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Poster Boy for Corruption
For those who have taken to watching TV lately as a way of escaping the dismal reality in the Kingdom of Bush, the preponderance of the various Law and Order shows is quite striking. Just in the past week, I counted 43 episodes on three different stations. These fascinating and tangled crime dramas, as well as a myriad of others in which good triumphs over evil in a neat 60 minute package, offer a vicarious thrill to a justice-starved audience. By plucking an unerring resolution out of the jaws of chaos and corruption, they throw a few crumbs to our unsatisfied craving to see the criminal perpetrators of the past four years reap their deserved harvest. Indeed, in the reality based world, the criminal negligence that left us defenseless on 9/11 has been ignored, the country was aggressively pushed into a costly war on false pretenses, those who are poisoning the environment are increasingly unregulated and getting richer, there is ample evidence of fraudulent election results in three successive elections, and the US Treasury has been robbed to benefit the corporate elite and the wealthiest of the wealthy. But, to hear the punditocrisy and the administration spokespeople, the sun is shining brightly in the Land of Oz and all is well. And so, we who sense the gaping chasm between honor and integrity on the one hand and the grotesque corruption in high places on the other, wander around with this gnawing, righteous hunger and nothing to fill the ache but a few TV shows on the Yellow Brick Road. The latest revelations in the ongoing saga of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Capital City swirl around the person of House Majority Leader Tom Delay. Every day seems to bring a new revelation of sordid schemes that trespass moral decency: expensive junkets paid by lobbyists; fraudulent campaign finance shenanigans in Texas; threatening judges who disagree with the Rabid Right; and other manifestations of power gone wild and totally unaccountable. But with Republicans in control of both Congress and the White House, and with most Republicans in the House beholden to Tom Delay for all kinds of smelly favors, will the rest of us need to just suck up another one and watch Delay blithely dance his way through all the controversy until some big event or soap opera-like scandal steals the stage once again? Before investigating Representative Tom Delay’s birth chart, it is useful to take a brief look at the charts of two former Congressional leaders, former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (12/9/47 in Aberdeen, South Dakota) and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (10/9/41 in Grenada, Mississippi). Tom Daschle lost his bid for reelection in November 2004 and ended his Senate career with its leadership role as of January 2005. We find in his chart, from January 2002 through December 2004, a series of Sun Pluto configurations (transiting Pluto conjunct the Sun in 2002 and progressed Sun opposite progressed and then natal Pluto in 2003 and 2004, respectively) that intensified his power and impact in the world. During several months in 2003 and 2004, this Sun/Pluto energy was accompanied by the transit of Uranus opposite Daschle’s Mars, adding to his aggression, anger, and resolve, as well as bringing several unexpected difficulties that called for assertive action. Both of these power aspects passed with the advent of 2005 and the loss of his Senate career. Although Trent Lott lost his status as Majority Leader in December 2002, he remains in the Senate and of some stature in the majority party. He has been under a progressed Mars conjunction to natal Mars since roughly 2002, continuing through 2005, but which was significantly triggered by transiting Pluto in 2002, ending in December with the end of his leadership position. As in Daschle’s chart, we find Pluto tied with a position of power, and the end of its influence coinciding with the termination of increased authority and command. Perhaps of greater consequence in Senator Lott’s ignominious fall from power, however, was the series of Saturn transits that dogged him during the end of 2004 and the first months of 2005, indicating a sense of sorrow, loss, frustration, and alienation during that period. These included transiting Saturn quincunx natal Venus, activating the natal opposition, transiting Saturn square the Nodes, and transiting Uranus square natal Saturn. Tom Delay’s chart (4/8/47 in Laredo, Texas), on the other hand, could be a case study for that of an aggressive, relentless, and manipulative politician. What we find is a series of aspects dating back to 1996 and continuing through early 2008 (give or take about a year due to the lack of a birth time) that indicate an extraordinary amount of combative, disruptive, and manipulative tactics to further his agenda. Tertiary progressed Uranus square natal Mars covers this entire period. In addition, beginning in 2003, we find progressed Mars square natal Pluto (2003 to mid-2004), progressed Mars square progressed Pluto (mid-2003 to 2004), converse progressed Mars opposite converse progressed Pluto (late 2003 to early 2005), converse progressed Mars opposite natal Pluto (early 2005 to mid-2006), and transiting Pluto square natal Mars (2007). This latter aspect, transiting Pluto square natal Mars, will trigger the tertiary progressed Uranus square natal Mars from late December 2006 through November 2007, suggesting a period of heightened belligerence and aggression during that time. There is somewhat of a lull in these hyper-aggressive aspects until 2010, at which point transiting Uranus will then be conjunct Delay’s natal Mars for most of the year. Thus, we can expect the power-wielding Texas politician to continue rousing his followers, roughing up his enemies, and generally inflaming the masses through some time in 2008. He is likely to be especially dominant during the first year of the 110th Congress (2007), and possibly enjoy a controversial and bumpy resurgence in 2010. This does not, however, promise a smooth and easy ride for the congressman. In fact, there is some possibility he will be constrained for a period, perhaps briefly losing his leadership role, only to have it restored in December 2006. He will be under increasing pressure from April through mid-July 2005, with the transit of Uranus conjunct his Venus, likely to bring swift and sudden revelations and changes that potentially can alter his status (Watch especially May 13 – May 15). Without a birth time, we do not know what areas of Delay’s life are impacted by this transit, but it will nonetheless bring a measure of unpredictability, agitation, and change. In addition, mid-October to mid-December 2005 will bring Delay a Saturn station conjunct his natal Pluto/converse Mars, suggesting a forced, though temporary, muzzling of his power during that time. The most likely loss of real power, however, will come around the 2008 election, though likely beginning somewhat earlier in the year, when a series of Saturn transits combined with the end of the dynamic and potent Pluto/Mars/Uranus whirlwind conspire to very significantly shrink back Delay’s enormous influence. At the moment, Tom Delay is busy blaming Democrats for his troubles. To him and his followers, it is the vast left-wing conspiracy rather than his own corruption that is the source of his daily headlines. Likewise, Delay’s Senate counterpart, Majority Leader Bill Frist, is using a similar strategy to weaken supporters of the traditional Senate filibuster. Those who wish to maintain Senate rules and traditions are being labeled as “anti-Christian” and attempting to “filibuster people of faith”. This appeal to the sense of victimhood among the Christian fundamentalist right wing is a common ploy among the Republican leadership. According to a recent survey of one group of fundamentalist congregations, 70% had parents who abused drugs or alcohol and 30% claimed to have been the victims of physical and /or sexual abuse. If these figures can be even somewhat extrapolated to describe the characteristics of other fundamentalist Christian churches, it is no wonder these people are so susceptible to their leadership’s blatant manipulation of their sense of victimization. It is important to note that the victim role seldom stands alone, usually alternating with both the persecutor and rescuer roles. In a blink, the “victimized’ and unfortunate Christian right can be mobilized into a rabid fury of self-righteous vengeance against their alleged “persecutors” or can be called upon to “rescue” the unborn or the brain-dead disabled. Republican leaders are shamelessly exploiting this emotional pathology and weaving it into the national discourse rather than focusing on responsible policy and action. Under cover of the stoked fear of the “government stealing your money”, a series of unaffordable tax cuts is transferring huge amounts of wealth to the wealthiest among us. Even worse, by demagogically pandering to a fear of homosexuals “destroying the traditional family,” Republicans have been able to harvest votes from people who will be ultimately harmed by GOP social and economic policy. As a result, the Republican stranglehold on the legislative and executive branches of government has led to an increasing cover-up of criminal negligence and corruption in many quarters. Tom Delay is the poster boy for this process. It is up to Democrats to point out the hypocrisy in the Republican leadership that cloaks its power grabs and its dishonesty in the language of religion. It is up to Democrats to show people how they have been deceived and manipulated to their own detriment. It is an uphill climb that calls for clear thinking, decisive language, and courage. But it is only the truth that will set us free.
Nancy Waterman on Apr 18 | Link
Comments
Nancy, You're absolutely right about Delay being Poster Boy... problem is --- as you say, the Repugs have control... they're sure not going to ask the hammer to resign... he owns more than 1/2 of 'em. Kind of like the Mafia asking one of their godfathers to step... ain't gonna happen... As for the Democrats... I think we have already become a party government. The fascists reign. And not just here... Looks like even when the people 'win' an election, they lose. i.e., Italy: Berlusconi resigns in bid to avert elections Agencies The Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, today agreed to resign and form a new government to strengthen his struggling conservative coalition,a move that will avert fresh elections. http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1462730,00.html --------------- Shades of what's to come in UK May 5th? Word is that deal has been struck wherein Blair will step down within a year after election and handover to Brown... all those who believe that, step up and buy a bridge. Come onnnnnnn Pluto! (moving backwards at the moment, you know --- review time... unlike vacuum cleaners, the planets make their hit on forward moves...) Thanks Nancy, for your time and efforts. Forgive my negative voice... just calling what I see... Posted by: Jo on April 18, 2005 08:50 PMNancy, that was wonderful. The psychological profile of the fundamentalists has been on my mind lately. I also think that many others are playing the victim role with this administration. This behavior is always going on and the fact that it is exposed is to our advantage. We have the choice to carve out our own destinies rather than assume that other people are in charge. Why do we feel thwarted, fearful of the future, paralyzed in some way, and continually angry? Is it really because of these men? When we find the source of our individual agony we've made the first step in irradicating the outer oppression. It's our responsibility to create good governments. We have to learn how. We have to find the alternative. The political situation is always in flux. Sometimes free and progressive, sometimes restrictive. It's not the end of freedom entirely when a restrictive period comes. That's when freedom emerges stronger developing against the resistance. All of life works on the principle of resistance and friction. The judicial branch of the government is the most important in protecting the people and this administration has not been able to get control of it. People have survived all kinds of oppressive regimes and when I look around here, I see a lot of well-fed, happily shopping consumers, living in too large homes with gardens and lawns and loving pets, thoroughly entertained by their magnificent screens opening up to all kinds of fascinating universes. Not to mention, consuming petroleum products daily with no compunction. We should be grateful. Posted by: jm on April 18, 2005 09:30 PMMorgana, What's your take on this: http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/2350.asp Posted by: Jo on April 18, 2005 09:48 PMYes my tin foil hat is atop my head, indeed I've been watching as much as I can. Discovery n BBC have popped out more then a couple new documentaries since the 12/26 megaquake, they've got many of those 150 volcanos in that Indonesian chain coughing, including Tambora. I'm also inclined to take heed to Yellowstone or the Cascadia fault as well, it's just one round ball of jello and the whole of it is still thrumming. Which reminds me you draw a inch or so line between where the San Andreas drops out to sea off the Northern California Coast and where the Cascadia starts, ahem, looks too close for my liking, wouldn't be suprised to see that to turn out to be connected just hasn't moved that particular section. In UK, I'd prefer neither blair nor the tories to win.Let's see if the third party - Liberal Democrats make big inroads and wins more seats than any of the other two. If that happens, there nancy, i love your politics and your analysis. thanks for putting in the Koehler article. we must always work on parallel paths--to elect progressives and to make sure our votes count. i had a thought as i was reading this. how would these transits apply to delay at trial. austin DA Earle is about to charge someone with a violation of TX election law in the DeLay funded campaign to redistrict TX. if it's tommy boy, how about this as the course of the court involvement: You said: "mid-October to mid-December 2005 will bring Delay a Saturn station conjunct his natal Pluto/converse Mars, suggesting a forced, though temporary, muzzling of his power[he's indited] during that time. The most likely loss of real power, however, will come around the 2008 election,[he loses in court at this time] though likely beginning somewhat earlier in the year, when a series of Saturn transits combined with the end of the dynamic and potent Pluto/Mars/Uranus whirlwind conspire to very significantly shrink back Delay’s enormous influence."[he does time] my comment is tainted with the old 'wish fulfillment' process of wanting to see justice done but i thought i toss it out. great article!!! Also what about this contradiction by the corrupt http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&u=/ap/20050418/ap_on_re_eu/italy_berl... Jo, the last paragraph of the article just has to tickle the brain. The volcanic activities in the regions in the past week may be signaling an eminent mega volcano a sort of repeat of what happened 74,000 years back. One interesting fact is that this area is just on the opposite side in the globe from the “Yellow Stone Hot Spot” in America. Posted by: Morgana on April 18, 2005 10:27 PMMorgana, Thanks for mentioning that... I thought for a minute when I read it that my tin foil hat was burning a hole in my brain! Does the writer see the seismic action as a sort of 'yin and yang'? :) BTW, I like your remarks upthread about Mother Nature having to put the brakes on * --- it's either her or the economy... Posted by: Jo on April 18, 2005 10:49 PMOne problem I had is not having Delay's birth time. It is possible he will be under a Saturn square to his Moon from roughly October 2006 to February 2007, but I am not sure. Clearly it would be a great sign (no pun here) if he were under such a transit at that time. Posted by: Nancy on April 18, 2005 11:01 PMwow, nancy, could it be that delay is the grown up version of "Damien" from "The Omen" kind of looks like him as a young boy. http://www.trashcity.org/BLITZ/BLIT1061.JPG Posted by: mike on April 18, 2005 11:16 PMIn strong contrast to the hammer, stands Rep. John Conyers. He has a diary up at dKos [did you know that Rep. Louise Slaughter regularly posts a diary there?] re the Baker-Carter Election Reform Hearing... interesting read: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/4/18/172326/897 Posted by: Jo on April 18, 2005 11:25 PMMike, LOL x 10!!! The Omen is one of my favorite movies. BTW, a little know fact about the film is that its popularity and widespread success generated the funds that allowed the studio that produced it to produce the first Star Wars film. Just an interesting tidbit. Tom Delay as Damien...maybe we can cut a picture of his face and paste it onto the movie poster. Anyway, I just read Neale Walsch's "Tomorrow's God" and it was quite good. What I don't understand is how we get from fundamentalists taking over the country (and the world) to the compassionate vision of God that Waslch articulates. How do you get people like Tom Delay to embrace a loving and compassionate deity? Posted by: Dave on April 18, 2005 11:57 PMDave, I just read Neale Walsch's "Tomorrow's God" and it was quite good. What I don't understand is how we get from fundamentalists taking over the country (and the world) to the compassionate vision of God that Waslch articulates. How do you get people like Tom Delay to embrace a loving and compassionate deity? Tom Delay will never embrace a loving and compassionate deity because he doesn't know what those emotions mean. You have to know what love and compassion is to feel it for some other. So, that will never happen because it's really about having power. They're not interested in compassion, love or anything that remotely resembles those feelings unless the feelings are directed at them. Egocentrism at it's worst. Posted by: Marta on April 19, 2005 12:16 AMDave, thanks for that tid bit on The Omen. I knew Star Wars had a satanic plot! Ha! Now I'll go start a blog about it where I can rant about Harrison Ford and the Devil. Don't you think Darth Vader is Satan. Gotta be! Hmmm... Posted by: mike on April 19, 2005 01:58 AMI have a theory about mental illness. The more pathological people are, the wider the circumference of the impact, and the more they drive everyone around them crazy. Your normal healthy neurotic only drives him/herself crazy. Someone raging in a wild psychosis makes the whole family go into contortions just to survive and deal with the situation. I bring this up because I think many of these fundies are really pathological, many come from very dysfunctional families, are acting out their victimhood in the real world, contaminating everything with it, and the power of the craziness is such that the whole country is being driven crazy just dealing with it. Posted by: Nancy on April 19, 2005 03:35 AMDave, please tell us more about "Tomorrow's G-d." I'm a big, big fan of "Conversations with G-d" -- have read all 3 volumes. I just watched an interesting Nova episode on the earth's magnetic field weakening, and the history of these events for this planet. With the magnetic energy coming into the earth from the south pole and exiting from the north pole, I found it interesting that the volcanic activity in southeast Asia is on the opposite side of the earth from Yellowstone. We are due, if the patten holds, for a magnetic pole shift. Hmmmm. ................... Bolton's reward for a job well done, or just another Bush drone with the usual nasty temper. http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/nichols//index.php?ntid=36007&ntpid=2 Bolton worked to stop Florida recount "I'm with the Bush-Cheney team, and I'm here to stop the count." Bolton was one of the pack of lawyers for the Republican presidential ticket who repeatedly sought to shut down recounts of the ballots from Florida counties before those counts revealed that Gore had actually won the state's electoral votes and the presidency. The Dec. 9 intervention was Bolton's last and most significant blow against the democratic process. The Florida Supreme Court had ordered a broad recount of ballots in order to finally resolve the question of who won the state. But Bolton and the Bush-Cheney team got their Republican allies on the U.S. Supreme Court to block the review. Fearing that each minute of additional counting would reveal the reality of voter sentiments in Florida, Bolton personally rushed into the library to stop the count. Bolton was in South Korea when it became clear that the Nov. 7, 2000, election would be decided in Florida. At the behest of former Secretary of State James Baker, who fronted the Bush-Cheney team during the Florida fight, Bolton winged his way to Palm Beach, where he took the lead in challenging ballots during that county's recount. Then, when the ballots from around the state were transported to Tallahassee for the recount ordered by the state Supreme Court, Bolton followed them. It was there that he personally shut down the review of ballots from Miami-Dade County, a populous and particularly contested county where independent reviews would later reveal that hundreds of ballots that could reasonably have been counted for Gore were instead discarded. Miami-Dade County Elections Supervisor David Leahy argued at the time that 2,257 voters had apparently attempted to mark ballot cards for Gore or Bush but had not had them recorded because they had been improperly inserted into the voting machines. A hand count of those ballots revealed that 302 more of them would have gone for Gore than Bush. That shift in the numbers from just one of Florida's 67 counties would have erased more than half of Bush's 537-vote lead in the state. More.... ........................ Wonderful work as usual Nancy!! Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 04:14 AMNancy, one of the most interesting and constant patterns I've noticed with the extreme right is the habit of accusing the opponent of doing exactlly what they are doing themselves, and then wiping their brow, wining that their feelings are so very harmed when they are outed. It is sheer outrage at the mear mention of their bad behavior.....tamturms. Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 04:21 AM...that was suppose to be tanturms. :-/ Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 04:22 AMSharon, Tomorrow's God attempts to formulate a concept of what the God of the future will be like. Walsch describes this god as loving, compassionate, not needing anything from us humans, encompassing all of life itself, and not being exclusive to any single religion or path to enlightenment. I don't want to spoil the rest, but that's the gist of it. I must say that I had already come to Walsch's same conclusions about God long before I read this book. While the book did not tell me anything I did not already know, I felt that in formulated manyof my beliefs in a coherent way. Honestly, the left in this country needs a coherent spiritual framework from which to launch it's ideas, and Walsch's Conversations seem as good a place to start as any. Walsch calls for a "spiritual civil rights movement," and I think this is exactly what we need in this country. This board is a good launching point, among many others. We sit here typing at our computers, discussing astrology, esoterica, and the occult, but what actions can we take..we the people of this board? Posted by: Dave on April 19, 2005 04:49 AMSo, what do you make of this, everyone: http://www.mantleplumes.org/Yellowstone.html BTW, Nancy, a very interesting article. I still find it hard to believe that we are going to survive these crazed fundies. Shutter! Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 05:05 AMPS Well, yes, I do wish I could close the shutters on that crowd. LOL. Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 05:06 AMgeez, shylurker. what a happy thought. didn't pat c comment that the jet streams across the world help mitigate global warming. be optimistic. the big volcano (yellowstone or sumatra) might just stop it altogether. or, in the alternative, we could just build some huge sharper image air cleaners, like huge ones, and get rid of it altogether. Posted by: mike on April 19, 2005 05:22 AMThanks, Dave. I don't have any constructive answers to your questions at this moment but can tell you that when living in S. FL, I belonged to a multi-religious CWG discussion group who, as one of their projects, purchased copies of the books to spread around to various libraries, etc. It was a noble effort. There are groups like that all over the country (we had about 3 in S. FL). The one I attended was moderated by 2 Christian psychologists who confessed (no pun intended) to us that they really disliked the notion of having to be saved. I always felt that the CWG books were put together, as you said, SO cogently and coherently, with so much love and impact, that the information must be coming through Walsh from the living force that we call G-d. It's interesting that you say the future G-d will not need us. I think that in one sense, one part of G-d will always need us. In Kabbalah, G-d has many aspects (72 names?) and each one has different attributes. Posted by: Sharon on April 19, 2005 05:30 AMnice article Nancy. I just saw this post on DU regarding something that Senator Rockefeller, vice chairman of the intelligence committee, just did and thought it rather interesting I know I got a call from "Amnesty International" saying that something is going to come out with more Prison Abuses in the next few weeks that will make Abu Grahib pale by comparison. "For those who have taken to watching TV lately as a way of escaping the dismal reality in the Kingdom of Bush, the preponderance of the various Law and Order shows is quite striking. Just in the past week, I counted 43 episodes on three different stations. These fascinating and tangled crime dramas, as well as a myriad of others in which good triumphs over evil in a neat 60 minute package, offer a vicarious thrill to a justice-starved audience." The thing that creeps me out about all of these shows [and Americans' deep and abiding love of them] is that they are training us to not only accept but to CHEER a constant and total violation of our Constitutional rights. To make us positively Pavlovian in our acceptance. And they teach us that law enforcement, like Santa, always knows who's been good and who's been bad. So it's okay when "good guys" are physically violent towards suspects, or that "good guys" lie, plant evidence, bend rules, whatever it takes to "see that Justice is served." We eat it up [because, of course, such things are never done to "innocent people," so it will never be done unto us, personally]. Those who love these shows remind me of Armageddon enthusiasts who practically drool at the thought of watching others writhe in eternal agony... Great article, Nancy! Posted by: vcz on April 19, 2005 06:32 AMAdding to the earlier comments about Peak Oil, yesterday our DFA group saw the DVD called the End Of Suburbia. One member expressed concern about the agenda of those behind the film. One of the responses leaped out. ************************************ a) The points made in the movie are true based on every credible report I've ever read. b) The source of the information makes no difference if what they are saying is the truth. Scientific American has published paper after paper on these issues for decades and the research has been pointing out what the movie is just now bringing to popular attention. c) Certain people will use the truth as a rationale for their own selfish agendas. Twas ever thus. But we can't deny the truth because of other people may wish to abuse it. If there is a better way to deal with the coming energy crunch then we had better be armed with the facts now. d) Saying that "the sky is falling" is ok, if it actually is about to fall. The movies stated intent (aside from whatever other agendas ****** suspects the makers may have had - and I can't say he's wrong about that.) was to shake people up. Helping people have a better vision for the future is much harder and and a DVD wouldn't hold it all. The guy on Cheney's task force is the investment banker in the film that was saying we are past the peak and economic growth will stall as long as we are dependent on oil. That doesn't sound much like the administration's line. I don't care whose task force he was on as long as he's telling the truth and he most certainly is. I've been reading about Hubbert's Peak for years what the guy said is fact. Oil and gas are going to become incredibly expensive to recover as we use up the stuff that is easy to drill for. And we've just about used it up. Frankly, to hear this stuff from a oil financier is more credible than to hear it from an environmentalist. If he thinks the solution involves drilling on Wildlife Reserves then we'll have to fight about that, but we can't fight it by denying that cheap oil is going away. And their ARE some really strange things about 9/11 that have never been explained. I'll stop short of claiming a conspiracy but the Bush administration's handling of the whole affair is totally fishy. I would be only moderately surprised if we found out someday that the Neocon involvement was more than we now know. Maybe, maybe not, but I'm glad that there are people investigating the issue. So I don't think any of these things destroy the credibility of the authors. Besides, when it comes to our energy future these guys are far from alone. There are thousands of experts saying the same thing in conferences, magazine articles and science journals. Read Scientific American and you'll get exactly the same story, only with longer words. The guys in the movie were just the ones who made the movie and that doesn't make them any less correct. And their dismissal of alternative fuels is pretty much on the mark as well. The problems with alternative sources of energy are well documented. Ethanol IS a net negative energy source when you run the chemical balance. The only reason it is promoted is to get the rural vote. Farmers benefit from higher corn prices but the amount of energy required to grow the corn (at least the way we farm these days) exceeds the