Just a thought:

Are there any legal means to attack these people? If there were a way to take a liar to court (even if no libel has been committed) we might be able to get this out in the open more.

IMO we need to target the MSM as much as possible - they are the ones performing the coverups on behalf of Rove & Co., take them down and the rest fall too.

Surely, there must be some way to get redress when an absolute falsehood is published?

The first amendment gives freedom of speech, but to knowingly publish lies must leave the publisher open to SOME charge, surely?

The MSM can't pay attention to all of these lies. They all have armies camped outside the Michael Jackson trial and Terri Schiavo's hospital.

WTF is BALANCE by the MSN: this balance issue is about elections and balancing statments and interviews, not the content, but the time. But the rest of the time should be devoted to facts and relevant events. What else is there to balance? If they have the facts, they can approach the subject of the story for a response, but often that's as much a courtesy as a necessity. If you let those adversarial parties spin the facts, then what do you have? Nada.

What are they saying? That they need to balance facts and lies?

If they don't have the resources to investigate and newsgather, why are they still in business? They have been bought and their credibility sold and zeroed out as far as the truth is concerned.

How about a credibility bottom line figure based on truth and facts; Media Matters and related sites are approaching this, but I'm talking about a daily and monthly index for each of the MSM, something advertisers and subscribers could see and recognize and understand how their regular support sustains such deception. (Notwithstanding that some percentage will support deception...)

Keep it up Brad. Those straws count up....

Great idea, WalksHills. A truth-telling index meter, nice and flashy, in a public location. Now THAT'S the sticky wicket: who'll display it?

BTW: Do you wear a long black veil?

Speaking of Terri Schiavo.....

It doesn't matter where you stand on this issue. How hypocritical is this? Where was Congress when this was happening?

Baby dies after hospital removes breathing tube last Thursday in Houston, Texas.

http://www.chron.com/cs/...istory.mpl/front/3087387

I guess little black babies aren't as important as Florida white women with parents and a Governor who don't give up. Grrrrrr!

Congress Pursues Schiavo Case Legislation

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?

No, Peg C, I don't; I'm a guy. But hats off to that wonderful song; love both the Band's and Johnny Cash's versions.

Now, that was what honor is about.

BTW I would nominate the Jon Steward show; let him relay it like a Wall Street Report. You could also include a degree of variance from the RNC standard line; Fox would hew very closesly to the line, with minimum variance, of course. lol

As always, I'm for action; for instance, if Al Gore and George Soros would just GET THAT TV STATION on the air, there would be the opportunity to rebut with the truth. Most people recognize quality and truth when they hear it, see it, as they also recognize trash and lies when they hear it, see it. If an honest media outlet were to arise, people would flock to it and not watch Fox anymore. Why do you think the web is so popular? Because of the S..T on TV and radio!!!!

I agree with Peggy I her post #7-All the talking here on the Web will not make the slightest dent in the current sad state of affairs. What is needed is to solicit advertizing to support additional sources(Funds) to spread the truth about what is happening in America. By that, I am referring to Gaints such as Costco ( who donated almost exclusively to the Democratic candiate in the 2004 election). Exposure must use Televsion.It is the Media that is the message(sadly) today. Marshall Mcullen was correct and our 40 somethings and back are the products of that culture that develped around a T.V.
Just ask any High school kid today what he feels is most important after graduation. They will tell you simply and with shame." to make a lot of money."
.No Peace Corp for them.
The Demorcratic Part needs to campaign with vigor to get on the exsisting televsion programs with the messenge that tomorrow will be too late without immeadiate action. We have a country that is up for sale and the Republican party is selling nonstop.

We have to stop pretending that corporate media will suddenly wake up and become responsible.

All members of any corporation work for their corporation. The CEO of a public media corporation works in turn for the board of directors and the corporate advertisers. For the corporation, the board of directors, the advertisers, and the stock holders, profit is the only concern.

The truth is not relevant. If it gets in the way, as it so often does, it's summarily swept aside. (But don't take it personally, it's "just business".)

Holding corporate media's feet to the fire may occasionally help a bit but can in no way change their fundamental character, and that character is deeply and irrevocably flawed as a means of disseminating the truth. It does us no good to ignore this reality.

But the good news is that with the internet, bloggers, indymedia, whistleblower's groups, and other organizations, we now have the power as citizens to boycott corporate media entirely and at the same time be more connected with what's going on in the world than ever.

No, bloggers cannot by themselves replace news media, but some (BradBlog, for instance) are a huge help nonetheless, and with the help of indymedia, activists, and others we have a complement of information sources that provide with the means to destroy corporate media's ability to manufacture the consent of the American people. This is the sea change we need.

The tough part is getting more people to wake up and smell the fascism. Surely some just don't care, but many millions appear not to care only because they know the whole thing's cooked, and feel that it's hopeless. How do we turn them around?

