The Velvet Hammer

Anonymous speaks for us! Let there be an end to this madness!

Join us!

My guilty pleasure is an Etymologist named Marina and her Youtube series: Hot for Words. I think she is adorable. Plus the comments (apart from the sexually deprived) are very intelligent! Intelligence is sexy!

http://www.youtube.com/user/johnedwards

So cute I cannot describe it! And I know a whole LOT of words!!!!

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=88634&title=angelina-jolie

From 6/14/07 - 10 days after her birthday!

And expecting twins now? How perfect is THAT for a Gemini?

I'll tell you, as another Gemini....completely and utterly perfect!

Congratulations - First Couple of my Heart on your coming new ones!!!

Oh it SLAYS me! "Being humble is a xtian virtue." Dumbass O'Reilly

Dawkins is thoughtful and brilliant and - o hell, you know the butthead O'Reilly is....

listen to this piece of poo...

I am willing to blast this man and his like into the local Black Hole. Even gawd won't prevent it!

p.s. I now want to retire is Sweden! Assuming global warming does not wipe it out before then...no no no - FRANCE! They have much better food!

"I'm an atheist, and that's it. I believe there's nothing we can know except that we should be kind to each other and do what we can for other people." Katharine Hepburn

We knew it was a long shot. Dennis Kucinich will announce at 11730 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, OH 44111; E-mail: info@kucinich.us - 1 (216) 252-9000 - my neighborhood) tomorrow that he is dropping out of the presidential race. He was censored by NBC and excluded from the debates. For all those "Choice" banners and blah blah, there has never been a genuine choice. Not a free choice. It is time to ignore the media and the powers that be and get our country back!

The Swan Song:

From our local so-called paper, The Plain Dealer (lousy paper but no competition):

A short video:

http://blog.cleveland.com/pdmultimedia/2008/01/cleveland_congressman_dennis_k.html

and the complete interview:

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/01/kucinich_drops_presidential_bi.html

I'll be putting a Re-Elect Dennis poster in my front yard.

His Congressional appeal:

Source: http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=161857

Bush failed again (I know this is not news!) in whatever he was pretending to do with Israel and Palestine so far as peace. I really believe that peace is not even a word he understands, the little monkey! I know he really went there to kiss Arabs (source of 9/11 flyers) and get a cool sword. For a non-serviceman he sure loves toy soldiers!

Now he has us complicit is a genocidal entrapment of the Palestinian people.

Majlis speaker slams UN silence on Gaza crisis
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN -- Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel has criticized the United Nations’ silence on Israel’s crimes against Palestinians.

Israel has launched brutal attacks against the Gaza residents and blocked all food and fuel supplies to the strip. The territory went dark on Sunday when the only power plant was shut down.

Addressing a protest rally of Iranian lawmakers here on Wednesday, Haddad-Adel blamed the UN Security Council for seeking to serve the interests of hegemonic powers.

Humanitarian crisis in Palestine proved that the West’s assertions about supporting democracy and human rights are empty slogans, he added.

Source: http://www.alternet.org/workplace/74262/?page=entire

Highly recommended reading:

The Fraud of Bushenomics: They’re Looting the Country

By Larry Beinhart, AlterNet. Posted January 19, 2008.

When Bush came into office, a Euro cost 95 cents. Now it costs a $1.50. The Canadian dollar (the Loony) was 70 cents. Now it costs a dollar. Most mainstream economists and pundits will opine that a low dollar is good for American industry, because it will help us sell our goods. That's only true if we're producing things that no one else is -- or producing them better or cheaper -- and we're not.

Also, many foreign exchange rates are being kept artificially low against the dollar.

This article not only calls them as he sees them but offers a practical program for prying ourselves out of this disaster.

Please send a copy to your candidates. If they do not abide, fire them, impeach them or pay them minimum wage.

Just to let you know, Iconoclast is my disabled husband who can no longer type. He uses a speech program and therefore the occasional typos. Any entry found in Iconoclast is NOT my writing. It is my loved one's writing. My own typos are legion because I am dyslexic and VERY artistic.

From a friend of mine who is an ambassador's son...

Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Kills 2 Hamas Members
By ISABEL KERSHNER

JERUSALEM — ...

