Astroworld

So can we stop disagreeing among ourselves about the candidates, and support each other?
John McCaine got a BIG PASS yesterday, being included in the loop, re: the release of the hostages in Columbia, by the administration. He is THERE on the scene, and the stlaled "fair trade" agreement is back on the table.
Did you notice the "stepford wife's redo? Relaxed hair onto her shoulders, no more tortured Franch twist.!
If I had more energy I would finish sewing the 1775 era dress I abandoned before the book signing, when my last sewing machine needle broke, put it on and go to Eastport Fri. to the parade, step out & read the Declaration............
Michaud, & Allen will be there, all Democrats are urged to come march in the parade.????????
It's a repig town!
On the other hand I was going to put up my Gallery sign tomorrow and rehang the pix.

Your parents shared a profound sense of roots -- helping to ground, i believe, a sense of thank-full-ness. It presents itself within this fine article, Sally. In fact, i got chills reading it.

Perhaps it's my planet placements that give me this fierce spirit of patriotism for that which was so thoughtfully written these 232 years ago, the sacrifices that were made for the good of all; for it was not necessarily my upbringing (very rural farm) that spurred my awe of: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

I think of Astroworld as Sally and Morgana's house. They make the mortgage payment, maintain the utilities and serve us incredible meals. Can we not be thankful for that on this the 4th of July? Let's sit back down together for dessert and a good glass (or two or three) of wine.

QOP go to the parade, I would love to think of you marching in that repug parade. Hair up or down I cannot for the life of me see Cindy McCain as anything other than a "stepford" wife. They talk about Hillary staying with Bill, how could a woman stay with someone who called her such vile names in public.

Thanks Karen, I think I did become grounded and strong roots growing up in that small town. I think a lot of people on the farms and in small towns did get a sense of belonging to a larger community and the disconnect today, the dog eat dog, I've got mine who cares about you, has become confusing for us. I really could not believe that Rush Limbaugh with the sleeze and hatred he puts out got another eight year contract worth four million. I guess that's life today, but I also believe it will change and I want to live to see the change, not just change, but change for the better.

Whoa Sally thank you for just the correct touch, the right weight to your thoughts and words.
Didn't know that you grew up in Kansas.I also grew up in Kansas-over in the SW corner. Definately nurtured roots-the better to be able to demand that we grow more open to life as we find it.
I have been thinking of this new mars/saturn conjunct as a demand that "we"insure that what every movement towards health and perfection we undertake be grounded, tested in the real world.

Clymela, I grew up in SE Kansas so we were directly across the state from one another. I have a friend who swears you can always tell a Kansas women from anyone else. She says they are plain spoken, direct, and assertive. Kind of like that quote I put up last week that a friend sent me about "a powerful woman lives her life in such a manner that when her feet hit the floor in the morning you can hear Satan say "oh shit she's awake." Come to think of it, I've never met too many stepford wives from Kansas except a few in Johnson County.

You are absolutely correct about the Mars/Saturn conj in Virgo and grounding one's health. The Moon in the US Solar Return chart (9Leo)it stands alone in the 8th house) is aspecting the August 1st Solar Eclipse at 9 Leo falling in the 1st house of the eclipse chart.

Eclipses have always been known to most dramatically relate to leaders but that's probably because everyone knew the leaders so the spotlight was on them. The August 1st Eclipse and the Moon in the US SR falls on GWB's Pluto. Wonder about his mother or his wife. It's a pretty dramatic eclipse to fall on one's Pluto.

One wonders why we pay taxes and makes me feel more akin to the "tax revolters" from the Boston Tea Party. They weren't getting anything for their taxes either.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/3/94336/43755/243/545880

It's all about distractions, Sally. Limbaugh is worth at least that much to the people with Big Money, influence and power who want to keep it all -- and us from realizing just how badly we are getting screwed by them just so that they can hold onto everything they've got.

The people who listen to Rush either believe they have something to lose, or else they believe they have lost something and want desperately to reclaim it. And in their own minds, their apparent loss is always somebody else's fault... the blacks, latinos, gays, women, arabs, muslims, or those damn liberals!

The real "enemy" of these folk, however, is not just change, but PROGRESSIVE CHANGE. They have invested everything they have -- emotions, all their finances, and so much energy -- into the status quo and maintaining it that they stand to sustain massive losses if the wind blows them even an inch off their mark.

They have bought up everything possible... land, politicians, OUR goverment, the military, OUR natural resources and even the media in a massive effort to lockdown the world in their favor.

But you know, it's too bad for them that they cannot buy TIME itself.

We see and study the astrological aspects. We know that time IS. Time moves. And change will come. We have no doubt about that! But we also must not doubt that those who cannot move with and within time, will eventually and without fail become lost to it.

So true Neo. I watched a short clip of Richard Dawkins on the arrangement of molecules, particles and waves. Everytime we move we rearrange them, so when looking back at our memories, we truly are not that person anymore as our energies have been completely rearranged. In fact Dawkins poltulates that we weren't even there not as ourselves because ourselves shifts every moment. Something to think about as time marches on.

This coming Aug Eclipse and the Moon in the US SR also opposes the Moon of the Boston Tea Party, with the coming Eclipse I expect more and more talk about what exactly are we getting for our taxes. War in Iraq, making Halliburton and their friends and oil companies rich. I think it's time to rearrange a few hide bound molecules.

I love that Neo "they cannot buy time itself." and they can't, it's shifting right under their feet, here and around the world, ultimately they too will lose it all.

That thought of the rearranging molecules,verifying the Buddhist maxim that all is change just gave me shivers. I love it just love the idea of all changing.
Sally-my Aunt Hazel informed me when I was in my early 20's and in full tilt femiinist rebellion that" no woman has had to bow down to any man since Jesus walked this earth". Now some would disagree with that but I loved it because it summed up the women who "brought me up". hard working, truth telling, assertive women-and not a womanizing,wifebeating man in the family.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/07/02/obama_fisa/index.html?source=newsletter

Obama advisor Greg Craig: Adding insult to injury

what that article is about...
In today's New York Times, James Risen -- who won the Pulitzer Prize for exposing Bush's illegal NSA spying program -- has an article reporting on Obama supporters who are criticizing Obama for his FISA reversal and who are attempting to defeat the bill which Obama supports. The article quotes Jane Hamsher, Markos Moulitsas and myself and features the very innovative effort by Obama supporters to use his campaign's social networking tools to urge Obama to oppose the FISA bill (more on that campaign here). For his article, Risen spoke with Obama adviser Greg Craig, a partner at the Washington law firm Williams & Connolly, and this is what Craig told Risen:
Greg Craig, a Washington lawyer who advises the Obama campaign, said Tuesday in an interview that Mr. Obama had decided to support the compromise FISA legislation only after concluding it was the best deal possible.
"This was a deliberative process, and not something that was shooting from the hip," Mr. Craig said. "Obviously, there was an element of what's possible here. But he concluded that with FISA expiring, that it was better to get a compromise than letting the law expire."

much more, plus several updates at the Salon site.

and a little more on this growing backlash.....very good points in it....

Eunomia Home

Is There Anything Worth Defending?

Posted on July 2nd, 2008 by Daniel Larison
This is pretty good satire as far as it goes, but it gives the impression that the backlash against Obama on the left is irrational and evidence of an insistence on ideological or some other sort of purity over political pragmatism. Besides making a joke out of the legitimate reasons for anger at Obama from his own supporters over the FISA legislation, it makes it seem as if principled protests from the left are somehow the cause of Democratic defeat, when the disastrous results of ‘88 in particular were the result of a horribly-run campaign. Think about it from their perspective: they see a tremendous opportunity in an overwhelmingly pro-Democratic year to win an election that also could provide something like a mandate for a progressive agenda, and in the interests of winning they have swallowed their objections to Obama’s relatively less progressive platform (as compared to Edwards or Clinton) only to be betrayed on an issue as fundamental and central as constitutional liberties and derided in the process as part of the problem with our political system. “Be practical,” someone says, “we’re trying to win an election.” To which they might reasonably reply, ”To what end, if our candidate caves in on major issues?” Many conservatives like to argue that when they give the Republican nominee grief about his pandering, changed positions or (as they see them) bad positions they are standing up for important principles. When people on the left engage in the same behaviour, it’s supposed to be crazy, loserish fratricide. It seems to me that there have to be some things that are not negotiable and things that should not be compromised for electoral expediency. You might think constitutional protections would be among those things, and that this would not be the concern of left-liberals alone. Apparently, you would be wrong.
What has been remarkable about the slow, but eventually almost total embrace of Obama by the netroots is that most of them ultimately felt compelled to side with him in the primaries after Edwards dropped out. His grassroots online movement arose largely outside of the netroots structures and became something of a competitor with them before gradually starting to subsume them. Pretty early on the major community blogs became overwhelmingly pro-Obama, so much so that the few remaining Clintonite bloggers at Daily Kos broke away in protest. For perhaps the first time there is sustained criticism of the nominee, and then only after the nominee did something that, as a matter of substance, is pretty terrible (and not just in the view of the left), but to listen to “mainstream” commentary everyone is supposed to treat this reaction as ludicrous. That says as much about what is wrong with our political culture as the cynical reversal itself.
P.S. The backlash is growing.
http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/07/02/is-there-anything-worth-defending/

Sally really interesting article! One has to wonder what form the Boston Tea Party will take this time around. We are far bigger then thirteen colonies.

