Thanks for the update Brad.

Off topic but interesting.

"Cha Ching" From ¢¢¢ to $$$: How the Bush Crime Syndicate Funneled Foreign Cash Into the U.S. Political System

Florida Investigator Who Got Too Close to Florida "Coin Gate" Silenced by Jeb Bush's Gangsters ( Lemme/Coin gate connection...Lemme knew)

Wayne Madsen

FLORIDA PANHANDLE, June 10, 2005 --- Experienced federal investigators, acting independently, have discovered a covert funding channel used by the 2000 and 2004 Bush-Cheney campaigns and the administrations of Jeb Bush in Florida and Bob Taft in Ohio to illegally funnel foreign and other questionable money into Republican coffers.

Ever since the brutal death of Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) investigator Ray Lemme in July 2003, the focus of investigators in Florida and Georgia has been on the political scandal Lemme was uncovering. After his official investigation of contract fraud, money laundering, illegal immigration, and election fraud was shut down on orders of Jeb Bush, Lemme continued to investigate the use of FDOT to launder cash for the Bush Brothers and their allies. Lemme's focus was on the use of the Florida turnpike system to launder cash for the Jeb and George W. Bush campaigns. It was an investigation that would ultimately lead to Lemme's body being discovered in a motel room bath tub in Valdosta, Georgia. A two-state police cover up of Lemme's death, threats directed at Florida and Georgia investigators, and a virtual media blackout indicates that the GOP administrations of Jeb Bush and Georgia's Sonny Perdue wanted the Lemme story to go away --- and fast.

The reason for the cover-up of Lemme's reported "suicide" is simple. Investigators have now discovered that foreign cash, including Chinese, Saudi, and Nigerian money, was laundered via the biggest state-run cash cow in Florida --- the Florida Turnpike system. Because most of the transactions involving Florida's toll roads involve cash and huge amounts of it, it was easy for foreign and other questionable money to be laundered via FDOT.

Lemme had reportedly become aware of the use of FDOT to commit criminal acts. Valdosta, where Lemme went to meet a still unknown source, is a key center for international organized criminal activity, including illegal foreign worker smuggling, involving close political allies of George W. and Jeb Bush.

http://www.waynemadsenre...ort.com/scoops/Lemme.htm

Thank you Brad, thank you Larissa, but above all, thank you Mr. Conyers! May the four winds blow each and every one of us safely home at the end of what is sure to be a most tempestuous day. Crossing my fingers here in Prague (actually, they "hold their thumbs" over here). We shall prevail!
Robert Strider, Michigander at heart

#1 sounds a lot like a very frightened troll to me. Let's stay on the topic, please! To the point: we should pat ourselves on our collective backs for this. And if this doesn't drive the message through their thick skulls, don't lose heart! There are simply too many of us kindred spirits afoot for that little gang of thugs to control. We could resolve to gather together around the Capitol on a certain day as yet to be determined, and then stroll down to the WH, surround it, and submit our demands. I still think that the best strategy for the rest of the world is to abjectly surrender to Bullsh and sue for Geneva Convention protections, everything in exchange for comprehensive, competent public administration. Even Halliburton couldn't handle that, so instead they just go for the world's second largest known oil reserve in EyeRack, the biggest gas station heist in history! They were going for it way before the get-go, even, way before. That's the question at hand, but it echoes from the past: What did the pResident know, and when did he know it? They've told so many lies they have to be having a hard time keeping them all straight. Let's drive in the stake right now, while we still have a chance - Go for the jugular, Big John!!! Peace and Love and Sox and Roll

#3, perhaps you have had your head stuck up your ass all this time but the Lemme scandal is a highlight of Brad's blog.

I'm well aware of the importance of Congressman Conyers hearing today but many Brad Blog readers will be very interested to read the info I provide.

Now on to the hearing.

Is there a list of the members of congress that have signed on? I haven't seen an updated one since the original 88.

Hey, thanks for the illegal war!

