red rum

So it is finally over, or is it? True, I was wrong about whom I thought would win based on a history of 43 prior white men, but as for my reasoning I was not. This past 22 months has reinforced all of the positions I have laid out in text from my dissertations regarding the economy to why we as human being must obviate race from our lexicon if we can, for although this past week was historic, and the world now see America in a different light, we still see ourselves in the same fashion, well at least many of us do.

First, it is obvious that many folk prefer to emote in contrast to think. I was hard on McCain (but this was ok). Unfortunately I was just as hard on Obama (but for many this was not). I have never approached any subject matter with respect to feeling with the exception of family, my children and how I would treat my woman. Oh, and food. But with respect to politics, I have never based any decision on feeling. This has lead me to understand than many folks make selections based on feeling when I make my as a function on thinking. For I know that if there was no TV or Radio, and folks were forced to read the history and positions of the Republican and Democratic selections for this past election – you would have seen that there were basically no difference between the two and that they were more similar than dissimilar. I also learned that many folks tend to vote for the individual whereas I vote for the policy positions.

True Obama won, and I’m pleased with that, but American may be in the same position historically it has always been. Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Georgia, Utah, Montana and Idaho among others still remain GOP and in strong support of the divisive politics that have historically been a function of race (many in the South). And I know folks don’t like to use history to project future speculation and to form opinion – but I do. These states have been red for the longest and no end seems to be coming soon.

I feel that yes this is historic, but also may reflect a change – a regression for many back to the time before the civil rights movement. Yes, 40 years ago a great man was killed for bringing change. I just don’t know what will be, given what i feel will be major conundrums quick fast and in a hurry for the new president jones:

• Russia: This may be the first head bump for Jones. Russia (Putin) is making a fat cat move to buy allegiance from Latin American states that are right in our own backyard. Plus they mad because of our decision to deploy elements of a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. So as a result, they have decided to place some similar equipment in Cuba – or so they say.
• Economy: Many would like to infer that Obama’s victory brought back extreme volatility to the market, with the Dow Jones industrials falling 480 points and the major indexes tumbling more than 5 percent. After Tuesday night. True some may be pulling loot out as a form of fear, but truth as I have written before, this will continue for a couple of few administrations, irregardless of who had won. He will have to tackle this and his tax cuts, during a recession don’t make much micro or macro economic sense, but it sounds good to the voter. So he will need to foster the gumption to show how smart folk really think he is, for short term tactics as taking loot from the rich wont pay for nothing, nor do jack, when the deficit is approaching a trillion dollars; oh and did I say he wont be able to end the war as quickly as he proposed?
• Middle East: It will be difficult for Obama to end the war as he said. Especially since his chief of staff was one of the folks that assisted and motioned that we start a war with Iraq and has a desire to start one with Iran – Israeli Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel, the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives as the Democratic Caucus chairman, will be returning to the White House, where he served as a political and policy adviser to Clinton.

Which brings me back to thinking over feeling. I as many feel that America has changed. But looking the states that McCain carried, what I call the redrum states to honor one of my favorite movies of all time, the Shining, it won’t be easy. These folks will fight tooth and nail against him, even when it may benefit the commonwealth. For unfortunately, his victory has also brought back the zealots, the folks if they don’t like the color of your skin, will post up outside your crib and chase you with an ax and string you up from a tree. Yes this is historic, but the history he has fostered via victory, has only begun. Let’s just hope it does not assist in bring back the attitudes many thought were no more, and that some as myself – feel are merely dormant.

Had a ball talking politics with 12kyle at shop yesterday.

Crossposted from Torrance’s blog RawDawg Buffalo.

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deposits and despots

In my short time on this Earth, I have to come to accept that ignorance is bliss for many. I have revisited this as of late with the current elections and the economic consternation that threatens the people who inhabit this dear planet. In particular as of late I have been reminded of the prophetic statement of Mayer Amschel Rothschild: “Give me control over a nation’s currency, and I care not who makes its laws.”