I am so sickened with the people who are bought and paid for. It must be an addiction-like illness. I have to keep reminding myself of Brad's phrase, "Give them plenty of rope." And I can only hope there's a little loop on the end of it...

Aside from Link TV and Jon Stewart, we are pretty much entirely non-viewers. Trouble is, not everyone has internet access and a relatively small segment of those that do takes the trouble really to investigate current events. So who's to discriminate between what's real and what's fake?
THAT'S what this criminal junta relies on. And for God's sake, their trust appears to be warranted.

Today's Media Matters home page is a real stunner - horrifying.

Here's Frank Rich's take on the relationship/similarity between BushCo News, Inc. and Enron's proprietary propaganda factory.

Brad-

As I read the above article it gave me chills. Great piece Brad truly great.

Here's a copy of what I e-mailed to the media. Trying to place it in a dollars and cents perspective with the hope that would make them think a little harder about what they really have to lose.

FYI-

Dear MSM Editor-

In eight short months' Internet readership of Blogs has increased by tens of millions and continues increasing daily. Americans are leaving newspapers and TV in droves seeking "Freedom of the Press" and "truth". They have found real journalism on the Internet and now buy local newspapers only for the Sunday ads.

It's very clear to all of America that the Main Stream Media is a Republican puppet. They are scared of the White House, the Neoconservative Republicans and have grown lazy or grossly incompetent in the selection of news stories, services and investigative journalism.

The MSM didn't cover or care that Neoconservative Republicans stole the 2004 election, tampered with election programs and vote machines in Florida, New Mexico and Ohio. They didn't cover Conyers hearings in Ohio or the loss of $9 Billion in Iraq, 354,000 Gulf War disabilities and the Clint Curtis & Congressman Feeney Scandal. Now they ignore the Guckert/Gannon CIA Blackmail laced White House Sex Scandal.

It appears the Main Stream Media and their editors have forgot who really pays the bills, salaries, raises and supplies the needed demographic strengths to sell ads. If MSM continue losing their readership and viewer base to Blogs both the newspapers and TV stations will have nothing, absolutely nothing to sell advertisers.

It seems MSM is more then willing to help our Neoconservative Republican leadership destroy Democracy and create Fascism. I believe the newspaper and TV journalist's America is "Our" America isn't it? I mean we do live in the same country don't we? So if that statement is correct then it's their civil liberties, their retirements, their economy, their "Democracy", their children's future, their jobs and their newspaper readership base at stake in this lopsided political bet they made and are losing.

"There comes a time when silence is betrayal" ... and the Main Stream Media sold out "their" America, and is destroying "their" Democracy.

\

There is nothing hypocritical about what the Bushists are doing with Terri Schiavo's vegetating body. Nothing at all. They kick the corpses of the soldiers they send to Iraq to die for nothing, and they are kicking Terri Schiavo's living brainstem right now.

This is abuse, and it is meant as such. All those "right-to-lifers," from them it is also abuse, whether Catholic imposition of Church authority over everyone, or Protestant subjugation of women, or Jewish subjugation of women, or just plain misogyny, or hatred of the poor, or whatever. This is why it doesn't matter if the child is born to a short life of misery --- because it's not about life, it's about power and violence.

Wolfowitz....I was wondering when this crook would stop helping operate the strings from the background, and get himself placed in a more important position.

I saw a guy drive by yesterday with Bush-Cheney stickers all over his truck (also stickers saying Kerry would take away everyone's right to bear arms). This guy who voted for Bush, because of his gun rights (if Bush continues to have his way, he wouldn't be able to AFFORD guns).

He, and millions of others who simply vote for their personal agenda and own self-interests, are missing the point:

How many multi-millionaires in America are registered voters in our country? That is approximately how many people had any reason at all to vote for GWB (Actually, the number should be less, because not all multi-millionaires in America are greedy).

The MSM is becoming a propaganda machine to cajole people into voting against their best interests. And DAMN, it's working so well. And whatthehell, if it doesn't work well enough, hack the vote. What a collossal mess.

I don't buy the notion that Americans are uninformed because they only know what the RWCM feeds them, instead I think it's just plain old ignorance and laziness. There is plenty of real information to be found if you take the time to look. Even if you don't have access to the internet, anyone PAYING ATTENTION and let's say maybe actually GIVING A FUCK about the world around them, could readily see the lies being spread by Bush and his henchfolk leading up to the war. There is us, the agenda driven radical right wing, and the vast majority of mindless little robots. These so-called swing voters piss me off the most. Anyone who had trouble choosing between Kerry or Bush is just plain lost. The choice couldn't have been more stark.

