WASHINGTON (AFP) - North Vietnamese made hoax calls to get the US military to bomb its own units during the Vietnam War, according to declassified information that also confirmed US officials faked an incident to escalate the war.
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The report was released by the National Security Agency, responsible for much of the United States' codebreaking and eavesdropping work, in response to a "mandatory declassification" request, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) said Monday.

From the first intercepted cable -- a 1945 message from Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh to his Russian counterpart Joseph Stalin -- to the final evacuation of US spies from Saigon, the 500-page report retold Vietnam War history from the perspective of "signals intelligence," the group said in a statement.

During the war, North Vietnamese intelligence units sometimes succeeded in penetrating US communications systems, and they could monitor American message traffic from within, according to the report "Spartans in Darkness."

On several occasions "the communists were able, by communicating on Allied radio nets, to call in Allied artillery or air strikes on American units," it said.

"That's something I have never heard before," Steven Aftergood, director of the FAS project on government secrecy, told AFP.

But he said that probably the "most historically significant feature" of the declassified report was the retelling of the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident.

That was a reported North Vietnamese attack on American destroyers that helped lead to president Lyndon Johnson's sharp escalation of American forces in Vietnam.

The author of the report "demonstrates that not only is it not true, as (then US) secretary of defense Robert McNamara told Congress, that the evidence of an attack was 'unimpeachable,' but that to the contrary, a review of the classified signals intelligence proves that 'no attack happened that night,'" FAS said in a statement.

"What this study demonstrated is that the available intelligence shows that there was no attack. It's a dramatic reversal of the historical record," Aftergood said.

"There were previous indications of this but this is the first time we have seen the complete study," he said.

Thinking For Yourself
Is Now A Crime
By Paul Craig Roberts
1-6-8


What was the greatest failure of 2007? President Bush's "surge" in Iraq? The decline in the value of the US dollar? Subprime mortgages? No. The greatest failure of 2007 was the newly sworn in Democratic Congress.

The American people's attempt in November 2006 to rein in a rogue government, which has committed the US to costly military adventures while running roughshod over the US Constitution, failed. Replacing Republicans with Democrats in the House and Senate has made no difference.

The assault on the US Constitution by the Democratic Party is as determined as the assault by the Republicans. On October 23, 2007, the House passed a bill sponsored by California Democratic congresswoman Jane Harman, chairwoman of a Homeland Security subcommittee, that overturns the constitutionally guaranteed rights to free expression, association, and assembly.

The bill passed the House on a vote of 404-6. In the Senate the bill is sponsored by Maine Republican Susan Collins and apparently faces no meaningful opposition.

Harman's bill is called the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act."When HR 1955 becomes law, it will create a commission tasked with identifying extremist people, groups, and ideas. The commission will hold hearings around the country, taking testimony and compiling a list of dangerous people and beliefs. The bill will, in short, create massive terrorism in the United States. But the perpetrators of terrorism will not be Muslim terrorists; they will be government agents and fellow citizens.

We are beginning to see who will be the inmates of the detention centers being built in the US by Halliburton under government contract.

Who will be on the "extremist beliefs" list? The answer is: civil libertarians, critics of Israel, 9/11 skeptics, critics of the administration's wars and foreign policies, critics of the administration's use of kidnapping, rendition, torture and violation of the Geneva Conventions, and critics of the administration's spying on Americans. Anyone in the way of a powerful interest group--such as environmentalists opposing politically connected developers--is also a candidate for the list.

The "Extremist Beliefs Commission" is the mechanism for identifying Americans who pose "a threat to domestic security" and a threat of "homegrown terrorism" that "cannot be easily prevented through traditional federal intelligence or law enforcement efforts."

This bill is a boon for nasty people. That SOB who stole your girlfriend, that hussy who stole your boyfriend, the gun owner next door--just report them to Homeland Security as holders of extreme beliefs. Homeland Security needs suspects, so they are not going to check. Under the new regime, accusation is evidence. Moreover, "our" elected representatives will never admit that they voted for a bill and created an "Extremist Belief Commission" for which there is neither need nor constitutional basis.

That boss who harasses you for coming late to work--he's a good candidate to be reported; so is that minority employee that you can't fire for any normal reason. So is the husband of that good-looking woman you have been unable to seduce. Every kind of quarrel and jealousy can now be settled with a phone call to Homeland Security.

Soon Halliburton will be building more detention centers.

Americans are so far removed from the roots of their liberty that they just don't get it. Most Americans don't know what habeas corpus is or why it is important to them. But they know what they want, and Jane Harman has given them a new way to settle scores and to advance their own interests.

Even educated liberals believe that the US Constitution is a "living document" that can be changed to mean whatever it needs to mean in order to accommodate some new important cause, such as abortion and legal privileges for minorities and the handicapped. Today it is the "war on terror" that the Constitution must accommodate. Tomorrow it can be the war on whomever or whatever.

Think about it. More than six years ago the World Trade Center and Pentagon were attacked. The US government blamed it on al Qaeda. The 9/11 Commission Report has been subjected to criticism by a large number of qualified people--including the commission's chairman and co-chairman.

Since 9/11 there have been no terrorist attacks in the US. The FBI has tried to orchestrate a few, but the "terrorist plots" never got beyond talk organized and led by FBI agents. There are no visible extremist groups other than the neoconservatives that control the government in Washington. But somehow the House of Representatives overwhelmingly sees a need to create a commission to take testimony and search out extremist views (outside of Washington, of course).

This search for extremist views comes after President Bush and the Justice (sic) Department declared that the President can ignore habeas corpus, ignore the Geneva Conventions, seize people without evidence, hold them indefinitely without presenting charges, torture them until they confess to some made up crime, and take over the government by declaring an emergency. Of course, none of these "patriotic" views are extremist.

The search for extremist views follows also the granting of contracts to Halliburton to build detention centers in the US. No member of Congress or the executive branch ever explained the need for the detention centers or who the detainees would be. Of course, there is nothing extremist about building detention centers in the US for undisclosed inmates.

Clearly the detention centers are not meant to just stand there empty. Thanks to 2007's greatest failure--the Democratic Congress--there is to be an "Extremist Beliefs Commission" to secure inmates for Bush's detention centers.

President Bush promises us that the wars he has launched will cause the "untamed fire of freedom" to "reach the darkest corners of our world." Meanwhile in America the fire of freedom has not only been tamed but also is being extinguished.

The light of liberty has gone out in the United States.

Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review. He is coauthor of http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/076152553X/counterpunchmaga
The Tyranny of Good Intentions.He can be reached at:
PaulCraigRoberts@yahoo.com

Complicity & Contempt
Jim Kirwan
11-18-7

The United States has become a criminal enterprise led by a 'government' in league with criminality at the highest levels of this land. Since the 'election' of the current congress, almost a year ago-investigations have been reinitiated, supposedly to get to the bottom of the larger aspects of what appears to be apparent criminality throughout the government. To date those investigations have not yielded the necessary documentation required to bring charges against any of the key players-except that by these failures in both the congress and the courts, what has become clear is that they too are 'complicit' and are co-equal partners in the crimes of the administration.

What has become of all the inquiries regarding the illegalities of Dick Cheney, from his office inside the Matrix of this War upon the US and the world? Cheney has created an entirely secret shadow government: he is directing a completely asymmetric war policy that has broken with all sanity, and in which he continues to move ahead with his War-on-Iran, regardless of the global consequences-yet the congress refuses to charge him with contempt of congress. And Cheney is not alone ­ Rumsfeld, Rice, and Bush have all acted well beyond the law, blatantly defying the Constitution, the Geneva Conventions and the will of the majority of the people, as they and congress, have each failed to prosecute those behind this failed series of wars throughout the Middle-East.

The theft and disappearance of Trillions of dollars remains unexplained, while the policies of the nation at home remain unfunded. There is nothing secure about 'living' in this USA that is no longer secure or even viable in the wider world-while we continue our freefall into bankruptcy and disrepute around the world. That election in November of 06 was supposed to mark a turning point-and all we got was more war not less, more troops sent in, instead of the withdrawal that was being sought by the majority of those who voted: and if anything far more new money was committed to continuing the wars, rather than the cut-off of funds that voters thought that were demanding; now more than a year ago.

To be labeled "criminal," simply means to operate outside the established laws. This congress and the courts have now conjoined with the executive ­ in blatantly defying the Constitution of the nation-in their pursuit of something that was never envisioned by the founding documents of the nation. The Constitution founded a co- equal three branch government not a government with only one ruler: Not a "Decider" free from any checks or balances that could limit his actions or restrain his absolute rule.

Words no longer seem to have any meaning, because "real or legal consequences" have become part of what the administration refers to as 'quaint relics of our distant past.' Yet this is only a small part of how we have become a criminal enterprise.

During the Vietnam War the body-bags containing many American soldiers were shipped home with heroin packed inside the remains of those killed in that war. It was the perfect 'hiding place' to escape US customs or official notice, and it was a callous act that might be behind why the dead from this war have been 'protected' by an official act of secrecy declared by the Decider. After all, the Heroin in this war comes not from the Golden Triangle near Vietnam, but from the Poppy fields of Afghanistan that are now almost back to 100% production. This instance was the source for this aspect of that story. (1)

Given that we now know that the government has been lying about the actual number of dead from the Middle East, thanks to Mike Whitney:

"The Pentagon was covering up the real magnitude of the "suicide epidemic". Following an exhaustive investigation of veterans' suicide data collected from 45 states; CBS discovered that in 2005 alone "THERE WERE AT LEAST 6,256 AMONG THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES. THAT'S 120 EACH AND EVERY WEEK IN JUST ONE YEAR."

That is not a typo. Active and retired military personnel, mostly young veterans between the ages of 20 to 24, are returning from combat and killing themselves in record numbers. We can assume that "multiple-tours of duty" in a war-zone have precipitated a mental health crisis of which the public is entirely unaware and (for) which the Pentagon is in total denial.

If we add the 6,256 suicide victims from 2005 to the "official" 3,865 reported combat casualties; we get a sum of 10,121. Even a low-ball estimate of similar 2004 and 2006 suicide figures, would mean that the total number of US casualties from the Iraq war now exceed 15,000.

That's right; 15,000 dead US servicemen and women in a war that--as yet--has no legal or moral justification.

CBS interviewed Dr. Ira Katz, the head of mental health at the Department of Veteran Affairs. Katz attempted to minimize the surge in veteran suicides saying, "There is no epidemic of suicide in the VA, but suicide is a major problem."


Maybe Katz (was) right. Maybe there is no epidemic. Maybe it's perfectly normal for young men and women to return from combat, sink into inconsolable depression, and kill themselves at greater rates than they were dying on the battlefield. Maybe it's normal for the Pentagon to abandon them as soon as soon they return from their mission so they can blow their brains out or hang themselves with a garden hose in their basement. Maybe it's normal for politicians to keep funding wholesale slaughter while they brush aside the casualties they have produced by their callousness and lack of courage. Maybe it is normal for the president to persist with the same, bland lies that perpetuate the occupation and continue to kill scores of young soldiers who put themselves in harm's-way for their country.

