Hillary Helps a Bank—and Then It Funnels Millions to the Clintons (theAtlantic)

July 31, 2015 by Leave a Comment

20150731 Hillary Helps a Bank—and Then It Funnels Millions (theAtlantic).jpg Hillary Helps a Bank—and Then It Funnels Millions to the Clintons
by Conor Friedersdorf

The ATLANTIC (Jul. 31, 2015) — The Wall Street Journal’s eyebrow-raising story of how the presidential candidate and her husband accepted cash from UBS without any regard for the appearance of impropriety that it created.

The Swiss bank UBS is one of the biggest, most powerful financial institutions in the world. As secretary of state, Hillary Clinton intervened to help it out with the IRS. And after that, the Swiss bank paid Bill Clinton $1.5 million for speaking gigs. The Wall Street Journal reported all that and more Thursday in an article that highlights huge conflicts of interest that the Clintons have created in the recent past.

Full Article.

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Is Charlie Hebdo Massacre Massive Military, Police Response Precedent Setting Opportunity?

January 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment

ATLANTA (Jan. 13, 2015) — The Charlie Hebdo massacre which took place Jan. 7 in Paris, France took the lives of 12 people and seriously injured 11. In the days that followed the massacre, the local government administered an unprecedented massive military and police response upon its civilian population.

In the interest of security, the New York Times reported today, “France Deploys Troops to Guard ‘Sensitive Sites’,”:

“Confronting a country in shock from last week’s terrorist attacks, the French government acted on Monday to increase security, sending thousands of soldiers and police officers to guard sites considered vulnerable, including Jewish schools, and calling for measures to reinforce electronic surveillance and curb jihadist recruitment in prisons and other crucibles of radicalization.”

What measures would be imposed next? Curfews, no movement after dark, internet and cell phone blackouts. The catastrophic event would most likely require a complete electronic database save and search of everyone’s electronic communications for the past five years?

Yet, because the civilian population was essentially still “stunned” by the tragic event, the governmental imposition in order to provide “security” took place without resistance. Understandably, the citizens were just too busy being human experiencing their grief, anger and fear. Making them highly susceptible to being manipulated, a condition permitting the unprecedented military response to successfully be deployed and indeed welcomed.

Taking advantage of a “dazed and tragedy consumed” citizenry is not unheard of practice. The opportunistic intervention of both private and governmental entities is discussed in depth by Neomi Klein in her book, “The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism.”

In the Shock Doctrine, Klein discusses the manner in which corporate interests capitalize in collaboration with applicable and consenting governments during disastrous times such as tsunamis, hurricanes, mass murders, and of course, times of war.

“The architects of this [Iraq 2003] invasion were firm believers in the shock doctrine — they knew that while Iraqis were consumed with daily emergencies, the country could be auctioned off discreetly and the results announced as a done deal,” Klein writes. She adds, “As for journalists and activists, we seemed to be exhausting our attention on the spectacular physical attacks, forgetting that the parties with the most to gain never show up on the battlefield.”

Here, the Hebdo mass murder was the “shocking” event. At which time the applicable government, or multiple governments operating from the same protectionism game book, launched into action an unprecedented intrusion of military and law enforcement assets into the civilian landscape.

Using predictable human emotional responses to their advantage, unprecedented governmental intrusion was able to be deployed in response to the Hebdo massacre.

In looking at the fine print, the enhanced security applied in response to the Hebdo massacre arguably allowed for: 1) the imposition of governmental intrusion upon the civilian sector’s privacy and living spaces; 2) the establishment of a response precedent to be referred to during similar future situations; and 3) the behind the scenes capitalization by private companies arranged to profit off of said intervention through exclusive contracts for goods and services needed for such intervention.

Goods and services would include the weapons, vehicles, surveillance apparatus, electronics and other equipment, to include ongoing service contracts for said equipment, however narrowly rationalized to be needed by the respective requesting agencies. This would also include any human personnel assets such as private security personnel, similar to the non-military security services provided by the private company Blackwater in Iraq.