This was the man who I think, as well as others we can contribute the theory of economic inductance too. Like a fine mathematician, he figured out that by using currency (or depository loan accounts), he could get folk to give up real wealth (land for example) in exchange for the promise of greater wealth. He even gave governments these promissory notes for real collateral and then make the flow of loot tight so he could take other folks shit (collateral) and could even make governments go to war through the obligation of their contracts. Yes like a physicist even – inductance via the energy of the debtor.

We have only seen the start of this tumultuous period in America. I know I said that all great empires will eventually crumble as did Rome. I don’t know if is the decline of the united States of America, but I speculate if we don’t come out of this period with our heads turned to the front, it will be. In today’s world, the US government has privatized all profits while at the same time socialized all losses. If it were me, I would have been straight free enterprise jones and let bad economic occurrences related to business fail. But not this government, they would rather pick and choose the companies they want to live without any logic or rationale. None of this shit they doing going to do nothing for Profit to earning ratios. And as an investor, if you have short dated paper at the bank, watch your loot – cause if it goes bust folk can on a whim, pick and choose if they will freeze bonds and even worse, all associated interest income.

Yep it’s real in the field and foul. The truth is unlike other places where folks save, 80 to 85% of Americans are broke. Not to mention we aint even felt the impact of the recession yet for I feel that it will be a good 10 years plus before we even have a real good economy again. No this aint no depression, I don’t see no 10 % decline in GDP, but it is a sever repression; protectionism is on the rise and to play it safe, most countries are reducing imports. I will not even mention that the Euro has had its biggest gain against the dollar ever – that’s another story.

But do head my warning. I mean it aint like this aint ever happened before. It has, but this is the first time such has happened to America. In Thailand, following months of speculative attacks against the Thai baht, which was closely pegged to the U.S. dollar, the Bank of Thailand allowed the baht to float in July 1997. This led to a loss of export competitiveness which required the devaluation. At the time it was a constitutional monarchy.

In Argentina, in what has been called the Tequila Banking Crisis, we saw the same thing. It was called such because it was set in place by what occurred in Mexico in December 1994. The problem with the Mexican banking system lead to an accelerated the restructuring of the banking sector in Argentina – namely the privatization of provincial banks, consolidation of private banks, and selective bank liquidations. Banks, (as we see here to day) had limited bank deposits and were unable to provide credit. Not to mention the ratio of broad money to GDP had been declining for decades which resulted in hyperinflation, and the problem being – was a large volume of nonperforming loans that increased the fiscal burden (just like mortgage backed securities here).

Irony of it all, In all them places, Argentina, Thailand, Indonesia and Russia among others, after the banking system collapsed, in three the governments were deposed, over thrown by the people, in the case for Russia, a new and more autocratic (communist) leadership/government was installed. Them folk over there handled theirs, my query is what we gone do? Are we gone be proactive and make certain that liberty and justice is for all – or just the wealth and political class? Are we gonna inform ourselves and pay attention, or attend to whether or not we like Beyoncee’s new song or be in the habit of stunting for folks who don’t eat, live, die or shit for us? That’s all folk here asking jones mane. The writing is on the wall as well as in history books. But yawl don’t here me though.

For any person in power who acts tyrannically, or any ruler with absolute power, or a person who wields power oppressively, to me is a tyrant – a despot and no different from Maximillien Robespierre, the mastermind of the Reign of Terror (1793-1794) during the French Revolution. Strange aint it, how deposits and despots have the same root word.

Crossposted from Torrance’s Blog, Raw Dawg Buffalo. We would like to thank him for allowing us to publish his informative article.

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Is Bush behind Chinese oil deal and Russian isolation?

Russia is facing increasing isolation!! What the hell do they care?

Yesterday, we heard that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of orchestrating the conflict in Georgia to benefit one of its presidential election candidates.