The (United Nations) official, John Dugard (in Geneva), who works on human rights in the Palestinian territories, said the Israelis who were responsible "for such cowardly action" resulting in civilian casualties "are guilty of serious war crimes and should be prosecuted and punished for their crimes." He said that the attack on the building "near a wedding party venue" was carried out "with what must have been foreseen loss of life and injury to many civilians."

...

Gaza's population of 1.5 million depends on imports for most basic supplies, and on Saturday, Hamas called on Egypt to open the Rafah crossing on its border with Gaza to allow in goods. The Rafah crossing has been officially closed since Hamas seized control of the strip in June, after the European mission monitoring the area left.

...

Mr. Abbas condemned Israel's actions in Gaza as "brutal," but also said the Hamas takeover of Gaza had "destroyed" Palestinian dreams.

Bush went to Israel claiming he was going to make peace. What a joke! After visiting baby jesus, he went directly to his oil masters and did this:

Shhhhh....don't tell!

Great Peace there, buddy.

Mission accomplished!

Sorry, one more. Toooooo perfect!

Source: http://www.barelypolitical.com/

It's not true but it could be....

By Groovelily - from a set called Striking Twelve.

As a few of you know, I am part Lakota. This is a Hopi Prophecy and it is very important. The Hopi are the Keepers of a Vision for the Future (Survival) and you would be a fool to ignore them. Ever. To Indigenous People, this is the Fourth of Five Worlds. They have gone underground for hundreds of years to survive earth cataclysms and will do that again since it actually appears it may again be necessary.

Wisdom from the Elder of the Hopi Nation
as we cross the threshold into a cycle of our journey of awakening.

"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered:

Where are you living?

What are you doing?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?

Know your garden.

It is time to speak your Truth.

Create your community.

Be good to each other.

And do not look outside yourself for the leader.

This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast.

It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.

They will try to hold on to the shore.

They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination.

The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

See who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.

Least of all, ourselves.

For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we've been waiting for."

--The Elders, Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation

A friend of mine runs a list for quotes that help. This is one that he sent to me and that I have kept for years in my mail program. It is from my favorite Xmas movie and is my favorite quote from the movie. It is also my favorite statement about September 11th because I can feel in every cell of my body and every sense of my spirit that this is true. The sequence at the end of "Love Actually" reduced my only, much loved sister to a braying snot-nosed crying thing that I held like a jewel. I cry at, the beginning and the end of this movie a lot. Every single time.

Prime Minister: Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion love actually is all around.

John Edwards states his approach to this campaign here:

http://www.johnedwards.com/watch/manchester/

He is in the race for the long run. His site:

http://www.johnedwards.com/

I just received an exciting e-mail and choose to share it with you behind the cut:

Read more! »

I apologize in advance for this post. It is actually a minor vent.

I cannot believe the shenanigans and pretenses foaming out of the current favorites mouths. Astounding. Disappointing. To be expected, I suppose.

More rant if you want it:

Read more! »

Source:
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/73106/

Last month, ABC reported that a former Halliburton/KBR employee, Jamie Leigh Jones, had been gang-raped by her co-workers in Baghdad. Senators urged Bush to explain why an earlier investigation "had not resulted in any prosecution." Naturally, Bush and Halliburton crony Cheney, as well as our State and Justice Departments, decided that no further investigation would be required. They ignored both governmental meetings and any deadlines.

Recently the Inspector General of the Department of Defense said that his agency will not investigate the allegations. They did offer to explore why a United States Army doctor handed the results of Jones' rape kit to KBR officials. Amazingly, this kit has disappeared.

It turns out that her case may be one of many. Several former Halliburton/KBR female employees said that the atmosphere was of "rampant sexual harassment." Several women say that they were also victims of sexual assault while working for KBR in Iraq.

Bush's god believes that gang-raping women is an ok thing to do; that vengeful god in whose image the monsters strut. If this were a country with justice for all instead of only the dictator's darlings, there would be a court case. We are harder on Frat Brats, aren't we?

So, be forewarned, if your wife, mother or daughter goes into the Army, she should expect to spread 'em as she salutes.

Just be careful that you do not wake the Amazons of this country. We are legion. If this situation is not corrected, there could be a sacrifice of privates on a widespread basis, if you know what I mean. We women are mad as hell and are not going to continue to take physical abuse nor rape. It will stop.

