28 November, 2009
25 November, 2009
Crime DOES Pay When the Government Runs It
The FDIC's "Quarterly Banking Profile" http://www2.fdic.gov/qbp/2009sep/qbp.pdf, but those folks that "guarantee" your deposits in the banks are bankrupt. They didn't say it in so many words (and you have to slog through to page 13 of 26), but the "insurance fund" now stands at "a negative $8.2 billion (unaudited)."
Don't worry, though. "The United States" will make sure your "protected", by coming up with more & more taxes (to be paid by you). You'll just pay more, so you can (eventually) get back what the banks lose.
The old saw is wrong.
Don't worry, though. "The United States" will make sure your "protected", by coming up with more & more taxes (to be paid by you). You'll just pay more, so you can (eventually) get back what the banks lose.
The old saw is wrong.
24 November, 2009
What Makes You Think It Couldn't Happen Here? It IS!
I would've "block-quoted" the text below, instead of italicizing it, but I couldn't.
In as Orwellian a fashion as many of you will ever see, the text below, a post from attorney Candace Gorman's Guantanamo Blog, doesn't exist. It's been "retroactively de-unclassified" (my term), so it wasn't published. Although it exists, in the public domain, it doesn't exist. SShhh! You can read it, as long as you understand that you're not reading it. You can tell others about it (verrrry discreetly, of course), but you have to let them know you're not telling them about something that doesn't exist. You'll have to go to Google's cache of http://gtmoblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/muzzle-is-off.html to read the original.
THE MUZZLE IS OFF
In June of this year I received a call from a foreign reporter who asked if I could give her a profile of my client Al-Ghizzawi as he was on a list of men whom the US was looking for a new home and her country was considering accepting him. This was the first I had learned that Al-Ghizzawi had been "cleared" by the Obama review team for release. I gave her information about my client and for all I know a story was published about the plight of al-Ghizzawi at Guantanamo, his status as "cleared" and why he needed a country in Europe to take him.
A few days later an attorney from the justice department called to tell me that Al-Ghizzawi was cleared for release and we laughed about the fact that I already knew the information. However the laughing stopped when the attorney told me that the justice department had designated the information as "protected" and I could not tell anyone except my client and those people who had signed on to the protective order (a court document that outlines the procedures for the Guantanamo cases) about his status as "cleared for release." I told the attorney that he could not declare something "protected" that was already in the public domain. To make a long story short we were not in agreement and the attorney filed an emergency motion with the judge to muzzle me. Despite the fact that the information was in the public domain I was muzzled by the good judge who apparently doesn't believe that the constitution applies to me. I couldn't even tell Mr. Al-Ghizzawi's brother what I thought was good news (I didn't know then that this was just another stall tactic by the justice department).
Not only was I muzzled but Mr. Al-Ghizzawi's case was put on hold. The habeas hearing that we had been fighting to obtain literally for years was stayed by the judge despite the fact that the US Supreme Court held in June of 2008 that the men were entitled to swift hearings.... So much for the Supreme Court! The president asked the judges to stop the hearings for those men who were "cleared" for release and the judges have fallen into lockstep, shamefully abandoning their duties as judges.
A few months later when I visited Al-Ghizzawi (at the end of August) he had just received word from his wife that she could no longer wait for his release and she asked him if she would sign papers for a divorce. Bad news is an every day occurrence for Al-Ghizzawi and he was holding up well despite this latest blow.
When I returned from the base I asked the justice department to allow me to contact Al-Ghizzawi's wife and tell her that he had been cleared for release. I hoped that if she knew he was to be released she would hang in there and not go through with the divorce. I was told they would get back to me. When they didn't I asked again but they still would not give me the ok. In Court papers I pleaded with the judge to let me tell Al-Ghizzawi's brother and wife, telling the judge about the wife's request for a divorce, but the Judge, the same Judge who has apparently decided to ignore the supreme court's directive for quick habeas hearings, ignored this plea as well.
