Tweet of the week

1. Ajamu Baraka‏Verified account @ajamubaraka  12h12 hours ago
   

   The fact that some think that Eminem is saying something demostates how politically underdeveloped commercial hip-hop and U.S. culture is.

   21 replies143 retweets367 likes

   
   

   
   

   
   
2. Ajamu Baraka‏Verified account @ajamubaraka  12h12 hours ago
   

   Eminem's supposed take down of Trump in nothing more than  liberal pro-Democrat party, pro-war BS.

   49 replies223 retweets631 likes

   
   

   
   

   
   

Bush's war?

We're reposting this from THE COMMON ILLS:

Bush's war?

That's the way it's often referred to.

But Bully Boy Bush didn't control Congress.

New York Times OTD‏ @OnThisDayNYT  Oct 11

The front page #OTD in 2002. Congress authorizes Bush to use force against Iraq. #nytimes

13 replies64 retweets55 likes

At the time of the vote, Republicans controlled the House of Representatives and the Senate was controlled by the Democrats.

Since 2001, every Democratic presidential ticket has had at least one person who voted for the Iraq War.

In 2000, it was Al Gore with Joe Lieberman (Joe would vote for the war two years later).

In 2004, it was John Kerry with John Edwards (both voted for the Iraq War).

In 2008, it was Barack Obama with Joe Biden (Joe voted for the Iraq War).

The same ticket in 2012 (ibid).

In 2016, it was Hillary Clinton with Tim Kaine (Hillary voted for the Iraq War).

Bully Boy Bush wanted war.  Congress (and the media) helped him start it.

(And of course, Barack continued it).


Come 2020, think we could have someone on the ticket who, in Congress, opposed the Iraq War?

Because no one who did has made the presidential ticket in this century.

This edition's playlist

1) Tori Amos' NATIVE INVADERS.

2) BEAR SONIC JOURNALS PRESENTS BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY FEATURING JANIS JOPLIN LIVE AT THE CAROUSEL BALLROOM 1968.

3) Alicia Keys' HERE.

4) Bright Eyes' CASSADAGA.


5) Tina Turner's PRIVATE DANCER.


6) Ben Harper's BOTH SIDES OF THE GUN.



7) Aretha Franklin's ARETHA SINGS THE GREAT DIVA CLASSICS.

8) Janet Jackson's UNBREAKABLE.

9) Sam Smith's IN THE LONELY HOUR DROWNING SHADOW EDITION.

10)  Sting's NOTHING LIKE THE SUN.

Washington seethes with rumors of an anti-Trump “palace coup” – SEP Newsletter

From WSWS:

Washington seethes with rumors of an anti-Trump “palace coup” By Joseph Kishore Washington is engulfed in a political crisis that is without precedent in modern American history. Amidst increasingly bitter factional conflicts at the highest level of the state, there is growing speculation that there have been secret discussions among cabinet members and high-level staff about forcing Trump out of office. The political warfare within the Trump administration and Republican Party intensified this week after Senator Bob Corker, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, declared that Trump’s threats against North Korea were leading the United States “on the path of World War III.” In a Twitter post, Corker called the White House “an adult day care center,” with the president requiring constant supervision. NBC reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s statement describing Trump as a “moron” came after a June meeting between the president and top military officials, during which the president advocated increasing the US nuclear arsenal ten-fold. Trump responded to this report by threatening that NBC should be shut down. He stated that it is “disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write.” Read more » The US on the brink of war with North Korea By Peter Symonds Amid accelerating US preparations for conflict with North Korea, yesterday’s night-time flight by two B-1B bombers over the Korean Peninsula was designed to provoke a North Korean response that could be used as the casus belli for all-out war. The supersonic bombers were joined by Japanese and South Korean fighter jets for the first joint night-time training exercise that involved practicing air-to-ground missile drills in waters off the east coast of South Korea, then off the west coast. This rehearsal for war with North Korea followed another first when two B-1B bombers late last month flew the furthest north along the North Korean coast since the start of this century. At the same time, the Pentagon is assembling a naval armada off the Korean Peninsula. The nuclear attack submarine USS Tucson arrived off South Korea on Saturday. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group of cruisers and destroyers is due to arrive later this month for joint exercises with the South Korean navy. Two Australian frigates are also en route to Korean waters. Read more » The politics of the Harvey Weinstein scandal By David Walsh The scandal surrounding American film producer Harvey Weinstein continues to hold the film industry and a considerable portion of the media-political establishment in the US firmly in its grip. What is involved here? Setting aside the superficiality and frenzy of the media, what is the politics of the Weinstein scandal? Unquestionably, something more is involved than simply Weinstein’s behavior. We hold no brief for the Hollywood producer, a renowned bully and abuser of his employees, if nothing else, nor vouch for his morality. If only a fraction of the sexual harassment allegations are true, his conduct has been repugnant and perhaps criminal. However, when a lynch mob begins to gather, it is always wise not to jump in and participate. Everyone deserves a trial in which he or she can mount a self-defense. Read more » The New York Times and the criminalization of dissent By Joseph Kishore The campaign within the American media and political establishment over allegations of Russian “hacking” and manipulation of the US elections is being transformed into an increasingly frenzied demand for the criminalization of dissent. During the first months of the Trump administration, the charges of Russian interference in US politics were primarily used to prosecute a struggle within the American ruling class centered on issues of foreign policy. The anti-Russian campaign has now developed into an effort to ascribe all opposition within the United States to the actions of a “foreign enemy.” A series of increasingly ludicrous articles have appeared in the US press, channeling information supposedly gathered by the Senate Intelligence Committee from social media companies. The latest appeared on Tuesday in the New York Times, which has played the central role in the media campaign. The front-page article (“Russians Spun American Rage Into a Weapon: Facebook Posts in US Fueled Propaganda”) is a piece of pure political propaganda, filled with unsubstantiated statements, wild speculation and unsupported conclusions. Read more » President Trump threatens to pull the plug on Puerto Rico By Rafael Azul In 1975, in the midst of the New York City financial crash, the Daily Newspublished the famous headline “Ford to New York: Drop Dead!” Its front-page article went on to denounce then-President Gerald Ford’s decision not to bail out New York City. A similar headline would be appropriate today—“Trump to Puerto Rico: Drop Dead!”—following president Trump’s most recent threats and tweets about the financial and environmental crisis that have mired this island since the twin impacts of Hurricane Irma and particularly Hurricane Maria. “Puerto Rico survived the Hurricanes, now a financial crisis looms largely of their own making,” he claimed, quoting right-wing television journalist Sharyl Attkisson. He added Thursday morning, in three separate tweets: “A total lack of accountability say the Governor [sic]. Electric and all infrastructures was disaster before hurricanes. Congress to decide how much to spend. ... We cannot keep FEMA, the Military & the First Responders, who have been amazing (under the most difficult circumstances) in P.R. forever!” Read more » Spain moves toward military rule in Catalonia By Alex Lantier In a menacing speech to the Spanish Congress on Wednesday, Popular Party (PP) Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy stated that, in response to Catalan regional Premier Carles Puigdemont’s speech affirming the October 1 independence referendum, he was preparing to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution. This provision allows Madrid to suspend the authority of the Catalan regional government and seize control of the region’s finances and administration. With the Spanish media discussing the invocation of Article 116 to impose a state of emergency or state of siege, it is clear that Rajoy is moving rapidly to establish military rule not only in Catalonia, but across all of Spain. Read more »

Donate Get Involved! Share Tweet Forward Socialist Equality Party | socialequality.com Articles: Copyright © 2017 wsws.org, All rights reserved.

Rohan: VA covering up mistakes, malpracticies 'unconscionable'

The American Legion issued the following last week:

Rohan: VA covering up mistakes, malpracticies 'unconscionable'

USA TODAY has released a story on its investigation revealing that for years the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs concealed mistakes and misdeeds by staff members entrusted with caring for veterans.

In some cases, agency managers do not report troubled practitioners to the National Practitioner Data Bank, making it easier for them to keep working with patients elsewhere. The agency also failed to ensure VA hospitals reported disciplined providers to state licensing boards.