Yeah, #4, as if that was a fresh contribution. It was a "Let's talk about something else" straw man. Back under your rock, you slime!

#7, you have no idea what your talking about. Hell, if you have no idea who Clinton Curtis of Ray Lemme is you should just qieit down and quit distracting the thread.

I posted that article here because as of now Brad had NO current open threads available. Many regular Brad posters would be deeply interested in new info concerning Ray Lemme's death.

Enough said, I wont respond to this poster again and iIappoligize Brad if the thread has been too distracted.

Czaragorn - Please take it easy. Do not assume that everyone here has read every comment here. Instead, please point him to the comment link or item where that matter was previously being discussed.

BVAC - Working on getting that complete list of Congressional signatories. Will update here when I get it.

Bush is going Down for the count .WOW, to that!!!!!!!!!!! lets make sure it goes maninstream!

As of the C-Span3 forum I took the day off for it! Great work Brad! Thank you for your hard work!

With all due respect, sir, "We were talking, about the love we all must share, etc...." You actually acknowledged (#1) straying OT, but promised something worthy of note. Sir, you delivered yesterday's bread! I'd be willing to bet you'd throw out yesterday's bread rather than give it to a hungry human being. Grrrr

Oops! Sorry Brad! I'll try not to go off like that in the future, but, in self-defense, the Ray Lemme matter is a raw nerve - nevertheless, I promise to try to be polite in the future. You're right - there's a lot to learn! With all greatest respect, Bob
!

Hi, Czaragorn!

Trying to listen, but "buffering" is making it difficult.

Peg you are doing better than I am. The best I can get is a message that says "the server cannot accept any more connections" ... which is actually very good news!

Oh, check it out!
Lead story on CNN Politics - Democratic forum focuses on 'Downing Street memo'. They then have a link - yes, Right there on the CNN Politicss page - to go watch the hearing by Conyers.

Then, on front page of Washington Post online - News Media Give Overlooked Memo on Iraq Second Glance Then, they too have a link - Yes - a link to watch the hearing!

Somethings happening people!! MSM is getting some cajones! Send them all a thank you letter, and demand that they go on to ask the rest of the questions, demand that something be done!
Rock on Brad and allllllll of you 6 or 7! Oh, and those other 547,000 that signed Conyers letter.

Coming at 'em!
Gh

""Cha Ching" From ¢¢¢ to $$$: How the Bush Crime Syndicate Funneled Foreign Cash Into the U.S. Political System"

is a VERY important part of the puzzle picture, but today is for Conyers hearings.

Brad should have another thread on the Lemme/Coin story later.

It's all coming together.

to those fellow dial up users in this thread who are having buffering problems go to C-Span radio. I tried Radio Pacific first and had the same issue. It's been clear sailing ecer since logging onto C-Span .

Also, I'm using the Windows Media Player link, Real Player usually cause my pc to squirrely.

I got c-span on now. YAAAAYYY!!! It keeps cutting out though. Their kicking but!!

radio-got it

OUTSTANDING - best news today.

hairytruth.blogspot.com

MarkH (and others) please see my previous comments on the latest Lemme article by Madsen.

Now back to your previously scheduled pre-Impeachment hearings.

Sharon..."has our president wrapped around his little finger." YES!!

Just listen to all the evidence being brought out at this hearing. What is wrong with c-span for hiding it from most viewers by putting it on c-span3? Many of us don't have c-span3 offered.

Will someone be making a copy that we can watch again?

I like Brad's comment --- pre-Impeachment hearings.

What a BIG DAY! Watching the Basement 6 or 7-ers makes me very happy. I've got chills.

Go Maxine Waters! We WILL CONTINUE TO AGITATE!

"Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, are people who want crops without plowing the ground." ~ Frederick Douglass

"We must complain. Yes, plain, blunt complaint, ceaseless agitation, unfailing exposure of dishonesty and wrong - this is the ancient, unerring way to liberty and we must follow it." ~ W. E. B. Dubois

DARN the buffering!

