekel Insurance Agency, Inc / Sacramento, CA / $1,000
Eugene Van Zee / Pastor, Faith Community Church / San Jacinto, CA / $1,064
Travis Clawson / Potato Processor, Joy Foods / Laguna Beach, CA / $1,000
Aldric Porter / Co-producer, Columbia Pictures / Santa Rosa Valley, CA / $5,000
Richard Jordan / Professional, Natural Success International / Laguna Niguel, CA / $25,000
Anne Weaver / Rn, Kaiser Sand Teresa Hospital / San Jose, CA / $1,000
Janet Smith / Interior Design, Labelle Maisor / Altadena, CA / $1,000
Kevin Riches / Business Owner, Self - Riches Group / Portola Valley, CA /
$1,000
Stephen Taylor / Financial Advisor, Bank Of The West / Sacramento, CA /
$1,000
Robert Pratt / Attorney, State Of Ca. / Woodland, CA / $1,000
Susan B. Jones / Psychotherapist, Susan B. Jones, L.c.s.w. / Yuba City, CA / $5,000
Gregory Clark / Consultant, Cirrus Financial / Dublin, CA / $21,500
William Orlando / Manager, Aes Ins. / Concord, CA / $1,000
Ross Biesinger / Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley / Palm Desert, CA / $1,000
Lise Dimartino / Teacher, Lammersvill School District / Tracy, CA / $1,000
Friends Of Ron Packard / Carlsbad, CA / $5,000
Pam Peterson / Executive, Folsom Lake Ford / Granite Bay, CA / $1,000
Iris Marshall / Designer, Hyundai Kia / Laguna Hills, CA / $1,000
Carole Waite / Teacher, Los Angeles Usd / Huntington Park, CA / $10,000
Karen Cooper / Tech, C.h.w. / Riverside, CA / $1,000
Meghann Pricer / Project Director, Century Group / Los Angeles, CA / $1,000
Kristine Kiser / Accountant, Kristine M. Kiser, Cpa / Mission Viejo, CA / $1,500
Eric Chen / Research, Ucla / Los Angeles, CA / $1,000
Thomas Butler / Real Estate, Fortress Investments / American Fork, UT / $1,000
Fang Lu / Engineer, Broadcom / Rowland Heights, CA / $5,000
Cay Pooley / Accountant, Mosaic / San Luis Obispo, CA / $1,350
David Paxman / Teacher, Byu / Provo, UT / $1,000
Tracy Pickett / Executive Support, Ladera Integrators / Mountain View, CA / $3,000
Garth Pickett / Accounting, Ladera Integrators / Mountain View, CA / $3,000
Richard Marshall / Veterinarian, Sutter Institute For Med. Resrch / El Dorado Hills, CA / $1,000
Angela Li / Software Engineer, Yahoo!, Inc. / San Mateo, CA / $1,300
Bruce Jensen / Engineer, Raytheon Co. / Goleta, CA / $1,250
Linda Reeve / Landscape Design, Self- Linda Reeve / Alamo, CA / $9,500
Ca State Council Knights/columbus / Fontana, CA / $8,889
Lasco Enterprises / Spring Valley, CA / $1,000
David Pace / President, High Valley Construction / Villa Park, CA / $1,000
Calvary Chapel Mission Fund / El Centro, CA / $2,000
High Valley Construction Co, Inc / Anaheim, CA / $1,000
Central Christian Church / Lancaster, CA / $2,490
Larry La Monica / Property Manager, La Monica Properties / Carson City, CA / $1,000
James Lee / Pharmacist, Yorba Linda Pharmacy / Anaheim, CA / $1,000
William Albert / Developer, Sares-regis Group / Irvine, CA / $1,000
William Wilson / Dentist, William G Wilson Dds / Modesto, CA / $1,000
Lisa Call / Teacher, Los Altos School District / Los Gatos, CA / $1,000
Brad Zimmerman / Grading Contractor, Quest Engineering / Tustin, CA / $2,500
Sharleen Peterson / Research Clerk, Bank Of America / Alhambra, CA / $1,000
Paul Manwaring / Ces Coordinator, Ces Seminars/institutes / Twin Falls, ID / $1,800
Linda Williams /Cpa, Ristau & Co Inc Cpas / Turlock, CA / $1,000
Keith Rowbotham / Tradebinder, Allied Binding Co / Corona, CA / $1,000
Robyn Robinson / Insurance Broker, Self - Robyn Robinson / San Juan Capistrano, CA / $1,000
Kenneth Woolley / Ceo, Extra Space Inc. / Salt Lake City, CA / $5,000
Angie Crosby / Teacher, Anaheim City School District / Newport Beach, CA / $1,000
Melanie Jensen / Insurance Broker, Sheppard & Assoc. / Orangevale, CA / $1,000
Tevita Piutau / Contractor, Self - Tevita Piutau / Ontario, CA / $3,300
Ralph Ogden / Attorney, Law Offices Of Ralph C. Ogden / Modesto, CA /$1,000
Sarah Pack / Therapist, Emq Children And Family Services / San Jose, CA / $2,000
Neal Proctor / Appraiser, Appraisal Net / Folsom, CA / $3,000
William Obryant / Director, Unitedhealthcare / Mission Viejo, CA / $1,000
Hierbert Gillespie / Attorney, Gillespie Law Office / Roosevelt, UT / $1,000
Steven Olsen / Psi Network, Inc, President / Laguna Niguel, CA / $24,999
David M. Fenn / Contractor, Fenn-robbins Homes / Lake Arrowhead, CA / $1,000