It's not normal; it's is a pandemic---an outbreak of despair which is the natural corollary of living in constant fear; of seeing one's friends being dismembered by roadside bombs or children being blasted to bits at military checkpoints or finding battered bodies dumped on the side of a riverbed like a bag of garbage.

The rash of suicides is the logical upshot of Bush's war. Returning soldiers are traumatized by their experience and now they are killing themselves in droves. Maybe we should have thought about that before we invaded." (2)

Whatever the number of dead really is, the War on Iraq is a direct outgrowth of the Vietnam War that gave the War Department a template for exactly how our wars of conquest could be waged. ­ right down to how those wars could also be used for illicit profits as well as for privatized corporate windfalls that have no equal in history or in human memory. So ask yourself again - Why did the US classify the deaths of servicemen and women coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan in the first place!

Bush was asked before the war what the fall of Saddam would cost. He had no answer then, but we're beginning to understand some of the true costs now. . .

For too many Americans the Vietnam War is way beyond ancient history-it is barely even an event for far too many. But for those that might want more context "Apocalypse Now" (the film) can quickly bring you up to date. It's a film and an epic piece of entertainment. A re-creation not meant to be taken literally as part of the actual military history. However the theme of the film clearly outlines why the Decider chose to use mercenaries for the most disgusting aspects of his War on Iraq: Because it is clear that the War-on-Terror is a direct outgrowth of the misbegotten hell that was called "the Vietnam War." http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Apocalypse_Now

Not unlike the fabled mystic-character, updated from Joseph Conrad's" Heart of Darkness" (a 19th century exploration of the limits of human capacities); the screenplay for "Apocalypse Now" probes the mindset behind that same madness in the 20th century. Is it possible that the Cheney-Bush wars will eventually divulge the latest version of these dark and twisted thoughtforms in the 21st century? One thing is certain: when major-powers are misused the results are usually catastrophic, and in this instance, this Complicity in criminal behavior has resulted in Contempt, not only for law & order, but for the roots of freedom and humanity as well.

There is more than enough evidence to charge Cheney and others with Impeachable offenses ­ immediately. If this Congress will not issue Contempt of Congress citations for the Vice-President and his secret government officials ­ then why are we paying these criminals who are obviously complicit in their crimes against us!

Either we have laws clearly stated that are obeyed, or we do not. What we have now are laws that only apply to the little-people in this country. For the owners of this society there are no longer any laws by which they might actually be controlled or even inconvenienced. Americans need to demand that their government forego it's "vacation" and lift the veils of secrecy: Arrest those that have put those cloaks in place, because as was said of Vietnam: "It's the judgments that defeat us" ­ because the stench of lies is what these wars create!

Free people are only free when they are willing to challenge those that would take away their freedoms with the stroke of an illegal order or an Executive Decree. . .

kirwanstudios@sbcglobal.net.


1) Heroin Smuggled in Body Bags of GIs Reported by Military Eye Witness
http://www.wanttoknow.info/militarysmuggledheroin

2) Pentagon Cover UP
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18737.htm???

Ron Paul - Our Last Chance
By Edgar J. Steele
11-4-7

I don't often forward the work of others and very, very rarely do I make a direct pitch for contributions. Today, I do both, possessed of the certitude that this really is America's last chance.

Make a difference. Be part of the solution. It may already be too late, but that does not mean that we cannot do that which we should have done so long ago.

We must do our dead-level best to ensure the Republican nomination of Ron Paul for the Presidency, then we must see to his election. Then, we must keep him alive and help him to carry out the program - our program - he espouses.

I am deadly serious about this. I have, until now, hesitated to fully embrace Ron Paul publicly only because I feared that might be used by some to "taint" him, somehow. Now they are smearing him as a radical anti-Semite, regardless, simply because of his traditional, Constitutional positions, so my concern no longer seems well placed.

I have met and spoken with Dr. Paul, Texas Congressman, and found him to be the real deal: thoughtful, considerate and passionate about making real change in America - our America!

If elected, Ron Paul will end the Iraq war.

If elected, Ron Paul will reduce government.

If elected, Ron Paul will eliminate deficit spending.

If elected, Ron Paul will restore our civil liberties.

You have my word on it.

Go here for a killer article in the Boulder Weekly on Dr. Paul and his platform and beliefs.
http://www.boulderweekly.com/?site_id=619&page_id=10556&id_sub=10556

Go here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q9bS6FeELg
for the YouTube.com video of Dr. Paul's very recent appearance on Jay Leno's Tonight Show, during which he made a spectacular presentation of himself and his positions.
Trust me when I tell you this: RON PAUL CAN WIN!!!

Tomorrow morning, I will log onto
www.RonPaul2008.com and I will make a $100 contribution to his campaign. So will each member of my family. This will not be my first, nor will it be my last, but it very possibly will be my most important contribution to our retaking America.

Please consider doing the same. Please.

Now, honestly, how often have you heard me ask anything like this of you? (hint: never)

In his own words, here is, I believe, the young man responsible for this valiant November 5 effort, Kevin Moore: "Tens of thousands of Americans from all over the world who support Congressman, Doctor and Presidential Candidate Ron Paul and his message of freedom, peace and prosperity have committed to donate to the Ron Paul For President campaign on Monday, November 5th.

"Every one of the 62,607 Ron Paul Meetup members have been notified.

"Over 76,000 Ron Paul Friends on MYSPACE.com are dialed in.

"More than 17,000 have signed an on-line pledge to donate at least $100 guaranteeing at least 1.7 million in one day! The ball is in our hands. We are poised to accomplish the most successful single day fundraising event in American political history. Be a part of it.

"Please consider the responsibility and the opportunity. Visit RonPaul2008.com on Monday. Watch the live count skyrocket, tell your friends, forward this e-mail and of course make a generous donation: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

"This will shock the media senseless and be talked about for years to come!

"May our efforts in support of Doctor and Congressman Ron Paul's Campaign to be the next President of these United States of America be blessed with supernatural productivity and success."

Kevin Moore - KMoore1223@aol.com

Friends and fellow ConspiracyPenPal list members - this is important, both for the funding and for the symbolic statement that we can make by logging on and each and every one of us contributing $100 to the Ron Paul campaign for the Presidency. Ours is a very large Internet list. Together, we - just us here on this list, you and I - can make a significant difference and create a serious increase in the statistics logged and funds collected tomorrow.

The media has bound and gagged Dr. Paul, claiming that he is not even placing in polls when, in fact, he is winning virtually every, single poll taken in any medium. The establishment is deathly afraid of Ron Paul actually achieving the critical mass necessary to become the national phenomenon that I never have seen rise up during my lifetime.

A great many of you have made a lot of money by following my financial recommendations. This is pay-back time. What would be fair? 10%. Take 10% of the profit you have made by buying and selling GG, PAL, SLV, PAAS, SSRI, SLW, gold, silver and others, through the years, just as I have recommended.

Did you buy gold at $300 and silver at $5, as I suggested? Did you dump stocks for the SLV ETF? Did you switch from physical gold to physical silver in late 2005 as I recommended? Did you switch out of SLV and into PAAS, SSRI and/or SLW as I suggested just a month or so ago? If you did any one of these things, then you made a ton of money that you would not otherwise have made! 10% of your profits, that's all I ask! That seems only fair to me. If you do this one thing for me now, it will result in millions of dollars being added to the Ron Paul campaign coffers tomorrow. Millions!!!

Until today, not once have I asked you for one penny for the free advice I have given you that has made you so much money! And I don't ask it for myself now - I ask it for all of us. Send it to the Ron Paul campaign tomorrow.

We must not only support Ron Paul, we must see to his election by such a staggering landslide that they dare not rig the vote results. We must ensure that Ron Paul becomes so popular that they dare not assassinate him either before ascending to the Presidency, as they did Robert Kennedy and Huey Long, nor afterward, as they did John F. Kennedy.

We must do this, folks. We have no other choice left to us. Otherwise, hunker down and "may your chains rest lightly upon you."

This is it. Gut-check time. Do you have what it takes? Do you deserve a free America? Just what are you willing to do to help walk the walk you have taken with me for so many years now?

Talk to me - do it by sending at least $100 to the Ron Paul campaign tomorrow via
www.RonPaul2008.com .

Together, we can take back America!

New America. An idea whose time has come.

My name is Edgar J. Steele. Thanks for listening. Please visit my web site,
www.ConspiracyPenPal.com, for other messages just like this one.

Ron Paul Wins Debate In Another Landslide
Congressman comes out on top despite being given least time, least questions and despite CNBC pulling its poll half way through


Steve Watson
Infowars.net
Thursday, Oct 11, 2007



Ron Paul won another debate by a landslide this week despite efforts on the part of the mainstream media to limit the Congressman's exposure and to force Rudy Giuliani down the necks of viewers.

According to an MSNBC online poll participated by over 22,000 people, Texas Congressman Ron Paul won the Tuesday night GOP Michigan debate in a landslide.

As shown in the screenshot, when asked who they thought was standing out from the pack, Paul received 86% of the online vote.

Critics have again charged that the polls were deluged by Ron Paul internet spammers. Recently hacks such as Sean Hannity and others have suggested their own polls have been fixed simply because Ron Paul won them.

(Article continues below)

In a familiar move CNBC even removed its own poll on Tuesday night just hours after the debate had ended when they realized Ron Paul was winning by such a wide margin.

Many Neo-Con blog sites do not even include Ron Paul in their polls anymore because too many people are voting for him! This is not as a result of one person voting multiple times, as in all the online polls only one vote per IP address is allowed, but the operators of the site simply don't like Ron Paul and have chosen to ignore reality and pretend that he doesn't exist.

In another poll this week, so called "conservative" bloggers listed Paul as their most hated "person on the right", even though he is the most conservative Congressman in office!

In addition to CNBC pulling their poll, and continued attacks on the Congressman, the anchors of the debate on Tuesday night only allowed Paul a total of 5:44 minutes to speak, just over 6.5% of the time allotted in total to all candidates. In addition Dr Paul was only asked 7 questions, where as Giuliani and Fred Thompson were both asked over double that amount.

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ALEX JONES' ENDGAME will be released on the WEB OCT. 26 and on DVD on NOV. 1
View High Quality Trailers at www.endgamethemovie.com
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See opposite for the figures (courtesy Marc Parent)

Ron Paul wowed viewers once again both during the debate and afterwards as he slammed the candidates who willingly accepted the idea of striking Iran from the air without the authorization of Congress:

"Why don't we just open up the Constitution and read it? You're not allowed to go to war without a declaration of war. Now, as far as fleeting enemies goes, yes-- if there's an imminent attack on us. We've never had that happen to us in 220 years. The idea that Iran could pose an imminent attack on the United States is preposterous. There's no way."