The RWCM is doing exactly what it is being paid to do......feed the Corporate agenda to the sheep, so the sheep can in turn feed the Corporations. I wonder how many of these "Republicans" will willingly send their kids off to fight Bush's wars when the draft is re-instated? Will they call themselves un-patriotic when they start to question what is happening? What the fuck are they gonna do? Will their little heads just explode with all the inconvenient contradictions that begin to invade their perfect little worlds? Do you think the guy from the south who can't find a job to support his family ever wonders why that is? It ain't liberals, or terrorists dude, it's your rPresident!

WTF

Obviously, I haven't watched every channel and all the news today, but it seems I haven't heard anything much about this being the 2nd anniversary of the Iraq war. In addition to misinformation by MSM, they are guilty of not reporting what's important. They are guilty of being silent.

G #13 -

Absolutely perfect. I'd be in tears if I weren't clapping so hard. You are a fine person.

Supersoling #16 -

Keep howling, you dear patriot. This outrage cannot continue to be unrecognized. Somewhere, somehow, SOMEONE is going to scream out publicly that the emperor has no clothes.

It's way past time to pull the feeding tube on the brain-dead MSM. This vicious, bloodthirsty, unbelievably greedy "administration" is busily destroying the world while the MSM fiddles...

It really is best to be logical and realistic about this current political climate. Considering the last 100 years, it probably falls in the middle of the spectrum of hideousness. World War I was one of the worst times. The Sedition Act was a horror, when people were jailed for dissenting.
It's pointless to waste energy railing against the MSM. The people are completely unremarkable, and are doing what they are told, in the true corporate manner. Don't expect anything else. They just want to keep their jobs. They have no power. They have no guts. And I find them unbearably boring. Not worth any of my attention. There are plenty of interesting alternatives that don't require looking at ugly, stiff robots. I pity them.

I worked for a corporation once in my life and it was the scariest experience I ever had. I will never do it again. I have self respect, and will not sacrifice it for a paycheck.

I believe the corporations are headed for trouble in the coming years. They have grown beyond what they can maintain and they will fall under their own weight. The oil cartel apparently is having trouble within. It will all lead to weakness.
Sometimes, the smaller the better.
Our own corporation, the USA, is waekening by the minute.

People will not act until it hits them hard personally, which it will. Foreclosures, lack of medical care, bankruptcy... all these things have to happen to wake people up.
A lot of the young Bush supporters will probably be hit by the new bankruptcy law. They think they are home free with tax credits for their little businesses, but when they fail , they are in for a rude awakening when they can't file for chapter 11.

It's a good idea to trust that the chips will fall the right way, and prepare in your own personal way. We can start to change the system from within. With the proper individual choices.
And without spending too much energy complaining about things we can't effect.

The faster reality catches up with this country, the faster lies must be told. But there's a juggernaut steaming up the Potomac, and it goes by the name NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY. Once those guns start shelling us, no one's going to be able to lie fast enough to outrun the truth. Teresa is right about preparing for the worst. Even if by some miracle our boycotts and letters to the editor and spreading of the word actually turned those neocon traitors out of office, the juggernaut won't turn back. Its arrival is a historical inevitability, and its ETA is later this year. Brad and other bloggers are like Madame Defarge in "Tale of Two Cities," collecting names of the criminals and the specifics of the crimes...

In fact, Brad, why don't you begin such a list, as a running sidebar? Kind of like Bushco's bad-Iraqi deck of cards? Let us all submit names and crimes of those we would wish to see on trial, in the HYPOTHETICAL event that our economy collapses because of gross negligence and mismanagement, blackmail and deceit? I bet GWB would be first on the list for most out there, but I would vote for Alan Greenspan to be first on the docket of infamy. As a side benefit, it would definitely strike fear in the hearts of the enemy, as even THEY are beginning to realize the approaching juggernaut.

I'd go with Greenspan and the whole Federal Reserve bunch that have pillaged our treasury. We could reach back to Henry Kissinger, whose crimes are innumerable.

Don't feel alone, this admin lies to the whole world.

And most of those lied to know it (link here).

It is the smaller number, the MSM junkies, who do not know they are being lied to.

I agree with Unirealist #22. Several days ago, in connection with Taiwan, China publicly "threatened" the U.S. amid loud applause by its countrymen. China stated that if the U.S. was to interfere militarily with China's hold on Taiwan, China was fully prepared to take on the U.S. militarily. So, China has control of the value of the U.S. dollar, and China is confident it can take on the U.S. militarily. I believe them. They also write software for NASA, and therefore can control, at least some, of what's going on there, and they write software for the election machines. I would say the day is soon coming when China says to the U.S. "jump", and the U.S. starts jumping as high as it can go. This of course will be good for China. Will it be good for the U.S?

I'll answer my own question: No, it won't be good for the middle class and poor in America. Those in power have sold the country out to the highest bidders for their own personal wealth and ambitions, and have let America be damned.