Thanks Brad. I had never read anything of Madsen's before. As with all good journalism, about Lemme, 9/11, DSM, etc. we need good corroboration and not just speculation.

O my God! This is fucking awesome. These people are angry. The word lie is everywhere.

snip from William Rivers Pitt - blogged at pdamerica

...I have to wrap this up

so I can get down to Lafayette Park for the rally. This hearing has been great in so many ways. It will be rebroadcast on Friday, June 17th at 8pm ET on C-SPAN2. Record it. Watch it again. Have house parties and show it to your friends.

Spread the word. I hope to see you in the park.

Thank you Jen! Yes --- record it, make copies --- mail them to your Republican friends & relatives!

Found this 1 comment under the Will Pitt blogging at pdamerica (in Jen's #27)

A call for action from our blogger at the Conyers Hearing…

LIVE BLOGGING THE CONYERS HEARING

UPDATE:15:45:46:SCOOP FROM KAREN AT THE HEARING:HC-5, The Big Room for hearings that are held in Congress, is open, and has been open during this entire time, and Pelosi’s office called this morning and requested it, even offering to change the time, as it was open for two hours this morning, but were denied the use of the much larger room by the House Leadership.

The evidence is clear–the House Leadership deliberately prevented this hearing from taking place in a room that would accomodate the large number of people slated to attend. Karen asks that everyone put this information out on all the blogs you can.

It seems that the House Leadership thinks that it can do things like this without anyone finding out about it. Let’s show them they are wrong.

Here's a lot of info blogged:

Live blogging Conyers Hearing

If I don't see this on the Nightly News tonight, I am going to go ballistic!!!!

To hell with Michael Jackson and Runaway Brides!

Pitt is on the ground at the rally… June 16th, 2005
He is reporting that there is a CNN camera front and center at the rally! More to come from Will’s blackberry

Hey Brad -

Are you getting this in Real Video or Windows Media? If so, will you be archiving it?

(Those of us stuck in offices today will need to watch tonight at our leisure after the kids have gone to bed!!!)

Go Conyers.

Also, Ion Sancho talked about voting machines and the Black Box test in Tallahassee for a full hour this AM on public radio:

http://www.fsu.edu/~wfsu...s/perspectives/index.htm

Deplorable that they cram these meetings into a broom closet on a day when they have to vote on 11 issues today?

This malfesance is reprehensible!

The arming of Saddam is soon to be an issue too..

Ahh - I love John Conyers! Big Huge Kisses, Representative Conyers, sir! Thank you so very much - you are a True American Patriot!

:) The truth will prevail Mr. Bush. Americans don't like to be lied to.

I just heard on CNN that an earthquake has (1 hr. ago) rocked So. California.

Everybody ok?

My TV doesn't work. What radio link is covering the people going to the Capitol?
How many people are there?
I have pitt on ground . Thanks Kira.

"(Those of us stuck in offices today will need to watch tonight at our leisure after the kids have gone to bed!!!)"

If the kids are over 10 or so they need to see this too!

It is so great!!!

Colleen...
I'm listening online at kpfa-fm Berkeley Ca.
Currently they are doing a followup and other news, but they said they would be going to the capitol for the letter delivery.

THIS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE "MEMO" DEMO >>>>>>>
More Damning Than Downing Street

With Congressman John Conyers about to hold hearings, coverage of the Downing Street memo is finally beginning to leak into the media. In contrast, we've heard almost nothing about the degree to which this administration began actively fighting the Iraq war well in advance of the March 2003 official attack--before both the October 2002 US Congressional authorization and the November United Nations resolution requiring that Saddam Hussein open the country up to inspectors.

I follow Iraq pretty closely, but was taken aback when Charlie Clements, now head of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, described driving in a Baghdad neighborhood six months before the war "and a building would just explode, hit by a missile from 30,000 feet -'What is that building?'"

