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B4 The Bell Thursday September 16


Hiding Bear

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To all the Jewish stoolies tuning in today, L'shanah tovah tikatayvu. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life. Happy New Year.

 

I am going to do something I have never done before on Rosh Hashanah. I am going to work. But I will be praying at the same time. To what, or to whom, I don't know, but I will pray. Let's all pray, for a better world, to whomever we pray too. I hear it works. I have my doubts, but it couldn't hurt, right?

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To all the Jewish stoolies tuning in today, L'shanah tovah tikatayvu. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life. Happy New Year.

 

I am going to do something I have never done before on Rosh Hashanah. I am going to work. But I will be praying at the same time. To what, or to whom, I don't know, but I will pray. Let's all pray, for a better world, to whomever we pray too. I hear it works. I have my doubts, but it couldn't hurt, right?

Doc,

AMEN to that, NEVER underestimate the power of prayer!

Happy New Year to you and all Jewish Stoolies.

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Top headlines from BBC News:

 

- Three foreigners seized in Iraq

- Iraq war illegal, says Annan

- Iraq rebuilding efforts 'pitiful'

- Is Iraq ready for elections?

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

 

Welcome to the New World Disorder

 

... which Americans are about to endorse for 'Four More Wars' :( :o :ph34r:

I don't think the GWB will change policy on Iraq until after the elections, when the remaining troops can then retreat to concrete enforced, concerta wired bunkers.

GWB personally will not back down on a decision once made, no matter how wrong or who is complaining. For example - our former NJ governor, Chisty Whitman, as EPA head was frequently over-ruled by GWB insiders and left defending indefensible positions in the name of loyalty. Now her political career appears over.

 

As Doc says, Russia is already very close to absolute rule - yet no one complains.

The strange thing here is that most of the rich support GWB, even though eventually his policies will fall on them the hardest - as the government indirectly through inflation or through higher taxes coming after the election (which by the way are already signed into law and will escalate yearly) will take their savings.

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Top headlines from BBC News:

 

- Three foreigners seized in Iraq

- Iraq war illegal, says Annan

- Iraq rebuilding efforts 'pitiful'

- Is Iraq ready for elections?

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

 

Welcome to the New World Disorder

 

... which Americans are about to endorse for 'Four More Wars' :( :o :ph34r:

U.S. intelligence pessimistic on Iraq future

Estimate contrasts Bush statements, says civil war possible

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6016743/

 

 

Happy new year to those who are celebrating

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Top headlines from BBC News:

 

- Three foreigners seized in Iraq

- Iraq war illegal, says Annan

- Iraq rebuilding efforts 'pitiful'

- Is Iraq ready for elections?

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

 

Welcome to the New World Disorder

 

... which Americans are about to endorse for 'Four More Wars' :( :o :ph34r:

U.S. intelligence pessimistic on Iraq future

Estimate contrasts Bush statements, says civil war possible

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6016743/

 

 

Happy new year to those who are celebrating

Obviously it is too late for Iraq. Chaos and possible civil war are inevitable there, and the US will be heavily involved for many years to come. The real question is IMO, how many more "Iraqs" do we want?

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Sleddog- The right wing has elevated lies and character assassination to a high art. They learned their lessons from Goebbels well. Their campaign of character assassination against Kerry is textbook Nazism. Like the Nazis they cloak their crimes in the veneer of patriotism, when their sole goal is absolute control of the state for the purpose of their evil imperial vision. When they point to the evil ones, they are only projecting themselves. We, and the world, are paying a horrible, deadly price for their acts, one that will only grow.

 

With regard to the stories of Bush's irresponsible behavior in his youth, they have been around since time immemorial. They clearly fit what we know about his past, including the illegal sale of his Harken Energy stock, and his present, the overreaching pathological lying that led us to the catastrophe we now are dealing with in Iraq. Where there's smoke, there's fire.

 

The US adminstration is moving in the same direction as Putin, only more slowly, stealthily. Their goal is the consolidation of absolute power. And the American people, like the Russians, acquiesce willingly. By the time they wake up to their loss of freedom, it will be too late.

 

It may already be too late. The genie is out of the bottle. We face a horrific future because of the irresponsible, irrational decisions of the madmen in control.

