August 8, 2012

Harry Reid and Alinsky's Thirteenth Rule

By Cameron Reddy

Virginia State Sen. L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), as quoted in The Washington Post, claims that Gov. Mitt Romney's rise in the polls is the result of racism. In the same newspaper, opinion writer Harold Meyerson asks, "What happens if GOP's voter suppression works?"

These are just two of the most recent examples of liberals taking the truth and flipping it upside-down. Consider: only a liberal can see disagreement with a Marxist president as racist and a program to discourage voter fraud as inappropriate vote-suppression.
I sometimes wonder if they really believe their own...ah, let's call it rhetoric. Importantly, however, these absurd allegations should not surprise us. Indeed, Saul Alinsky advised his followers in Rules for Radicals:

RULE 13: "Confound the enemy with allegations he cannot possibly disprove." Whenever possible, turn the enemy in on himself. Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety, and confusion. (Watch how organizations flail helplessly when blindsided by irrelevant arguments they cannot refute.)

Astute readers will note that Alinsky published only twelve rules. The thirteenth is my creation. Yet does anyone doubt the tactic being employed?
Take the claim that disagreement with the Marxist constitutes racism. "Look," a good friend of mine argued, "there was no Tea Party until Obama was elected; Obama's African-American; so the Tea Party is racist."
He said it with a straight face.
"It's perfect logic," he argued, speaking from his heart. And the man is no dummy. Really, he isn't! Actually, he is quite a nice guy. I like him very much. We even discuss politics without coming to blows. (At least we were able to avoid blows in the past. We shall see what he thinks of me after reading my just-published conservative manifesto/novel and this article!)
The amazing thing is that no amount of persuasion could move him, even when I pointed out what liberal-tilted Wikipedia thinks of his logic:

Post hoc ergo propter hoc, Latin for "after this, therefore because of this[,]" is a logical fallacy (of the questionable cause variety) that states, "Since that event followed this one, that event must have been caused by this one." ... The fallacy is in coming to a conclusion based solely on the order of events, rather than taking into account other factors that might rule out the connection. (Emphasis in original.)

Like a good liberal, my friend replied, "Okay, but this!" with the following citation (of course from the same paragon of authority):

Occam's razor (... Latin lex parsimoniae) is the law of parsimony, economy, or succinctness. It is a principle urging one to select from among competing hypotheses, that which makes the fewest assumptions.

So, obviously, my friend is saying, between my hypothesis that Americans object to Obama because he is a Marxist and his, that Americans object to Obama because he is African-American, the latter involves fewer assumptions (in his mind) and therefore is right.
Regrettably, my friend did not read what even his beloved Wikipedia said about Occam's razor:

Occam's razor is used to adjudicate between theories that have already passed "theoretical scrutiny" tests, and which are equally well-supported [sic] by the evidence. (Emphasis supplied, omitting citation.)

Clearly, there is no evidentiary support -- none whatsoever -- for the notion that the Tea Party is racist. To the point, any racist rearing his head would be quickly expelled with great fanfare. There is encyclopedic evidence, on the other hand, supporting conservatives' abhorrence to Marxism quite independent of any racial component.
But, note something else about Occam's razor -- something very cunning indeed:

The aim of appeals to simplicity in such contexts seem to be more about shifting the burden of proof. ... Alan Baker, "Simplicity," Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, (2004).

Well surprise, surprise. "Shifting the burden of proof" brings us right back to Alinsky Rule Thirteen and our feeling that we must defend against allegations we cannot possibly disprove.
The problem is an overwhelmingly leftist media that allows, defends, and even intentionally propagates these perversions of logic and common sense. Shills like Lucas and Meyerson would merit little more than a mention (and that to expose the stratagem) in a world of neutral, honest press coverage. In a world rightside-up, that is.
Consider this upside-down situation: a federal government refuses to protect its national borders, and a state, overrun with illegals, is forced to enact, but is blocked from enforcing, laws aimed at doing exactly that which the federal government was formed to do, sworn to do -- but is not doing. Then, not satisfied with themselves, liberals denominated Arizona's activity -- this attempt at self-preservation -- as "racial profiling"!
We have seen this logic before. If the police make an arrest on the grounds of being illegally in Arizona, and the suspect is Hispanic, then clearly the arrest was made on the basis of race.
How can this be disproved if the person is Hispanic? We might argue that the initial stop was made for a traffic violation or whatever, with the officer then developing a suspicion that the person is not here legally (perhaps the person lacks a state-issued driver's license). But we cannot prove the additional inquiry about citizenship was not made on the basis of race. Given two options, that the additional inquiry was made on the basis of a missing driver's license or on the basis of race, the media will broadcast the latter.
Here are the questions: why do we need to prove that race is not the motivating factor in our opposition to Obama and in Arizona's defense of its borders? Why can't we just speak the truth and let common sense prevail?
The answer, of course, is the leftist media. The drumbeat assuring us that the emperor is fully clothed is incessant, omnipresent, and still all too effective.
Here's another example recently discussed at American Thinker by Jerry Philipson. Dearborn, Michigan hosts an annual Arab festival that has begun to attract Christian protesters. In 2010, fulfilling a prophesy in my novel, four Christians were arrested for doing nothing more than handing out Christian literature. At this year's festival, different and more strident Christians appeared with signs and slogans that offended Muslims. Chastened by a civil lawsuit in which the four arrested Christians were awarded more than $103,000 in legal fees for false arrest, this time the police did not immediately object to the new, more strident protestors. However, once irate Arabs begin to throw hundreds of rocks, bottles, eggs, stones, and other objects, striking and injuring many of the Christians, it was the Christians who were threatened with arrest! Dearborn police told the Christians:

Part of the reason they are throwing things is you tell them stuff that enrages them.