"This is just war propaganda preparing this nation to go to war and spread this war not only into Iraq but into Iran unconstitutionally. It is a road to disaster for us as a nation. It is the road to our financial disaster if we don't read the Constitution once in a while."

Afterwards the Congressman hit out at the current Administration, describing them as "all big government people" and calling for massive cuts in spending.

Watch the highlights of the debate:

The Big Lie - 'Iran Is A Threat'
By Scott Ritter
10-10-7

Iran has never manifested itself as a serious threat to the national security of the United States, or by extension as a security threat to global security. At the height of Iran's "exportation of the Islamic Revolution" phase, in the mid-1980's, the Islamic Republic demonstrated a less-than-impressive ability to project its power beyond the immediate borders of Iran, and even then this projection was limited to war-torn Lebanon.

Iranian military capability reached its modern peak in the late 1970's, during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlevi. The combined effects of institutional distrust on the part of the theocrats who currently govern the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning the conventional military institutions, leading as it did to the decay of the military through inadequate funding and the creation of a competing paramilitary organization, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Command (IRGC), and the disastrous impact of an eight-year conflict with Iraq, meant that Iran has never been able to build up conventional military power capable of significant regional power projection, let alone global power projection.

Where Iran has demonstrated the ability for global reach is in the spread of Shi'a Islamic fundamentalism, but even in this case the results have been mixed. Other than the expansive relations between Iran (via certain elements of the IRGC) and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, Iranian success stories when it comes to exporting the Islamic revolution are virtually non-existent. Indeed, the efforts on the part of the IRGC to export Islamic revolution abroad, especially into Europe and other western nations, have produced the opposite effect desired. Based upon observations made by former and current IRGC officers, it appears that those operatives chosen to spread the revolution in fact more often than not returned to Iran noting that peaceful coexistence with the West was not only possible but preferable to the exportation of Islamic fundamentalism. Many of these IRGC officers began to push for moderation of the part of the ruling theocrats in Iran, both in terms of interfacing with the west and domestic policies.

The concept of an inherent incompatibility between Iran, even when governed by a theocratic ruling class, and the United States is fundamentally flawed, especially from the perspective of Iran. The Iran of today seeks to integrate itself responsibly with the nations of the world, clumsily so in some instances, but in any case a far cry from the crude attempts to export Islamic revolution in the early 1980's. The United States claims that Iran is a real and present danger to the security of the US and the entire world, and cites Iranian efforts to acquire nuclear technology, Iran's continued support of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran's "status" as a state supporter of terror, and Iranian interference into the internal affairs of Iraq and Afghanistan as the prime examples of how this threat manifests itself.

On every point, the case made against Iran collapses upon closer scrutiny. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), mandated to investigate Iran's nuclear programs, has concluded that there is no evidence that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program. Furthermore, the IAEA has concluded that it is capable of monitoring the Iranian nuclear program to ensure that it does not deviate from the permitted nuclear energy program Iran states to be the exclusive objective of its endeavors. Iran's support of the Hezbollah Party in Lebanon - Iranian protestors shown here supporting Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during an anti-Israel rally - while a source of concern for the State of Israel, does not constitute a threat to American national security primarily because the support provided is primarily defensive in nature, designed to assist Hezbollah in deterring and repelling an Israeli assault of sovereign Lebanese territory. Similarly, the bulk of the data used by the United States to substantiate the claims that Iran is a state sponsor of terror is derived from the aforementioned support provided to Hezbollah. Other arguments presented are either grossly out of date (going back to the early 1980's when Iran was in fact exporting Islamic fundamentalism) or unsubstantiated by fact.

The US claims concerning Iranian interference in both Iraq and Afghanistan ignore the reality that both nations border Iran, both nations were invaded and occupied by the United States, not Iran, and that Iran has a history of conflict with both nations that dictates a keen interest concerning the internal domestic affairs of both nations. The United States continues to exaggerate the nature of Iranian involvement in Iraq, arresting "intelligence operatives" who later turned out to be economic and diplomatic officials invited to Iraq by the Iraqi government itself. Most if not all the claims made by the United States concerning Iranian military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan have not been backed up with anything stronger than rhetoric, and more often than not are subsequently contradicted by other military and governmental officials, citing a lack of specific evidence.

Iran as a nation represents absolutely no threat to the national security of the United States, or of its major allies in the region, including Israel. The media hype concerning alleged statements made by Iran's President Ahmadinejad has created and sustained the myth that Iran seeks the destruction of the State of Israel. Two points of fact directly contradict this myth. First and foremost, Ahmadinejad never articulated an Iranian policy objective to destroy Israel, rather noting that Israel's policies would lead to its "vanishing from the pages of time." Second, and perhaps most important, Ahmadinejad does not make foreign policy decisions on the part of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is the sole purview of the "Supreme Leader," the Ayatollah Khomeini. In 2003 Khomeini initiated a diplomatic outreach to the United States inclusive of an offer to recognize Israel's right to exist. This initiative was rejected by the United States, but nevertheless represents the clearest indication of what the true policy objective of Iran is vis-à-vis Israel.

The fact of the matter is that the "Iranian Threat" is derived solely from the rhetoric of those who appear to seek confrontation between the United States and Iran, and largely divorced from fact-based reality. A recent request on the part of Iran to allow President Ahmadinejad to lay a wreath at "ground zero" in Manhattan was rejected by New York City officials. The resulting public outcry condemned the Iranian initiative as an affront to all Americans, citing Iran's alleged policies of supporting terrorism. This knee-jerk reaction ignores the reality that Iran was violently opposed to al-Qaeda's presence in Afghanistan throughout the 1990's leading up to 2001, and that Iran was one of the first Muslim nations to condemn the terror attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.

A careful fact-based assessment of Iran clearly demonstrates that it poses no threat to the legitimate national security interests of the United States. However, if the United States chooses to implement its own unilateral national security objectives concerning regime change in Iran, there will most likely be a reaction from Iran which produces an exceedingly detrimental impact on the national security interests of the United States, including military, political and economic. But the notion of claiming a nation like Iran to constitute a security threat simply because it retains the intent and capability to defend its sovereign territory in the face of unprovoked military aggression is absurd. In the end, however, such absurdity is trumping fact-based reality when it comes to shaping the opinion of the American public on the issue of the Iranian "threat."

Scott Ritter was a Marine Corps intelligence officer from 1984 to 1991 and a United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998. He is the author of numerous books, including "Iraq Confidential" (Nation Books, 2005) , "Target Iran" (Nation Books, 2006) and his latest, "Waging Peace: The Art of War for the Antiwar Movement" (Nation Books, April 2007).

AMERICAN LOCKDOWN: LAW ENFORCEMENT OUT OF CONTROL AND BEYOND THE PALE, By Carolyn Baker PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 08 October 2007



In my recent article "The End Of America: The Police State Is Right Here, Right Now" I included experiences of escalating intimidation on the part of law enforcement in the United States within recent months. I must confess that when I cite such incidents, I fear that in a few days or weeks, it will all go away, and everyone else, myself included, will begin to question the validity of the examples, breathing a heavy sigh of relief and rejoicing that the situation isn't nearly as dire as I'm asserting it is.



This time, however, I have nothing to fear because since that article was posted, the ante of out-of-control law enforcement in America appears to have been upped with a rapidity that I could not have imagined just a few weeks ago.



Have we not all heard about the New York woman on her way to rehab who passed through the Phoenix airport, became distraught when she had just missed her flight, and was arrested for disorderly conduct by airport police? The suspect, Carol Ann Gotbaum, was handcuffed and then placed in a holding cell and left alone. According to police, when they returned, she was dead. At this writing, Gotbaum's family and officials are awaiting the autopsy report-the "official" cause of death.



Just a few days later, again in Phoenix, a male suspect was handcuffed after an on-foot chase by police, and shortly after being handcuffed, according to police, he lost consciousness. He was then taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.



In today's New York Daily News, the story "Science teacher's brush with police ends in heart attack" relates an incident that happened back in June of this year when an African American Brooklyn high school teacher was mistaken for a perpetrator by police, suffered a heart attack, and was left on his own by the street cops who accused him of "acting."



As outrageous as these incidents may be, the most chilling event appeared on networks across the nation this morning with the story of a twenty year-old Wisconsin sheriff's deputy who shot and killed six young people at a party Saturday night. The most obvious question: How is it that a community of citizens allows a twenty year-old to become a deputy sheriff? Why not give an M-16 to a third-grader?



Nevertheless, all of these stories are connected by a common thread: Law enforcement in the United States, whose duty it is to "protect and serve" have now become not just part of the problem but in fact, predatory devourers of those they are sworn to keep safe.



Deepening collapse will be attended by manifestations of the unraveling of all institutions, one of the most frightening examples being law enforcement's hysterical repression of citizens.



Although we are seeing more media attention given to private security companies such as Blackwater, we should not assume that the power and funding granted to these firms will dissipate anytime soon. They are an integral part of the Shock Doctrine brilliantly analyzed by Naomi Klein in her new book of the same title. The greater the extent of the empire's collapse, the greater the intensity of the shock applied to those who reside within the belly of the beast. From those shocks flow not only increased terror and social control, but flourishing profits for private security companies.



The U.S. government is making it unmistakably clear that it intends to use every avenue of power at its disposal to lock down the nation. A story sent to my subscribers today from the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee (GATA) reveals that in its correspondence with the Treasury Department "The Treasury Department was surprisingly candid in that correspondence, asserting the U.S. Government's authority, in declared emergencies, to confiscate precious metals and to restrict ownership of mining shares -- and to confiscate and restrict every other financial asset as well."



Almost daily we hear of increased surveillance of Americans as well as unprecedented restrictions on travel, not only on persons entering the U.S. but on persons traveling within the country and on dissenters who attempt to enter other countries as in the case of two activists, Medea Benjamin and Ann Wright who were denied entrance into Canada on Thursday "because their names appeared on the FBI's National Crime Information Center database."



Another relevant story relinked today pertains to the anti-terrorism Vigilant Shield 2008 exercise of U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) "The series of exercises is mandated by the US government to prepare, prevent and respond to any number of national crises that would call for the use of the military inside the United States. Vigilant Shield 2008 builds a scenario of a domestic disaster in the US (terrorist attack or natural disaster). It posits the domestic use of the US military including a special role for the US Air Force." As we know, a precedent for using the U.S. military inside the U.S. was set in the aftermath of Katrina in 2005.