“In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Matthew Chance in the Black Sea city of Sochi on Thursday, Putin said the U.S. had encouraged Georgia to attack the autonomous region of South Ossetia. Putin said his defense officials had told him it was done to benefit a presidential candidate — Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama are competing to succeed George W. Bush — although he presented no evidence to back it up.” Putin accuses US of of orchestrating Georgia war.

It drives me shit house crazy that I agree with the “enemy”-

“As U.S. and Russian envoys exchanged sharp words on Thursday over Iraq and Kosovo at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Georgia, at which Russia found little support for its actions in the Caucasus.” US and Russia trade barbs over Iraq and Kosovo

What a surprise that Russia was lobbying Asian Nations for support against the US and just at the right time to make China stay on our side Iraq and China signed a $3 billion deal this week to develop a large Iraqi oil field:

“…the first major commercial oil contract here with a foreign company since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The 20-year agreement calls for the state-owned China National Petroleum Corp. to begin producing 25,000 barrels of oil a day and gradually increase the output to 125,000 a day, said Asim Jihad, a spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry.” Iraq and China sign $3 Billion oil contract

Knowing this should this surprise you?

“The United States said Thursday it is considering scrapping its civil nuclear agreement with Russia but there was no announcement at this time. The U.S. move came after Russia’s recognition of the independence of Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The United States has said the Russian recognition was “unacceptable.” US considers scrapping nuclear agreement with Russia

What the hell does all that tell you? I am happy to say that yes, China’s alliance may be bought but, I now believe they will ally with us, as I keep asserting, and go against Russia in this just developing Forever war to shape the world’s future. I reiterate- With Both sides so firmly entrenched in redrawing the map in Europe thanks to Bush imposing his will for oil- This is just another small piece in the Forever War Bush has guaranteed for our future. You see what he has done in the middle east for oil causing division and Russia and the US both arming them to the teeth to fight this Bush created future mess and it is coming to a head rapidly and at the perfect time for Bush to take total control of our facade of Democracy to prosecute the lie we are living!

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While Scooter B. was watching Olympic basketball…

…others were invading the Republic of Georgia.

Blink.

Now it appears that Russia has launched a two front full scale invasion that now threatens Tbilisi.

Blink again.

Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili has signed an internationally brokered cease-fire proposal that is on the way to Russia through French Minister Bernard Kouchner and Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, who are available to get their diplomacy on despite the fact that both France and Finland are competing in the Olympics.

Mmmhmm, for real.

Satu Makela-Nummela of Finland just won a Gold medal and France barely lost to the US team in a swim relay.

Yet ministers from both of those countries were able to drag themselves away from the coverage and get their diplomacy on because people are dying and a key region is tumbling into occupation.

Amazing!

Ugh.

This is serious as hell…the human toll, the regional consequences and the potential for this border conflict to draw allies in and escalate swiftly into something far worse…gulp…yeah, this shit is serious and should be addressed as such.

And I can’t help but wonder what, if any, pull we have with President Medvedev of Russia.

***cue crickets***

Shit.

Crossposted from the Angry Black Bitch. She is wise beyond her years…

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Other Nations Today – the battles

The world is watching as two very different kinds of competitions, violent and non-violent. In violent competition, also known as war, each side tries to kill its opponents. In non-violent competition, also known as sports, opponents try to win all the contests against the other side, without killing them. Proponents of sports and war both claim heroism and honor as results. Similarly in violent and non-violent competition, people win applause, medals and glory. In violent competition, however the acclaim is for killing the enemy, holding territory that the combatant did not own, and gaining control over the way the reality of the vanquished is described to the outside world. In non-violent competition, admiration is forthcoming for winning against the opponents, controlling the field of play, and gaining bragging rights with the folks back home. As might be apparent, I am not much of a sports fan, and I am deeply disturbed by our species’ proclivity for war.

