Police Now Raid Homes Based On POSSIBILITY You Might Protest -- I Kid You Not!

Protesters here in Minneapolis have been targeted by a series of highly intimidating, sweeping police raids across the city, involving teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with sub-machine guns drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets. Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff's department handcuffed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, and early this morning, the Sheriff's department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying.

Welcome to AmeriKA; Your Papers, Please.

Read the rest of Greenwald's post. This is scary shit. Anticipatory raids, based on the possibility of a protest! And this is DEMOCRACY in action? Forget actually assembling somewhere to protest, now the police will just come and raid your house, take your computers and things, before you even actually, you know, PROTEST SOMETHING? What fucking country is this? I hardly recognize this America, and I know it's not the America I was born in. Maybe this is all just a dream, and I'm really not from America, I'm an illegal alien ... from another planet.

UPDATE 9/1/08:

As the police attacks on protesters in Minnesota continue -- see this video of the police swarming a bus transporting members of Earth Justice, seizing the bus and leaving the group members stranded on the side of the highway -- it appears increasingly clear that it is the Federal Government that is directing this intimidation campaign. Minnesota Public Radio reported yesterday that "the searches were led by the Ramsey County Sheriff's office. Deputies coordinated searches with the Minneapolis and St. Paul police departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation."

Why is it I am reminded of the Nixon administration, and its fear of the "radical hippies" at this point in time in history? Forty years later, and the Republicans in charge are still afraid of protesters? Loved the outcry and the obvious disconect of our "media" with respect to the Bejing Olympics and the crackdown on civil rights ... nothing but cricket sounds coming out of the same "media" with respect to the crackdown on American citizens and their civil rights.

Chirp, chirp, chirp. ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

A Moment Of Silence For The Katrina Victims, Past And Current

Three years later, and is NOLA fixed yet?

Just as we can't forget 9/11, America must never forget what it's own government failed to do for its citizens this day in 2005.

Another Friday Night In L.A.

These are plumeria flowers, and it is rare to see them in Los Angeles. I first saw them as a teenager in Hawai'i, where they are abundant, and where they are the number one flower used to make the traditional lei. However, they are not considered the state flower. The plumeria blossoms are very fragrant, and last as long as a gardenia with respect to smell. I could not believe I saw this little tree right on my block walking home today!

The critical mass bike riders gathered again this evening. I did not have my camera with me, only my cell phone camera. When I posted this video last month on YouTube, my bus came before the bikers took off. Tonight, however, the bikers took off just before my bus came. Man, oh man, what a sight. Hundreds of bicycles taking up all three lanes on Wilshire Blvd. heading west, where they all turned left on Crenshaw. It was an awesome sight.

"One Hundred Years Later, The Negro ...Finds Himself Exiled"

The Promissory Note. Too bad the statute of limitations was only four years.

"Insufficient funds."

Channeling Dr. King

I am abundantly moved by tonight's speech. Not only can I remember Dr. King and the march on Washington in 1963, but I remember that speech. Unfortunately, aside from certain changes in laws that prevented open bigotry, a great deal did not really change over the years, and I became the cynic that I have been known to be concerning national politics.

Seeing so many people at Mile High Stadium, in what will go down in history as the largest American Democratic Party nomination acceptance attendance figures, felt as historic as the 250,000+ that were in Washington this day 45 years ago. I felt proud to be an American back in the 1960's when I supported changes in how we treated our fellow men and women of color, and women in general, having pretty much no rights other than to vote. I lost my respect for this country little by little over the years, but really losing it during the past 8 years when, against all logical probabilities, Bush and his crew just fucked each and every American citizen in the mishandling of foreign policy and our national treasures, not to mention driving the economy into the ground. After tonight, I feel more connected to what I have already learned over the past two years ... that the American people (forget the punditry, the press and those partisan politicians, be they Democrat or Republican say to the contrary) ARE NOT HAPPY with where this country is 8 years later. At this point in time, there isn't a Republican, not even their party's nomination for president, that can fill a football arena with supporters. American citizens have had it with the last 8 years, and they do not want "more of the same" as the mantra goes.

I am probably going to have to reconsider my ban on Obama, and just ignore the certain political choices he made as a Senator, and put my eggs in one basket and believe that as a president, he will have much more say and authority to get across the changes that this country really needs to get back on its feet.

Calling Dr. King. Was it just me, or did Obama almost pick up the accent of Dr. King those last few minutes?

Here's to the next president of the United States ... High five to Senator Obama.

P.S., I did think the funniest line of tonight's convention was from an ordinary guy as part of the ordinary guy/girl tributes to Obama, who's name is Barney Smith. He said "we need a president who puts Barney Smith before Smith Barney."

Well, It's Official

“With eyes firmly fixed on the future, in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let’s declare together, in one voice, right here, right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our President. Madame Secretary, I move that the convention suspend the procedural rules and suspend the further conduct of the roll cal vote — all votes cast by the delegates will be counted — and I move Senator Barack Obama of Illinois be sleceted by this convetion by acclamation as the nominee of the democtaric party for president of the United States.”

That was some powerful stuff, tonight.

Michelle Sold It Tonight

Well, I know I wasn’t going to blog about the presidential election, because I have a hard time dealing with the FISA vote by Obama. But, watching Michelle Obama speak at the Democratic convention this evening really made me "feel" about my country as I used to feel when I was a young adult, against the war in Viet Nam and a supporter of women’s rights, and civil rights.

The fact that Barack’s acceptance speech will be held on the 45 anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington led by Dr. King, where he gave his most famous speech, is not lost on me, and the fact that Barack is biracial.

I know many of you have been enjoying my respite from political commentary and the fun updates about my grandson, Zaire. Something many of you do not know is that he is also biracial in that his father is black.