Yes JudiG the backlash is growing, I find myself loathing the attack dogs trying to destroy the candidate, when Obama upfront was more centrist then I preferred but hell would have to have frozen over to support Billary. I have joined the NO on Fisa group on Obama website, I believe the impact of the People will make the candidate. I will still donate to him, I do not want my granddaughter to lose their right to choose to have a baby or no.

Obama is far better then McCain or Barr and I do not plan on being someone that tears down the only hope we have of starting to step out of the dung we are steeped in.

Backlashes are touchy little boomerangs. Sometimes the messengers can only find negative hit pieces and some of us are sick of them.

Rachel Maddow encouraged folks on the left to slap Obama, and there are plenty of people willing to step up and slap at him. Too bad she and them can't take their venom and point it at McCain. Oh wait, yes they want to wallow in another four years of misery.

Now this is what I'm talking about, taking a positive action:

http://tinyurl.com/3mrgff

snip

" And to blunt the argument that we don’t want to piss off potential supporters or voters and we don’t want to criticize Obama or whatever other naysaying argument there is, we can take action without going down this road by (once again asking to) join the "Senator Obama-Please Vote Against FISA" group or the same group on Facebook, and if you already are a member, contact your Senators and reach out to your friends to have them contact their Senators and pressure them to vote against this bill in the hopes of stopping it from being passed in the Senate.

See? No "criticism" and no "providing talking points to the republicans". Using the community and network to try and accomplish something - to try and stop a horrific bill from being passed. By using the internets and intertubes that us progressives have been using for the past few years in order to try and bring real change. And it takes the heat off of Obama with thousands of potential users to contact their Senators."

snip

Good article Judi and I agree with him, but I hear very few Republicans standing up to McCain and asking hard questions.

Because Obama is basically "new" I think he will learn some things real fast. I do see the reasons why he is expanding the concept of community service and becoming active in the community and with Kennedy and the Peace Corp and Clinton and Americorp those activities have been well received and well respected. But that was while we still had a tiny bit of faith in our government; that faith is gone and I'm not sure Obama and his staff realize that. Obama has Mercury in the 6th house of service opposing Jupiter in the 12th. His idea of service is great, but he needs to get it out of his head and onto practical pragmatic grounds so people can have faith in what he is trying to do. From my "progressive" mentality he can also stop using the term "homeland security." Someone should tell him that better than half this country sees that department as a complete disaster.

FISA to me is a big one and that's where he might learn to listen to his base. He has over 2 million people signed up and they have supported him through the primary, both financially and feet on the ground, if only half of those left because of FISA that would put a hole in his campaign. This might be one of those examples Morgana talks about, where he learns from the people. If he wins, my my he will be a very changed person in a year.

I'm a person who thinks globally, I go from the big picture down to the details because of my Mercury/Sun/Venus aspect to Jupiter, and I often times forget to realize that some people need details, I often make the mistake of assuming people see what I see; Obama makes the same mistake but on the world stage, someone needs to help him with this little flaw.

He can't "run" for the progressives and liberals alone, even though some expect him to, but he can't run straight for GWB's corner of the world either. I expect it will take him some time to balance that out and will take some of the liberals time to let him. It's just that Bush was so far right as to be off the cliff and 8 years of that have made us on the left desperate. I doubt if Obama or his staff understood that.

You know, both Sally and Morgana, I will vote for whom ever the Dem candidate is after the August convention....in the meantime, I will not suspend my intelligence to grovel to political agendas. I reserve that right, I believe. And this isn't my fight with Obama.....I supported Hillary. If you do support Obama, and believe in the Constitution, then everyone should join the NO on FISA list....as Hillary has already made her statement on it, I don't need to go there.

I think I will support Democrats.com putting money into a trust fund to make sure that our selected candidates actually acknowledge that they and their advisors and staff realize it IS the people who have the power, and not THEM. In other words, control the power source, the moolah.

And Morgana, who are the 'attack dogs destroying Obama'? really? I think that is ratty hyperbole.

People are appalled and asking questions...that, in my book, is not destroying the candidate...that is defining WHO the candidate is or wants to be.

Gosh Judi that's the point of voting is to vote for whom you wish, that's what democracy is about. Who would suggest you not vote for whom you wish. Come election day if I don't like either candidate I will write a name in of someone I do like and I hope you do the same. But right now this is a Democratic site and I always intended to support the Democratic candidate.

I feel like people are angry because astrology didn't support a Hillary win, it doesn't support an Obama win either, but it does support a "win" for change and Obama had the face going with the concept of change, his was the most different. If he had been a republican then we would be gnashing our teeth over that.

Sally, you JUST DON"T GET IT, do you? It has NOTHING do do with Hillary...and everything to do with the person I will have to support....and really, dissent is not what I am doing....I am NOT angry. I am saying, what is going on here? And I don't accept the answers which are being promoted on this site....if you want this to be a democratic site, fine...I'm a democrat. But this sounds more like you want to have a dictatorship.

Glenn Greenwald http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/07/03/al_haramain/index.html
THURSDAY JULY 3, 2008 10:05 EDT
The Al-Haramain ruling and the current Congress
(updated below)
A Bush-41-appointed Federal District Judge yesterday became the third judge -- out of three who have ruled on the issue -- to reject the Bush administration's claim that Article II entitles the President to override or ignore the provisions of FISA. Yesterday's decision by Judge Vaughn Walker of the Northern District of California also guts the central claims for telecom immunity and gives the lie to the excuses coming from Congress as to why the new FISA bill is some sort of important "concession." More than anything else, this decision is but the most recent demonstration that, with this new FISA bill, our political establishment is doing what it now habitually does: namely, ensuring that the political and corporate elite who break our laws on purpose are immune from consequences.
Judge Walker's decision (.pdf) was issued in the case of Al-Haramain v. Bush. That lawsuit was brought against the Bush administration by an Oregon-based Muslim charity and two of its American lawyers, alleging that the Government violated FISA -- i.e., broke the law -- by eavesdropping on their telephone conversations without the warrants required by law. The warrantless eavesdropping occurred as part of Bush's NSA spying program, which entailed spying on Americans' international communications without warrants (the lawyers were in London when they spoke on the telephone to their client in Oregon). What makes this case unique is that the lawyers and charity know for certain that they were spied on as part of the secret NSA program because the DOJ accidentally produced transcripts of those calls.
The Bush administration argued that the plaintiffs could not prove their case because, to do so, they would have to rely on documents and information that the President deemed to be "state secrets" (i.e., the Government's eavesdropping activities) and which are, therefore, unusable in court. That is the argument the court rejected -- holding instead that Congress, when it enacted FISA, established a procedure that allows even classified information to be considered by a court, and the President's Article II powers cannot override the FISA statute. As the Court pointed out, Congress' core purpose in enacting FISA in 1978 was to bar the President from exercising untrammeled, unchallenged power in the area of eavesdropping. Thus, presidential assertions of secrecy do not override the law.
There are several vital points to note from this decision that directly relate to Congress' plan next week to enact a new FISA statute, vest new warrantless eavesdropping powers in the President, and immunize lawbreaking telecoms:
more

This from StarIQ and Ralfee Finn's weekly post:

"This week, and the next couple of weeks, planetary complexity creates a complex system of parallel universes, and while it’s not quite the Twilight Zone, each dimension does have its own peculiar brand of intensity. In one world, minds are busy with anything but trivial pursuits, as imagination feeds artistic and intellectual visions and ideas pour forth with unbelievable ease. In another reality, a grueling need for precision stimulates an equally intense nee to blow off steam through confrontation, warranted or not. On still another plane of existence, an irrepressible desire for personal freedom collides with a current of exaggeration, and the combination tilts human behavior toward extreme actions and reactions. As these different dimensions coalesce, daily life could turn a little odd, so don’t’ be surprised if you find yourself humming “do-do-do-do.”

It's been a long time since I've written a comment on this site though I am a frequent reader. Though I may not be for long as yet another site has been infiltrated by a Hilbot who can't accept the reality of the primary conclusion.

This is an astrology site so let me refer to Neptune, the planet of self delusion. You are kidding yourself of you think the outcome is going to change and that the tantrum you've been having is going to have any type of productive effect.

Sally puts up this site free. You are not charged a dime so where exactly do you get off insulting her with terms like dictatotship? Her astrology has always been objective and based on what she sees in the charts. You don't like what the stars have written, take it up with your Creator.

And let me be clear about one other thing, while this is a democratic site, meaning the republican point of view is not welcome, it is not a democracy. There is an owner of the site who makes the rules.