Daniel F. Johnson Forensic Services / Canyon Country, CA / $1,000
Ashcraft Design / El Segundo, CA / $1,000
Keven D. Oreilly / Physician, Dr. Kevin Oreilly / Redlands, CA / $1,000
Eric Fors / Comm. Loan Underwriter, Bank Of America / S. Pasadena, CA /$1,000
Jeremie D. Mckee / Mngr., Npc / Corona, CA / $1,000
Robert C. Van Sweden / Finance, Gfi Energy Ventures / Santa Monica, CA / $1,000
Bradley E. Haag / R.e. Appraiser, Appraisal Solutions / Lehi, UT / $2,000
Daniel E. Burgoyne / Mngr., Ca Dgs / Folsom, CA / $1,000
Matthew Perona / Acct., Price Waterhouse Coopers / Concord, CA / $1,500
John Griffiths / Dentist, John C. Griffiths, Dds, Mds, Pc /Las Vegas, NV / $1,000
Anne-Marie Anderson /Consultant, Cps Human Resource Svc. / Rocklin, CA /$3,900
Darren Hulstine / Sales, Patterson Dental / Santa Maria, CA / $1,500
Dale Olsen / Contractor, The Floor Show Of California / Lemon Grove, CA / $1,000
John Sawyer / President, Penhall Company / Laguna Hills, CA / $2,500
John Sawyer / President, Penhall Company / Laguna Hills, CA / $1,000
Samuel Coates / Attorney / Palo Alto, CA / $2,500
Fieldstead And Co. / Irvine, CA / $95,000
Margaret Friedrich / Farmer, Friedrich Enterprises / Paterson, CA /$1,000
Frank Winger / Insurance, Aim / Santa Ana, CA /$2,500
Andre Carli / Professor, Cal. State Univ. Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA / $1,000
Container Supply Co., Inc. / Garden Grove, CA / $250,000
Wesley C. Hilton / V.p. Ins. Sales, Dominion Insurance / Lafayette, CA / $1,250
Kemp Burnham / Software Developer, Xact Ware Inc. / Lehi, UT / $1,000
Koreen Martone / Budget Analyst, State Of Ca. / West Sacramento, CA / $1,000
Gary Mcarthur / Dc, Ppc / Paradise, CA / $1,000
Gary Melman / Investment Manager, Horus / Los Angeles, CA / $1,000
Barnabas Chen / Manager, World Trend, Inc. / Pomona, CA / $1,000
Gayle Wells / Seminar Business, Empty Spools Seminars / Moraga, CA / $1,000
Lambeth Consulting / Greenwood, CA / $1,000
Stephen Elgorriaga / Sheep Rancher, Stephen Elgorriaga Livestock / Madera, CA / $1,000
Country View Farms / Pierce, NE / $2,500
Roy Menchavez / Equip. Eng., Venzon Engineering / Mountain View, CA / $1,000
Frank Velasquez / Coo, Cornerstone Technologies / San Jose, CA / $1,000
Tyler Albrechtsen / Healthcare Administrator, Victoria Care Center / Oxnard, CA / $1,000
Bruce Andrus / Hotel Owner/operator, Huntington Hotels / Park City, UT / $20,000
Daniel Brinton / Physician, East Bay Retina Consultants / Lafayette, CA /
$2,000
Stan Lee / Pharmacist, Nelsons Drug Store / Upland, CA / $5,000
Jeffrey Puryear / Lab Research Assoc., Texas Agrilife Research Station / Bryan, TX / $1,000
Matthew Wade / Medical Resident, Uc Irvine / Salt Lake City, UT / $2,000
Focus On The Family / Colorado Springs, CO / $2,909
Robert Gray / Consultant, Rg-construction Consultants / Plumas Lake, CA / $2,000
Robert Mendenhall / Pres., Western Governors University / Salt Lake City, CA / $1,000
John Mcgaffey / Manager, Polara Engineering / Fullerton, CA / $2,000
Garth Pickett / Accounting, Ladera Integrators / Mountain View, CA / $2,000
Tracy Pickett / Executive Support, Ladera Integrators / Mountain View, CA / $1,999
Lisa Myler / Wedding Planner, Myler Weddings / American Fork, UT / $10,000
Jerner Construction, Inc. / Turlock, CA / $1,000
Paula Barnes / Scheduler, Disneyland / Mission Viejo, CA / $3,000
Michael Brown / Attorney, Michael R. Brown, A Law Corp. / Lake Forest, CA / $1,200
Earl Goodman / President, Goodman, Gene, Dtl, Inc. / Chandler, AZ / $9,999
James Mclaughlin / Investment Management, Lincolnshire Management, Inc. / New Canaan, CT / $1,000
Donald Nanney / Attorney, Gilchrist & Rutter, Pc / Pasadena, CA / $1,000
Coalition For The Protection Of / Las Vegas, NV / $5,000
William Allen / Orthodontist, North County Orthodontist / Carlsbad, CA / $1,000
Morgan Lynch / Management, Lago Di Como / Cedar Hills, UT / $2,500
Scott Haskins / President, Facl, Inc. / Santa Barbara, CA / $5,000
Jessica Wooden / Rn, Sutter Roseville Medical Center / Rescue, CA / $1,500
Yvonne Tsai / Consultant, Kingdom Design / Irvine, CA / $1,000
Caleb Nelson / Self Employed, Unishippers Of Oakland/oregon / Albany, OR / $1,000
Jan Pinney / Insurance Broker, Pinney Insurance Center, Inc. / Granite Bay, CA / $10,000