 

If there is a God, may she have mercy on us.

Doc,

 

You are right of the money. You must of read my mind. God does not seem to get into the little deal of mankind. He never has.

 

It does not seem that any human or even nation is able to stop the bushman machine. About one month left to turn this evil away. This machine is BIGGER than the bushman himself.

 

As far as we know the American life has changed for the future. We have sold our soul for a few seconds of personal gain. I just do not understand how the people of the USA, who must pay back more to the banks view it as a POSITIVE act.

 

thesun is walking in a daze. And as I state yesterday. The more I learn, the less I understand.

 

thesun views the bushman as pure evil. :cry:

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Sleddog- The right wing has elevated lies and character assassination to a high art. They learned their lessons from Goebbels well. Their campaign of character assassination against Kerry is textbook Nazism. Like the Nazis they cloak their crimes in the veneer of patriotism, when their sole goal is absolute control of the state for the purpose of their evil imperial vision. When they point to the evil ones, they are only projecting themselves. We, and the world, are paying a horrible, deadly price for their acts, one that will only grow.

 

With regard to the stories of Bush's irresponsible behavior in his youth, they have been around since time immemorial. They clearly fit what we know about his past, including the illegal sale of his Harken Energy stock, and his present, the overreaching pathological lying that led us to the catastrophe we now are dealing with in Iraq. Where there's smoke, there's fire.

 

The US adminstration is moving in the same direction as Putin, only more slowly, stealthily. Their goal is the consolidation of absolute power. And the American people, like the Russians, acquiesce willingly. By the time they wake up to their loss of freedom, it will be too late.

 

It may already be too late. The genie is out of the bottle. We face a horrific future because of the irresponsible, irrational decisions of the madmen in control.

 

If there is a God, may she have mercy on us.

Doc,

 

I wouldn't label the current regime Nazi, I consider it Fascist or Protofascist. Although most facist regimes originate from the left. Here is a list of the fourteen traits common to many of the recent Protofascist regimes:

 

From: Fascism Anyone? By Laurence W. Britt

 

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

 

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

 

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people?s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice?relentless propaganda and disinformation?were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite ?spontaneous? acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and ?terrorists.? Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

 

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

 

5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

 

6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes? excesses.

 

7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting ?national security,? and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.

 

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite?s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the ?godless.? A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.

 

9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of ?have-not? citizens.

 

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.

 

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

 

12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. ?Normal? and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or ?traitors? was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.

 

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

 

14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

 

 

Sound Familiar????

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I really don't want to go out today, although we have a beautiful sunny day here un the upper midwest. The reason? The big Dubya is in town for a big Members Only rally. Tickets have been issued in three series, Red (best seats) Blue (sidelines) and Green (outfield).

 

I suspect that if I were to venture out, I would be asked to show my papers.... As you can imagine, living in Lake Woebegon (the socialist republic of Minnesota), that goes over like a fart in church......

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for Doc & those who must work today...

http://www.jcoh.org/sermons/hhd-02/yk-nidre.html

 

"...In so many ways, we are not as na?ve as we were a full twelve months ago or more, but I pray, here and in Israel, that we Jews will still find the strength, the courage, that hallows life. We are still a people that sanctifies life. After all that has been the secret of Jewish survival, and is it not also the secret of personal survival? To love life, to walk the race if we cannot run it. To crawl when we cannot walk. Zochreinu l'chaim - Let us remember life, let us ever remember even in the fog and haze of uncertainty in our lives and in the life of the Jewish people, that the lighthouse of faith and the lighthouse of hope yet beckon to affirm life and to teach us to make life matter, no matter. Let us affirming life yet say to one another L'Shana Tova, may it be a good year. May it be a year of personal health, of refreshment. May it be a year of security. May it be a year of courage. May it be a year of strength. And maybe even in the shroud of fog, with a gentle smile let us, even when in intensive care, care intensely enough to say "L'chaim! To Life!" As we choose life for ourselves, our loved ones, our people, Israel, and for this great country, which has given us so much. L'chaim!"

Yom Kippur 5763

Rabbi David J. Gelfand

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