energy in the ethanol produced. That's a fact. It is also true that we don't have enough agricultural acreage nor enough water in the country to grow enough corn to make a dent in our current usage. Solar has it's problems too, mainly because of the storage issues. The sun doesn't shine at night and the amount of sunlight falling on a the surface of the earth isn't as much as people think and you can't store it very well for when you do need it. Running electric cars saves petroleum, but it doesn't save energy. You still have to produce the electricity and that means burning oil, natural gas or coal. As long as we are running out of petroleum reserves and as long as coal mining is the environmental disaster that it is, then electric cars don't really help - except buy a few decades while we burn up all the coal. Hydrogen has many of the same problems as solar. Not only does it take more energy to produce than you get back (unless you use nuclear), but it's absolutely insane to carry a tank of it around in your car. I've seen hydrogen explosions in chemistry labs and the stuff is rocket fuel. Besides, it would take a tank the size of a refrigerator to give you any decent range. The numbers just don't work out. Wind and hydroelectric power have their shortcomings as well. The biggest problem with hydroelectric dams is that most of the rivers that can really provide useful amounts of power have already been dammed. There are only so many rivers, after all. Wind power only works in some locations, some of the time and even then is cost effective only with tax credits to make up the shortfall. Wind generators are enormously expensive to build for the amount of power you get and they ruin huge areas of natural territory in the process. Alternative energy does have its place, and that place is in small scale applications, but even so the only way we can maintain the suburban, energy intensive lifestyle of today is to go nuclear, and I believe, unless we change our national lifestyle, it is only a matter of time before we do. When people can't afford oil, they will protect their lifestyles with whatever is at hand. This doesn't have to be quite as bad as it might sound...reactors can actually be made to be inherently safe (contrary to what many people say) and are actually more healthy than coal fired plants. The radioactive material that naturally occurs in coal is blown out the smokestacks in a plume that crosses entire states and slowly builds up in the topsoil with Strontium 90, Cesium and other REALLY nasty isotopes that attack the human body, especially the glands, causing cancer. On the other hand there has never been a single escape of radiation from a US reactor. And nuclear power, at least, doesn't enhance global warming. Just because I think that nuclear power COULD be done safely, doesn't mean I'm in favor of going out and building reactors. Unfortunately Nuclear power is not a short term solution because we absolutely cannot trust the people in charge of the nuclear power industry nor those running the so-called regulatory agencies. Besides, we're still botching the radioactive waste situation. Actually there is a solution for that too, but poor decisions made forty years ago have us stuck with Uranium plants that produce huge amounts of deadly waste, instead of breeder reactors that reuse the waste. But that's another story. In fifty years we might have viable fusion energy, but that's just wishin'. In any event, I just want to say that just because somebody doesn't consider nuclear power as evil, doesn't mean that they are crazy right-wingers. Based on every scientific, rational, evidential fact that I've ever read, I can tell you that what the people in the movie were saying is the truth - including Kunstler's comment that we have a clusterfuck on our hands. He said in the movie that he was saying it to shock people into paying attention. I can't say it's the best way of convincing people but nobody will be convinced into they are jolted into listening so maybe the guy has a point. What the movie was saying is that all the alternative energy sources in the world won't enable us to maintain the energy intensive lifestyle that we've built. We will have to change the lifestyle or our society will crumble. That, I believe, is true. It is also true that different people can react to the truth in different ways. Suburbanites can go into denial, wingers can get all militant and lefties can claim it's some conspiracy. But it doesn't change the facts. Demonizing the messengers doesn't help either. What some of us on the left might find hard to swallow is that putting up some windmills and using paper instead of plastic isn't going to save us. It just won't. Driving high mileage cars helps, but it won't avoid the inevitable decline of Hubbert's Peak. It will take an enormous, highly uncomfortable change in the way the entire culture works. The people of this country are very unlikely to react well to this and I suspect that there will be much nastiness as a result. Did the movie point out lots of ways to conserve? Did it show a happy ending? No, that wasn't the intended message. The message was to scare the daylights out of people enough to see that big changes were on the way and we'd better get ready. But that is the reason I said the movie ought to be shown in conjunction with another film that paints some kind of positive vision about dealing with the future. One with less reliance on the automobile and with developments that don't destroy agricultural land. One with cities that are designed for people and not cars. One where people exchange the bad effects of our modern life for a kinder, gentler relationship with nature. That way we have a movie that scares people into seeing the danger and then we have another one that helps people figure out what to do about it. Posted by: CC on April 19, 2005 06:44 AMI loved the article Nancy, I particularly liked the picture you drew of Lott and Daschle. In looking at (yuck, I don't want to touch it) Delay's chart and all the transiting and progressed aspects to Mars and Pluto I am wondering about his continued stability. Pluto/Mars can be a "suicide' aspect, or self-destruct aspect. Might he not commit political suicide? He is close with the judicial issue and the Terry Schiavo case, he came real close and I don't think he is out of the woods yet. I am also wondering what will happen when Mercury in May crosses over the Eclipse Point and Tom's Sun. I think something dramatic or some kind of information could come out then. If delay survives my hopes for the "Republic" is close to bottom Posted by: Sally on April 19, 2005 06:50 AMIn Aug. of 2003 I wrote an article regarding Toba and the placement of Mars (it made it closest aspect to earth at that time)Mars was the closest to earth than it had been in 74,000 years, unfortunately during one of our hacker attacks several articles had to go and that was one of them. Toba and the Sumatra area has been a concern since then for me and certainly after this earthquake in Dec. Whoever said it killed 75% of who and what was on the planet was correct the ash covered everything. Anyone considered that God is within us making up the collective whole, or the collective whole makes up God? Posted by: Sally on April 19, 2005 07:09 AMI'm a know-it-all but I doesn't know about God, Sally. And at this point, I'm teetering on the edge of hope and just about to resort to prayer. I think DeLay is finished but it will be a long exit, so we can fully witness what he represents. Nancy,
Jason R. Tippitt http://www.sullivan-county.com/nf0/y2k/illness.htm starrynights/sn, great post. that guy better lock up the live stock just for safety. makes me feel hope (a little lacking lately AWers, if i must say so) for the culture when mountain folk start showing their wisdom in public. cheers Posted by: mike on April 19, 2005 07:51 AMBut why are we so afraid of them? These fundies are bringing out our own primordial fear. We fear them like they fear homosexuals and the like. So what are they triggering in us? Maybe this an opportunity to find our own faith and confidence. Posted by: jm on April 19, 2005 07:57 AM75% of life on Earth? That's nice to know, Sally. Guess I underestimated the mayhem that volcanic ash could create. Talk about a way to go. Suffocating to death on volcanic ash. And I thought the real threat might come from the volcanic-induced "nuclear winter". Gee, anyone get the feeling lately that we're playing an involuntary game of Russian Roulette with a six shooter and five of the chambers loaded? Let us spin the "Wheel of Misfortune". What do we have? Will it be Death by starvation from Peak Oil? Death by suffocation and/or starvation from a Super Volcano? Death by World War III -- Nukes? Death by rogue 50 mile-wide Asteroid? Death by biological plague. Or Death by some other random, undiscovered cause? Shylurker, is there any extra room under your bed? I'm kidding, actually. Maybe it's a Jupiter transit, but I'm actually feeling just a little bit more optimistic now than I have felt in quite awhile. Although Peak Oil is a 100% certianty and any one (or more) of these other events could come to pass at any given time, I still think we will somehow manage to pull through for at least a couple more millenia. Besides, you can't live life in fear of everything that may or may not eventually come to pass. That's simply not living. We may not be able to handle a full-blown Super Volcano today, but we will somehow be able to deal with Peak Oil, rude awakening for our society as it will most certainly be. CC, I actually think alternative fuel and energy sources will work out for us over the long haul, though we do face crisis in the short to mid term for our disturbing degree of denial in the face of reality. There have actually been an extraordinary number of breakthroughs in these areas over the past few years, and even more are in the works. The "problem" is that alternative/renewable solutions just won't work for keeping the MEGA-corporations and their monied elitist CEOs propped up, or for maintaining financial slavery and business as usual. They know it as much as we do that the gig is pretty much up, which is why we are seeing much of the madness in the Big Oil corps and US government right now. RE-LOCALIZATION is going to be a major buzzword in a couple of years. Wal-Mart, Exxon, and Enron's days are numbered. Whatever energy, water and food-production solutions that emerge in the coming months and years will have to be re-centered around local cities, towns and communities, and may extend to a regional level. But hey, it's not like we didn't start out that way. Forget the Global Economy. It's DOA. Posted by: NEOBuckeye on April 19, 2005 08:08 AMWelcome to TOM DELAY'S HOUSE OF SCANDAL! Cursor over the greenHouse of scandal featuring Bug Man in the Bullseye. Best with audio. Posted by: vcz on April 19, 2005 08:14 AMI agree, NEObuckeye, The corporations are holding back progress. And like the person who wrote the reply I posted, re-localization is the path to a healthier future. Not just environmentally, but also for society. Even if a super volcano blows up, by re-learning community more of us will survive. Like the person who wrote the response, I do agree with the premise alternative energy on small scale is viable. Large scale, alternative energy can be viable, but not with the current reign of mega corporations and social attitudes. I found it of interest what they wrote about coal emissions. I don't know if it has a relation to the increase in breast cancer ( in men also ) in West Virginia, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did. Posted by: CC on April 19, 2005 09:02 AMDoes anyone have any idea how many eons back we would have to go to find out when the last time all the outer planets were in the same position they are in now? Posted by: Jeanie on April 19, 2005 09:12 AMHi all, Haven't posted for a while but I have been lurking... As for the U.K. election, Labour should win it legitimately (no voting machines here - pen and paper)with a small swing to the Tories and Lib Dems in terms of seats (first past the post does skew things). I will be voting Labour as my local M.P. voted against the war, represents the local area well and is a decent fellow. What is giving Labour its strength is Gordon Brown's running of the economy - lowest unemployment rate in the western world, introduction of the minimum wage, greater investment in public services. In addition, it is Brown that is foremost in pushing debt relief for the third world. According to the polls, Labour would have a much greater lead if Brown were leader...got nothing to with buying bridges. Political reality dictates that when the leader becomes a liability they go - remember what the Tories did to Thatcher. Jo, Blair will go sooner rather than later! We do have a cabinet system of government, in spite of Blair's efforts, so fortunately I can still vote Labour with a clear conscience. There are still problems with my party but I still endorse most of their policies and we are in a far healthier state than the Democrats over there. The U.K. is a tolerant place on the whole due mainly to its secularism and plurality. Religion is not taken seriously by the majority of the population and everything is to be questioned, albeit sometimes too cynically. I feel sorry that so many of you on this board live in a place that seems to have gone mad. I left Australia when it looked likely that it was going down the tube(a year after Howard was elected) and I'm glad that I did and will never go back. I really don't know how you cope with it all. If you want to come live in Scotland you're more than welcome! Jase, The new Pentagon can peruse intelligence on US citizens and send Marines down Main Street. http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/041805E.shtml Jase, Thanks for your take... we don't know how to deal with it either --- just one day at the time. I see the Labour Party as the fav, but if they win will Blair see that as vindication of his Iraq lies?! (which is what * did!) I think Brown thought he would have stepped down a year or two ago, but he didn't. 'course you have a closer view of things where you are... I read that there's a movement to get evoting machines in (Blair's efforts, I am sure). And I read that Labour/Blair is suffering in places they should be leading. At any rate, if Labour wins I will be skeptical still about Blair stepping down. Marjorie Orr says the following: "...Into 2005 Pluto is conjunct Mars from February onwards which will be blocked, stuck, enraged, a ruthless fight for control. "...Blair Second Term Government Chart "...Into 2004 Pluto starts to square Saturn from late February staying till late 2005, which will put Blair as PM under extreme pressure. Uranus trines Neptune from April 2004 onwards for a year which will make for a highly strung, distrustful relationship. Into 2005 Pluto trines Uranus altering the relationship between Blair and the UK population totally." http://www.star4cast.com/index2f.asp?page=home%2Easp Jase, I agree that "Blair is out" with the people. Problem is, I see * as "out" with the American people, but he is still in control. So, I wonder --- the only way to rid the government of Blair, is to rid the government of Labour's control. What happens if Labour loses most of its majority, and it splits between Tories and Lib Dems? What kind of coalition results, and does Blair remain PM? Is the populace voting for PM or simply the Party? You see, it is all very confusing for us Yanks --- although I must say imo the UK has a much more DEMOCRATIC voting process than the US... Glad to hear from you again. Namaste Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 12:57 PMDave, "Honestly, the left in this country needs a coherent spiritual framework from which to launch it's ideas, and Walsch's Conversations seem as good a place to start as any. Walsch calls for a "spiritual civil rights movement," and I think this is exactly what we need in this country. This board is a good launching point, among many others." ---------- In my opinion, and that of those who framed the government for this country over two hundred years ago, religion has NO PLACE in government. Do you really believe the Left should follow in the reckless path of the Right as you suggest above? Religion is a PRIVATE matter. The reason the Fundies of the Right are so powerful (and JM, they are POWERFUL) is that the rest of us were TOLERANT... after all, this country was founded on tolerance. The problem though is that the Right and the Fundies in particular are INTOLERANT. They believe it is their way or ... (you fill in the blank --- and it doesn't matter which group of fundies we are speaking of, they are all literalists). Opposition to their POV is not acceptable. Therein lies the problem, imo. Civil rights movement for spirituality? How 'bout just getting back to basics --- you know, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Sorry for the rant, but I believe we are all ONE, there is NO THING outside the whole... whatever there is, is part of each of us already... no need to go outside looking for it. However, I will fight to the death your right to believe otherwise (even the rights of Fundamentalists). And I will fight just as vehemently any effort to put "religion" in government. Condi, the Disco Queen of South Bend, Ind. intends to destroy the UN... Superwoman to the rescue, with one fell swoop --- down with Kofi Annan --- down with the UN... Jude Wanniski exposes the REAL oil-for-food scandal... the covert actions of the US government... April 19, 2005 As if you don't have enough trouble in preparing your final report to UN General Secretary Kofi Annan on the so-called "Oil-for-Food Scandal," now the U.S. Justice Department has jumped the gun and indicted Houston oilman David Bay Chalmers Jr. and his Bayoil USA company. For what? For paying "illegal kickbacks" to Saddam Hussein in order to get permission from Saddam to export Iraqi oil in the oil-for-food program. Clearly what is going on here, Paul, is the White House has encouraged the U.S. attorney general to get out of the gate before you do. The idea is to establish in the public mind that the United Nations presided over a corrupt mechanism that lined the pockets of Saddam and his cronies in the American oil industry at the expense of the poor people of Iraq. And Kofi should hit the road. Our press corps of course does not help by writing story after story that funds paid to the Iraqi government, roughly 2.5 percent of that charged to companies like Bayoil, were "kickbacks" and not legitimate "fees." If they didn't pay the fees, they wouldn't have gotten the oil. I've been waiting for your final report to be published and make it clear that Iraq not only had every legal right to charge fees for the taking of the oil, it charged the fees to every company in the world that was engaged in the program. After all, Paul, do not forget that the oil belonged to the government of Iraq in custody for its people. That's the way it works throughout the world. In addition, every last barrel that came out of its oilfields could not have been lifted without the cooperation and assistance of the Iraqi government that delivered it to the Iraqi pipelines that, in turn, delivered it to the companies that held permits. I'm surprised Saddam only asked 2.5 percent. Indeed, the neocon team is brazenly acting as if Saddam did something wrong in selling Iraqi oil in violation of the United Nations embargo that we insisted be kept on for a dozen years after the 1991 Gulf War. The UN resolution did not prohibit Baghdad's sale of oil!!! It prohibited its purchase by UN members. When it came to the problems associated with the embargo that affected Jordan and Turkey, both of which depend on Iraqi oil, by now every member of Congress knows that both the Clinton and Bush administrations turned a blind eye to the so-called "illegal sales," or they would have had to come up with the oil from other sources. The record is also clear, and getting more embarrassing with time, that our government knew in 1991 that Iraq had abandoned its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction. The UNSCOM inspectors quickly made those discoveries, and the events since have confirmed that Iraq fully complied with that 1991 UN resolution before the year was out. But when the other members of the UN Security Council urged a lifting of the embargo, we insisted they remain in place until the Baghdad regime of Saddam was replaced by one friendly to the U.S. (and to Israel). All this brings further shame on our government, now using every trick in the book to cover up the fact that it has waged an "illegal" war, to use Kofi Annan's term. This, after spending a dozen years starving the people of Iraq by isolating it in the world through our clout at the Security Council. By UN estimates, in those dozen years 1.5 million Iraqi civilians, including 500,000 children, died as a result of the embargo. Our former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright famously told Leslie Stahl on 60 Minutes that this loss of life was "worth it" to keep Saddam bottled up. In the same interview, she let the cat out of the bag that the Clinton administration had no intention of lifting the sanctions as long as Saddam was in power. If you think about it this way, Paul, you will have to acknowledge that with what we know now, there should never have been an oil-for-food program. Once it had been determined that Iraq was in compliance, they could have resumed oil sales, using the funds to import the food and chemicals needed to repair the water and sanitation facilities bombed out in the Gulf War. As I wrote earlier this year in "Who's Behind the Oil-for-Food Scandal": "By rough reckoning, I find that if the sanctions had been lifted in 1991 (when they should have been lifted), Iraq would have earned enormous amounts of money from the sale of their oil. At an average of $10 a barrel of oil (bbl) over 14 years, they would have collected $126 billion. "At a more reasonable average over the period of $15 to $20, the Iraqi government would have been able to pay all its creditors and at the same time enable the Iraqi people to return to the high living standards they enjoyed before the Iran-Iraq war (during which, I repeat, the U.S. supported Iraq)." You should not be surprised that the lawyer for Houston oilman Chalmers is quoted as saying he will "vigorously dispute" the criminal charges. The indictment is laughable. Also note that Chalmers had been doing business with Iraq going back to 1980, was well known to the government, and would certainly be given a spot near the front of the line when Saddam's oil ministry began handing out the tickets for oil sales. Our newspapers, including the NY Times, continue to report as if the Iraqi oil belongs to the United Nations and companies friendly to Baghdad should have been shut out. To tell you the truth, Paul, it's hard for me to see how you will wiggle out of the spot this latest move by the administration has put you in. The indictment of Bayoil by the New York feds is of course being celebrated by The Wall Street Journal as proof, PROOF, that Kofi Annan presided over a corrupt oil-for-food program and should step down! If your report says otherwise, the neocons will have no choice but to attack you for being in cahoots with Kofi. It would be nice if you could put on the record your interviews with Saddam's oil ministers, who could clear all this up, I'm sure. But like Saddam, they are being held under lock and key by our puppet government in Baghdad, still denied lawyers after almost two years in detention. Our government did permit you and your team to interview the ministers, didn't it? There is a scandal, but I'm afraid it isn't in Baghdad. Good luck. This is a short article regard Toba and the damage super volcano's can cause, and the problems right now with Yellowstone. Toba covered the earth with several tons of ash. Jase, I understand that Scotland isnt' as willing to let people in as they were, is that true? I have a friend that just moved to Scotland a couple of years ago and loves it, she is never coming back. Posted by: Sally on April 19, 2005 01:37 PMI can't believe the corporate press has sunk so low that we are invited to vote on whether M/Ann Coulter makes a positive contribution. This is madness. Pls go vote: Always room under the bed for you, NeoB! Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 03:01 PMAnd here's another nut-case poll (Bolton): Mike I haven't seen hide nor hair of Guido. However I wv, if Guido is thinking about Califoria, he'd better be singing and learning from Guthrie's "If You Ain't Got the Do-Re-Me." Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 04:25 PMMore on Hitchhikers Guide... The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments: Jo, he moves stuff so quickly on his site, that Steve Judd's observations and predictions get lost all too soon. He may have archives somewhere but I can't find them. At any rate, he did a 4- or 5-part series on Blair very, very recently. He concluded that Blair will be out of there by the end of this year, IIRC. Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 04:40 PMHey hey hey we will have flowers, the finest California Napa Wines and herbs for Guido and company. Only the best for our travelers. Tell Guido to zip by the Santa Cruz Mountains, enjoy our redwoods, pick homegrown mushrooms, lavendar and rosemary grow in abundance. Bowers of rose arbors await the most awesome Guido and Quida Mae. Color the locals REAL BLUE ! Those Golden Gates are open! Posted by: Morgana on April 19, 2005 04:42 PMShylurker... If this is an example, I couldn't agree with you Remember, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree http://www.boston.com/travel/articles/2004/03/28/packages_tempt_with_golden_state_offers?mode=PF Posted by: wv on April 19, 2005 04:43 PMWV, I wondered myself if Guido confused WV with SC, after all both have a Charleston. If he did, I'm a good 2/3 hours inland... and if he tried to traverse the 'new' bridge, well... it's so new it's still under construction! Hey, he's resourceful, though... always makes his way back to Mike... if he's headed to California he'd better mend his fences with Shylurker... there may not be room under the bed until he apologizes. At least QM is safe --- and not gadding 'bout with him... she's fluffing up my downy comforter at the moment... it's so restful here, what the South USED to be... Shylurker is onto something here... sheer comfort... I highly recommend it y'all... Shy, I don't think Guido is much of a singer... more of a dancer --- disco, and Charleston... hey, Mike --- how 'bout that new place of worship you recently opened? The one you invited me to check out... maybe Guido's there... :) Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 04:47 PMShylurker, I sure hope Steve Judd is right! Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 05:01 PMNew Pope 12:04 EDT. Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 05:06 PMother breaking news at BBC: Coca-Cola profits are DOWNNNNN... and of course GM quarterly report worse since 1992 --- GM loses $1.1bn as car sales slow. Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 05:16 PMIf interested in the potential effects of a Yellowstone super volcano blast, try to see "Super Volcano" on the History Channel. Wv posted some replay times the other day. I'm sure they'll be repeating it. Jase, have you ever heard of Findhorn or been there? Wv, I had no idea you were so creative and humorous until Guido came into your orbit. You really are! I guess Guido (and Ouida) touches the best in all of us. I'm starting to think about cleaning out under my bed myself lately and creating a clean, fragrant, sensual, loving sanctuary where only goodness/G-ddess/G-d reign :-) Posted by: Sharon on April 19, 2005 05:21 PMOn the Pope...the white smoke first appeared at 11:49 AM, EDT, but the bells rang at 12:04 PM, EDT. Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 05:24 PMWell, Miss Sharon, what appointments will you be offering...? Or, is yours to be a personal, private retreat? :) Morgana has offered Guido and Guida Mae the Santa Cruz mountains and other lovelies... we could establish a traveling "under the bed" adventure... remember the 70s? No, you were too young then... but there were 'moving' dinners where you had appetizers at one house, moved onto to entree at another, and dessert etc. Isn't cyberspace grand? Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 05:32 PMShylurker, Folks, her name is Ouida Mae. Ouida = "Wee-da". Also, the white smoke was taupe and the bells were from an ice cream truck (or so I just saw over at DU). Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 05:43 PMIt's the RAT. Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 05:43 PMJo, A spiritual civil rights movement does not necessitate injecting religion into government. Rather, I see it as a renewed fight for religious freedom, for diversity of doctrine, and for not being held at the mercy of an angry judging God. Nowhere does this imply destroying the barrier between church and state. Moreover, I think this is entirely compatible with the original principles of the Constitution. It is important to keep in mind the spirituality and religion are two different things. My opinion is that the political left could use a dose of the former and that the political right has gone off into the deep end with the latter. Posted by: Dave on April 19, 2005 05:43 PMDear Dave, I believe the "religious" political right could use a humongous dose of spirituality. The political left has plenty, IMO. Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 05:47 PMYep, Pat C., guess we know the direction things are going, right Joanna? [yeah, Right, and more Right!] Dave, I hear you... you continue to fight for what you believe... namaste Shylurker, I dooooo apologize for getting Ms. Ouida Mae's name all messed up! That explains the lump in my otherwise comfy bed! I will apologize to "Wee-da" Mae promptly. Thank goodness there's no smoke or bells here... just peace... thanks Shy. Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 05:51 PMThe Rat, Pat C???? Oh, I liked the taupe smoke and ice cream cart scenario much better. Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 05:51 PMPope Rat it is....Raw Story says he was a Hitler Youth...perfect choice, no? namaste, y'all, and truth....I'd be interested to see the fine points of the 12:04 EDT new pope chart..... Posted by: Garry on April 19, 2005 05:54 PMSo, this is where the majority of cardinals wants the Catholic Church to go. The term "moribund" comes to mind. Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 05:57 PMAt the risk of winning the title of iconiclast of the century, I will say that not only do we have a new Papa, Rat(ziller), he has taken the name of Benedict XVI [Joanna, am I the only one who sees the irony in this name?] Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 05:57 PMPope Benedict XVI Going to go look it up, but I'll bet it's repressive. Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 05:58 PMInsightful article, Nancy. The tensions at play around Delay, Bush, et al would seem to indicate some sort of power shift. Yet, for all the "signs" it seems these oil-slick entities slip and slide through firm decency grasps. Why? What astrologers work on their behest? You can bet they're all receiving some estoric help -- albeit preverse. The Rat. When his name was announced i literally felt sick. The moral enforcer? Hmmmmm. Now what morals would those be? A return to the dark ages? How nicely it fits with one of Jo's previous posts and the rabidity of the current religious emphasis on Old Testament satanic rituals. (my take). To accept that each of us are a part of what we term God would mean that the entire psychological and spiritual landscape of the world would change. Can't have that! How can we teach that each of us has the power of creation within? Gee, that would mean that those who merely think they have power would have to concede an equality with those they consider less. WOW! Just think of that. ;-) Shylurker, i love your tales of Guido and Ouida Mae though i'm not one for lurking under a bed. How about i stand guard at the door? I could be the psychic bouncer. karen Posted by: farrout on April 19, 2005 06:03 PM According to this brief synopsis at wikipedia, the last Benedict wasn't all that bad. But, then, whadda I know? Pat C., I posted this last thread: oophs! Forgot... my Mercury has a message sure to get a chuckle from Joanna. The Guardian is keeping up with the 'selection' --- "Weeks of feverish speculation and intrigue in Rome will enter their final phase tomorrow when 115 cardinals begin to elect a new pope in the most exclusive and secret ballot in the world. http://www.guardian.co.uk/pope/story/0,12272,1462205,00.html Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 06:04 PMInfo says: "was required by law to join the Hitler Youth..." more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cardinal_Ratzinger Also, Benedict>Benedictine> St. Malachy's "Glory Of The Olives"? (The Olive branch is the symbol of the Benedictine Order. Posted by: mars on April 19, 2005 06:05 PMSo there's a new Pope now. Benedict XVI. It sounds like he's a lot more conservative than the last Pope. I can't say that I'm surprised byt this. My parents' housekeeper was just visiting with me in my room and was telling me that she believes this pope may be the anti-Christ. Honestly, he doesn't sound like an unlikely candidate if you ask me. Do take a look at that Raw Story article. It is quite illuminating into the mentality of the new Pope: evil must be opposed, but only if it's convenient. This is one of those days when I'm glad I'm not Catholic. Posted by: Dave on April 19, 2005 06:07 PMOf course, if you come touring up this way to Maine, it's lobster salad rolls, with Bartlett winery pear and apple very,dry white wine, kegged in oak. With blueberry pie as well Well my partner in crime said he felt a shift for evil the minute the Ratz's name was announced. He also remimded me that Benedictus XV, had one of the shortest tenures of office. It has been mentioned on DU that he might know of Malachy's prophesy and is playing to it with his opening statement about the olive branch. But why he would do that is beyond me as it fortells the end of the Catholic Church. Posted by: M. on April 19, 2005 06:21 PMHere is another very good sourse for the Popes Benedict. What did he say about the Olive branch?? Posted by: mars on April 19, 2005 06:24 PMTry this link from the NCR (Nat'l Cath Reporter) http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/041699/041699a.htm "...Others believe Ratzinger will be remembered as the architect of John Paul’s internal Kulturkampf, intimidating and punishing thinkers in order to restore a model of church -- clerical, dogmatic and rule-bound -- many hoped had been swept away by the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-65 assembly of bishops that sought to renew Catholicism and open it to the world. Ratzinger’s campaign bears comparison to the anti-modernist drive in the early part of the century or Pius XII’s crackdown in the 1950s, critics say, but is even more disheartening because it followed a moment of such optimism and new life. At the most basic level, many Catholics cannot escape the sense that Ratzinger’s exercise of ecclesial power is not what Jesus had in mind." Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 06:26 PMWell... the global fascist partriarchy cabal has taken over the World bank, working on the UN, have taken over the vatican (THAT was a given)... what next to consolidate its "Power Over." Things are looking pretty darned bad. Those old French guillotines, all spiffed up & sharpened, need to be dragged out to unhead some "royal pains in the butt." The goings-ons at Abu Ghraib et al were nothing compared to what went on in the vatican dungeons. Posted by: JoannaOregon on April 19, 2005 06:44 PMHeard the olive branch thing secondhand, got it wrong. What he said was that he is a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the lord. Posted by: M. on April 19, 2005 06:55 PMGuess they called it right: "c. The next Pope after John Paul II will take the name Pope Benedict XVI, in imitation of Saint Benedict and also of Pope Benedict XV. Just as Pope Benedict XV was an emissary of peace, so will Pope Benedict XVI be an emissary of peace. Just as Pope Benedict XV sought peace and spoke of peace and wrote papal documents seeking peace, so will Pope Benedict XVI do also. Just as Pope Benedict XV failed to achieve peace in the world, so will Pope Benedict XVI fail to achieve peace in the world. Just as the Pontificate of Benedict XV began prior to World War I, so will the Pontificate of Benedict XVI occur prior to World War III. After the Pontificate of Benedict XVI, World War III will begin. The Arab nations will threaten and attack the United States; they will threaten, attack, invade and conquer Europe; they will threaten, attack, invade and conquer the northern part of Africa. " Taken from: http://www.catholicplanet.com/articles/article41.htm Posted by: mars on April 19, 2005 06:55 PMBut the again... "Conspiracy theorists believe that Ratzinger is actually trying very hard to make the world believe in the prophecy. Indeed, as dean of Cardinals, he had a say in the choice of John Paul II's funeral date (fulfilling the second part of the de labore solis prophecy), and later, he was obviously free to pick a fitting papal name for himself (fulfilling the gloria olivae prophecy)." From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes Posted by: mars on April 19, 2005 07:01 PMYep, Mars, the Boyz continue to tap-dance on our foreheads... ohhhh, the games they play... Y'all ready for this one? Wonder what went down at Crawford? Don't know about you, but I wonder who the #$%^'s money they think they are spending, throwing it around like drunken sailors... Enough is enough... is enough... From Haartz: PM plans to ask U.S. for aid that could top $10 billion The team includes representatives from the treasury, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry. Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 07:10 PMIs it possible that we the people of the United States of America could put together a petition requesting so many billions for education here in the US, so many billions for national health care here in the US, so many billions for clean air and water here in the US, so many billions for promoting and protecting civil liberties, foreign aid only for countries with good human rights' records, and so on? It seems our reps and sens can't get these things done for us, but they can guarantee many many billions for war, destruction, pollution and stomping on humanity that gets in the way of international corporations. Sigh. http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/04/claim-vs-fact-bushs-record-on-labor.html CLAIM vs. FACT: Bush's Record on Labor Issues Bush Labor Secretary Elaine Chao gave a Q&A interview with the fringe-right magazine "Human Events." Not surprisingly, she offers up some nice nuggets of dishonesty: CLAIM: FACT: CLAIM: FACT: CLAIM: FACT: Sources: The Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club (currently down, one suspects, because of a surge in interest) says of its subject: "As Grand Inquisitor for Mother Rome, Ratzinger keeps himself busy in service to the Truth: correcting theological error, silencing dissenting theologians, and stomping down heresy wherever it may rear its ugly head -- and, consequently, has received somewhat of a notorious reputation among the liberal media and 'enlightened' intellegensia of pseudo-Catholic universities." But Piers Paul Read, writing in the Spectator magazine last month, put it another way. He called Ratzinger "the liberals' bete noire — the bad cop to Pope John Paul II’s good cop [...] It was he who ruled that the impossibility of ordaining women was an infallible teaching, and that the Church of England was not a Church 'in the proper sense'." Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 07:36 PMMy apologies Sally, I see the link in my post is too long --- and I have messed up the thread. Just delete the post please. I linked enough about Ratzinger. Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 07:50 PMI wanted to get something off about this pope before I went to work. He was born April 16, 1927 in Bavaria, Germany (he is an Aries and he will listen to no one, chances are a very infirm Pope John Paul II was completely at Ratzinger's mercy) Ratzinger is credited with the cracking down on the church more liberal views over the last 20 some years. This is not a good sign for the Church and is a bad omen for the rest of the world as ultra conservative idealogy grips the world in the Jewish faith, Islam, and Christianity. Ratzinger's selection is a good indication that the church has never gotten over the Reformation and still dreams of being the One True Church, they are certain they have a lock on God and Jesus and they intend to try and move the world in that direction. They've been here over a thousand years and they figure they have time, but, as in America, they first have to wipe out all vestiges of anything they think is liberal. As far as what chart to use, the White Smoke chart at 5:49pm (Rome) is a good place to start. That was the signal by the Church to the rest of the world what they intend to do, and Saturn is right on the Mid-heaven. This guy has about one month of a honeymoon and then the crackdown will start. The priests and bishops will feel it first. He will be invested on Sun. (the full moon)will be waiting for the time that day. Posted by: Sally on April 19, 2005 07:52 PMSally, Thanks for your take, Sally. I thought I was irreverant... folks over at dKos are calling Ratzinger a Nazi (he was a member of Hilter's Youth Corps) and Kos is a practicing Catholic! I see him as either a Neocon or a Fascist (wait, there's not distinction!)... Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 08:17 PMmeanwhile, back at the ranch, the GOP is ramming Bolton down the world's throats. Interesting the above description of Benedict XVI and Bolton these guys are two peas from the same pod. They don't listen to anyone.. Yup, they are both rottweilers. Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 08:24 PMJoseph Cardinal Ratzinger's birth information is 4/16/27, Marktl, Germany, 4:15AM. Charts anyone? Over at Astrodatabank they're saying that he will be (suprisingly) forward-looking and will run into trouble with the conservatives! What appointments will I be offering, Miz Jo? (I like that quaint terminology, could you explain it please? I guess it's Southern). Well, the magnolias & azaleas have already bloomed but the pink crepe myrtles are coming. There are still tart cumquats on the trees, sweet Asian pears, and later this summer, we hope there to have satsumas (sweet LA tangerines), grapefruit and Meyer lemons. We'll just reach out with a long claw, while sipping Planters Milk Punch from under the bed. You also find here under our bed some charming antique dustballs and cat hairballs, and the view of the furniture is pure Baroque...but it's cool and shady, there's greenry outside, a sweet black puppy and a gentle tabby will come by to visit, and an extensive reading library will be offered. And my husband will tell you his jokes, what a treat! Of course, when we venture out from under the bed, we can visit beautiful Audubon park with it's sweeping oaks and nearby is the mighty Mississippi. We can order in some grilled redfish, gumbo, cafe au lait (great LA french roast will be used with or without chickory, as you oplease), beneigets (sugared fried dough, terrible for ya but very popular), and call up for some great local jazz and blues artists and, if we're really lucky, there might be a jazz funeral passing by. When it's quiet, we might hear the sounds of party festivity wafting over from the park or the distant cries of animals from the Zoo. Better hurry up, though, before the humidity sets in (so far, it's been gorgeous). The next 2 weekends are the venerable annual Jazz Fest if you want to have some wild fun before retiring under the bed, you're all welcome. Stay as long as you like. And I'm REALLY excited about being hosted in CA, Maine, SC, WV, DC, maybe Poland & China, and wherever else you all live. You all sound like wonderful, sunny, loving, wise & witty company. I have sun & Jupiter in Pisces in the 9th so I live and breathe travel and adventure (mostly the armchair or underbed variety). As far as the new pope...I know we smell a Rate but, as mentioned earlier (I think), having someone like this is akin to having ** president. It will demonstrate how antiquated and corrupt the whole system is, will hasten the revolution, and will finally bring in the New Age. People will wise up as they are now already doing. The Theocrats may be driven to take over but we will only allow that for so long. Just give us a little while longer and we'll all come out growling and empowered, ready to assume our rightful place in a sane, peace unified world. They'll be either with us, or else footnotes in history. Posted by: Sharon on April 19, 2005 08:34 PMRight on Sharon! You write an inviting travelogue! But most of all, I love your finish. I've been thinking about how little folks like change... usually things have to happen EXTERNALLY to change us... and that's a very POSITIVE thought you have there about things getting SOOOOO bad... it may indeed be the only solution. Anyway, if you decide to throw your hat in the ring in 2008, you could beat the sox off Hilary, you'd get my vote for sure! Namaste Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 08:43 PMwv, that was 'carry me back to old virginny' you heard and indeed, he was carried back to my front door. he did find some mushrooms, but apparently they were not yours! he's resting now and i don't want to disturb him but he's talking about south carolina, you were right. well jo, get ready. Posted by: mike on April 19, 2005 09:07 PMAs far as Ratzinger and his health, I will have to wait until the time Sunday because that directly affects him, however based on this chart and his natal chart (I don't have a time) I believe he will have a health crisis in late Sept through Nov. what that will be or how serious I am reluctant to ever say. His Solar Arc Pluto has moved into a t-square aspect with his Mercury and Mars,with Mars being the ruler of his Sun, plus the White Smoke Chart (how poetic) will have the progressed Moon in opposition to Uranus in the 6th and progressed Venus falling directly on the 8th House Cusp. Saturn will for sure square his natal Sun at 25 Aries and Saturn sure slows a person down. Transiting Pluto is close to his Mid-heaven of 25 Sagittarius, close enough to remove an authority figure from his life, and in the fall it goes direct and over that mid-heaven by January, he will take that power. I am going to postulate that when T-Pluto comes to a square/opposition respectively, to his Mars and Mercury he will be facing a more serious health crisis by 2007. 2007/2008 is my prediction for his passing over. I don't know how the world will perceive this Pope, but I am pretty sure that he will be a "wolf in sheep's clothing." I can't however imagine with his Jupiter and Mercury in Pisces so close together that he will appear mean or hell, fire and damnation, even with the Mercury/Mars square, his style is more likely to be passive agressive, the velvet hammer so to speak. Post Script: His birth time is 4:15am Posted by: Sally on April 19, 2005 09:09 PMthere are some living breathing democrats in congress. In 1997 Ratzinger annoyed Buddhists by calling their religion an ‘autoerotic spirituality’ that offers ‘transcendence without imposing concrete religious obligations’. And Hinduism, he said, offers ‘false hope’; it guarantees ‘purification’ based on a ‘morally cruel’ concept of reincarnation resembling ‘a continuous circle of hell’. The Cardinal predicted Buddhism would replace Marxism as the Catholic Church’s main enemy this century." ..................... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7561795/ Nun silenced by new pope unhappy with choice Yes Mimi, the Democrats have been willing to take this one to the wall. Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 10:01 PMI finished reading the thread... still don't know how it ended... can someone shed some light? Did they vote? Postpone the vote? Looks like we have more than one Rep going w/ Dems - they were talking about a split, tie - in which case, it STILL goes to the floor, right, Mr. Mike (oh my goodness... do let Guido rest!, we're not ready for him yet? That takes some doing, I think? right Shy?) Sounds like more than Bolton is in trouble... else why all the effort by Lugar to shut up the debate? Could it be someone else is involved in the evidence? Tell us more Mimi! Posted by: Jo on April 19, 2005 10:09 PMI feel another book in the works: The Rat in the Vatican What's to fear? This is just right. So much better than a false prophet of peace. Aries eclipse, 29 degrees Aries Sun(I think), Aries pope, Aries transiting North Node. It's all exposed for us to muscle against. This is a new beginning for us as we find the strength to resist hypocrisy. We will become righteous warriors. The most important thing is to stay honest and genuine amongst ourselves. Hi Nancy and Sally, wonderful articles, both of them! Someone on DU said Rat(zinger) is a full-fledged member of Opus Dei. If it's true well ... (gulp)! There goes the neighborhood (what's left of it). Posted by: Marta on April 19, 2005 10:18 PMhttp://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8230862 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee delayed a vote on the nomination of John Bolton as U.N. ambassador after a Republican senator said he was not prepared to vote for him on Tuesday, casting the nomination in doubt. ................... Arch-conservative German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope on Tuesday in a surprise choice that delighted traditionalist Roman Catholics but stunned moderates hoping for a more liberal papacy. Ratzinger, 78, the Church's 265th pontiff, will take the name of Benedict XVI. He is expected to defend Pope John Paul's strict orthodox legacy and reject changes in Catholic doctrine. He is the oldest man to be elected pope for three centuries and the first German pontiff for a millennium. The speed of the election, on only the second day of a secret cardinals conclave, and its result were both a surprise. Many Vatican experts had said Ratzinger, John Paul's tough doctrinal watchdog for 23 years, was too divisive and too old to become pope. They had predicted he would have to cede to a more conciliatory compromise figure during the conclave, although John Paul had appointed all but two of the cardinal electors and one of those two was Ratzinger himself. The white-haired new Pope appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica soon after his election, smiling broadly and greeting tens of thousands of cheering faithful. "I entrust myself to your prayers," he said as the crowd chanted "Papa! Papa! Papa!" and waved umbrellas and flags. Some climbed lamp posts and fountains in the cobblestone square for a better view. Benedict was showered with congratulations from foreign and religious leaders but the election was greeted with consternation by those hoping for a relaxation in John Paul's strict rule over the world's 1.1 billion Catholics. "We consider the election of Ratzinger is a catastrophe ... We can expect no reform from him in coming years ... I think even more people will turn their back on the Church," said Bernd Goehring, of the German ecumenical group Kirche von Unten. Even in St Peter's Square, some of the celebrations were tempered by fear of widening divisions in the Church. "It's a historic moment, but a very sad one. He is even more conservative than John Paul II. All he knows to do is condemn, condemn, condemn," said Agusti Capdevila from Barcelona. Continued ... Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 10:28 PMhttp://www.thenation.com/thebeat/index.mhtml?bid=1&pid=2335 The Vatican's Enforcer Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 10:34 PMFor those interested it looks like C-span is going to re-air the Bolton hearing ... Posted on Salon, in response to: "The Episcopalians better start printing up some extra hymnals." "If anyone is thinking of making the plunge they better know that the Episcopalians are in the middle of their own battle. The conservative Episcopalians have united with the Nigerian Anglican Church to (eventually) challenge the Episcopal Church USA (and the Anglican Church in Canada) to become the recognized Anglican body in North America. letter from the Primate of all Nigeria, Archbishop Peter J. Akinola http://www.anglican-nig.org/prlttr_northamerica.htm So, come, we'll have hymnals ready for you. But, know that there is nowhere that is safe from the religious right and it's march toward the middle ages." Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 10:52 PM>I think even more people will turn their back on the Church," said Bernd Goehring, of the German ecumenical group Kirche von Unten.< Thanks , Pat C. Excellent. If by some stroke of magical luck Bolton isn't confirmed, I read that as a sure sign of the end of these totalitarian hopefuls. BTW, Berlin just legalized cannabis so I heard. Liberal reform is rearing it's little head right in the midst of all of this. Pretty soon, there might be more money in hemp than there is in the church. The hemp industry is growing all over Europe. Posted by: jm on April 19, 2005 11:06 PMHere ya go... smoke is not even hours old... and already some folks are ready for Ratzinger... Here's the London Observer with dynamite... "...Lawyers point to a letter the Vatican sent to bishops in May 2001 clearly stating the 1962 instruction was in force until then. The letter is signed by Cardinal Ratzinger, the most powerful man in Rome beside the Pope and who heads the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - the office which ran the Inquisition in the Middle Ages." http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1020400,00.html Vatican told bishops to cover up sex abuse Expulsion threat in secret documents Read the 1962 Vatican document (PDF file) Antony Barnett, public affairs editor The Vatican instructed Catholic bishops around the world to cover up cases of sexual abuse or risk being thrown out of the Church. The 69-page Latin document bearing the seal of Pope John XXIII was sent to every bishop in the world. The instructions outline a policy of 'strictest' secrecy in dealing with allegations of sexual abuse and threatens those who speak out with excommunication. They also call for the victim to take an oath of secrecy at the time of making a complaint to Church officials. It states that the instructions are to 'be diligently stored in the secret archives of the Curia [Vatican] as strictly confidential. Nor is it to be published nor added to with any commentaries.' The document, which has been confirmed as genuine by the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, is called 'Crimine solicitationies', which translates as 'instruction on proceeding in cases of solicitation'. It focuses on sexual abuse initiated as part of the confessional relationship between a priest and a member of his congregation. But the instructions also cover what it calls the 'worst crime', described as an obscene act perpetrated by a cleric with 'youths of either sex or with brute animals (bestiality)'. Bishops are instructed to pursue these cases 'in the most secretive way... restrained by a perpetual silence... and everyone... is to observe the strictest secret which is commonly regarded as a secret of the Holy Office... under the penalty of excommunication'. Texan lawyer Daniel Shea uncovered the document as part of his work for victims of abuse from Catholic priests in the US. He has handed it over to US authorities, urging them to launch a federal investigation into the clergy's alleged cover-up of sexual abuse. [more at link] Wow. Posted by: Pat C on April 19, 2005 11:25 PMOh, dear Jo, that was one hum-dinger of a post! I'm sending it far and wide right now. Once I'm done doing that I'm going to continue emailing those Dem Senators today who held firm on the Revoltin' Bolton matter! Posted by: shylurker on April 19, 2005 11:27 PMI think dingbat shrub's saturn has really started working overtime - soc.security reform is dead on water; and now seems like Bolton has to find a new
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/041905Y.shtml Posted by: wv on April 20, 2005 12:07 AMGod, the Rat is ugly! He looks sickly too. Hardly a Catholic calendar pinup guy. Posted by: jm on April 20, 2005 12:21 AMPosted on Salon: "Since nobody has gone to China since Nixon, it is doubtful that Ratzinger, who has a paper trail, will much beyond take the tremendous amount of power he has, and use it towards the ends he has pursued, including the coverup of child abuse by the clergy. Ratzinger's Nazi past has been reported by Ratzinger, and of course he is going to minimalize his involvement. So did Waldheim. If people are squeamish about calling him a Nazi, then they can call him a phalangist, which he is as well." http://www.crc-internet.org/mar1.htm We seem to be abounding in luxurious places of refuge and comfort under the bed--CA, LA, CA, ME, and ?? Maybe it's time we incorporated into a chain, say, Captain Sally's Celestial Hostels. Posted by: shylurker on April 20, 2005 12:53 AMSpeaking of the Spanish, Pat C. C.S. Lewis' wife wrote and won a prize for the following: SNOW IN MADRID Softly so casual Gresham wrote it during the time of the war in Spain --- note your reference above to Falange, Spanish political party --- fascists... In contrast to the bombs falling from the Posted by: Jo on April 20, 2005 01:03 AMShylurker, You are so creative! What a lovely thought... our little boats will never be alone or lonely!!! Posted by: Jo on April 20, 2005 01:06 AMYes ma'am, Miz Jo, and under the bed our little boats are always afloat in a gentle, star-lit, sparkling sea. Posted by: shylurker on April 20, 2005 01:31 AMJo, yes, there it is indeed. What a treasure you bring here. I'm watching Democratic Senators of the Forign Relations Committee, Biden right now, scream at the others and pound fists in an attempt to expose Bolton. It rivals the films I saw of the McCarthy hearings. Wow....and not a moment too soon. Posted by: Pat C on April 20, 2005 01:33 AMFull hearing coming. The vote was postponed for two weeks. My antennae went up when I found out that Gore Vidal sold his Italian property and moved full time to LA. I thought maybe he didn't want to miss out on the coming political excitement and fun. He loves it. Posted by: jm on April 20, 2005 01:44 AMJo, a Republican Senator named Voinivich spoke up to say that he was no longer comfortable pushing the vote through committee to the Senate floor. Until then, the Repugthugs on the committee would have had the majority. At that point, it became a tie. At the end of the first DU thread this is all explained and there's some extra material on a 2nd thread. It's really worth watching the replay (or at least reading the thread) as the DU report was VERY dramatic & exciting, with Kerry, Boxer, Bider & a few others really speaking up, questioning, refusing to be intimated or silenced, even supposedly shouting. BTW, I'd rather be your VP running mate. Jo. Better yet, you be Sally's VP and I'll be a speechwriter & aide. Actually, I think we went through this before and there was already a running slate chosen. What shall we call our new party? Love you guys! Posted by: Sharon on April 20, 2005 01:45 AMFrom DU news, DeLay continues to wig out - DeLay Slams Supreme Court Justice By JESSE J. HOLLAND WASHINGTON - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay intensified his criticism of the federal courts on Tuesday, singling out Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's work from the bench as "incredibly outrageous" because he has relied on international law and done research on the Internet. DeLay also said he thought there were a "lot of Republican-appointed judges that are judicial activists." The No. 2 Republican in the House has openly criticized the federal courts since they refused to order the reinsertion of Terry Schiavo's feeding tube. And he pointed to Kennedy as an example of Republican members of the Supreme Court who were activist and isolated. "Absolutely. We've got Justice Kennedy writing decisions based upon international law, not the Constitution of the United States? That's just outrageous," DeLay told Fox News Radio. "And not only that, but he said in session that he does his own research on the Internet? That is just incredibly outrageous."