Ken Campbell / Personnel Officer, City Of Long Beach / Mission Viejo, CA / $1,000
Price Funeral Chapel, Inc. / Citrus Heights, CA / $1,000
Kevin Neubert & Associates Inc. / Lake Arrowhead, CA / $1,000
Scott Borgia / Tax Director, Armanino Mckenna / Morgan Hill, CA / $1,000
Leading Edge Duplication, Inc / Moorpark, CA / $1,700
Joseph Ray / Civil Engineer, P G & E / Rodeo, CA / $1,000
Kimberly Sneddon / Teacher, Chino Usd / Brea, CA / $1,000
Tisha Harty / Office Manager, Law Office Of Douglas Harty / Castaic, CA /
$1,000
Steven Udvar / Manager, Pacific Life Insurance Co. / Dana Point, CA /
$1,000
Lorin Rocks / Engineer, Tandberg Television / San Jose, CA / $1,000
Melenaite Piutau / Contractor, New Epoch Construction / Ontario, CA / $2,000
Heath Fields / Shipping/receiving, Terico / San Jose, CA / $1,000
Container Supply Co., Inc. / Garden Grove, CA / $1,520
Blake Wettengel / Attorney, Snell & Wilmer / Laguna Niguel, CA / $1,000
Cheryl Aday / Real Estate, Provident Realty / Upland, CA / $1,000
Ray Zinn / Ceo, Micrel Inc. / Atherton, CA / $1,500
Gregory Tuttle / Dentist, Gregory K Tuttle Dds / El Dorado Hills, CA / $5,000
Katherine Foster / Manager, Cisco / Mountain View, CA / $2,000
David Boyce / Cpa, Brown, Fink, Boyce & Astle
/ Folsom, CA / $4,000
Michael Lee / Researcher, Natl Inst. For Materials Science / Elk Ridge, UT / $1,500
Joel Gibson / Consultant, Permanente Medical Group / Albany, CA / $1,000
Courtney Sirard / Medical Provider, Woodland Hospital / Woodland, CA /
$1,000
Alex Spjute / Attorney, Hughes Hubbard & Reed / Redondo Beach, CA / $1,000
Wei Li / Engineer, Sensage / Daly City, CA / $1,000
Sherri Steenburgen / Real Estate, First Team Real Estate / Anaheim, CA /
$2,341
John Lewis / Doctor, Tpmg / Cupertino, CA / $1,000
Kevin Schick / Programmer, Synteract Inc. / Carlsbad, CA / $1,000
Anne Jones / Calligrapher, Self - Anne Jones / North Hollywood, CA /
$1,000
Sherry Jagard / Program Manager / Simi Valley, CA / $1,000
Walter Gubler / Professor, Uc Davis / Davis, CA / $1,000
Montgomery Painting / Cerritos, CA / $1,000
Jeff Lemmon / Businessman, New Star / Pacific Grove, CA / $1,000
Brandon Ballard / Investment Advisor, Investools Inc. / Los Angeles, CA /
$1,000
Matthew Thueson / Office Manager, Roll Services / Tucson, AZ / $1,000
Lawrence R. Taylor / Cpa, Gallina, Llp / Antelope, CA / $1,000
Carl Trubschenck / Dentist, Carl Trubschenck Dds Inc. / Citrus Heights, CA / $1,000
Christopher Porter / Vp Sales, Pearson / Folsom, CA / $1,000
Ryan S. Beck / Physical Therapist, Western Physical Therapy / Orland, CA / $1,000
David Bjarnason / Analyst, Western Investment / Salt Lake City, CA / $1,000
Ralph E. Carr / Social Worker, Dept. Of Children & Family Serv. / Downey, CA / $1,000
Kirk Phillips / Civil Engineer, City Of Claremont California / Upland, CA / $1,000
Tca Partners, Llp / Fresno, CA / $1,000
Thomas Carmack / Attorney, Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosa / Mountain View, CA / $1,000
Mike Power / Engineer, Intuit / San Jose, CA / $1,000
Rhonda Killion / Secretary, Church On The Rock / Woodland, CA / $1,000
Brian Avery / Property Manager, Acco Mgt. / Mountain View, CA / $1,000
Blaine Ray Workshops / Consultant / Pismo Beach, CA / $1,000
Scott English / Programmer, Tmmg / Yorba Linda, CA / $2,000
Special Funds / Santa Clarita, CA / $2,675
Bolt Motorcycle Hardware / Atascadero, CA / $1,000
Ridgway Pope / Accountant, County Of Ventura / Ventura, CA / $1,000
Daniel Trueba / Doctor, U.s. Navy / Stonington, CT / $1,000
Alta Home Care Inc. / Riverside, CA / $2,500
Mark Riem / Audio Visual, Self Employed-mark Riem / Los Angeles, CA / $1,000
Chris Barlow / Finance, Lombard Street Partners, Llc / San Ramon, CA / $1,000
Tulikininifo Penieli / Intl. Export., Dhl Express / Lawndale, CA / $1,000
Metal Related Services, Inc / Chatsworth, CA / $2,000
Kawika Tupou / Engineer, Alg Corp. / Camarillo, CA / $1,000
Brian Everett / Architect, Nmr Architects / Orangevale, CA / $1,250
Cory Reid / Loss Mitigation, Consumer Protection Institute / Moraga, CA / $1,000
Kendell Ricks / Dentist, Village Dental / Bonsall, CA / $1,000
Alekisanita Vimahi / Merchandiser, Retail Marketing / Millbrae, CA / $1,500
Cooley Family Investment Llc / Higley, AZ / $10,000
Andrew Hunt / Civil Engineer, City Of Sacramento / Folsom, CA / $1,000
Craig Yeates / Auditor, Us Department Federal Government / Camarillo, CA / $1,000