I was more appalled at the "Spirits of Denver" party.

I just got an invitation for the "Spirits of Denver" party, which as you'll see below, will be the place to be to get reactionary corporate PAC money.

Beta Night Club,1909 Blake Street Denver, Colorado
August 25, 2008 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Here are the sponsors. See if you can figure out the pattern:

Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (lead sponsor) 2008: 59% Dems, 41% Reps 2006: 48% Dems, 48% Reps 2004: 39% Dems, 61% Reps 2002: 32% Dems, 68% Reps

National Association of Chain Drug Stores 2008: 66% Dems, 34% Reps 2006: 24% Dems, 75% Reps 2004: 22% Dems, 78% Reps 2002: 40% Dems, 60% Reps

ClearChannel 2008: 54% Dems, 46% Reps 2006: 40% Dems, 60% Reps 2004: 38% Dems, 62% Reps 2002: 38% Dems, 62% Reps

Federation of American Hospitals 2008: 54% Dems, 46% Reps 2006: 35% Dems, 64% Reps 2004: 40% Dems, 60% Reps 2002: 31% Dems, 69% Reps

Duke Energy 2008: 39% Dems, 61% Reps 2006: 26% Dems, 74% Reps 2004: 24% Dems, 76% Reps 2002: 30% Dems, 70% Reps

National Association of Home Builders 2008: 45% Dems, 55% Reps 2006: 45% Dems, 55% Reps 2004: 33% Dems, 67% Reps 2002: 38% Dems, 62% Reps

US Chamber of Commerce 2008: 39% Dems, 61% Reps 2006: 18% Dems, 82% Reps 2004: 24% Dems, 76% Reps 2002: 10% Dems, 90% Reps

American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (Coal industry front group) Lockheed Martin 2008: 57% Dems, 43% Reps 2006: 42% Dems, 58% Reps 2004: 41% Dems, 59% Reps 2002: 39% Dems, 61% Reps

Daimler 2008: 48% Dems, 52% Reps 2006: 35% Dems, 65% Reps 2004: 32% Dems, 68% Reps 2002: 41% Dems, 59% Reps

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals 2008: 45% Dems, 55% Reps 2006: 28% Dems, 72% Reps 2004: 30% Dems, 70% Reps 2002: 30% Dems, 70% Reps

Amgen 2008: 45% Dems, 55% Reps 2006: 34% Dems, 65% Reps 2004: 27% Dems, 73% Reps 2002: 25% Dems, 74% Reps

Verisign 2008: 47% Dems, 53% Reps 2006: 21% Dems, 79% Reps 2004: 37% Dems, 63% Reps 2002: 55% Dems, 45% Reps

We've spent the decade working to strip Republicans of their governing majorities, majorities enabled by these (and many more) PACs. Now, seeing the political winds turn, they are working feverishly to buy the Democratic Party so that government can continue the same destructive policies that have gotten us to today's messes.

While Obama may not be taking PAC money, most other Democrats aren't following suit. And while there are many PACs friendly to progressive principles, the group hosting and funding this party is not. Unfortunately, I fear this may be one of the hottest parties in Denver this week. Not so unfortunately, I suspect my invitation is hereby revoked.

Glenn Greenwald keeps us abreast of the "secrecy" of that meeting, between the above-name industry corporate lobbyists and CEO's and the Democrats that have consistently voted a Bush agenda for said corporate and industry interests.

I watched the CSPan coverage because I knew it would be the least tainted in after convention coverage. It is interesting to hear the lame excuses and comments made by the people supporting a McCain presidency. I really cannot wait to see the Republican convention. The level of being out of touch with ordinary Americans will be so obvious at the convention based on the speeches and the comments made during that time.

As Michelle said tonight, and I paraphrase, it is time to base decisions on hope instead of basing them on fear.

s

Out And About On The Pier In Santa Monica

It was a nice day to spend the afternoon at the Santa Monica Pier with my grandson, letting him go on the rides, and even pretend bungie jumping!

I forgot my hand fan, though, and even at the beach, it was still hot. Thank goodness I always carry my very small, lightweight, collapsable umbrella. It at least kept the sun from beating down on me.

Zaire was fascinated with the fishers on the pier. It didn't look like you could rent poles or anything, so one would have to own their own gear. But, he sure wanted to go fishing!

Masanga, Marimbas And Assorted Music On An Afternoon Stroll

I took my grandson out for lunch at Johnny Rockets at the Farmer's Market area. After we finished, he wanted to walk through the marketplace to where the Grove is. It reminded me of a smaller version of Universal City Walk.

Up ahead, I heard some live marimba music, and we stumbled upon the group playing above. It is a band called Masanga, and they play Zimbabwean marimba music. They were good, and I actually purchased their CD.

Then Zaire and I cruised the rest of the walkway, where we encountered a light jazz trio, who were later accompanied by a vocalist.



They were a very relaxing band on a rather nice afternoon in Los Angeles. Zaire was into the water statues surrounding the area, and got himself totally wet.



Then he lay down on the grass to dry out.

We topped the afternoon off with Zorbeto's from Starbucks.

Ah, the life of leisure in Los Angeles.

Greenwald's Take On The Ivins/Anthrax Disconnect

When you add on to that the magnitude of this case and the ample reasons for error and deceit -- it's the first lethal bioterrorism attack on the U.S., one which, according to the Government itself, originated at a U.S. Government facility, perpetrated by a U.S. Army scientist, that was then used by numerous factions inside the Government and out to ratchet up fear levels and falsely blame Iraq and/or Al Qaeda for the attacks and, thereafter, was blamed on someone who appears to have been completely innocent -- what minimally rational person would be willing to assume that the Government's uncorroborated, unexamined, untested claims are accurate? ...

Ouch.

More, here.