Sally has a lot of leeway in her rules and gives a lot of latitude to her posters but that does not mean anything goes. Other sites also have rules of decorum and civility, as you must know, and which has been sadly lacking in your posts here Astroworld. I am astounded at the lack of respect you've shown Sally, and if I was the owner of the site I'd show you the door. But I'm not so, if, she lets you stay I suggest you count your blessings because I'm willing to bet your antics won't be welcome in many other astrology sites.

Finally, if you don't like it here, set up your own site and then you can make the rules.

This is something that truly worries a lot of people, including me. Can anyone say "Martial Law" just before an "election"??

"For the US there is a potential of a legal clampdown in October/November or a health crisis, I would vote for the legal clampdown because the 9th house is involved, and it would come quite suddenly."

The pieces are all in place for Bush to do exactly that too and with Cheney locked up in his "secured location" you know its in the works. Our Forefathers are no doubt turning over in their graves these days.

Flo, yupper's that potential is there. Total rerun of King George III, clamping down on the people and like a pressure cook it's gona blow.

I haven't wanted to say it Flo, I haven't wanted to think it, but the astro aspects are there as a potential for it. The FBI can arrest you now just by profiling. Other countries have it and so does New Orleans, it would be just a hop skip and a jump to cover the US with Martial Law and the Patriot Act gives him the right to do just that as well as call off the elections. We aren't the only ones holding our breath until he gets out of office. The Saturn/Uranus opposition coming up on election day is one of the most restrictive aspects in mundane astrology, my one hope is it's in Virgo/Pisces and it doesn't hit any planet in the US chart, it does however square GWB's Uranus of "sudden unexpected action" from him or toward him.

Sally and Flo, I'm looking at a 7:00 est chart for Washington DC, that Saturn/Uranus opposition brings to my mind on election day the whole Nation goes blue which would be a huge indictment of GwB, the Saturn in Virgo could indicate that fine attention to detail, scrutiny, every polling place has observers and lawyers, the people take responsibility for their own backyards; Uranus in Pisces maybe it could manifest in a high Piscean vibe, the spark of independence. Jupiter trines Saturn and Sextiles Uranus, so whatever happens is going to happen big.

There is one thing, of a very personal nature, that has absolutely sick to my stomach with worry.

I'm currently waiting for my name to reach the top of a waiting list in order to get an apartment near my son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids. This will require a 900 mile move on my part and is supposed to happen sometime between now and the end of the year. See where I'm going with this??

I have to give a full calender month written notice that I intend to vacate where I am now. With this "FISA", "Protect America Act", and profiling this could all backfire in my face if Martial Law is declared and travel is restricted as it no doubt would be. So I've considered a well timed "walking out with the clothes on my back" if it comes to that.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions would be most welcomed. Just - please - try to be understanding.

Flo, the very earliest it would happen, if it happens would be in late October and that's unclear if it would happen at all. We don't have the support charts as yet but nothing says it will be this week or month and maybe not even until early Jan. IF IT HAPPENS

IMF undertakes audit of U.S. financial system
... Embarrassing Investigation

Some of Bernanke's personal adversaries are also contributing significantly to his current humiliation. In the past, the chairman of the Federal Reserve was a pope among the priests of the financial elite. But unlike his predecessor Alan Greenspan, Bernanke is finding that his policies are not universally accepted, even within the Fed.
http://www.gata.org/node/6399/print
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/03/10085/
Disaster Capitalism: State of Extortion
by Naomi Klein
Be sure to read the comments below the article, some very interesting observations.

Well my fellow AW’ers I am pretty disappointed to see that this website has devolved in bashing its members for their political choices. Now a Hillary Clinton supporter is a ”hilbot”? Besides being juvenile it’s just plain revolting. Just a few months ago before Iowa, this board was filled full of kudos for Hillary, look at the old posts if you can. This was before the documented steady drumbeat of Hillary bashing in the media took its intended effect.

Now suddenly anybody that doesn’t support Obama is stupid, disillusioned or a hillbot according to certain posters here. I have seen judigem (who I don’t even know BTW) attacked is some fairly lousy ways. Yep folks I am one of the 18 million stupid, disillusioned folks who voted for Hillary (to paraphrase the author who should have known better or at least had better manners.

As a feminist I am just tired of it being all about male energy. As someone who lived in Chicago until recently and is pretty tuned into the backroom politics there, I believe Obama has a lot of dirty baggage that would surprise his supporters. And to paraphrase Gertrude Stein, I don’t think there really is much “there there” But regardless of that, I am not going to characterize his supporters in the disrespectful and childish way I have seen evolving on this board. I hope his supporters are right because goddess knows we are in desperate times and we sure as hell need a positive change. I do NOT thinks his supporters are wrong, stupid, or whatever derogatory term you wish to use. I think they are as bright and well read and hopeful as the rest of us, just with a different opinion. I would be delighted to be wrong about Obama, and yes I will vote for him in Nov. I used to like this board for the camaraderie, now I hardly bother to read it.

Everyone reading this feel free to jump all over what I have said about Obama, refute it etc blah blah while the FISA mess churns on with his vote and his new found war talk about Iraq and yes Iran. I don’t really care you - are welcome to your opinion and I to mind. Just try and maintain at least a thin veneer of courtesy for others on this board while you do so. Too many of you here have sunk to a new low – just remember that when you start your attack on me now.

A disgusted Swamp

Hi there, Swamp. Reminds me a bit of the movie, "28 Days Later".

Almost forgot to say "hi" to Crystal, oops, I mean "M.".

well patb if by that movie you mean a plague, I think it is more like Groundhog Day :)or maybe Animal House! lol

Swamp

If we don't attempt to disseminate information and have fair discussion, and respect hesitations and address them with the dignity they deserve (or say nothing) then this is no better than cheap entertainment.

To expect trust to be given before it's earned or receive the sledgehammer treatment is to become a representative of what we propose to abhor. I for one have had enough overt and covert bullying.

Swamp, heck yeah. Food fight! Food fight!

QOP you're right, some of those comments were very telling in terms of how people who are following this financial disaster, feel or think. I read an article the other day that stated that Venezuela blamed all their problems on the IMF. They said that the country did everything the IMF suggested and it just drove them further and further into debt and a 3rd world country. Venezuela was once fairly vibrant. It seems that most countries are afraid of and don't trust the IMF but right now they are the only ones that can come close to holding this administration and the banks accountable. The one comment about the IMF will find the US insolvant, sell their debt, take over the military and issue new money, throwing us into 3rd world status and declaring a New World Order. I do think the New World Order has been around at least since the 60's and maybe since 1945 when the IMF came into existance. Who knows perhaps Germany won the war after all and just went about brainwashing us a different way. GWB may be able to delay the IMF findings until he is out of office and put it onto the next administration but he won't get away scot free. Starting this fall he will be well into his Sadi Sati and that will follow him for 7 years, the most intense years will be the next 5. This Sadi Sati will affect both his Moon and Sun. The next generation will have to tap their "American know how" and see if they know how to get out of the coming mess with positive results. I sure as heck hope so.

Isn't the IMF responsible for the plight in Haiti. AS well as the kidnap and removal of their democratically elected leader? As I recall it was UN forces including Canada, & France, as well as the USA, who did that!

Happy Independance Day! I am declaring my independance, today by planning to start working on the painting I have wanted to start for way too long.........
No I didn't want to spend all day yesterday sewing that dress and then spending $20. in fuel so I could spend the day with a bunch of Democrats marching in a parade!
Back in '97,down in Portland,I took 4 rolls of film for reference for a Norman Rockwell like painting, of the Memorial Day parade. WIth the high school bands, and the Revolutionary & Civil war re-enactors, smiling Tom Allen, the older Vets, hands on their hearts, peering out from under the neon sign in a bar, the Boomer guy in shorts, army boots with the skinny legs, marking the beat by rocking up on his toes and back, ( least likely to be Patriotic, candidate) The immigrant families from, far flung places, Somalia, Bulgaria, Mexico............ The fabulous showcase architecure, ( ship builders flaunting their superior talents, when not occupied building clipper ships.........)I felt a great upwelling of Patriotism in my heart!
No I couldn't do that sincerely today.....I am going to go back to the beginning. Rock, sand ,sea...............clean slate!
HAve a good holiday all..................
namaste

Op-Ed Columnist
Rove’s Third Term
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: July 4, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/opinion/04krugman.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

"In the end, the Clark affair may have strengthened the Obama campaign. Last week, with his cave-in on wiretapping, Mr. Obama was showing disturbing signs of falling into the usual Democratic cringe on national security. This may have been the week he rediscovered the virtues of standing tall."

qop, sounds like your listening to your s-elf. I want to see that new painting for i expect it will reflect that.

Flo, i wish you great good luck. I too am making a trip to NYC in the fall for the birth of a new grandchild. I have been squeamish about it, but not enough to keep me from greeting a new sparkly to our family.

Swamp, i resonated to parts of M's message. The primary one being that this is Sally's house.

I do not agree with everything posted. Why would i, or you, or anyone else. We filter our thoughts through our experiences. When we become defensive, and angry those thoughts are being filtered through fear.

And, the fear is palpable. We are all clenched up wondering what's coming next.