China won't need to use military force, all they have to do is foreclose on the debt the US owes them - then the US can't afford to go to war.

If China ever does decide to use force to re-unify Taiwan, the US will stand by and let them do it. The pricks in charge will get the message fairly quickly - "Screw with the PRC and we will utterly bankrupt you." These guys don't understand anything except $$$'s and this message will get through loud and clear.

The Chinese would most likely engineer their own 9/11 as an excuse, whcih was also give Bush the face saving element necessary to actually agree with it. If the US can use unilateral force to "fight a war on terror", they could hardly complain if the Chinese do the same, now could they?

As someone has already said, prepare for the fall people. We all know it's coming, we just don't know how bad it's going to hurt. I am clearing out all my debts and I don't do that stock market thing - even here in the UK, if the US economy gets hosed we'll get the fall out too. The only benefit is that if it goes VERY BADLY WRONG, we can have some trials, send the neo-cons to jail and rebuild the whole system from the ground up - god knows, it needs it.

Keep the faith siblings.

Peggy #26-27
China can't fight a direct war over here; too far, too expensive and historically a losing situation. However, they are probably clever enough to pull us into a war near the mainland.
A great comment to come out of the Korean war was that we "the allied powers" were playing checkers; the Chinese were playing chess.
Remember at the very start of the Bush 43 administration when the new administration trumpted Pax Americana sentiment all over the place, brushing off the situation with North Korea and China.
The short period of Bush bravado was followed with the downing of a spy plane, which essentially was held ransom. I saw basically a move by a pawn to quell and the quash the American rhetoric. One simple moved and they shut them up.
Bush couldn't solve the situation at all. Yes, the US people were eventually released but did you know this came a week after the MSM reported a special trade mission to China by Kissinger and his Group. The fixers fixed it.
Last year we also had seven carrier groups do war games and drills in the Taiwan area; it was the largest sea armada in history. This was barely reported and I don't have the link at this time.
I see the Chinese playing a very deep and complicated strategy. They have also been fighting Muslim terrorists in their territory north of Pakistan for some time.
China also has pipelines built westward to the mid-Asian republics (sic). And they're dealing with Russia for oil from Siberia. You can't sustain a country without energy. They are positioning themselves in the surrounding territory - and we are doing the same, but we obviously are a long, long way from home and it is very expensive.
Taiwan may be more of a pawn for us to give away in the big game than anyone suspects.

Brad, if you have not read "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man", you really should take the time to do so. It makes all these neocon plans understandable and so outrageous and frightening.

There really is no mystery. We don't live in a democracy anymore. I don't know how LINK and Jon Stuart get by with truth. But who knows how long that will last. Hunter Thompson's suicide was a good scare tactic to anyone who wants to report news. Just read he was working on the pedophile ring which got some attention from mainstream media in the eighties. Bush 1 got some unfavorable publicity. My guess is the Bush guys hate the media because it has hurt them in the past. They are determined to wipe them out. I think a lot of people in the media are not only blackmailed, paid off, but also held hostage. Google The Franklin Conspiracy.

Hi, Walkshills #29 - I do believe China has the upper hand on America. They just can't "wack" America, because the rest of the world would turn against China in fear. But, you are right, they can certainly make GWB "shut up" if they want to. And they are prepared to "make a deal" if it protects their long-term interests. GWB certainly doesn't know how to play chess, or checkers, for that matter. He doesn't care to see beyond his own nose.

China = Neutron Bomb = USA cities still standing but "0" Americans to deal with.

Hi Peggy -

Don't know if China has the upper hand, but they do have a strong position carefully crafted over time. And like their atmosphere in the winter, their emergence will be hazy and obscured.

My concern is that the US is pursuing a path of financial weakness and military over-extension, a situation that could play into the hands of any adversary. The Bush history, 41 and 43, in business and government has been to roll over agregate debt continuously, feasting as they go. But others can play a crafty game with this flaw.

These, of course, are my generalizations from afar, to abet the sneaky feeling that there is much more going on than my eyes will ever see no matter how high a hill I climb.

One of the biggest problems if there is a war in Taiwan is that they are becomming the Worlds largest producer of semiconductors and components used to manufacture semiconductors (such as RAM and the components that comuters need to work with RAM). A secondary problem is that many of these factories are partly owned by European, American, and other companies. For example, Philips (Dutch) owns about 27% of one of the largest semiconductor factories in Taiwan. I am sure they wouldn't be pleased!

There was an article published in the NY Times in Feb 200 that explains this. It has been reprinted here:
http://fox.rollins.edu/~...on/asiabus/semicond.html

An excerpt:
"Taiwan's earthquake was a jolting reminder to the computer industry of its reliance on this island nation. Leading American manufacturers like Dell Computer, Compaq Computer and Hewlett-Packard blamed quake-related shortages for depressing third-quarter earnings."