For those considering expatriation, it will soon be too late to leave. For those who choose to remain within this increasingly locked down nation, it will be necessary to acquire survival skills, a strong community of friends, and a great deal of stealth in order to navigate this empire's exacerbating Orwellian treachery.
Last Updated ( Monday, 08 October 2007 )

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35% of US Americans Still Support Bush: Diagnosing the Insanity

Published by cyrano2 at 5:15 pm under Capitalism, Shattered Moral Compass, Hyper-Individualism, American Delusion, Exploitation, Corporatism, Consumerism, Spiritual Bondage, Savage Capitalism, George W. Bush, Bullying, Cultural Inanity, Law of the Jungle, Social Darwinism, Cultural Analysis, Empathy Deficient, Superiority Complex

Cyrano's Journal Online and its semi-autonomous subsections (Thomas Paine's Corner, The Greanville Journal, CJO Avenger, and VoxPop) would be delighted to periodically email you links to the most recent material and timeless classics available on our diverse and comprehensive site. If you would like to subscribe, type "CJO subscription" in the subject line and send your email to JMiller@bestcyrano.org

bush

By Jason Miller

10/8/07

Cluster B Personality Disorders

1776.0 Americanistic Personality Disorder

The essential features of Americanistic Personality Disorder include pervasive patterns of extreme self-absorption, profound and long-term lapses in empathy, a deep disregard for the well-being of others, a powerful aversion to intellectual honesty and reality, and a grossly exaggerated sense of the importance of one's self and one's nation. These patterns emerge in infancy, manifest themselves in nearly all contexts, and often become pathological.

These patterns have also been characterized as sociopathic, or colloquially as the "Ugly American Syndrome." Note that the latter terminology carries too benign a connotation to accurately describe an individual afflicted with such a dangerous perversion of character.

For this diagnosis to be given, the individual must be deeply immersed in the flag-waving, nationalistic, and militaristic fervor derived primarily from the nearly perpetual barrage of reality warping emanations of the "mainstream media," most commonly through the medium of television. Typically indoctrinated from birth to believe that they are morally superior, exceptional human beings, these individuals suffer from severe egocentrism, a condition further engendered by the prevalence of the acutely toxic dominant paradigm known as capitalism.

Individuals with Americanistic Personality Disorder are generally covertly racist, xenophobic, and openly speciesistic. They readily participate in the execution of heinous crimes against human and non-human animals, even if their complicity is banal and limited. As long as they are comfortable, safe, and enjoying the relative affluence and convenience afforded by their nation's economic extortion, cultural genocide, rape of other species and the environment, and imperial conquests, such individuals display an apathetic disregard for the well-being of other human beings, sentient creatures, and the environment.

Individuals with Americanistic Personality Disorder tend to exhibit unabated greed and an insatiable desire for material goods. Fueled by a compulsion to shop and acquire excessive amounts of material goods, a condition sometimes referred to as consumerism, they have no regard for the misery and destruction caused by their pathological need for "more stuff". When confronted with the finitude and fragility of the Earth, they frequently react with level one ego defenses by denying that their behavior is a part of the problem or by distorting reality by asserting that concerns about Climate Change, resource depletion, and irreversible damage to the environment are over-blown. Their deeply entrenched sense of entitlement renders excessive consumption a nearly immutable aspect of their behavior.

Individuals with Americanistic Personality Disorder are virtually devoid of empathy or compassion. They view life as a game played by "law of the jungle" rules and co-exist with others in a chronic state of hyper-competitiveness, seeking only to advance their careers and "keep up with the Joneses." Their desire to win, get ahead and "protect what is theirs" has been so deeply etched into their psyches that their capacity to empathize and experience true concern for the well-being of others is severely stunted or extinguished. The pursuit of property, profit, and power rules their malformed psyches, nearly eliminating their capacity for humane behavior.

Individuals with Americanistic Personality Disorder almost always rely on extortion or violence to get their needs met and to resolve conflict. Believing in their inherent superiority, they eschew laws or rules except when they can utilize them for personal gain or when they fear punishment. Given a choice between a just resolution to a situation and the opportunity to humiliate, subdue, or subjugate the other party, they will choose the latter with a high degree of frequency. They have an amazing capacity to justify their unethical or criminal behavior using false pretexts such as self defense, good intentions, ignorance of the consequences of their actions, or asserting that they were merely carrying out orders.

Individuals with Americanistic Personality Disorder tend to manifest traits indicative of two of Erich Fromm's personality orientations. They thrive on adding to their possessions, and appreciate their acquisitions more when they attain them through coercion, theft, or manipulation, thus showing strains of Fromm's exploitative type. They also exist at a very superficial level, offering the world the "friendly face" of the marketing personality that Bernays and Madison Avenue have taught them is the most effective way of advancing their selfish agenda. Opportunism, careerism, and narcissism poison nearly all of their interactions and relationships.

Specific Culture Features

Americanistic Personality Disorder appears to prevail in a very high percentage of those in the upper strata of the socioeconomic order in the United States (and to persist tenaciously because these individuals have little motivation to alter their pathological behavior as they are largely immune from the consequences of their actions). While it is epidemic amongst the opulent, this characterological deficiency does not recognize socioeconomic boundaries. Various segments of the middle, working and impoverished classes comprise a notable percentage of those exhibiting this condition, including those practicing deeply conservative Christianity, many residents of reactionary states such as those in the south, Kansas, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming, and many members of the Republican Party.

Prevalence

The overall prevalence of Americanistic Personality Disorder was recently measured at approximately 35% of the overall population in the United States.

—————————————————————————————–

Diagnostic Criteria for 1776.0 Americanistic Personality Disorder:

A pervasive pattern of greed, selfishness, and lack of empathy, beginning the moment he or she begins to intellectualize and presented in nearly all contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:

1. lacks empathy due to an excessive degree of self-absorption
2. believes that he or she is exceptional and morally superior
3. frequently engages in exploitative behaviors
4. requires frequent acquisition of goods he or she doesn't need
5. usually resorts to some form of overt or covert violence, coercion, or extortion to resolve conflicts
6. perceives others as obstacles to his or her "success"
7. disregards laws and rules except as a means to achieve his or her agenda
8. demonstrates deep hypocrisy by projecting a righteous, benevolent image while committing reprehensible acts
9. refuses to accept the consequences of his or her actions

Jason Miller is a wage slave of the American Empire who has freed himself intellectually and spiritually. He is Cyrano's Journal Online's associate editor (http://www.bestcyrano.org/) and publishes Thomas Paine's Corner within Cyrano's at http://www.bestcyrano.org/THOMASPAINE/. You can reach him at JMiller@bestcyrano.com

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

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57 Responses to "35% of US Americans Still Support Bush: Diagnosing the Insanity"

1.
Publius Gracchuson 08 Oct 2007 at 5:33 pm

Astonishing that America produces so many sufferers of this vicious malady. Bizarre, too, in that, like Alzheimer's it often inflicts even more pain and misery on those around the victim than on the victim himself. Dr. Miller has given us the correct diagnosis, and it should be used in political medical taxonomy from here on out. I understand from my own research that the retrovirus homo moronibus americanus is the main carrier. Very tough virus to beat once under your skin, but, like AIDS, when exposed to sunlight or simple air, it dies rapidly.
2.
U R a jackass faggoton 09 Oct 2007 at 3:22 am

Typical anti-white propaganda. @ least Bush is bombing ragheads instead of white people like Clinton, FDR, & other idiots! If they gotta' bomb somebody, @ least make it ugly stupid people instead of smart attractive ones.

But then U R a fag, so suicidal. Your slamming of a president who is AGAINST killing WHITE PEOPLE diagnoses YOU as insane.

Every president in history is a mass murderer. @ least keep the guns pointed in the right direction. Yes I know 911 was an inside job. Most wars R based on the GOVERNMENT ATTACKING IT'S OWN PEOPLE - so what else is new? Grow a brain.
3.
Publius Gracchuson 09 Oct 2007 at 3:29 am

Medical science must have made substantial progress because now we have brainless people posting on this thread, too, as evidence by the deranged post above.
4.
The Chinatattleon 09 Oct 2007 at 4:06 am

The comment poster known as "U R a jackass faggot" displays all the classic symptoms of "Americanistic Personality Disorder".

Having read the article and self-diagnosed his condition, he is obviously still in Denial that he suffers from the disease.

Unfortunately, APD, unless treated quickly results in reduction of cognitive ability and some sufferers may require long-term institutional care in a mental health of penal facility.
5.
lee jon 09 Oct 2007 at 4:27 am

right on brother. i feel sorry for the thinking american who is along for the ride and can't get off because mindless idiots are at the wheel.
6.
Mike Mannon 09 Oct 2007 at 5:22 am

This stinking worthless silver spoon lying murdering wasting product of anal sex occured when ms daddy and mr mommy decided to do it in 1945 celebrating the end of WW2 and the only true immaculate conception occuring when his sperm and her piece of feces united thus farting out this smelly spoiled rotten human turd and the world has been in mortal danger ever since as this elitist vowed vevenge on America after this self made peasant won in 1992 thus setting the stage for the cheerleader girlyboy biseuxal cokehead drunk and its been a catastrophe ever since causing ms daddy to cry in public that his fatboy Jeb wont be next in line ending the dynasty byt only after millions of innocents are dead or wounded not to mention the rigging of 911 by this piece of stink who has also doubled gas prices at the pump while oil has gone from 20 to 80 a barrell as trillions have been wasted doubling govt size or the reputation of America completely trashed.
The world has never seen such a screwup whose only vetos have been stem cells that will kill millions and the child insurance bill while this piece of human feces has allowed his GOPervs to pass trillions in debt to China and 50 million illegals to flood the borders.
Yes, these insane 35% GOPervs are really homosexual perverts and dykes who love hanging out in mens rooms in airports or going after young pages etc.
El Diablo is insulted that Chavez would degrade him with this piece of stinking feces.
7.
Royon 09 Oct 2007 at 5:32 am

Brilliant description, Cyrano. This disorder has long been recognized by people in the rest of the world and it is great to see that it is now recognized by people in the country in which it is primarily prevalent. This entry definitely belongs in DSM IV along with the other Cluster B disorders such as Narcissism, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder. I think it would be helpful if you pointed out that co-morbidity with the other Cluster B disorders often occurs, i.e. a person with Americanistic Personality Disorder is often also Narcissistic, Antisocial, and/or Borderline. There is also frequently comorbidity with low IQ and with addictions.
8.
MaximillianIVon 09 Oct 2007 at 7:34 am

I am so fascinated that most people actually believe that Bush/Cheney are in charge
of anything. They are puppets on strings and do what they are told.
There is no Republican/Democrat issue. Thats just a smokescreen for the 'Dummys'.
There is no difference between a Clinton, a Bush, a Julie-Anni, nor any high level
Democrat or Republican. They are all owned, greedy, selfcentered vermin.
Ron Paul in 08! For a complete change and the true American way.
RE-ELECT NOBODY !
9.
A. Magnuson 09 Oct 2007 at 8:02 am

You trust the same media and polling organizations that sold you the Iraq War to tell you truthfully that 35% of Americans support Bush? Don't go off the deep end here - I'll bet dollars to doughnuts those polls were slanted and massaged until they produced the numbers desired. Notice how you are never given the raw survey data and the actual questionnaire used when they feed you these communist-whitewashed numbers.