I have not read one post where Awers believe Obama is the next best thing to (fill in the blank). Instead, most of us are aware of his flaws. Again, i -- like other posters on this board -- may just write in my choice which has always been Dennis Kucinich.

Very few posters on this board force their views on others. Instead, most are searching for a truth. Kudos to Sally and Morgana for allowing us THAT opportunity.

What a great 4th of July gift...

Jesse Helms, Conservative Force in the Senate, Dies at 86


By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 4, 2008
Filed at 11:26 a.m. ET

J.Scott Applewhite/Associated Press

Senator Jesse Helms on Capitol Hill in 1982.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Former Sen. Jesse Helms, who built a career along the fault lines of racial politics and battled liberals, Communists and the occasional fellow Republican during 30 conservative years in Congress, died on the Fourth of July.

I thought it might be helpful to leave these thoughts here. They are from Mark Crispin Miller.

"Obama's recent rightward moves--concerning BushCo's faith-based programs, and the
FISA bill--have both been loudly justified by commentators who would certainly deplore
them if it weren't Obama who had made them.

The thinking goes like this: "Obama's our guy, and he's really cool, the candidate of 'change,'
so we should cut him all the slack he needs, so he can get elected president. In any case, this
recent stuff is not so bad. So let's all lighten up--or else. Because he has to make such moves,
or he will lose; and those who criticize him now are only helping the Republicans."

That view is wrong on every count. Obama's moves are not merely pragmatic gestures, like Bill Clinton's "Sister Souljah moment" (to which they've been compared). While "standing up to Sister Souljah" (!) was purely a theatrical display, meant to "send a message" to particular voters, these shifts by Obama have serious consitutional implications, regardless of his good intentions or his
rare skill at finessing what he's done.

For example, his decision to expand BushCo's faith-based programs is a bad one, even if such
good souls as Jim Wallis (a righteous evangelical) and Steve Benen (a righteous secularist)
have hailed him for it. The fact that David Kuo has blessed Obama's move, and that the latter's
campaign has consulted him about it, is ominous, to say the least. Kuo is a true believer, who
understands that the idea behind those programs is to privatize the social welfare system--
something that did not come up in the (brief) controversy over Obama's announcement. (For
more on Kuo, read the final chapter of Jeff Sharlet's The Family, and Kuo's own memoir,
Tempting Faith.) Moreover, there was no comfort in Obama's vow that no such funds will
ever go to groups that proselytize, as such a rule is on the books already, and is unenforceable
in any case.

It is, in short, the First Amendment that's at stake here, and its Establishment Clause, which is
essential to the health of our democracy--and which Obama has just trashed, however suavely,
and regardless of the fine credentials of his humanist supporters. And it's the Fourth Amendment
that's at stake in the attempt to pass the FISA bill, which will give Bush & Co. even greater powers
to keep us all under surveillance. As Glenn Greenwald notes below, Obama's latest statement
doesn't even mention that small matter (and otherwise does nothing but spread fog over the
senator's capitulation).

Those who counsel silence on these matters seem to place their party, and its candidate, above the Constitution; and that posture is not just immoral, but gratuitous. All those anxious efforts to
explain away Obama's cave-ins, and to halt all critical discussion of them, come from the conviction
that he'll lose if there's a whisper of dissent within his camp, or if he doesn't pander to the right.

That conviction is completely groundless--based, as it is, on the persistent myth that Gore and
Kerry lost to Bush & Co., because of Karl Rove's "genius" at "hardball politics" and "mobilizing Bush's base," etc. Traumatized by those "defeats" (and others, like Max Cleland's), those now shouting down Obama's (friendly) critics can't perceive that the Republicans are finished, and
that John McCain cannot legitimately win. Only through election fraud and vote suppression can
he possibly prevail (as it was only through such means that Bush & Co. prevailed, not once but twice).

And such a victory is in the works, unless we act against it now. (Rove is working for McCain --who, moreover, lately hired an A-Team of veteran anti-democratic operatives.) If, therefore, they really want to see Obama win, those who keep reflexively defending him should concentrate instead on how to keep the GOP from stealing this election, too (something that Obama seems to think is quite impossible). Such activism would be more productive--and, in the noblest sense,
more patriotic--than enabling his collusion in Bush/Cheney's crimes against the Constitution."

MCM

Obama's new statement on FISA
by Glenn Greenwald

http://utdocuments.blogspot.com/2008/07/obamas-new-statement-on-fisa.html

Swamp – I understand the frustration women have with a male dominated society, they have continually made a complete mess of things for as long as time has existed and a woman president would’ve been a dream come true. That being said, it’s over. There is only one choice now, Obama or McCain and those who think McSame would be the better choice can’t really be thinking of what’s best for women or the country

And frankly I wonder how much of the outrage is real or, manufactured. Having read that the head of PUMA seemingly has right wing ties and that Harriet Christensen (remember her, the woman on CNN and subsequent youtube video?) didn’t donate a dime to the campaign of the junior senator of my state, I have my doubts about some of those who are still kicking up the dust about the way things played out.

I could’ve used a more artful term than Hilbot but that was MY anger speaking. I was and am outraged that anyone would come to this site thinking they could insult Sally with impunity and that it would go unchallenged. That was the main point of my post and I stand by that.

As to the rest, I feel strongly that it’s time to move on. The republiCons are going to mount a dirty, nasty campaign in order that they retain the ability to destroy this country further. No one is going to agree with Obama on everything. I don’t and have voiced my disagreement to the campaign aides who answer his phone. I find it interesting that the outcry on FISA has been so strong that he had to address it directly yesterday. In point of fact none of us are going to agree with each other on everything, much less with our president, but there is a point of common good that can be reached with him and has no chance of being so with McSame.

Obama wasn’t my first choice but he is now and my hope is it that as it happened with Lincoln, the presidency will change him rather than the reverse.

July 4, 2008
Editorial

New and Not Improved

Senator Barack Obama stirred his legions of supporters, and raised our hopes, promising to change the old order of things. He spoke with passion about breaking out of the partisan mold of bickering and catering to special pleaders, promised to end President Bush’s abuses of power and subverting of the Constitution and disowned the big-money power brokers who have corrupted Washington politics.

Now there seems to be a new Barack Obama on the hustings. First, he broke his promise to try to keep both major parties within public-financing limits for the general election. His team explained that, saying he had a grass-roots-based model and that while he was forgoing public money, he also was eschewing gold-plated fund-raisers. These days he’s on a high-roller hunt.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/opinion/04fri1.html?ei=5087&em=&en=75f3e12980f6718a&ex=1215316800&pagewanted=print

Hello, All,

Just watching an episode of "John Adams" and noted this sentence from the Declaration of Independence:

"A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People."

Sounds like our little "King George", doesn't it?

We're all going to have to be vigilant and make sure our next President (not Ruler) obeys the Constitution. And make sure our Congress does, too.

If we all work at self-sufficiency and local cooperation, maybe we can take down Corporate government and return to Constitutional government.

Mayfly just saw an article that addressed that very subject and more and absolutely this is like crazy King George

http://www.dailykos.com/

A beautiful rendition of The Declaration of Independence led by Morgan Freeman, It's very moving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYyttEu_NLU

Thank you for the U-tube. That was inspiring, Sally!
And I finally read the link at the end of your article, WHat happened to the signers of the Declaration............
My own ancestor Divid Stout, died 2 years before the signing or he would have been one of them. His fellow lawyer from Lancaster Pa., George Mason, DID sign.
His son Herman Stout, an accountant ( not a rich landowner) did carry the battle forward becoming a hero in the 10th Pa Regiment, served in the first 3 Continental Congresses as a clerk and died broke at 58, with consumption, as a result of his winter at Valley Forge. ( everyone else in the family lived into their 80's.)

Naomi Klein with a followup to her recent book Shock Doctrine.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20235.htm

Creating crises to force the aims of the few is surely going to drive the the entire species into extinction.

For instance, heard a tidbit on the INN report (or maybe it was the program before it?) but since the 70s the human population has doubled; collectively, the plant, animal, amphibian, fresh and salt water fish species have declined by 30%.

qop, your family history is worthy a novel!

Yes Karen on the list of things to do........quite a few stories there.
Not the least Herman's Gr Grandfather, Pierre Falconnier, came to NY in the employ (as Sect.)
of Gov. Edward Hyde, Earl of COrnbury, the transvestite Gov of NY!
See; the family has had trouble with "whacked" authority figures for 3 centuries now!

QOP, I am very impressed and agree with Karen, "worthy of a book" Course QOP Maine alone and the people in it I think are worth a book. I don't think anyone is more unique in the US than Maine; unique and independent, ever more so than VT.

Karen, those statistics are chilling, I had not seen them. Some of those resources have disappeared not because of consumption but because of pollution; I think that's what is frightening about us.

Congratulations on you "brand new" or "soon to be" grandbaby. Boy or girl?