American Legion National Commander Denise Rohan issued the following statement in response to the issues raised in USA Today’s story:

“It is unconscionable that VA staff would cover up mistakes or malpractice by VA clinicians. This is exactly why The American Legion pressed Congress to provide the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs increased authorities to protect whistleblowers and hold medical providers and staff accountable for their performance. We are very concerned about the lack of transparency in these cases and the reports that poorly performing medical providers were not reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank. We are encouraged that Secretary Shulkin ordered all future settlement deals with employees involving payments over $5,000 be approved by top department level officials, and call on the VA to review and enforce their policy of reporting providers to the National Practitioner Data Bank.”

Highlights

This piece is written by Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude, Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix, Kat of Kat's Korner, Betty of Thomas Friedman is a Great Man, Mike of Mikey Likes It!, Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz, Ruth of Ruth's Report, Marcia of SICKOFITRADLZ, Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends, Ann of Ann's Mega Dub, Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts and Wally of The Daily Jot. Unless otherwise noted, we picked all highlights.

"Hayder the liar al-Abadi" -- most requested highlight by readers of this site.

"Asparagus and pasta in the Kitchen" -- Trina serves up a new recipe.






"She intends to crowd them out of the way" and "THIS JUST IN! CRANKY'S GOT A NEW PLAN TO SEW UP THE 2020 NOMINATION!" -- Cedric and Wally note how the 2020 candidates can't get a word in thanks to loser Hillary.

"If only Matt Damon and Ben Affleck had been gay (or had stayed that way)" -- Kat nails it.

"HAPPY DEATH DAY" -- Stan goes to the movies.

"The Kurds" and "Bush failed, Barack failed and now?" -- Ruth and Mike note the selling out of Iraq.

"Power can be an issue" -- Ann notes that there are more issues at play.

"The shame of Hillary" -- we agree.

"Name it after Marilyn Monroe" -- Betty has a great idea.

"scandal? really?" and "EMPIRE episode 3" -- Rebecca and Stan cover TV.

"A palace coup would outrage many" -- Ruth's not in the mood for the nonsense and neither are we.

"What is it about her?" -- Marcia ponders it.

"How long are we going to let the War Party lie to us?" -- good question.

"Meryl" -- lies called out.

"Harassment and rape" -- note, it's "harassment" and "rape."  Stop futhering the lie by calling it "sexual harassment."  Harassment and rape are not about sex.

"Michelle Pfeiffer in the next ANTMAN movie" -- we share Stan's excitement.

"Long John Silver's" -- Betty answers an e-mail (which inspired a piece on fries this edition, by the way).

"When you work with assh*les" -- Marcia notes jerks.

"vote schmucks" -- Rebecca nails vote vetties.

"Barack should be soiling himself from sheer excitement" -- Trina on how Donald saves Barack.

"Weinstein board should resign immediately" -- Ann backs the call.

"That fake feminist" -- Betty identifies her.

"Two-faced liars like Phyllis Bennis" -- Mike calls her out.

"Alicia Keys," "Too Good For Goodbyes (Sam Smith)" and "Sam Smith" -- some music coverage.

Truest statement of the week

There is no American democracy left to undermine anyway. America is not a democracy and nothing proves it like the police killing three people every day or the fact that one million black people are held behind bars in this country.

-- Margaret Kimberley, "Freedom Rider: Russiagate Targets Black People" (BLACK AGENDA REPORT).

A note to our readers

Hey --

Tuesday.
 


Let's thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:

The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen,
Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.

And what did we come up with?

• Truest statement of the week
• Editorial: was everyone really that busy?
• TV: CNN sets the standard . . . for embarrassment
• CRAPAPEDIA promotes racism
• Radio moment of the week?
• Top 10 types of pizza
• Tweet of the week
• When old news is passed off as breaking news
• Song of the week
• The entire population of Barbuda has been left hom...
• This edition's playlist
• The elites “have no credibility left:” An intervie...
• Michigan Greens Oppose Push for Hunting of Sandhil...
• One of our greatest obligations as elected officia...

See you next week.


Peace,





-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.