"There are 3 kinds of lies: Lies, damned lies and statistics." -Mark Twain
10.
Ken D. Webberon 09 Oct 2007 at 8:31 am

You are wrong on the numbers. You say 35% but that number is given to you by the mass media and the corrupted. That's their biggest trick - in convincing you that it's the real number. The truth in my opinion is that the REAL number is more closer to 3% and the fascists in power don't want to see heads roll. They want you calm. Sedated. Sleepy Sheeple. They want you to believe that it's bad for Bush… but not that bad. Ask around… we've got a 3% Diebold imposter puppet and as for those three percent, they're probably government employees who are afraid of losing their jobs.
11.
lone wolfon 09 Oct 2007 at 8:34 am

the 35% is highly moral people that just cannot pass the emotional age of a twelve year old child. they see what rush,bill,rupert,show them. that is whom they look up to, like most twelve year old's.let's just look over them,they are just children like their leader that never grew up.
12.
Daniel Majoron 09 Oct 2007 at 8:47 am

Well said, Jason.

May I add three undiagnosed, yet widespread afflictions to this list:

1) The Disease of Conceit
See Bob Dylan

2) Hemorrhagic Stupiditas

3) Sadistic Fibrosis (See Voltman Dan)

Jason, you are one of the best writers on the Internet! I wish I wasn't so broke; I would send you, Alan Watt, Michael Tsarion and many others the money you so desperately need to stay alive and well. Another symptom of this sick and depraved society is the failure of the affluent to materially support those who are actively pursuing the truth and exposing the reality behind this monumental charade they call "civilization". Thank you!

Daniel Major
13.
Happilyon 09 Oct 2007 at 8:51 am

I like the description of Americanistic Personality Disorder. Now, a description of Anti-Americanistic Personality Disorder is needed.

1. irrational
2. emotionalistic
3. social metaphysicians - relies on the opinions of others rather than reality
4. dependence on others for judgements and decisions
5. collectivistic
6. altruistic
7. favors statism
8. favors socialism
9. various combinations of laziness, envy, feelings of helplessness, low frustration tolerance, leading to anger, hatred, hostility, and desire for aggressive coercion toward the most productive members of society
14.
antfrannyon 09 Oct 2007 at 9:01 am

Your description didn't include the ability to create language at will. There are many of us who believe a common language gives us a shared understanding of the meanings of words, so that we can communicate with each other easily. Bush's Babel is a new language which redefines the words of our language so that, in effect, we have no common language anymore. To listen to Bush is to be caught up short with a wrinkled forehead, asking what the hell is he saying, because the words don't mean what our shared language agrees they mean.

When he says the economy is "strong," and almost all Americans, except the rich who don't care, know that we are spending more and getting less in return (inflation), then that is Bush's definition of "strong," which is not a shared language definition. So now inflation means strong. That's what he means when he uses the word. Truly, in that case, the economy is so strong nowadays! But of course, we don't want a strong economy … we want something else that has no Bush Babel word for it yet.

Bush's Babel meaning of "insane" is anyone who disagrees with him. He has said so more than once. Therefore … be careful here … he cannot be insane himself. Get it?

"Enemy" means whoever stands in the way of his/their plans.

"Evil" means anyone who thinks differently, particularly those from other cultures who are not white, and who do not kiss our collective American butt and buy into our schemes for world domination, genocide, and theft.

"Success" in Iraq apparently means genocide and the poisoning of the Iraqi people and our own soldiers, and the destruction of a country that did not attack us. (Careful here … you cannot call that evil under Bush Babel terms.)

I believe this tactic comes under the heading of "confuse the enemy," which seems to be the American people, more likely the whole world. Until we understand this characteristic of APD, we keep trying to make sense of the words he uses. Just relax, take in the new meaning of the word, and understand that when addressing political or economic issues you will only trip yourself up if you try to common language meanings. It will be a great relief to return to normal language when this guy is gone.
15.
EnoughIsEnoughon 09 Oct 2007 at 9:14 am

Why would anyone that has a brain and is reasonably well read & honest with themselves believe these polls about Bush having a 35% approval rating? How many of the Bush .04 (his IQ?) bumper stickers have you seen lately? I live in what they profess to be a red state and I have not seen any of those stickers in the past 6 months. I also can't find anyone that admits to now supporting him. Just who owns those polling companies??? Just who and where are they doing these polls??

Now of all of the supposed front runners in the 2008 presidential campaign, the so called mainstream media are telling us that Hellary is leading the pack. Funny, I can't find anyone that admits that they like her or would vote for her — this includes all these supposed grass roots supporters that we are to believe are coming forward in her campaign. You know, the ones that have been displaced by her & Bill's NAFTA, WTO racket. The ones that have had their family members shipped off to an illegal war for oil in Iraq that Hellary voted for. The ones that are losing their personal freedoms because Hellary voted FOR the Patriot Act (twice). The ones being screwed by health insurance companies that Hellary is taking big campaign donations from. You know, the 100 million of us that either don't have health insurance (because we can't afford it or have pre-existing conditions) or have inadequate coverage (try actually using yours & see how much they won't cover/pay). Never fear, Hellary is going to FORCE us all to buy health insurance (at what cost?) from those big campaign donors without doing anything to guarantee us having jobs to pay for her corporate servitude health coverage plan.

All of the supposed front runners are mere puppets to the big corporations that are owned by the top 20% that own 95% of all of the wealth in this country. They even own the majority of the debt that most of us are enslaved to service with our tax dollars. But hold on! For those really over the top, here comes Ron Paul to the rescue. He's ready to tell the top 20% that lied, cheated and stole 95% of the wealth that also control the front running puppets, he is going to punish them by eliminating their income taxes and further punish them by deregulating their corporations. Ron Paul also wants to eliminate social security and medicare (2 goals of Bush). I'm not drinking the Ron Paul koolaid, blind constitutional faith or not. We all know how presidents can abuse the interpretation of the constitution — look at Bush & his corporate cronies in the supreme court.

Do I believe 35% of the US populations still supports Bush? No way! However I believe that the majority of the big corporations what us believe we do (just like they want us to believe Hellary is our choice for 2008).
16.
Ron Paul Maniaon 09 Oct 2007 at 9:24 am

Hmmm, 35% support him?

I find that really hard to believe. Looks like nothing but propaganda.

Curious - the guys/polls that came up with this 35% statistic… these are the same ones that are spouting out that Ron Paul only has 2% support right?

LMAO

Yeah right.

Start monitoring the campaigns and see who has the most showings. For someone only getting 2% why is it that Ron Paul events are standing room only and swarming with hard core supporters?

Why is it that the so called "top tier" showings are pathetically "under-filled" with paid supporters?

Turn your TV off people the B.S. is getting neck deep.

35% … more like 3.5% if he's lucky and that's extremely conservative.

Don't go by "mainstream media" polls go by actual real offline supporters.
17.
MYCOCKISBIGGERTHANYOURSon 09 Oct 2007 at 9:39 am

HA HA, ME LIKE THIS ARTICLE. NOW I NO WHAT WRONG WID ME. HAR HAW HAW. POOR OTHER PEOPLE NOT BORN HERE, THEY MUST SUFFER SO I CAN BE DUM AND NOT NO WHAT IS GOIN ON ROUND THE WORLD. ME DONT CARE THO, CAUSE WE GOTS PORN AND BEER, PLUS WE DONT GONNA NEED PORN NO MORE CAUSE ALL THE GIRLS BE LIKE HOS NOW. SO MUCH FUN HERE, IF YOU CAN SNEAK IN!
18.
lone wolfon 09 Oct 2007 at 9:54 am

i recently took a poll on the job of about one hundred twelve people.eight says gee dubya has done a great job,four of which were free masons and the other four were just nuts.i would say thats about 6%.
19.
davidon 09 Oct 2007 at 10:39 am

Well Dr lauren monet has proved that due to radiation fallout that has contaminated the lower 48 from the all the nuke testing in the past.these 6 micron and less particles have a half like of 5 billion years or so.
has resulted in retardation of 24% of all americans born since the nuke testing began
that leaves only 11% that are semi sane and support him.
20.
liberalon 09 Oct 2007 at 10:53 am

david, looks like you too got a mega dose.
21.
Nikonon 09 Oct 2007 at 11:43 am

Israel controls the United States of America and it's foreign and domestic policies as well as it media. We can blame the victims, the American people, all we want, and I certainly do my share of castigating Americans for their craven stupidity but there are larger and more powerful and ruthless forces who've designed and engineered it that Americans remain stupid and pliable and worship State power.

Bush, 35% approval? Impossible. The idiots who still defend this idiot-in-chief can't be more than 10%. But when has the will of the People ever mattered anyway to our Masters?
22.
DAMN BIGOTon 09 Oct 2007 at 12:15 pm

PEE ON YOU GEORGE. PEE ON YOU I SAY. U NOT MY FRIEND NO MORE. ME DONT LIKE YOU KNOW. ME DONT NO WHAT TO THINK NO MORE. GO AWAY GEORGE, ME NOT LIKE YOU, GO AWAY I SEZZ. BUT BEFORE YOU GO, CAN I HAVE SOME MORE GOVERNMENT MONEYS?
23.
freethinkeron 09 Oct 2007 at 1:09 pm

Your points are well taken, in general terms.

There is a percentage amongst the populous
who display the sort of hubris, mindless
consumerist and lacking-in-empathy nature
described in your piece. And yes, it is these
folks who might be most inclined to still
support the vacuous greed and mindless
imperialism embraced by those in the
Bush Administration.

However, you lose credibility on three points,
as I see it:

1. The assumption that opinion polls owned
and operated by the corporate-controlled
mainstream media can be trusted to be an
accurate assessment of opinions or intellectual
trends. Since such polling institutions are a
part of the greater corporatist cabal, they can
not be trusted but rather can be expected to
manipulate data to fit their overall agenda. So,
if they are presently reporting that 35% of the
overall populous in this country are still supporting
Bush, I suspect the real numbers, if truth be
known, are far lower.

2. Your labeling of this syndrome as the
"Americanistic Personality Disorder." It might
better be described as the Imperialistic
Personality Disorder, since the same tendencies
have occurred within a significant percentage of the
populous in all historical Empires, most especially
during the early phases of their decline. The
Romans, for example, were not particularly noted
for their empathy.

Further, while this "syndrome" may appear to
best fit within the overall fabric of the American
nation or culture in this current era, the mentality
you describe is by no means limited to Americans,
even in the present era.

3. Your generalizations regarding political
parties and most especially, geographic regions
are most unfortunate though all too typical
these days. This is a reflection of mass media
generated mind programming, i.e: "Red states"
vs. "Blue states" and the like. But you go a step
further and suggest that this Americanistic
Personality Disorder is endemic to what you
label as "reactionary states in the South" and
Utah, Idaho, Kansas and Wyoming, et al.

Good God! This smacks of mass mind prgamming
of the worst sort. It is what I would expect some
"pundit" to blurt out on CNN, MSNBC or on Faux
News! Even the heretofore-mentioned and
not trustworthy public opinion polls have recently
shown that every one of those "reactionary"
states in the South has a solid majority disapproval
rating of Bush and his policies amongst their
respective populations. In fact, as I recall, only the
state of Utah showed a small majority still in
support of Bush, alone amongst the 50 states.