Again, note the logic. Muslims were not rioting until Christians showed up with offensive signs. Rocks and bottles were thrown at, and hit, Christians. Therefore, it's the Christians who are disturbing the peace.
The sane want to shake their heads at yet another example of tortured logic that has the effect of shifting the burden of proof. The illegal acts were being carried out by the Arabs at the festival -- not by the Christians protesting Islam. One would think the police would have sought to explain to the rioters that in America we have a First Amendment which, except as noted below, allows precisely this type of protest. Instead, just the opposite occurred.
Indeed, by ushering the Christians away under threat of arrest, the rioters were given a very big lesson in American civics. They were taught about a little-known addendum to our First Amendment, applicable at least in Dearborn, Michigan:

Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble; provided, however, the right to commit Illegal acts against people who offend shall not be infringed.

Bet you missed that in government class, didn't you?
Mr. Reddy blogs at www.cameronreddy.com. His novel, By Force Of Patriots, is available at Amazon.com.

Read more: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/08/harry_reid_and_alinskys_thirteenth_rule.html#ixzz22y8RDczy

DHS and US Military Make Final Preparations Before Announcing Martial Law

DHS and US Military Make Final Preparations Before Announcing Martial Law

By Susanne Posel, Contributing Writer
theintelhub.com
August 8, 2012

Informants and military personnel are coming forth anonymously to confirm that martial law “is right around the corner.”
However, right now we are under a silent martial law and citizens are reporting strange and unexplainable activity from the US armed forces and multiple federal agencies that point to a covert preparatory operation to completely lock down America in the very near future.

Sources from multiple locations across the nation have independently confirmed that the US military are repositioning soldiers in conjunction with allied foreign troops in the initial stages of martial law.

The US military are secretly moving massive amounts of “equipment” across the country consistently for more than a year. In Phoenix, Arizona, tractor-trailers transporting tanks on public highways have been spotted.
One witness stated that he saw these flatbeds multiple times in the month of June. Eye witness reports are coming primarily from the northern and southern Border States.

Peter Santilli, an ex-marine informant who was a specialist in aviation deployed weapons, explains that a refrigerated truck, allocated by the administration department on base, was directed to the commissary, where the unsuspecting driver believed that he was transporting food.

The weapon was placed at the head of the trailer, and covered up with either food stores (like cans of soup) or body bags. In the event that the truck is stopped en route, the weapon would be well hidden and go undetected by inspectors on the public highways.
Santilli, who was assigned to ride in the cab of the truck with the driver, says that his orders were to make sure the truck arrived at its destination.
If there were problems concerning potential civil unrest, he was to radio into his superiors for aid by either air or ground support. Should the situation warrant serious attention; crowd control methods would be implemented.
One possible scenario was the use of cluster bomb units (CBUs) that will emit upon detonation, a “sleep and kill” chemical weapon that will not disturb infrastructure, but is lethal to all living things within the effected zone.
Santilli describes these particular 3 unit CBUs as shaped like water-heaters with a coned top and plunger-like device. Once deployed in the air, a parachute assists these CBUs to the targeted area. And when detonated, a deadly chemical gas will kill every human and animal in the specified cordoned area.

The acquisition of armory by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and contracts for bullet-proof glass for check-point booths to be positioned strategically throughout the nation on public highways have heightened awareness that the US government is preparing for a well-planned domestic military action. DHS armored vehicles have been sighted on highways in Kentucky.

When citizens attempt to capture the activity on film, some have their cameras confiscated; sometimes after a physical altercation.
On Google Maps, where known military bases were once visible, some strategic areas are now blurred out.
John (a pseudonym) was contracted by DHS to “fill in caves, mines and block trails”. Now these measures are being stepped up, as independent contractors are being brought to mountainous regions and told to block all entrances into the mountains, by way of caves and other areas where people could possibly “hide out in the hills” during a riot situation under declaration of martial law.
Forested areas in states like Montana, Missouri and Arkansas are being closed to the public while military activity is being witnessed by locals. Those commercially contracted civilians working in these areas are allocated parallel shifts and compartmentalized projects to provide for an intelligence controlled operation.
One informant relayed an incident where he was detained on a forest road by unidentified “paramilitary” officials that seized his rifle from the rack on the back of his vehicle.
Another source said that while traveling in a national forest park, he and his party were met by what appeared to be a military police officer who demanded that they turn back.
Residents in Pine Mountain, Georgia and Spruce Mountain, Nevada have had confrontations with US armed forces.
When travelling in public national forested areas, military police with “automatic weapons” say that locals cannot gather wood in surrounding forested spaces (as they have traditionally done for decades). One man in particular had his rifle forcibly confiscated by unidentified armed men.
On dirt roads leading to the Lassen National Forest reserve, paving is being laid over the gravel roads. The locals know that secret underground drilling or tunneling is being conducted. Whenever they enter the park, they are quickly escorted out by heavily armed and quite menacing persons. Even once abandoned logging roads are beginning to see activity again.
Information coming out of reserve units in Arizona is that they are being put on official alert. Military personnel are being told by superiors not to schedule vacations and prepare to be on-call and on-duty indefinitely.
According to one informant, these new assignments are not providing for deployment overseas, but rather for domestic service with the intimation that these deployments may have relation to civil unrest expectations.
In Lake Havasu, Arizona, and Colorado Springs as well as Fort Collins, Colorado, locals are coming forth to report that local fires may have been lit by foreign troops; specifically Russian forces that have been spotted in the area. These Russian troops are believed to be stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Military drills, a.k.a. urban warfare, have been played out in many states by the Pentagon and other branches of the US armed forces.

In Plainville and Worchester, Massachusetts, surprised citizens witnessed last “Wednesday evening. . . military helicopters descended on the vacant Wood School [in] the late hours of the night in a scene that might have appeared to simulate the United States’ special forces attack on Osama bin Laden’s compound last year.” Many locals had their homes swooped down upon by black helicopters in an obvious display of military dominance over the general public.

Residents saw helicopters landing near Worcester Memorial Auditorium in Lincoln Square. Local newspapers were flooded with “telephone calls and e-mails . . . curious about what was happening.”
The local police claim they were unaware of the drills.

A US Army spokeswoman made a half-hearted apology for “any inconvenience or unforeseen disturbance.”

