The Friends of California Libre...

17 March 2004

And Saint Patrick Expelled the Snakes...

Greetings, friends,
Some wacko at the library told me yesterday, with such pure earnestness, that Saint Patrick expelling the snakes from Ireland was a metaphor for the end of the pagan religions, then proceeded to explain how he came to this conclusion. I was wondering if I should show him my scar that I got up on the Croagh Patrick three years ago, and explain that the Old Time Pagan Religion is back (and living in the woods outside Vancouver.) But I'd rather sleepwalk through the days and expell snakes by night.

Since today is Saint Patrick's Day, I hope some of you will find your way to pull a pint with me. Other than that, there is nothing at all about Ireland in this screed...the Irish are better at keeping out of trouble than they used to be. Speaking of that, thanks to Mike for the enclosed photos...several reasons why it is not good to drink too much.

That said, let's plunge right in:
I've compiled some interesting perspectives on the recent "revolution" in Haiti. This isn't making much news, but it makes you wonder...who's next?

President Aristide: 'I Was Kidnapped', 'Tell The World It Is A Coup'
Democracy Now!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030204B.shtml
U.S.-Sponsored Regime Change in Haiti
By Nirit Ben-Ari and Bill Weinberg
Alternet.com
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030304C.shtml

And right from the dictator's mouth...
Aristide Interview with Democracy Now!
By Amy Goodman
Democracy Now!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030904C.shtml

Haiti Fears a Repeat of the Past as New Rulers Arrive
By Phil Davison
The Independent UK
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030404D.shtml
Aristide's Lawyers Preparing Complaints Against U.S., France
By Angela Doland
The Associated Press
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031204F.shtml
Caribbean Won't Help With Peacekeeping
By The Associated Press
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) -- Fourteen Caribbean nations rejected joining any peacekeeping force for Haiti Wednesday and called for a probe into ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's charge that the United States forced him from office.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030504B.shtml

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Caribbean...
Chavez Calls Bush 'Asshole' as Foes Fight Troops
Reuters
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030204D.shtml

And you wonder why?
U.S. Revealed to be Secretly Funding Opponents of Chavez
By Andrew Buncombe
The Independent UK
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031404B.shtml

Indeed, it is hard to find any corner of Earth where the good name of the US of A isn't besmirched...
Many U.S. Expats Prefer "Anybody But Bush"
By Erik Kirschbaum
Reuters
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030204I.shtml

BUT all of you, whatever your nationality or domicile, can make your voice heard here:
In November 2004, U.S. citizens will elect their new President. The outcome of these elections directly influence the lives of citizens around the world. In an effort to establish global democracy, theworldvotes.org gives people all around the world a voice in the forthcoming U.S. Presidential Election. Ensure that your voice is heard by casting your vote electronically and add momentum to a worldwide drive to establish global democracy.
Please visit www.theworldvotes.org and register to vote!

And here at home, the wall of invulnerability around Mr. Bush continues to crumble....remember the CIA operative "outed" to punish her husband for criticizing the Administration?
Wilson Book Will Reveal White House Leak
Publisher's Weekly Newsletter
The much-awaited May book from nuclear expert Joseph Wilson will disclose who in the White House he says leaked information that led to the outing of his wife as a CIA agent, PW has learned.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030304J.shtml
Plugging Leaks
By Murray S. Waas
The American Prospect
More details emerge on the Plame investigation, as Karl Rove's testimony is revealed for the first time. President Bush's chief political adviser, Karl Rove, told the FBI in an interview last October that he circulated and discussed damaging information regarding CIA operative Valerie Plame with others in the White House, outside political consultants, and journalists, according to a government official and an attorney familiar with the ongoing special counsel's investigation of the matter.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031004A.shtml

You win some, you lose some...remember the GOP hacking into Democrats' computers in Congress? You won't for long...
U.S. Senate Panel Accord on Memo Probe Collapses
By Reuters
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031304B.shtml

But at the same time, the ancient forces of silence and repression are clawing their way back into power with more violence than Mel Gibson and a cat o' nine tails:
Federal Court to Revisit Roe v. Wade Case
By The Associated Press
DALLAS (AP) ­ A federal appeals court has agreed to reconsider the 1973 case that made abortion a constitutional right under a request from Norma McCorvey, the woman at the heart of the original case three decades ago.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/022104D.shtml

And here's their m.o., the very-poorly named "Justice" Department:
U.S. Justice Dept. Seeks Hundreds of Medical Records
By Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has subpoenaed Planned Parenthood for the confidential medical records of hundreds of women as part of its defense against challenges to a federal law that bans a type of late-term abortion, the family planning organization said on Thursday. Attorney General John Ashcroft said this month the records were needed to find out whether the procedure, called "partial birth abortion" by its critics, was medically necessary.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/022804F.shtml
Justice Department Subpoenas Abortion Records
By Curt Anderson
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The Justice Department has subpoenaed hundreds of medical records from six Planned Parenthood sites as part of the government's defense in lawsuits challenging the Partial-Birth Abortion Act.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/022904C.shtml

But of course, this is all protecting us from terrorists, RIGHT? RIGHT?
Think Again: Whatever Happened to Homeland Security?
By Rick Shenkman
The Center for American Progress
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/022904H.shtml