Additionally, I am a resident of one of those
"reactionary" states. I have never supported
Bush at all, not from day one. Nor did I vote
for him and the same feeling is echoed amongst
all of my local compadres. And we are not at all like
the mindless Cretins that you describe in your article.
Rather, my friends and I and our associates are all
intellectuals and independent thinkers (*shudder*).
Currently, I am in the process of switching my voter registration to Republican (for the first time in my life)
from Democrat, solely so that I am able to vote for
Ron Paul in the upcoming state primary.

I suppose now that I am doing this, I will
become a mindless moron who froths at the
mouth with hatred of the "ragheads," possesses
a false sense of moral superiority and who
desires only to acquire material goods so that
I can "keep up with the Joneses," right?
I mean, what else could possibly happen if I
am a resident of a "Red" state and change my
party affiliation to Republican, right??

Oh wait! That's right. I am intending to vote for
Ron Paul. Oh well, I guess then that I just don't
count, since it would be too difficult to figure out
where I might actually fit within the totally
phony and wholly manufactured left-right
political dichotomy.

And besides, we all know that Ron Paul does not
have any *real* supporters. We are all just those
imaginary ghosts trolling the Internet, right?? Or
at least that is what Queen Hillary, King Julie Annie
and their puppet masters in the corporate media
keep telling us, isn't it?
24.
liberalon 09 Oct 2007 at 1:57 pm

but wait youse guy, haliburton & the oil thugs,& the havemores took the survey.ron paul is just another gee dubya, mark it down.faux.has dubya down to 78%.
25.
PatriotMilitiaDotComon 09 Oct 2007 at 4:03 pm

Censorship Test
26.
PatriotMilitiaDotComon 09 Oct 2007 at 4:06 pm

www.Jew-Crime.com
www.PatriotMilitia.com
Jews did 911 and all world wars.
Bush is a crypto-Jew.
27.
ericon 09 Oct 2007 at 4:16 pm

hey guess what! this is GLOBAL! I live here in Shanghai China and I can tell you all first hand that this "disorder" is an intentionally programed condition that is the direct result of global capitalism, consumerism and fascism.

wake up people! this problem is NOT contained to a few societies. Essentially every last country I have visited and lived in is experiencing this phenomenon! its called people who are inundated with the programmed urge to watch team sports on TV… shop/consume… follow entertainment news, while living a fantasy life vicariously through said icons…

people… to quote a great film… the English Patient… "WE ARE THE REAL NATIONS"!
28.
Rosemary's Babyon 09 Oct 2007 at 4:23 pm

PatriotMilitiaDotCom - You should do all of us a favor and censor yourself….Why don't you just make a site called adolfhitler.com, and just before you publish that ignorant idiocy , swallow a cyanide pill…. spare your dog and call it a day.

Jason, you have defined the "socio-political narcissist". I hope to see this article in my new sociological textbook, while I earn my B.S. at Bulltshit University USA.

People who support Bush have to be complete Capitalist "free-market" ideologues, complete ignoramouses or flat out nationalistic/narcissistic idiots.

The Political narcissist….
29.
tomatochipon 09 Oct 2007 at 4:23 pm

A well-expressed essay here. The diagnosis is clear to me. But lets get past that and consider solutions. The comments here speak for themselves where the various authors are at. Ultimately, it matters little what others think and do. It matters only what we think and how we act individually. Nobody will reap our own karma except us. Those that are predators will reap what they have sown, and they are not to be envied. All of this simply makes me more sober, more thoughtful and a keen observer of both the beauty and the insanity. Humility has great value, we must remember. I too, am capable of self deception, I remind myself. People, don't be fooled by looking outward. The answer is never out there. It's in the other direction, inward…. in your own heart. If the world looks like an insane, horrible place, consider what you are adding to the mix. You have a choice of how to live your life, although the system we are born into would like to make those choices or you. We do have the power to create heaven or hell… as we choose moment by moment what we add to the mix. When enough of us have had enough of the nightmare to start being honorable in our relationships, and speaking and acting with integrity, the outside world will reflect this. Is there anyone out there with me would like to ponder, 'HOW GOOD CAN WE MAKE IT'. Love alone endures. All else is futile.
30.
onewaratatimeon 09 Oct 2007 at 4:46 pm

Yes, it is GLOBAL because American culture, capitalist culture (spearheaded by decades of US penetration—sounds phallic I think) is global, just about the only "game" in town, and capitalist culture is all about me me me and consumerist bullshit, inequality, job insecurity and tons and tons and tons of bullshit.

Thinking and seriousness are anathema to commercial mass communications. And sincerity is unheard of in bourgeois politics or truth in its media. Programs that spread absolute gossipy celebrity fixation excrement in television terms, such as The Insider on Viacom's CBS (a version of National Enquirer, but with quick cuts and loud multisensorial assault) are a good mirror to what this society has become. Junk food for the mind, but with far worse repercussions than just bad food.

The spectator, know-nothing, work your butt-off and keep consuming crap society, in an ever widening social gulf with peons and masters on either pole…while television—US style— presides over the wreckage. US tv is by far the worst offender—anywhere in the world. If American television had no presence in American homes, the mafia controlling this nation and the world would lose much of its power to brainwash the public every single day.

Just last night, the wee hours actually, I watched a program on PBS that SHOULD HAVE BEEN long time ago on prime, a documentary (INNOVATION) sponsored by the National Science Foundation, focusing entirely on the advances in medicine originating with stem cells. I can say that what stem cells can do is nothing if not miraculous: they're now being used SUCCESSFULLY to cure spine injury lesions (as serious as the one suffered by Chris Reeve), all sorts of advanced heart diseases, and many other fields that show us a glimpse of where 21st century medicine could really go….The infamy here is that we still have millions of morons simply uninformed and misinformed. I regard myself as well-educated, well-read, and certainly well-travelled, have family members who are doctors and even I didn't know how concrete and real these advances due to stem cells were…because those, like this super asshole greedy billionaire Sumner Redstone, owner of Viacom/CBS, who are charged with informing us, instead of wasting our lives and minds on criminal crap, did not see fit to give us this simple but critical information.

The show was eloquent in documenting several families for whom stem cell had been truly a miracle, and this despite the pitiful amount of financing allowed by the reactionary, medievalist views of Bush and his mafiosi, and the legions of morons who still support him, as this essay alarmingly comments on. Even if the number of idiots supporting Bush today is 20%, that's way too much. The real superrich—his constituency—are no more than, tops, 5% of the population, and probably far less—like the top 1/10 of 1% of the American social pyramid…The rest are just wholly or partially misguided.

There are simply no words to really describe a society capable of having a much better life, a much better world, and which chooses the opposite; always superstition and obscurantism over real progress. That's what we now spread all over the world—often at gunpoint, and it's simply the luck of the mafia that rules this nation, that the world still contains reactionaries (like Osama) who they can demonize to strike terror in the hearts of our badly-conditioned citizenry. It's disgusting.
31.
honoriouson 09 Oct 2007 at 5:22 pm

What a bunch of nuts you people are! I find it funny that the chavez dick-sucking miller claims that this so-called syndrome only affects white republicans in conservative leaning states. his radical left-wing bias is so evident it's hilarious. i've told him before and i'll tell him again, if america is such a horrid place why not leave? i'll even buy the ticket.
32.
WTF?on 09 Oct 2007 at 6:09 pm

35%!!!!!! Nah, thats not true. I think its more like 10%.
But, whats so great about Ron Paul? He probably will be just another form of GWB.
But, this "disorder"Jason speaks of IS Global. You should read some of the internet messageboards. LOL! Some poor souls want Arnold the Terminator to be President of USA. Who's next? Marilyn Manson? Johnny Depp? Bruce Dickinson? The world is infected with sychophantitis, and thats not funny at all. In fact, its damn frightening. Idol Worship, and its twin, money and status worship.

Yes, we need solutions, real solutions, and this anger and sheer silliness in regard to the mess we have in the world won't solve anything.

GWB will probably get us into a war, or near economic collapse&leave it to the next President to fix, if they can.
God help us. Help us all.

And where would anyone go if they could leave? The mess is global. Just have all the fun that you can, while you can. Spend all the time you can with those you care about&do not take them for granted. Plan for the future, but do not obsess on it. Take one day at a time. Don't let fear¶noia suck you in, thats what negative people want to see, people drowning in their own misery.

Call her Hellary if you want to, but I hope she wins.
However, I will feel sorry for her(or anyone elected) inheriting the spiteful mess GWB will leave her to clean up.
33.
Daveon 09 Oct 2007 at 6:11 pm

I think our real concern should be…Will any of us survive the next 10 years..?
34.
Fred Wahlstromon 09 Oct 2007 at 6:20 pm

Well, now I think we need to name the disorder that allows people to suspend belief(or disbelief) and think that Ron Paul will make any difference.

Wake up, he is a politician he lies, he's good at it he has been re-elected multiple times, he is bought and paid for.

People who have trouble with this still believe RAY-gun was a President actor, once an actor always an actor

That will take some of that false hope out of "the ones that look for the light'

We deserve what were getting right now. Now back to the discussion so your mind will never have a chance to be still, and take some responsibility for YOUR OWN LIFE

Fred
35.
Rosemary's Babyon 09 Oct 2007 at 6:57 pm

Daveon 09 Oct 2007 at 6:11 pm

I think our real concern should be…Will any of us survive the next 10 years..?

Point well taken Dave.

onewaratatime:
"There are simply no words to really describe a society capable of having a much better life, a much better world, and which chooses the opposite; always superstition and obscurantism over real progress. That's what we now spread all over the world—often at gunpoint, and it's simply the luck of the mafia that rules this nation, that the world still contains reactionaries (like Osama) who they can demonize to strike terror in the hearts of our badly-conditioned citizenry. It's disgusting."

That sums it up. Especially your reference to stem cell research. I have learned a bit about it myself, and every time I hear Bush voted against it on the car ride home on fascist public radio "NPR" (all to make those evangelical nuts happy) I start feeling the burning inclination to lift up my leg and kick in the car radio.

These people will deliver Dave's fears for us, but at least we still have football, NASCAR, Britney Spears, and bullfighting to sustain us….Can't Texas, and it's counterparts just form their own country and leave the rest of us the hell alone?
36.
This Americanon 09 Oct 2007 at 7:22 pm

Well, interesting posts all, I think the BEST thing I am finding throughout these posts by and large is that the FAKE so called "left/right" paradigm is quickly breaking down and the true hands of the puppeteers holding the puppet on the so called "left" and the puppet on the so called "right" is actually one and the same. NOt to say that there are not perhaps no small differences in the outlooks at the grass roots level but at the TOP of the shit heap almost ALL of the PUPPETS are owned and only playing parts in an Orwellian script.