In Hollywood, Florida, DHS and the Hollywood Police Department have taken part in Master Rappelling training exercises (MPTE) with Blackhawk helicopters scheduled over various government-owned buildings. Details concerning the drills are being kept from the public for “security reasons”.

MPTE are special operations to teach law enforcement and military techniques in tactical rope and rappelling skills that can be used in helicopter deployment and advanced tactical training.

Just this month, foreign troops were caught at a Wal-Mart . They were travelling in what were described as “large government vans”.

Law-enforcement battalions have been created out of Camp Pendleton, California, consisting of specialized military police (SMPs) that would be deployed to assist in any event of civil disturbance, handling of detainees, use biometrics to identify suspects and conduct forensic work.

Their assistance is not limited to conducting DUIs and writing speeding tickets in an effort to re-brand the Marine Corps as being more involved with average work now allocated to local law enforcement.
Moving around in white, unmarked vans, strange troops have been seen purchasing food and water at another Wal-Mart in Franklin, Indiana. Parading in military personnel fatigues where drone activity has been reported in Oklahoma City and black helicopters were spotted hovering over a construction site.

According to documents from the RAND Corporation, a planned event concerning a Police Stabilization Force within the US will be “a mix of military and police forces to deal with a range of threats.” The study explains: What the response should be
• The creation of a high-end police force
• Costs for this military/police collaborative force

Estimates are $637.3 million annually and including many federal agencies including: the US Marshals Service, the US Secret Service, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in the Department of State, and the US Army’s Military Police.
There is a media blackout concerning the “state of emergency” (code for martial law) that Anaheim, California residents have been under since the murder of a man by local police.

While protests have been conducted, residents say that “outsiders” are infiltrating peaceful demonstrations to stir up violence and ensure local and military police action against them.

While city officials are gearing up for “another large incident” and “another riot” protesters are coming forth to voice their distain at the “infiltrators” that attended a protest that ended with the fatal shooting of two Latino men.
During protest marches in Anaheim, the white, unmarked vans have resurfaced. This time unidentified “police” detained protesters and placed them into these vans.

Disclose.tv – Is Anaheim Under Martial Law ?

The increased activity across the nation in conjunction with the mounting citizen reports of seeing military on their streets, conducting urban warfare drills, and spotting foreign troops have prompted public interest in the US government’s plans to enact a full-scale martial law in America – expected by the end of this year.
The more attention that is brought to these sightings and the more people come forward with information, the safer the American public will be.
The US military have orders to shoot and kill all dissenters. They are being trained to confiscate guns and detain people in “internment” or FEMA camps. For the sake of continuity of government, they are being told to turn on their own fellow Americans.

Susanne Posel is the Chief Editor of Occupy Corporatism. Our alternative news site is dedicated to reporting the news as it actually happens; not as it is spun by the corporately funded mainstream media. You can find us on our Facebook page.

When will Obama crack in public?

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: This is what many Americans have been thinking and saying for the past 3-1/2 years, but Mychal Massie says it so much better!

When will Obama crack in public? By Mychal Massie At a time when many Americans can barely afford Burger King and a movie, Obama boasts of spending a billion dollars on his re-election campaign. Questioned at a recent appearance about the spiraling fuel costs, Obama said, "Get used to it" – and with an insouciant grin and chortle, he told another person at the event, who complained about the effect high fuel prices were having on his family, to "get a more fuel-efficient car." The Obamas behave as if they were sharecroppers living in a trailer and hit the Powerball, but instead of getting new tires for their trailer and a new pickup truck, they moved to Washington . And instead of making possum pie, with goats and chickens in the front yard, they're spending and living large at taxpayer expense – opulent vacations, gala balls, resplendent dinners and exclusive command performances at the White House, grand date nights, golf, basketball, more golf, exclusive resorts and still more golf. In the 1950's they called it acting NIGGER RICH. Expensive, ill-fitting and ill-chosen wigs and fashions hardly befit the first lady of the United States . The Obamas have behaved in every way but presidential – which is why it's so offensive when we hear Obama say, in order "to restore fiscal responsibility, we all need to share in the sacrifice – but we don't have to sacrifice the America we believe in." The American people have been sacrificing; it is he and his family who are behaving as if they've never had two nickels to rub together – and now, having hit the mother lode, they're going to spend away their feelings of inadequacy at the taxpayers' expense. Obama continues to exhibit behavior that, at best, can be described as mobocratic and, at worst, reveals a deeply damaged individual. In a February 2010 column, I asked, "Is Obama unraveling? "I wrote that it was beginning to appear the growing mistrust of him and contempt for his policies was beginning to have a destabilizing effect on him. At that time, I wrote that not having things go one's way can be a bitter pill, but reasonable people don't behave as he was behaving. He had insulted Republicans at their luncheon, where he had been an invited guest. I had speculated that was, in part, what had led him to falsely accuse Supreme Court justices before Congress, the nation and the world, during the 2010 State of the Union address. It appeared, at that time, as if he were "fraying around the emotional edges." That behavior has not abated – it has become more pronounced. While addressing the nation, after being forced to explain the validity of his unilateral aggression with Libya , America witnessed a petulant individual scowling and scolding the public for daring to insist he explain his actions. But during an afternoon speech to address the budget/debt, he took his scornful, unstable despotic behavior to depths that should give the nation cause for concern. Displaying a dark psychopathy more representative of an episode of "The Tudors" television series, he invited Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to sit in the front row during his speech and then proceeded to berate both Ryan and Ryan's budget-cutting plan. Even liberal Democrats were put off by the act. MSNBC's Joe Scarborough questioned the sanity of Obama's actions. Today, criticism is coming from all sides. A senior Democrat lawmaker said, "I have been very disappointed in [Obama], to the point where I'm embarrassed that I endorsed him. It's so bad that some of us are thinking, is there some way we can replace him? How do you get rid of this guy?" ("Democrats' Disgust with Obama," The Daily Beast, April 15, 2011) Steve McCann wrote: Obama's speech "was chock full of lies, deceit and crass fear-mongering. It must be said that [he] is the most dishonest, deceitful and mendacious person in a position of power I have ever witnessed" ("The Mendacity of Barack Obama,"AmericanThinker.com , April 15, 2011). McCann continued: "[His] performance was the culmination of four years of outright lies and narcissism that have been largely ignored by the media, including some in the conservative press and political class who are loath to call [him] what he is in the bluntest of terms: a liar and a fraud. That he relies on his skin color to intimidate, either outright or by insinuation [against] those who oppose his radical agenda only add to his audacity. It is apparent that he has gotten away with his character flaws his entire life, aided and abetted by sycophants around him. ..." With these being among the kinder rebukes being directed at Obama, and with people becoming less intimidated by his willingness to use race as a bludgeon, with falling poll numbers in every meaningful category and an increasingly aggressive tea-party opposition – how much longer before he cracks completely? The coming months of political life are not going to be pleasant for Obama. Possessed by a self-perceived palatine mindset, that in his mind places him above criticism, how long before he cracks in public? Can America risk a man with a documented track record of lying and misrepresenting truth as a basic way of life, who is becoming increasingly more contumelious? Hope you forward this to everyone in your address book as we are going to need every vote we can get to remove Obama. The liberals are just unable to absorb what he is doing to our country and will continue to vote for him. Just imagine what he will do to America if he gets another term !