I seriously thought about disobeying the order and trying to get word to Al-Ghizzawis' wife and then taking whatever lumps were thrown my way....however, despite the fact that the judicial system has failed Al-Ghizzawi and most of the men at Guantanamo I could not bring myself to blatantly disobey a court order. For five months I have kept this information confidential despite the injustice to both my client, Mr. Al-Ghizzawi, and to what was our rule of law.... until yesterday, when the muzzle was lifted.
This is only part of the story. I will be writing more about this in the future and our friend the talking dog has more to say on this.
Click on the title for his take.
Meanwhile, if you hear from a habeas attorney that his or her case has been stayed you will know about the injustice that their client is continuing to suffer, you will know that the client has been cleared for release, that the attorney cannot discuss that fact and that the judge in that case has abandoned his or her duty to be a judge. You will also know that being cleared for release is just as meaningless as everything else that has been happening to these unfortunate men....because being cleared for release means nothing.
Posted by H. Candace Gorman at 11:28 AM
And if ANYONE you don't know, and know WELL, asks you about it, assume they're from the Ministry of Trusth, and tell them I told you it doesn't exist.
In as Orwellian a fashion as many of you will ever see, the text below, a post from attorney Candace Gorman's Guantanamo Blog, doesn't exist. It's been "retroactively de-unclassified" (my term), so it wasn't published. Although it exists, in the public domain, it doesn't exist. SShhh! You can read it, as long as you understand that you're not reading it. You can tell others about it (verrrry discreetly, of course), but you have to let them know you're not telling them about something that doesn't exist. You'll have to go to Google's cache of http://gtmoblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/muzzle-is-off.html to read the original.
THE MUZZLE IS OFF
In June of this year I received a call from a foreign reporter who asked if I could give her a profile of my client Al-Ghizzawi as he was on a list of men whom the US was looking for a new home and her country was considering accepting him. This was the first I had learned that Al-Ghizzawi had been "cleared" by the Obama review team for release. I gave her information about my client and for all I know a story was published about the plight of al-Ghizzawi at Guantanamo, his status as "cleared" and why he needed a country in Europe to take him.
A few days later an attorney from the justice department called to tell me that Al-Ghizzawi was cleared for release and we laughed about the fact that I already knew the information. However the laughing stopped when the attorney told me that the justice department had designated the information as "protected" and I could not tell anyone except my client and those people who had signed on to the protective order (a court document that outlines the procedures for the Guantanamo cases) about his status as "cleared for release." I told the attorney that he could not declare something "protected" that was already in the public domain. To make a long story short we were not in agreement and the attorney filed an emergency motion with the judge to muzzle me. Despite the fact that the information was in the public domain I was muzzled by the good judge who apparently doesn't believe that the constitution applies to me. I couldn't even tell Mr. Al-Ghizzawi's brother what I thought was good news (I didn't know then that this was just another stall tactic by the justice department).
Not only was I muzzled but Mr. Al-Ghizzawi's case was put on hold. The habeas hearing that we had been fighting to obtain literally for years was stayed by the judge despite the fact that the US Supreme Court held in June of 2008 that the men were entitled to swift hearings.... So much for the Supreme Court! The president asked the judges to stop the hearings for those men who were "cleared" for release and the judges have fallen into lockstep, shamefully abandoning their duties as judges.
A few months later when I visited Al-Ghizzawi (at the end of August) he had just received word from his wife that she could no longer wait for his release and she asked him if she would sign papers for a divorce. Bad news is an every day occurrence for Al-Ghizzawi and he was holding up well despite this latest blow.
When I returned from the base I asked the justice department to allow me to contact Al-Ghizzawi's wife and tell her that he had been cleared for release. I hoped that if she knew he was to be released she would hang in there and not go through with the divorce. I was told they would get back to me. When they didn't I asked again but they still would not give me the ok. In Court papers I pleaded with the judge to let me tell Al-Ghizzawi's brother and wife, telling the judge about the wife's request for a divorce, but the Judge, the same Judge who has apparently decided to ignore the supreme court's directive for quick habeas hearings, ignored this plea as well.