Filed Under: News, World News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Russell Brand Takes Baton as the Noam Chomsky for the 20 Something

December 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Noam Chomsky (left) Photo by Andrew Rusk and Russell Brand photo by Dan Kitwood (CC BY 2.0)

Noam Chomsky (left) photo by Andrew Rusk. Russell Brand photo by Dan Kitwood (CC BY 2.0)

ATLANTA (Dec. 25, 2014) — After discovering Noam Chomsky only a few years ago, it was a challenge to find every presentation of his to watch.

Fortunately there is a website which has harvested many of Chomsky’s work at http://www.chomsky.info/.

After reviewing Chomsky’s considerable material one begins to understand how Russell Brand has arguably taken on many of the roles that Chomsky has been doing for most of his life.

Chomsky, now in his golden years, emanates these days as a ship weathered by many years at sea. However, still seaworthy, the port is near.

Chomsky’s vigor, energy, and lust for “factualization” of the events in the world around us, helped us understand that there are narratives out there being hurled out at us like fire balls at a castle.

With 8,818,326 followers, and 868,967 (updated Dec. 26, 2014 13:29 EST) subscribers on his Twitter Page and YouTube Channel respectively, it is clear that segments in today’s society have tipped their hat to Brand.

As evidenced in his book “Revolution” chapter 30 “Manifest Destiny” Brand makes it clear he will continue that which has already been started by Chomsky.

On the issue of society, power and government, Brand quotes Chomsky, “For this reason alone, it is imperative to sweep away the ideological clouds and face honestly and realistically the question of how policy decisions are made, and what we can do to alter them before it is too late.” In response, Brand writes, “I’ll take it from here.”

As Chomsky’s wave brings him into the shoreline, in the background we see, Russell Brand feverishly paddling on his Trews logo riddled surfboard trying to get in front of the mounting wake lurking beneath him.

In just this year Brand has managed to paddle his board in front of that wave. And then, he has accomplished to push himself up on his Trews surfboard.

He then has shuffled a bit, to the left and then to the right. Then he finally gained his composure to begin the ride in front of the wave unrelentingly crashing down around him. Much like the thundering skyscraper waves of the North Shore.

In his hand, can you see it? It’s the baton handed to him metaphorically by Chomsky. He takes it, with all the zest one could ever hope for. Brand then threads a strap through it and loops it first over his flaring wild hair then to have it settle around his neck. All the time being sprayed with a hundred mile an hour ocean mist.

Alas, he wipes the stinging salty water from his face, and with a piercing gaze not unlike that of a Great White shark locking in on its prey, Brand fixes in on the shore of societal unrest fast approaching.

We look forward to Brand’s eventual arrival after having ridden, perhaps many waves to finally reach the shore we stand. Gazing with curiosity, amazement and inspiration, we realize a sense of clarity of perspective.

The sun rises, then fades into a gently disappearing sunset.

A loud crash is heard, and the brightness of our view begins to reveal Brand now trotting through the shin deep water, holding only half of a surfboard and a severed bungee cord. The other half of the board is seen blowing violently across the white-wash receding back into the ocean, leaving a highly reflective sheen across the sand.

At that moment, we expect and receive the usual remarks from Brand recounting his journey of what was, and what can be, in his unique and Trewsish manner.

As the camera cranes upward opening the frame from Brand to a reveal of the crowds around him and ocean and shoreline in the distance, in the corner we notice his white fury companion, running to greet him.

After holding the shot with a distant sunset and glimmer over the waves below, the image fades to black.

The sound of an ocean surf then is heard as the credits begin to roll.

Oh, and by the way:

Russell Brand, will you please . . .

ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!

Noam Chomsky (left) photo by Andrew Rusk. Russell Brand photo by Dan Kitwood (CC BY 2.0)

Noam Chomsky (left) photo by Andrew Rusk. Russell Brand photo by Dan Kitwood (CC BY 2.0)

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Police Back Turning Reveals SerpicoGate Moment at Hospital

December 21, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Cops turn their backs on visiting Mayor de Blasio at Woodhull Hospital. Captured by WPIX11 News.