Fireworks at Coburn Town Hall Yesterday in Claremore, OK

Subject: Fireworks at Coburn Town Hall Yesterday in Claremore, OK

Fireworks at Coburn Town Hall yesterday in Claremore, OK (My posting on Facebook)

I was the first person he called on to speak. I was able to talk about Sheriff Joe's evidence of forged birth certificate, forged selective service card, 25 year use of a CT social security number not issued to him...before he cut me off and said to ask my question. He refuted what I said about HI prefix would be 575 or 576 NOT 042 - He said the ss numbers are not by state. I asked where he got that information and he said from the ss admin. I asked if he gets his research from the Congressional Research Service (Alinsky-style misinformation service) and he said 'yes, and also Snopes and Factcheck and they have debunked the issue time and again.' He said to me, "YOU don't get to talk anymore! Ask your question. Wev'e already wasted enough time on this and its not going to solve anything. There's more important stuff to work on." I said, "So we should just let him get away with it?" He answered, "He won't get away with it. No one ever gets away with it." He got very angry an

d shouted me down, said I was taking away the right of others to speak. My question was "Will you call Sheriff Joe Arpaio and hear his evidence?" He said "yes."
The so-called Town Hall was really a Sen. Coburn SUCK-UP FEST. People that were with me got distracted when they heard people saying nasty things about me when I wouldn't stand down. Saying stuff like "Shut-up bitch!" 

Coburn confirmed he would call when he has time. I asked him as to when that might be and he said when he gets back to D.C. in about 3 weeks. 

There's more...If you know any reporters or radio show hosts who wants to interview me for more of what happened...have them email me at mikibooth@yahoo.com or leave a message at (918) 678-4838. I will screen messages. 

Wayne Allyn Root also caught coup yesterday as far as being heard. He spoke to Pastor James David Manning during the CIA Columbia trial May 14-18, 2010. What he said then is exactly what Drudge, The Blaze, Rush, Hannity and other mainstream conservative media is reporting now. He's been marginalized all this time - just like us. Transcripts of the trial can be read on ATLAH.org along with contact information for Rev. Dr. James David Manning.

In liberty,

Miki

http://www.mikibooth.com/

Could this be why Dan Boren decided not to run again? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pllXvGn84-8&feature=youtu.be

A Veteran's request to Senator Harry Reid.

 A Veteran's request to Senator Harry Reid.

Dear Senator Harry Reid.

Thank you for informing us that you have a source(s) that disclosed to you that your friend Mitt Romney
did not file or pay taxes. This is deplorable, and you must push this issue in order to let your supporters know just who we are voting for. (I'll show you mine if you show me yours could be the simple approach.)

Let them know that you, and President Obama, and Pelosi, will be pleased to reveal any and all information relating to your tax returns, and the student loan application that the President made.

I am sure that none of you have anything to hide and this will serve as an example of openness that you owe your loyal constituents and expect from Romney.

Also, to increase the validity of your statements that you heard from an unstated by name source, please inform us who that person(s) is.

I would also like to know  just how much remuneration in money and shares that you, or family members, have or will  received from the Chinese company that you represent. This is the one you visited in China who is trying to obtain 5,400 acres of land in Pahrump, 55 miles South of Las Vegas on which they plan to build a $5,000,000,000* renewable electricity generating station based upon NV Energy committing to a long term contract to purchase their output.

Knowing how forthright you are in serving our great nation, I will look forward to your early response.

 

* http://www.lvrj.com/news/reid-pressures-nv-energy-to-back-laughlin-solar-project-164344566.html

Washington's press is the cabin boy of the political class

Washington's press is the cabin boy of the political class – do quote me on that

08 August 2012

the guardian
Bob Garfield, August 3, 2012

Desperate for scraps from official Washington sources, many US reporters are now co-conspirators in an ongoing fraud

'Ridiculous, pusillanimous, deceitful attributions are a standard tool of the Washington press corps.' Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA
 

The weather here in Washington this week was hot and humid. That's on background, of course. Do not quote me. You can use the information only if you attribute to "a beltway source who could not be named because he is not authorised to speak about meteorology".

Here's what you can quote me on: such ridiculous, pusillanimous, deceitful attributions are a standard tool of the Washington press corps, which as a group is too caught up in its own self-importance and petty competition to understand it has become the cabin boy of the political class. In the name of supposedly informing the audience, Washington reporters are co-conspirators in an ongoing fraud. Here's what it looks like:

USA Today: "Mitt Romney is planning a bus tour ahead of the Republican national convention. A Romney campaign aide confirmed the bus trip to USA Today. The aide, who is not authorised to discuss the trip publicly, asked for anonymity because details have not yet been announced."

Oh, wait. They have too been announced. Just now. By the Romney campaign.

These are not whistleblowers being protected, or even insiders going out on a limb. The epidemic of blind quotes [when interviewees don't want to say anything on the record] is a standard way of giving a platform to officials speaking in an official capacity, yet with zero accountability. The practice is also supremely manipulative, giving the most banal information the allure of forbidden fruit.