The factories were essentially unharmed, but the entire production output of the very delicate components were destroyed, and prices of Memory soared. Imagine what would happen if these multi-billion dollar plants were damaged, or destroyed. I shudder to think!

Very interesting, Kryten42 #35.

So the Chinese are probably bluffing.

Hi Teresa,

Well... It depends what the Chinese agenda *actually* is! You see, if they did damage or destroy the production capability of Taiwan's factories, then the most effected country would be the USA, followed by several European countries. China would also suffer a little, but has her own factories of this type. We have our own plants in the USA of course, but they wouldn't even cope with a fraction of the demand! That's why they outsourced to Taiwan in the first place.

And THAT is one of the reasons Clinton strongly defended Taiwan. He had no choice if he wanted to save the American economy. Bush, on the other hand, is a) A moron, b) completely self-absorbed and only interested in his own agenda!

So, in a nutshell... If China wanted to harm the US economy, a war in Taiwan would do it. Also... The USA owes a huge debt to Japan! over 4 times more then the USA owes China! And it would be a way for China to sock it to Japan too! Almost like a two-for-one deal. Japan and China are ancient rivals, after all.

I should also mention that the other countries that contribute the lions share of semiconductors (including Computer Memory and components needed to make them) are Hong Kong (now Chinese), and Korea. So, any trouble in Korea would not be a good thing for America either.

Right now the average Americans only concern is with "their little world". They get up each morning go to work, pick up the kids come home, eat and watch Fox News then go to another job or school function. Nothing will change until the wakeup call arrives. In the past, it was normal events such as death, divorce, unemployment or foreclosure that became a life-changing event.

However, times are not normal and I fear bigger events, much bigger events are just around the corner.

Events such as; another round of massive layoffs and outsourcing. As the dollar continues to drop foreigner's question the growing mountain of USA dept, higher interest rates and cheaper dollars, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae's continuing problems. Japan and Europe have already started dumping US bonds and dollars. China is now buying USA dollars from Japan to leverage America. Even a true blue American like Warren Buffet has bet against the US dollar by purchasing 40 billion dollars worth of Euro's and other foreign currencies. Inflation has started in the USA; hyperinflation is coming and will be followed by deflation. Natural gas, heating oil, gasoline prices and interest rates are all increasing way beyond normal price ranges. Housing prices have started to drop in parts of the US. As this decline progresses a major bank and housing collapse will follow. Europe, China, Britain, Korea and Japan are hinting at forming there own world trade and military organizations without USA participation. Russia is holding military training exercises with China. The USA's economy continues to spiral downward. Actual Iraq military related war deaths are reported to be over 4,000 and not the 1,500 reported by the MSM. As USA Imperialism continues the military will start drafting Americans and war-related deaths will soar to 15, 20 or 25 thousand plus. Yet the Neocon Republican Bush administration says USA employment is decreasing, were winning the Iraq war and inflation is under control. While our President holds congressional hearings on steroid use in baseball and the right of a single Floridian to die. Our Congress ignores the stolen the 2004 election, fraudulent election programs and tampered voting machines that altered the face of US history. "No" Congressional hearings for national voter fraud, loss of $9 Billion in Iraq, thousand of deaths and injuries from Agent Orange or male whores in the white house.
.

The goal of the Neocon Republicans is Fascism. Destroy the USA educational system, Social Security and all government social programs. Then spend the savings on military armaments, research and manufacturing. The Neocon's want high USA unemployment, stupid and uneducated Americans desperate for any type work. Desperate enough to join the military and support US Imperialism around the world. The Neocon Republicans want to carry the "big stick" by manufacturing the newest, biggest, most powerful and expensive armaments. While the Middle East produces oil Europe, Korea, India and China will make toasters, doorknobs, clothes, tools, furniture, toys, toolboxes, books and spoons while bowing to USA Imperialistic demands. However, "only the USA" will make the intimidating and expensive high tech weapons systems, guns, poison gases, nuclear bombs, jets and rockets.

That’s where your "dumbed down" children, grand children and great grand children's lives and tax money will go. To support the Necon Republicans families, dreams, aspirations and Cook/Cayman Island bank accounts.

That's when Americans will change. When they've lost jobs, houses, cars, dignity, their children and grandchildren".

Only then will they realize the Main Stream Media, Prolifers, TV preachers, military, Republicans and Neocon's have used, abused, murdered and fed Americans bullshit for 6, 8 or 10 long years.

Only then will they realize their Democracy is gone, destroyed.

Only then will the Neocon Republicans realize the magnitude of the mistake they made.