Robert Ludlow / Dentist, Self Employed - Robert Ludlow / Modesto, CA / $5,000
Katherine Laret / Teacher, San Juan Unified School District / Orangevale, CA / $1,000
Sandra Ball / Manager, Treehouse Almonds / Lemoore, CA / $1,000
Bruce Stephenson / Cpa, Gallina Llp / Granite Bay, CA / $1,000
Mann Construction / Santa Barbara, CA / $1,000
Golding Publications / Canyon Lake, CA / $1,000
M By 6 Inc / Stockton, CA / $1,000
Richard Reep / Hrm, Home Depot / Shingle Springs, CA / $2,000
David Hilburn / Nursing Home Administrator, Sherwood Healthcare Center / Granite Bay, CA / $5,000
Danielle Peterson / Gis Analyst, Granite Construction / Sacramento, CA / $1,000
Ken Sanofsky / Ceo, Path Solutions / Angoura Hills, CA / $1,000
Scott Kuhnen / Paper Stock Dealer, Recycling Industries / Yuba City, CA / $28,750
John Larcabal / Optometrist, Brea Optomatry / Brea, CA / $1,000
Wailana Kamauu / Agent, Wailana Kamauu Ins. Agency / Sonoma, CA / $1,000
Lori Hooke / Civil Engineer, Ventura County / Ventura, CA / $1,200
Gordon Jones / Chemical Salesman, Cardinal Industry / Thousand Oaks, CA / $2,000
Calvary Chapel Corona /Corona, CA / $2,533
Trentman Corporation / Auburn, CA / $1,000
Bart Walker / Owner, Barts Electric / Pleasant Valley, MO / $1,000
Huesser Neweight Llc / Concord, CA / $1,000
Nathan Jensen / Attorney, Morrison & Foerster / San Diego, CA / $10,000
Randall Hatcher / Human Resources, Maui Inc. / Augusta, GA / $5,000
Margaret Mccauley / Landscaper, Pml Landscape / Clovis, CA / $1,000
Brian Hayes / Restaurateur, Aunt Fannys Hot Pretzel / Auburn, CA / 1,000
Craig Huey / Advertising, Creative Direct Marketing Group / Torrance, CA / $1,000
Elizabeth Thomas / Teacher, Burbank Usd / Burbank, CA / $1,000
Shelburne Ponsford / Pres., Systems Information Tech. / Santa Rosa, CA / $1,000
Rodney Hewitt / Chief Risk Officer, Centrue Bank / Manlius, IL / $2,500
Kelley Drake / Supply Chain Mgt, Lsi Corp / San Jose, CA / $1,000
Thomas Larson / Engineer, Cal Trans / San Diego, CA / $9,900
Jason Swart / Owner, Specialized Dairy Svc. / Ontario, CA / $1,000
Steven Turner / Attorney, Jones Turner, Llp / Irvine, CA / $1,000
Focus On The Family / Colorado Springs, CO / $328
Focus On The Family / Colorado Springs, CO / $981
Focus On The Family / Colorado Springs, CO / $46
Focus On The Family / Colorado Springs, CO / $83
Lauri Janssen / Accountant, Intermountan Health Care / West Jordan, UT / $1,000
Lee Monson / Air Attack Capt., Dyncorp International / Atascadero, CA / $1,000
Byron Johnson / President, Eml Associates Inc. / Manteca, CA / $1,000
April Bullard / Business Owner, Scv / Whittier, CA / $1,000
Debra Cabeza / Programmer, City Of Los Angeles / Montebello, CA / $1,000
Michael Manning / Cpa, Qlogic Corporation / San Juan Capistrano, CA / $20,000
Dan Northcutt / Property Management/real Estate, Northcutt Properties Inc. / San Diego, CA / $1,000
Brian Thulin / Teacher, Lausd / Simi Valley, CA / $1,000
Lance Dane / Small Business Owner, Self Employed - Lance Dane / Lafayette, CA / $2,500
Karen Rohm / Professor, California State University / San Bernardino, CA / $1,000
Karen Merrill / Finance Director, Bcbg / Pasadena, CA / $1,000
Nancy Hales / Self Employed, Hales Engineering / Camarillo, CA / $5,000
Lupeni Tuaone / Construction, L.t. Concrete / Chino, CA / $1,614
Ryan Hall / Real Estate, Keller Williams / San Clemente, CA / $1,000
Brent Webb / President, Rpm / Granite Bay, CA / $5,000
David Bills / Teacher, Sbcusd / Corona, CA / $1,000
Michael Wach / Self Employed, Self - Michael Wach / Pomona, CA / $1,000
Theron Brown / Nuclear Radiologist, Va / Torrance, CA / $1,200
Robyn Evans / M.d., Self - Robyn Evans / Redlands, CA / $2,500
John Lewis / Physician, Tpmg / Cupertino, CA / $2,000
Craig Ferguson / Accountant, Craig W Ferguson / Laguna Niguel, CA / $1,000
Marsha Saylors / Secretary, Tire Man / Santa Rosa Valley, CA / $2,500
Barnabas Chen / Manager, World Trend, Inc. / Pomona, CA / $1,000
Reybro, Inc. / Vista, CA / $5,000
Quality Recycling / Lakeside, CA / $2,000
Linda Reynolds / Bookkeeper, Quality Recylcing / Escondido, CA / $2,000
Calvary Chapel Of Costa Mesa, Inc / Santa Ana, CA / $9,000
Mont Flora / Manager, Liberty Heating & Air / Laguna Hills, CA / $5,000
Robert Eakin / Tutor, Mobile Math Tutoring / Carmichael, CA / $3,000

