Welcome to Pottersville 2 (Blogging Against Fascism!): Happy New Year! (I'm Hoping For A Truly "New" Year)

Ukraine Disinformation Battle: Little Green Men, Hamsters and the Fog of War

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There has always been a gap in how media on both sides of the former Iron Curtain have reported world events, and it’s growing as the crisis in Ukraine escalates. It has become increasingly difficult to obtain reliable information from any side — west, east, or further east — about what is going on in Eastern Ukraine. While powerful propaganda machines fill the public space with smoke and mirrors, one of the few facts that can be positively established in Eastern Ukraine is that the body count is steadily growing: a testament of just how easy it is for self-interested foreign powers to start, either intentionally or recklessly, a civil war in the heart of Europe. Continuing coverage is available at this link and this link.

Paul Krugman:

Paul Craig Roberts:

_________________
US Media _________________
"Anyone who depends on print, TV, or right-wing talk radio media is totally misinformed. The Bush administration has achieved a de facto Ministry of Propaganda."

"The uniformity of the US media has become much more complete since the days of the cold war. During the 1990s, the US government permitted an unconscionable concentration of print and broadcast media that terminated the independence of the media.

Today the US media is owned by 5 giant companies in which pro-Zionist Jews have disproportionate influence. More importantly, the values of the conglomerates reside in the broadcast licenses, which are granted by the government, and the corporations are run by corporate executives — not by journalists — whose eyes are on advertising revenues and the avoidance of controversy that might produce boycotts or upset advertisers and subscribers.

Americans who rely on the totally corrupt corporate media have no idea what is happening anywhere on earth, much less at home."
_________________
War On Terror _________________
Roberts asked "Is the War on Terror a Hoax", and claims it has "killed, maimed, dislocated, and made widows and orphans of millions of Muslims in six countries". Roberts called the attacks "naked aggression" on civilian populations and infrastructure which constitute war crimes. _________________
Republican Party _________________
Roberts is seriously dismayed by what he considers the Republican Party's disregard for the U.S. Constitution. He has even voiced his regret that he ever worked for it, avowing that, had he known what it would become, he would never have contributed to the Reagan Revolution. _________________
American Democracy and Oligarchy _________________
Roberts has been increasingly critical of what he deems as the lessening of democracy in the U.S.; instead accusing it of being run by oligarchs by stating:

"The west prides itself that it is the standard for the world, that it is a democracy. But nowhere do you see democratic outcomes: not in Greece, not in Ireland, not in the UK, not here, the outcomes are always to punish the innocent and reward the guilty.

And that's what the Greeks are in the streets protesting. We see this all over the west. There is no democracy, there are oligarchies, some of these smaller European countries are not even run by their own governments, they are run by Wall Street... There is probably more democracy in China than there is in the west.

Revolution is the only answer... We are confronted with a curious situation. Throughout the west we think we have democracy, we hold ourselves up high, we demonize China, we talk about the mafia state of Russia, we talk about the Arabs and so on, but where is the democracy here?" _________________
Farewell Speech _________________
"Truth Has Fallen and Taken Liberty With It,"

Roberts effectively announced his journalistic retirement. The article, published at Counterpunch.org, begins:

"There was a time when the pen was mightier than the sword. That was a time when people believed in truth and regarded truth as an independent power and not as an auxiliary for government, class, race, ideological, personal, or financial interest."

It proceeds to a bitter chronicle of the demise of American intellectual integrity, particularly that of financial journalists and economists. These have been thoroughly corrupted by monetary inducements to misrepresent and ignore what has been, in effect, the systematic dismantling of the nation's productive life, in the name of globalization.

He holds the members of his own journalistic profession largely responsible for abetting relentless outsourcing of American industry, thereby gutting the American middle class and effectively dooming the nation's future.

He describes his own ostracism from mainstream media access, the consequence of his relentless and unflinching criticism of the demolition process over the past decade. His column ends, "The militarism of the U.S. and Israeli states, and Wall Street and corporate greed, will now run their course. As the pen is censored and its might extinguished, I am signing off." _________________

Liberal?

"If by a 'Liberal' they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say I’m a “Liberal."

John F. Kennedy, 1960
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Citizen's United

"[T]his Court now concludes that independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption. That speakers may have influence over or access to elected officials does not mean that those officials are corrupt. And the appearance of influence or access will not cause the electorate to lose faith in this democracy."

– Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
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Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy New Year! (I'm Hoping For A Truly "New" Year)

What do you think?

Is it even possible to hope for a truly New Year in politics?

My dream is for one in which true champions of the middle class, who have triumphed after the bloody election of 2012, constantly campaign on and promulgate the need for financial re-regulation (the reestablishment of Glass-Steagall as a law of the land), rebuilding industry and creating good, well-paying jobs that benefit our devastated country.