Well Sally,My people were in all Phila. Jersey.& NY, with the exception of one Jane Elizabeth Valleau, who married a Master mariner from Ilsboro Me.
Oddly, when I was a VISTA, I served with one of their descendants. SHe knew nothing of he family history, her Mother having divorced her Father and moved to Portland. But I had talked to her Grandmother the Pres. of the Isleboro Historical Society, and knew the connection.
We were doing a training at a camp the week after 9/11 and I took her a copy of the family crest, which she was delighted to receive.

From Andrew Sullivan's column:

Why Is John McCain In Colombia?

04 Jul 2008 06:04 pm

Steve Sailer has a theory:

The most reassuring theory I can come up with is that McCain intends to bring back a couple of sixty pound suitcases that the Secret Service will hustle for him through Customs. And soon Obama's big lead in campaign finance will have vanished. And there won't be anymore questions about McCain being too old to have the energy for the job as he starts campaigning 96 hours straight.
Heh. Any other ideas? It struck me as one of the weirdest campaign photo-ops I can recall.

Permalink :: TrackBacks (0)

one of Valleau descendents qop? did you grow up in Maine or Phildelphia?

You know WV, I never thought of that when I was wondering where McCain went in SA and it makes perfect sense. Of course where else would he get his money and that's why he was with Jeb Bush, Jeb has the money connections in Mexico and SA.

Do you know the Valleau Family? There's quite a gang of them. This is the year for their biannual reunion.
I had read the book, published 1911, 2 years before the birth of my Father. It was willed to him by his first cousin Margaret, only child of his Mothers brother ( eldest & male) She was the librarian at Bryn Maywr College most of her life.
When my Mother remarried and moved to Wash State, she gave me the book about the time I was moving to Maine. ( I grew up in Bridgeton, NJ, 6 miles from the Delaware Bay.) I read it and then when I was a VISTA and had a computer, and few assignments fr the first month ( the school was closed for summer my supervisor was on vacation,)
So I did geneology and discovered the Valleau Family reunion site! They republished the book & my daughter & cousin each got one. http://www.geocities.com/~rturnblo/

No QOP I don't know the family but I've heard of them, pretty interesting family you have there.

RIght now until 10 PM, a documentary on CNN, made by Bettencourt, narrated by her telling her story. Not clear when it was made, ( over the past several days?)
It is a fascinating story I was not familiar with. Lots of parallels to our story here.

I think they were documenting her campaign, and after she was kidnapped, her husband contunued filing. ( He is in advertising) On election day he carries a big photo cutput of her around the city to pertainant spots.And her name is on the ballot.
These people are a way cut above.......WOw enlightened!

Follow Your Inner Joy

“Follow your inner joy” may sound like an overused cliché, but it is actually the key to abundance. Once you follow your excitement and find work that you love, then synchronicity starts to flow. Synchronicity is nature’s way of telling you that you’re on the right track, the natural track.

Synchronicity is a flow of events where everything clicks into place to support your efforts. It bring you opportunities, people, events and circumstances exactly when and where they need to be. This all happens because your efforts are harmonious. The universe is naturally harmonious. It has to be that way, in order to function successfully. Harmony is balance, while disharmony is a dysfunction that makes a system fall apart. The universe will naturally support your efforts when they are in harmony, or “in the flow.”

http://www.infinitebeing.com/0406/natab.htm

news item: "fog" causes plane crash in "Neptune" NJ, no planes missing, no ID numbers on the plane,
mystery!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/opinion/06rich.html?pagewanted=1&th&emc=th

Wall-E for President
By FRANK RICH
Published: July 6, 2008

SO much for a July Fourth week spent in idyllic celebration of our country’s birthday. This year’s festivities were marked instead by a debate — childish, not constitutional — over who is and isn’t patriotic. The fireworks were sparked by a verbally maladroit retired general, fueled by two increasingly fatuous presidential campaigns, and heated to a boil by a 24/7 news culture that inflates any passing tit for tat into a war of the worlds. .................
one ofhis best!

Well qop that's just a perfect type of "crash" in "Neptune" No missing plane, fog and no ID numbers. That's a real metaphor for Neptune

No bodies either! But there IS a crashed plan in the mud of the Shark River!

I don't know if you found this particular report............Read the comments too, one by an eyewitness account and one by the rescue team.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/07/plane_crashes_into_water_near.html

I just read this comment on Common Dreams, and it is revealing, and it makes sense to me!
The comments are more interesting than Tom Hayden's article actually, and run through a discussion of 3rd party votes for Nader, McKinney, Kucinich, Paul,.........which would take a central strong dedicated leader to pull it off so that every progressive voted for the same one!. They,leaders, seem to be in short supply, and the observation that getting Democratic consensus on ANYTHING, would be like running a cat race!

"I have family and personal connections to the man,( Nader) and I once admired him for his work on consumer safety, but there’s a lot of problems with him as a leader - he is, oh the irony, a religious puritan - he does not believe in gay rights; he sees most leftists movement building as “identity politics” (with some justification); he has no patience with dissent in groups he has led (much like Chomsky, who is such a hero to the left, and such a monster in his professional life, along with being extremely nasty about people with disabilities."

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/05/10134/

I still admire Nadar for all he did for this country, I know some of the things went a little far but he made safety a common practice in this country. I do think his runs for President has damaged his reputation and I'm sorry for that. He just looks more and more the egomanic and hypocrite he seemingly fought against. Too bad. I don't fault him (I might be irritated by him) for running for President, that office is fair game for anyone who wants to try and take it on.

I got home too late to see Bettencourt, I will keep watching for more airings of this documentary.

No plane ID, no bodies, no log in in Neptune, I can hardly wait to see how this turns out.

We COULD have chosen THIS GUY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdzmP9psPcU

The Neptune plane crash -- wow -- another manifestation of the dense energy swirling around. (My Pisces husband is right at home in this fog. :) I've learned, after several years, that something mystical occurs during these times. After the fog passes he has gained greater insight.) What will be revealed when the sun shines on this crash?

You know, qop, i keep coming back to Sally's earlier articles which have delineated "we the people" having potentiality of calling the shots. I have this image in my head of an entertainer on stage performing badly. The audience throws rotten tomatoes. . .as we are doing now with Obama's FISA decision.

If there is a "leader" who wins hands down -- or with great applause -- it may be one who was throwing the tomatoes with the rest of us.

Nadar -- and this is only a personal impression -- is unstrustworthy, an opportunist. I am confused about why he would want to keep pushing forward as the Green Candidate, or how he keeps landing up on this ticket. There are so many other fine Green candidates that would definitely be a thorn in the Democratic ticket's side, force them to mind their principles. Does Nadar run because of this? Part of the old guard and game? If so, what does that make the Green Party? Yes, yes, i'm ever a conspiracy theorist. Just can't help myself.

This is quite the report on Iraq's yellowcake uranium supply. Holy crap!

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/07/05/saddam-uranium.html

I think Nader is running on the Independant Party. Cynthia McKinney while not officially chosen yet, is the Green candidate front runner........
Didn't Nader have a falling out with the Greens back in 2000? Causing him to have to hoof it around to get petition signatures ,in a lot of states to get on the ballot?

We should NEVER lose sight of this!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3573130
( sorry tinyurl didn't work?)

Entrepreneurial capitalism. Bush is becoming quite an expert on that. In the 18 months since leaving the Florida Governor's Mansion, he has quietly remade himself into a capitalist-entrepreneur extraordinaire. Capitalizing on his eight years as governor and a network of Bush family supporters, he leads a busy, and lucrative, life: global speaking engagements, a new consulting firm and affiliations with three big businesses. He earns hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees and stock and has joined the ranks of private equity executives on Wall Street. And he keeps his hand in politics through five nonprofit organizations that help maintain his profile, champion his favorite causes and keep people wondering: Will Jeb Bush seek public office again?
It's the hidden ones that are deadly...more so than W!
MArvin, don't hear much about him!
since his immigrant housekeeper was squashed against the gatehouse like bug in a freak accident several years ago!?????????

If that url didn't work just go to DU and chose Jeb Inc!

Karen your comment about your Pisces husband made me laugh. I have several friends who are Pisces and I swear they are more effective in a fog and absolutely can find their way. It's amazing even magical at times, but frustrating for those of us who are less trusting. One of my best friends has taught me through the years "it will all work out" and by gosh it does.

The yellow cake transfer is beyond chilling. Don't these people think? Why would they transfer it number one and it's a little problematic for me that it's in Canada.

You know qop, I have been holding my breath over whether McCain would chose Jeb as a running mate. I sure hope not, if he does, by hook or crook (emphasis on crook) McCain would get in, and yes Karen, the power is in our hands we just have to use it. Some organizations are trying to organize around that power. I've always thought the day the government has to fear is the day we all stand together in the US and say "what are you people doing up there."

I wonder if Pelosi won't impeach because she is part of their cabal or if it's because she is afraid.

Nancy has looked terrified for several years now. I don't think it's that she's a member of the cabal so much as.........they've threatened something horrible like a terrorist attack on Disneyworld & Disneyland, simultaneously, killing a lot of kids!