Clements would ask. "'Oh, that's a telephone exchange.'" Later, at a conference at Nevada's Nellis Air Force Base, Clements heard a U.S. General boast "that he began taking out assets that could help in resisting an invasion at least six months before war was declared."

http://www.zmag.org/cont...ionID=15&ItemID=8084

Democracy Cell Project

UPDATE:18:01:35

Karen has moved to rally in front of white house...

It's a beautiful day... the sun is smiling on our efforts.

Announced by one of the rally organizers: Rep. Ron Paul, R-TX, Rep. Walter Jones, R-NC, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-OH and Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-HI are sponsors of a bill introduced today in the House of Representatives that states that President Bush would have to start bringing home U.S. troops from Iraq by Oct. 1, 2006.

Medea Benjamin is speaking now. She's the head of Code Pink, Women for Peace. Received a roar of applause from the crowd when she called for impeachment. Medea announced that Rep. Maxine Waters started a new caucus in Congress today named The Out of Iraq Caucus.

Rep John Conyers speaking now: says we are now up to 660,000 signatures and he will keep holding hearings.

Reuters - WH rejects lawmakers call for Iraq pull-out

Oooo - thanks for that link, MMIIXX. EVEN MORE DAMNING! Yow!

*bfg*

I got it on radio left. Hard to understand words.

LIVE BLOGGING THE CONYERS HEARING

UPDATE:18:19:05: They have moved to the gate of the White House. Representatives John Conyers, Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee are just waiting there quietly. Cindy Sheehan has joined them. Everyone is just waiting, people are hugging one another, some are crying. Chants of "Conyers is our hero" can be heard. There are perhaps 1000 people there. There are 2 huge stacks of petitions right in front of Karen. Pictures will be forthcoming.

UPDATE:18:30:35: People in the inside the gate are taking pictures of people outside the gate. A woman in a red suit accompanied by a young man in a gray suit has just arrived at the gate. She doesn't look like she's having a very good day. She's received the petitions. This is democracy in action. The petitions have been received at the White House.

The White House press corps is retreating away from the gate. There's a small conclave at the gate talking. Someone is yelling "Power to the People". Karen is returning to the rally.

Democracy Cell Project

Colleen - thanks for the tip. Sound sux. Conyers is HOT! ROCK ON CONYERS!!!

As always Rep. Conyers, you are my hero. If appears that a few other Democrats have decided to join ranks with the couragous. Thank you for all you do for the American Public and for our grateful nation.

Latest from Democracy Cell Project

UPDATE:18:42:15: John Bonifaz has just called for the impeachment of President Bush. He's demanding "Give our country back."

He's now turning the mike over to John Conyers.

John Conyers said that 50 members of Congress showed up for the hearing. Mr. Conyers is beginning to lose his voice, but he is calling for "More Protests, More Marches, More Letters, More Hearings, More Signatures...". He said, "We are going to continue to collect more signatures... 1 million signatures, 5 million signatures, 20 million signatures.... However many it takes..."

2 fathers of sons who died in Iraq:

Bill Mitchell from California, "My son, Mike, died on the same day Casey died in Iraq on 04/04/04... The revolution has started here..."

Celeste Zappala from Philadelphia: "We finally have a brave man in Congress... thank John Conyers."

Maxine Waters is now speaking... "We are having the most significant hearings in the history of our nation... we are focusing on the big lie. ... We are going to take on this president in a real way. We are going to take this to the streets... Our vice president is a liar... not only is he a liar, he's a thief and a betrayer of the public trust. ... We have organized the Out of Iraq Congressional Caucus... 50 members of Congress have already signed up... These people shall not have died in vain. We're going to turn this around, we're going to bring our people home."

OFF TOPIC (or is it)

WARNING to computer buyers, maybe the old computer has an advantage over the new faster computer.

Read and be amazed!