I seriously thought about disobeying the order and trying to get word to Al-Ghizzawis' wife and then taking whatever lumps were thrown my way....however, despite the fact that the judicial system has failed Al-Ghizzawi and most of the men at Guantanamo I could not bring myself to blatantly disobey a court order. For five months I have kept this information confidential despite the injustice to both my client, Mr. Al-Ghizzawi, and to what was our rule of law.... until yesterday, when the muzzle was lifted.
This is only part of the story. I will be writing more about this in the future and our friend the talking dog has more to say on this.
Click on the title for his take.
Meanwhile, if you hear from a habeas attorney that his or her case has been stayed you will know about the injustice that their client is continuing to suffer, you will know that the client has been cleared for release, that the attorney cannot discuss that fact and that the judge in that case has abandoned his or her duty to be a judge. You will also know that being cleared for release is just as meaningless as everything else that has been happening to these unfortunate men....because being cleared for release means nothing.
Posted by H. Candace Gorman at 11:28 AM
And if ANYONE you don't know, and know WELL, asks you about it, assume they're from the Ministry of Trusth, and tell them I told you it doesn't exist.
23 November, 2009
New York Post story from Gene
Gene thought you would find this story from NYPost.com interesting:
Watch closely. Goldfinger is about to replace Goldfinger with Goldfinger.
JAMIE DIMON SEEN AS GOOD FIT FOR TREASURY
By MARK DeCAMBREhttp://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/polishing_dimon_IKfyRK8PArjjlMYflWAvDK
To sign up for Daily Newsletter Alerts, please visit http://www.nypost.com/Signup.
22 November, 2009
FW: The Hidden Costs of Too Much Government Debt
Got this BEFORE I read the "pubrecord.org" commentary, but I see things...(you get the picture - if not, read the previous post).
-----Original Message-----
From: James Winbush [mailto:jameswinbush@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 4:35 PM
Cc: Elfrieda Ellison; Dennis Gault
Subject: Fwd: The Hidden Costs of Too Much Government Debt
From: James Winbush [mailto:jameswinbush@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 4:35 PM
Cc: Elfrieda Ellison; Dennis Gault
Subject: Fwd: The Hidden Costs of Too Much Government Debt
|
Are We having Fun, YET?!?!?
I'm known for saying "I see things that other people don't see...and sometimes they're really there!"
I saw, on a late summer day 8 years ago, that the "reds" had outdone the "blues". I was told I was crazy, even by people who knew, as I did, that no one intent on making a political statement with fertilizer & diesel - back in '95 the "blues" ran things - would be stupid enough to try to escape in a "no license plate" car, travelling well over the speed limit.
I saw, in the April, 1993 announcement that NBC planned to do a mini-series about the (then) ongoing standoff in Waco, Texas, that it no longer had a chance of ending well.
Like I said, I see things that other people don't see...and sometimes they're really there! I see "terrorists", "wars", and "pandemics" as only the most obvious of the many and varied distractions intended to provide cover for the theft of America.
I mean that literally. And when you read (if you still can, and will) the commentary at http://pubrecord.org/commentary/6084/critical-unraveling-society/, you might just grasp how I CAN mean that literally, and why I do.
For those of you who won't bother, here are some "high" points:
Goldman Sachs (the undisputed "Chair" of Goldfinger), generated record profits so far this year and plans to pa out $16,700,000,000.00 (for the mathematically challenged, that's 16 BILLION+) "for compensation expenses", Goldman Sachs is on pace for the best year in the firm’s history, they are also while only paying 1% in taxes.
"foreclosure filings “hit a record high in the third quarter [of 2009]… "
"25 Million people are unemployed or underemployed"
"taxpayers at risk of losing as much as $5.1 billion invested in the banks since TARP was launched "
"US public debt topped 12 trillion dollars" That's 12,000,000,000,000.00.
But we should, really, keep our priorities straight. After all, it MUCH more important whether mammograms start at 40 or 50.
And besides, isn't there a game on?