If you do business with any of them, please stop. They have made it clear that they stand against equality. Don't stand with them, don't help them increase their financial situation so they can go after groups next.

Going out with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"

Tuesday, November 18, 2008. Chaos and violence continue, the treaty dance continues, Iraq corruption continues and look who is firing the auditors, and more.


Starting with the treaty masquearding as a Status Of Forces Agreement. Chris Floyd (Baltimore Chronicle) steps up to talk realities:

The American media is by and large swallowing the propaganda line that the Iraqi cabinet's acquiescense to a "Status of Forces Agreement" (SOFA) with the U.S. occupation force means that the Iraq War will be over in in 2011. This will further cement the conventional wisdom that the suppurating war crime in Iraq is now behind us, and the topic will be moved even further off the radar of public scrutiny.
But as usual, there is a wide, yawning abyss between the packaged, freeze-dried pabulum for public consumption and thhe gritty, blood-flecked truth on the ground. As Jason Ditz reports at Antiwar.com, the so-called "deadline" in 2011 for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces remains, as ever, an "aspiration," not an iron-clad guarantee. The pace and size of the bruited "withdrawal" will remain, as ever, "conditions-based," says Pentagon and White House officials -- a position long echoed by the "anti-war" president-elect. And as we all know, "conditions" in a war zone are always subject to radical, unexpected change.

And Campbell Robertson and Steven Lee Myers (New York Times) deserve credit for this bit of reporting today on the treaty, "The concessions included establishing deadlines for withdrawing combat forces from Iraqi cities by naext June and from the county by the end of 2011, though officials said the text of the agreement included language that made those dates less rigid deadlines." While they note US Rep Bill Delahunt, they fail to note the most important detail from the press release his office issued last week:

Next week's hearing will examine the possibility that any bilateral agreement reached between the Bush Administration and the government of Iraq may effectively tie the hands of the next Administration as a result of a clause in Article 31 in a draft of the accord that would prohibit the United States from cancelling it for one year.

The hearing is tomorrow and starts at ten a.m. The most important part is "a clause in Article 31 in a draft of the accord that would prohibit the United States from cancelling it [the "bilateral agreement"] for one year." So the treaty's not all that binding. Binding contracts do not allow either party to cancel in one year, 'binding contracts' trumpeted for what they will 'do' three years from now (2011) do not allow either party the option to cancel out starting in 2009. Reuters reports that Ali Larijani, Iran's Speaker of Parliament, is decrying the treaty for "strengthening comprehensive U.S. hegemony in Iraq" while Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani released a statement today which includes: "The representatives of the Iraqi people in parliament must take on a big responsibility in this case and each must be up to this historic responsibility before God and the people."