According to Matt Spetalnick for Reuters, Bush is going to the Middle East to

"nurture Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts in the face of deep skepticism while trying to rally Arab opposition to Iran."

Hardly anyone believes that he has any shred of sincerity. After nearly 8 years of waging war on anyone not him, peace efforts on his part are, well, unbelievable. This will be his very first presidential visit to Israel and the West Bank making any effort to shore up frail negotiations.

Supposedly his aim is to forge a peace treaty by the end of the year. No doubt with the same Mission Accomplished banner which meant absolutely nothing.

The Moron in Chief said:

"What has to happen in order for there to be a peaceful settlement of a long-standing dispute is ... outlines of a state clearly defined. So that at some point in time, the Palestinians who agree that Israel ought to exist and agree that the state ought to live side-by-side with Israel in peace have something to be for."

The last time he visited Israel was as Texas governor. He has been vague (this is news?) about his trip's objectives. In fact, he has no plans to even hold a meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Great plan. What a Legacy! Warrior Peacemaker. All Hail Big Brother. War is Peace.

26% Democratic (27 delegates)
30% Republican (12 delegates)
44% Independent

4 electoral votes

Democratic

Clinton - 39%
Obama - 37%
Edwards - 17%

Republican

McCain - 37%
Romney - 32%
Huckabee - 11%

Melissa Etheridge speaks out.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/etheridge-misses-kucinich/

“This just sent me over the top,” the singer said. She was referring to Representative Dennis J. Kucinich’s exclusion from tonight’s Democratic debate, which is sponsored by ABC, WMUR-TV and Facebook.
...
“I think that this ABC debate is nothing but an infomercial now,” she said.
...
“I don’t think this is a conspiracy just against Kucinich,” she said. “I think because he represents this message of populism and change, he and Ron Paul,” have been pushed out, she said.

She is not the only one "over the edge." Many of us feel abandoned and betrayed. We knew that our rights have been consistently abrogated since the rise of The Shrubbery and the so-called "patriot" act (dictator act would be more honest.)

Now in the dirty world of politics, hoax emails about Obama's militant Muslim training (bunk according to Snopes:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp

Further, Dennis has a thing to say about John Edwards and since he has been silenced, here is is:

New Hampshire, Iowa and Edwards

Dear Supporter,

For the record:

New Hampshire is the first state where we are aggressively campaigning. Due to the Party lockout in Iowa, we chose to focus on New Hampshire.

I am the only person running for President who voted against the war, against funding the war 100% of the time, against the Patriot Act, and who stands for a universal single-payer not-for-profit healthcare system. Nevertheless I was excluded from Saturday night's ABC Presidential debate, or four tone monologue as it was.

In answer to your questions about why I didn't support former Senator John Edwards on the second ballot in Iowa: I have serious concerns about his connections to a Wall Street hedge fund, Fortress Investment Group. While attacking others for accepting campaign money from Washington lobbyists, he is up to his ears in money from Wall Street special interests.
He made half a million dollars in a single year for attending a few meetings for Fortress and has invested a substantial part of his own personal wealth in the hedge fund whose portfolios are responsible for sub-prime predatory lending practices, Medicare privatization, and an entire range of corporate sharp dealings that are driving the middle class into poverty.

While I indicated Senator Obama as a preferred second choice in Iowa, Progressives have fundamental disagreements with him and all of the other Presidential candidates on most of their major positions on the issues.

We must have the courage of our convictions to fully support and vote for what it is we really want. For once, we must realize our power, stop playing tactical games, and vote as a bloc - which, as you know, is what the religious right does and why they often win.

We Progressives are in the majority in this election. We will win only when we refuse to compromise and vote with integrity.

Dennis Kucinich

Video available at Alternet.

Can you believe this guy? She stood up so no one is to blame. Not even the ones with the guns? Not even the one with the body bomb? Did I miss the memo? I am beginning to believe that Pakistan is the new Cleveland. I sure hope not.

In an exclusive "60 Minutes" interview Musharraf refused to acknowledge any security lapses by his government in protecting Bhutto.