O. M. G. very interesting: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1521&e=3&u=/afp/20050419/pl_afp/vaticanpopeus Basically, it's detailing how the newly elected Pope intervened in the 2004 Election by ordering Bishops to deny Kerry Communion because he supports a woman's right to choose. Posted by: Jonathan on April 20, 2005 02:29 AMah, AW, my cyber island of peace, civility, and intelligence! i liked your comment on today signaling the end of tyrants. but what a contradiction (and i'd be interested in your comments) in today's pope-perie. i see the new pope as the unmasked truth, a truth that is necessary to tell those with "ears to hear" that their organization is not true to the message of their teacher. hmmm... btw, guido is headed for south carolina, says he want's to party in charleston and hears there's lots of "hotties" there (these are not my words, it's that guido). he says he expects the same level of indulgence from 'jo' as he got from shylurker. jo, good luck. Posted by: mike on April 20, 2005 02:43 AMhttp://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/national/ivins/story/12751623p-13603221c.html Molly Ivins: A lecture in manners from Tom DeLay? Spring fever is taking a weird form this year. Politicians say nice things for political reasons and then revert with a vengeance -- a sort of political Tourette syndrome, they can't help what they say. In his new role as the Emily Post of politics, DeLay informed us, "It is unfortunate in our electoral system, exacerbated by our adversarial media culture, that political discourse has to get so overheated, that it's not just arguments, but motives are questioned." Did someone question his motive in taking an all-expenses-paid vacation from a lobbyist? This would be the same Tom DeLay who said, "Screw the Senate," when he learned Bob Dole had cut a deal with Clinton to end the government shutdown caused by Newt Gingrich. "We're in charge. We don't have to negotiate with the Senate." Same as above. "We are ideologues. We have an agenda. We have a philosophy. I want to repeal the Clean Air Act," he said in 1995. "You don't want me as an enemy," DeLay to Jacqueline Blankenship, wife of a business partner who sued him. When the local Republican sheriff hired Ms. Blankenship, DeLay spent $75,000 to defeat him. "This whole thing about not kicking someone when they are down is BS. Not only do you kick him -- you kick him until he passes out, then beat him over the head with a baseball bat, then roll him up in an old rug and throw him off a cliff into the pound(ing) surf below!!!!!" That gem was in a DeLay staff email about Clinton's impeachment. More... Posted by: Pat C on April 20, 2005 02:45 AMYes, Jonathan... now think back to another Catholic, JFK who had to CONVINCE Americans that the Pope would not interfere in our politics. Times have certainly changed: "... In a televised appearance before the Ministerial Association of Houston, JFK assured the audience that he was for the definite separation of church and state, against federal funding of parochial schools, and that the Constitution was above the dictates of the church when it came politics. Protestants across the nation saw the news clips of Kennedy making the resounding statements on the irrelevance of his religion concerning office." http://www.kennesaw.edu/pols/3380/pres/1960.html Then, fast forward to the man in the Oval Office today who gets his orders from god. A bizarro world, yes indeed. Posted by: Jo on April 20, 2005 02:52 AMWish I had a waving smiley, that would be me in my boat as I got towards the bed. Dontcha party without me now. When I heard it was the Rat my heart sunk and I was thinking kiss our RATzinger, WOLFowitz, DICK Cheney. Names fit. Oh my goodness, Mike, i will certainly be on the lookout for Guido... but if he's coming to charleston he may have just too much fun to bother coming inland to my neck of the woods... it's quiet here, very lovely i must admit with all the dogwoods and azaleas in bloom, wisteria --- not pink like Sharon's in NOrleans, lavendar... and horses... we do love our horses... small koi pond for meditating... but i do have a niece in charleston who can take him to the beach where i'm sure he'll find the 'hotties' he's in search of... southern girls are lovely... lots of night life there... but when he tires of all that glamour and glitter, he is welcome to come here and rest... we'll make him comfortable... too late in the season for a fire, but if Guido wants, we'll turn up the a/c and light the fire... perhaps he'll like the treehouse --- it has lights and carpet, all the comforts... please do tell him to stop by --- we can't compete with the wonderous shylurker, but we'll do our best. Posted by: Jo on April 20, 2005 03:05 AMMGOD! you guys have been busy....wow. Had to share this from a friend in Seattle: Oh Boy they picked a great Pope for the 19th Century and an Ex Nazi Youth ta boot!! That should make the BUSH FAMILY happy!!............Better call AARP! Hope they have him on the rolls!.................... AC Lordy lordy.....+ Shylurker, the Marla Ruzicka story! O>M>G> is right....now the first thing that occurred to me was: how convenient of her to die in a bombing..... Posted by: judi gemini on April 20, 2005 03:14 AMNancy, this is a really powerful article....there were so many things to read today.....and I was working the last two days. But a really good and useful and strong piece.... Posted by: judi gemini on April 20, 2005 03:26 AMToday is Hitler's birthday--and partly because of that it is also the anniversary of several crimes by US White Supremist/Militia types, including the Oklahoma City bombing (which didn't occur exactly on Apr 19 because of high security by Feds on that date.) Also anniversary of Waco. Used to be that law enforcement was on extra alert Apr 19 for violence by the Militia types. Don't know if they are on high alert for domestic terrorists these days. Posted by: Barbara on April 20, 2005 03:38 AMthe Prophecy of St. Malachy says: Gloria olivæ Well....he is Benedictus PP.XVI Is that close enough? Posted by: judi gemini on April 20, 2005 03:48 AMSabian symbol for Aries 16 anyone? The caution: Self delusions, not getting a true picture of whats happening in the "real world. Losing the plot! Posted by Pat C: “…If people are squeamish about calling him a Nazi, then they can call him a phalangist, which he is as well." Phalangist (n.) Any arboreal marsupial of the genus Phalangista. The vulpine phalangist (P. vulpina) is the largest species, the full grown male being about two and a half feet long. It has a large bushy tail. - (This definition is from the 1913 Webster's Dictionary and may be outdated.) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!! Well, to more serious stuff… Falange (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.) The Falange or sometimes the Phalange is the name assigned to several political movements and parties dating from the 1930s, most particularly the original movement in. This article is primarily about the Spanish Falange. For information about the Lebanese Phalange, see the Kataeb Party article. con't … Oh God, my heart sank when I heard that the Nazi German was elected Pope. I don't mean to sound harsh, but he was a member of the German Nazi youth. This is the church going in the wrong direction. It is the old order fighting change. NEWS FLASH!!! Most Catholics today are not European! Why would they elect a Pope that does not have any sense of sympathy of the concerns of the majority? Why is the World becoming more conservative?! I mean, on this message board we talk alot about American conservatives, but this is a World wide movement with Mossilini's daughter in the Italian parliament, Civil Rights suppression in Russia and China, Islamic law imposed on non-muslims in Migeria.... can I go on?! I know alot of this has to do with Pluto in Sag, but I sure can't wait for the 2008 transistion with Pluto moving into Capricorn. Maybe Pluto in 2008 will destroy this horrible right-wing movement. Posted by: Travieso on April 20, 2005 04:28 AMI could be wrong but I think the very best place for Pluto would be Aquarius, but maybe we need to rebuild first in Capricorn. I tend to think of Capricorn as very rules oriented and concerned with image. (not you, Bhakti :-) Posted by: Sharon on April 20, 2005 04:35 AMI can see that. But, Pluto in Capricorn will transform governmental structures. Pluto does open up all those areas that we don't want to deal with. maybe, we could see conservative governments being destroyed by the weight of their own arrogance and melicious behavior. What do you think? Posted by: Travieso on April 20, 2005 04:52 AMJoanna, you silly goose! That was a quote from a Salon post. I think they are getting tired too. Posted by: Pat C on April 20, 2005 05:07 AMOn March 18, the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions of Iraq, one of Iraq's three trade union federations, announced the formation of the Iraqi Freedom Congress. The union called it "a broad organization committed to establishing a free, secular and non-ethnic government in Iraq," composed of "political parties, trade unions, people's councils, associations and institutions." The FWCUI sees the present situation as a "civil abyss," in which "the fabric of the civil society in Iraq has been torn apart under the US occupation and the domination of the Islamic, tribal and political gangsters." In the following interview, the president of the Federation of Workers' Councils, Felah Alwan, explains the way the union proposes to end Iraq's occupation, and the occupation's impact on workers. Q: What political process can end the occupation? A: Iraq is now in a state of anarchy. There are no civil institutions. There's nothing except the occupation forces and the government. The structure of the government imposed by the occupation forces has been divided along lines of ethnicity and religion. That makes some people believe that there is popular support for it. Our society may be headed for civil war between religious groups. We call for the organization of a Congress of Liberation, including all the political powers in Iraq, to end the occupation and rebuild civil society. This Congress would include all groups, and would have the power to end the rule of the occupation. One way to end the occupation itself would be for the forces of the United Nations to keep the peace. Q: So you think UN troops should replace the US military forces? A: If the current troops withdraw, there may be a need for another military force, especially from countries that haven't participated in the occupation. They would supervise new elections, to help the Iraqi people elect their government, instead of the election that just happened. The main thing is to end the occupation, and all this would take place afterwards. But the occupation will never end until we can hold a congress of all the powers in Iraq that make up civil society. Q: What was the attitude of the members of the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions of Iraq toward the January elections in Iraq? A: Our federation issued a statement criticizing the way the elections were conducted. We said that for people to choose between more than one alternative, they would have to know the programs of the different political parties and groups. This hasn't happened in Iraq. So this was a violation of the right of the people. Most women in Iraq outside the capital, in the rural areas, can't read or write. So the supervisors of the election centers there themselves filled out the ballots for the parties they wanted. Posted by: Pat C on April 20, 2005 05:07 AMSee here I am a perfect example. I forgot the link and the title. http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/041905LA.shtml Iraqi Union Calls for a "Freedom Congress" and UN Intervention Posted by: Pat C on April 20, 2005 05:09 AMGood Evening, Two points of possible interest. First, I live in Columbus Ohio, and Senator Voinivich mentioned upthread is our former Republican governer and mayor of Cleveland. His voting record has been very much straight along the Republican party line. I call his office frequently (his number is on speed dial in my cellphone) to complain often about his voting. I was stunned that he is hold back on confirming Bolton. If this guy is balking, let us hope that it is a harbinger of things to come and even the stalwarts are realizing that (as I tell them) "the whole world is watching" and/or "be careful what you vote for, the worm will turn and you will have to live with the results of your vote." Second, I have professor friend who is a member of the "lost generation" of Germany. These were children born in the years 1925-6-7 (or thereabouts) who Hitler forced to take up arms. Only 10% survived which is why they the lost generation. My friend left Germany after the war, came to the US, earned a Bachelor, Master's and PhD. Became a devout Christian and highly respected communications professor specializing in propaganda. He has talked about Hitler's propaganda methods for decades. His signature speech is "From the Swastika to the Cross." I bring this up because my friend was forced into war, might this be the case the new Pope? I am not defending him as much as I am curious as to his willingness to join in the Nazi war effort.
When I think of pluto going into Capricorn, I think of matisse and cezanne. Both capricorn artists who took the traditions and structures of the painted image and pushed it to new insights while expanding the basics of of paintery aesthetics. Travieso wrote: "NEWS FLASH!!! Most Catholics today are not European! Why would they elect a Pope that does not have any sense of sympathy of the concerns of the majority?" But this is precisely why! The fastest-growing religion in Europe (the former bastion of Christianity) is Islam - the so-called "third world" is safe for now. It's Europe where the Church needs to regain its footing. Posted by: mars on April 20, 2005 05:47 AMJudi, I keep wanting to answer your question way back about Solari, but I get so sidetracked with all the excitement. barbara, my god, what an opening line: well, that about sums it up. the new pope is quite something...derides other religions, is not favored in his own country, looks like the cat who ate the canary. i'm not catholic, either current or of the 'recovering' kind, so it's up to them to choose their own leader. i am on this planet, however, and in as much as this impacts political and cultural concerns, i do have an opinion and it is: what the #$#% do these old men think they're doing? good grief, this is like making tom delay king of the unites states and expecting people to buy it. from what i've heard, the pope thinks buddhism is 'autoerotic,' says the hindu religion is like being in Hell, thinks Turkey should not be in the EU because it's moslem, and argues that the priest sex scandals in the us are a media plot against the church. way to go cardinals. we'd have done better if the st. louis cardinals selected the pope, would have been in better shape, i bet, and a lot more tolerant. what on earth do they think will happen in europe where many don't even go to church or in america where many who go to church use birth control, condoms, and generally don't hate anyone, let alone gays. hmmm.... hitler's birthday indeed! the stars are maligned! Posted by: mike on April 20, 2005 07:52 AMmike: what the #$#% do these old men think they're doing? vcz: "The Lord's work," unfortunately... These old men are driving the gold nails into the coffin of the Catholic Church. God bless'em and Hallelujah. Posted by: jm on April 20, 2005 08:12 AMJase, nice to see your posts again. I’d like to take issue with you in a friendly sort of way on a couple of your points. I was prompted to so this by the line: “I feel sorry that so many of you on this board live in a place that seems to have gone mad” The “place” has not gone mad, it’s been hijacked by the worst elements who have managed to hold power through deception and thievery. There is an active resistance. As for the election, I would never vote for a Republican, no matter how good a person he/she because I know that the Republican would elect a Speaker of the House that was repellant, i.e., Hastert, DeLay. I would like to identify the 400 pound gorilla sitting in the living room of British society, Tony Blair, who is also repellant. He enabled Bush’s madness in the Middle East as surely as anyone in this country. In fact, his fatuous style seems to sell here with many who regard him as “articulate.” You cannot underestimate the legitimacy Blair lent Bush. The war may not have happened without him. It certainly happened with much less opposition with Blair on board. Now, given that the war is one of aggression, that war crimes have been committed, and that the British have been there, thanks to Blair, with us all the way, I’d say that Blair’s re-election is an abomination. The British will lack our quite valid excuse of a stolen election given your superior polling mechanisms. I’m glad prosperity reigns in GB and if you say Brown is the author, I believe it. Why on earth is anyone voting for any representatives who will re-select Blair. Brown could have tossed Blair out. Absent that, it was/is imperative that Labour not pick the next PM since that PM will be Blair. I think that the Labour party is a charming disgrace; charming in the sense that it has many good policies and a disgrace in that it lets this war criminal stay in power. Nobody on this board likes Bush at all, nor do at least 55% of Americans as of the last poll. We’re doing our best to get rid of him but please don’t feel sorry for us because we “seem to have gone mad” when an equal madness is the re-selection of Blair, on the one hand, and the claim of an open, tolerant society on the other. Our split is rougher and less palatable, however, Gret Britain's is just as appalling for the blithe disregard of a war criminal as your PM. I feel sorry for the entire planet for having to endure the Anglo-American disease, war for fun and profit; along with the insufferable pageant and glorification. Posted by: mike on April 20, 2005 08:24 AMHello Victoria, As encouraging as it is to see Voinovich play the odd man out on Bolton, I don't think it's a "Jeffords" style shift on his part. He does this every so often, I think, just to remind us Ohioans that he's still around. And pick up a few extra kickbacks while he's at it. I'm sure he'll fall right back into line when it comes down to the wire. Posted by: NEOBuckeye on April 20, 2005 08:38 AM* Holocaust survivors sue Vatican for supposedly accepting millions of dollars in valuables stolen by Nazi sympathizers http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=3868862 That church of the Rat is flat broke. ;O) Posted by: JoannaOregon on April 20, 2005 08:41 AMhttp://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/20/national/20child.html?th=&emc=th&pagewanted=print&position= Utah Vote Rejects Parts of Education Law SALT LAKE CITY, April 19 - In a stinging rebuke of President Bush's signature education law, the Republican-dominated Utah Legislature on Tuesday passed a bill that orders state officials to ignore provisions of the federal law that conflict with Utah's education goals or that require state financing. The bill is the most explicit legislative challenge to the federal law by a state, and its passage marked the collapse of a 15-month lobbying effort against it by the Bush administration. Federal officials fear Utah's action could embolden other states to resist what many states consider intrusive or unfunded provisions of the federal law, known as No Child Left Behind. Utah's action comes as a federal-state conflict over the education law appears to be escalating. The attorney general of Connecticut has announced that he will sue the Department of Education over the law's finances, Texas is in open defiance of a federal ruling on testing disabled children and many state legislatures have protested various provisions of the federal law, which has required a sweeping expansion of standardized testing. The 29-member Senate passed the bill on a vote of 25 to 3, with one absence, hours after the Utah House, which has 75 members, approved it 66 to 7. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a Republican, has said he intends to sign it. Several lawmakers said in the debates on Tuesday that they admired Mr. Bush, but they described the 1,000-page federal education law that he signed in January 2002 as an unconstitutional expansion of the federal role in education. Representative Margaret Dayton, the Republican state representative who wrote the Utah bill, said she had worded it to assert Utah's right to control local schools without jeopardizing the state's federal education financing. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings warned in a letter to Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah on Monday, however, that depending on how the state were to apply the bill's provisions, the Department of Education might withhold $76 million of the $107 million that Utah receives in federal education money. Several lawmakers said the secretary's letter seemed to be a threat. "I don't like to be threatened," said Representative Steven R. Mascaro, a real estate developer from a Salt Lake City suburb. "I wish they'd take the stinking money and go back to Washington." More... Posted by: Pat C on April 20, 2005 11:44 AMPope Benedict XIV (b) April 16, 1927 in Marktl Am Inn, Diocese of Passau, Germany, 48N35, 13E28 (no time known). Photo http://tinyurl.com/c5zys German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican theologian who was elected Pope Benedict XVI, intervened in the 2004 US election campaign ordering bishops to deny communion to abortion rights supporters including presidential candidate John Kerry. In a June 2004 letter to US bishops enunciating principles of worthiness for communion recipients, Ratzinger specified that strong and open supporters of abortion should be denied the Catholic sacrament, for being guilty of a "grave sin." He specifically mentioned "the case of a Catholic politician consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws," a reference widely understood to mean Democratic candidate Kerry, a Catholic who has defended abortion rights. The letter said a priest confronted with such a person seeking communion "must refuse to distribute it." A footnote to the letter also condemned any Catholic who votes specifically for a candidate because the candidate holds a pro-abortion position. Such a voter "would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for holy communion," the letter read. The letter, which was revealed in the Italian magazine L'Espresso last year, was reportedly only sent to US Catholic bishops, who discussed it in their convocation in Denver, Colorado, in mid-June. Sharply divided on the issue, the bishops decided to leave the decision on granting or denying communion to the individual priest. Kerry later received communion several times from sympathetic priests. Nevertheless, in the November election, a majority of Catholic voters, who traditionally supported Democratic Party candidates, shifted their votes to Republican and eventual winner George W. Bush. Posted by: Pat C on April 20, 2005 02:10 PMVictoria, I agree with you. According to the press reports, in 1941 it became mandatory to join the Hitler youth. Ratzinger was, I believe, about 16, when he joined. While I am appalled by his ascension to the papacy, in fairnes, should this be held against him? (also, his father was totally opposed to the Nazi's - so much so that the family moved many times to avoid having problems with them, so I doubt that he willingly joined). Posted by: Marta on April 20, 2005 02:43 PMThe words flow on like a river. May they burst all logjams. Peace. http://www.yonip.com/main/peace/quotes.htm Posted by: shylurker on April 20, 2005 03:03 PMMarta and Victoria, Cardinal Ratzinger in Nazi Movement at ages 14, and then 16 From article By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press … "In his memoirs, the policeman's son wrote of being enrolled in Hitler's Nazi youth movement against his will when he was 14 in 1941, when membership was compulsory. He says he was soon let out because of his studies for the priesthood.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 Thoughts For The New Pope OK, first things first. They say you're a hard-line conservative, new pope Joseph Ratzinger (a.k.a. Benedict XVI) of Germany. Very old school and drab, a real lover of repressive, bitter, orthodox doctrine. No fun at parties. Catholic in chains. What glorious times of joy and progress the church is in for, millions now say, dejected sarcasm dripping from their once-hopeful mouths. See, most spiritually progressive peoples the world over were sort of hoping for a new pope who would recognize this as a historic opportunity, an unprecedented moment for the church to finally get with the times, modernize, shake off the dust and roll some bones and pry open some of those old dungeon doors and bring in some goddamn light. You know what we wanted? More sex. Love. Good TV. Gender freedom. Better wine. Less sneering doctrine and homophobia and sexism and more fun with condoms and music and spiritual joy. But, instead, we got you. ... (click here to read the rest) (Full URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2005/04/20/notes042005.DTL&nl=fix) i'm a wordophile... i hear or read a word and i dissect it to bits. i'm discovering there are other processes :) and it gives me a little understanding for what is going on... words are after all 'symbols' --- they enable us to communicate with each other... but far more than that, they enable us to have thoughts in the first place. And the symbols they represent are far more powerful than we give credit... Consider the word 'Nazi' --- it evokes an emotional reaction today because it conjures up an image of atrocities. To call someone a Nazi is to equate them with those atrocities. Actually, the 'word' denotes a member of a particularly political party, the FASCIST political party of Germany. All fascists are not Nazis, but all Nazis were fascists. pol sci 101 teaches that a spectrum of political thought exists... there's the center of course, and a left and a right, beginning with (in this country) Republicans to the right, Democrats to the left. At the extreme left stands communism and at the extreme right stands fascism. Republicans here in this country think nothing of calling Democrats 'libruls' and commies. Democrats until present time have usually refrained from calling Republicans anything but 'conservatives'. Political parties can be hijacked --- it happened all across the globe in the 1930s. It is happening again today. Many of Germany's fascists/Nazis were totally unaware of their party's dark side --- the concentration camps, the mobile death squads... until the end. Fascism actually appeals to a great many Americans. Fascism brings controls... promises security, safety --- most fundies are insecure and want a Papa --- as above, so below. Repugs think it is only a hairline's difference between Democrats and commies... they fail to recognize that the same measurement could apply between Republicans and fascists. Pat C.'s post last night: "...If people are squeamish about calling him a Nazi, then they can call him a phalangist, which he is as well." A phalangist is a member of the Phalange or Falange Party, a fascist. Spain's fascist party was called Falange... and from what i discern, the Phalangist Communion (your first link) is a Catholic end-time rapture-ready group... Phalanges (or phalanx), according to Webster: The media uses polite words to describe the new papa... ultra-conservative is as far as they go cross the political spectrum... but, given his record, i would assess this new papa as a fascist... not based on his early activities in Hitler's Youth Corps, but his own deeds within the Vatican. If it walks like a duck, quakes like a duck... it's a phalangist? [the intuitive Joanna's take: Any arboreal marsupial of the genus Phalangista]... and what is a marsupial? New Latin, from Latin, purse, pouch, from Greek marsypion. Purse? hmmmm Pat C., The Salon poster was not 'tired' --- the poster was brilliant!