Even the post by "URaJack"— that bashes posters here despite his "raghead" mentality— realizes that 9-11 DEFINATELY had "inside" help, that to me is quite a breakthrough from the state-run pysops Sheeple brainwashing of still too many of our fellow citizens that still might believe in the "bin laden dunnit cuz he hates our freedom " BS WHITE HOUSE issued conspiracy theory. Even patriotic folks in our OWN CIA are coming out in mass saying the 9-11 report is a JOKE, as so many of us knew right off from the very start all along.

So I must agree that for now RON PAUL with his "end these BOGUS occupations for OIL/Israel/$$$/bases" stance is our BEST hope, so many Democarts even are coming around to see he is a MUCH better choice than PRO-ENDLESS war SHILLARY, or OBAMA both who are PUPPETS owned and operated by the SAME Elitist Puppeteers that gave us the pResident Bush. WE are experiencing a new wave of the LATEST political force. It is NEITHER so called 'left' or so called 'right' neither so called 'dem' or so called "rep' it denies the Hegelians their Divide and Conquer strategy in short it has ONE name– independent —-TRUTHERS!!!! Ron Paul 2008 IMO America's BEST and maybe LAST HOPE.- T.A.
37.
This Americanon 09 Oct 2007 at 8:06 pm

Thoughts to several other posters:

To tomatochip— Yes, we might be well off to certainly look "inside" first as you say, to remove the log from our own eye, but at the same time we might not want to "sin by silence" leaving the "adulterous" to be stoned by even a far more sinful crowd, when we have the power to try and help lead "her" to safety.

To WTF?— You say Ron Paul will "probably just be abother form of GWB"? Really? I am not sure why you might think that, everything I have seen the man say and do indicates EXACTLY the opposite. NO cadidate is perfect. But to constitutional loving, freedom loving, Bill of Rights loving, Illegal and Unjust War hating Americans, how can you suggest Hillary might be a "better choice". I'm puzzled. What about here makes you think it is SHE who will not simply be another shill carrying on "wars that won't end in our lifetime" for Elitist goals of more PERSONAL $$$ (for them), less Liberty, less choice, less ability to defend oneself, and MORE Big Brother control over every aspect of your life? Is that REALLY what you want?

To Rosemary's baby— I agree with you it is not rational to engage in prejudging ANYONE without the necessary facts to back it up, and overcriticizing anyone including "Jews" seeems unfounded. But let's not forget that many, many, many, people are coming forth now even in the mainstream circles telling of how AIPAC is one of the very most controlling forces in Washington simply becuase it has such financial clout and resources and of course naturally Washington runs on $$$. That isn't any more "prejudice" IMO than saying the NFL has a huge percentage of Black players or perhaps that many CEO's of American corporations are white males. I think if we really value trying to find "TRuth" we will want to go wherever it takes us even if it is "politically incorrect" or steps on "protected" toes.

T.A.
38.
Rosemary's Babyon 09 Oct 2007 at 8:33 pm

This American:

I was criticizing the fact that The Hitler Youth was not criticizing "Jews" for the correct reasons - which you noted but felt compelled to bring up anyway. I honestly don't give a shit about how intellectually honest you want to be here, our friend doesn't know what that concept is, and therefore his position in my book is nullified.

No need for you to be jumping on the Jew bus there…there are plenty of posts on this board which criticize the state of Israel in depth, and the role of such Jewish characters in the neo-con mafia, and powerful Israel lobbying groups in Washington…No need to take this opportunity to assist young Adolph in his mission out of "intellectual honesty" - there is a time and a place, and this wasn't it, but maybe you were hoping it was?
39.
onewaratatimeon 09 Oct 2007 at 9:05 pm

There are only two candidates that merit attention and respect, and that's Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. Whatever anyone may think of their stands (it will surely vary according to each personal political perspective) one thing appears certain about them: these men are not careerists ready to sacrifice principle for self-promotion, like the rest of the current contemptible pack. And, as far as I'm concerned, even though many social and economic issues are of pronounced significance, I'll vote for either just on the conviction that neither will take this nation to war during their watch.

War MUST be avoided at any cost, at any sacrifice. No crime can begin to hold a candle to modern war. And no one who has seen war up close can proclaim to love it or like it. (Our top brass, except for the corporatized military, which I regard as a disgrace, are less sanguine about war adventures than the neocons or Bush and Cheney.) Only chickenhawks, morally-warped individuals, and profiteers can "like" war. It's ironic that for some war does provide a sense of elation, like an adrenalin high, and a feeling of deep comradeship and, strangely, even purpose in a world normally permeated with selfishness, that is sometimes hard to leave behind.

Those who make war condemn thousands, sometimes even millions, to horrible destinies. Speaking of people in the abstract it's easy to see how many are inured to their death or destruction. But meet a few, get to know them, see their humanity, their proximity to you and you will fathom how terrible this calamity is. And it never stops there: animals and nature also pay a heavy price. War is crime that should have been retired long ago by even a moderately evolved species, but here we are, hoping against hope that the moral retards and crooks this nation has managed to put into "formal" power, will not blow up the whole place.

As for Hillary, Obama, and Edwards—the Dems' frontrunners—they will surely sell us down the toilet without much of a blink, especially Hillary, who is as ambitious and whorish as her husband. As for the official Republican frontrunners, puke is too good a word to describe the lot. Both the dems and the GOP are excremental heaps only deserving of public contempt. They say that no disease is ever cured until the disease is recognized as existing. Most folks on this thread —representing a fair cross-section of American society and world opinion—have come together to recognize the system is rotten and the options supremely unpalatable or nonexistent. If we weren't so close to the edge, I'd say that's encouraging progress.
40.
Emma Goldmannon 09 Oct 2007 at 10:11 pm

A personal story related to this.

I used to house clean. I quit housecleaning because the guy I cleaned for supported the 'War on Terror' and GDub. It just goes to show you how your employees and friends can dump you like a worn out ex if you aren't careful with your political leanings. I just didn't show up one day and left the jerk to hang "high and dry" in his mansion.

It was quite liberating. I feel quite 'free' making $7.50 an hour as a waitress. The tips make up for the minimum wage most of the time. I wouldn't go back to work for that skanky, Bush-loving, macroelite pig for all the money in the world. The elite who live in their economic bubbles make me wanna spew. Needless to say, the jerk was a stay-at-home man and his wife wroked from 4 am to about 8 pm.

lol.
41.
H Fordon 09 Oct 2007 at 11:34 pm

freethinker,

"I am in the process of switching my voter registration to Republican (for the first time in my life) from Democrat, solely so that I am able to vote for Ron Paul in the upcoming state primary."

Same here. I switched party last weekend for the same reason. I did it online. Very convenient.
42.
Ron Paul Maniaon 09 Oct 2007 at 11:44 pm

Why Ron Paul?

I'll tell you exactly why… it's simple:

He supports the constitution as written.

Think about that statement and then compare his entire congressional voting record and his past track record with EVERY other candidate across ALL parties and you will quickly see that Ron Paul is the ONLY truthful candidate running.

Seriously… he is the only one.

There is a tipping point in this country and we are hanging over the edge of complete tyranny. Either the American people rise up and restore the constitution or you might as well kiss America goodbye.

It's not even about Ron Paul the man - it's about your liberty and freedom. The mainstream media try to marginalize Ron Paul and worse… his support, but in the end, this will be the medias own downfall. We already see that happening. They loose thousands of viewers/readers/supporters every single day and it's only going to continue and grow.

More and more people are waking up to the mainstream medias unfair practices, corporate and government controlled propaganda and influence. More and more people are turning off mainstream media and ignoring mainstream papers because it's nothing more than propaganda and entertainment.

See, they (and by they I mean the government and corporate media) underestimate the average Americans intelligence. They think you are dump as dirt and let your television and newspapers do your thinking. Oh how critically wrong they are.

It's funny and sad at the same time watching mainstream media work. They claim Ron Paul support is limited to the Internet and then they try and marginalize that. Hmmm, last time I checked 3 out of 4 households are well connected to the Internet in this country.

If his support is so small then why does he have standing room only events practically everywhere he goes?

Why is he winning straw polls all over the country?

Why does he have a volunteer MeetUp group army of over 52,000 people?

Why dis he the ONLY republican candidate who had an increase in campaign contributions last quarter? That's right EVERY other candidate is on a downhill slide.

Why does he have over sixty thousand myspace supporters and over thirty thousand youtube supporters? Miles beyond every other candidate on every party.

Why does he have more money in the bank then most top tier candidates?

Why do THOUSANDS of people loyally and voluntarily show up at his events when the other candidate have to pay people to show up at theirs?

Why did he raise over 5 Million dollars in the past quarter?

Why did he receive the MOST military campaign contributions out of all candidates?

Why does mainstream media keep claiming Paul is an isolationist when he is clearly a non interventionist just like the MAJORITY of Americans? Anyone can clearly see this with ten minutes of research.

If Ron Paul supports the constitution fully just as the founding fathers intended, why is mainstream including the GOP going against him? In reality, they are stating they don't support the constitution… the very document this great "republic" was founded on. (your alarm bells should really be going off because of this)

Why are the borders "still" wide open if there's such a huge terrorist threat against America?

Why do the media continue to feed you lies and claim Paul only has 2% support? Why do they lie and claim Romney, Giuliani are top tier when it's clear to see Ron Paul pulls in the most support online and more importantly OFFLINE?

And the big question is - why is mainstream media not reporting extensively on the above FACTS? Yes, that is the big question and I think you already know the answer to that.

Controlled corporate media with their own interests and those interests are not shared by the American people.

It's time for an end to mainstream media and all their games.

Do yourself a favor and research Ron Paul and what he stands for. Don't let the mainstream media tell you who to vote for or how to live your life and definitely don't let them do your thinking!

Think for yourself, do your own research and you'll see why there is a GIANT ground swell of support for Ron Paul and his message that is growing every day.

http://www.RonPaul2008.com
43.
Ron Paul Maniaon 09 Oct 2007 at 11:48 pm

Oh - and as far as voting for Dennis Kucinich? You had better do some more research because he is attacking Americans gun rights and that should also be sending alarm bells ringing.

He would NEVER get my vote. Look into it and you'll see what I mean.