Jeb Bush,VP, for an ailing president. OMG!! Now this horror would kick us right up to 2012 and the appearance of the real conflict (Uranus Aries /Pluto Capricorn.
Somehow for me, the frozen visage of Cindy McCain is symbolic of what awaits us with a McCain/Bush presidency. What is it that would keep a woman with a man who has used the C-word against her in front of witnesse? She is a wealthy woman in her own right. There must be something very scarey going on there.
I have always believed that Pelosi is afraid, very afraid. When she was on camera speaking early on after the last election she would stutter and grasp her throat. I would be jumping up and down at home pointing out that she is "corded" in her fifth chakra (censored re:speaking) and terrified. I quit talking about what I saw because others didn't see what I was seeing. I think that she and her husband are part of the cabal, but have also had their lives or the lives of their children threatened.
I don't think that I am exaggerating here-those who are willing to sacrifice an entire society for a few years of oil won't hesitate to sacrifice a few politicians. I mean, I am filling out my intuition with current events as reported in the popular press.

Jeb Bush, oh he is a slick one, even if he is the smart one of the Bush Boys. Yup he could sucker the stupid sheep. Fortunately his brother's legacy is wrapped around his neck like the proverbial albatross.

Nancy Pelosi, since she percolated to the top after Daschle lost I tend to think she may not be as complicit as the others, but compromised nonetheless. Harmon did her best to do a cya with a letter of objections. Afraid? Quite likely.

Hope ya'll had a great 4th of July. We bbq'd and enjoyed family and friends. No fire works, not a fire cracker to be heard, nary a flicker or flame. The air is still terribly smokey blue gray skies, orange sun.

Meanwhile George is at the G8 in Japan, all of them discussing their irrelevancy in the new world economy where China and India are the biggest players, with Russia working to close the gap.

qop, oops. . .had i had my head on straight this morn (drank some good black coffee instead) i would have caught my own error on the Green Party. Still, my thoughts about Nadar remain. . .as far as the distrust.

You know this yellowcake report could be one of those slaps they sneak in say 'round October to boost McCain's (or Jeb's, if McCain croaks) standings.

Well, let's see, given the unpopularity of the Bush name, they may sneak this in earlier. Right now, it would not be to McCain's advantage to select Jeb as a VP. I suspect the yellowcake story will get wings when this cabal wants it to. Some sort of timing involved here. It may coincide with McCain's declining health, when he must step aside. It would be then that Bush would be glorified in the press; by inference the name. McCain steps forward and says something like, "my friends, i'm unable to continue this campaign under advisement of my physician. I encourage you to support this man," he points to the figure emerging side stage and continues, "Jeb Bush, the next president of the United States."

:)

clymela,
Yes I've had the same intuitive response! I didn't package it quite as succinctly as you have, "corded "in her 5th chakra. ( beautiful phrasiology,)
I do think it goes beyond just the lives of HER family!
I also think...that Theresa Heinz married Kerry in the same manner that Jackie O sought the protection of Onassis! Sen Heinz was a Repub. BUT he was drifting off to the left on some issues, dear to the cabal's plan, when he suffered his plane crash!
Not much said when they found the body of Howard Dean's Brother in Cambodia either...............He attended Yale too, special forces, CIA?
Or Kucinich's brother............dead in his 40's............No media focus on those events at all. Not even explaination of how he died............
His intelligent, georgeous, redheaded wife, obviously his soulmate. You can see he adores her and she likewise.
No question, his karmic reward for maintaining his integrity!
SO many questions; so few answers.........

I just got an e-mail from Tom Allen asking me to take some of my valuable time to write a letter to congress to help them understand what a disaster this winter heating is going to be!
I am sweating bullets.......hauling clothes down one flight of stairs through the house to the other end & climbing a rather shakey folding stairs into a baking hot loft for storage., When I was young & strong I had a house with coherant storage space on the same level!
WHenI am done maybe I will saw some wood for my woodstove!
No. NOT painting!

Well now GE/NBC will have control over the weather too!
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/07/06/ap_weather_channel.html?cxntnid=bn_2008-07-06_15_34_id266_e
NBC buying Weather Channel

By KRISTI E. SWARTZ
Published on: 07/06/08

That large high-definition television screen isn't going anywhere, and your favorite Weather Channel anchors don't have to pack their bags either. They get to stay as part of NBC Universal's agreement, announced Sunday, to buy the Atlanta-based Weather Channel.

The 24-hour weather network, weather.com and other weather-related businesses have been sold to New York-based NBC for an undisclosed amount.

QOP the NYT has a piece on this in their money section.

Bertha meanwhile is a CAT 3 now. Keep an eye on her. She's already a dangerous bugger.

http://www.counterpunch.org/sharon07032008.html
Before clinching the Democratic Party nomination, Barack Obama contrasted his vision for the future role of the U.S. Supreme Court to rival John McCain’s, arguing that the current Court’s consistent bias in favor of “the powerful against the powerless” has allowed corporate and government interests to ride roughshod over “what ordinary people are going through.” In that populist vein, Obama went on to describe as his models for Supreme Court appointments as Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David H. Souter, who he claimed are “people on the bench who have enough empathy, enough feeling” for those trampled on by corporate America.

Once securely anointed in June, Obama immediately lost interest in ordinary people and began panting for corporate support. Perhaps for this reason, he felt no need to criticize the Court for its June 25th ruling on behalf of Exxon-Mobil that reduced to a mere pittance the amount in punitive damages the most profitable corporation in history owes to the nearly 33,000 Alaskan fishermen, cannery workers and Natives whose livelihoods were destroyed by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in corporate history.
more.............
And we can't even boycott their gas stations because they closed them down just before this ruling!

Germany has plans to phase out their nuclear power plants and install 30 new wind farms!

A sad but true commentary qop and I wonder if he will go back after he accepts the nomination. He needs to do so. July was always going to be a difficult astrological month for him, a very disconnected month. My hope is he comes out of it by the end of July.

I have always liked the Soothsayer and if you haven't seen the July issue thought you might enjoy her article

http://www.soothesayer.com/

Keepin' an eye on Bertha, and the storms it spawns for given both astro events and our degradated planet, they'll be whoppers.

Morgana, what's going on in your neck of the woods regarding the fires?

i'm given to reflection this morning and remember how appalled so many of us were when Kerry got the nod during the past election cycle. We had been on the campaign trail for Kucinich and knew it was an uphill battle. Our hope was that the dem candidate would be anyone BUT Kerry. His campaign, however, was slick. Teams of supporters with glossy brochures and other giveaways (my printing experience informed me how danged expensive they were) flocked to every meeting, debate, etc.

We did end up voting for Kerry, though reluctantly.

i would have to do some study to determine who the movers and shakers behind Kerry were. So, i'm wondering whether those same interests are behind Obama. That concerns me. Then, this question that you may have already answered, Sally. What does his chart reveal about hidden and open enemies? And, is this what you're referring to regarding assassination possibilities? The Soothsayer hinted at the same.

Question to all -- does it seem as though world- and life-changing events are picking up speed? (Perhaps it's Mercury spurring the time warp feeling?)

I remember from cspan observation that the Clintons & Ted Kennedy were backing Kerry. I think pretty much the DLC members.
Here's an interesting twist of events..........
From The Times
July 8, 2008
Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki demands US withdrawal timetable
Iraqis want an end to the immunity that US troops have from prosecution
James Hider in Baghdad

Iraq said for the first time yesterday that it wanted to set a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from its territory. .................
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article4288108.ece
I wonder how this will play out?

Further comment on the Kerry backing.........
Dean as head of the DNC, in the last 4 years, has conducted a shake down and shifting of Democratic allegiences...........and of course with the uranus neptune influences it is still shifting & quaking. ( ie. Obama's moving the DNC headquarters to Chicago!) Does this neutralize Dean's initiative?
It really IS hard to tell exactly what is going on.!

ANd if you want to participate here...............
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article4288108.ece
Ask The Speaker!
Welcome to the Netroots Nation question submission page for the Saturday morning (July 19, 9:00am) keynote session "Ask The Speaker." The event empowers citizens to engage America's current House Speaker in substantive discussion about current issues, the legislative process, and how citizens can participate in their government. Instead of simply giving a speech at a podium, Speaker Pelosi will be taking your questions and interacting with convention attendees. The 9 a.m. keynote will be moderated by Gina Cooper, Netroots Nation's Executive Director, and Jeffrey Feldman, author and blogger. But it all begins right now, right here, when you submit your questions and vote on questions submitted by others.

Want to ask the Speaker a question? Our time with the Speaker will be brief, so to make the most of it we have created a system for gathering as many questions as possible from across the netroots. Want to submit a question? Here's what you do:

Astrological energy is always open ended because there are many possibilities the energy can take. One can have accident or death energies around them and they end up in a small fender bender and lose their job (the end of a career) that dramatically affects their life.

Obama has Pluto in the 7th house of partners and open enemies opposed by his Chiron in Pisces, Mars and Saturn will conjunct that point soon and that can be a brutal aspect for him and/or his wife. It's the Uranus opposition to his 8th house Mars that is worrisome to me.