At its worst, the game can allow the vice president of the United States to leak phony intelligence to the New York Times and later refer back to the leak as independent journalistic confirmation, leading to invasion and hundreds of thousands of deaths and a trillion dollars in squandered treasure.

On the plus side, the Times scooped everyone.

The Iraq disgrace aside, obscuring official sources might be understandable if this journalistic worst practice were in the service of earth-shaking news. It almost never is. Here are some blind quotes from just the last few days:

The Atlantic: "A former McCain staffer who saw the summary of Romney's tax data independently confirmed former Republican presidential nominee John McCain's account that there was nothing disqualifying in it, but said he was not authorised to provide more detail from the confidential report."

Associated Press: "The Democratic official would not comment on the exact language of the pro-gay marriage plank approved by the drafting committee. It was unclear if the party would call for any national action to legalise gay marriage . The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the platform committee's decision."

Reuters: "Members of the Federal Trade Commission voted to approve a consent decree that will allow Google to settle the agency's investigation but admit no liability, said one of the sources, who was not authorised to speak on the record."

And here's the thing about epidemics: they spread. In recent days, anonymity was provided to sources in stories about investments, the courts, an NBA player trade, a shopping-centre sale in Sacramento, California and at least one huge development of historic significance: concern over Jimmy Fallon hosting the Oscars:

LA Times: "ABC has raised objections to having the late-night star from rival NBC play emcee on its Oscar broadcast, these people said, but the network has no authority to veto the choice of host. The show is put on by the Motion Picture Academy, and Tom Sherak initiated the discussions before his term as academy president ended on Tuesday, according to the people who were not authorised to speak publicly."

Congratulations, stewards of freedom, you have heroically served the public's right to know.

The blind quotes, though, are not even the worst of it. The New York Times recently revealed that reporters are not merely working on background, they negotiate after interviews what comments may be used and send them to sources for prepublication approval. The sources routinely edit those quotes before turning them back over to news organisations.

As media ethicist Edward Wasserman so aptly put it, "At this point you're no longer talking about an interview; you're talking about a press release … And what happens is Washington becomes no different from Beijing, in terms of reporting what authorities want reported".

Once again, this turns out not to be some sort of rare practice confined to sleazy blogs. It is a sleazy practice embraced by the most venerable journalism institutions, desperate to feed on the scraps offered by official Washington, no matter how degrading and unscrupulous the transaction. One Washington Post reporter was caught sharing an entire draft of a story about Texas learning standards with university of Texas officials.

The backlash was swift. Embarrassed by the revelation, the Post issued updated policies on quote approval and draft-sharing, absolutely forbidding the practices. Absolutely and unequivocally. Except when the reporter and editor agree it's OK.

"We should not allow sources to change what was said in an original interview," said executive editor Marcus Brauchili in a memo, "although accuracy or the risk of losing an on-the-record quote from a crucial source may sometimes require it. A better and more acceptable alternative is to permit a source to add to a quotation and then explain that sequence to readers."

You tell 'em, Marcus. Take no prisoners.

Meanwhile, the National Journal and Bloomberg news followed the McClatchey Newspapers Washington bureau in instituting a real ban on quote sharing, as articulated by McClatchey bureau chief Jim Asher: "I make this commitment to our readers, and to our citizens: McClatchy journalists will report fairly and independently. We will not make deals with those in power, regardless of party or philosophy."

Yes, they got scooped on the Romney bus blockbuster. All they have now is their independence. And their dignity.

• ·  

Bob Garfield

• guardian.co.uk

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/03/washington-press-corp-cabin-boy

http://soundofheart.org/galacticfreepress/content/washingtons-press-cabin-boy-political-class-%E2%80%93-do-quote-me

IT IS TIME FOR OBAMA TO RESIGN FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. A MILITARY MOLE JUST OUTLINED TO ME OBAMA'S PLAN FOR THE MILITARY TAKEOVER OF AMERICA IN OCTOBER, 2012. By Erasmus of America

     I have secret assets in military intelligence Wash., D.C. does not know about. A military man trained for the military takeover of America as planned by Obama gave me a very detailed report on how Obama plans to militarily take over America in October, 2012. The 30,000 armed drones Obama has bought are designed and intended to be used against the veterans of America Obama and co-conspirators in America know will fight Obama when this military takeover is tried. He indicated according to his information that all the recent mass shootings in America were coordinated by federal elements (C.I.A., Defense Dept., etc.) who have for a long time experimented on mind control to create assassins who are mindless and act like Manchurian Candidates when ordered to singly murder or else mass murder. They later do not remember their brainwashing, training, and instructions for the intended federal murder mission assigned to them. The mass shootings coordinated by federal elements are to help convince Americans that they must all give up their arms and trust Wash., D.C. for their security in life. I invite with tongue in cheek for Congress to investigate these charges as I know our heavily corrupt and heavily bought off Congress is not going to investigate these charges before November, 2012 or even after if my public reporting on the conspiracy of high treason now going on from Wash., D.C. is thrown into a panic and they lose their nerve because now all of America may find out how they are planning to ultimately kill off from apparently even 50 million to 200 million Americans. Obama has a savage hatred of Americans is why these figures will grow so huge if he is allowed to launch his federal military conquest of the American people.  In a slip of tongue, Obama was recorded in 2006 telling a crowd of Americans that he was not born in Hawaii, but Kenya. Obama is not even an American citizen. He is as he admitted to a fellow student in college a dedicated Communist. He is a Muslim as many Muslim sources have reported to their people in the Middle East. For example, the Egyptian foreign ambassador under the prior regime told his national audience on Delta TV that Obama had told him that he Obama was also a Muslim himself. Obama has sent many signals to Muslim audiences in the Middle East that he is also a Muslim. The Muslims know what these signals mean. The naive Americans not knowing Muslim culture did not know that Obama just gave the sign that he was also a Muslim.