There's only ONE single candidate that deserves my vote and it's Ron Paul.
44.
Plutarison 10 Oct 2007 at 2:42 am

Wow, after reading all those posts and the article, I can see we have along way to go to eliminate 2 dimensional thinking in this country.
First off, the article makes some good points about some American attributes, but as a poster clearly pointed out, this is not a uniquely American problem. I would suggest it is a product of Capitalism gone amuck. (As the poster who suggested that this was not a unique problem of America alone, was living in China, it suggests these are recent problems in China. And what is recent in China, and is changing China forever, (for good or worse) is good old American Corporate Capitalism.
Throw in a large touch of Greed and avarice that has been nurtured for over 30 years by the powers that run the major propaganda tools(TV, Movies & Music) and you have
quite a stew of stupidity, that is present day America.
That stupidity is reflected in this articles' usage of the juvenile terms of "red" states and "blue" states. As if everyone living in said "blue" state was of liberal think and
those of the "red" states were all reactionary conservatives. This is what is called
two dimensional thinking, if you can call it thinking at all. Since all it would require to
spew out these obtuse thoughts would be watching the ones who dreamed up the
red/blue phenonomen. The same ones mentioned above who recently coined these phrases in the last 2 presidential election cycles, the TV corporate news entities with
their oversized election maps of red and blue. How simplistic a world, red and blue.
they have come to the conclusion, that the populace has become so "dumbed down", we (the TV media) can now treat them as the children they are. We, the TV media can
control them and seperate them as easily as labeling them as either, red or blue. Very similar to most boards games we played as children, one side is red and the other blue. Stratego comes to mind for me, perhaps another game comes to mind for you.
Now what's equally disturbing about the authors' generalities of those who live in
red states and those who live in blue states(other than the disgusting phoniness of the
concept itself), is the blatant and willful stereotyping involved here. Either this idiot never left the East or West Coast, never traveled anywhere or the 3rd option,
he's part of the problem. Meaning he either actually believes in this over-simplication of
"red" states and "blue" states (which I doubt) or he is some kind of media propanganda
shill of another sort.
The author also exhibits severe bigotry when singling out only 1 religious group of the main purveyors of what he calls Americanistic Personality Disorder. As if no other religious group in America displays these "symptoms". As for greed and hyper-competitiveness, (2 of said symptoms) I would say that the religious group singled out by the author, is
lagging far behind another much smaller religious group. As someone in a movie
called "Wall Street" bellowed out "Greed is Good". And that character was written about the Prince of Greed, Corporate Raider Ivan Boesky and all his little Wall Street pals who you won't see at the Next Christmas service. And quite coincindentally,
you won't see most of the afforementioned Powers of Propaganda there either.
And more than likely you wouldn't see the author of this article either.
45.
Plutarison 10 Oct 2007 at 3:04 am

Just a little note to the above. Bush should be impeached for Failure to
Defend the Borders during a War and his Failure to Defend the Constitution. (among other impeachable acts)
If we truly had a 2 party system, we would be having Impeachment hearings as I type this. This is a tipoff that the 2 parties are really 1 party, for surely the democrats would
love to put Bush thru an impeachment hearing as the Repubs put Clinton thru impeachment for far far less. And it is the "supposed" opposition party's duty to act, as
it is for Congress in general to act, as a check & balance for the Executive Branch.
46.
This Americanon 10 Oct 2007 at 5:33 am

onewaratatime, I agree IMO all of us that believe these occupations with the murder of hundreds of thousands of innocents and the massive destruction and financial ruin they cause are NOT in the best interest of either America or of the world at large are looking FIRST for a presidential candidate that will put a stop to what neo-con mafia ring leader Cheney calls "wars that won't end in our lifetime". It is great to see a coaliton of wills from all perspectives put aside their MINOR (and some major) philosophcial differences to realize if the neo-cons and their cronies and cheerleaders continue to push us down this path of endless war that the WWIII they are lusting after will come and the pain and destruction it will bring for ALL of us citizens of the world will be immense and possibly worse than anything the world has seen yet. They MUST be stopped.

Rosemary's baby, I'll focus then also on our point of apparent agreement that whether or not we think their might be a "jew factor" deeply involved in the causes of many previous wars, we can both concede that in THESE occupations the "Israeli loyalists" (though they really don't serve Israel's best interests IMO) inside our own government, many with Israeli citizenships and ties, are aiding and abetting and promoting these illegal and immoral occupations. As you say that alone is enough to scorn them and realize in SOME ways (my words) AIPAC IMO is as much of a terrorist organization, promoting terrorism, as the people it claims "need killing". WE need these people OUT of our government, to go home to their OWN country and get it's affairs in order first and for them to stop trying to use America to do their dirty work. And of course the Bush/Cheney War Machine seems only to eager to use them too, as a pretext to open up the flood gates of the treasury to shower themselves and their cronies with the "limitless" $$$ stolen in the form of massive inflation from the citizens, and to seize *cheap* resources from others at gunpoint to further inflate their massive profits from blood.
47.
liberalon 10 Oct 2007 at 6:10 am

listen children they are trying to trick you again.the repubs.lets not forget what they stand for ron paul is just a smoking mirror.the repugs whinned and bitched get goverment out of our lives because clinton made them pay their fair share of taxes.then along came dubya.then all his havemores got tax breaks to the limit the repugs, said dub will end all the mexicians plus get big goverment out of our lives.we now know that was one of many lies.if ron paul is elected dubya will be extended four more years.don't be played for a fool again.
48.
DAMN BIGOTon 10 Oct 2007 at 7:51 am

ANY ONE WHO IS PART OF THE 0.5% THAT SUPPORTS BUSH AND HIS CROIES, NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR BALLS CHOPPED OFF SO THEY CANT FURTHER CCONTAMINATE THE WORLD
49.
cliffnoteon 10 Oct 2007 at 8:13 am

a friend of mine was "polled" for this travesty. the data was gathered from two sources/locales: a recent southern baptist convention, & a local gun show. actually, it was the same source/local - "The Atlanta Southern Baptist Convention & Gun Show." the pollsters were giving away free gifts to anyone polled - either a hundred rounds of ammunition or a vibrator (the "lead" was sponsored by the NRA, the vibrators by "Oral" roberts university). so as not to overload the APD home crowd, only two questions were surveyed: (1) did you vote for bush in 04; (2) do you support the bush tax-cuts. that's it. the responses were then massaged - apparently with the left over vibrators - to interpolate the end results; which of course, included additional questions/responses and theoretical percentages (the theoretical equations used - devised by alan greenback greenspan - included a speculative function of the power of 10 to the third of what bush's approval ratings would be under three separate circumstances: (1) that he had not gone to war with Iraq; (2) that he had not been elected president; (3) that he had never been born). the pollsters obviously decided on the latter theorem. interestingly, 50% of the actual questions asked - "did you vote for bush in 04? - was not included in the final results because the the poll's sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points would have indicated a possible negative (-) 0.56 result. thank God for CNN and the comedy channel.
50.
liberalon 10 Oct 2007 at 10:09 am

the repugs always say the liberals tax and spend.here is the truth, gas was $1.20 agal, now under dub 3.00 dollars a gal. my property taxes has tripled under gee dubya.my income is half what is was before dub.the water bill has doubled under gee dubya.groceries have over doubled under gee dubya.no president has spent as much as gee dubya.does the word( conservative) fit the repugs ha-aaah.is anyone doing better now, only billionaires.its as plain as the nose on your face.
51.
This Americanon 10 Oct 2007 at 7:46 pm

Sometimes the "psyops" type Hegelian sophistry becomes so apparent on some of the boards I post on, it's as if Carl Rove had an army of "plants" out there reading from talking points cards. Many of our VERY astute posters here, I am sure know what I am talking about and too those that spend much time on the net and in discussion circles.

The first turd to be thrown in the punch bowl usually is the "Jews are responsible for EVERY ILL in the entire galaxy" one and when that doesn't work next it is the so called "liberal vs conservative "turd which also is designed to "divide and conquer". Hahahaha, silly, silly, psyops, always trying so hard to keep WE THE PEOPLE divided and at each others throats, all the while the worlds darkest and most savage pedatory parasites steal and plunder and murder away the poor unwary sheep.

Who will end these *wars*? Who will honor The Bill of Rights? Who will protect OUR treasury? Who does the media hate (that alone should be a HUGE clue). Who are they AFRAID of? (That should be an even bigger clue). Who are they actually promoting non-stop? (The biggest clue to look the OTHER WAY). Look around. State-run/corporate media will promote IT'S own while putting down those that DARE challenge it's hegemony.
52.
Richardon 11 Oct 2007 at 12:05 am

The debilitating diseases are being recognized. However, "Endless Blathering Disorder" is not a cure for the epidemic of greed or a solution to society's problems. If greed is caused by human nature and not by economic systems, maybe we could let capitalists manufacture the goods we really need and let socialists distribute them. They could work together for balance in economics and environmental issues. Maybe the best of human nature would respond to this challenge?
Ron Paul's "simple" libertarianism may seem a bit dated in a complex world but simplicity is a better cure for consumerism than fascist or socialist totalitarianism. If we got rid of most republicans and democrats and put in thoughtful people who were not indoctrinated into any economic system, we might actually get something done!
53.
proud to be americanon 11 Oct 2007 at 8:32 am

for crying out loud i think the president has done a great job.i wish we could keep him forevery.for crying out loud the jews are god's chosen people.we should all give them at least half of our checks,then god would bless the united states of amercia. 35% i think more like 75% i love george w. bush our leader.god sent him to save this world from satan's liberal's.vote for ron paul the right man to fill the shoes of such a great man as george w. bush.
54.
the garden of edenon 11 Oct 2007 at 10:39 am

can't you people see two feet in front of your face.it's as simple as right and wrong. there is a war going on now in the whole world good against evil. stop with all the bull crap,money is the root of all evil.dont vote for anyone !!why -evil will win every time (now) let them have their way just give up.wars are not won!!love conquerors all.don't work,don't vote,don't pay your bill then see what they do.you may lose your life but you will get freedom.all must have freedom.its better than spending eternity in hell.
55.
Don Barlettaon 11 Oct 2007 at 12:18 pm

Every day I go to work and tell my eleven coworkers the latest fascist, criminal, genocidal, Constitution and rights shredding item to come out about the Bush Junta and their psychophantic ass-kissing Congress. Two of the twelve know the truth as they have educated themselves via the internet, the other ten generally have no reaction, although occasionally I get a "hmmm". To those who don't care, or do support Bush, or say "hmmm"; I now tell them to just go and continue being a good little German. Perhaps they may come to understand this reference between them, current America, and Nazi Germany of the 30's and early 40's.
56.
cup cakeon 11 Oct 2007 at 2:11 pm

Those dam voices,aliens dam aliens thats who elected that chimp bill clinton lied ,iraq ,iraq,send the terminator to pennsylvania avenue.w.m.d. clinton lied viet- nam I ../I -- -- --= (666) - [------] I..|I..|I.. -- -- -- --
57.
Publius Gracchuson 11 Oct 2007 at 3:19 pm

Don (Barletta) is doing what every American should be doing. He is becoming another monkey wrench in the system' vastly manipulative apparatus. It takes persistence and social courage to do this, but how else are we to rescue the semi-dead souls of our compatriots so deeply imprisoned by the lies and singsong of the prevailing ideology? Doing nothing is not an option.

If television was not available to Americans –as we know it — for even a few months, some of the deathgrip the system has on the public consciousness would begin to weaken. ALL corporate media are criminal these days because they are all part and parcel, willing accomplices, of a criminal global enterprise, but television—particularly American television— is the most dangerous. The value of our citizens' media—such as this journal—grows by the day.

Well done, Don!