Musharraf Blames Bhutto for Her Own Death

In the interview that took place in Pakistan Saturday morning, Musharraf tells 60 Minutes' Lara Logan, "For standing up outside the car, I think it was she to blame alone. Nobody else. Responsibility is hers." Bhutto was killed in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi last week while standing up in a moving car with her head through the roof hatch. Check out the video to right for more of Musharraf's interview.

The nerve! I am only too glad that Scotland Yard is there. They will find their men.

Not Musharraf. He wanted her dead.

I know the "Butts that Be" have denied him a voice. That makes him MORE like us. He would be an awesome choice for president. But he is being dissed at every single turn.

Figures. We want talking heads and sound bites, don't we darlings?

I was a Viet Nam protester who campaigned for McGovern before I could vote. I believe in peace. I do not believe in war. I do not believe in killing people in communities or even criminals. I do not really believe in killing animals although I am not yet a full vegetarian. (I am headed that way.)

I never spit on the boys who came home from Viet Nam (and they WERE boys! Anyone remember the song "19"? Most were straight out of high school.) and I never called them names. I just wanted them all back and all in one piece. I actually corresponded with a Navy chef born in Alaska during the Viet Nam war. I sent him homey stories and recipes and good wishes. I would do the same today.

One day I will tell some of that story but today, a friend sent me a movie and it really touched me. Soldiers are people. First and foremost. They all have hopes and dreams and people who love them. I want them all back now - today - but that is ever me.

Check this out. This is signing. And please pass it on. This just feels right.

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/index.php

Gratitude - Thanks Giving.

According to Reutera
http://www.reuters.com/

Democrats:

Obama - 30%

Edwards - 27%

Clinton - 24%

Republicans:

Huckabee - 31%

Romney - 25%

Thompson - 11%

-----------------------------

Primaries...those mad festivals of competition in obscure and small states just to kick of the race in a peculiar and unbalanced way. This Old Biddy believes primaries should mirror the election and happen in all the states all at one time.

Primaries really mean nothing. Voting actually means nothing since there is the electoral college. Those are the people smarter than all of us who decide how we should have voted. Until that obsolete practice is gone, it's just another reality show for fun.

Source: http://uselectionatlas.org/INFORMATION/INFORMATION/electcollege_history.php

Finally, a so-called "Committee of Eleven" in the Constitutional Convention proposed an indirect election of the president through a College of Electors.

The function of the College of Electors in choosing the president can be likened to that in the Roman Catholic Church of the College of Cardinals selecting the Pope. The original idea was for the most knowledgeable and informed individuals from each State to select the president based solely on merit and without regard to State of origin or political party.

The structure of the Electoral College can be traced to the Centurial Assembly system of the Roman Republic. Under that system, the adult male citizens of Rome...

Find out how many electoral votes your state has here:

http://www.fec.gov/pages/elecvote.htm

To attempt to have actual democracy, New Jersey is trying to get the electoral votes assigned just the same as the popular votes. What a novel idea!

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--popularvote0103jan03,0,7777135.story

"Immediately close the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and either release its inmates or bring them before an impartial tribunal." United Nations Human Rights Commission

We declare January 11, 2008, six years after the first prisoners arrived at Guantanamo, an International Day of Action to Shut Down Guantánamo. In Washington, DC, we will hold a permitted demonstration at the National Mall followed by an orange jumpsuit procession to the Supreme Court. There will also be solidarity demonstrations in Chicago, Miami, London and Paris, with more being added every day. We invite you to come to Washington and participate, or else join or plan an action in your own community. We also encourage people around the world to wear orange t-shirts, armbands or other orange clothing on January 11th to mark the date.

JOIN US IN WASHINGTON, DC

Friday, January 11, 11:00am. (National Mall).

Visit:
http://www.witnesstorture.org/node
for up-to-date details about solidarity events, ideas for actions, to see a full list of endorsements or to download flyers and other resources.

I am deeply sorry to lay this on top of those wonderful predictions by our Curmudgeon but this is for today and tomorrow only. Otherwise, I would have waited...

Get thee to:

http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=impact

and vote.

Vote in the biggest pre-primary primary ever
Before Iowa, before New Hampshire, and before any other state, MySpace is conducting an on-line poll so YOU can vote for YOUR favorite Presidential candidate.

Voting starts at 3:01 am (EST), Tuesday, January 1 2008.
Voting ends at 11:59 pm (EST), Wednesday, January 2 2008