     To get the support Obama needed for the planned takeover of America he has agreed to make America the base to set up a One World Government with Obama intended to become the dictator of the world. Now previously Russia and China had twice warned that if Obama tried to turn America into the base for an intended One World Government, then Russia and China would stop Obama. In simple language, that means they will stop America by nuclear attack if Obama tries this. Unless China has changed her mind, that threat likely still exists. Now Obama wants Iran to nuclear attack Israel, so through doubletalk is trying to buy the time until Iran can nuclear attack Israel and annihilate the Jews in the Middle East. However, our lunatic in control of Iran also wants to nuclear attack Europe and wants to wipe out America with one nuclear bomb that China was supposed to help with so it was not stopped. Then America is annihilated as a nation. I got the attack plans of Iran along with what China was supposed to do to set America up for annihilation. 

    U.S. Soldiers are now being trained to fight Americans in America. If American soldiers start fighting American citizens, then I will show American citizens how to build a trick electronic device that will be able to wipe out treasonabe no longer American soldiers now trying to conquer and kill off their own American people.  This electronic device does its job, then the soldiers reached by it will take several months to die and in constant pain without stop where they will hope someone will kill them to put them out of their misery. They will be in pain beyond human imagination until finally they die. Once hit by the electronic signal, I have knowledge of no answer on earth how to save their lives. If Obama tries to start this civil war and conquest of America, I want him to experience what his soldiers under him will experience. And I will have trained teams knowing how to use this to track down the Rothschilds, Rockefellers, etc. and hit them with this electronic beam. Then for months they can scream their heads off begging for someone to kill them. And these hit teams from the American people will hit other enemy leader targets until none are left alive on earth. When in ancient Rome a mighty enemy army came to Rome to beseige and conquer it, 500 Roman youths swore that in teams of two they would keep trying to kill off the commanding general of the enemy army until they killed him. After two young Romans caught by his soldiers stuck their hands in hot coals before this general to show they meant what they said, he wihdrew his army from Rome and gave up his plans to conquer Rome. Tough human character can overcome all the cleverness of a powerful enemy armed with modern technology.

     Obama has a few of the militia groups infiltrated almost most are not. The infiltrated groups are to shoot without justification and give Obama the excuse to declare martial law in America while he sends in his 30,000 armed drones to hunt out veterans across America and kill off all who oppose his military takeover and military conquest of America. Obama is to have agents stir up racial war between different races and have all America in utter chaos while his forces of foreign soldiers and brainwashed American soldiers come to kill all opposition in America.

      If the initiative is left to Obama meaning Americans sit on their rear ends and do nothing, Obama will be able to do this. But if the American people show initiative and unity, Obama is powerless to stop them. I doubt if any E.T.'s are around to save the American people. That is likely wishful thinking to avoid facing reality that the American people have got to stand up and stop this before it all gets out of hand. The Obama plan is the American people react with emotions and not brains, and the military has already calculated all the acts that an emotion dominated Ameican people will make. They plan to kill off all Americans who resist them.

      Okay, how to stop this. If Obama is not planning to militarily conquer the American people with these 30,000 armed drones he now has stationed in America to use against the American people at a moment's notice, he should not object to have 600 of these armed drones promptly assigned to each of the 50 state governors of America who each can guard these well with their state assets of military, police, etc. Such as happened at Pearl Harbor, if the planes had been spread out instead of clustered together, then it would have been much harder to knock out the U.S. planes at Pearl Harbor. If Obama is not planning the military conquest of America as this military mole outlined to me as the intention of Obama towards the American people, then he should have no objection to immediately sending 600 of these armed drones to each of the 50 state governors and let them keep these deadly flying machines for the next 2 years at their state capitals or other designated state locations to be controlled by the state, not federal government. Obama can make sure that all U.S. soldiers are now trained that George Washington and other Founding Fathers of America are declared patriots of America and not labelled as "terrorist leaders" as many U.S. soldiers are now being trained by military instructors. Obama if not planning this military takeover of America as several military sources have reported to me he intends to do and is organizing to do, he surely should not object to having Ron Paul of the U.S. Congress being given by Congress a 6 month appointment as acting regent of all U.S. internal security as maintained by civilian and military agencies of Wash., D.C. In other words, they all report to Ron Paul instead of Obama at the White House as he will have total legal authority over them.

All foreign soldiers currently receiving military training or otherwise stationed in America unless serving embassy guard duty at their embassies be told to leave America and wait until the new President is in power before returning to America. I was given details on how foreign soldiers already stationed here were to assist Obama in the military takeover of America and crushing of the American people.

      American people, good time to buy rifles and ammo in America. An armed populus is the last thing would-be dictators want to face in a free nation. People, don't be naive so demand politicians pass the Omni Law right away. As soon as passed, the 10 civil tribunes created under the Omni Law will have a full-scale investigation into this plan to militarily conquer the American people by traitor elements in Wash., D.C. Once in power, the 10 civil tribunes will have a smart plan how all average Americans can keep and bear arms while blocking any would-be terrorists from probably being able to get deadly weapons to attack and kill people with. Obama has according to my sources 6 times blocked a currency revaluation that would have helped the American economy out and the European economy, etc. A booming economy would not have helped his plans to trick the American people into civil strife and civil war. If this currency revaluation is not quickly completed, the 10 civil tribunes can do this and boom the American economy so it is not threatened with sudden economic collapse as planned by Obama to set up his military takeover of America. And have all U.S. military take a fresh oath that they will not use their arms against the American people to overthrow constitutional government or put a dictator into power in America. The young soldiers of America are to serve the American people, not a would-be dictator or conqueror of America. Obama is a foreigner born as citizen of a foreign nation. It shows the incredible corruption of Congress they secretly know this and refuse to enforce the U.S. Constitution against Obama. Obama resign and I won't push the legal issues you fear. Don't resign and you and co-traitors will end up with deadly high treason trials like the Nuremberg War Trials run by the Allies after defeat of Nazi Germany. I will seek to be the chief prosecutor to make sure that no bribes or threats can stop these trials from hanging all the traitors currently behind this plot of Obama to wipe out constitutional government in America and kill off countless millions of Americans.