Cops turn their backs on visiting Mayor de Blasio at Woodhull Hospital. Captured by WPIX11 News.

ATLANTA (Dec. 21, 2014) — The decision police officers made Saturday to turn their backs on New York Mayor Bill de Blasio during his visit at Woodhull Hospital to pay respects to two slain officers demonstrated an abuse of the public trust and powers granted upon them to the highest order. Further demonstrating the lack of discipline in the police force requiring prompt, immediate punitive action.

Each and every one of them should be summarily dismissed from the police force.

Their behavior of turning their backs on the Mayor was nothing more than rogue cops lashing out at authority. And when those entrusted with certain state powers, use their position as a forum to lash out, immediate action needs to be taken.

Wearing the uniform comes with it certain privileges and responsibilities. And clearly, those police officers do not deserve to wear the uniform any longer, and probably didn’t deserve to put it on in the first place. Especially when they are prepared to take matters into their own hands and lash out politically as they did.

Using that opportunity to voice their disapproval only exemplifies what’s been happening in the streets when kids, and unarmed citizens get killed by their hands.

A form of defiance in the highest form.

What’s next? Like at the hospital, the officers have demonstrated they are prepared to turn their backs in the face of authority in order to demonstrate their personal feelings and prejudices they may have at a situation, and here against an individual, the Mayor of all people.

And if they are prepared to turn their backs against the Mayor, they are prepared to turn their backs in the line of duty in some dark alley somewhere facing a lone black man in the corner when no cameras are around. That’s right.

What is next? Will those same back turning cops turn their backs at a critical moment when required to perform their duties, resulting in yet another injustice occurring on the street?

Will those cops turn their backs when they are required to follow criminal procedure, abide by the Constitution of the United States?

Will those cops turn their backs when having to provide backup to another cop who may not agree with their rogue political agenda while in uniform?

What happened at that hospital was a Serpico moment to the 10th degree. In plain view of the public, the media and national television.

Wearing the uniform comes with it sacrifice, discipline. Clearly these police officers demonstrated a lack of both of these inherent qualities.

They failed the responsibility that their public office requires them to demonstrate. Responsibilities which were transferred to them, entrusted upon them. Responsibilities to be faithfully administered when wearing the uniform.

As a person who wears the uniform in the military, it would be unheard of to see rows of Soldiers turning their backs on a visiting senior ranking member of their chain of command passing by. Disgust and repulsion. Those are the tastes left in one’s mouth after viewing the spectacle demonstrated by these volatile individuals.

The police officers who turned their backs on the Mayor are entrusted to use lethal force while performing their jobs. When they signed up for the job, they also understood they relinquished various individual freedoms in order to uphold a position in law enforcement.

They to an oath to uphold the laws in the state of New York and to follow the orders placed upon them from their chain of command. Much like that of military personnel under the President of the United States.

Imagine if the President visited Iraq and walked down an isle to reach a podium to give a speech about the war. Then, at that moment, Soldiers, in an act of retaliation and protest, turned their backs to him in defiance. Do you think for a minute those Soldiers would be permitted to continue to wear that uniform one second further?

The officers and those who encouraged them to retaliate and lash out during Mayor de Blasio’s visit should all be summarily dismissed from their jobs and never be able to hold a position wearing any uniform. They have thoughtfully betrayed the office and uniform they were entrusted to wear with full contempt and disrespect.

If there ever was a division between law enforcement, or the “Police” and members who serve in the military, this was it.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Russell Brand: ‘Democracy is a gleaming Excalibur, let us not just settle for . . . using it to mend the toaster’

December 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment

“Democracy is a gleaming Excalibur, let us not just settle for . . . using it to mend the toaster.”

Russell Brand, Oct. 2014

@ 22m25s, GuardianLive Interview by Owen Jones at the Emmanuel Centre, London. (http://youtu.be/JduqBw2jIbo) Oct. 23, 2014.

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