Go tell 'em who you think is responsible for high gas prices: Jo, Thanks for your response and your many fine posts - I haven't felt a need to say much as you have been saying it all! There hasn't been any call for e-voting recently but there was a recent scandal on a local level with postal voting. Fortunately they were able to trace where the fraud was occurring and prosecute those who were responsible (Labour councillors in Birmingham - now expelled from the Party). You have to remember that the biggest opposition to the war in the U.K. actually came from within the rank and file of the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives were firmly behind Blair on this one and still are. And this is where it relates to Mike's arguement: Blair is articulate, intelligent and very convincing which is why a large majority of the British population believed him when he made that speech in the House of Commons in September '02 - of which I was NOT one. It was Robin Cook who made the best speech against the war when he resigned from cabinet not long after. Whilst Iraq is not really on the agenda the issue of trust is. The only people who can get rid of Blair are his constituents in Sedgefield and if I lived there I would be voting one of the independent candidates standing against him (an ordinary guy who lost his son in Iraq). I am in a position to vote for my local M.P. who will best represent my values in parliament - that is my current Labour M.P. who voted against the war on all occasions. I refuse to punish him for standing up against Blair and replacing him with a Tory who would wreck the economy, persue semi-racist/alarmist policies on immigration and drain public services of much needed resources. Unfortunately, many of us believed that Blair was the great saviour of the party when he was elected as leader in 1994. As leader of the party he is difficult to get rid of as he was seen as the architect of the largest majorities any party has ever had. Political reality dictates that. Fortunately, he has reached a similar position to Thatcher towards the end of her time where he is seen as liability on the issue of trust and as soon as Gordon Brown challenges Tony Blair for the leadership of the Parliamentary Labour Party then I shall use my vote to get rid of Blair but I will not throw the baby out with the bathwater. The Labour Party is not the Rethug party. It was the Labour Party that, under Harold Wilson, kept Britain out Vietnam and paid a heavy price electorally and economically thanks to LBJ and his DEMOCRAT administration. Blair's biggest opposition comes from people like me, who are wholeheartedly Labour/social democrats. As an aside, Karl Rove has been advising the Conservatives on campaign strategy. Mike, I am not blaming you or anyone on this board for the insanity around you. Whether it was stolen or otherwise the nutters are clearly in charge of the assylum. **************************************** Sally, According to the Tories, Britain has an open door policy to all immigrants so it should be very easy to come to Scotland. The Scottish Executive is very keen on addressing the problem of a declining population. Maybe some American enthusiasm and positivity is required! Scotland does offer free health care, a very high standard of education and free University tuition - which does not apply to the rest of Britain. Oh, and no religious views being shoved down your throat or guns! You honestly wouldn't want to be under my bed though. And yes, Findhorn is a remarkable place but the folks who run seem to struggle with making a decision, though they are humble, kind and very giving people but don't take no crap either! As for Pope Benedict XVI let's wait and see before we call the guy a nazi,eh? He was only 6 when Hitler came to power. A friend of mine was in the Hitler youth and since migrating to Australia in early 50's has voted Labour at every election and considers himself a socialist! Peace folks... Posted by: Jase on April 20, 2005 04:10 PMTrouble is that this lot of fascists are dishing out plenty of 'nationalism' without the 'socialism'. Out with education, healthcare and social security. In with tv, fast food and war. Posted by: Jase on April 20, 2005 04:17 PMGlad to have this info on Scotland Jase, my grandfather was from Scotland and maybe it's time to find my roots cause they are drying up here. You are right the "nutters" are in charge and it's absolutely stunning to watch. I agree about Labour and not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, I think that's why Blair has been able to hang on, no one wants another Margaret Thatcher running things again. At least, hopefully the Labour Party can somewhat keep Blair under control. Heck as far as any of us knows the Vatican might be running things from behnd the scenes. I do think of Scotland and Wales as these little countries out of the fray, and Scotland particularly, as excellent objective observers. I did have a friend move to Findhorn a few years ago, don't know if she is still there but she did like it. Posted by: Sally on April 20, 2005 05:06 PMhttp://news.bostonherald.com/politics/view.bg?articleid=79446&format=text DeLay continues attacks on Federal courts WASHINGTON -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay says Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's work from the bench has been "incredibly outrageous," his latest salvo at the federal judiciary in the weeks following the courts' refusal to stop Terri Schiavo's death. Whew! Lots of heat coming from this site today! SOOO much going on here. I believe fascism can (and does) exist on the far left as well as right, but Jo's (I think it was Jo) point is well taken. And I say fight fire with fire. Let's call them some names, too, lots worse than "liberal," still politically apropos! I also want to say that it's easy to apply labels and their meanings to people, but it doesn't seem fair (nor necessarily accurate) to paint the Rat as a Nazi. Historically, after WWI, Germany was treated in a way that supported the subsequent rise to power of Hitler and the Nazis. When it happened, it was at least in part because of how Germany was treated after WWI, which left the German people literally starving and who knows what all. So some guy gets you some bread to eat and you make him your leader and then things get a little weird, but you're just trying to survive yourself... NOTHING happens in a vacuum and while it's easy to point fingers ("THERE'S the bad guy," [or group, or whatever]) there are always extenuating circumstances that come into play. Not that I think the holocaust was a good thing, mind you. Being a native American (but not an Indian) of German heritage, I spent my childhood feeling guilty by association. As an adult I've learned more about history and gotten a more broad view of things. It doesn't make them ok or excusable, but does give some perspective and even understanding (by which, if we would only pay attention just once, we might be able to avert nasty trouble in the future). And for the record, the US didn't give a damn about the holocaust. Germany's ally (Japan) bombed us (and our gov't very well might have known it was coming but did nothing, because what a great way to convince an isolationist population we should go to war...sound familiar?), so we declared war on Japan, and its ally (Germany) declared war on us and THAT'S how we got to "saving France's hiney," which (if anyone owes anybody) we owed them for the War of 1776 (I know I'm spewing on the entirely WRONG site here!! My apologies!) Interestingly, my father was born on the exact same date as Rat (who, Nazi or no, we don't have to like, yes?). But his Asc is 13 Sag & exact Sun-Moon opp at 26 Aries. He's QUITE Catholic, I must say, really applies himself to the dogma. Or applies the dogma to himself... When Pluto transited his Asc he REALLY softened (lovely for me, let me tell you!). Of course, his house placements are different than Rat's, and his Sun-Moon. His health isn't so hot, real trouble with his blood sugar level that insulin pills are no longer taking care of. One point I'd like to make about the Catholic interference in our recent elections is that (courtesy of Dad) I have a fat book called "Catholic Catechism" (just the facts of the doctrine, straight from the church), that not only delineates "life begins at conception,"* but also what justifies war AND requires support for the poor, etc. I know you all know the rap. Hmm, so why then didn't they interfere on the "other side of the aisle" too? (she asked rhetorically) The articles on this site are great, the comments are completely overwhelming!! I mean, the sheer volume and content. WOW!! And so much warmth coming from everyone, too. Almost makes a reserved introvert wanna have a slumber party in order to meet everybody (under the bed). Cheers!! (really, don't let the bastards get you down) *I've yet to figure out how to kill something that's not been born. Maybe it's just me. And just one more thing, from this non-religious, "the bible's a bunch o' stories" spiritualist type, in Genesis, when God made Adam, he formed him from clay. The physical form was there, and THEN, God blew breath into Adam, and Adam lived, i.e., was born. (And then someone drew up Adam's birthchart, since he was now born, having taken his first breath...heh heh heh) SO WHERE THEY GETTIN' THE "LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION" BIT??? That's my rant for the day. See ya later, and thanks, and peace and love and joy, and food and shelter and warmth (or coolness) and all that to everyone! Posted by: Lori on April 20, 2005 08:02 PMI Humbly appologise to the entire AW, for my whacky post last night re: Sabian symbol Aries 16! Of course that doesn't apply to PRat. duh it's his birthdate, not the degree! I spent some time in Germany in 1955, talking with young men, who had also been forced into the Hitlerjunge. They were furious about it, and angry with the older Germans who had enabled Hitler. But as children they were powerless, and I'm sure some of them were counterproductive to the cause if they had a chance. jase, i enjoyed your response. i must say that harold wilson has to go down as one of the great leaders of the 20th century. he did indeed resist the maddness and paid an awful price dished out by a DEMOCRAT who was superb on domestic policy. as a party, we paid a terrible price for johnson: lost 68, 72, 80, 84, & 88 presidential electoins because of the rift it created in the party. i'm afraid labour is heading for the same. the 'blow back' from iraq hasn't even started. apparently there is an iraq torture scadal emerging that dwarfs the first one. i like that welch party that initiated impeachment and the scottish nationalists who routinely bash the monarchy myself. whatever, we have and will all pay dearly for iraq and the indifference to sanity and good judgement. on a lighter note, i have a great idea for john bolton. instead of putting him in at the UN, he should be awarded $1.0 million dollars by a r/winger for leaving governmnet and then appear as "the bachelor." every one would tune in. the trick on bolton would be that all the females were martial arts experts with a really bad attitude. just a thought at mid day. question: what do aspects of natal planets to the gallactic center mean; or do they mean anything. any source material on this? Posted by: mike on April 20, 2005 08:27 PMThe energy bill makes taxpayers pay $29 billion to clean up industry's mess. http://www.tompaine.com/articles/polluterfriendly_energy.php?dateid=20050420 I think BushCo needs to get Bolton confirmed to the UN soon so they can finalize war planning on Iran (and do their "terror on US soil deal to scare the public into accepting it) before two many deals get cut for Iran's oil and gas which could complicate things with Europe/Asia/China and before Bush gets too far into his term. I saw the committee meeting yesterday on C-span and the democrats kept on asking, "what's the rush to confirm?" They spent several months confirming Negroponte ... why the rush with Bolton? The plan probably is with Bolton at the UN they can expect that he'll play "hardball" and stoop to whatever means he needs to get the job done to get some kind of approval for invading Iran. Sen. Lugar looked like he was an automaton. He just kept on asking for the vote and trying to push it through. Voinovich stunned all of them when he said he couldn't in conscience vote for him (Bolton) until questions had been answered satisfactorily. Of course he did mention that he held up Holbrooke too and ended up voting for him ... It's like in the movies, we've been hearing how we haven't had a terrorist attack since 9/11, then the terrorism report got scrapped which indicated that terrorism was way up and the findings were leaked. Every good terror movie gives you a hint of what's going to happen before it actually does. Makes it easier to fool and manipulate people. And it's been quiet. Nothing on Iran lately (from the standpoint of doing something about "the nuclear problem". Remember right before the elections? I think it was Sally who said it was eerie how all the major republicans got silent. Prescient. They knew the were going to steal the election. .. and about those elections ... here's John Conyer's blog concerning commission hearings about .... the last election! Blogged by JC on 04.18.05 @ 05:18 PM ET First Baker-Carter Hearing The first meeting of the Baker-Carter election commission was disappointing and, at times, outrageous and tainted with racially-charged innuendo. Let me make absolutely clear that I greatly admire former President Jimmy Carter and believe he was insightful and on-target throughout the hearing. However, given the incredible lack of balance and profound lack of good faith demonstrated by some of Carter’s fellow commissioners and many of the witnesses at this hearing, at times he seemed to be a very lonely voice of sanity. The remarks of Mr. James Baker, III, which were echoed by a number of right wing political operatives called as witnesses, seemed to have a singular purpose of spreading hoaxes and conspiracy theories about ineligible Democratic voters being allowed to cast votes. The remedy was cleverly repeated like a broken record, “photo ID, photo ID, photo ID.” Right wing pundit John Fund was called as an “expert” witness by the hearing and offered racially charged proposals with racially charged rhetoric. The substance of the testimony alleging “voter fraud” was a fraud itself. One panel on “access and integrity” inexplicably included two partisan Republican political operatives, Colleen McAndrews (most recently a leader in the successful campaign to recall former California Governor Gray Davis and described as a “behind the scenes force in Republican politics for years”) and John Fund (of the notoriously far-right Wall Street Journal editorial page)… The pattern of the hearing was clear: Republican political operatives, with little or no track record of involvement in voting rights issues, facing non-partisan advocates for civil rights. Predictably, this hardly was a fair fight. The deck was stacked from the beginning. What can be said of a commission that holds such a hearing? What hope is there for the recommendations of such a Commission? I am scheduled to meet with Commission officials this week and I am trying very hard to have an open mind. But, frankly, at this point – seeing this first hearing – I think we should all be very wary of this Commission’s objectives. Associated Press Posted by: Marta on April 20, 2005 09:02 PMMarta- Just like the old Illuniati game where things happen in 11's---did anyone happen to notice, that besides 9/11, there was 3/11(which was 911 days after 9/11)and the latest was that guy on the capitol steps on 4/11...... Posted by: Garry on April 20, 2005 09:03 PMtypos R me---of course I meant Illuminati..... Posted by: Garry on April 20, 2005 09:04 PM"The" redhead (Catholic) speaks: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/20/opinion/20dowd.html?hp Posted by: Jo on April 20, 2005 09:30 PMhey all, thought I'd just post this link verifying that the Eclipse is still working on Mr. Delay: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-House-Ethics.html Posted by: Jonathan on April 20, 2005 09:54 PMName calling and labeling of people is a bad idea in general. It's best to establish each individual identity after careful consideration. Know your adversary as thoroughly as possible with a factual assessment. A serious and RECENT crime of Ratzinger was the interference in the USA 2000 election. And also his official statement on sexual abuse in the church. Posted by: jm on April 20, 2005 10:35 PMTo speak with authority on Hitler's Germany and the behavior of the people requires a lot of knowledge. Since a lot of history is distorted by writers, this is a difficult task. But it is worth it if one is seeking the truth. Likewise with the word, "fascism". There are so many variations on the theme, and a careful study of what the word means is a good idea. We were a fascist state when Clinton presided and so many people still love him and think those were ideal times, while many of the things that happened then, such as the corporate media takeover, were classic fascist acts. Also some of the clandestine things he did on Wall Street. So in order to decide how to proceed with this government, I think we should understand it thoroughly in detail without acting from a vast generalization. Posted by: jm on April 20, 2005 10:48 PMJM, We have discussed the term on this board NUMEROUS times... there are 14 Marks of fascism which can be found many places online, one of which I will link to below. Your comment about being 'fascist under Clinton' has me about to explode... so, I won't say anymore... just ask you to back that comment up, please. As you say, it is important to use terms and labels properly. :) Go ahead, just pick ONE of the 14 marks that were applicable under Clinton. Peace "Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism as it is a merge of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini Fascism: "A philosophy of government that stresses the primacy and glory of the state ... obedience to its leader, subordination of the individual will to the state's authority ... suppression of dissent. Martial virtues are celebrated, while liberal democratic values are denigrated ... led by charismatic leaders who represented to their publics the strength that could rescue their nation from political and economic conditions." - Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Encyclopedia. 14 Marks can be found here: Bush? Charismatic? I think he is dull, stupid sounding,listless, boring, ending everything with a question mark, and unable to capture the hearts and following of the people with his 43% approval rating. I think this is one of this regime's biggest failures. He is not the right frontman for a dictatorship. And they are failing. The military/industrial rulership has been in place for a long time. As I said, Clinton's removal of the controls on the media has led to complete corporate takeover and the development of the propaganda machine as it is now. While this government has succeeded to some extent in the 14 characteristics, it is vastly incomplete. The fact that John Stewart, for example, can ridicule these people brutally and nightly is an indication that the suppression of dissent is not complete. So is this discussion. In WW I we could have been jailed for this. "led by charismatic leaders who represented to their publics the strength that could rescue their nation from political and economic conditions." He is not a leader like this, and far from rescuing the public from economic distress, he is openly and willingly leading us into it. And he does not embody strength. Also Jo, there is one thing that Clinton did in removing controls on investment brokers on Wall Street that was extremely damaging and not too many know about. I regret the fact that I am not clear on the details right now, but I will try to find the information for you. Posted by: jm on April 20, 2005 11:30 PMAnd Jo, since my family was in Eastern Europe in WW II and I have first hand accounts of the situation, albeit with the distortions of time, the picture they have painted is far different from what is happening in this country now. If you watched any of the Bolton hearings on C-span yesterday, you would see dissent in action, although we have yet to see where it lands. Posted by: jm on April 20, 2005 11:37 PMHello, WAW (Wonderful Astro Worlders). I am still wrestling alligators and up the creek without an ephemerisis. Anyhow wanted to say to all you gardeners and "pot on the balcony" folk--this weekend--Sat and Sun--the Moon is in fertile Scorpio and the Sun is in fertile Taurus. Great time to plant. For plants you want to fruit (i,e, tomatoes, etc.) plant just before the full moon, For lettuce, etc. and greens you don't want to go to seed, Would love to give credit to the gardener/astrologer who clued me onto this--but am away from home and up the creek without an ephemeris and my reference books. Will correct this later. Also, for all who love tomatoes (as I do) Plant every tomato with a basil plant. I have checked this out and it works. Chop wood, haul water. Love, Barbara Posted by: Barbara on April 20, 2005 11:44 PMBarbara, I just sent your info on to my ex in Yonkers....it is time for his planting to start...he has a new landlady who wants to start a big veggie patch.... Posted by: judi gemini on April 20, 2005 11:47 PMjudi gemini-- wow! three minutes from post to post The internet rocks. Thanks Judi, Barbara Posted by: Barbara on April 21, 2005 12:00 AMI had been working the last two days and had end to end babysitting, so I have had a lot to work thru in reading these posts...first off....Sally and Jase...can I come to Scotland with you? My matriarchal mitochondrial markers are a straight line of Scots.... just have to convince my Irish son in law now!!! Would love to visit my real homeland...(as of about 150 years ago, my great grandmother was the last one) Seriously, as far as the Nazi/Pope question goes (and I did post the St. Malachy Benedictine label above)...it seems to me you have to LOOK at what the Rat has done in his adult life to see if there are inklings of a fascist bent (he certainly has an 'enforcer' bent) which could have been seeded by his past in Germany....we can't, no matter who we are, know for sure other than his 'record'....the proof only comes from what he has done. One thing is for sure, he now has more power for good or evil in the world than Hitler did... I watched the C-Span hearings last night...I concur with Marta's observations....Voinovich really threw a monkey wrench....but it appears, as he said, that he has done this before ...Kerry looks magnificent, like a president should, and would be a good looking addition to the cliffs with the other prezes (I still cling to the belief that he actually IS the real one)....Boxer was great, although I am not sure about her frost job (hair, not demeanor). Barak Obama was with dimbot and missed most of the testimony...flying on AF One back from dedicating the Lincoln Library....he walked a careful line on top of the fence. Lugar was a joke, obviously, Frist has leaned on him to clear this mess up fast....he was awful....a mess, like a cat on a hot tin roof, dancing as fast as he could, and whining about 'certain people' 'slowing the process down'.....Biden made sure the viewers understood that the State Dept had refused to cooperate with the investigators on Bolton...he made Lugar promise to get cooperation, made Lugar promise lots of things....and because of Voinovich, Lugar had to do it. My, I am sure George Voinovich will have heard from FRIST....if not higher up than that. I was quite upset by what the Repubs kept saying....we need Bolton to REFORM the UN....this needs to be looked at even more closely than Bolton being the one to do it...speaking of 'enforcers'.... I am sure I have forgotten someone...oh, Jo, thanks for the word -smithing.... Posted by: judi gemini on April 21, 2005 12:40 AMIs the new bankruptcy law fair to all Americans (hahahahahahahaha)? Vote here: http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/ Posted by: shylurker on April 21, 2005 12:46 AMOh, what I started out to do I forgot to do...Claudia published something on the pope today, she said in an email, but I couldn't find it at the web site, although the birthdata for the pope was there....I will ask her if I can post it....http://starcats.com/toc.html And I wonder if the reference from St Malachy about the antichrist pope means the 'progressive' pope which John Paul I was and died for? He still has quite a following.... In the mind of the traditionalist catholics I am sure a progressive pope of the type americans might be expecting could be called the anti christ....even though I would see it as the real christ... Posted by: judi gemini on April 21, 2005 12:50 AMI also got an email from someone about the new scandals at the Air Force academy in Boulder....they've gone from Tailhook under Clinton to fundamentalist hazing under dimwit (religious discrimination) of others....they have taken this thing about following their commanders in chief to new heights... By ROBERT WELLER, AP There have been 55 complaints of religious discrimination at the academy in the past four years, including cases in which a Jewish cadet was told the Holocaust was revenge for the death of Jesus and another was called a Christ killer by a fellow cadet. more.... Judi, the Lugar behavior was amazing. They are really nervous. He certainly was obvious and lacked control. The committee creamed him. The plan is to have Negroponte manipulate intelligence, and Bolton to manipulate the UN to get the Iran war started. I can't figure this out exactly but the plan looks like its being foiled. Rice even upped the deadline last week. These Senators know what's going on. I am watching this closely, as grave threats I'm sure are next from the powers. Maybe Saturn is not keen on an invasion. Posted by: jm on April 21, 2005 12:59 AMBarbara, as they say...timing is everything.... chop wood, carry water.... reminds me, I must do the i ching soon...find out where I am in the anima mundi.... Posted by: judi gemini on April 21, 2005 01:01 AMjm....yes.....that Lugar energy was a dead give away about the importance of the Bolton confirmation. Biden looked like he wanted to spit. On Lugar. a luggie on lugar so to speak! It is amazing that they want to 'reform' the UN (can you guys who watched remember any of the other phrases they used?)....when we haven't co operated or paid our dues in decades....all I know is that all rethugs seem to like using the UN as their personal punching bag. Fools. Posted by: judi gemini on April 21, 2005 01:05 AMJust saw this on Google News.. Just heard from Claudia: April 20, 2005: Fineman's opening sentence (link below) perfectly describes the Uranus-Neptune mutual reception (Note: USA's Sun has progressed to 0 Pisces). Birth Data Birth Name: Ratzinger, Joseph Birth Date: 4/16/1927 (Apr 16, 1927) Birth Time: 04:15 (4:15 AM) MET (-1:00) Birth Place: Marktl, Germany Latitude / Longitude: 48 N 15 / 12 E 51 Rodden Rating / Source: <>AA / Quoted BC/BR Source Notes: good article in the Scotsman on what Rat will be doing....http://news.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=422882005 it just seems that the more people try to stay the 'same' in the sense of not changing any doctrine EVER, the more morally hypocritical they become. As if, at one time in history, all spiritual knowledge was transmitted to ?????on earth...and that was that, there can be no more progress. Christ had nothing to do with forming the church. ....that seems obvious. Posted by: judi gemini on April 21, 2005 01:20 AMThe South Node in Capricorn(pope) is ultimately destined to fail in positions of authority. Their destiny is leading them home out of public life. The Uranus in Aries is the pivotal point...absolutely fascinating all at 0 degrees. This all figures into the Pluto in Capricorn question of authoritarianism. And if he lives, he will be getting a Uranus return to set it all off. Posted by: jm on April 21, 2005 01:29 AMThe more I look at it, it looks very good for us. Thanks for posting that, Judi. The weakening of authority. And with all this Aries around the appointment, and the Uranus in Aries coming up, maybe some hard earned autonomy for the people. There is a chance that with this setup, this guy resented the authoritarianism of Hitler. Now, of course, he has to deal with his own. Posted by: jm on April 21, 2005 01:40 AMhttp://www.ericgarcetti.org/blog/index.php DEMONSTRATORS BLOCK CAR OF GEN. TOMMY FRANKS; More... Posted by: Pat C on April 21, 2005 02:39 AMBarbara...just to follow up on the gardening story....so I sent the email to my ex in Yonkers, and he called back about an hour ago to tell me that his Polish born landlady was going to plant the tomatoes on Saturday....because HER grandmother had taught her all the lore on planting, of course....he said all the info was, of course, perfect.. Apparently she told him that in Poland in October, a flower appears in all the fields and creeks which is yellow...she doesn't know the name of it in English, and he said it sounds like 'lieba' in Polish...but everyone goes out and gathers it up and dries it upside down from the rafters in their attics. It is the natural form of PROZAC.... chop lieba, forget the water! Posted by: judi gemini on April 21, 2005 03:04 AM