A war between Russia and Georgia has occurred and a tremendous number of people died as a result. It seems that the U.S. is on the side of Georgia for whatever reason. According to The Financial Times, the situation appears to be quite serious. It always is when one side claims power over the other, concluding that the other side is not fit to live where they do. To quote the FT story:

The crisis could bring Moscow into confrontation with Washington, which backs Georgia.Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, said: “The United States calls for an immediate ceasefire to the armed conflict in Georgia’s region of South Ossetia. We call on Russia to cease attacks on Georgia by aircraft and missiles, respect Georgia’s territorial integrity, and withdraw its ground combat forces from Georgian soil.”

In Beijing, US president George W. Bush and Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, both attending the Olympics opening ceremony, discussed the situation.

These days the competition between the Chinese and others is generally not life threatening, except perhaps for athletic health reasons. Some are having difficulty breathing the bad air. The Financial Times’ in-depth story begins with the geopolitical aspects. To quote:

China pulled off a diplomatic triumph on Friday, turning the Olympic opening ceremony from the low-key political event it has traditionally been into a spectacular visual display attended by a roll call of world leaders.Underlining China’s growing global presence, more than 50 presidents and prime ministers attended the lavishly choreographed ceremony in Beijing’s “bird’s nest” stadium. They included George W. Bush, the first US president to attend an opening ceremony outside the United States, Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin and Japan’s prime minister Yasuo Fukuda.

*”Beijing 2008: Are You Ready for McCommunism?” was the headline posted on Aug 7, 2008. from Truthdig *betmo asks, “If china is hybridizing communism and capitalism courtesy of America- what are we getting out of the deal? At least at this point the competition between the U.S. and China is almost wholly non-violent, a very good thing.

*Victory for Developing Nations! WTO Talks Collapsed a couple of weeks ago (7/31/08), is posted at AfterDowningStreet. Global competition for food is also very serious business. And it is a possible cause for war in areas where there is not enough to go around. Wouldn’t it be so much better if the developed nations fought for upholding the rights of starving people to food? World trade is not a guarantee that have-not nations will benefit. To quote:

Developing nations stood up to the U.S. and E.U. in this week’s WTO Doha Negotiations, refusing to sacrifice food security measures in the midst of the global spike in food prices. Around the world nations are questioning the development gains from trade liberalization.

*U.S. Africa Aid Is Increasingly Military (7/18/08).” As I have said before the military is about fighting to win, even if it means killing. War may be an efficient method for imposing one’s will over the other. But is it the only way? And why appropriate funds to the military for what is supposed to be done in the name of peace and fighting for the rights of others? To quote:

U.S. aid to Africa is becoming increasingly militarized, resulting in skewed priorities and less attention to longer-term development projects that could lead to greater stability across the continent, according to a report released Thursday by the advocacy group Refugees International.

The report warns that the planned U.S. Africa Command, designed to boost America’s image and prevent terrorism, is allowing the Defense Department to usurp funds traditionally directed by the State Department and U.S. aid agencies.

. . . Africom in part aims to better integrate U.S. efforts in Africa by coordinating military activities with the State Department and other agencies, but “the State Department is being overwhelmed by the Pentagon,” Malan said.

That concern was also raised in a Government Accountability Office report on Africom released this week. The report noted that Africom, which is to have about 1,300 employees, has had difficulty integrating 13 staff members from the State Department and other agencies.

In China the Olympics could not have happened under Mao. Going against Mao could get one killed. But today we pick our battles. China won the right to be where GE manufactures its compact fluorescent light bulbs. Our workers lose; do the Chinese workers win? Putin is up and then Putin is down. “Win some, lose some,” he might say, but he has not said that at all. Putin or Medvedev — or both — are in the mood for war/winning. Into whose eyes can Mr. Bush look now? What a mess!

*Hat tip to “betmo” for several of the above links.

(Cross-posted at South by Southwest.)

My “creativity and dreaming” post today is at Making Good Mondays.