The Bush Administration fights back with smoke and mirrors...they want John Kerry to reveal which foreign leaders want him to win the November election...maybe it's ALL OF THEM?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1160084,00.html

No, the Republicans are masters of the momentary distraction:
Real Issues? Bush Prefers to Distract
By Cindy Rodriguez
The Denver Post
The proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay and lesbian people from marrying anywhere in America has no chance of passing.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/022904J.shtml

He uses the death of thousands to ensure himself another four years (and I'll be there to call him out personally):
President Planning NYC Extravaganza
By The Hill.com
White House goal is unprecedented convention theater..."And now, direct from Ground Zero, heeeeeeere's the president!"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030504A.shtml
He Molests the Dead
By Jimmy Breslin
Newsday
In his first campaign commercial, George Bush reached down and molested the dead.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030704I.shtml

Maybe they need more paperweights...
Rumsfeld Has Sept. 11 Souvenir Debris
By John Solomon
The Associated Press
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031404I.shtml

Maybe they'll take the A train to Harlem...
Nearly Half of NYC Black Men Jobless
By Janny Scott
The New York Times
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/023004I.shtml

...or maybe not. It's a New York style dogpile on Bush!
Stern In Big Blast At Bush
By John Mainelli
The New York Post
Besieged shock jock Howard Stern taunted his government critics yesterday by skipping his usual congressional and FCC attacks and tearing right into the top guy - President Bush.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/023004J.shtml

They need a lot of theatre to distract from what they're up to...action that Americans used to accuse the Nazis of doing...back when we were fighting the good fight, eh?
US Using 'Terrorist' Methods Over Guantanamo Prisoners: Former Hostage Terry Waite
By Agence France Presse
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030704B.shtml

And:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/content
_objectid=14042698_method=full_siteid=50143_
headline=-TERROR-OF-TORTURE-IN-CUBA-CAMP-name_page.html

My Hell in Camp X-Ray
By Rosa Prince and Gary Jones
The Mirror UK
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031304A.shtml

If you can't beat 'em, shut 'em down:
RNC Tells TV Stations Not to Run Anti-Bush Ads
CNN
WASHINGTON - The Republican National Committee is warning television stations across the country not to run ads from the MoveOn.org Voter Fund that criticize President Bush, charging that the left-leaning political group is paying for them with money raised in violation of the new campaign-finance law.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030804C.shtml

And how about this...remember how safe that Monsanto said genetically modified crops would be?
Mexico is Contaminated by Its Neighbor
By David Bornstein
Liberation
Agriculture. Although transgenic corn cultivation is forbidden in Mexico, traces of GMO have been detected there. The cause: seeds from the United States.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030204H.shtml

Even the Pentagon can't convince people we're in real trouble:
We're Closer to the Edge Than We Think
By Kelpie Wilson
t r u t h o u t Perspective
It has been interesting to watch the media reaction to a report commissioned by Pentagon security analysts on worst case scenarios for global climate change. The report would never have seen the light of day if it had not been leaked to the business magazine Fortune. Three weeks after the report was covered in Fortune, the British Observer covered it again, unleashing a spate of Internet news stories but very little coverage in US major dailies or TV news. What coverage there was tended to downplay the study's scenarios as “extremely unlikely.”
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/022904G.shtml

And instead of even turning a blind eye, this President engages in outright DECEPTION:
The Junk Science of George W. Bush
By Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Nation
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030204C.shtml

Even the Swiss are scared!
Insurer Warns of Global Warming Catastrophe
By Thomas Atkins
Planet Ark
GENEVA - The world's second-largest reinsurer Swiss Re warns that the costs of global warming threaten to spiral out of control, forcing the human race into a catastrophe of its own making.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030704G.shtml

Here in Los Angeles, of course, the destruction of the Earth is just another "high concept":
Hollywood Disaster Film Set to Turn Heat on Bush
By Dan Glaister
The Guardian UK
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031604G.shtml

But let's end on an "up beat":
1st Mich. Wolverine Spotted in 200 Years
By David Runk
The Associated Press
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/030204G.shtml

And finally, the lovely poetry of the Bush Haiku (thanks, Mrs. Chance):
This is a short poem made up entirely of actual quotations from George W. Bush. These have been arranged, only for aesthetic purposes, by Washington Post writer, Richard Thompson. A wonderful Haiku poem like this is too good not to share.
MAKE THE PIE HIGHER
I think we all agree, the past is over.
This is still a dangerous world.
It's a world of madmen and uncertainty
And potential mental losses.

Rarely is the question asked
Is our children learning?
Will the highways of the Internet
Become more few?

How many hands have I shaked?
They misunderestimate me.
I am a pitbull on the pantleg of opportunity.

I know that the human being
And the fish can coexist.
Families is where our nation finds hope, Where our wings take dream.

Put food on your family!
Knock down the tollbooth!
Vulcanize society!
Make the pie higher!
Make the pie higher!

(Pass this on. Help cure mad Cowboy disease in the next election!)

PS. NO MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT RALPH NADER UNTIL YOU GIVE ME SOME JOHN KERRY MONEY! PUT IT WHERE YER MOUTH IS (i.e. RONNA.) CLICK BELOW!
Vive le Screed!

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