You see it's like this, when American "minorities" suffer discrimination or oppression they always formed nice orderly protests. However, when this large group of bible and gun toting "white" middleclass Americans realize who lied, how and why thousands of Americans will die. This won't be one of the garden-variety types of organized protests or riots with a few injuries. No way, were talking about really angry "white" people and a major American uprising this country hasn't seen in 100 years. A revolt, a good old fashion death dealing hang um high "American Civil War". One for the history books and something the world will never forget.

All truth passes through three stages:
First it is ridiculed.
Second, it is violently opposed.
Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

I would like for someone to explain how I can tell a fake newsstory from a made up one that everyone is talking about,I only watch CBS,I don't get all those other stations so I can't tell which ones you guys are talking about.

Maxie -

Mostly the thread refers to cable news programs. But the three broadcast networks, ABC, CBS and NBC have fallen into the same corporate traps. Local stations are broadcasting government-produced "newsclips" - actually propaganda - to fill air-time, without identifying the source of the filler material.

Maxie -
A second thing which might help is a background in the stories presented, where you have some idea of who's doing what to whom. Unfortunately, background information is seldom presented; just the current headlines.
This site http://www.rebeccablood....erpts/weblog_ethics.html
is about web ethics, but there are similar ethics for the press, such as the AP StyleBook and Media and the Law pamphlets. It about stating your sources and acknowledging the legitimacy of those sources, of what the reporter knows to be fact and what is more circumspect. As Peg C noted, now many newsclips are being aired without denoting the actual source.
Accessing politically astute web sites can bring you up to date on many issues, many before they ever hit the MSM. Brad's stories herein concerning Curtis are barely touched by the MSM; this in and of itself is a real story, sad as it may seem.

To G: I really don't think Bush is a moron nor are the forces supporting him dumb and misguided. I think they are not only smart, but have vast resources to fulfill their plans. There are also contrary elements to those forces in this nation and the world and I'm not talking about terrorists whatsoever. There world has a stake in this. And I also think that the elements of this go back many, many decades, even to WWI. Where you see dumbness I see profound greed and manipulation: they will control and steal everything they can. I agree that most everyone will share the suffering and the final anger will be stunning and dangerous.

The worst case scenario is that we become the darkside power, Mordor and the Sith all rolled into one, a warmongers with the greatest weaponry products and production, arms suppliers to the world, financial blackmail of everyone we can control, attacks on everyone who is a remote threat - and a slave country within the US. Most would turn away from such a vision. But ask yourself, how much of this is true or becoming true now? Is democracy being kidnaped and whisked away to executive rendition? How helpless do you feel on an everyday basis?

The balance to such darkness is that the world is a balanced order, despite the often chaotic appearance we seem to perceive. There are powerful business interests in the US and the throughout the world who depend on a certain level of balance to sustain their operations - and who know what is going on. Don't count out Mr. Buffett and others; the world is a complex network and those distorting the balance are a threat, whether ours or someone else's. And last, predictability is not the forte of language, English or any other, so surprise is always around the corner.

The Rethugs are in trouble.
And the end of the neoconmen might be here.

Here is some news to offset the crap:

This explosive information was revealed Monday morning in an exclusive report on Democracy Now!. This show, unbeholden to any corporate sponsors, is one of the most valuable sources for in-depth investigative reporting left in our nation.

(Go to www.democracynow.org to view the BBC film and interview between Amy Goodman & Greg Palast, archived as March 21 show.)

Following is a synopsis of the article, coming out today in Harper's:

SECRET U.S. PLANS FOR IRAQ'S OIL
BBC News World Edition
Thursday, March 17, 2005
By Greg Palast

Reporting for BBC Newsnight (London)

Why was Paul Wolfowitz pushed out of the Pentagon onto the World Bank? The answer lies in a 323-page document, secret until now, indicating that the allies of Big Oil in the Bush Administration have defeated neo-conservatives and their chief, Wolfowitz. BBC Television Newsnight tells the true story of the fall of the neo-cons. An investigation conducted by BBC with Harper's magazine will also reveal that the US State Department made detailed plans for war in Iraq --- and for Iraq's oil --- within weeks of Bush's first inauguration in 2001.

********************
Watch the Exclusive US Broadcast of this report on Democracy Now!
********************

The Bush administration made plans for war and for Iraq's oil before the 9/11 attacks sparking a policy battle between neo-cons and Big Oil, BBC's Newsnight has revealed.

Two years ago today - when President George Bush announced US, British and Allied forces would begin to bomb Baghdad - protestors claimed the US had a secret plan for Iraq's oil once Saddam had been conquered.

In fact there were two conflicting plans, setting off a hidden policy war between neo-conservatives at the Pentagon, on one side, versus a combination of "Big Oil" executives and US State Department "pragmatists."