The Washington Post asserts a 'change' in Barack Obama's stance on the treaty. First let's review the public stance this year.

During the election, the Obama-Biden campaign website revealed their stance on the so-called SOFA in "Plan for Ending the War in Iraq:"The Status-of-Forces-AgreementObama and Biden believe any Status of Forces Agreement, or any strategic framework agreement, should be negotiated in the context of a broader commitment by the U.S. to begin withdrawing its troops and forswearing permanent bases. Obama and Biden also believe that any security accord must be subject to Congressional approval. It is unacceptable that the Iraqi government will present the agreement to the Iraqi parliament for approval--yet the Bush administration will not do the same with the U.S. Congress. The Bush administration must submit the agreement to Congress or allow the next administration to negotiate an agreement that has bipartisan support here at home and makes absolutely clear that the U.S. will not maintain permanent bases in Iraq.
Post election, Change.gov was set up as the official website for the Barack-Biden transition and if you pull up "The Obama-Biden Plan," you will find:The Status-of-Forces AgreementObama and Biden believe it is vital that a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) be reached so our troops have the legal protections and immunities they need. Any SOFA should be subject to Congressional review to ensure it has bipartisan support here at home.
That has been the official position, that Congressional approval was required and Congressional review. However, Michael Abramowitz (Washington Post) reports, "And the Obama transition team is signling that it wants Congress to review the pact, though not necessarily approve it." That would be a huge shift from where Barack once stood. It would also make Joe Biden look like a flat-out liar. Or are we all supposed to forget the April 10th Senate Foreign Reltations committee he chaired where he told the State Dept's David Satterfield and the Defense Dept's Mary Beth Long that regarding their claim that the so-called SOFA didn't need Senator approval, "I respectfully suggest that you don't have a Constitutional leg to stand on." And are we supposed to forget Senator Russ Feingold informing Satterfield, "I would suggest your difficulties are with the nature of our Constitution." Or that Senators Norm Coleman and Johnny Isakson also called out the so-called SOFA (both senators are Republicans -- there was bi-partisan objection to the Senate's Constitutional role of approving any treaty being circumvented). Back on the Democratic side, Senator Robert Menendez pointed out this bi-partisan objection, "Many of us on both sides of the aisle believe that such an agreement needs to come before Congress." Senator Jim Webb made his position clear, "I would argue it's a document that needs Senate consent."

On both sides of the aisle, senators stood up for the Constitution (and let's not forget that they stood up in the House as well including US House Rep Susan Davis) and now this is going to be tossed aside or Barack Obama thinks it is? That's what the Post reported this morning. (Friends on the transition team told me this morning and this afternoon that the position has not changed and Senate approval remains the stance. Whether that's true or not, I don't know.)

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte spoke in Ireland yesterday where he strung together the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War, "2001" and "extremism." When the current administration leaves office will they take the direct and indirect fale-linkage of Iraq to 9-11 with him? You'd think so but you'd also have thought that all that lip flapping in April meant something, that a Constituional scholar like Barack wouldn't be eager to spit on the Constitution before he's even sworn in; however, the Post feels their information on this is solid and Team Barack will not fight for or advocate Senate approval. If true, he'll go into office a damn liar and never overcome it while Democrats in the Senate will be damned in the same manner. (Russ Feingold being Russ would most likely speak out to some degree if the Senate was circumvented. Would the rest?) For eight years, Democrats and their media surrogates have tossed around phrases like "rule of law" and if they think they can drop them just because "their guy" got into the White House they better expect to see huge losses in both houses of Congress come November 2010. And you can pair this potential move by Barack with Tom Burghardt's "Obama's Intelligence Agenda: More of the Same from the 'Change Administration'" (Dissident Voice):While expectations may be high that the incoming Obama administration will reverse many of the worst features of the Bush regime–from warrantless wiretapping, illegal detention, torture, "targeted assassinations" and preemptive war–now that the cheering has stopped, expect more of the same. According to The Wall Street Journal, "President-elect Barack Obama is unlikely to radically overhaul controversial Bush administration intelligence policies, advisers say, an approach that is almost certain to create tension within the Democratic Party." With hyperbolic "change" rhetoric in the air, Obama is relying on a gaggle of former intelligence insiders, warmed-over Clinton administration officials and "moderate" Republicans, many of whom helped Bush craft his administration's illegal policies. With U.S. street cred at an all-time low, due in no small measure to Washington's hubristic fantasies that it really is an empire and not a rapidly decaying failed state, ruling elites have literally banked on Obama to deliver the goods. During his run for the White House, the Illinois senator may have mildly criticized some of the administration's so-called "counterterrorism" policies including the Bushist penchant for secrecy, the disappearance of "terrorist" suspects, driftnet surveillance of American citizens and legal residents, CIA "black site" gulags and the crushing of domestic dissent. But in the few scant days since the November 4 general election, the contours of what Democratic party corporatist grifters will roll-out come January 20 are taking shape. Citing Obama's carefully-crafted public relations blitz on the campaign trail opposing illegal spying, the Journal reports: Yet he ... voted for a White House-backed law to expand eavesdropping powers for the National Security Agency. Mr. Obama said he opposed providing legal immunity to telecommunications companies that aided warrantless surveillance, but ultimately voted for the bill, which included an immunity provision. The new president could take a similar approach to revising the rules for CIA interrogations, said one current government official familiar with the transition. Upon review, Mr. Obama may decide he wants to keep the road open in certain cases for the CIA to use techniques not approved by the military, but with much greater oversight. (Siobhan Gorman, "Intelligence Policy to Stay Largely Intact," The Wall Street Journal, November 11, 2008) The "current government official" cited by the Journal fails to specify precisely what it means to "keep the road open" when it comes to torturing prisoners of war in violation of the Geneva Conventions.