     American people, mass send this report out all across America. Copies of the Omni Law can be found in the archive listing for Nesara News. Look in their search box at the top of their archive listings and put in Omni Law or else Erasmus of America - Omni Law to get a copy for you to send out all over the internet. If you want,  request a copy of the Omni Law from fastboomamericaneconomy@gmail.com . And  the Rothschilds, Rockefellers, etc. are not going to finance us to end their conspiracy of high treason to overthrow the U.S. Constitution and make America the conquered nation of the international bankers as Alex Jones recently reported these bankers now gleefully boast! Send us what financial backing you can so we can overwhelm like a tidal wave the enemies of the American people in Wash., D.C. Move fast and we have got them trapped where they cannot win! Send checks made out to NIFI and to NIFI, P.O. Box 1465, Seneca, SC 29679 . If Congress does not fast pass this Omni Law, then we think when we win, we should seriously investigate all these charges over the internet how most members of Congress have even received bribes of hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars to keep Congress dishonest before the American people. Pass the Omni Law before the November election and we will not prosecute past criminal acts of your or others we call traitors. After November, if the Omni Law is not passed, we will investigate you down to every skeleton hidden in your closets. And since Erasmus of America has been rated the most talented military intelligence operative in American military history, do you want this investigative bloodhound to check you out and expose all of your criminal acts before all the American people? We give you one chance to redeem yourselves by fast passage of theOmni Law. Once the Omni Law is passed, you have gotten yourself one free from prison card like in the Monopoly Game. But betray the American people again, then we will hang you alive! America is sick of all this corruption and treason in Wash., D.C. Theoretically, we should hang all gulty parties in Wash., D.C., but secretly the American people would prefer to not know how totally rotten and treasonable Wash., D.C. had become. They don't have the stomach to digest this much terrible tasting food if they can help it. Secretly they will be glad we gave you one chance to redeem yourself by immediate passage of the Omni Law. But if you try this treason and corruption against the American people, then the people will approve and cheer for hanging you then if you try all this evil again against the American people again. And for our big, powerful banking boys, better lie low. One attempt at murdering any member of our leadership or membership and we will then declare war on you and hunt you down like Nazi war criminals after World War II was over. You will have no place on earth safe from us. You were planning to kill off millions or countless millions of Americans through Obama if we had not stopped you first. One clue at the original name of Erasmus of America. In Hebrew, it means The Judge of God or the Judgment of God!"

     Yours for God and Country, Erasmus of America (pen name for now. Will release for all my regular name once the game is played right. We have the other side close to checkmate now! Final moves with financial backing of the American people should finish this game with victory for the American people and not the Satanist power elite who had already boasted internationally that the American people had now been conquere by them. Sorry, the American people are not defeated! You are the losers!)

ATF 'Fast and Furious' secret audio: Murder of Border Patrol agent 'collateral damage'

ATF 'Fast and Furious' secret audio: Murder of Border Patrol agent 'collateral damage'

September 21, 2011 4:03 PM  

By

Sharyl Attkisson, Chris Scholl

WASHINGTON - In secretly recorded conversations between two individuals deeply entwined in the ATF's controversial "Fast and Furious" operation, the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry is described as "collateral damage."
The recordings were obtained exclusively by CBS News. The man who made them - Arizona gun dealer Andre Howard - ran the Lone Wolf Trading Company and was speaking with Hope MacAllister, the ATF operation's case agent.
Two of the guns Howard sold while cooperating with the ATF that were later found at Terry's murder.
"It happened. It's terrible," Howard said. "That's life ok we move on."
More ATF secret audio coverage
ATF whistle-blower called 'toxic' on secret tapes
ATF Fast and Furious secret audio recordings
Secret recordings raise new questions in ATF 'Gunwalker' operation
Both Howard and MacAllister also shared concerns about Special Agent John Dodson who by that point had gone public with allegations about "Fast and Furious" and was assigned to the FBI. It was Dodson who first publicly disclosed allegations about "Fast and Furious" in an interview with CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. That interview took place several weeks before the recorded conversations took place. In his interview, Dodson said thousands of guns had been allowed to "walk" to Mexico - straight into the hands of the cartels - without intervention by ATF.
(Scroll down to listen to the audio and read the text of the excerpts)
In the following excerpts, they talk about the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. Two weapons purchased by ATF Fast and Furious suspects were found at the murder scene. They also discuss concerns that ATF whistleblower John Dodson, who had then been moved out of the ATF office and tasked to the FBI, has information that could be damaging to the government.
EXCERPT 1
Dealer: Unfortunately a consequence occurred from a weapon shall we say that found its way into the wrong area ok and that was not anticipated. Nobody could foresee that that's collateral damage I think the term is. It happened. It's terrible. That's life ok we move on. Unfortunately, Mr. Dodson with his allegation is a pain in the a--. Now, my understanding now is it will be impossible now that he will be able to substantiate anything directly because that evidence is gone. I want you to know that. It don't exist. Not that one. You understand me?
Agent: MMhmm.
Dealer: Good. I get that.
EXCERPT 2
Dealer: My biggest problem is Dodson. You know this guy has damaged the hell out of me. I mean I walked out of here yesterday.
Agent: Mmhmm.
Dealer: I got it from the tattoo parlor, I got some damn Mexicans and white trash over there.
Agent: Yeah...
Dealer: Yelling across the parking lot: "can i buy 300 AK 47's?? Would you turn me in, over that?" This is the kind of sh-- i'm getting.
Agent: Yeah.
EXCERPT 3
Dealer: The most damning thing that you guys got to be aware of I think hypothetically is was there, you have to ask yourselves this first I'm just throwin this out there, was there a communication that hypothetically the US Attorney's office uh was entertained with the DOJ in reference to any ballistics tests or anything? Is there any way any of these idiots..
Agent: The problem is I mean we're not investigating that case.
Dealer: I know the FBI is.
Agent: And he's (Dodson) assigned to the FBI. I, I have not, I don't have any way of knowing what he has access to. And that's on the FBI. I mean that's on them. If they consider him, don't consider him an operational security issue, that's their f-----g fault. But I don't have access to that sh--, I don't know I have no idea what the FBI.
Dealer: (unintell.) I know you don't...I'm saying that's a whole parallel issue.
Agent: Right.
EXCERPT 4
Dealer: What about the emails copies he's got?
Agent: Those emails are a year ago that's why I wonder what he I mean
Dealer: Let me help you out. Here's what I smell. There's a reason you ran (unintell.) about not talking about any of your other agents out there.
Agent: Yeah.
Dealer: You got some rats in there honey...
(Crosstalk)
Dealer: I'll tell you some of these motherf-----s, I don't know if they're giving it to Dodson, I think they are, somebody's got some inter-agency copies not just this sh--
http://www.cbsnews.com:80/8301-31727_162-20109529-10391695.html