I called the police, as having a keylogger unknown to me in my laptop is a serious offense. They told me to call the Department of Homeland Security. At this point, I am in disbelief. Why would the DHS have a keylogger in my laptop? It was surreal.

http://www.chromance.de/wtf/lol.htm

From pdaAmerica:

Conyers is walking over to the White House June 16th, 2005

There is a crowd of over 200 reporters following Conyers to the fence of the White House I am told. Meanwhile back at the stage…

Over a thousand folks now I hear. Great media! Phylis Bennis is wrapping up. Then Cindy Shenan, then John Bonifaz. Because of techincal difficulties, I am not able to get the substance of the speeches. Will Pitt will be at a terminal within the next few hours and will post a comprehensive recap. I will be getting photos later this evening to post. But for now, I am not able to stay on top of the details that are going on. The good news is, every time I talk to someone on the ground I can barely hear them over the crowd.

We know for a fact, CNN has B-Roll of this rally, so keep emailing them and tell them to run the story.

Today was a good day.

A former Ambassador, a mother of a fallen soldier, a former CIA Analyst, and a Constitutional lawyer. Not peaceniks, no hippies, no eccentrics there. And what is their consensus….

“High Crimes” have been committed.

Congressional members listening taking notes, asking questions…

Impeachment hearings are next.

It is a new day!

I am signing off, WRP will post later this evening. He, the PDA crew, the AfterDowningStreet crew, and the activist are wiped. One can imagine. Congrats all. Today, YOU made this happen!

Kevin Spidel

OMG #52 OMG

MMIXX and KIRA # 52 & 54--This sounds scary, but I don't understand what this may mean?? I am not computer saavy at all. Thanx!!

Excellent interview with Mike Hersh (mikehersh.com) on RadioLeft.

Rats --- it's over!

What's happening I wonder here in the land of the repressed.....

Don't exactly know, Sarah #55. I'll be looking into it. The fact that the FOIA request was denied makes me very suspicious and uncomfortable.

Can we get the list of 122? It would be great to have them all! Especially--is Walter Jones the only R on it or are there some others?

Sarah
What it means is that EVERYTHING YOU TYPE CAN BE CALLED UP AND READ BY THOSE WITH THE "LOG CODE"
,PASSWORDS,COMMENTS,ACCOUNT NUMBERS ,ANYTHING YOU TYPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MMIlXX and KIRA - Thanx for responding, CRIKEY!! There are no words, it is surreal!

MMIIXX #52 & #59

I can't find a way to contact the writer of the article you posted link to. He says, "I was opening up my almost brand new Dell 600m laptop."

Did he buy the machine brand new or did he buy a "used" machine from Dell?

It's possible, even if it was new, that it was part of a "lot" bought from a company that was using the keyghost-type hardware to stop fraud among their employess. (I got that info from the keyghost.com site.)

Maybe he should give a second try to obtain the FOIA info from Homeland Sec. --- were they being lazy & ornery?

Otherwise - someone would have to look at a brand-new machine to see if it's something going out in all their machines.

Something to follow ...

Heads Up All!

C-span2 is carrying the hearing from today (already on, 30 mins. into show.)

MMIIXX #59 - this would be a great little business for someone - to deactivate the little buggers! I'd certainly pay for someone to take it out of my Dell!
:(

I don't know if this will make anyone feel any better but this is a reply from a computer saavy guy at CCN who I showed MMIIXX's post about the Dell:

I've certainly never run into anything like that. I teach in a Computer Science Department with about 75 laptops and 150 desktop computers so I do see a few.

Barry

Corporate Swine ... Dell

Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Computers, one of the largest personal computers distributors in the country, is a bigtime supporter of George Bush and the US military. Dell has shown his loyalty to Bush by steering his company in a direction to help the military with their warfighting endeavors . Bush, in turn, has handed out dozens of contracts to his Austin neighbor. Much of Dell's 35 Billion dollar business is supported by contracts from the DoD and America's largest defense contractors. ***more***

====================

Dell Sweeps the Military Academies

BY Bob Brewin
Published on Jun. 13, 2005

More Related Links

Dell has won high-profile contracts to provide computers to the incoming classes at all three military academies.