Technorati tags: news news and politics war olympics china russia competition

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this fits in the wtf? department

i was going to name this post ‘f**k me running’ but i thought that would drive the pron here- but amongst the other ‘legacies’ of this admin, i suppose single handedly reigniting the cold war ranks up there in the top 5:

russia mulls sending bombers to cuba

“Russia may start regular flights by long-range bombers to Cuba in response to US plans to build missile defence sites in Eastern Europe, the newspaper Izvestia reported Monday, quoting an official.”

wasn’t there just a top bushie in the military complaining about having 2 wars to fight already?

addendum @ 8:17 PM est- russia angry with bush considers closer ties with cuba, venezuela

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A Panel calls for new war powers Legislation!

On that front we discussed this possibility a year ago, it is now reality! Russia is thinking of aiming nuclear weapons at western Europe for the first time since the end of the cold war, according to defense sources in Moscow. The move is being considered in response to American plans to develop a defense shield against missiles from Iran and other countries. The plans under discussion include the possible deployment of ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave between the European Union countries of Lithuania and Poland. Kaliningrad has been nuclear-free since America and Russia agreed to scale back their nuclear arsenals at the end of the cold war.

A Russian parliamentary committee visited the enclave 10 days ago to examine how a new generation of nuclear missiles could be based there. Any such deployment would significantly escalate tensions in Europe between Moscow and Washington. Thanks to Bush Europe faces Russian nuclear missile threat

Also on that front and as a result of direct instigation to war Three days after the Czech Republic signed an agreement with the United States to host a tracking radar for an antiballistic missile system that Russia vehemently opposes, the authorities in Prague said the flow of Russian oil to their country was beginning to dwindle. In a statement on Friday, Czech officials declined to link the reduced supply to the deal signed Tuesday in Prague. Still, though the flow of oil can vary for technical reasons, it was clear that the Czechs suspected a connection and intended to ask the Russians to explain the decline. Russia maintains that the missiles meant to shoot down other missiles pose a threat to its own nuclear deterrence. The Bush administration says they are intended instead to counter a threat from Iran, which launched nine missiles on Wednesday. Czechs See Oil Flow Fall and Suspect Russian Ire on Missile System

I know just another coincidence! plus on the middle east front Syria caught on! The Syrian president has accused the US president of not being interested in peace in the Middle East, making it impossible for direct talks with Israel to go ahead within the next six months.Bashar al-Assad had asked Nicolas Sarkozy and the US to assist in peace negotiations as the two presidents met in Paris on Saturday ahead of talks by the Union for the Mediterranean. But Al-Assad said that his government will wait for the next administration to enter the White House, and made clear that the US should be closely involved in the process. Assad critical of Bush peace effort

Bush does not want Peace unless it is on his terms. He wants war! Towards that end: we hear Tensions may be rising between Israel and Iran after Tehran’s latest missile test, but the BBC’s Jonathan Marcus suggests it is too early to assume the worst. A high barbed wire fence marks the perimeter of the Palmachim air base. You can easily see the launch containers for US-supplied Patriot air defence missiles, large green rectangular boxes canted up at an angle of 45 degrees. But it is what is not visible that makes Palmachim Israel’s front line in the growing war of words with Tehran. For this is also the base for a battery of Arrow interceptors, the weapon Israel is counting on to defend itself against a potential missile attack from Iran.

I asked one man in East Jerusalem what he thought. Was he worried about an Iranian missile attack? “Not at all,” he replied with a grin. “You remember Saddam Hussein’s rockets,” he said. “Well, look what happened to him! The Iranians will go the same way.” A ‘new Persia’? That the views of a Palestinian from East Jerusalem should be so in tune with the Israeli mainstream illustrates the curious coalition That Iran’s regional prominence has created. Israel, the United States, and many of its Arab allies in the region are eager to contain the rise of this new Persia. Iran and Israel’s war of words

That will never happen without war and Congress better initiate emergency Legislation to control Bush’s power to initiate war before he has a chance to beat them to the punch one again. The perfect manufactured storm from beginning to end is about to come to a head and this will dwarf WW2 and the Great Depression combined and be a Hell of a lot longer!