I saw, on a late summer day 8 years ago, that the "reds" had outdone the "blues". I was told I was crazy, even by people who knew, as I did, that no one intent on making a political statement with fertilizer & diesel - back in '95 the "blues" ran things - would be stupid enough to try to escape in a "no license plate" car, travelling well over the speed limit.
I saw, in the April, 1993 announcement that NBC planned to do a mini-series about the (then) ongoing standoff in Waco, Texas, that it no longer had a chance of ending well.
Like I said, I see things that other people don't see...and sometimes they're really there! I see "terrorists", "wars", and "pandemics" as only the most obvious of the many and varied distractions intended to provide cover for the theft of America.
I mean that literally. And when you read (if you still can, and will) the commentary at http://pubrecord.org/commentary/6084/critical-unraveling-society/, you might just grasp how I CAN mean that literally, and why I do.
For those of you who won't bother, here are some "high" points:
Goldman Sachs (the undisputed "Chair" of Goldfinger), generated record profits so far this year and plans to pa out $16,700,000,000.00 (for the mathematically challenged, that's 16 BILLION+) "for compensation expenses", Goldman Sachs is on pace for the best year in the firm’s history, they are also while only paying 1% in taxes.
"foreclosure filings “hit a record high in the third quarter [of 2009]… "
"25 Million people are unemployed or underemployed"
"taxpayers at risk of losing as much as $5.1 billion invested in the banks since TARP was launched "
"US public debt topped 12 trillion dollars" That's 12,000,000,000,000.00.
But we should, really, keep our priorities straight. After all, it MUCH more important whether mammograms start at 40 or 50.
And besides, isn't there a game on?
18 November, 2009
And YOU Think "They" Aren't Wiretapping YOU?
It’s fun, or it would be if the “public” - defined by at least one federal court as “…that vast multitude that includes the ignorant, the unthinking, and the credulous…” – were less so, to read drivel such as “Rage Grows in America: Anti-Government Conspiracies”, published by the Anti-Defamation League. http://www.adl.org/special_reports/rage-grows-in-America/default.asp
In dismantling this blatant attack on concerned Americans (not all of whom I agree with), I think it’s important to follow advice that was ubiquitous in my childhood: “Consider the source”.
First, as footnoted on the web page, “The Anti-Defamation League is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).” As such, it is reasonably to be assumed that any disagreement with government policy is viewed as a threat to the “special treatment” of this organization.
Continuing in a “bottoms up” fashion (they’ll probably liken this to “grass roots”), it’s worthy of note that the ADL asserts as a “most troubling aspects of the rise of anti-government sentiment in 2009” a “resurgence of the militia movement”. I’m not surprised that this statement (indeed, the particular subject) is found in the last paragraph of the “Special Report”. The assertion that “Within the past two years, the movement has almost quadrupled in size…” gives lie to the entire work, showing that its focus of “anti-Obama” is misplaced. It is barely one year since Obama’s “election”, not yet even eleven months since the concert on the mall, yet the alleged “-near-quadrupling” of the “militia movement” is attributed – by the ADL – as being motivated by a personal, or perhaps racial, animus. This “fact” (if such it is) conflicts with the premise.
It could be, I suppose, that the allegedly exponential growth in the “militia movement” includes ADL’s immediately prior category, “Three Percenters”. This “loosely organized movement” is apparently not so loose as to avoid ADL labeling them(?) as “committed to the restoration of the Founders’ Republic”, or to prevent ADL as quoting an unidentified member(?) as “willing to fight, die, and if forced by any would-be oppressor, to kill…”.
Having narrowed the field, the next target (actually, previous; we’re critiquing “bottoms up”, remember) is “The Oathkeepers”, described as “an anti-government group that tries to recruit police and military personnel and veterans…”, while completely avoiding the fact that it is their Oath to “protect and defend the Constitution” that these fine Americans propose to honor – if, or when, “orders” that would violate that Oath are given. I find it curious that the ADL would oppose “police and military personnel”, in particular, refusing to obey unlawful or unconstitutional orders. I cannot conceive that the ADL has forgotten Nuremburg, or the reasons that name lives in all history.