Dell's federal division will provide a total of 3,600 laptop and notebook computers to the class of 2009 at the Army's U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The Air Force Academy chose Dell’s Latitude 610 notebook computer with Wi-Fi networking for its students. West Point will equip its incoming class with Dell Precision mobile workstations with wireless networking. ***more***

====================

Pentagon lists top 100 defense contractors for 2001

Pentagon leaders made the announcement as they detailed last year's top 100 defense contractors. The Boeing Co., which earned $13.3 billion in military contracts --- up from $12 billion in 2000 --- ranked second, and Newport News Shipbuilding ranked third with $5.9 billion in military contracts in 2001 --- up sharply from $800 million the year before.

Here are the top 10 U.S. defense contractors of 2001 and their earnings from military contracts: **more**

oh Kira, how sickening! - did not know all this when I bought my little Dell laptop 2 years ago...

If/when I need a new computer perhaps it will be a Mac...

Would definitely have helped if I had had these links then:

Buy Blue

SpendingLiberally

FollowYourMoney

Thanks to John Conyers and many other brave individuals--we're getting closer to the day when the people will speak truth to power and not even those black box voting machines will be able to stop them.

This is proof... that the Bush Oil Gang had plans in
mind to start a war at the cost of the People while
the Oil Gang stuffed their pockets with billions of
dollars. The 'cat' is out of the bag and they are
going down. They did it to themselves. Deceit led
to their downfall. :angry: :angry: :angry:

You guys who have and are working so hard on bringing the truth out are all my heroes. Thank you all

Well, they got caught red handed. Now, the story
is coming out. Their faces are red. We must bring
home the poor soldiers who have been sent to
Iraq by Bush. We were all 'ripped off'.

Mr. Bush Resign...
Mr. Cheney... return the money you took from
Halliburton.
Mr. Rumsfeld.. Resign.
This War you started is going to be on your consciences.

What an incompetent bunch of liars. They start a war they won't admit.. and then blame the Democrats. The GOP is full of liars these days.

George. Through your leadership you have led us down the path to destruction. Your leadership has caused countless of thousands of deaths . Was it for "Freedom" or for some other reason I do not understand? I wonder. But you do deserve great credit to doing the un-doable. Since before the Bible was written no one in history has been able to unite the Arab world. Congratulations George! You have accomplished the un believable. You have united the whole muslim world.....AGAINST the United States!!!!!

All we need now, is for Joe Biden to say, "Conyers and these 553,000 don't speak for me."

Off topic response to comment #1: Let's watch which investigators into Ohio's coingate "commit suicide"...(commit suicide...wink wink)

"In today's news, investigations into FDOT, coingate, WTC, and OKC bombing have been halted due to everyone involved committing suicide. This is not suspicious, as it's normal for people in the middle of investigations to commit suicide."

I am very happy to see John Conyers in the MSM. If you only went to the MSM for your news, you wouldn't even know John Conyers existed. Did anyone ever notice that? John Conyers is the most important politician to cover in the MSM, and you wouldn't know he existed, until about 1 day ago. Unless you get your news from where the real news is---the internet.

Re #73

It isn't only the Arab world which will be against America shortly. Much of Europe, including Britain which is your cousin and staunchest ally, have been turning that way for quite some time.

I'm not the only one here to begin to feel that when listening to your politicians and some of your citizens that we are actually listening to a different species. We sometimes seem to have more in common with cultures as diverse as Iran, China and even North Korea than we do with yours. They seem more reasonable and less dangerous.

That's why I salute any more moderate voices I hear coming from your country, I just wish you could shout louder. If you feel your voice is stifled in America, believe me we don't even hear a whisper of that voice elsewhere unless we search it out. And as we all know many people are either too busy or too lazy to go searching for news apart from mainstream media.

Good luck to you all in bringing about American 'regime change' - the whole world sorely needs it.