"Big Oil" appears to have won. The latest plan, obtained by Newsnight from the US State Department was, we learned, drafted with the help of American oil industry consultants.

View Segments of Iraq oil plans at: http://www.gregpalast.com/opeconthemarch.html

Insiders told Newsnight that planning began "within weeks" of Bush's first taking office in 2001, long before the September 11th attack on the US.

An Iraqi-born oil industry consultant, Falah Aljibury, says he took part in the secret meetings in California, Washington and the Middle East. He described a State Department plan for a forced coup d'etat.

Mr Aljibury himself told Newsnight that he interviewed potential successors to Saddam Hussein on behalf of the Bush administration.

Secret sell-off plan

The industry-favoured plan was pushed aside by yet another secret plan, drafted just before the invasion in 2003, which called for the sell-off of all of Iraq's oil fields. The new plan, crafted by neo-conservatives intent on using Iraq's oil to destroy the Opec cartel through massive increases in production above Opec quotas.

The sell-off was given the green light in a secret meeting in London headed by Ahmed Chalabi shortly after the US entered Baghdad, according to Robert Ebel. Mr. Ebel, a former Energy and CIA oil analyst, now a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, flew to the London meeting, he told Newsnight, at the request of the State Department.

Mr Aljibury, once Ronald Reagan's "back-channel" to Saddam, claims that plans to sell off Iraq's oil, pushed by the US-installed Governing Council in 2003, helped instigate the insurgency and attacks on US and British occupying forces.

"Insurgents used this, saying, 'Look, you're losing your country, your losing your resources to a bunch of wealthy billionaires who want to take you over and make your life miserable," said Mr Aljibury from his home near San Francisco.

"We saw an increase in the bombing of oil facilities, pipelines, built on the premise that privatization is coming."

Privatization blocked by industry

Philip Carroll, the former CEO of Shell Oil USA who took control of Iraq's oil production for the US Government a month after the invasion, stalled the sell-off scheme.

Mr Carroll told us he made it clear to Paul Bremer, the US occupation chief who arrived in Iraq in May 2003, that: "There was to be no privatization of Iraqi oil resources or facilities while I was involved."

The chosen successor to Mr Carroll, a Conoco Oil executive, ordered up a new plan for a state oil company preferred by the industry.

Ari Cohen, of the neo-conservative Heritage Foundation, told Newsnight that an opportunity had been missed to privatise Iraq's oil fields. He advocated the plan as a means to help the US defeat Opec, and said America should have gone ahead with what he called a "no-brainer" decision.

Mr Carroll hit back, telling Newsnight, "I would agree with that statement. To privatize would be a no-brainer. It would only be thought about by someone with no brain."

New plans, obtained from the State Department by Newsnight and Harper's Magazine under the US Freedom of Information Act, called for creation of a state-owned oil company favored by the US oil industry. It was completed in January 2004, Harper's discovered, under the guidance of Amy Jaffe of the James Baker Institute in Texas. Former US Secretary of State Baker is now an attorney. His law firm, Baker Botts, is representing ExxonMobil and the Saudi Arabian government.

View segments of Iraq oil plans

Questioned by Newsnight, Ms Jaffe said the oil industry prefers state control of Iraq's oil over a sell-off because it fears a repeat of Russia's energy privatization. In the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, US oil companies were barred from bidding for the reserves.

Jaffe said "There is no question that an American oil company ... would not be enthusiastic about a plan that would privatize all the assets with Iraq companies and they (US companies) might be left out of the transaction."

In addition, Ms. Jaffe says US oil companies are not warm to any plan that would undermine Opec, "They [oil companies] have to worry about the price of oil."

"I'm not sure that if I'm the chair of an American company, and you put me on a lie detector test, I would say high oil prices are bad for me or my company."

The former Shell oil boss agrees. In Houston, he told Newsnight, "Many neo conservatives are people who have certain ideological beliefs about markets, about democracy, about this that and the other. International oil companies without exception are very pragmatic commercial organizations. They don't have a theology."

A State Department spokesman told Newsnight they intended "to provide all possibilities to the Oil Ministry of Iraq and advocate none".

Greg Palast's film - the result of a joint investigation by Newsnight and Harper's Magazine - will broadcast on Thursday, 17 March, 2005.

You can watch the program online from Democracy Now!

Teresa-- are you saying that faith-based thinking ran up against reality-based thinking, and reality won? Gosh, what a god-d***** surprise!

Just a comment, I am not sure why so many people say America is a Democracy. It isn't, and never was. It is (or rather, was) a Constitutional Republic (now, it's more of a Fascist State)... Read this for an eye opening view:

http://www.chrononhotont...om/lawnotes/repvsdem.htm

#42 Walkshills-

The "dumbed down" quote refers to the Neocon's long term goal for the middleclass/poor American public. In the future, they want Americans unemployed, poor and ignorant. To provide cheap, uneducated labor and fresh, young meat for the military. An endless supply of expendable souls and bodies for their murderious plans.