The free money for crooked bankers program

Neil Barofsky talks about the bank bailouts,
the Troubled Asset Relief Program, and the
"pot of gold at the end of the Wall Street rainbow."

Neil Barofsky is the former Special Inspector
General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

He's calling it like it is, and making some bankers
really angry doing so...

Video:

http://www.realecontv.com/page/11751.html

Goodman Green
- Brasscheck

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Appeals Court OKs Warrantless Wiretapping

August 8, 2012

Source: Wired

The federal government may spy on Americans’ communications without warrants and without fear of being sued, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday in a decision reversing the first and only case that successfully challenged President George W. Bush’s once-secret Terrorist Surveillance Program.

“This case effectively brings to an end the plaintiffs’ ongoing attempts to hold the executive branch responsible for intercepting telephone conversations without judicial authorization,” a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote. (.pdf)

The case concerned a lower court decision in which two American attorneys — who were working with the now-defunct al-Haramain Islamic Foundation — were awarded more than $20,000 each in damages and their lawyers $2.5 million in legal fees after a tortured legal battle where they proved they were spied on without warrants.

They sued under domestic spying laws Congress adopted in the wake of President Richard M. Nixon’s Watergate scandal. The government appealed their victory, and the appeals court Tuesday dismissed the suit and the damages.

Appeals Court OKs Warrantless Wiretapping

·  08.07.12 3:16 PM

The federal government may spy on Americans’ communications without warrants and without fear of being sued, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday in a decision reversing the first and only case that successfully challenged President George W. Bush’s once-secret Terrorist Surveillance Program.

“This case effectively brings to an end the plaintiffs’ ongoing attempts to hold the executive branch responsible for intercepting telephone conversations without judicial authorization,” a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote. (.pdf)

The case concerned a lower court decision in which two American attorneys — who were working with the now-defunct al-Haramain Islamic Foundation — were awarded more than $20,000 each in damages and their lawyers $2.5 million in legal fees after a tortured legal battle where they proved they were spied on without warrants.

They sued under domestic spying laws Congress adopted in the wake of President Richard M. Nixon’s Watergate scandal. The government appealed their victory, and the appeals court Tuesday dismissed the suit and the damages.

Jon Eisenberg, the lawyer for the two attorneys, said he may request the court to reconsider its decision with a larger panel of judges, or petition the Supreme Court.

“This case was the only chance to litigate and hold anybody accountable for the warrantless wiretapping program,” he said in a telephone interview. “As illegal as it was, it evaded accountability.”

“This case was the only chance to litigate and hold anybody accountable for the warrantless wiretapping program,” he said in a telephone interview. “As illegal as it was, it evaded accountability.”

The San Francisco-based appeals court ruled that when Congress wrote the law regulating eavesdropping on Americans and spies, it never waived sovereign immunity in the section prohibiting targeting Americans without warrants. That means Congress did not allow for aggrieved Americans to sue the government, even if their constitutional rights were violated by the United States breaching its own wiretapping laws.

“Under this scheme, Al-Haramain can bring a suit for damages against the United States for use of the collected information, but cannot bring suit against the government for collection of the information itself,” Judge M. Margaret McKeown wrote for the majority. She was joined by Judge Michael Daly Hawkins and Judge Harry Pregerson. ”Although such a structure may seem anomalous and even unfair, the policy judgment is one for Congress, not the courts.”

The court, during oral arguments in June, expressed concern that it may reach this result.

Judge Hawkins, during those arguments, noted that the law spells out that those who were illegally spied upon may seek monetary damages. But if Congress did not intend for the government to be sued, “it would make the remedy illusory,” Hawkins said.

The court did not comment on the spying allegations of those involved in the case. It also dismissed claims against FBI Director Robert Mueller, saying there was not enough evidence linking him to the spy program the Bush administration adopted in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks.

Subsequently, Congress authorized Bush’s spy program in 2008, five years after the illegal wiretapping involved in this case.

The Bush spy program was first disclosed by The New York Times in December 2005, and the government subsequently admitted that the National Security Agency was eavesdropping on Americans’ telephone calls without warrants if the government believed the person on the other end was overseas and associated with terrorism. The government also secretly enlisted the help of major U.S. telecoms, including AT&T, to spy on Americans’ phone and internet communications without getting warrants as required by the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the law at the center of the al-Haramain dispute.

A lower court judge found in 2010 that two American lawyers’ telephone conversations with their clients in Saudi Arabia were siphoned to the National Security Agency without warrants. The allegations were initially based on a classified document the government accidentally mailed to the former al-Haramain Islamic Foundation lawyers Wendell Belew and Asim Ghafoor.

The document was later declared a state secret, removed from the long-running lawsuit and has never been made public. With that document ruled out as evidence, the lawyers instead cited a bevy of circumstantial evidence that a trial judge concluded showed the government illegally wiretapped the lawyers as they spoke on U.S. soil to Saudi Arabia.

The other major case challenging the wiretapping program, the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s case against the government, alleges a wholesale vacuuming of Americans’ communications. That case was sent back to a district court after it survived an appeals court ruling in December.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/08/appeals-court-oks-wiretapping/

http://www.blacklistednews.com/Appeals_Court_OKs_Warrantless_Wiretapping_/20919/0/0/0/Y/M.html