You may believe I'm overly pessimistic about the USA's future, but I believe the economists (I could list them, but it's just about everyone including the right's centrist Alan Blinder) who tell us that at least 10 years (if not 20) will pass before our country regains its financial stability (and productive, well-paid jobs) in a rapidly changing and evolving world environment where Brazil, India and CHINA(!) reign supreme.

And speaking of the future, does anyone believe that increasingly unpopular (with his own base - Thanks, Rahmbo!) Obama will replace Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton?

No? Give our friend at Down With Tyranny a listen to and then tell me that it makes absolutely no sense. (Right. That's what I think, but hey, what do I know? I like her even less.) http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2011/12/predictions-reichs-interesting.html

6 comments:

(O)CT(O)PUS said...: Last year was a close call. The Rapture (aka The End Time, aka Apocalypse) was a complete bust; but the Mayan Calendar folks are predicting certain doom. According to my calculations, we have only 355 days left.

You will be pleased to know: The Swash Zone is making preparations. Our venerable Captain Fogg has a boat, and we are building a barge to ferry our beloved RBD (‘Really BEEG Dinosaur’) to safety under a canopy of camouflage netting. When the dreaded event arrives, our plan is to sail across the Blue State horizon until we reach our fabled Progressive Promised Land.

Here is my dilemma. When the welkin-eyed critters of the Earth filed two-by-two aboard the original Ark (Version 1, Release 1, Beta 1), how did Noah manage to prevent the wolves from devouring the sheep and keep Cheetah’s paws off the lovely and alluring Gisele Thomson?

The Good Book doesn’t say. Did Noah use tranquilizers? Saltpeter? In our liberal-elitist-socialist-commie-pinko community, there have been heated debates over the PC approach. How will we keep the critters docile through the long voyage?

“Ahoy, there, Cabin 16. Pipe down!”

May I prevail upon you for some ideas?

P.S. There is room for all. RSVP, please.; December 30, 2011 at 7:18 PM
One Fly said...: I go with the 10-20 if it doesn't collapse completely. Whoever is in the big house in dc will do what is good for the 1%. That's just the way it will be.

To you Suzan and all that come by here may the next year be a much better one than the last.; December 30, 2011 at 7:48 PM
The New York Crank said...: With all respect, Susan, I don't think we really want Hillary in Joe Biden's job. The VP doesn't do much. As secretary of State, Hillary is doing a fantastic job. If you want a transfer for her, at least make her secretary of the Treasury or Attorney General.

Yours Crankily,
The New YorkCrank; December 30, 2011 at 8:38 PM
Phil said...: On the political and economic fronts, things are going to get a lot worse before they start to get better. No one with a stake in the status quo wants anything to change (but change is coming whether they want it to or not--the Occupy Movement is only the beginning), and politicians do the bidding of their corporate masters to obstruct real progress.

On the music front, thanks for Pink Floyd--hadn't heard that one before. Next stop? Dark Side of the Moon, of course, a revisit that's long overdue.

All the best to you and yours in 2012, Suzan; may I propose a toke ... er, toast ... to better times?; December 30, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Cirze said...: Well, if you're certain there's plenty of room, Octo, . . . .

Yes, we are still flying together more or less in line, T. Thanks, and let's cross our fingers? (!!!)

Sorry, P, but I'd rather have her as VP and out of any trouble-making decision areas, although Biden has not actually been the quiet behind-the-scenes kinda "aw shucks, ma'am" normal VP we've come to expect since Al, now is he? Nope. Nope. Nope.

And there is trouble afoot, Sherlock.

But who will deliver us from evil? Just asking.

And as everyone today has good reason to be cranky, how do you maintain your title? In NY, no less.

And I'll take both, Phil! Thanks for the good wishes, and also to you and yours. Hope we don't have to see the real bad things happening in our neighborhoods, but I also think they are coming (even if unbeknownst to us).

And did I tell you my most infamous story about listening to "Dark Side of the Moon" in a "Secret"-designated area while doing research at Westinghouse Defense and Electric Co. during an eclipse? (I was witness to the rest of my group casually sauntering by to cheer me on. Eyebrows raised, of course.)

No? So sorry. Those were the days.

Love you guys.

Happy New Year everyone!

S; December 31, 2011 at 12:28 AM
Phil said...: Sounds like an intriguing story, Suzan. Do tell! :-); December 31, 2011 at 1:39 PM

"A man of peace is not a pacifist; a man of peace is simply a pool of silence. He pulsates a new kind of energy into the world, he sings a new song. He lives in a totally new way his very way of live is that of grace, that of prayer, that of compassion. Whomsoever he touches, he creates more love-energy. The man of peace is creative. He is not against war, because to be against anything is to be at war. He is not against war; he simply understands why war exists. And out of that understanding he becomes peaceful. Only when there are many people who are pools of peace, silence, understanding, will the war disappear."
Osho

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Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy New Year! (I'm Hoping For A Truly "New" Year)

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