WV...that is concise and brilliant! what is that saying....it is always darkest before the dawn? Or did you just stumble on the real secret? WE ARE LIVING IN HELL... Posted by: judi gemini on April 21, 2005 04:31 AMAn organic farmer friend of mine told me today........Libra Pat...how does Libra wax? legs, bikini, how? Seriously, I haven't heard the term...meaning the waxing moon in libra? Posted by: judi gemini on April 21, 2005 05:01 AMfor an easy way to get the phases of the moon: JGem: 'lieba' in Polish...but everyone goes out and gathers it up and dries it upside down from the rafters in their attics. It is the natural form of PROZAC.... vcz: lol Sounds like she's talking about what we call St. John's Wort. Very common practice throughout eastern and western Europe. BARBARA! Thanks for the gardening tips and I hope you'll soon post a link to your brain so we can all feast. Is the basil with every tomato for pest control or pre-harvest seasoning??? from the AP: Benedict has trouble sleeping and has a "delicate constitution." The pope's brother expressed a similar concern vcz: Doesn't sound like a man who REALly believes the crap which spills from his mouth and pen. Interesting! This is the guy who made sure the pedophilia scandal remained hidden but ongoing for forty years. And that's just ONE of his faux pas. Don't think I'd be able to sleep or eat much, either... http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050421/ap_on_re_eu/pope_s_health Posted by: vcz on April 21, 2005 06:58 AMwv, great post. to answer your question NEW ZEALAND! we are led by idiots, that's for sure. now that they've consolidates power, it's worth looking at its resiliance, in adition to the dammage. with the exception of thailand (of the sticks), burma, and nepal, those governments are all shakey, to say the least. hopefully, they will totter under the collective weight of their ineptitude and we'll have a high old time helping and watching them topple. i just realized my part of fortune is sextile the gallactic center. i'm just going to sit back and laisez les bon temps roulez, as they say (unless any of our esteemed astrologers tell me otherwise). cheers Posted by: mike on April 21, 2005 07:08 AMHmmm... these old coots have no power over me... never have had & never will. I don't give it away to 'em. The People of the World are shifting ever more quickly to freedom & mebbe "democracy"... whatever that term means these days. The so-called "rulers" are shifting ever more quickly to old ways/old days of cruelty, repressiveness, domination of terrible sorts, etc. A very wide split is occurring imo. I'm reminded of a beaker of solution in chemistry. Put in the right solution or energy treatment & all the impurities clump together so that it becomes very easy to strain 'em out. That's what I think is happening... most of the time. Posted by: JoannaOregon on April 21, 2005 10:37 AMFrom Judi Gem's post of Claudia's comments: "... My take on this Pope's election is that it is the anima mundi (world soul/collective unconscious) signaling it wants a global shift towards authoritarianism. People are terrified of how globalization continues to threaten social cohesion and economic security. Conservatives have been victorious in demonizing social progressives as "moral relativists," heathens, apostates, etc. I see the world cleaving not into "east or west" or "catholic or protestant." I see the new divide as "conservative or liberal." Two different worlds where the authoritarians turn the rest of us into outcasts. -- Claudia ------- I recall our reaction to Claudia's words last September re the election. Some thought they were too dark, but November came, and we realized they were right on the money. Now, her words were affirmed in some of the left blogs yesterday... energy seems to express itself simultaneously. Here's a link to a group of former Kossacks who have moved on... one wrote yesterday about the coming battle between Authority and Modernity (Humanism): "...Humanism or submission to authority? Sadly, the new Benedict has indicated in his theological works and official duties when still Cardinal Ratzinger that this obedience must be expanded and reinforced:
The current leadership of the Catholic Church is not alone in aggressively pressing for a new obedience from common people. Militant Islam includes Clerics making similar calls, as do some fundamentalist Evangelical Christians and leaders of other faiths." ----------- Clearly there is conflicted energy within the Collective. Those not wishing to step backward into time, erase the battles we have won... must work to energize the continuance of forward movement. The battle lines are forming. Astrology is affirming what the pundits are saying... or, vice versa... :) Posted by: Jo on April 21, 2005 10:50 AMGreat posts everyone! As for planting by the signs, now you're talking my language! My grandaddy always planted by the signs and so, I took it up. I don't plant anything unless I check the signs. It's also good to see what sign and phase the moon is in when say cutting the lawn, harvesting, etc. 'Course, you've got to use common sense. Say if it's raining cats and dogs or the ground is too cold. I highly recommend the Lluelyn(sp) Moon Sign book. I buy it every year. I don't have it here in front of me at the moment. But, Libra is good for planting flowers and yes, indeed the sign of Scorpio (this weekend) is excellent. The best of them all is Cancer. Happy planting. Patricia Posted by: Patricia on April 21, 2005 01:29 PMOh do I love it here! Good morning Astro World. Posted by: Pat C on April 21, 2005 01:48 PMWeaxan: to grow (Old English prior to 1050) to become larger gradually,increase in size or numbers, said especially of the moon as it increases toward fullness..................... Mike is right about New Zealand being the best place to move. Richard Florida in his new book "Flight of the Creative Class" lists Hamilton NZ as one of the best cities to move to for "freedom of creative expression" (without persecution because of your sexual orientation, beliefs, sex or race). I looked at some of their job sites and they want anybody who can work (everything from doctors to beekeepers). Well, I suppose that the World's Peoples may be thrown back into old ways/old days, under the very unkindly yoke of supremacist old malebot "rulers", but that would mean there's actually no growth, no evolution, no break-thru of the true spirit... that astrologically speaking, the transformative energies/symbols of Uranus... Neptune... & Pluto... these principles of Life, itself... have nothing to do but same-old same-old... and... that's all there is. There're far too many intelligent creative peoples, & others, that simply will not accept outworn principles embodied by "cruel old men," but Creatives are/will work from cells, for instance--uncentralized, quick, responsive to the needs/opportunities of the moment. No, I wouldn't bet my life on them "old geezers" taking over The World forever n' ever amen & pass the bucket. Posted by: JoannaOregon on April 21, 2005 03:58 PMFriends in San Diego request your help. Although the surfer woman won, in terms of numbers of votes cast, the courts wouldn't allow write-in votes for her to be counted unless people had also checked the little box. Enough hadn't checked the little box to throw the vote to this fellow Murphy who is currently mayor. Anyway, if you have a moment, do go vote: Over on americablog, they're saying that the net/noose is widening in terms of the fraud perpetrated against the Indian tribes by Delay & Friends. Norquist, Reed and others apparently are being questioned and subpoenaed. What grand irony if the downfall of so many of these rascals is due to their (once again) trying to rip off native peoples. As the saying goes, "White man, you are so low that you crawl on your belly like a snake." Judi, Pat QOP: I agree with your organic gardening friend. Virgo is an earth sign and is considered a barren sign, which is good for killing weeds, etc. Although the Llewelyn Moon Sign book indicates Virgo is good for planting trees.??? The Llewelyn Moon Sign book is by far the best to use as I find the Old Farmers Almanac is "off" by 2 days every month. So, when you think you're planting in Cancer, it's actually Leo one of the most barren signs! Posted by: Patricia on April 21, 2005 05:20 PMPat QOP: I agree with your organic gardening friend. Virgo is an earth sign and is considered a barren sign, which is good for killing weeds, etc. Although the Llewelyn Moon Sign book indicates Virgo is good for planting trees.??? The Llewelyn Moon Sign book is by far the best to use as I find the Old Farmers Almanac is "off" by 2 days every month. So, when you think you're planting in Cancer, it's actually Leo one of the most barren signs! Posted by: Patricia on April 21, 2005 05:20 PMOh nuts. I thought it didn't take. Sorry. Posted by: Patricia on April 21, 2005 05:31 PM The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments: Patricia, Pat QOP Posted by: Pat QOP on April 21, 2005 05:43 PM
The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:
http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/column.php?id=768 Posted by: wv on April 21, 2005 06:11 PMGo to salon.com and get your day pass. Then read Blumenthal on Pope Rat. And you tell me we aren't staring fascism in the face here? Posted by: shylurker on April 21, 2005 06:15 PMIt's all in the family folks, media, banking, voting, judicial, and ALL the Church http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-wochar214226829apr21,0,2092802,print.story Posted by: Sally on April 21, 2005 07:29 PMSally, "Let the Sun shine..." --- Pluto is churning up the dirt... only way to clean house. Claudia reminds us: "...Be prepared. That's what the truth and astrology do for us. We gain the edge by seeing things exactly as they are. Not by how we wish they would be." -- Starcats
Pat QOP, love the story about the Penobscot Indians! I read once that if hair is cut during the waxing (moving from new to full) moon, it grows back faster than if cut during waning (moving from full to new) moon. Also, that bleeding is more during waxing than waning. Unscientific research on a very small scale has borne this out to be true: 1/2 my friend's peridontal work didn't bleed much, but the other 1/2 was done during waxing moon and bled more; also, I've noticed my legs become hairier faster after having them waxed during waxing than waning. (This is getting confusing!) Sweet, Sally, just sweet. Well, at least we know we're dealing with one big pod of infected humans, rather than 50 different strains, huh? Right. They may or may not translate any texts, but if they do, will anyone else see them? And what a great cover for God only knows what..."keep a low profile so we can do our work better." I'm sure. Posted by: Lori on April 21, 2005 08:02 PMGreat find, Sally. We can only guess how deep the rabbit hole. Yet, on occasion these little jewels (such as the article linked above) are indicative of the interrelationship of those who would "rule the world." My greatest comfort is in knowing that these are temporary and temporal powers. That the greatest lesson of life is in learning to embrace and utilize our own power -- a power that enables us to SEE, to ACT with an intent that brightens the way. On gardening: Since we grow much of our own food i can attest to gardening by the Moon. Since we're in a new area this year, we've had to start from scratch -- amending the soil with compost, etc. Y'al can come and stay in the mountains with me. I guarantee you'll not have to stay UNDER the bed! Instead, we'll be fishing, playing with Luna the Lab puppy, planting the whole yard with flowers and fruit trees -- and don't forget grapes for the wine. ;-) karen Posted by: farrout on April 21, 2005 08:25 PMShylurker, Fascism? The Crisis Papers, a Libertarian website (that falls on the Right of the political spectrum) has an entire Series on Fascism in America... 65 articles and growing... since 2003... with writers such as Krugman, Breslin, and the editors of The Crisis Papers. Each article has a paragraph or two along with link to original... Just a little reading for those interested. 'Course with Salon's article you linked this a.m. that's 66 (nasty little number). And then there's the foreign articles... which are not included in this group... I consider myself in good company in stating that America is fascist. Posted by: Jo on April 21, 2005 08:59 PMSorry, here's the link to the series at Crisis Papers... http://crisispapers.org/topics/fascism.htm Posted by: Jo on April 21, 2005 09:01 PMhttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3520809 Apparently Kerry gave a GREAT speech putting the Republicans right in their place today. Very impassioned & presidential. Two threads are about it on DU - see one of them above. (((((((((((((John Kerry, the fighter!))))))))))))) Re: New Zealand, it was mentioned by Cayce as one of the safe places from earth changes. Canada is another. I believe Brazil is a 3rd but don't quote me. Posted by: on April 21, 2005 09:06 PMAnd I failed to add, from today's Black Commentator, the talented Margaret's article: From today’s issue Black Commentator: Fascism? Are we there Yet? By Margaret Kimberly http://www.blackcommentator.com/135/135_fr_fascism.html Posted by: Jo on April 21, 2005 09:06 PMWell my dears, at this point I have gotten rejected from every law school except for my first choice which is American University's Washington College of Law in DC. I just spoke with an admissions rep and he said that most of the acceptance letters have been sent out and that the admissions committee is currently working on the wait list. I'm guessing that I'm going to be wait-listed. Posted by: Dave on April 21, 2005 09:09 PMvcz and all, hooray! I found the name of the astrological gardening writer Louise Riotte just go to select "books" and enter her name in their search slot. You all will love the titles. Re the basil, I planted it in a big pot with a tomato plant years ago just because I had limited space. That plant did better than all the other tomatoes. The next year I checked it out scientifically--half the tomato plants with basil and half without. Something in the basil makes the tomato plants stronger and more prolific. Posted by: Barbara on April 21, 2005 09:13 PMvcz and all, hooray! I found the name of the astrological gardening writer Louise Riotte just go to select "books" and enter her name in their search slot. You all will love the titles. Re the basil, I planted some in a big pot with a tomato plant years ago just because I had limited space. That plant did better than all the other tomatoes. The next year I checked it out scientifically--half the tomato plants with basil and half without. Something in the basil makes the tomato plants stronger and more prolific. Posted by: Barbara on April 21, 2005 09:17 PMSorry about the double-post. Patricia, meant to add that when the moon is in Leo--especially when it is waning--I dig weeds, cut briars, etc. I haven't figured out yet whether Virgo is baren or not re gardening. Lori, I think you are right about the bleeding--it is best to schedule surgery on a waning moon. (And when your sun has good aspects.) Pat QOP your soil testing story really gave me a laugh--especially thinking of what one neighbor's reaction would be if I tried it. Posted by: Barbara on April 21, 2005 09:37 PMSorry about the double-post. Patricia, meant to add that when the moon is in Leo--especially when it is waning--I dig weeds, cut briars, etc. I haven't figured out yet whether Virgo is baren or not re gardening. Lori, I think you are right about the bleeding--it is best to schedule surgery on a waning moon. (And when your sun has good aspects.) Pat QOP your soil testing story really gave me a laugh--especially thinking of what one neighbor's reaction would be if I tried it. Posted by: Barbara on April 21, 2005 09:39 PMGuys, I got sidetracked with Mundane events! meant to comment earlier... I have Louise Riotte's Astrological Garadening --- 1989 edition. Have used her for reference often, esp. as to times to prune... gardeners and farmers have always used the stars! Barbara, wonderful tip about the basil and tomato. I will add basil to my potted tomatoes. And my uncle in Charleston says that marigolds planted next to rose bushes keep the insects away... and he uses fish emulsion to fertilize. As for Virgo, Riotte says "Moon in Virgo. Good for cultivation and destroying weeds and pests. Generally speaking, do not plant or transplant vegetables. Good for vines if blooms are wanted, but will not set much fruit. The days under this sign are sometimes called "bloom days." For many people, vertical gardening has become increasingly important, and Virgo is favorable to vine growth. She goes on for a couple of paragraphs to explain why of the earth signs, Virgo is considered barren. Happy gardening! Dave, I hope you don't have too long a wait --- perhaps others on the list will go elsewhere? Light to you. Posted by: Jo on April 21, 2005 10:09 PMI feel the need to talk about this while we find our strength and try to create a decent government. I am a radical and have always detested politicians and have stayed uninvolved. But now they have gone too far and I am compelled to do something. Nowhere is it written in stone that any man will control another's destiny. I could be wrong about this, and I hope that anyone who is more knowledgeable than I am will correct me. I think that Clinton and Wall Street were behind one of the biggest stock market scams of the century, with cooked books, secretly changed laws, gross stock overvaluations, etc. The American people, fools that we are, were suckered into throwing all their money into the game. Where do you think all that money you lost went? It is just as important to keep Hillary out of the WH as any Republican. We've got to hone our senses so we can recognize the good people. Kerry was mentioned a couple of times in this thread and if you could see him in action now you would know why you voted for him. He has always stood up to power, but now with all his Saturn and Uranus transits, it is getting thrilling. You should all check it out. The Republican party is losing so much popularity that it might even become impossible to fix the elections. Last night Mike Malloy has only Bush supporters call in and it was tragic. There are frightened and have lost their spark. Not one could muster enthusiasm even for right wing ideology. Keep the faith. Posted by: jm on April 21, 2005 10:22 PMThe Senate moved toward approving $81 billion for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on Thursday in a measure that would push the total cost of combat and reconstruction past $300 billion. http://beta.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050421/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq_spending_7&printer=1 A billion seconds ago, it was 1959. A billion minutes ago, Jesus was alive. A billion hours ago, our ancestors were living in the Stone Age. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate Washington spends it. And it's YOUR money. --- Mike Rivero Posted by: Jo on April 21, 2005 10:30 PMHere's something on the psychology of democrats and republicans and it's possible origins: "First of all, to quote Steven Pinker (who is himself referencing anthropologists) from his book The Blank Slate: Quote: A man's honor is a kind of "social reality" in John Searle's sense: it exists because everyone agrees it exists, but it is no less real for that, since it resides in a shared granting of power. When the lifestyle of a people changes, their culture of honor can stay with them for a long time, because it is difficult for anyone to be the first to renounce the culture. The very act of renouncing it can be a concession of weakness and low status even when the sheep and mountains are a distant memory. The American South has long had higher rates of violence than the North, including a tradition of dueling among, "men of honor" such as Andrew Jackson. Nisbett and Cohen note that much of the south was settled by Scotish and Irish herdsman, whereas the North was settled by English farmers. Also, for much of history the mountanous frontier of the South was beyond the reach of law. The resulting Southern culture of honor is, remarkably, alive at the turn of the twenty-first century in laws and social attitudes. Southern states place fewer restrictions on gun onwership, allow people to shoot an assailant or burglar without having to retreat first, are tolerant of spanking parents and corporal punishment by schools, are more hawkish on issues of national defense, and execute more of their criminals. ( 82)
82- Ibid. This is corroborated by multiple lines of evidence, one being that Southerners have on average been proven physically more agressive, or prone to counter-agression by neurological studies, to again quote Pinker: Quote: Here I should note that the South is almost universally composed of Red States. http://www.electoral-vote.com/ And that Southerners are also more likely to affiliate themselves with conservative causes then liberal. http://people-press.org/commentary/display...3?AnalysisID=85 Southerners are especially more likely to see violence as a good solution to national problems, though they tend to be amiable when it comes to the occupation of Iraq. Real concrete cultural differences have been found between Southern States, and the rest of the Union, especially Pacific and North-Eastern States: http://www.economist.com/surveys/PrinterFr...tory_ID=2172019 Geographic location according to the above data, is a better indicator of political loyalties then economic class. The Honor Culture hypothesis is further corroborated by the increased levels of violence shown among African-American (Again from Steven Pinker): Quote: African American inner-city neighborhoods are among the more conspicuous violent environments in Western democracies, and they too have an entrenched culture of honor. In his insightful essay "The Code of the Streets," the sociologist Elijah Anderson describes the young men's obsession with respect, their cultivation of a reputation for toughness, their willingness to engage in violent retaliation for any slight, and their universal acknolwedgement of the rules of this code. (83) Were it not for giveaways in their dialect, such as "If someone disses you, you got to straighten them out," Anderson's code would be indestinguishable from accounts of of the culture of honor among white Southerners.