“Resisting the Government” presupposes that, prior to Obama, there was no such desire. On the contrary, a great many Americans (and Freedom lovers the world over) found the previous administration at least as dangerous to Liberty; not a few recognized that encroaching danger several administrations, even generations, before that. Viewed in context, this particular “cause for alarm” is a transparent attempt to paint genuine concern for Liberty as racist; so transparent, in fact, that notable numbers of “people of color” see through it.
“Anti-Government Conpiracies” relies upon supposition that “Anti-government conspiracy theories seem clearly to have played a role…” in a shootout in Pittsburgh. Even assuming the supposition as true, it is just as likely that the well-publicized militarization of civilian police departments led to the event. Police no longer respond to domestic disturbances as peacemakers; they come in armor, and anyone who watches television news knows it.
Indeed, opposition to a “training exercise”, to be conducted in Iowa, off of any military installation, is viewed as a “wild and fantastical” (sic), and “reinterpreted by conspiracy theorists as an exercise in confiscating firearms from American citizens”, forgetting entirely the willful – and unlawful – disarmament of Citizens protecting their New Orleans homes after Katrina. This one covers as well the “Conspiracy Theories Imagine Government Plots” heading, given the known facts.
Blaming “anti-Obama” on “the extremist fringe”, ADL attacks by name Alex Jones (when they should know how much Alex will love this and the business it brings him!), but has enough blame to cover “mainstream media” in general and Glenn Beck in particular (who will also, I presume and hope, capitalize) for “a surprisingly active role in generating such…”. This assumes, of course, that “mainstream media” still possesses a credibility that no one I know – not even hard core “koolaid drinkers” – afford them. And Beck merely demonstrates that concerns for Liberty are FAR more wide than a government-sponsored entity such as ADL would care to admit.
Likewise the characterization of “The “Birther” Movement”. In ADL’s opinion, and that of many others, the fact that the published “copy” of Obama’s birth certificate appears oddly different from contemporaneous Hawaii birth certificates is only a manifestation of racism. My observation is that too few Americans really give a damn whether he’s American or not, and I find that more troubling than I can express.
For the top three categories, it’s clear that subjugating every American man, woman, and child – including those yet to be born – to a debt to “bailout” those who should have known, and I believe did know, better, and holding all of us hostage, against our national will, is ok with ADL. It’s clear that, to ADL, opposition to government seizing control of personal health decisions – in the name of supporting the econonmy all but destroyed by those recipients of that unwilling “bailout” - is no reason to be unhappy with government.
It’s clear that, to ADL, opposing the making of “willful failure to pay” and “health insurance evasion” crimes under the tax code, is merely “anti-Obama”.
As much as I’ve admired them in the past, ADL is just wrong.
If you’re not somehow described in ADL’s “Special Report”, you’re un-American.
In dismantling this blatant attack on concerned Americans (not all of whom I agree with), I think it’s important to follow advice that was ubiquitous in my childhood: “Consider the source”.
First, as footnoted on the web page, “The Anti-Defamation League is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).” As such, it is reasonably to be assumed that any disagreement with government policy is viewed as a threat to the “special treatment” of this organization.
Continuing in a “bottoms up” fashion (they’ll probably liken this to “grass roots”), it’s worthy of note that the ADL asserts as a “most troubling aspects of the rise of anti-government sentiment in 2009” a “resurgence of the militia movement”. I’m not surprised that this statement (indeed, the particular subject) is found in the last paragraph of the “Special Report”. The assertion that “Within the past two years, the movement has almost quadrupled in size…” gives lie to the entire work, showing that its focus of “anti-Obama” is misplaced. It is barely one year since Obama’s “election”, not yet even eleven months since the concert on the mall, yet the alleged “-near-quadrupling” of the “militia movement” is attributed – by the ADL – as being motivated by a personal, or perhaps racial, animus. This “fact” (if such it is) conflicts with the premise.