Turning to England, Peter Goldsmith is in the news. Lord Goldsmith resigned as Attorney General of England and Wales June 27, 2007. His advice to then-Prime Minister Ton Blair has been questioned for some time (PDF format warning, click here for the advice). Yesterday Lord Thomas Bingham, speaking to The British Institute of International and Comparative Law raised Goldsmith's advice. BBC reports he called the war "a serious violation of international law" and said Bingham provided Blaid with "no hard evidence" making a case for the war. Joshua Rozenberg (Telegraph of London) explains, "It is thought to be the first time that Lord Bingham has expressed his views about the legal advice given to Tony Blair by the former Attorney General. The issue never came before Lord Bingham while he was sitting as a judge." Rozenberg quotes Bingham on why the decision was doubtful:

"First, it was not plain that Iraq had failed to comply in a manner justifying resort to force and there were no strong factual grounds or hard evidence to show that it had: Hans Blix and his team of weapons inspectors had found no weapons of mass destruction, were making progress and expected to complete their task in a matter of months.
"Secondly, it passes belief that a determination whether Iraq had failed to avail itself of its final opportunity was intended to be taken otherwise than collectively by the Security Council."

Frances Gibb (Times of London) quotes Bingham stating, "Particularly disturbing to proponents of the rule of law is the cynical lack of concern for international legality among some top officials in the Bush administration." The First Post emphasizes the illegal nature of the war based on Bingham's judgement.

From illegal to corruption, September 22nd in the US, the the Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing on corruption that was noted in the Sept. 23rd snapshot:

Senator Byron Dorgan: In March, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing at my request, in which we heard from a very courageous Iraqi judge who headed Iraq's Commission of Public Integrity. This agency was established by the Coalition Provisional Authority after the US invasion of Iraq, and charged with rooting out corruption in the new government. Judge al-Radhi estimated that corruption in Iraq's government had resulted in the loss of $18 billion in government funds, and most of those funds had been US tax payer dollars. Judge Radhi said that instead of supporting his efforts to fight corruption, the top levels of the Iraqi government had ultimately suppressed his investigations. [. . . ] Judge Radhi also testified that since the establishment of the Commission of Public Integrity, more than 31 employees have been assassinated as well as at least an additional 12 family members. One would have expected that our own government would have been doing everything it could to support Judge Radhi's anti-corruption efforts. But in hearing of this committee back in May, we heard from two State Dept officials who said that our own government was not interested in ensuring accountability of U.S. funds in Iraq or in rooting out corruption. In fact, one of the officials, retired judge Arthur Brenna, said that some of the stolen funds were steered to the Iraqi insurgency. Yet the administration was generally indifferent to the problem. This indifference has had deadly consequences. We will hear from witnesses today -- one of whom was Judge Radhi's chief investigator in Iraq -- about how stolen US funds have gone to al Qaeda in Iraq. Our earlier hearing with Judge Brennan showed us that the State Dept turns a blind eye when it comes to corruption. Today's hearing will show us what the State Dept turned a blind eye to -- and what the consequences have been.

Today James Glanz and Riyadh Mohammed (New York Times) report that Nouri al-Maliki continues to fire those tasked with oversight and the reporters note, "Mr. Maliki's stance on oversight was most vividly illustrated by his long-running feud with Judge Rathi al-Rathi, the former head of the Commission onf Public Integrity, an oversight agency created by the Coalition Provisional Authority. After Mr. Rathi's corruption investigations repeatedly embarrassed the Maliki government, the prime minister's office supported corruption charges against Mr. Rathi himself." Matt Kelley (USA Today) reports that being suspended by the government doesn't mean that you can't still get contracts as Lee Dynamics International (suspended for bribery) proves, "Contracting officers gave Lee Dynamics International a new contract in July 2007 despite warnings from military lawyers, according to a report issued by Stuart Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction (SIGIR). The Joint Contracting Command-Iraq did not return calls on why Lee Dynamics was awarded the new contract." Matt Kelley also notes, "The Pentagon spent about $600 million on more than 1,200 Iraq reconstruction contracts that were eventually canceled, nearly half of them for the mismanagemnt or shoddy construciton, government inspectors say." Reuters notes Iraq ranks number three on the most corrupt nation-state list by Transparency International Index and that the head of Iraq's Integrity Commission, Rahim al-Ugaili, was sent out to dance for reporters today .and declare, "In 2008 we referred 337 cases to the court. This year has seen the biggest achievement." No word apparently on whether more corruption cases would allegedly be referred or not had al-Maliki not fired at will. Glanz and Mohammed note:

At least two of the officials who were forced out were Christian women, Hana Shakuri of the Culture Ministry and Samia Youssef Sha'ia of the Christian Endowment. But most are simply senior Sunni and Shiite technocrats who have been at their posts for years and in several cases were orginally appointed in 2004 by L. Paul Bremer III, the top administrator for the Coaliton Provisional Authority.