I found your comments interesting and I'm curious about the World War II connection. Any additional thoughts on that subject?

Teresa #44

I read the same article .... very, very interesting. However, I couldn't help but think what's the purpose of releasing this information to the public? Whats the motive and who released it .... Karl Rove????? Is this another distraction or diversion? And why?

I would like the article to be 100% true ....it would renew my faith in mankind. I believe it's just more Republican bullshit.

G #46,

Could be another trick. Hard to say. But Rove isn't the all powerful master of the universe. In fact, I think he's running out of juice. He's due. Everything has a half life.

Productivity and economic gain usually have the upper hand. There are a lot of players in the oil game. There seem to be a lot of businesspeople in the world who disagree with the neocon's philosophy. I still think there is a possibility that their "reelection" was a setup.

Teresa#47

I hope your right.

There IS a way to bring the Republicans to their knees, but it will take sacrifice. Liberals, on an individual level, have more money than conservatives. It's a statistical fact. The only reason the Republicans funraise better is from corporations, and that's where we can hurt them. If we are willing to sacrifice, then we can have a major paradigm shift by 1. boycotting all products made overseas, 2. boycotting all products made in red states and 3. boycotting any company that contributes to ANY political candidate. Contributions should come from individuals, the ones the politicians are supposed to represent, and donations should come ONLY from that representative's district, or that senator's state. Companies should stay out of it.

I'll write all of this in my book.

Someone mentioned that Americans are lazy and don't care. You're right. No matter what is happening with this corrupt, evil administration, we Americans haven't suffered a bit.......yet. And by gathering as much oil as possible (Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, etc.) Bush will keep us in clover (although he has to help his rich buddies by screwing us a little on debt, etc.). It's all short-term thinking on their part, because eventually, when everything collapses (stock market, real estate market, job market) and inflation rises, people will get sick of it.

Clinton was right all along: "It's the economy, stupid."

We can all talk about deficits, social security, torture, medicaid, Shiavo, war, war, war, and more, but until WE HURT on a day-to-day basis, we won't care.

Trust me, when enough people are out of work and out of food (Starbucks closing down, Best Buy shutting down, gas at five bucks, prices out of control), and when most people are unable to live this awesome luxerious lifestyle like I do in Southern California, they will FLOCK to the polls, and the numbers will be so one sided, in favor of the Democrats (the only half-way powerful opposition) that no amount of vote rigging will help.

The Democrats know this. They are biding their time. They know that the Republicans are going to thrash our economy and drive it into the ground. Heck, that's probably why they HELP the Republicans from time to time. Speed up the process.

Trust me: It won't be the poor who flock to the polls. They have always been that way. It's when the middle class, as a whole, takes a big step backwards that they will throw out the Republicans.

The only reason the Republicans were able to get the office of presidency in 2000 (besides stealing it) was that Americans were so fat and happy, that they needed something to be pissed off about. They forgot how good they had it. Took it for granted, and then let a blowjob piss them off.

No, this country isn't ready to change yet. We NEED to suffer. That's when it will happen.

But, what better way to speed it up than to save your money. Stop buying shit you don't need. The middle class man who saves his money is the Republican's worst nightmare.

Mike #50,

Of course you know I agree, if you've read any of my posts.
This guy Reich, who used to be the US labor secretary, just came out with an article that talks about how our consumerism has created Wal Mart, and there is nothing we can do until that changes. He also said that in the coming economic situation, liberals cannot fail to gain power.

Check out my post on the "Pat Buchanan is right" thread...#29.

The truth is inside the flag draped coffin. The coffin is the MSM.

Brother Dredd, let us pray at the grave of the MSM.

Fortunately, I believe the truth escaped.

Mike #50

Your right on target.

Americans have to feel the pain before they wake up. The Neocon Republicans just don't get it.... they don't understand the huge mistake they have made. It will taint their membership for 30 or 40 years.

Again I say--- When this large group of bible and gun toting "white" middleclass Americans realize who lied, how and why ..... thousands of Americans will die. This won't be one of the garden-variety type organized protests or riots with a few injuries. No way, were talking about really angry "white" people and a major American uprising this country hasn't seen in 100 years. A revolt, a good old fashion death dealing hang um high "American Civil War". One for the history books and something the world will never forget.

TO: MAXIE #40
Here’s another really good site (link below) for info regarding the media and its movement away from real journalism in favor of “infotainment”, sanitized news reports and White House propaganda reported as “news”.

I should say, NeoCON propaganda, since the media started down this path during Clinton’s years in office. They were being bought off at that time and have only gone deeper into the NeoCON’s pockets since.

Media Reform Information Center