Everybody knows that if the rules are violated, there are penalties. Knowledge of the code is thus largely defensive; it is literally necessary for operating in public. Therefore, even though families with a decency orientation are usually opposed to values of the code, they often reluctantly encourage their children's familiarity with it to enable them to negotiate the inner-city environment. (85) Studies of the dynamics of ghetto violence are consistent with Anderson's analysis. The jump in American urban crime rates between 1985 and 1993 can be tied in part to the appearance of crack cocain and the underground economy it spawned. As economist Jeff Grogger points out, "Violence is a way to enforce property rights in the absence of legal recourse." ( 86) The emergence of violence within the new drug economy set off the expected Hobbesian trap. As the crimonologist Jeffrey Fagan noted, gun use spread contagiously as "young people who otherwise wouldn't carry guns felt that they had to in order to avoid being victimized by their armed peers."(87) And as we saw in the chapter on politics, conspicuous economic inequality is a good predictor of violence (better then poverty itself), presumably because men deprived of legitimate means of acquiring status compete for status on the streets instead.(8icon_cool.gif It is not surprising, then, that when African American teenagers are taken out of underclass neighborhoods they are no more violent or delinquet than white teenagers. (89)
83- E. Anderson, "The Code of the Streets", Atlantic Monthly, May 1994, p. 81-94. And the fact is the Honor Culture hypothesis is further corroborated by breakdowns of studying rural vs. urban areas. To quote the Economist article I brought up: Quote: The rest of the country is more secular. This includes the Pacific coast and the square outlined by the big L, consisting of the north-eastern and upper mid-western states. With a few exceptions, these “blue states” voted for Mr Gore in 2000. Their differences are deeply entrenched. Traditionalists are heavily concentrated in smaller towns and rural areas. Secularists dominate big cities. Southerners tend to be a bit more religious, a bit more socially conservative and more supportive of a strong military stance than the rest of the country. Intriguingly, black southerners are more conservative than blacks elsewhere, though less conservative than their white neighbours.
http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/
The fact is less developed nations have been found to have higher rates of violence, especially collective violence then more developed nations, see Charles Tilly's The Politics of Collective Violence. This can be seen as confirmation for the notion that lack of social institutions lead to more violent attitudes via honor culture mechanisms. Tribal society's especially have higher rates of violence, with death from murder and warfare as high as 30%, with the lowest recorded rates of death from violence/warfare within tribal societies being 10%. This is vastly greater then the rates of death from violence in medieval society's which is around 3-5%, and it gets even lower in industrial society's (1-.5%, even counting world wars 1 and 2). (See Skeptic volume 9, "Whence the Noble Savage", by Patrick Frank). Research shows less industrialized societies tend to also be less liberal and secular:
Well one way to answer the above would be to note that political attitudes, even seemingly unrelated ones tend to come in clumps. To again quote Pinker: Quote:
Likely this is not merely from pro-corporate sentiments, but arises from more pro-private property, and anti-federal government positions (notice that much of the corporatist rhetoric revolves around the issue of property, big government and taxes). However this excuse can be seen as ad hoc without further corroboration.
To be honest I really have no good excuse for this anomaly. One possible reason however may be that the African-American community is more urbanized-- meaning that though they are more violent due to lawlessness, they not being rural lack certain elements of the colonial mentality embodied by the South. I believe that African-Americans in rural areas are in fact more conservative then their urban counter-parts, however I would like to do more research on this befoe saying anything definite. http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=764 John Kerry on the Senate Floor – Washington's Broken: The Nuclear Option Remarks As Prepared for Delivery - Senate Floor Mr. President, the Republican "nuclear option" has been discussed endlessly on editorial pages, talk radio, and in this chamber. This ongoing debate is about much more than Senate procedure. At its core it's a debate about where we're headed and what kind of nation we want to become. And beneath it are questions about Washington , which seems headed in a direction that clashes with the will of the American people. The fact we even are talking about this issue is a stark reminder that Washington is not fighting for the broad interests of the American people. From the outside looking in, our Democracy appears broken - endangered by one party rule intent on amassing power, often at the expense of real work the American people elected us to do. In recent weeks alone we have witnessed as disturbing a course of events as I have ever seen in this city. Republican leaders of Congress are crossing lines that should never be crossed: The line that says a leader in the House of Representatives should never carelessly threaten or intimidate federal judges. The line that says the leader of the Senate should never accuse those who disagree with his political tactics of waging a war against people of faith. The line that says respect for core constitutional principles should never be undermined by a political party's quest for power. Most important of all, the line that says a political party's leaders should never let their thirst for power overshadow the needs and interests of those who elected them - the American people. It's almost hard to believe that in a Congress where leaders of both parties once worked together to find common ground despite ideological differences, we face this moment at all. Yesterday, when Jim Jeffords announced his retirement, I remembered a very different Washington that Jim's words captured so eloquently almost four years ago. He spoke of a political tradition where leaders represented their states first. "They spoke their minds," he said, "often to the dismay of their party leaders...and did their best to guide this city in the direction of our fundamental principles." More.... Posted by: Pat C on April 21, 2005 11:10 PMsomeone... I think it is of utmost importance that we understand everything we can about our cultural conflict..anthropology, sociology, psychology, etc. The geographer, Jared Diamond, has fascinating books on how geography influences human behavior. His latest is about how societies destroy themselves, and also how they preserve their culture. Easter Island was once a lush paradise and the people stripped all the vegetation to build those immense statues to appease the gods, thereby going into extinction and leaving behind a barren wasteland. Posted by: jm on April 21, 2005 11:16 PMOh, Pat C, that speech is wonderful. It's on C-span 2. Posted by: jm on April 21, 2005 11:18 PMMore Kerry... >What does it tell you when an embattled House Majority Leader is willing to go on talk radio and attack a Supreme Court Justice, let alone one appointed by Ronald Reagan and confirmed by a nearly unanimous Senate? A justice who ruled in favor of President Bush in Bush v. Gore. Ronald Reagan's nominee to the highest court in the land can't even escape Tom DeLay's partisan assaults, and yet here on the floor of the Senate there's no outcry - no moderating Republican voice willing to say this shocking attack has no place in our democracy. I guess none of this should be a surprise - not after we learned what the Majority leader has planned this Sunday. The Majority Leader plans to headline a religious service devoted to defeating, I quote, a "filibuster against people of faith." When the Leader of the Senate questions the faith of any Senator who opposes his procedural changes to Senate, he goes beyond endangering rules that protect the cherished rights of the minority in our democracy. But I can tell you what I believe: When tens of thousands of innocent souls have perished in Darfur -when 11 million children are without health insurance-when our colossal debt subjects our economic future to the whims of Asian bankers-no one can tell me that faith demands this Senate spend its time arguing over a handful of judges. No one with those priorities can use my faith to intimidate me.< Posted by: jm on April 21, 2005 11:27 PMI believe our 1971 warrior has returned. His latest video: http://www.johnkerry.com/action/valuesvideo/ Posted by: jm on April 21, 2005 11:54 PMJM, my heart hurts. This is all very painful to watch. Posted by: Pat C on April 22, 2005 12:08 AMKerry, Reid, Boxer, Dean are our warriors, heros and heroines and will lead us into the light, fighting all the way, until the tide has turned and we have defeated these hypocrites. Methinks they all have a lot of Sagittarius in their charts (don't know about Boxer though). DU has a thread about Wicca projected to become the world's 3rd largest religion by 2012. Moving over Bhakti, another Jewitch is coming out of the closet (modified version). Posted by: Sharon on April 22, 2005 12:23 AMchop lieba, forget the water! ------------------------------- Judi gemini, can ya smoke it!?! Posted by: Marta on April 22, 2005 12:24 AMThanks for that. I will look into Jared Diamonds works. And it's good to see John Kerry has regained some of his fighting spirit. Posted by: someone on April 22, 2005 12:24 AMMove over, moving over, whatever! tNeptune on my Mercury has done a number on my precision button. Posted by: Sharon on April 22, 2005 12:25 AMThis was just posted at the Bradblog: >When I got home I got a phone call from someone working for Kerry. They called to thank me for signing the "Kids Come First" Act, and of course for $. Before he could get to any of that I expressed to him that my #1 concern is with the election system, went over some of the problems from the '04 election, and asked if he knew if Kerry was aware that the election was stolen. He said he is very aware of it and one of the reasons he's not speaking out is because they are still in the process of gathering all the information and proof they can before publicly addressing it. He said they knew that if they tried to address the stolen election before they had "all their ducks in a row" (my words, not his) they would be labeled conspiracy nuts and ridiculed to the point of people not believing any of what they said. He said as far as the paperless voting machines that it would take longer than if there had been a paper traill, but that it is still traceable. He also said the same thing about the Vote Tabulators - that even if the hacking of the machines was done in a way that couldn't be detected, that they can detect it but it takes longer...< I know what you mean, Pat C. Sharon, Boxer is a Scorpio with a Moon in Aries. Lots of Taurus. I'll try to get the chart. Posted by: jm on April 22, 2005 12:30 AMOh, and Kerry:Sagittarius, Reid:Sagittarius, Dean:Mars in Sagittarius. Posted by: jm on April 22, 2005 12:36 AMBarbara Boxer: November 11, 1940, Brooklyn, New York. That's perfect, jm. My husband is an Aries, moon in Scorpio, Mars rising in Leo conj. Pluto & Saturn (just like *) The only thing that saves us is his Taurus Venus and Pisces Mercury, although it makes him infuriatingly into his own dream world and at the same time, trying to act in a precise, militaristic way and demanding the same of others. But he is strong, and a fighter, will stand up for what's right, has much intergrity, and is SO loving in his own way. Anyway, I appreciate the courage of all of these Don Quijotes, but I think they are a lot more effective than their literary counterpart :-) Posted by: Sharon on April 22, 2005 01:02 AMThe European papers are full of Ratzinger's Hitler Youth past. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding it, many people were unaware of it and are none too pleased. Of course, we'll hear nothing of it here in the States. Jonathan Posted by: Jonathan on April 22, 2005 01:56 AMAm on a different computer now. Re those double posts: Aaruugh! Jo, yep the marigolds repel aphids and aphids love to feast on roses. Dave, don't know why, but I have a strong feeling you will be admitted to the law school of your choice. jm and Pat C, re Kerry's speech: Wow!! Also regarding honor society--read an interesting essay years ago explaining urban gangs in terms of feudalism. Made perfect sense--when there is no civil structure then territory can only be protected by warriors/knights. Also re the honor society--and I grew up in it--it certainly requires less thinking than civic responsibility and is more compatible with primitive human impulses. I think all America is somewhat under that influence. Beat the drums for any war and the majority falls into line after only the shortest resistence. Jo, also thanks for that Mike Rivero quote--certainly going to pass that on. Have to get off this computer. Going to lie low until the other one is behaving better. Posted by: Barbara on April 22, 2005 03:00 AMhi wv(and all, natch), i've long appreciated the thoughtful musings you've offered here, and wanted to chime in with particular appreciation for your link to the salon article discussing the work/thoughts of richard florida, of whose work i'm enthusiastically familiar. sadly, my report from the ground -- and i'll admit it's more than a wee bit clouded by some here-and-now despondence -- in that even in san francisco (where i live), being gay (which i am) seems to be little help. maybe it's a saturated market...i have not, and would not -- EVER -- try to use my orientation in a manner to try to score points in a job application process (it's neither relevant, nor interesting). rather, the fact that i am bright, creative as all get-out, an honors graduate from a pretty dang good school, and yet, unemployed for seven months now (next stop: bankruptcy? homelessness? who knows -- roll them dice!) seems to matter little among resume readers who, even here in the so-called cradle of creativity, seem angeringly eager to seek sheep. end rant. all the above having been said, and in spite of the ground-truthing of my day to day, i really do believe fully that florida's onto something important. but BECAUSE of the ground-truthing of what i have been / continue to be going through, i fear that the tentacles of conformity-above-all-else have reached into even here. that is not to dismiss the validity of his work. rather, it is to reflect my shock at how difficult it seems to be to derive some remunerative validation for being a creative, other-oriented person in this crappy-@$$ economic system we(or many of us) are sucked into. then again, i'm also shocked that i'm half-way into what should be a really great, fortuitous, blessings-laden year, what with jupiter in my sun sign and all. if what i've been experiencing is what jupiter in libra is all about, i'd rather have saturn sitting sweaty and naked on my head and pi$$ing in my wheaties... (and maybe he has been). sigh. apologies for the rant -- i really DO appreciate the salon link; i'm glad that his work is enjoying some measure of currency, i just hope that we haven't crossed a critical threshold. best to all. pat c: give my native state of maine a big bear hug for me. Posted by: mr kite on April 22, 2005 03:05 AMAh mr kite, Been away from the computer for a few days, but I just wanted to say to Mike and JillG, re what they have heard about New Zealand: It ain't necessarily so. On another note, if Guido and Ouda Mae get it in their heads to investigate New Zealand, they're more than welcome to partake of fine wine, cheese and seafood on the deck! Upthread there was discussion on earth changes. We've had a lot of earthquakes in this part of the world lately, although I have not felt any where I am living. Tuesday (NZ time) there was one of the biggest geothermal eruptions in the central north island in 50 years. It was in a very remote area and would have gone initially unnoticed except that a farmer saw his herd of about 500 cows sudddenly stampede uphill and huddle together at the far end of the area. Then he looked back and saw the eruption about 100meters into the air. Posted by: Jeanie on April 22, 2005 04:55 AMpat qop -- many thanks for the kind thoughts. worse fates are there, i reckon, than those that would bring one to the state of maine. with luck, you're on or near the coast. sorry if my despondant rant unfairly colored the bay area in shades of dark grey. it's still, and will remain, a great, magnificent place, and i'll do what i can to stay here and make contributions here. i suppose if there's anything of merit that can be distilled from my sullen musings, it's that times are tough all over (and we all knew that, really, didn't we), and that no place is wholly immune from feeling the effects of woefully off-kilter socioeconomic cultural values. best to all. Posted by: mr kite on April 22, 2005 05:00 AMYeh. I am. There's a tidal stream in the backyard defining my property line. Traditionally the local smelters come through my yard, on the May full moon to net up the spawning smelts! And SF did prevent AAAAnold from reaching his fund rasing dinner. That's spirit!!!! Mr. Kite....what do you 'do'? I am not gay and not in San Francisco (just San Bruno) but I am creative! and the phone call would be cheap! Jeanie...I am jealous...34 years in Hawaii. Well I can assure you, Hawaii has changed a lot too...it used to be the most wonderful Democratic town - eerrrrr...place....but I left there long ago, although Hawaii shaped me completely (I was a kid when I left, before it was even a state, and my great great and great grandparents went there in 1880; my grandmother was born there in 1885). I lived next door to a couple until I moved a few months ago...the daughter went to NZ to work, then met a man there, they married and then came here to find work....not sure the reason for the leaving....but that which you posted sounds scary enough. Posted by: judi gemini on April 22, 2005 08:04 AMJudi, first visited Hawaii as a kid in 1963. The change to 2003 was immense! But I really loved the blending of cultures - as well as the geography - too bad so many with arrogant attitudes have moved in and marginalized so many of the locals. Becoming Pope on a 29 degree Sun right in the middle of eclipses bodes well for a very, very short reign, no? What do you think, astrologers? Posted by: Laurie on April 22, 2005 08:44 AMI have to say the post on the honor code was fantastic! jm, I suspect you're right about the R's losing they're enthusiasm. The truth is America's economic destiny is in the hands of asian bankers - as JK rightly points out. Being for the benefit of Mr Kite: Like you I am very creative and the last 8 months or so have been very trying indeed. Last week I went down to London to do work experience for a post-production house in Soho. I spent the fist couple of days making tea/coffee and collecting lunches, then spent some time doing nuts and bolts work(copying/transferring files) and on the last couple of days I co-wrote/produced/mixed a soundtrack for a 2-minute animation which has been entered into a festival next month with many influential UK film/tv directors involved. I have a credit on that film! The whole experience cost me £300+ but has broken the cycle. I have my fingers crossed as to what will come of it, nothing is certain, but at least some people, well-established in the industry have seen what I can do and have told me that I was good and my help was invaluable. That did no end of good for my sometimes fragile confidence - I am a Pisces, after all. You might just have to go out there and show them what you're capable of. The traditional ways of getting anywhere just don't seem to be working anymore. The thing that worries me more than anything is the upcoming Pluto conj with my nMars 28Sag(7th house) which is part of a T-square with Pluto(4th house) and Sun/Mercury(9th house/conj MC)! I just hope the republicans drag me down with them... Something interesting I heard on the radio the other night - the Merlin Project. Aparently, Blair, B*, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and a few other prominent rethugs have a transitiional peak late 05/early 06 which, like Pope J-PII, signal major transitions such as death and major changes. I forget the Professor's name, but he suggested that B*/Blair and co. could all go around the same time due to some scandal. Err, now I wonder what that could be? Mike, HW(Pisces) was deffo one of the good 'uns but made too many mistakes to be considered great - the Union troubles of the '70's could have been avoided if he had been more decisive.