On the other end, McCain also has Saturn Mars conj. his Sun, Uranus conj his 6th house Saturn of health, opposing his Venus and squaring his Chiron, also very worrisome. Both of them have really difficult aspects to weed through, and both have enemies circling open and hidden.

The article QOP posted above from Counter Punch is a warning Obama should heed and who indeed knows what's going on. I get the feeling that once a candidate is nominated their life is not their own anymore, so much advice, so many handlers they don't seem to know which way to jump.

I've not used Obama's chart to determine his Presidential run, because it's more about the people than Obama and their desperation for change. Obama is almost separate from the movement around him. He is not driving the movement (although I suspect with all that Leo in his chart that he and his handlers believe he is driving it) the people are driving the movement and as this goes on they are going to be spending a lot of time simply catching up with the people. I use his announcement chart and that tells a different story of this election. It also makes election day for him to be extremely interesting to watch. (announcement chart for Obama - Feb. 10, 2007 - 10:13am - Springfield, Ill.)

His announcement came just three days after the Feb. 7, 2008 Solar Eclipse, so he was operating under that eclipse which fell at 17 Aquarius, exactly opposite the Eclipse on Aug. 11, 1961 just one week after he was born, the juxtiposition of those two eclipses signaled that it was time for his destiny to be fulfilled (and we don't know what that destiny might be, who could have guessed Al Gore's destiny)

Keep the date of that announcement chart, because Neptune was at the exact degree Pluto was when this country was finally a country (April 30, 1789) when George Washington became President. Obama's announcement chart and the 2/7/2008 Eclipse chart marks the day the people in this country began to stand up and it will mark the movement of this country toward a new revolution. Believe me, Obama is the figurehead and he will either get on board or will ultimately be passed by for another figurehead until we completely stand up and become another version of our country to last another 232 years. True, we will be slogging through it, but the trajectory of this country can be marked through that Feb. chart.

Hey Karen, thanks for asking. The smoke from the Big Sur fire is choking us mostly, and the triple digit temps just add to the misery. We could sure use an ocean breeze, but its dead still, earthquake weather.

I'm inclined to think that same players that were working with John Kerry are onboard for Obama's campaign, that does not give me an confidence.

http://www.sfgate.com/comics/fiore/

qop, i can always count on you for refreshers. In my attempt to empty my brain of irrelevant thoughts, i usually end up emptying the whole darn file. ;0

Sally, the juxtaposition of events affecting the people, Obama, and McCain are eye opening. Attempting to intuit the "surprise" factor is a little beyond my grasp since their are competing scenarios -- one of which, all of which or none of which could occur during this time. My husband said the other day that he was rather scared, he just didn't know whether he was scared enough.

Dang, Morgana. Is there any anticipation of a cooling? Here we're at the beginning of the hot, dry season. I've just come in from spreading hay in the gardens. I'm switching from straw for plant nutrition. Thankfully, i'll be able to can some cranberry beans this week. Tomatoes look promising. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

wv, thanks for the Fiore!

Hi,

I often read this site, but have never posted before. I just want to comment on the " What Happened to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence" posted above. When I read that five signers were tortured and killed, I said "What?!! That's not what I was taught in History Class!" So I did some further investigation, and found this site:
www.snopes.com/history/american/pricepaid.asp.
The Snopes site comments on the site which you posted. Some of the information on the website you listed is true but some of it is very false.
Just thought you would like to know.

Sally, genuine change can't come soon enough, although it will be best, if as you say, we have to slog through it for awhile. There are no quick fixes for the myriad challenges we now face.

From Election Day onward through 2009 and thereafter, we will see actual movement forward (Saturn opposition Uranus, Uranus semisextile Neptune) that has been supressed for so very long, oppressive status quo notwithstanding. It will be as if all of the progressive changes we should have been making for the past 40 years have been compressed into a can of some sort under extreme pressure, and now that can has suddenly sprung a leak with its' contents hissing out.

Obama, if he wins, will get caught up in the wave, and even his moderate concessions will probably fall by the wayside once he is faced with imminent and practical matters. He'll be quickly forced to discard the advice of all those damned DLC-backed focus groups if for no other reason than that it has become a suffocating obstruction. I don't know that he will turn out to be our "second coming" of Franklin Roosevelt, but I believe he will very much turn out to be a person of the times, and one who will awaken to respond to them, more for the better than for the worse.

I don't believe McCain will win, but should he do so, his apparent victory will become the historical reference point for the Republican Party's death spiral, terminating in 2015 when Pluto opposes that party's Sun while Uranus squares it. And for the Grand Old/Oil Party's part, could they have picked a better candidate to represent themselves? Here is a man totally bankrupt of answers or vision and who is, like the political party and interests he represents, aging, out of touch with the times and the American people, and simply moribund.

He believes that more Bush-like chest-thumping, a much larger military and war with Iran will solve our problems, or at least somehow reassert to the world and ourselves that our methodology in effect since the end of WWII is somehow still valid. I believe open disgust with his presidency would build and finally blow out into the open when Uranus ingresses into Aries (and squares Pluto in Cap). In the meantime, there would be a massive amount of ferment generated among the nation's youth and other groups so very much fed up with the status quo. The 1960s will have nothing on the 2010s.

Even if Obama wins, he will still have the challenge of directing and channelling all of this potentially explosive and destructive energy in a constructive and positive manner. To his benefit, he has at least acknowledged the need for change. However, whether or not he follows through on that acknowledgement, the aspects indicating change is both imminent and necessary are here. He can ride the crest, or just as easily join McCain in getting swept away in the tide.

Rez has another brush burn on his right cheek bone!

" He'll be quickly forced to discard the advice of all those damned DLC-backed focus groups if for no other reason than that it has become a suffocating obstruction."

From your lips to God's ears Neo. He absolutely needs to get them out of there, they have been responsible for some stellar loss' and very few wins. I look at Gore, Kerry and now Obama and think "what do they see in the DLC?" I am not sure Kerry is a member but I don't think Kennedy is a member of the DLC, at any rate Obama would do his campaign well by getting them out and looking for fresh.

Karen, I agree with your husband, that was a profound statement.

Oh to be sure, something will occur at this time, Uranus is already opposing Obama's Mars and he had a little airplane scare the other day, hope that's all the aspect is going to do.

I am travelling in a foreign country at the moment - have been since June 29th, and only got access to a computer yesterday, and started catching up on the posts here, and on Starlight News, but stopped reading when I came to this post by patb:

Hi there, Swamp. Reminds me a bit of the movie, "28 Days Later".

Almost forgot to say "hi" to Crystal, oops, I mean "M.".

I don't know who "M" is, but if I were posting that message, and it was me, I would not be afraid of signing my name to it. As most of you here, and on SN know, I have taken a lot of heat for things I have said, when I felt that they needed to be said, and have never felt the need to change my moniker for fear of being attacked. I believe in equal rights for men and women, but I don't consider myself a "feminist", as some women do. I tend to stay away from labels, and although I do not hold men in general in high esteem, I really cannot understand the blind hatred, and bitter resentment that some "feminists" harbor towards the opposite sex, or anyone who doesn't choose a woman over a man for whatever reason. Some even take it to extremes by refusing to use the word "God", by substituting the word "godess", and "she" for "he". So be it, but I think they are missing the whole point. the Supreme Being, Divine Consciousness, Fountainhead, or whatever name you choose for the intelligence force in the Universe is not a physical being, and so cannot be assigned a gender. God is considered a positive masculine force only in a broader scientific sense. He is beyond creation, and therefore is positive/masculine, as all creation is considered negative/feminine. In physics, we know that the positive/negative force attracts, whereas 2 negatives, or 2 positives repel each other. That is why when anything in creation ceases to exist, the energy is drawn back to its Source (the Creator) by the principle of attraction (positive/negative). The same principle applies in astrology. The old system has each planet ruling over one masculine/positive sign, and one negative/feminine sign, as in Mars ruling over Aries(m/p), and Scorpio(f/n), Venus rules Libra(m/p), and Taurus(f/n), and so on for every planet, except the Sun(m/p), and the Moon(f/n). Every horoscope will have masculine/positive, and feminine/negative within it. In some charts, the qualities will be in perfect balance, in others, there will be a preponderance towards one or the other, but no astrologer, looking at an astro chart could possibly identify the sex of the native. You could still choose to address God as godess, but she will still be a positive/masculine force according to the scientific laws of the Universe. I don't know what made me digress to this topic, or if it makes sense to anyone, but I find all these rigid divisions along race, sex or whatever, and the labels that go along with them to be infantile, and not worth the polarizing energy that's expended on them.

You can blame Obama's moon in Gemini for his perceived flip-flopping. It is not a very stable sign for the moon, being mutable, but it is strengthened by the trine to Jupiter in Aquarius, which being a fixed sign, gives his moon some stability.

You're right Crystal about Obama's Moon and Saturn has been squaring it, Saturn and Mars indicating a loss of popularity with the people.

Hi there Crystal - I used M. because that is what I posted under when I was a frequent poster here and wanted to be recognized as someone who had actually participated on this site before as opposed to someone cruising by for the purposes of snark. I chose M. back then, several years ago, because that is how I sign my correspindence with friends. Sorry you got tagged and branded with the scarlet letter M.