It could be, I suppose, that the allegedly exponential growth in the “militia movement” includes ADL’s immediately prior category, “Three Percenters”. This “loosely organized movement” is apparently not so loose as to avoid ADL labeling them(?) as “committed to the restoration of the Founders’ Republic”, or to prevent ADL as quoting an unidentified member(?) as “willing to fight, die, and if forced by any would-be oppressor, to kill…”.
Having narrowed the field, the next target (actually, previous; we’re critiquing “bottoms up”, remember) is “The Oathkeepers”, described as “an anti-government group that tries to recruit police and military personnel and veterans…”, while completely avoiding the fact that it is their Oath to “protect and defend the Constitution” that these fine Americans propose to honor – if, or when, “orders” that would violate that Oath are given. I find it curious that the ADL would oppose “police and military personnel”, in particular, refusing to obey unlawful or unconstitutional orders. I cannot conceive that the ADL has forgotten Nuremburg, or the reasons that name lives in all history.
“Resisting the Government” presupposes that, prior to Obama, there was no such desire. On the contrary, a great many Americans (and Freedom lovers the world over) found the previous administration at least as dangerous to Liberty; not a few recognized that encroaching danger several administrations, even generations, before that. Viewed in context, this particular “cause for alarm” is a transparent attempt to paint genuine concern for Liberty as racist; so transparent, in fact, that notable numbers of “people of color” see through it.
“Anti-Government Conpiracies” relies upon supposition that “Anti-government conspiracy theories seem clearly to have played a role…” in a shootout in Pittsburgh. Even assuming the supposition as true, it is just as likely that the well-publicized militarization of civilian police departments led to the event. Police no longer respond to domestic disturbances as peacemakers; they come in armor, and anyone who watches television news knows it.
Indeed, opposition to a “training exercise”, to be conducted in Iowa, off of any military installation, is viewed as a “wild and fantastical” (sic), and “reinterpreted by conspiracy theorists as an exercise in confiscating firearms from American citizens”, forgetting entirely the willful – and unlawful – disarmament of Citizens protecting their New Orleans homes after Katrina. This one covers as well the “Conspiracy Theories Imagine Government Plots” heading, given the known facts.
Blaming “anti-Obama” on “the extremist fringe”, ADL attacks by name Alex Jones (when they should know how much Alex will love this and the business it brings him!), but has enough blame to cover “mainstream media” in general and Glenn Beck in particular (who will also, I presume and hope, capitalize) for “a surprisingly active role in generating such…”. This assumes, of course, that “mainstream media” still possesses a credibility that no one I know – not even hard core “koolaid drinkers” – afford them. And Beck merely demonstrates that concerns for Liberty are FAR more wide than a government-sponsored entity such as ADL would care to admit.
Likewise the characterization of “The “Birther” Movement”. In ADL’s opinion, and that of many others, the fact that the published “copy” of Obama’s birth certificate appears oddly different from contemporaneous Hawaii birth certificates is only a manifestation of racism. My observation is that too few Americans really give a damn whether he’s American or not, and I find that more troubling than I can express.
For the top three categories, it’s clear that subjugating every American man, woman, and child – including those yet to be born – to a debt to “bailout” those who should have known, and I believe did know, better, and holding all of us hostage, against our national will, is ok with ADL. It’s clear that, to ADL, opposition to government seizing control of personal health decisions – in the name of supporting the econonmy all but destroyed by those recipients of that unwilling “bailout” - is no reason to be unhappy with government.
It’s clear that, to ADL, opposing the making of “willful failure to pay” and “health insurance evasion” crimes under the tax code, is merely “anti-Obama”.
As much as I’ve admired them in the past, ADL is just wrong.
If you’re not somehow described in ADL’s “Special Report”, you’re un-American.
15 November, 2009
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- Global Warming: Faking Gold Bars
- Crime DOES Pay When the Government Runs It
- What Makes You Think It Couldn't Happen Here? It IS!
- New York Post story from Gene
- FW: The Hidden Costs of Too Much Government Debt
- Are We having Fun, YET?!?!?
- And YOU Think "They" Aren't Wiretapping YOU?
- Police tase and arrest hero for stuttering
- The Lawless State by Karl Hess
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