We'll use the women's religion to grab Liz Sly's (Chicago Tribune) report on Sunday about Iraq's Mandeans who predate Christianity and Islam ("and even perhaps Judaism") but are now "on the brink of extinction" having dropped from 30,000 in 2002 to between 3,500 and 5,000 currently:

Scattered around the world in tiny communities, the chances that the religion will survive more than a few generations are slim, experts say. Mandaeism does not accept converts, and the children of Mandaeans who marry non-Mandaeans do not belong to the sect. There are only 35 priests left in the world familiar with the elaborate ceremonies of a people who claim to be directly descended from Adam and who regard John the Baptist as their most important prophet."It has been a catastrophe for us," said Sattar Jabar Helou, who heads the Mandaean sect worldwide. "This is one of the world's oldest religions, and it is going to die."Mandaeans, known as Sabis in Arabic, are just one of several minorities who have historically given Iraq its distinct identity as a cradle of religious diversity. All have suffered disproportionately from the spread of anarchy and extremism in the wake of the U.S. invasion.Iraq's once-substantial Christian community has seen its numbers dwindle from about 800,000 to 500,000. Yazidis, a lettuce-shunning minority that venerates the forces of good and evil, have been targeted for attacks in their enclaves along the borders of Iraqi Kurdistan. Shabbaks, a Muslim sect that permits alcohol and is neither Sunni nor Shiite, have been persecuted in their ancestral lands near the northern city of Mosul.

Turning to today's reported violence . . .

Bombings?

Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad bombing inside the home "of Sadi Mahdi, a general inspector in the ministry of electriticy" which left "Sadi's son Mustafa and his wife" wounded, a Baghdad roadside bombing that wounded two people, a Baghdad roadside bombing that wounded one person, another Baghdad roadside bombing and this one left two people wounded and a Mosul car bombing that claimed 1 life and ten other people injured. Reuters notes a Sinjar bombing that claimed 1 life and left thirteen people injured,

Shootings?

Reuters notes 5 'suspects' were shot dead in Samarra and three more wounded.

Corpses?

Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports 15 corpses discovered in Baghdad

Meanwhile Greg Mitchell (Editor & Publisher) continues to explore service members deaths in Iraq from non-combat, "Here is today's horror story, involving Sgt. Mason Lewis of Virginia. A year ago, the military told his mom he had died in a fall. By implication: his fault. Yesterday a local TV outlet reported that the official probe has belatedly revealed: 'Army investigators discovered a poorly maintained bucket loader with no brakes and sluggish hydraulics, operated by an inexperienced crew, led to Mason's death'."

Mickey Z (at CounterCurrents) points out the little confidence game so many on the left are playing at present regarding a hopey-changey Corporatist War Hawk:And let's say Howard Zinn wrote an article that talked about what this man should do, what he hoped he'd do. For example: "announce the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan" and "renounce the Bush doctrine of preventive war as well as the Carter doctrine of military action to control Midest oil." Also: "radically change the direction of U.S. foreign policy, declare that the U.S. is a peace loving country which will not intervene militarily in other parts of the world, and start dismantling the military bases we have in over a hundred countries. Also he must begin meeting with Medvedev, the Russian leader, to reach agreement on the dismantling of the nuclear arsenals, in keeping with the Nuclear Anti-Proliferation Treaty." Then raise taxes on the rich and combine that windfall with the hundreds of billions of dollars freed from the military budget to "give free health care to everyone (and) put millions of people to work" and thus "transform" the United States and "make it a good neighbor to the world."
Well, Howard Zinn has written such an article ("Obama's Historic Victory," Nov. 12, 2208) but is anyone calling him delusional and ridiculing him for even suggesting such insane expectations? The tens of thousands of readers who look to Zinn as a trusted voice of wisdom and reason are being dangerously misled by an article that omits the reality that every indication points to Barack Obama doing the exact opposite of what Zinn writes. Zinn knows as well as anyone that not an iota of evidence exists that Obama would do anything approaching what is described above. For a man of Zinn's stature on the Left to even hint of such a possibility is a shockingly irresponsible act and one that only contributes to the misguided perception that Obama's election is somehow a victory for the progressive Left.



iraq
chris floydthe washington postmichael abramowitzthe new york timescampbell robertsonsteven lee myers
james glanz
riyadh mohammedtom burghardt
matt kelley
liz sly
mcclatchy newspaperslaith hammoudi
greg mitchell
mickey z