Positively unbelievable. After 30 years and untold millions to get politicians to "deregulate" the financial systems, now they want regulations back. Seems the financial systems misused the power of deregulation and have driven us into the ground with it.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/43476.html

qop what do you think those "burns" on Bush face might me. They are always in the same place, at least the ones I've seen. Could it be laser burns? Something is sure going on with that face.

Mars/Saturn Conjunction.

Slow and steady wins the race. Mars and Saturn in Virgo in conjunction opens the door to getting a lot of work done over the next several days. It's a great time to finish projects and to get work that's been hanging over your head done. If 5/6/7 of the Mutable signs are in your chart remember the "slow" part of this advice, don't want any falls, but this aspect will keep your power going.

Not on subject but.... this morning I awakened sore with scratchy eyes from the smoke of the fires and the arthritis of advancing years and jumped up to go get the paper and get ready for my first car-pooling ride out to work. At any rate I was still a little in sleep mode and when I opened the door and stepped down to our common area I was embraced by warm loving "arms"the air seemed to embrace me and I was filled with a sense of love from myself toward that "energy" and to myself from the air. I assented to everything.

And I have been pointing out that Bush looks as if he has gone mad. His countenance seems "cock-eyed" and his hair unruly. I agree that something is going on there.

AND then I didn't see the blotch in later video of the G-8......makeup? Yes it is always inthe same place & yes he is making bizarre facial expressions!
GOOD, mars saturn: in my 4th, should help get this mess cleared up. Problem, the earth /water trines want me to go play in the garden!
I guess I am experiencing that love/energy warmth, when I sit in the garden and contemplate the coriopsus & gloriosa daisys that are now self seeding! Now if I can just get some bachelors buttons and poppies/cosmos going too! At least 1 calendar picture!

powerful post, Neo. On a side note, i've always hoped that you are in a position that allows you to share your writing talent.

Great to read your post, Crystal. Hope your travels are both pleasant AND productive.

Since i rarely watch tv, i've not seen that ugly (Bush) face for quite some time. I'll have to discount wild sex with Laura as the reason for the scratches. However, he could be self-mutilating in his sleep -- the result of his complicity in the murder of thousands. Or maybe it's Cheney's vampire feedings?

Bernacke (spelling) is scrambling to appear officious before the fed is investigated by the international regulatory commission. Defrauding and swindling the peoples of this planet must have offended those in high places who count on more subtle forms of slavery to enrich their coffers.

Coming to an airport near you and the forerunner to an implanted chip. I don't believe most of us want this

http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com/video_gallery.asp?video=http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com/video/EMDsafetybracelet.flv&title=

DONE! FISA passed, NO Amendments!

Damn!

Now that the ink is all but signed on FISA, and the phone now have our number--quite literally--I want to ask more about what Sally was saying about Obama's Gemini moon squaring Saturn, indicating a loss of popularity.

Earlier in this thread, Sally, you seemed to hint that you didn't see Obama winning. I'd like to know more about what you're seeing, if you don't mind saying too much.

Here's what I'm seeing: here is a guy who announced his campaign on VOC moon, won his first caucus on a VOC moon, got major endorsements on a VOC moon (Edwards, for example), and may be nominated on a VOC moon.
When I talked to some friends about this phenomena, one of them said, "Well, it's worked so far."

Still I can't help but wonder if at some point, his luck will run out, at the wrong time.

Election Day will also fall on a VOC moon, and if all goes according to schedule on 1/20/09, whoever is elected will be sworn in on a VOC moon, 29 degrees, no less.

Oops--I meant to say "the phone companies now have our number..." Sorry about that.

Oh yeah, one more thing: a recent NewsScope article in StarIQ said that Obama's ACG falls on the Iran-Iraq border, for what that's worth.

Well He's got a heap of trouble today!
Did you see that wonderful interview of the Obama family by Access Hollywood. MSNBC & CNN ran the clips on every single show last night!
Today BO is having serious regrets! Now everyone in America KNOWS what those kids look like!
Then Jessie Jackson said something very rude, ( unrepeatable on Nat TV) about BO, over a mic he thought was turned off!
Not to mention the FISA capitulation. He voted Aye!
DId you see Teddy Kennedy enter the Senate to cast his vote for the medicare bill? Pandamonium & standing Ovation......... I cried!
Previously The bill was one vote shy..but that changed, I think some voted for it in honor of his bravery!
Later I will get the vote count & post it.

I don't see Obama necessarily losing but it will be close, I more see the "change movement" succeeding. No matter who wins I think the Inauguration VOC Moon would indicate a one term president. The Solar Return to the announcement chart looks pretty good for the election. I did say that both McCain and Obama are in a terrible period of time. So once again, it's six of one half a dozen of another. I do think it's important to get a Democratic candidate in the WH. I also know the far right wing is having fits over the possibility that Obama will be in office. I have a few in my family and they are truely far right, they are sending me one obscene article after another on Obama. I don't know if it's because it's Obama or if it's because it's democrats.

The one thing I've noticed the last 8 years is how many bills Bush signed on a VOC Moon and how many votes in the House and Senate were on a VOC Moon, including the Patriot Act. Makes me wonder how long they will stand.

Hopefully, Bush's laws won't stand much longer; however, it's a lot harder to undo a law once it's on the books than to keep it from becoming law in the first place.

I wonder how well a movement for progressive change will succeed with the backdrop of the US progressed sun in Pisces for the next 26 years. My one hope is that, if a change movement will succeed, that it's one that we would like to see happen.

Since I live in Louisiana, I am all too familiar with righty acquaintances saying all kinds of awful things about Obama. If Obama were a Republican, they wouldn't be sending out these awful forwards. But then, he probably wouldn't be their nominee, either.

More than the progressed Sun in Pisces a problem, it's the retrograde Progressed Mars in Libra and in several years it will conjunct the US Saturn, square the US Sun, lots of frustrated anger and an aversion to war of any kind. Ultimately however Neptune will go over that Sun bringing a potential desolution of American resolve and ego, that's in about 5 or 6 years (before Mars gets to Saturn)It could also bring greater spirituality to America particularly since the conjunction of the two is in a trine to the US Venus and Jupiter. Then again there is always the danger of the US going more and more into sheep like trances.

Now that's an eye-opener, Gina -- the VOC Moon rundown. Whew.

We knew Obama was going to vote "aye" on this FISA bill. No surprise here. We also know there are other things at work beneath the surface. I keep returning to the energy of change Sally refers back to time and again. Obama is not the change, only representative of a change.

This change is going to catch many unaware. Those who cannot reach beyond their attachment to things or to fixed behaviors may find themselves without a proverbial paddle. This aspect of change is what has me bothered.

Vision if you will the fear and panic of drowning. Grabbing at those closest to you in an attempt to save your self, and taking them down with you. Then, vision the corporate entities that have insinuated themselves into every aspect of our lives. What happens when all the food is poisoned? What happens when energy is so expensive we must switch to lanterns, wood stoves, etc.?

The boat is now on the lake. The motor is sputtering. There are no oars and the storm of the century is brewing.

Speculators driving up price of oil and corn, wheat, veggies etc. All the airlines are behind this project, it could drive prices down by as much as 40%

Please read about it

http://www.stopoilspeculators.com/

George Bush signed the FISA Bill at 1:22 pm edt, Washington, DC.

http://www.upi.com/Emerging_Threats/2008/06/30/Analysis_US_military_to_patrol_Internet/UPI-83401214841029/

Analysis: U.S. military to patrol Internet

snip

In a solicitation posted on the Web last week, the command said it was looking for a contractor to provide "Internet awareness services" to support "force protection" -- the term of art for the security of U.S. military installations and personnel.

"The purpose of the services will be to identify and assess stated and implied threat, antipathy, unrest and other contextual data relating to selected Internet domains," says the solicitation.

Hembrook was tight-lipped about the proposal. "The more we talk about it, the less effective it will be," he said. "If we didn't have to put it out in public (to make the contract award), we wouldn't have."

He would not comment on the kinds of Internet sites the contractor would be directed to look at but acknowledged it would "not (be) far off" to assume violent Islamic extremists would be at the top of the list.

The solicitation says the successful contractor will "analyze various Web pages, chat rooms, blogs and other Internet domains to aggregate and assess data of interest," adding, "The contractor will prioritize foreign-language domains that relate to specific areas of concern … (and) will also identify new Internet domains" that might relate to "specific local requirements" of the command.

More at the link....

Welcome back, PatC. Always good to hear from you.

When we're talking about the energy of change, are we talking specifically about Pluto in Capricorn? The coming Uranus ingress into Aries? The progressed retrograde Mars in Libra? All of the above? Or is there more that Sally and Morgana has written about?

This is just for a quick reminder. Thanks.

Dagbummit, PatC i'm literally jumping up and down in my chair that you're posting here again. What you uncover, oh investigative Scorpio, always amazes and yes, impresses me too! And thank you for this one. Of course they're going to start fishing. Frankly, i believe it began long ago.