We all know how loud, boisterous and idiotic the tea-bagger movement was in disrupting the townhalls last year with their rude behavior and little concern for fellow citizens views. With that in mind proponents of Universal Healthcare are also waging a campaign to be heard. Thousands of them rallied today in Washington D.C. to make their voices heard. It remains to be seen if they will get the same airplay as the opponents of Progress in our country.
The memory of the banking industry, spurned by Republican policies of de-regulation and greed crashing our economy should be quite fresh in most Americans minds. Especially now that so many of them are still unemployed by those actions and millions have lost billions from their 401ks. However, what should be most infuriating to Americans is after being bailed out for crashing our economy it has just been business as usual for these folks with their huge bonuses for running their businesses and indeed our whole countries economy into the ditch.
Like me you are probably fed up with the hypocritical actions of the hypocritical tea-bagger movement. These folks will lovingly take advantage of government programs while denying others the same right, and hating their government. Now, there is an alternative that seeks to change our government while not hating it.
By now everyone knows about the block Jim Bunning decided to put on unemployment benefits. However, this move did not just effect the unemployed. All across America many federal programs will furlough 2,000 other workers without pay and will indefinately end construction projects across the country.
March On Washington Bloomington Peace Action Coalition has chartered a 55-passenger motor coach to D.C.! Don't miss this opportunity to help create a massive showing of support for the peoples of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine, and insist upon an end to the military occupations of these countries. Be a part of this historic National March and Rally in Washington D.C. as we join with tens of thousands of people from across the country in repudiating the destructive foreign policies of the United States, and call for Peace and Justice for Afghanistan and the Middle East. Board the bus in Louisville, Columbus, Bloomington, or Indianapolis!
Barack Obama inherited one of the biggest messes in the history of the
United States of America. Two wars and a collapsed economy, just to
mention a few. When Barack Obama was running for President he said
change wouldn't come easy and he would need help. So what have we done
to help him and cover his back? I ask this question because I've
watched the progressive community allow the Tea Party folks to own the
streets and take over the Town-Hall meetings during the spring, summer
and fall of 2009. I was on the streets and at Town-Hall meetings to see
this first hand. Not only did I see it, Mike Watt and I shot photos and
videos of these events and Richard Dillon wrote about them eloquently.
I know that every American has the right to assemble and protest peaceably in this country. It is one of the things that makes this country so great. However, these "tea-baggers" are really starting to get pretty annoying. In all their self-righteous hypocrisy they seek to convince America to ignore the harsh truths they themselves have worked so hard to create.
Ah, the teabag movement has once again marshalled it's forces in Washington D.C. Ultra-Conservatives with selective memories and misplaced outrage are once again having public hissy-fits. Not that I do not think that is their right, I believe it is perfectly within their rights to gather in Washington and protest. It is certainly more polite than yelling in the ears of your neighbors and talking over them. And like those townhalls, it gives great perspective at where these folks are coming from and makes me so very glad to be on the other side.
Earlier I wrote this diary about Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh greatly exaggerating the numbers of folks that turned out at the D.C. Tea Party. Now it appears as if they are definately not alone. All across the Right-Wing Loon Machine, the two million exaggerations persisted:
Ah the "tea party" movement. A bunch of folks assembled to protest the economy they crashed. Banded together to show fear and anger at death panels, death books, illegal immigrants, poor folks without health insurance, Marxists, Facists, Nazis, Communists, and anything else they can dream is chasing them especially an ethnic President. They have much rage to display and many quetions to ask and aren't afraid of shouting them over fellow citizens heads, and in their ears. Of course, when you have a gloc 9 hidden in your waistband courage is easy to come by.
Although it appears my interview with CNN trying to inject some sanity into the healthcare argument hit the cutting room floor, someone who CAN be heard is trying to dispel some of the lunatic fringe arguments on healthcare. President Obama was in New Hampshire and tried to dispel some of the more insane rumors spread by the opponents of Universal Healtcare on what it will actually mean.
I've had the good fortune to travel all over Kentucky and capture events and protest with my camera and camcorder. I've shot videos and photos of Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and many other dignitaries, but shooting photos and video of regular folks exercising their rights to protest is what I like doing best. It's grassroots folks like these that change our country for the better. They protest in the cold, the Ohio Valley sweltering heat and in the rain knowing full well that what they are doing may never be seen by many others or covered by the media. They do it because they believe in what they are doing, not for fame or financial gain. They do it because they want to make our country a better place for their children, grand children, spouses and for you and me. I love being around these folks for all kinds of reasons, but the main reason is they reinforce my belief in humanity. It's for that reason I've made this feeble attempt to recognize them with this video. The Hillbilly
It has been an amazing week in Iran, and you are no doubt seeing images that would have been unimaginable just a few weeks ago.
For most of us, Iran has been a country about which we know very little…which, obviously, makes it tough to put the limited news we’re getting into a proper context.
The goal of today’s conversation is to give you a bit more of an “insider look” at today’s news; and to do that we’ll describe some of the risks Iranian bloggers face as they go about their business, we’ll meet a blogging Iranian cleric, we’ll address the issue of what tools the Iranians use for Internet censorship and the companies that could potentially be helping it along, and then we’ll examine Internet traffic patterns into and out of Iran.
Finally, a few words about, of all things, how certain computer games might be useful as tools of revolution.
Senator Mitch McConnell, the current Senate Minority Leader was this year's Convocation speaker at the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law graduation ceremony. Many graduating students, their families and friends attending the graduation sported buttons that read "Sen. McConnell Does Not Speak for Me." Outside the graduation, activists protested McConnell's support of the Defense of Marriage Act. Although the City of Louisville didn't anticipate any problems from the protest, even noting "No off-duty police provided" on the permit, there were several Louisville Police Department Officers on the scene for the duration of the 3 hour protest. Noticeably missing were the news outlets, WAVE, WHAS, WLKY and the Courier Journal. It should also be noted that the major Louisville blogs didn't cover the protest. Click here to view photos of the protest.
Union leaders are planning to protest Verizon's lack of respect for worker's rights. From a press realease sent to us:
Union members to support shareholder proposals for cumulative voting, an independent chairman and an end to "Golden Coffin" awards at Verizon's Annual Meeting.
Union leaders and community supporters will protest company's lack of respect for workers' rights.
Kentucky Equality Federation received reports that a Franklin County High official allegedly sent an email to teachers instructing them not to allow homosexuals to leave class to use the restroom. The email was allegedly sent after two female classmates were caught kissing in the public restroom. In response, 15 students protested outside the school today. "My daughter was involved in a protest at Franklin County High School today for their right to use the restroom," stated Michelle Sexton. "I have been in contact with one of the parents of the children involved in the protest and we support their constitutional right to assemble peacefully," stated Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer.
Scheduled Protest For The Month Of May Mitch McConnell protest May 9, 2009. Health Care Protest May 28, 2009. We will try to keep you updated as protest are added to the calendar. Let us know about your protest event.