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http://news.independent.co.uk/low_res/story.jsp?story=631892&host=3&dir=75 Posted by: wv on April 22, 2005 02:01 PMIn Britain, An Absurdity: Truth can be subverted, but for millions of decent Britons the subversion is over, and the penny has finally dropped. For that, they have Blair to thank. On 5 May, they will silently go on strike against a corrupt, undemocratic system, as they did at the last election, producing the lowest turnout since the franchise, including barely a third in some constituencies. Others will come under extraordinary pressure to put aside considerations of basic morality and vote for this "successful" Blair government. They -- allow me to change that to you -- ought to be aware of what this will mean for your fellow human beings. More at link 2 Evangelicals Want to Strip Courts' Funds Evangelical Christian leaders, who have been working closely with senior Republican lawmakers to place conservative judges in the federal courts, have also been exploring ways to punish sitting jurists and even entire courts viewed as hostile to their cause. An audio recording obtained by the Los Angeles Times features two of the nation's most influential evangelical leaders, at a private conference with supporters, laying out strategies to rein in judges, such as stripping funding from their courts in an effort to hinder their work. The discussion took place during a Washington conference last month that included addresses by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who discussed efforts to bring a more conservative cast to the courts. Frist and DeLay have not publicly endorsed the evangelical groups' proposed actions. But the taped discussion among evangelical leaders provides a glimpse of the road map they are drafting as they work with congressional Republicans to achieve a judiciary that sides with them on abortion, same-sex marriage and other elements of their agenda. "There's more than one way to skin a cat, and there's more than one way to take a black robe off the bench," said Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, according to an audiotape of a March 17 session. The tape was provided to The Times by the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State. More.... Posted by: Pat C on April 22, 2005 03:19 PMhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7420-2005Apr21.html Powell did not sign a letter from seven other former U.S. secretaries of state or defense supporting Bolton, and his former chief of staff, Lawrence B. Wilkerson, recently told the New York Times that Bolton would be an "abysmal ambassador." ..................... http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/3145618 Bush says he lacks power to control rising gas prices Admission is an about-face from his rhetoric in 2000 Posted by: Pat C on April 22, 2005 03:25 PMhttp://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?emx=x&pid=2337 Bacevitch on the Neocon Revolution and Militarism On Wednesday, I posted The Normalization of War, the first of two excerpts from a remarkable new book -- Andrew J. Bacevitch's The New American Militarism, How Americans Are Seduced by War. In the second excerpt, Bacevitch takes up the subject of neoconservatism, which he terms "a singularly inapt label that suggests an ideological rigor that neocons have never demonstrated nor perhaps even sought." Speaking of the early neocons, including figures like Irving Kristol and Norman Podhoretz, he points out that, "from the outset, the neoconservative identification with the post-Vietnam Right was a marriage of convenience rather than a union of kindred spirits." Below, in an excerpt adapted from the book and posted with the kind permission both of the author and of his publisher, Oxford University Press, Bacevitch takes up the second generation of neocons, the new boys who moved to Washington and, from various think tanks and front groups, laid siege to governmental policy-making. Though the label neocon has increasingly become one of opprobrium, Bacevitch suggests that "the heat generated by the term also stands as a backhanded tribute, an acknowledgement that the neoconservative impact has been substantial." As indeed it has – to the misfortune of us all. He suggests as well that "one aspect of the neoconservative legacy has been to foster the intellectual climate necessary for the emergence of the new American militarism." His discussion of that legacy follows. Tom New Boys in Town The Neocon Revolution and American Militarism As a practical matter, the task of reinventing neoconservatism for a post-Communist world -- and of spelling out an "imperial self-definition" of American purpose -- fell to a new generation. To promote that effort, leading members of that new generation created their own institutions. The passing of the baton occurred in 1995. That year, Norman Podhoretz stepped down as editor of Commentary. That same year, William Kristol founded a new journal, the Weekly Standard, which in short order established itself as the flagship publication of second-generation neoconservatives. Although keeping faith with neoconservative principles that Commentary had staked out over the previous two decades -- and for a time even employing Norman's son John Podhoretz in a senior editorial position -- the Standard was from the outset an altogether different publication. From its founding, Commentary had been published by the American Jewish Committee, an august and distinctly nonpartisan entity. The Weekly Standard relied for its existence on the largesse of Rupert Murdoch, the notorious media mogul. Unlike Commentary, which had self-consciously catered to an intellectual elite, the Standard -- printed on glossy paper, replete wit! h cartoons, caricatures, and political gossip -- had a palpably less lofty look and feel. It was by design smart rather than stuffy. Whereas Commentary had evolved into a self-consciously right-wing version of the self-consciously progressive Dissent, the Standard came into existence as a neoconservative counterpart to the neoliberal New Republic. Throughout Norman Podhoretz's long editorial reign, Commentary had remained an urbane and sophisticated journal of ideas, aspiring to shape the terms of political debate even as it remained above the muck and mire of politics as such. Beginning with volume 1, number 1, the editors of the Standard did not disguise the fact that they sought to have a direct and immediate impact on policy; not ideas as such but political agitation defined the purpose of this new enterprise. Better than anything else, location told the tale. Commentary's editorial offices were on Manhattan's East Side; for first-generation neoconservatives, the East River on one side and the Hudson on the other defined the universe. In contrast, the Standard set up shop just a few blocks from the White House; for William Kristol and his compatriots, the perimeter of the Washington Beltway delineated the world that mattered. More... Posted by: Pat C on April 22, 2005 03:29 PMMorgana, i so sorely miss your moon musings... sigh... moon in Libra is waxing, going full Sunday in Scorpio at 10:05 GMT --- Lunar Appulse Eclipse, April 24, 2005 6:05 AM EDT +4:00 Washington, D.C. that's my Mercury offering... would really love to hear Morgana music... [esp. since I recall Cap'n Sally saying she was concerned about this particular date... or, am I mis-remembering? my energy is all convoluted... don't know up from down!] Perhaps a new thread will answer all my questions. Inquiring minds want to know... namaste Posted by: Jo on April 22, 2005 04:17 PM
Think Again: Failing Upward at CPB by Eric Alterman Buried beneath the controversial high-profile appointments and nominations for President Bush's second term is one that deserves a second look – yet hardly anyone in the mainstream media has done so. Bundled up with the appointment of Kevin Martin as head of the FCC on March 16 came the naming of Ken Ferree as chief operating officer for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This isn't just some backwater post. CPB is in charge of developing programming for National Public Radio, Public Radio International and PBS. And Ferree is no newcomer to the scene. He has a four-year track record as a conservative activist within the government since his appointment to head the FCC's Media Bureau in 2001. At the FCC, Ferree acted as the key aide to Chairman Michael Powell on media policy formation. As head of the FCC's Media Bureau, Ferree was a key player in putting together the Commission's attempt to ram through a set of rules in 2003 that would have taken the lid off media ownership rules, effectively allowing media conglomerates to buy up as much of the media landscape as their riches would allow. It was in part Ferree's plan, then, for which Powell so ineptly stumped and thereby helped to ignite unprecedented opposition from a newly energized public. In the end, a left/right alliance in Congress, coupled with favorable rulings in the federal courts, successfully shot down the plan … for now. But just three weeks after joining CPB, this fan of further concentrating media power in the hands of just a few mega-corporations will act as president of the guiding power behind all public programming in U.S. broadcast media, likely a pit stop on his way to being given the top spot for the remainder of Bush's term. CPB's outgoing president, Kathleen Cox, may not have been ideological enough for the Bush administration and the increasingly conservative board of directors at CPB, acting as a largely professional and relatively apolitical bureaucrat between the warring sides in public broadcasting. The same week Cox left the CPB, the organization's board named two "ombudspersons" to review all programming on public radio and TV stations, including those not funded by CPB or the federal government. Now that Ferree is in charge of the CPB (the post is officially temporary, but he is known to want to stay full-time), it's worth taking a look at his record. Chellie Pingree, president of Common Cause, told the New York Times last week that during Mr. Ferree's time at the FCC, he "seemed to be dismissive of the public interest obligations of broadcasters." She added that Ferree "seems an unlikely choice to steer C.P.B. in a way that would protect public broadcasting's editorial independence and that would ensure that no political or partisan interference mars its deeply important mission of providing substantive news and information to the American public." With regard to the FCC's failed deregulatory policies, Ferree appears committed to the same discredited path as Powell. He told USA Today back in May 2003 that "The idea that media companies have gotten so big and powerful that they're a threat to diversity and freedom and we need a government to check them, I'm not saying that's ridiculous, but we have to recognize there's the law here and the First Amendment." Ferree was, if anything, even more contemptuous than his boss of public input into the process of adjudicating the ownership of the airwaves. In response to Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein's desire to hold public hearings on their plan, Ferree dismissed the idea as unhelpful to the commission, terming it merely "an exercise in foot-stomping." The anti-democratic bias goes even deeper. According to the Center for Public Integrity, when the FCC was deciding how to go about loosening restrictions on media ownership back in 2002, it based its market research primarily on analyses not available to the public. This private data was only released to public interest groups after the FCC issued a "protective order" designed to keep the information secret. Who made the decision to hide the data from the public? Coincidentally, it was Ferree himself. He personally stipulated that the data be made available only to "authorized representatives" and those "designated by the commission in the public interest." In order to have access to the data, viewers had to swear, in writing, not to share it, and were only able to view the data at FCC headquarters and were not allowed to make copies. Now that Ferree has left the FCC and is in charge of public broadcasting, we can expect an accelerated commitment to the very policies that the public, Congress and courts all rejected as anti-democratic and contrary to the public interest. Given the power and influence he will be able to exercise on some of our most precious public resources, you'd think it might be worth a story … somewhere. Eric Alterman is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and the author of six books, including most recently, When Presidents Lie: A History of Official Deception and Its Consequences. www.americanprogress.org Posted by: wv on April 22, 2005 04:46 PMJo, with Mercury back to direct my paying job is back on track :) mainframe sysprog and I'm hopeing to be able to articulate coherently what I am reading in the full moon chart. Let's see if I come up with anything other then bad rap and get passed whatever creative block I have run headlong into. I'm always about though for Capt'n Sally's site here feeds my spirit and soul. I haven't been around this here favorite place of mine for a coupla days, so I missed all you guys and gals & your brilliance. Mr. Kite, please don't be despondent. Do you read America blog? http://americablog.blogspot.com/ Tnanks Morgana, we are all grateful for Cap'n Sally's corner in cyberspace... i'm greedy, though... would like to have your input to add to the bounty! looking forward to it... blessed be... Posted by: Jo on April 22, 2005 04:55 PMWV, I decided some time ago that PBS and NPR are part of Corporate Media... when the fundies pushed Cox out it was hoopla over Buster (Bunny)... and his lesbian mother... those with grandchildren will recognize Buster as Arthur's friend, from one of PBS's oldest and best children's shows - "Arthur". In essence, the showing of ONE episode of Arthur cost Kathleen Cox her job and once again we find Corporate Media genuflecting to the Rabid Right. You can google and get some background on Cox and the episode, here's one link: http://www.democraticmedia.org/news/JCFerreestatement.html Posted by: Jo on April 22, 2005 05:27 PMSally, thank you for the wonderful article. It was insightful as always. I find fault with the logic of the post relating to african-american gang violence. I don't by any means believe it is an outgrowth of southern culture. I spent my formative years in both the north and south; due to my age (40's) I remember thriving neighboorhoods (segragated of course) with stable businesses and stable family structures that valued education and entrepreneurship. Gang violence burst onto the scene in the early eighties when full ecomonic divestment from urban neighborhoods by strapped city governments forced middle-class flight and crack cocaine infiltration came together with an explosive and devestating impact. Drugs, record unemployment, lack of social services and few educational opportunites made fertile ground for a violent and rogue 'economy' based on the sale of crack. I sent an email to a friend in Seattle about the John Kerry info posted up thread....I have noticed how angry some staunch supporters have been about Kerry and Gore disappearing after the elections (Gore really did, but I still say it is because HE DIDN'T WANT THE JOB)...but with Kerry....he is prudent to gather all the evidence before looking like the loser in the tin foil hat. Anyway, I told my friend I thought Dems who now refuse to support the party were part of the problem....and mentioned what happened up in Redmond, WA....Microsoft caved into a local Xian bible church preacher who said he would organize a boycott against Microsoft if they supported the amendment in WA leg. supporting gay rights...it lost by one vote! But a vp at Microsoft said their fears about a boycott made them withdraw support, although now they are saying something completely different. So if one Xian blackmailing rightwingnut preacher can bring down the gag on Microsoft, why should we be so hard on John Kerry and Al Gore? What would we do in their places? (Looks like Kerry is finally starting to let the anger show, and to be effective....these guys now speaking up are going to be the heroes....) As Claudia said about the election...lots of dark energy, huh? Posted by: judi gemini on April 22, 2005 05:47 PMNancy, I apologize for not crediting you with this wonderful article. Posted by: soulchild on April 22, 2005 05:48 PMPeg: met my final soulmate & I'm gonna be passing on sometime here pretty quick- maybe in Sept. I offer you my chart stats. if you want to see the surrounding attributes of this occurrence sometime. I know it's kind of hard to tell what to look for, and thought it might be of some educational value maybe. Let me know if you're interested. Off to experience this glorious time. vcz: Peg! Do I understand correctly that you have what's been deemed a terminal illness, and you expect to be "going Home" within the next six months? If so, you have the perfect attitude... Mentioned before, but. I "died" when I was about 3, and remember many things, clearly. I.e., when a baby is being born, it thinks it is dying, and when we are "dying" we are merely "being born into the next world." Although you could wind up being here longer than expected, this period can be very much like a "gestation" for you. And it can absoLUTEly be "a glorious time." My thoughts and prayers are with you, though I admit to a bit of envy. How did YOU earn a reprieve from the coming storms??? [If you've read much re NDE's, you already know that the most common denominator for NDE-ers is a good, long depression at having to come back.] May your dismount be exciting and painless. soulchild...I agree with you...and check out the web site of Catherine Austin Fitts (http://www.solari.com) plus her writing at Dialing for Narco Dollars on what happened to the US citiies in the 1980's (even the Sopranos picked up on this scenario for a plot line)....Gary Webb wrote about that too...how the CIA operatives flooded those areas with cocaine....which drove the HUD property owners in those communities to abandon their properties for fear of their lives and then HUD took them back and resold them off to the ERVIN company in TX (Bush supporters, all)....Catherine was Assist. Sec of HUD and saw how it all worked....Gary Webb was discredited, lost his newspaper job, and ended up committing suicide late last year. Catherine spent 14 years suing the gov't ....and Ervin...and finally late last year won her suit. And that was after losing her company, and living in hiding for several years! Posted by: judi gemini on April 22, 2005 06:00 PMhttp://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/04/22/MNG65CDDDD1.DTL Gay rights advocates say Microsoft betrayed them Joyce Hoen, a Dutch astrologer, in her week-ahead, thinks the new Pope will get a 12-year reign: Pope John Paul II was buried during a solar eclipse, Pope Benedict XVI will be inaugurated during a lunar eclipse Sunday April 24. It looks as if the Vatican uses astrology..... Grazia Mirti informed that te birthdata of the Pope Benedict XVI, born April 16 1927. 4:15 MET in Marktl/Aaltoetting, 48N15, 12E51, becomes Pope on the moment that Pluto is about to enter his 10th house, at the same time creating a Grand Fire trine with the Sun (leadership) and Neptune (religion). Born with Jupiter in Pisces on the Ascendant he no doubt is a deeply religious person, and his message of more unity (Pisces) between all It should be interesting to see if rightwing pressure will oust the current government in Spain because of this....Spain seems to be in a different time zone when it comes to the right/left thing! "Pope Benedict XVI has responded firmly to the first challenge of his papacy by condemning a Spanish government bill allowing marriage between homosexuals. The bill, passed by parliament's Socialist-dominated lower house, also allows gay couples to adopt. http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0422/dailyUpdate.html Navigating a clash of civilizations Examining the new pope's old comments on Turkey's entry into the European Union. Posted by: Pat C on April 22, 2005 06:33 PMhttp://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0422/dailyUpdate.html Navigating a clash of civilizations Examining the new pope's old comments on Turkey's entry into the European Union. Posted by: Pat C on April 22, 2005 06:39 PM(((((((Peg))))))) Posted by: Pat C on April 22, 2005 06:40 PM
It should be interesting to see if rightwing pressure will oust the current government in Spain because of this....Spain seems to be in a different time zone when it comes to the right/left thing! "Pope Benedict XVI has responded firmly to the first challenge of his papacy by condemning a Spanish government bill allowing marriage between homosexuals. The bill, passed by parliament's Socialist-dominated lower house, also allows gay couples to adopt. oh oh....double posting is getting rampant.... Posted by: judi gemini on April 22, 2005 06:56 PM
The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:
The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments: "What would Jesus say and do, if he returned today?" This question, frequently posed from Christian pulpits far and wide, is a recurring theme in world literature. The most profound and enduring literary treatment of the question is by Fyodor Dostoevsky, in his novel, The Brothers Karamazov. In the fifth chapter of the novel, Dostoevsky, through the narrator Ivan Karamazov. offers his answer to the question, "what if Jesus were to appear among us again?" In this parable, Jesus returns to Seville in the fifteenth century, during the Spanish inquisition. Recognized immediately by the crowd, he is taken into custody and brought before the Grand Inquisitor. The Inquisitor realizes that if Jesus is allowed to remain at large, He will undo all that the Church has attempted to accomplish throughout the centuries. Chief among these "accomplishments" of the Church is that of relieving the masses of "the burden of freedom." Much of the parable deals with the "three temptations of Christ" as related in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew (see Addendum), wherein Satan tempts Jesus with miracle, mystery, and authority. The Inquisitor points out that while Jesus refused these temptations, the Church has embraced all three. And why? We will let the Grand Inquisitor speak for himself. (EP) Read more at link: Posted by: Jo on April 22, 2005 07:17 PM
The message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments: E.J. Dionne on Vatican II and the new Pope http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/3143363 Posted by: Jo on April 22, 2005 07:19 PMInteresting story from SLUDGE WLS Chicago has withdrawn its story claiming retiring Rebublican Rep. Henry Hyde 'made some Oh, Peg, dear Peg--we in our little boats will accompany you in yours as far as we can while you proceed to slip (may it be peacefully and painlessly) into that boundless Sea of Joy. xxoo - shylurker Posted by: shylurker on April 22, 2005 08:08 PMTo Peg: "I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at legnth she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" "Gone where?" Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "HERE SHE COMES!" And that is dying. --Anonymous-- Printed in "Gone From My Sight: The Dying Experience" by Barbara Karnes (I believe she's a hospice nurse). Available from from B. Karnes (if you want order info, please e-mail me -- only because I'm not sure if it's appropriate to include the info here; I have no relation to this, don't know the woman, etc. etc.). This small booklet if full of excellent info re: what to expect during the process of dying. Very helpful for everyone involved, plain, straightforward, easily understandable info. Thank you, everyone, for all the great and pertinent information I find here every day. Thank you, vcz, for sharing the info re NDEs (I've wondered about that recently...) This site is truly a treasure trove!!!!!!!!!!!! So thank you, Sally!!!!! And Peg, ((((((((((((Peg))))))))))) Is it possible at all, Peg to keep us informed. To teach us what the process can be like? To give us some of your thoughts? Occasionally? Posted by: jm on April 22, 2005 09:37 PMJM, you read my mind---although I was struggling with asking that for fear it was my ego that wouldn't let our beloved AWer go........ Namaste, Peg and ((((Peg)))). Thanks for helping us keep the fires lit here with your beautiful spirit. Posted by: Garry on April 22, 2005 10:18 PMOh, that' wonderful, Garry. You can always ask. I can't help it. I am so curious about all forms of human experience. Especially the profound ones. The first time I came close to death was with the person I loved the most in my life. I was alone at home with him. There was no medical intervention at all. It was awe-inspiring. And I will never be the same. He met his death with a courage I will never forget. You never know. Some prefer solitude in these times. Some like sharing and company. Serious article on credit bubble at Dangerous point. http://prudentbear.com/PDF/wellinglowrez.pdf Posted by: Raj on April 22, 2005 11:56 PMSally was exactly right about all the cardinal points being hit. I just noticed Colin Powell's T-square: Mercery in Aries, Jupiter in Capricorn, Pluto in Cancer. He just spoke out against Bolton. Saturn is about to hit the configuration. I wonder what else he has to say. Posted by: jm on April 23, 2005 12:09 AMSomeone, Soulchild is not the only one who had some problems with some of the comments in your post. "...A man's honor is a kind of "social reality" in John Searle's sense: it exists because everyone agrees it exists, but it is no less real for that, since it resides in a shared granting of power." I've read a lot of John Searle's books... I take his 'sense' to mean more: "...Something becomes true if it is taken to be natural. Being natural means that we do not have to think about it. Following John Searle, we could label these kinds of truths collectively as our cognitive “background” (Searle 1995, 127-147). This background structures our consciousness and makes us react in certain ways. Most of the time we are not aware of that we are dealing with background beliefs, at all. Most of our everyday representations belong to this category." Tom Sjöblom I couldn't discern if your comment was Pinker's quote or your own take. Being Southern and having roots that go way back, I am aware of some of the problems here... within and without our pysche. We have our flaws, that's for sure. I guess Soulchild and I will simply have to assume you hoped to bring Pinker and his thesis to the attention of those of us here. thank you. Posted by: Jo on April 23, 2005 12:26 AM JM, It must have been the last thread you mentioned your neptune/Mercury square? I don't think your thinking is muddled at all, as you described it being sometimes... I think, rather, you have a unique ability to think 'out of the box'... you have certainly triggered my thinking in several instances, which has caused me to review or reread something I had not seen in awhile. Jared Diamond is an instance... I first heard of him decades ago, his comment that the greatest mistake humans had made was becoming farmers... that's one to ponder... I tend to agree with him, after several hours of thinking on it! :) Now you have mentioned Tuesdays with Morrie... my 15 yr old granddaughter is reading it (school requirement no less... I was so thrilled!) She has been telling me all about the book, which has her really interested... I haven't let on that I know anything about it! However, I went searching online, and I found the most wonderful link... which gives a thoughtful analysis of the symbols and the message of the book... thought you might enjoy checking it out... there's a number of links to same website, this is just one. Enjoy! and thank you for reminding me of Morrie... Namaste http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/morrie/section4.rhtml Posted by: Jo on April 23, 2005 12:38 AMOh, my gosh, Jo. I am so moved by your last post. Thank you so much. You have no idea how good this makes me feel. I will most definitely enjoy the link you posted. Ooooh. Posted by: jm on April 23, 2005 12:52 AMHappy Earth Day! Celebs join Inuits at Earth Day event Well, I feel like a complete heel and fool....because I just read Peg's post....and when I read it I thought she had met her soulmate and was off on a new adventure....with him. A great new relationship. (Not saying it ISN"T a great new relationship, just that I read it completely wrong.) Thanks for reading it as Peg meant it, vcz....and I wholeheartedly agree that we are going on to a new birth when we think it is merely the 'end'... After rereading Peg's post I thought of the great Alfred Lord Tennyson poem which convinced me at age 15 that I was a Transcendentalist...
But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Twilight and evening bell, For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place wow. thanks you guys. but please don't, that's not the idea. The idea is to learn. Learn from the charts, learn from spirit, learn about love. And man, I love it here on this site Sally built. I really don't want to talk about it now, maybe later, 'cause as I told Jo, being a drama queen is not my thing anymore, lol. VCZ, Pat, you rock. Jo, more of the same. Posted by: Peg on April 23, 2005 04:24 AMdamn. shylurker, Garry, judi, Sharon...... EVERYBODY, major hugs. Morgana, please put some of your music up. We don't care if it's perfect. Posted by: Peg on April 23, 2005 04:27 AM((((((((((((Peg)))))))))) Major hugs to you, too. Please continue posting as much as possible so we can continue to be close to you at this meaningful time. You are loved, Peg, by all of us and by many more. You have touched me more than once here at AW and now you are inspiring poetry! Maybe we could all post our favorite lines/poems. Richard Brautigan was always my favorite (remember "In Watermelon Sugar" anyone?) I'll post the poem of his that I like best as soon as I can - probably right after the Passover Seders on Mon/Tues. With love, Peg, my thoughts are with you. Thought this might be of interest. With the sickening media lovefest over the catholic church and the radical right xians lately, it is heartening to see that there are other relgious leaders in the world who are trying to cooperate and walk the talk, even though the cwm (corporate whore media) pays no attention. This article may give some understanding as to why the Neocons want John Bolton at the UN... http://www.antiwar.com/wanniski/?articleid=5708 Posted by: Jo on April 23, 2005 02:28 PMFrom Salon: The new McCarthyism - - - - - - - - - - - - April 22, 2005 | A member of the U.S. Congress calls for an assistant professor at a major university to be summarily fired. The right-wing tabloid press runs a series of vicious attacks on him, often misquoting him and perpetuating previous misquotes. Opinion pieces attacking "tenured radicals" and questioning professors' patriotism use him as their centerpiece. All of these attacks are spurred by a propaganda film made by an advocacy group, in which anonymous accusations are made and the professor is not given an opportunity to respond to the allegations. It is not 1953, the Congress member is not Sen. Joseph McCarthy, and the professor is not being accused of being a communist. No, it is 2005, the Congress member is Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., and the professor is being accused of being anti-Israel. http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news2/salon56.html Posted by: Jo on April 23, 2005 02:32 PMI was really counting on Dean... not to "SAVE" us! Goodness knows we have to do that ourselves. No, I'm not looking for a savior... but I never thought he would desert the anti-war movement. Say it isn't so... somebody? He is now saying that since we are there, we have to STAY! D@#$ --- if I hear anymore of that male logic I'm going to throw up... Namaste Posted by: Jo on April 23, 2005 02:43 PMHere's the flip side of that record: "The future of Iraq and US Occupation" http://www.chomsky.info/talks/20050126.htm Posted by: Jo on April 23, 2005 03:09 PM(((((PEG))))) (((((((Peg)))))) Much love Posted by: Teg on April 23, 2005 05:24 PMPeg, I visualize you surrounded with bright white light and peace both here and in the hereinafter. The ego is left behind and frees the soul from it's entrapment. Love is the only thing. I see you bathed in it. blessings and hugs to you Posted by: Marta on April 23, 2005 05:47 PM* ...As a woman minister, I’m often asked, "Do you want to be a priest?" Most often, I find the question puzzling at some deeply personal level. "I am a priest" is my most common gut-level answer. What I do is respond to what I perceive to be a inner call to do a job that needed doing, which largely consists of reminding people that God loves them passionately, it being in Her nature to do so, that it’s never too late to claim one’s place in the light, & that everybody is welcome at God’s table. For example, I remind them that, as I read the story, Jesus said, "Take and eat this-–this is my body." There weren’t any qualifiers like "Take & eat this–-all of you who are proclaimed to be orthodox by the Vatican clergy ..." Jesus hung out with everybody, & everybody was welcome at his table. He practiced diversity in a culture that was rife with more-orthodox-than-thou religionists. There were lots of people that claimed to speak with God’s voice in those days too. It’s an outrage that goes back lots further than gw & the Ayatollahs, that’s for sure. So when the now-pope says I can’t be a priest-–or arguably, even a Catholic-–I smile a compassionate smile (on my good days) or flip him a non-Holy-Spirit bird (on my less Christian ones). The pope simply doesn’t have the authority to take my religion or my ministry away from me. Because while he opines, puffs himself up, claims to be the only channel of the Spirit’s voice-–guess what? I’ve got Holy Communion to give out, dying people to see, survivors to comfort, children to bless. There’s a lot of damage my church has done to women, to gay people, to divorced people, to non-Catholics of all faiths & none. The wounds that require healing are overwhelming. Some days, it seems like a lost cause, & not only friends, strangers & my co-religionists ask me "Why don’t you leave?" Some days, I ask myself, & I’m not always as sure of the answer as I’d like to be. But the response comes close to something like: because I’m a Catholic. It’s who I am. The Catholic religious metaphor is deep in my bones. Even if someday some official person comes & drags me off the altar, even that won’t change the fact that, like Popeye, I am who I am–-radical woman minister; will travel. Here’s the secret, I think: progressives are indeed alive & well not only in Chicago, but all over the world, despite the Vatican’s deep desire that we just shut up, submit, &/or go away. (Ratzinger has expressed the thot that it wld be swell if the church got smaller & all the riff-raff like us wld just leave already!) But we’re not going anywhere. We’re the Catholics of Nigeria, the Catholics of Latin America, the Catholics of the Philippines, the Catholics of China, the Catholics of Europe, the Catholics in the US ... we are literally everywhere. We will con't to dissent, witness, & work. And will not go about our business quietly. Again: sorry about that Ratzinger thing, dear world. With love and hope, Susan http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/04/con05145.html Posted by: JoannaOregon on April 23, 2005 07:44 PMhttp://blogs.cjb.net/DonJohn/ ahhhh god i love boys i am 13 years old and am lo0kin 4 a boy round ma age to have it wid i love boys add me mean_kurd_hasan@hotmail.com Posted by: on September 11, 2006 06:12 PMoh i love boys i am 13 years old and am gay i want boy so boys add me i love yah all boys whah mean_kurd_hasan@hotmail.com i am from london Posted by: hasan on September 11, 2006 06:13 PMPost a comment
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