The End of the Bush Years in the Presence of Leonard Cohen

by Miriam Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:10

Medialens critique the depolyment of Brand Obama to cleanse the record and carry on with business as usual. Powerful stuff:

http://www.medialens.org/alerts/index.php

by Ciaron - Catholic Worker/Ploughshares Fri Nov 14, 2008 07:06

These reflections by Pilger resonate. It's disturbing how the dissident memory of radical nonviolent revolutionary
Martin Luther King was co-opted in this presidential campaign. As though the election of Obama is the fulfilment
of MLK's (I have a) Dream.

I recall Jan 15 '91, being ensconsed in Catskill County jail, NY, USA, when the opening B52 delivered cruise missile shots were unleashed in Gulf massacre 1 on MLK's birthday....now a public holiday in the USA. It was informative that the person who was due to lead the MLK parade in MLK's hometown that day couldn't make the gig because he was too busy bombing a 3rd. World country. Take a bow Colin Powell...what happened to MLK radical nonviolence and opposition to the Vietnam War (which did much to marginalise him at the time and get him shot)? It is though that radical dissident memory of MLK has been downsized merley to represent the promise of upward mobility in the system. Yes even though you are black or a woman or have a disability...you too can make it in America find your place in the imperial system at the highest echelons and work for the man.

This battle over memory is real in our own (anarcho pacofist) Catholic Worker movement since Cardinal O'Connor (R.I.P. navy man) put forward Dorothy for sainthood. their is an attempt will be to prune her of her radical analysis of capitalism and opposition to war and downsize her to privatised piety and good works.

This aritcle by Pilger is worth the read. For anything real to be achieved with this presidential paradigm shift a proactive grassroots movement is needed now to pile onthe pressure like www.soaw.org like Camp Hope in Obama's Chicago neieghborhood kincking off New Years Day, like the nvda 100 days to Close Gitmo www.witnesstroture.org

Speakng to a frined activist/organiser in Chicago yesterday there is evidence that many who were active in the Obama campaign will broke no criticism and seem to be spellbound....we need to be up and active to help these good folks snap out of it!

check out Pilger's reflections....
http://www.johnpilger.com/page.asp?partid=511

by lulu Sat Nov 08, 2008 15:51

The lesser evil, very likely, but we're spared 'Oven Chips' McCain & Caribou Barbie Palin! There wasn't much in the media about Ralph Nader. At least it shows that skin tone is less important in the USA now, even if it is about damn time.
& Leonard Cohen is great; a fascinating voice, though it's not so tuneful, & a marvellous poet.

by David Rovics thoughts Sat Nov 08, 2008 15:28

David Rovics thoughts on Obama election

http://songwritersnotebook.blogspot.com/2008/11/some-th....html

by rodeo Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:38

• He ate dog meat, snake meat, and roasted grasshopper while living in Indonesia

• He can speak Spanish

• While on the campaign trail he refused to watch CNN and had sports channels on instead

From: 50 facts you might not know about Obama http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection20....html

We really gotta keep tabs on this guy.

by dunk Fri Nov 07, 2008 14:07

and it's here they got the spiritual thirst.
It's here the family's broken
and it's here the lonely say
that the heart has got to open
in a fundamental way:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

all lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leonardcohen/democracy.html

vids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OETwbVBPI1U

other vids using the music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFrMU8wmQ9k
Dedicated to community organizers--past, present and future.

Caption: Video Id: OETwbVBPI1U Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video

by Jim Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:18

What is Obama likely to do in his first term?

(1) Restore American global economy dominance.
(2) Withdraw American troops from Iraqi in stages leaving a pro-US pupper government in place protected by a "fire brigade" of US troops in permanent military installations if violence kicks off again.
(3) Flood Afghanistan and the Pakistani tribal border regions with American troops.
(4) Begin negotiations in Iran but backed up by the threat of the air carrier fleets poised in the Persian Gulf and Israeli airstrikes and commando raids on Iran's nuclear installations.
(5) Restore bruised relationships with NATO allies and extend NATO membership to all former members of the old Soviet bloc and engage in a nuclear stand off with the Russians forcing them to back down and accept the establishment of the anti-missile shield in Eastern Europe.
(6) Compete economically and militarially with India and China and Russia. Obama might announce a new space race perhaps a mission to Mars? It worked during the Kennedy era to boost national pride and the US economy by providing jobs in the high technology sector.
(7) Continue the War on Terror in order to extend American influence globally.

Obama is an utterly ruthless man, even more so that Bush and more importantly there is a razor sharp intelligence, the ability to inspire adulation from the American and European and global public.

Because he is the "change" candidate his position is unimpeachable.

For anti-war demonstrators he is a nightmare.

The same people who once shouted "No Blood For Oil" are now bleating "Yes We Can."

by michael moore Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:37

Michael Moore on Obama victory
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?id=240