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Iran continues to test missiles,

I wanted to discuss FISA as I received an interesting assortment of information on it yesterday, I also wanted to discuss Russia as they are flexing their military muscle over Georgia. However once again I must digress as events with Iran and our response got more interesting than usual. I now believe I have been right all along as to HAARP (High Frequency Active Aural Research Program), its use in the middle east, and its usefulness. In light of what Rice said I looked into HAARP again and found an extremely interesting video I recommend everyone watch!

This morning I woke to hear Iran continues to flex its muscles and it is serving its purpose of getting us much closer to confrontation! Iran test-fires more missiles, says Iran’s Press TV, one day after other test-fires.Rice: U.S. determined to prevent Iran from threatening its interests or those of allies Adds that missile defense shield in Eastern Europe could help head off threat. Israel to display an advanced aircraft that is capable of spying on Iran US vows to defend against Iran missile threat

After Hearing what Rice said I now believe Iran is playing right into Bush’s hand but first Iran had a second day of missile tests as well as Hoot torpedoes known as the fastest in the world!

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This is a shocker…

Putin has been named the Prime Minister of the Belarus-Russian alliance. From the MSNBC writeup:

Some observers expected Vladimir Putin to become president of a unified state of Russia and Belarus after he stepped down earlier this month as Russian president.

The Belarusian news agency BelTA quoted the executive secretary of the alliance as saying Lukashenko had coordinated the move with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Medvedev is a mouthpiece for good ol Vladimir right? These guys are so intertwined you would need a crowbar to separate them. That’s Vlad with his shirt off…thank Gawd Georgie don’t run around like that…it would be the stuff nightmares are made of.

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Pondering The Chosen One…

The anticipation has been driving this bitch crazy. Between the polling…the posturing to the media…the interviews and debates followed by more interviews…and then the pundit’s speculation…ugh!

But finally…at last, damn it…we have some results.

Mmmhmmm, in Russia’s Presidential election. Well, actually it was more of a sorta-election.

Cough.

Dmitri Medvedev sailed to a ‘it’s over…shut up, kneel and respect my authority’ victory becoming the third President of the Russian Federation.

President Vladimir Putin is expected to become Prime Minister thus finalizing a smooth non-transfer of power.

Despite attempts to mount challenges to The Chosen One, the opposition never gained traction and the election was a blow out. Well, c’mon now…this election was a done deal before the deal was even a vague though in Vlad’s clever Russian mind.

Sigh.

This bitch remembers the glorious hues of liberty our government cast a post Soviet Russia in. There was to be freedom and democracy and a chicken in every pot for the Russian people and that was supposed to result in happiness and joy throughout that part of the world.

Now, Russia is finalizing the results of a faux election fronted by big money in order to perpetuate an economic system set up to dominate the masses and benefit the few.

That’s almost enough to make a bitch nostalgic for glasnost.

Blink.

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Putin Says, “Try This One On”

The world has absolutely had it with Chimpy’s warmongering. From Beijing to Boston, the cokehead frat boy with Jesus whispering in his ear leaves people feeling disgusted and angry.

It is no secret that the moronic monkey next wants to turn loose what is left of our broken military machine on Iran. The same combination of lies rebroadcast through the MSM as truth and negative Iran reporting from the Chimpromised MSM (the “Iraq formula”) is well underway. But Iran is no Iraq, and they intend to make us pay for dearly for any attack on them. As we can see from this article, the Iranians are preparing to hit back at our air capabilities right along with extensive “welcoming” plans for our ground forces. And in their quest to deny us impunity in the skies, they’ve hooked up with Russia.

Putin, like all reasonable world leader, is fed up with the lies the numb Napoleon tells to get his wars going. Unlike most of the world, Putin clearly aims to do something about it. Though the Chimpletard paid-off pundits will be crying like the scared little girls they all are about this, in a practical sense it’s a positive move that benefits us as much as it does anyone else. We don’t need an attack on Iran, and might not survive it. Anything that causes hesitation about an Iranian attack is a good thing.

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